Insight Books

Haven't read the book yet- BUT I'am taking a class with him right now- actually his last. Great professor- dynamic class of noverbal communication and culture- Highly reccomend reading anything he has published.

Eva Adamson and Cider Mill Press brings Shakespeare into the twenty-first century as a box of literary candy.

Women look forward to Valentine's Day and anniversaries with bated breath and great anticipation, while men, for the most part, dread these so-called "lover's days," because they never know what to buy.

Well, author Eve Adamson, together with the gift book experts at Cider Mill Press, have published an ideal gift for those days-or for that special person in your life, any day of the year. Uniquely presented in a sturdy red heart-shaped box, Shakespeare Select is a delicious, albeit fat-free, combination of sonnets, poetry and special quotes offering readers a collection of compliments, come-ons and insightful suggestions in the art of love.

First you'll notice the box's gorgeous design, complete with a miniature photo of Shakespeare. Inside are 30 carefully crafted, individually wrapped love notes, which resemble old-fashioned penny candies.

Each `Bon Mot has two purposes: one side reveals a Shakespearean work meant to inspire and set the mood, while the other side offers a flirtatious hint or suggestion that your lover will find irresistible. The 128-page mini-book is a replica of the outer gift box, full of Shakespeare's poetry, sonnets and quotes from his many plays, as well as the rules of attraction and ways to woo your lover.

The definition of love is one of the great mysteries of the universe and yet, through his sonnets, plays and poetry Shakespeare infused the literary world with a deep, philosophical portrait of relationships, the excitement of love discovered and the heartache of love lost. His wisdom of his words are captured, spiced it up with 21st century come-ons and with a magical sense of creativity delivered a one-of-kind, super-sweet gift book that says a lot without uttering a single sound.

I enjoyed the book immensely and the love notes are interesting and entertaining.

Every now and then you discover a book that's a delight to read and, even better, a delight to share with others: this is one such book.

Armchair Interviews says: Don't miss the opportunity to share the magic of Shakespeare!

Shakespeare's wit is on the mark. His vocabulary still stings in today's world as it did in his. The book is well organized with amble references. I carry it in my briefcase for quick use.

I bought this book for my wife's birthday at her request (men never know what to get!) and she absolutely loved it. The humorous and down to earth anecdotes provided just the right encouragement for her. She has already told me she plans to read this book at least once every year. Husband, you can't go wrong with this one!

It helped us both to calmly discuss the issues and evaluate our relationship. Don't misunderstand the book's purpose, it isn't to talk you into staying married. Hate to be negative, but if you're reading the book you'll likely end up getting divorced sooner or later anyway.

What it did do is assist in distinguishing the emotion (anger) from logic. We're actually better friends now than before, but we are divorced.

Cappy Hall Rearick has done it again. Her collection of stories and articles will make you laugh your head off at times, particularly when she writes about her Doodah circle of friends, her husband and the Grandchildren from Hell. Some of her stories will put a lump in your throat and some of them will give you a nice lift and brighten up your day. It is a nice bedside book, but it will just as easily fit onto a coffee table or even in the bathroom. For those of us who are Southern, we will recognize characters similar to our own friends, neighbors and relatives. For people unfortunate enough to be born Yankees (bless their hearts!), it will give them a window into what it is like to live in God's country. You may laugh or cry when you read these stories, but Cappy will never bore you.

Simply Southern is a collection of short stories from the mind of award-winning short story writer, Cappy Hall Rearick who hails from St. Simon's Island, Georgia. As she puts it, it is "the humor, insight and fun of a southern good old gal". And she is right about the humor. She can make you laugh. But she also writes poignantly of lessons learned and of her love for family. Most of her stories are from columns she has written over the years when she, herself, was living in the north and homesick for the south.

The first section deals with memoirs of time spent with her grandchildren, or "Grandkids from Hell" as she affectionately calls them. It is titled, "Camp Mammy". Here is an excerpt from the first story, Granny Fuel.

"There are two three-foot high aliens hammering at my back door. They appear to be in disguise, their skin covered with dirt as fine and black as coal dust. I stare at the two aliens and they stare back at me, the whites of their eyes standing out from the rest of their faces. Underneath it all, there is a slight resemblance to the Grandkids from Hell.
Tentatively, I ask, `Who are you?'
They give each other the Duh! Look and say, `We're your grandsons.'
`Well, why are you covered in black dirt?'
`Cause we're digging a humongous hole in your back yard.'
`Are you planning to bury each other? Do you need some help?'
`Duh! We're building an armadillo trap.'
Stop the presses!
The dreaded armadillo infestation is going to be thwarted by two creatures who act like they might actually be related to me. I look them over, searching in vain for any likeness to my side of the family.
`We're working hard, Mammy, and we need Koolade.'
`With or without Benedryl,' I ask."

Cappy has a dry sense of humor, but her love for her family shines through in her stories. Some of them are fictional and the characters she comes up with are truly one-of-a-kind.

Here's an excerpt from the short story, Stretched Genes as told by one of Cappy's characters, Ivy Lee Johnson.

"'One time, me and my mama, my grandmama, my great-grandmama, and my great-great grandmama came here to the Winn Dixie. Mamma and me was walking down Aisle Six and the others was on Aisle Seven arguing over whether Maxwell House was as good as the coffee with the blue line around it. Terrickly, my great-grandmama comes over to Aisle Six crying like a baby, her face all puckered up and shiny.
"My mama said, `Grandmama, now what in the world's the matter with you?'
"Great grandmama sniffed real loud, wiped her nose with a raggedy Kleenex and said, `Mama jist now slapped me.'
"Right then, my great-great grandmama come walking up and Mama yells at her, `Did you slap Grandmama?'
"She was a hundred and twenty years old at the time, Cappy, and she looked at me and Mama both like we was stone stupid. `Dang straight I did, and I'll do it again if she don't shut her mouth. Ain't no youngun' of mine gone sass me like that and get away with it.'"

"I am now laughing way out of control. Louder, even, than Ivy's voice.
"'Ittn't enough to drive a person plum crazy?' Ivy Lee grins..."

I highly recommend Simply Southern. Cappy really makes me "feel the spirit of the south" and it warms my heart when I am homesick for my Alabama home.

Dana Sieben
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We are planning a short trip to Singapore and I found this book to be very good at pointing out things that were a must-do and what was a waste of time. Also had very good lists of things such as indeginous foods (and what was in them), language barriers (very amusing section), things to watch out for etc. Also had a great overview on food, where to eat and what was not worth it. It was good at listing things that were a one-day trip must do and a 3-4 day trip must do.

I definately liked this book over some of the other travel books I have read. It has a very personal touch (some amusing anicdotes) and a good perspective on things.

I delved into these essays soon after the collection was published and re-read my favorite essays when I travel. Doing this adds meaning and enhances the enjoyment of my visits to these spiritual sites of Colorado. I especially enjoy reading and re-reading Fred Baca's essay on the San Luis Valley. For any traveler who loves the unspoiled sites of Colorado, this is a must read.

Where was this book my first year of college? Choosing a major and making other good choices in my life would have been much easier. However, the idea of "career volunteering" was the one thing that set me on the right path.