Texas Books

Alma Schindler was a piece of work who went on to inspire a number of others, notably the first movement of husband Gustav Mahler's sixth symphony and lover Oskar Koskoschka's most famous painting, Bride of the Wind. After Mahler's death and her fling with Kokoschka, Alma married architect Walter Gropius, founder of the Bauhaus. After their divorce, she married novelist and playwright Franz Werfel - an unjustly neglected figure best known today for the novel The Song of Bernadette and the play Jacobowsky and the Colonel - who called Alma "one of the very few magical women who exist."

She continues to inspire, as demonstrated by "Counterpoint," a 10-poem sequence that forms the second part of Skin, April Lindner's debut volume of verse. "Counterpoint" is subtitled "Poems on the Life of Alma Mahler Werfel" and follows Alma from her childhood visits to her father's studio (Emile Schindler was a well-known landscape painter), when she would "practice keeping still... to watch his hand propel the brush," up to 1964 in New York City, when she finds that death "is handsome /... and he, too, needs me /... his whispered proposal... clumsy / but ardent..." The sequence ends with a line so good it would be as wrong to quote it as to tell whodunit in a murder mystery.

Skin is the 11th winner of the Walt McDonald First-Book Poetry Prize, awarded by Texas Tech University Press and named in honor of a former TTUP poetry editor. Lindner, who teaches English at St. Joseph's University, seems well-deserving. She has a sharp eye for detail: "daylight, rationed by Venetian slats," "the white moth of a kiss / blown from a boy's plump lips," "burnt / sienna moustache," "milky way of red freckles" - these are picked at random from just two pages. She also has a well-nigh flawless ear for lyrical phrases graced by the uneven rhythm extolled by the French symbolist Paul Verlaine.

Occasionally, especially in the opening section, she gets a little too personal for my taste. Having no wish to be a voyeur, even if invited, I found the intimacies related in "Condom," for instance, off-putting.

But at her best, what she says of contemporary realist painter William Bailey - "once he's got us, he makes us see / deeper than we'd choose" - is also true of Lindner. The last stanza of "Moving" - from one residence to another - transmits a subtly disturbing frisson:

Last, we'll pierce the wall

to hang the faces we call ours:

bride face, groom face, infant face,

their interiors locked and off-limits,

like rooms we lived in, houses ago.

Robert Fink, the man who chose Skin for publication, has written an introduction that offers a "close reading" of Lindner's texts that borders on parody. Oh well. For those who like that sort of thing, that's the sort of thing they like. Read it, if you must, but do yourself and Lindner a favor and read the poems first.

What is it like to live and work and love from inside a woman's skin? I'm a man so I can never know for sure, but SKIN paints such vivid word pictures that it knocked me out of my own skin for a while, and into the author's. These poems are powerful.

I had the chance to hear this author read, and was moved to buy her book, which now is one of my new favorite poetry collections. Her work is sensuous, full of vibrant metaphor and imagery. Some poems are in regular meter, but most are in very musical free verse. The poems stand well alone, but together they read almost novelistically. The book is split into three sections: the first describes a woman's complex relationship with her husband and children, and the third deals mostly with sexual and romantic love. The middle section is a narrative sequence on the life of Alma Mahler, whose curious marital and sexual adventures play nicely against those of the first person narrator in the rest of the book. Best of all, these poems are immediately accessible, and yet yield up more on subsequent rereadings.

Dr. Lindner is my professor at my college, and I knew that she wrote poetry, but I had never read it. Her poetry is phenomenal. It speaks to the heart, the soul, and the mind.

Until a friend recently sent me a copy of Skin, I thought I had left my poetry-reading days back in college along with things like an all-pizza diet, Macroeconomics, and most of my hair.

As it was, the book sat on the shelf for weeks before I cracked it open to take a look. I'd like to be able to put into words just what sort of effect the contents had on me, but now I have an entirely new appreciation of just how limited my expressive talents really are.

Let's just say that, ever since, I have been searching everywhere for more writing by April Lindner. Join me -- you won't regret it.

Bradham's novel portrays the ethical conflicts a social worker faces in dealing with neglected children. The novel is suspenseful and troubling in a good way. She makes you think hard about whether or not Eugenia Putman is in any way ethical. There is a Swiftian sensibility to her writing, which makes the horror of the story all the more real. Overall, the elements of fiction writing, and the use of irony are especially strong. This is not a book that is easy to put down. I taught it with great success in a literature survey class last year. The students were moved, and were able to write scholarly papers on the novel, as well.

This novel is just as JoAllen herself said; "It's a quick read, and a long think."

The press may specialize in books about the South, but the book itself deserves the attention of readers everywhere. Those who read for significant, thought-rpvoking subject matter will find it. Those who read for artistic method will rejoice.

SOME PERSONAL PAPERS is the story of Eugenia Putman, an urban social worker, who must deal with some of the saddest stories of child abuse and neglect. Although she tries her best to remain objective, eventually her sense of duty turns her to taking matters into her own hands. With just a few days left before her conviction, she retells what she felt she had to do and why. The story is full of irony as Bradham creates a character who challenges our sense that right and wrong is always clear cut. The plot is suspenseful and the setting is key to the artistry in Bradham's prose. I taught the novel with great success over the last two years, and I highly recommend it.

Some Personal Papers, which recently garnered author, JoAllen Bradham, the Georgia Fiction Writer of the Year Award, is a must read. This exquisitely told story is about Eugenia Putman, "Miss Genie," a dedicated social worker who is forced to make choices regarding the children in her personal care that few of us could ever make. This is a case of when "doing what's best" is, without a doubt, a case of "doing what's worst," but for all of the right reasons. Although it has often been said that actions speak louder than words, Miss Genie's actions cannot even be considered without first reading her story in her own words, words that scream at you about the often painful experience that is life for many people, and particularly for children. This is a story you will not soon forget.

Dawn Miller experiences new beginnings in her life after surviving personal disaster. Unfortunately, her run of sad luck seems to stay on track when she meets her cantankerous new boss, Matt Ivans. But Matt isn't as crabby as he pretends. It isn't long before Dawn warms to the sweet side Matt tries to hide with a sharp word. TEXAS DAWN is a nice read that pleasantly places the reader deep in the hearts of the Lone Star State and two fresh characters. Nice work Cheri!

TEXAS DAWN is an entertaining story filled with humor, romance and suspense. Rugged, tortured hero Matt Ivans meets his match in feisty Dawn Miller. Matt, labeled "Ivans the Terrible" by his coworkers, has sent previous assistants running for cover. Dawn refuses to let her new boss intimidate her. Through determination and humor, she tames Matt and has him purring. His love for Dawn helps Matt overcome an incident in his past that haunts him. Afraid to love Matt because of her own old wounds, Dawn refuses to acknowledge her feelings for him. When a stalker threatens Dawn, Matt comes to her aid. Their hunt for the culprit brings them together and leads to an action-filled, exciting ending. Freed of their pasts, they pledge their love. A fun read with a nail-biter ending.

I loved this book, one of the best Avalon romances, a real page-turner. I read another of Cheri Jetton's books, Blue Plate Special, awhile ago and liked it, also. Good book, good author!

Couldn't put it down. A great story with wonderful characters and even some mystery. A message to the author: You go girl!

The chemistry between Dawn and Matt with dialogue in this book was a page turner. A book that is very hard to put down. Dawn has a fiesty spunk to her that she will not allow any man to bring her down. The character is strong, witty and downright likeable. A strong female that you grow to love immediately when the book opens. The way she stands up to her boss the first day and the strawberry milkshake was really cute. Well readers this is a book that is a must read. You will simply love Dawn and Matt as they struggle through past problems to come to see what is really intented for the two of them. Ms. Jetton weaves a beautiful love story that will touch your heart, and bring joy and laughter with each word you read. If only the world had more protective men in it like Matt. This book deserves a two thumbs up and 6 stars. A great love story!! Cheri Jetton is not only a great writer but a terrific person that is there for anyone in a time of need. I can hardly wait for her next book to come out. Anyone that has not read any of her books you must go out and get them, they are great!!!!

This is a wonderful cookbook. I've made 4 recipies from it that were absolutely outstanding. One recipe in particular...the spanish rice is above and beyond. I think it's because neither me or my husband are big fans of spanish rice and I made it on a whim. It's so good that he's asked for it a couple of times since I made it.
Pictures are wonderful and because I am a Texan I am very pleased with the fact that it's written by someone who has lived here for a long time the recipies are exactly the kinds of things that we would eat.....
I've recommended the book to friends and even bought another one for a gift.

NPSBookie order # 464878 One book, TEXAS ON THE PLATE arrived in a tiemly fshion. However, the spine was broken, and prompt communications from NPSBookie offered a refund since they had no other copy for exchange. I countered with request for a discount. They agreed to a $3.00 discount, and I accepted since I could use the book personally rather than gift as I had anticipated.

The recipes are wonderful and the book itself full of gorgeous photos, drawings and, in general, just wonderfully produced. I'm buying several for Christmas gifts for out-of-state relatives and friends. I'm new to the state and this is a fabulous introduction to the food and customs.

Definitely goes "beyond bbq and chili" to wonderful fusion of the traditional and the most up-to-date. You will not be sorry you bought this.

This is a beautiful cookbook! Even if you have lived in Texas your whole life, you will see places you haven't glimpsed. Having been born in Texas and raised on the variety of foods available here, I love how these recipes take it to a higher level. The recipes are perfect...though not always easy, they are always worthy of the effort. I made the cover dish first thing and got raves from all who ate it. I love the way she pairs the Texas wines with each meal. And she tells so much about Texas...research well done!

Terry Thompson-Anderson has produced a marvelous collection of Texas recipes, beautiful photos of food and scenery from around the Lone Star state, and a wonderful contribution to the exciting new Texas cuisine that is sweeping the southwest and beyond. As a native Texan I found the book not only a delight to the eyes, but a wondrous and far-ranging assortment of recipes with ingredients and influences from all over the state. Of special note are such heady entrees as the "Slow-Smoked Quail on Savory Bread Pudding withThree-Chili Sauce" (using Scamorza Cheese from the Mozzarella Company in Dallas) and the "Grilled Medallions of Venison Backstrap with Ancho Chili and Honey Sauce" - fabulous! Throughout there are wine recommendations from the growing number of Texas wineries; definitions of cooking terms and ingredients; and a "Texas Cook's Pantry" telling where to find hard-to-get ingredients. Texas on the Plate is a delight to use and a pleasure to read.

The Rangers have a very interesting and colorful history. Unfortunately, not much of it positive. Nadel fills in all the blanks that existed from the Rangers formative years, stories that were too sensitive at the time they occurred, i.e. Rogelio Moret's mental illness, something that was never addressed in the papers of the day. I assume the Rangers had a say in the editing of this book and I commend them for not trying to make Nadel whitewash the team's history.

This book is where history begins and ends if you follow the Rangers.

This book tells you just about everything you would want to know about the history of the Texas Rangers.Eric Nadel did a wonderful job writing this book.It has a lot of great pictures and is a prominent part of my Texas Rangers collection.

Eric Nadel may be THE best baseball radio broadcaster in the country. His Page From Baseball's Past radio program is always interesting and this book follows the same pattern. A great book for the baseball fan and especially a Ranger fan

Eric Nadel, one of the most informative and entertaining radio broadcasters of his generation, paints a great portrait of Rangers' baseball and all of its oddities over 25 years. A must-read for any longtime Rangers' fan!

I've only been a Texas Rangers fan since 1994, and my wife gave me this book as a present in 1997. I knew the Texas Rangers existed before I came to live in the Dallas/Ft. Worth Texas area, but I never thought much of them. I didn't realize the characters and history of the team. If you're a casual Rangers fan, or a die hard Rangers fan, then you should have this book. It's filled with all kinds of informational pieces about the team's history, going back to the early 70's when they were the Washington Senators. Focuses heavily on the 1996 season in which they finally made it to the playoffs after about 25 years.

As the Texas Rangers now move into the Alex Rodriguez era, the book probably could stand an update, as a lot has happened since the book was published during the 1997 season, but it's a great read if you're into team history.

Thunder on the Tennessee
By:
G. Clifton Wisler

The main character in the book was Willie Delamer. Willie is a boy who left his house with his dad to go fight the Yankees. He is very brave but also scared in battles.


Willie dreams of honor and glory as he goes to fight the yanks with his dad. Outfitted in a dashing uniform, Willie helps the Second Texas regiment to defend the banks of Tennessee. But Willie never thinks what horror this would bring to his family.


The story takes place all over Tennessee. Its also at Willie house, and the banks of Tennessee river.



The theme was all about the Civil War.


I loved this book. It thought me a lot of things. It thought me that sometimes people have war because of one little stupid thing they said or did. This book also thought me to always love your dad, and appreciate the things he does for you.

Thunder on the Tennessee
By:
G. Clifton Wisler

The main character in the book was Willie Delamer. Willie is a boy who left his house with his dad to go fight the Yankees. He is very brave but also scared in battles.


Willie dreams of honor and glory as he goes to fight the yanks with his dad. Outfitted in a dashing uniform, Willie helps the Second Texas regiment to defend the banks of Tennessee. But Willie never thinks what horror this would bring to his family.


The story takes place all over Tennessee. Its also at Willie house, and the banks of Tennessee river.



The theme was all about the Civil War.


I loved this book. It thought me a lot of things. It thought me that sometimes people have war because of one little stupid thing they said or did. This book also thought me to always love your dad, and appreciate the things he does for you.

Thunder on the Tennessee
By:
G. Clifton Wisler

The main character in the book was Willie Delamer. Willie is a boy who left his house with his dad to go fight the Yankees. He is very brave but also scared in battles.


Willie dreams of honor and glory as he goes to fight the yanks with his dad. Outfitted in a dashing uniform, Willie helps the Second Texas regiment to defend the banks of Tennessee. But Willie never thinks what horror this would bring to his family.


The story takes place all over Tennessee. Its also at Willie house, and the banks of Tennessee river.



The theme was all about the Civil War.


I loved this book. It thought me a lot of things. It thought me that sometimes people have war because of one little stupid thing they said or did. This book also thought me to always love your dad, and appreciate the things he does for you.

Thunder on the Tennessee
By:
G. Clifton Wisler

The main character in the book was Willie Delamer. Willie is a boy who left his house with his dad to go fight the Yankees. He is very brave but also scared in battles.


Willie dreams of honor and glory as he goes to fight the yanks with his dad. Outfitted in a dashing uniform, Willie helps the Second Texas regiment to defend the banks of Tennessee. But Willie never thinks what horror this would bring to his family.


The story takes place all over Tennessee. Its also at Willie's house, and the banks of Tennessee river.



The theme was all about the Civil War.


I loved this book. It thought me a lot of things. It thought me that sometimes people have war because of one little stupid thing they said or did. This book also thought me to always love your dad, and appreciate the things he does for you.

Thunder on the Tennessee
By:
G. Clifton Wisler

The main character in the book was Willie Delamer. Willie is a boy who left his house with his dad to go fight the Yankees. He is very brave but also scared in battles.


Willie dreams of honor and glory as he goes to fight the yanks with his dad. Outfitted in a dashing uniform, Willie helps the Second Texas regiment to defend the banks of Tennessee. But Willie never thinks what horror this would bring to his family.


The story takes place all over Tennessee. Its also at Willie house, and the banks of Tennessee river.



The theme was all about the Civil War.


I loved this book. It taught me a lot of things. It thought me that sometimes people have war because of one little stupid thing they said or did. This book also taught me to always love your dad, and appreciate the things he does for you.

My mom gave me the compilation of the 3 books and I enjoy reading them to myself and to my fiance'. The stories are real and I have the same temperment so it is like an autobiography of the Life I hope to have, You must read Marriage 911 and Still lickin' the spoon also fun and you actually learn something while laughing. I did.

This book is wonderful! I have read it 5 times and have purchased 10 or more copies and given them to friends! They all loved it and have been blessing others with the book as well. This book made me laugh and cry at times. It encouraged me. It let me know that others make the same mistakes I do. It was scary to think that there are 2 of us in the world that get ourselves into such zany situations! This is a must read for parents! Thank you for sharing your life with us. A Devoted Fan.

Becky and Ruthie began right. This is the book that started the whole WORM phenomena. This book was so much fun and so inspiring that at times I use it when teaching Adult Bible classes. The cat in the cooler is one of my favorite parts. Thanks Becky. Thanks Ruthie.

I would love to meet Becky and the rest of her family!! This was the first book I read by her. I was hooked. I always can't wait til her next book comes available. She is great, she must be the best friend, a woman could ever have. She is not afraid to be herself. If you want a great comedy with inspiration, too, Becky Freeman books are a must for your collection. A friend of mine got me hooked and I got others hooked as well on her books.

I met this book when it was sandwiched between half a dozen others, all of which a friend had loaned to me. I read it last and almost died laughing! Mrs. Freeman is genuine as well as humorous, which keeps the book from being just a running comedy; she really touches home with certain issues that I can relate to. I have, God willing, most of my life ahead of me and I love to hear stories from people who have "been there, done that" as this lady has. Thank you so much, Mrs. Freeman!

great book and a must read! it really highlights how our justice system has become a big game of wins and losses at the expense of justice. unfortunate circumstances brought me to find this book and sadly i can say that even though the names and dates have changed our system has not heeded the warnings that were brought forth in this book. this book has offered some hope though and we thank randall adams for sharing his story with others.

Passing through a law and order phase in my reading life I came across Adams vs. Texas and have to say it was amazing. Adams vs. Texas is the story of a semi-drifter who, a victim of circumstances, was charged with the murder he didn't do of a man he didn't know and as a result comes up against the State of Texas as a murderer and faces death in the electric chair. His contact with investigators, lawyers, judges, wardens, other convicts, the press, a painfully deluded prosecutor, and the real criminal of the case are combined to make a powerfully compelling story, spanning over twelve years of trial, imprisonment, hardship and finally; triumph. In the midst of this ugly line of events Adams believes that God has him where he is for a purpose and in the end that is true, but it's sad one man had to make such a sacrifice and wonderful that he was able to.
The fact that the events in this book really happened to a man is incredible, but they are presented in such and honest, down-to-earth manner that makes it a real tribute to the man who both went through this experience and survived, both physically and mentally to tell his story. Wherever you are, Randall Dale Adams, I'm sorry they did that to you and you deserve all the happiness in the world. As for the rest of you--go read Adams vs. Texas and remember another, much larger, sacrifice made for you over 2,000 years ago and accept and cherish His gift to you: Life--forever

I can't count how many times I've watched "The Thin Blue Line" and how many times I've read this book. Like everything else I become interested in, I became OBSESSED with the Randall Adams case and wanted to know everything about it. Randall Dale Adams is - in my opinion - a living hero; I hope to meet him someday and shake his hand.

Adams' memoir (1976-1989) reads like a fictional suspense novel... it's hard to believe, but it's true! The book includes a lot of things that viewers of Errol Morris's documentary haven't seen... we see how improperly biased Judge Metcalf was, as he drives from the courthouse parking lot in the same car as the prosecutors, laughing at Adams' family as he passes them! That's appalling.

I highly recommend both this book and the documentary film "The Thin Blue Line."

Other reviewers have expressed curiousity about Randall's life after prison. Here's what I know:
At first, he was hounded by the press; they followed him everywhere. He traveled the college circuit, getting paid for telling his story. He co-wrote this book, and went on a publicity tour to support it (which took him, briefly, back to Texas). Eventually things quieted down and Randall tried to lead a normal life; he got a factory job in his native Ohio and had a brief marriage. Then a friend encouraged him to speak out against the death penalty, and he began again to publicly oppose capital punishment. During another trip to Texas to support a moratorium on the death penalty, he met an activist named Jill. Three weeks later, he moved from Ohio to (gulp!) Texas to be with her. They're now married and speaking out against the death penalty together...

This book gave you the real story of how the legal system can work for or against you. Randall Adams gives you a true account about what we all dream could or hope never happens to us. Its a real eye opener and a book you will never forget about and it will stick with you. A must read if you want to really know. Read it!

This is an extremely interesting book, it's all the narrative background behind the documentary film "The Thin Blue Line." I hope Adams is doing okay now. I'm certainly glad the truth was brought out, and that he was properly cleared and freed.

One point I found most interesting was Adams' sideline exploration of the fact that someone who opposes the death penalty cannot be excluded (for that reason) from the jury in a capital murder case. It seems that juries are supposed to be representative of society, and a significant portion of society DOES oppose the death penalty -- thus it is appropriate for people who think that way to be allowed to serve on a death penalty jury.

I stayed awake until the wee hours of the morning to finish this book. I could not put it down! Well-written and suspenseful, this book will keep you turning the pages. Once finished, you will want to read more of James Pence's work. Excellent read, I highly recommend it.

A serial killer is roaming the halls of Sentinel Health Systems. Is he a doctor faithfully making his rounds? Is he a grief counselor comforting a weeping family member? Or could he be an unassuming nurse prepping someone for surgery? The Angel, as he's dubbed himself, could be anyone. And he's dedicated his life to setting people free--with or without their permission.

Dr. Lori Westlake is a general practitioner at SHS whose euthanasia sympathies have already landed her in hot water. So when she's secretly invited to become a member of the Circle of Peace, a clandestine euthanasia society operating within SHS, she sees it as venue for her convictions. But Lori's sister, Dr. Katharine Bainbridge who also works at SHS, suspects something's amiss in the facility. She believes people are dying who shouldn't be dying, and she's determined to find out why.

Caught between her core beliefs and Kate's suspicions, Lori struggles with whether to join the Circle. To do so means breaking the law, and she's not sure she wants to risk her reputation. How far is she willing to go? Before she has the chance to find out, one of her own patients dies for no apparent reason, and Lori is accused of murder. Her only hope of finding the truth comes from an unlikely source: a retired police detective who's dying of Lou Gehrig's disease.

Anyone who's read James Pence's previous novel Blind Sight already knows he's a capable thriller writer. The Angel continues in the Pence tradition of character-driven suspense, but takes it to an even higher level. The scenes are short and punchy, which keeps things moving at a comfortable thriller pace, and there are enough clues for savvy readers to possibly guess the Angel's true identity (always a fun game), but not enough to be completely certain until the tense climax.

And even though the story is predominantly Lori's, Pence also gives numerous scenes to his detective character, Charles Hamisch. Through Charles's eyes, we catch a glimpse of just how devastating and unpredictable Lou Gehrig's disease can be as sufferers become trapped inside their own bodies, mental faculties fully intact. "That's what drove him [Charles] crazy. Each day was different. Some mornings he woke up feeling strong and on top of the world. Other days, just climbing out of bed required Herculean effort."

The Angel tactfully explores both sides of the euthanasia debate. Only toward the end of the story are we led gently to the Biblical perspective of the sanctity of all life, no matter the challenges. Lori's transformation from skeptic to believer might seem slightly abrupt, but it's still a nice moment of hope amidst her dire circumstances.

Part mystery, part thriller, and part issue novel, The Angel will have you pondering even as it leaves you breathless.

--Reviewed by C.J. Darlington for Infuze magazine

"The Angel" is a wonderful book. I had a hard time putting it down. If you are a reader that loves suspense, this is the book for you.

The book, "The Angel," by James H. Pence, is a thought-provoking and chilling story on the subject of euthanasia. The story begins in a hospital in Dallas Texas, called Sentinel Health Systems (or SHS). It all begins when a woman who has had a massive stroke and is in a perpetual coma is admitted into the hospital for treatment. One of the young workers there sees how it has impacted the woman's husband, and notices how that, as long as she stays alive yet incapacitated, he remains in a stupor, and can't seem to function well as a father. The worker then decides to help end that indecision. Sneaking into the patients room at night, he empties into the woman's IV tubing a large dose of insulin, killing her by morning. He then attends her funeral, and observes that, though deeply sad, the woman's husband is no longer struck with indecision, and can resume his role as a father.
The worker is encouraged by what he sees, and decides to devote his life to setting people free of suffering. He takes the name "The Angel" as an alias and begins his new career. He starts an organization in the SHS facility known as "The Circle of Peace," which is devoted to help euthanize any patients in the hospital if they request it, or if they are unable to express their own wishes (such as in a vegetative state), their family members can request it for them. Unbeknownst to the other members though, the Angel gradually reaches a level of action far greater than the "death if wanted" policy held by the group. It isn't long before he sets about "mercifully killing" disadvantaged people such as the homeless... whether they wish it or not.

At first, the opinion that is conveyed in the novel seems to be that euthanasia, or mercy killing, can be the wise choice, especially for incidents like the one in the preface of the book. But as the plot goes on, euthanasia seems to become less tame and more of a self-gratifying game of playing God with other peoples lives. I hope you will read the book and decide for yourself what might be right or wrong about the controversial subject of euthanasia.

Martin
Age 15
Richardson, Texas

I had a hard time putting this book down--trite phrase, but very true. The plotting was tight, the characters well-drawn, and the story line gripping, with a great ending. As a physician, I was pleased to see all the medical details accurately depicted. Although published as "Christian fiction," this one doesn't hit you over the head with its message--but you do get it. I want to read more by James Pence.

we have all seen the finished products of any artist but knowing what goes through their mind is fascinating at times. It shows us the human side of the artist which makes him more complete as a person - very nicely done

This is a useful book for anyone who is intersested in Richard Avedon's work "In The American West" and should be considered as a companion volume to Avedon's book. It gives a lot of background, both to individual images and to the "In the West" project as a whole: how subjects were found, how the images were photographed, a sense of the time and effort involved, Avedon's method of work, some comments on particular subjects that particularly struck the crew. My only real complaint about the book is that could have contained more information and would have been more interesting as a result. For example, almost no precise technical information is given. Even so, it does help one to understand Avedon's "In the West project", which I consider a significant piece of work.

After seeing the show at the Amon Carter in Ft. Worth, and listening to an incredible talk given by a most knowlegable man there, I ordered three copies of the book. What appears at first to be simple shots of working people, becomes an insightful slice of peoples lives in the American west.

I think this book is amazing. The stories really gives you a deeper understanding of why Richard Avendon picked his subjects. Laura Wilson does a great job documenting the step by step shoots of Richard subjects "In the American West". I really felt after reading the stories and looking at the pictures again, it meant so much more. These pictures showed the truth and some of the people in the photos agreed that "It's how I feel".

I recommended this book to anyone, who is looking to find a sence of meaning to their craft as a artist. This book makes to think about yourself, and what you can do to give depth to your work.

I wish other art book would explain the process of their work. Then more people would enjoy what they see instead of brush it to the side.

The book is a gem. Not only sheds a bit of light into Avedon's technique and working methods, but also brings to life the often sad stories behind the powerful images. Highly recommended. Now, if they would only re-issue the original monograph..