Bridges Books

THE POEMS OF GERARD MANLEY HOPKINS. Fourth Edition based on the First Edition of 1918 and enlarged to incorporate all known poems and fragments. Edited by W. H. Gardner and N. H. Mackenzie. 362 pp. Oxford and New York : Oxford University Press, 1970. ISBN 0-19-281094-4 (pbk.)

For anyone who is interested in Hopkins, and everyone should be, this is the standard and authoritative edition. It gives us the only complete and accurate text which for the first time puts the poems in their true chronological order.

The poems have been arranged in four sections : Early Poems (1860-1875?); Poems (1876-1879); Unfinished Poems, Fragments, Light Verse, &c. (1862-89); Translations, Latin and Welsh Poems, &c. (1862-67). The book contains a useful and informative Introduction and Foreword, and is rounded out with very full Notes, a series of Appendices, and Indexes of titles and first lines. It is also beautifully printed on excellent paper, stitched, and bound in a sturdy glossy wrapper.

Hopkins had a unique sensibility, and brought something very special and of great value into English poetry. He seems to have had the ability to enter into the intelligence and feelings and spirit of all life forms, whether animal or plant or even landscape, to resonate with the indwelling divinity within them, and to somehow magically bring the miracle of their vibrant being over into his poems.

Hopkins is in fact a striking example of the fully human sensibility as described in the works of Heidegger and the great thinkers of the East, and exemplifies a quality of sensibility which most of us seem somehow to have lost. We skate dully and blindly over the surface of things, but Hopkins plunges into the depths of being and carries us along with him. In other words, he puts us back in touch with reality, with what life is really about. Hence his enormous value and importance.

In a complete collection such as this, there are bound to be many poems that fall short of greatness. For the newcomer to Hopkins, one suggested approach might be to first read some of his greatest poems, poems such as 'God's Grandeur,' 'Spring,' 'The Windhover,' 'Pied Beauty,' 'The Caged Skylark,' 'Binsey Poplars,' 'As kingfishers catch fire, dragonflies draw flame.'

There are many beauties to enjoy in Hopkins - his unique use of language, his control of sound and rhythm, his amazing images and metaphors - but for me the most beautiful thing of all is the news he brings, news of a universe in which all things are of infinite value and infinitely precious, and in which no creature is of any less value than another because all are indwelt by divinity:

"Each mortal thing does one thing and the same : / Deals out that being indoors each one dwells ; / Selves, goes itself ; _myself_ it speaks and spells, / Crying _What I do is me : for that I came_" (p.90).

Hopkins makes us acutely aware of our loss, and our crime. His poems map out a path back to a saner, more balanced, and more wholesome and intelligent way of dwelling on the earth, dwelling lightly upon it with all other creatures and as its guardian, not its ravager.

"O if we but knew what we do / When we delve or hew - / Hack and rack the growing green! / ... After-comers cannot guess the beauty been...' (pp.78-9).

Hopkins, I think, would have been very much in agreement with Heidegger who tells us that the earth must once again become a _Spielraum_ , a space of great beauty in which to play, and one in which all creatures, instead of being treated as mere objects, are allowed to do what they came here to do, to develop the full potential of their natures and fulfill themselves as manifestations of divinity. His poems are unforgettable, and one envies those who may be coming to them for the first time.

The first poem by Gerard Manley Hopkins I read was "PiedBeauty," which was included in a book of poetry for children thatwas given to me by my great-aunt. In high school, I read "Spring and Fall: to a young child" and loved it, though I did not realize it was by the same author. It was only college that I connected the two, and discovered a wonderful poet, who has become one of my favorites.

For a fan of Hopkins looking for an authoritative volume, this edition is a treasure. In addition to his better known works, it contains early poems, numerous fragments, and unfinished works, in fact "every scrap of English verse which can be ascribed... to Hopkins" (from the Introduction xvii). In addition, it contains a good essay on Hopkins and his work, and extensive textual notes.

Hopkins poetry may appear obscure and difficult at first, and in fact it is, at times, wildly original. Hopkins' language is deliberately archaic and inventive, and he both revives wonderful words not used since Shakespeare, and makes up his own. Hopkins also writes in "sprung rhythm," a metrical style that is almost syncopated, and juxtaposes stressed syllables. I recommend reading his poems out loud. The sheer beauty of his language will inspire you to recite the words over and over again, until you understand his meaning: the essence which he is trying to distill. New readers may be daunted by this volume at first, and find that Hopkins' great poems are "submerged in a mass of less significant fragments" (Intro xiv). I would suggest his sequence of ten sonnets (#31-40) as an ideal place to start reading.

Hopkin's friend and fellow poet Robert Bridges wrote that Hopkins strove "for the unattainable perfection of language," and at times he seems to have actually obtained it: "Men go by me whom either beauty bright / In mould or mind or what not else make rare: / They rain against our much-thick and marsh air / Rich beams, till death or distance buys them quite." (The Lantern out of Doors, #40). END

Gardner and MacKenzie have compiled a fine collection of Hopkins' juvenalia, mature work, and uncollected fragments/translations.

I wish that I knew what to say to compel readers unfamiliar with his work to buy this or another collection. The Terrible Sonnets are among the most moving treatment of spiritual anguish in the English language. If you are doubting, take the time to look "Carrion Comfort" up on the web-- the poems are available at Bartleby.com. This book is one of my constant poetic companions.

For readers already familiar with the more famous pieces, it is a treat to see his younger work and translations. Reading the book as a whole gives a picture of a mind in motion. What led him to this point?

"NO worst, there is none. Pitched past pitch of grief,
More pangs will, schooled at forepangs, wilder wring.
Comforter, where, where is your comforting?"

Read it, read it, read it.

This review does not relate to the quality and character of the Oxford Complete Poems. It rather relates to Hopkins unique greatness as a poet which I will try to say a few words about.
Hopkins created his own style of verse, his own vocabulary for perceiving the world, his own special rhythm and language in poetry.
He is not the most easy poet to understand, and I will admit that his longer poems lose me.
When I consider his work I relate primarily to five, six , seven poems which seem to me extraordinary. " The world is charged with the Grandeur of God" and " Thou art indeed just, Lord" and "Felix Randall the Farrier, Is he dead then?' are to me the most memorable. They contain a power and beauty, a tremendous sense of identification with and understanding of the suffering in life, a kind of unique and intimate perception of the details of the natural world.
Hopkins the tormented priest wrote to my mind some of the most memorable and beautiful lines in the English language. Consider the closing of ' Thou art Indeed Just Lord" "Birds build but not I build/ but break Times wounds And never breed one work that wakes Thou O My Lord of Life Send my roots Rain."

A man resigns from his job. He heads home. He's followed. He packs a suitcase. He falls unconscious. He awakens. He's in his apartment. He looks outside. He isn't in London anymore. The Prisoner: A Televisionary Masterpiece provides an in-depth look at one of the most brilliant pieces of work in television history. Alain Carraze and Helene Oswald provide an in-depth summary to a 17 episode plight of a man who is trapped in a resort like community simply known as the "Village" from which there is no escape. Several attempts are made to break his mental integrity, but he perseveres by maintaining his individuality. The book also features an interesting interview with the star and creator of the series, Patrick McGoohan, essays from fans and writers such as Isaac Asimov, and an in-depth look at the making of the series. Anyone looking for an intriguing, highly intellectually stimulating experience should read this book, because "The Prisoner" is relevant to each and every one of us. Reviewed by John K.

This book has a wealth of source material. Sometimes watching the series can be a bit nebulous. This book easily aides you in knowing what each episode wished to convey. There are a massive amount of photos for each episode, and in making. The book also has several in dept articles in which Patrick McGoohan tells his motivations, and about making the series. If you are a Prisoner fan, you know that information about is pretty scare, then again it was all about information wasn't it?

This is a beautiful guide to the classic television series, The Prisoner. It is richly illustrated with many color photographs from the series, and its location of Portmeirion, Wales. It's a terrific vehicle to re-visit the series and learn about what it took to produce this program. Since A&E is currently re-releasing The Prisoner on VHS and DVD, it is too bad that this book is out of print, since I think viewers would enjoy some of the background that this book provides.

At the heart of the book is an in-depth summary of the 17 episodes that make up The Prisoner. However, it is more than just an episode guide. The book also contains a brief interview with Patrick McGoohan (circa 1989), a series of essays about the program, a description of Danger Man (McGoohan's secret agent series before The Prisoner), a biography of McGoohan, background on the creation and filming process, information about the real village of Portmeirion, and information about Six of One, the official Prisoner fan club.

It's a very informative and fun book written by two fans, who are still able to turn a critical eye on the series. The essays about the series by various authors are also very enjoyable. I especially loved the one by Isaac Asimov. The one negative I have about the book, is that there seemed to be a printing problem with my book. In the chapter outlining the creation and production of the series, I had one section repeated twice, and another section appears to have been omitted. In spite of the printing defect, this is a fun book for Prisoner fans, and if you can find a copy I highly recommend it.

A superb collection of photos & an interesting & fairly recent interview with the master McGoohan.A MUST for every collector or appreciator.

The book focuses on visualization, and dynamic hand evaluation.
Don't just count high card points. Think about what you have and how it can be useful when combined with your partners hand, or not.
Don't be blinded by lots of HCP and no fit, and come alive with few HCP, but with shape and values in partners suits when they show a good hand.

Advanced players already know this, they don't need this.
Its the 90% of the players who are not advanced.
Excellent value for the money

No boring lectures. Boehm teaches you how to think.
Whats going on? What does partner hold? How about the opponents?
This is all common knowledge to advanced players. Its not common knowledge to Intermediates.

You will be educated and enjoy the experience.
How many Bridge books can you say that about?

In his book Augie Boehm transfer the best intersting ideas in bridge . Great teacher for advanced ideas.

Augie Boehm is as masterful a teacher as he is a bridge player--not an easy trick to transfer this mastery to the printed page. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and eagerly look forward to his next one!

The Red Necklace is an unabridged audiobook production of Sally Gardner's novel for young adult readers age nine and up. Set in Paris in the winter of 1789, The Red Necklace follows a Gypsy boy named Yann Margoza, born with an uncanny gift for knowing what people are thinking as well as the talent to throw his voice; both skills come in quite handy while Yann works for an irresponsible magician. On the night of the magicians final performance, Yann meets Sido, a shy heiress with an aloof father. Yann must brave the wrath of a villain named Count Kalliovski for Sido's sake, and his life tumbles headlong into adventure amidst the stirrings of the French Revolution. Though The Red Necklace is suitable for young adults and teens, listeners of all ages are sure to enjoy this stellar audio performance by recording artist Carrington MacDuffie. 8 CDs, 9 hours 46 min.

Author Sally Gardner did her shopping well for the ingredients she chose for The Red Necklace. Everything on her list is topnotch: the orphaned 14-year-old gypsy boy who can read minds, being raised by a dwarf and a magician; the sad 12-year-old daughter of a marquis, isolated and loathed by her father; the cruel, spoiled French aristos, with their brocades, gilded buckles and pet monkeys; the chaotic bloodbath of the French Revolution; and an evil count trying to murder the boy, marry the girl, destroy the aristos and urge on the maelstrom. There are elements of magic in this rich historical adventure and the darkness of the tale and strange minor characters would please a fantasy reader. But The Red Necklace could also be read by those who like their plotlines straight; the magic seems to be based on traditional Gypsy physics of some kind unknown as yet to the western world. Gardner's storytelling skill makes this tale a pleasure to read and an easy book to recommend.

In 1789 Paris, Tetu the dwarf has raised fourteen years old full blooded Roma orphan Yann as they both assist egomaniac magician Topolain. His arrogance leads to his death at the hands of evil Count Kalliovski who wants the automaton the mage used while performing. At about the same time, Yann meets reticent affluent aristocrat Sidonie; a lonely young girl who has no friends and never tasted love even from family members. Her cold distant father loathes her so much he has sold her to the vicious Count as his wife.

The murder of Topolain leads Tetu to smuggle his ward out of France to the safety of London. However, when the Revolution begins to take over the French capital, Yann returns hoping to take the two people he cares about, Tetu and Sidonie, to London; knowing her father and her fiancé will attempt to kill him for trying.

A Tale of Two Cities with an Oliver Twist spin, a serial killer leaving garnet necklaces on the victims, and an intimation of Gypsy magic make for an entertaining young adult suspense historical fantasy. The contrast between Paris and London is startling, but both cities have blood flowing in the streets; only the former is more in the open. Yann and Sidonie is a wonderful courageous couple while Tetu is heroic in his loyalty to his ward. Whereas the villains are a bit exaggerated, fans will appreciate this strong French Revolution thriller.

Harriet Klausner

The novel starts in Paris, 1789. Yann Margoza is a young gypsy boy who can throw his voice as well as read minds and predict the future. He uses these talents in a magic show, with the magician Topolain and the dwarf Têtu. An imposing man with a scarred face, introducing himself as Milkeye, appears after a show and requests on behalf of his employer, Count Kalliovski, that Topolain bring his magic act to a party held at the château of the Marquis de Villeduval. Against the misgivings of Yann, Topolain is lured to the party by Milkeye's promise of payment. It is there that Yann meets the daughter of the Marquis, Sido, two years his junior at the age of 12. Sido has just returned from her stay at a convent, and is deeply hurt by the dislike which her father takes no pains to hide from her. Although their meeting is brief and followed by a long separation, it tangles Yann and his companions in a series of murders that are linked by a red necklace. With the drama of the French Revolution, mixed with political and social intrigue, "The Red Necklace" was an exciting book that I could not put down.

In Yann and Sido we have two very common clichés: the dark, handsome boy with extraordinary talents and the pale, wide-eyed girl who walks with a limp and longs for her father to love her. However, both characters seemed remarkably lifelike to me (as did all the characters), and perfectly believable. I also loved the villain(s)--thoroughly sinister and, well, villainous.

I found "The Red Necklace" to be very original in both plot and ploy. Ms. Gardner is an excellent author, and the book, at 372 pages, went along at a nice pace, without rushing things. I like her way with words. There is just a touch of magic that adds to the mix, making it even more interesting.

I don't claim to be an expert on the French Revolution, but I found nothing to fault in the events of the French Revolution as related by the author. There are some chilling scenes that do well to highlight the absolute chaos of the Reign of Terror. "The Red Necklace" is an excellent, entertaining, and enjoyable read (and the gorgeous, textured cover and uneven page edges in no way detract from this!) . Between this and "I, Coriander", Ms. Gardner has become an author of which to pay note.

Literally! Each one of the cards in the pack has a story to tell. The play ranges from amusing to wonderful. Right through the Pack is probably in everyone's top ten all-time bridge books.

This book is in the pantheon of bridge books. It's the one classic book that is often mentioned in other bridge books, including other classics.
If you also want my opinion: that's no coincidence. The writing is superb (unlike in, oh 99% of bridge books). The hands are well chosen, a few oddities are thrown in, but most seem realistic, and the analysis manages to bring out the beautiful depths hidden in them without the endless double-dummy over-analysis so common in bridge literature. This book is recommended for players of all level. Admitedly beginners will be overwhelmed by many of the analyses and plays, but this is one of the most entertaining introductions to the finer points of bridge.

Great book to read for any level bridge player (or at least I think so, since I am a beginner). The bridge was a side note to the the stories, but if you like good stories and a little bridge this is a great book for you.

The "plot" of the book is each of the 52 cards in a deck telling of a bridge hand where they were the critical card. Most of the hands teach a subtle point of play (to my casual bridge skills) such as forcing an opponent to lead into your tenace position to avoid the finess and squeezing the opponents (both beyond my skills). I got an appreciation for how much more there can be in a hand. The other hands are just plain hysterical. I won't spoil them by revealing too much, but imagine bidding and making seven hearts missing both the ace of diamonds and the ace of hearts! The chapters are short which makes reading a chapter or two before I go to sleep easy - my kind of book. I have a long list of books in progress, but this one quickly jumped to the top of the list to finish.

The book I ordereed was in excellet condition, as expected. I received the book in a timely manner.

My partner and I call this book the "Bible." Just like the Bible, this book is a difficult read. I have yet to read the entire book. Just like the Bible is the Gospel, this book is the Gospel for Roman KeyCard Blackwood. Very well written in the Kantar style...humorous and it seems like he is in front of you discussing the ideas. For RKB this book is the only way to go.

Fantastic book. We, my partner and myself have already included some of the conventions and suggestions on our card and practice.

The book covers RKCBW, and keeps on going. Kantar presents some interesting ideas on how to handle different suits. This is definately a PARTNERSHIP book, if you sping any of this on a pick up pard, you will end up in a Grand Slam down 1, or missing a slam.
For example - Kantar proposes that there be 2 sets of Asks. One by the Strong Hand, and one by the Weak hand.

I found it "funny" when Kantar was saying Kickback was too complcated!
:-)

Anyway, this is a useful book, not just on RCKBW, but on Slam Bidding and Judgment. It's not a fun read (though Kantar has a GREAT sense of humor), but slam bidding is important, and it's worth investing the time with this.

Running away is never a solution, right? Although the story of Leslie Cahill, boarding school escapee, shows some dangers (she is conned by a larcenous drug-using couple) on its heroine's desperate "On The Road" journey, it skips the elements of prostitution, violence and other dangers runaways commonly fall into. Still, this is no "Pretty Woman". Leslie's frantic journey reveals courage, strength, smarts, and determination. Author Mary E. Trimble addresses the issue of teen runaways in a gentle way that could only happen in farm country. Unlike the gritty city landscape of child prostitution, hunger, homelessness, abuse and drug use that Covenant House battles, Leslie's flight is an extended road trip of desperation through the backwoods. It's a story of Leslie's resilient spirit as she proves her courage; the complexity of family love, understanding and forgiveness; and the untamed, raw, rough, vast frontier of adolescence.

Mary Trimble has hit the nail on the head with her insightful book, "Rosemount". I bought copies for all of my friends - with and without children. Trimble has a knack for knowing the thoughts of a teenager. This is a must read! Curl up with a cup of steaming cocoa and a nice fire, plan to stay a while as you won't be able to put the book down! Two thumbs up!

Sixteen-year-old Leslie Cahill makes good grades, has nice friends, and a family who loves her. A talented pianist and a good hand with a horse, Leslie loves her home, a ranch in Washington state, and is devastated when she finds out her dad, John Cahill, intends to send her away to school. After a young girl is attacked at the local high school of Chewack, John sees no other alternative. Having raised her alone after his wife died, the safety of his daughter is paramount.

Leslie sees it differently and suspects she is being sent away in order to make room in her Dad's life for his new love interest, Lilith, and her daughter Roxanne. Leslie, hurt and saddened to the point of desperation, takes the situation into her own hands, and with disastrous results. This story is about perception, family ties and love, and the danger of supposing what motivates another. Throughout the story Leslie's heart is always right, her actions always understandable, and the lessons she learns always real.

Rosemount, though listed as a young adult novel, is just a plain good read, no matter your age. Ms. Trimble knows ranching, livestock, and the lay of the land in this story that takes the reader on a cross-country journey filled with authentic detail, and I know because I lived there. She knows the teenage heart and mind, too, and seems to understand a parent's anguish when they fear for their children, a striking contrast that Ms. Trimble handles with exceptional skill and insight.

From the first page to the last, I was captivated by the story and involved with the unique cast of characters: Leslie, John, Wade, and Cyrus, one of my personal favorites, Maureen, Clem, another personal favorite, Dutch, and even Roxanne. As Clem says, "Plannin' ain't doin'," and that's the truth. Don't plan on reading this entertaining tale, but do so. Even though I've just now finished the story, I miss the characters already. I highly recommend this book to readers of any age, sixteen to sixty and beyond. I hope we can look forward to more novels from Mary Trimble, a sublime storyteller, with a knack for bringing to the surface the treasures that are right in front of us, but so easily missed.

Leslie Cahill was a sophomore. She, along with her much older brother, Wade, helped her father with the ranch. She thought her life was perfect, until Rosemount.

John Cahill was determined that Leslie attend Rosemount, a boarding school for girls. Leslie was just as determined NOT to go! However, her dad forced her to. Leslie knew he was dating Lilith. She also knew Lilith had a daughter. So Leslie was convinced John was sending her off to a boarding school so he could marry and have a new family. When her dad dropped her off at her new dorm, Leslie ran away!

The school called about six hours after Leslie disappeared. Wade got the call before John had even got home and he immediately set off to locate his sister and bring her home for a serious family meeting! But Leslie had planned well. She had cut her hair, gotten a false photo I.D., her saving account, and a back pack of food and clothes.

***** This book covers about two weeks of Leslie's life as a run-away. She was lucky to meet one of two nice people who helped her out! The author did an excellent job of showing the story from Leslie's point-of-view, as well as, John and Wade's. I never set the book down once. It was that amazing! Highly recommend for ages 13 and up! *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch.

If you are looking for an atlas for helping in your study of the Bible - this is it. (If you are not looking you should think about it!) The maps are excellent, but they are only a part of the contents of this fine reference. There is a wealth of cultural and language information contained along side wonderful insight into Biblical history as revealed in the geography of the Scripture. The authors obviously have a passion for their subject matter and it shows in the outstanding quality of this work. The publisher has presented the work in a wonderful format and the book is as beautiful as it is thorough in scholarship. "The Sacred Bridge" is a must for the serious student of Scripture and even more so for the Bible teacher. It is expensive - I saved for it for a while - It is worth every penny and more.

Robert Curtis
Santa Rosa Beach, Florida

Only someone with no other reading to do can handle the demands of reading this type of book. However, it is worth the fortune one much pay to get a copy of this work. Where else can one find the nuances of interpretation or vagaries of fact that emerge from slender information or from meager scraps of archaeological artifacts? No longer do such imponderables parade as established proof beyond a shadow of a doubt. In addition, there is no further need to look for a book for those locations that some text mentions but neglects to map; this is a a one stop shopping mall for the ancient middle east and the bible.

What an amazing resource for any student of the Bible. It brings places and events to life through extensive use of ancient sources, archaeological finds and detailed maps. It is a must have for any serious bible scholar!!

Receiving this book has been an extremely pleasant surprise for me. Knowing the quality of Carta atlases, I ordered it expecting a top-quality up to date biblical atlas. However, I found it a superb, well-documented treatise of the pre-biblical, biblical and post biblical world, through the Bar Kokhba revolt, illustrated with high quality maps and photos. Although these illustrations, by themselves, are highly instructive, they do not make this unique volume as valuable as it will be to any serious biblical scholar. The authors compiled tremendous amounts of historical and archeological information that would be hard to retrieve otherwise. Although experts may argue about details of the information presented on the interpretation of certain biblical passages, as these depend on the academic school they represent, this book provides an unprecedented wealth of up to date information; information that will allow interested biblical scholars to go to the sources and expand their horizons. Last but not least, this treatise documents in great detail the robust connection between the biblical text with the geography of the ancient Jewish homeland and with relevant recent archeological findings. It is, therefore, also of substantial timely value when the veracity of biblical history is being questioned not be scholars but by biased political parties.

Dr. Michael Anbar

I have worked with Mike. He is a superstar. No gimmicks here, just good sound techniques for the beginner and the experienced sales person. This book is a must for all sales people.

Mike's powerful six step approach to sales is based on the most fundamental truth in sales--there is no such thing as a 'pitch'; sales is about communication, and communication involves at least two people, two styles, two personalities. Read this book and throw out all those 'sales' books that are mere lists of canned closes. Learn to connect with your customer using Mike's techniques, and you might surprise yourself with the results.

The Sales Bridge: Connecting With Your Customer by 25-year marketing veteran Mike Lewis is a practical, "user friendly", six-step guide for dedicated salespeople seeking to communicate quickly and efficiently with their customers, distinguishing themselves from their competition, establish long-term business relationships with profitable accounts, and much, much more. A first-rate guide to professional manners, positive attitude, awareness, and go-getting business and social skills, The Sales Bridge is recommended reading -- especially for the novice salesperson in today's volatile. and challenge marketplace.

highly reccomend this book to any salesman and especially sales managers. very to the point, very easy to read. format of book is great for future references back to it. sales techniques and analysis will definately help me with future negotiations / sales.

Great condition with well kept book jacket. Smooth transaction. Delighted with book.

It's the best Gone With the Wind book I've read, besides GWTW itself! Terrific photos! Covers everything from Margaret Mitchell, to the stars of the movie! I recomend it to anyone who loves Gone With the Wind!

It's the best Gone With the Wind book I've read, besides GWTW itself! Terrific photos! Covers everything from Margaret Mitchell, to the stars of the movie! I recomend it to anyone who loves Gone With the Wind!

This book's cover alone is worth it all!!!! Contains "fresh" photos of Scarlett contenders as well as documenting the quest for the "right cast".

This book is a MUST for all GWTW collectors!