English Books

Great product- I received it quickly and was able to utilize it for a class I was taking.

On Solid Ground is a comprehensive guide for teachers who would like to implement a reading workshop in their classrooms. I found this book to be a very valuable resource. The book also includes an appendix full of reproducible sheets that support instruction and organization.

I just "happened" upon this book a few years ago, and since I first opened the cover, I have been amazed at how it "talks" to the reader. I was drowning in the beginning of my Reading Recovery year, and this book helped me to put teaching reading into not only a global perspectative but into plain language. Since that time, I have re-read this book every summer before I head back into the "regular classroom" in hopes that I will be renewed and refreshed when beginning with my new students. I have referred many teachers to this book and would recommend it as a MUST have in the Professional library of every teacher. NO you dont need to borrow a copy from someone. You need to buy one(and I didnt get paid to say that!) LOL You need to be able to mark it up and refer back to it all year long. My copy is now tattered and torn but what a wealth of information Ms Taberski has given me.

I am a first year teacher working in an elementary urban education classroom. I found this book to be a happy marriage between theory and practice. It is clear you are reading a book by a veteran teacher, not simply someone who theorizes about education. There are so many aspects to this book that I found useful. Taberski's chapter on assessing student needs and organization of classroom space were most helpful. Read this book and if you have a chance check out Sharon taberski at one of her workshops - she is an inspiration to us all. Be sure to check out the appendices at the end of the book - great reproducibles there!

After teaching for 22 years as a special ed. teacher, I read Sharon's book. It changed how I teach forever. Using Sharon's ideas, I decreased the amount of talking I do, increased the amount of reading my students do and saw tremendous change in even my most disabled students. One 4th grade student made 4 years growth in the first six months after I began to use Sharon's strategies and returned to her regular class. All students made significant improvements. I highly recommend her book and her ideas to every teacher of young children. You won't be sorry.

Ralph Ellison is still alive. This novel is a typical continuation of his themes. One black man entirely locked up Underneath or Below, in the Subway maze of corridors, tracks and blind rooms is the storyteller. He is also locked up in his lost memory that he is going to recapture little by little. And what will come out of it ? A brilliant black woman, Agatha will reveal her mystery. She is the granddaughter of a black minister in North Carolina, but she is the daughter of a white man and her mother was beaten to death by the grandfather of this white man. She will deliver her child in the hands of the brother of this white man. The minister will get a tooth for a tooth, a child for a child, and the brother of the white man, Agatha's uncle, will look after her and then what was to happen will happen, even if it is a blind alley and a dead end. The white man, Agatha's father, will go away and have another child from another woman, this time white. She will die and then the father will die and the child will be entrusted to his grandmother who will come back to the father's town to find his relatives, but she ignores his real name. Fate will bring the white boy and Agatha, brother and sister, together, and the other boy, the black boy Agatha is taking care of and who is our storyteller, will become the friend of the white boy. White and black are so entangled together that they cannot be separated. The whole story takes place in the Civil Rights Movements era and the Ku Klux Klan is all-powerful in this small town of Edene, the badly-named Edene. This will dictate the events and Agatha, her white brother and her black child will get swallowed up in the hatred that goes along with KKK and the emerging Civil Rights Movement. The end will be tragic. Both boys will manage to go to New York and get lost in the Big Apple, the white one successful and the black one rejected or rather dropping out. They will also manage to reestablish a connection, communication and memory, coming back to the black boy, who is now over forty, a door will reopen of a new relation between the two boys, Mikey and Tony. The stuff is heavy, pungent and strong. The novel is interesting and quite easy to read and follow. It shows how guilt, desire and hatred are all twisted out of shape and embedded in all loving postures. Yet something sounds and feels awkward if not out of pace. It is bleak enough to be true, and yet the divided personalities, loyalties and lives are rather well shown on the black side but remain kind of schematic on the white side. The wall standing between the two communities is well rooted in white fear and hatred, but it is insufficiently rooted in the same feelings on the black side. The author seems to be overprudent to describe the hatred, not the fear, the Blacks feel in front of white injustice or rather social and historical injustice. Relations with people from the other side was just as much rejected on the white side as on the black side. This latter rejection is not entirely felt and depicted : it is too much seen as a response to the stimulus of white hatred. It is not only that : the concept of difference, uncrossable difference existed and still exists on both sides, blocking the possibility for America to see that all it represents and it has invented is the result of a constant give-and-take process between the two communities, the result of a cooperation that nearly no one has the courage to show and assume, except maybe Ralph Ellison in the most recent half century. We do not reach the concept of democratic diversity that is emerging at that very period of time (1960s and 1970s) in Ralph Ellisons's writings and thinking. A great book that deals with memory that blocks history in its loss and that unblocks life in its recovery.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU

I could not put this book down: it is stunning -
beautiful, disturbing, frightening: brilliant and should have won prizes. The language is rich and urgent, the characters and settings compelling, the messages about good and evil and humanity are ones that we all should heed. Read it.

Orange laughter will stay with you long after you've read the last page. Ms. Ross's journey into the main character's deranged mind is riveting. The journey down the tragic road of the segregated south turns out to be a surprising love story that I simply could not get out of my head for days...

This is a wonderful and moving book. I read an extract from it once, and made a point of getting it...and I'm glad I did! The characters are all so unique and intruiging and the writer brings you right into their world. My favourite character would probably be Mikey, the young, overweight friend to the main character Tony, due minly to his innocence and kindly ways.The story takes you round many different corners and back again without leaving anyone behind. And as with many great books, the secrets unravelled throughout will no doubt bring a smile to your face or tears to your eyes.
Thank you Leone Ross for this chapter in my life of books...

I just finished Orange Laughter. I can't explain why, but something abut the book edified my soul, haunted me, made me want to write, made what I know seem real ... If that makes sense...

One of my favorite lexicons is Oxford Ameican Dictionary by Ehlich, Flexner, Carruth and Hawkins. As a matter of fact, I have been browsing for its publisher Avon Publishers of Bard, a division of Hearst Corporation of NY but could not locate it anywhere. I am so pleased with the entire format of the work that I am now looking for a replacement copy, a hardcover, if it is at all available. If only someone out there could advise where it might be found in and around Toronto, Ontario.

I am not a native speaker of North American English, and as such have relied extensively on OAD for all the help I can get -- particularly in the area of pronunciation. The system is uniquely logical, makes a lot of sense and is easy to master. I've recommended it to so many who are in my position. I would be thoroughly disappointed if I learned that the publication had been discontinued.

I like this dictionary, and use it often, but I have one complaint worth raising: THE PRINTING. Some of the pages seem to have been printed with too much ink, so "o" and "e" both look like solid black circles, and bolded "i" looks like bolded "l". Not a helpful trait in a dictionary!

Granted, I purchased this book because of its carriability, it is not the worst dictionary in the world. It contains a hefty amount of words compared to other compact dictionaries. But, what I traded for succinct entries is what I like about dictionaries: learning the unique history and etymology of a word. Otherwise, this dictionary got me through college.

The _Oxford American Dictionary_ , edited by Dr. Eugene Ehrlich, et al., is the best paperback American English dictionary. Even though the reissue edition of this dictionary is almost twenty years old, I consider it to be the best because it has excellent usage notes sprinkled among the usual definitions of words. Here is an entry with a note on usage: "hope*ful*ly (hohp'-ful-lee) 'adv.' 1. in a hopeful way. 2. it is to be hoped, 'hopefully, we shall be there by one o'clock.' > Many people regard the second use as unacceptable."

According to the editors, this dictionary "contains words and phrases likely to be met in reading and everyday life, including a number of slang, informal, and technical words and phrases." Many proper nouns, common foreign words, and abbreviations are defined, too. I suggest its purchase to university students for classroom use because this dictionary is small enough to be carried in a backpack. Students of English as a foreign language find its pronunciation guides easy to use. Others find it quite handy to keep nearby, in offices and homes, as a quick reference when writing or reading.

Highly recommended!

Need a small, lucid dictionary for looking up words and checking pronunciations? The Oxford American Dictionary (OAD) may be precisely what you need. Then again, it may not; it depends on what you value in a dictionary.

It is important, first, to note that there are essentially two types of dictionaries. Hardcover dictionaries are often large, cumbersome, and not at all portable. Their seemingly excessive size is spent on comprehensive definitions and large numbers of listed words. Paperback dictionaries tend to be much smaller, and are also called 'pocket' dictionaries because they, unlike hardcover dictionaries, can go wherever you go. Because of their smallness, paperback dictionaries contain fewer definitions than hardcovers, and are often forced to go without etymologies, or word histories.

The OAD is a pocket-sized, paperback dictionary. As such, it has certain limitations as well as strengths. Below I provide what are, in my opinion, the positive and negative aspects of this dictionary, followed by some additional commentary.

Pros:
-Highly portable
Although you would need cavernous pockets indeed for the OAD to be a true 'pocket' dictionary, it is compact enough to carry in a suitcase or book bag. The OAD is printed, too, on paper difficult to rip but also lightweight.

-Succinct definitions
One advantage of diminutive dictionaries is that in order to help reduce their size, editors reduce the length of their definitions. Brief, pithy definitions of words are easier and quicker to read than the longer definitions found in larger dictionaries.

-Useful usage advice
Although a dictionary is no substitute for such guides as Strunk and White's _The Elements of Style_ and Bernstein's _The Careful Writer_, the OAD is not afraid to let its prescriptive voice be heard. For example, after defining the word 'inflammable' (meaning 'able to be set on fire'), it is stated that the word 'means the same as ''flammable''; its opposite is ''noninflammable''. Careful writers prefer ''inflammable''.'

-Simplified pronunciation scheme
Most dictionaries, in showing how a word is pronounced, use symbols called 'diacritical marks'. Understanding them requires a special chart, which, though included in the dictionary, is itself confusing enough for many users to skip reading pronunciations altogether. Although this lax act saves people from temporary mental strain, they're punished in the long run by, for example, being caught pronouncing the word 'nuclear' as if it were spelled 'nucular'.

But I digress. The OAD does not use diacritical marks, and instead employs a simplified scheme that is easier to use without an explanatory chart, though one is still provided.

-Eugene Ehrlich is awesome
I didn't say this review was unbiased! One of the OAD's editors, Eugene Ehrlich, is the distinguished author of several excellent nonfiction books, including _Amo, Amas, Amat, and More_ (a Latin phrasebook) and _The Highly Selective Dictionary for the Extraordinarily Literate_ (a delightful sort of dignified rant about dictionary editors who perpetuate what Ehrlich deems poor usage, and much more).

Cons:
-Somewhat outdated
The OAD was published in 1980, and to some degree, it shows. Recently coined words, such as 'newbie', 'microsleep', and 'web' in the sense of the World Wide Web, are not present.

Don't be misled, however, into thinking that a dictionary absolutely must be up-to-date. If that were true, dictionary-makers would sell fewer dictionaries and software-makers, such as Microsoft, would be far less successful.

-Small, ergo not very comprehensive
This is to be expected in a pocket-sized dictionary. If you're going to own a small dictionary, own a large one, too. If possible, go to a real-life, physical bookstore and compare the hardcover dictionaries there. Consider factors such as print size (you'll want the text to be readable without a monocle), page size (you'll want large, but also thick, pages), definitions (do they make sense? are they detailed enough?), and illustrations (do you want quality? quantity? color?).

-Fairly flimsy cover
Books are unlike leather in that they don't improve with wear. Paperback books are not also called 'softcovers' for nothing, and the OAD is no exception. After just a year of regular use, my own copy's cover is bent, torn, and scuffed at every edge. The pages, too, are beginning to warp at one corner in the manner of ancient floorboards.

Not all paperback books have such ephemeral covers. My 'softcover' edition of Seamus Heaney's 'Beowulf' translation is thick, semirigid, and is not going to tear in half any time soon. If only the OAD were printed similarly!

-Paucity of etymologies
Large, hardcover dictionaries invariably feature a plenitude of etymologies, or word histories. They're informative, entertaining, and important if you want to better understand a word--and the English language in general.

Besides reducing the length of definitions and reducing the number of definitions themselves, editors must pluck out countless etymologies in order to make a compact dictionary. The OAD has undergone this treatment, but fortunately, the few word histories it contains are fascinating ones.

-No illustrations
Some dictionaries are ostentatious, overflowing with rich color illustrations; some are utilitarian, with monochrome drawings throughout; and some are irksome, with nothing but words.

Commentary:
Again, I recommend that you never use a paperback dictionary (such as the OAD) without a hardcover one in your possession as well. Hardcover dictionaries are satisfyingly comprehensive, but also unwieldy and expensive. That is probably why paperback dictionaries came into being.

As you can see from the five stars, I unabashedly recommend that you purchase the Oxford American Dictionary. But one last caveat: avoid the 'reprint', the 'mass market paperback'--the one with a red cover. Buy the one with a yellow cover, which is a bit more expensive, but also larger and printed on higher-quality paper, making it much easier to read. If you're considering buying this dictionary and using it with any frequency, you will not regret it.

My wife is a text book writer and has found this gift text to be quite valuable. Recommended

Those are the bitter pills of civilization. Like other bitter pills, they have great healing power. As a matter of fact, if the World took more notice of those pearls of wisdom, produced by outstanding minds, from Heraclitus to the Huxleys, policies might be less absurd and mass actions less disastrous than they actually are.

The book is dark verging on sardonic, reflecting the dark, sardonic nature of the best epigrams of our age. I was inspired to respond in the margins to a number of them, and I can't think of a better response to epigrams in general, than for them to get under your prickly skin to the extent that you might write your own ironic counterstatements. Bloodshed begets bloodshed, and so we might say (ironically) that this sort of bitterness begets bitterness. But it may very well be the most brilliant bitterness you've known.

Some of my favorite quotes with my responses--representative in the extreme:

"Where they burn books they will also in the end burn human bodies"--Heine, <>, 1823

"Where they burn human beings, they will also, in the end, burn the wrong book"--Eucaleh Terrapin

"A secret may sometimes be best kept by keeping the secret of its being a secret"--Sir Henry Taylor, <>, 1823

"Thus the wisest proverb is common sense"--Eucaleh Terrapin

"Freedom produces jokes, and jokes produce freedom"--Jean Paul Richter, Introduction to Aesthetics, 1823

"But to be witty is to be serious about other comedians"--Eucaleh Terrapin

John Gross has compliled an excellent collection of the best aphorisms into a nicely accessible framework. The book is arranged by chapters reflecting everything from "Nature" to "The Afterlife." This arrangement works well as a path to pursue the great thoughts that philosophers, psychologists, and aphorists have written about the areas that most commonly provoke interest. The book has an outstanding index and an insightful introduction from Gross in which he expresses his regret about not having beem able to obtain permission to include the observations of Wittgenstein. As Vauvenargues wrote in 1746, "Men's maxims reveal their characters," and one of the great values in this collection is that it juxtaposes what others have said by subject area, juxtaposing what the famous thinkers here included remarked on the same subjects. The cover of this volume displays an explosive rocket, appropriately enough. The anti-religious elements are especially entertaining, as it is always fun to see the response to the groveling aspects of Christian orthodoxy. Highly recommended.

Like most collections of aphorisms this one is rich in helpful thoughts. These thoughts inspire and give birth to new thoughts. 1) Aphorisms of others ideally inspire aphorisms of our own.
2) Aphorisms help make our minds more interesting.
3) It is senseless to read too many aphorisms at once
4) A little here a little there, aphoristic pleasure everywhere.
5) A good aphorism is one you want to tell someone else.

I think this volume is the best in the whole History of Middle Earth series. Answers a lot of questions. Christopher Tolkien did an excellent job.

`The Peoples of Middle Earth', the twelfth and last volume of unpublished notes by J.R.R. Tolkien, edited by son Christopher Tolkien, is, for me at least, a high point in this series. I have read `Lord of the Rings' at least 10 times, but I have read the appendices at the end of `The Return of The King' at least 20 times. Until the publication of `The Silmarillion', these appendices were the only tonics to cool the great interest in the history of Middle Earth and its larger context. And, it is this depth of history twinkling through crevices in the main text which makes Tolkien's two principal novels, `The Hobbit' and `The Lord of the Rings' so engaging. And, in so many of the earlier volumes, the primary subject was the history of the elves in Middle Earth and their battles with Morgoth. I confess these tales did practically nothing for me. I was much more interested in the histories of the Dwarves, Tom Bombadil, Numenor, their colonies Gondor and Arnor, the Istari (the wizards), and the Hobbits. For the Hobbits, this volume covers just about everything you would ever want to know, usually three times over, in different versions of the same texts. It also has some goodies on Numenor and as good a chronology of the first three ages as you can ask for. But still, it has scant new information on the wizards and nothing on that great deux ex machina, Tom Bombadil, who remains totally unique in the great world of Middle earth.
The best single value of this volume is for those who own only the Second Edition or later of `Lord of the Rings'. Apparently, the First Edition `Prologue' or `Preface' was removed from the `Lord of the Rings' printing, and this is a significant loss. Otherwise, those who delight in genealogies, chronologies, and linguistics, will get a new and better dose of these confections in this last and (one of the best) of this series.
As an aside, I was interested to discover that Christopher Tolkien had a deadline for this volume which, either by coincidence or by design, coincided exactly with the release of the first of Peter Jackson's three movie interpretation of `Lord of the Rings'.

This one, 10 (Morgorth's Ring), 9 (End of the Third Age), and 5 (The Lost Road and Other Writings) are the most worthwile entries of the 12 volume series. Don't buy it for "The New Shadow", however, as it is only 20ish pages and Eldarion or Aragorn don't even come into the story...closest tie to LOTR is the brother of Bergil, son of Beregond. However, there's lots here for you Numenorian fans...full account of the Heirs of Elendil, additional background on the tale of Aragorn and Arwen, how the humans under the oppression of Sauron viewed the Numenorian ships in the 2nd age. Then you get the history of Lembas bread, some more info on the feud between the houses of Feanor and Fingolfin and why, and even some dwarf and Rohan info. The lone entry for Hobbits deals with their family trees in full, excrutiating detail, even more than the Appendicies in the LOTR. This is probably my second favorite entry overall (next to Morgorth's Ring), as it has the largest amount of interesting material in the whole series.

`The Peoples of Middle Earth', the twelfth and last volume of unpublished notes by J.R.R. Tolkien, edited by son Christopher Tolkien, is, for me at least, a high point in this series. I have read `Lord of the Rings' at least 10 times, but I have read the appendices at the end of `The Return of The King' at least 20 times. Until the publication of `The Silmarillion', these appendices were the only tonics to cool the great interest in the history of Middle Earth and its larger context. And, it is this depth of history twinkling through crevices in the main text which makes Tolkien's two principal novels, `The Hobbit' and `The Lord of the Rings' so engaging. And, in so many of the earlier volumes, the primary subject was the history of the elves in Middle Earth and their battles with Morgoth. I confess these tales did practically nothing for me. I was much more interested in the histories of the Dwarves, Tom Bombadil, Numenor, their colonies Gondor and Arnor, the Istari (the wizards), and the Hobbits. For the Hobbits, this volume covers just about everything you would ever want to know, usually three times over, in different versions of the same texts. It also has some goodies on Numenor and as good a chronology of the first three ages as you can ask for. But still, it has scant new information on the wizards and nothing on that great deux ex machina, Tom Bombadil, who remains totally unique in the great world of Middle earth.
The best single value of this volume is for those who own only the Second Edition or later of `Lord of the Rings'. Apparently, the First Edition `Prologue' or `Preface' was removed from the `Lord of the Rings' printing, and this is a significant loss. Otherwise, those who delight in genealogies, chronologies, and linguistics, will get a new and better dose of these confections in this last and (one of the best) of this series.
As an aside, I was interested to discover that Christopher Tolkien had a deadline for this volume which, either by coincidence or by design, coincided exactly with the release of the first of Peter Jackson's three movie interpretation of `Lord of the Rings'.

This book should have probably been placed as book number 9, but I don't freaking care what order these are in.

This book goes back and shows you the evolution of the appendices, warning----------this is almost as boring as books 6-8, but still very enjoyable for tolkien fans. i really liked the tale of years but didn't really care about the FULL, and I mean FULL hobbit family trees. So even though ALL of the info in this book si good, some of it much better than the rest.

This book will be bought by a lot of tolkien fans, maybe even some who didn't read the silmarillion or any of the history books. The reason they will buy this is for the "New Shadow", and while it's very good, it is not the reason you should buy this. The reasons you should buy this is that the whole book is filled with interesting stuff, like the last pages of this book which shows you the unfinished story of tar-elmar. A very intrigueing tale that i certainly don't want to give away for all you tolkien diehard.

Overall, a very nice finish to the series.

Also there needs to be at least A movie made about the silmarillion, or at least a tale from it. COME ON PETER JACKSON, I KNOW KING KONG WAS COOL, BUT GO BACK TO WHAT MADE YOU FAMOUS, PEOPLE SAY YOU WERE NOT THE BEST CHOICE AS DIRECTOR, WELL THEY ARE RETARDED AND I THINK THAT YOU COULD SURPASS EVEN YOURSELF IF YOU MADE TOOK ON THE PROJECT OF THE SILMARILLION.


THANK YOU CHRISTOPHER SO MUCH FOR PUBLISHING ALL OF TYOUR FATHERS works, THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This flowing book of poetry is so enjoyable that you might want to read it in one sitting. The beginning has the beautiful language of pomegrantes, figs, and nature. At "Bach's Concerto No. 1 in C Minor" (210) the true feeling that this is great poetry dawned on me. And the poetic craft became better, too, through "The Bees" (217), "Straw-Blond" (243), and "Things I Didn't Know I Loved" (261). These poems progress through decades of his life and reach their peak in his maturity.

I was introduced to Hikmet through his poem, "Things I didn't know I loved". On the strength of this poem, I picked up this collection. I was tremendously suprised to find that there are many, many more poems that beautifully and powerfully express Hikmet's relishment of life, of love and the constant frustration he experienced as an exile.

His politics are a constant thread throughout many of his poems, as is his optimism in the future - in spite of being imprisioned and separated from his wife, his son and eventually his country. It is his passion for living, however, that struck me most powerfully. "Because of You", "On the Matter of Romeo and Juliet" and "This Journey" are among my favorites (and are among my favorites of ANY poet.)

If you own only two books of poetry, this should be one of them. (The other, in my opinion, should be anything by Rilke, but that is my taste.) Hikmet's words are exquisite and sublime. Highly recommended.

It's hard to express in words just how wonderful and beautiful Hikmet's poetry is - intimate, honest, uncompromising, gently humorous, filled with longing and hope and refusing to let despair triumph in spite of outward circumstances. In other words, profoundly human.

I don't think he'd mind if I quoted his poem "Hello":

HELLO

Nazim, what happiness
that, open and confident, you can say "Hello"
from the bottom of your heart!

The year is 1940.
The month, July.
The day is the first Thursday of the month.
The hour: 9.

Date your letters in detail this way.
We live in such a world
that the month, day, and hour
speak volumes.

Hello, everybody.

To say a big
fat "Hello"
and then, without finishing my sentence,
to look at you with a smile
- sly and gleeful -
and wink. . .

We're such perfect friends
that we understand each other
without words or writing. . .

Hello, everybody,
hello to all of you. . .


(translated from the Turkish by Randy Blasing & Mutlu Konuk; published by Persea books)

Thank you, translators, for bringing this wonderful poet to English readers. From the bottom of my heart - thank you and hello!

Does not matter how good the translation is, it is not comparable to the original work. Nazim Hikmet is world's one of the great poets, but what makes him special really is the way he uses Turkish.

A poet of great humanity, great compasion, a believer in the human race in spite of having been in jail from many years, as well as been exiled by the Turkish leaders. refreshing and immediate, poetry for everyone, simple and strong.

Taking on such a controversial subject as John Brown and portraying his tumultuous life, times, deeds and death in any form let alone in an engaging and objective manner would seem an impossible task, but Olds succeeds brlliantly in this novel. I won't bog down this review with the story line - it's been told and reviewed many times. I will make a note on the "format" of the book - it's somewhat unique to say the least. There are multiple first person narratives, quotes from historical figures and short vignettes, as well as an imaginary court scene with Mr. Brown. Don't be dismayed. This doesn't detract from the book. To the contrary, when one finishes this novel it all makes perfect sense. If you have an interest in John Brown, his place in history, abolition, the Civil War or just want to read a fine novel you won't be disappointed with this book.

Russell Banks's "Cloudsplitter" may have garnered higher sales, but Bruce Olds's Pulitzer Prize nominated debut novel, while unjustly neglected by readers, received more positive reviews, and deservedly so. Where Banks's wholly conventional treatment of the life of John Brown remains turgidly earthbound, Olds's more innovative take soars with incandescent energy. Where Banks's book plods, Olds's pulses with brute lyricism. Where Banks drones excessively, Olds incants extravagantly. At last, "Cloudsplitter" implodes of its own portentousness and gravity; "Raising Holy Hell" explodes with the raw power of its poetry. It is the difference between being sucked down a black hole, and riding the wave of a supernova. Which reading experience would you rather have?

....

you will never forget this book after reading it. this book should never go out of print. because of the subject. and because of the style of writing. it is quite simply,

fantastic.

In Raising Holy Hell, his novel about John Brown, Bruce Olds makes the reader ask: How should a person act if directly faced with the inhuman system of slavery that brutalised and killed millions? And, more uncomfortably, could extreme individual violence as exemplified by John Brown's actions be justified in seeking to hasten the end of slavery years before the advent of the American civil war? While vividly imagining through diary entries and historical documents the personality of John Brown and his impact on those who knew him, as a reader who just happened to stumble on this remarkable book I am most grateful to Mr. Olds for bringing into focus and making real the myriad repercussions that slavery had on our society and the individuals it affected. He does justice to real people whom he lets speak to us through his novel (apart, perhaps, from his portrait of Abraham Lincoln), including, among others, Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass. Perhaps most shocking are the inclusion of statements by judges and various "founding fathers" of the USA in support of slavery. Highly recommended for anyone interested in these human questions or this historical period. A remarkable book that also causes the reader to reevaluate their own response to present-day issues which are even now costing the lives of thousands.

An astonishing retelling of the life of John Brown. I selected this book for my book group after having listened to Banks' "Cloudsplitter" on BOT. I had read a few reviews of that book post hoc only to find that many critics cited this text as superior. I would say that the experience of listening, rather than reading, to Banks' book likely boosts my appraisal as I thought it was brilliant in its expanse, detail and imagination. As for Olds' work, it reads as though one is living through the time in a dream-like state. The wickedness and cruelty that is frequently attributed to "historical context" is brought to bear so that it is difficult to fathom how we look back at our American history as somehow noble and founded on justice. As for the man, John Brown, it was a serendipitous reading choice given the current state of world affairs. When resistance is linked to terrorism, the results are necessarily unpredicatable and frightening, regardless of the outcome.

America. A legend. A dream. A brand like no other. Dick Martin, author of Rebuilding Brand America: What We Must Do to Restore Our Reputation and Safeguard the Future of American Business Abroad, considers America all that and more. In reaction to the unprecendented level of anti-Americanism sweeping the globe, Mr. Martin calls for a drastic overhaul of the way American companies conduct business. Whether domestic or international, the impact of American commerce is felt worldwide. Mr. Martin treats "the sad condition of America's reputation on the world stage" with a thoroughness any political scientist would applaud.

While the author plainly states he is not an economist or political insider, his background as the former Vice President of Public Relations at A&T shines through every word. Clearly he was privy to major players, including politicians, who attempted to build a shining star called America that people around the world would adore. Citing opinion pollsters such as Zogby International, Mr. Martin underscores the unfortunate timing of several endeavors, such as Charlotte Beers who was named by then-Secretary of State Colin Powell to head up a global PR campaign to improve international opinion about `hard-hearted' America. Unfortunately, just as her tenure was getting underway in 2001, the terrorist attacks on the world Trade Center and the Pentagon sealed her early demise. Mr. Martin describes in great detail about her brave attempt to rebuild America's brand as the right PR gal at the wrong time.

Halfway through the book, we learn that anti-Americanism is not unique to the 21st Century. In fact, citing de Tocqueville and others, Mr. Martin makes the case that negative public opinion about America's choices has long been woven into the fabric of its existence. Globalization and the McDonaldization of virtually every country on the planet have led to contemporary feelings of ambivalence at best and hatred at the very worst. Interestingly, Mr. Martin points out how the French may despise Americans, yet they won't boycott burgers and fries. He investigates the psychology behind this distinction. McDonalds, for instance, has `glocalized' their franchise to include local tastes on the menu. Instead of beef burgers in India, they serve alternative meats. Nonetheless, the kitchen layout and work processes remain the same worldwide. According to Mr. Martin, such consistent messaging is an enormous achievement from which the purveyors of Brand America can learn.

The most compelling part of his book is his treatment of storytelling. A great part of public relations work centers around grand storytelling to evoke emotions and unforgettable associations with the brand you're trying to promote. King Arthur and the Round table, which undoubtedly pervades British mythology, stand for chivalry and honor. Levi's became an emblem of untenable freedom in Eastern Europe up until the early 90's It symbolized the Gold Rush, attaining wealth through sweat equity. We all know the Nike swoosh conveys the go-for-it athleticism that makes even seventy-year-olds Olympic champions. Why? It's all in the branding.

Brands make us a part of something larger than ourselves. It guarantees us an experience of unity, a connection with the Divine Spirit of the Good Life. It casts light into the shadows, grants hope to the hopeless, and builds a framework around which we create meaning in our lives. Dick Martin's book, Rebuilding Brand America, is an excellent treatise on what is good about America, on what we can do to improve our actions, and how to dismantle the one-way mirror so we can finally peer beyond the looking glass to see ourselves as others see us, too.

Christine Louise Hohlbaum, author of Sahm I Am: Tales of a Stay-at-Home Mom in Europe, is an American expat writer and PR consultant living near Munich, Germany with her husband and two children.

Dick Martin's book is a very interesting, almost "prismatic" overview of the multiple issues driving anti-american sentiment in the world today. When first confronted with this type of challenge, American Business either searches for "scapegoats" or attempts to derive comfort from it's growing overseas profits, not seeing the warning signs of what's to come.

I've just seen that Dick Martin will be running a webcast on this topic with the American Management Association on June 20th. Check out their website for more information.

Several books have failed to see, or make, the points that Dick Martin develops in his clear, logical and hopeful book about the future of U.S. diplomacy and the role of American business. Martin draws from long and useful experience at AT&T for insights that make this especially valuable to people in business and business communications.

Can there be a more daunting challenge than restoring positive perceptions of the United States abroad? With 23 decades behind it, America in the 21st century faces a new and different landscape with a mix of confidence and uncertainty not unlike that of any young adult. Yet the gulfs among America and other nations seem to grow larger, while the confidence borne of common values appears to be evaporating in an increasingly fragmented world. Even among the English-speaking peoples, today's USA frequently stands alone.

Brilliantly researched, gracefully written and compellingly argued, Dick Martin's latest book taps a lifetime of experience in communications and attitudes to present a crisp summary of what went wrong, what's under way, and what might yet work. Throughout it all, Martin underscores the central point that this is more than an issue for pollsters and pundits. American business bears a significant responsibility for today's condition and faces a largely untapped opportunity for positive action.

Dick Martin's book clearly drives home to the reader the problems that the US faces due to the widespread anti-Americanism sentiment that currently prevails throughout the world. The book is well-balanced, thoroughly researched and timely. He offers a plan to prod government and business to begin the long, difficult process to reverse the loss of prestige and influence that haunts the US today.
This important book should be read and taken seriously by people throughout government and business. I highly recommend it as a must read.

I picked this book out of the "take one" basket of shared books at my local Curves. In leafing through it, I was surprised I hadn't already discovered and ordered it -- I usually pounce on new women's fiction. But for some reason, I'd missed it when it came out. As others have said, this book is a true gem. Funny, poignant, wise, filled with situations that will make you shake your head and/or nod with agreement, it is a terrific read. In fact, it's a must read for any woman who is married or thinking of getting married. And yes, the recipes ARE delicious and a delightful bonus. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

I loved this book....couldn't put it down. I am an Irish American grandmother, and I totally relate to the dynamics of the men and women in this book. Having been married (happily) for 44 years, I could see the wisdom on every page. Highly recommend it for all couples "trying to figure out what's going on in their marriages". Commitment is the key word here. I am sending a copy to everyone I know.

I'm a forty-something ex-romantic who has pretty much sworn off fiction. I picked this up on a whim at the library and read it in a day and a half. I was a little worried when it started out a bit copy cat of Sex and the City but it quickly evolved into its own. It is artfully organized and written, intelligent, insightful and..... romantic!

Morag Prunty shows not only great insight into the workings of marriage, but an honesty that is often quite raw. Both main characters are women whose stories are told in the first person. Their thoughts and attitudes can be quite disturbing, making them seem very harsh, self absorbed and unlikable at times, but reflecting what goes through the minds of people in an honest way... thoughts we would never want actually heard by others! At the same time with all this psychology going on, it's pretty light and enjoyable reading. I recommend this book to anyone, but especially those newly married who may be going through their own feelings of let down and disillusionment because the stories of it's women characters not only express how common these feelings can be, but, as in the grandmother's character, it shows us where it can lead if those feelings are held on to grudgingly for a lifetime. Having said all this I must add that at book's end I felt very inspired by this novel.

I am not the type of reader that will sit down and read a whole book in one evening, but I could not put it down. I am not married yet, but this book taught me that love is not just what marriages are made of. A marriage is made of commitment, loyalty and the willingness to be there no matter what. This book made me cried and touched me in ways that not often books do. Read it, have some kleenex available and enjoy it. And when you are done, give your husband or boyfriend a big hug and tell them how much you love them.

this is one of my all time favorite books!!! I can read this book over and over and over again! I know the chapters by heart! There should be a sequel to this book

This is my second book by Ms. Norfleet and all I can say is I'm now a life long fan. I agree with the other reviewers, this story was wonderful!! As I read it, I kept remembering places I visited while in PR and it just made the story even more romantic and sexy.

I loved Marco's fierceness and his brooding nature matched up against Angela's sassy attitude and kind heart. I also enjoyed the story behind Marco's parents and his relationship with his brother, Roberto. I would love to hear about future adventures of Roberto and catch up with Marco and Angela in a sequel. I think Rita would be great for Roberto...after all still waters run deep. Much respect to Ms. Norfleet.

I don't see how any woman could choose between Marco and Roberto. What I wouldn't give to take a trip to Puerto Rico to meet my own little version of Marco or Roberto. Reading this and going back to the drudges of reality just don't measure up. This is what dreams and fantasies are made of. Dam, Angela was one lucky woman. Now, if I can see what's going on with Roberto, I will be completely satisfied. I happen to agree with with one Amazon reviewer. Rita would be too outta her league with Roberto, but who knows? Love can make funny things happens. We just have to wait and see.

Dope story

I agree with the other readers. This was a well-written, hot- sensual story that got me wanting to revisit Puerto Rico. Maybe I will find my own Marco the next time I'm there. Yes, please write a sequel for Roberto and I would love to see how the author handled Marco ex-wife with his present wife. Roberto love interest should be someone new. Rita didn't seem like she could handle him.
Love reading all your other books. Waiting for JT Story.
Keep writing. God Bless

Marco and Angela's story was wonderful! Her initial dislike of him added to the fuel of their fire. It was good to see Marco letting go and moving on from the "death" of his ex-wife, Angelina. A sequel of Roberto's story would be the icing on the cake. I hope the relationship with his "friend" in Texas stays as is and that love blossoms with Rita. They seem to be a perfect match for each other. It will be interesting to see how Marco handles the news of Roberto's secret in Texas and how it affects his relationship with Angela. Great job, Ms. Norfleet! I look forward to reading more of your work.