Highland Hopes, the first book of the Blue Ridge Legacy series, reads more like Catherine Marshall's classic, "Christy".

The prologue's modern setting makes it clear that you are about to hear the story of a life. That life begins as a mother's ends in childbirth. Parker's pages turn quickly from the deathbed to full-blooded life. There's fast-paced action as mountain moonshiners face off with government revenuers, gambling exacts a heavy toll on an already impoverished family, and World War II patriotism pulls young men from the Carolina hills to the blood soaked battlefields of Europe. The romantic soul will wrench as hearts are broken and lifelong unions are made. The author relates the story in the third person, but often changes the character through whose eye's he views the events occurring. Parker proves equally adept at voicing the innermost thoughts of both his male and female characters.

Highland Hopes takes you through Abigail Porter's childhood years, years that she learns to love her Blue Springs Mountain home, and years that she learns to love her father, even though she feels distinctly unrequited in her affection. She dreams of learning to read, that she might know all about the big wide world of Asheville and beyond. Her young desires grow into a yearning to leave the mountain and better herself, but there is always a tangible pull toward the hills of her birth. The first twenty-nine years of Abby's life take the reader quickly and poignantly from the new dawn of the 20th century in the ageless Blue Ridge Mountains to a definable turning point at the age of twenty-nine, when she finally feels her father's love.

The pages of this copy of Highland Hopes are indelibly marked with coffee and tear stains -- a sure reminder of long late night reads and the powerful emotions that this tale evoked. I, for one, am eagerly anticipating the second book in the Blue Ridge Legacy, where Granny Abby will unfold more of her beautiful Blue Ridge memories.

--- reviewed by Lori for Christian Bookshelf

Great book! Highland Hopes will draw you in to each character and will make you feel as though you are there with them. I am looking forward to reading the sequel to this book.

I have enjoyed every novel I've read that Gary Parker has written. This was no exception. Great story line. Each character truly had his/her own personality and it was easy to feel like you were inside Abby's head sometimes. I highly recommend it.

This draws heavily on the work of dream researchers...but instead of having to attend a seminar or read a study, you can get the real meat of Kilton Stewart's work in an entertaining and provocative novel. A real page turner!

The Last of the Dream People is love at first read! Part adventure-thriller, part erotic metaphysical novel--the first time I read it too fast. Then I read it again, savoring the details of Parker's dreaming universe. I gave it to my husband and my son to read, and I encouraged all of my friends to read it. This book can change your life. It lives in my memory--the dream people feel like my people now.

This is a great book! The main character, an American WWII pilot crashes into the jungle and is drawn into the very different world of the tribespeople who rescue him. Imagery is vivid & compelling and the characters live. This is a very readable book which operates on many levels. First it is a compelling story---the kind where you keep wanting to read just one more chapter. But it is also a book of interesting and novel ideas...which are relevant not just to the characters of the book but to our lives now. Ultimately, this was one of those rare books which carried me into its world so completely and pleasantly that its people and imagery remained in my consciousness long after I finished it. .

Geoffrey Parker wrote tight, leaving nothing extra or unneeded in "Philip II" which I rate a very concise story of the man behind the king. Parker drew from good research and could have included other aspects which may and may not have been true but he chose the journalistic route which leaves the reader with a stronger sense of knowing King Philip II, one of the most influential monarchs in the world. Parker's text gives thought to the effects of Philip's daily habits and events in his life which still have an effect in Spain and parts of the then Spanish Empire. Parker's effort reads well and should be included on the list of any serious follower of old or modern Spain, or of any countries effected by its empire. I read through it in four brisk sittings. Mike McIlvain

I am shocked there are not more books about the personal life of this interesting person in history. This book gives a very good picture of Philip II and the forces that shaped him and the religion that governed every aspect of his life, loves and holy causes. Because of his long reign, and dealings with all the important persons of the 16th century, his personal attitudes shaped so much by his childhood, influenced the political, social and religious tide of that time. The conquests of lands in the name of God, influences the geography and history of today

I picked up this book by chance from my father's personal library and found it to be a wonderfully written work on the life of Philip II.

An aspect I like about this book is that the author -- Geoffrey Parker (who at one point taught at Christ's College) -- tries to give as much of an objective account as he can, recognizing that the life of Philip II has been distorted by historians who have had a Protestant bias (and therefore portrayed Philip II as an inflexible tyrant) and who otherwise have not appreciated the cultural contributions of Spain because of what he describes as the "Black Legend" (wherein the Spanish are believed to be "tainted" with Jewish and Moorish blood).

Mr. Parker appears to exonerate Philip II of many simple-minded charges, and portrays him as a very competent and astute ruler with a strong intellectual curiosity who devoted his life to the Catholic Church. Philip II was somewhat of a connoisseur on art, who enjoyed the works of Bosch and Titian, but who happened to overlook the genius of El Greco. Another interesting detail in the book is Philip II's enthusiasm for hunting.

The book gives a good overview on Philip II's numerous wives and children (he was married 4 times and some of his children were stillborn). It also allows one to understand the period under which the Netherlands was ruled by the Spanish as well as of the "taming" of the New World, as well as the aftermath of the Armada disaster.

King Philip II preferred a very centralized government. He was an indefatigable ruler who did an incredible amount of paperwork.

Philip II is portrayed as an enlightened ruler who at times showed incredible mercy to his subjects. He even dressed like the common man and did not require subjects to bow down to him as did other monarchs. This was the quintessence of "Spanish nobility."

This is a landmark Wolfe mystery for the true fan, but new readers may find it dated, with a thin plot. It is Stout's first real shot at playing Wolfe for laughs, and also marks Archie's emergence as a mature and witty observer- unlike the more naive Goodwin of previous books (eg The Rubber Band, The Red Box) for whom the heroine is out-of-reach. The setting is farcical but still has a nice 30s period feel.

In Rex Stout's fifth book in the series, Wolfe engages in two activites he detests: leaving the confines of his home and travel by any type of machinery (a train in this case). Wolfe and Archie travel to Kanawha Spa, West Virginia, where Wolfe has been invited to speak before a group of master chefs. Wolfe encounters more than just gourmet food when one of the chefs is murdered.

Stout really has a lot of fun with the story and characters as Wolfe's confrontational manner begins to emerge in the series. The characters are always colorful, but the supporting cast of chefs, wives, servants, and others is also enjoyable. Some of the most interesting books in the series are those in which Wolfe leaves the brownstone and is absent from his comforts: the plant rooms, his cook Fritz, his beer, his office. Still, it becomes evident early on that Wolfe is in complete control. Or is he? Find out the lengths that Wolfe will go to in the attempt to obtain the recipe for saucisse minuit.

One of Stout's best and one of the most fun reads I have ever had. It is hilarious, full of interesting characterizations, and plotted well enough to carry it through. Great fun!

Other reviewers have offered high praise for this book, and I strongly agree with them. However, I feel obliged to offer a few counterpoints, since most readers will purchase this book sight unseen.

Roger C. Parker is a recognized expert in his field, and this book exemplifies his experience as if it were his portfolio and resume. From lessons on defining your message to practical tips on layout and the proper uses of color and type, most readers will certainly find some helpful bit of advice in this book. BUT IT ISN'T ABOUT WEB DESIGN!

This book contains no code, NONE, not one tag. Though there are good illustrations explaining the usefulness of tables and frames, for example, this book will not give you even the slightest hint as to how to create these elements on a page. The same can also be said of graphics. (However, the book does provide excellent insight into the subliminal impact of perforations, folds, and paper texture). And while technology marches on, this book has not - it remains a relic from the age of 28.8K modems.

So let us appreciate this book for what it is, a fantastic book on the fundamentals of graphic design. But readers might be better served by Parker's master work "Looking Good in Print" (ISBN 1566048567); its lessons apply just as well to PowerPoint and the World Wide Web. Fans of this series who actually want to make web sites might also consider "Web Design for Dummies"... it's about web design.

Today, I received my copy of this amazingly simple but thorough treatment of web design and desktop publishing. I'm a freelance writer and need to ramp up my tech skills. This book is launching me ahead at incredible speed with its simple advice. Roger Parker writes like the mentor you've always wanted. I will order more of his books because he makes good sense and doesn't sound techno-crazy. Every freelancer needs this book just to keep up.

I'm actually going to purchase the book now, having already read the book. I checked out 10 books on desktop publishing at my local library and narrowed the field down to the three I thought were best in providing concise, valuable information. Two of the three were written by Roger Parker, and the Dummies book seemed written for a person who needs valuable information fast. I own my own small business and this book fit my needs the best.

My sons (1&3) love this book! My 3yr. old LOVES to do all the animal sounds. This is a book that kids can really participate in and can help them learn to LOVE reading, which is our goal, right? So grab your child & a pillow & blankie and have some fun!

I recieved this book by mail through a program for preschool age children. My kids ages 5, 3, and 1 love it so much that I need to buy a new book, I should probaly throw it away because it is so used but they would now hear of it! So it is now time to buy a new copy. Great book!

My daughter loves this book. I also enjoy reading it with her. She does all of the animal sounds. Highly recommended for young chilren.

I was doing a report on pisces and it did not give me the information that I needed.

I thought that these books were simply the best, because they give an accurate description of each astrological sign and break away from the typical "Cancer does this, Leo does that" mold.. They make great gifts, and I give them as birthday presents every chance that I get!

"This book really made me realize that most of my life has been spent trying to perfect myself, but I haven't really gotten anywhere. I now know what I need to do to get myself on the right track to perfection!"

I give this book four stars , because it was funny. I think it was funny because of the characters expresions.Sometimes it got boring.I would recomend it to someone because I liked it very much and it was funny .

Aurthur and his friends wait for a brand new Scare-Your-Pants-off club book.But at the libray all the books in that series had been banned so they try to find a way to get the books back.

Arthur and the gang are not-so-patiently waiting for the next installment in the Scare-Your-Pants-Off Book club. They’ve read all the others in the series, like “Curse of the Mummy’s Breath” and “Zombie Substitute Teacher” and can’t wait for the next one to come out.

The day it’s due to arrive at the library, the gang is poised, having all but camped out overnight to be the first in line to check it out and read it. You can imagine their surprise when they find out that it has been banned from the public library! A group of concerned parents have decided that it’s not appropriate for children and to have had it removed! What’s the gang to do? Is there any way Arthur and his friends can get the book back so everyone can enjoy it? A surprise ending is in store for the reader, making this a fun page-turner.

Marc Brown’s Arthur is one of the best-known characters in children’s literature today. He’s seen on television, has large format picture books and also the Arthur Adventure series, of which this title is #2. Intended for intermediate, independent readers who have graduated to short chapter books, the Arthur books are easy to read, a lot of fun, and encourage readers to think about their world and the different issues of friendship, family or in the case of “Scare-Your-Pants-Off Club”, censorship....

I have used “Scare-Your-Pants-Off Club” in my own classroom many times and found that it’s a great way to stimulate conversation and thinking among my students (one cryptically hinted that maybe we should ban THIS book as well!!). My point in using it as a social studies tool isn’t to agree or disagree with students so much as it is to get them to THINK—- “tell me your feelings about censorship, but back it up with reasoning and research” is how I address the issue. This in turn allows the student not only to voice their own opinion, but to examine their feelings and opinions as well; too many times in our culture we allow other folks to do our thinking for us.

Mr. Brown has done an excellent job of taking a very complicated issue in our society and presenting it to young readers in an understandable and intelligent way. I appreciate and applaud authors who not only aim to entertain their readers, but encourage them to think about themselves and their world. Hats off, Mr. Brown!! You’ve done it again!!

May I first say, that I have not read the entire book as of yet but I did read the article excerpted from it, call Sun, Moon, Rising Signs. Her interpretation of Sagittarius Moon was very lacking in what is the true spirit of that sign. There was no mention of the adventurous nature, wanderlust, or need for freedom that so characterizes that sign. She seems to deal mainly with the emotional levels, or lack thereof, of each sign and fails to capture the unique nature, spirit or characteristics of the signs she describes.I have studied astrology for 28 years, and am an avid student, and a voracious reader, but I doubt that I will add her book to my collection.

This book gave me a very good background in astrology as a beginner. Not only does it give all the details of calculating a person's birthchart, but it goes to explain the significance and meaning of each aspect of the different planets and signs in a person's birthchart.

The only bad qualities I found in the book were a few repetions of the text in similar parts of each sign, and the fact that the maps the author gave ended in the early 80's, even though I bought the book in the late 90's...

This book is a must for all who is interested in astrology. For a beginner it is a dream come true, full of details and insights. Not only does it cover the basics of astrology in great detail ,it gives helpful tiblits of information on the more complex, avanced skills. Easy to understand from the beginning, it goes on to explain, taking one step at a time and building on your knowledge. It also explains how to cast a chart, including the necessary math problems. With an index and glossary everything is very easy to access

If you've read the Clifford Roberts book and are an ardent follower of the tournament, you will be disappointed. What I was expecting versus what was delivered were 180 degrees apart. Mr. Eubanks would have done better to explore more of the relationship between the National and the residents and town of Augusta. Eubanks needed to delve more into more recent tournament history (post 1980) as opposed to dedicating more to the period from 1933-1960. I'll be attending my fifth Masters Tournament in 1998 (4th in a row) and I hope to talk with some residents/patrons who have attended many tournaments throughout the years.

It seems there's a new "unprecedented" book on Augusta and the Masters coming out every April these days, but this one was the first of its "investigative" ilk and it remains the best. Anything I had ever read in book form about Augusta/the Masters before this read like so much puff because they were written by authors who wanted to remain friends with Augusta's secretive powers-that-be. Eubanks examines and explores Augusta National with a lot of gusto and tells me dozens of things I didn't know about this place. Like the hush-hush shooting incident involving some black youths who had trespassed on the course just so they could take a dip in one of the ponds. Or how the myth surrounding Charlie Sifford's alleged exclusion from the Masters field by racist manipulators assumes facts Eubanks proves wrong. Or Bert Yancey's real obsession with the course itself. Or the suicide by the ticket scalper in 1997. There's also a lot of nice stuff about Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts, as well as a chapter devoted to Ike and how his presidency was pretty much launched in the inner bowels of Augusta National's clubhouse. Buy this book--it's wonderful!

Provides and awesome in depth history of how Clifford Roberts and Bobby Jones put Augusta on the map, and along with this, formed one of the most powerful clubs in the world.

Also gives strong accounts of the history of the US Masters tournament.