Boyd Books

Engrossing story, likable heroin, written by a man in the viewpoint of a woman! setting on a beach in africa. Great, great read. Not all action either, addresses themes of morality, decadence of mankind, etc.

If someone had given me a basic description of what this novel was about, I probably would not have read it. I don't really have any interest in reading about the life of a scientist studying primates in Africa. But William Gibson is a masterful storyteller and I became enthralled with this book. It's truly moving and exciting and yes, even thrilling and hilarious sometimes. I read this book shortly after it was published and it's with me all these years later. They don't come much better than this.

Since many readers have reviewed this book before me, I will not summarize its plot, or plots. I found both interconnected stories quite interesting. The account of the central character's life among the chimpanzees and in an African civil war was clearly based on first-hand experience as other readers have noted, and the tale of her troubled marriage to a mathematician in the John Nash mould (A BEAUTIFUL MIND) had personal resonance for me as the son and father of mathematicians. Although I found the methods by which these two stories are interlinked to be cumbersome or even pretentious at times, there is an extensive tissue of ideas knitting the book together into a whole. Among these are the values and limitations inherent in the pursuit of knowledge, and the dynamics of comradeship and friendship in closed societies. But the stories are connected most of all in the character of Hope Clearwater, who emerges as a strong but fallible woman, and entirely human.

The book also makes an interesting comparison with Russell Banks' more recent THE DARLING, whose female central character also works with chimps in a country torn by civil war. In that book, too, sections set in Africa are set off against a portrayal of the heroine on her own ground. I happen to prefer the Banks, but this may only be because I read it first.

Is there are trend to construct contemporary novels out of separate stories which are only loosely connected? Within a six-week period, I have also read David Mitchell's CLOUD ATLAS (billed as a novel) and Joan Silber's IDEAS OF HEAVEN (billed as a "ring of stories," but with at least as much interconnectedness as the Mitchell). Also Anne Michaels' FUGITIVE PIECES, which introduces an entirely new life-story in the last quarter of the book in order to cast oblique light on the subject of the first three-quarters; Michael Ondaatje uses a similar technique -- marvelously -- in DIVISADERO. The multiple story is also a favorite technique of W. G. Sebald (THE EMIGRANTS and VERTIGO), whose novels are closer to memoirs anyway. But you also see it in more popular works, such as Jennifer Haigh's MRS KIMBLE and the opening at least of Kate Atkinson's CASE HISTORIES. It is an interesting and potentially powerful trend -- provided only that the various tales ARE connected in significant ways. The test, I think, is whether any one of the stories would lose by being told on its own; in this particular case, I think it would lose something, but not much; hence my reluctant reduction of my vote from 5 stars to only 4.

Man vs chimpanzee: Boyd takes the wonderfully named Hope Clearwater's experience as a chimp-sanctuary research scientist in Africa and interleaves it with her crumbling marriage to a failed mathematical genius/lunatic, John.

Hope suffers from an unerring scientific passion to tell the truth about her empirical observations, a quality not always shared by her colleagues or bosses, whose agendas and motives grow darker as the book progresses.

Boyd jumps seamlessly across time and place to make this an easy one-day read and a very rewarding one. Brazzaville Beach blends a depth of detail, well-juxtaposed mathematical theories and the realisation that chimps can be just as brutal as human beings.

This is an intelligent, quality novel from an intelligent, world-class novelist.

I just read Boyd's latest, "Restless," and went back to re-read Brazzaville Beach which I first discovered 15 years ago. (Whoever recommended that, thanks!) Brazzaville still retains an intriguing set of themes, and somehow sets the scene to the troubles that west and central Africa have suffered in the past decade and today.
I won't go over the plot, but would suggest that Boyd's use of language is something that other reviewers have not stressed. It is very economical, and very rich; sometimes you have to read a sentence over to find the nuances of comedy, despair, cynicisms, and then go back to the purely narrative description that pulls his stories along.
Kudos to Boyd, and Brazzaville remains my favorite of the many novels of his that I've read. Will Hollywood wake up and make a film of this?

I bought this book for my Chinese adopted daughter. She is only one right now, so I'm saving it for when she's older. I read the book and it is really well written, and definitely written from a kids point of view, which is why I like it so much. Lots and lots of colorful pictures in the book, and it also addresses the topic of abandonment in a very careful way.

The book arrived in a timely manner and in excellent condition as promised. Thank you.

By accident, i found this site! I am Chinese and my English teachers (They are a couple)were from the US. They also adopted a girl named Evie Xuezhi Braun from Changsha just the same city as Ying Ying.I was really moved by their adoptive actions when I heard they had no kids and wanna adopt a Chinese orphan. I can still remember the time they saw me off when I started for Shanghai to work there after my graduation.Evie was also there with her American Parents. I really wanna recommand this book to them. It sounds helpful to them and Evie. But we are all in China. I can't get the book~but I will tell them the name of this great book!! Thanks for your Americans' kindness!!! Many Thanks!!!

I liked this book written in the voice of a 9 year old girl, a very mature girl, I hope my daughter will enjoy reading this in the future, I enjoyed reading it.

This book gives us an inside look at an orphanage in Hunan Province and a young girl's homeland trip. It is full of big, color photographs from inside an orphanage, which is such a rare treat. Our 2 1/2 yr-old loves this book and loves all the pictures of the babies and the nannies. When it comes time to talk with our daughter about other issues surrounding her adoption, this book will be a valuable resource. In Ying Ying's own voice we hear about the one-child policy, infant abandonment and adoption.

"Kids Like Me in China" is a great book for children adopted from China and their siblings, cousins and friends. It can help adoptive parents bring up topics that may be difficult for us. It is a must-have!

I had been reading about the genius of Zora for several years, but I had no idea of what she was about. I heard Valerie Boyd speaking about her biography on Zora C Span. She spoke about Zora with such love and respect that I felt that I had to get the book. In Boyd's hands, what is generally portrayed as a tragic life becomes a story of triumph. In spite of poverty, sexism, and racism, she was able to produce important literary work which is now being recognized as such. The story of her early life in the south, her life in Harlem, and her later years make a great read. I loved this book.

Morris Johnson

While Zora Neale Hurston was truly a great writer, she also did an amazing job of documenting her beloved Florida's history. Taking advantage of President Roosevelt's W.P.A. project and doing her best to get around Florida noting stories of black America that are still available to us today.

'Wrapped in Rainbows' does a terrific job of wrapping all of this plus her excursions to New York and her otherwise sad life in this very well written book. Good luck getting out of this book without a tear shed. I feel this is a must-read for anyone wanting to know the life of an author or of life in Florida during Zora's lifetime.

A side note: Something not mentioned in this book or anything else I've read about Zora is if she ever ran across her contemporary and, I feel Northern doppelganger, Dorothy Parker. Though both had different career milestones, both were also after certain career and personal goals that were never met and both were nearly the same age. This is something that really dogged me while reading the book and noticing the similarities. The big difference between the two is that Parker was a depressed sort and Zora did her best to keep looking up. As well we all should.

This is a very good book on the life of Zora Neale Hurston. It is very detailed and written very well. If you are interested in the life of this famous author this is for you.

Valerie Boyd blew breath into Zora Neale Hurston's remarkable accomplishments. I felt as if I was riding alongside Zora while Boyd narrated the different scenes;Zora was like a felt tip pen, as creative as could be. Of course, I wasn't ready to get off the ride, but I believe Zora lived a fulfilled life with little bumps and potholes or life lessons along the way.

Valerie Boyd does what most biographers cannot; she makes facts as savory as fiction. As a great admirer of Zora Neale Hurston--the woman, I had long been searching for a piece of work that captures her emminence and vitality. I stumbled across "Wrapped in Rainbows" at Borders and resolved then and there that I HAD to have it. I do not at all regret this choice. Order this book, and I guarantee that it will be one of the best investments you ever make! The chapters on the Harlem Renaissance and Zora's involvment with it are magical, and the sections detailing Zora's friendship and eventual fued with Langston Hughes are fascinating. I can't say enough positive things about this biography. If you admire the spunky and talented Ms. Hurston, you will NOT be disappointed.

I received my Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry in 1980, and this was one of the great books that, along with equally great professors (including L.M. Jackman of NMR fame, T.E. Young, and N.D. Heindel, former ACS president), made it possible. An interesting side note, with the flap today about trans-fatty acids: I remember that as far back as 1967, there were questions about the long-term safety of consuming these isomerization by-products of catalytic hydrogenation of vegetable oils, and I'm almost certain it was in Morrison & Boyd that I read this caveat. Unfortunately, the junk science of for-profit industries tends to shout down rational scientific concerns.

Due its ambitious purposes and powerful transcendence, the whole understanding of this fundamental branch of the Science seems to be in an authentic crescendo day after day.

This book illustrates and clarifies such just a few, the most relevant aspects of this dynamic and expansive scientific discipline.

Recommended for students and teachers of Chemistry, Chemistry Engineers and Bio analysts.

I used this text in the 80's as an undergrad in Brazil, and am now a chemistry professor. Although my research is in computational chemistry, and organic chemistry seems a lot like fantasy to me, I still love Morrison and Boyd's textbook. I remember my experience with it, and my awe in finding that someone could actually put a textbook together that was enjoyable to be read, and easy to understand - and mind you, I was not fluent in English back then. I have just recently realized that all my organic texts have been "borrowed" by students, and that I should really get Morrison's. And this time make sure nobody will take it out of my office. If you want to learn organic chemistry with no struggle, this is the book.

I used this book as a supplement for Ege's organic book. It helped me do well in my class and prepared me for the chemistry GRE. This book is older but well worth the cost. I think it should be on any chemists' shelf of literature. The reactions it tells you are easy to understand and the mechanisms make sense. The only problem I would have is the spec. section for infared is a little weak. But it does everything else well so it makes up for it. Buy this Book for undergraduate study you won't be disappointed!

O.K. Let's face it: what could be more boring than Organic Chemistry - right? WRONG! Morrison and Boyd's Organic Chemistry takes the pallid and dry subject of Organic Chemistry and imbues it with a vitality and interest that will stupefy you. Trust me, you cannot begin to fathom how effective this book is at making its subject interesting and more importantly understandable. The authors are brilliant at introducing a complex and arcane topic, incrementally building slowly and confidently a framework of knowledge and information that nearly makes, of all things, intuitive sense when they are through.

Every educator should study Morrison and Boyd in an attempt to appreciate how it works its magic. I can say without reservation, this is the text book against which all others should be measured. You will not be disappointed.

My mother and I read this book together as she sat in the hospital getting a blood transfusion. It articulated what we thought was an experience somewhat unique to us. Turns out there are universal experiences in this life. :) My mother has been dealing with a 6 year protracted battle with ovarian cancer (stage III diagnosis) and has had 3 recurrences. The psychological landscape described was sadly familiar and consequently reassuring. As a caregiver it was particularly transforming: I loved the section about the value of defense mechanisms (as well as their downside). I highly recommend this book for both patients who have survived or are currently dealing with cancer as well as caregivers who need to have more insight into their loved one's psychology and mental needs. I am hoping that there are more books like this one out there.

Honest talk about the aftermath of cancer treatment when every one expects you to return to 'normal.'

If you are wondering when you will feel normal again, or when you can go back to your old self, this book is for you. The cancer experience is something that most people just don't understand, even close family and friends unless they too have gone though what we have (even if they were right there beside you). These authors are the real deal, been through the 'war' and will discuss issues that you will not get any place else, written an honest and straightforward manner. They have walked the path, stood in our shoes, this is not just someone talking to you who thinks they understand, they do get it.

Reading this book meant so much to me after my cancer treatments. I wish I could personally thank the authors for writing this book from the bottom of my heart. I have read just about everything out there and this book is absolutely the best.

many of the feelings that I though were unique to me about my cancer, aren't unique at all. I started highlighting each sentence that applied to me. I was shocked at how much was highlighted. It doesn't matter that these women are describing a completely different cancer than mine...the emotions were the same

This should be in every dr.'s office for a surviving cancer patient.
All the denial you have comes flooding over you & you see the real truth.
It's so good to know you're not alone. Even though you've survived & you don't think you have any issues, you really do under all the bravado. I read it in 1 sitting. The authors are very forthcoming in all they discuss, & are survivors themselvs so they know what they are talking about.

I'm finding lots of answers to the many questions I have after finishing chemo for Non Hodgkins Lymphoma. Even family members would find this book helpful too. It's reassuring, honest and comforting reading about getting back to "life" after such a life changing event.

This bible is an ecxcellent source for bible study. It has great footnotes and references.

Excellent book. Quick delivery. Was the right book for my daughters college course.

First, always remember: a Bible is a Bible. That is, if it's a New International Version Bible, as this one is, the text is the same no matter what bells and whistles are added to the particular edition.
Second, this edition has the best and widest variety of illustrations and art reproductions I've ever seen. The margin notes are helpful mainly for beginning to advanced beginning Bible students, but the illustrations are wonderful for everybody.
But third, unfortunately, the binding is very, very poor quality and is already pulling apart after only sitting upright on my shelf for about three months! I hate that; to do such a superb job on the illustrations and then put such a poor quality binding on the book is unpardonable.
I would have rated this much higher, probably five stars, if the binding had been of acceptable quality.

I think the Bible is wonderful but I purchased it from Life Way, instead of Amazon. I ordered from Amazon but they neglected to ship it so I cancelled then paid extra at Life Way for the same book - but I got it in time for my college course!

If you have ever been frustrated with one sided study Bibles, you'll appreciate this Bible. Usually study Bibles only give you one option - fundamentalist or mainline. You'll never know from reading these study Bibles if there is a genuine disagreement between scholars on any particular text or subject because they will never tell you. They simply give you their dates, their interpretations, their biases. This Bible avoids this extreme by giving interpretations that have a broad consensus in Christian scholarship, and when there is disagreement they usually try to say something like "some scholars think this, but others think this." While it's not perfect, and you probably will disagree with it at some point, it does give an honest treatment of scripture. It is also written in language that anyone can understand making it a good study Bible for lay people (if you are in seminary, you will find some of the content a little basic - but it is still very good). If you only want to read commentary that agrees with you on every point, don't get this Bible. If you want the people in your church to only know one side of a particular debate don't give them this Bible. But otherwise, I highly recommend it.

Chilling and riveting, angering and thought-provoking. We start off meeting Suzie, the "box" she puts herself in, and the "cloud" she floats on. A safe, quiet world. A world where her mother can't make Suzie talk...because if Suzie can't talk, then she can't say things to anger her mother and cause her mother to hurt her. Suzie stops sleeping. She stops talking to her mother, her sister, her father, her best friend. Everyone. She stops walking. The one thing she can't stop doing is crying. She retreats into this safe box, those safe clouds, hiding, until she is finally taken get help.

This is a beautifully written that book takes takes a frank look at the family dynamics of co-dependency and abuse, and leads the reader on a journey through Suzie's healing process. The reader will root for Suzie as she opens up and starts to trust. After a dramatic breakthrough, Suzie alters the lives of her sister and herself forever.

Twelve-year-old Suzie has just been dropped off at St. Dorothy's mental hospital after she stops walking, sleeping, or speaking. The only time she feels safe is when she is inside her 'box,' and that's usually how she stays all day long, sitting in a chair with her knees up to her chin, unmoving. Her Uncle Elliot, disturbed by her ever-worsening behavior, initiates her eventual stay at the hospital.

There are already several summaries up for this book, so I think there really isn't a need for me to give another one; plus, I don't want to spoil anyone. I do want to say that Susan Shaw's debut novel is a very beautiful, sweet, and sad story that follows Suzie's struggle to distance herself from the world as she has been doing, and the eventual revealing, through her, of what happened and why she has become the way she is. I was very drawn into the story and her relationships; from her mother, a former singer, her father, her sister Deanna, Karen, a girl in the institution, her uncle Elliot, aides: Marie, Stella, and Bill, and Moses and Joshua, two other children in the institution. The story was moving and powerful, with moments of quiet as Suzie gained a new view of her world and shattering revelations, with characters to care about and hope the best for.

I think this is a wonderful story, not to be missed. It is one of the best books I have read all year long.

I haven't read this in a while, but I intend to read it again soon. This book is extremely intresting, it wraps you up, so that you're forced to turn the page. It almost makes you feel as though you are in the mental institution with Suzie. I do remember that her recovery was suprizingly quick, but Suzie also says that her problem is not completely solved, making the book very realistic.
I love how Suzie defines talking by how you express yourself, not by the actual words.
Hating pineapple is talking...Wearing Peacock feathers is talking...

Black Eyed Suzie is one of the best books I've pulled off the shelves yet. For one thing, it is just a wonderfully written story. True, believable character that you can simpathize and relate with on a totally amazing level. The plot is one that drags you and and forces you to keep reading, no matter what. And after you finish it, you'll end up taking it out and rereading it again and again.

I think troubled teens should give this story, or one like it, a shot. It helps to bring the thought that 'Hey, I'm not the only screwed up person out there.' Over all, a wonderful read that I will return to every chance I get.

The book I am reading is called Black Eyed Suzie by Susan Shaw. Ever since Suzie's mom abused her, Suzie stopped talking. Eventually Suzie's Uncle Elliot saw her and made her go to a mental hospital. At the mental hospital people try to get her to talk but she can't. She feels she has no words.
The conflict in this book is that Suzie can't talk but people try to force her to. At the mental hospital she has conflicts with only one other girl, Karen. Karen pushes her down and breaks her possessions, but Suzie can't do anything because she is too weak. Often, when people at the hospital help her, they're a little too late. After a while in the mental hospital she thinks, `well maybe if I start talking they will let me go to be with my family.' The conflict starts, like I said, when her mom beats her and her dad is never home. The conflict is not easy to resolve for Suzie.
I think that Black Eyed Suzie is good for teenagers who have a problem, who want to learn what kind of problem people have, or just want to read a good book. I think almost anyone would enjoy this book, but I think really teenagers would enjoy it most. I would tell you the ending but I think you can read it and find out.

Choose to Lose: A Food Lover's Guide to Permanent Weight Loss I have used two other books by the Goors. This is a very helpful book for those who want to have a permanent change of eating style. It is NOT a diet book, but a whole new way of eating that results in a full tummy and weight loss.

I struggled with my weight especially after having a child 16 years ago. I am a registered dietitian so that made it even more humiliating--knowing what I should be doing, but not being able to do it. I picked up an earlier edition of this book 13 years ago and it changed my life. I walked 6 days a week religiously. I felt the diet was very easy to follow and loved some of the recipes in the book. After 3 years and 40 pounds later, I started running and have been running ever since. Thank you Choose to Lose for transforming my life. I love who I have become.

This is the only plan that has ever worked for me. I had always been vastly overweight and tried every diet. Just do it..it works even without salads and exercise and you are not hungry. You choose your weight with every decision on what goes into your mouth. Just do it.

I read this books years ago, and when I found out the book was revised I had to have it. This book teaches you how to make a healthy eatting change for life, or just to lose those unwanted pounds. It tells you the importance of why you should not avoid carbohydrates, and it is very easy because you choose what you eat to loose weight, as long as you dont exceed your daily calorie or fat intake per day. It also teaches you why on 1000 caloried diets dont work because your body think it s starving and you dont loose weight because of so few calories. You can also save up for splurges. I think the hardest part in following this diet is eatting more than I am use to, when most diets you hardly eat. If interested in a positive eatting change where you can eat what you want, lose weight, drop your cholesterol level, and make this change for life, this is the book for you, I just love it, and the new me, because of it. Thank you Ron & Nancy Goor M.D. and Katherine Boyd R.D. for writing and sharing this book.

This is a great book, I've lost about 15 pounds using the techniques outlined, and have gone down from a 38 inch waste to a 35!!!! And I'm Still loosing. I'ts simple, keep count of those pesky fat calories, you will see results!!! This Book is a way of life for eating.

I have used this book with 10-11 yr olds. At first read it seems simplistic and the art is raw. But the book has depths and opportunities for discussion including understandings of consequence, loss, finding someone etc. Students from every reading level can 'read' this book and express themselves from the emotive drawings. It helps bring picture books to an older age group in a meaningful way. Very cool!

Wordless picture book- story of a dog who is abandoned at the beginning of the book. Many events and emotional illustrations. Great for teaching students to add voice and details to stories.

The strikingly elegant drawings grabbed me first. They show a dog reduced to his elemental dogginess, accurate, with not an extra line. If one cares about animals, the story line makes one cringe; the first drawing shows the dog being tossed out a car window. We travel with this dog through his abandonment, to the end, where the possibility of hope shows in the form of a small boy.

Because this book is so spare and powerful, it is not one to simply hand over to a beginning reader. For a parent or teacher willing to take the time for the conversation it deserves, it could be a valuable tool for discussing humane treatment of animals, and our responsibility to the pets we take into our lives.

A Day, a Dog packs an emotional wallop that will have you thinking about it long after you close it. The powerful drawings prove that you do not need a written word to make a statement. Maybe because I do love animals and especially dogs that the story of a stray cruelly tossed out of a car and fending for itself really moved me or the other thought-provoking feelings I got from it of loneliness, searching and finding a place in life that is safe. I absolutely adore this book and will cherish it for years to come.

So many reviewers have praised this book so eloquently, I don't know that I have much to add in that sense. But I would like to address some reviewers' concerns that this book is inappropriate for children because it is too sad or disturbing. In this story, a helpless animal is cruelly abandoned. Dogs are pack animals; there is no more miserable state for them than being alone. We SHOULD feel sad about this story, and children shouldn't be sheltered from some of the sad realities of life. If they read this story, and empathize with the dog, well then, they will think twice in the future about doing such an inhumane thing to their pets. Parents should not hesitate to give this book to their children; however, they should share the experience with the child, and be present to process any thoughts or feelings that the child has. With younger children, parents may discuss how animals are entitled to kindness and consideration, just like human beings. With older children, the subjects of responsibility, loneliness, and finding one's place in the world may come up. In any case, this book will cause children to think, and families to discuss important issues. And that is NEVER a bad thing.

Is David T. Boyd, author of Falling Down, following the footsteps of Sara Paretsky down the streets of Chicago? Long the favored crime scene of mystery writers, Chicago is the place where Boyd's mystery Falling Down ultimately unfolds. His sparsely written book -- and that's a compliment not a criticism - packages love, sex, career, betrayal, murder and even witchcraft into a quick and memorable read. Excellent bedtime reading, if you remembered to lock the doors.

The story immediately drew me in. I really couldn't put it down, every time I tried, I picked it right back up within minutes. Each chapter enticed to me to read on, I wanted to know what would happen next. This debut book is a great mystery to be read within a sitting or two. I look forward to the series, these characters are so interesting, I want to know more.

This "novella" is one of the most intriguing I've read to date. It proves that nothing is really ever what it seems. The plot is well developed and the characters are interesting. You really don't know what's going on until the very end. It's well worth reading.

Very good reading and attention keeper
Hello David, I just wanted to let you know you written a superb story. This short story kept my interest from beginning to end. You will do very well in this industry and will become a very successful writer. I truly can attest to this. Great Job! Keep the stories coming because I am definitely going to read them all.

I've just finished reading FALLING DOWN.
I have to say how much I enjoyed it.
I was surprised by the exceedingly clever ending.
I am looking forward to reading David Boyd's next book.