Yule Books

Miss Rhythm is one of the most delightful autobiographies I've read in some time, mainly because 50's R & B diva Ruth Brown never loses her wonderful sense of humor, through good times and bad. Only a truly funny lady could witness a gruesome murder (and decapitation, p. 15) and not lose her lunch in the process. She knew the heights of show business success (several #1 R and B hits), as well as the depths (she had to work as a domestic and teacher's aide AFTER her initial success just to keep food on the table for herself and her kids) and still she comes up smiling in the end. Her battles with Atlantic record company guru Ahmet Ertegun and his minions are noted in great detail: it seems that recording artists way back when received virtually no royalties on sales of their music, and since they were charged for session expenses, often ended up in permanent debt to their labels! This is why the most stirring portion of the book is the last 100 pages or so, which deals with her miraculous comeback on Broadway and in the movies (Hairspray), as well as her founding of the Rhythm and Blues Foundation, a wonderful organization dedicated to recovering back royalties for the many rhythm and blues artist from the 50's and 60's who were paid a mere pittance for their service and who often didn't even have health insurance!! Through it all, the bad marriages and fabulous children, through earthquakes, car accidents, knee problems and poverty, through a final, moving reconciliation with her estranged family, the character of Miss Ruth Brown shines like an inspirational beacon. Get this marvelous book today, and let Miss Rhythm's wonderful strength and spirit serve as a shining example for many years to come.

Ruth Brown is Amazing not only as a Artist but also as a Human Being in a time that not long ago that Hated her for HerColor&She fought for a better Tommorow for Future Generations of Artists coming.She overcame so much &Gave Back so Much not only as a Artist but also as a Person.Important Artists like Her should always be Remembered for Paving the way for so many.She is a Great Vocalist that could ring Circles around Many out today.Her Book&Etta James's are Must.Sister's that overcame so much but Maintain there Inner&Outer Soul.

Ruth Brown has seen it all--from staying in sleazy segregated hotels on tour in Jim Crow America in the 40s and 50s to the top of the R&B charts in the 50s to later hearing her songs on the radio when she was broke and ignored by the record companies she helped build. This lady was the "diva" of R&B and still performs today to packed audiences. We're lucky to have this historical record of her life, for it is a reflection of what many black performers of her day had to go through before achieving the heights of musical stardom, and what they had to go through even after achieving the heights. A great lady and a great performer!

Miss Rhythm is one of the most well-written books I've ever read, in a any genre. Besides that, it tells about the life of someone who's had enough life-experience, and up and downs, for five people, and who has overcome incredible adversity in the proccess. Ruth Brown is not only a great artist but is truly an inspiration and an example for people from all backgrounds and all walks of life.

This is a terrific book that tells the story of a truly amazing woman and in the process, tells the story of hundreds of rhythym and blues performers and groups and the lives they led, in the early days of this important american music. The reader learns how Ms. Brown overcame unbelievable obstacles, both personal and business, and came out on top-in the process, initiating the creation of a great organization called The Rhythm and Blues Foundation, which is based in Washington DC, and exists for the purpose of helping to preserve the music and which provides cash awards and support for R&B pioneers.

I purchased two orders of 12 each. I belong to Women's Seafarers Friend Society and our ladies wanted copies of the book. We heard from the chaplain of New England Seafarers Mission that we were featured in the book, noting the 2005 ditty bag total of 1800 bags for the seafarers. This year we filled 1836 bags. The ladies were thrilled we are mentioned in a book about Christmas.

I found the balance of the book very informative and heart warming. Thank you for carrying this book.

Some fifty New England holiday regional traditions are gathered in a survey fit for either residents or ex-natives of the region, making for a lovely holiday celebration. From different interpretations of Santa - the flying version versus Secret Santa - to Christmas traditions in city and countryside and even historic holiday celebrations, Christmas in New England is a wonderful multi-faceted celebration any holiday enthusiast will love.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

This book covers every kind of Christmas topics and gives meaty stories behind them. I especially like the stories that include recipes like the Chirstmas pudding recipe and I think of many of the stories as mini travelogues and history lessons that come in a most palatable form. I think this would be a great book for the family to hold on to and try to visit one of the places or events described in the book every year. It would also help instill in children that Christmas is not just something invented to sell toys :) McGuiggan has an easy to read style and combines alot of information in one book.

McGuiggan has done a wonderful job collecting stories about New England Christmases, from James Van Alen's annual reading of "A Visit from St. Nicholas" at Clement C. Moore's Newport home to the "Flying Santa" who dropped gifts to the lighthouse families before the days of automated lights, from the beginnings of Christmas emerging in Puritan-bastion Massachusetts to events in the new century. Enhanced with old photos and advertisements. Just one question: does she plan a sequel? That's the only reason I can figure for writing a book about Christmas in New England and not including Edaville Railroad's annual Christmas rides! If this will be the linchpin of a second collection of Yuletide memories, I'm all for it!

Lynn Riggs Palfi has written a beautiful book filled with real-world spells. This is no Witchcraft 101 book, folks. In this book you have quite a few spells that have worked for Ms. Palfi and she gives you the tools to help them work for you. If you are Wiccan, there are some "remember the three-fold rule" notes here and there, which is fine, but we're not all Wiccan and don't all need the reminders - still, I have yet to find a book like this out there anywhere and will be using many of these cauldron-spells for years to come.

Truly a wonderful and needful book for every Pagan. Tons of fantastic Cauldron receipes, which desperately needed to be written. I am so thrilled to finally have a Cauldron spell book that is jammed packed with lots of spells, potions and more. This book is now one of my favorites and would recommend every Pagan, Wiccan and Druid to get this. Written from the heart and so easy to read and understand as well. Thank you.

This is honestly the BEST book I have read on Witchcraft in a long time. This book is filled with nothing but some of the best spells, fixes and great conjuring.

Personally, the cauldron has always been my favorite tool to use in my spell casting -- so I thought, why not check what this book is made of? Great spells for everything from brewing a great love potion, to conjuring protection, conjuring abundance, conjuring protection -- to brewing great mixtures for anything you can think of. Literally spell after spell. I find myself referring back to it for spells all the time now.

Much Love & Many Blessings,
Thorn Nightwind

This is a wonderful book - packed with spells and potions for every situation, and the first book I've seen devoted to using a cauldron. Whatever you may need to do, be it blessing, healing, protecting, or banishing, you can find a spell in here. Spiritual bath recipes are included. There is even the occasional soup recipe! This is a must-have reference book for every kitchen witch's library! I'm looking forward to more works from this author.

This book is an excellant book for anyone who does geneology.Not have i only read the book,i own an autographed copy of it from the author herself. All i can say is thank you Katie.You have done much in my research of my family.You prove there is no color/language/or any other limits on mankind if we dont let them.If you read this i would really like to hear from you again. Joe Cheshier... Your friend from Ogden,Utah HINT:Your best friend worked with my brother in Cleavland,Ohio

I read this book in a single afternoon. I didn't think the book would be entertaining but was pleasantly surprised when I found myself at the end. I want to do this for my children. Ms. Bennett's family must be extreamly proud of her.

SOAKING THE YULE LOG IS NOT ONLY READING FILLED WITH FASCINATING LAYERS OF HISTORY, IT ALSO EMBRACES THE VERY CORE OF EVERY FAMILY'S TRIUMPHS, FEARS AND DREAMS. KATIE BROWN BENNETT DELIVERS A MOVING STORY OF HER ANCESTORS' THRIVING WILL TO NOT ONLY SURVIVE, BUT TO LIVE FULLY DURING TIMES OF SLAVERY, WAR, STRUGGLE AND FREEDOM. THE VERY ESSENCE OF HER TEXT IS ONE OF RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCEPTANCE, NOT BLAME AND DENIAL. THIS STORY FOCUSES ON THE TRIUMPHS, THE COURAGE, THE DETERMINATION, THE FAITH. AND MOST IMPORTANT, IT GLORIFIES THE EXPERIENCES CREATED BY HER ANCESTORS INSTEAD OF THOSE EXPERIENCES CREATED AGAINST HER PEOPLE. HOW REFRESHING TO EXPLORE THE POSITIVE DRIVE OF A FAMILY FOR ITS DREAMS AND RIGHTS IN A PERIOD OF TIME SO REHASHED FOR ITS OPPRESSION. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS WELL DOCUMENTED GIFT OF STORY. IT IS EDUCATIONAL, BALANCED AND FLAVORED WITH CHARACTER.

This very technical guide will reach beyond the arts to any involved in color photography or the science of reproduction: Principles Of Color Reproduction covers the underlying principles of successful color reproduction, masking methods, tone reproduction and influences on color results, with many formulas covering densities, color separation and balance, and calculations for reflection. Very technical and perfect for the college-level art school library.

I can't believe this is only just now in its second edition -- my 20 year-old copy seemed like ancient wisdom at the time I got it... Back then, scanners were new and very expensive technology, so the book focused on the theory applicable to photography-based techniques. One needed to be well-versed in the science of photography (knowing physics helped) and human color vision to follow the book, but what it dealt with was great. All relevant aspects of color reproduction systems (esp. halftone systems based in inks) were dealt with in some detail, so for the very technically inclined the book was a goldmine of solid thinking and information -- even if many of the literature references were even then several decades old. Though the basic principles never change, I'll be interested to see whether the new edition has been sufficiently updated and revised to keep up with the revolution in the field the last two decades as things have moved over increasingly to electronic/digital ways of doing things.

This makes for a cute little stocking stuffer to give someone who is your best friend in life; not exactly something you'd want to give acquaintances. Like it the product description says, it is a pocket book and therefore is very small, small enough to put in my pocket.

Everything in the book is a play on the words. It uses 'Yule' in place of "you will'. For example "Yule always make loneliness a distant memory" and "If I have my wish, Yule grow old together with me".

This is a sweet little book to give to a dear friend - it covers everything you would want to say in a clever, sweet way. I LOVED IT!

Dr. Valerie Yule, a scholarly Australian authority on spelling. takes her expertise lightly. She has a mind loaded with information about present & past spelling of the English language, from text messaging all the way back, so the reader learns a lot. But beyond that, this book provides a unique view, accurate but mischievous. It is loaded with funny trivia about spelling. Those who speak or teach on educational subjects should keep it in their reference library as an unfailing supply of humorous remarks, limericks, anecdotes & snide observations, by past and present writers, about the way our language is written. Those who have enjoyed Eats, Shoots and Leaves, or Vivian Cook's Broccoli in the Cemetery, will also enjoy The Book of Spells and Misspells.

This is a small book full of ideas for Christmas crafts. There are also facts about the holiday, and other suggestions for a holiday party, etc.

This review pertains to the 2004 reprint edition. Aside from the lousy type in the book (an old mimeograph machine could have made clearer print than whoever reprinted this edition), the content is excellent. Though originally copyrighted in 1983, the content is still relevant. The portrayal of DA is balanced, taking into account a wide array of research. The authors have done their readers a service in several ways: (1) the book is a good resource of DA terminology and concepts; (2) they look at the research critically, presenting pros and cons, and where appropriate, provide their own alternative theories; (3) they write in a manner that is surprisingly engaging and fairly easy to follow; (4) the data from which they glean examples are from real world discourse (if contrived, they tell the reader); (5) they provide a solid bibliography for anyone doing work in DA. I recommend this book.

The Door to a Man's Heart, by Barbara Yule Rogers Foley and Warren C. Rogers is a wonderful story of true love. A love that is so strong, it endures the years of time, creating an amazing legacy along the way. Woven into it, you will find the history of a close knit family, lifelong friendships and the wonderful memories created together on the enchanting shores of Nicolet Bay in the Peninsula State Park in Wisconsin.

I really enjoyed reading about the life of Warren and Betty, how they met, fell and love, created a family together and the pictures included in the book that connected the images I had built in my mind to their actual history together. The descriptions and images of Nicolet Bay book brought back so many wonderful memories of my own, having gone camping with my family as a child. This is a "feel good" book that is a perfect way to spend an afternoon over a nice cup of coffee or tea. I highly recommend it.