Richardson Books

I'm not sure if this is better than the original book, or if I just enjoyed it more because I'm familiar with the basic premise and characters. At any rate, Noble Causes is exactly what it's billed as-a fun, soap-opera-y book about a family of superheroes. It's a light read, but quite well written. I reread the first book after finishing this one, and appreciated the whole thing more because a lot of elements in the first book gained a whole new meaning when you know what's GOING to happen.

That said, Family Secrets stands fine on its own, and also feels complete. That is to say, it ends at what feels like a logical point, rather than half-way through a story like a lot of graphic novels seem to. Don't worry, it does have a great cliffhanger...something I've been dying to know since the first book gets PARTLY revealed...

I am not a Noble Causes fan. I have never read another issue before. The reason I bought this particular issue because I read that Invincible (another image character) had a guest appearance. (As a note for other Invincible/Kirkman fans, Invincible appears for 2 panels and has no lines or real involvement to the story. Brit also makes a slightly less brief appearance. And Robot, Atom Eve, Rexsplode, and DupliKate are there with Invincible.)

On to the comic. Having never read Noble Causes before I think that this book seemed to do a good job of introducing you to most of the main characters and giving you a glance at what they are like. You get an idea of who has a problem with who and who tolerates who. Since it's made of all short stories though it felt like there might not be to much substance for long time readers who are probably already familiar with the characters. Most of the short stories were good, I especially liked the first one and seeing Robert Kirkman and Cory Walker's almost Hellboy like short on Krennick was very entertaining. (As I'm a Kirkman fan, I may be a little biased) I have to say that the Zephyr short story was my least favorite. It was extremely tragic and felt a bit pointless to me. I would go as far as to say it was simply for shock value.

Again over all a good read. There's good artwork and good writers. A good read for someone new to the Nobles but as I said previously there might not be enough substance for long time readers to really enjoy.

Orel Hershiser: Up Close and Personal is not really a biography of Orel Hershiser, although it does discuss his life. This is a rather short little book published by Here's Life Publishers in 1989 for the purpose of spreading the gospel, primarily to boys and young men interested in baseball, by offering examples of salvation's positive effects on successful baseball players. Orel Hershiser had just finished an amazing season: he had set a Major League record by throwing fifty-nine consecutive scoreless innings, he had won the Cy Young Award, and he had been named the MVP of the World Series. The baby-faced pitching phenom seemed to have come out of nowhere, but he had actually spent a number of frustrating years in the minor leagues before ever being called up to the Dodgers. This book describes Hershiser's decision to become a Christian at age 21 and shows how important this decision was in allowing him to achieve the incredible success he enjoyed in 1988. Hershiser is quoted extensively on his faith in God, making him an excellent role model for youngsters then and now.

The book includes two additional sections following the Hershiser story. The first one describes the important role that Branch Rickey's Christian faith played in giving him the courage and strength to begin to desegregate Major League baseball; Rickey is the man who signed Jackie Robinson to a contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers just after the end of World War II. The final entry is a purely religious message from former Yankee Bobby Richardson; after describing the thrill of his completely unexpected Grand Slam in the 1960 World Series, he goes on to tell readers about his Grand Slam in life, which was his decision to become a Christian.

Orel Hershiser: Up Close and Personal, written by Bill Horlacher & Joe Smalley, was probably distributed for the most part by interested coaches or parents among young baseball players. Hershiser was incredibly popular at the time of publication, making this a good means for attracting youngsters' attention to Christianity. Today, of course, many youngsters probably don't know who Hershiser was, but this is still a nice little book to have. It is definitely a Christian publication, it is important to note.

This is an OLD book, and the delightful thing about many of the older books is the purity of content and purpose the author imparts. Some of the opinions are definitely out of date, but there are so many constant and profound maxims that it is worth plugging through the parts that tend to be a little more dry.

The author captures the true feelings behind being gay and being in a male dominated line of work. The excitement of the capture is exceptional I really enjoyed the book.

An excellent reference even though it has been superceded by a newer edition.

An excellent book providing Information on the MRCP Examination, it is Concise to the point and provides hand on techniques to prepare for the Exam.

If you can at least read Greek (which, if you're getting into specialist material like this, you probably do), you will find that this book is an excellent contribution to the world of Pauline Theology and Christology (the latter expounded upon mostly in ch. 5). Richardson is most definitely an expert on Paul's "Christological grammar" and is correct to say that to understand his though processes, we need to understand little details in the words he uses to describe what happened in Jesus. This is, I suppose, what most would call a "functional Christology", which is of course the only Christology of the very earliest Christians, and of the Pauline community. After his deeply detailed study, he can declare that the doctrine of the Trinity can indeed be found to be rooted in Paul's words. This book is fascinating for those who like details.

Again, for the specialist, this is essential reading that is to be complemented with something like N T Wright's Climax of the Covenant, which again requires a knowledge of Greek (and Hebrew). I give it only 4 stars because there are times that he is simply too cautious in his conclusions, and the fact that he bases an incarnational Christology on II Cor. 5:19. There is more than one way to translate this verse, and the one he chooses, he does so hastily.

Nevertheless, Trinitarians and Unitarians alike will profit from this book because, if one follows Richardson on all his conclusions, he shows how Paul held neither a belief in the incarnation nor in the Trinity. Unitarians will undoubtedly find great comfort in this. Trinitarians will also profit because Richardson shows how Paul's language could logically lead us down a Trinitarian road. In other words, Richardson forces you to make your own conclusions about Christ, and what Paul's opinions of him were.

I bought this book in April 1998 with no regrets. I could sense that I am destined to be the deck owner when I held the box. As I had previously got another pack of Tarot in less than a month, so I was hesitant to buy this pack. I held the box throughout my shopping in the bookstore as it was the last one and I was reluntant to put it away. Then suddenly over the announcement, it announced that the store was having a 10min 20% discount storewide. Without thinking much, I rushed to the nearest cashier. The queue was long and luckily I could still get the 20% discount (and I was the second last person for the counter queue before the 10mins were up). Whew!

Sasha advised on keeping the deck in a wooden box and I was worried spending more on buying a wooden box. Then a fren of mine asked me out with her to shop for a gift for her aunt, and I obliged. At Raffles City shopping mall, we came across a shop having closing down sales and to my surprise, it was selling 2 wooden boxes for the price of one at SDG$9.95! And my fren also liken the wooden box so we shared the cost. See, aint that more than a coincidental.

I bought a black cloth with similar experience as the wooden box except the store wasn't closing down. I got it at a bargain.

About the deck accuracy, i must say it is pretty accurate. But the reader reading kung-fu must be adept, otherwise, what is there any accuracy to say? I find the deck pastel color alluring and vision-friendly and the pictures are very decent and approving. Unlike some cards, which are loud in colors and obsence in pictures, only paint bad reputation on Tarot's name.
The guide book is very useful too and has alot of suggestions in interpretation of the cards.I've been using this deck since then.

Novices can depend on the guide book which come together with the deck. But I think, some amount of research is still good.

To a student of British history, or a fan of the Plantagenets as I have always been, this book is a boon. It might be a bit dry to anyone selecting it for a pleasure read. It is rich with descriptions of John of Gaunt and Katherine de Roet's relationship and children that followed.