Reds Books

Have you ever been 1500 miles away from home, with $3 in your pocket (between the 3 of us) and watched as your horse beats a guy out of $1200 playing 9-Ball, and then beat's the same guy 22 games in a row, playing $500 a game onepocket?.. We thought the guy was gonna have a coronary at the end.. He was all red and flustered, and breathing funny.. Best part is, when they first started gambling, my guy put the coldest move on him.. Since we where on the air barrel, he told the guy (as he reached into his pocket, as if to pull out some $$$) " Do you wanna post?.. Nah, you don't have to post with me.. I trust you".. LOL..

That's how it is on the road, where you play onepocket for the big bucks, and 9-Ball to pay the room rent.. And that's what this book is about, hard nosed gamblers, playing a man's game.. This book is written by some of the greatest players that ever played, and thoroughly covers most aspects of the game.. From power onepocket, to the "wedge" game, and including a "Shots From the Past" section, that is sure to amaze..

Plus, 'Winning One-Pocket' delves into many finer nuances of the game.. Secrets that take years to aquire, and infact, most of the time only get passed from champion, to protege.. Things such as logical end game strategies, and uptable traps.. Moreover, the book discusses high concept of knowing how AND WHEN to apply pressure, and more importantly, when to back off.. After all, it's about getting the money, and this book will give you better insight on how to do just that..

I have personally spent thousands of hours playing and gambling at pool.. My brother is the 1999 US Open Onepocket Champion (He is also the 2003 US Open 9-Ball Champ).. He and I both have copies of this book, and we (I'm sure he would agree) recommend this book, highly, if you can find a copy..

This book is a great resource for shots rarely seen. This book has brought my One Pocket game over the top. I have won more games after practicing some of these shots. I have lost a lot of money players after execution of these shots as well for the cash. I am telling you, this book will be the most valuable investment for serious players.

I bought the book about 2 years ago when I was young to one pocket. And still today, I like to browse through it and solve problems. It has great commentary and advise from some of the best players, and interesting stories along the way to let your brain rest. This book is a must for beginners to experienced players.

This is an excellent book on how that most esoteric and frustrating of pocket billiard games should be played.

The diagrams are very helpful and the discussion of the theory behind each of the possible shots really helps make a difficult game more approachable.

For this edition the authors also made an effort to capture a lot of stories about "best" one-pocket shots across the years.

Having this book and working through just the beginning points has already added 2 balls to my game.

The only problem? It is not available. I actually ahd to go to e-bay and pay more than 2x the original price for it. But it was worth it!

This book gives tremendous insight into one of pocket billiards most cerebral games. One-pocket is a game where knowledge of the "moves" of the games are as important as playing ability. What I found particularly good about the book that seperates it from others is the way it offers multiple solutions to common situations with some of the game's greatest players all giving opinions on what particular shot they liked best and why. The book is well illustrated and has rare photos of tournament players as well as legendary road players. The book is quality bound, is oversized and I for one am glad that I bought this when it was new. The other one pocket book by Eddie Robin "Shots, Moves and Strategies" is also very well done.

This Book was very helpful for my 5th grader, and me. It gives clear explanations of various forms of writing.

This book has had a strong impact on the way I write.My dream of being a professianel writer seems so close when I read about the process of writing in this book. I really think this is a wonderful book to have, all through your life!

Out of all the resources I was exposed to during my time in college (elementary education) this is my most treasured. It is thorough, entertaining, accurate, and creative.

It not only covers the writing process wonderfully (and it surely does that), but is overflowing with tips and tools to help the writer/student: tips on giving speeches, performing poems, test taking strategies, planning a writing portfolio, conferencing with partners about your writing, developing a personal writing style, conducting interviews, story elements, reading strategies, tips to improve listening and thinking skills, how to manage your time, just to name a few...

It is exhaustive in covering the various forms of writing (a sampling: persuasive and expository paragraphs, narratives, letters, poems, journals, newspaper articles, family stories, book reviews, observation reports, fantasies, tall tales, historical fiction, even writing songs and plays...)

Beyond the writing process itself, you will find information on all sorts of things: writing conventions, parts of speech (including every single preposition, predicate adjectives, direct objects and the like), synonyms, homophones, contractions, all the different types of pronouns, on and on...

But more than being an indispensable resource, it has a cool presentation. Students will actually enjoy reading from this book, and get excited about their writing. It's not your typical dry text most students at any level are subjected to.

This is good for everybody. The teacher (public or homeschool). The student (especially one struggling to enjoy writing). And the writers among us. I wouldn't put any age limit on it.

I've used it to homeschool. I'll be using it in the public school classroom soon. And I refer to it with my own writing.

As a teacher I wish every child had their own copy.

Get this. You won't be disappointed. You'll wish you stumbled upon it a lot sooner.

I have 3 boys who dislike writing. It's frustrating to get them to think of ideas to write about even in their daily school journals. This book makes thinking of ideas fun and helps to know how to write them. I borrowed Writers Express from a friend after being told it was great. I then purchased Write Source 2000, as I was unsure of the age appropriateness. Write Source 2000 is great for 6th grade and above because it is less cartoon-like and has higher level information. Writers Express is perfect for 2nd grade and above. Much of the information is overlapping, but written age-appropriately.

I am a fourth grade teacher in California. I first saw this book about 5 years ago and bought a few copies for my class to use. I was amazed at how it fascinated the students even though it was a writer's handbook. It was in constant demand during our daily sustained silent reading time. The book is colorful and inviting and contains a wealth of information besides just general writing how to's. It has maps, presidential timelines, helpful math tables, and much more. It is colorfully organized and coded for easy reference and written to appeal to kids and motivate them to write. I showed this book to my principal and other teachers and they were all so impressed that the decision was made to order the books for all of our upper grade classes 4 through 6. The Write Source books have become one of the key components of our language program. I would highly recommend this book to all parents and students. It is a resource that is as valuable as the dictionary or encyclopedia that you offer your child at home to support his/her education.

This is hilarious light reading with excellent illustrations.

The conversations we've had with our kids about how they become baby elephants, and vultures, in their manners and behaviour has been a treasure.

A delightful light allegory about growing up and parenting.

I buy this book for my grown kids who are expecting their first "zagazoos" so they'll get a glimpse of what it's gonna be like. Really great perspective from the parents and kids point of veiw.

My daughter loves this book(23 months)She doesn't understand the subtle and VERY amusing story line but the pictures and text have kept it in the favorite pile for many readings(sometimes 2x a night)It makes me laugh every time I read it.....

I love reading this book to my 2 year old because he thinks it is funny and interesting and I chuckle to myself about all the various stages of wild animal that we have yet to experience! It makes me sentimental for the times my husband and I had together before our Zagazoo came along! It is sweet. It is a great book that I will send to all the parents I know.

We took this book out of our local library, and I am now online to purchase 5 or more copies to have on hand to give to all my friends as they become parents. This book appealed to me particularly as a parent, because in a clever and amusing, albeit heartfelt way, it relates the feelings and thoughts a parent experiences as their child grows and develops.

I loved everything about it - the humor, the pathos, the simplicity of the storyline, and the colorful illustrations by Mr. Blake. My child really enjoys it - and he didn't mind my explaining the parts to him he didn't understand - or won't - until he, too, becomes a parent!!

In the vein of Shel Silverstein.

Just great.

An excellent comprehensive review of the players, management, & even the broadcast team who painted the picture for fans in the '67 season. I find it intriguing to read not only about the star players (Lonborg & Yaz) also the fringe players (Joe Foy, Dan Osinski, Don McMahon, etc.)whose journey in their baseball career enabled them to play on the'Impossible Dream'. The members of SABR (Society of American Research)hit a homer on this product!I'm a Yankee fan & I recommend this to any1!

1967 marks the first year that I really became a baseball fan, and the first year I saw Fenway Park. I remember my first sight of the storied Green Monster as if it were yesterday. As much as I am enjoying the more recent success of the Red Sox, there will never be another year like '67.

I do not exagerate and I say in confidence that I enjoyed this book more than any sports book that I have ever read. It brought back 1967, and some of my best childhood memories. It also preserves a great time in baseball history, along with the stories of the young men who comprised this team, hero and benchwarmer alike. I, along with Red Sox (and baseball) fans everywhere owe the authors a debt of gratitude. One can sense the dedication of the editors in compiling this great volume.

Especially if you are a Red Sox fan and remember '67, but even if you are a casual baseball fan, this is an unbelievable bargain - at this price you simply must get this book.

For red sox fans the year 1967 is not remember for only the summer of love ,its the year of the impossible dream . The sox had not won a pennant for 21 long years and it was the start of red sox nation as we know it . The book is fantastic it covers the 67 team .The words of the players are very interesting .The bio of them are great ,knowing how they became sox, and how they did on and off the field .enjoy it

This was one of the best books I have ever read. The book goes into great detail about every member on the '67 team. All the contributors of the book should be commended for brining 1967 back to life. I wasn't born in '67 but by reading the book I felt like I was there.
I really enjoyed the chapter about Tony Conigliaro, my favorite member of the team. It's terrible what happened to him. God bless your soul Tony C.

This is not only a great companion to the recently released Impossible To Forget DVD, but it also puts every other book on the 1967 Red Sox, and there are many, to shame. The best part for me are the individual biographies of every player who played that historic season; even the ones who only got into a few games. The book proves that every single player on the team contributed to the pennant. Put another way, when you win by one game, take one player away, no matter how insignificant, and the team would have ended up in second place. A remarkable team. A remarkable book.

There has been a long debate about the death of the theatre. And that debate still continues, but plays are nevertheless being produced, actors are playing Hamlet over and over again, and directors are staging everything, from timeless classics to newest avant-garde. Even so, death of the theatre seem iminent. New methods of expression appeared which drove public fromt the teatre seats. Nowadays, in those seats you can only find aged critics, younger men and women still posessed by the power of art" and some older couples which have no place to go. Can there be future to such setting?
Whilst future reamins obscured in unsettling clouds, past looks glorious and full of appeal. Not only in works like ones of O'neil, Brecht, Pirandello or Shakespeare but also in the ones that have more modern" sound, whatever that should mean. Dario Fo is one of those men who brings with himself entire glamour of theatre together with precise sharpness of satire and political subversion.
Upon reading this play, you cannot but think of Groucho Marx and his extravagant style, high intelligence and unparalleled big-mouthedness. All of those characteristics were incorporated into the Fo's character called Maniac. But such comparison might not be entirely fair, having in mind what was said before. Still, Death of an anarchist" functions as classic farce, with what it seems as a total anarchy in script and staging, anarchy that is apealing in such a way that you simple cannot put this book away.
Magic of the theatre shows itself in the best way on these pages. You are being drawn into the world wihtout rules, which scarringly resembles our own and which we can relate to. That kind of identification puts us on the edge. And Fo is aware of that and uses that fact in such a brilliant way, that you have to bow to him.
It is quite unnecessary and to some extent impossible to retell the story of Death of an anarchist". It would be exactly the same as if you were going to retell the Marx brothers film and expect that it would have the sam impact as seeing and hearing Groucho, Harpo, Chico and Zeppo act themselves crazy.
When you're feeling sad or you would just give up on everything and go with the flow, forgeting that posibility of rebellions ever existed, you should reach for this book, and it will charge up your dead batteries, making you feel the joy of existence and laughter all over again.

"Accidental Death of an Anarchist," by Dario Fo, is adapted by Gavin Richards from a translation by Gillian Hanna. The Methuen Modern Plays edition contains an introduction by Stuart Hood; Fo himself contributes an author's note and a postscript. The opening pages note that the original Italian edition had a copyright date of 1970. The author's note describes how the play was inspired by the death of an anarchist being held in police custody.

This outrageous comedy opens with a character known as the "Maniac" being brought to a police station. It's a very "metatheatrical" piece; Fo warps theatrical conventions and makes jokes in a way that reminds me a bit of Luigi Pirandello's "Six Characters in Search of an Author." There are some really funny scenes, but a very serious vein still runs throughout the piece.

Ultimately, this is a thought-provoking piece about truth. What is the true story, and how do you discover it? Fo's satiric wit explores police brutality as well as the relationships among the police, the media, and the political establishment. I recommend this piece by the Nobel Prize winning Fo to all with an interest in 20th century drama and/or political activism.

I truly enjoyed this play and again am wondering why it is not put on more often. Granted, it has a specific political objective, due to its timely plot and circumstancial event. Yet, as a performer, I find the quality of writing to be extremely wonderful. Interestingly, I also discovered that Fo's viewpoint on comedic and political theatre to be very similar to my own:

(It) grabs at the heart and guts, but attempts to get there by a violent moment of laughter. Because laughter does not remain at the bottom of the mind, leaving sediment which cannot be wiped off. Because laughter helps avoid one of the worst dangers, which is catharsis. (5)

Fo wanted the reverse of catharsis, the emotional release, and it is very apparent in Accidental Death of an Anarchist. He seeks to provoke, debate, to arouse feelings and to challenge ideas while inviting his audience to consider new points of view. I respect this form of theatre, for it is the hardest to write, collaborate, and present clearly to an already cynical audience in this day and age. By using an absurdist/satirical/farcial approach towards the issues of power, its abuse, and political stations, he creates sense out of nonsensical characters and situations. The maniac, a harliquien like character, leads the members of a police station somewhere in a city, in this case we assume New York or London, through a dizzying investigation around the questionable death of an anarchist from years before. Mysteriously, the anarchist had "thrown" himself from a four story window during the course of police investigation. We, the audience suspect foul play for the cause, and in effect we see the maniac give nothing but insane play to the accused. He is quick witted and incredibly dynamic with language and vast information. The maniac flaunts with their pride and guilt, causing mass confusion. The audience cannot help but love his crazy ways. In true satiric fasion, just and darkly comedic rewards are served to all characters by the end. The audience is left wondering how these events effect them. The ever present window in the scene is the only realistic element that the audience must contend with. It reminds them of the reality of the crime, how it really took place, and yet they are forced to laugh at it and find disgust in that humor. It is this form of satire that provokes thoughts and action towards change, which is what Fo wanted. It is this subtle stealthiness of dark humor that creates the desired effect of political theatre: change, perhaps for the better, or in this case, for the playwrights cause.

I saw a small production of this play a few years ago in downtown Minneapolis and was most interested in what it had to say about police interrogation techniques. This is not a topic which I would expect to be popular now, as most emphasis has been shifted to deadly confrontations, and the only major death in this play is of a suspect who was hanging out of a police department window before he dropped to his death. In the history of people being pick up for interrogation, this might be as famous someplace in Italy as the Biko case in South Africa, where police in Port Elizabeth picked Biko up and slammed him against the wall because he was not cooperating fully in their investigation of his attitude toward law and order.

I thought that the theme of the play was that the police get overly zealous in trying to pin a crime on a particular person once the police have made up their collective minds who they think should have committed the crime, as the defense allegations in the famous O.J. murder case seemed well founded when the methods of the L.A.P.D. were subject to the scrutiny of attorneys who are aware of how these things are usually done. In the case of the actual event upon which the Accidental Death of the Anarchist was based, the police techniques were subject to an official investigation, and the play was written as on ongoing farce which kept Italy informed as more facts came to light. The play may be way beyond the Zen of any audience, but if people think that something about the nature of the police is revealed in it, I don't think that those people should be considered as paranoid as they ought to be. Anyone who loses sleep over this kind of thing hasn't adjusted well to modern society, so they can probably find a shrink to give them pills that will put them to sleep, but that is a different topic, but not much different, really.

In the age we're living in today, this is the perfect satire of police departments. We always here in the news about some cop in some city getting caught framing someone innocent (or sometimes worse). Fo does a wonderful job of humorizing that situation. Some might call the play over-the-top, but they're just missing the humor of it all. I've read a lot of plays, and this is definitely one of the best modern plays out there. Everything about it screams "wit." The characters are great, and memorable too. If you have the chance to buy it, don't miss it!

I am a personal assistant and I read this book in an afternoon. I found myself highlighting every word!! It is a must read for those experienced and unexperienced assistants in the field. This book is a keeper in my library of "tools in life." This is a book that you will refer back to time and time again - trust me! When you think that you are on top of your game, a book like this one crosses your path. PURCHASE IT - you will not regret it; it's NOT just another "how to" book!

I would recommend this book if you are serious about becoming a personal assistant, or wanting new ideas of skill building. It's very resourceful and a book you'd always look back to.

Every thing I read is great input for becoming a personal assistant. The book even provides websites for you to research

I first heard about a job as a Celebrity Personal Assistant from some overdramatized, hyped show promising all sorts of glam and goodies. When I went to begin a more serious inquiry into it as a real career I found a lot of equally useless websites and guides that just glossed over the "perks" and didn't detail any real practical advice on this topic. Until I found Beyond the Red Carpet. This is a comprehensive book that offers a complete view of the vital role that Personal Assistants play in the world of celebrities and high profile successful people. It offers a clear list of the skills, temperments and abilities required for this job as well as sound,concrete steps that you can take to be successful in this career. At about 25 bucks you get a wealth of knowledge, know-how and insight. It covers the pitfalls, expectations and some of the frustatrations one might face as well as the upside - well balanced, clearly written and practical it's obvious that the writer knew her topic throughly - living it not just reporting or glamourizing it. Despite an incredibly tight budget, I invested the extra monies to take the actual workshop at their Atlanta headquarters and found their help invaluable. This is a professional text written by a talented, focused and knowledgeable woman and is a link to a much broader network of experience and expertise. I was frustrated and lost before attending and through the staff's help, the information from this text and meeting other dynamic individuals pursuing this challenging, but exciting career; I found the inspiration to make a new, more focused start. After getting home I rewrote my resume using their suggestions and was told that my it stood out amid over 400 who had applied for an Executive Assistant/Personal Assistant job to a local CEO. The comment by the HR person was - Yours was the first resume that made me stop what I was doing and pick up the phone to call you. I've accepted the position and am happily pursuing it as the next step to building the kind of experience that will land me a Celebrity position. Don't be fooled by the sales pitch flashy books out there. If you're serious about this as a career - get this book and look into their workshop. I found the author and her entire staff to be bright, energetic and talented business professionals with the experience and connections to make great things happen. RHExecAssistant at AOL

Beyond the Red Carpet, is a great book that details how a high-profile person whether celebrity, professional, educator, or even a athlete can gain the necessary support to be able to concentrate on daily responsibilities for their career. Beyond the Red Carpet, entails so much rich information that every person in a profession should read! It's entertaining, informative, effective and just a great book that should be in everyone's book collection.

We love Alfie, Rosie and all their family and friends. Bondi especially.

All the Alfie and Annie Rose books are excellent! My son and I read them over and over, without getting bored. Gentle little stories about everyday life, with likeable characters and lovely illustrations. Often humorous. My favorite children's author.

We raised all 3 of our children on Shirley Hughes's books ("Dogger" was the all-time favorite) and now I'm giving them to my first grandchild. Absolutely first-rate stories with the most exquisite, fascinating illustrations. Do your children/grandchildren a favor and get them hooked on this series!

This book was an all-time favorite with my sons when they were ages 3-7. From unexpected adventures to everyday routine, Alfie meets life with good-natured friendliness, honesty, and quick thinking. The stories emphasize the multi-dimensioned personality of every human, no matter his/her age! I wish there were more books like Hughes writes.

My son, 3, loves this book. The stories have humor, tenderness, and the children are always treated with dignity. I love Shirley Hughes!

"Bound by Red Clay" continues to astound the contemporary poetry market! It has been nominated for these awards: Georgia Writers Inc. Book of the Year--Poetry Category, Tufts Discovery Award, and the poem "Gopher Tortoise" was nominated for the coveted Pushcart Prize. The first run sold out in 6 months, and the second printing has sold 50% in only a month. Neca Stoller's work is indeed slated to become one of America's best.

When I ordered Neca Stoller's book I wondered if the high standard I had admired in examples of her work I'd seen on the net would be sustained through a book. It was.

My other concern was whether poetry specifically drawing on a Georgia, USA, landscape would be relevant in Australia. It was. Australian friends have validated my opinion on this.

Like the book itself the poetry is spare, direct and captures the essence of her subjects. Her focus is not distracted by any vanities. The discipline of Japanese genres shines through. The poetry is strong and credible.

I commend it to anyone with a sense of place and community, no matter where in the world they are centered.

Neca Stoller is a poet rooted in the soil of the rural South. Her latest volume is filled with images of the red clay of her home state, as well as characters from her family, uncles and aunts and cousins, former college roommates, and others who populate the Georgia backwoods.

Stoller, born in Savannah and educated at the University of Georgia during the tumultuous 60s, has spent the past several years living, working, and writing on a Georgia cattle farm. Her love of the land and the gentle rhythms of rural life sparkle in her poems. Bound by Red Clay is a slim volume of 60 selections, arranged in five titled chapters. It comes after numerous accolades for her verse from such diverse organizations as the Palomar Showcase and the Haiku Society of America.

Ms. Stoller is at once both peaceful and poignant when she focuses on the slow and repeating meter of country life. "Sultry Evening" is an evocative short poem about the pleasures of rocking on a porch hammock while crickets harmonize on summer evenings. In "Red Clay," we follow along as she wanders through sites of the Civil War, still heavy with memory. "Baling Hay" reminds us of the heat of such summer work, but rewards us with an image of " an iced mason jar/ black tea thick with sugar."

Stoller's themes throughout the book are telling: homecoming, death, lost love, the summer's heat, rural life, the social history of the South. She obviously has roots in her homeland, and that foundation creates lovely verse. The truths she finds among Georgia's red clay and pine forests ring true through time and space.

Even the title of Neca Stoller's first book of poems--Bound by Red Clay--tells us we're dealing with a Southern poet who deals with solid images. Many of these pictures painted by this Savannah poet are Southern and specifically Georgian: magnolias, lowland graveyards, 1960's protest marches, Cherokee excavations, front porches on sultry evenings, even a moonshiner by the name of "Flem." Red clay is a good image for the poets of Georgia, especially those who have left the land: Anyone who has tried to scrub the knees of a child's pants or footprints left on a beige carpet knows that red clay stains will always remain. One might be able to dull their immediate brilliance, but the brick-red trace will remain truly bound to the material.

That fading but "bound" sense of images propels the poet--and then the reader--through this book. The volume contains poems that are slim on words and fat on images. Stoller paints tiny pictures that loom large in one's verbal and pictorial memory. A pair of pinking shears "left marks like a bobcat's bite." Corpses are freed from their graves during the Flint River flood of 1994; "their hands rose and waved . . . they sat in the mud, naked-- / grinning--not a bit shy." On the morning after a lovers' tryst, the poet bittersweetly proclaims, "Such a short night, / still out of breath."

The poet reminds us we are tourists passing by a world full of scenes; the most important admonition someone can make to us is simply to look. Her haiku-like poems resonate with ideas and emotions that emerge out of the things pictured here. For instance, there's "White Chrysanthemum": "tucked between / fallen leaves / a white chrysanthemum / once pinned to my lapel / by your unsteady hands."

After a while, the poems begin to resonate with each other. Arranged into sections that Stoller calls "Chapters," the volume is like a collection of minimalist short stories: The poet's youth, a set of scenes with a former lover, her experiences during the University of Georgia's first year of integration, scenes from nature, and Stoller's own shifting and meditative identity as a poet.

Every semester, I post a new poem on my office door. I try to find one that immediately charms and then provides an opportunity for me, pausing with keys in hand, or for my students waiting for their office conference, to reflect. Stoller has given me a new volume's worth of poems to place on my door; this book will provide you with a similar opportunity to recognize and meditate.

"Bound by Red Clay," by Neca Stoller, is a collection of poems which allows the reader a brief peek into Stoller's life in Georgia during the 1960s. Stoller recounts moments through lively, visual poetry. She is unusually attuned to her surroundings and is able to describe scences with sharp detail and flowing verse. A poem titled "The Shrimp Boat" displays this talent. "Pushing through, past the channel markers, her name so faint, blurred by salt and time the bow appearing then reappearing, as her distant, tall mast crosses the marsh... Docked; still the boat' hole brims with shrimp, as the sunset slips down through the rigging, and as the full moon rises to surf the black waves." This careful attention to minutia draws the reader into Stoller's Georgia, puts the the reader right on the deck of a coastal shrimp boat. Another fresh aspect of Stoller's writung is the absence of too much emotion. Some poets go so deep into their inner thoughts the reader can become derailed and miss the meaning. But Stoller incorporates just enough feeling to touch her audience without overwhelming them. "Never meaning to grow old, in the mirror I am astonished to see age spots in a face more my mother's than my own...,"writes Stoller in "The Fire." With only a few words, Stoller captures the experience of aging. "Bound by Red Clay" is an ensemble of mature and well-written poetry which parallels life, detailing a range of experiences, experiences that run from disturbing events to moments of calmness. In one poem titled, "Sand Dollar," Stoller describes the last moments of a young soldier's life, and in another, "Rain," she explains how rain falls to the earth. It is apparent poetry for Stoller is a craft and for lovers of poetry she is a great gift.

I'd been avoiding this book probably because I expected working with parans to be difficult. I succumbed to it during a recent chest cold and it turned out to be so clearly and well written that I had no trouble getting my one-track mind off the ecliptic. Brady's discussion of the history, charting methods, and meanings of the stars/constellations are enjoyable and enlightening, often providing a constructive viewpoint where classical interpretations do not. Computers make it unnecessary for astrologers to watch the sky, and this book has encouraged me to change my habits on that count. Unlike many astrology books, this one left me feeling ~better-educated~ and ecouraged me to research further on my own. Very useful for evaluating charts with questionable birth times. Looking forward to seeing what wider use of this method may yield over the next few years. And here's hoping Brady will develop a report module for Solar Fire!

Brady's Book of Fixed Stars brings the world of fixed stars to the tropical astrologer. Her method of delineation takes into account the ancient myths associated with the constellations, and her introduction of the ancient technique of star "parans" has consistently shed additional light on natal charts for me. My only quibble is her relying on Barbara Walker's "The Woman's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets", which is notorious in some circles for wishful thinking and poor scholarship. Nevertheless, this book is an important addition to the astrologer's toolkit.

When this book had just come out, I attended Ms. Brady's Fixed Star workshop in Atlanta, May,'98.The lecture given was enthral ling ...Ms. Brady's interest & expertise in her subject were very impressive. Naturally, I signed up to have a Fixed StarReport done by the lady herself, & it has added "oodles" of info to my own charts, etc. Soon I had the book in hand & have been very impressed with it also. Not a beginner's book,perhaps,unless you have an interest in myths/archetypes.SolarFire4 software has the lists, etc., but no written report...you need this book to "read all about it". Beginning/Middle/End of life info can be yours!Which stars are connected to your chart/planets? Find out.. & be amazed!!

I started a quest looking for some answers and this book has definitely got me hooked on wanting to know more. Not for the novice, an advanced insight into some basic philosophy and understanding of why people change and why others alter things. A movement began as all movements do to try something different, was it the truth or was it just a power trip. At this early stage in my quest for Astrological knowledge I can now go forth without being so gulible and accepting the "norm". I shall return and review this book after alot more study on the subject. It's great to see some people who dare to step out. Well done Bernadette. Your book has no reference on how to write to you.

Bernadette Brady is obviously one of the great teachers of astrologers today in the modern world. The lady is trained in astronomy, astrology, the Christian religion, mythology and obliviously a Wiccan priestess. Those are only a few of her areas of expertise. She has with this book brought the ancient use of the fixed stars back into traditional western astrology. Since writing her books she has graduated with a master's degree in Astrology and Cultural Astronomy from Bath Spa University in England. She is a principal at Astro Logas and is authoress of "Starlight", an amazing astronomy/astrology program.

Reviewed by Steven Hansen for Small Spiral Notebook

The terms 'memoir' and 'novel' are not as easily blended as PB&J; nor do they make half as good a sandwich. But when it comes to literature instead of low cuisine, these two forms of creative expression are hardly mutually exclusive; making fiction out of one's own life is nothing new. There are many examples of work that blurs the line between nonfiction and fiction, memoir and novel, upright citizen and (...)child.

The only question anyone who reads such an admixture should care about is: Does the author transform the highly personal into something universal?

For the most part, Diane Payne's memoir/novel hybrid Burning Tulips does.

The books only flaw is the putrid, one-note character of the father, who not only is the Vietnam War-loving stereotype of the union thug and domestic tyrant, but just happens to sexually molest his daughters, too. There may be such monsters in real life, but, at least in this instance, it doesn't make for compelling fiction. After a few run-ins with him, you're already desensitized. It's not that the author should have included some sappy detail about his secret hobby of raising orphaned bunnies, it's just that once you get to the chapter where he's in the garage slaughtering rabbits you're already so saturated with his malice that all you can do is chuckle and say, "Ho hum."

The father, though, is really nothing but a foil for the main relationship of the book between the terminally ill mother and her bridge-over-troubled-water daughter.

When Dad touches me, I can tell that he doesn't hate me, and I don't hate him. I don't hate him until he gets out of bed and starts screaming at my mother before he goes to work, once again making me invisible, forgetting that he was happy just moments ago.

The mother and daughter cling to each other like two tourists who've been abducted by a terrorist long enough to start making excuses for him, exhibiting the classic symptom of Stockholm Syndrome. In the chapter titled "The Trash Bin", the mother admonishes her daughter to not think too harshly of a vagrant bum who copped a feel. It's as if she's indirectly apologizing to her daughter for ignoring her husband's incestuous ways.

"It won't look good to say my daughter was touched by an old man. From now on, stay away from old men. They get like that. Don't you go telling anyone what he did. ... Some things need to stay in the family."

Adding to the ambiguous nature of this memoir/novel is the fact the chapters can also be looked upon as stand alone short stories, autonomous in their own right, even as they work within the larger frame of the book. In the story, "The Keyhole", the young girl spies on her post-mastectomy mother preparing to bathe.

Mom's skin is red and raw, crusted with wounds that will become thick scars. Blood drips from the stitches. She looks bruised and off balance, but not untouchable.

The daughter's impulse to mother her mother overrides her fear of being pushed away, and she opens the door and walks into the bathroom. Over the protestations of her mother, the girl picks up the soap and begins to wash her mother's back.

"You're too young to see this."
"I saw it through the keyhole, Ma. It ain't that bad."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah."

As the daughter hits her teen years, she becomes a self-described 'Jesus Freak' who in the story/chapter, "Tongue-Tied" tries to proselytize at a crash pad inhabited by bikers.

"You know, I was wondering if the Road Knights might like to get involved with my church. You know, start a club called Jesus' Mufflers, or something like that."

The big man spits out his beer laughing. Leaning over the kitchen table, he pounds another guy on the shoulder, the one who is waiting for him to get back to their poker game, and says, "Did you hear that? She wants us to start a motorcycle club called Jesus' Mufflers!"

Bouncing from tragedy to comedy and a little bit of in between, these stories casually intertwine to create a lushly colored, painstakingly-rendered portrait of a family, their community, and the unsettled times in which they live.

I don't usually like reading books that take place when my parents were kids, but I read Burning Tulips and actually liked most of the short stories. The author does a good job showing what it is like to grow up. She shows the good and the bad. I think more kids should read this book.

I absolutely loved this quirky, poignant, heartbreaking novel.

Although it invites comparison with other compelling coming-of-age stories such as Sandra Cisneros' "House on Mango Street" and Eric Miles Williamson's "East Bay Grease," this is a unique work of art that goes beyond the expectations of the dysfunctional family genre.

The heroine does face some of the hardships familiar to that genre--an alcoholic, lecherous father, a mother dying of cancer, the sort of relatives that try to discourage smart girls from reading too much, and the humiliations of poverty.

Yet it is not just the unusual setting--a working-class neighborhood in Michigan settled by three generations of Dutch immigrants--that makes this interesting. The reader is drawn in by the utter dauntlessness and insistent decency of the heroine, who, despite her own considerable psychic injuries, spends her indignation and compassion on the penned-up dogs, the little kids who get bullied at school, and most of all, on her slowly dying mother.

If you can imagine a combination of Antigone and Pippi Longstockings and Bernard Shaw's version of Joan of Arc, you will have some idea of this character's appeal. Yet she is neither self-righteous, self-pitying, sentimental, nor bitter.

But don't try to imagine her--just read the book. It is as hard to describe fully as it is to over-praise.

Having been disappointed so often, I've become somewhat wary of the contemporary novel. Burning Tulips, rich with honest experience, is a surprising exception; the book successfully captures the rare tenderness of a daughter for her mother.

Reminiscent of the writings of Joyce Carol Oates and Tillie Olsen, Burning Tulips is a story of coming of age. It's the story of an adolescent's struggle to find stability in a world where there seems to be little one can trust .

In my opinion, this novel would make terrific reading for high school students. The fast pace and sharp description are guaranteed to hold the interest of even the most jaded young reader, and the narrative is a testament to the power of the honest truth, told without apology or resentment or hyperbole.

Reviewed for Nights and Weekends by John Sheirer

The nameless young girl at the center of Diane Payne's wonderful Burning Tulips is asked to write about an "important human" for a school assignment. She chooses instead to write about the family dog because, in her own words, "... it seems like all my important humans would make a sad story."

Such is life for Payne's protagonist, who grows from age five to eighteen and must deal with her mother's cancer, her father's abuse, her family's poverty, her growing sexuality, her constant spiritual crisis, her sense of social injustice during the turbulent 1960s-even her poor penmanship. With so much stacked against her, readers might expect a stereotypical self-pitying child/adolescent/teenager. She does experience plenty of anger, fear, shame, and sadness, but Payne has crafted a complex character brimming with humor, hope, strength, love, and a burning sense that her life has an abundant future despite her deprived and isolated present.

Payne's work has appeared widely in print and internet literary publications. In fact, many sections of Burning Tulips first appeared as outstanding stand-alone pieces, usually under the banner of "memoir." Whether this book is a partially fictionalized memoir or fiction based on the author's own experiences is an interesting question. But more important is how Payne deftly employs a memoirist's psychological insight along with a novelist's skill in structure, pace, and narrative voice to create a haunting book that resonates authentic depth of emotion.

Burning Tulips comes to us through Red Hen Press, a lively independent publisher bringing out some terrific poetry, memoir, and fiction that would never find a place with today's megapublishers focused on high-concept bestsellers. Bestsellers have their place: the beach or long airplane flights-situations where passing the time is more important than challenging the heart and mind with literature. Discerning readers will instead be far more satisfied with the excellent Burning Tulips than any garden-variety bestseller. In short, it's a beautiful book well worth reading.