Brown Books

There are so few books out there that give a realistic look at a professional groom's life. If you've ever considered becoming a groom or even going into the pro-horse world, this book is an amazing investment. Nusser gives almost every type of information you could want, including typical pay, benefits, housing, and insights into the personalities and habits of the grooms. It follows three pro grooms: a woman who just wants to learn everything she can, a woman who is wishes she was winning the medals, not grooming the horses, and a man who works for the money. Though it's non-fiction, it's written like a story and you can't help but be draw in. This is one of my top five favorite books - I can't impress on you how much you should buy it.

Follows the grooms in 3 areas of horse sport: eventing (grooms of the O'Connors), show jumping (of Anne Kursinski), and racing (of the breeding stallions at Lane's End). Very interesting, and for the most part not too dumbed down or inaccurate.

The stuff about Parelli got to be very annoying-this was back when the O'Connors were actually fans of him. The author seemed to be a bit too impressed with the man.

Some history of the horse was mixed in, as well as plenty of stuff about each discipline. It was very interesting to see how the horses were treated by each group of grooms. For example, the race horse grooms didn't seem to have a ton of affection for their charges and were very pragmatic. The O'Connor's grooms thought of "their" horses almost as if they were their pets or kids. Also enjoyed seeing the true lives of these people: long days, hard work, little pay, not much time for other people in your life.

Don't recommend this book for young kids: Some bad language, references to drugs and sex. Also some graphic scenes in the breeding shed of Lane's End. But for adults, this is an informative, entertaining read that doesn't make riding and horses out to be glamorous (unlike many horse books today). Nice book for the 99% of horse owners who do their own work, and for those that want to see what goes on in high-caliber equestrian operations. And it really makes you respect these incredibly hard-working people who get relatively little credit for any wins.

This book will certainly give you an appreciation for the hard work grooms put into caring for "their" horses, as well as the difficulty proffessionals have in finding and keeping gooms. Grooming is often a thankless job (more often than not, unfortunately!), with long hours and hard work, as well as little to no time off, but most people are unaware of this fact, even many horse enthusiasts. It's nice to see the grooms get the attention they deserve, as well as being an enlightening look into the world of professional riding.

My only qualm is that the book reads like a 200 page newspaper article, not like a novel. The writing (especially the tense of the writing), distances the reader from getting into the "story". Nonetheless, it's a worthwhile read for anyone interested in horse care or professional riding. Those with only a casual interest in horses or without any real experience in showing or stable management may want to look elsewhere for a book, but those with a working knowlegde of horse care and terminology will find this an interesting read.

This book left me thinking about grooming and a grooms life for days after I read it. Straight forward, with lovely descriptive passages about the things grooms do and are, it reads easily and quickly--and is over too soon. Nice too, that it parallels three types of grooms: racing, jumper, and three day. Well done.

What more can you ask of a book? When first I picked out this book, it was with the intention of learning about the world of a professional horse groom. What I did not count on was learning all about that and so very much more. I would not have given the equine sport called Three Day Eventing a second thought before reading this book. This author describes it so brilliantly & colorfully, I could not wait to turn each page to, as they say, "find out what happens next". It is the true account of this groom's daily life in the professional stables of World Olympic Champions David & Karen O'Conner. Many other well-recognized names at the top of the horse world are featured as well, as this skilled writer takes you on an intimate journey few spectators are ever privey to. This honest & intrigueing portrait of life at the top of the equine world is one that no horse enthusiast should miss. However you feel about the sport of Three Day Eventing, this honest & compassionate portrait will engross you page after page. The sheer strength & beauty of the writing made this book a joy to read.

Wow! Is it me or did Pamela D. Brown just read the minds of parents all over the world. This book has been needed for years. And I thank God that someone has the mind, soul, and "GUTS" to write a book like this one.

When I walked into a bookstore to look for this book it wasn't on the shelf, why? But when I finally ordered it I was pleased. I love this book a lot and hope to read more books from this author.

HAVE YOU EVER NOTICED HOW SOCIETY CAN TALK HORRIBLE ABOUT TODAY'S YOUTH. BUT INSTEAD OF TRYING TO EDUCATE THE YOUTH, SOCIETY FIGURES THAT DOWNING TEENAGERS WILL MAKE MATTERS BETTER. THAT'S NOT THE CASE. IT'S TIME TO HAVE A ONE ON ONE CONVERSATION WITH THE TEENAGERS AND LET THEM KNOW EXACTLY HOW SOCIETY SEES AND FEELS ABOUT THEM. TEENAGERS YOU MUST REALIZE THAT YOU'RE BEING WATCHED WHERE EVER YOU GO, AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO BE MATURE AND ACT LIKE A YOUNG LADY AND GENTLEMAN AT ALL TIMES. TODAY'S TEENS DON'T DREAM THE WAY THEY USED TO AND IS IN NEED OF A POSITIVE VOICE. ALTHOUGH IT'S HARD FOR A TEEN TO LIVE THEIR LIFE KNOWING THAT PEER PRESSURE AND BULLYING ARE STILL MAJOR FACTORS FOR A TEENAGER NOT TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD AND TO BE PRODUCTIVE. BUT NOW IS THE TIME FOR A TEEN TO STOP BEING THE MOST COMMON DENOMINATOR AND DO ALL YOU CAN TO BE ON TOP, MEANING IT'S TIME TO BE THE POSITIVE INSTEAD OF THE NEGATIVE. IT'S TIME TO LET GO OF THE EXCUSES AND STOP BLAMING OTHER PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT RACES FOR YOUR FAILURES. IF YOU WERE TO APPLY YOURSELF THE SAME WAY A TEEN OF A DIFFERENT RACE DID, YOU WILL BE SURPRISED OF THE OUTCOME OF YOUR LIFE. MATURE ADULTS ARE NO LONGER GOING TO TOLERATE PROFANITY LEAKING FROM THE MOUTHS OF TODAY'S YOUTH, AND THE DISRESPECT THAT FOLLOWS. WHY ARE TEENAGERS AFRAID TO DREAM? IS A QUESTION THAT IS IN NEED OF ANSWERING, HAVE YOU EVER NOTICED THAT IT'S EASIER TO FAIL THAN TO SUCCEED. FAILURE IS ALWAYS OUT THERE BUT IT'S TAKEN AS AN OPTION, INSTEAD OF SOMETHING THAT ISN'T NEEDED IN A TEENAGERS LIFE. SUCCESS IS A BEAUTIFUL THING, BUT ARE YOU READY TO BE SUCCESSFUL? ARE YOU WILLING TO PUT IN THE HARD WORK AND EFFORT THAT IS NEEDED TO BE THAT SUCCESS? THIS BOOK WAS WRITTEN FOR BOTH MALES AND FEMALES, AND ALTHOUGH THE SUBJECTS MAY SOUND BORING. THESE ARE SUBJECTS THAT ARE GOING ON IN A TEENAGERS LIFE ONE TIME OR ANOTHER. TEENAGERS NEED TO KNOW THAT: IT'S TIME FOR A REALITY CHECK... SOCIETY IS TALKING ABOUT YOU SO IT'S TIME TO WAKE UP! LOOK FOR PAMELA D. BROWN'S NEXT BOOK DUE OUT NEXT YEAR . IT'S A BACK UP TO HER FIRST ONE TITLED: THE TRUTH HURTS... BUT SOMEBODY HAS TO SAY IT!

I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH. I WISH THAT THERE WAS A WAY FOR THIS BOOK TO REACH LIBRARIES, BECAUSE BELIEVE ME THIS BOOK IS NEEDED SO MUCH. THIS ARTIST SHOWS COMPASSION IN HER WORDS AND ONLY THE STRONG SURVIVES, AND THIS IS WHY PAMELA D. BROWN WAS ABLE TO PUT HER LIFE LESSON ABOUT HER MOTHER BEING ILL AS A LESSON THAT ALL PEOPLE YOUNG AND OLD NEED TO REALIZE, THAT LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO ONLY BE THINKING ABOUT YOURSELF. ALL I HAVE TO SAY IS PLEASE CONTINUE TO SELL AND SUPPORT PAMELA D. BROWN'S BOOKS HERE AT TARGET BECAUSE NOT ONLY DO TEENAGERS NEED A REALITY CHECK, SO DO SOME OF THE PARENTS. NO DISRESPECT, BUT PAMELA TEACHES EVERYONE SOMETHING IN THIS BOOK. JOB WELL DONE PAMELA, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!

I can clearly remember when I first read this book. I was surprised that a pop icon didn't come up with something of this nature first. I'm not going to lie to you, I've read this book seven times and I love this book every time that I read it. This book has soul, rythem, and class and I hope that I didn't miss the book signing for this author. I read on the Author House website that Pamela D. Brown is due another book titled: The Truth Hurts... But Somebody Has To Say It! When is this book due for release? Because if Pamela's second book is as excellent as her first then there are a lot of self-help authors that should be aware of Pamela D. Brown.

If you were as shocked and horrified by what happened to Joyce Ann Brown as these other readers, please consider supporting the organization that reinvestigated her wrongful conviction and worked tirelessly to free her. Centurion Ministries, Inc. of 221 Witherspoon Street, Princeton, NJ 08542 has been working on behalf of the wrongfully convicted like Ms. Brown for over 20 years.

Imagine being in prison for something you know you didn't do, this is what happened to Joyce Brown. Joyce had witnesses, was at work the time the crime was committed, but was still found guilty for the murder of a store owner, who's wife pointed her out as being the guilty party. If this can happen to Joyce Brown it can happen to anyone. I think GOd for those gentlemen who came to her aid in the book. If you think there is now way that you could end up in prison, read this book, and you will see that you very well could even if you are innocent with lots of evidence.

Joyce Ann Brown has compelling reasons to be angry with the criminal justice system. After all, the State of Texas robbed her of her family, friends and freedom. In Justice Denied, however, Joyce takes her life sentence back from the judges and overseers who wrongly declared her a murderer!

Joyce Ann Brown writes powerful and empowering words that bleed honesty and passion, yet she never allows her righteous anger to become hateful. Instead, she channels her rage into positive action, serving as inspiration, appealing to the reader's sense of humanity. The author is a minister at the core of her being.

Justice Denied is a gritty, painful and ultimately triumphant journey with the potential to change public policy. This book should be required reading for judges, juries, attorneys, police officers, prison guard, prison ministers, politicians, educators, activists, and anybody who has ever felt like the circumstances of their lives threaten to undermine their sense of self-worth. Like an oasis in the desert, Justice Denied compels readers to move forward and quench their thirst for justice.

Imagine being in prison for something you know you didn't do, this is what happened to Joyce Brown. Joyce had witnesses, was at work the time the crime was committed, but was still found guilty for the murder of a store owner, who's wife pointed her out as being the guilty party. If this can happen to Joyce Brown it can happen to anyone. I think GOd for those gentlemen who came to her aid in the book. If you think there is now way that you could end up in prison, read this book, and you will see that you very well could even if you are innocent with lots of evidence.

I must give a rating of 10 stars!!~ This book was so well written. It placed you in Ms.Browns shoes before, during & after. This author may you feel as though You were a apart of her awful journey through this ill-fated justice system of ours. Reading her story, (if you have any compassion) at all........It will indeed make you so damn Angry at these men in Suits (lawyers)& Robes (judges), that we so often call "Justice Seekers" in America. Too many times we read about 'innocent' people, being thrown into prison, & finding out Years Later that a BIG Mistake had be made. How do OUR System compensate these individuals? With an out-landish simple Apology??? How can anyone 'accept' what has happened to them? It's time to wake up America! It's time for these Paid, & Court appointed Attorney's to represent each & every case with every piece of skill they possilbly can, to make Damn Sure about "WHO" they are really sending to the depths of Hell!

All the facts in Ms. Brown's case were right before their eyes, yet Justice did not prevail. I searched high & low for a copy of this book for my very own, after asking a co-worker if I could read hers. Locating a copy in good condition was a feat, because it was no longer in print. Finally I located one & it had Joyce's autograph, I treasure it today still as a Great Read.

I cried many tears, I walked every inch of this sentence with Ms. Brown. Through all of what she indured, she still remained Strong in the Lord, (this was her Only Hope), as for as I could see. I say now: If the judge who sentenced this young lady is still practicing law, holding his gavel, & wearing that black robe, he should be made to do the Years that Ms. Brown served!

Even it was so done, It still would Not serve Ms. Brown any satisfaction, nor her family members for ripping their lives apart. The Most heart breaking part of this book, that wrenched my soul was when her child was shot/hurt, later died, & Ms.Brown was not granted the opportunity to go attend the funeral services! I fell into pieces after reading it.

Becoming a grandmother & not being able to have that daily/weekly interactions with her grandkid, or to have any great memories of her grandchild's was also a traumatic issue for Ms. Brown. This book will indeed touch your soul~

I'd love to meet Ms. Brown & J.Gaines, so we can share notes on what the 'System' did to my family, on the (4th of July) "What an Independence Day that was"! Good Luck Joyce on your upcoming Movie, & May God Always Be On Your Side. I know of a star who will portray your role Very Well, & Capture Every Emotion, her name is: Kimberly Elise, her role was Tee-Tee, from 'Set it Off'..........she looks like you somewhat, & I do believe she will carry your story to THE TOP of the Movie Charts!

Thanks For Never Giving Up Hope Joyce. What You & Jay wrote in your book, it Speaks for a large number of Americans. I know that you & Jay are friends for life now, & rightfully so. Everyone deserves a friend like Jay, his love says it all, it's (unconditional)~ Again, Good Luck On Your Upcoming Movie, Let me hear from you soon Sista~ 2 Sista~

I was 16 when the Browns marched through the 1980 season as the Kardiac kids and I followed every game. Knights book brings back memories, many good and one bad.

History has put the season in perspective. Rutigliano recognized a bit faster than most in the NFL how the rules changes around the passing game meant the game itself was changing. Luckily he had Brian Sipe and a great group of receivers, including running backs like Calvin Hill who could catch. On offense the Browns had the right group to capitalize on the rules changes and on defense they really were quite average but made the best of what they had.

The book really sums up the season really well. Also for die hard 1980 fans, there is now a DVD available with one game from that season, (Greatest Games Series). It's the Green Bay game that Sipe hit Logan late for the game winner. I am not sure why they choose that game other than legal reasons, but watching the full game from beginning to end is a real pleasure and it does put into perspective that the 1980s team really was mediocre in many ways, but won because they were ahead of their times, and the credit for that season really lies squarely in the hands of Rutigliano.

I may have been born in 1979 but this book is a must-read for all Cleveland Browns fans. It is nearing the end of the 2004 season and things are not looking well but reading this book will help you get through tough times like these.

The author provides an accurate description of each and every 1980 game along with a nice prologue, epilogue and "Where are they now?" type information.

I will buy every book by Jonathan Knight!

I have to be truthful here. I really didn't like the book after reading it once. When I went back through it for a second time, I began to understand Knight's thought process when he put the book together, and even though some parts were tough to get through, I was glad I re-read it by the time I finished. If you don't know much about the famous Kardiac Kids, I'd recommend that you give it a thorough read. If you're a self-proclaimed Browns expert, check it out from a library somewhere.

THIS IS A VERY GOOD READ CONCERNING THE 1980 CLEVELAND BROWNS ON A ROLLER COASTER RIDE ON THEIR WAY TO THE PLAYOFFS. THE AUTHOR DOES A GOOD JOB RECALLING ALL THE EXCITING, FRUSTRATING AND DISAPPOINTING MOMENTS OF THIS MEMORABLE SEASON FOR THE BROWNS. HE COVERS HOW THE TEAM WAS PUT TOGETHER, INTERVIEWS FROM PLAYERS AND COACHES FROM THAT TEAM, AND GAME BY GAME REVIEW. ALSO COVERS DRUG ABUSE, TEAM COVERAGE OF PREVIOUS AND NEXT SEASONS. JONATHAN KNIGHT CERTAINLY DID A LOT OF RESEARCH AND RESULTS ARE A GREAT JOB. VERY RECOMMENDED.

i am 15 years old, and a browns fanatic. i am unfortunate enough to have not experienced the 1980 season firsthand. however, this book makes me feel as if i had. i picked it up because my dad would always tell me stories of how good they were and it made me want to be a part of it. it is very well written, blending accounts of the PD (clevelanders know what that is) with insights from the players and coaches. this is the best book about the brwns i have ever read, and aside from friday night lights, this is my favorite book of all time.

If you have a Basset-or just love Basset Hounds- or Opus-- this is the cutest book! get it!

I am one of those father's who truly enjoys reading to his son, but every now and then I prefer to read a story which is as entertaining for me, as for my child. If you enjoy reading, but ocassionally want to read something well written, a little on the edge, and with great moral value. This author's children stories are a great change of pace, with a rhyming gate that works for all. This story, along with "Edward Fudwupper Fibbed Big" and "A Wish for Wings that Work", will forever be fond memories of stories read many times, with my favorite little man. Happy reading!

A true classic and a rowdy read for youngsters. My children loved this rollicking tale of the mythical beastie. You don't have to be an Opus fan to love this one.

I was a big Bloom County fan [back in the day]and got to know Opus and Bill the Cat from there. I finally got this book and am very pleased with it. It is classic Opus -love the Basselope too. I find it a sweet story that my kids will enjoy while still entertaining the Bloom County fan in me.

Opus is hunting for the world's last basselope, a creature so fierce, so mean, that in olden times "the mere sight of one of them in a dinosaur neighborhood would inspire ripsnorting dinosaur pandemonium lasting for weeks." This is a story of misunderstanding and discovery. If you remember Opus and Bloom County and the basselope, Rosebud, this is for you. It will takes you back twenty years. Breathed does a fantastic job with the artwork, and the story is exquisite, too. On it's surface it is just a fun book to read together and laugh out loud. Without too much of a stretch, you can teach kids about what happens when creatures misunderstand each other.

the only thing i knows that lewis is more than all boxers ever because he was noncomparable in any ways atall.we all can imagine it that those loosed he had was underrated opponet which's clear to everyones in the whole world.
My adivise to mr Lewis is that shld not allow any one to cause enemity betwen he and Our Mnager (Mr Ogun)and not to disorganised his team ok.
I'm from Ghana and love to be seen him fight always i had been in his Fans since 1992 and love him naturally.
that's all for now Regards Alpha Atibay

This book was a great picture book. Lennox is a sexy, sensitive, and loving man.

I've always liked Lennox Lewis, the man is intelligent & always carries himself with class. And lets not forget how great a boxer he was. This is a nice item to own if you're into Lennox, this girl I was with knew this & bought it as a birthday or christmas present for me (I forget which one), and I was very pleased. Its a hefty piece, a coffee table dweller all in black & white and which basically takes you through the 1999-2001 period with a selection of pictures and interviews.

The book itself is large and nice looking. The photography is more of an artistic nature than run-of-the-mill sports coverage. There are some awesome action shots of Lennox at work versus Evander Holyfield, Michael Grant, and Frans Botha, but far more of Lennox in his past times, playing ball & chess, hangin' in Jamaica and some great material of him in Africa. the girl who follows his camp around and provides the words has a nice style of her own and asks Lennox some interesting stuff. Lennox clowns around a bit & we finally get a glimpse of his real character.

I can't criticise this book, although I did wonder why there were no shots of Lennoxs convincing points win over David Tua from 2000? (A GREAT performance) And bigger & better shots of Lennoxs crushing revenge kayo of Hasim Rachman woulda been cool, and if he'd have waited around a few months longer before realeasing this book we could even had some shots of him waxing Tyson. However all in all this really isn't the overall vibe of the book. The book is a journey through a period of time with the Lewis camp & represented with awesome photography work. Overall a very attractive and lovingly created work & a real nice companion for any fan of Lennox Lewis.

I was very pleased with this purchase and I highly recommend this book to ALL fans of Lennox Lewis. You cannot be disappointed. The photographer, Blaise Hart intelligently and poetically captures various scenes of Lewis's life with the passion of a Rembrandt or Gauguin painting. The compilation of black and white photos not only illuminates and magnifies the intensity of Lennox Lewis's brilliance and presence in the boxing ring but also reveals the sensitivity, charisma and spiritual strength of a man who irrefutably has earned the title of legend and hero. He is a Renaissance man and the quintessential, modern "knight in shining armor." He exudes athletic skill, prowess and power but has the corruscating wit and intellect of a consummate gentleman - a rare breed indeed. He commands respect and is the epitome of velvet-covered steel. I also own "Lennox Lewis - the Autobiography of the WBC Heavyweight Champion of the World with Joe Steeples" which I also highly recommend to ALL Lennox Lewis fans because it provides an even more in-depth, detailed account of his heritage, his childhood and the influential forces which led him into the arena of boxing which would be of interest to any true fan. This book, however should not be overlooked and ignored. If the stunning photos of Lennox Lewis in the ring during heavyweight bouts do not impress you then you will be relieved to discover the photos of Lewis at ease in rural Africa, deliberating in solitude and playing chess which you will be sure to appreciate immensely as I did. You will also read insightful interviews with Lennox Lewis scattered between the presentation of photos which are not only candid but very entertaining. Do not pass this book up. You will regret it if you do. Then again - ignorance is bliss but thank God I chose to not be ignorant here! Lennox Lewis is truly an inspiration to us all.

i was very pleased with this book! i read it in one sitting. the pictures captured both the down to earth and gentle side of this fine gentleman. the only reservation i have is that the book didn't delve deep enough into his personal life. it seems that the author painstakingly avoided it. but the pictures somehow compensated for this. i would recommend this book to any and all who are admirers(most of them female, probably) of this incredible man. you won't be disappointed!

Howard Blackburn accomplished a feat of endurance and spirit that equals any. This is a well told tale of the man who froze his hands to the oars of his dory to row 100 miles in January off Newfoundland. Gripping and substantial, this book stays with you.

It would be too easy to simply say that Howard Blackburn rose above his adversity. I should like to have known more about, or even known him - fisherman, retailer, sailor and philanthropist - here is a man of legend among men of iron. Howard's tale is marvelous; a testament to the pioneers and explorers who follow their restless dreams without compromise. Lone Voyager is a fascinating and enlightening look into the industry of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the men who fought long odds and the compelling draw of a man possessed of his visions.

Though I live in Gloucester and have spent a good many evenings in Howard Blackburn's establishment with his pictures and newspaper articles hanging on the walls, I only recently discovered this book. What a wonderful adventure! The first chapter, which tells the story of the fishing trip during which Blackburn lost his fingers and toes, sets the stage well for the rest of the adventure. And what an adventure it is! Here in Gloucester they talk of the days of "iron men in wooden ships" and Blackburn was the toughest and most indomitable of all those iron men. After surviving the trip that opens the book, he goes on to start his famous tavern in Gloucester, cross the Atlantic twice on his own, sail around Cape Horn and up the Pacific Coast bound for the Klondike, and undertake a perfectly fascinating trip up the Hudson River, through the Erie Canal and the Great Lakes and down the Mississippi.

Because I wrote a book based in the seafaring history of Lake Erie I was particularly gratified to read that Blackburn wrote that of all the waters he ever crossed he considered Lake Erie to have been the worst --- even worse than the Grand Banks in the Atlantic.

Author Joe Garland is well known both as a historian and a sailor and both those skills are well used in the telling of this tale. This is an extraordinary story of an extraordinary man told by an extraordinary writer. What more does a reader want?

I found an old copy of this book and read it a year ago. An incredible true story. I`m glad to see that it is available in paperpback again.

Howard Blackburn was one cool dude! I mean the guy gets caught away from the mother ship and rows for 5 days to live but it costs him all his fingers and that's just the first two chapters! You've got him going off to the Yukon on a gold rush jaunt, a couple of single handed trips across the Atlantic. A circumnavigation of the Eastern US via the Great Lakes and the Misissippi River and around Florida. He just won't quit.

Anyway I bought the book because of the stories about dories, and was hooked by all the other adventures as well.

BTW there is a rowing race of 22 miles in open Atlantic called the "Blackburn Challange" The folks of Glouster loved him.

I picked this book up by chance, while browsing my local library. I found this book to be highly informative and interesting. I am very uneducated regarding the cold war and I know little about the history of any countries besides the United States.

This book paints a distinct and painful picture of life on the run.

What I never realized was just how many refugees there are. All over the world people are forced to give up everything they know, everything they have worked for, everything they have grown accustomed to. That is unless all of there possessions are destroyed before they can willingly leaving them behind.

This book shows how any major change in thinking or political structure can affect millions and millions of people.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in human beings.

... as we are sometimes so fortunate
to stumble upon. Handily makes you stop, think,
reevaluate self and everything around you.
Only criticism: too short.
I want more.

Simply stated, I was profoundly affected by this book and will never look at the world the same way again.

Everyone should read it, maybe the Earth would become a better place.

If I made a list of books everyone should read, this one would right now be number one. Everything that has happened in the last 10,11 years since the breakup of the Soviet Union, is in here- East Germany, Liberia, Somalia, Rwanda, Bosnia- each story told in the context of the lives of one or a few people, which makes these stories so vivid and real. You'll remember the newspaper headlines, and the stories, but in this book it's like you are experiencing it all for the first time, and personally. Fritz is a terrific writer, I promise you won't be bored. Finally it has very special meaning for Americans. Fritz keeps referring to us a s "the world's only superpower", a concept that hasn't really sunk in for most of us, or most of our "leaders" either. So we really need to do a lot of heavy thinking about what we do, how we act, in fulfilling this historicaly unique role. Buy it!

Fritz' repertorial skill and novelistic approach make a less-than-palatable subject read like a gripping detective novel.

His eye for detail and empathy with the people - and the voices - of those tortured souls literally "Lost On Earth" make this book an invaluable document for our fragmented times.

This is definately one of the best Maisy books my 19 month-old owns. (Or should I say, I own-since I love them all!!) Great colors, and great pulls/pop-ups. My son loves to say "Shhhh" on the last page as Maisy is going to bed.

I'm on the third copy of this book - the first two were eaten alive by my children. :)

If you are the parent of a young child, you probably know who Maisy is. She's a mouse with a duck, a squirrel, an elephant, and a crocodile for friends. Why the crocodile isn't trying to eat the others is beyond me, but that's life in Maisy's world.

Both of my daughters love the Maisy books; there's something about their simple stories and colorful pictures that even appeals to adults. The books are short and easy to read. But, the stories are never obnoxiously simplistic, like so many other books for small children.

This is a lift the flap book in which the childen are lifting flaps as Maisy prepares for bed. Believe it or not, this book helped convince one of my daughters to brush her teeth, which is frquently a battle in our house. This is one of the most fun Maisy books to read to your children. One caution, the kids might get a little aggressive with the flaps and tear a few, resulting in the purchase of a new lift the flap book (in our current copy, Maisy's tooth brush has bit the dust).

Maisy is on the way to bed. She has to do a few things before she can snuggle under her covers. Follow Maisy as she gets a drink, uses the potty, washes her hands, brushes her teeth, puts on her pajamas, reads a story, and goes to sleep.

Flaps and tabs on each page make each step fun and interactive for young children. Day turns to night in a window, the toilet flushes and toilet paper pulls out, Maisy brushes her teeth, and her storybook has several pages that children can see.

Ever the gentle, sweet mouse, Maisy is a beloved friend children love to see. The tabs and flaps add to the fun, although children who haven't mastered fine motor skills are likely to experience a little frustration when tabs don't work right or flaps pop off. The toilet seat flap popped off the page while my young daughter played with it. I anticipate an easy fix with the help of our gooey friend "Elmer."

For children who love Maisy and flap/tab books, MAISY GOES TO BED is a definite winner.

Reviewed by Christina Wantz Fixemer
10/20/2006

This is a very cute, sweet book to read at bedtime. All about a little girl mouse & her bedtime preparations.

This is a fast moving novel about a struggling but talented New York-oriented black male writer whose life struggles have become a roller coaster ride through American, European and global racism. The axis of the novel revolves around how America deals with the race issue, and in particular how it deals with the issue of black male on white female sexual encounters.

The story is told through the eyes of a character called Max Reddick, a slightly hip, emerging intellectual, who wants to write like Charley Parker plays the Sax, but yet he is still a very much struggling black writer. Max seems to have as his number one goal in life that of decoding the game being played against blacks by the white man. Or maybe (and the novel leaves this up to the reader) this goal is just a normal by-product of being a black man in a white man's world. Very quickly Max realizes that "politics white boy-style" is just another way white people try to lead black people back to their proper "place" in society: in effect telling them through indirection how to think, feel, and when and how to act, and even how to suffer.

Max travels to Europe where he ends up in a select intellectual circle, that very much respects his manuscript, and where he eventually marries and later divorces a Danish woman who remained his friend even long after the marriage has ended, and who takes care of him at the end of the novel as he dies of cancer.

At the meta-psychological level, the novel proves Ishmael Reed's postulate: that writing, "is fighting and struggling by other more respectable means," as Williams gets to use his pen as his last, and most profound act of rebellion. The book thus is as Walter Mosley has described it as "a shout from deep within some existential void" that resonates on the same frequency of all struggling blacks: suspended invisible in a world that rejects blackness without the need for a cause or a reason, where "Black people have been hollering out in pain for centuries, fighting for freedom, dying in slavery, belittled by little [white] men, and denied by kings and history. Sometimes these black folk have just laid down and died. But mostly they have survived with deformed psyches and distorted notions of the world. Sometimes evil has begotten evil and the one-time slave has slaughtered and even cannibalized his oppressor."

As his personal life spins out of control and he contracts cancer, Max puts down on paper in a scatological way, what everyone else in everyday American society is thinking but cannot say aloud, and in this respect, William's novel is not only a shout from the void, but also a supremely iconoclastic and urgent psychological analysis not unlike Dostoyevsky.

While its organization is structurally very scattered, it still gets its message across. Clearly the novel has a deep existentialist basis and draws on existential themes and metaphors. However, at its core is the notion that at the end of the day, when everything is said and done, the only thing "real" in American society is white racism. Everything else its humanity, its values, its ideals, are subordinate and are carefully calibrated and measured in terms of how they affect the sensitively regulated "white supremacist status quo." According to Max's way of thinking, equality, freedom, and democracy are merely the chips used to move the pieces around the white supremacist chessboard. America and all of its "so-called" ideals are just byproducts of the hard core white supremacist ideology, which lies deep in the nation's bosom. Toward the end of the novel, Max leaves no doubt that "the man" will go to great lengths to protect his white male hero system--including the complete annihilation of the black race if necessary. Max thinks blacks are up to the task, able to match whites, evil for evil to the bitter end. [I, for one, think he is wrong in this regard.]

The book is sprinkled with deeply troubling characters and scenes that reflect Max's deteriorating state of mind, such as the following passage about Moses Boatwright, a Black cannibal and Rhodes scholar, who, after being run mad by racism, killed a white man and ate him. In a mock interview, Boatwright tells Max (acting as a reporter) that: "This world is an illusion, Mr. Reddick, but it can be real. I went prowling on the jungle side of the road where few people ever go because there are things there, crawling, slimy, terrible things that always remind us that down deep we are rotten, stinking beasts. Now, because of what I did, someone will work a little harder to improve the species." (page 53).

The book is filled with images such as this one that have both over and under tones that are frightening in their symbolic implications. This is deep, modern, intense writing. Fifty stars.

This book I happen to stumble on while looking for another book here on Amazon. Wow what a great read! Absoloutley well written and eloquent. A must read for all.

There is this book and Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison that have proven to be one of the best examples of African American writing during the turbulent Civil Rights Era which really hasn't ended. This novel is frequently compared to Invisible Man as the main character Max Riddick goes through a journey, an evolution and recalls his life in flashbacks, goes through a expatriate American phase going to Europe in hopes of finding a better audience for his writing only to find that the same kind of racism he encountered in the States only less blatant. His motivation goes from trying to best his rival Harry Ames, to phsyical survival, to trying to find a resolution to his own issues with a society that objectives him and his experience being a black man in America.

I first read this book in 1968, as Cleveland burned and after a copy boy on my paper had asked me about a U.S. plan to imprison blacks in concentration camps. I told the kid he was nuts.
After reading the book, however, I realized that Williams was fictionalizing the McCarran Act, which set up the very scheme the kid was worrying about.
That law is still on the books.

A neglected classic by a writer who some consider equal to Ralph Ellison in importance. One fascinating aspect is its fictionalized treatment of some of the century's famous black literary figures. It's a portrait of the post-WWII-through-mid-sixties period as seen through the eyes of a black writer as he establishes a career as a novelist, journalist, and Presidential speechwriter in New York, Paris, Washington, D.C., and Lagos, Nigeria. The main character, Max Reddick, is shaped by anger, at the crux of which is indignation at the hypocrisy and hostility that black people and writers faced during this period. It's a historical novel which provides some insight into the social and political ferment of the sixties, and has an Afrocentric perspective that's somewhat reminiscent of Walter Mosley's work. It includes an intruiging fictionalized version of a mythic encounter between Richard Wright and James Baldwin ("Marion Dawes") in a Paris café, and according to James Sallis's biography of Chester Himes, it describes the essence of Wright's expatriate experience and his relationship with Himes. Ishmael Reed has said that the cartoonist Ollie Harrington is depicted, and although I didn't recognize him, Malcolm X is unmistakable and I suspect that "Time" Curry is modelled after jazz drummer Kenny Clarke, who was living in Paris at the time. According to the author's biography of Richard Pryor, Motown explored the possibility of buying the film rights to the novel as a vehicle for its star, Marvin Gaye, until the idea was abandoned in favor of Lady Sings the Blues.

The story begins near the end as Max, who's dying of cancer, sits at an outdoor café in Amsterdam where he's come to investigate the mystery of the death of his friend, Harry Ames, "the father of black writers," a few days earlier in Paris. What he eventually discovers is mind-blowing.

Throughout the novel, Max opines on a multitude of subjects like: Marxism, African independence and African attitudes towards Americans, sexuality and interracial relationships (he works past some of his homophobia too), the different styles of reporters from 5 major NYC newspapers, the theory of the rich president and other political theories, the "lie" of Christmas ("the rich man's chance to dissipate the image of Scrooge"), American cars (with their "long, buttock-smooth lines"), existentialism, and Alban Berg's atonal opera, "Wozzeck" (whose climax, a child's scream, punctuates Max's argument with his woman). Max interprets bebop's message as, "we can not be contained," and modern jazz becomes the avatar of his literary aesthetic: "He wanted to do with the novel what Charlie Parker was doing to music -- tearing it up and remaking it; basing it on nasty, nasty blues and overlaying it with the deep overriding tragedy not of Dostoevsky, but an American who knew of consequences to come: Herman Melville, a super Confidence Man, a Benito Cereno saddened beyond death."