Harris Books

Written by a medical student
Comparing this to Lange Pharmacology(Big and Little version), Golan's Pharmacology is a brilliantly written text, well organized, and developed for the Medical student in mind. Its very easy to read with language thats appropriate for the student. All drugs are logically laid out in a organized manner per chapter. Chapters build up a step wise manner: normal physiology section, the pathophysiology or pathology of disease section, finally the pharmacology section. Not a random collection of facts or details like Lange series, that book is extremely difficult to follow. I feel the authors of Lange pharmacology omit a lot of important details, like not writing much about medications' side effects, making it difficult to distinguish between various medications of each group from each other. Golan's Pharmacology thankfully was written to explain the various differences in each drug mechanics, therapeutics, and side effects. Best of all, the the last chapter in each unit has an integrated pharmacology section teaching competently how to utilize combination therapy. Should be the standard text in medical pharmacology courses!

I HIGHLY recommend this text as a supplement for any pharm class. It's condensed enough so that it's not overwhelming, very well organized, and it covers the fundamental pathophys associated with each type of drug. It filled in the gaps left by my pharm class, and I think it'll prove to be useful in clinic as well.

Exceptional for learning the basics. I had a few all-important concepts that I just couldn't get: G-proteins, the anterior pituitary hormones, and the alpha/beta/cholinergic agonists and antagonists. After struggling to learn each of these several times from lecture notes and other books, I turned to this book. It worked well for me because it teaches in a conceptual way and helps develop your understanding of the material. It will take a little more time, but if this is the way you learn, it will really help.

I went back to this book many times when I ran into difficult questions reviewing for Step 1 and realized that I didn't really understand the basic concepts.

Not the book to use the night before your pharm exam: for that, I'd use the small Katzung and Trevor.

The second edition is usually better than the first one, and the first one was simply excellent! A great book, with a problem-based learning approach in mind, updated and with many new and important chapters (Protein Therapies, Drug Delivery Advances, Pharmacogenetics, among others). The good thing with this book is that any chapter deals with the necessary coverage of anatomy, physiology, pathology and so on before coming to the drugs facts. With the early med student in mind, the book will be useful for any health related career. The book is clear, is concise -notwithstanding comprehensive-, and with a complete set of drug facts tables at the end of most chapters. Simply said, the kind of book I'd liked to write myself.

One more thing: The book is brilliantly complemented by its companion book, "Principles of Pharmacology Workbook", by S. Farrell, a great account of more than 100 clinical cases regarding each chapter of the main book, with no less than five questions -and their corresponding answers- for every one of the cases. The ideal complement to make this couple of books the best pharmacology books in the scene today. I work very actively with both of them in teaching my own pharmacology courses.

Armen(Tashjian) and others have invented a unique type of pharmacology textbook in collaboration with Harvard Med Stud! Each chapter begins with the short introduction of a case report, relevant to each drug. This may give an easy undestanding of clinical significance of the drug to med stud, interns, pharmacologists and even clinicians. I believe that it will evolve into the classic of pharmaocolgy textbook!!

The Humorous and Hilarious side of family life!

I am biased, but this is a great read for the whole family.

Contrary to an earlier post, the DIY projects were not over my head. I played up my inabilities to give her more material. You will see I did this often as my personal contribution to her.

I've been a fan of Tracey's since she began writing for Backwash.com a couple of years ago, and the comparison is apt. Like the Sainted Erma, Tracey is funniest when she writes about the little things that we can all relate to, but the book has its serious moments. Some of them brought tears to this old ex-cop's eyes.

Buy the book. Buy a couple as gifts. Anyone with a family will be able to relate, unless they're in total denial.

None of the fairy tales told about the messy realities of a monarch's life. No one informed her she would be driving the chariot strapped with car seats around all day every day. Or that she would not be eating from golden plates, but rather more often from golden arches. And she was still waiting for her lady in waiting. ~Smudges on Glass Slippers

It is always rare to start laughing while reading an introduction, but definitely an indication of good times to come. So with ideas about princesses and expectations, Tracey Henry introduces us to the world of the Suburban Diva where castles may not be provided by the prince. She then proclaims her mystification over her lifestyle as a modern princess and delves into the raucous and comical realities.

Tracey Henry, "The Suburban Diva" has an especially entertaining writing style (reads like a reality show) and she presents her topics like a creative artist of words. Each entry introduces you to a different facet of her existence and the format is visually entertaining, complete with diva illustrations throughout.

If you have not laughed at least four times just reading the introduction, you may be living as a real princess in a real tower overlooking a real lake in a real kingdom and shouting out things like "let them eat cake." For the rest of us, this book is highly entertaining.

The Suburban Diva uncovers such topics as pre-marital counseling, favorite TV shows, literary neglect, trips to the mall, holidays, depression episodes, scrapbooking, hair dying, yoga, rites of passage, pregnancy, flying on a plane with baby, low-carb diets, cell phones, parties and the dreaded neighbors. She even finds time to write a poem about waiting in car lines and writes letters to the FDA.

She wonders what would really happen if you gave a mouse a cookie and contemplates the domestic skills she still must master. The entry about yoga is pretty funny as is "the day I cheated on my hairdresser." Items of note in the chapter on "Dressed to the 943s" left me laughing out loud.

There is an especially beautiful moment in "Wind Talker" and through the difficulties of parenting; Tracey Henry makes it still sound like a comforting journey filled with challenges, but always rewarding. Like a Bridget Jones of Motherhood who has an advanced degree in psychology (she likes to observe life and draw conclusions while always keeping her cool), Tracey Henry even finds time for Diva Diversions and writes extensive notes on what she did on her summer vacation.

Put this book in your new handbag and you will never be bored. So I am not the only Suburban wife to dream of her own lavender field! You have to love a woman who lets her princess alter ego out to play. She even has an extended and somewhat hilarious conversation with herself. Why can I relate?

The Suburban Diva is possibly one of the funniest books you will read this year. I hope she will publish a second book.

~The Rebecca Review, brunette using Henna

Currently waiting for pots of lavender to arrive
by mail...and wondering if Tracey has found
out about Lush beauty products and the most fantastic
Bi-O-Kleen natural cleaning products.

Tracey Henry the "Suburban Diva" has a wonderful humorous approach when it comes to relaying the highs and lows of a modern married mum and the reigning "queen" of her family empire. Keeping true to real life, this is no fairy tale, and it doesn't stop with the happy ever after ending. In fact, since she was wooed and married by her "Ralph Cramden" prince (as he was once referred to) and walks the courts of a life she has become accustomed to, raising her own royal subjects is just the beginning. And a frank and amusing portion of reality pie it is, too.

We are taken on a magical, but bumpy ride in a carriage to a land where the prince of her dreams can wave his magic wand of man's logic, uttering thoroughly modern words of wisdom like,

"Don't call when you are going to be late. Why be yelled at twice?"

This reminded me, (and probably every other woman on the planet) that the spectacle we make of ourselves behind closed doors in our suburban castles is in fact, no different to everyone else's.

When the queen is in succession, this Diva can and will talk about the most mundane chores, such as getting the short end of the shift stick and driving the crappy car, ("Car Wars") in an uproarious fashion.

If you are not laughing as soon as you pick up this book and read the introduction "Smudges on Glass Slippers" then all I can say is that there must be something wrong with you. Or maybe, it's just that you haven't yet met a prince (or princess) of your own and wandered down the woody path where green crusty snot turns your baby into a little green grinning ogre, as it is so realistically portrayed in a sub chapter titled "Shrek III".

There are many of these hilarious antidotes, one of my favourites, (and it was hard to choose as there were so many of them) is Ms Henry's version of taking her son to get his first pair of glasses. This is how she compared it to when she was first "fitted" with her own goggles, in her own guileless words,

"...the glasses weighed well over 27 pounds. I know this must be close to accurate; as this was that age that I stopped growing; because no longer had the muscle control in my neck to hold my head upright."


What makes this book special is that as a parent myself, I could more than relate to her daily quibbles, and the heady fumes of her Sally Hansen/Clorox concoction that that pollutes her life, even from across the pond here in the UK.

The Right Side of the Picket Fence is an exceptional read that will have you laughing out loud and nodding your head in agreement. Ms Henry is to be commended for retelling, with passion and wit, events which reveal the real "Diva" in all her crowning glory. The reader will revel in all the gory details as Tracey Henry gets this spectacle on the road, with as few potty stops as possible.

The information in this book has literally changed my life! To follow the ideals and steps to a better way of life through Dr. Jensen's teachings of natural healing is so key. Paul Harris has really brought this to the forefront by sharing his memories and cherished experiences of Dr. Jensen's way of life. I can attest that following his methods has improved my health superlatively. I highly recommend this book to those looking to change their lives.

Finally we have Mr. Harris explain to us with simple words how our body works and how to take care of it!! It is such a simple way of life and if we listen to nature we will be healthy and strong. What a priceless gift to all of us that always wanted the real truth about being healthy! Such an honor to read and learn about the life and career of Dr. Jensen and his expertise advice told by someone who seems to have been challenged with so many experiences of human pain and suffering. What a great book. Thank You!!

This book is simply the best book on how to heal yourself and feel full of energy the natural way. This book opened my eyes to how first cleansing the body and then giving it good nutrition can create a tremendous healing environment. I Have been eating quite healthy most of my life yet I learned so much from this book and am practicing it now. Mr. Harris, the author, not only explains things so simply but tells you why you should be doing it. No need to go anywhere else. You should read this first and follow the regimens outlined before going to "modern medicine". This book is awesome!

I found this book to be very engaging. I appreciated the biography of Jensen, and the artful way the author wrote his own story about how he came to study with the doctor. It alternated between sweet stories about the author and Jensen, and practical, useable techniques for improving health. The ideas in the book are very common-sense, and easy to do.

This book offers us a look outside the paradigm of traditional health care. Although, I feel many approach medical diagnosis and treatment modalities offered by a sole practitioner as an invitation to seek another opinion, Mr. Harris introduces yet another challenge for us to consider as we make personal health care choices. The author asks us to consider the "Nature Cure Philosophy in Totality". The concept of taking control of our own health and well-being has definite merit. Dr. Bernard Jensen sought non-traditional health care alternatives, embraced them as every day living, and chose to avail both his personal experiences and years of research through his teachings and practices. I found the book to be both a thought evoking and pleasant read. Well Done Mr. Harris.

We originally borrowed this book from the library, but it was such a favorite of our son's that we decided to buy it. He loves the pictures and the flow of the story. The story has the right flow for a two year old, with a long enough pause on each page but not too much detail. I recommend this book highly as it is a recurrent favorite bedtime story.

Mortimer thinks that certain foods will bring him bad luck. In this funny tale he learns that one should not always blame one's problems on what they ate the night before. But although I still will believe that a corn chip actually did cause me to catch the flu when i was a pre-teen, I guess this book is right; vegetables and certain beverages will not cause bad luck or other bad events.

Jim Harris' fun drawings lend to the story of a superstitious koala who has made her best friend a lovely cauliflower stew. Sadie knows cauliflower causes bad luck - or does she? Mortimer eats her stew and expects and gets the worst day ever - so what will happen when Sadie tricks him into eating cauliflower again? A fine story of food preferences and superstition evolves, enhanced by fun drawings.

"There is nothing good or bad but thinking makes it so" Hamlet

Mortimer the Koala has convinced himself that cauliflower is the harbinger of bad luck. He steadfastly refuses to eat the accursed vegetable for fear that all sorts of calamity will ensue if he does. Then one day he is having dinner at his Ostrich friend Sadie's house where she is serving a delicious stew. The stew contains cauliflower, of course, and, despite his superstitious reservations, Mortimer's hunger wins out. As he predicted, calamity does ensue the following day and in many hilarious ways. Mortimer places the blame squarely on the albino-broccoli. When Sadie later serves him "vegetable surprise" casserole and no ill events occur it is easy (for adults at least) to guess what surprise vegetable the casserole contained. Regardless of the lack of surprise, as those same adults read and re-read this story to their children (and believe me kids are going to demand re-readings) they can ponder the philosophical questions of self-fulfilling prophecies and how much of an effect attitude has on the course of human events. Their young ones meanwhile will simply soak in the playfully sweet (but never saccharine) prose by Sutton and the lively illustrations by Harris. And you know what? As an adult I enjoyed those as well. This is far-above-average fare that entertains, but never panders, and talks to but never down to its audience.

And you never know, it may get kids to eat their vegetables.

There are hundreds of thousands of wonderful picture books for children out in the world. Unfortunately, of these books only a handful read aloud well to small children. It doesn't matter how much you love a book or how vibrantly you articulate it for the little 'uns. The fact of the matter remains that only those authors with the keenest of ears will be able to pen a title that sounds just as fine to a class of 20 screaming Kindergartners as it does a single well-behaved six-year-old. Now I consider myself a readaloud-picture-book-seeking-machine. I sniff them out in all their variegated forms, trying to locate the best and brightest of the lot every year. My library also receives a great many brand new picture book titles. Some are mere days old while others haven't even hit bookstore shelves yet. Recently we received a shipment from Dial Books For Young Readers. I was delighted because I'd been anticipating a couple stories that I knew would be included. In the box, however, there were other books that I'd never even heard of. And one of these was, "The Trouble With Cauliflower". I viewed the galley with a skeptical eye. I flipped its pages. I sat down and devoured its text. And the conclusion I reached startled me. This, ladies and gentlemen, is one of those rare and wonderful readalouds I constantly search for without cease. A fine funny book and a rather charming read.

Mortimer the koala and Sadie the ostrich (or possibly emu) are friends. One night, Sadie invites Mortimer over for dinner to partake of a delicious stew she's been making. At first our koala hero refuses to dine, for he knows that there is cauliflower in the bowl and, "whenever I eat cauliflower, I have bad luck the next day". Sadie wisely pooh-poohs this idea, and before long Mortimer's polished off four helpings of the stuff. Unfortunately, he pays for it the next day. He stubs his toe, and spills orange juice, and fails a very important driver's test. That night he has Sadie over for dinner at his place and she brings a lovely vegetable surprise casserole. The next day after that, Mortimer has nothing but luck. It's only when Sadie confesses that the "surprise" in the casserole was cauliflower that Mortimer admits that she was right (in a roundabout manner). On the way home, Sadie suggests a nip of lemonade. "Oh, no, I can't... Every time I drink lemonade, it starts to rain".

There's something about Sutton's language in this book that lends itself to reading aloud. Partly it's the placement and emotional resonance of the pictures. Partly, it's how well Sutton puts her words together. This isn't something I'll be able to describe. Suffice it to say, Sutton has her writing chops firmly in place. Meanwhile, illustrator Jim Harris (best known at this point in time for the Cajun tale, "Petite Rouge") is all about the details. And I, a sucker for any illustrator who cares enough to render a rather believable animal-run DMV, approve of his work heartily. Harris is clever enough to spot his pics with little literary shout-outs as well. When Mortimer comes crashing through the DMV wall (having apparently first waylaid some poor soul's washing line) you can see a rather startled mole reading, "Wind In the Willows". I also loved the eye chart in the back with the permanently fuzzy letters on it. It's interesting to note that though the book is steeped in nostalgia, its steeped in several different kinds of nostalgia. There's the country-style homes of Sadie and Mortimer, melded together with a kind of soft 1950s pizza shop. There's a lot of wooden furniture and old-fashioned radios and animals wearing hats. Depending on your tolerance for this kind of thing, you may love the book or abhor it. I, for one, adored it.

To nitpick, I wasn't as pleased with the last line as I might have been. For me, the lemonade superstition should've been like the cauliflower. That is to say, something Mortimer could control. Had he said, "Every time I drink lemonade I feel grouchy" or "Every time I drink lemonade people are mean to me", that would've worked better in the context of the story. Better yet, Sadie could have said something like that! Make her the unwise one for a change. Ah well. It's a small problem in an otherwise very nice book.

Should you find yourself in need of picky eater books, books containing Australian animals, or books that read aloud well and contain objects that begin with the letter "C", "The Trouble With Cauliflower" has your number. Beautiful to look at and lovely to say, it's a class act through and through. A droll little discovery.

"What Angels Fear" is a very good first start to the St. Cyr series. I wouldn't characterize this book as a pure mystery but more of romantic suspence. Given that CS Harris also published romances under the name Candice Proctor, I wasn't surprised by the amount of time spent on the romance as well as the mystery. There are a few gory scenes in the book but there is also a romance that will continue to grow/change as series will grow/change.

There are a few things about the main character that are a little too pat for my liking but the author's note at the end, answered some of these questions for me. I would suggest not reading and putting the book down often because some of the characters are forgettable but play a part in the story later on.

A good start to a new series.

I am especially partial to historical mysteries set in England; and my interest was piqued when I noticed C. S. Harris' "What Angels Fear" on the bookstore shelves. But I was also a little wary -- after all I had heard nothing about this book -- no advance praise or early review blurbs in magazines/web sites heralding the book's upcoming publication. Fortunately, because I work at a bookstore, I was able to borrow the book, which turned out to be a really good thing 'else I'd have missed one of the most thrilling reads of the year. What an absolutely riveting and breathtaking read "What Angels Fear" proved to be!

In 1811, George III is sinking deeper and deeper into the madness, as his politicians question the wisdom of carrying on England's war with France, as well as whether or not they should support the move to make the profligate Prince of Wales, Regent of England. But for the newly returned ex-soldier, Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, and heir to the powerful Earl of Hendon, the all important question is how he's going to survive an upcoming duel of honour without getting killed or killing his opponent. Having survived that ordeal however, the last thing Sebastian expected later that morning was to have a chief magistrate and a couple of constables at his doorstep, ready to arrest him for the brutal rape and murder of a young actress, Rachel York. Knowing full well that he had no hand in the young woman's murder and realising that the only way for him to clear his name is if he were to investigate the murder himself, Sebastian escapes from the constables and disappears into the bowels of London's poverty stricken streets. There, using his training as an intelligence officer, and the help of a few unorthodox allies, Sebastian begins his hunt for Rachel's killer, questioning her old friends and examining her past, sure that the key to her murder lies in her past, while evading the authorities. The last thing he expected though, was to discover that members of his own family had dealings with the late Miss York. Could one of them have murdered the actress and planted the evidence against him? As the days pass and as the constables begin to get uncomfortably close to arresting him, Sebastian begins to fear that he may never clear his name or discover the identity of the sadist who murdered Rachel York...

I can only say that I'm looking forward to the next installment in this series (if there is one, that is) -- it could go in several different directions, but I'm hoping that the author will keep Sebastian in England no matter what. I thoroughly enjoyed "What Angels Fear" and would heartily recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical mystery novels that possess a clever and engrossing plot that is full of interesting and vivid period details, and characters that engage. Also, the almost relentless pacing lent an air of immediacy and tension to novel, and gave it that edge-of-your-seat feeling and made the book practically unputdownable. "What Angels Fear" brought to mind historical novels by authors such as Bernard Cornwell and Alexander Dumas; I was completely hooked from the very first page, and found the book hard to put down. All in all, an excellent read.

Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, escapes arrest for the brutal murder of an actress, former prostitute, in a church. His pistol was found at the murder scene and he refuses to provide himself an alibi. Against the backdrop of King George's decent into madness, the coming Regency of the Prince of Wales and England's continuing war with France, Sebastian realizes his only hope is to find the true killer.

What an exciting book! St. Cyr, a classic hero with a past, is aided by a wonderful sidekick, the young street urchin Tom. The characters are fully developed, appealing and human. Harris is truly able to convey St. Cyr's frustration and the anger and jealousy of another character. The period details are exacting and the dialogue appropriate to the characters with some of the exchanges between St. Cyr and Tom being particularly enjoyable and touching. The story is engrossing with humor, great action sequences, a bit of sex, and red herrings along the way to a dramatic climax. This is an excellent beginning and I look forward to more in the series. I highly recommend it.

A fast-paced, suspenseful, fun read with the added bonus of being historically accurate. The author, a professional historian, has done a wonderful job of conveying both the spirit of the time and all the subtle details that make a story come alive. As anyone familiar with 18th and early 19th century England knows, constables and magistrates did exist at this time, and did take their detective work seriously. And while a few accents may have been dropped in the typesetting, a reading of the author's nonfiction histories will show that she is fluent in 18th century French.

Excellent work! Well researched, yet the author has cleverly made the historical aspect fresher and more contemporary than so many authors have done. There's no bogging down in dry detail and the story keeps one's interest. Excellent editing.

Yes, I Can by Devon Harris is inspiring not only for children, but also for adults. The book is an easy read. The layout of the book, with great illustrations, will help to keep the children interested. Devon Harris presents his story in poetry form which keeps the reader captivated. Devon talked about the desire of the Jamaican bobsled team to enter the Olympics and do well, and also about the difficulties the team encountered. However, with teamwork and a positive attitude they got to the finish line.The story is one of encouragement for people who are afraid to step out of their comfort zone and follow their dreams. The story will help children to realize that with hard work and determination, they can achieve what they want .I highly recommend this book, go get a copy for the kids.

You may remember the Jamaican bobsled team from seeing them in the Calgary Winter Olympics in 1988 or seen the movie based upon these events, Cool Runnings starring the late John Candy.

The tale is really quite inspirational. Four individuals (Devon Harris, Michael White, Dudley Stokes, and Christian Stokes) had Olympics dreams. Since the four men had decided to compete as bobsledders, most people thought that they were a joke. Despite this, second hand equipment, endless fundraising, getting used to the cold, and endless training, the team members never gave up. Not only did the team compete at the Olympics but they won a special place in our hearts.

In Yes, I Can!, Devon Harris shares this inspirational story with children who are much too young to remember the Calgary Olympics. This is one of those books that I suggest that a parent read along with the kids as some of the words are a bit challenging. Also, I think that parents who saw the team on the news will enjoy sharing their memories of these events with their child.

This book is great! Devon Harris tells his true story of the Jamaican Bobsled team's Olympic quest. The story is easy to read with a poetic rhythm. The illustrations enhance the story, showing the contrast between, fun in the sun on a Jamaican beach and the extreme cold, icy, snowy conditions of Calgary. I would recommend this book to anyone who dares to dream big, anyone who is faced with a challenge and needs a little push.

This is a feel good book about an incredible story with amazing people. They dream big and accomplish their dreams through hard work, lots of teamwork and a strong focus. Even through a rough crash they finish the race in a very powerful way. The book shares the message that if you put your mind to it you can do it. It's great.

This is an excellent read for kids and adults. The story is inspirational with a powerful message about courage, drive and determination. It teaches both children and adults the importance of staying true to your heart, your goals and what winning really means. Winning is not measured in a 1st place prize rather in self-esteem, courage and teamwork. The book is colorful, energetic and easy to read. Definitely add this one to your collection.

I used this book for our hundred days of school party. I teach pre-k and they got a kick out if it. The pictures were great and the counting was fun and easy for them to do. I highly recommend this book!

Harris has put the concepts of counting into a truly delightful book for the young reader and teachers of young readers. Each section of the book invites the reader to fill in a conclusion which draws young readers into the book, its bright, attractive pictures, and the idea of being able to count all the way to 100!

Trudy has done something with her book "100 Days of School" that I haven't seen for a while. She has created a color book, a counting book, a math book, a rhyming book, and, of course, a fun book all in one. That takes talent, and a lot of it, to combine these four types of books without making the work so busy that the child loses interest. Also, the book is all about school and even teaches math etc., but guess what? The reader doesn't even become aware that he/she's being taught. That's the true art of children's writing.

Beth Griffis Johnson does wonderfully with the illustrations. She has given the book a zesty, almost celebration look. And there's plenty to look at after the text has been read. I think this book could be a favorite for your children. I bought it for my future grandchildren . . . whenever that's going to be...

A delightful book that combines rhyming, counting, color and fun. My 5 year old wanted to read it over and over and over. He learned the words quickly and enjoyed the playfulness of the book.

highly recommended.

This crazy, delightful book truly captures the fun of the 100 Days of School Celebration. My children and I both enjoyed all of the silly rhymes and wonderful illustrations.

I am am Elementary Art teacher and I use this book in my classroom. The children love the story. I personally like how the children can get into the world of "Action Jackson" without knowing the actions of Jackson.

This book is an unusual children's book and about a character whose artwork will appeal to children. Although his life is not an uplifting story, the book picks up on the important parts and gives a feeling for what "Action Jackson" was all about. His freedom to create what he wanted and put his feeling on canvas is an important message to children who need to know that there are many way to be creative. That is it is OK to put their feeling into their art without worrying about whether it is "right" or "good". It is a quiet book about an artist who was quiet but whose life was certainly active as was his art.

This book is so very well done -- lots of biographical facts woven into a beautifully illustrated story from the most peaceful and productive phase of Pollock's life. Just right for younger elementary school students -- and also good for older ones when you add the fuller biography in the back. A really wonderful book about an important artist and about making art.

Award winning authors, Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan introduce a whole new generation to the brillance of painter, Jackson Pollock as they focus on just two months in the artist's life, and the creation of one of his most famous paintings, No. 1, 1950 (Lavender Mist). Based on firsthand accounts from friends and family, and often using the painter's own words and quotes, this well researched and enlightening picture book biography lets the reader get into Pollock's head, hear his thoughts, feel his energy and joy as he works, and actually peek over his shoulder as he paints. "An athlete with a paintbrush, he uses his whole body to make the painting. Layers build with each gesture, new colors emerging, blending, and disappearing into the wet surface. He swoops and leaps like a dancer, paint trailing from a brush that doesn't touch the canvas..." Their eloquent and lyrical prose is engaging and complemented by Robert Andrew Parker's bold, bright, and busy watercolors. Together word and art paint a dazzling and evocative portrait of the artist, his work, and his times. "Some people will be shocked when they see what he has created. Some Angry. Some confused. Some excited. Some filled with a happiness they can hardly explain. But everyone will agree- Jackson Pollock is doing something original, painting in a way that no one has ever seen before..." Perfect for youngsters 7-11, Action Jackson includes a short biographical sketch at the end to augment the story and fascinating notes and sources about his life and paintings. This is non-fiction at its very best. Kudos to Greenberg, Jordan, and Parker

When modern art is brought to the table, the question for the untrained is quite often: Is this art? What makes art? Can I do this? For such questions, answers always vary. It is art if you think it is art even if it may not be good art. The final consensus is that it is art if it challenges and sustains. Such art is universally held to be art.

Early on, modern art broke tradition, broke stereotypes, and set the art world on its heels. Until this time artists tried to capture a realistic experience--people, objects, landscapes--and put them on canvas. The moderns were the first to ignore the boundaries of the canvas. In fact, iconoclasts that they were, they acknowledged the confines of the canvas and its two-dimensional world and started experimenting with new techniques. The Impressionistic painters were the first, then the Post-Impressionistic painters went jumps ahead. Instead of painting broad realistic pictures, they began defying shapes, colors, time.

Jackson Pollock represents one segment of this new modern art, that which is called "action painting," or "spatter painting." This book, "Action Jackson," details Jackson's technique of creating art and making the viewer feel and appreciate his vision and told simply enough for a child to understand.

How did Jackson work? He lay out a huge canvas on the floor of his studio, studied it, then spattered house paint across it--directly from the can, from a stick, a brush. He worked over a series of days to get everything just right.

His vision was to lay out colors and patterns and the intermixing of colors and patterns to create a canvas that spoke of something more cosmic than a bowl of apples. For Jackson the process of painting said as much as the final product. This book beautifully conveys the idea of his vision and his process and his final product. I never dreamed a writer and an illustrator could capture the essence of Pollock's work in one thin children's book, but this most definitely does.

Perhaps the success of this book in capturing Jackson's style and work earned it an Honor Award in the Robert F. Siebert contest, and a New York Times Best Book of the Year, and a Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year. "Action Jackson" was published in 2002. Jackson Pollock died in a car crash in 1956.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this author's first book, but it was terrific. I lost alot of sleep because I could not put the book down once I began to read it at night. It had so much suspense I was disappointed the book had to end. The ending was not as exciting as the rest of the book, but overall I give it 5+ stars. P.S.Very timely reading with the Iraqi war.

I thoroughly enjoyed Mr. Harris Baseman's "Kamisiyah"! The plot was intense and riveting. I was greatly entertained as well as educated about the not so obvious inner workings and policies of the U.S. Government. No, I could not put the book down! The hero of the book is the soft spoken, unassuming, dedicated and courageous new President Ben Silver. President Silver's integrity and the building momentum of his chosen presidential team and it's growing awareness and grasp of the treachery and chicanery around the office of the President offer a brilliant and engrossing counterpoint to the deluded and misguided mayhem of Gulf War veteran, Lieutenant Clarence Davenport. I am eagerly looking forward to many more books from Mr. Baseman.

Tom Clancy would have a tough time topping "After Kamisiyah"!

This new to the scene author (Harris Baseman) has created a genuine up to the minute thriller! The plot contains extraordinary twists and turns that reveal the extent to which political ambition, personal greed and tortured vendetta can take this cast of characters -- with the entire country in tow!

I will be incredibly surprised if they don't make a movie of this top notch new book. It will be right up there with the best of the Clacy thriller movies!

No reviewer has recognized the author's amazing, in fact frightening ability to have sensed the horrors ahead: loony marksmen blowing up the world, totally corrupt Washington politicians, our country ankle deep in a tar thick river of oil and blood. The book makes the Sopranos read like a bedtime story.

The following appeared in the
Cape Cod Times
Sunday, September 29, 2002

Review of �After Kamisiyah� by Melanie Lauwers, Book Editor

�After Kamisiyah� by Harris I. Baseman (iUniverse, ISBN 0-595-23743-6, 386 pages
Harwich resident Harris Baseman has written a novel as timely as this evening�s news but set in Iraq during the Gulf War. Lt. Clarence Davenport�s work destroying a munitions depot near Kamisiyah, Iraq, has implications for world peace and the health and well-being of American troops when the result is the destabilization of the U.S. government.
Based on the actual demolition of the Kamisiyah depot, Baseman includes an informative foreword with background information on the depot and its possible crucial place in understanding Gulf War Syndrome. The book is dedicated to all those U.S. and coalition soldiers �who participated in the liberation of Kuwait.�
For the link to the review, see--

Thanks

I could not put this book down! Ann Arbor South '96 is wonderfully writen! I felt that I understood Eric and wanted to give him such a big hug! He truly was the hero of the story. He put up with years of abuse and never stopped going on. He contined walking with his head held up and got his diploma. Where I believe others would have dropped out. Not Eric he is a fighter.
I was very moved with this story. We all know how hard it is in High School. But imagine how hard it is when your different then most people. I'm hoping everyone reads this book. I feel it will open so many peoples minds about how to treat people.
Ignorace is not bliss.

This book opens your eyes to how it is in high school.....at every angle. The nerds, the jocks, the popular and everyone else. I totally enjoyed every minute of the book and will make my three girls(4yrs and twin 2 yr olds) read it before they start high school. Whether they think they will be a bully or a snob maybe after reading it will open their eyes on how to treat others in a very hard time in their lives. Hopefully it will teach them how to be open minded which is so important:) Hats off to the author!!

This book is a moving look into what [...] teenagers had to go through in order to be themselves. It truly pictured the hardships of what kids go through and the power of true friends. I was impressed that the author captured all the cliques of high school and just how mean teenagers of that age can be. This story really runs the gauntlet. I loved the book and it is definately one you should pick up and read.

What can I say about "Ann Arbor South '96?" Simply this, I was touched. The experiences the characters go through are truly realistic. The author does not try to snub the harsh realities of being gay in high school by glossing over hatred with romance. These experiences are so true to life, you are sure to be transported back to your own high school years. Heartfelt, moving, inspiring, and therapeutic all wrapped into one. An easy read that will create an abundance of emotions all at once.

The moment Eric Anderson lays eyes on the class jock, Andy McCain, at the beginning of their senior year his life is forever changed. Beefy, beautiful, and surprisingly sweet, Andy ignites a quick friendship with Eric. After a seductive cafeteria food fight, an amusing bathroom face-to-face, a chilling swimming pool kiss, and heartfelt library confession, the boys cannot resist their overblown teenage hormones and fall into an intense love that will test the loyalty of true friendships.

Eric is dangerously low on the high school popularity hierarchy while Andy rides it high as the school's sports superstar. Just talking to each other would be social suicide, so their romantic involvement remains strictly confidential. Although both boys are strangers to gay romance, Eric remains guarded with his heart since he is brutally harassed by his peers and has extreme trust issues. Andy is the opposite. He just cracks a bright, dimpled smile and everyone falls at his feet. His cockiness keeps him unprepared for what is about to happen.

Meanwhile, Eric's best friend, Kate Crawford, an overly self-assured spitfire, just can't seem to keep her manicured fists out of Justin Drake's eye sockets. She does not share Justin's proudly homophobic views or appreciate his ruthless torment of Eric. Justin is Andy's smug best friend but unaware Andy is gay and secretly dating Eric. Kate makes it her mission to awaken Justin's closed mind, by force if necessary. (She enjoys indulging in a good afternoon parking lot brawl!)

When Eric and Andy's affair is publicly exposed in the halls of school, Andy's furious friends, with Justin Drake front and center, attack Andy for the hidden homo lie. As most of the school officials turn blind eyes to the intensifying attacks, Andy's spirit is broken and he is unsure of himself or a definite future with Eric.

The supporting cast of characters include: a cruel, self-righteous gym teacher, who happily facilitates the attacks on Eric and later on his own star player, Andy; a careless, bored school principal, who is nothing more than annoyed by Eric's endless office visits, asking for help, and Kate's foul-mouth and fierce fists; Andy's only ex-girlfriend, who just may be a surprising supporter of her ex's new relationship; and a wise, candy bar-loving librarian, who smiles through the chocolate and gently relieves some of Andy's pain through her words.

Torn apart through a vicious fight but magnetically drawn back together, Eric and Andy decide their relationship is worth waging war on the masses. Their newfound confidence (along with Kate's unsubtle but still somehow sweet words of persuasion) helps open Justin's eyes and he slowly rekindles his friendship with Andy. Eventually, everyone's long, violent journeys see the end of the clashing, school-wide conflict and old friendships strengthen and renew and even the oddest of couples come together.