Byrne Books

Before there was Monty Python, there was Myles. He was by far the crankiest, most learned and original comic genius of 20th-century English prose; there's simply nothing else like him. (Well, maybe there are 3 or 4 moments in "Duck Soup" that are like him.) And when you realize that this is the same guy who, under a different name, wrote "At Swim-Two-Birds" (one of the five or so funny novels for whose sake the Lord does not destroy the Earth)-- well, it's time to just surrender and enjoy.

Plus, the current Dalkey Archive edition (the publisher's name is itself a Myles reference) is handsomely made... good-quality paper and so on, don't you know. It makes a difference.

Mise, le mas, ....

A friend lent me his copy (an Irish edition) of this book five or more years ago, and I've been searching for my own copy ever since. I'm delighted to find it's been reprinted and I just placed my order.

I envy anyone who has not yet read this book of collected columns and essays -- the outrageous details of the Ventriloquists' War, the intricacies of the Catechism of Cliche, and the wisdom of the Brother all await your delighted discovery.

Have a blast.

Good humour is something everybody likes and I yearn for. For quite a long time I thought that there could hardly be anything better, or at least as good as Ephraim Kishon's short satires or Douglas Adams' space phantasmagories. It was hard even to imagine something like that because I was sure my stomach would disintegrate after something like that. And than I ran into Flann O'Brien's The Best of Myles. Indeed, that was the first time for me to get familiar with him and certainly the best possible. His columns are far than hillarious, obviously because he plays with things we consider as common, everyday problems, and maybe not even problems. All the wild thoughts one could get in moments of being very bored O'Brien would write down and bring to their final reductio ad absurdum. He wouldn't wait to be stopped, he would just carry on scribbling complete nonsense, dipping even into some other languages like Latin or Gaelic in a wild rage of an admirable inspiration.
Yes, one more thing that admire him for. He would deal with Gaelic and even write in it, he would mock with politics and politicians, with history and society and even so, he managed to stay completely non-political. At least he left his columns that way. The Best of Myles is best to read before his longer and more ambitious works like The Third Policeman or At Swim-Two-Birds. And also after them.

this compilation contains, without qualification, THE funniest writing of the twentieth century, so it seems churlish to list complaints. Some of these are unavoidably the nature of the material - Myles na Gopaleen wrote a regular column for an Irish newspaper for a quarter of a century, so the very local concerns discussed in some of the pieces render them impenetrable to all but Irish historians.

The biggest problem is with the editing, or lack thereof. There are no explanatory notes offering historical, social or political context; there are no translatoins of the many German, Latin, Irish etc. interpellations. One could argue that this leaves us in the same position as those first newspaper readers, but Myles' predominantly middle-class audience could boast a sound classical education and a greater familiarity with the allusions so liberally scattered here than we do today.

Finally, the decision not to print the pieces chronologically (none of them are dated), but by subject, distorts the work, handicaps its versatility and can lead to repetition and tedium.

That 'the Best of Myles' remains one of the last century's few genuinely important books is entirely due to the indestructible persona(e) of Myles himself, hypercultured, alcoholic, visionary verbal contortionist with pretensions to aristocratic heritage. His phlegmatic invective at local problems such as sewage systems and the civil service are less valuable than his assault on language as it had (has?) degenerated into cliche and received opinion in the culturally sterile Ireland of the 1940s and 50s; and in his post-modern project of demolishing hierarchies of linguistic and artistic endeavour. Reading Myles has a bracing effect - he forces you out of habitual mental laziness; forces you to think HARDER.

Flann O'Brian is absolutely one of the greatest practitioners of language. This collection of his work, "The Best Of Myles", is some of the finest writing I have ever had the pleasure to read. Gaelic, English, French, German, and Latin, are 5 languages he writes fluently. He is the personification of all that is famous of Irish Wit. There appear to be few topics he did not comment upon or release a withering appraisal with pinpoint precision.

Mr. O'Brian wrote for a daily newspaper until his death in 1966. The volume and quality of the written material he produced is amazing. This 400-page book is one of five that are available and that I intend to read. There is virtually nothing about his personal history in this volume, so hopefully there is a biography in print documenting the time he spent learning and practicing his craft. The only downside to this book is that some is in Gaelic with no translation, and there are many articles that will seem to exist in isolation if the reader does not have some knowledge of Irish History. Even if these commentaries were removed, the balance of the work would still be a remarkable literary performance.

Some of the best pieces were his comments on the affectation in so many facets of daily life. And his specific attacks on, "bores", and all the pretensions of the world of modern art, and those who would pretend to posses knowledge of which they are bereft. He creates institutes and foundations and companies dedicated to servicing frauds and exposing the truth. Much is for pure fun, but like all humor contains truth. He offers the services of a company that will come to the home of any illiterate with a library, and his people will either rummage through your books for a pittance, or for a more substantial sum, will dog-ear pages, write brilliant marginalia, and leave tickets and programs to various cultural events as though they were misplaced bookmarks. And for those who have the funds, books will receive forged inscriptions from their authors, and letters of thanks to the book's owner for their help with a particularly difficult passage.

This book came at the end of 2001 for me. I hate lists of the best of the year; however nothing I have read this year surpasses this book, absolutely nothing!

Cartoons of the NEW YORKER variety are a long way from comic books or most newspaper comic strips when it comes to social commentary. Byrnes is a well-known practitioner of the slightly cynical cartoonist's art, often giving the reader pause: "Wait -- What did he just say?" Like the businessman asking on the phone, "What's our policy on honesty?" Or the magnate remarking to a younger manager, "When I lost my sense of humor, I lost my sense of compassion, which is how I got where I am today." And sometimes his commentary is sharper, such as with the parents in front of a family camp-tent addressing their youngest child: "I'm sorry, Tommy, you've been voted out."

Hilarious is one way to describe the cartoons in here.Especially the few "Adam and Eve" ones..but youd have to buy this book to understand what I mean by that.Heh.The only reason I give it 4 stars is because I admit I didnt quite get atleast 5-7 or the cartoons.But thats only due to my ignorance in the subject that is joked about.

Don't get me wrong. There are plenty of really funny cartoons here. But, given the subjects we could choose from (normal business operations, radical religions, absurd politics, etc.), I expected more absurdity. Twenty of the included cartoons are from the "New Yorker." I have often read an entire issue of "New Yorker" cartoons without "getting" them, although I appreciated the artistic skill involved. Once, I interviewed a cartoonist who had sold a single cartoon to the "New Yorker." He could not explain why the editor had bought the cartoon or why he could never sell another one. Now, Pat Byrnes' cartoons are much funnier than the average. His art, though it looks dashed off, is certainly not. A great deal of thought and effort has gone into these well-crafted pieces. Here's hoping that Byrnes will publish a companion volume of even darker humor. Perhaps, the devil will make him do it. By the way, his introduction is just as humorous as his drawings.

Thankyou very much for these comics. LOL happen with each of them.

Pat Byrnes's cleverly caustic "What Would Satan Do?" is a collection of the artist's outrageous cartoons on the delights of deviltry. In his amusing introduction, Byrnes points out that the temptation to transgress is all around us; after all, society's moral compass went permanently haywire a long time ago. Therefore, the author decided to profit from the wages of sin by ridiculing such human shortcomings as greed, selfishness, incompetence, sadism, rationalization, one-upsmanship, hypocrisy, insensitivity, and other obnoxious traits that we see all around us every day--but never in ourselves.

The cartoons, some in black and white and others in color, are deliciously satirical and skillfully drawn. Nasty nuns, putrid parents, curmudgeonly CEOs, creepy criminals, and scenes from hell (literally)--they're all here for your reading pleasure. Byrnes also takes aim at reality show hosts, newscasters, computer geeks, slimy lawyers, and other easy-to-lampoon targets. "What Would Satan Do?" is timely and biting social commentary that makes us laugh at the expense of those self-centered and nasty individuals who delight in making everyone else's lives miserable. Although a few of the cartoons fall flat and others may be too naughty and tasteless for some, the book's blend of artistry (I love the facial expressions) and merry mockery make it a good purchase for misanthropes with a sense of humor.

i'm not sure why this collection is so highly rated; maybe it's because it's the end of the claremont/byrne run.
the tpb is a disjointed collection, which goes from the x-men going through the 9 levels of hell a la dante's inferno, to wolverine and nightcrawler in canada fighting the wendigo, to some x-men fighting mystique and the brotherhood trying to kill senator kelly, to kitty pryde and some other x-men trying to change the past and thus the future.
altogether they are solid if somewhat unrelated stories.

ok let me clarify...x-men 141 and 142, the days of future past, is a great classic comics storyline. but this tpb collects some unrelated stories before and after i guess just to be longer, so it kind of throws off the storyline if you think this whole tpb is one long connected story which it isn't.

Though it's really only a two-issue event with more stuff crammed around it in this graphic novel, everything about Days of Future Past is just plain awesome X-Men adventures from the golden age of Chris Claremont's prolific run on the title. Picking up after the Dark Phoenix Saga, Cyclops quits the team and reminisces about all the events that took place up until the death of Jean Grey, Wolverine gets his classic brown costume for the first time (and gets called Logan for the first time too) as he treks to Canada and takes on the Wendigo. Angel rejoins the team, and Kitty Pryde becomes a new member as well, just in time as the X-Men get a visit from the future, and we get a glimpse at the future world ruled by Sentinels and get to see the future versions of Magneto, Wolverine, Storm, and Colossus get slaughtered. This prompts the present day X-Men to stop an assassination plot of Senator Kelly by Mystique and co., and concludes with a demonic Christmas visit. The art by classic X-Men penciler John Byrne and early art by the great John Romita, Jr. has been remastered here and it looks great, as does the revamped cover by Byrne. All in all, Days of Future Past was one of the best stories from the golden age of X-Men comics, and while not as influential or groundbreaking as the Dark Phoenix Saga that came before it, if you missed out on it, then you've missed out on a great deal.

This are the two comic books that thrust just about every encarnation of the X-Men into a whole new ball game. Did you ever watch the old X-Men cartoon in the 90's where politicians were about to mess with mutants? Remember the Sentinels? How about X-Men Evolution? Sound familiar? What about the first X-Men movie? That's right folks. All these shows have this in common: whole story arcs based on Days of Future Past.

These two comics started it all. It launched ideas for numerous future/alternate timeline stories in the X-Men comics as well. The trade paperback reprints issues 141 and 142, but I hear they added more issues with new printings. Doesn't matter which one you get because to me is the focal point is those two issues. Still getting more comic for your money isn't bad. Especially when they are all written by Chris Claremont (whom I consider THE scribe for the X-Men).

Why do these comics hold so much clout? This was something totally new to comicdom. Stan Lee never fled from serious content, and racial profiling is what you have here. The story shows a future where mutants are stripped of their human rights and are regarded as inferior. The parallels between this story and what happened in Nazi Germany are obvious, but it puts a different angle on the issue that makes it something younger audiences can click with.

The artwork is solid and striking without being gaudy and flashy. The background (future) story you get is going to blow you away. And the "modern" activity will give you the classic team you know and love. There is no reason for any X-Fan not to have this TPB... other than if you have the original issues.

"X-Men: Days of Future Past" is the epilogue to the Dark Phoenix saga, the swan song for the team of writer Chris Claremont and penciler Johny Byrne as the co-plotters for "The Uncanny X-Men," and the arrival of Kitty Pryde as the newest and youngest pupil in Charles Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters on Graymalkin Lane outside the Westchester County Township of Salem Center. What you will find in this trade paperback collection are issues #138-143 of "The Uncanny X-Men" and Annual #4, where the artwork is handled by John Romita, Jr. & Bob McLeod.

"Elegy" (#138) begins with Jean Grey's funeral and ends with Scott Summers leaving the X-Men for a while. It really is the true epilogue to the Dark Phoenix saga and most of the issue is a walk down memory lane, recapping the history of the X-Men from when Jean first showed up at the school. Fans of the series will enjoy recognizing issues from the past (remember Grotesk and the Living Pharaoh).

The Annual story, "Nightcrawler's Inferno," has a demon who is fighting Doctor Strange yanking the X-Men off into another dimension, leaving Professor X and Kitty behind. This one involves a more classical interpretation of Hell, what with Minos and Cerberus from Dante coming into play, but like most Annual stories seems a bloated attempt to do something big as opposed to the much bigger impact of a solid multi-part story (see below).

"...Something Wicked This Way Comes!" (#139) has Kitty being introduced to training in the Danger Room, and Wolverine and Nightcrawler head to Canada to meet up with Alpha Flight and an old problem. That would be the Wen-Di-Go, who they fight in "Rage!" (#140), while Ororo takes Kitty to dance lessons with Stevie Hunter. Then we get to the two-part story that gives this collection its title and which remains a classic X-Men story.

"Days of Future Past" (#141) begins with Kate Pryde making her way through a New York City slum in the 21st century (remember, these stories were published in 1980). She is meeting Logan and wearing an inhibitor collar that neutralizes her power to phase through solid objects and an "M" that marks here as a mutant (number 187 in fact). At the South Bronx Mutant Internment Center she walks by graves of the victims of the Sentinels, which includes most of the X-Men and all of the Fantastic Four. Only four X-Men remain: Logan, Ororo, Kate and her husband Peter, and are joined by a wheel-chair bound Magneto, Franklin Richards and his girlfriend, Rachel, a telepath. There last hope is to change the future by changing the past, when the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants murder presidential candidate Robert Kelly and others. To do this, Rachel sends the mind of Kate Pryde back to the present to inhabit her body at age 13.

"Mind Out of Time!" (#142) juxtaposes the battle in the present between the X-Men and the Brotherhood, with the attempt by the few remaining mutants in the future trying to keep Kate's body alive and away from the Sentinels. You know how this one is going to work out in the end, but Claremont and Bryne know how to milk the emotions. This two-parter is the reason that fans of the series would want this one on their shelf.

"Demon" (#143) is basically Kitty Pryde "Home Alone," as the X-Men go out to a Christmas party. While doing a basic gymnastic workout in the Danger Room, an intruder enters the mansion and Kitty finds herself going up against an alien monster. I would say that the alien monster actually looks a bit like the monster in "Alien," but you will find that there are other aspects of that film that come into play as well. Basically this is Kitty's baptism under fire and underscores that "X-Men: Days of Future Past" is ultimately about the littlest X-Man.

I am in complete agreement with the other reviewer's sentiments regarding the "Dark Phoenix" saga. There's just one problem: THIS IS NOT A REPRINTING OF THE DARK PHOENIX SAGA!!! This is a reprint of the also classic "Day's of Future Past" storyline, which was also penned by Chris Claremont and John Byrne. That storyline actually consists of only two issues, but for this latest edition the good folks at Marvel were kind enough to also include issues 138-140, and issue 143 in addition to issues 141-142. A wonderful collection consisting of the issues that FOLLOWED the "Dark Phoenix Saga". This book also features one of the best comic book battles ever as the X-men face off against the new Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. So buy this book people, but please Amazon, get your act together.

The only problem I had with this book was its' length. I found myself wanting to reach the end and start something else. BUT, on the plus side, the 'true' letters, without the aid of being 'cleaned up' by correct spelling or punctuation really, really added a lot. You may find a letter now and then that really doesn't hold your interest. Do not stop there, or you will miss out on some very wonderful, interesting text.

As a war veteran myself, I have never found a more absorbing, accurate and sincere attempt to capture the true emotions of combatants, their loved ones, and all others involved in the major conflichts of the ninteenth, twentieth and twenty-first centuries. A must read for anyone interested in getting an unbiased glimpse into the thoughts of those who were affected by war.

I purchased this book recently and could not put it down.Who better to tell a story than the ones who lived it?The letters are not only from the soldiers who fought on either side of a conflict,but from the very people who lived through them.The accounts are graphic in many cases and I now have a better understanding of the horrible reality of it all.The historical quips help with the insight as to what was going on at the time of the letter.Its a great read by an outstanding author who has done so much for our troops.

This is a great book!! I really enjoyed reading it, and found myself unable to put it down. The book gives readers a better understanding of what soldiers and their families go through. After reading this book, I believe I have a better appreciation for our Veterans and our troops serving our country. Definately a recommended book in my opinion.

BEHIND THE LINES is a powerful collection of fragments of thoughts that were initiated over the past two hundred plus years of war scars. Andrew Carroll continues his commitment to bring the reality of war to the forefront of our attention and I know no better manner for anti-war statements than the words found in this illuminating and horrifying book.

Carroll approaches war as a panacea - an evil that has been with us around the globe for centuries and just continues unabated. Many poets and writers are struggling to make the public cognizant of the horrors of war, but Carroll scans American involvement in wars from the Revolutionary War to the present and in doing so he demonstrates the madness that we must learn to stop.

Letters, documents, memos, soldiers' notes as well as civilians' responses fill these pages, some eloquent, some simply pitiful, and some stoic as well as some encouraging. The messages are not skewed in a way that makes Carroll seem like he is ranting. Rather he lets the words of the living and the dead speak truths far larger than fiction.

This is a beautifully conceived volume that for the sake of the survival of civilization belongs on the reading desks of everyone. Tough reading, this, but enormously informative and important. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, August 05

My husband started using this book before I did..... as I preferred to speak to the people and learn that way.
NOW I WISH I had started sooner using this very book myself!

I does teach you all the necessary vocabulary easily!

THUMBS UP!

Wish it was available on Kindle!

To reiterate what a previous reviewer had pointed out, the "Teach Yourself Indonesian Complete Course" includes just the textbook, whereas the "Teach Yourself Indonesian Complete Course Audiopack" includes both the text book and compact discs. Contrary to what Amazon.com suggests, you need to only buy the "Teach Yourself Indonesian Complete Course Audiopack" to get the full benefits of the program.

I purchased the "Teach Yourself Indonesian Complete Course Audiopack" several days ago, and after having had the opportunity to peruse the material for a bit, I must say that I am very impressed with what I have seen thus far. The material is presented in such a way as to make learning Indonesian effectively and effortless.

For example, each chapter begins with a dialogue in Indonesian that pertains to everyday activities, such as eating out or asking for directions. Below the dialogue is a box filled with pertinent vocabulary words from the preceding dialogue. Next is an English translation of the dialogue to ensure that the student fully understands the meaning of the Indonesian dialogue. Succeeding that is a section entitled, "How the language works." Here, grammatical concepts and contexts of the vocabulary words relevant to the dialogue are discussed. Finally, several exercises are included in each chapter to reinforce the lessons taught. Do not worry, the answers are in the back!

The compact discs mesh perfectly with the material in the chapters. Native Indonesian speakers act out the chapter dialogues, thus providing the student with the opportunity to practice their listening skills and learn how to properly speak Indonesian. The speakers on the compact discs clearly enunciate so there is plenty of time for the student to practice their Indonesian out loud if desired.

Overall, the "Teach Yourself Indonesian Complete Course Audiopack" is a wonderful resource for anyone interested in learning Indonesian. As a student of Indonesian myself, I highly recommend this product for its exceptional effectiveness.

This book is very easy to use, being well laid out and organized and introducing vocabulary in manageable pieces throughout each chapter. Another nice thing is that the book alternates 50-50 between formal situations and casual situations so you can become familiar with both styles of the language. So far the book is fun and motivating and makes me want to study much more than my other books do.

This book is very detail & percise. It makes it easy to learn the language with ease. It is written with a manner that is simple to follow. Authors took there time to make sure all of the contents was clear & correct. Step by step instructions to make it easy to learn & understand. I give this book 5 stars & I recommend it to anyone who want to learn Indonesian language very fast & correct.

I'm half way through this course and it's pretty easy to use, and the topics and dialogues are relevant and interesting. There is material on the cd's to help you get accustomed to hearing spoken Indonesian, which is great if you live somewhere with very few Indonesian people like I do.

I have two minor criticisms:

1) During the dialog practice there is often not a long enough pause on the cd to allow you to finish saying your part of the exchange. This is not a big deal if you have an ipod and can easily pause and rewind with little trouble. But it's a bit of a hassle when you're using a home stereo and you have to pause it.

2) Sometimes the dialogues contain a couple of words that are not in the vocabulary key for that dialogue, and sometimes not even in the glossary at the back of the book. That has caught me off-guard a few times when I didn't have my dictionary with me.

But all in this is the best introductory course I've seen, and a much more interesting way to start off than using Yohanna Johns's "Bahasa Indonesia" (which looks better for long term serious study).

I've never read any Alpha Flight comics before, so I figured this was a good place to start. The way John Byrne writes and draws the series makes me wanna go to Canada. I think my favorite stories were the ones with Northstar and Aurora.

It seems like Marvel's Classic series is like the Essentials but in color and on a smaller scale. I'm looking forward to the second volume that comes out in a few months and will get it not long after. My guess is it'll include #9-15 and their first annual.

Alpha Flight has been through many iterations since it premiered years ago, but the orginal series (at least Byrne's run) is still the best. This volume collects the 1st 8 issues of the series, and what's good about it is that it isn't like many other comics that you'll read that bring together groups of superheroes. Basically, everyone on the team has some sort of issue, and Byrne crafts great back stories for each character.

The artwork is dead on, and it's a great read.

Whats better than Alpha Flight?
Can't wait for Volume two to be released.....
until then I'll be Curling and drinking a beer

John Byrne has gone on record saying that his heart was never really into "Alpha Flight", that they were basically created as a team that could successfully battle the X-Men. Despite all this, Byrne's run on AF (he did 28 issues total) are an example of his mastery of the form and yet another look at how much the comics medium has fallen since the 80s. There's never been another book like "Alpha Flight." The team had been created four years before the book came out, but Byrne was faced with the task of instilling each character with a personality and origin, which he painstakingly did, bit by bit.

Included here are the first 8 issues of the book presented in a nice new format. Some people have said the new format is a little too bright, but I think it works well and doesn't take away from the stories at all. We get the classic battle with Tundra, Snowbird's battle in a blizzard which has to be "seen" to get the full effect, the troubled twins - split-personality Aurora and gay Northstar - as well as the development of James Hudson's cyber helmet that started the whole mess. My only complaint is that there should have been more issues included because it will take us that much longer to get to my favorite part of Byrne's run: issues 18-28.

It's so much fun to revisit these characters and adventures again but those discovering them for the first time will have just as much fun. Thanks to all who finally put this book together.

During Chris Claremont and John Byrne's revolutionary run on Uncanny X-Men, the duo introduced Alpha Flight: Canada's premiere superhero team that has a connection to Wolverine. Byrne would write and draw Alpha Flight during it's original run, and thankfully, the same success he brought to X-Men and Fantastic Four translated here. Byrne's talent for team dynamics and dynamic action really helped Alpha Flight shine, as he gives heart and soul to characters like Vindicator, Sasquatch, Northstar, and Puck. Byrne's artwork is wonderful as always, but it's treatment of the characters as a whole that sets Alpha Flight apart from many of Marvel's typical secod-rate hero teams, and nearly propels them to the top. This, along with many appearances from familiar faces in the Marvel universe, make this first volume of Byrne's run on Alpha Flight worth picking up for new fans and old readers alike.

I have never been to Ireland but after reading Clonard I feel like I have. Kevin Bryne describes the people and their surroundings so well, I feel I could go to Belfast (or back) and see some very famililar faces. For anyone that has a drop of Irish blood in them (or wishes they did) this book is a must read. I am hoping for Clonard II! Easy to read and delightful characters. Great read for a book club!

A thoroughly enjoyable read. Kevin Byrne has a refreshing way with words (some of which could not be found in me ol' Oxford Pocket Dictionary), lending fine support to the tales spun.

Rare does a book make make me feel sad when I get to the last page. not because of the stories, but because its over. very enjoyable,Maybe a second read is in order. Highly recomend.

..and this book proves it. Being half Irish(the good half), but only knowing what life was (is) like on the Isle by TV and newspaper accounts, Mr Byrne has brought forth not only the sense of unity and family, but other virtues as well.With emotion and characters that represent the cultural struggle in every day life of a people battling not only religious contrasts, but an everpresent shroud of the English rule, their belief, humor and love is unrepressable. Not a page goes by,where, if the characters don't touch your heart, they will certainly remind you of your neighbors or friends and of their quirky personalities, and the reasons we love them.

Don't judge this book by it's cover. This is one easy read, feel good book. The author tells wonderful stories about people we have all enjoyed knowing at one time in our own lives. I can't wait for the next installment from this great new author.

This book gives you the low-down on why you have Mommy Belly and truly how to get rid of it, by building muscle in the right places and which muscles to build up, in the right order. I for one HATE doing crunches because I have neck and shoulder problems as well, and the exercises in here are really easy for me to do. There's no equipment needed, which is wonderful for someone just coming off an unpaid maternity leave. I look forward to having a flat tummy again very soon.

This book has helped my stomach within weeks. I previously purchase the Lose Your Mummy Tummy book and there was not any significant change in my stomach with that book. With the Exercise After Pregnancy book by Ms. Byrne, you get varied exercises that not only help your stomach, but your lower back and posture. It has enough varied exercises at different experience levels that you won't get bored compared to the Mummy Tummy book. After doing a few sets of the exercises in the Exercise after Pregnancy book, you can feel a difference. For anyone with diastasis recti, I highly recommend this book over the Mummy Tummy book. My lower back has felt better and is beginning to straighten out more after my 2 children were born as well as my stomach muscles are tightening up and my stomach is becoming smaller. I still have a small ponch on me, but no one has asked if I'm pregnant for the past few months.

Helene has done an amazing job with this book and has included actual postpartum women as well. The exercises are integral for any new mother wanting to get her body back into shape the right way. In society today, it is all too easy to get caught up in the new diet or exercise fads but Helene creates several easy to follow programs that focus on the core muscles that are so often overlooked. I've noticed a difference already after just a couple of weeks. Thanks Helene.

On a scale of 1-5, Helene Byrne's book on "Exercise After Pregnancy" is a 10. This book is fantabulous, and every new mother should have it to help her look and feel her best after having a baby. Great job Helene for providing pictures on how to do the exercises.

I bought this book when I was 22 months post partum. I still have abdominal separation, and have been afraid to do ab exercises for fear of increasing it as I know doing ab exercises incorrectly can make a separation worse. I first bought Loose your Mummy tummy, but sucking in my stomach 100x at a time, up to 10x a day wasn't for me. The exercises in this book are challenging, but completely do-able, and I'm noticing that my ab separation is closing after only 3-4 weeks of doing the exercises, not even doing them every day. Great book!!

Modern Masters is a series of books that feature interviews and artwork from the greatest "masters" of comic book art. Volume 7 is dedicated to John Byrne. Now, when I was kid, there was nothing I loved more than comic books. I was a Marvel guy, and I especially liked Spider-Man. Then one day, for some reason, I picked up an issue of Iron Fist and I was compelled to buy it. It was issue #12 and had never read Iron Fist before, but he was fighting Captain America on the cover, and I loved a good super hero throw down, so I decided to give it a look. For some reason I bought it, there was something about that book that I liked, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it at the time. I later realized that what I loved so much about that comic wasn't the fight between Cap and Iron Fist... it was the ART! That was the first time that I ever really bothered to check and see who drew the comic book I was reading. That artist was, of course, John Byrne. After that I bought anything that Mr. Byrne drew... Marvel Team-Up, The X-Men, The Fantastic Four, Superman, etc., etc.. To me, anything that John Byrne touched, turned to gold. He was, and remains, arguably the greatest comic book artist of all time. Jack Kirby is a legend, but John Byrne was comic's first rock star. Everyone I knew that read comics, loved Byrne. One of the things that made him so great was that he was one of the first artists to draw every character the way they should be drawn as individuals. Most other artists (John Romita, John Buscema, etc.) seemed to have a "standard" body for all the characters they drew, so that Captain America, Daredevil, Iron Man, Spider-Man, and so on, all had the same height and build. But not Byrne. When he drew his characters each one had a distinct body type. For example, his Spider-Man was thin and agile looking, his Captain America was tall and muscular, his Daredevil was somewhere in between the two, etc. Basically the man changed the standard of comic art forever, and in a small way this book helps commemorate some of his contributions to the medium. So, if you are a fan of John Byrne, or a fan of great comic art, you will like this book. Buy it!!! It's not even that expensive. It's a great deal. Buy it now!

This book, like the others in this fine, fine series of paperbacks, is chock-full of excellent artwork, and there's an intriguing and informative interview with the writer/artist who has made his mark on such comic book stalwarts as Iron Fist, the X-Men, the Fantastic Four, Superman, the She-Hulk, and Wonder Woman, among many, many others. The Fantastic Four cover alone is worth the price of admission.

It's great to finally have another trade retrospective of John Byrne's work; the last was "The Art of John Byrne: Volume 1" back in the mythical year of 1980. For those of you who have become parents since then, you'll be happy to know that this new book is for all ages -- and what a book.

It's unfortunate that nowadays "fanboys" like to kick around artists/creators they deem uncool (that is, men who don't draw R-rated, semi-nude women and over-muscled grotesques), and Byrne has suffered his share of this negativity. Those coming upon his work for the first time in this book have every right to be puzzled by this as his work in the last few years (using the "full pencil" technique) is as stunning as anything he's ever done. Make sure you check for the pre-inked image of Superman carrying Lois Lane over the Great Wall of China at sunrise (or sunset?) for an example of this.

The interviews that comprise the book are candid, honest and engaging. Jon B. Cooke does a good job asking questions that lead to detailed answers. I could wax rhapsodic all day over the images as they comprise his entire career; it's a special kick seeing all these characters from Alpha Flight to the Next Men in the pages of book; it's a family reunion, of sorts.

My only complaint is the lack of any color galleries, but this is no way detracts from the book and it's cool enough that we do get a brand new color cover image of the Fantastic Four, a team Byrne wrote and drew in a now legendary run in the 1980s. Buy it, read it, enjoy it, re-read it, share it, then buy another copy; this is my favorite entry in the Modern Masters series so far.

Right now, the 2 best resources for Byrne information & insights are: his official Internet site, and this here MM interview.

This is incredibly well-done! So many memorable quotes & insights, I can hardly do it any justice. It's truly one-stop shopping on all things Byrne: his thoughts on his career, coworkers & other creators, editors, projects (why they did or didn't work and the behind-the-scenes info), favorite things in life, childhood, early career, present & future, and even on the creative process. *EVERYTHING* is touched on here, with various clips of artwork in black & white to support much of the material. Some Modern Masters volumes include color work; this is exclusively black & white: sometimes pencil; sometimes ink. It's nice that artwork is included in such a great amount: it truly adds detail to the words exchanged. A must-have interview for Byrne fans!

-A quick breakdown-
-Part 1- covers his childhood up to his time in art school.
-Part 2- breaking into the industry & his days at Marvel. My favorite! See also Alpha Flight Classic, Vol. 1 (Uncanny X-Men). And Incredible Hulk Visionaries - John Byrne.
-Part 3- it's all about DC & Superman. Beginning with Superman: The Man of Steel, Vol. 1.
-Part 4- return to Marvel & then Independents, up to DC today.
-Part 5- storytelling & the creative process.
-Part 6- various John Byrne takes...
-and finally, a 33-page black & white gallery of 100% art (since artwork is also displayed throughout the entire interview).

My other current favorites in the series include Modern Masters Volume 2: George Perez, and Modern Masters, Vol. 5: Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez (Modern Masters). Yet they keep on releasing great interviews!

This book is exactly what I'd hoped for... every single page is completely packed with John Byrne interviews (rather than others talking *about* John Byrne) and drawings. No ups, no extras. I'm sure a more expensive format would better showcase Byrne's artwork, but for me, this book is perfect. Now, bring on the Neal Adams version (as long as he's not allowed to talk about the planet swelling).

A warm smile when you're feeling down works wonders. A little girl's friendly smile starts the pay-it-forward story of how a tiny act of kindness can work wonders throughout a community. Each character is affected by the actions of someone who has been influenced by someone else's small act, and the tale cycles back on itself in a satisfying way. My class of 1st and 2nd graders got the message loud and clear and have often referred back to One Smile when we have encountered similar situations in other books. Read the book and try smiling broadly at the next person you meet; it really works!

There is a movement in the land that emphasizes "random acts of kindness". Much like the proverbial pebble thrown into still water, creating a series of ripples, any thoughtful gesture can have an effect on those around us. This is exactly what happens in One Smile, as a joyful little girl smiles at a discouraged young man sitting on a park bench. Little does the child know that her beatific smile will inspire the young man to start looking for a job.

And so the story goes, the young man stopping to help a stranded motorist, the motorist leaving an extra tip for the waitress, the waitress taking her children on a picnic with the extra money, and so on. Everything comes full circle as the girl is able to attend her grandfather's birthday party. Her mother's car is ready for the birthday trip thanks to the young man at the garage who fixed it. And who might that now-employed young man be? Exactly.

Using a simple story to illustrate a profound philosophy, the author plants a thought in the minds of young readers who can readily visualize the effect of this little girl's smile as she walks through the park with her mother. The author: "We often have no idea how our generous actions affect those around us." The illustrations are rich, color-saturated images of everyday events, memorable because of the upbeat nature of the story. The illustrator: "I hope my paintings can offer a moment of transcendence, a place of light and beauty." Children are naturally enthusiastic and One Smile affords parents an opportunity to reinforce this positive behavior.

Concept and artwork are a winning combination in this uplifting children's book. The writing carries a clear message; combined with the brilliant watercolors, One Smile is an inspirational reading experience for youngsters. Coordinated with The Pay It Forward Foundation, the book includes a page of thoughtful questions for children to consider, relating positive actions to consequences, remembering each day to "pay it forward". Luan Gaines/2005.

Katie is a happy young girl who is skipping through the park one morning with her Mother, when she meets up with an unhappy young man. She gives him a bright smile, and soon the young man is smiling as well. As the day goes on, the young man fixes a woman's flat tire, and she smiles, then leaves an extra big tip for the waitress at a restaurant, and she smiles, and so on and so on. Proving that ONE SMILE can go a very long way.

I love reading children's books that really put a big smile on your face, and that's what Cindy McKinley's ONE SMILE did for me. Her lyrical prose is delightful, while the gorgeous watercolor illustrations by Mary Gregg Byrne couldn't be more breathtaking. As a whole, the book puts a huge grin upon your face, and keeps it there until the end of the day. This is a lovely book that should be in the home library of all book lovers.

Erika Sorocco
Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper

What can one smile do? Quite a lot as we find out in this noteworthy tale. The story begins with Katie walking with her mother through the park. She thoughtfully bestows a bright smile on a forlorn, out-of-work young man sitting on a park bench. It inspires the young man to begin looking for a new job. While doing so, he sees a woman whose car has a flat tire. He changes the tire for her. She, in turn, leaves a large tip for a waitress. This continues on until, eventually, the good feelings inspired by Katie's smile comes back to her and her mother.

The text is well-written and flows smoothly. The themes of kindness and interconnectedness shine through on each page.

The illustrations are exceptional. The paintings are realistic and done in vibrant colors. Each double-page spread captures perfectly the mood and atmosphere of the story and invites the reader into the scene.

Without lapsing into moralizing, One Smile shows readers that small acts of kindness, when sent out into the world, can have profound and lasting effects.

Reviewed by the Education Oasis Staff (KJW).

One simple little smile, sometimes given without any thought at all, can start a ripple of happiness that will go on forever. This is the unmistakable truth that is so clearly authenticated in One Smile.

This story is about little Katie who was happily skipping along in the park one sunny morning with her mother. They were hurrying to catch a bus because their van was in the shop for repairs. As Katie and her mother briskly walked past a park bench, Katie spied a young man sitting there who looked very sad. Katie had no way of knowing it, but the young man had just lost his job. Quick as a wink, she flashed him a brilliant smile. That beautiful smile, so freely given by this happy little child, seemed to light up his heart. Other people had passed him that morning without even noticing him; therefore, Katie's innocent smile, which was so unexpected, became his inspiration to start looking for a job.

As the author carries us through the story, we see many acts of kindness unfold as others continue what Katie's innocent smile began. The young man stops to help a woman by fixing her flat tire. Later, when this same woman finished her lunch, she left an extra large tip for the waitress. And so it went as Katie's smile moved on and on in many different ways, and eventually even made its way back to help Katie in the story's heart-warming ending. Thus we see that all it really takes to change the world is One Smile.

***** I highly recommend this book. It is very well written and the illustrations are vivid and beautiful. In the back of the book the author has included a page that will help families think about things they can do together to help others. *****

Reviewed by Ruth Wilson.