D Books

"The Band Never Dances" is an excellent read told in the first person by Judy Valentine, a 16-year-old New York drummer in search of a band to write/play with. Her lyrics are quite moving, in particular "The Girl Inside the Girl," which was inspired by her older brother, Jeffrey, who killed himself three years ago after coining the expression "...the band only plays. It never dances," hence the title of this book and her band's debut CD and single.

Judy spends the duration of the story struggling over her brother's untimely death and trying to find some catharsis through her music and up-and-coming fame in her rock band Wedding Night. At the same time, a love triangle develops between her and one of her band mates (Mark the Music) and Nick Praetorious, the quintessential "bad boy" rock singer they tour with. How this hot-and-cold relationship draws out and concludes is quite satisfying for any romantic. Judy, especially, is a remarkable character--she's extremely bright and independent, and like in the book, other young women will want to be her.

This is one of the best contemporary young adult novels I've read in awhile. It's fast paced, touching and deep, and suitable for the slightly older teen crowd due to some mature themes. In fact, the book seemed to be written from a much older character's point of view than from a 16-year-old's. At times, I couldn't connect her age and actions together, but I loved this book regardless. Recommended.

A magnificient book, although tad childish and naive. The author weaves a beautiful tale of the protagonist Judy, a drummer who recovering fromt eh death ofher brother, is yearning to discover herself through her 'band'. SHe finds this band when she answers mysterious want ad. and meets Strobe, together they assemble this band...Irwin. Maddox and Mark the Music. The descirpitions that the author uses when describing music being made is painfully beautiful. His descriptions of Mark the Music playing the guitar are exceptionally beautiful....leads you to believe the author is a guitarist...The story is very tight and Judy's voyage of discovery, in the company of 'Wedding Night', the band, is told very well. The ending is beautiful...ANyone with music in their hearts will fall in love with this book.

This is one of the most wonderful books from my early adolescence I ever read...it can to me at just the time I needed it and that I will never forget. I felt just like the heroine of the book the whole time... her against the world in a desperate desire to simply make music and find out who she is. Read it...and give it to your teens...

The Band Never Dances is a beautifully written book that captures your heart and makes you become very involved with the characters. Being a musician myself, I fully understood what Judy was dealing with throughout her stuggle in the band, and many people have had tramatic expericences as well. All in all the book seemed to touch on every subject and a very realistic way.

Judy Valentine always hid from life behind her drums. It was always her dream to be part of a rock band, as well as her older brother's dying wish for her. Three years after her brother's suicide, Judy finds her band, Wedding Night. Opening for Nick Praetorious, the hottest act in the country, brings the band national attention and forces Judy at sixteen years old to deal with success, attention, and being idolized while still developing her own identity.

Chinese Handcuffs by Chris Crutcher tells the similar story of a teenage boy named Dillon who also loses his older brother to suicide. Dillon escapes his pain through triathalons, an extreme contrast to Judy's music writing and playing. Crutcher tends to write novels centered around sports because more young people can relate to sports analagies than they can to introspecitve song lyrics. For me, it was nice to read a young adult novel with a storyline that I could relate to rather than merely understand.

"You can give her all your money, till you're totally broke./ You can christen her with diamonds, You can sprinkle her with coke./ But you'll never have her and you'll never know her/ 'cause she's the girl, she's the girl inside the girl."(Pg. 36) Judy "wrote" this song,"The Girl Inside the Girl". Many other full song lyrics are included throughout the book so that one can truly hear the sounds of a Wedding Night concert as well as visualize it. One even begins to understand the rock and roll lifestlye through a teenager's eyes. Once seen from behind closed doors, a rock star's life loses it's luster and glamourous image. Yet, the passion never dies for the music, not for Judy Valentine.

This book was written for "young adults", so it might be a little below an older teen's reading level. However, the storyline is just so unique, I would still recommend it to any music lover.

This book looks a little outdated, but that's just what I expected. The condition is good, and the price was the best available. Shipping was fairly timely.

I am finishing up by degree in Graphic Communications in December. I checked this book out of our school library and didn't want to give it back...so I bought my own! What I love about this book is that it breaks it down by industry and specialty area. I also like the way it breaks down what you should include in your portfolio for those areas. It is nice knowing that there is more to Graphic Design than just being a Graphic Artist in a print shop or a newspaper. This book gives you an idea and an overview on what's out there. Awesome!

This book is a good overview of what it means to be a graphic designer. It goes through the different areas of design, and different job positions.
Everything you need to know about the design world is in this book.

This book is a good overview of what it means to be a graphic designer. It goes through the different areas of design, and different job positions.
Everything you need to know about the design world is in this book.

There is a lot of good to be said for this book. But the thing that jumps out and slaps me in the face, right off, maybe because I have dealt with new design students and new professionals for the past several years, is a few dumb comments such as "If you are going to be a good designer, fine. If you aren't don't bother. The field is full of mediocre talents as it is."

And how, pray tell, does one know whether one is going to "be good" during the first year of ones study? --Or even during the first few years of ones professional practice, when sweeping out the place may be included in your job description, and hands-on real world work may come your way slowly and in small discreet bits? And doesn't every creative person at one point or another question the worth and validity of what he or she is doing, EVEN after recognition has started rolling in and they understand that their work is generally perceived by their peers as good? Further, I would ask whether everyone HAS to be a Saul Bass or a Neville Brody. Isn't design a broad enough field to encompass the work of those with less Olympian ambition? Comments such as the one above are relatively few and far between, to be certain. But where on earth was the editor when pompous uninsightful stuff like this flew in under the radar? Although the sheer snideness of the comment may make many jaded pros cheer, I have to wonder what useable information this kind of comment contains for the neophyte at whom the book is supposedly aimed? --To show that a lot of jaded pros have a really bad attitude?

I do not favor the Pollyanna view whether we are talking art or careers. But I believe it is impossible to know how you will fare at something before you have been doing it a while. Thinking otherwise --for example, that a teacher in a design 101 class can tell you whether you are "any good" (and I have seen or heard about many students asking this very question)-- just intimidates and discourages people from being brave enough to give the life that they would see for themselves a try. To me, that is way too limiting.

This book lets you get a feel of how Beowulf was written in its original language, without having to study Olde English first.

I enjoy trying to read Saxon and having his translation to refer to is of great help. I am not sure of some of his translation but it is hard to make sure what you are reading since Saxon was never printed just writen. This a nice printing.

This is the essential version of Beowulf for anyone interested in really understanding the story and its setting. There are other dual-language translations but none that provide the same depth of background in introduction, commentary, and critical notes.
-- Christopher L. Webber, author of "Beyond Beowulf"

Although Seamus Heaney's translation is the one getting all the attention, and is very readable, this one is both readable and is a more word-for-word translation. The accompanying chapters on analysis of the poem are also fascinating.

This edition is widely accepted as closer to the original than Heaney's, even by people who prefer the Heaney edition.

I am not one of those people. I have read Beowulf in several translations as well as in the original Old English, and this is the version I would recommend. I find it to be faithful, clear, and elegant.

The Heaney Beowulf is a great book for fans of Heaney (I enjoyed it myself in that capacity). The Chickering Beowulf is a great book for fans of Old English literature.

Though I am a little older than Dr. Edelin and only met him about 16 months ago when he gave the keynote address at the annual national convention of a group called Medical Students for Choice, I have followed his amazing and impressive career since I frist read of his indictment by an incredably biased and racist prosecutor in what was then the narrow minded and mostly Irish Catholic and racist controlled city that was Boston during the late 60s and early 70s.

Dr. Edelin's and my own story have many parallels, though I was born "poor white" into a racist culture in rural Arkansas and except for 4 years in the US Navy, have lived in this culture all of my life.

Dr. Edelin tells an gripping story of his childhood and young manhood in a racist society, one where he had to be smarter, kinder, better trained and better prepared than any of his white colleagues to even be allowed to attempt to realize his dreams of being a doctor and treating his patients with skill, compassion and amazing courage.

His is a story of liars, and honest men and women, of dedicted physicians and more than a few doctors and residents willing to lie, misguide and misdirect the jury of their, not Dr. Edlin's, peers. And always, the two major villians show up again and again, to do their best to figuratively lynch this incredably skilled, brave and capable young Black man... just because they thought they could, though he was guilty of nothing more than doing his best to treat his patients as he would like to be treated himself.

And he had a Judge who should have been impeached for incompetance, and a prosecutor who should have been hung. I wonder just how many innocent young men he sent to prison for life and to be killed so he could advance his career. Broken Justice? Sounds like Catholic Justice gone mad.

I was a pediatric resident when Dr. Edelin was there and also knew the resident who accused him, who was a real piece of work. Loved the book!

Broken Justice captures its reader's attention from the very first page. This book is not only a story of a young Black doctor fighting for his rights in racist Boston, but fighting for the rights of all Women, in Boston and through out this country. It is hard at times to turn the page because of the injustice that keeps emerging on each page, but at the same time it is hard not to keep going so as to find out how this young doctor continued to survive through this treacherous time in his life, because the book grips you and forces you to continue.

This book is a must read for people of all ages, genders and races. If we are to unite as a country, it is pertinent for all of us to understand everyone's struggle. Dr. Edelin fought for himself, but more importantly he selflessly fought for others. And 30 plus years after his trial he still fights and believes in the same rights as he did then. Thank you for giving this book to us!

I have known Dr. Edelin for a number of years and always have found him to be an engaging speaker and a great storyteller. This book did not disappoint. It is amazing to imagine one person going through what he went through....the turn of events was such that I couldn't believe that it was a non-fiction book!

This is an important book on the subject of Roe vs Wade and the parallels to a John Grisham novel in describing the court room scenes are accurate. I felt the energy of the 70's and his experiences as a young man faced with such a frightening indictment. Where it differs from John Grisham novels that I have read is that this was the first book I had where someone had gone in-depth into the medical profession and explained it in a way that made sense to a non-doctor. He makes the medical world accessible and interesting in the same way that Grisham and Turow have made the legal world accessible and interesting.

Overall this is a great read and one that I have already recommended to many others.

I have met Dr Edelin in 1975 and have known him during the post trial years. His motivation for the work he has done is nothing but honorable .. a man following his beliefs for the good and welfare of people. This book demonstrates, once again, the broken legal system, with all of its prejudice in a very polarized city,not unlike many tainted trials. In Ken's instance, it is shameful of our legal system to have put this esteemed and caring doctor through the ringer for selfish and biased reasons. Once I began this book, I couldn't put it down.

T.D. Jakes writes in a simple manner that speaks quietly to the inner spirit. This book is uplifting and encouraging, offering thought and insight to a having a blessed life.

In Late May/early June I submitted a book review on Can You Stand to be Blessed. Will it appear with the other list of reviews?

If not, themustardseed.com has asked if they can use the review.

Please respond to ejordan114@aol.com or elmariaj@hotmail.com.

Thanking you in advance

I know for me I Can Stand to Blessed! I felt as if the book was talking to me and I needed someone to write the words down for me to read. Thank God for Bishop T. D. Jakes. I can't get enough of his books. Get God and Get ready to be Blessed...

I enjoy being blesssed not ashamed of it and want to continually keep getting blessed, and am a blessing to people.

There is more to receiving God's blessings than meets the eye. The blessings of God are greater than words. I've learned and I'm continuing to learn that there is indeed a process (before you're even aware of it) that takes place (in you) before a manifestation of God's blessing is handed down. The beauty is it's God who gives the blessings, but also it's God who enables us not only to extend our hand to receive the blessing, but it's also God who enables us to open that same hand. As God opens our hand to receive His blessings He also prepares us, prepares our heart, our emotions, and our abilities (in advance) to handle the opposition, the resentment, the rejection and the pain that comes from friends, family, church members, and yes, even the saints of God. You see so many people (Christians, and non-Christians alike) want the blessing, but are they first in love with the giver of the blessing, the Sovereign One? It is through reading this book (Can You Stand to be Blessed) that I'm reminded of the organization and the turn of events, that take place while in the process of being, "BEING PROCESSED FOR GOD'S BLESSING."

Once Again, T.D. Jakes, Thanks for sharing what either our parents, aunts, and uncles didn't know, or perhaps they just didn't know how to share on being a receiver of God's blessings. I will continue to pass on the gift of learning, and sharing not only just the blessings of God, but also the preparation process.

I've been on a blessing journey for quite a while. I'm on the way, and yes there are some good times along the way, however, there are also some not so good times. The truth, the truth must be shared. The blessings of God are available but "Can You Stand to be Blessed" is the question.

You Can Stand to be Blessed, but you mustn't nor will the Father allow you to miss the process. Oh God cares for us soooo much, that every step in His process will be completed to His satisfaction before we are allowed to move on.

T.D. Jakes, I continue lifting you up in the hearing of the Father, believing that God continues to sharpen your hearing of His voice as you continue to share the Father's heart with the people.

You too continue being able, and willing to "Stand to be Blessed"

Having just gone through radiation and chemotherapy for cervical cancer myself, I was very interested to read this author's take on how having cancer affected her life in so many ways.

I think everyone depending upon their stage in life (mine was mid-50's, 4 grown children and 2 teens at home, self-employed, married 30 years), has different reactions both emotionally and physically as well as spiritually. However, as Gail Konop Baker writes, those reactions and your stage in life determine a lot about how you approach the results, surgery, treatment and follow-up visits.

Ms. Baker's reactions of wondering about how her kids would get on without her, what her husband might do or should have done and whether her own personal life is as best she could make it are pretty common reactions. Her treatment of them is touching, sad, funny and passionate! She is also very frank about her worries on her appearance, the aftermath and her husband's and children's responses to her illness.

A very entertaining and informative read!

Gail Konop Baker's novel, "Cancer Is a Bitch" is a beautifully written book about life, marriage, family, love, fear, joy, and courage. Baker talks to you like a best friend. You find yourself crying with her, laughing with her, empathizing with her, and identifying with her. Most of all, you admire her for her spunk and courage as she battles an uninvited visitor, cancer and comes face to face with her own mortality. Baker writes candidly and with great sensitivity about a subject that is often swept to the side or denied. What the author teaches the reader is that she is able to reach a higher awareness of self and life by bringing the enemy out in the open and giving it a name.

I started this book intending only to read for a few moments before dashing away to the next thing in my datebook and was immediately pulled in, instead. By page twenty-one, I'd already cried three times, in the way that only the perfect mix of humor, author self-awareness and heartbreak can bring; not because I was sad for the author, but because the story is so beautifully written and so identifiable from any place in life, so real, so balanced and so thought-provoking. I found myself thinking, "You know, that's how I would react, too; that's what I think, too. I didn't realize I thought that until right now, but I do, so very much."

This memoir, based on Gail's wonderful Literary Mama column, Bare- Breasted Mama, is funny, frank, and poignant. It's a terrific, uplifting story, that will speak to anyone who's ever been a mother, or a wife, or a writer, not to mention its relevance to anyone who's been touched by cancer.

Somehow, Gail manages to take this incredibly trying personal story and turn it into a deep, funny, thoughtful examination of, essentially, life itself. Bravo!

This is a serious biography for all history buffs. The author has expertly woven world history, specifically British history, and the Golden Age of Piracy's pirates (Blackbeard, Bartholomew Roberts, Anne Bonny, etc.)into the background of William Kidd's life. William Kidd began his illustrious career as an honest trader and ended with the financing of his ship by unscrupulous English businessmen. He began his final journey to the Indian Ocean with one mishap after another and ended it by being arrested for piracy. Did he deliberately comit acts of piracy? Or was he a scapeboat for a business deal gone bad? This is an excellent well-researched and well-written book. I have read many nonfiction historical books, and this is one of the best. It has detailed footnotes and index. I recommend any book about pirates by David Cordingsly and Frank Sherry. My son also read a children's novel that is well-researched, has pirate photos, and nonfiction information. The author is K.J. McWilliams, and the book is The Diary of a Slave Girl, Ruby Jo.

This book makes you hostage from start to finish Was the captain out on the seas in quest for something other than treasure You Decide Great read

This book makes you hostage from start to finish Was the captain out on the seas in quest for something other than treasure You Decide Great read

Ritchie does an extremely able job of refocusing the story of Captain Kidd away from being a personal drama. Instead, he builds an image of the world where Kidd was one of many trying their luck at this (then) semi-legal trade. Piracy was the only place left for a sailor who loved the sea but not the navy.

As a reader, it was interesting to see Kidd transformed from the pirate figure of legend into a semi-competent adventurer who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time in British history. Ritchie also provides a fascinating look at the 17th-18th century justice systems.

Ritchie is less of a writer than a historian, unfortunately. There were a number of places at the beginning of the book where I felt lost as to where he was trying to go. However, as another reader notes, this improves later on in the book.

Recommended for readers with a particular interest in pirates.

A scholarly treatment of the William Kidd case and times. The author switches back and forth between presenting biographical information about Captain Kidd and an evolution of the declining use of privateers and pirates as tools of foreign policy. The writing is smooth and well thought out, providing an entertaining read.

I found the information on the attitudes toward pirates during the late 17th and early 18th centuries interesting and chock full of little know tidbits. The biography of William Kidd was eventful and conforms with what I have read in other sources. The author takes the story from early accounts to Kidd's first appearance in the Caribbean to the arrival in New York and on through the fateful trip that sealed his fate. Ritchie uses the general information on the attitude toward pirates to reinforce the conclusion that Kidd was doomed from the moment he surrendered in New York, and to provide some insight into why Kidd did surrender.

My one complaint revolves around the author's conclusion that Kidd was actually guilty of piracy and should have been convicted. It is not that the author reaches that conclusion, after all the evidence can point to that conclusion, however, I had the feeling from the first page that the author's intent was to prove Kidd guilty. Casting off the guise of impartial historian that early in the book has to raise the question - has the author's attitude spilled over into the data presented? That said, it is important to read multiple views to get a better understanding of the history, and I did find this book to be both entertaining and informative.

For an alternate view of the William Kidd story try The Pirate Hunter by Richard Zacks. P-)

This is my favorite Christmas story. It speaks to the hopeful child in all of us, who wants to believe in the unseen magic of a jolly old elf. It touches me every year since I first discovered this gem. Its power comes from the fact that it's a true story. Do something nice for yourself and read it.

I read the story of how you played Santa to the poor children. I had tears in my eyes and cried like a baby. This inspired me to do something for the children that have nothing. I went to our own post office and found some children of my own to play Santa to.

Whatever your religious persuasion, you can't help but crack a smile and shed a tear reading this book. It's not just for the holidays, but should be read year 'round. I've given it as a gift for many years now. And will continue the tradition with my own baby.

I read the story "A Christmas Story" and as a 33 year old I have been through some tough times myself but reading the story just made me cry like a baby... This is what Christmas really means. GOD has definetly left some Angels here on earth.

As an elementary school teacher I love sharing this wonderful story of a jewish man who shares the wonder of giving hopeless children a chance at hope. By reading letters to Santa written by children with no hope of receiving anything for Christmas, Jay Frankston played Santa to the joy and wonder of children of all ages in the Cleveland area for twelve years. A great story of selfless giving.

I loved this book. It is a page turner from the front to back. As a person who hasn't been a fan or this genre - this book sold me back into reading more fiction!

Harvey does an amazing job. Steven King watch out!

BUY This book. You will love it.

From the first chapter to the last, "The Cleansing" grabs hold of you and does not let you go. I strongly recommend this book to anyone looking for a highly suspenseful story with very interesting characters and intense scenes.

I am anxiously awaiting the continuing adventures of Savannah and Wanata!

What an incredible introduction to a new author. THE CLEANSING is easily one of the best, most enjoyable books I've read in a long time. Not since King's THE STAND have I been so unhappy about finishing a novel. It was a joy to read from the opening paragraph until the last page. At times horrific, intriguing and endearing, it grabs your full attention and never lets go. Each of John D. Harvey's characters, both major and minor, are multi-dimensional and unique with their own distinct voices. The reader will even find themselves empathizing with the villain in this book, a preternatural wolf named Wanata, who not only wreaks terror wherever he goes but is, himself, struggling with his own crises. Don't let the cover price keep you from grabbing this one! You won't be disappointed.

The Cleansing by John D. Harvey is an imaginative, original, and superbly crafted saga about an American Indian wolf god who comes to Earth to punish humanity for its abuse of nature. A murderous wolfpack begins to exterminate entire villages, until an Indian shaman turns the wolf god into human form, leaving him to interact with the people he sought to punish while struggling to maintain control of his pack. A dramatic and exciting supernatural showdown, The Cleansing documents John Harvey as a truly gifted writer and storyteller, and is enthusiastically recommended reading for fantasy fiction enthusiasts.

Four days after I completed reading The Cleansing I was driving and there was a rather large stray dog strolling down the somewhat busy street. He had a swagger that clearly stated he was not fazed by the large autos passing him by. My thoughts suddenly turned to the story of Wanata and his supernatural mission to cleanse the Earth. Not since Stephen King wrote Cujo has a story about "man's best friend" shaken my nerves as much as "The Cleansing". The story is a suspenseful meandering around Native American legends and current human arrogance towards the planet. The Cleansing successfully reminds us that we need to pay attention to our environment without being preachy or authoratative. Cujos...I mean Kudos to John D Harvey on the success of his first novel. I keenly await the promised follow-up to the adventures of Wanata and Savannah.

Richard's book of survival during one of this nation's worst crisis and most poorly responded to events is well written and shows how badly we are prepared for disaster. it alsoshows what levels we can rise to when needed.

I started reading this book and couldn't put it down. It pulls you in making you feel like you were there also. I'm just thankful to God I wasn't. I highly recommend this well written personal account of that day in history and the events that followed.

Once I started reading I could not stop. I thought I might be getting myself into a book that, although I felt compelled to read it I was afraid I would cry throughout. Not so. This book told the real story and revealed how moronic the entire situation became, day by day, hour by hour. I could only chuckly at how rediculous the situation became. If I didn't know better by personal experience I would think it was a satirical comedy that someone made up after a bad dream. Sadly it was all true. I agree with one of the other reviews, this is a must read for anyone that could potentially face any type of disaster, expected, unexpected, natural or manmade.
Thank you Dr.D for taking the time to chronical everything. Especially, considering that post-K there isn't much time for the luxury of such things. It is amazing your mind and memory could focus on this project.
Thank you.

This account by a professional is an easy to read, yet fascinating, portrait of the scene and happenings within the hospital during the Katrina episode. It is not overly dramatic or accusing, but a straightforward and creditable observation. I really appreciate the first-hand knowledge from a respected source. It was a while before we locals could deal with too much knowledge on too many happenings or were capable of facing and digesting how and what transpired. This is a study of dedication and courage of the staff at Memorial Hospital and is uplifting and healing because of those qualities that the staff displayed for all of us out here... It gives us hope and offers redemptive healing for the sins of the community because of their sacrifices and willingness to do the same in the future. I am grateful for that and this book.

We lived in New Orleans for nine years and during that time used several doctors at Memorial Hospital. Dr. Deichmann was our Internal Medicine physician. Later we moved to the Mississippi Gulf Coast and lost everything in Katrina, so we have a special interest and bond with those who experienced it. I remember Dr. Deichmann as a kind, quiet, professional physician and to picture him in these horrific circumstances is almost unbelievable. This book contains everything - sadness, frustration, courage, and even humor in the most dismal moments. I read it in one sitting, and will recommend it to all my fellow friends and survivors.