Blair Books

Definitely the best book I read all year. The first chapter asks so many questions that you have no choice but to keep reading and find out the answers. I have read this book twice and can't wait for the release of Tony Aued's next book!

FANTASTIC NEW ADDITION TO THE BLAIR WITCH MYTHOLOGY. MY ONLY REGRET IS THAT I CAN'T ADD THIS TO MY BOOKSHELF COLLECTION OF BLAIR WITCH MEMORABILIA. ...GREAT STORY, GREAT CHARACTERS. ELLY KEDWARD LIVES!!!

This is a gripping tale of children's loyalty to each other and a frightened and fearful dog. An adventure with self-discovery - one of Ms. Snyder's specialties. As are all of hers, this is a wonderful page-turner.

It's not supposed to be a motivational book but I started a fitness regime after reading it!

Sabol has been a "fitness freak" most of her adult life. As health columnist for Mademoiselle magazine, she traveled widely, reporting on (and trying out) all kinds of spas, resorts, diets, exercise parlors -- you name it, she tried it.

Here she tells all. What it's like to be coddled, starved and exercised at places like "The Golden Door" and other expensive and exclusive watering places for the elite, what it's like at Gold's Gym and Santa Monica Body Builders. (The prevalence of the word "gold" in the titles indicate what clients give and owners get. With these clients, the most obese things in sight are the costs of the programs and the bank accounts of the customers.)

"Aerobics and fitness in general," Sabol writes, "did not just become a fashion -- they became a craze. And it was the craziness that became injurious to the health movement...What we need to do is rethink our definition of fitness...The most important question is fit for why? What is the point of looking like an Olympian if you're a clerk at the A&P express line?"

Sabol contends that the drive for fitness can be a narcissistic way to avoid relationships, a substitute for things that really count. We need to understand our limitations and be aware of needs and objectives. "Acknowledging that our basic fears of aging and of intimacy led us to the extreme physical self-obsession."

She adds,"Good health means being keyed into the ultimate balance of life for you and you alone. But above all, we must learn to heed the advice of our own body wisdom. In the end, that's the only trainer worth sweating for."

This book makes more sense than anything else I've ever read on the subject. I recommend it to anyone who wants to live a healthy lifestyle.

I received the book in a short period of time and pleased that it was in good condition. It is my first purchase and I look forward to more in the future.

From Foreword:

"By 1910, the last large bordellos had been built in Silverton. From that date forward, the buildings continued to be occupied by either saloons, boarding houses or bordellos. The one exception was the Arcade Saloon, now the Arcade Gift Shop. This building was constructed in 1929. Whether or not a building housed prostitutes depended upon the owner at the time. Some of the boarding houses were family-run enterprises and catered only to miners. The previous owner of the same building may have used the premises for a dance hall and bordello.

During the 1920's, in the era of Prohibition, Silverton's Blair Street was, in the words of an old timer, 'Like a little Las Vegas, the gambling houses and bordellos were open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You could buy bootleg booze in any saloon or whorehouse.'

The book is not a condemnation of the women who worked on the 'line.' It is an attempt to preserve, for the record, a part of the American frontier that existed but is now history. Ethnic terms, that today would be totally unacceptable, were commonplace.

During the late 1930's, in the midst of the Great Depression, Nona Salisberg, who was a young hairdresser at the time, recalled that there were only about sixteen girls left on the 'ine.' She was frequently called upon to do their hair.

Prostitution and gambling existed in Silverton until the late 1940s.

The various houses will be discussed [in the book], using the final name of the establishment. For example, the 'Laundry' was the colorful name given to Jack Gilheany's gambling hall and bordello."

This is a TRULY SUPERB BOOK in a Three Book Series, The AMAZON website still has the third book as not avilable IT IS IN FACT RELEASED, Book Three "The Last Mile of The Way" in the "Standing on The Promises" Series, Written by Margaret Balir Young and Darius Aidan Gray - About the tribulations of The Early Black Amercian/African Pioneers and The Mormon Church - just read my review!

"Standing on The Promises" - Never before can I ever remember reading three superb books in just over three weeks. No wonder the writers Margaret Blair Young with Darius Aidan Gray have received Awards for these works.

From Book 1 "One More River to Cross" the writers brought these true characters to life, I shared the pain and the tears of Elijah Abel and on to Jane Manning. Book 2 continued my journey. I climbed Ensign Peak in Utah, with Elijah Abel and his Son Moroni and felt the pain that those early Black Mormon Pioneers endured. They all where Standing on the Promises and suffering so much, Green Flake, Lewis Manning, Louis Gray, while still having so much "Faith and Strength"

Book 3 "The Last Mile of The Way" continues the journey of these Black Mormon Pioneers and it does not let us the readers down in any way. Taking us from the period of the 1890's, we meet more new true characters and we share with them their journey and trials, and also getting counted for their beliefs while still waiting for what they long for "The Priesthood" before reaching "Glory" - It reminds me of one of my famous favourite Gospel Songs "Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen, Nobody Knows But JESUS - Nobody Knows the Sorrow I have seen but You LORD" - We also experience other believers in Abner Howell, Len Hope, Ruffin Bridegforth right through to the birth and journey of Darius "Aidan" Gray and the long awaited Revelation of The Priesthood in 1978.

Yes I know I shared those tears and pains and spoke with such as Elijah Abel, nut I can never really know the suffering and pain, but my understanding is now better and stronger.

Everyone! Should read this "Trilogy" of Books "Standing on The Promises" - and they should be in every school and library worldwide.

I give Thanks to the most talented writers Margaret Blair Young and Darius Aidan Gray for allowing us to make this journey and more so to those believers who have gone before us, Elijah Abel, Jane Manning, Green Flake and Lewis Gray and to finish off with words once more from that favourite Gospel Song (arranged by H Fuqua The famous Motown writer)

"IF YOU GET THERE BEFORE I DO, TELL ALL MY FRIEND THAT I'M COMING TOO"

One day I hope I will meet and talk with Elijah Abel and those True Characters!

"In the Last Mile of The Way" - Superb! 5 out of 5

John Barry Sheffield - England UK - August 2003

This is a cute story to read to children. The pictures are wonderfully illustrated. It is a great way to show children what happens, when they don't tell the truth. Children want you to read it again and again.

Broken Acres is a moving story of the courage, faith, and compassion of poverty-stricken children who lived on a tobacco farm. It is a heart-warming story of kind and caring kids who figured out a way to earn money to help another child with health challenges.

I had the honor of reading the manuscript before it went to print -- when it was a long continuous roll of paper called a galley proof. I was asked by John F. Blair, Publisher, to create the book jacket design along with four black and white illustrations. I was in total shock when the book came as a large roll of paper. It was strange not having pages to turn. I read the manuscript in one sitting marking the passages to be considered for illustrations.

When I finished the manuscript, the floor was a sea of paper. I had never before read a book without pages. I did not know how to re-roll the parts I had read. They fell to the floor. I stood up and found myself knee deep in the looped and curled paper. In that moment, I felt I was standing in the tobacco field with the children. Excitement welled up from within. The manuscript was alive. The author's words created visual images with clarity. I felt confident that I could do justice to the written word with my style of woodcut illustrations.

The next day I enjoyed reading the story separate and apart from selecting passages for possible illustrations. It is a heart-touching story. With enthusiasm and great pleasure I immediately created a small edition of the cover design and four illustrations. The process of carving the images in blocks of wood flowed smoothly. The color separations of the book jacket design matched up perfectly. For me this meant the author's words and the artist's illustrations were synchronized and in harmony.

Many years later I met the author. We were guests in a public school where we each talked about our parts in producing the finished book. Children responded with eager anticipation. Each child had a book that we both signed. It was a great joy touching children with the content of the book as well as the personal discussions of how Broken Acres came to be written and illustrated.

Broken Acres is an unusual story written with sensitivity and insight. It gave me the feeling of being in the tobacco fields working with the children toward a common goal. I saw life through their eyes. I recommend the book for easy reading, good imagery, plus a unique and moving story. It is not only a book for children - but also one that can be enjoyed by readers of all ages.

From beginning to end Gary Ryan Blair has hit the nail on the head as to what the new rules of engagement are for the 21st century. This is the most direct and to the point book I have ever read. I have made it a point to give a copy to all my employees. If you plan on being in business in the new millennium take a few minutes and read this book!