Bryant Books

This book was fun to read from start to finish....it's about an assortment of feisty women of all ages, shapes and sizes who are best friends and formed a group called the Gumshoe girls.....they do private detective work. They're so spunky that it makes you wish you either knew them or were lucky enough and brave enough to be one of them. The characters are funny, believable and some are a little naughty........interesting read....can't wait for the next installment.

This is not your typical detective story. The characters are believable and funny, and the use of dialect is subtle and accessible. I loved the story line, and the ending caught me flat-footed. I usually figure these things out. I'll be looking for the next "Gumshoe Girls" novel. A talented new writer with a bright future.

I liked the book. It would teach you alot about buying horses and what to look for in buying the right horse for yourself. In this book, Carole, Stevie, and Lisa have to find a home for Veronica DiAngelo's old horse, Garnet, when Veronica gets a new expensive Thoroughbred. Although, I should point out one thing, it said in the book the Danny, Veronica's new Thoroughbred states that his bloodlines trace back to Secretariat, and they say state in the book that Secretariat is a son of Man O' War. That is an incorrect fact. Secretariat was sired by Bold Ruler and Man O' War was long dead before Secretariat even came into the racing world. Other than that it was a good bok with alot of facts.

I liked this book a lot because it described some of the kind of people who go around looking for a horse that doesn't suit their knowledge OR riding ability! It has a good ending and I enjoyed rereading it yesterday. A must read for horse lovers selling their horses!

When rich, snobby girl Veronica's stirrup leathers are slashed during a very important riding lesson every one suspects Stevie Lake, Pine Hollow's practical joker. But Stevie's friends know she would NEVER do something that could even possibly injure a horse. Who slashed the leathers, can Stevie's friends prove she's innocent?

You should definatly read this book.Veronica is such a brat i can't stand her.Saddle club fans e-mail me please,i don't have any horse crazy friends to talk to.

You really can't go wrong with SS! All the books and movies are wholesome and entertaining. I love reading them to my daughter and watching the movies with her. Actually, my son loves them too but would never admit it to his friends (he's 9). Good thing he has a little sister ;)

My three-year-old fights sleep, but we have found that we can read her to sleep with the various Strawberry books. They are cute enough to maintain her attention, but not so exciting as to wake her back up. The names of characters and places can be a bit much for adults to take, but I will probably buy more books in the series since they teach good lessons about friendship & sharing (and they do help settle our little night owl!)

It is indeed good news to see Scott Joplin's Treemonisha published as a children's book. In addition to its artistic qualities, Joplin hoped that his opera would promote social change among his people. Most were living in conditions not much better than slavery and he knew that the way to prosperity was through education, such as he had been privileged to receive. The idea that Treemonisha is about feminist issues is completely absurd. I don't have a friend whose father was a member of Joplin's band but I do know what Joplin personally had to say in the preface to the opera: "Treemonisha was the only educated person in the neighborhood, the other children being still in ignorance on account of their inablility to travel so far to school. Treemonisha, being eighteen years old, now starts on her career as a teacher and leader." Obviously education was the key to Treemonisha's status. That she is a woman simply serves to point out that education empowers all, black and white, male and female.

I enjoyed reading your book. A friend of mine, knowning that I had written the story also, and am awaiting its printing, brought me a copy. Your illustrator is very good. I enjoyed his work. Somehow, I got the impression that Remus becomes the leader of the village. Am I correct. If so, that is not what Joplin was about. He was about female leadership. That is why she asked the question to the crowd three times in three different ways. That is also why the opera was not picked up by the publishers. Woman sufferage was a sore topic at that time, and would not have created a reason for another million dollar block buster for them. Joplin was way ahead of his time in that aspect. I have a friend whose father was in Joplin's band, and she was able to give me added insight to the man. I'm glad you did the book. Nevilla E. Ottley

I just got this book and I have to say that White Wolf just keeps making me happier with the Trinity game. This latest in the Field Report books tells you very important and informative information on the 3 main races in the game. This book is a must for any Trinity player or GM!

The information of the Three main Alien races in this book is astounding. It gives Gms and Players a like great ideas and settings, along with a few surprises,

I purchased this book in 2004 for it's original retail price of US$27.95. Now I see used copies selling for more than $300 on amazon.com. This book is a terrific analysis of what we now know, as the sub-title 'The Underrated Hazard' suggests, an extraordinarily prescient work outlining the causes and historical occurences of one of the earth's more destructive natural phenomenon, tsunamis.

Please, CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS, encourage Mr. Bryant to update this extraordinarily informative book with an analyse of the earthquake and tsunami of December 26, 2004.

In a lot of science books written for the general reader, the complaint is that the material is sensationalistic and over-simplified. Edward Bryant almost errs in the other direction. His evidence that very large Tsunami have played a key role in shaping many coastal regions is extremely well-presented and will contain lots of new information for even dedicated followers of Earth Science news.

On the other hand, while reading information about landscapes re-arranged by truly massive "mega-tsunami," one sometimes longs for livelier prose. The book may also be something of a slog now and then for people with no background in Earth Science.

I would recommend this book highly to anyone with a serious interest in the subject, and certainly to anyone who needs to consider tsunami from a policy-making point of view.

For all of those interested in Tibetan Buddhism, Bryant's book would be a wonderful gift. This book is fun to look at; it is full of pictures of mandalas being made, the details of the mandala, and the Kalachakra ceremony. The information Bryant presents is not too ponderous for those with a casual interest, instead it provides a variety of fascinating tidbets. He discusses the history of the ceremony, as well as the meanings of actions during the ritual itself. Having heard Bryant speak to groups at one Kalachakra ceremony in India many years ago, I know that he has long been associated with the Tibetan refugee community, and the Dalai Lama. This long term interest enriches the book, and provides depth to the accounts of modern ceremonies.

Written by Barry Bryant in full cooperation with the Namgyal Monastery, and featuring a forward by the XIV Dalai Lama, The Wheel Of Time Sand Mandala: Visual Scripture Of Tibetan Buddhism is a welcome and informative introduction to the creation of the Kalachakra Sand Mandala (also known as the Wheel of Time), an act done by monks of Tibetan Buddhism for the purpose of promoting worldwide peace and healing. Black-and-white illustrations, along with a brief selection of color photographs, enhance this captivating and very highly recommended account.

Smith captured the essence of the rural south in a single novel. "When The Children Get Together" keeps the reader flipping pages as the characters come to life with each page. Smith proves to be one of the greatest writers of this particular genre that has come on the scene. If one has not read or obtained a copy of this novel, you have missed one of the greatest opportunities of a life time.

This is an absolutely adorable tale of an African-American teen brat-pack, their trials, dreams, disappointments, self-realizations and successes. Beginning with their middle school friendship, Smith manages to give each character a distinct personality and unquestionable maturity level, while still retaining the naivety needed to make for believable characters. The meticulously placed humor will make you laugh aloud and the dramatic reality of its lowest moments will bring you to tears. This behind the scenes peek into the private lives of teens in the rural south is both refreshing and eye opening. This is one NOT to miss...

If you are a teacher, I would look into buying another audio version of Romeo and Juliet. I have been using it as a tool to get the students to hear professional actors and to then ask them to use the same skills those professional actors use (inflection, emphasis, etc.) The problem is it is VERY difficult to hear...to the point that you have to sit 3 feet away to hear it at times. This simply does not work for a classroom.

The notes that John Andrews gives on all the Everyman Shakespeare editions that he edits are fabulous. I think his editions are the most user friendly for any actor, student, director and teacher. Some publishing house should get Mr. Andrews to do all the plays.

Poor Romeo.

Watching Romeo meander his way through the play is like tailgating a drunk driver. At any moment he could crash, and in the end he overcorrects his assumptions by swallowing the poison, and in some ways his death must be a relief to his troubled mind.

Romeo's status in the story changes with nearly every scene, whether by his own doing or by an external entity. However, his circumstance reflects in almost every case his willingness to succumb to his passions. From his love of Rosalind to his love for Juliet to his exile, he is a bundle of nerves. Taking a time out would slow the pace, and instead Shakespeare quickens it by transplanting Romeo's moment of joy with Juliet with a moment of action and consequence: the death of Mercutio.

Giving Romeo the chance to be happy might damage his character. A great tragedy yet today. What makes it great is that the basic storyline pulls everyone in, and once the story captures, we can start to appreciate the minor characters, like Capulet and the Nurse.

Shakespeare defines teen angst in this romantic tragedy. 14-year-old Juliet and Romeo falls in love at a party despite their family's feud. There are movies made from this play, but nothing beats reading the play itself to relish the writing of Shakespeare. Heart-wrenching and beautiful.

Caution Scalawags: May Cause Pulmonary Failure!, July 29, 2004
Reviewer: Professor Emeritus Percy Q. Johnstone (Darkest India) - See all my
reviews
Yes dear reader, it is I, Professor Emeritus Johnstone. As you may have
divined, as Professor Emeritus of American Literature, I am well versed with
dramatic writings from our sister nation, England. Now, many of you are
unfamiliar with the work, as William Shakespeare is relatively unknown in
the bumpkin-ridden land you call "The Colonies". However, you
lucky few will discover a goldmine of quotes such as "Alack, Alack,
Alack" and other favorites. But I, Professor Emeritus Johnstone,
diverge. Yes yes. For those of you who wish to pursue the god-given purpose
of the most noble art of teaching American Literature, you must be familiar
with the works of Shakespeare. As you are stupid, and not a professor, like
I, Professor Emeritus Johnstone, you undoubtedly do not understand, but no
matter. The story of "Romeo and Juliet" is simple. it opens in a
court yard in Venice where the political rebels, Pyramus and Thisbe are
plotting to overthrow the evil fascist government (oh how I, Professor
Emeritus Johnstone know that feeling. I confess, dear reader, that once I,
Professor Emeritus Johnstone, lived in America until government stooges
exiled me to darkest India for poliical subterfuge. Suberfuge! Bah!). Alas,
Lord Capulet's men break into the meeting and arrest poor Pyramus and
Thisbe, casting them into the darkest dungeon. Ah, but fortune smiles on our
two heroes, for in the cell next to them are the "Star-burned
lovers" Romeo and Juliet, who were imprisoned for plotting to overthrow
the evil Capulet. Together, they escape the prison, kill all the
fascist-swine guards, and blow up the prison, bringing us, dear reader,
rather neatly to the end of Act I.
Act II opens in Lord Montague's (Lord Capulet's chief of security) hall,
where he has just made posters offering 5000 marks for the heads of the four
rebels. Enter the villain (mustache and all) Tybalt (cousin to Count Paris)
the bounty-hunter. Tybalt, in a scene that moved even I, Professor Emeritus
Johnstone, gives a heartrending "soliliquy" in which he mourns on
he pain of killing those whose politico agendas you support. Thus ends Act
II. In Act III, we find...ROMEO WORKING FOR LORD CAPULET! He has become a
traitorous lap-dog to the very system he despises (oh reader, how I,
Professor Emeritus Johnstone, know this feeling!). Pyramus and his rebel
army storm the palace, and in the final scene, Pyramus kills his traitorous
lover, Romeo, driving a dagger through his jugular...only to find out that
Romeo was a spy. Pyramus then jumps out the highest tower in penance to end
the play.
Genius. Every potential collegiate scamp should read this edition, for it
has a preface by one of the greatest scholars of our age...none other than
I, Professor Emeritus Johnstone.
Hark, I hear my Biddy calling me to gruel and morning prayers. As Hamlet
said, "Adieu Fair Readers!"

Bitterly,
--Professor Emeritus Percy Q. Johnstone