Bell Books

Brent Graham, High School Principal, Grand Rapids, December 3, 2002,
HG21C is Long Overdue
When I was introduced to HG21C, I thought it was just another marriage guide. However, as I read it for the third time, the only thing I can say is, "For the veteran husband searching for answers, HG21C is long overdue". I salute Bell for his marital wisdom.

Brent Graham, High School Principal, Grand Rapids, December 3, 2002,
HG21C is Long Overdue
When I was introduced to HG21C, I thought it was just another marriage guide. However, as I read it for the third time, the only thing I can say is, "For the veteran husband searching for answers, HG21C is long overdue". I salute Bell for his marital wisdom.

A friend of mine called me and said "Man, you-gotta-get this book!" So I purchased HG21C and could not put it down. As a "veteran husband" I was amazed how Bell was able to find the loophole in the feminist movement by reminding husbands that our wives have ignored their responsibilities as wives. And what's really great about HG21C is that it's funny, funny, funny.

I will admit, my wife was not happy when I told her that HG21C is a "Husband's Guide for the 21st Century" and that I would not let her read my copy. It's Top Secret.

As Bell say's "Never in history, have husbands had any reason to question what we should expect from our wives". - Until now.

I say Pulitzer.

Roland McIntosh
St. Louis, Mo.

The cozy world of England before, during, and after World War II is explored with a sure hand by Angela Thirkell.That interesting, amusing, and safe world makes the reader feel good about our turbulent world.
All's right with Thirkell's English world!!

It is good to see Angela Thirkell's light novels once more receiving attention, especially in the USA. "High Rising" is one of her first novels, dating from 1933. There were many English novelists in the 1930s who mined the traditionally English vein of gentle parody, graceful writing, mild absurdity, and class distinction. Much handsomer than most of them, and exhibiting the influence of Jane Austen and Anthony Trollope, Angela Thirkell peopled her novels with descendants of characters found in the latter's Barsetshire novels.

If that gives an idea of the flavor and style that might be enjoyed in her books, I can add that this one chronicles the dizzy doings of Laura Morland, a novelists, who juggles the demands of four sons, her publisher, her secretary, her formidable maid Stoker, and a friend George Knox whom most think should be more than a friend to her. The custom of "coming to tea" sets them all interacting. Watch for the number of verbs Angela Thirkell can employ - from plunge, to insinuate - to describe how characters can enter a room.

The divine Angela Thirkell, to my mind a latter-day Jane Austen, wrote her simply wonderful novels about upper-class village life in pre-war England, in a series of 40 or so novels that are simply irresistable. Her plots captured a time, a mind-set, and a way of life that is long gone, and in fact, her later novels, set just after the war, already reflected a desperate nostalgia for a never-to-return past.

Never mind, though, because "High Rising," one of the earliest of Thirkell's series, is a delight you won't soon forget. The plot centers, as always, on a blithering author whose high-piled hair is continually in disarray, often spewing hairpins at the most inappropriate of times. A widow, she has raised several strapping sons, and is now engaged in trying to educate her youngest, the irrepressible and impossibly boring 8-year-old, Tony. To do so, she must churn out novels, and to that end, she employs a secretary named Anne Todd. And so the plot begins.

Anne is a selfless creature who uncomplainingly cares for her ailing elderly mother, a task that is draining her almost to illness. But plucky pre-war Britishers of a certain class never complained, and neither does Anne. The plot thickens when a truly horrid gold-digger appears to become secretary to another author, and proceeds to wreak terrible havoc on this close-knit society. She is truly an "incubus," which becomes her secret nickname.

So. What will become of the incubus? Will she succeed in her nefarious plot to marry wealthy Geoffrey, a scholarly author who doesn't have a clue? If so, what of Geoffrey's teenaged daughter? Who will mind the dogs? Will High Rising (Tony's prep school) survive yet another class of noxious boys? Will the good village doctor, besotted by Anne, be successful in his gentlemanly courtship?

And most of all...can anyone resist this book??

This fun little graphic novel is a collection of some twelve short stories and poems that were all written by the greats of modern horror literature - H.P. Lovecraft, Edgar Allan Poe, Saki (pen name of Hector Hugh Munro), Jack London, and others. Just as heterogeneous as the authors are the illustrators. Each of the stories was illustrated by a different artist, who drew the story as he or she saw fit, each different from the others and each excellent.

Overall, I thought that this was an excellent book, with great stories and wonderful illustration work. I think that my favorites were Lovecraft's The Thing on the Doorstep, W.W. Jacobs' Monkey's Paw, and Clark Ashton Smith's The Beast of Averoigne, with Bret Harte's Selina Sedilia being too funny to miss. Yep, this is a great book, one that my fourteen-year-old daughter and I both enjoyed and both highly recommend!

Horror Classics is a graphic novel anthology that brings to vivid life those great tales of terror by Edgar Allan Poe, H. P. Lovecraft, Clark Ashton Smith, and others. Each individual story is skillfully rendered into comic book format by a different artist, who uses black-and-white imagery to perfectly capture moments of terror. An engrossing introduction to the classics of horror for those new to the literary experience, and an exciting fresh take on great stories for those who have read them a hundred times before.

Horror has done well for the modern incarnation of the Graphic Classics, whose series has seen such luminaries as Bram Stoker, Edgar Allan Poe and HP Lovecraft brought to life by some extremely talented cartoonists. Whether it is the short-story nature, or the ready-made visually splendid imagery, there is something in the classic horror tales thats makes them well suited to the Graphic Classics treatment. Here, in the 10th volume, they have wisely continued this tradition, and assembled an anthology of classic horror stories to chill and delight.

"Horror Classics" brings together 12 authors, some of which, like HP Lovecraft , Jack London and Ambrose Bierce, have been previously honored with their own Graphic Classics collections. Others, like Clark Ashton Smith and Honre de Balzac, appear for the first time. All of the stories are well-chosen, and the artists's styles are well-matched.

This collection contains:

"The Mummy" - Ambrose Bierce - A short and witty poem, with a sharp illustration to match it.

"The Thing at the Doorstep" - HP Lovecraft - A brilliant take on one of my favorite Lovecraft stories. The artist manages to capture the "Innsmouth look" perfectly, and uses the author's original text combined with illustrations to great effect. "glub..glub...glub-glub..." You know what I mean.

"Some Words with a Mummy" - Edgar Allan Poe - A clever and light adaptation of a resurrected mummy bantering with a few scientists over which has the superior society.

"In a Far Off World" - Oliver Schreiner - An excellent, melancholy tale. One I have never read before, but am glad to be introduced to.

"The Thing at Ghent" - Honre de Balzac - Entirely dialog free, I am at a bit of a loss as to the actual story. Unfortunately, it is not such a familiar tale as to be able to divine the story from illustrations alone. The only disappointment in the lot.

"The Monkey's Paw" - WW Jacobs - Any fan of "The Simpsons" will recognize this one, although they may have never seen the original. The artist JW Pierard maintains the full weight of the original cautionary tale. Be careful what you wish for, and don't mess with unfamiliar magiks.

"The Open Window" - Saki - Another familiar tale, one that I have heard told but never knew the origin of. A clever almost-ghost story, well adapted in a simple Victorian style.

"A Day Dream" - Fitz-James O-Brien - Cartoonish musings on murder, and the high class going slumming in the Five Points.

"Keesh Son of Keesh" - Jack London - A dark and powerful tale of barbarian culture and blood-rights amongst the Native American tribes. Ryan Inzana's heavy woodblock illustrations perfectly compliment this heavy story.

"Professor Jonkin's Cannibal Plant" - Howard R. Garis - "Feed me, Seymour!" Another comedic adaptation, featuring a foolish professor and his frightening child.

"The Beast of Averoigne" - Clark Ashton Smith - A contemporary of Lovecraft, this tale of a wild comet, a haunted abbey, and the Ring of Eibon, is adapted with appropriate style.

"Selina Sedilia" - Bret Harte - A humorous look at love ever-after between two base villains. And of course, there is only one way to achieve love "ever-after."

Physically abandoned by his mother, then emotionally abandoned by his father, Ethan thinks he has it all figured out - how not to get hurt. When the tide starts to turn though and he starts to care a little too much - he begins to understand how his parents did what they THOUGHT was best at the time. Luckily there is still time to mend a Father- son relationship and when his mother tries to regain entry to his life - Ethan surprises us all!
I LOVED Righteous Indignation and had a hard time getting to read this without feeling as though I was betraying THAT main man!
Can't wait for the third!

Ethan McBride might be the tragic hero of this novel, but he handles it beautifully. His pseudo-orphaned lifestyle up until the point of the story has created quite a character out of him, a heart-breaker and a talented individual, yet modest and even quite humble. He may be rich, but he proves to us all that money cannot buy happiness, and though he grew up in posh and comfortable surroundings, he was someone I could identify with from the beginning. Virginia Foley hits another home run with this novel, another tear-jerker and powerful book. Buy it today!

After loving Virginia Foley's first book, "Righteous Indignation" I couldn't wait to get the notice that her second book was out. Believe me she didn't disappoint! "I think I hear Sleigh Bells is a great read.

If My Mom Were A Platypus is an entrancing children's book covering all sorts of animal babies-platypus, koala, lion, orangutan, whale, shrew and more. The beautifully-illustrated text pulls in children by pretending they are the baby. If My Mom Were A Platypus describes in detail how different babies eat, learn, grow and mature. This fact-loaded book delights both adults and children and is extraordinarily hard to put down. Even the ending is superb. Includes glossary and index and highlights endangered or threatened species. Activity guides are available at PlatypusMedia.com. Perfect for school or home use. Ages 4-adult.

The book, 'If My Mom Were A Platypus'was written by Dia L. Michels. It provides a nice introduction to 13 animals (including humans), and provides basic information regarding birth, growth, diet, and other interesting scientific facts. Written from the point of view of the newborn animal and it's mother, the book is targeted towards upper elementary and middle school audiences. However, it can be enjoyed by younger children. It makes a good family readaloud and can be used for basic research. The illustrations are realistic and colorful, and the book includes a glossary and index.

My three year old daughter loves this book. The book tells how different mammals are born, nursed, grow, eat, etc. It is really fascinating [I found it very interesting myself]. While the book is long and written for a much older audience, it still held my young daughter's attention [though we read only a few pages at a time]. The book is very educational and would be especially nice for families who breastfeed. It ends with the birth of a human mammal and tells how the baby is born and nursed and grows etc. This is a really neat book!

This book made me very horney. As I read it I looked down my pants. Then I started to do my cat! Suddenly my dog walked in and joined the fun. I loved all the pictures in this discriptive book. I would reomend it to anyone who wants to get a boner

This book made me very horney. As I read it I looked down my pants. Then I started to do my cat! Suddenly my dog walked in and joined the fun. I loved all the pictures in this discriptive book. I would reomend it to anyone who wants to get a boner

The book covers subjects as diverse as (1) human physiology, (2) sexual techniques and performance, (3) the Arts, (4) aberrant sex and deviation, (5) the animal and plant kingdoms, (6) Contraception & Castration, (7) sexology, (8) prudery, superstition, and the Law

The Insight Guide to Turkey has breathtaking photos, and exceptionally well-written essays about the country, its history, geography, politics and peoples.

I read this book in preparing to host a Turk at my house. I was seeking an appreciation of the country and its culture. What I got was a fascinating read (I couldn't put it down) and a very balanced view, in addition to a great history lesson. I am left with a desire to see this country and meet its people!

Insight guides offer a rich history, political analysis and cultural insight to the countries they cover. By using locally based writers they get the insiders view of what the various camps believe in. For a discerning traveller who wants to know about the country, the people, geography, food, industry etc and for those who wish to travel independently, this is the book to read. It is not tourist guide which says stay here, eat this menu, see this statue. All that is left to the standard tourist guide writers. If you never travel to a country, you can know it through the insight guide. Because Muslim and Turkish cultures are so different from ours (and Turkish is different to Arabic Muslim) it is important to be aware of the behaviours that are considered polite and those that are considered to be rude. This book equips you to deal courteously with salesmen who would be considered pushy by western standards. Did you know for instance that it is rude to kiss your partner in the street in Turkey (or any muslim country) even if it is only a peck on the cheek -whereas it is polite for men to kiss each other in public. Why were Turks feared by all of Europe for seven hundred years? Why do the Greeks still hate them with such passion (if you want to insult a Greek just call him a Turk and see the reaction). For depth of analysis on culture, history and geography, to understand what makes the people tick, you should read this book. Then if you travel to Turkey you may, like me, find the Turks to be the friendliest people you have ever met. You may also understand why such friendly people are capable of being represented in quite a different way in Movies like Midnight Express. Vive la difference!

This book is unmistakably useful as a guide for tourists visiting Turkey, but it will be of value also to all of us with Turkish friends. Turks are Middle Easterners, but not like most of their neighbours. This book sweeps away suppositions and errors and presents the Turks' history, culture, beliefs and ways in a clear and readable manner.

My family is from Trinidad, so I am already quite familiar with the island and its culture and customs. Nevertheless, I learned so much from this book regarding the rich history of Trinidad and Tobago ("T & T"). It is also an excellent travel guide. Photography is wonderful. I couldn't be any more pleased with this book. In fact, I will be taking it with me on my next trip to T & T.

This book was both insightful and accurate. It provided detailed information about the people, culture, customs and the lifestyle of the Trinidadian and Tobagonian people. There are many pictures representing the most popular vacation spots and the book provides historical detail about the areas and all of the influences of the various countries to colonize Trinidad. It provided a wealth of information for the average reader and even supplements the knowledge of the local Trinidadian who cannot accurately explain certain aspects of the culture. It is a must have book for every Trinidadian and Tobagonian and anyone who intends to visit Trinidad and Tobago. I can honestly say that the authors of this book did their research in an attempt to provide a fair and across the board view of all the racial groups which live in Trinidad and Tobago. The pictures are vivid and the diversity and beauty of the flora and fauna of Trinidad is beautifully exhibited in this book. The pictures alone would make one homesick and long to return to the beautiful island. This is one of the best sources of information I have come across on Trinidad and Tobago it provides, historical, geographical, cultural, political and social views of this wonderful paradise island.

I was told by the locals that I was "well read" after reading this one. Lot's of pictures, lots of history and lots of current information make it a perfect preparation for a trip to the island.

What a wonderful, refreshing book! I learned simple, insightful ways to de-stress my days that really help, plus the book is sprinkled with humor and anecdotes. The author speaks to you, not at you, and you know that she understands how easy we can let stress overcome our joy. An added bonus is the book contains short stories and vignettes from others who have "been there," each offering insight and hope. Out of the enormous selection of self-help books available, I put this one at the very top!

This easy-to-read book provides great insight and advice to all of us whose stressful moments sometimes make us forget about the good times. Her "destressors" are simple to follow and practical. The personal accounts make us feel we're not alone in our "down" times and that if these people can overcome, so can the rest of us. Teresa writes with such humor that even though the issues are serious, the heaviness doesn't burden us. This is a must read for all women and some men could use it too!

The layout of "Knot" is teaching basic life skills by example. For every problem you face there is a solution. These are real life people who have real life problems, some staggering, but they deal. I guess if they can do it, so can I. This is the theme of Teresa B. Kindred's "The Knot at the End of Your Rope" which is laced with faith promoting answers. My thanks to the author.

The book was in the French original version. The price was expensive but worth it.

Very Moving story of J-D B., who was a founding editor, I think, ofthe original Elle magazine, in France. He had "locked-in syndrome" and could hardly move a muscle - except for his eyes- or at least one of them. With said eye and eyelid he was able to manage to communicate and dictated this book....He founded a charity for this condition in France and if you google it you`ll find it. Some proceeds of the book may go to this charity ....
It has been optioned to be a film with the lead role said to be going to Johnny Depp.....

This book was written by a middle-aged man who had suffered a devastating stroke. After the stroke he was only able to move one eyelid, and so the book was laborously dictated letter by letter, using the blinking of his eye to choose letters from a computer screen. In the book he talks about his condition, and meditates about his life, both before and after the stroke. It's a compelling read. It gives you insight into the kind of life that few of us would have any access to. It's upsetting simply because you can't help thinking about how you would react in the same situation.