Phillips Books

I first encountered Susan Lenox as she was personified by Garbo in an enjoyable but rather unbelievable film that is a hash of melodrama and Hollywood "meet cute" conventions. As another reviewer has noted, there's virtually no correlation between the film and the book. Nontheless, when I saw an old copy of the novel in a used book store something told me I had to have it. My nudge was correct; Susan Lenox is a bang-up, amazingly gritty early 20th century novel (1908 or so) about an illegitimate child raised as a total innocent in the "lady class" but destined to become an astonishingly self-aware and highly intelligent New York City street prostitute after she is driven from her small town. She learns by hard experience that working women of her times could not make a living on their own without a supporting family. I could not believe at times that I was not reading a fast-moving historical novel written by a modern feminist author. I repeatedly closed the book to look at the back-cover photograph of the stern young Victorian era author in wonder. He is very hard on sexist men and has an uncanny bead on women's inner lives, outer lives, and--how odd!--their relations with clothing (yes, throughout the ages we females have suffered from fabric dependencies and have drawn inordinate satisfaction from satisfying them--but as the author DGP is aware, PEOPLE ONLY KNOW WHAT THEY SEE, so one's clothing can be tragically important, out of all proportion, as far as how one is treated). Follow Susan from her first arousing crush, to her horrid marital rape the day and evening of her family-forced wedding, to her sweatshop and tenement days,and through her graft-paying, opium-smoking, hard-drinking street prostitue years--and on to, surprise!, success. But the muck-raking author makes it clear 100 that times Susan's "rise" is a fluke and unfairly impossible without a sponsoring male. It is a gripping read--much more so than the books of the "canonical" realistic authors of the era. From other books of DGP I found on-line after reading Susan Lenox, I found he was starry-eyed about Karl Marx--but, hey, cut him a break since DGP was murdered in 1911 by someone who took offense at one of his books and therefore was spared seeing what a horror the Russian revolution and communism unleashed upon the globe. In his day, the grinding of the faces of the poor under mega-capitalists' feet (robber barons--remember them from US History 101?) and colluding politicians (Boss Tweed ring a bell?) made socialism (then just a theory) seem a kinder, gentler alternative to the status quo. Under DGP's proper Victorian waistcoat beat the heart of a dis-illusioned idealist who obviously cared about the plight of the poor and about the crippling social conditioning of women. And the gent could really turn out page-turners! Enjoy an unjustly lost classic.

This lost classic is one of the great books of the turn of the century. Anything that could possibly happen to a woman at the turn of the century happens to Susan Lenox, so it's a panorama of the social conditions and mores of the period. I think it's a better book than Dreiser's SISTER CARRIE, but similar. It's a thousand-word page turner, written by a muckraking journalist-turned novelist with lots of axes to gring, and it's all fascinating. Twenty years after the book came out, MGM made a movie version of it with Greta Garbo, but the movie has virtually nothing to do with the book, and it's terrible (aside from Garbo, who is always interesting.) That's a particular shame, since the story of Susan had many parallels with Garbo's life, and a genuine adaptation might have been wonderful.

I read this book at least five years ago, if not longer, and the impression is still with me. We meet Susan as a young lady in a small, closed minded town in the "Western" state of Ohio, just past the turn of the century. (the last century.) She believes a young man that he has fallen in love with her and will run away with her to marry. This was viewed as a terrible scandal by the petty members of the community, "forcing" her guardians to find a farmer for her to marry; a dreadful creature. This is the beginning of her fall, and she falls and falls for some number of years following. She ecapes to a city- was in New York? and makes her way as a well brought up young woman forced to do so in a man's world. Men were essential to women for their livlihood, and a woman without reputation and introduction were cast adrift with dreadful housing, horrible food, terrible job prospects, if they can even be called a job. The gap between rich and poor was tremendous even then, and literally pennies were all that were needed to improve the lot of the "working poor", just as is the case now. The lot of the workers was easily improved, and it was tragic to see how callous the manufacturers were to the needs of their laborors.

Susan, luckily, "rises" but has a talent and ability to develop it that so few have. That she had the opportunity at all was mere chance.

Every time you think you know what's coming you're surprised. I have never read another author who can immediately make you feel you know the characters and care about them as quickly as this one. The story line is never boring or predictable. There is always a twist and the story lingers and plays with your mind long after the read is over. The character Blue who is obsessed with the the singer Mai keeps the reader wondering long after the book is done - was Blue male or female? And before you know it you're reading it again sifting for more clues and being surprised all over again.

I found out about this book through an interview done through the Greek HIM fan club Dark Secret Club. After checking out the interview, and JD's myspace, I realized that this novel heavily influenced by the band HIM, Oscar Wilde, and Velvet Goldmine. Tainted is an erotic, sensual and ethereal trip through the mind of Blue, a vagabond who sees Mai Evans, the main character of the novel performing at a bar under the group name Nefarious. Mai is one of the most bewitching characters I've come across in literature. He's beautiful, charming, dangerous, and intelligent and some may say cursed. That's all I am willing to let slip. If you like stories of drugs, mental instability, homoeroticism, rock and roll and the pleasures of androgyny and eyeliner, this is the book for you.

I look forward to her future works. This is one author to watch.

I, too, found this through the band HIM, and it's very obvious that that band had a pretty strong influence on this book. In a good way, of course!

Mai Evans is one of the most unique characters I've ever read... he's charasmatic, charming, and sometimes so melancholic that it's shocking.

Blue is easy to relate to, articulate, and understandable in a way it doesn't seem he could be.

Their story is breathtaking beyond words, and I'm running right now to buy everything this author has ever written.

Good case selection and pictures.
Highly recommended just like all the others books from this series.

Its an excellent companion to the Chest requisites. It is the best book in the case review series based on the requisites. Combined with the requisites its more than enouch for the chest section of the residency boards. A must buy for the residents!

Presents broad range of common (and some rare) diseases/pathology with pithy, relevant discussion. Questions highlight important pearls. Quality of the images is sometimes less than desirable for demonstrating the findings, but this is a minor complaint.

Tiger is sooo......scared of everything. This book gently shows Tiger's fears of many things. This is a very gentle book, not too scarey. This book is also great for early reading, easy too read, repeating words. Be prepared to read and listen to this book many times. This book also is great for teaching compassion. Tiger over comes his fears by helping a baby mouse. This book is very cute. If you are looking for a little more reading for a beginner reading and staying on the theme of compassion. I love the "Good night, Good Knight" books. This book has more reading per page, but a lot of repeating words and teaches compassion for others.

I am 18 years old, and this book was the book I learned how to read with when I was 4 years old!!! It was my absolute favorite book and I would recommend it to any parent looking for a cute book for their child!

This is a heart-warming story of a kitten with many fears. He overcomes his fears in the story because of his compassion for a smaller, more needy animal than himself. Through repetition in the text beginning and emerging young readers will find this a delightful, easy-to-read story. My daughter has read it so many times the cover and pages are worn with love! It was the first story she mastered reading cover to cover.

Toil Under The Sun is a moving account of an adopted boy who grows to manhood amidst tumultuous emotions about love and acceptance. Mr. Ritter does a fine job of blending these character emotions in a story complete with action, suspence, humor, love, and sacrifice. The book is well-written, with action of the present blended nicely with reflections from the past. A very enjoyable read.

Toil Under the Sun is a moving account of an adopted child's struggle to accept love. For any individual or family dealing with adoption issues, it gives insight into the wound of having been relinquished. The parallel stories in each chapter are well crafted together to move the reader from the past to the present. I was uplifted by the final outcome, and only regretted that I didn't get to follow Timothy into his new acceptance of being loved. This wonderful, moving novel is one that you are sorry to have end.

Mr. Ritter provides a story which explores the shoals of cynicism to the depths of acceptance of life. The vehicle for this exploration is an adopted son, analytical father, best friend, and a cold war policing action. The characters are new and familiar so as to be interesting, insightful and meaningful to the reader. The reader can expect to spend a pleasant weekend with these enjoyable characters as they come to terms with their "toil under the sun".

"Tom Brown's School Days"?, That's junenile fiction. That's a kid running down a merry lane in England with a satchel on his back, right? So wrong. How could this classic piece of little literature have escaped my attention? A stunning book about a boy's life in boarding school in mid 19th Century England, it tells it's adolescence tale with all the discipline of a Cub Scout Manual and whimsy of a comic book. Author Hughes frequently stops the action and intercedes on behalf of himself, commenting on the progress of the story as a teacher might. His defense of boys boxing with hard fists and fractured skulls is so socially incorrect it becomes amusing in it's conviction. Maybe skulls were harder then. A good knock-a-round is good for a boy. But school-yard fights aside, this is an adult piece of classic literature with a deeply moral narrative and a devoted sense of well-being. In it's second century of publication, it is a breath of fresh air.

For the last five generations this has been the book every British parent wanted their sons to read, and Tom Brown is the mold which every parent wanted their sons to fit. He loves his parents. He attends church. He is a good student. He is kind to his juniors and respectful of his seniors. He is a true sportsman, and always plays fair. He is the beloved of his headmaster at Rugby school, Mr. Arnold, and Arnold himself is elevated by his mentorship of young Tom. He has an unbounded future, like Britain herself. Yes, it is an idealistic view of youth, but part of a parent's responsibility is surely to instill idealism, along with everything else.

To more effectively enshrine his protagonist in glory, to place in relief his exceptionalism, to show the depravity of his antognist, and to put a human face on the Devil, Hughes also gives us Harry Flashman. While it was Tom's popularity which created the book's commercial success for the last five generations, my guess is that it will be George McDonald Fraser's references to Tom and Arnold, in his series of Flashman books, which will draw the contemporary reader's attention. Harry cheats and lies; he's a bully; he drinks, and is ultimately expelled from Rugby School for drunkeness. Please refer to Fraser's book, "Flashman," and the rest of the series of Flashman books to see how young Harry turned out. Not so bad actually. The Victoria Cross, highly respected, and extremely wealthy.

Naturally, this is far from Hughes' intent in creating a counterpart to the ideal child, but the existence of such a child as Tom Brown creates a disequilibrium in nature, which requires remedy. The reader will need to decide for himself whether the prototype of good or evil is more compelling. "Tom Brown's School Days" was a book of idealism for young boys at the turn of the 20th century. "Flashman" is a book of realism (okay, of humor, too) for the modern rogue at the turn of the 21st. Read both for the clash of perspectives.

I am often amazed that this wonderful classic is so often overlooked. The author's style and syntax is pure Victorian, through and through with wonderfully convoluted sentences, and indeed, paragraphs. This work, which takes place during the mid 1800s, circa 1840, is the story of a young man in a English Public School (which, unlike in the U.S. is actually a private school to which only the elite can afford to attend) and his adventures at this school. This of course is a boarding school. While not absolute, this work is obviously autobiographical in nature. When this work is read, the reader must keep in mind when it was written, the society in which it was written and most importantly, the attitude of the society in which it was written. I was first introduced to this work well over forty years ago and have given it several reads since that time. I strongly suspect that many young readers of today may find the syntax difficult at first, but if they press on, there is so much to learn from this book. As another reviewer well pointed out, some of the events addressed here are not what you would call "politically correct" by our standards to day in this country, but then we must remember when and where it was written. Any student of the history of literature or a student of our language will most likely be fascinated with this work. I highly recommend.

I knew nothing beyond the basics of apartheid in South Africa until I read Harry Bloom's incredibly powerful book. Even now, I cannot claim that this book has made me an expert, far from it, in fact. But, I have a much greater appreciation of what like was like in the Transvaal (or black locations) in South Africa. Even though the title is a work of fiction, I believe that the reader will get a much greater understanding on this topic. (And like other reviewers, I admit I picked this up because it is written by Orlando Bloom's father.I will use any excuse to pick up a new and different book! )

Bloom's story is set in the fictional town of Nelstroom, S. Africa. We are introduced to two main characters, Du Toit, the location manager and Mabaso; a black man who has come from Johannesburg with the hopes of easing the hardships of life in the location. Du Toit begins his job with the best of intentions, trying to make life better while still enforcing the laws of apartheid. He will eventually, of course, give in to the higher ups. Mabaso is an educated man. He makes the people of the location aware of how they suffer. And we all know education is a powerful thing. The people who stand behind these two men will clash and begin to rebel against each other. This is a book you know will not have a happy ending from the first page.

Since I can't find the words from my own experiences to describe the total unfairness and confusion of apartheid, I would like to take a quote from the book, which stuck with me from the point I read it until I finished and long after that. "Facts are twisted, illusions fostered, truth destroyed to prove that the perverted is normal, the sordid noble, the brutal beautiful, the guilty innocent, the coward a hero, disaster a victory-and the reverse of all these things."(Pgs 277-278). Harry Bloom was imprisoned for writing this book, that alone is testament to its truth. Despite its heavy subject, it is a great, fast paced read. And a book that will stick with you for a lifetime.

Walter Mabaso, a black freedom fighter who comes to Nelstroom, a fictional town in Africa, and Hendrik Du Toit, the newly arrived white Manager for Nelstroom's "Location," the segregated ghetto where the African population must live, are the two major characters whose psyches and lives Harry Bloom explores with the skill of a literary surgeon. They and the other characters are strikingly drawn, reminding me of the clarity of characterization in John Steinbeck's GRAPES OF WRATH. Both novels deal with dispossesed people struggling to salvage their lives and their dignity against poverty and oppression, except in Bloom's gentle masterpiece, the oppressors are the proponents of apartheid in South Africa. Now we live in a world where Nelson Mandela has triumphed, but Bloom's story takes us to the early days of the fight for racial equality, and goes beyond it. The plot is elegantly structured to show how oppressive governments create a vicious system where the victim becomes the human fuel it runs upon, until the ruling class' blithe disregard for the human rights of the under class ignites into a storm of confrontation . . . one so volatile that no cover-up can sweep away the ashes. Add to this a use of language that is so concise, every word builds a sparse clear picture in the reader's mind and eye. Transvaal Episode won the British Authors Club Award in 1957 for best novel of the year. What amazes me is how the characters and events in this novel could be equally played out today in other countries where human right struggles are still ongoing. This novel should be required reading for anyone dealing with national and international politics and power. It teaches us to understand how easily those in power can brainwash us into believing what we think we see, when we're really seeing what they want us to, and the true picture is totally different. A book for all people, all countries.

I must admit that I originally picked up this book for the curiosity factor of it having been written by actor Orlando Bloom's father. However, from the very first page the gripping tale of oppression, hopelessness, and desperation in South Africa sucked me in like few novels I can remember. The writing style was lush in its descriptive power, and the author's intimate knowledge of both the people and the problems of the region shines through page after page. Although one knows from the very first page that this tale will *not* have a happy ending, even in its horror the conclusion makes perfect sense and holds one until the very last paragraph. The one minor gripe I had with the novel was the shifting perspective and timeline; however, both were required to gain a full sense of the events and the insanity behind them. This is a serious work for the serious reader and definitely worth more than a single reading. I highly recommend this work.

I remember the year, if not the month and day, when I became hopelessly hooked on "trash cinema". It was sometime during the Summer of 1986 when, out of boredom, I decided to watch "Spawn of the Slithis" on the "Elvira, Mistress of the Dark" midnight movie show. I couldn't believe what I was seeing!! How could I have been missing out on this great stuff for so many years?

Since then I've made it my mission in life to watch as many of these "underground" classics as possible, i.e., without getting divorced; everything from silly TROMA splatterfests to "subversive" spaghetti westerns. Naturally, this gives me a licence to bore my friends and co-workers with my latest discoveries (every week), but they tolerate me pretty well.

I've always had a tough time, however, deciding what to rent or buy next; and those masive paperback video guides by Leonard Maltin and Roger Ebert were of limited use to a geeky, twisted son-of-a-bitch like me. I've relied mostly upon the kindness and patience of video store owners and passing strangers.

But now, here it is! In addition to being a former video store owner, Scott Phillips is a sucessful screenwriter and director ("Drive", "The Stink of Flesh", "Science Bastard") who is eminently qualified to dish the dirt on trashy gems such as "Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park" and "Shriek of the Mutilated"; two of my all-time favorites. His cinematic knowledge is STAGGERING, and all of his reviews are funny as Hell, and often heartwarming to boot. For the most part, he concentrates on "overlooked" classics of the 1960's through 1990's, but his takes on selected mainstream oddities like "Porkys" and "Xanadu" are howlingly funny! His love of the art form and the moviemaking process shines through on every page.

This could not have come at a better time for me! At my (middle) age, I was beginning to think that I'm a "lost cause" because I remember kooky characters like Bert Convy (that swingin' hepcat), or that I'm the only guy my age who has a crush on Fairuza Balk. Now I feel better!

This book should be required reading for all film students. Please, Mr. Phillips, keep it up - we want more!

This book of video and movie reviews covers some classic and some long-forgotten so-trashy-they're-awesome flicks. I had heard of a lot of them, but there are many more that, after reading about them, I'm definitely going to have to find somewhere! Even the reviews of the mainstream movies are pretty hilarious.

It almost doesn't matter what this book is about because the writing is just so fun to read. Scott Phillips is a low-budget filmmaker reviewing other people's low-budget films, so you really get an insider's perspective from someone who has seen a LOT of movies. This would make a great stocking stuffer for anti-Hallmark Chrismakkah friends and loved ones. I would prefer to give it 13 stars but 5's as high as they go.

This book is absolutely fantastic. Prince Phillip Koko Ijoma covers a wide range of interesting issues: supernatural, voodooism, African tribal animism etc. It is rich in African culture. This is a must read book for all lovers of unique horror story. It dwells into ritualistic ceremonies and the significance of those ceremonies. It gives the reader a reason for the acts horror and ends with lessons to be learned. A very good read for social studies and horror fans alike. One of the best horror books I've Read.

The tales of wisdom, voodoo, spirituality, justice, and African culture narrated in "Visions from the Dark World" demonstrate how good and evil constantly struggle to dominate human existence. The author portrays the great cosmic battle between good and evil as a means of obtaining greater insight into human existence and awareness of possibilities presented by other dimensions.

Prince Phillip Koko Ijoma does a stellar job of portraying how evil can lurk in the most innocent settings while good can exist in the most horrible settings. With snippets of ancient Ikot-Ana history interspersed throughout this well-written book the author vividly chronicles the chilling tales of horror, mystery, spiritualism, and voodoo that occur in rural Nigeria. The coming of age tales in "Visions from the Dark World"is brilliant, exciting, fabulous, fantastic, fun, imaginative, interesting, suspenseful, uninhibited, and wild. This book truly captures the essence of Africa.

The tales of wisdom, voodoo, spirituality, justice, and African culture narrated in "Visions from the Dark World" demonstrate how good and evil constantly struggle to dominate human existence. The author portrays the great cosmic battle between good and evil as a means of obtaining greater insight into human existence and awareness of possibilities presented by other dimensions.

Prince Phillip Koko Ijoma does a stellar job of portraying how evil can lurk in the most innocent settings while good can exist in the most horrible settings. With snippets of ancient Ikot-Ana history interspersed throughout this well-written book the author vividly chronicles the chilling tales of horror, mystery, spiritualism, and voodoo that occur in rural Nigeria. The coming of age tales in "Visions from the Dark World"is brilliant, exciting, fabulous, fantastic, fun, imaginative, interesting, suspenseful, uninhibited, and wild. This book truly captures the essence of Africa.

This book is excellent in helping you read through the Bible in a year. The daily devotions are so helpful in understanding the passage of that day. I am finally excited about reading through the Bible in a year. I am not doing it just to say I have done it. I am getting so much more out of it. Thank you Jean and Gene you experiences are so helpful!

Many times I have tried to read the Bible through in one year. I have never succeeded. This year, will be different. With the inspirational and motivational thoughts taken each day from the recommended daily readings, I look forward to my daily Bible reading time. Never have I continued this long into the new year with this undertaking. The comments each day by Jean and Gene, go straight to my heart and help me in my spiritual journey. Somedays I even want to read ahead and see what is next. I have given several copies of the book away and am getting similar comments from others who are reading it.

If you are interested in spending quality time with God each day and growing in the process, Gleanings from God's Word is the ideal devotional guide. I have not yet finished reading the book because it is designed to take a full year to read. What I have read has inspired, motivated, and challenged my life.
To me, there are two things that separate the good devotional books from the great ones. The first is application. Each day's reading in Gleanings is written in a way that applies to life, no matter your background, education, or social status. The Phillips teach us God's truths as they apply to our lives. There are days that the words speak to me as though they came directly from the mouth of God. You don't just read the material, you carry it with you - pondering the bits of wisdom and applying where necessary.
The second thing that separates the good devotional from the great is personal growth. Am I growing spiritually and as a human being as I go through this book? YES! The Phillips are great teachers who are full of wisdom. Their love for the Lord and understanding of His Word makes this book a great tool for anyone desiring a closer walk with God.
The hardest part is putting the book down until the next day's devotional time.