African Books

I bought this book for the illustrations, but I found the story was just as beautiful. My grandson who has just started playing the trumpet loved it, too. In fact, he even made the effort to give me a call after he had read it to share his enthusiasm. I will definately purchase more of this remarkable woman's work,

As an international music teacher we need to give all theencouragement we can give to keep the music programs alive in ourschools. Not just in the states but in the world. This short story relates to the young hopeful musican who hopes to be a contributor to the music world - Keep the dream.

Ben's Trumpet (authored and illustrated by Rachel Isadora) was named a Caldecott Honor book for best illustrations in 1980. Honor! These black and white pics are striking! I'll have to read the book that actually won that year. I can't imagine anything better than "Ben". But that's beside the point.


Summary

Ben has an imaginary trumpet and frequents the outside of the Zig Zag Jazz Club. He plays his "trumpet" for his mother, father, grandmother, and baby sister. But when neighborhood children see him playing, they laugh and call him crazy. Ben decides to quit playing his imaginary trumpet, until he meets with the trumpeter from the club.

Ben's Trumpet is a masterful with a simple text and "art-deco" that is remeniscent of The Jazz Era. Isadora is successful in conveying a cool, jazzy feel. A must-read with a satisfying conclusion. Play on!

R

In the age of computer games and 3-D animation, the simple imagination of a child to envision himself learning to be a jazz musician is refreshing. Unlike previous reviews, I feel the dramatic black and white drawings set off some of the cultural issues the illustrations portray. Obviously, young Ben does not live an idealized childhood at home. Yet, he finds that his passion for music can only be fulfilled outside of jazz clubs (which usually perform late in the evening and he is too young to enter). The point of the book is how he acts out THIS reality. He is looking "outside of the box" (hence the illustrations of his home life) and finds the attention from the father-figure (the trumpeter) who Ben wants to imitate. The book vividly illustrates the importance of role models in a child's life.

There are large and small crimes in the world. Small crimes includes little white lies and petty theft. Large crimes represent something much larger in the grand scheme of things. For example, it is a very large crime that it took the New York Public Library's 2003 100 Children's Books Everyone Should Know for me to discover "Ben's Trumpet". Have you seen this book? This is a gorgeous piece of work, particularly striking in its publication date (1979) but not dated. Not even a little. Following Ben, a young man living in a Harlem-esque neighborhood, the story depicts the boy's obsession with playing the trumpet. The plot is touching and has a happy ending that doesn't feel forced or tacked on. It flows just as smoothly as the book itself. Nice storylines aren't what push this book into greatness, however. Look at the illustrations a minute. Notice Isadora's use of line. Her clever placement of black and white. Look at the different drawing styles that emanate from the jazz musicians and their music. Now compare this to Ben's home, a simplistic realistic series of pictures. My favorite section comes after the trumpeter at the Zig Zag Jazz Club compliments Ben on his trumpet playing. The next two pages show the trumpeter walking away, his body curved, swaying to some internal music. On the opposite page there is a kaleidoscope of forms and images, possibly representing Ben's elation at the compliment. Possibly just serving as gorgeous filler. Please read this to your children. Teach this to your children. And give this book to everyone you know. Do I gush? I know I do. But trust me, this book is worth it.

I purchased these cards in the late 90's but didn't really use them until a couple of years ago. I truly missed out by not using them earlier. The book is a wonderful guide that is very clear on how to understand and interpret the cards and a good read. Recently I introduced a sister-friend to these cards and she loved them. The cards are very insightful and enlightening if you use them right. The cards also give you the truth about yourself and others. Every sister-friend should have these cards on hand.

The wit and wisdom of Whoopi Goldgerg is here. The courage, grace and dignity of Maya Angelou is here. The vunerability and open guidance of personal conviction which Opra, shows us all, is here. Thank YOU, Earthlyn, for providing a simple but vibrant text for us all, Black, White, Hispanic,Native American, Asian, and any other combination of the above. We needed you. We need this. The vibrance of the cards key to the message from the text and remain a reassuring guide for our growth.

Earthlyn Manuel, whose name signifies the spice of life, has written a gift for all women. Over the centuries, especially here, in the U.S.A., Black women have had to fight for their dignity, strength and individuality, in a way that few can undrestand. The author does. And with great courage, tenderness and intrinsic conviction, presents the truth about us all. She writes for the Black woman who has maintained through it all. She writes of her srengths and her challenges, her foibles and her flaws. But most of all, she writes of the courage and love and power of the goddess in each of us. Black women are strong women. They could not have survived if they weren't. Many are my heros.

It is wonderful to have a healing guide that is African American centered. The Black Angel Book and Cards provide tools to do deep soul searching and to rediscover our beauty, power and and magic. I like Earthlyn's use of the "waking" and "sleeping" paths. Be ready to look within and go to the deep river. It is a path to honest self-reflection. It is a path to unweaving the webs and coming to a place of unconditional self-love. I have laughed and cried. The cards are beautiful and inspiring. I have used them alone and shared the experience with friends.

The book and the cards are beautifully developed to help you tap into spirit more readily. I found the suggestions quite helpful and the cards do invoke spiritual awareness.

This book along with the cards is such the gift from Creator. It is a reminder for me as a Black Woman of my soul and how to take care of it/ ME. I am very grateful to Earthlyn for being open to receiving this information and her willingness to then pass the information on to sisters like me. I share this book and cards with all in my life regardless of race or gender.

The love in this book is for everyone!

somebody told it like it is...The judicial system is not balanced and it never will be. Thanks judge for telling the truth!

As a New Yorker, I remember Judge Bruce Wright well. He was dubbed: "Cut 'em loose Bruce", because he often released arrested citizens without their having to post bail money. Mr. Wright upheld the law that bail is not to be used as a punishment, but only as a guarantee that the accused party return to court to face the charges against he/she. This infuriated the "powers-that-be". The fact that Judge Wright is a Black man, and many of those who came before him were also Black people, swayed the media to portray his actions as racially motivated, as opposed to his acknowledgement of the law. His book superbly reflects the blatant inequitableness of the criminal justice system and how it is purposely designed to work against Blacks and other people of color. His personal experiences, as a sitting judge, lend great credence to his analogy and conclusions concerning the legal system. Wright fearlessly gives names and elaborates on instances wherein he witnessed and experienced bias in the system. This book is not written in "textbook" fashion, provides some humorous irony and is very informative. Add it to your library.

I'm still reading this book. First time reading a book like this.This is one of the greatest. I recommend this book to be added to your library. It's gives truthful information of the legal system concerning the racism of blacks in the court system.

This book is an eye opener. It give you the truth behind the justice system from the perpective of a Sumpreme Court Judge who exposed the racism in the court system in New York. I never heard of Bruce Wright and happen I purchased this book. I have a lot of respect for the author.

somebody told it like it is...The judicial system is not balanced and it never will be. Thanks judge for telling the truth!

The perfect compliment to Marc Baptiste's "Beautiful". Place these 2 books alone on your coffee table and you are sure to have great 'party talk'.

This book is great. It contradicts all the stereotypes about African-Americans being ugly and filthy. This book has beautiful pictures of African American people of all ages. Everyone looks like the royalty that we once were, picture perfect. This is a must have...especially if you like artistic nudity. I highly recommend it!

I was looking for a fresh but classy addition to my coffee table collection that now consists of ONLY Marc Baptiste's 'Beautiful'. Therefore, I was very discriminating about the runner-up. I was looking for another book that contained erotica, but did not want to push the envelope into an area of tackiness. However, Rundu's studio photography, mixed with a tasteful collection of spontaneous location pictures, offer a nice complement to my 'green' collection of eclectic coffee table books.

Black Love is Long overdue too Be Viewed with Class&Style.this Book Hits Home.Very Solid Pictures&Poems that set the tone really well.I wish The FIlm Business would Show this more often&TV as well.Very essential.

The African-American sexualtiy is shown in not only an erotic fashion, but with a romantic class. "Body and Soul" is refreshing view of sexual mood which as of lately has been lost, and redefined. The poems bring to life the sexual impulse of the photographs. A sensuous delight for both the body, and soul.

I read "The Bond" over two nights. What an incredible story! It tells the story of triumph over adversity. I recommend every parent; single or married; every teacher,teen-ager, male or female read this book!

This is a wonderful book, particularly for men and teen-age boys who have difficult relationships with their fathers. In their sequel to "The Pact," the three doctors -- Jenkins, Davis and Hunt -- give an open and honest account of how they learned to forgive and reconnect with their dads. In a unique twist, the fathers' stories also are told, revealing how a generational curse such as fatherlessness is hard to break. The women's guild of my church read "The Bond" for a recent book discussion. We had a great conversation with author Margaret Bernstein.

"The Bond" is a story about three African-American doctors who lived in Newark, New Jersy. Drs. Hunt, Davis and Jenkins all show what srtuggles of inner-city life can bring.

The three doctors have taken their time to discuss what has become a big problem in the U.S. and the world -- absentee fathers. Their fathers didn't "measure up" to their idea of what a father should be. Whether it was as a result of the fathers not being at home, unmarried, alcoholism, drugs, jail or simply not knowing how to communicate, one thing is for sure, it's not okay to bring a child into this world solely to fend for themselves.

The Bond by the Three Doctors, as they are more affectionately called, is an extension of their first book, The Pact. In The Pact, Sampson Davis, George Jenkins and Rameck Hunt tell how they became friends in high school and ultimately, how they promised to stick together and graduate from college to become doctors. The Bond goes even further into the friendship of these three young men.

Davis, Jenkins and Hunt were able to become friends because of what is considered a growing epidemic in the African American community - children growing up in single family homes. Each doctor tells the reason why his father was not present in his home. They also give their fathers an opportunity to share their stories. They learn that their fathers either grew up in the same circumstances or they did not know themselves, the impact they were passing on through each generation. The doctors discuss how they struggled to learn about developing relationships with women, building confidence, and peer pressure and to learn a simple task such as how to fix a tie or picking out a suit without the guidance of male presence in their lives. They also discuss their devotions to their mothers, who sacrificed to keep their families together. Despite not having a male role model, the doctors basically learned from each other. The Bond tells of their need and desire to understand the reasons why their fathers were absent and what they have done to begin to build relationships with their fathers. Dr. Hunt stated "even though they missed out on a portion of their lives, parenthood last a lifetime".

The story was very compelling and thought provoking. The Doctors also describe the ways that they have set out to mentor other children who are growing up in similar homes. This is a recommended book that can be read by both males and females who are living in single family homes and are struggling to come to terms with an absent parent.

Reviewed by: Priscilla C. Johnson
APOOO BookClub

In Newark, Sampson Davis, George Jenkins, and Rameck Hunt met as fatherless children struggling to survive ghetto living without a male mentor or role model; they formed THE PACT in high school to help one another make it and they succeeded as each became a doctor.

In THE BOND, the physicians look into the most prevalent disease destroying America's family: no father. The trio does this by seeking their dads, who never had a role in their lives. The threesome separately describe growing up fatherless and how difficult that is to overcome, but do not add any new insight than they already described in the PACT. However, their recommendations to youths suffering from this pandemic illness are solid especially to go out and find a role model to mentor you. However, the most poignant segments are the sections written by the absentee dads, who offer no rationalization as to why, but explain their failures in depth. Especially discerning is that each of them also grew up fatherless. THE BOND is a moving autobiography and though anecdotal should be must reading for everyone who wonders what has gone wrong with the American family unit as generational repetition is difficult to turn around.

Harriet Klausner

I'm a longtime fan of Pullman's "His Dark Materials" series who recently read "The White Mercedes". Upon reviewing that rather interesting book, Amazon showed me this little book in my recommendations. The excellent price and intriguing description made me purchase it. I am pleased to say that I was not disappointed in the least.

"The Broken Bridge" is a really great novel for young adults about fitting in and dealing with family. Ginny's life, which she's rarely questioned, comes into question when she discovers a brother, a best friend's older sister, and her own past. Ginny is a pretty cool character, in that she's really easy to relate to. Her awkwardness at times and fears are realistic. Her anger makes sense. She's a perfectly constructed person, living inside a book. Other characters are equally real.

I liked Ginny's development over the summer, emotional and otherwise. She's a bit impulsive and that makes for an interesting read. Thankfully, this novel is very teen-friendly (minus a few swear-words) and should pass any "appropriateness" test, though it deals with serious subjects very well. It will capture the reader quickly and strongly, until you really want to know what happens. And the ending does not disappoint.

"The Broken Bridge" manages to deal with a number of serious issues quite well. Ginny, as a mixed-race teen, faces a number of racial insecurities, living alone with her white father and white community. Her strong artistic bond to her mother is meaningful as well, and this artistic aspect to the novel should draw in (no pun intended) artists as well. The way she views the world is quite special and unique.

Mysterious, well written, and absolutely enjoyable, "The Broken Bridge" is not the same fantasy Pullman, but still the same fantastic Pullman. Highly recommended!

Not up to the same standard as 'His Dark Materials' but it's aimed at a different market, I guess.

I found the writing good, creating that dreamlike, unreal, almost nightmarish feeling when your world is suddenly turned upside down.
The book grips you and you feel dragged along with our heroine as she tries to make sense of what is happening and the 'visions' she has; the only failing is the ending which seems a bit of an anticlimax.

Nevertheless, a very good read.

This is a wonderful book. I think it will resonate with many readers, who might relate to it even though the circumstances are unique.

Philip Pullman has a powerful gift. It convinces us to not only enter into the minds of his protagonists with sympathy, but to emerge actually caring about them. I really miss Ginny now, having finished the book. I try, in my imagination, to watch her grow up. I think she'll be brilliant, just like many of the readers who can relate to her and her step-brother.

As you begin reading the book, you're not told a whole lot; and I liked that. It made me more alert to cues in her thinking, watching her moods and the things that happen around her that she doesn't quite pay enough attention to.

On the other hand, the things she *does* notice are with the eyes of an artist, and one with a creative imagination. Readers who also like to draw and paint will find lots to like about the way Ginny thinks. It's a view of an artist's way, from an artist himself... and just like the best art, it moves something in us in a very subtle but profound way.

The book deals with feelings of isolation, which many of us encounter through race issues but everyone *could* understand, given a writer like Pullman. And then there's the matter of growing up. What happens when Ginny's secure world seems too small, but getting out of it is too scary? What happens when what she thinks she knows is not half of what's really there beneath her nose? Pullman makes her story a lot like our own story. We're hooked.

Her growing awareness of others' lives, her ability to move from a genuine and thoughtful sympathy to actual empathy - putting herself in their shoes, rather than looking at their shoes from her perspective, so to speak - is handled so well, I can't help but think we readers all benefit too.

Philip Pullman will probably always be best known for the "His Dark Materials" trilogy. This may be appropriate, as this trilogy - The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass - are superior fantasy. But there is more to Pullman than these three books. The Broken Bridge is a standalone novel that shows Pullman's skills go beyond just a single genre.

The Broken Bridge is the story of Ginny, a black (actually mixed-race) sixteen year old girl living in Wales with her white father. Despite the disadvantages of having a long-deceased mother (who came from Haiti) and being one of the very few non-whites in her coastal community, Ginny is reasonably well-adjusted. This stable life comes to a close, however, when a social worker appears at her house. Shortly thereafter, her father reveals something that will completely upset her life: her father had a son by another woman; the woman is dying and soon her half-brother will be living with them.

This revelation is only the first of many that will completely turn Ginny's life upside-down and make her question everything and everyone she has known. The most damaged relationship, however, is with her father who still has a number of other secrets that are beginning to leak out. But there are other truths that will be learned too, regarding her friends, her grandparents and her mother.

This is classified as a "young adult" novel, as most of Pullman's books are, but like his other works, these can actually appeal to any adult readers. I would guess it gets this classification because it is tame from a sex, violence or language standpoint, but the topics - including racism, adultery and even murder - are not exactly "childish."

Pullman is as a good a writer as always. The only disappointment readers are likely to experience is if they expect something like His Dark Materials. Outside of possibly one scene, this story is completely non-fantasy. But if you realize that Pullman can do more than just that one genre, you will find this is another is another good book by him.

The Broken Bridge is a beautifully written book about a girl named Ginny Howard, who is one of the very few black children in Wales. Ginny lives with her father, striving to reach her goal of becoming an artist. Then she finds out that she has a white half-brother named Robert. Even worse, she is illegitimate. Knowing that her father may not be telling her the whole truth about her own life, Ginny decides to find out all that she can about herself and her mother. The plot is embellished with Ginny's unique ideas about herself and also her artistic views. This book was very inspiring and I find that I can associate many of the things discussed in it with my own life. I am definitely better off from reading it.

I've read this book several times, and it never fails to move me. I don't think I've read a more powerful book. Oprah needs to get on this one.

Brother to a Dragonfly is the story of 2 brothers who, in their own way, idolize each other. Will looks up to his older brother Joe. Joe is the protector. He always wants to make things right. And Joe knows that Will is destined to have a mark on the world. But Will D. Campbell has written more than a memoir in writing about growing up with his brother Joe in rural Mississippi. He has captured a piece of America's past. This book reads like a novel - poverty, war, race relations, the civil rights movement, drug addiction, domestic violence - it's all there. Occasionally Campbell makes an awkward jump in the story, but this some how enhances the voice and reminds the reader that this is life. Life doesn't always flow like we would like it to. While telling the story of his brother, Campbell paints a portrait of southerners (himself) during the civil rights movement that don't always get the recognition they deserve. I was surprised by the insights he had 40 years ago about both sides of the civil rights movement. I was even more surprised to find that I had bought into many of the southern stereotypes, and I'm southern!
If you are interested in southern literature, coming of age stories, family relationships, American history from 1930's to 1960's, or the Civil Rights Movement, you need to add Brother to a Dragonfly to your list of reads. Will D. Campbell gives a first rate account of his experience. While it is only one man's view, it is a rich one!

This book sets the standard for brotherly love: through the joyous days of youth, through sickness, through the reversal of who worships who, each standing up for the other no matter what.

This book also wrestles with faith, guilt before the law versus guilt before God, examines stereotypes and throws them away.

"Suddenly I knew a lot of things I had not known before. I knew that I had been caught in my own trap. (In a discussion with a Klansman) Suddenly I knew that we are a nation of Klansmen. I knew that as a nation we stood for peace, harmony and freedom in that war (Vietnam), that we defined the words, and that the means we were employing to accomplish those ends were identical with the ones he had listed."

Follow Will Campbell in his journey with his brother and your horizons will be broadened.

If you were raised in the south as I was, have an interest in the civil rights movement, or want to enjoy one of the most irreverent Christian curmudgeons ever to irritate the church, then read Will Campbell (b. 1924). Campbell was born and raised in the rural and very poor deep south of Amite, Mississippi, "ordained" by family members at a local Baptist church when he was seventeen, and, in a delightfully improbable life, played a central role as an activist and agitator on behalf of African Americans. But to leave it at that would badly misrepresent him.

After World War II Campbell studied at Tulane, Wake Forest, and Yale. He served as Director of Religious life at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss), but left after two years because his controversial views attracted death threats. He then did a stint for the National Council of Churches where he worked with most of the civil rights luminaries. In 1957, Campbell was one of four people who escorted the nine black students who integrated Little Rock's Central High School; and he was the only white person to attend the founding of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference by the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. So, how did he come to sip whiskey with the KKK and get hate mail from the left?

Campbell came to distrust all movements and institutions, especially the church (he once referred to television preachers as liars, frauds, and "electronic soul molesters"). He dismissed all politics as impotent. It was less than Christian, he realized, to agitate for the oppressed but to hate the oppressor. No, one could not preach what Luther called a "fictitious grace." God loves the redneck Klansmen as well as the disinherited blacks. For the most part, Brother to a Dragonfly tells the story of Campbell's deep love for his brother Joe, and how the latter's tragic demise to alcohol, drugs, and domestic violence led to his premature death. But it was through Joe and an overtly pagan family friend that Campbell had a conversion later in life. Without realizing it, he recalls, his twenty years of ministry had become one of "liberal sophistication. An attempted negation of Jesus, of human engineering, of riding the coattails of Caesar, of playing on his ballpark, by his rules and with his ball, of looking to government to make and verify and authenticate our morality, of worshipping at the shrine of enlightenment and academia, of making an idol of the Supreme Court, a theology of law and order and of not only denying the Faith I professed to hold but my history and my people--the Thomas Colemans [who murdered two civil rights workers]. Loved. And if loved, forgiven. And if forgiven, reconciled." There was all the difference in the world, he realized, between being a "doctrinaire social activist," however laudable, and a follower of Jesus. The key? "I came to understand the nature of tragedy. And one who understands the nature of tragedy can never take sides."

Christian renegade, preacher, author of twenty books and plays, farmer, country musician, friend of Thomas Merton, and agent provocateur, Will Campbell loves a good chew of tobacco and will strike many as enigmatic. Not everyone will appreciate his rapier wit. But PBS profiled him in their documentary "God's Will," in 2000 President Clinton honored him with a National Endowment for the Humanities medal, and Brother to a Dragonfly won numerous literary awards.

Brother to a dragonfly, Will D Campbell's brilliant,evocative, nostalgic luminous memoir teels the story of his family in the pre-tva rural south. Though much much more then a simple coming of age story,it is the story of 2 brothers,their lives amid the greatest change in this ountry since the civil war. Will D Campbell and his brother Joe stories are told so movingly,and with such deep power that ,by the end it will move you to tears. It is the sory of a man,family,RELIGION,the south,race,addiction,love and death. It will shatter any preconcieved notions and stereotypes,for Will D Campell is a true iconoclast. I run out of superlatives to describe this book. Read it.

Can redemption exemplified by the likes of a cold-blooded killer bound by the code of the streets in a drug-infested environment, find a safe haven? What would have to be sacrificed? By the Rivers of Babylon Cindy Brown Austin answers these queries in a riveting fashion with enough twists and curves for subplots to truly make it a character-driven delight. Moreover, it's a street-wise adaptation of life full of the type of mayhem that defines what it means to be in control of money, drugs, and the aftermath after the smoke clears.

Lincoln Duval is a ruthless Drug Lord that adapted to the wiles of the trade early and often to achieve a legendary reputation by controlling people, circumstances, and destiny through both force and guile - until his heart betrayed him! Enter Gabriella Sinclair, an astute Christian journalist that plays havoc with his psyche -- so much so that it threatens to dismantle his entire organization, and creates dissention among the ranks after he falls in love with her. Iniquity and benevolence are not good mixes when one is forced to serve and acknowledge one master. Lincoln struggles, but manages to give us an intrusive picture of his inner self - thanks to the pen of Ms Austin.

The storyline is simple but gains poignancy in how the main character gains notoriety by moving up in the ranks. I especially like the way Ms Austin fused a labyrinth of contrast by giving readers balance in depicting the underbelly of how one several characters are reactionary to the environment that crime creates. What makes this story so compelling is how she connected the sensibilities of love, deception, amid the unpredictability of slippery footing without losing step with continuity. The story moves moderately along with enough pauses for dramatic effect.

Not only does Gabriella invade his heart, she becomes much more than a secondary figure and commands her own space for relevance. The secondary characters are meshed interchangeably due to timely appearances in individual chapters adding intrigue to the drama. Redemptive value can be justified in this case to save a soul, especially when we are given a great story to sit back and enjoy. Cindy Brown Austin brought it and gave flavor to a setting that is not often so prevalent and displayed more in Urban Fiction. I rated the book five stars out 5, and would strongly suggest that you buy and add this book to your collection!

By the Rivers of Babylon is a fast paced well written novel which marries "Urban" or "Street" Lit with a low key, yet powerful Christian theme. Not preachy or judgmental, this tastefully written story unfolds in a mesmerizing, and seamless flow. The main character, a woman reporter by the name of Gabriella Sinclaire, meets and falls in love with Lincoln Duvall, a notorious criminal, murderer and drug kingpin. Cindy Brown Austin has created in Lincoln Duvall the ultimate sexy bad guy. This man is so fine, every red-blooded girl- Christian or otherwise- will fantasize about his looks, his clothing, his charisma. But, the things he does, and the people he hurts--ah---what a tragedy.

Gabriella is a Christian girl who grew up and then away from the hood, loves God, and is celibate. The two meet, and we see their love unfold in a manner that could only have been pre-ordained since the beginning of time. Supernatural powers come into play in this tale of money, power, betrayal, lust, corruption and love. On a scale of one to ten, this is definitely a ten, due to Ms. Austin's astute grasp of street culture, her deft portrayal of character, her in-depth depiction of the unique ways in which black folks relate and her sophisticated writing style.


Reviewed by Alicia M. H. Latimer
Sisters Sippin' Tea Literary Group - Tulsa Chapter

This emotionally entwining fiction could also be many people's real lives. Dealing with several of the most contentious issues in our current society, this story bears on the conscience of all political, religious and ethnic groups by addressing the heart of the matter. What does it take to live truly while having the very core of your lives tested, tormented?

All of that swirls around two boys that grew up in the hard ghetto and both aspire to be preachers in their early childhood. Both extremely intelligent, handsome and able. Both avoid the pulpit when they mature. One becomes a vice cop and the other a Mafioso protégé. But who is the real hypocrite? Caught in the middle of both their love for a lone woman is `Bunny' who must decide the fate of her very being, by deciding which man she truly loves and what to do about it. Caught in the middle are the readers, themselves, as they take a stark view of religious hypocrisy, moral vice/integrity and where truth really resides in peace.

There are those kind of `religious' stories which bore one with there cookie-cutter plots and lines and patronizations. You will find none of that in this most excellent tale. There is no prescription, no magic wand of religion waved here. Yet, deep between their lives, is a gut wrenching faith wrung out of the pains and revelations within this story that I had to read above all the other many important tasks of my day. It was a truly enjoyable experience and I recommend this novel to all folks, young and old. It would be most excellent as part of any literature curriculum.

Darryl Markowitz- author of Call of the Tree Book I of the Faithwalker Series
Former high school science teacher.
Call of the Tree: The legacy from the Tree of Life as passed down through generations to the unknown... (Faith Walker)

Day after day of despair, denigration, danger in an arching echo of violence and death by gun, knife, suicide and emotional fatigue; cement blocks in a built environment of din and no win; metal encased doors, multiple locks, industrial plumbing, broken elevators, and stairwells of terror...the hot stale air of a ramshackle Third Ward apartment...Hell with the lid lifted. In this maze one finds families, children, old people, calculated courting, loneliness, mind-numbing boredom, unchallenged spirit, wit and creativity channeled into a survival game; lost souls looking for love in all the wrong places, beaten down psyches self-enslaved to the "Dude of the Moment." The anti-hero reigns...but is that all there is?

This stark question and its answer is folded in these 358 pages of a breathtaking and fast paced journey into the dynamics of a wrenching love story seeded on the banks of a dark river snaking through a bleak housing project in the urban backyard of American politics.

Brown-Austin's book is loaded with slick semiotics, parody, pain, bravado and yearning, yearning for what? The hapless context almost overwhelms the possibility of even the slightest redemption; a fragile hope of reaching the sweet golden shores of Beulah land; finding normalcy on the lip of a volcano - miraculously, love steps out of the shadows, swims past the waves of lust and bitterness in reaching the promised land of love on par between a man and a woman - respect, dignity and mutual protection. An incredulously slippery route clogged with dead ends, sharp curves guarded by the inverted ritual of face and strut; bad-ass, casual stance, diamond glance, schooled indifference, muscle-bound ebony capable of rendering a physical oblivion of lust with a demand for more, and more, and more. Brown-Austin's primo characters are captivating: Alexander Lincoln Duvall is checkmated by a mysterious undulating river-of-a-woman, Gabriella...like the Angel!

This book is not a book for the florid love story crowd. It serves up a gory autopsy of gang violence, and machismo choking the very life out of a low-level rat as a lesson to the big cats hiding in the shadows. You want a love story that includes "A black panther-man with sequins for eyes" and an "Angelfied" woman capable of enveloping all and any insecurities a dude might be hiding? With the need for gamesmanship abandoned, their love flame flares from blue to indigo, embracing the stars. Go for it; it will knock the socks off your insomnia hours.
_____


BY THE RIVERS OF BABYLON
Cindy Brown Austin
Strebor Books, New York: 2007

Jess Maghan, PhD - Chester, CT.
jmaghan@comcast.net

With a long term strategy to control drug trafficking in the slum Wards that the major Japanese firms would admire, Lincoln "Linc" Duvall began his ascent up the street corporate company as a runner. Over time he proved effective and efficient even at murder; his superiors kept promoting him. His understanding of supply and demand ultimately led to his becoming his own boss of the Third Ward trafficking with people running and selling under his direction.

The Heartford Chronicle assigns Christian reporter Gabriella "Gabby" Sinclaire to write the story about evil Linc. Although Gabby is engaged to church-attending overly protective Trevis "Trev" Cooper, she and Linc fall in love. However Linc abandoned God for the devil's trade while she remains strong in her belief that all sinners, even killers like him, can find redemption. Will he turn her away from the Lord; will she escort him back to the Lord; or as most likely will occur their relationship die when each rejects the other's opposite pole.

Though conceptually (and legally) difficult to accept the premise that a formerly cold blooded killer can be redeemed if he or she finds God, BY THE RIVERS OF BABYLON is a deep contemporary fiction driven by the lead protagonists. To a degree the strong support cast augments the contrast between Linc and Gabriella as opposite vortexes of the religious diameter. The urban setting adds to this deep modern day inspirational thriller as the audience wonders the final outcome between the drug king and the religious reporter.

Harriet Klausner

Cajun Moon satisfied the need for a good story in me. Cajun Moon resonated. Everything about it, the characterizations, the settings, the emotional impact of the backstory all came together to form an exquisite reading experience. To all you seasoned multicultural romance readers out there: This book is like the one that got you hooked on romance in the first place. The story gets into your head and you find yourself reading at a slower pace toward the end because you don't want the story to be over. If you read the book's description you already know who the characters are: Sassiere "Sassy" Crillon has been Roux Robespierre's girl since they were old enough to know what puppy love was. They've been together for twenty years and engaged far too long in my opinion. Sassy catches him with his pants down and breaks off the engagement. It wasn't the first time she caught him cheating, after all. On the very night her heart is ripped in two she goes into hysterics and hits her head, knocking herself out. In her unconscious state she's rescued by Aiden Symonds who knows more about her than is normal for a perfect stranger (but we won't go into that)and taken home. It appears that Aiden has been waiting for the chance to pursue Sassy, and that night she fell into his arms. He will do everything to win her. In the meantime, Roux will do everything in his power to get her back. But what does Sassy want? Now, that's the question! Ms. Gunn has written a story that is multilayered and rich in tone and imagery. You will feel as if you're in New Orleans, San Francisco, NYC and Napa Valley. What's more, there is a mystery to be solved, and secrets to be revealed. You've got pathos, fiery passion, and a little bit of history to sink your teeth into.

Don't miss this excellent novel!

When I purchased "Cajun Moon", I did not know what to expect; however, as I began to read, I could hardly put it down, yet I had to slow myself down as I got toward the end. I so enjoyed each of the characters and I fell madly in love with Aiden. The descriptions of the various places in New Orleans were so precise that I wished I was there; and, the development of each character was such that I thought I knew them. As Aiden and Sassy danced to their favorite song, "The Very Thought of You", the tune began to resonate in my brain. I went to my computer and played the song and have added it to my list of songs to learn.

I was sooooo happy with the ending--I was afraid something crazy was going to happen to one of them and they would not be together. I loved Aiden's appeal to Sassy in San Francisco that it brought tears to my eyes (when a man loves a woman) wow!! And, in turn I loved Sassy's appeal to Aiden on the ski slope. What a great love story. That book stayed with me for several days, so that I could not begin to read anything else.

Congratulations on a great love story and a command of the English language and the ability to paint a picture/scene with words that held my attention to the very end. I had to slow myself down toward the end because wanted it to last forever.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention Ivanhoe, who put the 'ho' in Ivanhoe. What a supportive and loving character!! And, I suspected toward the end that he was "the one".

Thank you Ms. Dunn for such a wonderfully written and entertaining book. All the best to you in your future endeavors and your "new characters".

Superb story line with richly developed, intelligent, and empathetic characters. Really enjoyed the manner in which the plot developed and the detailed descriptions of the surroundings, music, city of New Orleans, and emotions. A serendipity was the reminder of good music and classic movies that I've heard and seen over the years. There were several for which my interest was sparked to revisit.

WELL DONE! I so enjoyed this novel that during the last 20 pages I forced myself to stop reading so that I could visit with these characters again the next day. The ending was well worth the wait.

I just love this book--the characters are so well developed that you begin to think of them as friends you really care about. GiGi Gunn paints a picture with words so vivid that each page brings with it a visual that transports you not only into the character's mind set but also to their geographic locations. The real joys of the book are the twists and turns that the reader can not predict or fully imagine until they happen.

Cajun Moon can be read cover to cover in one day as you sit on the beach, sun deck or on your sofa on a rainy day OR you can read a little each day just to keep the characters alive and part of your world. Whatever your choice--it is a must read.

I have to say I could not put this book down. I started reading it about 11:30 pm saturday night and it was 2:30 before I made myself put it down and go to bed. Got up and immediately finished it. Very good story. The characters were very believeable and likeable. I like the way the author was able to pull you into the story and you didn't want to let go until you knew all the secrets!! I don't know if this is her first, but if not, I'll be searching for the others!!

Being a Hank Aaron bibliographer, I found this work to be an excellent acknowledgment of African-American players who were able to play MLB. It is unfortunate that so many of the Negro League greats were unable to do so! Another great read! relevant to the younger generation of fan.

Even though former New York Mets outfield Vic Coleman proclaimed, "I don't know no Jackie Robinson and I don't care to," baseball fans surely know the story of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier.

All baseball fans, however, would do themselves a favor by reading this book about the other black players who integrated baseball. Integrating the game wasn't accomplished when Robinson stepped into the Dodgers' lineup in 1947. Black players suffered humiliating treatment in the minors and the major leagues for many years.

Jacobson, a sports reporter and columnist for Newsday for 44 years, brings together the experiences of 19 black players for a powerful testament to an ugly and shameful period of history and sports.

Jacobson tells the story of famous players such as Bob Gibson, Ernie Banks, Elston Howard, Frank Robinson, Hank Aaron and Lou Brock, as well as lesser known players such as Charlie Murray (Eddie's brother), Alvin Jackson and Ed Charles. No player (or person) should have endured what they did.

As a kid following baseball in the 1960s, I had no idea what black players had to endure. It didn't make any difference to us if a player was black or white. After reading this book, I have a lot more respect for their accomplishments and character.

Author Steve Jacobson has tracked down various former black players who were willing to share their experiences on what it was like to break into major league baseball following Jackie Robinson's trailblazing effort in 1947. Larry Doby, who shortly followed Robinson, asked, "Do you think it was any easier eleven weeks later?" Ball clubs would sign players to contracts and not prepare them in any way for the racist experiences they would soon be introduced to. Many understandably couldn't deal with the bigotry that was thrown at them while others asked themselves, "What would Jackie do?" The book includes the names of several individuals who assisted these young black athletes. Their small kindnesses will never be forgotten. Michael Jordan was asked why he hadn't campaigned for a Democrat to unseat Jesse Helms in the North Carolina Senate. Jordan's answer, "Republicans buy sneakers, too." Baseball and America have come a long way since Pumpsie Green integrated the last remaining all-white team, the Boston Red Sox, in 1959. However, before we get too smug in the success that has been achieved, there are still reminders that we must continue, as Lou Brock stated, to "cope with the ever-present danger." I did find one irritating mistake that was made four times on pages xix, 42, 100, and 180. The murder of Emmett Till took place in August of 1955, not 1954. Nevertheless, this book also needs to be read by present day ballplayers who, like Hank Aaron said, "don't have a clue" what conditions were like. How many players did Vince Coleman speak for when he stated, "I don't know no Jackie Robinson, and don't care to."? History lessons are in order for professional players who are presently reaping the benefits.

I love to read, but I've had trouble for a while staying focused on a book and finishing it. I
love those books that once you pick them up, you can't put them down. This was one of those books.
The title is VERY appropriate. Recently, I got in an online debate about why Larry Doby was
seemingly ignored during the 60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson's breaking the color barrier in
baseball. I think Larry Doby was a great man to his country (a WWII vet), to his family (remembered as
a good husband and father) and to the game (elected to HOF, 1998) but he was no Jackie Robinson. So many of the men in this book talk about how Jackie guided them and how they looked to him for inspiration.

I think some people today feel that racism is something you only find in a history book, that the struggles black players faced back then don't happen today. I was shocked to find out in this book that Ken Griffey Jr. was targeted by racist hecklers in Bakersfield, CA in 1988. In fact, he wasn't able to leave the park by himself that day because the racists were waiting for him in the parking lot.

I'm African-American. Reading this book did not make me bitter... it only gave me a true appreciation for these men and the crosses they bore to live out the American Dream while they played the National Pastime. And there is no rule that says blacks HAVE to play Major League baseball but I am always glad to see the legacy of Jackie Robinson continue, especially by those who do it with excellence and integrity.

"Many terrific things come to me due to this job, some by pure fortune. For example, The Post and Newsday have seats side-by-side at Yankee Stadium. So for many games, I was blessed to sit next to veteran columnist Steve Jacobson before he retired from Newsday in 2004. I received an education because Steve is a first-rate reporter and even better storyteller. Now, you can share the same experience. Steve's book, "Carrying Jackie's Torch," is in bookstores. It magnificently portrays the struggles endured by the black players who followed Jackie Robinson in integrating the major leagues."

--JOEL SHERMAN - New York Post (2/18/07)