Bryant Books

In 1786 19-year-old Mary has been sentenced to hang for stealing a lady's bonnet - but instead finds herself on a prison ship bound for Botany Bay in Australia. Told in the first person, this tells of her struggles on the ship, her new life on land, and her journey into adulthood and family life.

There are several reasons why I strongly recommend this book to adults and younger readers. First is the simplicity and clarity (maybe authenticity is a better word) of the writing. I felt as if Mary Bryant were talking rather than being talked for. The Hausmans allow her spirit and courage to come through in a way that keeps the sadness or difficulty of the events of Mary's life from overwhelming the story. The story rings true historically, especially with the conditions on the "death" ships and life in the colonies. Knowing that the story is true brings not only Mary alive, but also the richness and complexity of life in the late 1700's. I am in awe of the Hausmans' research, their skill, perseverance and creativity.

If someone were to say that the content of the story (imprisonment, cruelty, death) is too "heavy" for juvenile readers, I would respond that the handling of Mary's character lifts the story out of the realm of defeat and disaster. Children look for stories that are honest about the scariness of the world but also show them how they and/or the spirit can triumph. Importantly in this story, the triumph or survival comes from who Mary is, not from some external magic potion. The fact that Mary is a true historical person and not fictional is also important, especially since the story itself is so very readable--it lets kids see that real people and real life are interesting and exciting, that history is made of real people just trying to get back home.
Adolescent girls need (yearn) to read about real heroines like Mary, not the psuedo-women who are really just macho men with breasts who are passed off as heroines in movies and TV. There is just a real need for stories like Mary's to be told with the love and quality with which the Hausmans told Mary Bryant's story. As Boswell worked hard to free the real Mary, so the authors have freed the historical Mary.

I wanted to read this book, which actually covers the subject from 1910 to 1948, rather than as the title listed here indicates (1920-1948) because I wanted to know more about the flamboyant and racist Coleman Blease who in the early part of this century was such a prominent figure in South Carolina's politics. This book does tell a lot about Blease and his connection with the mill workers of South Carolina, but I found even more interesting the account of the career of Olin D. Johnston. Those who only watched his career in the U.S. Senate, once he finally got there, on his third attempt, in 1945, may not (as I did not) realize the extraordinary positions he took while Governor from 1935 to 1939--he took over the highway department by force, defying a Supreme Court ruling--and that he ran in 1938 against Cotton Ed Smith on a platform of 100% support for FDR. The racist climate of South Carolina got to him, however, and not till he became more anti-Negro was he finally elected. The book also relates the fascinating account of Peter Richard Moody, a student at Wofford College, and the poem he wrote in 1936 which led the Legislature to order a mental examination of Moody, and the funny account of the result of the mental exam. The book traces the efforts and hopes of the disadvantaged millhands, and amply justifies the title of the work. Anyone interested in Southern politics should read this enlightening and well-researched book. The bibliography alone runs 30 pages, and I found the book unique in its subject. A minor note: a footnote on page 291 says poet Moody became a professor at the U.S. Military Academy, whereas it appears that actually he was at the Air Force Academy.

Fabric of Defeat's title sounds like a downer, but this is an wonderful book that is fun to read. Simon does a particularly good job of talking about race in an industry that was "lily white," as the saying goes. He manages to discuss racist white workers without either apologizing for them or indicting them. Rather he gives texture to their racial ideas, explaining how views of race and class changed in relation to each other as the New Deal broadened the political vision of South Carolina's millworkers. This is a book I would certainly assign to undergraduates.

This book was very funny and the pictures were great. I liked the one of the cow wearing a tutu!

My daughter and I both loved this book. The humor is wonderful and the illustrations vibrant and hilarious.
I highly recommend it for bedtime (or anytime) reading!

I had the utmost privelege of studying under Dr. Bryant Bachman. He is an amazing spirit that wrote on my soul. These are unique stories; if you enjoy myth and fantasy, then you will love them. I never did take the Icelandic class where the students studied the language as well as the texts, and that is something that I will always regret. If you are thinking of picking up this book, then don't hesitate. A piece of Dr. Bachman is in those books, and that is enough reason to have them on your shelf!

Bryant Bachman has brought to life some of the most fascinating tales in literature. Originally written in Old Icelandic, these stories contain bold dynamic characters and dark existentialist themes that resonate for the modern reader as strongly today as when they were written. Bachman's book is probably the best in this field. While exactingly precise, his translations still manage to capture all of the excitement, humor, and poignancy of these stories.

The Mom's Choice Awards® honors excellence in family-friendly media, products and services. An esteemed panel of judges includes education, media and other experts as well as parents, children, librarians, performing artists, producers, medical and business professionals, authors, scientists and others. A sampling of the panel members includes: Dr. Twila C. Liggett, Ten-time Emmy-winner, professor and founder of Reading Rainbow; Julie Aigner-Clark, Creator of Baby Einstein and The Safe Side Project; Jodee Blanco, New York Times Best-Selling Author; LeAnn Thieman, Motivational speaker and coauthor of seven Chicken Soup For The Soul books; Florrie Binford-Kichler, Founder of Patria Press, Inc.- an award-winning independent publisher and Member of The Children's Book Council; Tara Paterson, Certified Parent Coach, and founder of The Just For Mom Foundation(tm) and the Mom's Choice Awards®. Parents and educators look for the Mom's Choice Awards® seal in selecting quality materials and products for children and families. This book has been honored by this distinguished award.

My kids love Freckles! We bought the first FRECKLES book and found it was perfect bedtime reading. Then we found out about Freckles and The Great Beach Rescue. My children pretend to play the sand games that Freckles and Pinch play in the story, and they really like the turtles too. Both FRECKLES books, along with the plush toy are so adorable. Can't wait for the next adventure!!

Well organized, funny introduction, and good examples from real commercial computer games. Uses usage statistics to prioritize tests.

Traditional program testing has come a long way in 50 years but the complexity, time constraints and variety of situations facing game testers is at the edge of the software testing world.

The authors combine authentic experience with Computer Games and Game Testing in a logical, pragmatic and interesting way. They long ago reasoned that it is very costly (if not sometimes impossible) to test all possible paths through a game's options and through the application of some insightful statistical approaches present ways to reduce the total number of tests required under certain assumptions. To me this one insight was worth the cost of the book.

Beyond this outstanding statistical testing insight for the workers in the field, the expository material that covers Games is exceptionally good for the individual trying to put the whole field in perspective. In Part I they address "Being a Game Tester" (with a side venture later in the book to identify different game testing personalities) followed by a good discussion of "Why Testing is Important". Part II talks about the "Making of a Game" while Part III introduces the concepts and vocabulary of Testing. In Part IV the authors bring in the concept of Combinatorial Testing ( another statistical approach) and present it in a step by step way so that the tester can perform the testing suite without knowing all of the theory behind that approach. "Test Flow Diagrams", "Cleanroom Testing" and "Test Trees" adds very modern disciplined techniques to the testing tool process that will prove of value. Part V discusses some advanced testing ideas all of which are very practical in the fast evolving world of Games.

The authors seem to have been brought together and inspired to write just at the time when the field realizes that loosely structured ad-hoc testing may be costing more than the field can afford.

I'm a midwife and an author. Pregnant women for the past 30 years have asked me '...but what does labor/birth really FEEL like?' Dorothy Bryant, by choosing to have her main character be blind and placing her in a situation where she is totally alone in a remote cabin when she gives birth, has written one of the most gripping and realistic accounts of what it's really like that I've ever read.
A small masterpiece, just for that part of the story alone.

The Garden of Eros is a book about a woman who is blind and pregnant. It is the story of her birth and what goes through her mind as her labor progresses. It tells about her spiritual and emotional growth throughout her experience. She is transformed not only through the birth of her child, but more importantly through her ability to endure. It is a fabulously empowering book for every pregnant woman to read. I recommend it to every one of my friends!

I was first introduced to this little book over twenty years ago. Dr. Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, mentioned it in an audio tape, saying, "I usually don't recommend daily devotionals, but one has changed my life: Andrew Murrey's "God's Best Secrets." I have a well-worn hard-bound copy of the twenty-first printing (1976) that I keep coming back to and using as my daily meditation over several others by such luminaries as A.W. Tozer and J. Sidlow Baxter. Great as those are, Murray's book is simply the best--a well of faith-building insights that never runs dry. If you are evangelical in your theology, do yourself a favor and start the new year (the new millennium as I write this) with this book daily in hand.

This book is a daily cleanser for the soul. Reading just one devotional a day helps you to seek the Lord all day long. Andrew Murray does a great job on helping people realize that they need to come to God everyday and spend time with Him. It has really helped me do this, and, on top of that has brought me to a closer, more personal, relationship with God. This book covers many secrets on how to live a more profound Chritian walk. It's a great book to read over and over again because there's so much to get out of every devotional.

Mr. Tolles has reached a perfect balance of scholarly research and easy reading in a "coffee-table book" format. As someone who lives in the area with a strong interest in Tolles' subject matter (I own the annex building to the Sunset Hill House hotel) I can also vouch for the accuracy of what he has written.
A wonderful book, beautifully presented, highly readable and visually involving. Anyone with a love of history, architecture, romance, travel, or their ancestors is sure to enjoy it as much as I and my guests do.

This well-researched and informative book about the grand resort hotels of the White Mountains is simply one of those books which you add with pride to your library collection. It shows the hotel's importance in the architectural and social historical realm of New England and American history. It is full of andedotes on the hotel industry and is a vastly entertaining social picture. The book is full of many illustrations of present and long-gone hotels, 200 b&w and a number of color plates. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in the hospitality history of this country, and the importance in the realm of things that the hotel places. Dr. Tolles have expertly brought this subject to life and I commend him for it.

I love this book just like I all of The Saddle Club books.
Funny and need to be read

Stevie is sure that Mr. diAngelo is going to buy Pine Hollow, so she gets the Saddle Club together to try to drum up business. Hilarious and suspenseful. Please read!!!