Rock The Books

I started enjoying Kate Williamson's haiku in the Hello Kitty series. I thoroughly enjoyed her book, A year in Japan and wanted to read more. This book has the same humor and flavor I've come to expect with Ms. Williamson. At a Crossroads took me back to my college years when I was old enough to have the world by the tail, but too young to know it yet. This book is great for anyone who has the same angst felt by many young people who are starting out. The referrals to Hall & Oats is one of my favorite parts and the illustrations are awesome.

I loved reading this book! Besides the wonderful illustrations, Kate Williamson is a fabulous writer. I was instantly engaged and could completely relate to that time in my life many years ago. A great book for all ages.

At a Crossroads: Between a Rock and My Parents' Place Graduation time is fast approaching and in the most timely way, the perfect gift for any high school or college (and beyond) graduate is Kate Williamson's new book, "At a Crossroads..." The exquisite artwork that was found in Williamson's first book, "A Year in Japan" is happily found in "Crossroads..." As well, the evocative text will ring true for the multitudes who will be throwing their caps in the air and beginning the often confusing journey into the real world.

My daughter (9) loves these books. Unfortunately, they are too easy and fast for her to read now. She started reading them when she was 7 and they were perfect. However, she still loves them and I buy each book for her as they come out.

There is no smarter or cannier look at school life than Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm's Babymouse series. The traumas that plague Babymouse and her classmates are universal. Gym uniforms ARE ugly, lockers DO attack, school meat loaf SHOULD be regarded with suspicion and riding the school bus is ONLY for the very VERY brave.

In Babymouse: Rock Star, music is a solace and joy for our heroine but even there, chair tests create yet another pecking order, this time in Band. Hoping to work her way up from last chair for the school concert, Babymouse resolves that she will practice hard for the tryout. Alas, the results of her efforts are, "Screeech!" With the help of a friend, she learns that real music is something you feel in your heart. Band parents will completely identify with this story.

Babymouse's wonderful imagination (she is a reader) carries her daily struggles into the world of the Wizard of Oz and the Pied Piper of Hamelin and her musical dreams into the realm of American Idol-ness.

These graphic novels are rich in humor for young readers but junior highschoolers will also identify. If you have not added this series to your library collection yet then do so asap!

Brava!

Babymouse is back in "Babymouse: Rock Star," the fourth volume of the Babymouse series.

This time, school and music are getting her down. Oh, and her number-one enemy Felicia Furrypaws.

How does Babymouse cope? She daydreams, of course. First, she's a rock star. Then, on a boring Wednesday, a tornado whisks her out of school. But, daydreams won't save her from her biggest problem: she wants to play the flute better. She wants to move from last chair in the school band.

Felicia Furrypaws is second-to-last chair and torments Babymouse. Fortunately, Babymouse finds help from a fellow Furrypaws victim and succeeds in the end with a little practice, instruction, and targeted daydreaming.

Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm triumph again with this latest installment in the tales of your average school-aged mouse. Babymouse's daydreams are fun and action-filled, but the beauty of the books is in the everyday. Everyone has angst about their position in the band, everyone fears a school bully, and everyone hates the bus.

The bus is the star of my favorite sequence in "Babymouse: Rock Star." The bus screeches up, the driver says, "Let's get moving! What do you think I am anyway? Your own personal chauffeur?" Then Babymouse comments that the bus "was like an obstacle course." The obstacles? "Doesn't open. Talks too much. Gets bus-sick. Soda spill. Bumpy. Rickety. Kind of scary. Gum. Picks nose. Yells." True, true, true.

"Babymouse: Rock Star" is highly recommended for school-aged children five and up. And, even though "Babymouse" is written at approximately a third-grade level, I've found young middle schoolers love Babymouse as well.

This was the first time that I have read Basho's Narrow Road to Oku, snd I enjoyed it a great deal. Actually I read it twice this week. The first time I read through it I tried to read it without using the notes. I was lazy, so it came out that I really didn't enjoy what I was reading because I really didn't know what was going on throughout most of the book, so I read it again using the notes, and I got much more out of it. The annotations are on the left page while the actual text is on the right page, so there is no flipping to the back of the book every time that you need to look up something. There are endnotes that give more information about the haiku Basho writes. This is a very cool book, that gives the reader a glimpse at the literary world of japan back during the 17th century.

This is a very well translated and annotated edition of this great work.

Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (9/06)

Matsuo Basho (1644-94) was a famous Japanese haiku poet. In 1689, he took a 1,233 mile journey across Japan. His travels lasted five months. He was joined by his friend Kawai Sora. Basho wrote about this trip. He titled it, "Oku No Hosomichi," which translates to "Narrow Road to the Interior." This story is considered to be a masterpiece of Japanese literature. He took four years to write it and revise it.

Basho started this trip when his house burned down. He had two goals. One goal was spiritual; it involved "poetic truth." The other goal was a practical one in which he would use his travels to become well known as a poet. Sora developed stomach problems and had to end his travels with Basho. Basho wrote a short piece for him. In the second part of this book, there is a translation of "A Farewell Gift to Sora."

Basho funded his travels with donations from wealthy friends and students. He felt that there were three types of poets. The first type is confused noisemakers. The second type is wealthy people who desire to write instead of gossip. The third type is poets who work hard at writing true poetry. These poets write to "soothe their heart." Basho was the third type of poet.

Hiroaki Sato includes annotations to go along with the writings. This adds richness to the story and helps explain more about the culture and what was happening at the time. I read the story first with the annotations to gain understanding of what I was reading; then I went back and reread the story by itself so that I could feel how it flowed. Without the annotations, I would have enjoyed Basho's story, but I would not have understood much of what was written. Sato also includes pages of notes and commentaries. This is a well researched piece. "Basho's Narrow Road" is a beautiful story about Basho's travels. In it he reflects on the beauty of the countryside and the spirit of the people that he encounters.

I recommend "Basho's Narrow Road" to people that enjoy Japanese poetry, especially Haiku. It would also be a great book to use for a college literature class. I really enjoyed Basho's journey.

Nice book, great photos. A nice slice of life of a great pop / pre punk / glam band !

This great photo book finally releases lots of previously unpublished images of what was possibly the cutest boy band ever. They really went for the whole look - hair, clothes, poses.
Any fan of the Bay City Rollers will rejoice upon receiving this photo collection, it is just as colorful and impressive as the band.

The book is a hard cover, made out of quality paper.. Over 300 pages of pictures and a few "stories" More Pics then stories.. Each individual Roller is "spotlighted"
As far as ordering a book from Germany.. I made my order on a Tuesday night, received the book on Friday.. A nice surprise for the end of the work week!
Keep up the Great Customer Service!
Christy

A first-rate book with a lot of new (to me) information (like that the whole Apple Computer/Apple Corps legal battles started when George Harrison ran across an Apple Computer ad in a magazine). Also, I've read a ton of Beatles books and interviews, and was impressed that most of the quotes by John, Paul, George and Ringo in this book were quotes I'd never seen before. I do think the author is an unnecessarily sour and incorrect critic about certain things (like complaining about audience noise in the Beatles Shakespeare skit...if you watch the skit on YouTube, that audience noise was obviously encouraged as part of the performance's extreme irreverence). But over all I really liked this book.

This new examination of the history of the Beatles considers just how the Beatles and their manager Brian Epstein pioneered not just their music, but the modern music business itself. From how they promoted and sold records to playing concerts, making films, and setting up their own recording companies, BEATLES FOR SALE provides a very different focus from the many books which have revealed their music and lives, making it a top pick not just for popular music collections, but for business libraries as well.

As someone who's read just about everything out there on the Beatles, I was pleasantly surprised by the latest offering from John Blaney (Lennon and McCartney: Together Alone, previously published in separate iterations). There have been a few books out there addressing the business, as opposed to the musical end of the Beatles' career. But none has offered the amount of detail and insight while remaining steadfastly readable as this one.

Blaney takes us on a thorough investigation of how the Beatles became the success that they were in terms of their business dealings, be it through their club dates, their merchandising, their music publishing and so forth. At first glance, such a potentially "dry" study may seem to be of limited interest, but Blaney is such a masterful researcher with a sharp eye for the kind of minutia that fans find irresistible that you'll find yourself drawn in, as I was, to learn the nuts and bolts of how it all happened. (Did you know that the Beatles pioneered the concept of the tour bus?)

Another strength of the book is how it dissects and clarifies long-held myths about their history. The Beatles literary canon is replete with hearsay, but Blaney has done a great job in going back to the original sources to brush aside the shrouding fog of nostalgia, contextualizing their achievements (which only serves to make them more remarkable).

I highly recommend this work for anyone who's been baffled about the ins and outs of their business affairs or Brian Epstein's efforts on their behalf. The good, the bad, and the ugly is laid out in crystal-clear detail - this eminently readable work will stand as one of the more worthy additions to anyone's Beatle bookshelf.

I bought these books when they first came out, and i wasn't disappointed. I previously read Bruce's book on Vee-Jay - and if you haven't read that then you should check it out too.
The Capitol volumes are easily the best, because they cover the Beatles best records. Everything from Meet The Beatles to Magical Mystery Tour is here, with the singles to match.
You get the album art and labels in full-colour, with info on the records like release dates and sales etc.
He also tells the story behind each release. For example, the famous Butcher cover gets a full run-down, as do the early Capitol singles when EMI had to bully them into releasing them.
Everything you ever wanted to know about the records is here.
A book for collectors.

I CAN'T IMAGINE HAVING ANY INTEREST AT ALL IN THE BEATLES AMERICAN RECORDS AND NOT OWNING THIS SET! IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE INDIVIDUAL REVIEWS FOR EACH OF THESE VOLUMES, BY ALL MEANS, PLEASE DO! JUST TYPE IN "SPIZER" IN THE SEARCH BOX UNDER THE BOOKS CATEGORY AND YOU CAN READ ABOUT THESE AND ALL OF HIS MAGNIFICENT BOOKS!! LET ME SIMPLY SAY THAT THESE TWO VOLUMES ARE THE SINGLE BEST BOOKS EVER PUBLISHED ON ANY RECORDS, ANYWHERE AND IT HAPPENS TO BE A BLESSING TO US THAT MR. SPIZER CHOSE THE BEATLES AS HIS SUBJECT MATTER! QUITE SIMPLY, WHEN IT COMES TO THE BEATLES U.S. CAPITOL RECORDS, YOU GET ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING YOU EVER DREAMED OF IN TERMS OF TEXT AND PHOTOGRAPHY! THIS 'SLIP-CASE' EDITION BEAUTIFULLY HOUSES BOTH VOLUMES IN A STUNNING AND STURDY MATCHING CASE! IT'S THE PERFECT PROTECTIVE PACKAGE FOR THE PERFECT BEATLES BOOKS! IF YOU ALREADY OWN BOTH BOOKS, DO WHAT I DID AND GET THE SLIP CASE EDITION FOR COLLECTING PURPOSES AND USE THE OTHERS AS YOUR 'USER' OR 'READING' COPIES! I ALSO IMPRESSED A FEW FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS BY PRESENTING THIS 'SLIP-CASE' EDITION AS A GIFT!

Beatles fans who thought the bar could not be raised any higher after the legendary Mark Lewisohn Beatles books (also available at Amazon.com, by the way) are in for a real treat. The Bruce Spizer books are a marvel. I have three so far and will buy the fourth one when it comes out. If you are into minute details and great archival images on large glossy high quality paper stock, BUY BRUCE SPIZER'S BOOKS. They are expensive but well worth the investment. They are must haves and certainly more information than most humans should or would care to know about the Beatles on Captiol Records.If there is a Beatle manic on your Xmas list, you can do no better than to splurge on this set of books. They are that good.

I could have devoured five times as many of the fine stories written here as I had the good fortune to read. The variety of subject matter, coupled with the strong voices of the authors, make this book wonderfully appealing.

The best thing about this anthology is the range of subject matter, from bouldering to mountaineering, from young sport climbers to veteran alpinists. Every story gives a different view of climbing. It's also filled with good humor, from John Long to the crazy story about the guy on a road trip with his pet monkey.

This book is an anthology of articles published in Rock and Ice, with an emphasis on fairly recent work. They are primarily trip reports and essays. Detailed description of the sort of climbing which often doesn't get much press gives many of the articles a fresh, interesting quality. In addition, they have only previously been published in the magazine, so they will be new to many readers. Definitely recommended!

Intriguing short story that has it all. A love story, industrial espionage and the courage of a man that risked his mining career to investigate the strange occurences surrounding a coal mine fire. Once I started reading it, I could not put it down.

This fictional work takes the reader on a journey into the world of coal mining in Appalachia. The author's vivid descriptions have the reader feeling as if he is present as the action takes place. I found the story development both captivating and suspenseful. A real page-turner for me, it was difficult to put the book down in anticipation of what would happen next.

The main character, Jack DiCosimo, presents as an intriguing modern-day hero. A leader of men, Jack personifies such traits as wisdom, sincerity, logic, ethics, and courage. Add to that a lover of animals and nature and a defender of the innocent, and you have a glimpse into the persona of Jack DiCosimo.

Colorful characters with equally colorful vernacular add to the story as the mystery unfolds. This realistic picture of the reality of the coal mining industry in the Appalachian Mountains is sure to appeal to many readers.

This novel has generated much interest for predictable reasons: it's a page turner with an enticing plot. It starts with a bang and holds your attention.

Once I began this extraordinary book, I could not put it down. "Between two Rocks" is so much more than a gripping suspense thriller. Jess Justice takes us beyond the main plot of the efforts of a coal executive teamed with a power company executive to eliminate the man that stood between them shutting down a mine and making millions fraudulently taking advantage of the tax incentives for synthetic fuels. He introduces us to the way of life for mountain men and women, working in the coal fields, and what it's like working in and running one of these mines that I, for one, think most people have never known existed...or even thought about.

If there are flaws in the plot, I was too busy reading to discover any. That is probably the sign of a terrific book! The writing is excellent and the characters are a bit on the super-hero/heroine side, but who cares? Is what "Between Two Rocks" proposes true? Well, these things do happen in the business world. The historical events, places and people explored in the book have a familiarity to them. But no one knows the truth...nor will we ever, probably. I think that some things are meant to be a mystery or maybe just a good book.

When I read "Between Two Rocks", I had no idea it would be as detailed, intricate, and accurate it was. After I finished, I was amazed at the work Jess Justice had to go through to write this book.

The book is a fast paced thriller that would probably make a great movie.

I bought this book and it was a perfect birthday present for my friend's daughter.

This book is such a great present for "little ladies". It teaches them all about birthstones, and then they can use the pretty "gem" stickers and punch-out jewelry to play dress-up. I just gave it to a 6 year-old girl who loved it!

The birthday jewlery book, is a wonderfully written beautifully illustrated childrens book. We've read it many times to our children who have loved every word of it. Both our children and us learned a lot about birthstones and we highly recomend this book. This would make a great birthday gift for any child.

E. G. Parsons' new release, Black Rock: A Time for Love is a sweeping tale of love, deceit, and a woman caught between two different worlds. After her father's death, twenty-one-year old Roxanne returns from a girl's school in Boston to Wild Rose, Texas to take over operation of the family ranch. Crushed by grief, it would seem Roxanne has enough to deal with but her troubles have only just begun. Headstrong and capable as she is beautiful, Roxanne soon encounters ruggedly handsome Collin and is hard pressed to resist the attraction she feels for this rude, roguish man. But Collin is not all that he appears on the surface.
I found myself turning pages at breakneck speed as their romance unfolded against incredible odds and the astonishing truth of Roxanne's past was revealed. E.G. Parsons' knowledge of the 1800s is unparalleled. Combined with her brilliant imagination and flair for creating living, breathing characters, she once again holds her readers spellbound and begging for more. Black Rock: A Time for Love is a winner!
Highly recommended.

I never thought I'd enjoy a romance story, but enjoyed other books by this author and thought I'd try this one. I wasn't sorry. Roxanne and Collin's story was intriguing and different than some time travels I've read. There was plenty of suspense and sizzling love scenes to keep me entertained and I even got misty eyed while reading the last chapter. I'll be watching for more from Ms. Parsons.

E. G. Parsons' new release, Black Rock: A Time for Love is a sweeping tale of love, deceit, and a woman caught between two different worlds. After her father's death, twenty-one-year old Roxanne returns from a girl's school in Boston to Wild Rose, Texas to take over operation of the family ranch. Crushed by grief, it would seem Roxanne has enough to deal with but her troubles have only just begun. Headstrong and capable as she is beautiful, Roxanne soon encounters ruggedly handsome Collin and is hard pressed to resist the attraction she feels for this rude, roguish man. But Collin is not all that he appears on the surface.
I found myself turning pages at breakneck speed as their romance unfolded against incredible odds and the astonishing truth of Roxanne's past was revealed. E.G. Parsons' knowledge of the 1800s is unparalleled. Combined with her brilliant imagination and flair for creating living, breathing characters, she once again holds her readers spellbound and begging for more. Black Rock: A Time for Love is a winner!