Rowe Books

"Although there are a number of excellent books dealing with skeletal radiology, the addition of these volumes to the literature is more than welcome.
The unique format and the approach taken by Drs. Yochum and Rowe should make this book particularly valuable as a reference source.

HAPPILY, THE MATERIAL IS ALSO VERY READABLE AND SHOULD SERVE AS AN EXCELLENT TEXTBOOK.
As an educator I am especially pleased to have the chapter dealing with principles of radiological interpretation included since this material in detail is not found elsewhere....."
[from the book of the foreword by Joseph W. Howe, D.C., D.A.C.B.R., F.I.C.C., Professor and Chairman, Radiology Department, Los Angeles College of Chiropractic]

useful radiographic textbook for the orthopaedic surgeon. contains short overview of the disease described in each chapter and a lot of x-rays demonstrating radiographic findings. we found it useful for our residents before exams and during daily work.

Very good book and since i'm a student at RMIT in melbourne australia and terry yochum was once a teacher here, he gave us a visit and lectured from his book. I recommend this book to anyone who is doing any form of skeletal radiology.

An exhaustive text on skeletal radiology. Though my experience is limited, it would certainly seem that if its not in here we don't know about it yet...perhaps thats too great a generalization but this text will definitely prove beneficial beyond the classroom as many doctors can attest.

I graduated chiropractic school this year. I used this book in school and found this it to be filled with lots of info on soft and hard tissue pathology. The radiographs are excellent in this book. Every condition from spinal bifida occulta to fibrous dysplasia is described with the utmost detail. Every chapter has a helpful summary that summarizes all the important points of each condition. I also used this book to help me study for Part II, III and IV of the National Boards. However, if you really want a great book to study for the national boards do what my study group and I did, get the following:
National Board of Chiropractic Part II Study Guide: Key Review Questions and Answers by Patrick Leonardi
National Board of Chiropractic Part III Study Guide: Key Review Questions and Answers with Explanations by Patrick Leonardi
National Board of Chiropractic Part IV Study Guide: Key Review Questions and Answers (Volume 1) and (Volume 2)
The questions in these last 4 study guides are right on with the kind of questions encountered on the National Boards. These 5 books contributed greatly to helping my study group and I pass the boards. For example the Part IV Study Guide had great sections on chiropractic technique, clinical impression and x-ray diagnosis. It presented the questions just like on the exam. These 5 books are must buys.

The illustrations and story are inspiring for every girl--those who are brand new and well-traveled alike. In many languages, girls are offered encouragement for living life. I always give this book to newborn girls and have one of my own.

The text and illustrations of this book are both wonderful. This is the perfect gift for a baby girl.

This book is now my standard gift to new moms of daughters. The illustrations and text are so gorgeous! I still cannot read it aloud to my daughter without tearing up.

She Is Born is hard to classify: nonfiction which reads like fiction. She Is Born discusses how cultures around the world celebrate the birth of a daughter, with vivid paintings by John Rowe capturing the multicultural explorations of a daughter's birth. A beautiful presentation, outstanding in its contrasts.

I just had a daughter last month and my best friend gave me this book. I was really touched - the words are profound. The illustrations are beautiful. I am now giving it to another friend who just had a daughter. I highly recommend it.

"Rowe provides a rich picture not only of a particular group of homeless people, but also of the complicated interactions between the marginalized and those who try to help them." -MDSQ Book News

The preceding reviews and comments were presented to the author with permission from: 1. Deirdre Oakley, Psychiatric Services and 2. Cynthia Karlton, Journal of Addiction and Mental Health.

Crossing the Border makes a noteworthy contribution to the field [of qualitative studies of outreach work.] It should be considered an essential read for everyone- from administrators to those on the front line- working with the most marginalized among the homeless.

"Rowe provides a rich picture not only of a particular group of homeless people, but also of the complicated interactions between the marginalized and those who try to help them." -MDSQ Book News

Having been an outreach worker for roughly six years, I found this book to be surprisingly well written. Too often, books tackling this subject present mere caracatures of the people it talks about, vieweing the subjects more as data or political process than real human beings.

This book presents many different points of views and differing types of outreach workers and the people they seek to help. The homeless are not condescended to nor are the outreach workers glamorized. It is quite factual and quite objective.

I saw myself in some of the types and picked up excellent little reminders about the whole homeless issue and those whose lives it affects. If you are looking for a bit more of the 'human' connection of those who are on the front lines (as opposed to the theorists, the politicians, the directors and others removed from the field), this is a great book toward that end.

This is a very practical book for those just starting to use the contemporary healing method of homeopathy. As well it will be welcomed by lay homeopathic study groups around the English speaking world. Instructional. Well Organized. Ready to teach you how. Once you know you want to learn how, this is the best place to start your study.

As one begins to learn the homeopathic methodology, repertorising is a difficult, if not ominous endeavor. This book helps to sort out the many nuances of old, and clarify much of the "older" jargon. This puts the learning curve back in the present! I have utilized this book extensively in my studies with the British Institute of Homeopathy. I recommend it highly!

As one begins to learn the homeopathic methodology, repertorising is a difficult, if not ominous endeavor. This book helps to sort out the many nuances of old, and clarify much of the "older" jargon. This puts the learning curve back in the present! I have utilized this book extensively in my studies with the British Institute of Homeopathy. I recommend it highly!

This is the kind of book I've been looking for for ages! It explains to the novice homeopath just how to begin taking a case and using the Repertory in practical terms. Wonderful! It also includes simple history-taking forms & templates. I highly recommend this book!

Most homeopathic books aimed at the layperson focus on acute prescribing in homeopathy. Even though this book is aimed at beginning homeopaths, it is accessible and understandable to the layperson, and can help to understand constitutional prescribing. It will enable you to work with your homeopath to find the similimum for you and your family members (because you understand what he/she is trying to accomplish and you can contribute meaningfully) .

I have only worked through the first two chapters of the book, and I can't believe how much I have learnt.

A beautifully written book, filled with thought-provoking essays and personality profiles regarding many aspects of the gay community. Michael Rowe is a writer of great depth, with insights and observations more than worthy of the Randy Shilts Award he received for this prized collection.

Rowe, Michael, "Other Men's Sons", Carmorant, 2006.

Tolerance, Acceptance and Respect

Amos Lassen

Michael Rowe's "Other Men's Sons" made me ashamed and angry yet it raised my thoughts and blessed me. Rowe writes so beautifully and with such felicity that his prose is near perfect. He guides us to a greater understanding. His writing is so string that there were times that I felt shattered by some of what I read. He is to be complimented on his candor and honesty. He shares his voyage of self discovery with the reader and thereby brings about others to journey.
The book states the obvious--that to discriminate against any minority is wrong. As I read I found myself agreeing with what Rowe wrote but this book is not just a rhetorical tract that coughs back old statements, rather it is a collection of beautifully written stories about people. It is written in the finest prose that is lucid and persuasive.
Rowe divides the book into three sections: Mosaics, Portraits and Portfolios. "Mosaics" is made up of nine essays that criticize contemporary culture. We read how to look beyond stereotypes and face contradictions. Rowe helps to get rid of the misconceptions about gay life. "Portraits" is a series of profiles. Equal space is given to Peter Paige, Gale Harold, Clive Barker, Drew Harris and Phillip Ing as well as Angie Moneva, a young straight girl who was raised and grew up in a neighborhood that was predominantly gay. "Mirrors" are autobiographical essays and four stories that show us a bit of Rowe's world.
This is a book for everyone not just the CLBT community. When we close the covers of the book we are not satisfied because Rowe makes us want to learn more. We should want to know about our neighbors, our friends and everyone we come into contact with. All children, regardless of age, should be regarded as our own and we should all strive for a better understanding and acceptance of all people,

Full Disclosure here: as a friend of Mr. Rowe's, my opinion may be a tad biased, but perhaps not in the way one would expect. You see, I have traditionally taken a rather jaundiced view of his writing given that he is, in all honesty, a disciple of the "purple prose" school of journalism - if it can be said in four paragraphs, one can imagine him thinking, why use only two?

However, in this brilliant collection of essays he has - as any artist would - grown to become not just one of the preeminent voices of gay culture but, I would hazard, of culture, period. His insights are hard won, as he clearly becomes personally involved in every story he tells, but his emotions never once blind him to the truths he uncovers, whether these are to his liking or not.

The heart wrenching piece on Barry Winchell could be considered the article that Vanity Fair let get away, but even in his "fluff" celebrity interviews the man's ferocious intelligence is in evidence as he asks the kind of questions the airheads on Entertainment Tonight wouldn't even consider.

For my money, however, the gem in the heart of the entire collection, "My Life As A Girl" is the kind of writing of which Pulitzer Prize winners are made. In this very personal, searingly autobiographical essay, Mr. Rowe regards childhood, identity, sexuality and - ultimately - hope with the kind of self-awareness one seldom finds in a writer so many decades removed from death's door. It is, frankly, the single piece of writing in his entire ouevre which makes me most proud to call him my friend.

He has recently been awarded the Randy Shilts Award for Non Fiction writing for this book; it is a well deserved honor, but even without that accolade this extraordinary collection could sit proudly on any bookshelf beside our era's finest essayists.

So put down the Unauthorized Biography of Britney Spears or whatever else you're reading this summer, and buy this book. You will laugh, you will cry and you will tell your friends you have just found the next great American writer - who happens to be a Canuck.

I'll start out by saying that I'm a straight woman from Melbourne Australia, while the author of this wonderful book is a gay man from Toronto, Canada so on the surface at least, Michael Rowe and I have little in common.

I hope and believe that on a deeper level there are values that we do hold in common and I wish that I could be as eloquent and persuasive in voicing them as Mr Rowe is in this book. Among these are tolerance, kindness and respect for others. The things that I regard as the truly Christian virtues.

I have always had gay friends - from high school onwards at least - and one of the most significant others in my was a gay man also named Michael. The cause of gay rights is very dear to my heart. One of the things that this book did for me was to state the obvious - that discrimination against a minority is always wrong and institutionalised discrimation - whether by the State or the Church - is anathema to truly Christian teachings.

There were so many times that I found myself nodding emphatically as I read, so many passages that I had to restrain myself from sharing out loud with whoever was around at the time. When Mr Rowe says, "You don't have to like homosexuality, but you have to respect your homosexual neighbours", I want to leap up and say "Yes! Damn right!". When he says that Canada seems to have attained that position of tolerance for gays and that they have somehow found a way to undercut the "God versus gays" things, I am at once envious and at the same time deeply hopeful, because this is what I long for for my own country. (Especially at the moment, with both major political parties shifting ever further to the right and set on placating the so-called "Christians" who are gaining a stronger and stronger influence on our politics - often funded out of the good ol' US of A.)

But that's only one of the elements of this book.

What makes it so wonderful, and not just a theoretical tract reciting old arguments to the already converted, is that it's also a beautifully written series of essays about people - not least of which is the author himself. And in the final, most personal section of the book, the writing, always clear and lucid and persuasive, lifts and becomes lyrical and even poetic.

It's a wonderful read.

If you are gay, or gay friendly, I think you'll find much to reaffirm your faith and belief that things are changing and we shouldn't lose heart in face of the hate and bigotry. And ready to commit to trying to keep the changes happening, and guard the gains that have been made against the forces of reaction.

If you're undecided, if you're one of those who thinks they don't know any gays, don't know any lesbians, of if you don't know how to reconcile the message of hate from a Church which says these people are damned and perversity incarnate with your experience of the sweet boys who live down the block and seem so nice, or the woman who lives with her "friend" and is one of your town's volunteer fire fighters, putting her life on the line to help others ...

Read this book.

If nothing else, you should appreciate the beauty of the writing. And who knows ... in its message of tolerance, acceptance and respect, you might even find the answers to some of your questions.

Michael Rowe made my cry with shame and anger ("Walking With the Ghost of Barry Winchell), and he made me cry in joy and benediction (the title essay, "Other Men's Sons"). This collection stands as a perfectly self sufficient and generously thought provoking sibling of his stunning "Looking for Brothers" (1999).
Michael has a felicity with words that leads to precise, perfectly crafted prose; frequently his depth of understanding leads the reader to small (and large) epiphanies ("Aha! moments" I call them); and, finally, his candor and honesty can be completely shattering.
His willingness to share all this with the reader makes him a rare and delightful companion on our voyage of mutual self discovery. His voice is that of a major talent and clear eyed observer of our times; he should be cherished, lauded, and feted. Mostly, he should be read!

Every woman need to know this "life skill" that they don't teach you at school. Practical & easy to understand.

This is an amazing book that gives information on things most people would not think of. It is also entertaining and every woman should own a copy!

This book prepares you for those emotional, financial, legal, and wise decisions any woman going through a divorce should know. How to protect your income, child support, family court, visitation, dating and more!

Don't get caught without it. Let you ex know you mean business. Things your mother never told you are here explained simply and in good humor. Enjoy it; I did.

Christina Rowe's book is a must to everybody who considers to divorce, who is about to divorce, is in the middle of the process or even who has already taken the step to divorce.

The Seven Secrets of Successful Divorce offers more than practical advice how to manage the different and usually painful situations and issues of the divorcing process. It is a book that helps you to be your own therapist when confronting the pain and feelings of disappointment, frustration, unsuccess, bitterness and uncertainty. It helps you to look forward into the future and prevent getting stuck in details. Also it helps you to observe and take different aspects into consideration, aspects that you would easily miss in the midst of your crisis.

Christina Rowe's book is practical, encouraging and healing. I can truly recommend it to everybody to whom divorce is of concern.

Cristina Andersson
educationalist, author
Helsinki
The Winning Helix: The Art of Learning and Manifesting Your True Potential

I found this book to be very informative. Any woman who is thinking about asking her husband for a divorce should read this book. I like how clear, detailed instructions are given on how to protect yourself financially while going through a divorce. I would also highly recommend this book if you are going through a tough divorce or have just gotten out of a bad marriage.

Tracy Porter has a flair all her own & you will want to make it yours! I love her eccentric but fun style! Caution: not for the traditionalists! Even if you have a classic design style you can borrow tips and ideas to accent your style- something for everyone in this book- you should really enjoy seeing what she has done with everyday objects. I found myself saying 'why didnt i think of that'?!

Finally, a visually stimulating and inspiring book that is fun to read. Everyone I've given this book to has enjoyed reading it cover to cover. How refreshing to see a designer that doesn't just rehash the same old traditional style but instead allows her style to evolve. Tracy Porter doesn't try to set some unattainable standard for how one should live, instead she encourages you to "try on" everything you love. Mixing passions with personal style is what it's all about. I found Tracy Porter to be a young and daring spirit and an inspiration for more than decorating my home. Her self made choices of choosing travel over college, moving to the middle of nowhere (Princeton, Wisconsin), starting a business in a chicken coop days after getting married and now running an international design company from somewhere other than NY or LA, makes me think this one is in control of her destiny. She is definitely finding a way to have it all and in her own way and unlike so many other designers, she's not a snob. If you weren't already longing for life at peace in the country, you will be now!

Are you a decorating addict, collecting books on decorating, stashing them with your horde of ribbons from past gifts, little trinkets left over from craft projects, and snips of favorite rooms from those shelter magazines? Don't bother buying any more books--Tracy Porter will show you what to do with all your precious mementoes, and offers you the freedom to do EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANT WITH THEM. Unlike Shabby Chic guru Rachel, or major pain Martha, Tracy says YOU are in charge. Like chartreuse and red velvet? Go for it. After reading her book, you'll be dying to throw parties for little foo foo bunnies and pulling all your treasures out of those boxes and putting them out to admire. If I could get Tracy to come play at MY house, I'd be the happiest person ever. This book will NEVER wind up on a bookshelf; I keep referring to it far to often to not have it at my fingertips!! Buy it, love it, and go for some heavy-duty, grab-your-honey romantic Baroque!!

Having been a long time fan of designer Tracy Porter's enchanting products, I had the pleasure of curling up with her first book DREAMS FROM HOME over a relaxing weekend. How refreshing to read a book of such honesty that captures the spirit of dreaming and taking risks. Having moved from the city to the country to start her design business, Tracy shares an inside look of the changes and challenges that she and her husband faced to follow their dreams. The photography in this book is completely inspirational filled with Tracy's signature layered look. Tracy shares personal tales of how they transformed their 100-year old stone farmhouse into a place of comfort. She shares decorating and entertaining tips without being preachy or too instructive. What makes this book even more intriguing is the way in which Tracy weaves in personal stories - from her love for her grandmother to her family's Easter celebration to a suprise birthday party for her husband in an abandoned silo! This book is fun, inspiring, and reminds us all to dream and play and live life to its fullest. DREAMS FROM HOME is a must have for anyone who dares to dream!

I absolutely loved this book in spite of the fact I'm French and I sometimes must search words I don't understand in the dictionnary.
Tracy Porter's ideas are incredible and a little crazy, but as I'm an artist and a designer too, I think I'm almost as crazy as she is, but it's very pleasant to find someone who go further in the crazyness. Her joy of life brought me a lot, at a time I had troubles in my inspiration, because of family problems, political difficulties (I love USA and it's not well seen in France these times).
I already wanted to move to USA before but by seeing all her funny and sympathitic animals, it convinced me more. People in Paris have lost their fantasy, I think.
Suddenly, I thought, I'm not alone... Well, it's a book about love. Everything in it is about love and it makes us feel so good.
Thanks Tracy.
Yael from Paris

Curlovich, John Michael, Rowe, Michael, and David Thomas Lord. "Triptych of Terror: Chilling Tales by the Masters of Gay Horror", Alyson 2006.

Scary Stuff

While shopping today at a local store in Little Rock, I was amazed to see both Halloween and Christmas decorations all over the store I was in. It's only August and we are already getting ready for the ghouls and the goblins as well as St. Nick. I figured if the stores could get ready for Halloween, so could I so I came home and read "Triptych" and prepared for the oncoming season.
"Triptych" is the combined work of three masters of horror. We have John Michael Curlovich with "A Holy Time for the Dead" about a powerful televangelist whose goal it is to get Halloween back from the spirits and reclaim it as a tool for Christianity. First he must manage to get rid of a closeted young minister and banish him to a church which is haunted. The young minister, however, resists and becomes a powerful adversary. More dark fantasy than horror, it is a story that will completely engross you.
Michael Rowe gives us "In October" and this is the best in the book. It follows a young man in a small northern town which is obsessed with maintaining the status quo. The most powerful person in the town and the biggest name is a preacher who controls the most powerful church in the area. Mikey Childress is harassed and bullied by the townsfolk and his one friend, a Goth girl, tries to protect him. He, one evening, turns to the occult as his method of revenge and what happens afterwards is sheer horror.
David Thomas Lord gives "The Secret of the Fey" which is a cautionary tale that shows how we should be really careful about what we wish for. 63 year old Tom Hogan is in pain over the loss of his longtime partner, Daniel. His grief paralyzes him and e rues growing older in an age when so much emphasis is placed on youth. His life is meaningless until he travels to a gay bar and is smitten by an Adonis and mistakes him as a leprechaun of sorts and wishes him to be his over. Here is a wonderful allegory on the Fountain of Youth with wonderful mysticism and erotic passion. When Tom realizes that he is living in a dream world, he also realizes that his dream is a nightmare and this is just the onset.
These three horror stories are bound t capture the reader. What a fun read this is and one that should not be missed. It is a creative look at the genre of horror writing and very refreshing.

I am not going to rehash the exact details and plots, since the other reviewers have already done this very ably.

I felt that the first piece, A HOLY TIME FOR ALL THE DEAD, was actually dark fantasy rather than horror. I enjoyed it.

The second story, IN OCTOBER, had me going, and I enjoyed it alot. It made me think of some horror movies that I have seen.

But the third piece, THE SECRETS OF THE FEY, was the most powerful, clearly horrific. There was this confusion, and a building sense of dread, leading to the climax. The ending was like a fist in the face for me, and I actually cried at the end of this story, and I rarely do that.

Whoever put together this anthology, I would like to see more, maybe a regular series, a new volume every couple of years.

Michael Rowe's stellar "In October" is the clear star of the three stories of Triptych of Terror. The story follows a young man who lives in a small northern town that's obsessed with the status quo. The town's biggest name is a popular preacher who is over the largest and most influential church in the community.

It is as chilling as it is erotic, passionate as it is calculated. When a mystery force starts killing off Mikey's greatest enemies, the story takes a dark turn that culminates in an ending that hits with disturbing satisfaction.

Thanks to Michael Rowe for taking me into this tale, I didn't want to come out of it!

It is with trembling pleasure that I give you (FINALLY) my review of Triptych of Terror, a horror anthology featuring the works of John Michael Curlovich, Michael Rowe, and David Thomas.


Michael Rowe's "In October" is by far the most enthralling of all three tales. It is delightfully disturbing and dark, with realistic main characters and a well-paced plot line in which readers find themselves drawn into Mikey Childress' world from the very first page. Michael Rowe is the Rembrandt of his genre, painting a mosaic of teenage angst amidst the backdrop of a small town insular high school populace subjugated by pitiless tormentors. His approach is both superbly erotic and chilling, and the ending unquestionably tugs at the heartstrings.



I graciously recommend this anthology. Rowe fans will not be disappointed.

John Michael Curlovich's novella "A Holy Time for All the Dead" leads off the intriguing new queer horror anthology, "Triptych of Terror". The reverend Steven Merchant is the newly appointed rector at the Old Stone Loaves and Fishes Full Gospel Fellowship Church in a run-down industrial town in the backwoods of Pennsylvania. Merchant is fresh out of Baptist seminary, assigned in part to the unglamorous locale because of a pesky homosexual indiscretion at the school. He is charged by the villainous Pastor Jack Cantworthy (an over-the-top antagonist who is equal parts gluttonous and nefarious) with creating a religious uproar over the secularization of Halloween in order to jumpstart the elder pastor's master plan to restore the holiday to its religious roots in honoring the dead. He arrives in run-down Glowney Junction to encounter an oddly-out-of-place cast of oddball characters - from the pedophile Catholic priest across the street, to the blind town business mogul and seminary benefactor affectionately known as the Zipper King, to a pair of decidedly queer-leaning, spiky-haired, eyebrow-pierced teenage boys who talk and act more like street hustlers in West Hollywood than small-town teens in an economically depressed industrial town.

Curlovich crafts a trippy little story about the freedom of sexual expression versus the repression of religious fundamentalism. He incorporates many classic elements of a haunting into the storyline, creating an effective metaphor for the repression of the closet. There are moments of genuinely scary imagery like the little dancing, flesh-ripping gargoyles whose use is quite effective. The author (who has also written some excellent haunted dwelling novels under the name Michael Paine) creates a fascinating protagonist in the Reverend Merchant, believably presenting him as a fully flawed mortal at a crossroads between his sexual orientation and the religion he loves. In the end, "A Holy Time for All the Dead" would have benefited from a novel-length treatment with several of the clichés trimmed down. Curlovich tries admirably to pack too much into too few pages, injecting some incongruous elements that detract somewhat from the storytelling. A Holy Time for the Dead is a haunting, dreamlike overstuffed piece of horror with some decidedly eerie imagery and a memorable spin on a classic story.

In Michael Rowe's superb novella "In October", readers are introduced to Mikey Childress, an outcast teenager living in a small-town Canadian suburb. Mikey's dreams of being loved are juxtaposed against his daily battles with an indifferent father who's dismissive and ashamed of his son's lack of machismo, a faith-obsessed mother who spends more time at church praying than she does loving her only child, and a particularly hateful group of high school bullies who subject him to a torrent of everyday horrors meant to humiliate and break his spirit. Mikey's one friend is Goth gal pal Wroxy, a self-professed white witch who offers an almost maternal love and serves as confidant to his coming out. After a particularly horrific bashing at the hands of notorious bully ring leader Dewey Verbinski and his jock cronies, Mikey turns to the occult and unknowingly calls out to the darkside for protection and revenge against his enemies. That protection arrives in the form of hunky Adrian, an enigmatic bad boy transfer student who materializes one day and takes an instant liking to the young protagonist. In Adrian, Mikey finds stalwart defense and an emotional security he has never known and a sexual awakening he has only dreamed about. But as all keen readers of the supernatural know, one cannot summon the darkside without casting a dark shadow. Soon Mikey's enemies start disappearing, meeting their demise at the hands (and claws, and teeth, and wings, and killer appendages, too!) of a demon who springs forth with equal fury to the homophobia leveled at the teen. As Mikey slowly comes to realize that Adrian may be the embodiment of his own hatred and resentment against those who've persecuted him, the teenager must make a heartbreaking choice between (literally) good and evil.

Rowe creates a masterful work with "In October", embracing the novella format like no writer in recent memory - so well as to fashion a thoroughly satisfying story. His depiction of Mikey's teen angst is dead-on, uncannily capturing the emotional loneliness and physical torments that mark the high school experience certain to resonant with every reader - gay and straight alike - on some level. From the beautifully tender and believable scene in which Mikey admits his homosexuality to a receptive Wroxy to the harrowing roadside gay bashing that leads him to seek out otherworldly intervention, Rowe brings the reader into the experience with a remarkable ability that few writers today possess. It is no small feat that Rowe can make us care so deeply for the characters and a testament to his ability as a writer that he does so within the concise format of an 80+ page novella. "In October" is a deeply-felt metaphorical homage to the horrors of coming out and an unsettling depiction of the straight world in which we do it. Rowe's tale of teenage anguish and loneliness is an exquisitely told cautionary tale, rich in visceral images of horror and the erotic.

"Triptych's" final installment is the devilishly magical "The Secrets of the Fey" by David Thomas Lord, another cautionary tale that reinforces the idea of being careful for what you wish for. Protagonist Tom Hogan is a sixty-three-year-old gay man grieving the loss of his longtime partner, Daniel. Paralyzed by grief, Tom is tired, lonely, and lamenting both the physical and emotional aches and pains of growing older in a gay culture in which youth and beauty are (at least theoretically) synonymous with happiness. His life is on autopilot, filled with meaningless everyday tasks and a select group of friends with whom he does brunch once a week. The narrative begins on Pride Day, with New York City bursting at the seams with the young and pretty. After a post-brunch altercation that sends him off alone to traverse the rainbow-laden cityscape, Tom happens upon a quaint gay bar called Land's End, where he meets the most beautiful man he has ever laid eyes on. Tapping into his Celtic heritage, Tom somehow quickly surmises that the porcelain-skinned redhead is a leprechaun-of-sorts and steals his clothes in some bid to force the granting of a wish. Despite stern warnings from the entrancing Will O'Gull, Tom wishes him to be his lover - one who will never leave him like Daniel did. But wishes always come at a cost, and what follows is an allegorical tale of the price we pay in pursuit of the fountain of youth.

Lord infuses "The Secrets of the Fey" with marvelous doses of mysticism, evoking images of malevolent fairies intermingled with erotic passion. He does a spot-on job chronicling Tom's post-wish transformation and the action moves along at a decent clip, never shortchanging the reader on character development (particularly in the case of Tom's plastic surgeon friend, Drew) or the hot sexual trysts that bookmark Tom's transformation. Lord's got quite a bit of symbolism and themes at work here - from the straightforward observations about the dangers inherent to pursuing youth and beauty at all costs to the less obvious commentary about sexual promiscuity and its ultimate loneliness in gay culture. Although this otherwise delightfully terrifying fable gets bogged down occasionally by Lord's distracting name dropping of New York City landmarks, the novella is quite an effective and chilling read overall. In the end, Lord reminds us that despite living in a culture that tells us otherwise, we can't really have it all, and that there are prices to be paid for discounting those blessings that are right under our noses.

My kids loved it and I enjoyed it too. The illustrations are so much fun. This book is great for bedtime or anytime.

Bought the book for all my Grandchildren for Christmas. Eye catching art and very cute story! One of the best childrens books I have seen!
Kathi from Arizona

My daughter read this book to her students at school, they loved the cute bed bugs and rhymes!

Itchy Lee and Itchy Dee McGee is a fantastic book! My daughters absolutely adore it! There is a wonderful vitality to the book thanks to the bold drawings and brilliant colors. Add to that an adorable story with a great message, and you have here a definite winner. I Highly recommend this book!

P.S. The music cd is thoroughly enjoyable! Captivating music that even Mom and Dad can handle on long trips! Get the music cd at [...]

I am the mother of three kids and my two youngest loved this book, the oldest reads to the youngest. The artistry is wonderful, very colorful and imaginitive. It is a hit with our family!

BEAUTIFUL BOOK! WONDERFUL PICTURES! IT WAS GREAT HOW MANY SCARLETT O'HARA DOLLS THERE WERE! BUT THIS BOOK COSTS TOO MUCH, IT SHOULD COME IN PAPERBACK!

Born in 1895 in the Williamsburg area of Brooklyn, Madame Beatrice Alexander was the daughter of Russian immigrants who rose to become America's premier doll maker. As a child she was known as Bertha, but soon took what she considered to be a more socially acceptable name - Beatrice. This name change was but a harbinger of her determination to excel, to rise above what she considered to be humble surroundings.

Her story is well documented and lavishly illustrated in this keepsake volume. Included are numerous full-color photos of the famous Alexander dolls.

Early on Madame Alexander adored her step-father, Maurice,emulating his love of doll making and doll repairing. He is responsible for this country's first doll hospital located on the Lower East side of New York City. The family lived above this business.

With the outbreak of World War I and America's ban on German goods, including the dolls which were the family's best sales items, it seemed their business was doomed. But Beatrice and her sisters would not accept this. They put their heads together to try to determine how to make dolls without porcelain or kilns. The answer was, of course, cloth toys. Their first success was a Red Cross Nurse doll. Beatrice was the creative member of this team, coming up with ideas and issuing instructions on making her concepts a reality.

Building upon their success the Alexander Doll company moved to a large space in the late 1920s. It was not long before their efforts were rewarded with an order from FAO Schwarz.

The Alexander Alice In Wonderland doll debuted in 1930. Today, in an updated incarnation, Alice is still one of their most popular items. There were soon Scarlet O'Hara dolls, bride dolls, Queen Elizabeth II dolls, Eloise dolls, and more.

Today, the original issues of many dolls are prized items in collections throughout the world.

"Alex" is among the latest creations - she's a very modern miss in an extravagant gold gown or capris and crop top. Her wardrobe is extensive as is her following. But, to many, a Madame Alexander doll is the Mercedes of toys.

The photos of Lia Sargent's dolls in this book are, indeed, beautiful, but the real draw is the way Ms. Finnegan, the author of the book, relates Alexander's life to what was going on in the world at the same time. Wonderful historical perspective, which is very unusual in a doll book!

Photos of many dolls in outfits never seen before.All in color.So you can identify your Alexander doll or hunt for that particular doll. This should make Madame Alexander dolls go up in value.

This book is excellent! I found the life of Madame Alexander very interesting and read this book from cover to cover. I hated to put it down. If it were not for Madame Alexander we might not know Scarlett O'Hara or Barbie as we know them today. We have a lot to thank her for...you will be amazed! I also enjoyed the photographs of the dolls. Lia Sargent, the leading expert on pre 1965 Madame Alexander dolls did an outstanding job on this book also. The photographs and photo captions show Lia's work is perfection..something Madame Alexander would be proud of. This book will be loved by generations to come. Doll collector or not, this book will leave you saying "WOW"!!!!