Authors Books

I loved this book. If you like fiction with a historical setting this is the book for you. I started reading it one evening as a break from the reruns on TV and before I knew it I was finishing it at 3am the next day. The characters are well developed and the plot keeps you firmly gripped. This author is a real stand out in many ways - character development, plot, intrigue, and romance settings. You will not be disappointed. I can wait for the next book.

First comes the disclaimer----yes, Bett Norris and I are published by the same publisher, but that does not preclude me recognizing a great book when I read one! (I have never met Bett and I would never review a book I didn't truly enjoy....so there!)

I admire the way Ms. Norris creates such an epic feel in this novel, not unlike To Kill a Mockingbird, and, in a slightly greater stretch, Gone With The Wind. When you have finished with the book, you feel as if you have somehow experienced a lifetime in a historical period that is not your own---- more importantly, a historical period that is uncomfortably, and gratefully, not your own.

While the story spans a long period, it reads quickly (despite the fact that I typically don't) and when you have completed the book, you will feel as if it was an important story for other people to know, and a also a feeling of gratitude that Ms. Norris told it so damned well.

It's a bit rare in lesbian literature to have a love story contain so much depth that the love the two characters feel for each other is so well ingrained within the storyline that it is not THE story...but rather the supporting structure of the book. I really liked that about this book.

Without giving anything away (I am not a fan of reviews that tell the story)---suffice to say that the connections in this book feel as real as novel can get. Don't hesitate to read it, since I typically don't enjoy historical pieces, I really enjoyed living this story. Some of the characters are with me still!

From the Book Cover: World War II is over, and like millions of others, Mary McGhee is looking for a future. A new start, a new job, a new place. But in the small Alabama town she's chosen, she soon finds it's not easy to leave the past behind.
There's the old problem of being an unwelcome woman in a man's world when Mary takes on the challenge of returning a neglected lumber empire to profitability. Then there's Lila Dubose, the boss's wife, who stirs up desires Mary can't escape, fears she can't control, and reminders that she is surrounded by threat.
Set in the shadow of the civil rights movement, "Miss McGhee" is a sweeping tale of forbidden love in a turbulent time. First-time author Bett Norris portrays one of the darkest and most troubling times in American history with exceptional skill and sensitivity, giving us a unique insight into our own recent history.


Can the world be changed just through your individual effort? And can a person change from being naïve, and oblivious and conservative to someone that tries to change the world? Those are the main themes of "Miss McGhee", an historical novel that, through the point of view of two women in love with each other, shows us 17 years of the changes in Myrtlewood, Alabama, from the end of World War II to the civil rights movement in the 60s.
Bett Norris manages to keep us interested throughout the novel and to create two appealing characters in both Mary McGhee and Lila Dubose, and this is certainly a book above average in terms of lesbian fiction. The main problem is the plot, or the lack thereof. Frequently things don't flow plotwise, e.g. the way Lila's racism is introduced, or the dialogue Mary has with Dr Morgan about that, after being described as someone that wanted to be left alone. There is also the "deus ex-machina" appearance of Sammie in the last part of the novel to solve problems between the two main characters. Other times there are things in the novel that make no sense. There are several dialogues between Lila and Mary about possible attitudes to take regarding Buchanan, and those possible attitudes are mostly never acted upon, making the reader wonder why this is so. Also, Lila and Mary's reaction during Sammie's second visit, could make sense in the beginning of their relationship but not after seven years. Anyway, for a first novel this book represents a nice effort.

This is the first book that I have read by Bett Norris. I hope she has either written more or has plans to do so in the near future. Not only did she develop a beautiful love story but provided us with a clear history of the times. Bett Norris ranks right up there with some of the best. I would encourage you to purchase this book and prepare yourself down for serveral hours of pure enjoyment.

START OF BACK COVER TEXT - World War II is over, and like millions of others, Mary McGhee is looking for a future. A new start, a new job, a new place. But in the small Alabama town she's chosen, she soon finds it's not so easy to leave the past behind.

There's the old problem of being an unwelcome woman in a man's world when Mary takes on the challenge of returning a neglected lumber empire to profitability. Then there's Lila Dubose, the boss' wife, who stirs up desires Mary can't escape, fears she can't control, and reminders that she is surrounded by threat.

Set in thte shadow of the civil rights movement, Miss McGhee is a sweeping tale of forbidden love in a turbulent time. First-time author Bett Norris portrays one of the darkest and most troubling times in American history with exceptional skill and sensitivity, giving us a unique insight into our own recent history. - END OF BACK COVER TEXT

If you've ever read my reviews, you know I get excited about new authors in the lesbian fiction genre. This first offering by Bett Norris was especially intriguing because it is set in the Old South. There aren't a lot of books in this setting - except for places like Miami and New Orleans - because rural, Southern towns just aren't that exciting. However, Norris pulls this one off without a hitch.

The author introduces Mary McGhee, a woman who takes a job in an unfamiliar town to get away from a bad situation (i.e., she had an affair with a young woman and was paid off by her father to keep quiet and leave town). Little does she know that she's walking into a no-win situation when she's hired by the Dubose family to run their lumber mill.

Mary pushes the limits of tolerance when she hires black men to work alongside the white men, when she hires the family of Mrs. Dubose (a woman who the town believes was basically hired to marry her mentally retarded husband), when she begins helping the black families to improve living conditions and educational opportunities, but especially when she falls in love with her employer. Not only do the two women have to hide their romance from the townsfolk (and society in general, given that the book is set in the 50s), the also feel guilt for cheating on the ambivalent Mr. Tommy Dubose. The only question is - can their love overcome these outside forces?

Being raised in the South in a conservative Baptist household, I could certainly relate to many of the attitudes in `Miss McGhee.' The most disturbing thing about the story is that many of these attitudes still exist - especially in smaller, rural towns away from the Gulf Coast. Hopefully this will change one day. In the mean time, Norris has a winner on her hands with the veritable `Miss McGhee.'

Mountain Dreams is two books in one. Both stories are a delightful, fun read with wonderful touches of suspense/adventure. Be prepared for a ride of your life.

The stories in "Mountain Dreams" pack an emotional wallop. I enjoyed reading both of them. In "Five Steps to Flirting,"Regina Citrano needs a divorce---from her well-meaning Italian family! Can she find her own man, without their help, by learning to flirt? Tyler Novak doesn't think she needs any lessons. A fun read!

In FIVE STEPS TO FLIRTING and SUNDAY SCHOOL AND THE SECRET AGENT, Gail Kennedy creates loveable heroines caught in dangerous situations coupled with the kind of heroes women dream about. Wonderful supporting characters and humorous treatment entertain the reader from page 1 to the end.

MOUNTAIN DREAMS is two complete and completely captivating novels.

The first story is side-splittingly funny. In FIVE STEPS TO FLIRTING, the heroine is pretty and intelligent but painfully shy. She is tired of being the victim of her large, well-meaning Italian family, who try to save her from "spinsterhood" at the ancient age of 25 by setting her up on blind dates--which are invariably with Mr. Wrong. A magazine article --FIVE STEPS TO FLIRTING -- appears to be her salvation. Inspired by the magazine's advice, she buys a long red wig, a short skirt, and practices the techniques the magazine details in the Cincinnati airport....And is mistaken for a hooker by a drop-dead gorgeous undercover agent with the FBI. From there, her day goes downhill fast and hilariously as she inadvertently stumbles into a diamond smuggling ring and gets kidnapped, taken for a long ride in a plane with low fuel. The Cute FBI guy quickly learns not to underestimate the lethal potential of her hot pink umbrella....

The second story, SUNDAY SCHOOL AND THE SECRET AGENT, the hot pink umbrella-- now in the possession of a straight-laced schoolteacher --has its way to Las Cruses. The school teacher has a big problem. An unmarried 32, and goaded by the bragging of her former schoolmate about that schoolmate's idyllic marriage and perfect family, the teacher invented a husband. Living thousands of miles away, she thinks she'll need never produce said husband. Wrong. She is wrangled into promising to go the class reunion The cute guy, who changed her flat for her and who she's seen around seems like a good prospect to be her make-believe husband. . Sparks fly between them during the lunch she fixes him to thank him. He's very attracted to SUNDAY SCHOOL, as he privately nicknames her as he keeps her under surveillance. She reminds him of a prim and proper Sunday School teacher -- it's a shame she's really smuggling drugs, which she picks up on her monthly trips into Mexico.... This second story is excellently crafted. It has it's funny moments, but is more poiniant than the first. And has much more heat as a love develops between the hero and heroine. Ah, but the path of true love never runs smoothly.....

This book containing two parallel stories with similar situations and vehicles, i.e. umbrellas, aunts/relatives, mountains, is beautifully written and contains plots filled with humor naturally evolving from various situations, plus the fun of mystery and confusion resulting from misunderstandings and erroneous assumptions by the characters. This book moves easily from one storyline to the next and keeps you flipping pages to see how the characters will eventually resolve their feelings for each other.

A must-read book for lovers of gentle sensuality and romantic dreams with fun and happy endings.

Murphy Dog Bedtime Story is just plain fun for children to read! The original art work enhances the text and helps children remember or figure out the words. The rhyme is fun and easy. Children will want to read it over and over!

Not only is this book a great story to read out loud to your child at bedtime, but it is highly educational. The rhythm of the story is perfect and at the end of the book is a dictionary to help younger readers learn their words. Read this book with your children and eventually they will be reading it TO you! And Murphy Dog totally makes you laugh remembering your own favorite dog. It's a very sweet book!

My son loves to read this book, and feels great because he can read it by himself. The story is good, and the pictures are wonderful. We look forward to many more Murphy Dog stories.

I love this book! I am a dog lover and think this is so unique! This book is written from Murphy Dog's point of view. The message for all of us is great. Murphy likes who is and he likes his place in life. He gets great satisfaction from just "being" with his family, and takes his role within the family very seriously.
The illustrations are wonderful--very warm and loving. The text is easy and my daughter loves to say some of the phrases as we read together.
The dictionary and definitions at the end of the book are so well written. Words are defined in easy to understand ways. This author clearly understands how children think.
My daughter and I give this book two thumbs up!

Murphy Dog is not just another fluffy book about dogs or animals. The story is an engaging tale of a real dog doing real dog things. As a special education teacher for first graders, I feel that this book is powerful because the text is rich, yet very easy to relate to. The illustrations transform this great book into an absolutely fabulous book. They enable children to feel Murphy Dog deep in their spirits. This book will give you immense satisfaction at the end of a long day. It is sure to be a book that will make your child plead for you to read "one more time." I personally can't wait for the next Murphy Dog book to be available.

Gustavo Perez-Firmat's memoir is a heartfelt read.
For anyone who has straddled the hyphenated word Cuban-American and thought themselves as a CBA (Cuban-born Americans) or ABC(American-bred Cubans), this book is a secret treaure.
Perez-Firmat takes the reader on a cultural literary journey as he tries to come to terms with exactly what and where home is. Is it the place you were born (Cuba), the place you were exiled to, (Miami) or the city that you find yourself most at peace with (Chapel Hill, North Carolina) Perez-Firmat offers a tender philosophical introspective read on all the above.
The book took me to the corner merchants and restaurants of la saguesera to the academia of Chapel Hill, where Perez-Firmat later settled in as he pursued a master's in literature. Or as he puts it, "Living with an American spouse, dealing with American stepchildren, and speaking English at home, I am much more aware of my nationality that I ever was before." (p.171)
His memories of his family dynamics (two grandmothers sharing a two-bedroom with him, his brother and their parents) will be relatable to anyone with a large Hispanic family or to fans of PBS 70s show "Que Pasa USA?"
But his take on his "romance with teaching" really resonated with me.
I enjoyed reading the often humorous tales of this professor in the classrom as he teaches college students about Spanish literature. In one scene, Perez-Firmat goes on to describe his philosophy for teaching, which can serve as a lesson to many aspiring teachers.
"I'm a successful teacher to the extent that I can get my students to fall for me...In a deep sense, I am the material...Like other love affairs, teaching has its own pace and moods, its good and bad days, its coded language, its rewarding or bitter conclusion. Sometimes you walk into a class and it's love at first sight."

This book made me come to terms with what being a Cuban born American means to me. Perez Firmat shares his own personal and sometimes painful experiences with the readers. In doing so he made it easier to define and understand my own experience as a Cuban-American who loves the United States yet has a yearning to gain a deeper understanding of his own Cuban roots.

That we Cubans and Cuban-Americans can find humor in any situation--even the most tragic and overwhelming--is a testament to our strength. This book is a poignant, funny, and sometimes sad tale of one man's struggle to find his identity. It is a very personal self-examination, but one that most of us (all us "hyphenated" people) can relate to. Are you Cuban? Are you American? Are you "of Cuban descent"? Are you Cuban-American? Are you one person at home and another at work? These are difficult questions, and he walks us through the even more difficult process of trying to find an answer. Does he have an answer? Yes and no. The author also explores the Cuban community's rise from its initial status as an underprivileged, immigrant, "exile" community, to its present role as an assimilated, politically active, financially powerful ethinic force. All of this adds more depth to his own personal identity issues. The book is fascinating, thoughful, and full of relatives we can all look at and say "I have an aunt/uncle/mother/father/etc. just like that!"

In the wake of the Elian Gonzalez saga, I just hope everyone reads this and remembers how and why we got here. Thank you, Professor Firmat.

That is the question that has echoed throughout the Cuban exile community for over 40 years. As the older generation fades, the new generation continues to ask, to wonder, if the next year will finally be the year when Cuba will be free and Castro will be, and there's no other way to say it, dead.

Perez Firmat and I stand a generation apart, yet reading this book, there really was no difference. The Cuban-American experience has much to do with yearning, an emotion that this book succeeded in evoking. We yearn for the Cuba we hear our relatives talk about. We yearn for the freedom of this never-seen homeland, to see the end of the tyranny. And we also yearn for this America, for the apple pie and Coca-Cola life we see and hear all around us, yet can never fully belong to.

Being Cuban-American is not only complex, it is two extremes thrown together. Finding our identity as we straddle two nations is a challenge even now, 40 years later, and even to people like me, first-generation Cuban-Americans. You are forced to ask over and over again, What am I? I am not Cuban, I was born here in the U.S. But I am not American, my "Cuban-ness" is such a strong, obvious part of me it cannot be denied.

Next Year in Cuba does a great job of giving an eloquent, humorous voice to this complexity. It's a great read on the Cuban-American culture, sure to give a better insight and appreciation to those wanting to know more.

As a young person who was born in the United States but whose parents were born in Cuba, identity has never been black and white for me--although it has always been blue, red, and white. This book crystallized so many emotions that I had felt my entire life but had never really examined. If you are 22 and have never been to Cuba, but still call yourself Cuban or if you are 60 and think if your childhood on that island paradise everyday--this book will make you laugh, it might make you cry, and it will certainly make you think. For over forty years now Cubans have been hoping for that "next year" to come to fruition, but we are still waiting. This book will make you long for "next year" like never before. Read it--you will never forget you did.

I was very pleasantly surprised and pleased by this book. It is certainly one of the best poetry collections I've ever read, and I've read many poets and many poems. What immediately draws you in about Soleil's work is its intelligent yet refreshingly accessible and readable style, and at the same time its highly intimate and personal subject-matter, very confessional and autobiographical. Some of the subject-matter will be shocking even by contemporary standards, but as the author himself explains, his real intent isn't merely to shock or to write dirt for dirt's sake, but rather, to express himself creatively and share his impressions about aspects of his life with the reader. Besides, attitudes in the West continue to become more relaxed, more enlightened, and we're a far-cry from the uptight, conservative '80s. Soleil's "Object Lessons" is in the tradition of Charles Bukowski, yet completely original. It has the potential to be (and deserves to be) an underground cult classic like Allen Ginsberg's "Howl", which is perhaps a much more well-known but far less readable and far more outdated work. So what is Oz du Soleil's work really about? Well, if u like to read about how wonderful everything is and how nice the flowers smell in spring, LOOK ELSEWHERE. These poems are unabashedly honest and explicit about how they deal with more daring topics, like the author's sexual interests, including frequenting sex clubs, porn, masturbation, etc, not to mention his preference for full-figured women over the anorexic magazine model. But its not all about sex and erections and "tuna-eating", there's also a lot of other things he talks about, including just regular friendship, especially with women. His use of language is unique and grips your interest. All thoughout, one gets a sense of an outsider, someone who has not quite fit in. Why? Because Soleil is an individualist, a moral nonconformist, a social radical, and an artistic original. Such people always have difficulty in the "real world" becuase they refuse to compromise and conform more than they absolutely have to, they just wanna be themselves and experiment with darker or more daring aspects of reality, even taboo reality. It is also clear from the persona in this work that the author is very human, a person with clarity, sanity, wit, emotions and intellect, not merely a Prozac-medicated, sex-driven, one-dimensional human being. This is Soleil's first published book. I recommend it highly!

This book takes you through a real-life journey of the author. Enjoy the ride as he makes observations regarding that which pleases and that which disgusts him. The candor is refreshing, but not for the faint of heart. I loved this book and get more out of the essays and poems as I read them over and over again.

This book takes you through a real-life journey of the author. Enjoy the ride as he makes observations regarding that which pleases and that which disgusts him. The candor is refreshing, but not for the faint of heart. I loved this book and get more out of the essays and poems as I read them over and over again.

Oz pulls his readers into his poems and invites them to look at life-situations in a different way. His articulate style leads the reader into the depths of Oz's mind. His style and use of language is unique and refreshing.

Object Lessons, was a work of very intimate natures. Very heartfelt and at times revealed the authors cords of gentle and justified frustration while seeking solutions to the myriad of questions about manhood, sexuality, relationships and life in general.

As a woman, I was given a precious peek into a world seen through the eyes of one man where the walls of codes,secrecies and deceptions were temporarily opened. I was made to feel that his journey is shared by many men but remains unspoken for many reasons.

I encourage the author to continue exposing this world to women and men so that we may come into a greater understanding of one another. Not by socialized programming, but by helping each other set aside our fears and appreciating the unique qualities that we all have to offer.

I first heard of this book when I was in 5th grade (about 10-11 yrs. old)...I'm 28 now. My African-American teacher would read us stories from it. I remember enjoying the stories so much that I bought this book for my son about 2 yrs. ago. My son is almost 3 now & while he can't read yet, I know he will enjoy the stories as much as I have. This book comes with a CD & is narrated by the author & James Earl Jones...the narration was well done. I listened to the CD & I felt as if I had gone back in time. The narrators are so vivid & they really get your attention. The CD is definitely a plus & the book was well written. I really like that the stories have morals & life lessons that we can learn from. I recommend buying this version of the book because it comes with the CD. I also recommend this book for children 9 & up. This book would be a great addition to anyone's book collection. I hope my review is helpful.

I read this book when I was in elementary school and fell in love with it. Virginia Hamilton really captures the essence of West African story telling and transfers that essence into American form. As an educator and historian, the lessons in this book has stayed with me for well over 18 yrs and I suspect the lessons will remain with me forever. I recommend that this book is on the shelves of every African American family.

As a storyteller and folklorist/historian, it saddens me that so few children today know anything about the joys of hearing a good tale from a wise elder. In Black America in particular, generations of children (including my father, thank God) had the wonderful tales of Brer Rabbit, Little 8 John, Raw head & Bloody Bones, Wiley & The Hairy Man, and the People Who Could Fly (title story) told to them as today's children are familiar with Kim Possible and the Proud Family.

I bought this for my beloved niece when she was eight and pretty soon, she began entertaining the children of the neighborhood with these tales just as I did after listening to my dad and I still do during storytelling gigs today.

Virginia Hamilton (RIP) did a masterful work in leaving this beautiful legacy to a generation where it is fast disappearing. She does a good job in interpreting the likes of Wiley the Hairy man, Raw Head and Bloody Bones (the PC crowd occasionally complains about this being too scary for kids as well as Brer Rabbit-let these crybaby fools go ahead with that sickening Barney the Dinosaur and the care bears). The edition that I bought for my neice was before the CD with Miss Hamilton and voicemaster James Earl Jones came out, but I have younger neices and nephews (and hopefully my own children in the future) that I will certainly look out for this for.

Another reason why this collection is in such need is that often, African-American parents (rightfully) complain about the lack of wholesome entertainment for their children in particular. Unfortunately, most parents of today were not exposed to these stories as I was and this often leads to well-intentioned but foolish recent activities such as the NAACP here in Charleston (SC) complaining about the lack of Black Santa Clauses in the local malls. As Miss Hamilton and those of us raised in the folklore tradition know, we have enough good things of our own culture to pass down to children than to worry of the color of Santa Claus.

Buy this, reconnect with your children, and enjoy.

This book is a trifecta:

1. You get to hear the author read her own writing. If you want to hear Virginia Hamilton and James Earl Jones adding their own special lyrical beauty to the reading of these stories, then purchase this version. Considering that Ms. Hamilton died in 2002, this CD is a must have.

I think it is important for children to hear the author reading their own work. So if you can't get to a book reading by the author, this is the next best thing. And you get to hear it over and over again.

2. The illustrations are magical, delicate, and powerful. Every child (but especially black and white) in this nation should hear the stories in this book. Before they know color issues, they should get to know the beauty and dignity of brown skin. To hear the dignity, power, and humanity of their own heritage or that of someone elses, before a world of anger taints them.

3. At the end of each story is a brief history of the story: it's origin, and variations, and other facts that help the story to become more real and personal, especially for a child who wants to know more about their heritage. This will inspire them to ask questions and (if they're older) do research as it cause me to do.

I read this to my daughter, Rachel, and she really enjoyed it. She smiled throughout the entire book. She loved the animal folktales about Bruh Rabbit, and Bruh Fox. She trembled with delight at the reading of the scary tales. As for her mother, my favorite was the title tale, The People Could Fly. It was magical!

I grew up in neighboring Illinois not far from `Pig Boy'. So, in reading this lovely memoir I found myself transported back into my own childhood memories of growing up. I was tired of reading at the time and therefore hesitant to give this memoir a chance. When I finished, I found that the author had reignited my passion for reading. This memoir will make you want to read again...to write again. The author truly captured the very humorous and.... yes poignant business of growing up, families and the unique value that every person brings to this world. Get this book, you will be glad you did.

There is a distinct nostalgia in Pig Boy's Wicked Bird. The peculiar power in this depiction of an American family is relevant to anytime, place, or condition. The author uses beautiful language and rhythmical sentences to creat a compact telling of this humorous and poignant memoir. The business of living can be lonely. The reader can make profitable use of the insights illuminated throughout this story.

First of all, I really enjoyed this book. I was skeptical going in, thinking it was just another outbreak in the rash of memoirs that has erupted on the best seller lists. This one is different. On the surface, it's a coming of age story, a story about self worth, self awareness, and the impact of family (the family in question being "the seven D's" - all of Doug Crandell's brothers, sisters, and even his parents have names that start with D.) But it turns out that what the story is really about is the three D's: disability, disfigurement, and just being different.

Two of the author's fingers are essentially severed in a childhood farming accident, leaving the boy disabled, disfigured and different. This leads to an awareness and an appreciation of those three D's -- that turn out to be everywhere in young Crandell's world: his mother who is "no longer a woman" due to a hysterectomy, a man with cerebral palsy who connects with the author, the runt pigs destined to be destroyed but saved by Crandell, a grandmother with a humped back, a sister with scoliosis, even the oldest brother is left changed by a never fully explained abduction reminiscent of Mystic River. (Most everyone in the book is marked in some critical, defining, and not always obvious way. Some, like the landlord's son, are, to quote John Lennon, crippled inside.)

Sherwood Anderson and his collection of grotesqueries, Winesburg, Ohio is the influence pointed out by Doug Crandell for helping him sort out his confused world of being marked different as well as leading him on the path to becoming a writer. What I noticed were the influences of William Faulkner, Flannery O'Connor, and in particular Carson McCullers. For a story of the Midwest, Pig Boy's Wicked Bird has a distinct Southern Gothic feel. (One person's physical characteristics are described as "crooked," "twisted," and "warped" in the space of a single paragraph). Like The Member of the Wedding, or even Truman Capote's Other Voices, Other Rooms, these disabled, disfigured, and different people will live with you forever.

There is a wealth of people out there who have grown up in a family that doesn't seem just right. Television for a lack of decent material exploits the dysfunctional family as it exaggerates the flaws of family life in America. "Pig Boy's Wicked Bird" by Doug Crandell tells a different side of the story. Yes, life is full of absurdity and tragedy but what comes out of this book is a recollection of our own past growing up and as weird as it seemed...it was wonderful too. Intelligently written and a delight to read I give it 2 thumbs up and a nub for good measure! This is a great life story!

Doug Crandall, former little Pig Boy of the Heartland, brings us a heart-rendering, oftentimes snorting food-out-the-nose-from-laughing memoir of friendship with farm animals and dealing with life's tragedys. Poetically written by the now grown up Mr. Crandall, even city girls like me can appreciate his love of family, roots and Jimmy Carter. If you love crusty old men, goofy dogs and little piglets, you'll love this story as I did.

This book is a good buy even if you don't really plan to read a poem a day. This book is an excellent anthology that shouldn't be missed. As a student, I know that some poetry books can have some bad choices, but this book is not like that. Every poem is good and makes you think. You won't be sorry if you pick this book up.

I simply LOVE this book and pick it up every day to read a poem---that's how good it is. It's turned me on to many new poets and renewed my acquaintances with the old favorites. I was happy to see this gem on page 278 by Raymond Carver:

"And did you get what--- you wanted from this life, even so?--- I did.--- And what did you want?--- To call myself beloved, to feel myself--- beloved on the earth."

The power of the words shine through: the power of words to heal, strengthen, uplift, comfort, hurt, wound, enrage, succor and rejuvenate! This book is a celebration and a joy to read.

I enjoyed reading the words to Leonard Cohen's, "Suzanne Takes You Down", a favorite song from my past.

The poem, "from Jubilate Agno" written by Christopher Smart in the 1700's while in an insane asylum (about his cat!) was awesome and a must read for EVERY cat lover.

"The Falcon to the Falconer" by Jonathan Steffen blew me away. Here's a few lines:

"Unleash me from your hand--- And I will lance the light for you--- I'll cut a swordblade on the wind--- And pennant it with flight for you--- To signal I am yours--- If you will free me to be true to you. . ."

I could go on and on! I'm so happy that I found this book and recommend it highly!

If you like to read, you will delight in the book. If you enjoy words, you will revel in this book. "A Poem A Day" should be the next book in your library!

It does not matter if you have enjoyed poetry before today, because this is a splendid collection of poems especially selected to touch and tickle you. Poems of love and nature and joy and mundane; you will find yourself in these words.

The editors, Karen McCosker & Nicholas Albery, have done a wonderful job of selecting interesting and intriguing poems. The footnotes alone make the book worth the price because they only serve to draw you into the poets life, or experiences, or work.

I do not own or write poetry. I like words and reading. I love this book.

Read 'A Poem A Day.' You will regret not having this book yesterday.

This book, "Poem A Day", edited by Karen McCosker and Nicholas Albery has become a permanent fixture on my nightstand. It is filled with long forgotten favorites and new(to me) poetry that always stir me in some way.There are odes, sonnets, play excerpts and wonderful poetry to find a little escape and add something special to your day or night. Several from giants like Shakespeare, Shelley,Kipling,Bronte,Browning(Elizabeth and Robert),Emerson,Dickinson,Wordsworth,Tennyson,Plath are sprinkled throughout, and have a note pad and pencil ready, because you are sure to find new favorites, you will want to check out more closely as well.
Whatever your mood, you'll find just the right verse here. Romance, humor, deep thoughts, dirges,song lyrics, great play quotes and much more.

The poems, which range from olden days to contemporary, follow the calendar. Each day has it's own special entry, and has notes on the Author or the poem itself and usually has some special meaning for that particular day. For example, from Hamlet - Act III, Scene I, the great and celebrated soliloquy("To Be or Not To Be....") is given the March 16th page - "On this day in 1976, a performance with Albert Finney in the lead role opened the National Theatre in London, some 25 years after work on the building first started....."
Or on February 11th..Sylvia Plath's poem "Words", you not only get to drink in the beautiful poem but also learn that -"On this day is 1960, exactly three years before taking her own life Sylvia Plath had written to her mother and brother with news of her first book of poems, 'The Colossus', being accepted by Heinemann. 'Amaze of Amaze', she wrote.

So the book, not only serves to give the reader the beauty of the words of the Author's themselves, but on every page, you'll learn something new about your favorite. It will also open new doors to others you may be just discovering. The editors encourage you to study your favorites and make them your own. You can take just one a day,linger with your favorites, enjoy the pleasures to be found in the words, and maybe even take the time to memorize it. Or read several a day, whenever the mood strikes. There are treasures inside you can savour and then return to anytime.

A year's worth of wonderful poems, a lifetime to cherish. And yes, you even get one for February 29th - "Time Is..." by Alan Beam, born Feb 29th 1948
Enjoy....Laurie

I have been very pleased with this anthology, which is absolutely for people who love good poetry in a variety of forms and styles. Great selections by Yeats, Hopkins and Blake, and many poems that you may - like me - have loved once and lost, plus some that are less familiar but great finds. Happily no Rod McKuen or Susan Polis Schulz and also, happily, no T.S. Eliot. In other words, nothing mediocre, but also nothing effete and academic. McCosker is obviously very widely read, very open-minded, and has a love for the musical, the meaningful and the memorable. The notes on the poets are very good reading. Let's hope it will inspire some good poetry writing in the next generation!

THIS GUY IS MY ENGLISH TEACHER!
Mr. Simmons is fricken' cool.
He's really funny, and I'm not lying. =]

<3 Corinne

Shawns poetry is some of the best slam Ive seen! He is an amazing poet, and ahs shown me what it takes to be a good poet! His book is great and really hits at some great topics! He speaks the truth, and doesnt care what people think of it...its just great stuff!!!

Shawn is awesome. His performances rock. He was my camp counseler this summer! His stuff is really deep, and it touches me. Some of my favorites are "Welfare Cheese" and "Angels". He is amazing.

I saw this dude at a show in philly. I can't believe the book was as good as the performance. Anyone know if simmons has a new book coming out, i am first in line!

I saw Simmons perform not too long ago and bought this book instantly. He took my breath on stage and on the page. If your thinking about buying this book- stop thinking- buy it. I was a little disappointed that some of the poetry I saw performed wasn't in the book. Looking forward to a second collection...

Though I've been a writer of erotica for well over twenty years, I actually read very little of the stuff, preferring the pleasure of novels in the horror/ mystery/suspense genres. Occasionally, however, a beautifully written piece of erotica does come along that grabs my attention and makes me realize how far I still have to go in becoming a good writer. RAW SILK by Lisabet Sarai is just such a novel. This is the story of lovely software engineer, Katherine O'Neil, who leaves her home and lover in Boston to take a job with DigiThai Ltd in Bangkok, Thailand. During Kate's first week of work there, she unexpectedly becomes sexually involved with one of the owners of the company, Somtow Rajchitraprasong, and with one of the company's clients, Gregory Marshall. Somtow is a married Thai prince who seems to be overly addicted to the delicious pleasures of the flesh and is more than willing to help Kate explore her own sexuality. Marshall, on the other hand, is the owner of a local sex club called the Grotto and has a raw animal magnetism that makes him alluring. Lucky Kate is instantly drawn to both men with a force that's almost overwhelming in the nature of its power. When Marshall introduces her to the world of S&M with the intention of making her a sexual slave, she finds herself giving in to hidden emotions that threaten to engulf her with their smoldering intensity. In time she will have to make a choice between the two gentlemen, not to mention her old lover, David, who suddenly arrives in Bangkok to win her back. As if Kate didn't have enough to worry about, there's also a conspiracy brewing within the upper echelons of DigiThai-a conspiracy that may bring the company down to its knees with her as the scapegoat. There's no doubt in my mind that RAW SILK is one of the hottest novels I've read in the past several years. Though it was written by a woman for a predominantly female audience, I found myself aroused in ways that surprised even me. There's definitely something for everyone in this novel: straight sex, bi-sex, male domination, female domination, threesomes, and the list goes on and on. But more than that, this book is exquisitely written. Ms. Sarai is a poet who knows the magic of words and how to make them come alive for the reader. She's able to capture the sheer beauty of Bangkok as well as its crowded streets, strange scents, constant noise, and the open friendliness and hospitality of its people toward outsiders. I felt at home there and experienced strong memories returning of when I lived in Bangkok during the late sixties. I also found all of the main characters in the book to be fully developed and rather intriguing, and even the information about computer software programming managed to capture my attention. I have to admit that it was a no-brainer as to whom Kate would pick to live her life with at the end. I can say that RAW SILK, like authentic Thai food, is a hot and spicy dish best suited for those readers in need of a little excitement in their otherwise dull and restless lives. It certainly spiced up my life, and I now intend to keep an eye out for more novels by Lisabet Sarai!

Kate leaves her lover David and goes to Thailand, where she seems to loose her inhibitions she had with David. Kate gets involved with men and women, exploring her sexuality in ways she never felt she could with David. There is a plot of sabotage which is well written until the end of the story. This aurthor had me wishing to be Kate throughout the book. Not for those who are not open minded.

Raw Silk is a well-crafted excursion into sensual exploration. The characters are vivid and the narrative moves steadily from adventure to adventure as Kate explores her desires and the mysteries of Thailand.

There isnýt a dull paragraph anywhere. Raw Silk kept me turning pages in search of the next layer of steamy prose. Ms. Sarai keeps you on the edge of your chair and panting. This is a rewarding read.

Raw Silk offers a wonderfully erotic, escapist read. Software designer, Kate O' Neil takes an new job - in Thailand. In the exotic world of the far east, she meets two different, but equally fascinating lovers. Both expand her sensual horizons, introducing her to sensualities and kinks of her fantasies. But throughout her sexual adventures, Kate still harbors fond memories of the man she left behind in Boston, and in the midst of her sensual experiences, she finds herself embroiled in fraud, deceit and business espionage.

A not-to-be-missed read!!!

Kate is in search of something/anything exciting and takes a job in Thailand. She immediately falls into a imbroglio of sexual/sensual pleasure with two very different lovers. The journey is definitely of sexual self discovery and exploration and exceptionally written.

I turned every page of this book and found compelled to read another page and then another until I was finished. Every page was exciting to put the book down was verboten.

There is an air to this novel that stays with you after reading the last page of the book and your compelled to think of your own reality and the choices Kate made her reality.