Authors Books

This is a beautifully written book. I admire the careful descriptions the author gives of her characters. Neil, a widowed artist, comes back to a small town in Ohio after many years away. As you read, you'll find how an old tragedy still affects the characters.
The characters are not saintly by all means and are flawed. For example, Mary never really loved her dificult mother etc. This book doesn't give perfect solutions but gives a feeling of hope.
I enjoy the description of a large family network. The author understands the pull of a strong family connection.
I hope to read more of Ann Tatlock's books soon.

After the death of his wife, art teacher Neil Sadler returns to his hometown of Mason, Ohio, for a summer of rest and healing. The pace is quite different from New York City, and boyhood memories collide with familiar faces: his cousin Grace, in the process of turning the ancestral home into a bed and breakfast; Uncle Bernie, the retired Episcopal priest whose gracious words of wisdom contrast with his silence on confidential matters; and Mary, the distant cousin whose childhood friendship could have blossomed into more.

The latter's presence brings the most surprise and conflict to Neil's life. Mary's father, Cal, was like a second father to Neil and the one person who encouraged his art. Then came the murder, shattering Neil's idealism and Mary's life. New York became Neil's home for the next two dozen years. Mary got married and moved away.

Now Mary's back in Mason. Her husband, a policeman under investigation for killing in alleged self-defense, spends his days drinking to forget. Mary's friend Peg suggests that now is her time to move on, find the happiness she missed with Neil.

But the mystery of the summer of `77 remains. Mary's invalid mother was murdered, and her father, Neil's supportive Uncle Cal, was arrested for the crime - and pled guilty.

This book is a slow weaving of past and present, as old secrets come to life and new truths are found. Poignant description reflects the complex character emotions. If you're looking for fast-paced action and adventure in a quick read you'll soon forget, don't choose this novel. If, however, you want rich characters you can savor getting to know, Tatlock's book is well worth your time. - Katie Hart, Christian Book Previews.com

Things We Held Dear by Ann Tatlock is a rare gem of a Christian novel. Neil Sadler returns home to Mason, Ohio after the sudden death of his wife Caroline feeling like he has unfinished business in the town he abandoned almost thirty years ago. He returns to find Mary, the once love of his life, in trouble. Can he rescue her this time instead of abandoning her the way he did so long ago? This book is so full of the little details about life in a small rural town, it's obvious that Tatlock loves and respects the people there. There are no stereotypes here, just people with their flaws and strengths. One of the things that I loved best about this book is that that Christian characters didn't walk around proselytizing the way Christians often do in books. People, at least the ones I know, don't really talk that way. Tatlock's strongest Christian character Uncle Bernie uses St Francis' motto about the faith "Preach the Gospel at all times, if necessary, use words." When Neil does find faith, it happens naturally and doesn't completely change the character, it just gives him more depth. The renovations on the house are a nice metaphor for the changes going on within Neil and the Sadler family itself. Oh, and I did I mention that with all this great detail, plot, and characters, Tatlock also manages to get in a murder mystery? And she handles it deftly. Kudos to Tatlock on a beautiful piece of fiction!

Ann Tatlock can't get any better, or at least I don't see how! Looking for characters that invite you to walk in their skin? Need a setting that surrounds you? Tatlock laces the pages with secrets waiting to be uncovered. Will life go on for Neil Sadler and Mary Beeken? Don't plan on putting this one down. Things We Once Held Dear--a reader's delight from the writer's writer.

THINGS WE ONCE HELD DEAR by Ann Tatlock
March 6, 2006

Rating: 5 Stars

Ann Tatlock's THINGS WE ONCE HELD DEAR will be on my list of to books for 2006. While on some levels it works as a Christian-themed story, it works on many other levels, and for someone like me that is anything but Christian, this was a novel that held my attention and captivated me. It's a poignant story about a man who returns home after having been away for many years, to face the demons that sent him away in the first place. But he's also running away (again) from yet another tragedy, that of the death of his wife Caroline.

Neil Sadler is that man that left home when a terrible tragedy struck his family. This tragedy is at the heart of the book, and it is slowly revealed through flashbacks and reminiscences by Neil and other family members. It's a complex story, because not only did it impact Neil in a great way, but also it changed the course of his life. If this incident had not happened, would he have remained in his own town and married the girl that he was in love with all those years ago?

This is a book about nostalgia, about family tragedies, and about forgiveness. On another level it could be about faith in family and in a higher power. But the bottom line is, it's a great novel that will appeal to a wide range of readers. I highly recommend THINGS WE ONCE HELD DEAR.

In Xavier Benoit's story, TO PLAY OR NOT TO PLAY, readers embark on a journey of one man's self-discovery as he juggles his career, romantic relationship and the temptations he faces. Malik Standish is a sports journalist about to start a new job assignment which will enable him to secure stability in his relationship with Angel Mychals so they can begin to plan their future together. This new position has him trotting all over the United States following basketball great, James Dollar in his farewell tour before his retirement. Not only does Malik get to travel with the team, he gets to experience the perks of ball players such as fine dining, great parties and lots of women. Not heeding the timely advice of James Dollar, Malik gets caught up in situations that jeopardize his job, his relationship with Angel and even his life.

Angel loves Malik, but the betrayal by her first love two years prior has left her insecure and distrustful. In Malik she has found a man who is charming, handsome and also adheres to her religious convictions of abstinence. However with Malik's new job opportunity, Angel's fears threaten to destroy their relationship and it doesn't help that her first love returns and has her questioning whether she is really over him. Angel must decide whether she wants to continue to push away the man who has stolen her heart or overcome her insecurities.

This novel skirts the edges of Christian fiction because there are inspirational passages used as well as spiritual realizations that occur for the characters. However, the author ensures the characters actions are true to the situations. The author tells the story from the viewpoint of the main characters alternating chapters in doing so. This should enable readers to relate, empathize and really connect with the individual characters, but this unfortunately does not happen. Instead of the characters jumping off the pages, they are one-dimensional and lack enough depth to garner a more emotional attachment. For example, at the most trying time in the relationship for Angel, readers don't get to struggle emotionally through her turmoil instead there is a paragraph of her not going to work and sleeping. Although this novel has a good storyline it lacked fluidity. It seemed to jump around instead of having a natural flow that led to its climatic conclusion. This was due in part to the several subplots involving some of the minor characters. Although the main characters are not perfect, Malik as well as Angel must learn from their mistakes and hold true to their faith in order to love and live a better life. The story is generally engaging, it just needs the skilled hand of an editor to polish its flow and give real conflict and feelings to the characters.

Reviewed by Cashana Seals
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers

I am very impressed by the arrangement of this book. Not only does this book inspire me...it blessed me with ability to relate to certain situations in the story...and then bringing everything back to the Word...I will read this book again and again...I will definitely continue to advise all race of life to enjoy a wonderful book and I look forward to Xavier's next book.

Very proud of you

This is an amazing book. It captivates you and stimulates your imagination. It has been a very long time since I have picked up a book that I did not want to put down. I could not wait to share this novel with others. Kudos to you Xavier, a job very well done.

I've read this book twice and Im still finding new laughter in each chapter.Its an easy read and it holds your attention from cover to cover.

I loved Xavier's first novel. It was everything that I could have asked for in a book. It was truely a delight for me to read and I am looking forward to seeing much more from this author.

The best small book ever. I want more copies. How come there arent any available? This title should have had broader distribution.

I was recently given this book as a gift, and it's just an incredible read. It's already a favorite, and I'm buying copies for friends as well. Gritty, yes, but realistic and sincere and a hard, long look at some facets of some lives that most of us aren't exposed to. Very touching, very witty and funny, and almost shockingly open and honest. Can't recommend this book highly enough. Get a copy now!!!

Tom Woolley is, without a doubt, one of the freshest, most invigorating new voices in American literature. His narrative is a smooth combination of gut-punch realism and jaded camp. His stories are refreshingly original and dripping with intelligent humor. I can't wait for his next book. I will be haunting my local bookstore until its arrival. Bravo, Tom Woolley.

Toilet is an explicit walk on the wild side. It is raw, but real. Tom Woolley is a writer who writes with his heart and feelings. It gave me a perspective of my own feelings dealing with my past, present and future. Toilet is fabulous!

This book was so amazing, I read it three times in one day. Woolley's perspectives on life, love, friendship, dating, & happiness are insightful, touching, & original. The chapter entitled "You Sure Are Pretty For a Faggot" is perhaps the most honest account of human dating that I'd ever encountered. I doubt I will come across a book that speaks so truthfully (and so eloquently as well) for a long, long time to come.

I had this collection of short stories thrust on me by one of my favorite ex-students when I was complaining that "there was nothing new good to read". She told me to stop whining & give it a try & I am VERY glad that she did. From the funny-but-heart-wrenching title piece to the wonderful portrait of Darwin in heaven (he is doing just fine until he is joined by a totally Tiggerish Richard Feynman!) Whitty never misses a beat. I read the whole book in one sitting & am waiting for more with some impatience. These are short stories for Thinking People who still have a sense of humor!

wow! I loved this book. Julia Whitty is an artist. She paints these lush, passionate, mysterious gems. I found her weaving of nature, characters and story telling so compelling I couldn't put it down until the end----and even then I didn't want the spell to be broken. She is so orginial and so touching. Please, somebody tell me she has another book coming out soon.

wow! I loved this book. Julia Whitty is an artist. She paints these lush, passionate, mysterious gems. I found her weaving of nature and chacters and story telling so compelling. I couldn't put it down until the end and even then I didn't want the spell to be broken. She is so orginial and so touching. Please, somebody tell me she has another book coming out soon!

I read novels and non-fiction, I don't like short stories and rarely read them. Well . . . that was true untill I picked up Julia Whitty's short story collection, A Tortoise for the Queen of Tonga. What caught my eye was the title (being a tortoise lover all my life) but what captured my intrest and kept me reading was Whitty's unusual weave of people, animals and beautifully rendered scenes of exotic places. Whether viewing ice age art in a French cave with The Story of the Deep Dark or under the Antartic ice cap with Jimmy Under Water, I was so completely involved with the stories that I didn't want them to end. These ten stories with Whitty's unique outlook on life and nature have captured my heart and introduced me to fantastic short story writing. I look forward to her next collection and hopefully a novel soon.

A Tortoise for the Queen of Tonga is that rarest of birds: a first collection of short stories that educates as well as entertains. Whitty's extensive familiarity with the natural world make each one of these stories sprout from the page and root in the mind like well-tended plants. From Antartica to Africa to Tonga Whitty carefully guides us through subtle dramas where flora, fauna, and homosapiens try to co-exist in a world that is both sad and almost unbearably hopeful. A wondrous find.

I have listened to these over and over and get more out of them each time. Neil Gaiman is a brilliant writer and the actors in these audio plays are incredible. This is art of the highest order.

I'm a fan...Neil's worst works still qualify as excellent in my mind, and these are some of his best. I read these stories when they were published 10 years ago in a small distribution book called Angels and Visitations. Then I saw them reprinted again in another book some years later.

The two plays in this package provided my wife and I the best entertainment we were going to get while being stuck in 8 hours of traffic. Finally I got my wife to pay attention to Neil's stuff (she refused to read Sandman)and she dug it.

If you like books on tape, this is better. If you like reading Neil's work, you'll like it even better this way.

Neil, if you're reading this...can we have some more of these?

Two very disturbing stories from Neil Gaiman, this was a duet of short plays adapted for "Seeing Ear Theatre" and read by Bebe Neuwirth ("Snow Glass Apples") and Brian Dennehy ("Murder Mystery.")

"Snow Glass Apples" was a re-telling of Snow White with a ghastly vampiric twist, and from the voice of the Queen, who is anything but the Disnified villainess we've come to know and loathe. Snow White is herself a disturbing figure, and all in all, this was a very enjoyable re-telling of a classic, if a tad gruesome in its telling and conclusion.

"Murder Mystery" I found quite wonderful - it is a tale that includes the investigation of the first murder ever - an angel has been killed, and another angel is called to investigate. The B-plot story, however, just plain didn't make sense.

If I had to break them into two parts, "Snow Glass Apples" would get a '5' and "Murder Mystery" would get a '3.' Hence the '4.'

'Nathan

I'm a fan...Neil's worst works still qualify as excellent in my mind, and these are some of his best. I read these stories when they were published 10 years ago in a small distribution book called Angels and Visitations. Then I saw them reprinted again in another book some years later.

The two plays in this package provided my wife and I the best entertainment we were going to get while being stuck in 8 hours of traffic. Finally I got my wife to pay attention to Neil's stuff (she refused to read Sandman)and she dug it.

If you like books on tape, this is better. If you like reading Neil's work, you'll like it even better this way.

Neil, if you're reading this...can we have some more of these?

Two Plays For Voices is part of the Seeing Ear Theatre Productions from the Sci-Fi Channel. More television stations should follow their lead. These two stories told in the form of radio plays are terrific! I am a big fan of Neil Gaiman and this format brings two incredible stories to life.

Murder Mysteries is expertly presented and the twist at the end is a surprise to say the least.

Snow Glass Apples is a shivery fairy tale which cuts to the core of good vs. evil and that some things aren't always what they seem.

I bought this book on a whim after a fellow contemporary poet recommended "Bowlers Anonymous" and I can honestly say that Dobyns' "Velocities" ranks as one of my all time favorite books! His poems are wildly creative, wholly original, and taut with fierce imagery. They are also "accessible" while still being intellectually sharp.

What I especially like is how many of his poems--like "To Pull Into Oneself as Into a Locked Room", "Topless", and the before-mentioned "Bowlers Anonymous"--challenge the reader's expectations by elegantly shifting from the profane to the heart-wrenching with their startlingly tender treatments of their very human, very fallible characters.

I just began teaching this book in my college creative writing class and my students are really getting into it! In my opinion, Dobyns is one of the very best contemporary American poets--a man of sharp intellect, great heart, and inspiring wit. As cheesy as this sounds, he is one of those rare authors who makes me want to be a better writer!

I stumbled across Stephen Dobyns on the internet and was blown away by his poem "How to Like it." On a whim, I bought this big volume of his poetry and found it amazing from start to finish. Dobyns is as approachable and funny as any other poet I've ever read, and yet you always leave his poems with something bigger than you might have expected.

The works these selections are drawn from are out of print. That is a terrible shame, because this collection is stellar. The poems are infused with wisdom, wit, and life. If this were a just world, Dobyns would be heralded as a genius.

What?!? Five reviews on the best, most accesible, neither over-brainy nor dumbed-down poetry being written in America?!? What's that about? No. Really. My first Dobyns was "How to Like It." I've read it aloud in several poetry readings since then. The audience always has my reaction: brainy, funny, classical subject, modern angle -- great poem! Since then, I've found the occasional Dobyns poem in anthologies, or heard others read him and put a big mental red-check by his name. I even was in the audience at an open mike once with the sole intention of listening, and was handed a Dobyns poem and told it was imperative that I read it. As a poet, this is what I want to be; like navigating by the North Star, I'm fairly positive I'll never get there. If you read poetry, you should be reading Dobyns. Start with the poems from his book, Cemetery Nights. From there, your poetry-reading life is pretty well planned out (as is that library you're taking with you to that deserted island).

Stephen Dobyns is one of my favorite living poets - an eclectic bunch including Dunn, Olds, Ai, Kenney and Lux. This book was the one that introduced me to his work and it is absolutely the best place for you to do the same; all the more so since he just has released the dreadfully lightweight "Porcupine Kisses." Once I decided to write a one-star review of that book, I felt it only proper to post this 5-star counterpoint first. This book is a great place to experience the range and power of his work.

Poetry is so darn hard to review. At its best it lodges in and lights up neuronal nooks and crannies that were invisibly personal but become, somehow, unexpectedly universal. Very mysterious.

Dobyns manages to capture that 'universality' in his poetry in a manner that repeatedly surprises. Lots of poetry achieves this by rooting itself in the well-known. Dobyns takes a contrary tack. The poetry in this book often seems to concern people or places that you'd hardly expect to have the slightest interest in - certainly not at the level of seemingly narrow focus that he brings to his view of the world. Would you seek out depictions of street scenes in Santiago? on the work of the artist Balthus? the last breaths of a bull in the ring? The very different-ness of these points of view and odd scenarios accentuates the twang of recognition in your heartstring when it is plucked.

This poetry has a distinctive feel to it - gritty and detailed, but languorous in pace. It is an unusual sort of languor, though. It isn't landscaped pastoral; on the contrary the poetry is vigorously 'peopled.' It isn't sleepy, either, a sense of time and movement pervades; but the sense of motion is often an orbital one. Time seems to win, either through timelessness or a seemingly inevitable cycling - recidivists, returning to serve their life sentences.

I'd encourage you to read the "look inside" pages posted here on Amazon to get a flavor of this (although none of the four poems included are among my favorites). The one is not a poem about a street scene in Santiago - it's 'about' the six garbagemen, the chocolate cake, the two matrons and the black dog- and somehow it's about how we all stagger through our days; how pleasures leak into them through unexpected fissures.

Others have commented that Dobyns poetry has a "masculine" feel to it and I will, guardedly, agree - although I can't quite put my finger on the "how" of that bit. It is visceral poetry, for sure, (sometimes literally so as when the body's organs are given voice in selections from "Body Traffic") and it celebrates lusts as much as loss - even the losses that are sown by the lust. Although dark and broody at times, it also relishes the small triumphs against the relentless press of our inadequacies. If its "men's poetry", its certainly not a youth's voice. But it grazes up against the "why" of facing another day, even the why of being a jerk, a fool, a recidivist, with an oddly under-emotional shrug that might seem essentially masculine.

As a collection of poems from seven or eight prior books, "Velocities" swings through a variety of poetic forms and tones. It is a comprehensive representation of the best work of a major American poet.

Villa Fair is a wonderful collection of stories that have common universal themes integrated in a multicultural context. The themes of love, identity, tradition versus modern beliefs are woven well in stories such as Ackee Night in Canada, Segovia's Stories and Driving Through Red Lights. These three stories had characters of mixed heritage. Thus it was quite interesting to read how these themes were developed from a different cultural perspective. These stories were even more interesting because the endings were unpredictable, yet believable. Ms. Dyer writes very well. Her poetic and lyrical style engrossed me in her stories. I enjoyed the stories immensely and look forward to reading more from her.

Jamaica and Canada are the backdrop of the thirteen short stories contained in author Bernadette Dyer's "Villa Fair." The characters in the book are of various ethnic backgrounds and classes.

Of the thirteen stories in the book there were two that stood out in my opinion. These two stories are entitled "Driving Through Red Lights" and "Roberta on the Beach."

"Driving Through Red Lights is about Kamla, the child of Hindu Indians who have immigrated to Canada. Kamla was born and raised in Canada therefore she know more of the western culture than she does of her Hindu heritage. This is something that causes her parents great stress. Tradition states that women should marry fairly young, so at twenty-three Kamla is considered an embarassment and disappointment to her family. Tradition also states that the marriage must be arranged.

One day Kamla's aunt Rashna comes to visit from Bombay, India and she announces that she has found someone to marry Kamla. Kamla's husband-to-be, a future doctor, is named Lachman Ramsingh. He will come to Canada in two months to claim his bride and take her back to India. She does not want any of this, she wants to marry for love and live in Canada. The many twists, turns, and emotions make this a very enjoyable and touching story. As a reader I felt drawn into the story.

"Roberta on the Beach" is the story of the Douglas family, a poor working class family from Montego Bay, Jamaica. They are a family of ten, with eight children: Slim, Caleb, Sheila, Georgina, Elaine, Lorraine, Maggie, and Roberta. Roberta is the oldest girl in the family. When she turns eighteen and graduates from high school Roberta is contemplating her future, when fate intervenes. Roberta's aunt Melanie, who is her mother's sister, has written a letter advising her sister that she would like to provide a college education for one of her children. Roberta's parents quickly decide to give Roberta the opportunity of a lifetime. Little do they know that this decision will alter the course of their family forever. "Roberta on the Beach" is a good lesson in family and the strength that families must have to survive.

"Villa Fair" was a good read. The stories were good but not great. "Driving Through Red Lights" and "Roberta on the Beach" were excellent and if these two stories were complete books I would definitely read them. On the RAW scale this book is a 3.5.

Reviewed by Simone A. Hawks

This sometimes whimsical, sometimes mystical, sometimes nostalgic, and always poignant collection of short stories, is definately more than "fair". Bernadette Dyer skillfully navigates the immigrant experience, which is the common thread that weaves it's way through this great collection. It's colourful characters grab hold of your heart, and leave you wanting more. My personal favorites are "Driving Through Red Lights", and "Remebering Serge". Ms. Dyers voice is obviously steeped in memory, passion, and a rich and diverse family history, which act as jumping off points for her vivid imaginings, which she shares with us in brilliant detail. A definate must read for short story lovers.

Great book. The author took me through an adventurous travel too several different countries and cultures. One moment I felt I was on the beach with Roberta and the next I could see myself sitting on the porch at Villa Fair looking over the land. My favorites were Villa Fair and Blue Door. The author causes you to become emotional for these characters, so much so, it makes you want to reach out to them. The only reason I did not give this 5 stars is because I wanted more in the Blue Door and Villa Fair. I loved this book and have gotten similar responses from my book club following our review. We are looking foward to future publications from Ms. Dyer.

From the Library in Toronto where she works to the neighborhood in which she lives, Bernadette Dyer sees much go by representing Toronto's multicultural panoply. This clearly inspires many of the takes in "Villa Fair," her collection of short stories. Other tales in the book are the germinated seeds of her own multiracial, multiethnic Jamaican and Portuguese Jewish ancestry. The people in her stories mirror her own ancestors --emigrés from somewhere else, establishing roots in new lands, living through generational conflict fueled by the meeting of old with new, yet influencing the host country and/or culture which is richer for it, and will never be the same. For example, there's Kamla, the twenty-three-year-old Indian-Canadian narrator of "Driving Through Red Lights," in love with a young Canadian man, while promised to an arranged marriage with someone from India. A surprise ending has Kamla's parents and aunt facing cultural change on two continents. In "Segovia Nights," Carlos Fernandez captivates his listeners with legends, reinvented stories about a mythical family and past. The tall tales are indicative, however, of a far deeper problem. One senses that the author and librarian in the story are one. Jomo, from "An African Out in the Cold," is lost, then found again while visiting Toronto, as, unknown to him, his host has suffered a heart attack. His isolation and cultural shock are palpable. Then there are tales coming from the richness of the author's Jamaican memories. The story "Man Man" dances back and forth from spirit world to "reality," as the ghost of a drowned seven-year-old boy moves comfortably among the local people of a plantation, until a new anglo mistress comes to stay. Another from the Jamaican collection, "Ackee Night," show how a much aggrieved woman, whose man has threatened idly to leave for years, calls on a Jamaican culinary secret to keep him permanently from other women -- and herself. The ending takes the reader by surprise. The title story, "Villa Fair," also catches one off guard, yet this reader felt puzzled by its sharp, unredeeming ending. Is Thunder, the chief male character, destroyed as a punishment for straying from his promise? Does the exotic, the magical always win out over the more conventional path? "Leaving Faro," the final tale, is a paean to Dyer's Portuguese Jewish ancestors, who fled to Jamaica to escape persecution. The mythical and the magical touch many of the stories. "Close the Blue Door" tells of mermen who lure their chosen loves to disaster, while in "Six Little Sparrows," the same number of Pakistani children and their mother shape shift into the title. The author's Jamaica and Canada are pulsing, vibrant settings where her characters don't want racial barriers to exist. Her families are strong and loving, evidencing the blurred lines of racial identity. Several of the stories, such as "Man Man" and "Roberta on the Beach," satisfy in their present form, yet would benefit also as longer fictional works, with some of the characters developed further. "An African Out in the Cold" seems a fragment, and one wishes for more. "Villa Fair" is an entertaining collection of well-told tales. We await future works with interest.

(originally reviewed in Halapid, Vol. VIII Issue 2, Spring 2001)

This is an excellent collection. For me, it doesn't quite equal its predecessor, Virgin Fiction, but even so, it's great. The concept of publishing unpublished writers remains compelling, and Virgin Fiction 2 confirms that people nobody ever heard of are out there writing great stuff.

This collection probably contains more solid, great stories than the first book, but also seems to have more of the meandering, obscure kind, and it lacks a brutally magnificent work to equal "the end of the beltline" (Tony Carbone's piece from Virgin Fiction).

"Normalcy", by Kristi Coulter, is the standout in my opinion, with "Sushi" (by Heather Swain) fairly close behind and "The First Old" (by Melanie Conroy-Goldman) next. "Tourist Trap" opens the book with disturbing cynical humor and a hint of political statement. The disturbing part is continued in Michelle Richmond's "Fifth Grade: A Criminal History" and the humor nicely revisited in Michael R. Carleton's "Conversations with a Moose". "Midnight Trash" (by Brian Farnham) is short but very nicely done, and "Family Vacation" (by Lauren Grodstein) is good as well.

The only pieces that offer the refreshing experimentation that made "the end of the beltline" such a landmark in the first collection are "If I Were Lemon Pie" (by Scott Werve) and "Backdated" (by Lisa Johnson). The former is mildly experimental but the story is gripping; the latter is wildly experimental, but the strange structure obfuscates the meaning somewhat.

In the end, I can't help but see this collection as a slight come-down from the first one, but that still leaves it in the highest tier.

Incidentally, Rob Weisbach Books seems to be defunct, and the Virgin Fiction Contest, which was intended to be an annual competition, appears to have disappeared after only the second year. Having seen the amazing work which the first two years produced, I am very disappointed to see this happen, and I hope that the contest will be revived in the future.

It's called Virgin Fiction because the writers collected in it have never been pulished, not because Abby is a dirty girl (no comment). This collection of short stories is excellent... most of them were really, really good. And they were pretty short. To qualify for the contest your story had to be under 7500 words, so that makes it easy to read one or two in between classes or whenever you have a spare moment (definitely appealing to me). I really enjoyed this book... I want to read the first one, but I'm not allowing myself to buy any more books. I have plenty on my "to-read" list here. My favourite of the bunch was probably "Sushi" by Heather Swain, but it's hard to pick a favourite because so many were good.

Virgin Fiction 2 offers a fantastic read for those who enjoy some of the different forms and experiments fiction can assume. Humorously ironic stories like "Conversations with a Moose" and "Tourist Trap" provide an effective contrast with--and context for--the more seriously reflective stories such as "Pretend I've Died" and "Behind Sharp Branches." Very few of the stories in this collection are plot-driven, which is refreshing in my opinion; most pieces focus on careful character development and interaction in which small events can motivate larger character metamorphoses. Skillful examples of this occur in "Family Vacation," "Youthful Offenders," and the most interesting and provocative piece, "Scarecrowed."

If this book is any indication, there is hope for the future of writing in America. Though, like most anthologies, this book is somewhat uneven none of the stories here are throwaways. Picks of the litter include the short and haunting "Midnight Trash," and the brillantly spun, fantasy web of an unhappy housewife in "Alice's Ground." At least half of the storys in this book could easily stand toe to toe with any year of the "O'Henry" collection. No doubt some of these writers will soon enough find there way there. A definite must read for fans of the short story.

It's nice to know that some things don't change. This anthology brings us lots of good, new voices telling us what it's like to maneuver through the weird emotional/intellectual maze here at the turn of the new century. At the same time, there's come good, classic stuff here -- heartache and confusion ... family and loss. I really connected with thsi book. I think "Family Vacation" and "Backdated" are the real stars here, amid several other good gems.

I read this book start to finish in one sitting. Sarah Neufeld created a fascinating setting, convincingly real characters (quite a feat, considering that two of them have the ability to turn invisible at will), and a plot that will keep you guessing until the last satisfying page. A few twists are so unexpected that you will have to read it again. Oh, darn.

It is a wonderful tale for young adults and adults alike. Sarah Neufeld creates characters that you care deeply about, which always keeps the pages turning!

Sarah Neufeld's Visibility is a complex coming of age story. Our hero, Natalie, is the painfully awkward normal child of the Invisible Woman, Jadyn, who is a cruelly controlling absentee mother. Her dad isn't in the picture, so her parental substitute is her bodyguard, Peter, who dreams of working in the comic/graphic novel industry and has secrets of his own. One day Natalie discovers that she has the `gift' of invisibility, too. As any comic reader knows with great power comes great responsibility. How will Natalie use her power? Will she squander it on revenge or get used by the authorities for the greater `good'?

Exploring the darker side of having superpowers has been done before, but perhaps not in this particular way -- through the eyes of the 17-year-old daughter of the worlds only invisible woman.

Natalie knows she's a disappointment. She knows that people, including her own father, hoped she'd be special like her mother. But she turned out to be "normal" -- and that's all anyone needs to know about her. Natalie is shy and socially awkward; two more reasons that it's pointless for anyone to get near her. So, no one does.

Since her parents split years ago and her mother, Jadyn, is busy living her lifestyle of the rich and famous. Natalie is left to her own devices. That might sound exciting, but when you've had a bodyguard watching your every move since you were six, and you're never quite sure when your mother might appear out of thin air, options are limited.

Things turn a bit more interesting, though, when Natalie discovers she just might have a few invisibility tricks up her sleeve after all.

Geared toward 13-17 year old girls and based on graphic novels, the writing in this book is tight and action-packed. The whole time I read the book, it was as though I was viewing it on-screen. Even Natalie's internal thoughts buzzed with excitement as she wove her way through a tangled web of fear and uncertainty.

My favorite character is her bodyguard, Peter. I like the way he gives her a glimpse of a normal life and normal interests, while still encouraging her to face her own reality and make choices about it. He's the one stable influence in her world, so he becomes doubly important when that world turns upside down.

This is a quick, exciting read, and it will entertain anyone with interests in action, reality-based fantasy, mystery, comic books, or just plain good reading. Plus, it just screams, "Sequel!"

Reviewed by: Julie M. Prince

I have always wondered what it would be like to be a superhero, or even just have an amazing power for one day. In Sarah Neufeld's unique illustrated novel, Visibility, I got to live out a superhero fantasy.

Neufeld's main character, Natalie, hooks you from the beginning. Between her mysterious mother and her bodyguard, Natalie's life, on the surface, seems anything but normal. But as we get to know Natalie, we learn how she constantly feels disappointing and awkward, a feeling common to teenagers. Her awkward social skills and inability to make friends make her even more human. Her normalcy is relatable to anyone who ever felt invisible--until Natalie discovers that she can actually become invisible.

Between Neufeld's story and D. Meister's illustrations, I was completely sucked into the story, wondering where Natalie's superpower would take her next. I loved the fact that Natalie is invisible in the illustrations, only catching her shadow or her feet. In that way, Natalie is just as invisible to the readers as she is to everyone else.

It can be hard these days to find a new superhero, but Neufeld has done it. Natalie is not only inspirational to teenagers, but she's a refreshing superhero, relatable to anyone who ever felt invisible.

Hooper's book is no less than a work of a genious. What makes this work so great on the one hand is its scope as it covers chinese literature from its beginings up to the twentieth century, the various genres of literature and poetry that existed along the Chinese history and the fact that it provides excellent introductions to each and every subject it deals with (including historical introductions), and on the other hand, it's greatness lies in the fact that many of the works in it are lesser-known pieces by Hong Kong authors that Hooper discovered. The treatment of Lee Ding Fai is not as good as the rest of the book, but otherwise absolutely recommended.

This is an excellent resource for students/scholars of commonwealth and postcolonial literatures--I recommend it highly.

I liked this book, but I disagreed with the author's view on the functin of chiasmus in Timoth Mo's work. Other than that, first rate.

This is indeed a path-breaking book. Hooper has not only brought together in a most readable, even entertaining, manner a mass of widely different writings and sources; he has also provided us with a persuasive historical framework within which the further study of the hitherto neglected history of Hong Kong literature will be pursued. The book's steady attention to the diversity of Hong Kong literature is one of its striking achievements.

This pioneering volume explores Hong Kong culture and identity through the work of three writers--Timothy Mo, Ding Fai Lee, and Patrick Acheson--in the light of the region's literature as a whole. Sophisticated yet accessible, this book is a unique contribution to ongoing debates about identity and culture in Hong Kong. I found this an excellent introduction to Hong Kong writing from a studied, academic viewpoint, and I highly recommend it for anyone interested in postcolonial literature in the Asian context.