Harris Books

Many of the poems in Janet Shepperson's first collection take a sometimes satirical, sometimes serious look at the changing ways in which women see themselves, their world and their relationship with men - from the light-hearted assertion of independence in "Dancing on Ice, to the exhaustion and bewilderment of "Female nude".

The backdrop of Northern Ireland gives undercurrents of ambiguity, anxiety and sorrow to much of the work - a sorrow that finds an echo in the poems dealing with miscarriage and childlessness. The settings move from the urban landscapes of the poets home in Ballynafeight, Belfast, to the rocky and often bleak landscapes of Donegal - landscapes which themselves become symbolic of fear, loss and ultimately of survival.

About the Author

Janet Shepperson was born in Edinburgh in 1954. She took a degree in English at Aberdeen University where she won the Calder Verse Prize. She has lived in Belfast since 1977, and has been a creative writing tutor with adult students and in the Maze prison. Her poetry and short stories have been published in journals and anthologies notably The Blackstaff Book of Short Stories (volumes 1 and 2), and Trio 5, also Blackstaff. She has been short-listed twice for a Sunday Tribune/Hennessy Award. She has published two chapbooks of poetry, A Ring with a Black Stone and Madonna of the Spaces, both with Lapwing, belfast. This is her first full collection.

I really like the book because I took a class from the professor that wrote it. Everything I learned about supporting classroom instruction with technology, I learned from her and is reinforced in this book. I highly recommend this book!

Many of us remember Gregory Peck in 12 O'Clock High, a story of Command Bombing decisions over Germany. Reviewers of 12 O'Clock High, both the book and the movie, and perhaps even the authors, often confuse the hero with the American tactical leader(s). It was "Bomber Harris", later Air Marshall Sir Arthur T. Harris, who ordered the bombing of Germany in retaliation for the inhuman bombing of England by Hitler's Luftwaffe and rockets. He had to fight for that bombing not only against Americans who felt sorry for the Germans (not having experienced having their home towns bombed themselves, and somewhat under the spell of German sympathizers in our military), but against some important Nazi sympathizers in Great Britain. Like Montgomery (see my review of him), Harris has had his portrait rewritten by "politically correct" historians and novelists anxious to downplay the British contribution to victory over Germany. When I saw Gregory Peck in that movie for the first time, I was looking at Bomber Harris, struggling alone to give back what he and his people had received. Yes, German cities and villages were almost obliterated by that bombing. I can only say that a nation stupid enough to vote for Adolf Hitler because he had a nice voice and was handy at finding scapegoats, and stupid enough to commit massive genocide, deserved to receive back some of what they had done to others. Montgomery, Slim, Harris, Mountbatten. We need a few good men like them.

I read this book many years ago, and still like to go back and read every so often. Has very interesting characters, and is a really good story that lets you get to know all the characters. Is also funny. One that I will always keep. Wish this author would have wrote some more. Proably the best chance for finding this book is to hunt out used book stores.

To whom it may concern: early in december, 2006 I had the privilege to read the book written by Mary Harris and her son,David Harris.the story of mrs.Harris' life was a great inspiration to me because of her powerful faith and trust in God. it helped me to believe that no matter how difficult life gets the Lord is always there to see us through those hard times. her major health issues were overcome by her constant prayer and faith that she would be healed. I believe she is an example that has been given to the world to demonstrate GOD'S power and love for us.The book was written very professionally and the story line was easy to to follow. I know that it was written under the guidance of the Holy Spirit in order to touch the lives of others the way it touched mine. when I received the, I sat down and read the entire text in one. I could feel the presence of the Lord as read. the scripture refrences interjectd by Elder Davi Harris help me to understand how God's word is here to comfort us,and encourage us to grow stronger in our faith. through her illness and tirals Sister Harris continued to bring others to chisrt.the book also illustrated the strenght of a family ho was able to,pull toget because of their faith in God.this faith and love for one another enable and believe them to pray and believe the lord would prevail no matter how hard times were. This book would be an inspiration to other families to show them the important of looking to the Lord in times of trouble. it also let me know that prayer change things. I thank God Sister Harris and Elder David Harris writing this book, and for the opportunity to read it. it hsa cnriceed my life and would be an inspiration to anyone who read it.

Melba J Gorham
Greenville, NC

I need to find information on healthful nutrition and dietary practices. A two page report would be awsome.

This book makes an invaluable contribution to discussions of vulnerability and its connections with human dignity. Harris argues against a line of thought running from the Stoics through Christianity and down to Kant that insists that whenever character weakens or crumbles, it does so because it lacks the strength ideal character must have. Harris contends that there are admirable character traits that can destroy us in tragic circumstances. In other words, self-destruction can be a manifestation of what is good in a person's character, instead of being a function of vice or weakness. Moreover, while the idea of dignity is usually associated with Kant, Harris argues that only a more Aristotelian view of life and character can do justice to the notion of dignity. Contrary to Kant and the Stoics, Harris argues that the road to a compelling conception of dignity runs through a proper appreciation of our vulnerability. Using the lead character from William Styron's Sophie's Choice, a mother forced by a Nazi officer to choose which of her children must die, Harris insists that only better luck or bad character could save Sophie from her subsequent agony and eventual suicide. Her breakdown owes to the fact that she is a loving mother forced to aim directly at the destruction of one child to save the other. Harris parts company with Kant and the Stoics here, neither of whom say that invulnerability is easy or inevitable, but both of whom deny any connection between vulnerability and good character. Like others, Harris raises serious doubts about the Kantian conception of motivation and justification, but he does so with unusual clarity and precision. Furthermore, Harris mounts a persuasive direct attack on the Kantian conception of dignity, and by so doing, breaks the Kantian monopoly on this concept. Where Stoicism is concerned (Harris also considers Epicurean strategies), Harris considers Martha Nussbaum's account in The Therapy of Desire. There she expresses sympathy with Stoic fears about emotional excess and disfigurement. Harris closely examines Nussbaum's arguments about the excesses of anger and romantic love and offers a very convincing critique. All in all, Dignity and Vulnerability is a remarkable little book. One only wishes that it were a bigger one, with more of the same insights and sharp analysis.

My 4 yr old son received this book as a gift and enjoys taking it on trips to pour over the info folded inside. He really gets a kick out of unfolding and refolding the pages. The book also does a nice job of helping him put dinosaur size into perspective. It is a great choice for a small dino lover.

This book is great for young dinosaur lovers. It gives just enough information to teach a child about dinosaurs but doesn't overwhelm them with technical jargon. The CD that comes with the book works great; our four-year-old could easily follow along with the CD. The only thing I would suggest is for the publisher to have more of this kind of product for kids.

This book is as very very creative look at an erotic Alice in Wonderland novel in that our heroine, Alice, tells us of her travels trough a strange strange world. Highly erotic we first come upon Alice in her home and with her rough, animalistic father who appart from being alsmost totally covered in fur also has hooves instead of feet. Alice manges to escape one bright morning with the help of another creature who 'of course' lives underground and has servants that are rabbits .....


OK you get the picture .....


Actually this is not 'my' kind of erotica but certainly the author manages to weave his story with such skill that, if you, the reader, are into it, this certainly would be a great book ....