This is the definitive volume for all singers of 16th and early 17th century English madrigals. Ideal for small groups who want to sing a range of madrigals (both merry and sorrowful) on the hoof without having to juggle separate sheets and volumes. All the favourites are here. The typeface is clear and the A5 format easy to handle. The collection is arranged alphabetically but there is a usful listing by composer for those putting programmes together. Philip Ledger's editing is light of touch and should not offend the purists.

What a great source for any madrigal group! This book contains a cappella madrigals of 3, 4, 5 and 6 parts (mostly SATB or SSATB) by the major composers of English madrigals, such as Byrd, Farmer, Gibbons, Morley, Ward, Weelkes & Wilbye. If you sing or study this type of music, you must have this book.

Also check out "English and Italian Renaissance Madrigals" (CD) by the Hilliard Ensemble -- the Oxford book and the English Madrigals CD of this wonderful 2-CD set have 16 songs in common.

An excellent, well-edited anthology! I appreciate the critical comments in the appendix. Also helpful is the given number of voices for each madrigal listing in the index. A perfect volume for my university "Vocal Chamber Ensemble".

Even though I was born and raised in Detroit, I found this book to be very enlightening. The trials and tribulations of Grayson Starks and his friend, Paul Proudberry, on the streets of Detroit were very real and true. Many Black people lived and still live in this manner.

When the author described the characters' experiences in the inner city, their exposure to the political system (both good and bad) and the riots in 1967, I relived every moment. Never have I read a book that has kept me so riveted.

I found this novel to be an intriguing and extraordinary engrossing read with a compelling powerful story, not only of Black and White relationships, but of other ethnic groups' dynamics in the United States. It keeps the reader looking forward to the next page, hoping it will not be the last. It is a page turner. The author is truly on his way. I can't wait for his next book. In the mean time, I will reread this one.

This author knows what he is writing about and he does it with an engaging and graphic style.

The book is about two young Blacks who migrate to Detroit Michigan from the South of the 1920's. Combatting racism from every side, each one takes a different style in dealing with their environment. The authors tracks the lives of the two different men and their families in such fashion as to reveal in colorful detail the intricacies and difficulties involved in life for Black Americans through the 1920's and into the 1980's. One son and grandson become Mayors of Detroit. The other's son, Paul, in a strange twist, becomes a mayoral assistant, setting off a remarkable turn of events.

The author, having observed and written about Black and White relationships then proceeds to introduce other ethnic groups into the plot and shows how each, while facing fomidable obstacles, either beats them down, or is beaten down. An unusually heart breaking part of the triology is the description of the incarceration of the Japanese-American during World War II, and the impact of their internment, specifically on two Nises (Japanese-American born) children.

Through out the trilogy, the reader will think that the author can do nothing more to shock or panic the reader --- then enter the characters of - Judge Hammond, C-square, Lemon, J.J. and Mr. Well-Hung. In my mind, these are five of the best characterizations to be read in American literature todate. The interaction of these five characters makes me feel that the author OWES the readers a sequel -- so as not to leave us hanging! This is a task he should find fairly simple, after having written such an extra-ordinary book!

Oh my God. Where is Oprah? Tell her that this is the novel that will raise the bar in American Literature for the next Millennium.

The author has written a first-rate book that provokes as well as educates the reader. It is written simply, and you know the author made it up, but you also know it to be real.

I grew-up in a small New England town, that had more chickens than people. It wasn't until I attended college, that I had real contact with minorities. In short, I was unaware of racial injustices and prejudices, such as the Starks family endured while living in the poor, black ghetto of Detroit, Michigan.

'A Peek Through The Curtain: A trilogy', provides an educational adventure, no, an odyssey for those less, or not at all, acquainted with the sub-culture in America, I mean Black-America, whose citizens have suffered under the terrible yoke of discrimination, in a land of great beauty but with even greater prejudices.

This novel is unlike any I've ever read. The author takes the reader step by step, year by year from the 1920's to the 1980's, tracing two Blacks, Grayson Starks and Paul Proudberry who start out poor as dirt and dumber than dumb, and emerge, years later, rich and powerful. One corrupted by the system, the other unsullied. Sounds familiar? Well, that's just the beginning. Not content with depicting the hopes and fears of one generation, he builds on that to show us the complexities confronting the next two generations, all the time redirecting our focus on the plight of the Japanese-Amrican and Cuban-American and weaves them into a nightmare of a plot.

An excellent book for all to read.

This masterpiece by Doctor Victor of Hamilton High School is the primary example of what makes modern literature so great. Replete with exciting sequences, surprise twists and turns, rich diction, and tone changes, this mystery book has had a gigantic impact on me. Its eloquent account of the adventures of Holmes and Watson, with their searing downfalls and courageous successes, proves once again that Hamilton High School is the greatest school ever and that Doctor Victor is the best teacher ever. No, I don't need an A (I graduated in 1998); all I want is to pay homage to the great author of the suspensful thriller. Doctor Victor, We remember you and love you. I think this goes for everyone.

I'm in Dr. Victor A.P. class and although I haven't read the book the plot and story line sound interesting. I will soon buy the book and add it to my collestion of books which will be a pleasure to have. Get one of the best books of the 20th century. Hey all in the class and to you Dr. Victor! This should be an "A" in the class,don't you think Dr.Victor. Per.3 "01"

Dr. Daniel Victor is one of the greatest authors of the 20th century. His use of diction and syntax in all the right place makes The Seventh Bullet enjoyable to read. Also I am in his AP English class and could really use a good grade in that class. Whatever my fellow classmate Mike said is all true. Casey Per. 3 '01

This is not just a story about a First Amendment battle to keep the klan in check. This is a story about who we are. In so many of the characters, I saw a little piece of myself - sometimes liking what I saw, sometimes not, but always reading on, to see which part of me pulled for which character. It's a great American story.

It took me a few weeks to read the book, because I've had such a very hectic schedule lately. But, Sign of the Cross is a sensational True-to-Life Drama that kept me anxiously turning each and every page. The book was extremely well-written and I think we need more books like this one, so that people in our society can be aware of what's going on in society (both historically and currently).

I would love to see the book adapted as a screen-play. I think it would make for a sensational film.

If you want true legal drama at its best, with insights into the inner workings of the Klan and the prosecutor who challenged it, this book will fascinate and captivate. First Amendment issues are eloquently presented by both sides. In this case, the Klan's freedom of speech is contrasted with a community's right to be free from fear. But can any one man perservere against an unwilling legal system and the most notorious terrorist groups in America?

What if you had the power to control good and evil? What if this power came in three parts, and you only had one of those parts? Would you do anything you could to get the other two parts in order to control this power? And what would you do with this power, if you could obtain it?

Gordon Birdie, better known as Whine, and Anthony James broke into the home of Phillip Edwards Sr., one of Rochester's most prominent and powerful CEO's, searching for a mystical book. Both men were not normally thieves, nor had they ever done such a thing before, but getting the book was important and so they took the chance. The house was empty, or so they thought until Phillip Jr., the only son of the CEO, heard them. Upon hearing a noise in the basement, Phillip Jr. went to investigate. Carrying a gun he found Anthony and Whine robbing the safe. In the midst of the confrontation two men ended up dead, Anthony, and Phillip Jr. Whine ended up in jail, accused of burglary and murder.

Lynn Scannella, Attorney at Law, is assigned the case, when another attorney drops it. It is only a few weeks before trial and she has absolutely nothing to go on to defend her client. The only thing she can think of is to call her old friend, and private investigator, Nicholas Tartaglia to investigate and find out what happened, and why, in order to establish some kind of defense for her client.

Whine is giving Nick absolutely no help in finding anything that would help him beat the charges, even though he was not the one that killed either man. In fact Whine figures he is safer in prison than on the outside.

Nick follows up on some of the things that are already known, and soon finds out that there are three books, known as the Talisman involved. After searching for information about these books, what they represent and can do, as well as being warned to back off, which he refuses to do, Nick finds himself up to his neck in black magic, murder, and another world completely involved in the supernatural. A world that totally scares Nick to death.

THIRD RING is a very well written fast paced thriller with more than just a few twists and turns. It combines the occult with intrigue, mystery, murder, and even has a little romance thrown in.

Mr. Tomasso's characters are not only believable, and multi faceted, they are also intriguing. Some you will like, some you will hate, but all will grab your attention and pull you onto the next page.........and the page after that.

THIRD RING will have you questioning any prior thoughts you may have about the occult, or good versus evil. In fact if you had ever doubted there was a thing such as evil, THIRD RING may just dispel that doubt.

THIRD RING is a mix of mystery and the supernatural. A blend that Mr. Tomasso brings off in a smooth, fast paced manner. A manner that truly glides by the reader so smoothly and quickly that you won't even realize where the time has gone when you read the final words.

I definitely recommend everyone read this wonderfully crafted story. It will both entertain and intrigue you.

Mr. Tomasso is a talent we are all going to hear a lot more about, and what we will hear will be very good.

I do believe that after reading THIRD RING you will never look at the supernatural in the same way again. I know I won't. But I will definitely be looking for more out of Mr. Tomasso.

Private Investigator, Nicholas Tartaglia, is back . . .


Two men burglarize the home of the city's most prominent CEO, searching for a mystical book. What they don't know is, someone is home when they break in. In the flux of chaos, one of the burglars is dead . . . and so is the CEO's only son.


When Tartaglia receives a call from an old friend, he learns that she has just been assigned to represent the man accused of the burglary and murder. With time being of the essence, the defense attorney needs Tartaglia's help investigating the circumstances in order to establish a defense.


In a desperate search for answers, Tartaglia finds himself submerged in a raging river of deception, evil spells and witchcraft. It quickly becomes apparent that getting a man out of jail might be the least of Tartaglia's concerns as he uncovers an underworld consumed by the use of black magic . . . and a plot that scares the hell out of him.

Phillip Tomasso weaves a fantastic tale of supernatural proportions in THIRD RING. This book keeps you at the edge of your seat, makes you question what you really believe, and entertains, all at the same time. I enjoyed reading this novel because it had just the right amount of characterization to make me feel like I know Tartaglia (the protagonist) but not so much that it took away from the plot.

Mystery and supernatural fans alike will delight in this novel. If you're looking for something fresh, you've just found it.

Burton was out there. Great book though despite the author being overly enamoured with the subject. Good info and California politics.

This is probably the best political biography I have ever read. Phil Burton was a fascinating man, and Jacobs does a terrific job of profiling him. Whether the reader is liberal or conservative, he will enjoy this book.

The best background piece on California politics. Similarly, a fantastic insight into a legislative master whose personal vices cut short a meteoric rise to power and influence.

I found this book a joy to read. Johnson leads the reader carefully and clearly through his well-reasoned arguments. I now have a heightened awareness of the very real danger of naturalism to science and many areas of Western culture. Rather than succumb to the naturalist mind-set as so many theists have regrettably done, Johnson demonstrates how to stand firm and fight back! If science is defined to exclude God (as it is) then science is limiting itself and may no longer be searching for truth (as it does not).

This book is by no means casual bedside reading, but Phillip Johnson is brilliant in bringing to light the basis of naturalistic philosophy and the logical assumptions made by those who practice it. Johnson gives illustrations of how this brand of thought has played itself out in science, law and education.

With a master's background in the hard sciences, I've found a steady mentality through school that evolution is fact and God has no place in science. Phillip Johnson helped me to understand how the logic of evolutionists works and how hollow and circular their reasoning often is. Understanding naturalists' logical assumptions has dispelled my fear of making a sound arguement in favor of intelligent design and seeing through those arguements made by those advancing a naturalistic worldview.

Philip E. Johnson details America's full-fledged embrace of Naturalism within recent contemporary history. The book is an accurate doccumentation of our nations' radical ideological shift towards a non-theistic world view and of course the price of this stupidity, what it looks like, who sells it.

It's past time that someone put some thought and effort into a book of this nature. We've had "Science Fiction TV" guides before, and they've uniformly been written by authors whose axes could be heard grinding away throughout as they slagged shows they disliked and drooled over shows they (often unaccountably) were fans of. Mark Phillips and Frank Garcia have done a good job of research and writing here, with few and minor mistakes. The chapter on "Battlestar Galactica," which is accurate and contains a good deal of information, much of it from new interviews done especially for this book, is worth the price of admission alone. If you're a fan of science fiction on TV, this book, in spite of its price, should be on your bookshelf. Very highly recommended.

This book represents the pinnacle in terms of a blend of behind-the-scenes insights and anecdotes combined with basic reference data. The multitude of interviews that went into the text give the material a depth that the more common coverage of sci-fi shows rarely attains. Like other books by McFarland, it's pricey, but I can think of none that give the reader better value for their dollar.

What makes this guide especially fascinating are the numerous candid in-depth interviews with the producers and writers of these shows, giving much insight into the creative process and the trials and tribulations of creating innovative television shows. There are countless behind-the-scenes anecdotes that have, I am sure, never seen print before. I thought I knew a lot about certain shows, but this book contained info that was new to me; and even reading the articles about shows I never watched (and the entries on each show are long and detailed) I could scarcely put the book down. This book serves as a reference, but it is more than that; it has a wealth of fascinating insights into the television industry itself.

How can one rate this book? What is higher than five stars? A firmament? Well then, this book deserves a firmament.

I have read The Secret of the Bulls not once, not twice, but three times; and each time I read it I find something new in it. I confess that I have been deeply moved by it every single time I have read it, and yet, I have been moved in different places, which I find it strange. I guess I bring the state of my own personal life into the reading.

I fell instantly in love with all the characters, particularly that of Mani, a young boy who is the son and the grandson of a butcher but who dreams of being an artist, something almost impossible in the macho society in which he lives. Like Mani, I also come from a very poor background and yet I am pursuing a life in the arts, so I thoroughly identified with him. We first meet Mani as a boy, and we last meet him when as a young man he discovers what the Secret of the Bulls is all about: Finding your own identity and living your life at your own speed, following your own way, whether other people like or not. You have to read the book to the very, very end to understand what I mean. So please, I beg you to read it, it may change your life. It has changed mine. It has given me a lot of hope, and I always feel great when I finish reading it. The book has made me laugh (I mean, I actually laughed aloud as I read it); it has made me cry several times; and let's face it, the sex scenes'which are indeed essential to the story for a change'were called steamy by Publisher's Weekly, and WOW! They were not kidding!

A great story told with heart and passion.

A great read.

I loved this book. I was engrossed immediately into Maximiliano and Delores's love affair, and I too wanted to dance the danzon. Sure, the book was dripping with machismo, but at no point does it pretend to do otherwise.

The book set me on a beautiful dream, and I didn't want to wake up. If you were able to imagine the world of Like Water for Chocolate, and willing not to judge the characters based on any feminist belief system, then you'll enjoy this thoroughly romantic and enchanting family saga.

Bernardo writes a good novel that makes one aware of the cultural traits that make up one culture and are transmitted to another. Also, he writes about the need to hide our sexual orientation when the climate around is unforgiving. Overall a good read, Bernardo lives in New York and has had a chance to experience the Cuban American reality.