Clark Books

As the thought of von Balthasar starts to be absorbed now by the attentive public (like me), we will see that here is something nothing less than thrilling. We can see theology actually developing in the most radical and foundational way, in utter and profound faithfulness.

This is a brilliant piece of scholarship drawing from the deepest wells of Biblical interpretation, traditional theology, and rigorous philosophical thinking. Balthasar confirms for me that the most sophisticated and original thinking is done 'on route' of tradition rather than in wandering away from it. Thinkers and believers of all sorts, especially Protestant Christians (which I am) will find serious intellectual protein in this masterpiece.

SILENT NIGHT - Catherine Dornan always had the picture-perfect life. Two healthy, happy sons - Brian and Michael - and a loving husband, Tom, who still had the power to make her feel like a teenager. Even with the long hours he must keep, making his rounds at the hospital in Omaha, Nebraska, where they make their home, their marriage and family life have never suffered. Until he's struck down with Leukemia, and must be rushed to New York City for emergency surgery - right before Christmas.

Cally Siddons has always struggled to provide a happy home life for her young daughter, Gigi. Doing so, however, has not been easy, what with her troublesome younger brother, Jimmy, constantly appearing and disappearing, leaving their lives in shambles with each new arrival and departure. Cally already spent over a year in prison for helping her ex-con brother, and doesn't plan on being separated from Gigi again. Especially not around the holidays. But when Jimmy escapes from prison, she just knows that he'll somehow find her again, and that's one thing she can't face.

The paths cross between these two individuals when, attempting to take Michael and Brian's minds off of the fact that their father is sick, Catherine takes her two sons out for a night on the town in Manhattan to view the holiday festivities. After a few hours spent singing carols, visiting Rockefeller Center, and viewing the Christmas displays at the upscale department stores, they plan on visiting Tom in the hospital and giving him a St. Christopher's medal. The family has faith that St. Christopher will help him through this difficult time in his life, and prompt him to get better. But when Cally Siddons steals Catherine's wallet - the very same wallet that contains the St. Christopher's medal - Catherine's youngest son, Brian, vows to get it back, and ends up in the midst of a deadly tango between a homicidal ex-con, and his naive, well-meaning younger sister. One that could mean a very silent night. 5 stars.

ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT - Seven years ago, when Sondra was just eighteen-years-old, the promising violinist trekked to New York City, in the dead of winter, to give birth to her baby, and leave the small child on the steps of St. Clement's Church in Manhattan. Knowing that she was unable to care for her child, what with taking care of her grandfather, and attending classes to fulfill her dream of becoming a professional violinist, the young mother believed that the child would fare better if brought up by the kindly Monsignor, or at least be placed in a proper home.

On that same night, when Sondra abandoned her tiny baby girl, Lenny, a petty thief, was casing St. Clement's. At the time, he was searching for money, and eager to steal a silver chalice, harboring a star-shaped diamond, which once belonged to Bishop Joseph Santori. At the time, Lenny knew that the star-shaped diamond would bring him a pretty penny. But as he's escaping St. Clement's after the successful heist, he stumbles upon a weatherworn stroller, and walks off with it. It is only when he arrives at his Aunt's apartment that he finds the tiny baby girl bundled up inside. In an attempt to ward off questions from his Aunt, he claim's the baby as his own, aptly naming her Star - Stellina, in Italian - and vows to raise her as his own.

Seven years later, Sondra is now 25-years-old, and back in Manhattan to play a violin concert at Carnegie Hall, her debut to the world. Unfortunately, the fate of her child is the only thing on her mind, making it difficult for her to concentrate on her coming performance. When she meets Alvirah Meehan, a lottery winner and amateur sleuth, she begins to think that all of her Christmas dreams have come true. Alvirah agrees to help Sondra find her little girl. Now, Alvirah has taken on two cases for the holidays. She can only hope that each will have a happy ending; otherwise, she may not sleep all through the night. 5 stars.

Over the years, I have read many of the Christmas novels that Mary Higgins Clark releases with her daughter, Carol; however, I have never delved into one of Mary Higgins Clark's own novels. SILENT NIGHT and ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT were wonderful stepping stones for me. While SILENT NIGHT is mystery-light, and centers more around a slightly suspenseful story, laced with thoughts of spending the holidays with the ones you love, I still found it extremely entertaining, and, oddly enough, heartwarming. Out of the two featured in this collection, however, I have to admit that ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT was my favorite. The characters, and the magic of the holiday truly came to life within this mystery, and display the true meaning of Christmas marvelously. Clark has woven two delightful holiday stories that will warm you from head to toe.

Erika Sorocco
Freelance Reviewer

After Catherine Dornan's husband is diagnosed with leukimia, Cathering and their 2 sons go to New York so Mr.Dornan can a a life-saving operation. To get her son's minds off their father for a while they go to view Christmas decorations in the streets of New york. Catherine drops her wallet and a stranger, Cally Hunter, sister of escaped convict, Jimmy Siddons picks it up. The wallet holds a precious memento their grandmother just gave them, a St. Christopher medal. 7-year-old Brian sees Cally and is unable to get his mother's attention so he follows Cally to get back the medal. Brian follows Cally all the way to her apartment where Jimmy Siddons gets a hold of hime and kidnaps Brian as he runs away from the cops. This book is written with warmth for the holiday seasons. It is very intriguing and puts you in suspense as you wonder what will happen next.

Nimrod Rising is a very interesting book that kept me turning the pages.
I think that the subject matter is spot on with the times and
Steven C. Bradley has created a book that mixes creative writing with some hard realities of the present to spin a tale of the future that will
raise the hairs on your arm. Buy the book and after the first page you will be hooked.

It's a book you can't help but admire as much as you hate its topic. I admire the author, Steven Clark Bradley, for taking on such a task.
One thing I asked myself throughout the book is: Is this story fiction or is it true? One can only hope it is fiction, but the evidence paralleled by world events says there's a good chance that what we are seeing may really be the end of the world. But, who knows? And, who will be here to witness it, anyway?

I admitted to the author that I get an eerie feeling and unsettled dreams after reading this book. No wonder. It's a scary nightmare to think that we may be witnessing events such as those in the book as they unfold in modern day social and political events. The book opens with a vivid description of a world gone wild. Money, governmental control, media, chaos, war, rampant fear, and terror are noted.

Bradley gives reason for the condition of our world by taking us back to when it all began--the day Nimrod was born in 4,000 BC. Who is Nimrod? The son of Cush, the great-grandson of Noah. You remember these guys from Bible class, right? If you know anything about the book of Revelation and the seven seals, you will have a strong reason to believe that world events are a result of unseen warfare in the invisible realm.

It all started with the division of good and evil in the Garden of Eden. Remember Adam, Eve, the snake, the fall of man, the apple, the Tree of Life, Lucifer--the morning star better known as Satan? It is clear that the story is based upon a belief that the figurative Garden of Eden (the Christian version of creation) is for real, but I don't take these things literally. To me, they are analogies, metaphors, and such. Sure, I believe in energy both negative and positive and I know they have an effect on me. But entities? Okay, maybe there are angels and demons. But, I prefer to stay in my safe little cocoon where all is love and there are no divisional lines of religious doctrine or dogma. But, this book won't let a reader stay there. The 593 pages of text disturb my ability to ignore world events.

Cush, after defiling his teenage daughter, rejoiced as she brought forth his son. This infant of incest would become the savior of Lucifer and his evil subjects. This devil child, called Nimrod, would rebel and fight against Elyon (God, Jehovah) in an organized effort to control the hearts of mankind. The book tells the story of the fall of the Tower of Babylon; and thus, the war of good and evil is distinctly in progress. Through death, life, rebirth, reincarnation--whatever you want to call it, Nimrod comes to life 666 times in various human forms throughout history. It is now 666 generations later. That means the Antichrist is in the world now. In Bradley's story, another sinister entity named Abbadon possesses the US Vice-president Manassa Dormain--a man whose son was conceived similar to Rosemary's baby/the Virgin Birth story. There were drugs involved so it is not clear even to the mother how it really happened. Drugs do play a part in this story. Big pharmaceutical companies and government cohorts control the issue of all substances. The masses are experiencing severe rage-like symptoms known as TORS (Terror Offense Reflex Syndrone. The only drug to treat it is available only through the government. Sounds like the FDA, but I regress. The son of Manassa Dormain, Shepard Michael, has been put into a mental institute because, like his father, he sees future events before they happen. The book continues with Manassa helping Shepard play his role in the fight for world power--good trying to prevent catastrophe and evil trying to create it. I won't give away the ending, but it would make a good movie with all the drama it entails. You never know who is on which side, so beware of those angels in disguise!

I felt overwhelmed not only by the subject matter but by the mere size of this book. To top it off, there were dreams and visions interjected that blurred the lines of reality. You should not read this book while drinking alcohol. That would be like trying to read the newspaper while watching a James Bond movie. You've got to pay attention to the details or you'll get caught up in the action.

Steven Clark Bradley will be my guest on Writers in the Sky Podcast February 1, 2008. Be sure to listen online at [...] as he shares more about his book, how he wrote and published it and how he is marketing the book.

Well, you won't want them in your backyard if you're raising cattle. This story about the Ninemile wolf pack in northwestern Montana is a fascinating account of a wolf reintroduction program, and it deals with the complexity of the situation thoroughly and compassionately. Bass makes no secret of his own opinions--he wants wolves to make a comeback in the lower 48--but he discusses the concerns of the ranchers and all parties involved in a professional, fair manner. I learned more about wolves from reading this book than from any other source, and it helped me to clear up many of my own misconceptions about these canines. Bass very cleverly shows us the human side of the wolf reintroduction issue, the often predictable pattern of what happens when you put wolves and people together. And it helped me to think about wolves in a new way--if there's an antonym for anthropomorphism, Bass's writing is it. And like all of Bass's other books, this one displays his uncanny economy with words. If you think that all nonfiction writing should be devoid of passion or color, this isn't the book for you. But if you love wolves, you'll love this book.

I can't believe that only ONE person read that book! I LOVED it. And I am just a kid. I read two books on the same pack and this one was the second one I read. At the sad part I cried in this book even though I already knew what happened and I don't normally cry in books. He was a strong author and he told about his life he left his own soul in that book and no one bothered to even write a REVIEW even except for one person. This book is extrodinary! You should really read it. You will be pulled in to it as he tells about how wolves changed so many people's lives. You have to read it. I may be just some kid reading a book that is ment for 15+ but I have as much say in it as anyone else. You have to read it. You will never see wolves in the same way again.

I can only add to the other reviewers statement about seeing items and patterns before there was "authentic indian crafts as sold on Ebay".

There is a wonderful section (several pages) that go over the beading patterns and what they represent when woven onto an item (by Nation) such as buffalo, wolves, rabbit tracks ect. I found that the best part of the book.

Craft history buffs will love the information on historical beading and bead trade snippets.

For the price you can't go wrong with this one.

originally published in 1919, this is a good, if very brief, basic reference. its age is a plus--the illustrations are of items that had, on the whole, not yet been influenced by tourist trade.

there's a very short section on quillwork technique; a wonderful old photo of traditionally dressed blackfoot women, unfortunately without a date; and a section that isolates the components of beadwork designs, a benefit for those creating their own work.

most of the few illustrations are from nations usually underrepresented--including assiniboin and arapaho.

all in all, a worthwhile supplement to other, more comprehensive books.

This is one of those books that could start real, honest dialogue between those Christians who are the buckles of the Bible Belt, and those Christians who believe in God in Her infinite Wisdom. Morse, working with a Thomist (read Aquinas)model, outlines those things which he believes to be central to Christianity, outside of which things there is no Christianity. You may think he draws the boundary too far out, or too narrowly, but he is clear, concise, and a challenging read. What do you refuse to disbelieve?

One of the important elements of my theological education, and something that most every religious and non-religious person knows implicitly without realising explicitly, is that to believe anything carries with it the corollary that one does not believe the opposite. To believe that God exists, for example, precludes the belief that there is no God. To believe in one God precludes the belief in many gods and in no God. And so on...

`To believe in God is not to believe everything. To trust everything without awareness of what is trustworthy is not the faith in God to which one is called by the gospel.'

Christopher Morse, in his book `Not Every Spirit: A Dogmatics of Christian Disbelief', examines various elements of Christian faith and theology by approaching what it means not to believe certain things. Approaching theology as a practice of faithful disbelief, he examines the relationship of faith, theology, church, scholarship, and every-day life.

`The earliest Christians were persecuted not for what they professed to believe, but for their disbeliefs. Their refusal to worship at the imperial shrines is what identified them to the governing authorities.... Only Caesar preeminently could be Lord. The loyalty oath, the pledge of allegiance, throughout the empire was expressed in the words 'Kyrios Kaisar' (Caesar is Lord).... The confession 'Jesus Christ is Lord' represented a subversive claim. Entailed in the faith that Jesus was Lord was the disbelief of Caesar as Lord. The disbelief is what gave the confession concrete meaning and timeliness in that social context.'

In separating the wheat from the chaff (to use a biblical image), one can collect the wheat or the chaff, and through either process the two are separated. By taking a 'negative' approach, Morse enables the theological explorer a unique way of constructing a positive, meaningful theological framework.

Morse examines the topics of the Word of God, the Being of God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, Creation, Salvation, Humanity, the Church, and the Life to Come, each in turn systematically, and for each in turn proposing disbeliefs that will help make the structure of Christian beliefs more solid. Taking the first item (the Word of God) as example, Morse proposes the following:

`Christian faith as affirmed in the doctrine of the Word of God refuses to believe:

- all spirits or teachings that either deny God's otherness, or that interpret God's otherness as noncommunicative.

- any claim that God from the beginning has withheld from the church truth that is essential to saving faith.

- any claim that God's Word can be confined and is not now free to speak wherever and as God chooses.'

...and many more -- in this particular example, Morse comes up with 17 proposed disbeliefs, and examines each in turn to better enable the reader/student to gain a firmer grasp on what positive beliefs mean.

Morse's book was used as a recommended text for the systematic theology course at my seminary, and a great many students used it as their primary secondary theology source. It incorporates a wide range of contemporary issues and historical ideas that impact theology, and presents them in a systematic approach.

It's fascinating to re-read my ancestoral history from a historian's perspective. Having heard the "filtered" versions passed down through my family, it was wonderful to get a different account of the events. It's a great read, well put together and was definitely enjoyed!

Sometimes is the truth is stranger than fiction! This is certainly the case with Notorious Woman: The Celebrated Case of Myra Clark Gaines. This book had everything I wanted -- scandalous family secrets, an heir fighting for legitimacy, a struggle through the courts, even a murder -- AND, it's all true! The author re-tells the drama as it unfolded in the courtroom and lets you come to your own conclusion: Was Myra Clark Gaines the true heir to a New Orleans real estate fortune worth millions? You decide.

A must read for anyone who is worn out from city living, the corporate life, etc. You can escape from it all in this book. This is the kind of book you'll want to sit by the fireplace and read on a raw Wisconsin night. Awesome book with great stories, essays and drawings.

As a boy, I used to love to walk through the countryside and let my mind wander. After a while, thoughts would become more organized and answers would come. As opposed to sitting in a dark room with a scotch to think, completely stimulating the senses with nature seems to stimulate complete thoughts and bring a reality of scale to the relative unimportance of the days problems.
The author enjoys this type of outdoor meditation and, apparently, feels his thoughts are worth sharing with those of us not fortunate enough to have a Wisconsin prairie out the back door. I agree -- well worth reading. In fact, as I began to find the author's rythm, I was there. I could smell the air, hear the cattails wave in the wind, and sitting in my chair here in Florida could enjoy a crisp Midwestern morning.
I can't wait to find another book that lets me float away.

This work is truly unnerving in its level of honesty and the sharing of pain. It is a story of missed opportunities by parents and child. Maynard's parents missed the greatest joy in life of helping one's child blossom and sharing a unique love with that child. Maynard missed a real childhood that should have been filled with giggles and hugs. The strength of Maynard to survive all she has endured and to continue is remarkable. This is a book to read more than once. It has a lot to say about self realization and a struggle most people never see because those in that struggle hide it so well.

October Rain is a devastatingly honest account of one girl's struggle against the dark pull of her suicidal tendencies. This a topic that (I'm discovering) is something that a lot more people can relate to than not.
Ms. Clark writes in a clear voice that speaks directly from her soul. Utilizing different character names to represent the varied aspects of her psyche, i.e. The Saboteur, who gives a voice to her dark side, Ms. Clark discovers, or more accurately, creates her own pathway to salvation through her love and connection to music and the brilliant, yet often tortured, artists who create it. Ms. Clark is a voice to give hope to those who can identify with her struggle and understanding and tolerance to those who can't.

The best book of engineering humor ever written. Well, okay it may be the only book of engineering humor ever written. Write me directly (SClarkPE@aol.com) with ideas/comments... Steve Clark, P.E.END

Biased or not, Mr. Clark, P.E., has written a wonderful book! It's a bit tough to find, but the book expertly and hilariously defines the differences between the soft sciences/liberal arts and the hard sciences. I'd recommend it just for its definition of "partial credit" between the two worlds mentioned above.