Hughes Books

Nice variety of genres. Thought-provoking stories. A few stories not for children/young adults.

I am one the the group of 12 who cooperatively wrote and published this book of south Florida short stories. Living in what some call "paradise" produces a unique life experience which we want to share with those living more traditional lifestyles. You'll enjoy a tropical getaway with each story. Read them slowly, they'll last a long time in your memory.

Hopefully we will continue to hear from The Key West Co-op. These insightful writers capture the essence of what is wacky and wonderful about Key West.

I am one the the group of 12 who cooperatively wrote and published this book of south Florida short stories. Living in what some call "paradise" produces a unique life experience which we want to share with those living more traditional lifestyles. You'll enjoy a tropical getaway with each story. Read them slowly, they'll last a long time in your memory.

As a professor teaching classics in Regents College Master of Liberal Studies Program, I am always looking for translations that will entrance my students and give them that sensation of the marvelous that many of them can find only in videos and MTV. Hughes' translation of "The Oresteia" is a perfect choice. Sure, there may be in some passages a lot more of Hughes than of Aeschylus, but if that's what it takes to reincarnate those ancient and bloody tragic figures, it's a price well worth paying. After reading this book, I think my students will see "The Sopranos" as just another soap opera.

This may not be the most literal translation of "The Oresteia," but it has to be the most linguistically sensuous and emotionally gripping of them all - conveying the full power of one of the most complex tragedies of all time. A friend of mine recently won raves for his performance of Agamemnon in a Los Angeles production of "The Greeks," so I had spent quite a bit of time re-reading Aeschylus (not in the original, I'm afraid) and was reasonably familiar with other translations, but this is the one I would read over and over, for the sheer power and beauty of it, and the way it tackles (enhances?) the emotional complexity of each situation the characters are thrust into. It's an inspiration as well as a treasure.

What a story! What a bloodbath ! It leaves the catsup'y-trite bluster of the typical Hollywood slasher pic in the dust. And it is Hughes who accomplishes this through his translation. Perhaps saying "story by Aeschulus" is not offering the old-timer his due... doubtless, when read in the Greek, the original had the flash and spurt of Hughes' version. But lacking the ancient tongue you'll find some pretty tame translations scattered around the cannon. I know, I checked. (I was so stunned at one of the more brutal story elements that I went to a library copy. Sure enough, Agamemnon's father really did stew his brothers' children and serve them up to his brother - brewing up the similarly brutal chain of revenge and recriminations that the story revolves around. But in the library's vanilla version this segment read more like a particularly dry autopsy report).

Now I can be drawn into a gory tale by a good talespinner like a Stephen King just as much as any other guy... but there is more than spinning of yarn and sloshing of blood here. There is a way in which Hughes' inevitably modern take on the translation subtly exposes the deep cultural differences between those fine ancient peoples and our equally-fine selves. We haven't become more or less vicious or more or less clever - but we have changed in fundamental ways. This tale, in this telling, does suggest, over and over, how a culture's sense of self, of free- or enchained-will, of god(s), and of the inevitable whirl of the cosmic wheel can produce truly different constituents. Different versions of the "God-meme" or even the "self-meme" can deeply infect and transform a culture-centered species like ours.

We've heard for so long how our "Western" tradition sprouts from Athens, but in this telling, those folks have a sense of their place in the universe which is deeply, subtly alien. It made me think of a long ago reading of Julian Jaynes' breathtakingly-titled: "The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bi-Cameral Mind.", which posits that ancient minds were explicitly pre-conscious... gods as literally heard voices in the head. This is certainly an odd idea, but one that opens up the notion that radically different kinds of minds could well exist in a homo sapiens transport system.

Hughes delivers this sense of the fundamental other-ness of the Greek world-view through the powerful mix of pre-modern sense of self and of justice delivered in modern speech forms. This contrast builds, appropriately, from the underlying story of Aeschulus, to the confrontation with the deeply primal Furies near the end. It sent chills down my spine to hear their rendering of the cold heartless core of their universe... and to contrast it with the countering argument of Athena for a more reasoned and rational justice. How can Orestes be driven to matricide by the command of one god (buttressed by hair-raising threats) and then be condemned to an even more bitter doom by another group of immortals for accomplishing his mission? The degree to which my own sense of fairness was bruised by the events leading up to this denouement exposed the power of the schism between primal and modern that seems to lie at the heart of the tale.

I won't tell you how it ends, but that's saying something! A thousands-of-years-old story in free verse dramatic form that turns out to be a 'page-turner'! Its a wonderful discovery that will lead me next to Hughes' other translations from his last few years, and might grab you as well.

This may not be the most literal translation of "The Oresteia," but it has to be the most linguistically sensuous and emotionally gripping of them all - conveying the full power of one of the most complex tragedies of all time. A friend of mine recently won raves for his performance of Agamemnon in a Los Angeles production of "The Greeks," so I had spent quite a bit of time re-reading Aeschylus (not in the original, I'm afraid) and was reasonably familiar with other translations, but this is the one I would read over and over, for the sheer power and beauty of it, and the way it tackles (enhances?) the emotional complexity of each situation the characters are thrust into. It's an inspiration as well as a treasure.

Playful, refreshing, profound. Its questions for reflection are nicely laid out for study and discussion groups.

Chris Hughes quickly joins the best thinkers and teachers of the culture with this beautifully crafted book. It's smart, avoids cliches and pushes the envelope. I have bought extras and shared them with my friends -- first time I've done that. A great tool for the personal journey as well as a jumping off point for discussion and exploration.

This book is a breath of fresh air. This book bridges the gap that has been created between the spiritual and the physical and helps us realize that they are one in the same. In order to have a flourshing spiritual life, we must first be provided, or more importantly, provide others with the basic needs to sustain a physical life. Hughes reminds us that stewardship, service, and justice-seeking become not only ideals but physical manifestations of a worshipful life.

This book is phanominal! It speaks to the issues we face as Christians, made in the image of God, living in a consumeristic, materialistic world not caring for God's creation. It is profound, thought provocing, and challenges us as Christians to actively live in the world but not of the world. Brother Hughes masterfully uses metaphors to enlighten and engage the reader. This book is wonderful for individual reading, but would also be great to use as a Bible Study, for it provides a great guided reflection and discussion questions at the end of each chapter. I highly recommend this book to anyone who seeks to live a life of purpose through "being"; through being Christ to the world; through living in joy; rather than "doing" and conforming to the ways of the world.

I've been collecting Mr. Clemence original prints for a few years now and was most delighted to finally see his book. It was during the last Art Basel fair in Miami, when I purchased a beautiful abstract piece by him. A friend then gave me the book which is just brilliant! The transformation South Beach has gone through is shown here in a very interesting way! The photographs zero in on the very creative buildings that fill the city, showing us how good architecture can create an inspiring environment. The book captures that aspect very well, w/ photos that are as original as the buildings! I wish Mr. Clemence would bring his camera to Los Angeles and help us celebrate the great new constructions that are re-shaping our downtown.

What a delightful surprise this book! As a photo enthusiast I was not expecting much from such a simple , inexpensive book. But, was I wrong! The photos are gorgeous, very skillfully composed! And the light used in a very seductive way. The photos " Delano " and " Light Carving " in particular are real gems. Others, like " Neon Ocean Drive" has a subtle use of contrast that creates a very interesting mood.It's clear that after living in South Beach for so long he definetely knows his subject!And the printing also was another pleasant surprise, comparable to the more costly fine art photo books.Later I found out that Paul Clemence has a thriving photographic career in Miami. I have a feeling we'll still hear a lot about him!

After moving away from Miami Beach it was great to find this book! It shows some of my favourite places there and in very cool photos.It totally sends me back, I can just see myself walking again on Ocean Dr., enjoying the breeze, the palm trees and the Art Deco. And the little texts with people's view on South Beach definetely reminded me of many conversations I had with the people I met down there. Kudos for the layout too; it is just as stylish as the photos themselves. Great job!

Despite what the book description says above this is not much of a travel book, but it is a fine photographic essay. Even though they are black-and-white photographs you will be reminded of the colors of Miami Beach. Frequently the exposures are softly focused with delicate textures. Many of the photos are details and they take in small areas rather than a great expanse of building(s). Most of the building views take in sections of well know structures so you will sometimes need to think about what building you are looking at (they tell you where and what in the back of the book). There are just enough wider views to keep you engrossed; all part of the enjoyment of thumbing through this volume. The introduction is informative and the locals' short pieces add some extra color. If you've spent anytime wandering around South Beach gawking at the buildings this book is for you.

I heard Franzen speak about how unfaithful the recent NY production was to Wedekind's anarchistic perspective. This is a brash and funny send up of modern society's sexual hypocrisy. Fast read, too.

Spring awakening explores the sexual awakening of teenage boys and girls in Germany in the late 1800's. It was shocking in its day, and still is somewhat today, despite the openness of our society.
The Frank Wedekind play has been updated, set to music, and will open as a major Broadway Musical in Spring, 2003. Watch for it, you will be blown away! And be sure to read the play first. You'll be amazed at how true the production is to Frank Wedekind's fine work.

as an actor I have just performed this play I was Mechior one of the lead roles this book has a mixture of teenage experiences, a must read for all directors and actors if you ever get a chance to perform it then make sure you do

Hughes' translation seems as rich, exciting & electric to modern readers as the original text must have been to audiences a century ago. It avoids the stiff awkwardness that former English translations have been known for, while still remaining true to Wedekind's dark symbolism and expressionistic overtones. A must-read for theater-lovers and practictioners alike.

The Sweet And Sour Animal book is a good colletion of animal poems. It's illisterated with paper mache art.

This book is a wonderful tribute to one of America's finest poets. The book appeals to both children and adults. The poems are whimsical and fun. In my own classroom, the children list these poems as some of their favorites. The art work inspires my students to achieve as much as they can in their own art work. The introduction and afterward provide the reader with a history of the Harlem art's movement and Langston Hughes' contribution to this movement. The information provided could be shared with children, however it is written for advanced readers. Overall, this book is one of the most well thought out books that I have seen.

Although I enjoyed this book as a Langston Hughes fan, I was not sure that the children's artwork and Hughes' poetry would be appreciated by children. However, my 5-yr-old clearly responds to the rhyming text and enjoys the art. I've overheard him reciting lines from this book by memory. The rhythym is soothing and the children's art is charming. This is not Hughes at his most profound- (couldn't he have chosen "walrus" to star on the "w" page instead of a white mouse?) and does not teach kids much about the alphabet ("m" is for monkey, but we never hear that word in the poem, instead the monkey's name- "jocko"), but it will appeal to their sense of rhyme and whimsy. I'm leaving it 5 stars because of the beautiful art and catchy poems.

This book helps children make the transition in reading poetry from the beloved Dr. Suess to reading more sophisticated writing. My children loved the rhymes, and related to the stories. Like Robert Louis Stevenson in A Child's Garden of Verses, Langston Hughes captures childhood in his verses. Many current writers of children's poetry appeal to children using gross stories of bodily functions and gum in the hair. Langston Hughes gives kids more credit than that, but still appeals to children. What kid hasn't wanted to look down on "those stuck up clowns" in real life? This book was entertaining, and made my children want to hear more from this author.

This lovely book is a collector's item. The artwork and intricate design are phenomenal. A real treat for all ages.

To Live A Truer Life is the true story of the Hopedale Community, founded in 1841 by Adin and Lucy Ballou, and others who sought to understand the teachings of Jesus, and called themselves "Practical Christians" because they sought to practice their religion in daily life. Rejecting all authority based on force (to the extent that they did not vote, participate in government, or use the police or courts) the people of this unique and utopian community tested their religious principles by sheltering escaping slaves, guaranteeing jobs to all able-bodied members, and even showing charity to a burglar who tried to rob them. A strong testimony with simple color illustrations by Lindro, To Live A Truer Life was written by Lynn Gordon Hughes as a strong effort to be as accurate as possible in its depiction of history and of the community for young readers.

If parents can teach their children, from reading them this book, about a kinder way to live then the book will have made a great contribution to communities everywhere.

The illustrations are such a delight and ensure we read the book again and again because my nephews see something new in the background pictures with each reading.

Who said history and life's truths were hard to teach? This book makes learning fun.

This charming book offers a lovely, gentle tale of simpler times. It is beautifully illustrated and designed. Reading "To Live a Truer Life" is like paging through a lovely quilt.

We first checked this book out from our public library to test it and now we can't live without it!

The recipes are delicious and real-life friendly. We do not have diabetes in our household, but want to put healthy nutritious foods on the table.

In my view, any recipe that passes diabetic guidelines will keep the appetite satisfied and fuel our bodies appropriately. But most importantly to us, these recipies appeal to our senses in making mealtime a pleasure with foods we want to enjoy again and again.

Recommended!

I was diagnosed prediabetic with high numbers 8 weeks ago. After meeting with a nutritionist and trying to make sense of adjustments I needed to make with eating, I really felt confused...there is a lot to learn! Luckily this is the first cookbook I purchased and am so glad. I can whip up many of the dishes in just a couple minutes. The ingredients are not complicated and are easy to keep on hand. I made my Easter dinner for my whole family all from the book and no one but my husband knew it was "special" food! My husband likes how I have been cooking so no cooking two separate kinds of meals. I have bought other diabetic cookbooks but not found any other as good and simple. Most recipes in the other books have longer lists of ingredients and take much more time to prepare. I am a cooking kind of gal who ran my own bed and breakfast for ten years...I love pretty and great tasting food...this book gets gobs of stars from me!

In "The 4-Ingredient Diabetes Cookbook" cookbook author, food consultant, and nutritionist Nancy S. Hughes has compiled simple and delicious recipes for entrees, side dishes and desserts using four ingredients (or less) that are especially suitable and suited to the dietary needs of diabetics. Quick and easy to prepare, the recipes range from Pineapple-Apricot Fizz; Lemony Asparagus Spear Salad; Peach Barbecued Chicken; and Chili Stuffed Potatoes; to Taco-Spiced Rice; Skillet Roasted Veggies; Zesty Beef Patties with Grilled Onions; and Frozen Chocolate Peanut Butter Layered Pie. Of special note are the 'Cook's Tips' that accompany each of the recipes. "The 4-Ingredient Diabetes Cookbook" is a welcome and very highly recommended addition to diabetes relevant cookbook collections.

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If your name was Abel Grable and your wife's name was Mabel you too would have to get away every now and then.

"Abel's Moon" is set sometime in the 1950's going by the clothes the characters wear. Abel has to leave his family and travel to find work. They are not a prosperous family, the front gate squeaks and the garden is overgrown. There is no TV or video games in this house. Instead they sit around the fire and tell stories. Somehow they look happy!

There are 3 children Adam, Noah and baby Ben, and of course Skipper the dog. The boys know how to entertain themselves, such as playing at being wild animals. Mabel and Ben love dancing to the music on the radio. When Abel is back home he tries to write up the stories of his travels but the noise from the family is too much. He has to go out into the garden to get some peace and quiet in order to work.

Abel's stories about his adventures are full of tales about monkey's swinging through trees, crocodiles in muddy swamps and travelling on riverboats to remote places.

Once again it was time for Abel to set out to find work. The boys missed their Dad very much.

The boys turn the old writing table that Dad had used out in the garden into a camp. They are sure they can hear monkeys in the trees. They then turn the table upside down to make a pretend boat. They paddled it through muddy crocodile infested swamps with only the moon to guide them.

Adam one day decided that the writing table could be turned into a moon machine with the addition of few planks of wood to make some propellers. Under the light of the full moon Adam looked out at the moon machine in his garden.

Adam had a remarkable and profound thought. " He knew that the moon was shining down on him, and Abel too. It shone down on all the people who loved each other and couldn't always be together, beaming down on each and every one, no matter how far away they were".

With his strong sense of imagination Adam planned that one night soon, he and Noah (and Skipper if he behaved himself) would take off in the moon machine, and drop in on Dad, wherever he was.

Soon Abel would be back home with his family. The boys would then tell Abel all about THEIR adventures.

You get the message that Abel's sons have just as strong sense of imagination as their father does. You guess his crocodile stories may be just as real as Adam's trips in his moon machine.

"Abel's Moon" is a delightful story. The illustrations capture the era and the atmosphere perfectly.

Adam and Noah miss their dad, Abel, when he travels on business. He writes down his travel stories for the family to read while he is away on his next trip. Adam feels connected to his dad when he sees the moon shine because it also shines on his father. Adam and Noah make a moon machine in the back yard and pretend they will fly to their dad and visit him. They plan to share their adventures with Dad on his return. The illustrations depict loving family scenes.

This is a wonderful story about a man who returns home to his family after traveling, guided by the moon. The story is creative, and touching, as the children feel closer to their father when they can look up and see the moon. The educational superb too, since it is a good introduction to what the moon is and why it looks the way it does in the sky.

Programmers working, or starting to work with Java on OpenVMS (Virtual Memory System) are certain to appreciate this excellent, hands-on tome on working with this language (complete with accompanying CD)--but as author Roland Hughes makes clear, interested programmers should first read his earlier book, The Minimum You Need to Know to Be an Open VMS Application Developer, since this book builds comprehensively on that one. A sequel (Volume 2)is in the wings. Hughes begins with an introduction that frames the basic reasons programmers are having to use JAVA in these applications and candidly lays out the major pitfalls programmers will encounter when applying JAVA to VMS. He focuses in particular on problems that C and C++ programmers have with JAVA, paying special attention to the momentum of the C and C++ mindset they bring to the table and the problems that can generate. For example, he points out that in JAVA, most things are classes--and while they may look similar in C and C++, they are not. He feels that many of these problems stem from the syntax and the origin of the language. Because Java was originally created as a pure OOP language used in imbedded systems (like the system in your microwave or VCR), almost everything in it is a class. Hughes makes it clear that in order to use JAVA successfully on Open VMS, you need to develop a Free Class Library, and reveals how to create JAVA classes with the Java Native Interface (JNI). Hughes provides a plethora of useful tips for transcending these difficulties, framed in a pragmatic approach that distains expensive shortcuts, and enables programmers to descend into the bowels of the applications with a knowledgeable voice at their elbow. The text contains many hand-on practical exercises that teach programmers to build applications while simultaneously constructing infrastructures, rewriting the same application with each new tool under review. At each step there are detailed explanations, examples and illustrations that allow the reader to move back and forth between the text and the application, providing a rich learning experience in working with JAVA on OpenVMS. Part of what makes the book especially valuable is Hughes' comprehensive candor about the flaws of JAVA when it is applied to OpenVMS. In addition to discussing the problems faced by C and C++ programmers as they try to change their mindset as they learn to work with JAVA, Hughes' explores a series of other challenges they are likely to encounter, including problems relating to case sensitivity and case sensitivity inside the compiler, plus problems resulting from the fact that JAVA is only a semi-interpreted language. While conveying much useful substance, the author also engages in lively, cogent (and sometimes humorous) commentary on what is driving the increased use of JAVA on Open VMS in contemporary IT culture. As he looks at not only the "how to," but he "why" of Java in these applications, it is clear that his sympathy is clearly with veteran C and C++ programmers and not IT management. A significant part of the problem, he feels, lies in the roots of the process and the way a great deal of IT business is being conducted not just with reference to JAVA, but with software projects in general. In recent years, many software projects have had a tendency to turn into monsters, destroying schedules and budgets, and raising programming costs late in the curve--a trend that does not serve IT goals well. As software budgets rise, management is desperately seeking "silver bullets," tools to cut costs while trying to achieve ever more challenging IT goals. But as Fred Brooks observed in his IT classic, The Mythical Man-month, the root of the problem is not just rising costs, but something inherent in the evolving nature of the information revolution. As the amount of data available rises faster than the ability to process it, programming tasks become ever more challenging. As a result, even as hardware costs are dropping, many software costs continue to rise. To cut costs, many projects start cheap, and are forced to add staff later when problems emerge. Unfortunately, the addition of people to a software project late in the process actually makes things worse. In a similar vein, Hughes suggests that IT management, by looking for a silver bullet, is ignoring the roots of the problem by only seeking short-term cost-cutting solutions. Silver bullets are often advertised, but do they really exist? Hughes clearly feels that in the end, quick fixes and short term cost cutting measures are penny wise and pound foolish. In the final section of the book, "Ruminations," Hughes engages in a colorful and educational rant about the state of the IT industry and the programmers that work in it, offering useful advice and insight that will be valued by novice and veteran programmers alike. Bravo, Mr. Hughes! Any IT professional using VMS should have this book on his/her shelf, and the "prequel" and sequel as well.

Stop right there. If you haven't read Roland Hughes' first book in this series, The Minimum You Need to Know to be an OpenVMS Application Developer you'll need to do so. Think of it as the prerequisite of a college course. Now, you are ready for the second book, The Minimum You Need to Know About Java on OpenVMS. Why two books? Java wasn't covered so thoroughly in the first. Believe me; you'll be glad you have both.

The concept of this book is "how to convert your existing core business application to use Java, yet still preserve your investment in the most stable platform on earth." In other words, Hughes shows programmers how to create all the tools you need to make Java a usable language on OpenVMS. Java is an object-oriented programming language somewhat similar to C and C++ but really very different. Hughes goes into great comparison. Java has classes, but has a unique class called an Array with no defined constructor. This means values can be stored anywhere and in no specific order. You're going to learn to build the tools you need to build the tools you want. Pretty simple, right?

As in the first book, Hughes uses the same application to demonstrate each new tool, in this book, using Java with FMS and RDB. He shows how to develop a generic class that will be usable by Indexed Files, also how to use JNI to access RMS, FMS, system services, and operating system provided libraries. Programmers learn to create an infrastructure MMS Procedure and how to use the supporting classes the procedure creates. Hughes also shows how to access RDB via the JDBC driver, demonstrating the importance of SQL. An accompanying CD-ROM contains the Class source.

This isn't just flat textbook reading though. Hughes uses humor and casual language to engage his readers. He comfortably refers to things like geek books and nerd attitude. He knows that this work is on the intense side of life. The information within the book is very professionally presented, with detailed analysis and explanations, troubleshooting and error experiencing tips, and exercise quizzes that test your knowledge. You have to know these things!

The final chapter examines the future of IT and the choices you make going into it. So you want to be a computer programmer huh? Are you sure? Don't listen to your guidance counselor without reading this book (and the first) first. Triple digit hourly rates, six figure salaries...maybe not. Downsizing, layoffs, feast or famine? Maybe so. When looking for sage advice on IT, go to the guru, Roland Hughes.

Reviewed by Regan Windsor for Reader Views (8/07)

While Java has exploded in the world of the Web and high tech toys, "The Minimum You Need to Know about Java on OpenVMS," focuses on "converting existing core business applications to use Java, yet still preserving your investment on the most stable platform on earth." For maximum understanding and success, this book should be read as a companion to "The Minimum You Need to Know to be an OpenVMS Application Developer."

In true "tell it like it is" Hughes' fashion you realize early on in this book that the author is not a big fan of Java. To a seasoned C/ C++ user, the similarities and yet vast differences of Java and C++ can make it a cumbersome (if not extremely frustrating) language to work with. The good news is this is not a sugar-coated book on Java; Hughes confronts the biggest setbacks of working with Java and what you need to do to work through them.

"The Minimum You Need To Know about Java on OpenVMS" covers basic code for using RTL and SYS functions, tips and tools for accessing RMS indexed files, the why's and how's of interfacing with FMS, details (including code) on creating a sample application (Mega Zillionare, as used in "The Minimum You Need to Know to be an OpenVMS Application Developer"), as well as some additional knowledge transfer and insights from the author.

As with the first book in "The Minimum You Need to Know" series, "The Minimum You Need to Know about Java and OpenVMS" provides the reader with invaluable tips and tricks, includes a CD full of code, hands-on-programming exercises, and questions for review. The book reads as though you are being coached through the process of using Java on OpenVMS, as well as being provided with a few insights (and opinions!) along the way.

"The Minimum You Need to Know about Java on OpenVMS" is an essential tool for anyone tasked with using Java on OpenVMS.