This is one of the most imaginative anime and manga series I've ever seen! The Kagura Security Co. has to compete with the goverment organization "Hound" for extermination jobs that target living computer viruses called the "bakeneko/phantom cats" that can take physical form as either cats or people. These evil cat things are trying to take over the world! It's full of action and comedy plus a cute little cat girl Maya who lives in their office!

1 of the 3 books devoted exclusively to Toasts, this book contains the biggest anthology of Toasts of the the 3. Quite an enjoyable read, too bad it's out of print - the record that came with this book is now on CD on the Rounder label (same title as the book).

Jean McMahon Humez' *Gifts Of Power" collects the writings of Mother Rebecca Cox Jackson, whose career as preacher and Shaker leader spanned from 1830 until her death in 1871.

Though the book contains a lot of detail some might find superfluous, the whole story Rebecca Jackson gives of her life and the spiritual experiences that shaped it is most interesting to read. One sees that at the beginning of her career Rebecca, a black women from Philadelphia, was a part of the Methodist Episcopal Church in her youth and was involved in "Holiness" prayer meetngs during the 1820s.

This part of her career is particularly interesting for the way in which we see that Rebecca, as a result of the Holiness movement's highly participatory nature, was able to write down detailed visions of the coming of Heaven and the Day Of Judgement. These are blended in a facinating way with imagery taken from a woman's everyday life in Jackson's time. Many of her early visions realted closely to Jesus's miracles, but there was also many dreams of such mundane things as quilts, cakes, rain, and deaths of her relatives. Rebecca's writing style was immediate, dramatic, and intensely touching.

Later, she decribed the strains preaching was having on her married life as she moved into intense prayer as Methodists criticised her ministry as a black woman preaching a false doctrine. In response, we see that Jackson focused clearly and sincerely on trying to live the life of Jesus, especially after visiting the Shakers in 1836.

The next part of "Gifts Of Power" deals with the way in which Rebecca, though troubled, found the Shakers. This part of the book is mystical in focus, but is really close to the heart and passionate about how Rebecca's conversion to Shakerism was really based on spiritual visions and dreams stemming from her experience with other Sisters at Watervliet. Her actual entry is likened, indeed, to the Resurrection of Jesus in fiery, yet simple language, and McMahon-Humex does a wonderful job of explaining exactly what Rebecca Jackson was doing in these densely narrated pages.

As a Shaker, Rebecca Jackson did not cede that mystical, fiery character of her early writings, but her later writings have an epic tone lacking in previous letters. She saw during her residence at Watervliet a desite to do missionary work among blacks, which is seen in visions of herself travelling long distances or of the arrival of Native American seeking help. Later still, Jackson appeared to be able to see the whole of the globe, and she described her desperation in explicit and dramatic tones, notable during her brother's last illness.

In Philadelphia, Jackson's drams became focused on early events in her life, and she would dream of being united with her brother as she went on a long pilgrimate to develop a Shaker community for blacks. Her work during her second residence at Watervliet and with the Philadelphia Shakers was indeed seen by her as "going to Zion", in terms that make one clearly understand what she saw of herself like few other texts of this type. She saw herself as revealing the Kngdom of Heaven in her labours with the people of Philadelphia, and she never was afraid to conceal her feelings through her life.

Jean McMahon-Humez adds fitting notes that make unraveling and interpreting the texts very easy. I do not find that these notes detract in any way from the fiery, yet touching quality of Rebecca's texts - and the glossaries make "Gifts Of Power" a true historical documents. "Gifts Of Power" is a must-read for those interested in women's biographies.

You will be intrigued by Ms Dunbar and made a part of her family. Her diary is so well written that it will inspire you to change your form if you keep one. I read it like a novel. Her day to day entries really gives detailed insight into the lives of African Americans and...it highlights important historical facts with dates attached to them. I didn't realize how valuale this was until I had to do a paper and include some of the information she had referred to. It was wonderful and very entertaining. The writer's sense of humor was an added, welcome surprise.

As George W. continues to nudge our nation closer and closer to war, perhaps it would be wise to recall the emotional turbulence of the Vietnam era. This book will take you there, chronicling the personal odyssey of a young Episcopalian priest serving as a campus minister. Written in journal form, journey with Father Tom as he deals with, and I quote: "Vietnam, civil rights, politics, student unrest, Kent State, urban warfare, problem pregnancies, therapy, intimacy, murder, sex, drugs." Need I say more?

Jon A. Jackson has written a masterpiece of hard-boiled noir that takes efforts to organize 1917 miners and turns out a masterful story of greed, retribution and revenge.

I read this book between Jim Thompson's The Killer Inside Me and The Golden Gizmo, both excellent examples of the noir genre. Jackson does it better.

A young Pinkerton agent, Goodwin "Geed" Ryder, is sent to Butte, MT, in 1917 to help put an end to union organization. There, he befriends, and ultimately, betrays, IWW union organizer Frank Little. When Little is murdered, the young detective leaves the agency, and takes up an itinerant life as a mystery writer.

Thinking the past is as dead as his friend, Little, Geed suddenly finds himself drawn back into the mix in the 1950s as the House Unamerican Activities Committee begins an investigation into Geed's ties to Communists.

An overall sense of frustration builds through this book as you look at Geed's decisions and actions, but Jackson gently ties it together, giving you a fine, ultimately satisfying, story in the process.

This is a wonderful book with poetic messages that remind us that our Heavenly Father is in charge and to him Be The Glory! To read these beautiful poems is like good therapy for the heart and soul. This is a poetry book you will continue to read over and over again. It captures your attention with a gentle calmness and when you are done, you have to admit that you needed it. Thank you God for your messengers!

I have read many dead-related books, but this is by far the most interesting and well written. It's worth buying for many reasons, but the highlight for me is the chapter on Donna. If it were not for this book, I would have continued to believe all the narrow minded comments I heard about her over the years. This interview may have actually started the Donna rennaissance which culminated with the emotional welcome she received at the Philharmonia benefit in December 1997. Even if you think you know everything about the Dead you'll be surprised by this book. As we always say at our house, "it's all about the music." P.S. - Look for new Blair Jackson title scheduled for publication Fall '98!

There are many opinions and contradicting 'first hand accounts' about Brian Jones life and death. The only choice a serious fan has is to compare and contrast a good sample of the books available. While Bill Wyman's book may be more detailed, 'Golden Stone' is many steps above the average teeny-bopper fare available on Jones, and is a necessary additon for any real B.J. enthusiast.

You want a beer book? This is the ONE. This book made me want to drink beer while reading every other book Harper has written! Things I never knew about the subject told in a clever, insightful and always interesting style. I was never a beer lover until I read this - the author opend up a whole new world of drinking pleasure by introducing me to a wide range of really good, and really different brews. This ain't Schlitz! My husband and I are on a mission to check out all the great drinking places he recommends - so far, Harper's right on the money.