Phillips Books

Reviewed by William E. Cooper for Reader Views (2/07)

Do you often reflect about some the greatest actors of theatre and film, and what they brought in terms of real entertainment? Do you remember the pride they took in their work, and that you could easily watch and listen to them, and have the family do the same? Were you part of an audience, someone who wished he or she could remember some of those really good lines or quotes? Well, now you have a source for them. Now you have a book that brings these wonderful actors into your home, business, or library.

This is a book designed to read straight through, or in any part any time. The book content is arranged alphabetically and provides literally hundreds of great quotes from a myriad of actors, both current and historic. I found myself reading the book through, almost without stopping. There are so many great quotes, it is a fascinating read. The content has obviously been thoroughly researched, and considerable thought given to what should or should not go in to the book. What is there is a compilation of quotes about the business and people involved with it. The reader can not only enjoy the book for what it is, but can take so many of the statements and translate them into everyday life.

As the author of the book "Leading Beyond Tradition," I know what it takes to prepare and develop a book. The work involved is significant, but the outcomes are normally well worth the effort. This book was worth it. I am completing a book on some of the greatest leadership quotations of all time, so have a good appreciation for such works. Mr. Phillips intended to deliver a good book, and clearly has done so. "The Audience Book of Theatre Quotations" is well worth your time and resources and should be part of your library. I need to offer a sincere well done to Mr. Phillips.

It's really a shame this book has been out of print for over 10 years; it's an excellent selection of songs from Vega's first two albums, and contains very accurate acoustic guitar tablature. If you ever find it in a used bookstore somewhere, buy it!

it's a great book if you wanna learn more about the Bible. I LOVE GOD!!!! CHRISTIANS RULE!!

I bought this book for my 2 and a half year old twins, and it's just great. I have had trouble finding books for them at this age because so many books are too simple, and others have too many words and don't hold their attention. This book has adorable illustrations, and my girls love the flaps. There is a lot of information on each animal, but it is written in an interesting and fun way, not over their heads. They will be able to read it for a long time as they understand more of the text. I would highly recommend this book.

This book is great for students of Greek. The commentary is helpful on several levels in that it both explains issues of grammar and gives background on and insight into the play itself. Seaford, howver is not the best translator. He gives literal translations, which is good in some respects for students who may otherwise be confused. It is clear, from his translations, that his interest is more in the overall meaning of the play than creating a pretty translation.

Los Angeles is shocked by the fire bombing death of the Cruzado family in the multi-racial Rancho Tajuat housing projects. Just about everyone including the police and the tenants feel that the Ra-Falcons, a Black Muslim group who provide security to the complex, killed the Mexican-American family. The leader of Ra-Falcons, Minister Antar Absalla decides to hire South Central private Investigator Ivan Monk to uncover the identities of the killers.

At the same time that Ivan begins to investigate what really happened to the Cruzado family, his significant other, Judge Jill Kodama is under recall pressure for not enforcing the three strikes and your out rule. However, Ivan has little time to provide her comfort as he has his own worries because he is now under indictment for murdering a gang member. With his priorities starting to shift, Ivan knows that while he tries to clear his name, he must discover the real culprit before more trouble leads to a racial civil war in the LA projects.

In his third appearance (see VIOLENT SPRINGS and PERDITION), Ivan Monk remains a great private investigator, who brings to life the mean streets of LA. BAD NIGHT IS FALLING is filled with the usual tremendous characterizations and two interesting story lines that actually work well together. Though at times the vernacular is difficult to follow, Gary Phillips continues to rise to the top of the ethnic who-done-it sub-genre.

Harriet Klausner

Though I'm not one for buying up every new mystery novel that comes out each year, I had a particular interest in "The Ballad of Rocky Ruiz" by Manuel Ramos because, as with Ramos, I am an attorney, a Chicano and a fiction writer. Well, I wasn't disappointed. Because this is a mystery with a fine, surprising ending, let me just say that I enjoyed the voice of the hardened, divorced, booze-loving protagonist, Luis Montez, a solo practitioner who finds his old friends from El Movimiento - the Chicano political movement - dying all around him. Throw in a beautiful, mysterious Chicana and things really start hopping. This short, tight novel will keep you guessing until the last pages. I highly recommend this book.

Review of Banners of Honor

A novel by Keith and Barbara Stuart

The saga, Banners of Honor, tells the story of Betsy Stewart's rite of passage. In 1692, in the Scottish Highlands, young Betsy, through courage and ingenuity, overcomes military assailants and escapes King William's massacre of the MacDonald clan. Many of Betsy's relatives and friends are butchered. In retribution, Betsy steals the King's treasure.

A British officer places Betsy at the crime scenes, unravels her identity and tracks her. As the story unfolds, we are drawn into witnessing Betsy's growth from a bold and independent girl of sixteen to a homemaker, community leader, teacher, business manager, and loving wife and mother. When she marries John MacDonald, she musters the strength to overcome many of the tribulations of married life: reconciling religious and class differences, learning how to handle separations creatively, facing the death of loved ones, and being an inspirational guide for her children.

Betsy's greatest challenge is the non-responsiveness and selfishness of her son, Kevin, who unwittingly commits treason, potentially bringing dishonor on the MacDonald name. Betsy finances Kevin's passage to the colonies. As he embarks, Kevin vows to find his purpose in life, to become worthy of redemption and the restoration of honor. Banners of Liberty continues the saga.


James Quina
Professor of English
Tulane University
New Orleans, LA

Basic and clinic courses in books and atlas

This catalogue has excellent photographs that gives one a sense of the attitude of the Beat Generation. Everyone is familiar with the writers of the period, but not everyone knows about art generated during those years. This catalogue gives a review of art, film, and writing being created at the time. Not only that but it devotes a chapter to women and a chapter to minorites working during the time period. A good source of information for anyone interested in the 1950's to the early 1960's.