X Books

I'm a student and this textbook was assigned for my intro to literature class. I was surprised by how much I actually ENJOYED this textbook! There is a lot of good writing in it, some great examples of literature, which made for interesting class discussions. I even found myself reading a lot of the passages that weren't assigned, just out of curiousity, and most of them were really quite enjoyable.

Overpriced like most textbooks but probably the only introductory literature anthology since Benjamin LaMott's "Close Imagining" (McGraw Hill) that I'd use a second time. It's compact yet very generous and representative. For example, you can pair "Young Goodman Brown" with "A Good Man Is Hard to Find" or "A Rose for Emily" with "Barn Burning" or "A & P" with "Araby." Most of the frequently taught poems are here, and there are more plays--from Sophocles to Arthur Miller--than would ever fit into a single-semester course. And the Appendices are priceless--more useful information than is found in popular writing Handbooks along with exemplary student essays (a particularly handy feature).

I've previously used the big Kennedy and Gioia Intro text. Not only did the binding begin to fall apart on me mid-way though the semester but the amount of material--most of it never assigned--simply added to the guilt any instructor who emphasizes close reading of individual texts is bound to feel. Also, any introductory literature course that even purports to be representative must include some examples of the most important modern genre of all--the novel. Add "Great Expectations" and "The Great Gatsby" to the course and you'll see why the shorter, more compact anthology is the only one to consider. In fact, I might even settle for a "back pocket" version.

(My experiences with the complementary (but not really "complimentary") internet site--which my students never seemed to be able to access--would suggest that it would best be ignored. Go for the DVD or a price break instead.)

Here it is, October, and my children are begging me to read from "The Beasts of Bethlehem". Even though the poems don't follow a typical children's poem meter, they love it just the same. They enjoy picking out their "favorite" animals and having me read that animal's poem. Wonderful book!!

Enthralling poems for young and old. You are touched, amused, startled, and may be moved to tears at the musings of the beasts who witness the birth of the Babe.

This book is a wonderful reference, especially when preparing reports for submission at the university I attended. It provides all the details for the various reporting styles and formats which I found very useful. Even though I am no longer a student, I still refer to this book for writing letters, etc.

This book is a great resource from Grammar. It outlines it in an easy to follow fashion. I would suggest having your own copy of it in order to take notes and study the really important areas. Other parts of the book are very helpful with writing. Please E-mail me if you know of any other great grammar books.

My 3.5 yr old son loves this book. It tells a condensed version of the Finding Nemo story, and his favorite part is the last page where "Nemo loves his dad and his dad loves him." My son gives me (his dad) a special hug.

Our son, age 4.5, loves reading this book. He feels like he's reading a real big boy book! Most of the words are basic, but there are enough words to tell a real story (based on the movie, of course). Many "Level 1 Readers" are really dull for adults and kids quickly outgrow them. This book's engaging pictures and plot keep us reaching for it over and over.

I was first exposed to the Logos family of products in college where we had access to it through the campus network. Upon leaving college, that was one of the things I missed the most. Now that I'm out and working in a church, this was one of the things that was top on my list to buy (well, the big boy edition was really on my list, but we have to face the reality of an intern's budget).

First off, it needs to be said that Series 3 has just been released. They're selling it fresh off of Logos' site right now. At pretty much the same price (at least at this moment). It's a leap above this, but this is actually quite good, too. There is also the chance they might upgrade you (I bought mine 2 weeks before Series 3 was release and was able to jump up for $5. Not too bad), but I wouldn't risk it. Anyways, back to the review.

This is, probably, all the library any small group leader or youth/childrens/associate pastor could ever hope to need. Seriously, it is. If you have any questions, my biggest reccomendation is to go to Logos' site and compare the different editions. You'll pick up more and more as you spend more and more, but for most people the cost/benefit intersection will be right here. And if you're looking at a set and thinking that it might be worth it for just one or two resources (like a commentary set or some original language tools), check out how much they would cost to add that to your lower priced set. If you use your head here you could save yourself a bunch of money in the end by not buying things you don't need. And money saved will equal more books later, which is what we're all looking for, right? However, if it would cost you almost as much to add that one resource as it would to jump up to the next set that contains that resource, then look at what else you're getting for the price and use your own judgement.

Once you've selected your edition of choice, then you're going to very quickly notice that most of the work in research is done for you. If you've ever spent an afternoon doing word studies one by one by looking up each word in Strongs, and then looking up the number in the concordance, consider those days a forgotten memory. Logos has the power to do that for you. In several translations (NASB and ESV both have Strongs numbers linked to their words, not just the good old KJV). So instead of the work of an afternoon, you can get it done in a matter of minutes. Or seconds if you ask Logos to do it for you. It will pick the big words (usually either the longest or the most repeated or the most significant. I haven't quite figured out how it does that yet) and give you a report based on the Strongs or one of several other concordances/lexicons you have installed. While not entirely reliable and exhaustive, this will provide an amazing head start to the study.

And that's just the word study tools. There are passage study tools that will link all the commentaries and outlines to the passage you want to study. This puts everything you could want to see from your collections right where you can get to it quickly. No more shuffling around, looking through stacks of books. Just a nice table of links that open up books right where you need them to be.

The topic browser is also a thing of beauty. Just type in a topic like "marriage" and you're greeted with passages, commentaries, books and sermons (whatever you've got loaded!) that talk about marriage. And when you click on the link, it opens right to that page. The system even allows you to switch back and forth between resources quickly and easily with keyboard shortcuts.

Also, for those of you who enjoy studying passages in different versions, Logos couldn't make it easier. When you're reading in one version, clicking on any other version automatically opens that Bible to the same passage you're looking at. If this wasn't enough, this set also includes tools that will help you compare versions side by side (really helpful if you're studying a tricky passage or disscussing the difference in translations). You can pretty much select as many versions to compare as you can fit on the screen.

Logos also allows you to take notes and highlight just like you would any paper Bible. The difference is that you'll never tear those little pages with a too-sharp pen or pencil and the margins will never get full. Bonus. Also included are a prayer list manager (I haven't really used this. Still on note cards for some things, I guess), a "hymnal" consisting of about 100 badly rendered MIDI songs (you'd be better served to find a high schooler that's been taking piano lessons. Trust me.), and one more feature that makes it even more valuable...

The Unlocker. Even after you've purchased this item, you can add to it. Located on the main toolbar is a little "Unlock Resources" button that will let you, well, unlock more resources. Logos offers special discounts for people looking to upgrade thier product to something a little more special. Those commentaries and language tools might be cheaper on the other side of purchase. Not a promise, and don't expect them to be. Also, upgrades to other editions (like Bible Study to Scholar's) are a little cheaper. Just throwing out some numbers, if Scholar's cost $1000 and Bible Study costs $250, then the upgrade might be $800. That means you'd be paying $50 more, but also that you didn't spend that last $800 until you knew you needed to.

There are only a few cautions I'd throw out there. First off, this program tends to call home a bit. Not a big deal and I don't feel like it's invading my privacy or anything, but I'd be wary of how I install this if I were in a sensitive area. Secondly, it does require a fair bit of processor to operate. Pay close attention to the minimum requirements, and then plan on exceeding them. You'll need all the help you can get (this is especially true for Series 3).

All in all, this is probably the best software out there and this is probably the best packaging of it for most people. Logos really knows what they're doing and I look forward to getting deeper and deeper into this program and, by default, the Word. But before you buy, please do check out Logos.com, it might end up saving you in the end.

This is the best Bible Study Software - Bar None.

Type in a bible reference and hit 'Go!' and you are greeted with the text in one window, and a exhaustive list of references and commentary in another.

Logos has put a lot of effort into this software, and is continually improving on a wonderful product.

I bought this and A bit of Applause for Santa Claus as a gift exchange with my book club. This really got everyone (all women) laughing...

I bought this book for my mother and my sister. When we were children, my mother always read "Twas the Night Before Christmas" to us on Christmas Eve. This book mimics the rhyme and theme of the poem, but replaces the text with fun rhymes that acknowledges the hard work that Mrs Claus puts into Christmas (as Moms know, Santa's efforts are nothing without his wife's support!). I loved the illustrations, they are whimsical and colorful. I even purchased a matching ornament for my mother and she is just thrilled with it! I just purchased another copy for a friend of mine for next year!

Black, White & Easy is a must read.

It is timely and entertaining. It is smart, concise and an inspiration to those seeking a new perspective on how to handle life's challenges. It also reinforces the positive relationships that men of diverse backgrounds can have with one another. It reminds us that we should revere and protect our families and friends. Within all of that, the book cleverly reshapes the definitions of the words (and worlds of) Black and White.

Darryl X McKenzie's Black, White & Easy is a must read. Kudos to Mr. McKenzie for penning such a brilliant book. His words will have people talking!

A MUST READ!!!

I have never read anything that was so realistic and yet so humorous. Darryl X McKenzie definately has the talent to make us see ourselves for who we really are. The main character, Easy, will remind all readers of someone they know (though they may not want to admit it).

The book was a joy to read. It is a must read for anyone who is willing to look and laugh at life in a way other than what society mandates.

As a Black male, I truly appreciate this book that says what I have only been thinking throughout my life.

I can't wait to see what the author publishes next!

If you do not already know who Bob and Ray were, I would be hard-put to sum them up briefly. They were a brilliant comedy team who came of age in the golden age of radio and whose sketches endlessly satirized radio braodcasting itself. They created a large cast of comic characters, stretching their pliable voices a million different ways. Their humor was subtle and refined - they were two of the greatest deadpan comics of all time.

Bob and Ray's main medium was radio - they were shy men who did not generally work well on stage or TV. But they did do two stage shows - the first was a Broadway show in the 1970's called "The Two and Only", and the second was in the 1980's and was called "A Night of Two Stars". I recommend this recording only to those who already know and love Bob and Ray. It is not a good introduction to Bob and Ray's work as a whole. Some of the sketches are not very well chosen, in my opinion. But Carnegie Hall is here packed with Bob and Ray fans - people who grew up on this wonderful duo - and the atmosphere is infectious. Bob and Ray bring out some of their classic characters, and the audience cheers them on as if they were old friends. What a wonderful way to end their remarkably long career (Bob and Ray did comedy together from 1946 to Ray's death in 1990). What a wonderful farewell to these remarkable gentlemen of comedy. Also be sure to get CLASSIC BOB AND RAY, BOB AND RAY: THE LOST EPISODES, (both of which show B & R in their prime) and the award-winning BEST OF BOB AND RAY (from their public radio show in the 1980's)

If you do not already know who Bob and Ray were, I would be hard-put to sum them up briefly. They were a brilliant comedy team who came of age in the golden age of radio and whose sketches endlessly satirized radio braodcasting itself. They created a large cast of comic characters, stretching their pliable voices a million different ways. Their humor was subtle and refined - they were two of the greatest deadpan comics of all time.

Bob and Ray's main medium was radio - they were shy men who did not generally work well on stage or TV. But they did do two stage shows, one of which was "A Night of Two Stars" from the 1980's (the twilight of their career). I recommend this recording only to those who already know and love Bob and Ray. It is not a good introduction to Bob and Ray's work as a whole; some of the sketches are not very well chosen, in my opinion. But die-hard Bob and Ray devotees will love this. Carnegie Hall is packed with Bob and Ray fans - people who grew up on this wonderful duo - and the atmosphere is infectious. Bob and Ray bring out some of their classic characters, and the audience cheers them on as if they were old friends. What a wonderful way to end their remarkably long career (Bob and Ray did comedy together from 1946 untill Ray's death in 1990). What a wonderful farewell to these remarkable gentlemen of comedy. And best of all, we get the wonderful Al Hirschfeld caricature on the cover! Also be sure to get CLASSIC BOB AND RAY, BOB AND RAY: THE LOST EPISODES, (both of which show B & R in their prime) and the award-winning BEST OF BOB AND RAY (from their public radio show in the 1980's).

Through the storyline David manages to make us notice the wonder of the world and universe around us and then he does the really clever piece. He creates a compelling case that all of us as individuals can shape our own lives and in so doing actually contribute to the shape of the world around us and through that the universe. This book will give hope and energy to everyone who feels that they are stuck or that their life should amount to more.

As the old saying goes "I Once Was Blind, But Now I See" is probably the most fitting for "Bonfire Lessons" by David Ruuskanen. It certainly has opened my eyes to a whole new world of possibilities. Simply, "Bonfire Lessons" has given me the tools to tap into my full potential. If one only reads one more book in their life, then "Bonfire Lessons" by David Ruuskanen is the book to read. Get ready for an energetic ride!

This collection of poetic parody, written by dozens of authors and edited by William Zaranka, is one of my most treasured books. I return to it time and again for inspiration and amusement, often chuckling out loud at the brilliant writing Zaranka has assembled. I deeply regret not purchasing a dozen copies or more to share with friends before it went out of print.

This is a masterpiece, from the Foreplay tot the Prosodomy. A voluminous work, it includes everybody from Chaucer to Russell Edson. Aldous Huxley observed that parodies and caricatures are the most penetrating of criticisms. Among those that try their own gifted hands at their famous predecessors' work are John Keats (Edmund Spenser), Lewis Carroll (Wordsworth, Longfellow and Tennyson), Cyril Connolly (Aldous Huxley) and John Updike (Jack Kerouac). A few of my favorites are "Anne Sexton's" From The Brothers Grimm to Sister Sexton to Mother Goose: One Transmogrification, by David Cummings, in which a spider comes to warn Miss Muffet against her un-American health food breakfast; "Sylvia Plath's" Ragout, by William Zaranka himself, and "Allen Ginsberg's" Squeal, by Louis Simpson:
"... They came here to L.A.,
Flexing their members, growing hair,
Planning immense unlimited poems,
More novels, more poems, more autobiographies."
But that's merely scratching the surface. This unique anthology is best digested over a couple of weeks or months, and never fails to yield more gems. Brand X Poetry is a treasure trove of humor, a book that one returns to again and again. The index of first lines, titles and authors comes in handy of course.