Gray Books

"Breath of My Ancestors" is exactly what the title states, historical information that is crucial to all, especially African-Americans. Ty has been blessed by GOD with the ability to put words together in a poetic and passionate way that is entertaining as well as informative. He has poems to reflect just about every social concern that exists today from domestic abuse, to race pride,to critical historical information many are unaware of. His messages encourage us to know and love ourselves and as a result exube love to others. Ty Gray-EL will go down in history as a passionate poet that cares tremendously for the progress of our people. Great Work Ty!

When I first heard about this book, I was moved, shaken, and stirred! What a prolific writer and performer Mr. Gray EL is and what a tremendous service he has brought to mankind through his words. All people should read this book from sea to shinning sea! It transcends age, race, and gender by telling the history of a people that is relevant to all. The prose is moving, provocative and even humorous at times. I highly recommend this book, it will wake you up to what is really happening on many levels.

Ron Richards gives us a much needed realistic and enjoyable story of how the south could have won the civil war. Imagine a nation where Lincoln was replaced by Lee and Jefferson Davis. Truly an amazing literary work! A must for civil war buffs!

I read this book on a whim. I thought it would not be interesting. I was very happy it was nothing like I thought. I had read Harry Turtledove before and I thought this book would be more of the same. I could not have been more wrong. The book completely engrossed me. I have now ordered the first book,"A Southern Yarn" and I am very excited about reading it. I also plan to read the Thrid installment, "Gray Visions". R.W.Richards is a much better storyteller than Turtledove and he come closer to the truth than Turtledove.

Words can't really describe the impact this small but powerful book has had on Cleveland's football fans. Given up for naught in 1995 and 1996, the spirit of the Browns was secured in our hearts with the emergence of Browns Memories in late 1996. Browns fans all over the country latched onto this work as "chicken soup" for a Browns fan's soul. It's pure Browns, through and through...not about the move, not about the politics, but why we all became and remain Browns fans. Right time and the right book, it got us all through the tough times. Great work and very enjoyable.

Words can't really describe the impact this small but powerful book has had on Cleveland's football fans. Given up for naught in 1995 and 1996, the spirit of the Browns was secured in our hearts with the emergence of Browns Memories in late 1996. Browns fans all over the country latched onto this work as "chicken soup" for a Browns fan's soul. It's pure Browns, through and through...not about the move, not about the politics, but why we all became and remain Browns fans. Right time and the right book, it got us all through the tough times. Great work and very enjoyable.

The question of captivity is often quite perplexing in any war and was quite so during the Civil War. Author Michael P. Gray delves into this conundrum full force and shows what it was like to be held captive in the most heinous of northern jails, "Helmira" better known as Elmira. His analysis shows that the proper handling of prisoners was more intricate than once believed and that captivity took on a life of it's own while setting forth new business principles behind the stockade walls. Enormous amounts of food, staffing, lumber, clothing, paper, and every other item that is necessary to operate a prison is well documented with these pages.

This book has been broken down into a chapter-by-chapter discovery of what occurred at Elmira just before, during and right after the Civil War. It began as simple depot laid out to house soldiers as they prepared to go off to war. Men arrived for training, were processed, feed, trained and sent off to battle. With the troops moving off to fight, many barracks were left unoccupied and Asst. Adj. General Edward D. Townsend brought this situation to the attention of Commissary General Hoffman. Hoffman believed these empty barracks could help alleviate overcrowding in Northern prisons and do so in a more economical fashion.

The train account discussed in the chapter 2 on "The Inauguration of Elmira Prison" really hits home on how past tragedies mirror what has occurred in our lives today. The conductors, trying to make up for lost time were pushing their steam locomotives to the breaking point, and led travelers into harms way. When the accident occurred one conductor was killed outright while the other slowly roasted to death. The images brought to mind the horrors of recent train derailments and how we can be here one minute and gone the next.

As you follow this work you see how the lives of the men lost along with those that survived came together to form the common thread for this book. This thread is how prisons, guards and suppliers formed the "Business of Captivity" The author goes into great detail, compiling primary source material along with excellent writing to bring forth a truly awesome work on Elmira. The chapters are broken down into easy to read sections and build upon each other without dragging the reader through trivial details. The average reader will appreciate it's easy to read format while the historian will appreciate the thoroughness of research and detail used in compiling the material for this book.

The myriad of difficulties in running a prison camp as a business are well laid out and it's hard to imagine the daily life and death struggle that took place when you begin reading about all the business ventures that took place within the stockade walls. The most ingenious were the trinkets that were produced by the prisoners to be sold within as well as outside the camp by prison guards. The "Elmira Jewelry trade" was in full swing and supplied many a lady with finely crafted rings, necklaces and so forth made from bone, wood, animal hair, or any scrap that might have been missed by a previous "jeweler".

Rounding out this work is the chapter labeled "The Aftermath & the Legacy" that lays out in black and white the ultimate cost of prison life. From July 1864 to July 1865, death and sickness became so commonplace that a separate business of transporting and interring the dead sprang up. One man, an escaped slave, John W. Jones supervised the burial of all the Confederate prisoners at Elmira and made himself a tidy nest egg for after the war. He became known as the wealthiest colored man in that part of the state.

"The Business of Captivity" has brought together sound research mirrored with quality writing to give the reader an enjoyable journey into prison life at Elmira. Even the endnotes are filled with primary source material and each chapter has many quotes and references. Cover to cover the reader will discover that human interest has been successfully merged with historical research. I highly recommend this book to anyone curious about fortifications and prisons during the Civil War.

This was an excellent piece of non-bias work dedicated to telling the truth of the business of prison management in the North during the War of Northern Aggression. Michael P. Gray was very meticulous in detailing facts and figures about the day to day obstacles that confronted the U. S. Gov't and the management staff in running Elmira Prison. The enormous amount of food, lumber, clothing, staff, paper and every other item that is necessary to operate a prison is well documented along with its many atrocities. It must have taken many months for Michael to review the receipts and records that were kept by the prison staff. Also documented was how Elmira gained financially by being a training area for soldiers and then as a prison town. This book is also a great genealogy reference because of the many individuals quoted and referred to. Every aspect of running a prison is covered from dealing with a budget that was too small(more money was spent on Elmira than any other prison), prison escapes, disease, flood, corrupt or incompetent officials and staff, contractors, transportation and the unforgiving winter weather. As I read this book, I kept picturing what my ancestors my have been doing to occupy the long, boring days as they dragged by behind the walls of Elmira Prison. The end notes are just as interesting as each chapter was with the many quotes and references. I would like to thank Mr. Gray for this factual and non-biased look into my ancestors past experiences.

Like Prometheus bound to a rock in Aeschylus's tragedy, Ben Butley is bound to his office as a series of messengers from his personal life appear to give him bad news. Butley may be too sloshed, too witty, and too careless about his love life for his own good, but out of all the noisy self destruction you can hear strains of genuine concern, faintly for his child and clearly for literature. Readers of the play will get more out of it if they know something about poetry: a little of Robert Herrick, John Milton, John Suckling, and Richard Lovelace; more of Beatrix Potter (especially "Diggory Diggory Delvet," "Apply Dappley," and "Ninny Nanny Netticoat"), and especially of T.S. Elliot's "Marina." Some familiarity with British class prejudices will also help. But the play is bitingly funny even without all the Anglo-context. It makes an excellent choice for English course syllabi so long as bisexuality and homosexuality won't distract student readers. The brilliant American Film Theater version of the play (available on DVD) features Alan Bates in his finest role.

Many contemporary plays and films try to tackle the image of the university and the professor, but few succeed in really giving you the flavor of this odd group of overeducated professionals. Butley gives you the horrid little truth about what Professor Van Voris of Smith College once called "the world's _second oldest profession_." Alchoholism, homophobia, and a genuine fear of students haunt this acid, funny, and yet somehow deeply sad book about a professor of English, his untenured protege and others. A must read for anyone interested in the weird sad little world of academia.

The fact that this was a true story and not fictional makes it all the more exciting and amazing how they kept on. Well done and hard to put down once you start reading.

I just bought this book and I KNOW I'M GONNA JUST LOVE IT! I have followed Lona's story on the internet and am so excited she has written a book.

If you love adventure and the LORD - go buy this book!

The author, Simon Gray, expresses his observations of human behavior based on twelve years of research. His findings are categorized into eight basic characteristics: Hunting, Gathering, Warrior, Worker, Inventor, Attraction, Mating, Nurturing. There is a detailed description for each of them, consisting of both the positive and negative aspects. Along with their inherent priorities and viewpoints. Often these are conflicting in nature and/or blind to one another. With each of them seeing only their tiny piece of the puzzle. A compatibility matrix is also included, incase you are looking for that significant other. The author feels that these characteristics or instincts have developed over time through force of habit. And, that we aren't always aware of the impact they have on our daily lives. The book is written in an easy to read, down to earth, language that anyone could understand.

I initially found this book on the internet by accident when I was searching for some references on how to write a love letter. I was searching for the phrases: "My better half", and "Behind every successful man is a good woman". Which happened to be in the book. The unprinted version (you need a computer to read it) is provided free by the author on his website. I quickly noticed that it wasn't what I was looking for, but I couldn't stop reading. I finished the 280 page book in a mater of hours. I even studied several parts of it a 2nd time. I have purchased the paperback version. And, I plan on reading it again.

I laughed my butt off, I cried streams of tears, I was sad, and at times I got very angry. I even wanted to change or remove things (you can do this with the unprinted version), mainly grammatical errors. . He probably put them there on purpose for the warrior in us. I understood what he was saying. But it just didn't seem right. It had me thinking so intensely that my head ached by the time I was finished. In fact my head was still aching a day later. I think it's the most interesting book on human behavior I've ever read. And, it was written by a man with no special education and who paints houses for a living - go figure. The very last page where he dedicates the book to his father touched me deeply.

As I mentioned above, I was engulfed in a torrent of thoughts as I was reading this book. One of my thoughts was to include it in a package I was preparing for a loved one. I wanted to share it with them at all cost since it had made such a profound impact on me. I also experienced some conflicting thoughts at the same time. I noticed that some parts of me didn't want this person to read the book at all, or at least not until some things were altered or removed altogether. Things that could potentially damage my image. On the other hand, it was ok - possibly even desired, for the other person to see their negative side. But... My stronger more mature aspects eventually won the battle. You'll understand once you've read the book. It was amazing to actually catch myself thinking these thoughts. It allowed me to get a rare glimpse of my unconscious motivations - which are more than likely present & active within me most of the time.

A must read for anyone interested in the dynamics of human nature.

Thank you Simon Gray.

"We are what we repeatedly do."
Aristotle

This is the most amazing book, it's so true!
We all DO act out of these 8 instincts. This book is the truest thing I've read in years. I'm a Gatherer, he just pegged me so bad. I saw myself, my friends, my boss, my mom, everyone in the descriptions. I cannot say enough about this book. I opened it up and read it completely in about 3 hours. I could not put it down. Buy it today!!

I really enjoyed this book. I started out reading it to my daughter and then continued it myself. This book is about a girl or a boy (Author does not specity. She leaves it for you to decide.) who learns about friendship and people from a mysterious elderly lady. He/she learns about what is really beautiful in the people and world we live in. It subtly teaches great morals with many subjects that can lead to discussion. Plus, it contains mystery and suspense. I can't wait for the sequel.

I think that this book is wonderful its very interesting and makes you want to read more of this wonderful book I would rate the book a 5 beacuse I think it is the best book ever.

Tim Rawson has written an engaging and beautifully researched book exploring the saga of wolf control in Denali National Park. He also documents this controversial issue outside that park, both in Alaska and throughout the country. It is an unthinking oversight, however, that the publisher neglected--either in the subtitle or in the Library of congress catalog info--to mention the fascinating character who resides in these pages: Adolph Murie. This lesser known brother of Olaus Murie was largely responsible for our modern day understanding that wolves are an essential part of the ecosystem. Pre Adolph Murie it was popular to think of wolves as vermin in need of extermination. Adolph's life work, as it unfolds in Rawson's pages, turns this scholarly history into compelling biography. Even if you haven't read Barry Lopez' OF WOLVES AND MEN (or if you have any interest in wolves in general), CHANGING TRACKS is a true classic.

Alaska residents and students of national parks issues will find Changing Tracks involving: it details the events which shaped both Mt. McKinley Park and the national policy on dealing with predators in national parks in general, outlining the decisions and actions which have influenced park service policies throughout the country. A variety of experiences, from game managers to conservationists, are presented in this scholarly, involving survey.

We bought this a couple of years ago at a game and wine pairing dinner at Mary's, featured chef Doug Mack's restaurant. With the availability of more and more game meats, and we are certainly blessed with a variety of game farms in our area of Vermont, it is not hard to find either exactly what the recipes call for or some excellent substitute. We have made several of the recipes in the book for special occasion dinners and they were real crowd pleasers.

This has become one of our go-to cookbooks whenever we get ready for a holiday dinner.

This is allstar collection from chefs who like to hunt and prepare game, all kinds of game: venison, fish, rabbit, moose, birds, alligator. You get the picture. Actually only improvement would be some color pictures of finished dishes.

Each chef is given brief writeup about his career and involvement with hunting and game and then presents few of his favorite recipes. These are not the chefs of TV fame, not many in fact many of us will recognize, but don't let this be discouragement to this excellent work. There is chef who cooks at times for George Bush, and Robert Mondavi Jr.

Only limited sources of game [when given to by hunter friends] or that which can acquire at local stores. But have managed to try several with excellent results: Herb-Cured Duck Breast with Cranberry and Tawny Port Sauce; Seared Grouper with Purple Mashed Potatoes, Steamed Asparagu, and Crawfish Remoulade; Sauteed Pheasant Breast with Sage Rub and Roast Garlic Sauce.

Each recipe has tips on prep at each stage with some alternatives given and accompaniment tips as well as wine.

What a gift for that game fan of yours.