Reds Books

In this exceptionally strong collection, Greece comes alive in a burst of colors--green, purple, yellow, red. But Kalfopoulou teases all of the reader's senses as she mixes the sensuous and the sensual. Throughout the poems her attention to the soil and what grows there merges naturally and inevitably with the care of the human body. We are introduced to the land: its climate, its customs, its foods, its special words. We sense the poet's attachment to Greece and her awareness of its history of battles and turbulence. We feel the omnipresence of Time and the continuity from one generation to the next. Set against the backdrop of history is the personal--the end of a marriage and the challenges of single motherhood. In "Bliss," a particularly fine poem, Kalfopoulou beautifully captures this situation in a series of deft images, letting the story unfold through a catalog of what the husband takes and what he leaves behind. A number of Kalfopoulou's images weave their way throughout the poems and give the collection a tight but subtle structure. The wild greens of the title poem, for example, surface again and again as do the contrasting images of clothing and nakedness, along with a constellation of related images--bathing, hair, wrinkles, sheets, underwear, dresses, buttons. These free verse poems display Kalfopoulou's mastery of craft. Her sense of the line break is impeccable, and there's not an unnecessary word or syllable to be found. In these admirably crafted poems, Kalfopoulou has given us poems that capture the history, the beauty, and the passion of Greece and the people who live there.

ýThunder buries the liturgy,ý writes Kalfopoulou in ýGood Friday,ý announcing the poles of her argument: ýgale winds beat ... as if His wrapped and sheeted body could be the symbol of/resurrection,ý the poetýs use of the conditional suggesting a belief that perhaps it cannot. Life refuses to be constellated. Passion outstrips it; nature abhors it. Here at the crossroads of the passions, what Greek civilization carves out of this life, moored conditionally, temporarily, to this rocky soil, is a sometimes violent, hard-won beauty its inhabitants refuse to relinquish--a beauty, one might add, that has endured for centuries, despite invasion, poverty, natural disaster, war. What transcendence is found here is found on its knees.
For Kalfopoulou, as for another Mediterranean poet, Rene Char, every life that dawns kills one of the injured. As exemplified by the subject matter of "Burgundy" and "Growing," Kalfopoulou is all too aware of what can die in the struggle: a poem, a marriage, consciousness itself. Things in her universe do not merge into a blurred likeness; they do not compromise each other or themselves by doing so. Each extreme keeps its extreme nature. Thus the energies of these poems are often ýtechtonicý and the processes which shape human life are often violent. If these energies are mitigated in any way, it is by the processes of everyday life, the sound of bee-thrum in a grape arbor, a the pinch of anitho added to boiled carrots, stolen moments of love-making, life ripe with caress of a body.
But if Wild Greens is the narrative of the harshness of this life, it is also the lyric rendering, as the bookýs epigraph suggests, of lifeýs richness, the two irretrievably entwined. In this stunning debut volume, the felt pleasure is found in the texture and detail of lived life, all of it rendered with lucid affection for the detail, even the struggle, of the lived life. Like the wild greens themselves, Kalfopoulou revels in the beauty and drama of the tempest and will risk ruin in order not to miss the electrifying drama when the lightening strikes. Kalfopoulou knows the price of poetry. In order to write it, one must have lived, and in these poems, she does with a Phaedran intensity.

Divided in 3 parts this book contains poems that touch your heart.
In the first part, all her poems refer in some way or another to Greece. Being a Greek-american myself, I find it amazing how well she manages through her poems to show life in Greece(especially in the villages), the local customs and still, use the english language so superbly. It feels like you are readind a novel except it is a poem. Greek islands float before your eyes, greek words like koliva, chrisavgi, pappou, yiayia dance before your eyes and soul. Anyone who has lived in Greece will immediately realize this and, I'm sure, get really emotional. But even if one has never visited this country he will still feel that he does know something about it, after reading these poems.
They simply "smell"of Greece (the eucalyptus, chamomile, jasmine, bougainvillea, lemons, all of these in her lovely poems).
The second and third part contain more ... poems, poems describing all kinds of relationships..., strong feelings, poems that leave a bitter or sweet feeling inside. They talk of war, of love,of rejection, of passion, of LIFE. Some of my favourite poems are WILD GREENS, THE GARDEN, DAYS, CONVERSATION, PERGOLA, WRINKLES.
I think everyone will enjoy reading them. They are very touching and full of life's experience. It goes without saying that she is an inspired poet who masters the language extremely well. I can only add that I have already read these poems more than once and dedicated a few to friends.Hope she has a new book out soon!

This is a great series! The main characters live out their Christian faith in a public school. I was impressed with how the author shared the day to day struggles the teens dealt with everyday and how their faith influenced their decisions. There is lots of mystery, intrigue and twists and turns in each book. As an adult finishing reading one book, I could not wait to start the next book in the series. The story line kept my attention and left me wanting more. A definite superb read!

A Great Book for Chistian Families as a read-aloud or/and a read-alone.

This book was very exciting and it makes you want to read forever to the end because it's so good. Once you finish it, you can't wait until the next one comes out. Every kid should read red rock mysteries because they make reading fun.

This is one of the sweetest, simplest stories I've read to my son -- relevant to [...] age range -- explores real feelings that all of us experience, ranging from loneliness and being "left out of the crowd" to the happiness of finding a friend and feeling useful and liked. Such a nice, heartwarming tale.

We think it was a very sweet story about two totaly different apes, who met eachother in the park by accident. We love all the books of the ape Willy. He is very shy and so lovely. In the Netherlands he's called Sijmen.

In this work the main character named Willy is a monkey. This book describes how Willy makes a new friend. In the beginning of the story, Willy is sad and lonely because he has no friends. As the story progresses he meets an ape named Hugh. They become good friends and spend a lot of time in various places together. The illustrations in this story is also very unique. All the characters are monkeys. Some illustrations even offer irony. In Willy and Hugh when they go and visit the zoo, instead of the cages housing animals, they hold humans who look rather scared. Browne not only adds irony to the illustration but also underhandedly suggests a double meaning behind this illustration. It makes a more mature reader question whether Browne is making an animal rights statement or just trying to make the picture funny. There are a lot of humorous and ironic illustrations in the story. Browne also plays around with the idea of irony in Hugh's masculinity. In Hugh's illustartions he is quite awkward looking. Hugh's shirt does not match and the vest that is over his shirt is three times too small. Hugh's pants are also not the normal length, not to mention that the knees in his pants are worn out. Dirt stains also are all down the front of his legs and on the back of his behind. The colors in these illustrations are solid, vivid, dark colors. These colors, although dark, do not add a dreary tone to the stories. The color's bold and vividness add to the story by keeping the reader's attention. The characters in these stories are male and the dark colors help to develop the character's masculinity. Seeing a monkey in a pretty pastel lavender jogging suit just does not have the same effect as a monkey in a dark green and red jogging suit. If the colors were lighter it would confuse younger readers about the gender of the characters The text in this works is written in a bold, medium type. This is done so that there is focus on the words, but more on the pictures. On the pages where there is print there are also pictures on the page and a larger picture on the opposite page. This story combines the text and its illustrations together. Browne seems very interesting and entertaining in this story. Whether the reader is young or old I believe they would find some entertainment in his books. Browne writes children's books that add a unique perspective to the work.

I don't know much about wine [I sell this book as a bookseller], but I can tell you this large format and thick book is a piece of art. It contains many beautiful photos, has a lovely layout, and feels expensive. I've sold many to wine experts and never had anyone be disappointed by it.

This is for the person truly devoted to details. It is the product of years of research of the Barolo and Barbaresco areas. All the vineyards are shown in detail. A definite must for any one studying wine beyond the basic level.

If you're a lover of nebbiolo wines this book is a must. With relentlessly rich detail, it covers every aspect of the great wines of the Piemonte, their history, viticulture, and the people who make them.

Every major Barolo and Barbaresco vineyard is profiled, along with many of the contributors to the production of their great wines. Not only the great winemakers, past and present, but also the "regular people" involved, from grafters to vine dressers, pickers and barrel makers, even office workers and school teachers have their say. The result is a compelling picture of one of the world's greatest wine regions.

And if you ever plan a trip to the Langhe, the book features excellent advice and contact info on where to visit, what to look for, etc. A great resource.

The author has a wry sense of humor and he keeps a lightning pace throughout. The story is an unusual combination of science fiction and mystery with an interesting twist of Christian values thrown in for good measure. It looks at how the ability to enhance humans genetically in the future might impact society and especially a murder investigation. It involves a private eye who is not "generich" and must go against those who are. This certainly would put him at a disadvantage in this technologically advanced society, but he has on his side good moral values, something almost lost in this future world.

This book is a fast paced read with some humor thrown in. I recommend it.

here is nothing better than a riveting story about titanic battles between the forces of good and evil. Throw in some social commentary, historic reflections, struggles of faith and conscience, a Brave New World of science gone mad, and a dash of romance. The result is a truer-than-fiction peek into a frightening future that is headed our way... Highlands (Sebring, Fla.) Today

This book really got me and kept me right there. It's a riveting, exciting story of the future. Great action, wonderful characters, good plot. A combination of C.S. Lewis and John D. MacDonald! It was a wonderful Christmas present to give also and a must read for everyone!

As a physician and witch, this book strikes a strong chord with me. Traditionally, hedgewitches were town healers, living on the edge of town, often shunned unless they were needed, venturing into the forrest for herbs and shamanic treatments. This book intelligently addresses the many ways of healing open to the modern witch. Gavin and Yvonne write from a vast base of experience, mostly personal and experimental. Although I might take exception to the characterization of physicians in general given in this text, it is a very useful guide and I refer to it often.

Gavin and Yvonne's book does it again! This is a very insightful book relating healing techniques that anyone can do. As a Reki Master, this book is a highly valued addition to my library! I urgently recommend this book to any level practioner! Thank you so much Gavin and Yvonne for another great book!

A welcome addition to any Metaphysical Studies reference collection, A Witch's Guide To Psychic Healing: Applying Traditional Therapies, Rituals, And Systems by Gavin and Yvonne Frost is a truly excellent introduction into the techniques that Wiccans practice in order to promote physical and spiritual healing. From nutrition and exercise guidelines especially for witches; to true stories of Wiccan self-healing; to the renewing power of meditation, and more, A Witch's Guide To Psychic Healing is an uplifting and insightful discussion of practiced techniques to promote bodily and emotional wellness.

probably the best choose your own destiny series around. Each episode keeps you inthralled and on the seat of your pants. A real page-turner

This book is a good RPG, such as the Dungeons and Dragons board game. This entails you to use your common sense, and to think of your surroundings.

Wolf's Bane, the evil champion of Naar, has created an entirely new dilemna for the reader, remniscient of Beyond the Nightmare Gate. The impostor is your mirror image, and he has led the entire nation of Sommerlund to believe you are the cause of heinous crimes. You must hunt him down, traipse across star systems and dimensions, and finally duel with him to the death...at the exact moment the Dark God Naar decides to summon his acolyte. Can you defeat both Naar and Wolf's Bane, or are you doomed to fail before a startling revelation that could save or doom the entire universe of Aon? Wolf's Bane is certainly a book to buy-it is an absolute must

And a lot more interesting tidbits that make this book not only fun to read but also a learning experience. After reading about it, makes perfect sense why civet coffee should cost so much. And the colorful pictures are a great complement to the descriptions. Okay, so no-one absolutely needs the best expresso maker before they go to the great Starbucks in the sky, but a pair of comfy cashmere socks would be nice or the same after shave lotion that Prince Charles favors. A great gift either for that significant shopper in your life or yourself.

Ok Guys, just look at the front cover: a purse, a lipstick, high heeled shoe, diamond encrusted wrist watch and a big multi colored fabric thing.

Absolutely nothing there that you'd possibly want.

So what are you going to get her for Christmas, birthday, anniversary?

Here's a bunch of things that I guarantee you would never have thought of yourself. Well, there's the Aston Martin on page 156 - there are some Aston Martins listed on E-Bay for less than $100,000. And the Vespa motor scooter doesn't seem like such a bad idea at all in these days of $3 a gallon gasoline.

One problem is that this book is written in England. The authors are a couple of stylish British ladies. But that's OK. The high end products like these are pretty well distributed anywhere in the world. And for most of us, just knowing the brand names on things like cosmetics makes shopping a lot easier. And anyway, this is (for men) just an idea book, you can probably find something similar locally -- maybe even at Target or WalMart.

The thing I like best about the hardboiled noir books from the 1950's is that they focus on telling one story. No sub plots. No detours. Just a compelling story that comes at you like a rifle shot. The Red Scarf exemplifies this perfectly. Gil Brewer's first person writing style is direct, no flowery language, no cute similes or witty metaphors. Just a guy telling what happened and sharing his thoughts.

The Red Scarf is the tale of Roy Nichols, a guy in desperate need of money to save the motel that he and his wife Bess own in Florida. A big highway was supposed to come through, but construction has stopped and might detour around them. We hook up with Roy on his way back home from an unsuccessful trip up north to talk his brother into loaning him some money. At a diner, Roy hitches a ride with a surly guy and Vivian, a good-looking woman (of course). They'd been drinking and continue to do so as they head south into Georgia. That's when Roy learns about the money. A brief case full of it. Mob money. The rest of the story is about Roy and the money and him trying to keep it.

Excerpt:
Vivian was breathing down my neck, trying to read it again over my shoulder, trying to thoroughly digest the bad news. Then she stepped away, flopping that thick black hair around. "You've got to get me out of here, Nichols."
"Relax a minute, will you? Let me think."
"There isn't time to think. Noel's after that money, now. He's out to find me. He'll be here. You know he'll be here!"
"Quiet." I remembered Bess. I had to get out of the apartment. "We can't talk here. You just stay inside. There's nothing to worry about. If he comes, I'll talk with him. He may not even come."
"Stop it!" she said, "Will you please stop it!"
"Well, we can't talk now. If my wife spots us together and thinks anything at all, she'll have me boot you out of here --- and quick."
She had her hands folded the way she did, praying again.
"If I didn't move you out, she'd call the cops."
She shook her head. "Oh, no, Nichols. I'd tell her you slept with me night before last. In that hotel. How would she like that?"
"You think she'll believe you?"
"Nichols, we've got to hide the money. At lease you can do that much?"

Brewer does a good job of sharing Roy's thoughts, and through them we learn more about Roy's character. Consider this passage:

The big thing I kept figuring was that it was crooked money to begin with. Somehow that made me feel better. I kept coming back to that, trying to figure some way. And then I remembered that was how Vivian had talked in the hotel room. It wasn't money that really belonged to anybody, she'd said. Or to that effect. And she was right.
But there was no way. Not unless I went over there and took it and got out of here. I thought about that. How I could grab the money and run. Then I could mail Bess enough to pay off the motel, and ... only it wasn't any good. It didn't have that part I wanted --- the peace of mind part.
Because without the peace, you had nothing. And you couldn't buy that, either.

Gil Brewer's writing career was uneven, turning out some classics as well as some also-rans. In the Gold Medal Paper Back Original days, writers were paid to churn out the books, not labor over creating masterpieces. In spite of that, or maybe because of it, these writers wrote some terrific fiction with their whirlwind efforts. Check out more Gil Brewer, Day Keene, Charles Williams, John D. MacDonald, Bruno Fischer, and Harry Whittington.

The Red Scarf is out of print, so you will have to track down an old copy, but it is well worth the effort. Brewer is riding a bit of a revival lately --- as are many of the Gold Medal teammates mentioned above --- and several of his books have been re-released. See the excellent Vengeful Virgin, by Hard Case Crime The Vengeful Virgin; and Stark House's double release of Wild to Possess/A Taste for Sin. Wild to Possess / A Taste for Sin

Just to clarify--I have not read 13 French Street-- yet. Red Scarf is, however, perhaps my favorite roman noir. It would have made, I believe, a wonderful Technicolor noir with maybe Bob Mitchum and Lizabeth Scott. Maybe let Phil Karlson direct from an adaptation by A. I. Bezzerides. Too damn cool.
The book itself is dark and pungent. Swift and cinematic in the manner of a contemporary thriller.It's absolutely unforgettable. The best book by a fantastic forgotten crime writer. And if you like this kind of thing read also They Don't Dance Much by James Ross, Shake Him Till He Rattles by Malcolm Braly and Name of the Game Is Death by Dan Marlowe. Small slices of noir heaven all.

Are you always overwhelmed? Do you run out of energy part way through the day? Are you tired of being tired? Then, 365 Energy Boosters is the book for you.

It might sound kind of like the start of some late night infomercial but 365 Energy Boosters really is a wealth of knowledge. This book contains a different energy idea for a whole year. These suggestions range from quick exercises and activities though energizing foods and recipes to ways to make best use of your normal energy patterns and signs that a health issue is causing the problem. Almost all of the ideas included in this book are quick easy to do suggestions that don't take any special equipment, ingredients, or skills.

My favorite ideas from this book are the simple ideas that I can do whenever I need an energy boast, particularly the quick activities and the energizing snacks. However, I also found the self-analysis sections extremely helpful. I am finding that by using my natural cycles to my advantage that I tend to get more done with a lot less stress and anxiety.

"...According to HealthFocus International, an organization that tracks health trends, more than half of women between the ages of eighteen and forty-eight complain of lack of energy." - From the book

I don't know about you, but I've been dragging butt a LOT lately. From what I hear and see, I'm certainly not the only one. It was with great anticipation that I read 365 Energy Boosters from cover to cover. This book did not disappoint!

Written in a fun, engaging style, 365 Energy Boosters offers a variety of ways to tackle lack of energy including using color, vitamins, herbs, music, quick yoga poses, breathing techniques, various foods, and much more. Here is some of the great advice you'll find in the book to help boost your energy:

* Don't try to "catch up" on sleep (It can backfire and make you more tired)
* Be a kid again (It can be freeing and energizing)
* Pop a Vitamin B5 (It helps to unlock the energy in food)
* Tap your spleen (Tapping or stretching the spleen meridian can balance blood chemistry, strengthen the immune system, remove toxins, and increase energy.)
* Turn off all beepers, pagers, and cell phones (You know they suck you dry!)
* Cut down on copper (Too much copper can cause tiredness)
* Cuddle (Is an explanation really necessary?)
* Watch your caffeine intake (It works at first-but then you pay the piper)
* Laugh (Increases oxygen intake and just make you feel great!)
* Figure out if you suffer from food allergies (Fatigue can be caused by the release of antibodies released because of allergies)
* Balance Yin and Yang (Take note of your energy habits and whether you need to be more aggressive and proactive or laid back and receptive)
* Work from your strengths (They've made deep grooves in your brain-use them to your advantage!)

There's a lot of practical, sage advice in 365 Energy Boosters-truly something for everyone who lacks energy. I learned quite a few things from this book, including the fact that researchers have discovered a condition that's like a reversed SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). Now I know why I feel spacey and lethargic in the hot summer sunshine!

If you or someone you love is dragging butt and devoid of energy, get this wonderful 377-page book as a gift of love and an investment in well-being.