African-American Books

Maya Angelou's book "Phenomenal Woman" is a celebration of women regardless of race, creed, or color. The poems contained between the covers of this small but powerful book articulate the strength and beauty of womanhood. I display the book on my coffee table along with other books. My twelve year old niece read the book and fell in love with it. She has asked me to buy a copy for her.I will buy a copy for her and my other nieces and nephews.

Maya angelou is a jewel. Her poems rich deep inside your spirit. My daughter really enjoys these tapes.

Whether you are tall, thin, heavy, young, old, beautiful, ugly; we are all our own phenomenal woman!!!! Each of us has our own power within ourselves to shine and be our own wonderful person. Maya Angelou's own life, reaches within and brings us to this point with her words.

I heard Oprah recite the title poem at her workshop and had to have it. It is a great little book and would make a nice gift for a 'phenomenal woman'

What a wonderful collection of poems celebrating women. This book of four very soulful, strong, empowering poems has quickly become a favorite. I would recommend this book as a gift for any woman. Or better yet, buy it for yourself - you won't regret it!

One of my favorite quotes came from this book:

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.
Martin Luther King Jr., Strength to Love, 1963
US black civil rights leader & clergyman (1929 - 1968)

Our hero Dr. Martin Luther King, PhD was a pastor, scholar and a master of the English language first, and this core excellence helped empower him to be one of the greatest change agents of the 20th century. In this book we see his heart and mind more than in any other writing; through this book the reader can sit in the pew and benefit from the deep, Godly wisdom of "Pastor King." In terms of precious spiritual insight, Strength to Love is in the top ten books of all time. - Paul de Vries, PhD, NY Divinity School

Martin Luther King Jr. uses very apt exegesis in his Sermon about the Good Samaritan. The greatest commandment is to love God with all your heart, with your Soul and with all your mind. The second is like unto it to love your neighbor as yourself. Sum of the Law and prophets hang on these two commandments. This truth taught by Christ was demonstrated through the telling of the story about the Good Samaritan. Martin Luther King JR's sermon on this story is an excellent analysis what it takes to be a loving neighbor. Dr. King tells how the Samaritan overcame prejudice, fear of physical danger, expenditure of money, along with inconvenience; time and effort.

In the sermon titled: Death of Evil on the Seashore, Dr. King acknowledges the existence of evil in all men's heart. The theme of this sermon is how a Christian should overcome evil acting upon oneself and respond with love. One should overcome evil with good. In this sermon, Dr. King states Jesus never made a theological statement about the origin of evil. He does state man's evil does not come forth out of mistake or misguidance. Man should be held culpable to his evil. Love is truly made manifest when in response to which one knows wishes harm or ill towards. This type of love does not come naturally to any man.

Martin Luther King Jr. was taught in his youth to hold the truths taught in the Bible are inerrant. In the final chapter, Dr. King says he entered seminary as a fundamentalist. In his senior year he introduced himself to various theological theories and critical thought when he read various books. Dr. King says at one time he became enamored and held liberal theological uncritically including the belief that man is generally good. Objective appraisal and critical analysis are terms Dr. King acquaints with liberalism. Dr. King says liberalism taught him to have an open and critical mind. In reading the `works of Richard Niebuhr made me aware of the complexity of human motives and the reality of sin on every level of man's existence.' Pg. 136 I would think Martin Luther King Jr. would have been taught about Total Depravity in his years going to church. Dr. King rejects the concept of God being Holy other: hidden and unknown. Dr. King states the influence Walter Rauschenbusch's book: Christianity and the Social Gospel had on him. Then student King searched other philosophers who were not theologians about how to bring social change. Student King was in despaired until he discovered and learned about how Mahatma Gandhi brought social justice to India through nonviolence and the term Satyagraha. Satya means truth which equals love. Graha means force.

Paul's letter to American Christians is a sermon by Dr. King in which he attempts to use the voice Paul's letter to instruct the Christian Church in the United States about disunity in the Body of Christ and unchristian thinking among its members. Cultural, political, and the state of Christendom are the focus of the sermon. I think Martin Luther King Jr. tries to invoke the sentiment of Ephesians 4:1-3:

As a prisoner of the Lord, I urge you to live the life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. In this letter Dr. King criticizes the multiplication of denomination of churches in the United States. He praises the National Council of Churches and the World Council of Churches. He argues for unity with the Roman Catholic Church with no note that there are some things Christians cannot compromise about. Racism and disunity is the only sin taken to task. I do believe racism is an unfruitful of darkness and Paul did address this in his letters-it is not the only unfruitful works of Darkness:

And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but reprove them.
. Ephesians 5:11

A quote from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.:
Pg. 3 "The historic- philological criticism of the Bible is considered by the soft minded as blasphemous and reason is often looked upon as the exercise of a corrupt faculty. Soft minded persons have revised the Beatitudes to read, blessed are the pure in ignorance: for they shall see God."

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. quotes from Matthew 10:16 - Behold I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as Doves.

Later Dr. King equates science as reality and religion as values. He sees the tough minded as those who incorporate their faith to fit science. Dr. King does not believe the Bible is to be taken at face value but be interpreted trough the lens of science and other philosophical thought. Theological thought is used and the Bible is quoted to make the argument, but only when facts are determined elsewhere. Values are not defined through God's written word but to collaborate outside sources. Values are determined and thought processes are discovered with the Bible as the secondary source.

Let's not just sit in silence on *Martin Luther King Day* - - We must ask ourselves how WE can carry forward Dr. King's message & become agents for change. Reading his words in "STRENGTH TO LOVE" makes an excellent beginning.

Remember those words from the Bible that challenged us "to love justice"? King's sermons (collected mostly from the time of the bus boycott) prod us today to carry forth "the Power of One" and make this particular holiday a statement of our own acts of Love. To love takes courage as well as strength.

Since the Gulf state hurricanes, we have witnessed injustice toward blacks as blatant as any experienced in the 40's. To summon up the hope and optimism that kept Martin Luther King's message alive is an absolute necessity today. To exercise King's principles, to work for justice, to not allow ourselves to sit in silence - - that's where our beliefs must take us. " . . . the day we become silent about things that matter" IS THE DAY "OUR LIVES BEGIN TO END."

Love is where non-violent action begins. In his sermons King expanded on how the tactics of Gandhi can & do work a mighty force for change. For "Strength to Love" the cover art, a wood cut by Stephen Alcorn, makes another strong statement. Dr. King's words most forceful to me are about *love* and *redemption* - - (the latter is an under-used word these days) - - and the last chapter in which he shared his amazing *PILGRIMAGE* through philosophy and experience. Reviewer mcHAIKU echoes the hope of many: that we act responsibly, energetically and courageously to speak truth to Power. "I ain't gonna study war not more." (Martin Luther King Day, 1-16-06)

Timeless. As relevant now as what it was when it was written. Addresses the issues of hate and indifference and argues that the solution is love. Love does sound all too simplistic but it is one of the hardest things to face but its rewards are beyond words.

This book will bring anybody back to their childhood when we thought our friendships would last forever. This is a tale of true friendship, growing up, and coping with those curveballs life throws our way. This book is required reading for my sophomore students, and they just love it! One student, who admitted to never reading a book, loved this story. You will not want to put this book down! Luckily, the author wrote a sequel called TRACKS where Jim, Charles, and Gary have grown up a little, but still get into a good amount of trouble.

River Season was such a pleasure to read. It was difficult to put down. The characters were so real and they had so much fun in the story. Even with the personal conflicts, River Season was an uplifting book. Both men and women would enjoy reading this book.

Jim Black's warm and wonderful first novel tells the story of a boyhood summer in Archer City, Texas in 1966. It takes its place proudly on the continuum of American classics of youth between Huckleberry Finn, with which it shares the dynamic of a friendship between a white boy and a black man, and the magic-tinged books of Ray Bradbury--Dandelion Wine and Something Wicked This Way Comes--Robert McCammon-- Boy's Life--and Dan Simmons--Summer of Night. Thirteen-year-old Jim Black lost his alcoholic father in an accident but finds an unlikely--given the times--father figure in Samuel Joseph Washington, a former Negro League player who lives by the Little Wichita River where they both like to fish. Sam--whose beloved wife, Rose, is a devout Christian-- teaches Jim his own theory of life:

"You see, it has just always felt to me like we're all floatin' in a big river...and the current's carryin' us along...some parts flowin' slow and easy--that's when times are good; and some parts are pretty rough--bad times for sure.

"The way I see it, we're all sort of born into it, and after that, we're on our own. What I haven't figured out is why some folks seem to spend most of their lives in the rough water. I been there, that's for sure. And I reckon there are times when the current's just too strong to escape. But sometimes, I think you can swim out of it, if you want to bad enough and try hard enough. Sometimes. And I believe we're put here for a reason. And we're supposed to find that reason somewhere along the way "

Helping Jim to navigate the river that season are his fast friends Gary Wayne Beesinger and Charles Luig. Together they get into all kinds of often very funny mischief, enjoy adventures, suffer misadventures and learn lessons about coping with tragedy, unrequited love, racism, and the various vagaries of life.

Mr. Black treads lightly on the racial angle, which is a relief, since we might otherwise just end up with another sermon on the evils of the American South. Likewise, he give us hints that the magic and monsters of our youthful imaginations lurk in the background of the tale, but he doesn't yield to the temptation to veer into Stephen King territory. These two sensible decisions to make a final scene work far better than it might have otherwise, as Jim experiences what can only be called a miracle, and we buy into it completely. This is a delightful book that deserves a wide readership and will surely make a terrific film one day.

I recently came across this work by happenstance. I ordered a copy and was astonished that such a well-rounded literary work was being dispensed at so a low price and under the radar of public attention. As a fellow published author, I felt great compassion toward Mr. Black. I wish to make it clear that there is no connection or ulterior motive in my review. Mr. Black has done a masterful job of recounting some of his own personal life experiences into a "fiction" work. His ability to come across to the reader in such a simplistic fashion yet with boulder sized impact is very worthy of respect amongst his peers, his audience and a testament to his talent. "River Season" is a gem. My best wishes to all the happy hunters, archivist and students of the endearing human spirit who "stumble" across this work. (Lonnie D. Story, Author of "The Meeting of Anni Adams: The Butterfly of Luxembourg"

Rebeccasreads highly recommends RIVER SEASON as a wonder-filled, redemptive novel about "misfits": a boy who misses his father, who has made friends with two other boys also without their fathers. It seesaws between mischief & mayhem, real scary adventures & inventive capers. It tells of the blossoming of love in all its different guises: of an old man & his stories, of a wounded old dog, of boys who stand by each other, of the night of the soul, of a girl, of the game of baseball, & of the constant river.

RIVER SEASON is the quintessential American small town boys' experience told with charm, humor & magic.

I was getting this book to read Truly Everlasting which is a great story about two childhood friends that grow up know everything about each other but never dated. A little boys letter to santa brings a Truly Everlasting love. The First Noel what better place to find a good men then at Church. A man that love children and love the Lord you can get any better than that. Kwanzaa Kupendi the love of a good man that believes in you and what let you give up on yourself is wonderful. All three stories were great holiday stories keep up the good work ladies. I look forward to reading more by you all.

I really enjoyed this book. Ms. Mason's story about a young lady struggling to raise her sister's son after tragedy strikes, Kia had never taken time to find love and had given up on faith because of the tragedies she's endured, now a handsome stranger will show her what love and faith are all about. Ms.Walker's story was an okay read, it was kind of sad and depressing, suicide is the last thing you would want to read about during Christmas. Mrs. Jackson's book was great, as usual Brenda Jackson and the Madaris family made you believe in love. Felicia and Trask's story was very touching, and showed what a little patience and a lot of love could achieve.

i enjoyed all of the author's stories in this book. felicia masons story was about a man helping a woman find her faith back in god just around the christmas holidays. mrs. walker's story was about a man helping a woman find love and overcome her pass thru their love for one another. mrs. jackson's story was about two stubborn people who have known each othe all their lives come together and find love in each others arms. her story was the best.

BET presents three authors with truly gifted talents to bring together a truly unique holiday anthology.

Felicia Mason starts the anthology off with her story The Fist Noel. The First Noel tells a story of a young mother who's doing everything possible to take care of her nephew who mother died during a house fire. When Franklin Williams appeared in her life she's not sure what to do with the new relationship. Margie Walker writes about a traumatic young lady who goes through desperate measures in her life as she attempts to cope with life itself but when her friends introduce her to Simon Stevenson to her they both find the love that was there between them but not before trouble begins to brew. Kwanzaa Kupendi has an extremely well written story taking a closer look at the rates and reasons of suicide. Truly Everlasting is a part of Brenda Jackson best selling Madaris family. When Felicia Madaris finds herself attempting to fill full her son's dreams she finds herself up against her archenemy Trask Maxwell but the bargain that is made to make her son happy allows these two enemies to find their true love.

BET has really outdone their selves this time with their holiday anthology bring a variety of holidays with a variety of conflicts.

The stories in "Something to Celebrate" are truly wonderful! I loved reading all of them. I was moved by Kia Simmons' story in "The First Noel." Kia was a dedicated woman, who because of an earlier tragedy in her life, she was not up to celebrating the holidays. Kia had lost all the joy of the Christmas season, as well as her spiritual belief. However, she was devoted to her nephew, whom she raised from a baby after the death of her sister. It is during this Christmas season that Kia meets the love of her life in the form of Franklin Williams. Franklin not only comes into Kia's life as a love interest, but Franklin brings faith, worship, joy, and a renewed spirit into Kia's life. "The First Noel" was short, but sweet. Kia could not have found love and hope in a better place!

"Kwanzaa Kupendi" was another touching story. Michelle Craig could not have asked for or been given better friends than Loretta, Reba, and Clarissa. Nor could she have developed a more devoted relationship than with Simon Stevenson. Michelle has a lot to deal with regarding her past and her family relationship, but her friends are there for her. Through their dedication and friendship, Michelle comes to realize that life is worth living and love makes it even better.

Now, for Brenda Jackson's story, "Truly Everlasting." It is 'a forever love.' Love has a timing effect. Felicia Lavern Madaris has already decided to change her flighty ways and settle down to become the perfect mother to her young son. However, looks can be deceiving. Felicia has changed her attitude, but not her dress appearance. She is still an eye catcher to the men, especially with some of the daring outfits she wears. "Everlasting Love" is Felicia's and Trask Maxwell's story. Trask not only comes to Felicia's aid, but comes into her heart as well. Their love blossoms into an everlasting love.

Ms. Jackson has done it again with the Madaris' clan!

With Faulkner, and especially with The Sound and the Fury, you're in one of Three camps. You love it, you get it and you hate it, or you don't get it and you hate it. For the purpose of this review, I suppose I should note I fall in the first catagory.
Yes, a lot of (most?) people read it the first time in an English class, some of us get the pleasure of reading twice in separate English classes, and you would be hard-pressed to find an English major anywhere in America who doesn't, at the very least, say they've read it.
The first time through ain't easy. The Norton Edition helps greatly with that... I can't imagine trying to read any other edition the first time. And it's one of those 2 bookmark books... one in the novel, another in the reference section. Basically, you need a decoder ring to read it. Norton provides said decoder ring. Well, in book form. (a Faulkner decoder ring... now wouldn't that be neat?)
And, trust me, once you've gotten through it once, provided you can crack the spine again without crying, it gets better and better with subsequent reads. It's one of those "change your life" books, but without being preachy or even motivational... it's an honest and disturbing and heartbreaking and headache-inducing picture of family, community, an era, and existence as a whole.

Faulkner seems to be one of those authors you either love or hate. His stream-of-consciousness style can be hard to follow at times, but his stories are spot-on as far as the human condition is concerned. I never really got into this novel until grad school; now I can't get enough of Faulkner! Read it even if you aren't an English major!

I tried to read this book as a freshman in college, and it was utterly lost on me, I'm sad to say. At the time, I was in denial about my status as a Southerner; I just wanted to get out and move to NYC and pretend I was living in Andy Warhol's factory.

Now, as an adult, and as a writer with a forthcoming memoir about growing up in the South, TSATF is far and away my favorite book. I took it with me on a recent trip to Mexico and read it on the beach, completely unable to put it down. It's not straightforward until the third of the four sections; Benjy's section (though the most beautiful thing I have ever read) and Quentin's are stream-of-consciousness and difficult. This is where the Norton Critical Edition is so handy. The pages and pages of biographical info and criticism are compelling and insightful, and make a great companion to the book. If you buy this book, buy this edition. It's very well compiled and makes me proud that Norton is my publisher.

I read _The_Sound_and_the_Fury_ several years ago and have forgotten many of the details, but this book remains my favorite fictional work. The Norton Critical Edition provides readers with valuable insight into many of the passages, but some could probably do without the explanatory pages that follow Faulkner's actual book. Since I took an intensive course on Faulkner's work, I had help from a great professor. Even with the help of critical texts and analysis, I found _The_Sound_and_the_Fury_ to be difficult. I reread the book several times for a better understanding of certain sections.

Since other readers have provided summaries about this book, I'll just remark that this is a masterfully written book. I've read most of Faulkner's short stories and novels (except for _As_I_Lay_Dying_) and consider this to be his best work. Faulkner wrote each chapter according to the perspectives of four very different characters, and this is reflected in the form and substance of the chapters. Faulkner's long (many exceed one-third of a page), complex, and heavily detailed sentences demand concentration. It's certainly not a light read, although the book is relatively short. Overall, a beautifully haunting work that showcases Faulkner's idiosyncratic style.

This is perhaps the most difficult novel written that's worth the time to read. I'd STRONGLY suggest you buy Volpe's book on Faulkner's Novels to read along with it first. Volpe breaks down the points at which a different charecter takes over the narrative. After that, try it yourself, but Volpe is the best guide for the person new to Faulkner's harder(hardest)work. The Norton Edition has a great deal of helpful critical material which, though not in Volpe's ballpark, is very helpful. Buy this edition, but don't forget the Volpe on Faulkner's novel.

I have loved this since I was a kid. I only have it on tape (I'm old). Once you get used to the actors and once you stop trying to compare it to the movie, you will like it.

The only scene I hate is the one where Vader is torturing Leia. It is laughable. Actually, you should listen to it because I guarantee you will laugh it is so poorly done.

I remembered listening to this production on NPR when I was a kid and now that my own children have discovered Star Wars I decided to share this version with them on a recent trip to visit grandma. We loved it! The Star Wars story is expanded and the writing and voice acting is so well done that it will keep the kids and adults entertained. Our trip seemed almost too short because we enjoyed listening so much.

Don't waste money on a DVD player in the car. Stories like this one are much more entertaining and leave the special f/x to the imagination.

I recently wrote a review for the Return of the Jedi adaption on NPR which I gave a mere three stars. I cited poor directing, acting and lack of added material.

These complaints cannot be levelled against this, the first of the NPR dramatisations.
The acting is spot on, with Perry King providing a rougher verion of Solo that goes over well, as opposed to the next two adaptions where it begins to grate. Mark Hamil and Anthony Daniels are naturally perfect at the characters that defined them for a decade and more after the original trilogy finished. Bernard Behrens does a surprisingly good Ben Kenobi, and Brock Peters likewise with Vader. They are not Alec Guinness and James Earl Jones, but they're good enough not to cause problems.

The direction is great, and I never found myself noticing the obvious radio 'cues' which tell the listener what is happening. THe music and sound effects are good and the pacing is not rushed, unlike ROTJ.

And as for added material? Deducting front and end credits gives us roughly five and a half hours, nearly triple the length of the film. The vast wealth of extra material is great and never seems out of place.

In all I would recommend this to anyone with an interest in the Star Wars original trilogy.

In 1981, the phenomenally popular movie Star Wars was adapted into a radio drama. The series ran as 13 half-hour episodes. This being about three times as long as the movie, a lot of extra scenes were added, especially back stories for many of the characters. The only actors from the movie that reprised their roles from the movie were Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker and Anthony Daniels as C-3PO, but most of the actors taking over the other roles do a good job. Most Star Wars fans will probably enjoy this.

I have fond memories of myself eagerly awaiting each installment of this fantastic radio drama adaptation of the original "Star Wars" film back when it aired originally in 1981. Brian Daley did an excellent job via his superb scripts giving us more details of the relationships between Luke Skywalker and his Tatooine friend Biggs Darklighter and between Princess Leia and her father on Alderaan. We also learn here how Princess Leia obtained the technical plans for the Death Star. Both Mark Hamill and Anthony Daniels give superb performances of their screen characters, Luke Skywalker and C3PO respectively. However, the rest of the cast is just as fine with a fine - if somewhat restrained - Darth Vader voiced by Brock Peters and Ann Sachs as Princess Leia. Both the sound effects by Ben Burtt and of course the original film score by John Williams are absolutely splendid. This is a spellbinding radio drama that should appeal to diehard fans of "Star Wars".

I love Iyanla Vanzant and this book is better than it was twenty years ago

Tapping is really a HOW-TO manual of stimulating and maintaining that essence that we all have, no matter the tradition. The first time I read this book, I was searching but I wasn't ready. My faith walk did not embrace anything that did not look exactly like the pillars it taught. Isn't that ironic? In fact, I gave it away. Tapping is that powerful. My soul picked it off the shelf. If you are here reading the reviews, there is something in you that drew you to this book. I say LISTEN. This is a manual for powerful women to harness that power with a practice. I'm grateful for the re-release of Tapping at time and season where consciousness is transcending denominations and expanding ways of being. Iyanla was one of the only voice of my youth that spoke to this awareness when it wasn't popular. Iyanla spoke into me through her writing about the things that stirred in my spirit as a woman. Iyanla Vanzant through this first work can settle that which stirs in you. Don't be afraid. . . of your own power, Tap it! (LOL!)

ReBirth Int'l

This book is a powerful encouragement to us all, as the wonder-full women of life on earth open to our gifts and our charge to balance the patriarchal atmosphere that has prevailed [and failed] for so long.

Iyanla Vanzant is absolutely brilliant. Her power and wisdom continue to amaze and remind me of what Life and living is all about. The Yoruba rituals and traditions she offers in this book will definitely be added to my spiritual practices, particularly creating alters and blessing my head. I am humbled and encouraged by her courage to share her truth and remain committed to her vision. Not only is this book personally enlightening, it is necessary as I enter new phases of healing, self-awareness, and consciousness. This book is a must have.
Thank you Reverend, Doctor, Mama, Ms. Iyanla Vanzant for being my greatest teacher. You've done it again!

This book is a beautifully-written, honest, humble and insightful roadmap to self discovery, self-forgiveness, and self-empowerment. In this day and age of formulaic drivel, this author stands out as powerful, practical resource for living in vibrance. Ms. Vanzant shares deeply personal and often painful aspects of her past with the generous intention to heal the reader. Her sharp humor and poignancy make the read very easy. She gives specifics on how to connect with your power and making right choices, no vague greeting card nonsense here. Her style is easy to understand, and the wisdom and value is immediately apparent and accesible. She has that rare talent of making complex and subtle points seem effortless, clear and deceptively simple. This author is a true gem and the real deal. GET THIS BOOK NOW..don't let fear and procrastination talk you out of it. You CAN afford it. You are worth it. Invest in yourself and sow a seed into your life.

Tara was Thorn's challenge and he had no choice but to give in to his "sweetest temptation." Another great Westmoreland story. Brenda Jackson really knows how to tell a story. Keep sending us more Westmoreland's stories.

I am Brenda Jackson #1 Fan. I first purchase two random books at two diffrent times & realized that they were sequels one of my first. I then went on line & researched the author. Low & behold I was shocked to see that the books I purchased were part of a series. I have since purchased every book by Mrs. Jackson. Which included Thorn's Challenge. All of Mrs. Jackson books are on point. I just purchased her last installment of the Westmoreland series last week. Thorn's Challenge

Thorn Westmoreland is the man! He can be my challenge any day. Thorn is just one of the remarkable Westmorland men. Too bad men like him don't exist. I don't want to give the book away. Just buy it and read it. As a matter of fact, read about all the Westmoreland men. You will not be dissapointed. Oh, and the sex! Wahoo!

I am a fan of Brenda Jackson and found this to be one of my all time favorite books. The fact that Thorn felt they could have a relationship with no strings, is funny. It is indeed another story of a Westmoreland man and truly they are men of passion. I really enjoyed when Tara ran into her ex and Thorn was there by her side what a comfort. It is another story of how beautiful true love can be.

What was Tara thinking? Exchanging her virtue for some pics for charity. Well evidently she's smarter than me. 'Cause she ended up with the man. You go girl. Ms. Jackson I loved it.

Anthony Durham writes a beautiful novel called Walk Through Darkness, it's a slave trying to desperately seek out his pregnant love that was taken to another state, unbehold there's also a slave tracker that's on his trail that desperately wants to nab Lewis before others do. This novel not only show u how back in times slavery was, but it tells a story of courage, desperation,family, and true love. The characters were described & entailed that the reader feel every aspect of emotion from the beginning of the novel until the last tears you wipe away. Anthony Durham this was a wonderful story told and hope to read more by u in this genre.

This is an extreamly thoughtful and well written novel. It is a modern classic. This guy can flat out write.

David Anthony Durham does a masterly job here of recreating the experience of William, a slave of mixed blood, who knows nothing of the world beyond the limited confines of his plantation life but sets out, nonetheless, on a desperate flight to find the woman he loves who has been taken north to Philadelphia by her owner. Along the way, William discovers what it means to be marked by the color of one's skin in an era when being darker than others deprived you of all rights and left you prey to the pettiness and cruelties of the lighter skinned majority around you. Durham's tale is, at times, overwrought and overwritten and the first half tends to drag a bit. But the revelation of what it would have been like to live as a black man in such a society is vivid and heartwrenching.

Betrayed more often than he is helped, at least at the beginning, William struggles to make his way through a world he neither understands nor is welcome in, all the while pursued by slave hunters set on bringing him back. One, in particular, an old tracker named Andrew Morrison who seems more bent on catching him than any of the others, is a hard man with a bloody history all his own. As William finds himself repeatedly betrayed, beaten and chained, and is driven deeper and deeper into himself, Morrison's own story gradually unfolds in this parallel tale of hunter and prey.

The two are destined to affect one another's lives in a surprising way though Durham gives this away much too early in the narrative. Still, the experience of being a runaway slave in a society which granted you no more rights than a beast is so powerfully portrayed, the despair of living at the mercy of the cruelties and abuses of others so vividly recreated, that it brings tears to your eyes despite the sometimes overwritten passages. Too, the second half of the book is much stronger than the first, as we approach William's final effort to escape to freedom, the slave hunters and, especially, Andrew Morrison, hot on his heels. And yet even at this point, it has a dreamlike, almost nightmarish, quality to it, the narrative feeling forced at times and not quite real.

Though I found myself wiping tears away as William, battered in body and soul, finally discovers his mother's secret, the book seemed to end too abruptly. There is so much to forgive and yet it is all just pushed aside, while we are given no inkling of the fate of those innocent blacks ensnared by the slavers' net in the hunt for William. It seemed as though Durham suddenly ran dry and the near happy ending he gives us is rushed, almost forced and just too pat. Too much is left dangling in this tale of a fugitive slave adrift in a harsh and alien world for surely the damage done to William and to the others would not have been as easily forgotten as the epilogue seems to suggest.

But overall, the tale was powerful for its portrayal of the experience of slavery in pre-Civil War America and what this dehumanizing experience did to the people trapped within its web, though the story wasn't as fully realized as it seemed to promise at the outset.

On the other hand it doesn't add much to one's sense of pride in America.

SWM
author of The King of Vinland's Saga

I read this book because it was assignment in my boyfriend's English class. Usually I'm more of a non-fiction DIY self-help book person but this was definitely worthwhile.

The novel maybe fiction but the story is truth, masterfully told. Truth may hurt and truth may offend but Durham has dared to tell the truth. He has fingered the pulse of America and touched the heartbeat of those years of infamy that have left a scar on the nation until this day.

Walk through darkness is a vivid portrayal of man's inhumanity toward his fellowman. It runs the gamut of the pathos of a people. If pain and suffering could be measured in miles, the agony of the black race would reach beyond the sun. Durham has skillfully conveyed the physical and mental anguish of a people; the strength, tenacity and faith that enabled them to endure the brutality and savagery of those years infamy and still carries them in its aftermath. Anyone interested in learning what it was like in America when it was a young land will find it in the painful pages of "Walk Through Darkness."

I found that I could relate to many of her poems. You can't help but be completely taken in by the strength in the messages that come across in each of her passages. I look forward to her next collection of masterpieces.

After coming across this wonderful book by happenstance, I am totally moved by the verse and spirits contained within it. I have read it several times, and was very pleasantly surprised that there was available, an audio version of it! Spoken by the author, no less! What a treat! As I spend a lot of time driving, I have listened to Ms. Barkley's spoken words, dozens of times. And each time I do, I feel a refreshment of my spirit and soul... absolutely wonderous. I recently viewed a short film produced by Ms. Barkley, titled "In View of a Cup Half-Full", based on the poem "Spiral Pillar". It was absolutely gripping visually, spiritually, rhythmically, and overall just reached out and grabbed you. I wanted to immediately watch it again and again, just to feel the power envelope me, inspiring me to aspire higher... Ms. Barkley's works are truly of the spirit. I can't wait, to experience her next creative composition. I would highly recommend any and all of her work to everyone. Experience it with an open heart... you'll be glad you did.

WAYFAIRING STRANGER is a powerful, beautiful work of art. Honest, lyrical, rhythmic, touching...it glows with the real.

From "Literary Cog" (one of my personal favorites):

"still/ must the poet seek/ to find and identify/ that which she sees/ and that which she knows/ instinctively/ to be unyieldingly indifferent/ to rhyme or reason/ for more than/ an instant/ in time/ on paper"

True indeed.

-Joshua Ortega, February 2000

I got this 'piece of art' the 25th. of December 1999.(yep, Christmas Day)
The minute I started to read I was sold.
I was touched in a very special way. Straight in the heart.
I'm a black guy from Holland and I didn't understand everything at once,
but I believe that every black man should own a copy of this piece of black gold.
I believe the words in this book are very strong and very true.
It gives me peace of mind in times when my live gets crazy.
It helps me to put my life back into perspective.

Thank you Rose Barkley

M. Rose Barkley's poems speak with an intense rhythm. Her truths are direct and real; the music of this poetry carries forward straight to the soul. Sometimes we are brought to a new place with repeated lines, "I sit thinking/Blinking memories/of You/Blinking/Past images of you." Sometimes we are moved by single syllable beats, "Bird song/sing bird/as you melt/My soul away from this." And often Ms. Barkley brings us the excitement of a multi-syllabic rhythm, "Staring@ a 90 degree angle's impression/of the torchiere's light thrust upward/upon the green walls/like a horizontal sunrise bursting..." Singing with this virtuosic sense of rhythm, Ms. Barkley's brings her messages straight to us...messages of her search for herself, her identity as a black woman, her sense of who she is and her desire to right social injustice. Some of these poems are exhortations in the style of Lucille Clifton, "Go young children/and learn/Seek out/those things/which make your spirits/burn/Just go/Learn." And "Black Girl/Why is color/on your mind." Some are chants. I would love to hear the poet say this one, "I can squeeze/on a dollar/'til the joker drip/green/ If I gotta make it/holler-/Yeah, you know/what I mean." That poem is hollering to be heard.