Bowles Books

I love this book. It is tender -- it is funny -- it has sad moments and it has jubilent moments. It is really, a work of art. It is a MUST read.

If you love animals, you need this book. If you need to laugh, you must have this book. You might shed some tears too, but soon you will smile.

The book consists of a series of short portraits of horses, some of whom have given up, and their road back to recovery and beyond all through the knowledgable and caring attention of Melanie. Sounds trite but it is really an indepth exploration of the spirit of life and/or woman at its best. Wow.

Wonderful book and so beautifully written. When you sit down to read it don't forget the kleenex. You will shed tears of sadness at peoples cruel and heartless treatment of these noble beasts and you will cry tears of happiness when they get to experience life as it should be at Proud Spirit with Melanie and Jim.

I read "The Horses of Proud Spirit" in one evening, reluctant to put it down until the last page was turned. I laughed, I cried, and I didn't want it to end. Melanie Sue Bowles writes with remarkable detail, and her descriptions of people, places and horses pull the reader into each and every story. While some of the tales are sad, one comes away with a feeling of hope for both horses and humans. This book is a "must" for every horse person's library. If you've never owned a horse, you'll still find this book riveting - and you may find yourself dreaming of an equine partner of your very own.

I bought this book after seeing the PBS special about Proud Spirit Sanctuary. I loved the special and I loved the book. I now buy it for friends that I know will enjoy it.

Melanie, I can't begin to express what an inspiration you and your fine husband are to me. I have ready many books on horses, rescue, etc. Yours is so "real world" that it has made me realize that we must get our goals and tactics in place to make this happen within the next 5 years (purchasing horse property, etc.). THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for so honestly conveying the challenges and the precious rewards of sacrificing self (and monies) to do the right thing and provide a way of escape --- for these hurting horses to have a refuge to live out their days with good care and DIGNITY. Wow!!! THank you. My husband and I hope to meet you and your husband (and rescued "life changers") someday. God bless you, yours, and all you do!!!!!!! My Warmest Regards, Dorease Rioux, Colorado.

Reading and/or listening to this management story is a fun way to gain insight about people with whom we work and interact. I enjoyed the positive presentation about different perspectives and strenghts that people have and where the best place to deploy people with these attributes might be. The book encourages objective interactions that are win-win and non-judgemental.

Here we go again, another personality classification system and the author's premise that if you can stereo type people you can manage them more effectively. I don't see what this system has over other personality classification systems, such as MBTI (which has been around longer and more people seem to be familiar with).

The book tries to be humorous, but it just didn't work. The story telling wasn't bad, but I'd almost rather listen to nails on a chalk board then listen to the voices of the people reading this book.

Bottom line. I learned a little, but not much and I'd like my money back.

This loosely medieval management parable about "a king at his wits' end" has several winning characteristics. First, it's relevant without taking itself too seriously. The light, self-effacing - even occasionally tongue-in-cheek - tone makes it easily readable. Authors Sheldon Bowles, Richard Silvano and Susan Silvano actively engage readers with a brief interactive online test that reveals your personality "guild type." Then they draw on their narrative's strength to move forward. Many books about emotional intelligence give readers little practical help. This one is fun, helpful and entertaining even though its guild classification system may need additional tweaking. Apparently designed primarily for workplace applications, it lacks the specificity of the more familiar Myers-Briggs test, which in comparison practically predicts how you'll want your eggs cooked a month from next Tuesday. Notwithstanding these minor limitations, we recommend this book to managers, coaches, consultants, EQ practitioners and those HR folks burdened with softening the Type A corporate hearts who run most organizations.

I found Kingdomality (the test) almost 10 years ago. I took the test and was impressed by its accuracy. Since then, I have taken the online test 3 or 4 times more, with the same results.

So, when browsing on a local bookstore, I saw that the test creators had a book about Kingdomality, I did not hesitate and bought it.

What is Kingdomality (the test and the book) about? Well, it basically sustains that people can be grouped in 12 categories of personality types. These types are a function of how people see the world, what are their motivations, how do they interact with it. It's called Kingdomality because the personalities can be linked to "standard" professions in the Middle Ages (the time of Kingdoms...).

Those who have already taken the test and have enjoyed its simplicity and accuracy will enjoy this book. It will allow them to have a more comprehensive view of all the 12 types and how could they be used productively in a work environment.

For those who have not taken the test, but enjoy learning about new and different personality type tests, this is also a great book. The test concept is simple, and the types are clearly different among them. Still, I think I would advise all to take the test first and then read the book (doing otherwise might "contaminate" your test with your expectations for its results).

Well, as I said, I always got the same result in the test. So, in case you wonder, I seem to be a Merchant.

I had the chance to attend a book signing by Sheldon Bowles of his book Kingdomality. When he started to speak to a large crowd there was a table loaded with books and I wondered how many he'd sell. When he finished talking, we all rushed to the front to get a book and an autograph. By the time I got to him the books were all gone! Now I have a copy. This book contains so much insider information about how different people are motivated and why people behave as they do, that it seems like you become a mind reader. It's easy. It's accurate. It has given me the tools that make me a better manager, a better father, husband son and friend. In the paper here last weekend KINGDOMALITY was #1 on the bestseller list. Go to www.kingdomality.com and find out what it's all about. You won't be dissappointed! I predict KINGDOMALITY will be the killer book of 2005.

For me this was an amazing discovery. I read a review of it in a literary magazine in the waiting room of my optician and when I got home I immediately ordered it from Amazon.
What caught my eye in the review were the names of the inhabitants of the February House - Auden, Britten,McCullers... in that amazing year. I knew of their work individually but to read of them living under the same roof was a revelation.What a cauldron of creativity! All against the background of the war in Europe and the period leading up to Pearl Harbour.As I read the book I felt as though I were there. I hope that someone will make a documentary about it or better still a dramatised reconstruction. The two Truman Capote films have blazed the trail.

A friend just recommended this book to me and it's fabulous!!! I live in an artist bldg and it's nothing compared to the energy of Middagh Street. The book is a great read and the research is most impressive. I cannot wait to read the one she's writing about the Chelsea Hotel!

Thomas Wolf once famously said "only the dead know Brooklyn." There might be some truth in that, but some of us know Brooklyn, N.Y.,U.S.A., pretty well,and are still very much alive. Quite a few people are aware of Brooklyn's brownstone belt, that swath of historic houses stretching from the East River to Prospect Park and beyond. Many of these people would declare Brooklyn Heights the ultimate Brooklyn brownstone neighborhood. It's beautiful, and gets scenic views of Manhattan. It's got history galore--an important Revolutionary War battle was fought here;and it's been, and still is,home to a lot of well-known important people.

One little-known fact is that a number of celebrated people shared a house on Middagh Street, in 1940-41, right in the middle of the Second World War. That house, which came to be known as February House-- a number of its residents had February birthdays-- has long since been torn down to make room for the Promenade that provides storied views of Manhattan. But among occupants of February House were poet W.H.Auden, writer Carson McCullers, writers Jane and Paul Bowles,composer Benjamin Britten, and stripper Gypsy Rose Lee.

Writer Sherill Tippens has produced an interesting, pleasantly gossipy book about the house's residents and their accomplishments. Jane Bowles began "Two Serious Ladies," her only completed novel here. The young lesbian Carson McCullers had just tasted, at the age of 23, great success with her novel "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter." She began two other great successes, "The Member of the Wedding," and "The Ballad of the Sad Cafe," between drinking bouts, right here on Middagh Street.

Auden and Britten, both homosexual, but not involved with each other, were being raked over the coals at the time by the British press for choosing to sit out World War II in the U.S. But they were working: they collaborated on the opera "Paul Bunyan,"not critically well-received. Auden who continued to live in the Heights, on his own, to pursue his lifelong, unrequited love for the young American Chester Kallman, was working hard in the interstices of his personal soap opera: He produced "The Double Man" in February House. Britten produced "Peter Grimes;"considered one of the great masterpieces of 20th century opera. Meanwhile, he pursued his own personal soap opera: many critics believe this opera echoes developments with his partner, tenor Peter Pears, at the time.

The most unexpected resident of February House would have to be Gypsy Rose Lee, burlesque artiste. She was talked into joining the fun by George Davis, homosexual himself, fiction editor of "Harpers Bazaar" magazine, whose idea February House was, and who worked hard to keep it alive. Davis had published some of his own writing, but he was best known for the talented writers he kept on discovering.

In Gypsy Lee's case, she brought some money, a lot of common sense,and a cook to Middagh Street. The house's residents needed all the above. Her reward for her support: George Davis, great editor, midwifed her book, "The G-String Murders," a publishing sensation for many years.

George Davis continued to live at 7 Middaagh Street after its time as an artistic commune had passed. After Kurt Weill's death, Davis married his widow, Lotte Lenya, and devoted his life to introducing America to Weill's great works,such as "Three Penny Opera,"from which we get "Mack the Knife."

There are some informative photographs, extensive notes and acknowledgements in February House. Tippins evidently did a lot of primary research, but she managed to organize the voluminous results in a very readable style. February House well rewards the reader.

Sherill Tippins has done an amazing job of finding the significant narrative threads in the chaotic convergence of creative lives that occurred in the months before Pearl Harbor when Harper's Bazaar editor George Davis and British expatriate poet W.H. Auden rented a brownstone on 7 Middagh Street in Brooklyn Heights and actively recruited other creative artists to live with them. Among the co-renters were Carson McCullers who had recently published her highly acclaimed first novel, "The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter," soon-to-be famous British composer Benjamin Britten and his parnter, singer Peter Pears, unpublished novelists Paul and Jane Bowles, Broadway set designer Oliver Smith, writer Richard Wright and his wife, and burlesque sensation Gypsy Rose Lee, who it turns out was the most reliable in the rent-paying department and joined the little "creative commune" on the condition that she could bring her own cook and maid. Her fiscal reliability and drive along with Auden's willingness to take on the unpleasant role of house disciplinarian (collecting rent and other "dues" and establishing and enforcing many house rules) are probably sufficient explanation for why this menage managed to last the two or three years it did.

Tippins wisely focuses her attention on the leading figures (without neglecting to name the many others who partied but did not reside at 7 Middagh--Salvador and Gala Dali, Lincoln Kirstein, George Balanchine, Erika Mann and her brothers Klaus and Golo, to name a few). One passer-through, Anais Nin, christened the dwelling "February House" because so many of the residents had February birthdays. Tippins has a good knowledge of the works of these creative people and is able to see how one of the artists intentionally or inadvertantly influenced a subsequent work of one of his or her co-residents. For example, McCullers was struggling with the novel that would later become "The Member of the Wedding" when she was able to appropriate an experience from Chester Kallman's childhood to explain her heroine's profound sense of alienation and abandonment (Kallman was Auden's lover).

Tippins other great achievement here was her ability to slice through history and palpably recreate the political atmosphere in pre-war New York and to do so in a way that reflects on both British and US perspectives. She takes a good hard look at the criticism expatriates like Auden, Christopher Isherwood, Britten, and Pears faced from the British press and fellow artists who chose to remain in Great Britian during the war. She is similarly insightful in her analysis of the role the Mann family had in trying to get an apathetic America to respond to the European crisis. A lesser writer might not have bothered with these issues and chosen to report only the salacious and saleable anecdotes about the goings-on of the February House residents.

I highly recommend this book to anyone even passingly interested in one of the artists who lived at 7 Middagh Street (you're sure to learn something new), to anyone who ever wondered how great works of art come about, or to anyone interested in knowing how history and art intersect. I'm sure I'm going to use Tippins's Selecte Bibliography as a basis for future Amazon.com purchases.

Sherill Tippins' volume fills a tantalizing gap that fans of Auden, McCullers, Britten, and Gypsy Rose Lee have long wished could be filled. Most overdue is Tippins' portrait of George Davis: failed literary wunderkind; editor extraordinaire (who "discovered" McCullers and got much-needed writing jobs for her and W. H. Auden in the lean months before Pearl Harbor); husband to Lotte Lenya and the catalyst that re-invented her for American audiences in Marc Blitzstein's staging of Weill's "Threepenny Opera"--the list goes on and on. Davis and Auden are central to Tippins' account and to the amazing colony of artists who called 7 Middagh Street in Brooklyn Heights their home in 1940-41. But Tippins gives everyone in that circle his/her due. Her depictions of Auden's rocky romance with Chester Kallman, of Benjamin Britten's coming to terms with his artistic destiny in England, not America, and Gypsy Rose Lee's ability to charm and disarm everyone she met are more than engaging--they are extremely moving.

Tippins' research is exhaustive and impeccable, and she lets her characters speak naturally and eloquently. I could not put this book down and practically read it at one sitting. I was hungry for the kind of information Tippins delivered, and I finished the book with the deepest satisfaction. Gracefully written, carefully organized and researched, and extremely relevant: this book wins on all counts.

In Durrenmatt's *The Visit* a hideous--and hideously wealthy--old woman returns to the town of her long-ago youth to avenge a past wrong. Unaware of her intentions, everyone in Guellen is excited at the news of her imminent arrival, but none more so than the old lady's old flame--the shabby shopkeeper Alfred Ill who volunteers to be her personal guide during the visit. Expecting that her return, and Alfred's solicitous attention, will mean a revival of the town's fortunes after years of hard times, the inhabitants of Guellen are nonetheless staggered by the generosity of Claire Zachanassian's offer. But their joy turns to dismay when they discover the one condition the old woman has placed on making them all wealthy beyond their wildest dreams. The good folk of Guellen must deliver up one of their own for sacrifice: her old lover, Alfred Ill.

Will the townsfolk murder Alfred for the money--and the "good" of Guellen--or not? Durrenmatt not only sustains the suspense of this situation throughout most of this rather lengthy three-act play, but, even more surprising, he renders it chillingly plausible. One is reminded of Shirley Jackson's classic story *The Lottery*--a similar atmosphere of claustrophobic, predestined dread prevails in *The Visit,* a sense that there is no escape from the judgment of the community of which one is a member. Indeed, it seems if one is properly socialized one internalizes that judgment and delivers oneself up accordingly for there is no life outside of the community. Such a "voluntary" death becomes a sacrifice and one lives on in the benefit bestowed upon the community. So does society sustain itself by eating its own.

What the old lady wants is justice for a wrong done to her in Guellen long ago. But that desire for justice--and the hurt that goes with it--has hardened over time into an implacable thirst for vengeance that nothing but blood will satisfy. Even within the play, as well as in Durenmatt's postscript, Claire Z. is likened to Medea and it's an apt comparison. Claire is older, wealthier, a confidante of princes and presidents, a serial bride, full of wit and dry humor, and her anger is considerably colder than that of the legendary scorned madwoman of classical literature--colder and thus more lethal.

Aside from Claire Z, who has hardened beyond humanity altogether, *The Visit* is primarily a tale about human weakness--about the temptation for the pleasures of this world and the rationalizations we devise to grab them when the opportunity presents itself. For behind the high-sounding principles and moral outrage of the good people of Guellen is the drive to self-aggrandizement that motivates all of us. Or, as *The Visit* memorably points out--all of us but the rare individual who acknowledges the guilt we all share and prefer to locate solely in our neighbors, the rare individual who, when it's time to point out the source of evil in the world, has the astounding courage to point at himself.

This is as close as you will come to a true depiction of the Swiss. It may be a generalisation but isn't that how generalisations are generally derived? Anyway, the author is Swiss who is supposedly not very popular among the Swiss possibly because it is too close to home/truth.

This book, although somewhat disturbing, is a good read for anyone who desires a look at how humans continually put material objects before their own fellow human beings. Layered in "sick" comedy, The Visit brings the ultimate desire for retribution to life, as well as depicting how even normal people can become vicious with revenge, even when they are not the victim. Furthermore, this book depicts how one person can change the lives of other's lives drastically, because of power and money. When read in the context of seeking the reality of life, the desire for riches, the greed of the desperate, and the need to be "someone" and be defined by worldy possessions, this book truly gives insight, with a bizarre but intriguing tale.

"The Visit" is a play I've never seen, only read. I read it first in high school, leaving me with goosebumps then. It still has that power, now. I can think of no other tale that expresses the power of bitter revenge better than this one. I remember reading somewhere that this was done originally on stage here by Lunt and Fontaine--wouldn't that have been something to see!

I wonder, though, why the 1964 movie starring Anthony Quinn and Ingrid Bergman is never mentioned, and has never been released on video or DVD? I saw it 30 years ago and found it chilling in its own way, though not matching exactly the play.

Like Bertholt Brecht, Friedrich Duerrenmatt (1921-1990) was a proponet of "epic theatre," a style of drama in which the audience is not so much asked to identify with the characters and story but to contemplate them in an detached manner and thereby arrive a certain intellectual and moral conclusions. Although he was the author of several notable dramas, he is not well known outside his native Switzerland and German-speaking Europe--with one exception: Der Besuch der alten Dame, known in English as THE VISIT.

First staged in 1956, it became internationally famous in the late 1950s in a production staged by Peter Brook starring Afred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne, which had a successful Broadway run and which toured extensively; it was also filmed, with considerably less success, in 1964 by director Bernhard Wicki and starring Ingrid Bergman and Anthony Quinn. Maurice Valency performed the translation for the Lunt-Fontanne stage version, and for many years his extremely free adaptation was the only English-language version in print. The Patrick Bowles version offered here, however, is much more accurate in translation--and therefore considerably darker in tone.

The story concerns a tiny town which has fallen on very hard times, but which has hopes in the form of a visit from the incredibly wealthy Claire Zachanassian, a woman who was born and raised in the town and who has now decided to make a return visit. Although a distinctly grotesque figure, Claire has a reputation for generosity, and upon her arrival she does indeed announce her intention to endow her hometown with riches beyond imagination. There is, however, one catch: in return, she demands the death of Anton Schill, the lover who wronged her many years ago. The community is outraged and refuses to comply... at least at first. As the play progresses, however, the citizens (including Schill's own family) begin to dream of what they could do with all that money. Is Claire's demand really so unreasonable after all?

Duerrenmatt insisted that his play was a comedy, and it is indeed quite funny, albeit in a distinctly grotesque sort of way. At the same time, however, it is quite obviously a parable on the natures of revenge and greed. Indeed, Claire's revenge is not so much on Schill as it is upon the town itself, as she forces them to faulter through greed by presenting them with a choice between morality and immorality. Although extremely witty, THE VISIT may also be described as deeply cynical, and more than one critic has flatly described it as evil, despicable, and profoundly unsavory. Whatever the case, it is a truly remarkable play, quite unlike the usual fare you'll find haunting either Broadway or the local community theatre. It has also been extremely influential over the years, with perhaps the most obvious example being Arthur Kopit's OH DAD, POOR DAD, MAMA'S HUNG YOU IN THE CLOSET AND I'M FEELING SO SAD. Strongly recommended for fans of far-out theatre.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer

This is not only a great collection of stories about horse rescues; it speaks of the love and respect for animals that is the driving force behind all those who devote their time and resources to rescue and rehabilitaiton.

I eagerly awaited the publication of Melanie's second book after devouring "The Horses of Proud Spirit" - it was worth the wait. Melanie continues her saga with stories of Proud Spirit rescues, and documents her emotional move from Florida to Arkansas. "Hoof Prints" has both comic and heart-wrenching moments, is similar in style and content to her first book, and will not disappoint!Her personable writing style pulls at your heart and will not let go; its as if you're listening to a good friend describe the details of her latest rescue. This is a book to savor over a good cup of tea, tissues nearby. The horses will become part of you - you'll never forget them or their stores. A remarkable second effort, "Hoof Prints" firmly establishes Melanie Sue Bowles as an important non-fiction writer of our time.

If you love all animals, this is a book you MUST READ! It will make you cry, laugh, and at times angry, but most importantly, it will make you stop and think about what happens when humans, money, and animals are triangulated...the animal most usually ends up on the losing side. "Hoof Prints", as well as, Ms. Bowles first book, "The Horses of Proud Spirit", are not only thought provoking, but an education for the mind and heart. And speaking of hearts, Melanie Sue Bowles, and her husband, Jim, must have some of the biggest hearts in this whole wide world! Ms. Bowles is so much more than a rescuer and author...she lives for all the magnificent animals in her care, and because she does, they live, too. I promise, the word, Biscuit, will never have the same meaning for you again! Her books are the kind that you read, and re-read, and re-read for the rest of your life. I suggest buying them both, with a big box of tissues...you'll be so glad you did! After reading "Hoof Prints", and "The Horses of Proud Spirit", I consider myself, HORSE BLESSED.

I very seldom read a book anymore except a magazine article once in a while but for some unexplained reason I felt compelled to order Melanie Sue Bowles "Hoof Prints...". I am so glad I did. I found that this author's words brought out about every feeling and emotion one can have by those who deal with our equine companions. She truly touched my heart with each chapter (even broke it a couple times). It is a book of tears and smiles and a few laughs if you have any sense of hunor. I had barely finished this book when I ordered her first novel "The Horses of Proud Spirit". I would recommend this book to anyone who loves animals, not just horses.

A look at the inhumane treatment of our horses, and the wonderful soul of a rescuer. Stories that will tug at your heartstrings, make you laugh and make you cry. This is a look into the hearts of the horses and the rescuers. A must read for all! One of my favorite books. I couldn't put it down. God bless Melanie.

Ironically, I picked this book up at the bargin bin in a St. Petersburg, Russia. Starting out in Oklahoma, it shows the progression from state college football, to OCS, through Ranger and Airborne training to the jungles of Vietnam. Two brothers, taking different paths through the Army.

The horrors of the Vietnam War come to life in this novel. You identify with the characters, and almost feel like you are with them. Being in the Army, this book scares me. What if it was me there? Could I be so courageous? Would I survive? It scares me to think about it.

I have read them all from Clancy to Brown and LtCol.(Ret) Scott is by far one of the best military writers to date. My father served in Vietnam and after he came back my mom said he was never the same and I always wondered what it was like, why men like my father and Col Scott, why they went when they were called knowing they might not return and those that did would be forever altered. I joined the infantry at 17 to see for myself and after serving in Panama and Somalia I understand. Col. Scott says it best in the books with way he connects you to the characters you come to realize they did it for the men to their left and their right, not so much for America, but the men who represent America. Sad to know that he won't be writing anymore books but the four vietnam books he wrote are some of the greatest military fiction ever written and in my opinion should be required reading for all young soldiers and leaders.

Leonard B. Scott writes another excellent book probably relating much of his own personal experience in Viet Nam. Again he sets up his main characters detailing what they left behind only to have everything they knew and understood here in the U.S. tested and in many instances left in some far off jungle in Viet Nam. Mr. Scott, though he was an officer, describes Army life among the enlisted troops with great clarity and understanding. He may be a Mustang (enlisted later becoming an

officer) whatever, I have enjoyed reading all of his Viet Nam Era Army books and would rate this one just as good as The Expendables. The vocabulary he uses is of that era and adds in his effort to recreate life back in the late 1960's. A Must Read if you like Scott's writings.

The way that Scott writes the story to the hill is extravagant. Not only do you see the one side perspective from the Brothers you also get to see it from the Vietnamese side. As one knows you need to know the two sides of the coin in order to get the real truth. This book like SCott's others is truly something else.

Paul Bowles's collection of travel pieces dating from 1950-1963 reveals a love of solitude and the unfamiliar road in a time when American influence began to dominate the post-war world. Seeking refuge from growing American conformity at home, Tangier, Morocco became Bowles's permanent address in 1947. Tangier made an ideal jumping-off point for Bowles, who visited Sri Lanka (Ceylon) in 1950, Cape Coromin, India in 1952, Istanbul, Turkey in 1953, and made frequent trips into Morocco and the Sahara, where he documented and recorded its music and musicians.

His travel writing can be at once witty and withering. Many of his observations are about the discomforts and disappointments of traveling; reading the more sour reports one might wonder why he put himself through all the trouble. Bowles obviously relished his role as the cultural outsider, and enjoyed writing about drugs, sex, and traditions the West found taboo. The people he describes are individuals, sketched boldly and without reserve. A trip to Ketama, "the kif center of all North Africa," becomes a chance to provide an extensive description of Morocco's drug culture.

His willingness to describe the whole of his experience makes Bowles's writing more than mere reporting -- from an unexpected swarm of flies, to the unrelenting sun, to the cool desert night and the noisy neighbors in an overcrowded hotel. He was blunt about writing these pieces for pay (and published in American travel magazines) but the result remains an engaging and entertaining collection.

Unable to write a review of the above title; the book was given to someone as a gift. The book was chosen because the author is a favorite of the person who received it.

Bought as a gift. Have not read it, though I will eventually

I must disagree with the review written by T. Ross. The essays on travel are not dated any more than Paul Bowles wonderful prose is, which borders on the poetic. Certainly these essays were written in the fifties, but Bowles portraits of North Africans (and European settlers) are so vivid one can almost feel them breathe. The essay concerning Mustafa, a male Muslim and his beliefs should be required reading for the State Department, the Pentagon, and the Administration. As a poet and writer I appreciated Bowles style and his skill in presenting physical, philosophical and emotional landscapes. I highly recommend this book.

I like this book better than some of Mr. Bowles' longer fictional efforts. He is good at relatively short accounts, where his rich life experiences are related through highly descriptive prose. Bowles captures the abnormal psychology of the planet itself moreso than that of the individual, which is better left to Camus or Faulkner. Also, he is able to find some humor and meaning in the Western-Arab relationship, which helps relieve some of the strain of our current showdown, which Mr. Bowles foresaw. Especially funny to me is an account by Bowles of finding a filthy rag at the bottom of a pail of murky water he and his Arab travelmate had been using for drinking water. They up and left the "hotel" (and town) that day.

Also of interest are chapters on Ceylon.

Bowles seems to be more capable writing about real people and events than he is when functioning in the only slightly altered world of his fiction. I think it has something to do with him being an emotional loner. Like Sartre, he is more of an observer, more of a thinker, than a writer, so his fictional characterizations are, like Sartre's, often wooden and unconvincing (to me at least). To this viewpoint, he would strongly object I think. But, notice I refrain from calling him a moralist or a philosopher. If he were a painter, I would classify him as a post-impressionist like Matisse (great colorist, intriguing designs, romantic, but limited by "decorative" priorities.) And, like Matisse, he never really shocks me like a true Fauve because, no matter how gruesome the details of the narrative, his narrative voice is always too cultivated. He can't help it; he's from New England. For his fictional style to match the content, his manner would need to be cruder, like Kirchner or Vlaminck. And he is really not a portrait artist like Dickens, Joyce or Faulkner either. Or, maybe it's that his portraits capture places and milieus moreso than individual psyches. In this book, it doesn't matter because he is truly in his element: he travels wildly, observes meticulously and remembers creatively.

Sword in the Tree is a great way to introduce kids to the Middle Ages. Young readers can read the book on their own because the vocabulary and sentence structure are simple. The book is in no way dumbed down, however. This was a difficult and danger time, and the subject matter reflects the era. Highly recommended reading for elementary age kids (my 5yo daughter LOVED it). Also recommended for older children: Otto of the Silver Hand by Howard Pyle.

Once your child has moved beyond easy phonetic readers, you'll want to find interesting books with large print that aren't too difficult or overwhelming for the new reader. Bulla's "The Sword in the Tree" fits this description perfectly.

Try reading the first chapter to your young reader to spark his interest. Then read the next chapter or two aloud together so he/she becomes familiar with the words and flow. Then sit back and listen as your child finishes reading this exciting book about greed, courage, and chivalry.

"I am Lord Weldon! __I__ am Lord of Weldon Castle!!"

I must have been about 7 or 8 when I read those words, spoken by a 9 year old whose father was believed dead, to his evil uncle. The boy's mother stood by silently.

As a child, I sympathized with him.
As a female, I felt offended. I didn't understand why the little boy believed he outranked his fully grown adult mother in power and prestige.

As an adult with some historical perspective, it makes more sense.

This was a great story, about family love and adventure and history, and I will always be grateful to Clyde Bulla for awakening the earliest feelings of feminism.

I read this out loud to my 4-year-old son, who loves anything involving King Arthur, and he was captivated. His only disappointment was that there is no book to follow with more tales of the young Shan and his adventures. I highly recommend this as well as other historical fiction by Bulla. I have also read "Pocahontas and the Strangers" to my son, and he loved that as well.

(written by 9 year old reader of book)

There are 14 chapters in this book. It has people like King Arthur. It has a sword in it. And it has a battle in it. There is an Oak Tree that is the tree. There is a picture in every chapter. You will like this story. Do not take my word for it, look for this book in the library or the book store.

(note from parent:)
My son really enjoyed reading The Sword in the Tree, just as he has other books by Bulla. They are excellent even for relunctant readers like the one who wrote the above review.

Written by veteran teacher Elizabeth Bowles, Mamie and the Root Woman is a novel based on the true story of a young girl who was almost murdered by the Ku Klux Klan. In 1879, years after the Civil War, the Klan murders fifteen-year-old Mamie's mother and severs Mamie's legs. Yet with the help of the mysterious voodoo practitioner Root Woman and a repentant former Klansman, Mamie gradually heals, makes her way to Charleston, and discovers a surprising new life. Mamie and the Root Woman is a profound story of connections, recovery from inhuman treatment, and finding the inner strength to withstand life's seemingly unbearable challenges. Highly recommended.

A very moving, very eye-opening book. Readers are transported to a different time and yet the spirited characters and their struggles are, in a way, timeless. It's been a long time since a story this beautiful and this original has been put into print.

Elizabeth Bowles has done some serious research for this book. The dialogue between the characters makes you feel as if you are actually hearing these people speak. She has tackled a most unusual topic with the subject matter of the novel, yet once you start reading, you can't put the book down until the end. It is certainly different from any book out there today.

A real page-turner, "Mamie and the Root Woman" is a compelling historical novel about an old black woman who lived and worked in Charleston, SC for over fifty years without missing a day. She sold pencils on King Street in front of Kress Five and Dime.
When I began researching, I couldn't find much more than I already knew about her. No last name, where she was born, nor where her people came from. So, I fictionalized her life having the Ku Klux Klan kidnap her after knocking her mother into a mantle causing her death. Members of the Klan drag Mamie out to the swamp and tie her legs across the railroad ties to frighten her into giving them information as to the whereabouts of her boyfriend for a supposed wrong he had done to a white woman.

The saga spans almost a century showing the love and hate between the races. It also shows the great courage Mamie had all her life. Mamie, Root Woman who saves her life and nurses her back to health and sanity, Isaiah, Mamie's friend and Lacy, Mamie's cousin are connected through the shared tragedy of that night.
Readers will not be able to put the book down.

Mamie, a young black woman, loses her legs at the hands of terrorism inflicted by the Klu Klux Klan. After the incident Mamie is nursed back to health by Root Woman, who specializes in herbs and voodoo. Set in the deep south, this book deals with the relationships within the town, including a forbidden love story between a white man and a black woman at a time when this was not acceptable. You can tell the author has done some serious research into the subjects covered. In addition, though, the story line makes you want to keep reading. If these are topics that interest you, you will want to get this book.

I think this is an excellent book! The blocks were SO much fun to put together. After reading this book and trying out a few easy designs, my confidence in sewing curves has increased immensely! Ms. Bowles guides you thru her techniques in the first 25 or so pages and then devotes the rest of the book to creative designs. She shows you how to make a traditional log cabin design, among other designs, and give it a very contemporary feel and look! If you're very anxious about trying curves, give this book a try and see where it takes you!

If I could only have one quilting book this would be it!! I love this book!! I am one of those compulsive quilters and fabric collectors. I have numerous quilting books and take many out of the library. I have been making quilts for almost 30 years.

I signed up to take 2 workshops from the author and this book was included on the materials list. The book's instructions are so clear that I am not sure that I need to take the classes. I plan to take them anyway since I really want to meet Debbie Bowles.

I couldn't wait to make a curved quilt block. I completed two pagoda blocks in less than one hour and then spent the next hour praising myself.

Debbie Bowles really encourages you to experiment with color and patterns and provides excellent guidence and encouragement. I am pretty talented and adventurous with color but was astonished at the terrific results I have achieved from these techniques even with mediocre fabrics.

I also purchased her other book, Dancing Quilts from Straight Pieces and am looking forward to trying this technique as well. (but I like Cutting Curves better).

I'm a quilting-book-hound. If I could own only two quilting books, one would be Cutting Curves from Straight Lines by Debbie Bowles, the other would be Colorplay by Joen Wolfrom. These two books cut all the frustration, when trying to accomplish those eye popping wonderful pieces, that we see in these books. They are beautifully illustrated with great color on glossy paper. Debbie's book is the clearest and simplest book I have read on the dreaded curve in quilting. There is no time consuming pinning and I got instant success with my first block. I have little patients with written instruction and found this book really cut to the chase with step-by-step instruction. If you like traditional patterns with a contemporary twist this is it!

Learn new, innovative methods of curved cutting and stitching with the help of Cutting Curves From Straight Pieces, a highly recommended guide which provides instructions and illustrations on making single and multiple cuts and arcs for quilts. Quilters will enjoy trying out the 16 projects which utilize curved cutting techniques and illustrative color photos.

The author and her technique were featured on an episode of Simply Quilts. I ordered the book immediately and have already made the double pagoda wall hanging and lap quilt. They were both so easy to make and the result was more than I hoped for. I'm already planning on making a queen sized double pagoda for my bed. The book takes you through each step, provides clear instruction and I feel it is one of the easiest and definitely most fun and enjoyable quilts that I've ever made. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a quilt or wallhanging that stands out from the rest! Happy Quilting!