Shadow The Books

After reading books like Heart of Darkness, and Benito Cereno, Shadow Patriots was happily read. I loved the character Lizzie, her strength and personality was humerous. I also enjoyed how this book was fictional, yet didn't stretch the truth very far.

After being able to hear Robson speak at my school, I was overjoyed to be given the opprotunity to read her novel. Not long after reading the book I became enthralled and unable to put the book down. Every second of the book was fascinating. The way Robson wraps the historical figures in with her fictional plot is remarkable. As far as I know the book is historically accurate and has all the great names in American history such as George Washington, Ben Franklin, Alexander Hamiliton, and much much more. The main character Kate Darby is truely unique and sensational. She tears down the stereotype of a damsel in distress and proves that women can do whatever they put their minds do. Incredible Novel and quick read.

I read this book in my 11th grade English class not too long ago and it was so much more than I expected. The way the historical figures are mixed in with fictional characters makes it so interesting, and the mixing is so well done, you find yourself wondering who is made-up and who is not. On more than one occasion, I found myself unable to put the book down late at night. When I finished reading, I looked into some of the historical figures in the book, and Ms. Robson was very accurate with her information. All in all, this book makes history come alive!

This book was absolutely incredible for its detail. I loved reading the description of how life was in the time period. Robson's little tidbits-perfectly placed throughout the story- were so fascinating and knowing they were true added to the story. Robson made me feel as though I were there in the war and knew all the characters. It was not a typical book about the Revolution. It was captivating; I could not put it down. Its plot kept getting better and better with each page, and the ending, although sad, was perfect. The book was suprising and entertaing from the first to the last word.

Kate and Lizzie were characters I adored. Kate's bravery to help her brother, and Lizzie's devotion to Seth were fantastic attributions to each character and helped me identify with them. While reading, I didn't feel as though I was learning about history, which is a perfect way for historical fiction book to be written.

If you have interest in revolutionary times in USA this is a must read. The role that Quakers played in the war was very interesting to me. You will not be sorry you bought it.

I cannot say anything bad about this book! WHAT THE SHADOW TOLD ME is clever and irreverent. Engaging characters take you on a wonderful ride while at the same time poking the publishing industry in the eye.

With the embedded screenplay it is also a two-fer the price of one, an excellent value. Cameo's by such notable icons as Satchel Paige and David Hasselhoff too!

Buy it, borrow it, beg for or steal it-this is a must read!

I couldn't put it down. Very funny. My favorites things in the book were (don't worry, this will give nothing away!): the Baby Bomber; all the names; the Biminim re-translations; Rufus' letter at the funeral; the character of Timm Clifton; the haikus; the clocks; the old propaganda film; Henry David Monroe; and Christians Against Kwanzaa. Sign me up.

WHAT THE SHADOW TOLD ME by Kurtis Davidson, the writing team of Kurt Jose Ayau and David Rachels, begins when Rufus Walter Eddison, America's greatest African-American writer, dies suddenly. His editor, Justina Patterson, is left scrambling to find the manuscript to his second novel before an unscrupulous senior editor at her publishing company can generate a fake to be passed off as the work of the dead genius. Justina has been brought up to revere the famed author, as has all of America and most of the world. The only problem is he wrote his great American novel in 1951 and for forty-eight years has failed to deliver the manuscript of the sequel as he was under contract to do. Eddison was so paranoid that his second novel wouldn't live up to the world's expectations that he never even wrote a grocery list after that. Or so it seemed. Justina has to find his book or face grim alternatives: seeing Eddison's elderly widow, the sweet Maisy May, impoverished because she has to pay back the large advance the publishing company paid Eddison years before or allowing her publisher to perpetrate a literary fraud in the name of book sales.

In the effort to locate the lost manuscript, Justina meets a wide assortment of hilarious characters, which are well-developed and unique in their voices. Among them is Biminim Strimpoonanamam, an Asian man with an unpronounceable name and nearly unintelligible English. Biminim translates novels from English to another foreign language to English for people who speak English as a second language. The result is outrageous translations of great literary works in Pidgin English that border on the racist, but land on the side of just plain funny.

Ayau and Rachels as Kurtis Davidson have written a story that takes humorous stabs at the publishing industry, sports, music, the rural South, academia, and literature, in general. Most of the characters in this story are African-American, but the theme is so universal in its appeal that it doesn't feel weird that two white guys wrote this novel. WHAT THE SHADOW TOLD ME is clever and satirical. It is the winner of the 2003 Faulkner Society of New Orleans Award.

Reviewed by Kim Anderson Ray
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers

Who would think that in a city of 8 million people (and those living in Monrovia) there would be a tight knit group that would all be touched in a big way by the hunt for a phantom manuscript? Learn of the secret (and not so secret) lives of all involved. With a celebrity list a mile long, penned in cameos include; Olga Korbut, Susan Dey, John Lennon, Tammy Faye Bakker, David Hasselhoff, Satchel Paige and Adolph Hitler. Follow Justina on her mad search while she is "on vacation" for the jewel of a famous black writer's career. After reading this I felt I was back at the magic kingdom riding my favorite ride mesmerized by all the children singing, "it's a small world after all". I haven't read that much in one sitting since I read to my son Melville's "Moby Dick" and he wouldn't let me stop until the exciting part was over. Thanks guy's! It sure was wild,

Blake

I *loved* this book. Couldn't put it down, even though I had deadlines. I laughed my ass off the whole way through, and I found myself caring about the characters. I hope KD will consider writing a Biminim Strimpoonanamam spin-off novel. You'd be crazy not to read this.-Torin Alter

With the backdrop of the emerging black middle-class in segregated Washington, D.C., during World War II, author Brad Snyder tells the compelling story of two baseball clubs and the push to integrate one professional league.

There is Homestead Grays founder Cum Posey, who is looking to relocate his franchise from Pittsburgh before the start of the 1940 season. And there is Clark Griffith, owner of the pathetic Washington Senators, who can briefly shuffle aside his racism for a business deal that will bring a new revenue stream to his bank account when the team is playing away from Griffith Stadium.

This initial tenuous partnership delivered a surprise to Griffith; the Grays exemplary play on the field found them outdrawing the cellar-dwelling Senators and galvanizing a new generation of baseball fans. That success - even with onerous stadium leases common when NLB teams played in facilities used by Major League Baseball clubs - helped propel the integration of MLB in 1947.

The era is also seen through legendary sportswriters Sam Lacy & Wendell Smith, Buck Leonard - the greatest pro first baseman - and in the offices of MLB, especially the Senators.

Griffith - who certainly could have worked out some type of agreement with the Grays for players to bolster the Senators before the Dodgers signed Robinson - was only a pioneer in segregation, integrating his team seven years after Robinson's debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers and ultimately fleeing Washington, D.C., relocating his team to the whiter Minneapolis-St. Paul market.

With the success of Robinson came the slow disintegration of NLB - the league that was truly integrated on the field, in the stands and in the front offices - as MLB teams raided the club rosters for established stars and began scouting & signing younger players to contracts.

Snyder has brought this forgotten period beyond the shadows of the simplistic retelling of the past that plagues all levels American history.

Let me be clear, this is a great book, rather than just a very good one. In nine chapters, plus an introduction and conclusion, Washington, D.C., based attorney turned writer has told the powerful and sometimes provocative story of how the Homestead Grays moved to Washington, D.C., and set the stage for the breaking down of the color line in Major League Baseball (MLB). In this important book Brad Snyder moves beyond the singular actions of Branch Rickey's Brooklyn Dodgers and Jackie Robinson, which most people are familiar with, to explore the broader implications of race relations in baseball during the 1940s.

In telling this story, "Beyond the Shadow of the Senators" is filled with heroes and villains. The most significant hero is unquestionably Sam Lacy, a black writer with the "Washington Tribune," a weekly oriented toward D.C.'s large African American community, who consistently called for the desegregation of MLB. Also heroic are the great stars of the Negro Leagues, especially Buck Leonard, Satchel Paige, and Josh Gibson, all of whom came to Washington to play before large crowds in the nation's capital. They demonstrated through their exploits the quality of talent in the Negro leagues, especially when juxtaposed against the hapless play of the Washington Senators of the American League. The villains include Clark Griffith, the financially strapped owner of the Senators whose willingness to rent Griffith Stadium to the Grays proved lucrative, and Grays owner Cumberland Posey who shifted his team from the Pittsburgh area to Washington to cater to the large middle-class African American community in Washington. Both Griffith and Posey had every reason to keep the segregated system intact because of the money they made. Moreover, Griffith was a blatant racist who integrated reluctantly and eventually moved the Senators from Washington to Minneapolis-St. Paul because, as he said in 1978, "you've got good, hardworking white people here" (p. 289).

Ranging broadly from social history to baseball and back, Snyder captures the essence of the history of the Senators, the Grays, and wartime Washington's racial situation. It is a story of love and hate at the same time, as well as the quest for dignity of the minority population in a divided city. "Beyond the Shadow of the Senators" is a powerful book. Enjoy.

Brad is an excellent researcher and writer. This book is not only enjoyable but educational. I met Ted "Double Duty" Radcliffe and Lester Lockett, two former Negro League players, a few years ago and their stories started my interest. Brad fed that interest beautifully. I look forward to Brad's next book on Curt Flood and the reserve clause. His attention to detail is consistent with his legal background.

Tim Moreland, PhD
Salisbury, NC

"Beyond the Shadow of the Senators'' is a must read for any serious student of baseball history. The author put a massive amount of research into this engaging account, of which I knew nothing even though I grew up in Washington not long after these events took place. This is an outstanding work in every regard. I have never met the author and I am not an African-American (not that anybody should care); I am just a fan of baseball and its history. If you are, too: Read this book.

This is a great, and true-to-life (i.e., "complex") story about the institution of 'Negro' League baseball and the various parties who profited and railed against it.

Key people that are introduced and brought to life are:
Buck Leonard, Satchel Paige, and Josh Gibson -- three of the greatest ballplayers who ever lived;
Clark Griffith -- the pioneering, penurious and controlling owner of the Washington Senators;
Sam Lacy -- the ahead-of-his-time, DC-native who tirelessly advocated for the integration of Major League Baseball; as well as
Cum(berland) Posey -- the shrewd owner of the Homestead Grays -- the dominant team of the loosely confederated Negro Leagues during the late 30's and 40's.

Tangential to this story are:
the decimation of the post 1933 Senators, mostly due to finances and an inadequate ballpark;
the relative prosperity of Washington DC during the years of the depression and WWII and the partial equality of African-American government workers that led to a vibrant culture and ability to spend on entertainment;
the move by Posey and his "partner" (many of the Negro League baseball teams were financed by numbers entreprenuers) to Washington from their Pittsburgh home and the welcome of their rental payments and gate pctgs. by Clark Griffith;
Judge Landis' death, the increasing awareness of America's incongruity in its fight for freedom and democracy in Europe while maintaining a virtual apartheid culture at home; and
the greed/opportunity of baseball owners to find the best talent at the lowest price which ultimately led to Rickey's "great experiment");

This book also fleshes out the background and conflict around Jackie Robinson, who was rightly judged to be a great man and the right vehicle for Rickey's efforst, and the shared opinions that he was a good, but not all-time great Negro baseball player. [Check out how well a 42-yr old Satchel Paige pitched for the World Championship Indians in 1948.]

The shifts in attitude between "separate but equal" and complete integration by the various parties reveal primarily self-interest. Judged by the standards of our time, I share many others' great respect for Sam Lacy and his tireless, moral advocacy and feel sorry for the Negro League baseball owners who were mostly left with nothing as they rarely had enforceable contracts that protected their relationship with their players.

Clark Griffith was an "innovator" in attracting inexpensive talent from Cuba. Many of these players represented themselves well on the ballfield but would only be acceptable if they were of "Spanish" descent.

Utterly inconceivable now, but the norm for over 60 years (since Cap Anson helped institute the "gentleman's agreement" against employment of African Americans in the early 1880's) was to allow a Major or Minor League ballclup to employ pretty much anyone (Swedes, Germans, Irish, Italians, Jews, etc.) anyone, except African-Americans.

It has often been discussed that without Jackie Robinson (& the parts played by Branch Rickey, Roy Campanella, Pee Wee Reese, Ben Chapman, etc.) the 1954 "Brown vs. Board of Education" decision would not have happened as quickly.

This book provides a wonderful companion story to the integration of major league baseball which, in my opinion, is one of the most significant stories of 20th Century United States.

This book is got to be THE BEST I have ever read- Its got allkinda action- humor- pimpin- everything! I tell u what though- Notonly could Lou Wang kill anything in his path in this book but he got 3 girls all @ once! The only bad thing about this book is that I cant be in it...:(

I read this book in 1998 and i couldn't put it down my teacher would have 2 take it from me because I would not stop reading it. This book is great for almost all ages well at least 10. Over all i must say if you like acation pacted books this one is for you.

This is one of the most riveting, action-packed novels ever written! The plot is SO cool - and the storyline is awsome! Great characters and setting. Highly recommend this book!

I have to say that this book one of the most exciting books I have ever read. This book is well written and full of action.

Shadow Warrior is an action book about a modern-day ninja named, Lo Wang, that wants to get revenge and recover a powerful device able to destroy the world. The action is intense and bloody. In the first chapter of the book, some assassins try to kill, Lo Wang inside a sushi bar. Lo Wang, dispatches the baddies real quick and tortures the last one for information; he cuts a piece of the bad guy's nose and shows it to him. Yes the action is brutal and really not for kids (okay for teenagers). Lo Wang, the star of the story is ruthless against his enemies and yet has a snappy sense of humor. It was full of very funny one liners and it had me laughing out out. Very few books can deliver this type of excitement and humor, but Shadow Warrior: For Dead Eyes Only, has best of both worlds. I highly suggest buying it!

I normally don't read first person books, but I read this one, and am glad I did! Marthe Arends makes the characters come alive. I felt I was there among the suffragettes. The heroine was spunky and believable.

I am a great fan of Katie MacAlister and discovering that she also wrote under another name I discovered this out of print earlier novel. Cassandra Whitney is the charming and feisty heroine who has joined the suffrage movement to gain woman the freedom to vote. She is a die-hard feminist of her age and has landed herself in some pretty amusing (or would be, if not for the serious nature of the movement) circumstances that have landed her in jail. It was one of these situations that she would meet the explorer, Griffin St. John - brother of the Earl of Sherringham who was one of the staunchest opposers against the movement. While Griffin was not impressed with the suffrage movement - he was impressed with the lovely Cassandra Whitney. They would come into contact with one another on more than one occasion before their mutual attraction would be noticed and force a heinous plot placing them both in the thick of an intrigue of madness and greed.

The heroine is an interestingly feisty character who manages to get herself into quite a few messes but thanks to an unconventional childhood friend (one who taught her to plant `facers' and pick locks) she does quite well with extricating herself from some dangerous situations and nefarious plots. The story has its lighter moments as well as some cute romantic encounters (i.e. ...after a very passionate kiss she decided that she and Mr. St. Johns should definitely be on a first name basis) showing the more humorous side of the author that writes as Katie MacAlister. Griffin is not as finely drawn out as our heroine is and could have used a bit more background.

For the historical value as a chronicle of what these brave suffrage woman suffered for their ideals, I do applaud the author for writing about this area of history I only took for granted. While I am not in any way a feminist - I do value the freedoms that women in this day and age, and country enjoy and will recommend this book more for the historical aspect than for the romance. The romance was light and cute but not in anyway sensual or explicit in content. I did find it interesting and the mystery was tense and difficult to figure out until the very end. Bottom line - interesting and enjoyable.

The Lion's Shadow is that rare kind of book where you relish every sentence. Romance, mystery and historical background are perfectly balanced. Cassandra is a marvelous heroine - strong-willed and resourceful, with a unique touch of humor.

Arends' keen sense of pacing grips the reader from the first page, and ensures that he or she won't be able to set the book down (willingly, at any rate!) until the end.

Set against a beautifully detailed turn-of-the-century London, this romantic adventure is certain to captivate your attention, warm your heart, and tickle your funny bone.

I'll be re-reading 'The Lion's Shadow' for many years to come.

This is successful romance writer Katie Macalister's real first book, or is that successful Teen Lit writer Katie Maxwell's first book? Whatever...lol, they are both correct! And this early novel shows just what a talent she was from the start. It's a wickedly funny read (PSSSSSSSST!!!!!! I have heard it will be rewritten and release in the near future! So you might want to snatch a copy if you can just to compare her growth as a writer.)

At the turn of the century, when the women's demands for rights and the vote was just gathering steam, you meet Cassandra Whitney, beautiful, intelligent and with a mind of her own, to be sure. She is a sign-carrying rebel who is determined to carry the day. When she meets up with Helena St. Johns, she sees in her a friend and protégé. However, Cassandra soon finds out Helena's handsome and arrogant brother, Griffin, does not care for his sister being a militant woman's righter. Despite their being at loggerheads on this issue, attraction sizzles.

Katie, um...Marte brings alive this period with amazing detail, giving you the Ton, the tight strictures on the women, customs, fashions and the fermenting political crisis on the horizon. The intrigue that eventually pulls Griffin and Cassandra together, finding the two stubborn people at odds and in love, is just so brilliantly done!

It's not a period often addressed in Historical Romance, so I am very eagerly awaiting the brushed up presentation of the new and improved version!

I adore well written horror and it is so rare to come by, I absolutely loved this book. It is not easy to creep me out, this book creeped me out good. There are not a lot of scary scenes in Shadow Child, the story is so solid it didn't need a ton of horror filler. After finishing the book I searched on the stone caves in New England, I don't think I could go near one after reading this book.

short and sweet review ...which I wish everyone would do .

This book is as good as the early Stephen King novels ( when he was king of horror ) .
Don't read this book before going to sleep ....alone . Yes, it's good .

All of Joseph Citro's books are good, but this may be his best. From the first paragraph to the last word I could not put this book down.

Shadow Child is a bone chilling horror mystery based on true events. Joseph A. Citro tells the story of a family in a small town in Vermont haunted by a secret civilization. After a long lost cousin returns everything starts going weird in town. All fingers point to (the cousin) Eric. But who knows? Joseph makes this book so interesting because he includes real newspaper clippings to support his events in the story. He also utilizes foreshadowing. So by the time a third of the book is complete you won't be able to put it down until you are completely finished. You want to know what is going to happen to the family. I would recomend this book to everyone.

Honestly, I had never heard of Joseph Citro, until I stumbled upon a link on Amazon that led me to read about his works. I ordered two books, Shadow Child & Guardian Angels, and was very pleased with both. Shadow Child follows the travails of the Whitcome family, i.e. Clint, Pamela & Luke together with Pam's cousin, Eric Nolan through a New England winter. The Whitcome's house is in a mountainous region in Vermont and its inhabitants are menaced by an ancient race of 'wee folk' called the Gentry...not to give too much away, the storyline is gripping, and the horror is insidious and altogether terrifying. It is a well-told horror story, both atmospheric and frightening...one gets the chills reading about the horrific acts committed by the evil beings, and feels a sense of dread at the menace posed to the family in this story. Citro is a great storyteller, and I think his works are underrated and deserving of a wider audience...his works rank alongside those of Saul's and even King's. I can't wait to read his other works, and only wish he would be more prolific in writing horror fiction.

Another great survival story. The stength and faith of this little girl is very inspiring. It is a good young readers book but as an adult it held my attention.

I would highly recommend this to anyone who likes to read about people helping people and who know the importance of remembering the Holocaust is important.

Among us were the crippled and old
Brought here by Hitler and his followers
`Cause we are different from the rest
Does Vati, Dad, know that we are struggling?
Eating is a privilege because
Food is hard to find and scarce. There's no telling when the
Gestapo will knock on your door asking you to leave.
In these hardships, I turn to God for help
Ja, I'm a Jew and I believe in God. I may never see my
Kin again for they have separated me and Mutti. "Meir
Liebling," My sweetheart, as my mother always called me. How I wish
Mutti was here with me.
Now, they are moving us to another camp for the war is closer.
Open fire, is all around us now. All we can do is
Pray for God to protect us. Protect Mutti, Vati, and Hilde
Quietness is all we hear since we escaped.
Realizing that the war is closing. I see that the
Shadow of God's Hand has been upon me.
The search for my family is on:
Under the circumstances, I would never see Mutti again.
Vati may also be dead or in jail.
What was I going to do without my mom or sister?
eXamining my mother's camp, I found nothing. I stood there
Yearning for my family. I was
Zealous when I saw something in the distance.

Wendy's new book, Shadow of His Hands, is written in such a way that you are taken back in time to see, hear and feel what Anita Dittman saw, heard and felt! It touched my heart to know that the story was true for no child should ever experience what Anita did. Written for children to understand and feel what it is like to be picked on and hated for what they believe but instead of getting bitter or wanting revenge,this book shows children how to depend on God for each day--some times each hour. Great job, Wendy!!! Highly recommend this book for not only children to read but those adults who need to know the truth about the Holocaust.

Anita Dittman gave up much in her brief childhood--dancing shoes, a teddy bear, her family, and nearly her life. Wendy Lawton paints a riveting picture of a real Jewish girl who struggled for existence during the Holocaust of Nazi Germany.
When others lost their faith, Anna Dittman was determined to find hers. I ached for this fragile girl who lived under the shadow of Hitler but survived under the greater hand of God.
The Daughter of Faith series has captivated this reader and Shadow of His Hand will inspire you as well.

I have read several of the books in Wendy Lawton's Daughters of the Faith series, inspiring stories of young girls who made a difference. Each one held my attention and caused me to identify with the main character. Wendy Lawton has written another winner in SHADOW OF HIS HAND, the account of holocaust survivor Anita Dittman.

The story opens when Anita is six years old and an aspiring ballerina. Soon all dreams of a dancing career are shattered-along with the lives of many of her family, friends, and neighbors in Nazi Germany. Anita's Aryan father deserts his family for political reasons. Anita, her Jewish mother, and her sister struggle with increasing persecution and hardships. The family is forced apart, and Anita and her mother end up in different concentration camps. When Anita escapes, just before the arrival of the Russian liberation army, she travels a dangerous course to find if her mother is dead or alive. Lawton shows the evil of the Nazi regime and the holocaust without excessive graphic details. Anita learns that no matter what, she can trust her loving heavenly Father.

This is the sixth and final book in the Daughters of the Faith series. Look for Wendy Lawton's new Real TV series books, CHANGING FACES and FLIP FLOP.

this book is very good thats all i can say! my friend wanted me to borrow it but she wouldent really tell what it was aboutbut i liked it very quickley into the book cause it gets right to the plot i mean the beggining dosent drag on till it gets good i mean it gets good straight off! and its a catholic book which is super cool cause its so hard to find appropiate books but this book it has a great influence! its one of my favered books! and its has two other books in the series!

As well as being a page turner filled with interesting characters and intrigue, this is a great story for teens who need to see that there are always consequences to the decisions they make. A friend used to say to his kids and mine, "You can make any decision you want, but you have no choice over the consequences." THE SHADOW OF THE BEAR reinforces that adage with a wonderful mix of mystery, danger, and romance. In my conversations with the author about this books' moral premise (see my book "The Moral Premise: Harnessing Virtue & Vice for Box Office Success") we came to an early determination that in "BEAR" sisters Blanche and Rose can be considered one character because they are nearly of one consciousness and goal, and that together their decisions (along with the decisions of the others in the book) center around this ONE THING, this moral premise, which describes naturally occurring causes and their consequences: "Foolishness and timidity lead to what is dark and dangerous, but courage and wisdom lead to what is light and life." For a book aimed at teen girls, this 61-year old male was absorbed in the storytelling of a great writer. Bravo!

With a snowstorm raging outside and her mother long overdue from work, Blanche anxiously awaits her mother's return. After all, this is New York City. Her sister Rose, on the other hand, is contentedly reciting poetry instead of studying her trigonometry.

Suddenly, a car door slams and a woman cries out. Blanche leaps to the window to see two dark shapes struggling in the swirling darkness. Is their mother okay? Out of the swirling darkness, enters Bear, changing their lives and home forever.

Who is this mysterious young man? Why does he have such an unusual name? Why is he out alone in the middle of a blizzard at night?

In this story of mystery, intrigue, and romance, Rose and Blanche, two teenage girls, strive to live their faith in modern day New York City. Faced with the typical problems of teenage life of wanting to be popular, follow the "in" crowd, and be accepted, the girls are faced with some tough choices.

How they deal with these situations is what sets them apart. In one particularly dramatic moment, Rose confronts Rob, a cocky, popular student, who all the girls pine after, and tells him in no uncertain terms what a "real" man is. In a world where immoral choices are considered the norm, this book is a refreshing treasure.

Unique and distinctively different, Rose and Blanche are real personalities. Blanche, who is shy and sensitive, wishes she was more like her younger sister Rose, who is more flamboyant and bold. However, it is Rose's curiosity, trusting nature, and desire to be popular that gets her into some rather serious tight spots. Fortunately, her spunk, creativity, and moral fiber, not to mention, God's Providence, get her out of them.

Hard to put down, my daughters read this story over and over again. This contemporary rendition of the Grimm's Fairy tale, includes true-to-life characters, who are real heroines, and a multi-level plot that is thick with mystery, intrigue, and healthy romance.

I think "The Shadow of the Bear" is a nice story. I didn't know the story of Snow White & Rose Red as sisters, so I didn't know what was going to happen.

I am a mid-20's Catholic youth minister and I enjoyed it. I would recommend it to my students as a quick read. It shows teenage girls living a life of faith modestly, and the two main characters have opposite personalities, so girls should relate to at least one of them.

I look forward to reading the sequel.

Some books just fall into your hands, and instantly become treasures you want to share with all you know. This is one of those books. It is a modern retelling of the story from the Brothers Grimm, of Snow White and Rose Red. It is the story of two brothers and two sisters, all of whom have lost much in life and are not fully what they at first appear. The sisters have lost their father and had to move back into New York City. The brothers have lost their mother and have both been convicted of drug charges. Then one fateful night their fates become somehow intertwined.

The sisters are Blanch and Rose, two girls who grew up in the countryside, and who now reside in the city. They live with their mother and attend secondary school. The first of the brothers we meet is named Bear; he has dreadlocks, is big and tough, yet upon spending an evening with the Brier sisters and their mother he reveals different parts of his past. He has a passion for life, loves poetry and takes the girls on outings. But there is always a dark side to a Bear and this one is no different. He has secrets and his story and journey are still unfolding. The mystery revolves around a murdered priest, an abandoned church and the school the sisters are attending.

This story is wonderfully told. The author draws you in and keeps you captivated from first page to last. Each chapter begins with a quote from the original fairy tale, and foreshadows what is coming, yet in New York the mysteries and magic of a fairy tale are very different from the German countryside. Regina Doman is a true storyteller, not just an author. His skill with the pen makes you see the action as it is taking place, and you feel so drawn into the story that you feel like a character sitting on the sidelines waiting to see what will happen next.

This is the first book in a trilogy and I cannot wait to lay my hands on books two and three. This story was so captivating that it left me wanting more immediately. If you are looking for some great summer reading this term, give this book a try.

There is an Angoni tribal proverb that says, "The dust of Africa never leaves the soles of your feet." If this heartfelt paean to Ms. Jahme's mother country is any indication, that proverb must surely be true. In poems that range from inspiring beauty to deeply troubling, Susan Jahme shows her readers Africa as she knows it.

In an excerpt from "Gentle Giants", we clearly see the spirit and reality of Alrican elephants:
Infinite, unconditional love,
Enwrapped in wrinkled folds
Of harmless, wise old eyes,
Heavily fringed in silken lashes,
Shining benevolently at their kin.

African nights come alive in "Night Noises of the Veld":
A hollow quiet without a stir,
For an empty stop of time,
When man, beast and spirit
Jointly hold their collective breath,
Whilst the sun slides in solitude
Beyond Earth's horizon line.

A deep, reverent love of place and time is expressed in "Wistful Ache for Africa":
Wistful ache of the love
For the tawny plains
Surrounding highlands
That thrust up,
Touching the skies
Under hot sun clad days.

"Withered Africa" is a heartbreaking lament for the continent that has lost much of its glory:
She lies on her back,
A tired old sequinned ...,
Her once full ...
Lie flaccid and dry...
All youth expelled,
No longer
Proud races to suckle...

Ms. Jahme's prize winning poetry has raw power and quiet introspection. She extols the rivers, wonders, and people of Africa as they are now, and laments the proud tribes, treasures, and animals that used to be. Highly recommended.

I have known Susan Jahme, the author of "African Sunshine and Shadows" since she was a teen-age girl in Blantyre, Malawi. Consequently it was with a great deal of interest and anticipation that I awaited publication of this anthology. To us who have lived, loved and labored in Africa, and who have traveled the highways, by-ways and dusty foot paths of this great continent, camped in its great Game preserves and
listened to the roar of the lions at night, it conveys a profound
message.

In her own unique, interesting and powerful way, Susan
portrays the wonders, the beauty, the grandeur, the majesty of its unequalled scenery and wildlife and bird life. And then with fervent passion, she paints word pictures of the tragedies wrought by centuries of hatred and warfare between tribal factions that has plagued Africa since time immemorial. I was profoundly touched by "We Once Had A Farm In Africa" and "Withered Africa." both of which describe so well the
situation in much of southern Africa today.

I heartily recommend the book to anyone who enjoys unique, passionate and deeply profound poetry of a type rarely seen today. Those who have dreamed of seeing this great continent with its wildlife and majestic scenery, and those who want to know what Africa is really like, with all its beauty and its tragedy, should read it.

Jahme definitely has a gift for poetry. I personally liked the poems that told a story best. She has keen insight into the details and struggles of life in Africa. One special touch in the book that I haven't often seen elsewhere are short definitions and explanations following certain poems. Some of the place names, events and people were unfamiliar to me and these short definitions really brought me closer to what she was talking about. As for the poems with the explanations, I felt as though I understood where her inspiration came from, which in turn inspired me. For example, one poem that is good in itself becomes great when you realize that it was inspired by looking at a child in Cape Town who was homeless due to his parents dying from AIDS.

African Sunshine And Shadows showcases the work of South African poet Susan Jahme and thoroughly documents her as an outstanding new poet. This debut collection offers up beautiful and rhythmic verse painting a word portrait of Africa in the twenty-first century. Oh Africa!/Fruitful woman,/Now laid to wast/With misguided misuse.../Once supplying Nations/The milk and honey of your core,/That starve now.//No virtue had you then,/Nor do you now.../But oh, sweet symphony,/Your body was lush,/Ripe and Firm!//Every man wanted/To make his home on your/Welcoming, rolling plains,/Sowing seed to be cultivated,/Then harvested/By his daughters,/And sons.//Open your eyes,/Looking over the endless stretch/Of this fickle woman, Africa,/See what is happening before you,/As back to ancient tribalism/She turns her people,/One by one.//Eating one another/With tribal hatred/That no foreigner can understand,/Now.../Nor could they when they first came,/Settling this sensual woman's/Eruptive, secret places.//Beneath the endless blue/Of her skies,/Ethnic tribes clash,/As in long ago times,/Before the missionary and adventurer/Arrived to lay claim to this woman,/And the men of her lands.

African Sunshine and Shadows is beautiful inside and out Among other rare abilities, Susan Jahme shows rather than tells. Before we know it we are in Africa. . .and we want to stay. If not forever, long enough to get to know her. Her people! Be prepared to grieve as well as celebrate. Because of Susan Jahme, Margaret Collingswood's The Poisonwood Bible and my latest find, Alexandra Fuller's, Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight, I find myself hunting avidly for African histories. Which could not be more fitting for a poet. One of many debts we owe to the vast and fascinating and beleaguered continent is her strong and lasting influence on music and poetry. Susan Jahme lives in Africa, and she knows. Reading her carefully-crafted poems is both joy and eye-opener. Brava!!
Phyllis Jean Green {aka Phyllis J. D. Green}, Author/Editor/Educator...

Hugh Nibley was obviously a very brilliant scholar of religious and secular history and the associated languages. This book is a collection of his talks which focuses on how truly living the Gospel of Jesus Christ can help us to become like Jesus and our Heavely Father. Nibley's objective seems to be to help us understand what things are really of most importance in our lives when viewed from an eternal prospective. A reader of the book can only appreciate many of his references if he/she has received his/her temple endowments and returned to the temple often to appreciate the significance of the temple ceremony.

I enjoyed the book very much and feel that it has given me a deeper appreciation of what I need to be doing during my mortal probation in order to become what I want to be when this time has ended for me.

As a non-Mormon who was once a 20 yr temple going Mormon I have to say that it is funny that with all the truthsayers doing reviews and writing mormon books, after 8 years being outside the LDS Church and what do I do? I come full circle back to one of my favorite all time books: Approaching Zion! It's relavancy to the current state of our world economy which is based on a Monetary system that actually entices us to choose unwisely, creating further socio-economic problems for every human being (not just mormons) is the cause of the root problems we live under now. The Law of Consecration, if actually lived by the Mormons, would have kept me in the church, as seeking answers to my quest for justice and truth caused me to be spiritually motivated out of the limited church view. It turns out the answers I was seeking were historical as a start and related to larger core issues which are not addressed by any religious group at present - if it can be at all. It's a sad but predictable dilemma that once somebody has a great spiritual experience then others want to experience the same thing so methods and rituals are replicated so we, like robots, can fool ourselves into thinking we are as cool as they were! lol Joseph Smith actually said that to follow after the experiences of others without having the experiences for ourselves was the utmost folly! Religions which began as a stepping stone become stumbling blocks to further conscious living. It is the same with the United Order, the way of happiness or the Law of Consecration. Within the spirit of the "law" is an eternal truth: there is a way which if lived can make one happy. It can be described as an order formally but simply it is just a way of Being. It has been described as the economy of God, where those who live having "all things in common" were blessed, uplifted, full of joy and rich beyond money and profits. The times that groups of people were able to live in this way it seems that their core belief was not that Jesus is the Christ or any of that religous group-wish-think. The core acting belief was that we do love each other with a love unfeigned. Unconditional love for others and total acceptance of others beliefs whatever they may be were paramount. We eat, we share, we care. Now I have plenty of time to do research and study, write, invent things, whatever I love to do, whatever thrills me to spend my time at whatever I love to jump out of bed in the morning excited to do(the proper meaning of the word "WORK"; it is not menial boring labor; it is that which uplifts self and others). Right work is essential to happiness and the proper attitudes and values (righteousness) will automatically cause the cup within ones self to overflow so that others catch the fire also. It is a joy to live simply, it is affecting, spreads like thunder and brings immutable joy. The historical records are evidence of this though the records are small. The problems we have today are always the problems to reappear with the ideas concerning private property rights, money and then greed, avarice, theft, pride and other evils. Money has no place in a Zion society as it is just a piece of paper or rock or metal. Private property is unnecessary as well as "who can own the land or the sky or the water?" It is the unenlightened who think such things. The Resources (Rich things or goodness of the land) should be used to uplift the whole society, to lessen burdens and raise the standard of living for all beings. This is not limited to a larger home but was not meant to mean such at its core meaning. That which cannot satisfy is property. Who can gain the whole world but lose his own soul? No church and no religion has the key to building Zion. And here today, in 2008, we have to undo the damage that has been inflicted on our psyches our morals and our values by the current money based system which will not, never has and never will lead to happiness. I long for a Zion society and have committed myself to getting rid of any beliefs which hold me back from living it now not at some later date or when I'm commanded by some authority figure who sitteth in the temple as if he were God. As a mormon, I made a covenant in the temple to live it long ago and I'm doing so as best as I can. I stopped supporting our current monetary structure. I do not support the military machine which wastes resources and I've become active in politics such as might help alleviate the ruin on us slaves. Perhaps one day we will see that it isn't anything but beliefs that really separates us and causes us to serve the wrong master. Change your beliefs or discreate them entirely and watch how life will change! I loved Hugh Nibley's approach to Zion. He inspired my deep longing and spiritually encouraged me to delve deeper and be truly free. I don't own this book now but wish that I did. I used to own every volume in the series plus the Journal of Discources and other precious gems but if I had only 1 book of all of these I would choose Approaching Zion! Also see "Zeitgeist" the movie. It is eye opening and connected to this topic for those with ears to hear.

Dr. Nibley is Brilliant! Simply brilliant! Everything that he says in this book is outstanding. Face it people, both LDS and non-LDS, we simply cannot hope to dream about living in Zion based on the current situation that the world is in. We, as human beings, are simply too greedy to do so. And Zion is based completely on the idea that greed and money are non-existent. We cannot have Zion with the current political and economic mess that we have created, and Dr. Nibley shows us why. To the non-LDS reader, Dr. Nibley shows the joy in building Zion and the danger in denying it. To the LDS reader, Dr. Nibley shows the danger of denying the knowledge that they have gained by being exposed to the principles of Zion. He also details the principles of Zion and how people must live and dwell in Zion in order for the system and Law of Consecration to work. And he gives some very interesting history in detailing the history of Zion, including the city of Enoch. So this was a fantastic book written by an excellent scholar.

This is Hugh Nibley at his most personal and most challenging. Here he expresses his faith, insights, and commitment to trusting the Lord and taking his covenants most seriously. He hammers home again and again that we receive everything from the Lord and that we are blind to many of the blessings we have all around us. We refuse to take them because we are after the things of this world and are of no worth, though we have been warned to turn away from them.

Dr. Nibley implores us to begin living the Law of Consecration. He gives us no quarter. We know what it means, we know how to do it, and we know the covenants we have made. We also know the promises the Lord has made to us concerning this Law. I don't know about you, but I find this beyond what I can do understand or do in my current circumstances. Yet, I feel the need to ponder what the author is telling me and to move towards this principle of life.

These are essays and papers that were written since the 1970s. Many are published here for the first time (unless you read them as papers from FARMS). As I say, these are very challenging writings. Not because they are hard to understand, but because they are challenging in very serious ways. Dr. Nibley takes the gospel very seriously and literally. He points out to us that we have too often inverted values to our detriment. He deplores the way education has changed and that learning and thinking have been replaced by feeling and degree accumulation.

The last few essays in the book are among the most directly challenging to our present way of life. His discussion of Aristotle's notion of goods of first and second intent is wide-ranging and quite informative. The last essay on the atonement is quite beautiful and insightful. I think my favorite essay is his funeral address for one of his friends.

Nibley's plain speaking about his faith in the atonement and the challenge it presents us for our lives here on earth and in eternity is inspiring. The writings here bear careful reading and re-reading and then meditation. You will have to change your life if you take them seriously. And that is unsettling and that is what we ask teachers to do: to shake up our lives.

Dr. Nibley continues his great teaching.

ONCE AGAIN HUGH NIBLEY DOES IT AGAIN. HE IS MAGNIFICENT IN HIS RESEARCH AND COMPREHENSIVE CLARITY MAKING THE ISSUES BEING DISCUSSED CLEAR AND PRECISE.