Wilson Books

Colin Wilson has written an informative, entertaining and enlightening literary history of 'The Angry Years', a period in British literary history with which he is intimately familiar. The book chronicles the rise and fall of several prominent figures on England's literary scene beginning in the 1950s: Kingsley Amis, John Brain, John Wain, John Osborne, and many others. Wilson himself was lumped in with this artificial - 'press-created' - movement of 'Angry Young Men', so he is well-positioned to bring to life what might seem like a distant era, but one that is actually still relevant to today. It's hard not to look at a history like this with a touch of romantic nostalgia - even if one wasn't there at the time... Something about the struggles of these very human writers possesses all the drama and pathos of life in general, and one is fascinated reading about the ways in which they attempt to frame through their art their own experiences and times. Wilson brings all this to life in a narrative as compelling as a novel. He provides copious insights into the lives of these writers and their work, as well as elucidating the context in which his own work arose. In this way, the book forms a fascinating adjunct to his Outsider series, and it enables one a fresh view of Wilson's own opus. This alone is worth the price of admission, but Wilson's ability to engage us in the lives of some fascinating writers in a highly readable, entertaining style, make the book easy to enthusiastically recommend.

Drabble's biography of Angus Wilson should be sold in a set along with Andrew Motion's biography of Philip Larkin. Together they represent the best of biographical writing in the English language in recent years. Wilson, unlike Larkin, has lost popularity of late. His prose seems dated in ways not easily explained by those, like Drabble, who appreciate it. Still, Wilson is a major post-war figure, popular on both sides of the Atlantic for some three decades as a novelist and biographer, chiefly of Dickens and Kipling. Drabble and many other contemporary writers studied with Wilson for a time, but he never secured a proper position. His biography is a great object lesson for novelists who quit their day jobs too soon; although able to make it for a time, Wilson's last years were rather hard-going. He drank his share of champagne for years, but in the end was scarcely able to turn out a meal. If ever there was a need for gay marriage, Wilson's life proves why.

Animal Magnetism is a delightful and unique collection of stories about animals, both real and imaginary! Author Staci Layne Wilson is a master storyteller in any genre she chooses...and one of the aspects of her craft I admire most is the personalities and fanciful names she gives her characters that make them come alive in their situations as well as her intelligent, tongue-in-cheek humor that shines through in her work. She has the rare capacity to make me giggle when I know I shouldn't and to hit me in the gut or heart when I'm least expecting it.

The Duchess of Dook, in fairytale style, tells the story of ferretina Griselda, who must, against her will. Her uncles Roy and Magick devise a plan to put Griselda on a television dating game, which pleases Griselda to no end because she believes she's beaten them at their own game. But has she?

The Case of the Crooked Colt is a murder mystery conducted at Hect Stable where famous racing horse, Secretary Spots, was killed, subsequently causing the death of his groom. In the middle of the investigation another murder occurs in the stable. Join investigator Tinah Levins as she probes into the fascinating twists of horse love gone terribly wrong.

Char Chan and the Case of the Missing Heir is a satire about a dragon detective, Char Chan and his attempt to locate Burnie Drago, of Drago Charcoal fortune.

Mummy Dearest is my favorite in this collection, is the horrific tale of Londoner Ethel who visits Seattle and happens upon a bizarre curio shop where she becomes quite taken with a full-sized mummy--and her mummified cat. Unknowingly, Ethel brings home a lot more than she bargains for as the story unwraps!

Be Kind to Unicorns is a fantasy tale about Kara, the groom-slave of a powerful and pitiless trader who trains unicorns for warfare, and a mysterious horned stallion who carries the ultimate power.

The Maltese Kitty is a satirical tale of a gumshoe cat, Sam Spayed, who comes to the aide of femme fatale, Miss Muffy, a down-on-her-luck tomasina searching for a stolen, jewel-encrusted Maltese Kitty.

Patches: A Christmas Pony really touched my heart. Having grown up with horses, I couldn't help but shed tears over this beautifully written rescue story.

The Ugly Kitten is the tale of the runt of the litter; it's a different kind of rescue story, one that's sure to tug at your heartstrings.

The Big Catnap is another cat story about Philip Margay, who comes to the aide of a blackmailed Colonial. Need I mention the Colonial has a lovely pair of daughters who are sure to give Margay a dose of real trouble?

Thundering Hooves is a horse story of a different color. Aging cowboy Crease Hanks is haunted by the sound of thundering hooves. Can he make up for causing a stallion's death--or is he forever doomed to wait until lightning strikes?

Leaping Lizards and Puppy Dog Tails tells the funny and romantic tale of dogs who ride lizards, namely Thor Brown and Shelby. Thor hires Shelby to ride in the Welpington Steeplechase unaware that his ex-wife (a real bitch at that) will also be competing in the race...but what kind of trophy is she really after?

If you love animals and great stories, this book is for you! Trust me, Animal Magnetism is the cat's meow!

This is one of the sweetest, most clever kids' books I've read in a long time -- made especially great by the fact that it is as amusing to me as it is to my 3-year-olds. For them, there are the wonderful illustrations, and the cacophony of animals and their sounds. For me, there is the quirky beauty and rhythm of the language. "The ferret's just/Fuzz with feet./His nose is a raisin/That sqishes and squeezes./I'd take him home /But I think he'll causes sneezes. Ahchoo Ahchoo Ahchoo!) ..and the thing is, it's just damn funny. In talking about the need to save and value animals of all types, it has a Message, but doesn't hit you over the head...and it's also touching without being cloying. How often can you say that about a kid's book?

By the way, I think this book is fine for kids 3 and above. The younger ones may not entirely appreciate the book's subtleties, but they'll love it anyway -- particularly if you're good at replicating the animal sounds.

There just isn't enough work about Anne desmets work, and this book barely gives a sliver of an insight, little more.

Desmet is clearly important but determining if that importance is in the larger sphere of British art or only amongst the remnant of British wood engravers is a big call at this time and this book provides few clues.

My own gut feeling is that Anne Desmet is a little bogged down in academic intellectual debates about the nature of this and that and the validity of post (place whatever "ism" is currently fashionable here). Her work though defends itself and speaks for itself, intricate, precise and enticing, food for the imagination, aesthetically reconciled. Her work could easily exist outside of the British intellectual artisti debates, it really is that good.

If you are a student of wood engraving or printmaking then this is a must see or own book.

British art collectors seem to have missed the boat in this instance (don't misunderstand me I am sure her work sells very well, but she probably ought to have the status/public awareness of the chapman twins or some of the other YBA).

Annie Oakley is a great book. In it Annie go's to a foster home while her mom go's to work.Then she go's to a famileys house and works. After that she runs away. For the end go and read the book.

This is the ninth in a series of 13 fantastic books and is a must for anyone with an interest in Australian aviation. These works also cover a general history of the aircraft, liberal photographs and excellent technical drawings. It will appeal to aviation enthusiasts, aircraft modellers and military historians alike. 211 pages long with both B&W and colour photographs. It is essentially three books in one, well worth the money

My college age daughter and I have often been called "history nerds," and we can't really argue with that. She is especially fascinated by World War II and was captivated by Answering the Call by Steve Wilson. Answering the Call chronicles Allen Wilson's (Steve's father's) experience with the 91st Infantry Division and World War II's Italian Campaign. The center of the book is filled with maps and pictures and the book itself is based in part on the 600+ letters Allen wrote between 1943 and 1945. She and I would recommend this book to fellow "history nerds," of course, but also to anyone who would be interested in sharing in the story of a brave man from our country's aptly titled "greatest generation."

"Left Behind: The Bible Studies" is a series of companion Bible study workbooks designed to be used with the appropriate book of the "Left Behind" series. This particular one is designed to be used with "The Antichrist". It contains sections on topics like how to get the most from your study, how to lead a group study, how to study Bible prophecy, and an overview of end times including appropriate Bible verses. These all come before the main portion of the book where the reader is presented various questions designed to help them understand the various facets of the lesson.

Each lesson is laid out pretty much the same way. The first questions make the reader examine their current understanding of the end time. After that there is a quoted section from the Left Behind book appropriate to the lesson, then appropriate Bible verses and finally, even more questions to help the reader understand the lesson on a deeper level. These Bible studies take a definite millennialism point of view with a pre-millennial rapture. If you liked the "Left Behind" book this takes it to the next level by supplying the Biblical basis and is a highly recommended read.

A very "readable" book which covers every medium used for film and television: From the differences , advantages and disadvantages in the various equipment that is available. Covering titles such as film, video, light, sound, filters, underwater and others. Written by a man who has made his mark in the industry, the book taught me, informed me or put into words what I already did but couldn't explain. As a video assistant, and now as a cameraman in news, I am better. All the knowledge you need is in the book, how you use it is a matter of taste.