Contemporary Books

Authors k.t. Frankovich and David Taub were invited to be guest speakers at the Florida Writers Association's 1st Annual convention/Royal Palm Book Awards. It took place from Friday 25th through Sunday 27th, October at the Orlando/Altamonte Springs Hilton Hotel. They gave a one hour Poetry Presentation (on Saturday), which preceded the Royal Palm Book Awards dinner (the Book Awards took place later at 10pm).

125 guests, which included some of the 400 FWA members, publishers, editors, agents, book store reps, etc., attended the entire evening event.

Approximately 150 titles had been submitted, over the past 6 months, for just about every genre of writing imaginable. The 'judging system' had been incredibly carefully devised, whereby copies of submissions were sent out literally all over the US - every judge had no idea who the other judges were, and each one had no connection / relationship to anyone belonging to the FWA - its members or the FWA Board members, Officers, Directors, etc.

The 'scoring system' by each judge, for each book, was also very detailed - a list of criteria requiring a 'rating' for each aspect of the book, effectively giving an overall score book / per judge.

The judging took place over several weeks, and all the rating sheets were then returned to a panel of the Directors, and collated by them PLUS overseen and notarised by an attorney! The collating of each book's scores, alone, took 17 hours! A small number of genre categories had been pre-determined, so that each genre category would have its own award - a Winner and Runner-up per category. THEN, finally, an overall "Best Book of the Year" award.

For the Poetry category, there were approximately 40 books entered. Language of Souls walked away with the category's Best Poetry Book award!

Then, the FWA's President and founder, Glenda Ivey, prior to the Grand Finale of naming the overall "Best Book of the Year" winner, announced that the overall winning book had achieved something wholly unexpected by the 'collating panel' - Namely that, while the overall winner had 'simply' needed to have the highest score of all the entrants, it had achieved a flawless 100% maximum score for EVERY criteria by EVERY judge. And so, this obviously can never be beaten - but only ever equalled - in their future annual book awards.

Frankovich and Taub were stunned into absolute silence, when it was announced that the "Book of the Year" winner was........ Language of Souls.

In a later interview, Frankovich commented, "While we are obviously elated that Language of Souls won this award, what has stunned us the most is that a poetry book out-scored every other genre."

This iz good but this iz not az gud az Flubblebop

Yim yam widdley woooo!

This book, consisting of the poems of k.t. Frankovich, Ruth Solomon and David Taub, is beautifully presented with illustrations by Freydoon Rassouli.

The poems are positive and hopeful. And they are written in a form that can be easily understood. I enjoyed them immensely.

Three super-poets,Solomon,Taub and Frankovich ,plus the artistic mind of Rassouli... Swept away to the serenity of Taub,ripped to realities harshness ,Solomon (of course) Frankovich's ,from tears to fantasy cropped with Rassouli's surrealizm,,, what's not to like?

It seems, from reading the other reviews, this is a poetry book spreading around the world. I am sharing my copy with some of my friends and the comments are all the same. "I never knew books were produced like this anymore!" It is like an oasis of beautifully readable poetry in the desert of obscure and esoteric writing, which has pervaded the poetry world over the past decade. I was lucky to find this as a result of reading the autobiography by one of the 3 poets - k.t. Frankovich and her book, 'Where Heavens Meet'.

First: Balzac, even in translation, is a literary giant. He paints vivid, often dark pictures of 'society' and adds no detail in jest. There is meaning everywhere.

You can read Colonel Chabert in a couple hours, dwell on it for several days after, and be done. This is a wonderful translation from the French; with it, you can mine most of Balzac's intentions without having to consult a companion piece or Balzac guru.

The story is all about life, death, and "social" identity. Others have summarized the story well, but I will refrain. For this one, all you need is a solid literary mind and a few hours. In this edition, Balzac is direct and beautiful; from the dead rising to gateways between worlds to the lamentable futility of morality for its own sake, there is no want for vivid description.

"Colonel Chabert" is one of Honore de Balzac's volumes from his omnibus work, "The Human Comedy." The Colonel is a comic figure in and old military great coat and a wig who is ridiculed by young legal workers at the beginning of the novel. But, the joke is on the clerks, because Chabert is a war hero of the Napoleonic era who was given up for dead on a battlefield at Eylau. This translation from the French by Carol Grosman tells the story of the old soldier's resurrection in contemporary jargon. The novel is relevant today considering the service of soldiers in many wars continuing in our world. What happens to these heroes when wars end, or more accurately, shift to new fronts? Balzac paints the portrait of one old colonel who remains honorable and as a consequence seals his fate. The translation is very readable and the short novel is brief "scene from private life." The work will stimulate further interest in the monumental work of Balzac who had a relatively short life (1799-1850).

...of a great Balzac novella. Ms. Cosman captures the rigorous, logical quality of Balzac's prose - most translators get lost in unidiomatic wordiness. This 100 page novella showcases the Master's comfort with legal matters, his profound understanding of "the fang and the claw" and features at its center the incomparable Derville, Balzac's great, recurring lawyer character. I usually recommend Pere Goriot for first-time Balzac readers because of the rich connections between that novel and many other Balzac works - but I am hard pressed to imagine a better one-course meal than this rendering of Colonel Chabert by Ms. Cosman. I certainly plan to read her version of The Girl with the Golden Eyes.

One of the greatest novelists of all time, Balzac was most at home in the Paris of Post-Napoleonic Paris. In a time when the middle class was showing its strength and starting to reach towards the aristocracy, Balzac shows just how selfish and grubby and greedy humans can be in attaining and how treacherous they can be in keeping their all important upward mobility.

Colonel Chabert is a man disfigured in the Napoleonic Wars who was left for dead on a battlefield. After digging his way out of a mass grave, he finds that he has no legal right to his title or his massive estate. Nobody will believe his true identity. For ten longe years he goes about trying to communicate his plight to anyone who will listen. They only see a crazy bum, and his wife rebuffs his letters. She already has a new husband and kids. Finally Chabert is able to convince a lawyer named Dervilles to accept his case, namely that of reclaiming his title, lands, and wife. The problem is that noone is really interested in his life being resurrected. Most people would rather that he remained dead. So begins the ludicrous battle of a man against the law to prove his own existence.

This short but great novel, or novella, is a tragic take on the world's thirst for social status and the judgement by visuals that our society is only too guilty of to this day. If it walks like a bum, talks like a bum, it must be a bum. Colonel Chabert has such a hard time convincing people of his identity because of how they perceive him. It sounds echoes of Frankenstein in that a good man is reduced to a monster when all he really needs is love. The fact that even his wife wishes he were dead just drives home the isolated suffering of the book. As in all Balzac novels, you feel a world moving under the mantle of the book. The Human Comedy of Balzac is one of the crowning achievements of literature and ranks right up there with Shakespeare and Thomas Hardy.

Balzac, one of the greatest writers who ever lived, did not trip up with this one. I read it with great pleasure and conclude, as people so often say, that the movie based on the story did not equal the original. Ever the cynic (some might say 'the realist') Balzac portrays here the efforts of a noble-minded soldier, who rose from an orphanage to serve his country under Napoleon in Egypt and eastern Europe, only to reap the all-too-common fate of dedicated and true warriors---to be forgotten and ignored. Death (which he accepted) might have seized him, but he found a living death, a denial of his sanity and identity, as the reward of his service. Reported killed at the battle of Eylau, against the Russians, after a heroic action, the soldier literally crawls from his grave to a kind of shadowy survival. In his earlier life, Colonel Chabert had raised a woman to his own status, but now finds that she is unwilling to let others learn of her origins and does not want to recognize that he is, in fact, her long lost husband. Honestly thinking she was widowed, she married a highborn aristocrat who knew nothing of her humble beginnings.

The tale is one of greed, intrigue, loyalty and disloyalty. As usual, Balzac manages to cast a light, pitiless and bright, on every rotten corner of the human condition, while offering a few inspiring examples in contrast. Every detail of a lawyer's life in 19th century Paris is scrutinized, every glimpse of urban dairyman or elite country squirehood rings true. No wonder I admire him so much, no wonder I have no hesitation in urging you to read COLONEL CHABERT and any other volume of Balzac you can lay your hands on.

Biographical reviews tend to have a standardized format: several chapters on the linage of the subject, tales of early childhood, struggle and (usually)success.

Haberstadt's biography is much the same, except the author does a nice job of leading the reader thru the parts we have to endure by building a strong sense of the frustration and difficulties Doc Pomus faced throughout his life. The book isn't overbearing, and he paints an interesting enough picture of the determination this polio-stricken hall of famer had.

If there is a weakness, it's that you never get a real strong sense of what exactly it was that Doc did. I mean, I still haven't figured out if his contributions to some of the greatest songs were his lyrics, his sense of rhythm, his music, or a combination of all three. Certainly it is poignant to think that "Save the last dance for me" was written as he watched his new wife dance at her wedding, but there was too little addressing the mechanics of Doc's writing for my taste.

I thought it was a most interesting and useful book to have on one of the great contributors to rock and roll.... and long overdue.

Great book. I got choked up reading about Doc writing Save the Last Dance for Me.

What a great book. You never think about songwriters when you listen to a song but after reading this book you will. It's the story about the man behind some of the biggest hits of the 50' and 60's but it's so much more. Doc's story is more then his music, it's the life that he led and the trials he overcame to get there. If you're into music or not this is one book that will make you laugh, cry and just revel in one man's life and times.

The writer did his homework, and I'd recomend this book to anyone, also visit the Brill Building, There's Always Magic In The Air.

Great reading!

"Lonely Avenue" is one of the most moving books I've read in a long, long time. It's so good, I read it in one sitting. I couldn't put it down. This book will make you laugh, it will make you cry, and parts of it will make you want to jump out of your chair and cheer for its hero (and a new hero of mine), Doc Pomus, a true American orginal if there ever was one. Even if you don't know anything about him or his music, do yourself a favor and buy this book.

I have very high standards when it comes to idols (at least by my warped definition). Mrs. Lynn managed to be both an idol and hero to me. She is a strong out spoken female that refuses to compromise her beliefs to fit into a cookie cutter/hollywood type image. The best day of my life was getting to visit her ranch and pose for a photo on her steps. I love both of her books although Still Woman Enough is my favorite as she is completely relaxed in being herself. Loretta Lynn is an inspritation for all women young and old that have had to overcome hard challenges in life.

I have been completely in love with Loretta Lynn ever since I saw "Coal Miner's Daughter." I didn't even know who she was til I watched the movie at age 14, then I read the book and became hooked on her music. She is an amazing woman. Her life has been hard, and she doesn't take any of her success for granted. She is who she is. What you see is what you get with her. I don't know if anyone who reads her book could relate to half of what she has experienced, but it makes for interesting reading. I was lucky enough to see her live in concert a month ago, and when she walked out on that stage, I was brought literally to tears. I just couldn't believe this woman I admire so highly was actually standing in front of me. I'll never forget that night. And I will never stop loving Loretta Lynn. Read BOTH of her autobiographies. Both are excellent.

This is one of the greatest books that has ever been written. My father was a coal miner until he got hurt. I sing my self and loretta is just so good. Being from the same state she is i guess the reason she has such a influenece on my life. If you read this book you will love it.

Very interesting. This woman has led a very difficult life, but she never seems to lose her spirit.

A grandmother at 28? Wow! I learned a lot of interesting things about 1) the country music star, and 2) about coming up hard and making it work out.

This book is Loretta Lynn's tale of her childhood in Butcher Holler with her poor but pround parents. Her parents allow her to be married off to a man she barely knows when she is 13. Amazingly, she remains married to this man for the rest of his life.

Anyway, the husband encourages Loretta to sing publicly because he thinks she has a great voice. And I don't need to tell you how the career goes, because that's pretty popular knowledge.

All in all, this was a great book. Very well developed and informative, whether you're a country music fan or not.

This was definitely a cut above the general "hot and steamy" vein of romance novels (Which I won't read)...The voice of our wonderful main character is full of doubts, wonder, insecurity, and overall goodness that makes this book what it is. She considers her actions, God, and reflects on what makes a person who they are today.

The plot is of course nothing extraordinary, but the details make it something special. As a horse owner, I appreciate the drama queens and emotion of the horseshow, and the rather suprisingly non-competitive nature of our Rainney.

This is a book I have read twice, and looking forward to reading other Matlock books.

In her mid-thirties, Rainey Valentine's heart is breaking. All alone for the first time in her life since her beloved mother died unexpectedly from heart failure, Rainey's life just hasn't been complete. Though she has two siblings and a father, and has been unhappily married and divorced twice, Mama was the one person Rainey felt closest to in her whole life. Grieving, Rainey decides to flee her Oklahoma hometown with the inheritance Mama left her; her aging barrel-racing horse, an old truck and horse trailer, and a lifetime's supply of Mary Kay cosmetics. She coaxes the old horse into the trailer and drives to Texas to join the barrel racing circuit. Late one night, on her way to Childress, Texas, Rainey almost runs over a man wandering down the side of the road. She offers the unfortunate Harry Furneaux a ride to the next town, seeing as he'd been injured and his car totaled in an accident. He accepts, and soon becomes her driving companion. As Rainey and Harry go down the endless highway seeking self worth, they begin to fall in love. However Harry is running from his own troubled past, grieving a departed life in his own way. Can these two lost souls connect to find happiness with each other. "LOST HIGHWAYS" by Curtiss Ann Matlock, is a reflective look inside two individuals whose spirits are drifting to nowhere. Harry and Rainey each are struggling to understand the lives they have lost, and desperately trying to find a future worth living for. However, their caring and kindness for each other and the people they meet on the road begin the healing process. In her wise and gentle way with words, Curtiss Ann Matlock's emotional and meaningful story line leaves readers with the message that everyone needs someone to love them and for them to love. I enjoy the fact that she can convey a sense of passion and sensuality between her characters without having them fall into bed every other page. This is a woman who knows what the meaning of real love is.

Curtiss Ann Matlock waits entirely too long between books to share her delightful gems of romance with her public but, as with all good things, they are worth waiting for.

Curtiss Ann Matlock writes sweet, warm, funny romances that speak directly to the heart with every word. This book is no exception. And I especially love the ghost of Mama in her white fringed barrel racing outfit.

I've only had the pleasure -- thus far -- of reading three of Curtiss Ann Matlock's books, but she is one of those authors whose books I literally snatch off the shelves when I see them. In LOST HIGHWAYS, as in both IF WISHES WERE HORSES and THE LOVES OF RUBY DEE, her prose is warm, witty, delightfully quirky, and thoroughly honest -- just like her characters. She allows her characters time not only the luxury of being human, but enough time to fall in love for the reader to not only enjoy the ride, but to accept, without a doubt, that the couple has made the right decision. Don't expect to find lots of "hot" lovescenes here, but rest assured you'll find a lovestory that'll just make you feel good about being a member of the crazy human race.

This was such a soft-spoken SWEET romance. Not sugary, just lovely. Curtiss Anne Matlock is fast becoming one of my favourite authors. In this story Harry Furneaux,a discouraged and depressed doctor, meets Rainey Valentine, a horse barrel racer. He is enchanted by this delightful sprite of a creature, who seems to solve all of the world's problems by waving her magic wand full of practical, sage advice and deep caring attitude. She is terrified to fall in love again (she's been divorced twice) but Harry's slow, soft romancing finally wears her down and she learns to trust again. This was a truly delightful novel - you'll really enjoy it. Try my other two favourites by Matlock - Heaven in Texas and If Wishes were Horses.

I just made it around to this Rickman novel after reading all of the Watkins series so far and 'Chalice' and 'Curfew.' This novel is classic Rickman. It has humor and spookiness and all the great details I love in these novels along with complex characterization and keen psychological insight. Though some of the more recent Watkins' novels have been a bit off, this one is a great read.

There's nothing wrong with fast food, or a fairly speedy trip to Outback, but nothing beats putting a roast in a slow cooker and letting the aromas and flavors seep into your consciousness all day long. Your patience wears thin and when the meal is finally ready to eat, you wolf it down like a starving person.

Okay, strange analogy, but this book had the same effect on me. It started cold, then warmed up gradually, until all my senses were captivated. My patience was starting to wear thin, then BOOM! the flavors all combined and it was every person for himself.

Did I like the book? Absolutely yes. Can I describe it to you? Um, nope. Luckily, there are other reviews here that have taken on that responsibility, and have done so very admirably. I did, in fact, pick up this book based on their recommendations. As a vague overview, you could say this is a mystery, a paranormal, a horror story, a religious confrontation, a small town mentality gone amuck, modern civilization overflowing its boundaries. A love story. A story of good and evil, pride and prejudice, charity and greed, science vs faith. Or... none/all of the above. Take your pick, all the spices are here, savor what you like, and push what you don't enjoy to the side of your plate (Yes, I'll stop, the analogy is starting to wear thin for me, too).

In short, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for those who have time to appreciate the nuances of the plot. Those who can give little time to a book might want to wait until they can.

Anyone picking up this book looking for something like Stephen King or Dean Koontz will likely be disappointed. While the novel does involve supernatural elements, they are muted for much of its length - suggestive rather than in-your-face. Reading it, I was continually reminded of the work of John Cowper Powys - particularly A GLASTONBURY ROMANCE. The characters and setting are beautifully realized, and Rickman's writing is fluid without ever descending to the pap that constitutes most popular writing. It's been awhile since I've enjoyed a novel as much as I did this one, and I immediately purchased more of his work. Just don't expect Clive Barker.

Story: Bridelow is a (fictional) small town in central England, situated between the moors on one side, and an enormous peat-bog on the other side. Bridelow has been widely known for its beer (Bridelow Black) and more quietly known as the village in England that has stayed closest to its Celtic roots. Two religions co-exist there: the inhabitants openly worship in a Christian church, but there are other, quieter religious services, focused on the Goddess, and the Mother in Bridelow is not Mary, mother of Christ. The older, more "pagan" religion is overseen by the Mothers Union, a group of matriarchs who carry on the old ways and hold to the old lore.

But, things are about to change. First, the brewery gets bought out by a big corporate brewery, with many people losing their jobs. Second, the preacher at the Christian church falls ill, and is replaced, at least temporarily. Old Reverend Hans Gruber was originally an outsider, had but he had learned to peaceably co-exist with the Mothers Union and their beliefs. His replacement, Reverend Joel Beard, is a charismatic, let's-clean-house type, who takes it as his mission to "purify" Bridelow and drive out the evil pagan practices.

Is that all there is to it, though? Ma Wagstaff, the leader of the Mothers Union, distrusts coincidence, and suspects a connection between Reverend Beard and the selling of the brewery. Even Ma hasn't guessed at how big this really is, though!

The two central characters, amidst a large supporting cast, are Moira Cairns and Mungo MacBeth. Moira is a Celtic singer descended from a line of women who are not at all ordinary. She played in a band with two Bridelow residents, Matt Castle and Willie Wagstaff. Moira is not from Bridelow, but ends up being a crucial player in the battle that has been quietly, surreptitiously begun there. Mungo MacBeth is an American filmmaker of Scottish ancestry, who has been sent by his family to discover his heritage. He does, and it is much bigger, darker, and scarier than he expected. Will he and Moira survive? Will they end up together?

You might be wondering, about now, where the book's title comes from. While the local pub, connected to the brewery, is called The Man i' the Moss, that is not it. What starts all the wheels turning, toward disaster, salvation, or a bit of both, is the discovery, by a road construction crew, of a body buried in the peat-bog adjacent to Bridelow. An old body. Very old. The Man in the Moss turns out to have been an outsider, who was ritually sacrificed about a millenium before, to become the town's guardian against evil. When his peatmoss-preserved body is discovered, the government whisks it away to a museum for study. That's not good for Bridelow, who has lost its Guardian! Lo and behold, the body gets stolen and cannot be found by the authorities. But he will be found. And that's when things get really strange.

My take: This book is for patient readers only. There is a large cast of characters, all of whom are well-developed. The setting is also developed well, as is the theme of how pagan and Christian beliefs can mesh, or clash. All of that detail makes for a long story with a pace that is far from quick. The writing is impeccable, though, and the development of setting and cast combines with a complex plot to yield a very rich tale. The further you read, the more the story unfolds, and gets more intense, bizarre, and riveting. There are deaths, both predictable and not. Some big characters fade as the story progresses, to be replaced by others emerging into prominence. This story is as much about the town, its history, and its future, as it is about the people. The ending is, to some extent, what I expected, but is also very surprising, in other ways.

Now that I've read this book, I'd like to visit (fictional) Bridelow and meet (some) of these (fictional) people. But, I'd make it be on a sunny day, and I'd go with a friend, and I would be very careful to offend no one! Come to think of it, I did just go there.

Strengths: I know this town and these people. That's how well this tale is told.

Weaknesses: It is long (594 pages) and detailed; patient readers needed. Not for the squeamish, either!

Conclusion: This is a dark, complex horror story, rooted in Celtic beliefs and their meshing, or clashing, with Christianity. A long book, but well worth the effort!

Recommended: For those who love Celtic horror stories, and who are patient readers.

Something very exciting is happening in the small Welsh village of Bridelow.A 2000 year old body has been discovered perfectly preserved in the peat moss that surrounds the village. This book introduces the reader to the mystical Folk Singer Moira Cairns who I was delighted to learn also appears in several other of Phil Rickman's works.Moira is the obsession of a fellow deceased musician Matt Castle along with the Man In The Moss. This novel is dark, brooding and VERY atmospheric and the author weaves his tale with a deft hand. I have nothing but praise and admiration for this writer's works.

This is such a funny book!It totally cracked me up.
And it tells you stuff nobody else ever does. Like all the tricks famous people pulled to get to be so famous. Blair Witch, Ben Franklin, Mother Teresa,Steven Spielberg, George Washington , I can't remember all the rest, but you the picture right?... so many, from all walks of life. Ben and Jerry's, Home Depot! It's so cool. Anyways thats my opinion.

-H.

If you can only read one marketing book this year, read this one. Beyond marketing, beyond business, it's a book about how to make life more adventurous and surprising for yourself and others. A must read for anyone committed to serving others and making the most of themselves.

Ray Simon weaves various fields together, from psychology to astrology, in a humorous, enlightened "how-to" book that will help you greatly in getting your product or service into the life of those who can make it happen. Full of biographical snippets that will delight you, the book provides a really good blend of principles and examples. Another great benefit is that you've probably employed some of the tactics mentioned by Ray Simon at one point or another, so you'll be able to draw from your own life experience to tap into the spirit of mischief marketing.

All in all, this book is an invitation to be happier, more intelligent, more creative, more giving, more clever, and a lot more humorous than you already are. Buy it now and give it as a gift!

Martin

I have read so many marketing books that I can't keep up, I am writing a series of marketing books at the moment (Mosquito Marketing Series) because I have read so many books, tried so many marketing techniques and been very successful with my marketing for over 10 years now bringing myself and my businesses national publicity on many occasions. I picked up this book to see if I had missed anything and if you don't read this book, you are missing something! FULL of great ideas, motivational comments and examples of tried and true examples. I would highly recommend this book, it is full or helpful information, very well laid out, and with its little stories added in the side bar it is like a book within a book.

Who would suspect that so many famous people did such weird things to get started? I'm amazed that nobody has written a book like this before. It's almost unbelievable.

Wonderful reading. Oh yes. Oy! Such a book!

First let me state that I give the printed version of this book 4 stars, but the online version - the *uncensored* version, would get the 5th star, though I prefer to rate things by four leaf clovers, because I'm Irish, and...well, by whatever scale one may use, the results would be the same. That having been said, Mischief Marketing has opened up a way of looking at things for me - which had been there all along, but was fractured in the process of aging. And I'm not referring to any inner child schtick either! Where talking about things that are attributed to the child because that is where they are most often seen. What is so strange about having fun and enjoying what you pursue? Or feeling some hope against the machine that some voice (be it yours or someone elses) may be heard, which otherwise wouldn't? This book has renewed my hope and drive to degrees I don't think I'm even fully aware of yet. And I have begun utilizing many of the tactics with other artists as well.

It's a wonderful, funny, educational, inspirational and ultimately absolutely essential book. Thank you Mr. Simon.

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.

(Note: Portions of this review have appeared in lesser detail elsewhere.) Simply stated, Richard Rodgers is America's finest composer. In our history, no other composer's music equals the consistent and prolonged quality, innovativeness, range, and sublime beauty of his compositions. Rodgers'exquisite, unforgettable melodies are crafted with such subtle ingenuity and sophistication that they never lose their freshness or their appeal.

Rodgers' musical genius was matched in two legendary partnerhips, the first with lyricist Lorenz Hart, and the second with librettist-lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II. Rodgers' collaboration with these two gifted men elevated and transformed musical theater into a true and distinctive American art form.

There is a knee-jerk tendency by a few so-called musical "experts" to site Gershwin as the greatest American composer. But discerning authorities and audiences know better. The ENTIRE BODY of Richard Rodgers' work stands the test of time better than Gershwin's, or for that matter, better than the music of Berlin, Kern, Porter, and Arlen, all gifted composers.

Rodgers' music is universally admired and respected generation after generation among all kinds of audiences. Few, if any of his compositions sound dated which cannot be said for a significant portion of Gershwin and other composers' music.

Rodgers' music is written so brilliantly that it seems organic, as if nature itself had perfectly strung together a series of notes which sound no less than heavenly, and which seem as if they could not have been structured in any other way. In some of Gershwin's music, particularly "An American in Paris" and "Porgy and Bess", the music seems stilted, grandiose, even pretentious.

You never get that feeling with a Rodgers' composition. His music always has a quality of lightness, fluidity and sponteneity something missing in portions of Gershwin's music. Some of Gershwin's music feels leaden and redundant unlike Rodgers' works.

The breadth of Rodgers' range as a composer was limitless. And no other composer was better than Rodgers in translating character and plot into music. Here is a man who wrote scores perfectly suited to shows as diverse as "Oklahoma", "Pal Joey", "Carousel", "Sound of Music", "Cinderella", "King and I", "No Strings", etc. The list is impressive.

"Musical Stages" offers a detailed account of Rodgers' life and his incomparable career. In it, you will meet Rodgers' two most famous collaborators the undisciplined, gifted, and lovable Lorenz Hart, and the idealistic, eloquent, and reliable Oscar Hammerstein II. Rodgers also reveals behind the scenes stories about Mary Martin, Yul Brynner, Gertrude Lawrence, Julie Andrews, and other luminaries of the musical theater.

This autobiography should be required reading for fans of musical theater and popular music.

I reviewed that book a few years ago,but i feel i could give a better review of it now.Let me be objective here by saying that RICHARD RODGERS was the best AMERICAN composer of the previous century.This book of memoirs gives you a real insight of the music business at the time of mister RODGERS.The anecdotes are very accurate;they show the good and the bad aspects of the music business.RICHARD RODGERS learned early in his career that you are always as good as your last success,and that producers are the kings of BROADWAY.The best example of this is that even with all the hits he had,RICHARD RODGERS never could give ALLEGRO a second chance on BROADWAY.A show that failed is almost never revived again.The man has a lot to say about creativity;the way one must always stand tall even in adversity.One of the most moving passage of the book is the retreat of LORENZ HART and his death at the age of 47.RODGERS certainly knew the value of a partnership.That he could work with both HART and HAMMERSTEIN demonstrates how good he was.Nobody in the history of AMERICAN music has done it better.Out of the 40 shows that he created,10 have become classics of the repertoire.That's quite a feat.If RODGERS was the best,it's simply because he was the most passionnate and the most talented;a perfect combinaison.In my book,there will never be enough revivals of his shows.Buy this,you'll become a fan too,this is guarantee for a lifetime of musical pleasures.

Please read my review preceding this one too. Today is November 4, 2001, and the Emmy Awards have just been telecast on CBS. To close the show, the magnificent Barbra Streisand sang a tribute to the unfailing courage and spirit of the American people whose lives have been inalterably changed by the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

Of all the great American songs which could have been chosen to comfort and hearten the American people, the one Streisand sang was "You'll Never Walk Alone" composed by the incomparable Richard Rodgers from the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, "Carousel". The poetic, inspirational lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II are superbly matched by the sheer eloquence, beauty and emotional power of this soaring ballad. "You'll Never Walk Alone" is one of those songs that once heard, can never ever be forgotten.

Coincidentally, airing opposite the Emmy awards tonight was the PBS special "American Masters, Richard Rodgers: The Sweetest of Sounds" a documentary on the music and career of Richard Rodgers.

In a way, tonight's televised events were a double tribute to a man who was an American genius. He was in my opinion the greatest composer of popular music ever. I venture to say that his entire body of work stands the test of time better than the music of any other great American composer including Gershwin, Berlin, Porter, or Kern, etc.

I don't think that any of these other supremely gifted American composers could have demonstrated the prolonged and consistent brilliance and unbelievable range that Rodgers had. Here is a man who wrote songs as varied and memorable as "Manhattan", "If I Loved You", "Lady is a Tramp", "Edleweiss", "My Romance", "Mountain Greenary", "Mimi", "Hello Young Lovers", "Oklahoma" which incidentally is now the official anthem of the state of "Oklahoma", "My Funny Valentine", "Shall We Dance", "Bewitched", etc., etc.

It seems impossible that one man is reponsible for so many different styles and such a consistently high level of artistry and ingenuity over many decades. And yet Rodgers was.

Rodgers has touched and illuminated audiences generation after generation. He has given people music which is infinitely accessible, yet sublimely crafted. Simply stated, no other composer can equal Rodgers' accomplishments and the impact of his musical legacy.

Since RICHARD RODGERS is my favourite AMERICAN composer ,i could have killed to have that book, and i was not disapointed.One of those few autobiographies that are completely honest.You learn about his family upbringing, his complex relation with LARRY HART,the way he and OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN worked together ,and the way both were affected by the failure of ALLEGRO.You also discover that most movie producers didn't really care about music ,and that RICHARD was glad to go back to BROADWAYin 1935.It is also interesting to read the introduction of his daughter MARY, saying that she likes what other people likes about him:his music, but she also adds of course i loved him.RICHARD RODGERS was probably a very private person, who was in a way forced to live a public life because of his profession.

There are a handful of composers of American popular music whose body of work is revered generation after generation. Kern, Arlen, Gershwin, and Loewe come to mind. But at the top of the list is Richard Rodgers.

In my opinion, Rodgers is the greatest songwriter in the history of Broadway and popular music. His range was simply astonishing. He could write jubilant, folksy music as in "Oklahoma" or jazzy sophisticated tunes as found in "Pal Joey". He could create soaringly romantic melodies such as those in "The King and I" or inspirational and spiritual ballads as presented in "Carousel". Many of his songs have become popular standards as well.

Rodgers adapted brilliantly to a variety of subject matter. And the longevity of his illustrious career is enviable. "Musical Stages" not only chronicles Rodgers' life and work, but it is also an overview of the development and maturation of American musical theater to which Rodgers contributed mightily.

In this autobiography, you will get to know some of the true giants of American popular music in particular Rodgers' two lyricists: the impish, undisciplined, yet lovable genius Lorenz Hart and the wise and idealistic Oscar Hammerstein II. Both of these men wrote many of the best lyrics ever composed for Broadway or popular music.

You'll also meet acting luminaries such as Yul Brynner, Gertrude Lawrence, and Mary Martin among others. "Musical Stages" is a rich addition to any theater and popular music buff's library. Read it with delight!