Bryant Books

In a voice reminiscent of Robert Graves's I, Claudius, Mike Bryant weaves a conversational tapestry that energetically illustrates the intrigues, adventures, and individuals that peopled the end of the Middle Ages. Many have cautioned that the facts should never get in the way of historical fiction, but Bryant deftly manages to balance imagination and veracity in his carefully researched work. With an eye for detail and a wonderful appreciation of human foibles, Bryant has created a world that historian and dilettante alike can appreciate for its truth and humor.

The mark of a quality historical novel is how much it teaches as well as entertains. Unlike mere pot-boilers that tend to create a great deal of misinformation (such as the DaVinci Code or the action flick National Treasure), Mike Bryant's 1066 reveals that truth is indeed far stranger, and infinitely more meaningful, than pure fiction.

His work unveils the Britannia of a millennium ago - a tangle of Germanic and Norse roots, and decidedly fractured in its religions, tribes, and confidence.

Like the Bayeux Tapestry, he also unravels every intricate thread of a moment in time that indeed changed time itself - the Battle of Hastings. 1066 relives the decisive hours, when the rabidly ambitious and dangerously eccentric William, Duke of Normandy, amputates ancient Britain from its Scandinavian flesh for all eternity, and injects it with a mercurial dose of Norman vengeance.

Not only a compelling story, 1066: A Novel is a supreme vehicle for understanding the faiths and fears, weapons and warriors, and legends that turned the Anglo world upside down, and inside out.

I teach a college course in Medieval History and plan on assigning this novel for my next class. Bryant's work is a testament to the fact that a great story, and great history, can be one and the same.

This is a brilliant historical novel that chronicles nearly six decades of poignant Anglo Saxon history. The author artfully describes the relationships of English nobility with the Vikings and ruling leaders of adjoining nations, and strategies employed in eleventh century struggles for power. The vivid description of battle tactics and individual warrior efforts made me feel as though I was an actual combatant or witness to the barbaric acts of wielding battle axes, swords, spears and arrows.

This book does an exceptionally fine job of detailing the significance of the Church in everyday affairs in this medieval period. It also depicts the active role the Church played in the approval of officials selected for State positions and the planning and execution of major conflicts. When nobility issued a call to arms in their kingdom in the form of a fyrd (draft), no one was exempt who could wield a sword, an ax or a prayer. The role of monks and church official officials in the battlefield is clearly told from the viewpoint of a former monastery novice.

We may find it strange that a ruling noble would be illiterate. The author points that the void was filled well by educated clerics who could both read and write. To convey a message to a noble in another kingdom, the noble merely had to order a cleric to act as a scribe. This would insure that the message was conveyed exactly as intended and assure that the cleric had a valued place in the noble's court.

The description of various ploys, plots, attempted and successful assassinations in the ranks of English nobility were numerous. It makes one feel it was anything but a "free ride" to become the next heir to an earldom or kingdom. These were dangerous times and the author does a masterful job in presenting them to the reader.

I particularly enjoyed the insightful depth of knowledge in describing traditional and seemingly small (but significant) ploys. These were used by aggressors and defenders in planning military activities or actual conduct of sieges and battles. The cunning strategies used by the ruling "insiders" and the deposed, exiled or out of favor "outsiders" are exposed with amazing clarity. The plot seemed to always thicken and kept my interest from cover to cover.

In addition to the above, the interdiction of humor in historical accounts is both novel and well done.

This was a very very good book. You really should read it if you are as horse crazy as I am.

This was a really good book. I definitly reccomend it. It was really thrilling! YOU MUST BUY IT!

For winter break, Carol Hanson finds out she is going to Florida for Mid-winter break to her cousin's house. She is really excited, and although she will miss her horse, Starlight, she knows her two best friends and other members of the Saddle Club (Lisa and Stevie) will take care of him. Carol's cousin, Shiela, loves horses, but she owns a pony that is alittle oo small for her (since she is 16). She doesn't want to part with her beloved pony, and her parents are trying to convince her to get a 'real' horse. Then, while playing at the beach, Carol gets caught in a riptide. Can Shiela's pony prove itself worthy by saving Carol?

This is a great book, I think one of the best Saddle Club books I've read. If you've never read Saddle Club books before, the author (Bonnie Bryant) makes it so you can start anywhere in the series without getting confused, so you can read this book first if you wish! A great book for people anywhere between 10 and 15, but if you are younger or older than that, I'm sure you'd love it, too!

Before reading this fascinating account by Bryant Nichols, I had no idea who Christopher Newport was. This man was an amazing adventurer who was a pioneer in global trade and was also a legendary privateer who didn't mind crossing swords with enemies of England when asked to by the crown. Nichols' book is well documented, easy to read and full of really interesting facts. For example, Newport and his crew didn't starve when shipwrecked in Bermuda, because a hundred years earlier the Spanish, following their own code of the sea, threw pigs overboard off the shores of Bermuda to be an emergency food supply for future shipwrecked mariners! I never heard that in history class. Perhaps the greatest insight of the book, into the soul of this legendary sea captain, was found in the transcription of Newport's last will and testament, where the reader learns how Newport could and did look death squarely in the eye without fear. Great research, great adventure, great book. I can't wait for the movie!

A. Bryant Nichols accurately and descriptively captures the life of Captain Christopher Newport. While reading through history is not generally the easiest of tasks, Nichols' brilliantly written biography walks you through the exciting live of Captain Newport as if it were a novel! As a follower of Captain Newport history I can legitimately say that this book is historically accurate and beautifully written. For anyone who wants to learn the real story of the beginning of America this book is for you! The book not only contains the written adventures of Captain Newport but also contains beautiful artwork and maps that were meticulously supplied by Nichols. This is hands down the best source of information on Captain Newport and coincidently a terrific read. I am impressed.

A fascinating and belated book! Christopher Newport is much better known in his home country of England than in the nation he helped found 400 years ago. An outstanding and successful privateer in Queen Elizabeth's navy in spite of being one-armed, he led the colonists who settled Jamestown in 1607. Yet even here, in the city named for him, he is a virtual unknown. Unknown that is when compared to John Smith, who of course wrote the books and preferred himself to any other potential hero. As a previous reviewer noted, Bryant Nichols has meticulously researched his subject, and has at last lit Christopher Newport with the spotlight he so richly deserves.

This book gave me the inspiration to go to Paris some day. It is about Charlotte and her friend, Sophie looking for her lost cat named Orangina. There is a thief in Paris that took the Picasso sketch and is in big trouble. You should read this book because it tells you lots of interesting things about Paris and life there. I couldn't put this book down once I started it.

This is about a girl called Charlotte visiting her friends and hoping to find her cat, Orangina. Instead, the visit ends up being a Picasso-involved mystery! I can't tell you more becaus you have to read it for yourself. It is a great book for all girls.

Charlotte in Paris is a great book! It's a must-read for all young girls. It makes me want to go to Paris, and it's just a really good book. Parents should buy it for their girls!

This book was very helpful in my understanding of childhood asthma. I know this is an increasing problem in the last few years, and this is a great resource. I especially liked the section on asthma myths - so many of those have been spread around causing misinformation and misunderstanding. I would highly recommend this to parents of children with asthma, and for healthcare professionals that care for these children. Bravo!

As a parent of a child with asthma, it can be very confusing to understand all the different medications my child takes, and the different tests that she has had. This book helps to make all that clear. I would strongly recommend it for any parents of children with asthma. I feel that I can trust the information from this reputable source.

I loved it. As a pediatric pulmonologist, I found this book very helpful for my discussions with families. Chapter 4, "Medicines: The Right Way" was particularly outstanding. I recommend this book to all my patients. Asthma is an incredibly common problem in children and there have not been good resources to distribute or recommend. Thank you!

I've participated in several Companions in Christ classes, and I can't recommend them highly enough. What I liked best about the class that this workbook is for was that it gave me the chance to explore spiritual exercises I would not normally have thought "were for me." This included several methods of reading scripture, several methods of relating scripture to my own life, and several methods of prayer. I decided at the beginning of the class that as an act of faith I would do anything asked of me in a daily exercise, whether it seemed to be "me" or not; that I would treat each as a learning experience and that I would get more out of it by putting more into it. I am glad I did this, for the class was a very rich experience, and four years after I first took the class, I am still enriched by things I tried for the first time as an exercise from this book.

I am sure it would be possible to have a not-great Companions class, but all three of the ones I've taken at my Episcopal church have been personally fulfilling and also have brought about much deeper relationships among the people who have participated.

Wonderful and balanced book. Great inspirational quotes from the best!! Good solid Christian teaching and formation.

If you are looking for a way to bridge the gap between church and world, this is the course to use. Approaching the Christian tradition as spirituality, Companions in Christ uses daily Bible reflection and simple, but profound journal questions and a weekly small group meeting to build community.

I was waiting until someone else wrote a review before I could write one myself.

For starters, I am over the age 13 and I am not a kid or even a child. But I don't have an account and wanted to put down a review.

The author of this book is related to one of my best friends. I was able to get this book at a discount. I was reluctant to buy it at first, but glad I bought this book.

I love this book, in fact its one of my favorite books in my entire collection of books that I own. Its hilarious and the various story lines in it is excellent. I could hardly put the book down myself, it was just that excellent. But because there are alot of sexual references in this book, I advise you not allow little kids to see. As I was told by my friend, her relative also the author of this book, was told that this book is for those at the age of 18 and over.

Anyway, if you have a chance to read this book, do so. You will enjoy it.

I also apologize if my review seems biased. I understand that it appears that way because I have a friend who happens to be related to the author. I can assure you, I am not writing this review just so sales of this book can improve. I actually did read this and enjoyed it. I apologize if you feel that I was forced in any way to write a review, but I can assure you of that as well that noone paid me to do this. Please support this new author. Once again this book is amazing and I recommend it.

I was waiting until someone else wrote a review before I could write one myself.

For starters, I am over the age 13 and I am not a kid or even a child. But I don't have an account and wanted to put down a review.

The author of this book is related to one of my best friends. I was able to get this book at a discount. I was reluctant to buy it at first, but glad I bought this book.

I love this book, in fact its one of my favorite books in my entire collection of books that I own. Its hilarious and the various story lines in it is excellent. I could hardly put the book down myself, it was just that excellent. But because there are alot of sexual references in this book, I advise you not allow little kids to see. As I was told by my friend, her relative also the author of this book, was told that this book is for those at the age of 18 and over.

Anyway, if you have a chance to read this book, do so. You will enjoy it.

I also apologize if my review seems biased. I understand that it appears that way because I have a friend who happens to be related to the author. I can assure you, I am not writing this review just so sales of this book can improve. I actually did read this and enjoyed it. I apologize if you feel that I was forced in any way to write a review, but I can assure you of that as well that noone paid me to do this. Please support this new author. Once again this book is amazing and I recommend it.

More than anything you will identify with the charecters and will not be able to put th ebook down till it's done. The author combines charecters that feel real and a series of story lines that connect a group a friends as they try to find their own paths to love. I personally can't wait till the next book or whatever else the author might have planned. Good job!

I purchased this dot to dot book to help my 5yr old expand on his recognition and learning of numbers. He enjoys dot to dot books.

My 3-1/2 year old daughter loves this book! The colorful dot pictures motivated her to use her pencils and markers to connect the dots all by herself. The dot-to-dot activities also helps her with her numbers. And, of course, she loves to find out what dinosaur is revealed once she finishes. I've been known to complete one or two of the pictures myself!

Our almost 6 year old boy will go through these really quickly (and he has 2 younger brothers who will like them sometime) so I cut the pages out of this book and slipped them inside Mead's sheet protectors for 3-ring binders. He completes the puzzles with overhead markers and then when he is done (or makes a mistake) we wipe it off with a wet cloth and it is like new again! He likes mazes, too, so I plan to do the same with the Usborne maze books.

This story ended completely different than I thought it was going to until late in the book. The characters were so attractive I hope the author writes a sequel.

Nora Roberts came to mind as I read this touching story. The drama of the difficulty between the main characters made it hard to put down.

I really enjoyed this book. The story line has everything that Danielle Steele offers, but without the redundancy. The plot is clever but plausible. This was fun reading.

This mini-anthology has a wide range of hockey stories from one written by the American, Pulitzer-winning author William Faulkner (this story was junk, though well written if you like Faulkner) to life on the road as a minor league player hoping to be called up (poignantly and rawly written like the life itself), to a homily to Toe Blake, to a portrait of The Great One (Gretzky) by Peter Gzowski, to how to make your own backyard rink.

The quality of writing is generally very good and virtually every story offers an interesting perspective on the game. Stories are short so you can read one on the subway or before you go to bed at night. All in all, a decent hard cover to have on your bookshelf.

I've read a lot of hockey books and found most of them to be light on substance from either a literary or technical standpoint. This collection, however, captures so many of the nuances and back stories that make the game of hockey so incredibly unique. E.M. Swifts piece titled "A Reminder Of What We Can Be" is my favorite hockey story ever. I was a 15 year old hockey player at the time the United States beat the Soviet Union and I remember following that team in the papers all winter. When the big game was tape delayed, I was so disappointed because I had a game that night and we didn't have a VCR back then. One of the fathers had a B&W television going in the penalty box and although we new the outcome, both teams decided to stop play and huddle around that television to watch the 3rd period. We hugged and high fived as if we had beaten the mighty Russians ourselves. That moment in time was a rare convergence of what is great about life and hockey. E.M. Swift clearly understands the meaning.
"Facing The Shooter" by Wilkinson is a fantastic account of what its really like to play the most stressful position in sports, hockey goaltender.
This book may be a bit difficult for younger readers to get through and grasp, but older fans will appreciate the depth and quality of the writing.

Reviewed by Beverly Pechin for Reader Views (2/07)

Being an avid hockey fan I wasn't too expectant upon reading "short stories" about the great moments in hockey and being surprised by what they had to say. Imagine my delight when I found not only interesting and completely out of the ordinary tales of some of the most memorable moments in hockey, right before my eyes, but stories told that I knew with inside looks that make them seem completely different than any other I've read.

"The Greatest Hockey Stories Ever Told" is a wonderful compilation of stories regarding the greatest game on ice, hockey. With everything from "The Miracle Team" from a perspective you probably have never heard before to "A Portrait of The Great One," Wayne Gretzky, you will find each story with its own form and style, told like no other. With so many authors contributing to the book, there is an infinite amount of perspectives that you probably have never seen before on the game. Hockey greats like Toe Blake, Wayne Gretzky, and the infamous Montreal Canadiens and their years of reign are all topics of conversation in this great book of hockey stories and memories.

The style and content are so unique to any other hockey book I've ever read that I am somewhat speechless as to how to compare it to anything else. Loaded with stories, insider's views, coaches' memories, team moments and so much more, any true hockey fan will relish this special book and all its content. The ability to read a story and put it down to come back to later makes it a great book to simply keep around to get your "hockey fix," especially out of season! So after the Cup Craze is over, pull up a seat and enjoy an inside look at the real life stories of hockey and all of its glorious moments. Even the most well-versed and trivia filled amongst us will find an inside look at this great life on and off the ice in "The Greatest Hockey Stories Ever Told."