This book is priceless. It is written by an 8 year old girl, Ying Ying Fry, who is adopted from China. It is her story of going back to her orphanage in ChangSha, China to see and talk to kids in the orphange and learn about their life. My daughter is also adopted from ChangSha so this story held even more meaning. The words are Ying Ying's and they are powerful in her observations. The pictures of the children and of life in general in China also fill in gaps of what her life may have been like. This is a perfect gift for your child from China. We will treasure it for its glimpse it gave us of life in China. Thank you Ying Ying!

I've already read "Kids" with my daughter nearly a dozen times and we'll no doubt read (and talk about it) it again and again and again. It's touching, enlightening, and really fun to see China through Ying Ying's eyes. It's also wonderful that the book is not just her story, but clearly one that could belong to any kid from China. Having read only parents' accounts so far, I'm also really, really pleased to get the perspectives of a child, For me, it's all about the kids, and it's clear that they can be every bit as eloquent in telling their own stories in their own words. This book should dispel all doubts that kids are capable of making sense of their complex stories. "Kids" doesn't gloss over the hard stuff, but has it all just right in just the right amount of detail. I love it for the hard stuff and I love it for the fun stuff. We get the fun stuff through Ying Ying's ability to converse in Mandarin, which simply gives her (and us) access to the ordinary in China: other kids' lives, schools, and homes. My daughter is just drinking this in and I can't get enough of it. Great story, great pictures, great book!

Kids Like Me In China is absolutely fabulous, beautifully presented, very basic story of one child's visit to her land of birth and the orphanage where she was cared for as an infant, complete with photos that will touch the hearts of all who have travelled to China to make their family complete. It is all at once enchanting, realistic, touching, and upbeat. Personally, I got the added delight of discovering that author Ying Ying Fry is from the same part of China as my own daughter!! I recommend this book to every parent who is contemplating talking to their child about origins and adoption. It will serve as a valuable keepsake and aide in assisting our children to learn/understand/appreciate their very special story!! Congratulations to Ying Ying, who has a wonderful future in whatever she chooses to do!!

I just got the book this weekend and read it from front to back in a feverish 4 am session. Boyd somehow combines the ideas of Nietzsche, Buddha, Camus, Gandhi and Lenny Bruce into a paradoxically coherent worldview that sums up everything I feel and think about politics, sex, drugs, love and hope. "Daily Afflictions" is often angry, morbid, and bleak - and it is the most inspirational thing I have read in years.

The book is the perfect holiday gift for the conflicted, hyper-sensitive worldchanger on your list.

I just got the book this weekend and read it from front to back in a feverish 4 AM session. Boyd somehow combines the ideas of Nietzsche, Buddha, Camus, Gandhi and Lenny Bruce into a paradoxically coherent worldview that sums up everything I feel and think about politics, sex, drugs, love and hope. "Daily Afflictions" is often angry, morbid, and bleak - and it is the most inspirational thing I have read in years.

The book is the perfect holiday gift for the conflicted, hyper-sensitive worldchanger on your list.

I just got the book this weekend and read it from front to back in a feverish 4 am session. Boyd somehow combines the ideas of Nietzsche, Buddha, Camus, Gandhi and Lenny Bruce into a paradoxically coherent worldview that sums up everything I feel and think about politics, sex, drugs, love and hope. "Daily Afflictions" is often angry, morbid, and bleak - and it is the most inspirational thing I have read in years.

The book is the perfect holiday gift for the conflicted, hyper-sensitive worldchanger on your list.

Anthony Lappé

LOS MENSAJES DEL INCONSCIENTE !
Extraordinario!

la ENORME IMPORTANCIA DE INTERPRETAR LOS SUEÑOS...
SON LOS GRITOS, LOS AVISOS, LAS NECESIDADES DEL SUBCONSCIENTE..
Y con este libro, ES PAN COMIDO !

COMO ARGUENDE:
La interpretacion de los sueños, tiene dos GRANDES POTENCIALIDADES:
1.- TE DICE QUE HAY EN TU SUBCONCIENTE
2.- TE PREVIENE DE POSIBLES ACCIDENTES TRAGICOS

I just finished reading You Are My Sister and I must say look out Oprah, Iyanla and Maya, Anfra has arrived. This book touched my life and left me wanting to make a change in my life. I've been struggling with my own issues of self-love and finding my purpose, and You Are My Sister helped me to learn to listen to my inner voice, God's voice and to reclaim my power and start doing my life's work. Anfra, you are so on-target and down to earth with your messgages and I love the self-help section. I found out so much about myself and now I can start improving my life. I have told all of my friends about the book.

Much Love and continued success to you!!

This book is the most uplifting and spiritual book I've ever read. I had to stop and check myself, and now I realize that there's so much more to life than what we've been taught,especailly in church. Anfra, God has annointed your life to help men and women everywhere to join together and start loving and supporting each other.

As a single woman trying to make it in this world, now I can recognize my own mistakes and stop blamming others and make a postive change in my life. Keep writing sister and I'll keep reading.

I was browsing through Afro Books in Memphis, looking for something to inspire me, and the owner suggested that I read You Are My Sister. She said that women were buying the book so fast that she couldn't keep it in stock. After reading the back of the book, and glancing through some of the pages some of the topics jumped out at me and I couldn't stop reading. Needless to say I took the book home and finished it that night. It was awesome, Like I was reading my own life story or sitting down with a therapist and having things explained to me on why I've made so many mistakes.

You Are My Sister has the answers to our lessons of heartache and pain and so eloquently explains why we make so many bad choices.

Valerie Boyd's biography of Zora Neale Hurston is an important corrective to the many myths which have swirled around this major 20th century American writer since her death in 1960. Of course, the myths began in part because Hurston died in poverty and obscurity, all her books out of print, but Boyd has done the needed research to present a full picture of the writer's life, and it's a picture that will add immensely to Hurston's stature. A writer of enormous talent who wrote not only novels (Their Eyes Were Watching God, 1937) but folklore (Mules and Men, 1935), Boyd shows how Hurston struggled against enormous odds. As an independent African-American woman, Hurston was constantly reinventing herself in order to overcome the racist and sexist limitations of her society. Boyd's biography will last a long time, and will help readers to rediscover the less familiar Hurston, both novels (Jonah's Gourd Vine, 1934, and Seraph on the Sewanee, 1948) and her autobiography (Dust Tracks on the Road, 1942).

Valerie Boyd has written an incredible biography of an amazing life. Before reading Wrapped in Rainbows, I considered myself pretty knowledgeable about Zora Neale Hurston. I had read Hurston's autobiography, Robert Hemenway's biography, several of Hurston's books, and various articles about her work. However, Boyd's book gave me a deeper understanding of Hurston than I would have thought possible. Boyd's meticulous research and insightful analysis bring the places and times of Hurston's life into detailed focus. This gives a rich backdrop to the events of Hurston's life and helps clarify her actions. This is the job of any good biographer.

What makes Boyd a great biographer is her ability to get inside Hurston's skin so that the reader experiences the complexities of her great life. Many people view Hurston's life as tragic. She was a wonderful writer and champion of the "folk," yet she died in poverty--with all of her books out of print--and was buried in an unmarked grave. Boyd skillfully takes us on the journey of Hurston's life--through her successes and failures, her accolades and obscurity, her dreams and realities. I felt the passion and conviction and courage Hurston must have called on to accomplish what she did despite the challenges she faced. When I finished the book, I cried--not because Hurston's life was tragic, but because of the wonder of the Wrapped in Rainbows experience. Boyd's poetic writing was a joy to read. The beauty of her writing was breathtaking at times. Perhaps more significantly, through it, I identified with Hurston more than I ever had before and felt the supreme contentment of a life well lived.

Wrapped In Rainbows is the biography of literary giant, Zora Neale Hurston and
chronicles her life from early childhood to her death in 1960. Valerie Boyd
does an excellent job with her subject and her extensive research is apparent.

Boyd paints a wonderful picture of Zora as a free spirit who has two loves,
writing and black folklore. Zora's years of researching the folk history of
black people is depicted as well as her burning desire to merge her two loves.
Animated and full of spunk, Zora's story is told through the eyes of people who
knew her and the back drop of American history.

The Harlem Renaissance is also featured in glorious detail interspersing Zora's
friendships and kinship with many of the writers and artists of that era and
with the white patrons of black art and literature. Zora loved Harlem and in
some of the descriptions in the book, the reader can almost see Zora strolling
the streets of "Harlem City" as she affectionately called it.

Fans of Zora Neale Hurston will thoroughly enjoy this account of her life and
those who are unfamiliar with her will long to read her work. Wrapped In
Rainbows is beautiful tribute to an awesome talent.

Reviewed by: Diane Marbury (HonestD)

Ol' Dipper (who is NOT a nudist) was out last summer on vacation at Fire Island off Long Island, New York for a few days of fun in the sun when I had a close encounter with some of a very small minority in the general public who are VERY public. I unwittingly went for a walk east on the ocean beach from Sailor's Haven and was soon surrounded by leering naked men. Thinking I had stepped into the Twilight Zone From Hetero Hell, I skeedaddled westbound in a hurry lamenting a ruined vacation day. I now keep a copy of this book handy when making beach vacation plans so I can avoid future encounters with leering people. My one liberty taken with this book is that I have replaced the front cover with a picture of a smiling Ronald Reagan.

This incredible book is truly an asset to the gay naturist community. This book is very descriptive and covers tons of unexpected places. (Or should I say UNcovers?!) Any gay man who likes to let it all hang out should most definitely own a copy of this book.

Being a world traveler as well as a nudist, I am always looking for resources to help me with my travel planning. This book is now the only one I use when planning a trip. Michael Boyd has collected and organized some of the most accurate listings of nude accomodations that I have found. In addition, he's compiled breathtaking photos from some well-known "nude" photographers including NAKEDTONY and many others. Highly recommended!

My North Carolina grandmother, born in 1888, read the 12 Miss Minerva series books to me when I was a young child in the 50's. She brought the antics of William Green Hill, Jimmy Garner, Frances, Lina, Wilkes Booth Lincoln, Aunt Cindy, Pilljerk Peter, Aunt Peruny Pearline to life, and I can still hear the words ringing in my ears as she read this book in the dialect of the southern Negro. Some feel that these aren't politically correct books for today's youth, but I feel that there are some innocent truths to be learned from reading these books, that come from the mouths of the children in them. They show how easily children of all races get along when the prejudices of their elders aren't present. The real life character upon which these books are based is William Green Hill who died at 64, the son of a prominent Tennessee physician Dr. Lafayette Hill. His sister, Mrs. S. A. Hamilton had not seen her brother in 15 years when he died of a heart attack alone and penniless in an empty railroad coal car on the outskirts of Pueblo, Colorado. My grandmother clipped the small article from the newspaper about Mr. Hill, which I have kept in my copy of the first of the books which were written about his life. The first book, Miss Minerva and William Green Hill, was originally written by Frances Boyd Calhoun who died, and was continued by Emma Speed Sampson, who wrote the sequel Billy and the Major, Miss Minerva's Baby, Miss Minerva on the Old Plantation, Miss Minerva Broadcasts Billy, Miss Minerva's Scallywags, Miss Minerva's Problem, Miss Minerva's Vacation, Miss Minerva's Neighbors, Miss Minerva's Mystery, Miss Minerva Goin' Places, and one other title. There also is a book named Miss Minerva's Cookbook which was so rare that a copy of this book is going for $1,000 at rare out of print used book stores. I certainly love to see that the University of Tennessee has brought back the first of this series, and I would love to see them bring back to print the rest of the series for a new generation of children to enjoy and understand the happiness and delicate, intricate balance that exists in childhood play between children of all races.

I read all 9 books in this series and enjoyed the humor of Billy's exploits with his Aunt Minerva and the neighborhood children. The children of this era made their own entertainment, played "pretend" and spent a lot of time outdoors-life was rather pastoral. However, Billy managed to keep everyone hopping. I'd describe the book as an early "Little Rascals" of the South. Well written, humorous and filled with the innocence of the era. Billy and his friends seem to have to learn everything the hard way!! Historically, it occurs in an era of segregation; however, it also demonstrates that children accept each other far more easily than adults do.

I read this book as a very young child and, as I collect old children's books, ran across it in my searches. Of course, I read it again and enjoyed it even more this time. I suppose it is"politically incorrect" now, but that's the way things were then--right or wrong. I still find the book both funny and sweet. I had no idea that someone had created a series after Mrs. Calhoun's death. I would love to find some of them.

This is a brilliantly written book which tells a good story, but in a way that demonstrates the technical excellence of the writer.

The tale of the Heroine, Hope Clearwater, is told retrospectively by herself. Boyd cleverly puts himself into the first person so that he is believable as Hope herself. Then he has Hope speak of herself in first and third person, which creates an interesting effect. On the one hand you are viewing a narrative account of her story, but then you easily slip into her mind and listen to her thoughts. This makes the story very personal, and brings you close to Hope's character in an empathic way.

The story moves from College in England, to research in the downs of Southern England, before it leaps to Africa where things really hot up. Relationships move from civilised distraction to out and out bloodletting.

Boyd weaves in themes familiar from Jane Goodall and Diane Fossey's primate studies. He makes mathematics and research into interesting subjects, and is guaranteed to have you reaching for the dictionary to understand some of the obscure terminology of medieval english architecture. Over all of this he lays a central african civil war, academic cloak and dagger politics and some complex human and chimp relations.

Two love affairs that seem doomed, sexual politics in the bush and a shifting and uncertain movement of grant aid and civil war add to the complexity. A rebel army formed from a volleyball team, an egyptian cosmonaut, a half built hotel and the smallest model aircraft in the world inject the sense of ridiculous that is part of Africa.

A highly intelligent and enjoyable read.

"Brazzaville Beach" is a very well constructed novel weaving together two stories from the life of Hope, the heroine: in Africa, her work at a chimpanzee research center in a country in the midst of a civil war, where she makes a discovery that is "inconvenient" for the center's alpha male director; and in England, her doomed marriage to a brilliant but frustrated mathematician. There's lots in this book: love, sex, ego, war. Boyd very effectively portrays both the sciences and the scientists of primate research and advanced mathematics, as Hope learns what humans and chimpanzees have in common.

Upon seeing all the excellent reviews on amazon.com I decided to give William Boyd and his 'Brazzaville Beach' a try. I'd like to thank all these reviewers for informing me about such a wonderful book. Why isn't 'Brazzaville Beach' better known?

'Brazzaville Beach' is a story about a young British woman studying primate behaviour in Africa. William Boyd deftly weaves the story by including flashbacks of her life before Africa (and her failed marriage in England), and by describing the present state of the war-torn African country where she resides. When the primates (chimps) she studies start behaving unusually her life, and those of her fellow researchers, turns upside-down, and she starts questioning the behavior of herself and mankind in general.

In addition to being a mature, absorbing story, 'Brazzaville Beach' is written with intelligence. The characterizations are well-drawn without be overly elaborate. The story is thought-provoking without being too preachy. I should think secondary schools and universities should include 'Brazzaville Beach' in their curricula as part of a social sciences program. It is *that* good.

Bottom line: simply terrific. Don't hesitate from putting it on your 'must read' list.

This is one of the best-written technique books I have read on outdoor photography! It is very complete covering technical aspects such as Lighting, Composition, Lenses (wide angle through telephoto), Capturing Motion with shutter speed, and films and filters. And, it covers creative technique for wildlife, landscape, and underwater photography. Both essential for fine photography.

While reading this book, I felt I was being taught, coached, encouraged, prodded, and admonished to become a better photographer.

The book contains some absolutely beautiful images that perfectly match the written subject. Nearly every photo includes an "how I took this picture" sidebar that got an "Ah Ha! So THAT'S how it's done!" reaction from me every time. There was not one element of this book that was not specifically designed to educate. I felt like I had enrolled in the premier photography class with the world's best photographer for an instructor.

This isn't a book. It's a learning experience and if you miss it, YOU HAVE MISSED IT!

I only just started reading this book about a month ago, and instead of reading it all the way through cover to cover, I've been dipping into it here and there at random. I've discovered that no matter where I start reading, Norton offers valuable advice that will be useful to relative neophytes such as myself as well as the more technically experienced photographer.

Soon I will read the book from cover to cover, after which I'll write another more comprehensive review. For now, I just wanted to echo the other reviewers' comments here and say this is an excellent book that is well worth the money, considering it's only about ... ... ... It's definitely the best of 3 or 4 books I've bought recently on the subject of outdoor photography.

I just wanted to echo what others have said so far about this book. To be honest, I had never heard of Boyd Norton until Amazon recommended the book to me when I purchased another photography book. But I decided to try the book out, based on the previous reviews and the inexpensive price, and I'm sure glad I did! It's very well written and I can relate to the author's challenges of long-held photographic beliefs. He seem to state that, as long as the end result is pleasing, go ahead and break all the rules! I agree, and he offers many ideas and methods of coming up with unique perspectives and images that do just that.

I find most photography books I read to just re-state what others have already said, but this book continually gave me new ideas and fresh insight into different techniques and subjects. I'd be surprised if even an accomplished and seasoned photographer didn't get more than a few things out of this book.

Thanks, Boyd Norton, for putting together a very informative book with amazing pictures and descriptions of the processes used to create them!

One of the best books among the many about infantry combat. That it is fictional detracts not one iota. The author quite obviously writes from experience and makes use of the freedom fiction provides to paint a powerful and realistic picture of ground warfare, particularly the randomness through which men live and die. As one who fought in the infantry during the Battle of the Bulge, the setting for Mr. Boyd's novel, and produced three highly researched chapters about it in a memoir, I am proud to recommend "The Gentle Infantryman" as an authentic account of the way it was. Fiction can indeed be more true than fact. This honest little book is a primary example.

This is the best book about the WW2 combat soldier I've ever read. The information is historically accurate and exacting in detail, told with a true storyteller's memory and eye for a good yarn. The fact that the author experienced WW2 in Europe gives you the feeling that he is writing his own life story. The story is neither sentimental nor maudlin, nor is it gritty; it is realistic. Easy to read, it makes you proud to be an American and will leave you with immense respect for the "Greatest Generation." A must for every WW2 historian.

A Vet I met at the Bloomsburg PA county fair told me about this book. He said that the author was in his unit and that the stories were very well retold in the book. You as the reader can get a real feeling of what Bill Boyd and the men in unit went through. When you finish the story you are left with an feeling that it just incredible that anyone survived those final months of the war as the Germans fought to save there homeland and sadness for those who didn't make it. You will thoroughly enjoy reading this book.