Blair Books

Is it the last volume of the Adrian Mole saga? Of course not. I doubt it very much. There is no end to a good recipe, a ratatouille or a beef and kidney pie. But we'll see. This volume is extremely interesting. For our Adrian Mole is still Adrian Mole. He is naïve and he is sending to us a very simple-minded vision of the world that is absolutely disarming - a must with the title we know - in naivety and vanity. This vain naivety or naïve vanity is his trademark and it is marvelously refreshing. It could probably not break a man's arm, but it can break, even smash, a man's despair. And this here volume is still a perfect example, at the age of 35, nearly middle-aged, of this entertaining village philosopher from Leicester. The book is also fascinating because we are in 2002-2004 and the central problem is the war on Iraq and Blair's support, till the day when he acknowledges there were no WMDs. The political question is systematically shown through the opinions of various people. Adrian is pro-Blair and he supports his own son when he is sent to Iraq, though he is frightened by the prospect of his son's death for and with no cause, and actually the son's best friend is killed by shrapnel. Pandora is against the war and she resigns from Blair's government. And between the two we find all kinds of shades. The dramatic dimension of the problem is strong because of the son's position in the armed forces. At the same time the book criticizes all kinds pf shortcomings of Blair's policy and of capitalistic greed. Adrian and his father are confronted to the National Health Service, and Adrian is suddenly thrown into bankruptcy by greedy banks and various store- or credit-card providers as well as by his vain desire to live over his means. The book is also fascinating because of the love life or rather non-love and/versus love lives of Adrian. He finds himself trapped by a false pregnancy and ends with a real third child born in love. Finally the book is fascinating because of the numerous vignettes it provides on various characters and situations: the independent bookseller, the local would-be or wanna-be writer, the protection of Her Majesty's swans, the Koran, Chinese restaurants, baby-boomers, vegetarian or bio-friendly people, etc... There you feel a high level of irony, humor, sarcasm, and that is so English, so brilliantly English.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, University Paris Dauphine, University Paris 1 Pantheon Sorbonne & University Versailles Saint Quentin en Yvelines

I was in high school (in London) when the original "Adrian Mole" books came out. In fact, we read them in English, went to London's West End to see the play etc etc. The books were original. The sequels worked, at least for a while and I don't believe that there is anyone who was a teenager in the UK in the 1980s who doesn't remember Adrian Mole.

It was by chance I came across this latest addition to the collection while browsing in a very well-known bookstore. I was further surprised to find it here in the US. I'd always thought that the situations and characters were very "English" and wouldn't translate well. Besides, I'd read the original book as a teen, so why buy this one? But the book was on sale so I picked it up...and devoured it, quite literally and found that Adrian had grown up too.

Adrian is now in his 30's. He's a little more worldly-wise but still has the air of "naive nerd" about him that we knew two decades ago. Ms. Townsend has worked in all the characters from books past so, if you're looking for a little trip down memory lane, welcome back. Pandora, Adrian's only true love is now a successful politician, his mother and father...heck even Nigel is back!

The political overtones are there for all to see and the author makes no attempt to hid them. The book is titled "Adrian Mole and the Weapons of Mass Destruction" and the underlying current in the book is Adrian's devotion, continually tested and challenged to "New Labour" and Tony Blair. He firmly believes that the "coalition" will find the WMDs as they prepare to invade Iraq. Perhaps this undertone is a reflection of Ms. Townsend's personal beliefs. In previous books she brought current events and figures into play and relevent as part of the background. In this book, she seems to be trying to make a bigger statement, while "keeping it funny" and I'm not sure it works this time because it's a little too close to be comfortable.

However, that doesn't detract from the story. I was pleasantly surprised to find myself chuckling as I reminisced with an old friend who I'd left in the UK many years ago. I found that I wasn't out-of-touch and many of the stereotypes, situations and characters were as relevant today as they were back then.

If you're an A.M. fan then you should definitely read this one. It's nice to find a book you don't have to think too hard about.

So, why only 3 stars? Because it's an "okay" book. Perhaps I'm being a little harsh, but I don't think I'd have bought it if it weren't on sale. Maybe I'm not such a great friend after all...

Dave

Adrian Mole and the Weapons of Mass Destruction by Sue Townsend was one of those library books that attracted me due to the quirky title and unusual cover. Having no background with Townsend's work or any other Mole novels, I really didn't know what to expect. What I found was an incredibly funny English novel that I was unable to put down until I was finished.

Adrian Mole is a 34 year old single guy living with his parents and working in a second-hand bookstore. He has a couple kids by different women, but the relationships didn't work out in the long run. In order to live the style of life he envisions for himself, he buys a flat on Rat Wharf and proceeds to spend himself into an incredible crushing load of debt using credit cards. His life starts to spiral downhill when he dates a mousey "organic" lady by the name of Marigold Flowers. Her parents are into "natural living" to the extreme, and he quickly figures out that this is not the family and lady he wants. But he has a hard time saying no, and pretty soon he's engaged to be married to a woman he doesn't love and that is apparently with child. To complicate issues further (as if they weren't already warped), he's madly in love with Marigold's sister, a fashionable public relations woman who is as wild as Marigold is sedate. He knows what he needs to do, and everyone else can see what he should be doing. But knowing and doing are separated by an ever-widening gap...

This story is told in diary fashion, with Mole writing in the first person. In many ways, it's like watching a reality TV show. Mole has a much more important view of himself than what really is the case, and it's a hoot watching the train wreck unfold. There are a number of current event themes running through the couple of years covered by the diary, mainly centered around the start of the Iraq war. I'm sure having a good grasp of British life would make a few of the things more clear to this American reader, but it really doesn't matter. It was all too funny and felt all too real...

My next step is to check out the first four Adrian Mole novels... If they are anything like this, I'll be losing a couple more weekends to these pages.

Firstly I wanted to clarify for people that might want to know, exactly how this series runs. I have bought and read all the books in the Adrian Mole series and I was dissappointed not to find anywhere to tell me which ones to get. So as a result I have them all.

US Versions
The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4
The Growing Pains of Adrian Mole
Adrian Mole: The Lost Years
Adrian Mole: The Cappuccino Years
Adrian Mole and the Weapons of Mass Destruction

British Versions
The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4
The Growing Pains of Adrian Mole
True Confessions of Adrian Albert Mole
Adrian Mole: From Minor To Major
Adrian Mole: The Wilderness Years
Adrian Mole: The Cappuccino Years
Adrian Mole and the Weapons of Mass Destruction


So, as for the review these books are great. I love the entire series and I just couldn't stop reading them all the way to the end. The one thing I might suggest is to keep in mind that with most series of books the first is always the best, which is probably the case here too, but if you like it and are a fan of Adrian Mole, there is no reason why you wouldn't want to read the rest.

I like the fact that is it written in diary form for easy reading and it is very clever how the story is told from the point of view of Adrian himself but you can see things about his life that he cannot.

Overall an excellent read for all ages from teen to adult.

The Adrian Mole saga which began with Adrian's secret diary (aged thirteen & three quarters) continues, as the famous loser moves into his mid-thirties. He's still wildly grandiose, his grip on reality is shaky at best, but life is starting to grind him down. He's living in a posh flat he can't possibly afford. He's still hopeless infatuated with Pandora, he finds himself (somehow) engaged to Marigold, who he can't stand, and he's falling hopelessly in debt. Oh yes, he's been writing to the British Prime Minister about those weapons of mass destruction. He needs the evidence for--well, never mind. Just read the book.

Improbable and depressing as all this might sound, it works. It's not knee-slapping comedy, but it's funny, and it's also sad, as Adrian's failures and mistakes accumulate and haunt his present life. He's still trying to get his life together, and this time he might just make it. Somehow you come to like Adrian Mole in spite of everything.

Sue Townsend is a brilliant comedic writer, with a flair for character development and social commentary. How she manages to keep this series going, with its improbable cast of characters, is simply amazing. She's just good. I enjoyed this book immensely and I recommend it highly. Reviewed by Louis N. Gruber.

With Quanah, Mr. Blair has crafted a masterful work, both in its historical scope and implications and its attention to physical and emotional detail. Together these form a dramatic tapestry of dynamically contrasting and complementary themes, leaving the reader excited for more. One of the best books I have read, the only disappointment being that it had to end.
- Dr. Oliver McCrary, Reviewer

Maybe I am way out of line here, but I really feel like this book was only a touch better than a high school history book. The writing style was just fine, but the novel tended to drag every few chapters. It seemed like I was reading the same chapters over and over again.....yet another skirmish....yet more indians killed.....yet more texans killed..... I understand that this is what occurred in this period of history, but I thought it was boring to read about again and again.

Dale Blair has taken history and crafted it into this finely tuned novel of Quanah Parker's early life on the plains. Beautifully thought out, the novel has a rare quality to it: a strong, believable sense of mysticism, coupled with great action and movement. Blair has taken the factual information and wove it into a powerful narration, adding to the story rather than moving around it.

The story became more and more engrossing as the novel went on. It's a GREAT look at what Quanah could have been, as we know so little about his life before the reservation period. A beautiful tale of a life forgotten, and it will leave you enlightened. If I could have given this 6 stars, I definitely would have.

Through this wondrously-crafted story, you are, at once, one with young Quanah. As he approaches manhood with the eagerness of a future warrior, you are thrust into the midst of his Comanche tribe. At a time in history when tribal lands, sustenance and the very existence of the Indians are being threatened, a young half-breed is following his destiny to lead them.

You follow Quanah and his teachers into their world of spirituality and tribal rituals. You ride behind him on his pony into war games and buffalo hunts. You share in his suffering. You cringe in horror at his savagery. You sleep near him in his tepee where love for his wife and children is demonstrated with tenderness. You cry out with him in frustration as he searches for his mother.

Along with Quanah, you become aware of the many conflicts life has placed in his path. Contradictions emerge which Quanah finds confusing and disturbing. You raise your arms to the sky in unison with his as he draws upon his faith and his gods to help him make the most monumental decision of his life.

Dale Blair's touching, empathetic treatment of Quanah's character and the careful unfolding of Quanah's arduous journey through his youth, has, curiously, developed a fictional character from real life. Whether the fictional character is "bigger" than life, I cannot say; however, I believe this book honors the real Quanah Parker.

Examining the cruelty and injustice of our nation's leaders toward native Americans, the very people who greeted our ancestors in peace at the shores of this vast land, brings us closer to the truth. Through careful research, delicate depiction of the characters, and intuition, Dale Blair gives us an enlightened portrayal of those early native inhabitants. Lingering, is the monumental realization that historical wrongs can never be righted.

I am anxiously awaiting a second novel, perhaps a sequel.

Our interest was held throughout the entire book. It has adventure, action, love interest and particularly shows the closeness of the Native American family. We especially liked the spiritual values of the Comanche shown, which they do not tell us about in history books, such as their reverence for Mother Earth and Father Sun. All in all, this book made us feel compassion for the man Quanah and his people.
Albert & Pat Sommerfield, Houston, Texas

I was a huge fan of Casanegra and I was very happy to hear that there was a new installment coming in the Tennyson Hardwick series. I'm still a fan of the character and the writing, but the pacing of this book felt very choppy and not nearly as smooth as Casanegra. I won't complain much, but I can definitely say that if I had read this book first that I would not have been as anxious to read the next book in the series.

A couple major differences for me were the fact that this book didn't have the consistent action of Casanegra or at least it took awhile for the action to get started. I felt a lot of lulls in the story waiting for things to pick up. Also, the physical encounters seemed a little more forced/manufactured as opposed to natural like in Casanegra. I did like the development of the characters from Casanegra and the progression of the relationships from the first book were carried over well in this one.

All in all, I think that the book was a good effort. Not quite to the standard of Casanegra which was a real page turner, but definitely a bright spot in African-American Mystery/Thriller fiction.

In Tennyson Hardwick's fascinating world, every fact has a purpose, every relationship has importance and every interaction has meaning.
If I didn't fully appreciate that after reading Casanegra, the first book in the Tennyson Hardwick series, IN THE NIGHT OF THE HEAT reiterates the point: careful writing and masterful storytelling creates a wonderful and unique romantic mystery.

Tennyson Hardwick returns with a softer edge. The painful ordeal of solving his previous case matured and humbled him in a subtle
way. Now his primary focus is negotiating familial relationships, having brought both his disabled father and a teenage runaway to live
with him, as well as attempting to navigate love's minefield with his girlfriend.

In the wake of T.D. Jackson's acquittal from charges that he murdered his wife, Tennyson turns down T.D.'s personal request for his
bodyguard services. Days later, T.D. is murdered. Obligation and Tennyson's unique brand of good-guy morality blend to land him exactly
where he doesn't want to be, sleuthing for answers about T.D.'s death. To solve this mystery, he must uncover the true details of the murder of T.D.'s wife
and the insidious generational secrets stemming from a racially-charged bowl game in 1967.

Blair Underwood, Steven Barnes and Tananarive Due weave a phenomenal story, somehow incorporating modern day fanaticism, race relations and
familial obligations and comparing them to the racial environment of the `60's, fraternal bonds, perverse loyalty and generational sins.
And, as with real life, there are no clear winners and losers here, no "aha" moment where an obvious culprit is handcuffed. Make no
mistake, Tennyson finds the answers, but, as with most race related travesties, the answer is one no one really wants to know.

IN THE NIGHT OF THE HEAT trumps Casanegra, if that is possible, delivering a multifaceted and ingenious story that left me craving for
more.

Reviewed by a. Kai
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

When this book hit the shelves, I was eager to get my copy, based on Casanegra. In the Night of the Heat does an excellent job of allowing the reader to get to know Tennyson Hardwick more intimately. It is even better than Casanegra at building tension, and makes "hairpin turns" unforeseen by even the wildest imagination!

If you like Casengra you are going to love In the heat of the night. It has twists and turns that you don't even see coming. When I got to the last chapter, the bomb was dropped on me and I had not seen this fork in the road. These writers are really holding my attention and making it difficult to get anything else done. The ending was not what I thought was going to happen and am reading the book again to figure out where I missed the turn.

The book ends in a way that lets you know that another one is coming. I can hardly wait. You will enjoy this read.

Ten is back, and his return is even better than his very good debut in Casanegra. This time around Ten is investigating the death of an O.J. Simpson type, who before his untimely demise, may have offed his ex and her fiancee. Juicy. Juicy. Anyway, Ten's dad, a wheel-chair bound, stroke-impaired ex-cop, rolls in to help his son. This story line is perfect, far superior to the pages of exhausting, unfulfilling sex that held Casanegra back. The characters are fully drawn and intriguing. The story is tight and sooo satisfying. A must read. Aww Sookie Sookie: Omar's Revenge

I'm planning a photographic trip to NC to do waterfalls. This book has more falls than I can possibly photograph. Book is well organized. Gives helps with travel, times to photography, best locations. It's all in this book. Hikers will also find it beneficial.

This is an essential guide for anyone who loves waterfalls and lives/travels to North Carolina. The photo tips are very helpful. This is a great update to the original, as access points and property ownership change. The author has even changed his mind about some of his initial beauty ratings -- some up; some down -- so you know he's done his research as well as the footwork.
I also recommend Kevin's book on Virginia/West Virginia waterfalls and North Carolina wildflowers.

Excellent book for locating waterfalls. Very good directions. Is a good book for those just wanting to look for waterfalls, but not much for a regular hiker as most of the trails are either very short, or there is a need to bushwack.

A good reference, but I found the directions confusing at times. You need to drive slowly and read carefully.

I am an amatuer nature photographer so I am always on the look-out for books to know where to go to shoot. This book may be the best photography guide I have ever had. He tells you where the waterfalls are, and how to photograph them. Best of all he has the guts to rate the quality of each waterfall on a scale of 1 to 10. There are so many waterfalls that I can't visit them all. With this book I can go only to the highly rated ones and know they will be knock-outs. When I get there he will help me to know how to shoot it. This is a great book!

First, this is a wonderful book! As another reviewer noted, it's like reading a modern day Mark Twain! From the very beginning, there is "tension" in Ensworth's relationship with his father. His father even kicks him out of the car on a rural road with the intention of making a "man" out of him. Thus begins his long journey to meet his father's demands - "I give you a great gift today. See that open road? Your destiny lies down there.... If I hear so much as a peep until your journey is complete, I will disinherit you." There Enworth's life begins a new, where he befriends a man (Lord Baltmore) that is quite queer in his behavior and mannerisms. I couldn't help but think if there was a movie, Casron Kressley would be perfect! The author's use of prose keeps you reading page after page. And just as Samuel Clemens did, you just know that Doster interjects his life into the book, and you yern to uncover the story under the story and wanting to know the author. Are the allusions to a homoerotic relationship between Ensworth and Lord Baltimore intended? Is that what his father really wants to change about Ensworth? Was this a Huckleberry Finn in our culture and time, all wrapped up in the author's personal struggles? Oh the drama! Suffice to say, Ensworth has adventure after adventure, and reaches his goal. But does it change him to the person his father wants him to be? I'll let you read to find out!

After feeling frustrated with his golf playing teen son, Ensworth Harding's father sends him on an adventure to give Ensworth a way to learn about life, who to trust, how to judge things for yourself and just as a preparation of what will happen in his life in general. Ensworth meets a character named Lord Baltimore and has many adventures with comedic happenings along the way.
It gave me a feeling of Mark Twain's writing but very today in feel. I had a rollercoaster of emotions going the whole book long. The names of the chapters is basically an outline of what happens. So, read the chapters and you have an outline of the book. Read the book to find out what happens to the characters. It has the feel and flavor of the Georgia coastal area, one of my favorite places to visit.

This is a wonderful coming of age story that takes place on coastal Georgia. Not since Kinnakeet Adventure by Stanley Green have I read anything quite so good that utilizes America's small Atlantic islands and their cultures so well. A great read as well as an educational experience. I recommend for anyone who rated this one 5 stars to pick up a copy of Kinnakeet Adventure too!

After hearing about this book on Georgia Public Radio's Cover to Cover program, I bought it. Once I opened the pages of this book, I couldn't wait to find out what happened to Ensworth and "his Grace."

There are twists and turns, some predictable, others not. It goes all throughout the coastal Georgia area. What a delightful jaunt into Georgia's history! There are many Southern stereotypes, true, but there are many true portrayals as well.

This book is such an enjoyable coming of age tale, I'm taking it to the English department at the high school where I teach and recommend it. Don't take this as a discount of its entertainment value for adults. It's really a lovely book.

Stephen's Doster's Lord Baltimore is the superbly written coming-of-age novel of Ensworth Harding, an eighteen-year-old young man, given a letter by his father with strict instructions to deliver it faithfully and independently - or forfeit his sizeable inheritance! A charming saga about learning, growing up, and opening oneself to the mysteries and quirky personalities of the world, Lord Baltimore is entertaining, attention keeping, and thoroughly enjoyable reading!

Everyone has their own definition of happiness. But how many people do you know who are really, truly happy? It seems we are always a little less than satisfied with ourselves, our relationships, our possessions, our job...the list goes on. Still, we go on striving to find happiness. Usually, we look in all the wrong places.

Blair Lewis, a long-time medical practitioner from the Midwest, is one of the happiest people I know. But he wasn't always like that. It took years of searching and experimentation for him to reach his goal. And when he found ideas or techniques that worked for him, he shared them with others who were also searching for true happiness. While he has been using his personal understanding of happiness to transform the lives of his patients for the past 20 years, he has finally distilled his unique approach to wellness into a book, Happiness: The Real Medicine and How It Works.

Blair gets at the things that lead to real and enduring happiness. His practices and techniques are drawn from the oral tradition of Himalayan yoga masters and have been tried and tested over thousands of years. There is nothing fancy in this book, just practical information and profoundly simple techniques that are the core of yogic self-transformation.

Blair uses his own personal quest to find happiness to lead the reader through the first half of the book as he shows us how to develop a personal philosophy that will bring clarity to our lives and identify the major obstacles to lasting happiness. He blends his stories of how learning yoga science and ayurveda into an easy-read autobiography that never looses sight of its goal. Blair's story brings the student-teacher relationship to life in a manner that is refreshing, modern and practical.

This is hands-down the best introduction to the philosophy of yoga as self-transformation I've seen. It's the kind of book that can make advanced yoga practitioners re-evaluate their personal practice, while at the same time is great for friends, family, and co-workers who might be completely new to the theory and practice of yoga.

Get two copies, and give one to someone you love.

Featuring black-and-white illustrations and the occasional humorous cartoon, Happiness: The Real Medicine and How It Works is a self-help guide to improving one's outlook and quality of life. Author Blair Lewis reveals that happiness is an intrinsic human condition, obscured by negative emotions such as fear and guilt, and the never-ending quest for material possessions. Chapters cover traits shared by happy people such as self-restraint, disentanglement from conflict, and the cultivation of a quiet mind; how to develop a positive personal philosophy and wean oneself from the pharmaceuticals marketed to promote "happiness"; techniques for obtaining happiness including learning to love oneself, meditation, and yoga therapy; and much more. Happiness: The Real Medicine and How It Works looks especially to the ancient wisdom of East India as it guides the reader's thoughts toward a more pleasant and fulfilling existence.

This is book is a true gem. Nowhere else have I found such a simple,
practical and yet profoundly useful guide to creating a life for yourself that
is joyful and productive. I would recomend this book to anyone looking
to bring a little happiness into their life and the lives of their loved ones.

Wow! This book is great for people of all ages! It gives you specific guidelines that you can use on a daily basis to learn how to handle life's ups and downs with grace and with a positive frame of mind. Very practical and easy to understand! Thank you, Blair!

I have used Blair Lewis's book "Homepathic Remedies" for eighteen years. Therefore I was delighted to read his latest book on happiness. The chapters on diaphragmatic breathing have been very helpful to me and I recommend that every age learn this.

I found this book to be outstanding. It covers subjects in a different way than most others. It is a very good purchase especially if you're aware of a pending death because it has checklists for when clear thoughts are uncomprehendable. It also shares stories of people, real people who have suffered losses.

I found this workbook and its companion book, "I wasn't ready to say a goodbye" a tremendous help after the sudden death of our 36b year old daughter. It contains very practical help, but more importantly gave me a sense that I was not alone. The authors very effectively used their experience to help others work through their grief.

This book is helpful to my clients when dealing with a sudden death.

This is an excellent grief resource that provides a solid roadmap to go along with the book. The activities are meaningful and help one who has recently suffered a loss go through the grieving process faster.

You will get the most benefit if you read the book and do the activities provided in this workbook. However, you could work with each of these separately.

The The Grief Recovery Handbook : The Action Program for Moving Beyond Death Divorce, and Other Losses is also quite popular and geared toward losses of all types. This book is strongly focused on a recent loss, but will be useful to anyone who is grieving the death of a loved one.

"As we live our life, we can choose to become a light for those we have lost. We can carry their memory, their hopes, their dreams into the future." ~Brook Noel

The need to talk about loss can lead to a deeper healing process and having a comforting workbook provides a place of understanding. In order to move through the grieving process, Brook Noel and Pamela Blair explain the process of grief.

They start the book with notes for the first few weeks, lists of calls that need to be made and information on who needs to be notified. There are place to write all the information you need to remember.

They explain the emotions of fear, anger and depression and also provide calming exercises. There are helpful guides for anyone helping others with loss and the section on Learning through Loss provides an excellent list of positive affirmations. There are ideas about Memory Books and ways to honor someone through donations or a living memorial.

The third chapter answers many questions that need to be answered. Should you take medication to get through the process or would a natural therapy work better? I have found the Bach Rescue Remedy to be very effective and comforting.

Explaining the situation to children and dealing with the holidays are also issues to consider. Writing poetry and memories in a journal are also ideas that are helpful and healing. The quotes and poems throughout the workbook are beautiful and carefully chosen.

Understanding grief can also help you with all areas of loss in your life, because I think we go through them when we lose anything or anyone we truly love. So in that regard, this book is for everyone and will be appreciated by counselors, pastors, family members, friends and especially by anyone who is currently experiencing the affects of loss. Additional books and CDs are also available.

~The Rebecca Review

Somebody is a bear who pulls a Goldilocks, making a mess in the home of the three Blairs. Read the comments of Baby Blair in a funny voice and the kids to whom you're reading will giggle like maniacs. My three-year-old goddaughter loved it so much that she brought it to school and incited the rest of her class to laugh along with her.

This book is so funny to first graders that they make me read it to them over and over. They also love to read it to themselves. My paperback copy was so threadbare from use, that I had to order a hardbound copy for the children to enjoy.

"Somebody" has gotten into the Blairs's house. When they get home they'll be surprised to find that the order their house is in is called "Complete Chaos." There's tons of mess, the baby's chair is broken, and there's a flood in the bathroom. Who is Somebody?

"Somebody's been eating my crunchies!" This book is a spoof of "Goldilocks and the Three Bears." What Somebody does is very humorous and not very realistic. The pictures are very cute, and so is what Baby Blair says, such as "Feeda ducks!" This is a funny book for kids age three to five.

This book is a slightly different look on the classic fairy tale Goldilocks and the Three Bears. In this version of the story the house that belongs to the Blairs (humans) has been broken into by a bear named Somebody instead of having the house of the three bears being broken into by Goldilocks. The story follows the regular pattern we have come to know with this tale, with a few additions. Somebody eats breakfast, sits in the chairs, and then goes looking for toys. Next he goes looking for something to drink, before finding a bed to sleep in.

Unlike in many other versions of this story, the baby seems very pleased with the visitor. He smiles when he sees some of the messes made by the bear, and seems very pleased to find a `big teddy bear' asleep in his bed. While Mr. and Mrs. Blair are trying to figure out what to do, Somebody escapes down the drainpipe, and leaves the house with baby calling after "Bye- bye. Come again and play tomorrow."

The pictures are very cute, and colorful. The story is told in a sweet, endearing way, and the whole idea of having the roles reversed makes this book wonderful.

Loggie log log log

Even though I'm a teenager, I've loved this book since I first read it. It is an adorable and very funny retelling of The Three Little Bears, and, in my opinion, it's better than the original! It's a simple book for most kids to read, and they will be sure to enjoy it.

It's a lot wider and taller than I expected and it's a little thinner than I expected...I really don't know what I was expecting though come to think of it =) But it's a very easy quick read and even though i also bought Cartoon Animation (also by same guy) and this book seems like a summary of that bigger book I still liked it and will refer a lot I'm sure to this and his other book.

My only complaint is that it doesn't really fit on my book shelf unless it's on its side XD

I have been drawing cartoons and doodling for years and could never figure out why my flat drawings didn't look as good as the masters from the "golden age". (almost all comic strips nowadays look flat too, so people just accept that it's how they are supposed to be). Well taking the advice from John K's blog, I bought this book and basically started over from scratch. The basis of Preston Blair's technique is starting with an egg or circle with 2 lines in it and making the characters face from there. You wouldn't believe how it makes the images pop out, and how much easier it is to draw them from different perspectives all the while keeping your characters consistent. Other techniques are how to draw cartoon hands, facial expressions, and body positioning. If you are an amateur cartoonist looking to refine your work, buy this book now. Best 8 dollar investment you will ever make.

If you are looking for a small, comprehensive analysis of how to do animation, this is your book. Walter Foster is one of the best companies out there on drawing books, though I wouldn't recommend them all. I highly recommend this one. :)

This is a great way to see how animation starts. I would recommend it to anyone wanting to choose Animation as a career. I am taking Web design and Animation.

The book is arranged like this: Drawing principles, character design, then animation. The principles are about constructing forms and wrapping guidelines & features around them properly, facial expressions, building a simple skeletal foundation, how bodies can be drawn, and hands!

The character design section is small, but brilliant. There are great example drawings to work from and trust me when I say the characters are pleasing to look at.

As for the animation section, it's got the essentials for walks, runs, understanding squash & stretch and line of action in movements. It might not have enough movements as one may want, but really, using what you learn here to analyze actions from life will enable you to learn how any movement can be strengthened for animation. I actually haven't started animating yet (still doing the drawing sections), but I know I'll be perfectly fine with just this. Harold Whitaker's "Timing For Animation" does seem like it could be a perfect supplement to this though, so you might wanna check that out as well.

Other pages include things about dialogue phonemes, takes (when's the last time anyone's seen a Tex-Avery-style reaction in a cartoon? learn this and bring it back!) pointers on animation, and, best of all, TONS of characters to practice from.

The book is only eight bucks and, being from Preston Blair, a genius from the golden-age era of animation, you can't go wrong. Buy it, follow everything that he says, draw from each drawing in the book until the concepts seep in, and make some cartoons. Even if you wanna draw comic strips and/or comic books, get this now!

I grew up in NC and my grandfather was an avid fisherman. I am learning saltwater pier and surf fishing now and I need something to give some basics, and some specifics about this avocation. This book explains so much about things I have seen my entire life and been curious about but didn't think to ask. I am sending a copy to my sister and mother as well. I think anyone that is going fishing along the coast of the Carolinas must get this book!

This book is about where one can coastal fish in the Carolinas and for what kind of species at different times of the year. I found it to be a very useful guide to plan future surf fishing trips. The author does not give a lot of specifics about rigging tackle. I think Eric Burnley's Surf Fishing the Atlantic Coast provides that information a little better. I plan to keep Goldstein's book in my truck when I am in the Carolinas, and I certainly will look to buy future, updated editions.

This book has lots of great information about fishing in the Carolinas. There is good information on different types of fish and locations and techniques for catching them.

It's pretty cool when the author mentions pier owners, bait and tackle owners, etc. by name. This book is really a must read for folks wanting to fish the Carolina coast!

Highly recommended.

If you're like me most fishing books are way too vague. Titles Like "Surf Fishing" or worse "Fishing the Atlanic" try to be a little help to everyone. This book is a lot of help for a few.

The book reads like a conversation with and old fisherman on a pier or in a tackle shop. The author covers all the bases like where to shop, what to buy, how to rig it up, where to go, how to cast, where to cast, how to set the hook, where to put the catch, how to cook it, etc. This is not the modern "magazine article" style of book, it's an old school how to catch fish book.

Something to consider...
The book is mostly text and some basic B/W images and illustrations. You must be prepared to do some reading before you go fishing. This is not a skim fast and go fishing today book.

If you live in the area or plan to visit, it is a great resource.

I'd have to say this is one of my favorite books on fishing and one of the most complete books on fishing a particular area that I've ever read...even right down to information on exactly where to fish for each species. This book is well written, easy to understand, and well suited to anyone trying to learn how to fish (or how to fish better) from surf, jetty, or pier. Highly recommended.