Berry Books

This book explores in depth the little known history of aircraft that lead the the building of the glorious DC-3

I am a new mother and had the expectation to find a book that tells me about my baby development and how he understands the world and how he can better know it: And I found that in this book.

This book should have been up for some awards. Perhaps the National Book Award? Fans of the often overlooked Wendell Berry and those new to his poetry will certainly cherish this collection. Though Berry occasionally comes very close to slipping into a sappy Christian, Hallmark-like verse in a couple of poems, he does redeem himself with the next poem--most notable "The Vacation."

This boko is a great book for students to learn about food, water, health, exercise, clothing, cleanliness and many more health/nutritious information. I have learned a lot from this book because of the helpful definitions throughout each colorful page. I also enjoyed the number of exercises and helpful tips the book has given me for personal use.

I heard about Joy Berry's books for helping children have good characters and solve family problems for months, then I got this book. It is very good because it answers all the questions that I ever need to know about watching TV, from why watching TV can be harmful to how kids can only get the benefit from TV not the harm. The book is colorful and funny pictured, kids will love it. It is a full guide for you and your kids with a lot of concern. Finally it will help your kids solving problems related to watching TV.

Overall, I felt this book was a good one. It's obviously an interesting subject (though occasionally horrifying), and the author provides a great amount of detail and insight into the childhoods, early adulthood, and early murders of the subjects in question. Also included are some very telling quotations by the murderers themselves.

However, I felt that some of the author narrative was distracting and occasionally far-fetched. He seems to cling to the idea that these killers are 'two-sided', or, as he sometimes describes, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. While it would certainly be comforting to think that there was a part of these individuals that was separate and untouched by their homicidal urges and sado-sexual impulses, I personally find it unlikely. The fact that John Gacy was an active and often productive member of society does not mean that the productive part of him was separated from the part that raped and killed teenage boys. We would all like to think that we would be able to tell someone with these sort of violent tendencies, but at least in Gacy's case, it was not evident at all to the individuals in the community he served. They valued, rewarded, and took pride in his place in their society and he often did things that were beneficial to the community at large. He also happened to be a murderer. I do not think that these things are mutually exclusive simply because we want them to be, because we want to believe that no community could love and praise a man who was killing their young boys. But there's little evidence to truly support such a claim, and the author stretches toward the idea that there are two Gacy's, the good and the evil one. Frankly, I found it to be grasping at straws. This theme of 'the evil side' seems to carry through to other murderers in the book, as well. It struck me more that the author is trying very hard to be clever, and while he often succeeds at sounding intelligent, well-informed, and plausible with his beliefs - there is the occasional moment of discord when he makes a statement that just doesn't seem right.

Aside from stylistic annoyances, though, I think the book was overall a great read and very compelling. It's a broad look at several serial killers, and the subjects chosen were particularly good for the purpose of the book. Covered are John Gacy, Kenneth Bianchi, William Heirens, John Cannan, and Patricia Wright. I would recommend it to people interested in knowing a bit more about this darker side of humanity. Of course, and I imagine this goes without saying, this may be a difficult read for people who have a low tolerance for violent imagery. Although the details of the crimes are quite appropriately clinical, one can't help envisioning them as they read and for that reason I wouldn't recommend it for the weak of heart.

If you go for adventure and lots of action, then this is the right book for you to read. Once I started reading Fairasia, it excites me more from reading on. The author was able to give life to its character impressively. You will be amazed how the author will keep you in fervor from one chapter to another. To you Mr. Dwight A.G. Berry, thank you for this brilliant book. I honestly enjoyed reading Fairasia just like as you enjoyed telling it. My honor for sharing with me your talent, and looking forward on reading more of your books to come.

Reviewed by Stephanie, Parish (age 3), and Isaac (age 1) Rollins for Reader Views (8/07)

Farley is a ferret who lives with Farmer Finley and other farms animals. He goes to the fair with Farmer Finley every year to share boysenberry jam with the children. Then a drought hits the area, wiping out the boysenberry crop. Farley and the local children tried to come up with a solution to this problem. They basically did a rain dance in the boysenberry patch.

The boysenberry crop was saved. The children were able to eat Farmer Finley's jam and bread at the fair. Was it a miracle? No one knows.

Parish wants to give the kids a wipe to get the jelly off their faces. She thinks that they are probably sticky. Isaac liked the pictures of the farm animals. The cover is painted in browns to depict the drought, but it is not attractive to kids who typically like vivid colors. Toward the end of the book, when the rain comes, the colors get brighter.

There is a CD that goes with "Farley the Ferret of Farkleberry Farm." It retells the story with music. There are children laughing in the background. Parish and Isaac danced to it.

"Did you like that story?"
"HMMMMM....Yes."

"Do you think the jam was good?"
"Yes. Ma makes jam."

"Yes. She makes really good jam. Do you think the dancing caused the rain?"
She is too busy dancing with Isaac to pay attention to me.

"Oh, Parish......Do you want to keep this or give it away?"
"I want to keep it."

Closure! I need Closure! I got it big time in this novel. I never thought the AI's could ..... OOp's almost gave it away. :) You will just have to read it. Contact Tom Doherty at TOR books at: inquiries@tor.com and ask him to do a reprint of this title. While you are at it check out my website featuring these novels under the good reads section:

//members.xoom.com/jeremydobe/index.htm

Enjoy

Jeremy

The four stars I have given this book are mainly for the illustrations. Admiration and respect are deserved for the author, James Berry, for creating an original Anansi story; however, the illustrations captivated and held fast my daughter and I through what was at times a slow moving tale. I had ordered the book sight unseen from the library and as soon as I saw the cover I was overwhelmed by Couch's unique and insightful depiction of Anansi complimenting both the African culture and the spirit of Anansi himself. Truly an artistic visionary, Greg Couch also created beautifully stunning and spirit infused paintings of the four elements present throughout the book. Please treat yourself to some amazing illustrations.