Barry Books

Ok, so I have to admit that I am mentioned in this book, but this is not why I gave it 5 stars. When I reviewed this book a number of years back I found it to be a great introduction to younger readers about the fire service. It also shows the diversity of the fire service today as well as where it is heading in the future and where it came from in the past. Even if you don't have a young one, get a copy for your fire library at home, or even at the fire station.

An excellent follow up to Emergency also by Joy Masoff. Tons ofgreat color photos let the average person feel like they are actuallyin a burning building spraying water over a blazing fire. The book also shows a lot of the very high tech equipment used to fight fires today.

Author Barry has a winner in this first novel.Whether or not you have ever spent time on the Gulf Coast of Florida,you'll be drawn into The Fireproof Hotel's quick-paced action,vivid descriptions,and real-life characters. I look forward to his next one.

Alongside the glitz and glamour of Florida's gold coast lies another world: one of shady characters, corruption, sleeze, and violence. Barry paints an indelibile picture of this ominous demi-monde, as he tells a riveting story of crooked cops, corrupt public officials, and a mixed bag of marginal characters simply trying to get by. In the tradition of the great French novelist Emile Zola, Barry depicts a society that for all its surface civility is rotten to the core.

This has become one of my favourites. Webb gave a reflection each on the Garment of Love (The Song of Songs), the Garment of Kindness (Ruth), the Garment of Suffering (Lamentations), the Garment of Vexation (Ecclesiastes) and the Garment of Deliverance (Esther), which are excellent. In each section, he gave a summary of the structure of the book, reflected on its contribution to the Old Testament, its place in the Jewish liturgy, and its importance to the Christian canon, reflecting on its place in the New Testament. I have learnt and discovered so much from these "lesser" books of the bible through his short commentaries.

Five Festal Garments examines five Old Testament Books that are often neglected (or handled badly) by preachers today. The books that Webb gives consideration to are Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes and Esther.

Webb's approach with this book is clearly spelt out in the introduction. He wants to examine the books from a biblical theology farmework. (The following is a quote from the book.)

"What is necessary here is for me to make clear the kind of biblical theology to which I am personally committed and will practise in the following chapters...Its focus is on the unity of Scripture, while doing full justice to its diversity. The key to this unity in diversity is found in the gospel preached by Jesus and his apostles, to which the New Testament bears witness. This gospel is everywhere anchored in the Old Testament, of which it is seen to be the fulfilment. In short, the kind of biblical theology that will be practised here is an evangelical one, not just in the sense that (some) evangelicals practise it, but in that it derives its rationale from the evangel (the gospel) itself." (p.15)

The examination of each of the Old Testament books is divided into 3 sections: I. The first section is an attempt to let the book speak for itself. II. The second step is to examine the book within the wider Old Testament framework. III. Finally the book is examined in light of the "New Testament gospel with its basic `promise and fulfilment' structure" (p.16).

Webb offers some great insights into the text of each of the books while at the same time engaging contemporary scholarship. While demonstrating a great sensitivity to the text, Webb provides us with some wonderful insights - allowing the text to speak for itself, and allowing us to clearly hear what the text is saying. This book had me opening my Bible and reading with a greater clarity these five books.

Although this book is intended for younger readers, it is an excellent introduction to all aspects of flying for aspiring pilots of all ages. This book's only drawback is that it is outdated--I hope they do another edition.

This book really boosted my flight enthusiasm. This inspiring book goes into deep detail on aeronautics.

Berry is a terrific main character, a former copy-a patrolman, not a detective-with a strong relationship to his family and friends. I enjoyed the secondary characters but a weakness was that his girlfriend Susan seemed unsympathetic in this book, so you didn't quite understand the ending. The sense of place is well done, there's good tension and a couple twists along the way. I particularly liked learning about the Montagnards of Viet Nam, about whom I had never heard. This is a very good series, well written series and is perfect for those who like some action but nothing overly dark

In Gainesboro, North Carolina, just before dying from cancer Montagnard expatriate Y'Grok Eban informs Boston cop Kevin Malone that the "Raven has come home" scaring the street tough police officer though he is not totally sure why. The brave Y'Grok saved many American lives during the Viet Nam war, but the exile never went home once he fled for the Carolina hills. Now a grand funeral befitting a genuine hero is planned that has caught the attention of the national media.

However, someone enters the Clayton & Clayton Funeral Home, knocking unconscious director Barry Clayton before apparently stealing the corpse of Y'Grok. Barry's friend local Sheriff Tommy Lee Watkins is upset for personal reasons because four decades ago Y'Grok saved his life when he served in Nam. Kevin, coming south for the funeral, joins forces with Tommy Lee and Barry an ex-cop to locate the body, learn the meaning of Y'Grok's last cryptic message and find out why something that happened forty years ago suddenly haunts those still living today over an ocean and a continent away.

Using a contemporary mystery, Mark de Castrique provides an intriguing look (through the memories of those gathering for the funeral) of the Viet Nam War in which the Montagnard served as loyal allies to the American troops. The search for the stolen corpse and the efforts to break Y'Grok's enigmatic last words turn into a strong investigative tale that spins into much more as the war still haunts these men while they each reflect back to try to define what the final words of their late brother in arms meant. FOOLISH UNDERTAKING is a fabulous thriller that grips the audience from the moment the corpse is purloined and never slows down until Raven comes home.

Harriet Klausner

Finally! A pragmatic-systematic approach to exploring the truth and intentions of our founding fathers. This book, I hope, will not be Barry's last. It's well researched and put in an orderly manner for anyone to understand. Barry uses the actual writings of our founding fathers to show what was meant by the clause "Freedom of Religion...".

It shows just how far off, biased and lazy the Supreme Court has become in understanding the true meaning of our Bill of Rights. I am looking forward to this book showing up on a few programs, hopefully, in the very near future.

It's a must read for those who seek the truth in our current politics.

I was very impressed by the thoughtful research and clear, direct writing. The author gives the historical record surrounding the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of religion but limits religion's potentially intrusive aspects. From the title, I expected a thinly disguised argument for more religion in our public life. I was gratified to see a very complete, well-researched history of the First Amendment and religious freedom/limitation in general. The author seems to advocate strict construction of the Constitution, but he gives a straighforward and unbiasesd account of the facts. This issue will be in the news in the near future, and it's nice to have this objective base for an informed opinion.

Fun, easy book to pick up and put down whenever you need a good laugh. Gives you a small insight into some of the raunchy fun that went on in that exclusive club when the masters of comedy were at their prime.

Prepare to be shocked and amazed: saucy and sometimes raunchy jokes and stories along with hundreds of rich Roast moments come from Friars Club members and are compiled by an editor of the Friars Club Magazine The Epistle. Here are jokes that proved too lurid to be televised, and ones which are uncut and uncensored at that. Over 2,000 'very naughty' jokes delight the funny bone.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

Barry Harwood has compiled a remarkable amount of material on one of the most elusive furniture makers to emerge in late 19th century America. Harwood's impressive catalog, and the Brooklyn Museum of Art's extensive collection of Hunzinger furniture, documents the impact of this nearly forgotten designer on late 19th-century American taste. Many of the chairs show the splendid upholstery of the day; others show surprisingly pared down designs which have been called "proto-modern" in spirit.

A meticulously documented look at a fascinating furniture designer of the turn of the century. The book depicts the Hunzinger exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum and gives the reader an understanding of what makes this period of patent furniture so inovative. A must for the collector! It lets you identify pieces whether or not they are signed. A must for the restorer! It describes original upholstery.

FutureSight is an astonishing story filled with more real truth in it than you will find in many non-fiction books. As you read the insights in this book, they will ring true for you deep within your soul and you will know that what the author shares with you in this book is the truth even though it is written as a work of fiction. I read this book in 1983 when it was published under another title. I can tell you from first hand experience that it is possible to develop your psychic abilities to such a degree that the knowledge that comes your way from developing these abilities will make life easier for you than you ever imagined possible.

This inspiring story demonstrates the power of the self. We always have the capacity to recreate ourselves. See how one family transforms their reality by implementing a new belief system. The system alluded to in this book is available to all who read this riveting story.

Of all the books I have edited and had published in the seven or so years of Diadem Books, I am sure Genesis 2 by Barry Woodham is the best - for imagination and the ability to tell a gripping and enchanting story.

I always considered Europa (one of Jupiter's moons) to be the place to which mankind might resort after the sun goes nova - but Barry Woodham's idea of a stripped-down Jupiter is most intriguing! His tale of consequences is MOST absorbing, especially since it has that rare quality - verisimilitude! Once I had begun the book and reached the end of the first chapter I found that I was only too eager to follow the storyline and see how the battle between the enlightened parties (humans, apes, guardians) will proceed against the unenlightened though intelligent and cruel Great Lady Link, supreme despotic ruler of the Gnathes! The author really gets the reader's interest going and his battle scenes are dynamic and vivid. Also, it's a refreshing perspective where the actual aliens are, in effect, ourselves - humans! It is a lot more believable than a book like The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Universe (which I have tried twice to read and discarded, being, to me, so ridiculous with what feels like undergraduate humour and undisciplined imagination!) At the end of the day I believe what makes a successful novel is the writer's ability to tell a convincing story, and Barry Woodham without question has that quality.

I can certainly recommend Genesis 2 - what a read! I thoroughly enjoyed the novel, especially the story line, and felt it was all very exciting and convincing. The author has certainly achieved a great deal of exciting dramatic interest in the tension or conflict between the enlightened democratic elements (human and alien!) and the unenlightened tyrannical dictator! What I liked about his book especially are the metaphysical undertones, a valuable quality in SF where one feels there are echoes or parallels with real life - echoes that touch on the mystery of the universe. The crystal mobile ESP phones are a brilliant concept! I pray, however, that I don't have any erotic dreams (nightmares) of mating with Gnathes following the suspense and excitement of the book! - Charles Muller, Diadem Books, www.diadembooks.com

I've had a chance to read Barry's book..Genesis 2 ..a wonderful Fabulous read!.. Had me on pins and needles the whole time I read it. ..and more so as I went along.. After getting to know the characters made it that much more exciting!.. What an imagination this man has! and I could feel his presence the whole time I was reading it..and of course I kept talking to myself asking, Now what turn of events does Barry have in mind?...many twist and turns.. and descriptions that were fantastic!... it certainly didn't leave any stone un-turned as far as not understanding anything......If you enjoy sci/fi then you have got to read this book! and one more thing..even if sci/fi isn't your cup of tea,I still recommand this book because the author makes it so real that it has you scratching your head asking yourself, Does Barry Woodham know something that we don't know?
Emelia Hardy