Ford Books

this is one of my absolute favorite novels. great line and plot. i fell in love with this book. i'm in love with all of bette ford's books. she has a gift and i offer it to you all.

I really enjoyed this novel, although I had a little trouble with his pushy ways. Any women in her right mind knows for a fact that him being so bossy and pushy would get on their last nerve. I finally got over that feeling once I continued to read the story. He loved Amanda alot and I guess for her to see it he had to push himself back into her life for her to see it. Once again great read I can't wait for a new novel to be published.

Zachary McFadden and Amanda Daniels were meant for each other. Zachary knew it from the start, Amanda had yet to discover it for herself. However, she finally found the courage (and good sense) to fight against childhood demons, insecurity and tragic losses to embrace this wonderful, strong man's love. Bette Ford never lets me down! An excellent, heart-tugging, sexy book...a must read.

Amanda & Zachary married for all of the wrong reasons, a night of trying to offer comfort had turned into a night of passion. After facing the tragedy, Amanda moved out, although she and Zach are still married. She loves him, but having had a troubled childhood she's afraid to totally open up to him because she's afraid she may end up like her mother. Zach is nothing like Amanda's father, but the pain from her past won't allow her to see that. On their one year anniversary Amanda send Zach divorce papers, determined not to lose his wife, Zach must make Amanda see that love does not equal pain, and that it can truly be wonderful, when a man loves a woman.

When a Man Loves a Woman was a terrific read. I love the strongness and determination of the character Zachary McFadden. If there is an example of strong black man he truly exemplified it perfectly. In some was too perfect, but I was hooked on this book. I could understand where Amanda Daniels was coming from, but she should have recognized earlier that there were many differences between her father and Zach. And some of the other characters could have been explained better like Amanda's mother and Zach's mother and why they truly did and said the things they said. Other than these minor flaws the book was spectacular and I recommend it to everyone.

Note: This is a review of the particular "Cambridge School Shakespeare" edition [Edited by Rex Gibson, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000] of As You Like it and not a review of the play itself.

This edition (a) contains the unabridged play and (b) tries to explain and elucidate Shakespeare's play to teenagers of the age of maybe 15-17. It clarifies difficult language, highlights the main conflicts, puts the play into a historical context and the context of the literary tradition that it belongs to. It encourages the reader to think of different possible ways to play the characters and different ways to understand the play.

I am not a teenager and I am not 16 years old any more, in fact, I am 53 years old with a PhD in Economics and a Masters in Psychology. I read Shakespeare for fun, to challenge my brain, and to grow personally. I found this edition of the play very helpful and enjoyable. The commentary neither spoiled my fun by overanalyzing or showing off its learnedness nor did it offend my intelligence by oversimplifying. In addition, the layout of the book is quite reader-friendly.

If you are a Shakespeare scholar or a scholar of English Lit, this edition will probably be too simple for you. For people of my caliber, however, I can really recommend this edition. Enjoy!

The Caedmon recording of As You Like It is well worth the purchase just to hear two Redgraves soar in their performances.

As with all of Shakespeare, the concept of love at first sight is given far too much credit, but other than that, this is a delightful romp filled with much amusement. The language is as beautiful as one expects in Shakespeare, but is somewhat less difficult for the modern reader to follow than in some of his plays; I found myself being more distracted than helped by most of the footnotes. As with most Shakespearean comedies, it was easy to see that this play was intended for the amusement of the common people; the similarities in style between the plot here and in much modern pop culture were striking (the sexual innuendo to be had when a woman passes for a man and finds another woman falling in love with her, for instance). If it had a flaw, it was that the ending was just a little TOO pat and contrived, even for a comedy, but that's just a minor quibble.

As far as Shakesepare's comedies go, "The Comedy of Errors" will always be my favorite. And while this "As You Like It" never quite obtained the popularity of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" or "The Taming of the Shrew," one probably could argue that "As You Like It" is the best of Shakespeare's comedies. This play contains several plots that Shakespeare cleverly intertwines and it offers a happy ending with love triumphant. But more important than the triumph of love, the theme of reconciliation carries through to virtually everyone in the story. The story begins with the sibling rivalry of Orlando and his older brother Oliver who has hoarded the family inheritence. After a brief fight, Oliver hopes that Orlando may accidentally die in a wrestling match against Charles. This is where a 2nd plot comes in. The Duke Frederick (who has a daughter Celia) has banished his older brother (the true Duke who has a daughter Rosalind). But for now, Rosalind is allowed to stay and she has made good friends with Celia. Orlando meets these 2 girls and falls into favor with Rosalind. After the wrestling match, things start to go bad. Orlando learns that his brother Oliver is planning to kill him, and Rosalind is banished. But all is not lost. Orlando takes his loyal servant Adam and flees while Rosalind (in the male disguise of Ganymede), along with Celia, and the comical Touchstone will flee to look for Rosalind's father. And here is where the play becomes mostly comical. (Good comedies can often have a sad start. "The Comedy of Errors" shows this well.) Moving on, we meet Rosalind's father and his crew who have made exile into a paradise. From Duke Sr's party, we meet the melancholy Jaques. But he is arguably the most interesting character in the story. (In fact, the most famous passage from this play belongs to Jaques. The 7 stages of man which end in nothing. Perhaps Macbeth took lessons from Jaques: 'Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow.') Duke Sr welcomes Orlando and Adam, and it isn't long before Orlando and Rosalind run into each other. Shakespeare maintains the comedy when Rosalinde keeps her male disguise on and tells Orlando he must practice wooing on him/her. Touchstone has some comical romantic moments with Audrey. And there is an interesting triangle where the shepherd Silvius loves Phebe, but Phebe loves Rosalinde (seeing only Ganymede)! We may recall this from "the 12th Night" when Olivia loved Viola in her male disguise. But after this comical moment, all begins to resolve. Oliver comes on the scene and he and Celia fall in love. (So much so that Oliver is willing to reconcile with Orlando and grant him all.) The play ends with not only the reunion of Rosalind and her father, but the joyous weddings of Rosalind / Orlando, Celia /Oliver, Audrey /Touchstone, and Phebe / Silvius, but more good news comes. Celia's father mends his ways and returns all to Rosalind's father. Jaques offers the crowning touch. Despite his cynical nature, he is NOT a villain. Ironically, this hermit type man converses with more characters than anyone in the story, and while he can not take part in the play's final happiness, he DOES wish everyone well. As I said, my favorite comedy will always be "The Comedy of Errors." But don't make the mistake of overlooking this comedy.

This has to be one of Shakespeare's gayest plays (no pun intended). Whatever tragedy may have occurred in the beginning - at the court - is totally forgotten when the action moves to the forest, where Robin-hood like; a banished duke, a melancholy philosopher and a cast of love sick characters act out their lives on the stage.

Much of the play is centered on Rosalind - the female lead in 'drag' - who falls in love with the third son of a nobleman, Orlando, who has been cheated out of his inheritance by his eldest brother. Her father, the duke, has also been cheated by a brother and is now living in the forest with his `merry men'. Her short stay at court is disrupted when her uncle changes his mind about her and `graciously' gives her a few days to get out of the kingdom. This event leads to her escape into the forests with her cousin, the daughter of the duke at Court. As the play progresses more and more characters end up in the forest which becomes the stage where all these actors play out their parts - to paraphrase Jacques.

As a reader you sometimes have to suspend rationality in order to swallow some of the larger than life events that occur in this story (The snake - Lion - Lion killer scene for example). It's not meant to be taken too seriously I'd imagine, just a play about love and romance and the lengths one will go to because of love. The only rational person in this play seems to be the Malvolio-like Jacques, whose deer hugging antiques (forerunner of modern day Environmentalism?) and refusal to take part in the revelry make him the butt of the other's jokes. Even the clown seems to have been pierced by Cupid's arrows as he too weds a country `wench', something unheard of in the other plays where the clowns all seem to be eunuchs.

If you're reeling from any of Shakespeare's tragedies, or want to escape the ordered, (courtly?) existence that is your life and take a dive into an almost fantasy-like world where all is love and laughter, this play may be your ticket.

"Full Circle" is a serious attempt to write a historic gay novel that covers the last half of the 20th century. In this it reminds me of, but is not as successful as, Felice Picano's "Like People in History." Ford's book reads too much like a timeline, going from major event to major event, with a liberal dose of unnecessary detail along the way. At times it seems like the author is simply lecturing, almost forgetting that these are the words of Ned, his narrator. The book's story, the relationship among three long-time friends, is too slight to carry the weight of the intended epic sweep, and they are moved around like chess pieces to make sure they are present at all the landmark occasions. The trivia that gets thrown in -- the co-librettists of "La Boheme," the man who introduced eucalyptus trees to California, the statistical makeup of Vietnam soldiers -- is a distraction.

That said, the book is still absorbing when it centers on the main characters, whose relationships are well-depicted. Jack and Andy are convincingly drawn, though Ned is little more than a foil for his more colorful friends. At times his behavior isn't exemplary, but the author wants to portray an attitude that was prevalent at the time, so Ned must step up. And while I'm sure that somewhere in America a gay boy dropped out of college to enlist in the Army and fight in Vietnam, as a college student at the time, I find it hard to believe.

(Ford is hardly alone among current writers who no longer make the correct distinction among I/me/myself, but because this is a first-person narrative, the constant errors are an irritant to anyone sensitive to this usage.) "Full Circle" would have been more successful had it been shortened and condensed, as the central story was compelling. It is my first exposure to this author, and I will seek out his other books.

I enjoyed this book and looked forward to getting back to it before bed each night. Each section is full of interesting historic insights that should be a must read for the younger generation, especially those that deal with the reality of AIDS in the 80s and the devestation it bought on the gay community. Other areas of interest were the Harvey Milk assasination and Vietnam. While this book cover's a gay man's coming of age and his life journey the historic fabric is what I found to be of most interest. It is easy to forget the past and I think it is vital for the younger generation to learn the struggles of the brave members of generations past that have made being a Gay American, a better place for all. We still have a long way to go but the last 30 years have bought about sweeping changes. Enjoy the book, it is worth reading.

When a story hits home, then that's the making of great literature. The characters are in their prime of life, learning to cope as they grow olders. Mistakes are made, but can be overcome. Excellent reading.

I've read Michael Thomas Ford's other books and was entertained and moved by such a talented and wonderful author. Sure, Last Summer and Looking For It could be called beach novels but the author seems to grow and mature with each new novel he publishes. And with Full Circle, I often wonder if this is his masterpiece or just a taste of the wonderful books to come. Upon picking up this beautiful piece of work, I found that I could not put it down! I was truly fascinated by the characters; cared for them. The historical references were remarkable and the plot just moves forward at an even pace that depicts the lives of these gay men through the rich, complicated and convoluted past of gay history. It has been a year since I read this novel but I gave a copy to my best friend last night as a gift and plan to give another copy to another friend in the near future. Michael Thomas Ford has become one of my all time favorite writers and I'm at present reading his most recent novel Changing Tides. Again: another beautiful piece of work!!!!!

I really give this ambitous, but (for me) ultimately frustrating book 2 1/2 stars, but I've rounded up. I did enjoy the early sections of the novel, which focused on the youth, college and army experiences of Ned, the main character. But once Ned leaves the army and moves to San Francisco, I grew frustrated with what seemed like an endless series of what I call "and thens." What I mean is that the story just became "and then I did this" "and then I met so and so" "and then I started taking drugs," etc. It seemed like highlights of someone's diary who is overly melodramatic and inevitably falls back on clichés.

There also is a strong tendency for the narrator to get very didactic--giving little history lessons on agent orange or the Golden Gate Bridge. Perhaps understandable as he's a history teacher, but I found it very off putting.

Most annoying of all, though, is the endless references to the pop culture and history of the particular moment. Yes, I get it was the late 70's; do we have to have you snorting coke while listening to Sylvester, thinking about Harvey Milk, watching Star Wars, reading "Tales from the City," having promiscuous sex and hating Anita Bryant?

I see I'm in the minority here, and I can understand why others might enjoy it, but I found "Full Circle" a let down.

I am not a single. I have a wonderful boyfriend. He loves me; he spoils me; he is caring and sensitive; he is everything a woman can dream of. The connection between me and him is great.

However, I still feel trapped inside over the past pain in my childhood. I am still struggling. I don't believe and I don't feel that a man can make me feel happy if I cannot make myself happy. I ordered this book right before I met him, but I just started to read it now because I felt bored lately. This book helped me overcome a lot of fears I had and I am still having. I mean it is so important for you to overcome those fears that hold your back and that stop you from becoming the best you can. After dealing with your emotions well, everything will become so easy!!!!

I don't write reviews, but I have to write a review for this book. This book was awesome. I found myself single and alone for the first time in 9 years. I was scared, hopeless, and at a complete loss. This book really helped me get my thoughts in order. It helped me overcome the fear of being single. I truly am finding ways to love life, but more importantly love myself. I highly recommend this book. In fact, I am buying a copy for one of my friends that is the most negative person I know. I am hoping it will help her like it helped me.

Recently single, for the first time, I bought this book looking for something a little uplifting and encouraging; and that's what it is. There's lots of quotes to inspire, and "Try this" suggestion areas to keep you busy and on your way. Definately a must for people looking for a quick and productive read!

I never write reviews on books unless they really moved me, and this one certainly did that. I did not want to put it down! So comforting and a real amazing read if you have just gotten out of a relationship or have been on you own for awhile. This book really puts things in perspective and makes you view your life in a whole different way. I couldn't help but feel like the author was like my mother or older sister of some sort giving me advice to really loving and appreciating the life that I have right in front of me. I have recommended it to all of my single girlfriends as abook of wisdom and guidance through all the hard times we have endured. I personally have had a hard time getting over the stigma of being single, thinking I will never be loved and if I am alone then I am nobody. Its hard to really look at the brighter side of things when all you see is happy couples hand-holding every where you look, but there are other amazing joys in life as well that you can do when you are forced to be alone.
I really, really loved this book. I cannot recommend it enough!

I loved this book. I couldn't put it down. Not only is it a heartwarming, motivational tool, but it is also an easy read. I couldn't put it down. It made me laugh and smile and be thankful for the single experience.

Although the description said for readers ages 4 - 8, there is no way this book is readable to any but the brightest 8 year olds. The book is probably great, but I was mislead by the description. (The rating of "1 star" was for these young readers, not for older kids or adults.)

corpus-callosum's [Amazon.com] review mentions "At the end of the articles, Ford has placed in parentheses an abbreviated reference to the specific book and page number that coincides with the topic being discussed. "

There are two numbers separated by a comma- the first is the tradepaperback/hardback HaperCollins or Harper Trophy page number, the second (after the comma) is for the Harper Trophy rack sized (mass market) paperback editions.

Examples from the Companion book listings to check pagination of the Narnia editions you have to see if they match up on the correct page:

Lion Witch Wardrobe: Hosea 11:10 "at the sound of his roar" 79,85
Prince Caspian:Isaiah 9:1"the people that lived in hiding" 72,75
Dawn Treader: Isaiah 6:6 "a little live coal" 207,224
Silver Chair: Psalms103:9 "I will not always be scolding" 236,250
Horse & His Boy: Daniel 4:24 "not a donkey!" 219,235
Magician's Nephew: Job 38:7 "stars themselves singing" 107,117
Last Battle: Deut.33:27 "between the paws of the true Aslan" 121, 134

I have the trade paperback Harper Trophy "full-color collector's edition of Narnia, boxed set ISBN: 0064409392 and the first number of the two (the one before the comma) matches perfectly in all the Narnia books.

This reference is a must for any Narnia fan. Although it is done 'dictionary style', I read straight through it, picking up bits of information I never knew & finding connections between & new symbolism in characters, places, & things from all the books. Especially worth a read are entries on broader topics like sexism, the roles of adults vs. children, & the influence of Plato.

I resold this book immediately, without even browsing all the way through it! I thought it would be a fun book to help me re-enter the Chronicles of Narnia world, but there aren't any short summaries of the books and their meaning. There are many long references to obscure characters. Without remembering which are the most important characters in which books, it's hard to look anything up.

I first entered Narnia as a child, simply pushing the fur coats aside and stepping through the wardrobe into the snowy world near the lamp post. I didn't need a guide book. Things just unfolded and I went with the flow of wonders. I came back for an extended visit when I was expecting my first child. There were concepts there that I had not noticed before as "concepts". I felt inspired and doubly moved by its beauty. Now, I'm at the "grandma" age if not yet in that reality. I've popped back in to visit old friends and this guide book is truly a "companion." I realize that the word "companion" in the title refers to the fact that this volume is a companion to the Narnia books, but for me the title has a double meaning, in that it is also my companion on the journey to Narnia, my tour guide, so to speak.
This book takes you by the hand and encourages you to look closer, gently pointing out the secrets of the locale that only the natives might know. It gives insights and provokes thought and dialogue. It is a neat holistic view that encourages an appreciation for the big picture by illuminating the subtle details. It is also the kind of tribute to the minute of one's heroes that all "fans" love to pour over. If you are a young person just let Lucy help you find your way into Narnia and I assure you that you will have a splendid time, but if you are a bit older I recommend this travelog and the company of this wonderfully helpful and insightful book.
This book also contains an insightful foreward by Madeleine L'Engle, author of "A Wrinkle in Time".

Frank Corso is a journalist who has shunned the limelight since a big fiasco involving fictional newspaper stories. He's back in the public eye when he discovers that a man on death row shouldn't really be there - the major (and only) witness in the case has recanted her story.

There was a lot to like about this book. First and foremost was the team of Corso and photojournalist Meg Dougherty. They were fleshed-out, intriguing characters that I enjoyed reading about. The icing on the cake was the constantly-moving plot line, which had a nice series of twists and turns. I saw the last one coming, but was able to forgive it because I was having such a good time. I found it very interesting that the man on death row they were trying to save was really rather repulsive and didn't deserve to have all these people fighting for his freedom!

I read this book in one sitting - I didn't want to do anything else until I reached the conclusion. And I put the book down with a feeling of satisfaction, which should be a recommendation because I'm usually pretty hard to please. I will be looking for further Frank Corso novels.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of Ford and his Leo Waterman books but this was a great change of pace.

Ford's new hero is Frank Corso - he's hard to get a read on, he's a loner (with friends), he's difficult (but is smooth when he interviews), he's trustworthy and, most importantly, he loves to put his nose into other people's business, especially when he smells a good story.

Ford introduces a variety of characters to fill out Corso's world and I think it works very well. The pacing of the book is excellent and I oftentimes found myself having to force myself to put it down so I could go on with the rest of my day. This book is darker and more serious than the Waterman books, mostly because there isn't the comic relief supplied by the homeless crowd from the neighborhood bar, the Zoo.

For those fans of Leo Waterman, he makes a cameo appearance at the beginning.

During a recent visit to a mystery bookstore, in search of a good new mystery writer, I stumbled on G. M. Ford. I am surprised that I had not heard of Mr. Ford. I liked the back cover brief and took a chance. Wonderful is all I can say.
Like Mr. Connelly, Mr. Ford writes in a crisp, no nonsense style. His characters are believable and come to life on the page. He weaves the mundane into the story to give it life. No gratuitous violence or sex. Character development and interaction was terrific. Story thesis was very interesting and developed in a perfect time line. The twists were just about right so that in the end you felt satisfied, but still eager to get to the next novel and see what mischief Frank Corso will be involved in. And what about Meg Dougherty's tattoos? Too be continued I'm sure. Although 356 pages, I read it in only 2 days because of the high quality of writing.
Highly recommend if you like the murder mystery genre. A wonderful complement to the Connelly thrillers. I'd like to see Corso meet Bosch in a bar. Now that would be a story.

This is an excellent example of the great stuff that awaits readers of any genre by non-mainstream authors. Mr. Ford, author of the Leo Waterman series, branches out to new and uncharted territory.

Ironically, a book by the same title, 'Fury,' was just released by Robert Tannenbaum (Ford's is a 2002 release) and it must be the 244th Butch Karp novel. OK, I'm joking but I swear I was reading Butch Karp stuff in High School. Hey, they didn't have seat belts in high school so that was quite awhile ago.

Anyhow, Ford breaks away in the tradition of Lehane and Parker and Crais, and kudos to him for not staying with a sure thing.

I think Frank Corso is a great character. Ford is extremely descriptive to the point that you feel the fog and hear the crunching of Corso's shoes as he walks down an alley littered with human detritus.

He gets involved with Meg Dougherty, more on that later, when a favor owed to his employer is called in after a star witness to the trial and eventual sentencing of the despicable Walter Leroy Himes . . . recants.

Himes purportedly murdered a number of Seattle's young women and is sentenced to die in 6 days. So, old plot with some interesting twists.

Dougherty was drugged by a jilted lover and has been tatooed over most of her body. So the two, the Stephen Segal-like Corso and the attractive "Illustrated-man"-like Dougherty plunge into a chasm where they are ridiculed by the police and the public for 'not letting Himes take the Kervorkian Cocktail whether he's guilty or not.'

Good magnetic read. Lot's of twists. Good series.5 stars. Larry Scantlebury

Frank Corso is a journalist who tells it like it is, and his honesty has repeatedly landed him in trouble. After becoming a successful author with a bestselling book to his credit, Corso decides to give up journalism and live a reclusive and peaceful life on his houseboat. However, when a key witness decides to recant her testimony in a death penalty case, she insists on telling her story to Corso. He is back in the game.

Along with Meg Dougherty, a gifted photographer and a decent investigator in her own right, Corso reviews the case of Walter Leroy Himes. Himes is about to be executed for murdering women across Seattle and leaving their bodies in dumpsters. Although Himes claims that he never killed anyone, most of the victims' family members, the police, and a large segment of the public want Himes executed. Although Himes is a thoroughly nasty individual, Corso believes him to be innocent of these particular crimes, and he decides to explore and analyze the evidence himself. Reopening the case will make a good newspaper story, and it will also give Corso an opportunity to avert a possible miscarriage of justice.

Corso is a terrific character. Sharp-tongued, intelligent, brusque, and tough as nails, he is defensive when anyone tries to penetrate the shell that he has built around himself. Dougherty has also had her share of hard knocks in life, and she is a good match for Corso. "Fury" is fast-paced and Ford's writing is often colorful and amusing.

The only flaw in "Fury" is the hackneyed plot. How many times have we read about murder cases being reopened because the wrong man may be on death row? There are dozens of books out there with this same plot, and it has been done once too often. In addition, some of the story's twists and turns are a bit too contrived.

However, Frank Corso redeems "Fury" with his strength, integrity, and compassion. He is one cool dude, and his character is one of the best protagonists in any detective thriller around. If you can overlook the warmed-over plot, you will get a big kick out of this perceptive, straight-talking, and world-weary journalist.

Darnella Ford is one of my favorite authors! I first discovered her when I read Crave, her novel written after this one and it is a dynamite novel! However, after reading this and comparing it to her other works, I can see how much she's progressed since! The concept of this novel is good, a young mixed girl from the ghetto orphaned and then taken in by a rich white family which is no cookie-cutter family under the surface. However, instead of getting to the meat of the experience this young girl witnessed we find her at an adult going back to the scene of her horrors for the first time in many years. Therefore, readers get a lot of her thoughts about what's going to happen, blah blah blah. We learn what happened to her in like 3 pages when readers could have recieved so much more from the work had not a good portion of the book been so drawn out and dry.

I was very impressed with Darnella Ford, her book was so strong. Her book is what I call a "Survivor's Book".

I have read a lot of books of the genre but this one stuck with me by far. I couldn't believe how her words made me feel as if what was happening to her main character was happening to me.

I recommend this book to anyone who has overcome a tragedy of any kind, whether it be from a stranger or a family member. Even though this is a book of fiction, it is far too real in someone's reality.

Later...

Symone has had one hell of a life. From birth until nine years of age she grew up destitute in the housing projects of Boston with a crack addicted, prostitute mother. Oddly enough Symone found happiness being a "rare and beautiful bird", a description used by her mother Deloros to describe her, amongst the ruins of her life. United at a young age with her friend Ina they made the best of a bad situation up to and including that tragic day when Symone's mother overdosed and died. Life changed then for Symone. She always knew that she wasn't black. Her light skin, the color of her hair told a story nobody needed to verbalize. She questioned her mother many times but the answers were never clear, there was always a question of who she was. Rising is the tale of climbing from the depths of uncertainty into the vast world of the unknown and how Symone finds her way.
Symone finds herself a ward of the state after the county burial of her mother. It is then that she is one of the lucky children in state custody for she is immediately transformed from a project wharf into a high society girl. She is adopted by the rich Hurston family- "a shameless family with a house at the top of the hill"- in the ritzy section of town, Eden in Michigan. Her English becomes better, she is transformed from illiterate to a functioning member of society. She dresses better, she gains her own room which is much bigger than the rat infested tenement that she grew up in, she is transformed into a productive person -on the outside. Inwardly though, the demons rage. What seemingly is a life that any of us would envy is pure torture. It is this torture that is vividly captured in Rising. I couldn't put the book down, for Symone's life was a winding and twisted strand. It would unravel and repair itself countless times a literary journey through the mind of a woman who was tortured mentally more than I could imagine. Spellbound throughout the book, it wasn't until the last few chapters that this gripping tale came together in a fiery ending. During a Thanksgiving trip, funny how I should pick this book up in November, secrets that will forever change the lives of everyone involved are revealed and dealt with once and for all. You won't be disappointed taking a few hours to read this book. I suggest that you push it to the top of your To Be Read list.

At eight years old, Symone has known nothing but poverty and chaos. She is a biracial child living in the projects with her drug addicted prostitute mother. While other children are outside playing with their friends, Symone is forced into being the "adult" in the household. Symone tells us her story of taking care of her mother, helping her through the night sweats, having no food or hot water. She shows us the unconditional love a child has for their parent.

When her mother dies of an overdose, Symone is shipped off to an orphanage. A rich white family adopts her and whisks her away to a huge house and better life. But, is this life really better? The Hudson house may look perfect on the outside, but there are many dark secrets on the inside.

Ridge and Madeline Hudson have two other daughters, Audrey and . We get to know each member of the Hudson< family along with their stories of emotional and sexual abuse through flashbacks during a mandatory family meeting called by Ridge Hudson.

The characters in 'Rising' are well developed and realistic. The intense story line will make your heart ache for the children. I read the self-published version of this book and was a little disappointed in the changes that were made. I prefer the original ending over this one because it seemed to be more realistic for this story. This is still an excellent read and real page turner.

Tina
R.E.A.L. Reviewers

Rising is the story of Symone, a nine year old biracial girl living in the projects with her drug addicted mother. When her mother dies Symone is adopted by the Hustons, a rich white couple and moved to a wealthy community. Now she lives in a huge house far from the Ghetto and that is where her nightmare begins. Symone finds out that all that glimmers is not gold. The Hustons are anything but glamorous. She finds herself a victim when her adopted father sodomizes her. She later learns that he has done the same to his" own" children. Symone, now adult has left the Hustons home but can't escape the abuse, she finds herself broken,bruised,shattered and used. Her boyfriend Teek doesn't have it easy either, when they make love he becomes the victim to her rage, his pain becomes her pleasure. He doesn't understand her hazardous sex routine. When the family gathers for Thanksgiving, Symone returns to the Huston house with Teek. The abuse is confronted, the sisters plan revenge and Symone learns a shocking family secret... Darnella paints a bittersweet novel that will keep you glued to the very last page..
We Gave Darnella Best New Author 2003 for Rising....

This is a book I believe to be a revisionist history of the AVG (American Volunteer Group) also known by the more colorful sobriquet of "The Flying Tigers". The name had a very positive effect on the Chinese and so upset the Japanese that they would not even print the name in their reports or newspapers as it was "too terrible". I believe the book to be a good one except for the effort to reduce the victories attained by the AVG. Mr. Ford is correct in that the AVG did not fight the Zero. The Zero was withdrawn from China in Sept. of 1940. They did, however, fight the Ki-43 which was very similar in appearance and performance.

Mr. Ford's narrative takes the reader from the very beginning when pilots and support personnel were recruited from the Army and the Navy to the very bitter end when the exhausted and much put upon surviving members of the AVG were very shabbily treated, particularly by USAAF General Clayton Bissel, and summarily disbanded without fanfare or thanks by their government. The Chinese, however, were extremely grateful and showed it in many ways.

The writer touches on the complex relationships between Chennault, Chaing Kai-Skek and his vivacious and charming American educated wife the former Mai-Ling Soong who was known as Madame Chaing Kai-Shek. Other players such as the universally loathed Clayton Bissell (whom Chenault hated) and General Joseph Stilwell (who hated anything that did not walk,i.e., fliers). The politics here are are truly Machivalian and would require another book to do them justice ( read "The Soong Dynasty" by Sterling Seagrave). Claire Lee Chennault was a great aviator and a master tactician who had little use for the conventional military. He had been in China since 1937 and was intensely loyal to Generalissimo and Madame Chiang Kai-Chek.

The book chronicles the recruiting and deployment of the air group to China via Burma with great and sometimes tedious detail. The AVG arrived as a complete unit with planes, spare parts, technical, medical and administrative staff. They are described as mercenaries by Mr. Ford. t I know of no mercenaries who were so completely equipped and paid for by their own (US) government. This is in marked contrast to US pilots such as Ajax Baumler and Frank Tinker who flew in the Spanish Civil War but did so completely on their own.

Chennault arranged for the unit to train intensely at Toungoo north of Rangoon and it was this training that was at the root of this units great effectiveness.

The book reveals much of the diverse and interesting personalities who found themselves together at the end of a long road. Pilots such as fighter ace R. T. Smith ( a man who definitely did not like this book), Tex Hill, Bob Little, Gregory Boyington, staff members Harvey and Olga Greenlaw and many other fascinating characters are described in this book. One thing that Mr. Ford did do that I liked was give some words to the five remarkable women who were also members of the Flying Tigers.

The first fatal accidents begin almost immediately and the combat losses begin with the very spirited defense of Rangoon, a battle ultimately lost. The book purports to to detail every combat for the entire life of the AVG and makes use of Japanese records and interviews with Japanese survivors. Mr. Ford's research reduces the number of victories claimed by the AVG and in so doing has enraged surviving members of the Flying Tigers. I am in complete disagreement with Mr. Ford here and feel that if anything the victory tally should have been even higher. My own tendency is also to believe those who were there over those who were not. As Mr. Ford was not there and was never a combat pilot so I leave it to the reader to draw their own conclusions. Also I have read every book ever written about the AVG and cannot help but give credence to the fact that none are in agreement with Mr. Ford's book in respect to the combat record of the group.

Read this and judge for yourself. This book belongs on the shelf of any Flying Tiger student, if, for nothing else, its contrasting views.

One of the best and most objective accounts of the AVG in China and the politics that helped draw the US into the second world war. A 'must read' for anyone interested in the history and politics of that period, not to mention those interested in vintage wartime aviation. Best if read with Greenlaw's "The Lady and the Tigers" and Boyington's "Baa Baa Black Sheep".

This is a book of contradiction and conflict. The real flying tigers disagree and dislike this book, for example, Erik Shilling who was one key person of AVG to make the famous shark teeth on the P40 the AVG symbol.

Mr. Ford did extensive research under a Smithsonian fellowship. The book covers the information about AVG, and the author attempted to "balance" by adopting much info from Japanese sources as well. In addition, there is the introduction of the airplane performance for readers who are not familiar with world war II airplanes.

So why so many AVGs disagree and dislike the book, although many of the AVGs provided information and assisted with the book writing? This reviewer believes:
1. the author describes the AVG as mercenaries or adventurers, but not patriots. AVG was recruited under President Roosvelt's secret executive order. I wonder what the author's view on the Eagle squadron in England is? (England paid the Eagle squadron a salary higher than China to AVG) Some of the AVG pilots volunteered for 2 more weeks after the disbandment on July 4th, 1942, and was KIA in that 2 weeks. This disrepect to AVG is definitely unwarranted and misleading to readers who want to learn about AVG.
2. The author tore down AVG's score by comparing with the Japanese source, and in numerous places within the book to claim that AVG greatly exaggerated the score. True in the 2nd world war that fighter pilots from all countries over-estimated their kills. It is not difficult to find that AVG over claimed the kill. But thinking that Japanese record is accurate is the major flaw in the author's approach. Near the end of the book, Mr. Ford finally admitted that Japanese pilots could exaggerate their kill score even worse and he used much information from Japanese pilots' memoir written in the 1980s because much official documents was destroyed near the end of the war in Japan! Another point, the author does not understand the importance of "face" in Asian culture. The Japanese military isolated all the Midway task force after defeat and concealed the news to the Japanese people!! How should the accuracy of those Japanese late-day memoirs be checked?
3. The book also missed addressing the key point: right after the Pearl Harbor, AVG was the only winning (or maybe not-defeated by Mr. Ford's approach?) allied air group. The book failed to portray in the right proportion that AVG, in the shortage of the supply and spare parts, faced a Japanese army air force of at least 2x to 5x size. The failure of JAAF to annihilate AVG is the best testimony that AVG defeated JAAF! In the even grander historic scope, AVG freed the China from the JAAF bombardment and stopped the barbecuing of the major Chinese cities (and its citizens).

The author's lack of history training, general knowlege of air-warfare and airplane flaws the book as an objective historic account. It makes readers wonder whether the book is written by a Japanese author. It certainly failed to recognize the historic contribution by General Chennault and the AVG in stopping Japanese aggression - which even US military finally recogizes half century after the end of the 2nd world war.

The reviewer recommends other books on Amazon to readers of strong interest in AVG which have much better value in collection, such as
1. Tale of a tiger by RT Smith
2. A flying tiger's diary by Charles Bond
among many other books.

the official AVG website
[...]
provide much more information including the list of books to the interested readers.

An excellent book based on fact about Gen. Chennault and the men and WOMAN that made up the Flying Tigers. Very enjoyable reading and I could hardly put it down.

Daniel Ford took on a difficult job: cutting through the hype to offer an objective assessment of the Flying Tigers' actual combat performance during their brief existence from late 1941 through mid-1942. Ford carries out this task with pain-staking rigor, sorting through U.S. and Japanese flight reports and other pieces of evidence. His conclusion: The Tigers, mercenary U.S. airmen hired to defend China from Japan, didn't come close to the exploits attributed to them - but did put on an impressive performance against the Japanese air force that vastly outnumbered them, destroying about 115 Japanese planes (not the 296 they were credited). Ford writes well and displays a sense of humor about the absurdities of war and human behavior -- and an empathy for young men fighting in difficult circumstances. But Flying Tigers doesn't rise to greatness because the characters never really come to life. Ford offers such a wide-ranging, chronological account that characters can disappear for 100 pages; when they return, you barely remember them. Not even the Tigers' leader, Claire Chennault, emerges as a full-blooded character. Even so, the Chennault described here is far different from hare-brained opportunist depicted in Barbara Tuchman's magisterial Stilwell and the American Experience in China. In this account, Chennault is an innovative advocate of air power, beloved by his men and constantly forced to defend them from bureaucratic assaults. I'm not sure whether Ford or Tuchman got closer to the truth. But reading this book, at a time when partisanship and hype so often substitute for digging and analysis, you have to admire Ford's effort. You sense you are in the company of a good man, searching for truth even if it means taking a little of the glow off the myth surrounding men he obviously admires.

I recommend all of his books (Alec Baldwin doesn't love me) - they are very funny, well written and really amusing. I am constantly disappointed by gay humorous books (like Bob smith's lame book) but Mr. Fordn never disappoints.

Since the chapters are so short it is great for reading on the train or before bed.

I can't wait for his next one.

You'll love this book. Ford takes the quirky side of his life and adds his own bitter take on things. If you like David Sedaris or Augusten Burroughs, you'll enjoy Michael Thomas Ford.

While reading this book you will find yourself laughing outloud. It shows what being a gay man in the 21st century is TRULY like. I absolutely loved it!

It's a bitter book written by a bitter man. I suppose it's funny. There are some great one-liners in it, but mostly the book just drones on and on. Frankly I hated it, but my partner found it to be a laugh riot. You choose.

Michael Thomas Ford is not only funny but his humoresque take on gay life is so dead on it is frightening how honest and true it is. Highly recommended! You may not agree with everything he says but you'll at least laught for the his honesty and comedic view on gay life. Even though this book is a couple of years old it is still very fresh and funny. Do yousrself a huge favor and read at least one of his "My Queer Life" books, I don't think you'll be disappointed. I certainly wasn't and I doen't give authors five star ratings very easily, unless it is well deserved. I would love to see his mini essays transfered into a one-person stage show. I think it would do very well.

I would have to say that it is sadly not surprising that Liza and Mr. Oshell respond to Calvin's Institutes in the manner found in each of their reviews. As mentioned by J. Oh, the primary problem is that there are many commonly held misconceptions about Calvin and many different views on what it means to be a Christian. Let me start off by saying that I readily admit that the Institutes are not an easy read. But neither is the Bible, nor most things of substance. The time and style in which the books were written only compound the problem for modern readers (though this translation does much to remedy the situation). I think no doctrine is so commonly misunderstood as predestination. First, it should be noted that predestination is not, despite what Oshell and Liza claim, a creative interpretation out of line with Christian thought. In fact some have argued, and I tend to agree, many aspects of it were held by the early church fathers as may be witnessed in their attacks on Pellagianism. In other words, predestination was considered a central part of Christianity since the time of Christ. Second, the opposite understanding leads to the conclusion that salvation is based upon our own acts, which is perhaps the greatest example of the sin of pride--putting one's self above God. Third, no where in the Bible can one find anything against the notion of predestination. Finally, predestination is specifically mentioned several times in the Bible including Ephes. 1:3-5; Romans 8:28-30; 1 Cor. 2:7; Acts 4:27-28. In addition, there are countless other mentions of God's foreknowledge and Christ's choosing us prior to our choosing Him throughout the Bible. Simply because the modern churches are too caught up in the feel good message of "be a good person and be saved" or the more subtle message of "God will reward you for your faith," when improperly understood, does not at all attack the substance of the Biblically sound doctrine of predestination.

The legalistic manner (including the near overclassification of his theological subject) in which the Institutes are written is a better explination why many modern Christians have difficulty following Calvin...this I feel is the only place where his humanistic/legalistic background impedes his work; for the logical and precise exegises of the Bible does not always require as much classification. That being said, however, in some respects it is this very thuroughness that makes the Institutes a must read.

Also, finally in response to the notion that predestination = salvation by chance...I might suggest reading Jonathan Edwards' "Freedom of the Will" wherein is made a forceful argument that it is the lack of predestination which leads to salvation by pure chance.

Unfortunately this translation of Calvin's 'Institutes' is often overlooked due to the more popular translation from Battles. However, this is an excellent translation of Calvin's most famous work and given its age (first published in 1845), it is surprisingly modern - due in part to this very edition which has been 'tweaked' into a more modern verbiage.

This 'tweaking' in no way has diminished, however, the wonderful job Beverage did in translating this work. From what I have been told by several Latin scholars and theologians, and having studied Latin myself, Calvin's Latin is not a walk in the park. That being the case, once you read this translation, you can see why Beverage did such a great job.

The one feature I like best about this translation is the fact that it is well footnoted for the researcher and reader. Therefore, this translation is well documented for further research into Calvin's thought. This also helps to clear up difficulties of translation (remember Calvin's Latin is very tough). At certain points in Calvin's work, his thought via a solid translation gets confusing for scholars, this edition has footnotes detailing these difficulties, and that makes for a better read.

Now, about Calvin's 'Institutes' This work is Calvin's Opus and gives the reader the best information regarding Calvin's thoughts on the Church and Church Government, Calvin's hermeneutic, Calvin's theology of God, Calvin's epistemology, Calvin's Soteriology, the benefits of the grace of Christ, his views on the Papacy (of his day), the Roman Catholic Church, the current state of Christendom, and much more. The interesting thing about this work (the Institutes), it is not Calvin's definitive work on the theology of predestination. Calvin actually wrote several other works which deal only with that subject and present a far better assessment of his theology behind predestination (see Calvin's treatise titled "Concerning the Eternal Predestination of God," and Calvin's response to Pighius titled "The Bondage and Liberation of the Will.")

But, for the best overview of Calvin's thought on the Church and theology, the Institutes is the work to read. Beverage's translation is a great work. It is introduced by the reformed theologian John Murray, it has a general index in the back of the work, and reads very much in modern verbiage. I highly recommend this edition.

I found this book to be accessible despite the fact it was written and translated so long ago.It was also worthwhile finally reading Calvin's original writing and so many references made to him and his views in other contexts.

A lot of people think they know John Calvin. This work is the best summary of his theology anywhere and the best way to get into the mind of the great reformation leader. There is no better summary of reformation theology anywhere. Calvin's writing style is challenging but flowing and rich with rewards. It will help you formalize as a protestant what you believe and why you believe it. The serious theologian must not overlook this Opus of Protestant theology.

I agree with Mr. Oshell on almost every point. I find John Calvin, in this writing, and in many others, confused about what he really believes. He speaks of 'justification', 'sanctification', regeneration', 'grace', even 'faith', but cannot seem to come to an agreement with himself as to what these important terms mean. After reading a good amount of the Institutes, I think John Calvin thought they all meant the same thing. But of course, according to Calvinism, knowing about these things was ever meant for most of the world anyway, and knowledge of them doesn't make any difference to anyone's eternal destiny, so really, what does it matter who does or doesn't understand these terms? The reader might find his eyes spinning in his head after a short while. Much philosophy indeed....

John Calvin, like Calvinist writers in general, must of necessity give opposite meanings to the words of the living God in Scripture in order to teach what it is they believe, "Calvinism". But I think any true 'believer' should be horrified by Calvin's notion that salvation and damnation of individuals are utterly left to chance, a decision already made by God for each of us before the foundation of the world, and most importantly, arbitrary in regard to "faith". God merely made the decision without any regard to His foreknowledge of a person's faith or lack of faith in Christ. Unbelievable. But this teaching comes from Calvin's belief that there IS no condition for salvation, that faith in Christ is not necessary for those 'elected' by God to salvation in eternity past. God, they say, simply "gives the gift of faith" to the ones He has already elected to salvation (making them meet the apparent condition for salvation (faith) in John 3:16-18). To hell with the rest, literally.

Is it any wonder that Calvinism has never enjoyed any peace in Christian circles? The 'goodwill' of Calvinism's gospel is simply not meant to be goodwill to 'all'.

As for spiritual deception, Mormonism and the Watchtower Organization can't hold a candle to the brilliant deceptions of Calvinism. Let me emphasize "BRILLIANT". Calvin's Institutes turns truth on its head. Just do as the Bereans did and never fail to compare what Calvin says in his Institutes with the word of God to see if they are in agreement. What I found in Mr. Calvin's writings was 'the word of men' we read about in 1 Thes 2:13.

It is difficult for me to accept the fact that otherwise intelligent men would even 'want' to believe Calvin's horrible teachings. But its true, one's faith is a thing of the heart, and we can all believe whomever and whatever we want (I made the free will choice to reject John Calvin's teachings).