Berry Books

Spain fascinates me for some of the same reasons that intrigued Richard Wright when he wrote this book a few years before his untimely death. Wright ascertains that Spain is a contradiction,a holy nation that does ungodly acts, a superpower from the past trying to find its way in the modern world. Wright's main issue is exploring religion, namely Roman Catholism but along the way divulges his insights into a society plagued by it's past and present which at the time(1954)was still under Franco's influence. One of the more interesting aspects of this book is his discovery of a little book all young women must read and memorize. It turns out to be a sort of indoctrination to being "Spanish." Take an excerpt from Chapter 1, "Spain is a historical unit with a specific role to play in the world." This role is tied to religion and the conversion of all, by any means neccessary as exemplified with the conquest of the Americas; the gold and riches were just a by product of the divine nature of the conquest, a sort of earthly reward. Further on in the book destiny is defined as "all men in a common movement for salvation." In essence the belief is that Spain although no longer a superpower will be fundamental in the salvation of the world.Wright reads chapters of the book throughout his travels and shares them with the reader. Some of the Falangist concepts about Imperial Spain and how it pertains to the current state of affairs is amazing in it's ethnocentrism. The ideas from the Falangist book are worth reading this book for alone. Along his travels Wright sees the contradictions everywhere, racism, sexism and exploitation of women is rampant but sex sells, for it's price. So much for the high morality. One section is entitled " Sex , Flamenco and Prostitutuion" in which he explores this part of Spain that goes against the teachings of the church. Wright tries to live the life as regular people do and see it through their eyes. He buys a poor family a ticket to the bullfights and learns more lessons and observations on Spanish life. I found this book hard to put down and read it over a few brief settings while listening to Rodrigo's "Concierto de Aranjuez" as interpreted by Miles Davis on "Sketches of Spain". The material is fascinating and makes you think about many things especially if you happen to have Spanish heritage in your veins somewhere. Highly insightful and worth reading for the perspective of an outsider. Recommended reading from high school to adult although it might offend some Catholics.

I'm a fan of Wright's but had not heard of this book. It's one of those you start reading and it just fascinates you so you can't put it down. Part travelogue, part social critique, this work of Wright's is refreshing because we see it through the eyes of someone who hasn't be educated or socialized out of believing what he sees. I've always felt that in some places Catholicism is practed in a cult-like way. Wright shows how much power the Church had and what the results were.

This book had, says the introduction, been out of print for many years before being briefly republished several years ago. If anyone is able to purchase or obtain this work, they will find it an insightful view into a Spain still largely unknown by and officially protected from America and much of Europe. It was written in the mid-fifties after Wright had taken three journeys to that country. His argument is that Spain is still pagan: a primitive land untouched by the outside world for better or worse. On one hand, the Spanish practice an almost superstitious, certainly paternalist Catholicism which straightjackets women and suspects the few Spaniards daring to practice Protestantism. More positively, Wright finds, Spaniards have no race consciousness derived from outside sources. Wright notes that though obviously of African background, he was not discriminated against in terms of accomodation, dining, or socializing. He talks with a variety of Spaniards. Many question the Franco regime; are anticlerical and sceptical of Spanish values and history. Wright's descriptions of the often intimidating landscape, of bullfights and the celebration of Holy Week in Seville, are excellent. He maintains a basic criticism of the domination of the Church throughout.This brought adverse reaction when the work originally appeared, during an ultra-conservative era when religion was considered a bastion against communism. Wright 's sympathies for Spanish women, be they housewives, prospective brides or prostitutes, is farseeing. He understands the stereotypes women are subject to, especially in such a traditional society.Wright, an ex-communist, still had nostalgic feelings for the fledgling Spanish Republic. The Civil War is a subject only mentioned in confidence to him, so then recent was that struggle. For anyone wishing a broad-minded, well-written portrayal of a country that has fascinated many writers, "Pagan Spain" would be very worthwhile.

In my current role as a Duct Tape Marketing coach and in my former role as a CPA, I see business owners who struggle because they don't have a plan. I also see folks who create a plan because they "have to", but then they never use it - it goes on a shelf and collects dust. I've always maintained that the value from having a written plan comes from 1) going through the process and 2) using it on a regular basis to evaluate how your business is going and making adjustments as needed.

In The Plan-as-You-Go Business Plan, Tim Berry makes these points much more eloquently than I ever could. Tim argues that the planning process (along with regular reviews) is so important that business owners just need to get started somewhere, anywhere, and continue to build your plan as your needs change. This is 180 degrees different from the classical "big bang" approach to business planning where we work for months at a time developing a huge document before we ever get started working on the business.

The author has organized the book to support his "plan as you go" approach. It is designed so you can jump around and use the section of the book that you need at any given time. The first section of the book "Attitude Adjustment" contains the background information you need to know and learn to adjust to this idea of business planning as a process in your business rather than an event or milestone to be forgotten once completed.

In "The Heart of the Plan", you work on your business identity, target market, your offering(s) and your strategic focus. When I post on my blog about having a marketing plan, this is the stuff I'm talking about.

"Flesh and Bones" is the section that talks about creating action plans, budgets, milestones, and metrics.

I really like that "Dressing and Growing" is the second to the last chapter of the book because it re-emphasizes the idea that you should do the planning for yourself first, and then when others want to see the plan (your bank), you add the dressing that they need to what you have already done. Again, this is 180 degrees different from how most businesses use their business plans.

The last section talks about the process of planning. This includes reviewing, revising, and managing the plan. I think my favorite piece of Tim's advice from this book is his recommendation that the first thing you do when creating your plan is to schedule the review dates - before you even begin writing. I just think this sets exactly the right tone for part your plan should play in your business.

This book is a must have for anyone who owns a business or plans to start a business someday.

I've read (or at least flipped through) a number of business planning books and what I like best about Tim Berry's book (the best I've read so far) is that it turns business planning from a pain in the neck "do I have to do this" event into a "wow - I know I can do this and I want to do this and in fact I love to do this" process.

The hallmark of the book is that business plans are NOT a one time event nor do you have to do one, in some particular standard way. But it is a plan, a guide a road map. Tim takes your hand and not only guides you but gives you plenty of resources and practical advice (like the shortest lesson in Excel I've ever seen) to make your business plan a success.

If you have NEVER started a business The Plan As You Go Business Plan is a must read. If you are already in a business the book is a must read to keep you in business. And if by chance you have started a second successful business this book will probably ensure you do even better with your newest venture.

One thing...Tim makes finances not a drudgery but something you'll come to appreciate the importance of.

Ramon Ray, Editor & Technology Evangelist, Smallbiztechnology.com

The biggest obstacle most of us face in become successful is in closing the gap between "knowing" and "doing." When it comes to starting and/or running a successful business most entrepreneurs know they should have a business plan, but statistics show very few take the time to actually write one. And truth be told, unless you are making a formal presentation of your business plan you probably don't need a complete business plan. However, you do need to plan, keep planning, evaluate, and adjust as your business grows.

That is what makes Tim Berry's The Plan As You Go Business Plan a solid read for an entrepreneur. By breaking the creation of a business plan down into 1) Heart - a business's core strategy, 2) Flesh & Bones - action plans and basic financial numbers, and 3) Dressing and Growing - bring the plan up to a full document suitable to present to potential investors, the reader is able to use the sections of the book that are most relevant to the business's current situation. As your business continues to grow, The Plan As You Go Business Plan will serve as a fantastic reference manual to make sure you are thinking about those aspects of the business necessary for growth.

Tim Berry's encouraging and uplifting writing style will give you the motivation to start, but more importantly, he will provide the insight and direction to make sure something gets done. By breaking down business speak and MBA gobbledygook and explaining important business concepts into easy to understand terminology, Mr. Berry simplifies what can be for some an overwhelming process and demystifies the business planning process for all.

Admission: Had this book not been in a Barnes & Noble discount bin I probably would not have purchased it. Had I not, I would have missed a tome that in the words of those MasterCard gurus is `priceless.'

I had expected to use it as a reference, one where I could dip in and out of. Instead, I have read almost every one of the 96 speeches in this excellent work. Gottheimer has set the book out in chronological order, covering not just African-American civil rights, but also Asian-Americans, Hispanic-Americans, the suffragette movement, gays and lesbians.
Rather than taking it in this chronological order, I chose to read it by subject so I read all black civil rights speeches as one block. It has been an eye-opening, hugely instructive history lesson. And that highlights one of the wonders of this book.

It is not just a book of speeches. It is a history book. One of the many lessons I learned: While Martin Luther King can credibly lay claim to being the greatest orator of the civil rights movement, he most assuredly was not the only great speaker.

The anger, the power, the pain, the passion of many black speakers flows aggressively and often poignantly through these pages. Never before, had I appreciated so well, the suffering of the "negro" community, a suffering was not just physical, but also mental. The evil of slavery for many was greater because the family unit was regularly broken up and abused, with the young black girl often never more than a sex slave for her white master.

I never knew:
That the first African American Governor, Pinckney Benton Stewart Pinchback took office, even if in a pro tempore role in December 1872 for the state of Louisiana.
That the Civil Rights act of 1875 granted all citizens, regardless of color, full access to public facilities and accommodation. Mind you it appears the Jim Crow South did not know it either!
That the introduction of the sex discrimination amendment into the 1964 Civil Rights Act happened only because Congressman Howard Smith introduced it, believing that this amendment would scupper the whole Civil Rights bill. Gosh, who would have thought politicians could be so devious?

I have often thought that much of Jesse Jackson's speechmaking is clich?d but some of his phrasing and imagery when he spoke at the 1984 Democratic National Convention is absolutely superb.

"My constituency is the desperate, the damned, the disinherited, the disrespected, and the despised."

Or

"America is not like a blanket - one piece of unbroken cloth, the same color, the same texture, the same size. America is more like a quilt - many patches, many pieces, many colors, many sizes, all woven and held together by a common thread. The white, the Hispanic, the black, the Arab, the Jew, the woman, the native American, the small farmer, the businessperson, the environmentalist, the peace activist, the young, the old, the lesbian, the gay and the disabled make up the American quilt."

Gottheimer does not present Jackson's speech to the 1988 Democratic Convention where he used similar imagery. Good communicators know what works and as Martin Luther King showed often, are not afraid to repeat strong phrases in many different speeches. In '88, Jackson said,
"America is not a blanket woven from one thread, one color, one cloth. When I was a child growing up in Greenville, South Carolina and grandmama could not afford a blanket, she didn't complain and we did not freeze. Instead she took pieces of old cloth -- patches, wool, silk, gabardine, crockersack -- only patches, barely good enough to wipe off your shoes with. But they didn't stay that way very long. With sturdy hands and a strong cord, she sewed them together into a quilt, a thing of beauty and power and culture. Now, Democrats, we must build such a quilt."

One of the compelling aspects of the book is how history's so called "second-class citizens" - Blacks, Women, Chinese-Americans, Gays, Hispanics were able to overcome similar prejudice to build better futures for themselves. No one should believe that complete success has been achieved.

Bill Clinton's speech to African-American ministers at the Church of God of Christ, in Memphis in 1993 rebukes their community for in a sense swapping one form of tyranny for another. He imagined what Dr. Martin Luther King might say if he were to return. King might have said "I did not live and die to see 13-year-old boys get automatic weapons and gun down 9-year-olds just for the kick of it. I did not live and die to see young people destroy their own lives with drugs and then build fortunes destroying the lives of others. That is not what I came here to do."

Gottheimer (who was a Clinton speechwriter) indicated that Clinton did this speech almost extemporaneously, relying on some hand written notes. If so, kudos to a great communicator who by the way writes the foreword to Ripples of Hope. Kudos also to Gottheimer for putting this great edition together. I am boring people telling them how good it is.

This compilation is much more than just a desk reference for quotes ? it?s a thoroughly readable history of the civil rights movement in its leaders' own words. Ripples of Hope is a trove filled with speeches whose famous lines we?ve all heard but probably never bothered to read in their entirety, as well as several speeches that have been restored from relative obscurity. It elevates the speech from an archive to a new form ? an accessible, living source meant to be read, reflected upon, and drawn from as a source of motivation.

This book fills a stunning gap -- I've never seen another collection dedicated to the civil rights speeches that have played such a crucial role in American history. It includes all the famous speeches (I Have a Dream, etc.), but it also covers activists most of us haven't heard of, from movements most civil rights histories ignore. Each speech is accompanied by an introduction with just enough information to set the scene and put the speech in the context of its own and the other movements, but not so much that it gets in the way of the speeches themselves. Anyone who cares about how America's many peoples live together -- and how we wish they would -- must have this book on their shelf.

The book Snake is the biography of Ken Stabler the Oakland Raiders renegade quarterback of the 1970's. The book was very interesting and was very detailed. I recommend reading this book if you are a football fan. Also if you are an Oakland Raiders fan this book is for you. If you do not vulgar language or talks of sex, drugs and rock and roll you should not read this book. The book had many strong points, which include very detailed recolations of games and wild nights. My overall opinion of the book is that was very interesting and if you have a weak stomach this book is not from you. Snake is a book for football lovers and if you liked this book check "I'm the Assassin" by Jack Tatum another renegade from the Oakland Raiders in the 1970's. Go Raiders.

This had to be one of the funniest behind the scenes sports books ever. Shocking tales of hot-tub orgies, drunken spree's, and other general hedonism highlight page after page. And there is some football, too.

What were considered rumors about the wild lifestyles of the Oakland Raiders are actually truths according to one of the leaders, Kenny Stabler. Drinking, honky-tonking, reading the playbook by the jukebox light, womanizing and oh yes - football are some of the sideshows in this book. This is not only about the "Snake" but also about the other characters from the Oakland Raiders during their heyday.

If you are interested in a many-layered look into the private world of the treatment of mentally ill children and adolescents, this book is fascinating reading. A tremendous first offering from this team. I can't wait to see what they do next.

What an epic story, this book had everything and more. Just when you think you have it all figured out you go for another ride. If you miss this book on Amazon I am sure you will be able to find it on the New York Times Best Selling List in no time!

This is definately a five-star book. I can't even begin to come up with the words to describe how much I enjoyed this terrific read... What a masterpiece!

Wow. I read my first Wendell Berry Novel, and I'm virtually "speechless". The more I read, the more I had to read. Reading Wendell Berry is not only addictive, but deeply emotional. I fell in love with Port William, Kentucky and the wonderful characters to whom he introduced me. I literally could not put the book down. As soon as I finished the first novel I began reading the second and then the third.

I knew I would be sad to finish reading, but I was compelled to read until I finished! Don't you hate that?!?!

I found myself reading parts of the book over and over. I simply couldn't believe that someone could write the way Berry wrote. The words by themselves weren't powerful, but when put together in a sentence constructed by Wendell Berry, they became works of art that left me shaking my head, smiling, crying, or simply saying, "wow".

I don't suppose everyone will like his writing. I've come to learn that it isn't books that are good or bad, but the soil into which they fall. This explains to me why someone will read a book and rave about it, while someone else will read it and fall asleep. The parable of the sower is not just true for the words of Jesus.

Wendell Berry has fallen into the soil of my life at just the right time.

For those who know Wendell Berry only as a poet and/or environmentalist, this collection of three short works is a perfect introduction to his fiction which is an expansion on the poetry and centers on the same themes of relationships and devotion to the earth

The first of the novels, "Nathan Coulter," is a coming of age story, and the first of Berry's Port William stories. It describes the relationship between Nathan and his brother, Tom, and their lives with their grandparents after the death of their mother.

The second, "Remembering," is a denser, darker tale, focusing on Andy Catlett, an agricultural journalist and farmer, struggling to find himself after losing a hand (and his direction in life) in a farming accident. Reviewing his memories during a trip to an agricultural conference he is finally able to come to terms with the realities of his life and their value. This book is a testament to the virtues of the simple life Berry has been preaching for years.

The third novel, "A World Lost," introduces us to the young Andy Catlett in the year his uncle and namesake is murdered, an incident which impacts his life to come. It is only when he is older and able to investigate the incident himself that he is able to learn the truth about his hero.

Wallace Stegner wrote that he found it hard to say whether he liked Berry better as poet, essayist or novelist, that he is all three and at a high level. The man lives the life he writes about. The author of more than 30 books, he lives and farms with his family in Henry County, Kentucky.

A long time fan of Wendell Berry's poetry, I have truly enjoyed discovering the town of Port William and the lively characters that inhabit and haunt the land that Berry has crafted through various novels. "Three Short Novels" is a collection of some of his prize pieces, including 'Nathan Coulter', 'Remembering', and 'A World Lost'. All three novels stand on their own, but are interconnected in one book due to the fact that the lives of every character intermingles with that of others.

'Nathan Coulter' is a tender coming-of-age story, as our young narrator explores and explains his life and the world around him. Poetically we are told the ramblings and fights of Tom and Nathan, the two Coulter brothers raised by their grandparents after the death of their mother. Nathan is an honest and perceptive storyteller, revealing the innocent and wondering notions of a young boy's mind.

'Remembering' is a starker novel in contrast to the other two in the collection. It tells the story of a grown Andy Catlett, an agricultural journalist and farmer, trying to come to terms with a devestating injury. During the process of farming, he lost his right hand and struggles with both the physical demands of his deformity, as well as the psychological and emotional demands it places upon himself, and his family and friends. The novel shifts in perspective from past to present, fluctuating between Andy's memories, and his rememberings of the stories he has been told about his family and his town. The ending is bittersweet and poignant, as Andy returns home and comes to terms with the life he must now lead.

After being introduced to the grown Andy Catlett in 'Remembering', readers are introduced to him as a boy in 'A World Lost'. In this novel he reminisces about his childhood and the idol of his younger days - Andrew Catlett, his uncle and namesake. When Andy was just a young boy of nine, his uncle was murdered and he accepted the story that had been fed him. He experiences his own grief as well as that of his family, all the while painting a vivid image of the wild man his uncle was. It isn't until his later years that Andy begins to question the story surrounding his uncle's murder, and searches out sources to learn the truth about the man he most admired.

Berry's stories always unfold delicately. He has imagined the lives of every inhabitant of Port William and its surrounding communities so well that they come to life of their own initiative in the reader's mind. His novels are odes to a simpler time and life, to the relationship man should have with the earth, to the ties that bind all of us to each other. His novels are welcome escapes into a world that seems irrevocably lost. Berry offers readers the hope that this world could exist again.

reviews by Sherryl King-Wilds for fantasynovelreview.com

Review of "Where Lies Beauty" a novella by Sheri L. McGathy

Sha-da-nay has been spellbound in the shadowy touch of the Hagath, the once-great city's memory a phantom shrouded in ghosts who haunt twilight.

Seekers and siblings, Tanner and Con are hired by a wealthy stranger, Faylon, to find the lost city of the elves. Faylon seems to be a real brute in his callous treatment of his slave Manny, much to Tanner's disdain. Although Manny appears grotesque, his heart seems good and kind. Tanner becomes attached to the little slave, defending him when need be.

In their quest for Sha-da-nay, the travelers attract the attention of the slaver Adar, the very man who caused Tanner and Con a bitter past.

Tanner must find it within herself to love without restraint regardless of her past. If she can do this, Sha-da-nay the elf City of Light might be rescued from the Hagath's spell, and Adar the slaver might be stopped for good.

All is not as it seems in Where Lies Beauty. The title of the novella itself asks a question of the heart and soul, a question thats answer laces throughout the book in lyrical metaphor. Where lies beauty? In Tanner's heart? In her bleeding soul? In Manny's tortured aspect? This novella's conclusion relays many pleasant surprises as well as the answer to the title's question, providing the true romantic the perfect ending.

I believe in Ms. McGathy's interview, part of the November 2005 spotlight, she stated that several persons have suggested she make a novel of Where Lies Beauty. I add my voice to those. I want more!

Review of "Mourn a Moonreft Sky" a novella by Shannah Biondine

The wizard Thrixsall's murder and the theft of the Umbra Amulet has everyone in a dither. Without the amulet the shifting of the moons and sun are defunct.

Some mad wyvern rider has apparently killed the old wizard and made off with the amulet. Thus, Zavend Priest (wyvern tamer) has agreed to take a vacation from his work to investigate the murder and theft. Praxis, a female of the badger race of humans, has been hired to help because she can "track dragons and wyverns across the sky."

Upon arrival at the murder scene, mixed stories of Thrixall's fate greet Zavend and Praxis. Praxis tracks the wyverns used in the murder. She and Zavend find twisted answers at the end of the trail.

This story starts with a bang, a gang bang. Readership for this kind of story should definitely have its roots in freedom of expression, as Praxis portrays a very nasty girl, indeed. I swear I heard phantom porno music playing in the background as I cracked the first pages of this novella. ;)

Depending on which camp you are in--sex in the story, no sex in the story, or sex in the story where it applies--this novella might be to your liking. I, myself, remain wide-eyed, dazed and somewhat grossed out but grinning at the surreal orgy that begins "Mourn a Moonreft Sky."

Wyverns, griffons, wyvern taming--all such cool topics, all present in this novella. In my opinion (and this is just my opinion or squeamishness), Praxis' sexual tinkerings--whether implicit or explicit--are nasty enough that they overshadow the story a bit too much. These tinkerings were, nevertheless, incorporated as part of Praxis' character rather than apart from it. So pick your camp!

And now that I have stated all the above, curiosity leads me to wonder how the characters in "Mourn a Moonreft Sky" might develop if the story were expanded into a longer work. Cheers to Ms. Biondine. She has some serious nads to have pulled this story off!

Review of "The Well of Forever" a novella by Jeanine Berry

Lohar the mage disappeared 500 years ago. Following his disappearance, a cataclysm destroyed the city of Maricor.

Under orders from her master Demor, the slave woman Caireya must use her scrying powers to find Lohar's wand and other objects of power in Maricor. The master uses Caireya's sister, Eronne, as leverage against Caireya, for Eronne has blossomed into a very desirable woman.

The wand in the wrong hands, however, could cause another cataclysm. Caireya must prevent the next cataclysm and solve the mystery of Lohar's disappearance while protecting her sister.

"The Well of Forever" is a wonderful story with touching characters, high drama and just the right touch of mystery to intrigue.

Review of "The Treasure of Arvalis" a novella by Jeanne Allen

The Arvalians are coming! The Arvalians are coming! They are here!

Priestess Eirena lives on the island of Ignatia. The Arvalians led by Valgard, overtake the island temple in search of gold, treasures, etc., but they find no riches. Valgard, instead, finds Eirena.

Valgard becomes her protector against his men and his successor Jayr, one mean man. Jayr attempts to overthrow Valgard several times, threatening the Ignatians with a higher brand of cruelty than they have already experienced from the Arvalian invaders and threatening Eirena with death. "The Treasure of Arvalis" concludes with a fiery ending.

Love smolders and kindles in this story--a slow burn with a sweet, smoky essence. I thoroughly enjoyed "The Treasure of Arvalis." A fantasy romance nicely done on the theme of captor and captive.

Twilight Crossings II very nicely knits together on the theme of twilight. This anthology also serves as an adventurous sampling of what the minds of these four imaginative authors offer readers--daring respites from the everyday.

Part adventure, part romance, part journey into an exotic fantasy world, "Where Lies Beauty" is an intriguing tale with a moral deeper than anything "Beauty and the Beast" ever glimpsed--and a great heroine. A Seeker named Tanner, a female Indiana Jones, takes a her brother and Falon, her employer, deep into a dark land to find a treasure. Along the way they encounter some unusual people and wonderous things and experiences, including a strange bridge that appears at will. Readers will love this story and the expected and unexpected ending. TWILIGHT CROSSINGS II was a great read. Fantasy readers, don't miss this one.
Linda Madl
author
"Trespassing Time"
THE JOURNEY HOME and
and SILK AND SECRETS

"Where Lies Beauty" by Sheri L. McGathy
Tanner and her brother, Conn, are Seekers. Seekers bring back things from the Old World, which once held pure magic. For over one hundred times their normal fee, they agree to take a man named Faylon and his deformed slave, Manny, on a quest for a lost magical city. The city is called Sha-da-nay, The City Of Light, and thought only to be a myth. The city is fabled to be full of gold and pure magic. But to reach the city they must pass several dangers. Once there, only a single tear, freely given, will reveal the truth.

"Mourn A Moonreft Sky" by Shannah Biondine
Parxis is no longer a slave. Slavery had been abolished five years before. Due to living mostly underground she has pure white eyes and is sensitive to sunlight. However, she has the ability to track dragons and wyverns across the sky. This is why Zavend, a scholar, asks for her help. Someone has stolen the Umbra Amulet. The wizard who wore it around his neck for eons has been slain, the amulet taken. Without this amulet, there would be "floods or drought, famine, seasons that do not molt" because it controls the very weather and planet alignment. If Praxis helps Zavend on his quest, she would be gifted with her own wyvern.

"The Well Of Forever" by Jeanine Berry
Caireya is a Seeress and has the scrying ability. Her sister is Eronne with the gift of healing. They are slaves to Lord Demor. Demor defies the laws and travels to Maricor, a lost city. Maricor is where the Cataclysm took place centuries ago, leaving the world in ruins. Using Caireya's magic, Demor plans to locate the wand of the legendary mage-king Lohar di Kaya. If he succeeds, the world will see another cataclysm!

"The Treasure Of Arvalis" by Jeanne Allen
The city of Ignatia worships Solone, Goddess of Earth and Sky, a loving and merciful deity. Eirena is the temple priestess. She receives Solone's messages for her people. For two months Solone did not speak. Eirena fears that her people has ignored the goddess, thus the goddess has turned her back on them. Then marauders attack the city. Their cruel gods promised gold and treasures within Solone's temple. But Ignatia is a city of knowledge. The only treasure are the scrolls within the temple library. Valgard, the leader of the warriors, claims Eirena as his own. If there is no gold, then his realm will have the people of Ignatia as slaves. However, Solone has other plans.

***** Four brilliant novellas that will tantalize your imagination to no end. Magic and romance combine to make this a book you won't soon forget. *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

We got this book for my soon to be two year old son at Christmastime, it's now February and he wants it read to him every night and even sleeps with it! I would highly recommend it, especially to help your young child get used to Santa.

I bought this book as a special treat for potty training and boy, did it work! The story is so very cute and really helps with introducing the different celebrations of Christmas throughout the world. It's nice that there's someone out there finally caring about the quality of books and videos that children are seeing and reading, and the Wiggles are simply the best, in my opinion. Thanks so much Wiggles for providing such educational, fun, and enjoying items!

My own reason why I think that The Wiggles: A Very Wiggly Christms is just like the DVD, Yule Be Wiggling, is because Santa Claus, needed help from The Wiggles. Since one of Santa's reindeer was sick and couldn't pull the slaigh, The Big Red Car was The Wiggles only hope-and delivering presents to children from around the world worked so magically well.
All I have to say now is that today, I've already read this new book. I'll wish The Wiggles my very own Wiggly Christmas to them, in December.

Berry's book conveniently groups together scriptures that address common problems and issues. If you are someone who has ever thought of the Bible as a collection of nice stories but wondered how they applied to daily living, this is the book for you. These verses serve as excellent entry points to the Bible, and it is well worth the reader's time to explore the verses surrounding those contained herein, in order to gain a more complete sense of the text. But even without this, Mr. Berry has been meticulous about not expanding the meaning of the verses beyond their context for his categorizations.

This is a very special spiritual handbook. Everyone should have one beside their bed, in the kitchen, or medicine chest! It was so well received as I gave it as a gift to many friends and I even used it as a program for my book club and have received numerous phone calls and a note telling me how much it meant to our group! It is for the young and old. Hope it comes out in BIG PRINT, too!

I have used topical scripture books before, but I find Mr. Berry's book so much more useful. When my soul is in need of those scriptural "vitamins," I can fill it readily with the assortment of scriptures Mr. Berry has chosen. Though I treasure opening the bible and searching for scripture myself, I appreciate Mr. Berry's book because it includes not only the scriptual reference but also the scripture itself. I have used it to find quick comfort as well as to direct me to further passages in the Bible. A must for everyone's medicine chest!

The book came in new condition at less than half the retail price. Good people!

Some years ago, I developed an interest in voice and diction. I had noticed how well-spoken many actors were, and then later I noticed that successful people in general tended to be well spoken. The opposite also held true, I noticed even college educated individuals with poor speaking habits.

I took voice and diction lessons from a local teacher, and then moved on to the classic book in the field, Edith Skinner's, "Speak with Distinction". "Speak With Distinction" is a monolithic work, and many of the great actors of American theatre and movies regard it as the bible of speech training.

Edith Skinner refers to "Voice and the Actor", as a suggested book for further study. In many ways, I think "Voice and the Actor" functions as the perfect companion piece to "Speak With Distinction". This is because whereas "Speak With Distinction" focuses on proper pronunciation and enuciation, "Voice and the Actor" focuses on the processes of vocal production, i.e., breathing, diaphram, and the elusive process of "setting the voice free".

Also, "Voice and the Actor" goes into great detail about the need and proper use of a device called a "bone prop", which is used to prop the mouth open during voice training exercises. This isolates certain muscles, and is an old school voice training technique which is quite helpful.

Highly recommended for actors and serious students of voice and diction.

Ciss Berry is actin