Authors Books

(Official Apex Reviews Rating: 4.5 Stars)

If given the option, would you choose Love over Death? The answer seems obvious, but not to Mallory Haulm - whose destiny in life is actually death.

There has always been a darkness hovering over Mallory, and, as he discovers more about his fate, the cloud of darkness is almost suffocating. He is a flourishing business man, but after moving back home to Texas to help out with his family's company, Haulm Industries, he finds out that there's more to it than just business...

In order for him to fulfill his destiny, he must become the fourth horseman, Death, and bring forth the apocalypse. But, when his one true love returns home, the future of the Haulm family could be destroyed forever.

The MPire: In Search Of The Lost is overflowing with passion and mystery. In it, T.L. James' characters fight for what they believe in - no matter the consequences. The reader definitely gets a good visual of each character, as they all have such unique personalities. The story holds a lot of intrigue, and T.L. James pulls all the loose ends together nicely, showing the reader that love truly has no boundaries.

A great first book in what promises to be a compelling series, and there can only be more excitement to follow.

Mpire is wonderful from start to finish. TL James is a fresh new voice with a unique ability to engage a reader with her gift for storytelling. I highly recommend this book and can't wait for her next. Bravo TL James.

The MPIRE: In Search of the Lost by TL James *Kendall Publication*

Mallory Towneson Haulm is a man obsessed with the finer things in life. Expensive clothes, top of the line vehicles, and he is always used to having his own way; especially when it came to women. In one night it was nothing for Mallory to have 4 women, one right after the other.

The Haulm family has hidden secrets, Mallory has most of his childhood memories hidden away, Brielle seems to have the answers and connection that Mallory needs, but there is only room for one love in his life. Will this conductor of souls be able to fulfill his destiny? It is written in the ancient scrolls that death will be the end of the world; only one man can perform the task of ridding the world of such evil; but is he strong enough to complete this mission?

TL James' first book in the MPIRE trilogy, In Search of the Lost is an amazing story about the battle between good and evil as well as battles of the heart. Ms. James pens an addictive tale that will keep you turning the pages. As the story unfolds before the reader, you will be shocked as more secrets are revealed. This book is a winner, and Ms. James definitely delivers with her attention to detail. 5 Stars

Crystal Adkins

Mallory Townesom Haulm, lived a life style of confidence and success, with an unexplainable darkness lurking in the background. His conflict with self-identity and his struggle to balance good and evil, intensifies when he reunites with his brothers and is turbulently submerged into his family's dark life. Under the pretense of fulfilling a forgotten destiny, Mallory struggles with accepting his place in the family business. He's faced with the antics of Marc, a jealous brother; his feelings of contempt for his estranged father, and the unconventional love of Matthew, the family outcast.

The MPIRE is a unique story filled with intrigue and surprises. T.L. James engages the reader from the very start and does a great job of bringing the characters to life. As you read this novel, you'll distinctively visualize each character's personality and quickly see things from their individual perspectives. Mallory's obsessive behavior and arrogance, coupled with Marc's jealousy and contempt, and the daily struggles of relationships, life and forbidden love, only scratch the surface of the drama and controversy in this book. The story builds on an explosive mix of family divergence, sibling rivalry, the encumbrance of living up to the expectations of others, and Mallory's struggle to find his own identify.

Will Mallory find himself? Will good triumph over evil? Will he fulfill his destiny? This compelling story reels you in and leaves you waiting for the next chapter in the life of the Haulm Family. I'm looking forward to reading the next installment of the trilogy.
--P. Renee,
Books4u Publishing, LLC.

The MPIRE: In Search of the Lost by T.L. James is a fascinating look at the light and darkness that live inside of man. Mallory Towneson Haulm is a wealthy, handsome, very sexy businessman who resides inside his own world. He has beautiful women at his beck and call and every expensive toy a man can dream of. However, he is haunted by his dreams and demons. How could a man with everything have such internal struggles?

Mallory has been estranged from his family for fourteen years and is called home to join the family business. He has already proven with his personal business that he is a financial wizard and only he can turn around the slowly deteriorating business. What Mallory does not know is that there are spiritual and supernatural motives at play and that he is in for the battle of his very life. The added component of an old lover reappearing only adds to his struggles. The question becomes with all Mallory has going for him, will he be able to conquer the ultimate battle, death?

The MPIRE: In Search of the Lost stretched me in ways that a book had not done in a long time. I had to stay focused on all the mysterious occurrences and the motivations of all the characters. There were many twists and surprises, but I was never left wanting. The mystery always came to a satisfying conclusion. There were times when I wanted to rush things but was ultimately grateful that the author took her time, allowing me to go where she was taking me.

I recommend The MPIRE to all readers who enjoy novels that can stretch them and take them on a satisfying literary journey filled with the mystical, spiritual and even a bit of the romantic.

Angelia Menchan
APOOO BookClub

In the last few years, so many memoirs and stories have been written by Iranians and published in English (mostly by Iranian women). It looks like the market is hot for these titles. This has resulted in publication of many disingenuous works that are politically reactionary and artistically inferior (such as Reading Lolita in Tehran).
"The Mullah with No Legs and Other Stories" is politically progressive (even though it does not directly deal with politics) and artistically superb. It is a personal journey of an Iranian boy written with an excellent humor and wit. The stories are mostly sad, but you can't stop laughing! This book reserves recognition. Read it! (I have heard that the author's name is a pen name. I don't know why he did not publish this work with his real Persian name.)

I have read so many so called memoirs about Iranians, mostly about Iranian women, with a few exceptions, such as Persepolis and funny in Farsi, I have found most of them dishonest and insincere; full of illusions and delusions not memoirs! However, "The Mullah with no legs and other stories" by Ari Siletz is the most honest account of a society going through rapid changes and a true experience of a little boy trying to come to terms with his society, his family, and himself. I enjoyed reading this book tremendously and I visited the "garden of memory" with Ari in every page of this book. I was laughing in one moment and crying in another moment. It touched my heart. I recommend this book to everyone who loves literature and enjoys reading and learning, Iranians, non-Iranians, men, women, adults, and children! Ari, please write more, we need more of you and less of those who write for an emerging marker of the "Iranian women memoir industry".

There is a reason why all the reviewers (so far) give this book 5 stars; it belongs on the national best-seller list. The Mullah With No Legs and Other Stories is a thin volume (perfect for busy lives)of beautifully crafted short stories. Written by Iranian-American Ari Siletz, it has to be THE book for academics and lovers of literature with an interest in cross-cultural literary themes. The characters in Siletz's stories are acutely drawn and treated with a degree of sensitivity and mischievous humor normally attributed to some of the best writers of our era. His stories are infused with warmly depicted, foible-ridden individuals whose lives unfold in completely recognizable ways to the Western reader, albeit laced with an Iranian gestalt: ancient Persian traditions, religious custom, and highly complex familial motivations. Because he is a masterful story-teller with a brilliant affinity for evocative prose, Siletz belongs firmly in the world of literature; but he has the insight and observational acumen of a skilled anthropologist. These are the reasons I think The Mullah With No Legs And Other Stories belongs on the bestseller list. His talent eclipses that of many contemporary writers whose names are now household words.

Siletz has a graceful manner in telling stories that leads the reader into territory that feels unfamiliar at the outset, but brings understanding of the commonality of the human condition by the end.

His stories have an autobiographical feel to them, but they are fiction. They are based on his childhood experiences in Iran and are written with an eye towards enlightening American audiences about life in Iran.

One of my favorite stories was "The Dog" for it showed the cultural differences in how dogs are perceived between Iranians and Americans. The funniest aspect was showing how his Iranian family was surprised to hear that anyone could make money selling dog food, dog toys and dog soaps. Because dogs, while not forbidden are considered to be unclean.

A favorite line of mine was "Give a parched Iranian the choice between a glass of water sniffed by a dog and a glass of radioactive waste, and he will have to think about it."

I highly recommend this book, and it will soon be back in print!

Initially, seeing the word "Mullah" in the title, I thought this was going to be mostly about politics and Mullah/Islam bashing.... I was so off!
This is a must read. I enjoyed this book on so many levels. I was able to see a side of Iran and the Iranian culture not usually talked about, through the eyes of a child, an Iranian adult, with a twist of an American perspective making serious subjects/moments humorous to read. It was well written. Sanazbanu N.

Okay, so we don't have kids of our own so sue us. It is a delightful book and and as I was reading I thought to myself that if we had kids the husband here would probably be just like the dad in the book, because that is how he is with our 3 dogs. We could most definately see this being a big time holiday film, either for the big screen or even television since we really need to have more quality television for children. The wife is a teacher and we are thinking of ordering a whole bunch of copies for the kids as we get towards the holiday season. Many thanks to Mr. and Miss Casey.

What is it about Christmas that inspires the best bedtime stories for kids? Maybe it's simply snuggle factor. The crackle of the fire in the fireplace, the warmth of the blanket that dad tucked us in only the way dad can do it. Written by dad and illustrated by his young daughter, the book itself is a homage to the wonderful blessings of family. Reading this book to your children at bedtime will not only entertain but like most celebrated rhyming Christmas stories will teach them a wonderful lesson about appreciating what you have.

Sean Casey had a vision somewhat different than the father from Christmas favorite "T'was the Night Before Chistmas." Nonetheless, "My Dad Cancelled Christmas" offers a great plot line that relates to parents and kids alike. The book, which tells the story of a father who loses it on Christmas Eve and subsequently cancels his family's celebration of Christmas, is illustrated by Sean's daughter Quinn, age 10. She has a great deal of talent and captures her fathers imagination well.
This book definitely should be up there on everyone's shopping list. "My Dad Cancelled Christmas" is definitely a refreshing alternative to the traditional and mundane "T'was the Night Before Christmas." It would not be a bad read to the kids before settling them down for "their long winter's nap" on Christmas Eve next holiday season. This would also be an excellent read for teachers of all elementary grades looking to expand their bookshelves and their students' imaginations. Definitely a "must" on next year's Christmas list, but why wait? It can be read year round to keep everyone in the holiday mood and get a laugh in here or there.

This was a delightful book - with a moral to boot! Most families would benefit from reading this together and talking about it. Good lessons to learn for kids AND parents..

This book is a terrific Christmas story and the fact that it is a collaborative effort between father and child makes it very special.

Cori just wanted to do something with her life. So the Australian teen decides to join a missions trip for the summer in Indonesia. The plan was to witness to the locals and build them a church. The team was expecting to come back with stories of how they saved the village. Instead they find themselves running for their lives after the pastor of their village is brutally murdered in a religious battle. Cori and the other members of her team plus the pastor's children must find a way to save themselves as they hike through the jungle for help. Along the way they experience trials and tribulations that no one their age should ever face and that will leave them scarred for the rest of their lives.

Word of mouth promotion really does work. That's why I picked up this book, because of all the good reviews I had heard about it. And I was not disappointed at all. This book is intense. The story will linger in your mind for days. It's not a story to enjoy lying on the beach. You need to be in the right frame of mind to read this book. I've always wanted to go on a missions trip. It is on my list of things to do before I die. So while reading this book, I did get a little of what could happen if I went to someplace like that part of Indonesia. The missionaries who live in remote areas like this are to be commended for the bravery they show trying to spread God's word. The teens in this book are wise beyond their years. I don't know if I could have been as strong as they were if I was put in the same situation. It was heartbreaking to read about the emotional turmoil they were going through just trying to get home. It was just incredible about everything they went through: from seeing killings, running from snakes and wild boars, trying to overcome malaria. It's like an extreme version of Survivor for Christian teens. Even though the characters in this book are teenagers, the subject matter is quite serious so at least older teens should be reading this. It was also sad to see how the two religions are at wars with each other. It's devastating to read about Christians acting in such a brutal way against others especially since we are taught to love everyone. Obviously those people are not the best representatives of Christianity.I agree with others that this was one of the best Christian fiction books published in 2007. Lisa McKay has made her mark in the publishing world. I encourage everyone to read to this book. I guarantee it will have a major impact on you.

This book has cost me many hours of sleep this week. I would start reading and just be unable to put it down! The characters were so interesting, and so loveable, and the plot was so good! I really felt like I was right there, going through it all with them.

This is probably the best fiction book I've read all year.

My Hands Came Away Red is an exceptional story, written by Lisa McKay, a wonderfully fresh voice in Christian fiction. I loved the realism with which the story was portrayed, as well as the emotion that drew me into this incredible drama. I also loved the growth that took place in each of the characters. This was not a predictable story, with a predictable ending, and I so appreciate that. Lisa McKay obviously drew from her professional/ministerial experiences to weave this heartwrenching tale. I look forward to more from this gifted writer.

After finishing all of Francine Rivers' novels, I had been searching hard for a good Christian fiction novel. I found many that were moderately entertaining, usually ending with some main character becoming a Christian and then falling in love. Utterly predictable. McKay's novel blew right past any chiches in her treatment of tough issues like God's character and His response to injustice. She paints her characters with nuance and shading so well that I feel like I was part of their little mission team. If you have done any overseas missions, you will especially enjoy this novel. It was so thoroughly enjoyable that I couldn't help but read portions aloud to my poor husband. But more than that, it is a terrific, honest, beautiful story of an incredible journey with a bunch of messy, ordinary but also extraordinary individuals who become a family doing the work God called them to do. I hope you enjoy it as I did!

Wow! What a great book. Having lived and worked in Indonesia and dealt with some of the fallout of the many religious and ethnic fightings there, this book does an excellent job of covering the emotions and struggles of the people. While the story is told from the perspective of an American teenager this book is great read for all ages. And what fun to read a bit of Bahasa Indonesian. I can't wait too see what this author comes up with next!

Remember when Harry Kemelman's Rabbi Small tales were about all there was of Jewish crime fiction? No longer, as editor Lawrence W. Raphael makes clear in "Mystery Midrash: An Anthology of Jewish Mystery and Detective Fiction." Some familiar wordsmiths and characters are to be found in these pages, from Stuart M. Kaminsky (whose Chicago detective, Abe Lieberman, here takes a confession from a lapsed and irate Jew) to Ronald Levitsky (contributing a story in which civil-liberties lawyer Nate Rosen faces a truly unique First Amendment case) and Howard Engel (providing P.I. Benny Cooperman with a light-hearted locked-room puzzle). Although Raphael's selections often deal with Jewish issues, fans of this book will likely stretch across the religious spectrum. ...

A Yiddishe Kop, I know... but a Yiddishe Cop? Will dvar mysteries replace dvar torahs on Shabbat morn? Will parents stop hoping their child will be a doctor or a lawyer, and hope for a Jewish cop or detective? What is midrash? Isn't it a deep investigation of the text in order to learn more about it, and piece things together, to compare various texts and clues? Isn't that what a P.I. (Private Investigator) does, too? In this book are original stories by notable mystery writers. Batya contributes "Kaddish", a mystery about a secular Jew who must console a dead rabbi's family by helping them focus on the rabbi's goodness and not the alleged, scandalous events surrounding his death. In "Bread of Affliction" by Michael Kahn (author of the Rachel Gold series, Sheer Gall, Grave Designs), Chicago Attorney Rachel Gold must use her knowledge of Pesach to solve a mystery surrounding a contested will. Richard Fliegel, creator of the Jewish detective, Shelly Lowenkopf ("A Minyan for the Dead"), writes in "A Final Midrash" about four rabbi's who help a detective solve a murder that one of them has committed. If I had a sack of cash, I would certainly option the film rights for "A Final Midrash"! For not only is it an interesting short mystery, but it is a well crafted allusion to the 3 rabbis who entered Pardes with Rabbi Akiva, as well as the four ways to create a drash, namely Pshat, Sot, Drash, and Mysticism. Other contributors include: Toni Brill, Howard Engel, Stuart Kaminsky, Faye Kellerman, Ronald Levitsky, Ellen Rawlings, Shelly Singer, Bob Sloan, Janice Steinberg, and James Yaffe. I was not used to reading mysteries prior to reading this book, but I think this anthology has sparked that "Pintelye Mystery".

This anthology was one of the "best reads" of 1999. Most likely the book will be overlooked, hence this review. The storylines, variety, and exceptional writing by the authors make this book a must. Enjoy!

Lawrence Raphael has edited a collection of short stories that allowed me to do two of my favorite things at the same time: reading mysteries and reading about Jews. The collection is a great delight. It combines the comfort of familiarity with the intrigue of the mysterious. The stories span the spectrum of the religious to the assimilated; there's something for everyone. I'm looking forward to Volume II.

Clever, funny, humane, with a nod at the dark side of the human mind, Mystery Midrash is just what it says: the exploration and development of a common theme, in this case, the mystery short story. As with all midrash, each different take on a story tells us something new; as with all good midrash, that something new returns us to the innate unchangability of the human dilemma, and to humankind's steady relationship with the forces of order in a world of chaos.

Even readers who are not sure why a cheeseburger is a moral decision for a Jew will love this feast.

This is a thin book (not the gift edition) but it's very deep. It expresses what modern poetry needs & that is a sense of place & a new historical perspective. I picked this up because of the first poem in the book, Theories of Time & Space & I am not disappointed in the least. This book seems to carve "place" & put you there where the author is experiencing "living."

This is a fascinating life story, told through intricate, strong poems. If you like poetry, or storytelling, this is a fine collection.

Native Guard
by Natasha Trethewey

Natasha Trethewey's Native Guard is a superb example of storytelling through poetry. Her seamless imagery flows like lyrical essays inviting you into her world of "southern living" as seen by a woman whose mother was black and father white; a product of the infamous unwritten law of the two races mixing in the 1950's.
Winner of the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for poetry, there is no denying that Trethewey has a distinctive style and demands the attention of word artists. The title poem, Native Guard, is not only a poignant excerpt of Civil War history buried in the hidden archives of the south, Trethewey professes the contributions soldiers of African decent who served this country in the name of freedom for all men.
Native Guard opens with a story/poem of the disappointment of her mother at 16, who left "the dirt roads of Mississippi" on a train to California to meet her father only to find him nowhere in sight. Trethewey sweetly illustrates the torment of physical abuse by her stepfather, mourns the passing of her mother, the cross burning in her front yard, and the beauty of the South with all its degeneracy. Her stories flow in sonnets, a pantoum, and a verse form I have yet to identify illustrated in "Myth" (page 14) which left me awestruck. Her poetry exudes a gentle anger that is soothed with a balm of historical lessons.
Native Guard is familial history and southern history. Trethewey provides notes for the epigraphs she used as well as the sources used to create the title poem "Native Guard."
I highly recommend purchasing this book, if for no other reason, for the fact that the sister won the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry! I only wish I counld have purchased the first edition!

As I read these poems, each offers a an insight which calls me to visualize the scenes that are portrayed. I've reread several passages to confirm their impact.

This book is great example of powerful modern poetry. I'll recommend it to many. it offers a profound mix of history and personal experience. Trethewey reveals her life and thoughts fearlessly.

Weighted with temperament and the presence of graveyards, Trethewey paints vivid images of a past aware of its own history and the death of loved ones:

"It rained the whole time we were laying her down:
Rained from church to grave when we put her down.
The suck of mud at our feet was a hollow sound.

I wander now among names of the dead.
My mother's name, stone pillow for my head."
(Graveyard Blues)

Finding portents in simple childhood acts, the more mature poet replays such impulses in a new light:

"how they'd dry like graveside flowers, rustling
when the wind blew- a whisper, treacherous,
from the sill. Be taken with yourself,

they said to me: Die early, to my mother."
(Genus Narcissus)

Bi-racial, the poet blends the spirit of her parents with the inevitability of their destinies and the legacy to their child:

"Already the words are changing. She is changing
from colored to negro, black still years ahead.
This is 1966- she is married to a white man-
And there are more names for what grows inside her."
(My Mother Dreams Another Country)

Recounting the discoveries of childhood with a history in the south- war and miscegenation- I am struck by the poet's embrace of time and place, the troubled years of war and the ubiquitous presence of race in daily life; yet she instinctively draws beauty where there is none, an intimate awareness of her parentage and position in a black and white world she treads so intuitively. There is much to be learned simply by listening to Trethewey's words, caught in the magic of her introspective nature. Luan Gaines/ 2007.

Richard Wilbur is a master of form. His poems are incredibly stately, balanced, intelligent, and beautiful, and then one notices that everything rhymes exactly where it's supposed to! Bonus points!

If you enjoy more than merely reading excellent poetry that rhymes and makes sense, but also composing some of your own, this is the master to be discipled by. Sitting at Wilbur's feet for years can't help but enable some of his craft to rub off by sheer delight or osmosis. Merely by associating with poetry the way it was meant to be written can permanently raise the bar of anyone's craftsmanship to new levels. There is a richness in Wilbur's best work that is unrivaled among his contemporaries and matched by few of his predecessors (Frost, Robinson, Yeats, Hardy, Housman). Also recommended: get your hands and mind on anything Wilbur has written in the form of Essays/Prose that describe what great poetry is and why it will always be core to the human condition. Although Auden once said 'poetry doesn't make anything happen' in his Sept.1939 tribute to Yeats' death, Wilbur's comes closest to making something happen at the spiritual, cognitive and affective level of the human psyche that proves his subject matter matters and always will. Other than the late Frost, no American poet would be more richly deserving of the Nobel Prize for Literature than Richard Wilbur. But as a sincere Christian, he is laboring for no mortal pay; however, he humbly deserves all the accolades and tributes from what is past,or passing, or to come.

Richard Wilbur is undoubtedly the best poet of the last half of the 20th century. This book collects all his poetry other than Mayflies (published later) and a couple translations. Buy It!

This Pulitzer Prize-winning collection contains all of Wilbur (except his great translations of Moliere and Racine) in reverse chronological order of his books from 1989 to 1954. This is the opposite of most poetry collections, so it seems strange to have the poems get less confident as you read on. Still, the final poem, "The Beautiful Changes," is near-perfect and perfectly sums up Wilbur's paradoxical outlook: beauty is eternal and ever-changing.

Wilbur is old school. He is all about meter and rhyme and beauty. His command of sound and sense is second to none alive. (He has edited a collection of Poe's poetry and is famed for his accurate verse translations of Moliere's plays.)

As I read through this book, I put a star by every poem I liked. Flipping through it now, I see there is a star by almost every poem. I did not find Wilbur as deep or as challenging as Frost or Yeats, poets he is compared to by other reviewers on this site. I can, however, appreciate his mastery of the craft of formal poetry. This is not some bad pseudo-Shelley but really a poetry in the language of our time about the issues of our time.

If you detest rhyme, complex stanzas and short, potent lyrics, by all means avoid Mr. Wilbur. But if you find delight in the artful manipulation of language then you are depriving yourself of happiness in not reading this collection.

UPDATE: Wilbur has released a new COLLECTED POEMS in 2004 that supecedes this edition. It only adds a score or so of poems, but I recommend it because there are a few new ones like "Man Running" that no Wilbur fan should be without.

it's no wonder wilbur was once the poet laureate or that this collection won the pulitzer, the man is good. he uses the language beautifully (the way english was meant to be in poetry), he has tight control of the rhyme, meter, subject, and words in his poems. where he really shines is in his translations. wilbur is one of the best translators living today.

When it comes to writing from the heart, Joe Parry has few peers. His ability to weave a story in such a way that it brings out the true essence of our most basic emotions is a tremendous talent, for sure, but it also reflects the hard, agonizing work Joe puts into selecting just the right words to say exactly what he wants to say, when he wants to say it. It truly has been my pleasure to work with Joe for going on three decades, on the many features he's contributed to Pennsylvania Game News. Reading Joes's first book, "Of A Predatory Heart" was a tremendous showcase of Joe's talent, and I'm sure "A Rising Son" will be just as good-Bob Mitchell, Editor, Pennsylvania Game News.

This is a wonderful book, full of stories for anyone who enjoys or appreciates the outdoors! Joe Parry weaves a tapestry of wonderful tales in the stories contained within the pages of this book. Mr. Parry captures the very essence of the spirit of outdoors. His method of writing ensnares his readers, as he writes not only about the outdoors, hunting and fishing, but also of life, love, parenting, and fellowship between men. Fantastic work, Mr. Parry! Please keep them coming!

Reviewed by William Phenn for Reader Views (3/08)

Joe Parry is a Vietnam vet that is also an outdoorsman and a writer. He lives in Pennsylvania with his wife, son and daughter and writes his stories about this area. His stories have appeared in: Fins and Feathers, Turkey Magazine, Sports and Field, the Pennsylvania Game News, Field and Stream, Readers Digest, the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, Northwest Outdoors, the Philadelphia Daily News, and the Wellsboro Gazette.

Joe's stories on hunting, fishing and the outdoors cover so many areas of this lifestyle, from rip-snortingly funny to tear-jerking and sad. The tales that Joe recounts in his book are compelling and full of life. He mentions the torment within the heart of a hunter that has returned from the war, not wanting to kill again but missing the hunt -- taking that first shot and how it brought him back. Then there are the amusing tales of missed game, falling out of a tree stand and killing a tree with multiple arrows. The heartfelt stories of a young man's first hunting rifle. Joe introduced his children to the outdoors and instilled in them the appreciation of nature. He tells of his daughter being all excited about going hunting and the excitement of his son's first kill.

Joe does not limit his stories to just the people of the wilderness and outdoors, he also includes vignettes about his pets Bear and Tippy Two. He tells a very sweet story of how Bear saved his life by bringing him his Nitro when Joe left home without it. Out in the woods one day as the pain started shooting in his chest, who came to the rescue but his trusted hound Bear? Joe tells about his other hound Tippy Two, a little Beagle he bought for forty dollars. The story of her death is very sad and gives the reader an insight into Joe's feelings for his animals.

"Of a Predatory Heart" is a great book of the outdoors and it's more than just hunting stories. It is a book of love and feeling, sadness and courage, it is an emotional adventure. I enjoyed "Of a Predatory Heart" and gave it a very well-deserved A; it was an enjoyable read.

If you love the outdoors, you will love this book! Joe Parry is a phenomenal writer as well as a true outdoorsman. B. Krug

I very, very, very rarely read outdoorsy type books. I almost NEVER read hunting/fishing oriented books. The only type of book I read less is romance (and I never read them). So, why did I read this book? I'm not really sure. I stumbled upon one story and halfway through realized I was laughing so hard I was almost crying. So, I read another one. And ended up bawling my eyes out. Hmmmmm. After reading a third and then a fourth, I realized that hunting/fishing/outdoorsy or not, the stories in this book are addictive. It doesn't matter what type they are, they're stories from the heart and those stories work for anyone and everyone. So, whether you're an outdoorsy type who loves to hunt and fish or just someone who enjoys REAL stories that make you laugh and cry and just be glad that the author decided to share life with you for awhile, you really WILL love this book. Give it a shot, you won't be sorry.

This was a new experience for me. As a male who likes short stories and has read dozens of anthologies, this book by a woman about men and women made me feel like a voyeur unable to turn his eye away from the keyhole. The author is incredibly skilled and insightful as she takes the reader on 10 very enjoyable rides through periods in a number of lives -- each artfully constructed around romantic relationships (some in crisis) -- and each with the presence of at least one cat. The gemlike stories are so gripping several could turn into screen plays. They are interesting, unpredictable and provocative. The psychological elements reminded one of Ibsen, the social caste clashes brought to mind the fine 18th and 19th -Century English writers, and the romantic entanglements twisted by karma evoked certain French authors. There is no need to describe plots. As soon as you start to read, you will know you are in very competent hands. The cats are important in different ways in different stories. I note that practically all the other reviewers are women, so I felt I should add my voice by saying to male readers,

"If you want to know what 'They' are really thinking, read this book!"

I grabbed this when I saw it because I've got a nonfiction book coming out next spring (2002) on the connection between women and cats, saw this as a reward for getting the ms. done, and I'm so happy I did. Beautiful, lucid writing about real relationships -- primarily romantic human ones, as opposed to human-feline -- and a joy to read. The one on the schizoaffective brother-in-law ("The Closest Place") broke my heart with its truth (yeah, I've got a book on growing up with mentally ill siblings out, too). Hope she does a novel next. - Clea Simon, author of "Mad House" (Penguin), "Fatherless Women" (Wiley), and the upcoming "Feline Mystique" (St. Martin's).

What a great, sweet book. And about so much more than cats and men!! If you're looking for a book about cats, it's a must-read, but make no mistake, this book appeals equally to non "cat people" like myself (it's not that I don't like them -- I'm allergic). The cats are critical to the work, however, because they allow us to be the fly on the wall we always want to be when reading a great piece of fiction, or in any other way peering into the lives of others and secretly desiring a place at the table (or in this case, in the bed, on the couch, on a driveway in the sun). De Gramont weaves this brilliant literary device around her wonderfully vivid characters and the situations they find themselves in, drawing the reader in so hauntingly deep that the line between fiction and reality starts to blur. I rarely find a book that I enjoy so much. The characters will either become some of your favorite characters in fiction or remind you keenly of some of the genre's most memorable. I want more - more stories, and more of these people's lives. Read this book. We'll be waiting in line together for a copy of De Gramont's next book. It'll be fun.

What a great, sweet book. And about so much more than cats and men!! If you're looking for a book about cats, it's a must-read, but make no mistake, this book appeals equally to non "cat people" like myself (it's not that I don't like them -- I'm allergic). The cats are critical to the work, however, because they allow us to be the fly on the wall we always want to be when reading a great piece of fiction, or in any other way peering into the lives of others and secretly desiring a place at the table (or in this case, in the bed, on the couch, on a driveway in the sun). De Gramont weaves this brilliant literary device around her wonderfully vivid characters and the situations they find themselves in, drawing the reader in so hauntingly deep that the line between fiction and reality starts to blur. I rarely find a book that I enjoy so much. The characters will either become some of your favorite characters in fiction or remind you keenly of some of the genre's most memorable. I want more - more stories, and more of these people's lives. Read this book. We'll be waiting in line together for a copy of De Gramont's next book. It'll be fun.

This was a new experience for me. As a male who likes short stories and has read dozens of anthologies, this book by a woman about men and women made me feel like a voyeur unable to turn his eye away from the keyhole. The author is incredibly skilled and insightful as she takes the reader on 10 very enjoyable rides through periods in a number of lives -- each artfully constructed around romantic relationships (some in crisis) -- and each with the presence of at least one cat. The gemlike stories are so gripping several could turn into screen plays. They are interesting, unpredictable and provocative. The psychological elements reminded one of Ibsen, the social caste clashes brought to mind the fine 18th and 19th -Century English writers, and the romantic entanglements twisted by karma evoked certain French authors. There is no need to describe plots. As soon as you start to read, you will know you are in very competent hands. The cats are important in different ways in different stories. I note that practically all the other reviewers are women, so I felt I should add my voice by saying to male readers,

"If you want to know what 'They' are really thinking, read this book!"

This delightful collection of short stories was based on Rose Wilder Lane's life as she was growing up. She accurately
described the issues women faced at around the turn of a century, especially that of being an old maid! An old maid if
you're not married by your mid-20's? Wow!

The stories in this book was a combination of humorous and some seriousness. The characters were realistic and seem to come to life for that time period.

I bought my copy at the museum in Mansfield because I always wanted to read Rose's work. This book is a gem. The essay introducing the book is worth getting the book but each story is a gem on its own. Her voice is fresh and rings well today. You would not know she lived in the first half of the 20th century.

I have loaned this book out to 2 people now and all of us are knocked out at how good Rose was. Purchase it, read it. Rose was well known in the early part of last century for good reason. Let's bring this author back to the audience she richly deserves today.

This is a hidden jewel in american literature: a detailed portrait of life before women's right to vote was a federal law, before Margaret Sanger, before Rosie the Riveter. The author survived small town life, and lived to tell and in her own way celebrate it. I will be giving this book to all the tweenager girls I know (and my own daughter when she is old enough!).

This book is wonderful, funny and hearwarming. My great aunt was born in the same era and used to tell me similar stories in this fashion. What a life women had in the olden days, there are not many real life accounts in print that are honest and true. This one is. What a fun book to read.

Rose is just as gripping a writer as her mother, although with a far more adult narrative style.