Bradley Books

A great reference book for those interested in learning more about Colorado Wineries. Cannot wait for the next edition.

I think the Brad and Alta Smith did a wonderful job researching and "discovering" these wineries, most of which are extremely under-publicized. This book is a handy guide which gets you to every winery and tells you all you need to know about each one before you arrive! A MUST BUY!

I must preface this review with a disclaimer of my prejudice: Mr. Davis and I have known each other since 1970, and we edit and tweak each other's books as we write them, so I'm inclined to think favorably upon his works, as he is upon mine. The notion that I hope to sell to you, Constant Reader, is that this book really is just plain good.

Without meaning to invoke a literature class -- remember Joseph Campbell's "monomyth", from the hero's call to adventure, his magical assistance, his quelling of the evil, and his bringing back the knowledge to his people? All well-told tales have this, and "Hand" is a well-told tale. Jerry (the boy from Earth) and Kelvin (the boy from Caris) are heroes. They are intelligent, they are energetic, and they are possessed of an amazing power. They are also boys, and that's what makes the whole story so much fun.

The great "boys adventure", from Tom and Huck to the Hardy Boys and beyond, has always made great reading for youngsters and adults alike. Mr. Davis has managed to tell a classically-structured tale, with scientifically-accurate fiction (Davis loves space and science as much as he loves space opera and science fiction), and still remembers that boys will be boys. In one of my favorite scenes, the two boys decide that they need to blow off some steam by having a pillow fight in their room onboard the starship. I won't spoil the secret of what happens to them; I'll only tell you that boys will be boys -- and fathers of boys will be boys sometimes, too.

Finally, quite aside from the tale being clasically formed as well as capturing the nature of the great boys' adventure tale, the book has yet another endearing (and, I hope, enduring) quality: These intelligent, powerful, heroic boys are also willing to learn and to respect those who respect them. In much of today's "teen fiction", there's a great deal of focus upon various aspects of a child's struggle to become an adult; much of it hinges upon the growing child's need for self-expression, which seems to frighten so many adults these days that school uniforms and "Zero Tolerance" ordinances seem to be the rules of the day. Davis' book shows the value of both adults and children being able to trust and respect each other, without the text becoming either preachy or sentimental. It proves, in my mind at least, that one may write about morality without moralizing, as well as about integrity without being rigid.

It's just a doggone good read, for kids or adults. (A note for the adults: See how many of the references and bits of hommage you can catch that your kids miss. Bonus points for astute readers!)

I hope that the author will forgive my teasing, making this wonderful tale of boyhood friendship into a tabloid headline, but I couldn't resist. The tale is indeed about boyhood friends, one of whom isn't from this planet, and of the amazing adventures that they share on this world and another.

Jerry (Earthling) and Kelvin (Carisian) are in many ways as archetypal as Tom and Huck, drawn in modern and more immediately accessible terms. Few things are as strong as a boyhood friendship, and author M. Bradley Davis has managed to bring about a very clear, sympathetic, even nostalgic feeling to his treatment of the characters. I see in his biographical notes that he was once a school teacher, and that may explain how he is one of the few reporters of the experiences of youth who actually got the story right.

In an interesting step beyond the temptation to create a simple "E.T." storyline, Davis has included the parents of both boys in the equation, making for many opportunities to see some touching and highly amusing bits of culture shock on both sides. The phrase, "What am I, chopped liver?" uttered by Jerry's father makes Kelvin's father worry briefly about reports of cannibalism in ancient human rites!

Although apparently written as a "children's story," the book has much for adults to enjoy, from references to "Star Trek" to glimpses of how parents feel as they watch their children grow up. A good solid read, and an interesting beginning to what appears to be a series. (It does say "book 1" of the "Mindfusion" series. I won't spoil what that term means -- read for yourself and enjoy it!)

At age 13, Harry Lockwood sets out for his education at a prestigious English boarding school for boys, Markham College. World War Two is in full swing. Harry and his chums - Captain, Beastly, and Pansy - must keep a stiff upper lip on two fronts. Outside the Markham boundaries are German spies, V1 and V2 bombs that threaten life and limb. Inside Markham the boys must suffer beatings and humiliations by sadistic
prefects. Harry's father is stationed in North Africa and his mother works night shift at a munitions factory far from Markham so parental support and protection is out of the question. Young Harry must learn to face difficult situations on his own. With humor and determination born of courage, Harry and his friends survive four years at Markham despite grim conditions. When Harry falls in love, that joyous
circumstance is also marred by difficulty. Whether danger, corporal punishment, love, or sorrow, Harry faces life head on with dignity and strength.

Mr. Bradley does a fine job of capturing an era in this well written book.

Harry's War is a touching, coming-of-age story set against the back drop of the horrors of World War Two. The story is compelling, though never maudlin or overwritten.

I wholeheartedly recommend this first chronical of the Harry Lockwood series of books. It, along with the other 3 or so novels in the series, offers a fascinating glimpse into the world or war as seen through the eyes of a young man.

Another great book by Patricia Rushford, with her talented keep-you-guessing-to-the-end style! This is the third in the relatively new Helen Bradley Mysteries series. Readers of the Jenny McGrady Mysteries series (originally written for young adults) will recognize Helen Bradley as the retired cop grandmother whom Jenny often went to for advice.

Now with her own series, Helen is a solid, well-balanced Christian woman who exemplifies all that God intended women to be. She's one of those lucky travel writers who just happens to come across mysteries along the way, much in the style of the popular Jessica Fletcher (Murder She Wrote) mysteries.

Readers, Christian and non-Christian alike, will enjoy this great book and the entire series showing good solid family values and women at their best!

I recommend this book and EVERYTHING I've read so far by Patricia Rushford. She'll keep you entertained to the very end!

Another Pat Rushford mystery novel that delivers. Set in the San Juan Islands of Washington state, the author blends features of several points of interest around the islands into one little gem, "Paradise." Helen, the heroine, is called to Paradise by her aging uncle - the wealthy owner of the luxurious resort he has resurected there - to help with a family crisis. The prospect of a reunion weekend with family is first shaken by ghostly happenings then shattered by murder. It's refreshing to have a female lead who isn't either a. trying to be more of a man than the men in the story or, b. constantly looking to take umbrage at anything and everything the males around her are saying or doing. Helen is a main character/sleuth who is at ease with who she is and what she beleives. Solid faith in God and family values are the bedrock of Helen's charactor. The author maintains this consistently in Helen's thoughts and actions - large and small - and the reader never has to overlook glaring faux pas in charactorization. I eagerly look forward to the next release in this series. Pity Mrs. Rushford can't write as quickly as I can gobble up her novels!

John R. Walsh and Thomas Bradley are a pair of expert history and religion teachers. They draw upon their considerable expertise in A History Of The Irish Church 400-700 AD, offering the reader a straightforward overview of the 300 year time span that characterized a true golden age in Irish art and an era when Ireland earned its lasting and justifiable reputation as a land of saints and scholars. A deftly researched study, narrated in a style as completely accessible to non-specialist general readers as it is to history scholars, A History Of The Irish Church 400-700 AD is a welcome and recommended addition to Irish History and Christian Historical Studies supplemental reading lists and library reference collections.

There have, over the past several years, been many texts highlighting the unique contribution of the Irish church to the preservation of the church, culture, and general literacy and administrative strength to Western civilisation. This book by John Walsh and Thomas Bradley fits well in this genre, exploring the history of the Irish church from the years 400-700, roughly corresponding to the time period from the fall of Rome to the beginnings of medievalism in Europe.

During this period, Ireland was saved much of the trouble caused during the general collapse of the Roman Imperial establishment and way of life across Western Europe, as such Imperium had never been established in Ireland. Even the Christianity that was brought over assumed a different character pastorally, academically and liturgically from its British and Continental sources. Walsh and Bradley begin with a brief chapter on Christianity prior to the advent of Patrick, and then devote three chapters to looking at Patrick, the great apostle to the Irish, in terms of who he was, his mission and its setting, and the Church at Armagh.

Following this, Walsh and Bradley look at Irish monasticism, its origins in France and Britain, and the way in which monastic structures came to rival the more traditional diocesan pattern of church authority and administration. Different theories are advanced, including the possibility of plague and the fact that Ireland lacked the secular Diocletian-instituted settings of administration the Continental church co-opted. Walsh and Bradley also look at the character of Irish monastic life liturgically, architecturally, administratively, and from a day-to-day living basis. Many leading Irish thinkers and saints came from the monastic tradition, and many of these leaders are highlighted.

Of particular note for Walsh and Bradley are Colum Cille, an Irish monastic who worked in Britain, and Columba, who saw as his mission field the areas of Continental Europe. Colum Cille was the first great Irish missionary abroad. Colum Cille might have had royal positions had he not turned his attention to the church instead. His upper-class connections likewise might have provided a respectability for the church among the royal and aristocratic classes, and ultimately providing it with an authority beyond simple moral authority. Colum Cille continued as a monastic to be involved in secular affairs, perhaps even being the cause of battles and strife such that he was driven into exile, where he established the community at Iona, famous to this day, and mother monastery to other famous places, such as Kells.

Columba is a very accessible person, having been a prolific writer who established communities and schools with libraries across the continent. Columba's missions took him all across Gaul, and into Italy and Germanic territories. His influence went even further afield, as did that of Irish monasticism generally, as people from Britain and the Continent decided to be trained and educated in the monasteries in Ireland, and then return to their homes with such influence as would be gained there.

Walsh and Bradley conclude by exploring issues such as the Easter-dating controversy and the wider issues it raised for local autonomy and diversity over against central authority and uniformity of practice, and by looking at the unique character and qualities of Celtic art as expressed through Irish Christian artists. Celtic crosses and illuminated manuscripts are but a few of the magnificent productions of this period.

Overall, this is a well-written and engaging book, meant for the casual reader as well as the general scholar. It includes a few endnotes with each chapter, and a bibliography arranged with general titles as well as resources specific to each chapter and topic covered. There are several basic but useful maps highlighting locations in Ireland, Britain and Continental Europe of monasteries, missions, and other important landmarks.

Columba Press (name for St. Columba, 'the dove of the church') is a growing press based in Ireland, begun in 1985 with three titles relating to religious and spiritual themes. Since then, they have grown substantially and now publish across a broad range of areas, including pastoral resources, spirituality, theology, the arts, and history. With over 200 books in print, they add another 30 or so each year. Additionally, they are the British/Irish/European distributors for many other titles in the same fields.

C'est un petit livre pleins de surprises qui m'a envouté. Ce livre raconte l'histoire d'une magicienne, d'une princesse et d'une dragon. On se trouve, dès la première page dans un monde imaginaire d'où on ne voudrait sortir. Pour tous les fans de fantastique, ce livre est un incontournable.

Ce livre, bien que petit est porteur d'une histoire si riche. On entre dans un univers fantastique si bien dessiné que l'histoire se déroule sans effort sous nos yeux. Un des meilleurs livre de magicien qu'il m'aie adonné de lire.

The Lateral Truth (An Apostate's Bible Stories)

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The Lateral Truth is a sendup of some favorite bible stories and Christian history, done in Rebecca Bradley's inimitable style of entertaining wit, insight and unique perspective. She presents the tales from the different perspectives of lesser known participants in the stories, or by very human thoughts and feelings of familiar characters.

She begins the book with Omphalos, a tale of hope and exploration, transitioning into "a few years later" and how politics and the administrative process has sucked the life out of creation. The tale of Jacob is then related in sit-com style, which adds a new perspective not only to the story but makes one wonder how many other stories could benefit from this treatment.

Rebecca then adds darkness to the tale of Moses. It is told from just outside the inner circle and is voiced with frustration, fear, disgust, anger, and hoplessness. She shows, succinctly, how the right con-man/madman at the right place and time can start a cult. This is the strongest chapter in the book, in my opinion.

Immediately lightening the mood, Rebecca relates Samson as a fan in a bar may talk of their favorite sports team or hero. Following up on the sports motif, she relates Judges 19-21 from a soldiers point of view. The next chapter still hints at sport but with a poker or chess nature. The real twist is that the foes are trying to throw the game for their own egotistic purposes and they don't care who gets decimated in the process. This provides good transition to the next chapter which pointedly indicates deities disdain for humankind.

Rebecca then proceeds to the new testament and with ascerbic and entertaining wit, she constructs 3 tales that state how "The Emperor Has No Clothes" in no uncertain terms. She then returns to the sports motif for a finely constructed "Pre-Game Show", building expectation to the kickoff.

Rebecca's Coda gently depresses and horrifies us before she once more imbues the final chapter with a sense of hope and wonder in the intellect of humanity.

This book is a wonderful journey, presenting side roads for further personal exploration and a warm feeling for the future of mankind in its quest for self definition.

Rebecca Bradley looks at some famous and some obscure passages from the Old and New Testament and gives the reader a rather tart reassessment of what it might have been like to actually live through those events, as compared with their conventional meaning. At times funny and at times disturbing, Bradley provides a credible alternative view to such Bible stories as Moses and the Exodus (think destructive cult leader), the construction of the Tower of Babel and the time that Jesus upbraided Martha for being too concerned about household chores. As a former follower of a cult leader, I recognized the potential truth in these irreverant takes on Bible stories which are normally glossed over or viewed with an uncritical eye.

I could not put it down. It was just as real and gripping as anything I've ever read. Grabbed me by the heart and never let go.

This book caught me at page one and never let me go. Not since Tuesdays With Morrie have I really been so deeply touched. The story comes full circle with a surprise ending that leaves you completely satisfied. And to think it's a novel of life lessons! A must read.

The United States has the ability to be the one of the biggest players in the oil industry, but how does it level the playing field and stay competitive, while remaining mindful of environmental concerns? "Leveling the Carbon Playing Field: International Competition and US Climate Policy Design" is a scholarly and educated examination of the oil industry and how American policy affects both the oil trade and related environmental issues. Packed with smart ideas and advice, "Leveling the Carbon Playing Field" should be considered essential reading for anyone in the center of these vital issues. A good choice for community library environmental and social issues collections.

In seventy-eight pages, the authors provide one of the most complete and thoughtful analyses of the complex strategies for reducing carbon emissions internationally.

As nations struggle with the competing demands of economic competition and the dire threat of globla warming, one of the most critical needs is to develop viable strategies for reducing carbon emissions without destroying the economic viability of developed nations and threatening to destroy the economies of the underdeveloped nations.

For the past 50 years, the US has enjoyed being at the top of the economic pyramid. With the emergence of China, India and other large economies, the need for international cooperation is essential.

This small volume provides a framework for understanding this issue and formulating effective policies.
Hugh McIsaac.
Santa Cruz, Calif.