First off, I have to say that the art in this book is superior to virtually any other children's storybook I have seen in my young parenting career. The paintings portay the scene described in the words perfectly.

This book does an excellent job of conveying a family life where the stories passed through the generations matter so much that the grandchildren DO in fact dream and wonder about the lives of their grandparents. I want for my daughter to dream and wonder, too.

As the adoptive father of a biracial girl, I think this is a good book for conveying a part of her cultural heritage that she may not get to experience much first hand.

This book is beautifully written and illustrated. The rhythm and lyricism of the words conveys the loving relationship between the little girl and her grandmother. I've given the book as a gift to several little girls. One mother called to say that they had read the book 2 or 3 times each day since it was received. Don't let 'race' color your decision to purchase this book. The story is for all little girls and grown-up girls as well.

I love this book! Dinah Johnson tells all about family living in the Carolinas, using the language of the African-American culture, yet the book's theme is universal. A good read for any child. I particularly liked the name, Hattie Lottie Annie Quinnie Blue. The rhythm of the words are truly like raindrops falling on a tin roof as I remember growing up in North Carolina. James Ransome's life-like illustrations are wonderful. Throughout this read, one can sense the presence of self love as Quinnie Blue compares her life experiences to that of her grandmother's. So, unselfish self-love is passed down.

He had spent seven years studying in Europe. He returned to Sudan, his small village at the bend on the Nile. His grandfather was knowledgeable about the geneology of everyone in the village. A new man was present in the village, Mustafa, who had been there for about five years. He came from the outskirts of Khartoum.

Mustafa was a posthumous child. He and his mother were each other's only relatives. From childhood Mustafa felt that he was different from others. Mustafa agreed to go to school just when they were first being started by the colonizers for village youth. He had a wonderful ability to memorize his lessons. His teachers admired him as a prodigy, but he paid them no mind. After three years he had exhausted the country's academic resources. He was advised to study abroad. It was arranged that he depart for Cairo to attend secondary school. In Cairo he stayed with Mr. and Mrs. Robinson. He paid no attention to the love they showered on him. He learned music and literature in Cairo, but enjoyed nothing.

Later he went to England where he killed Jean Morris. Possibly he ws the cause of Ann Hammond's suicide and the deaths of others. He was appointed a lecturer in economics at London University at age twenty four. Mustafa died, the but narrator, in his work at the minstry of education, keeps running into him since he had been a most brilliant and notorious student. The narrator, Effendi, is guardian of Mustafa Sa-eed's wife and children. Mustafa was the first student from Sudan to study in Cairo and England. (He dies from drowning at some point between the narrator's visits to the village and to his grandfather.) Unfortunately his wife kills a geriatric suitor and then kills herself. She had threatened violence if forced into a situation against her will. She had wanted to marry the narrator, the guardian of her sons, but he had been disinclined to take her as a second wife.

In Mustafa Sa-eed's house the narrator comes upon many books of zoology, mathematics, astronomy, geology, economics, history, fiction poetry, sociology, anthropology, psychology, philosophy, and political science--all seemingly products of a superior English education. There are no books in Arabic. Why did his women companions commit suicide? The women projected on him dark and strange emotions. Mrs. Robinson wrote to the narrator that he was a tortured child and was the dearest thing that happened to her husband and to herself. Drawings by Mustafa Sa-eed revealed real talent. The narrator had the sense that Mustafa Sa-eed wanted to be discovered, that he wanted the narrator to sort through his things and begin to understand him. Jean Morris was being unfaithful to him. He felt that the tragedy had to play itself out. She kissed the dagger he he held, fervently, urging him on. Tragedy ensued.

The novel is expressive. It recounts the sort of trials an extraordinary person might encounter who embarks upon life hobbled by emotional fragility and compelled to thread his way between two cultures.

"Season of Migration to the North" is simply an undiscovered gem among literary works. The work presents a story of a mysterious character who after being educated in Sudan follows his quest for knowledge to the "cold north" of London.
Seemingly a simple story develops into a complex character study weaved in with issues of colonialism in African countries, the effect of economics on the distrubution of wealth in the world, the meaning of economics as an academic discipline, and most importantly a quest for a personal and cultural identity - the paradox of diaspora.
The work is beautifully translated, as the reader will notice thus contributing to its lyrical and precise execution in which every word counts. The format in which the work is presented might confuse a few people but is highly relevant to the character and plot development.
For those familiar with Ralph Ellison's "Invisible Man" this will prove to be a worthwhile read which takes the concepts adressed in Ellison's work to a next level.
Also recommended is a film "The Wedding in Galilee" for further deconstruction and interpretation.

I highly recommend this book! Salih is an incredible storyteller. Despite having many other things to do, I read this book in two days. It was recommended to me by a friend and collegue who grew up in Sudan. She loaned me the book and now I've logged on to buy my own copy and to gift it to a friend...it is that good! Enjoy.

Denis Johnson's writing seems to be at its best here. Full of simple, beautiful prose, and suspene, "Seek" is enjoyable the whole way through. The stories, or essays if you can call them that, are so vivid that you really get a sense while reading it that there are other people living right now all over the world. I hope that makes sense, but it is really true. Espescially great about this book is how pertinent the news Denis Johnson reported on so long ago is resurfacing again now. Seek gives such a brutal, interesting perspective on Iraq, Afghanistan, and Liberia, all places that we as Americans owe ourselves to know more about anyways. Reading this book fills with me with a sense of adventure I haven't felt since reading the Hardy Boys when I was eight.

Denis Johnson is that rare and wonderful thing: a lyrical writer with a brain. This is a collection of non-fiction essays he has published over the last 20 years, and it should win him many new fans who aren't familiar with his acclaimed fiction and poetry. The title, "Seek", is well chosen. Johnson presents himself as a seeker after truth, both physical and metaphysical. He brings with him an open mind, an open heart and genuine humility. "The Civil War in Hell" shows his visit to the heart of darkness of the Liberian civil war, where he views along with other journalists a videotape of the torture of the nations former dictator. The funny "Down Hard Six Times", an account of his honeymoon/gold-prospecting trip to Alaska is both a cautionary tale and a celebration of wilderness. The amazing "Hippies" is an exorciating satire of a drug-addled gathering of aging flower-children over Independence Day. He writes an amazinglyly sympathetic account of a Kenneth Copeland "Bikers for Jesus" rally: Johnson, who defines himself as a Christian, finds genuine religiosity among the weirdness. "Three Deserts" has some of the best writing about the American west I have ever encountered (Johnson lives full-time in northern Idaho.) The high point of the book for me is the stunning "The Militia in Me." Here Johnson gets past the hysteria about "right-wing militias" and, without minimizing their anti-semitism and extremism, sees them as within the well-established tradition of American anti-government, pro-freedom orneriness. In many ways, the West really is a different country and Johnson is well-aware of this, more so than many a provincial Eastern writer. This is a terrific book. Buy it immediately.

As the great author and prophet Copernicus again notes, human beings are pattern-seekers. They opt to give up richness of possibility in trade for predictability and familiarity. Even though none of these patterns ever fits any better than Cinderella's slipper fit her stepsisters. Human beings seek rigid, simple patterns that defy and impoverish their dynamic, multifaceted capacity. The one pattern that human beings have locked themselves into is the simple, rigid pattern of "God," even though there are many other patterns to use, including many that better accommodate their fluid, complexity. What "God" this may be is unclear, since they all seem to talk about the same one and since there have been at least 2,500 Gods concocted and documented during human history. Denis Johnson takes us to some of the margins of human society, where the only common theme is a desperate, fruitless, and vicious seeking -- the harshness and the brutality backed up by this ubiquitous "God." If we want to see the inadequacy of this pattern and start looking for better ones -- more congruent with our design and potential -- Denis Johnson's book might be one that begins to open our eyes.

I was fighting tears before I finished the first chapter. I thought we had come farther than this. What broke my heart was not just that a few twisted individuals would commit such atrocities, but that the victims did not trust the system to come to their aid. That speaks volumes. We still have a long way to go and Sandra's book has made that abundantly clear. Those who helped turn things around for this church are true heros and much braver than I.
Betty Wilson Beamguard

STANDING ON HOLY GROUND is compelling and thought-provoking and reads like fiction, but becomes all the more riveting and terrifying when you realize it's a true, unadulterated story of the modern-day South and the racism that still exists. But it is also a story of triumph and how two women, against all odds, brought a community together -- a community that reached out beyond the town, the county and the state and effected thousands of concerned citizens in America. Sandra E. Johnson's prose is solid, unbiased, but also visceral an unblinking in its re-telling of the obstacles and challenges faced by two friends (one black, one white) and their fight to save a rural country church from hated and racism. This is a "must-read"!

Sandra E. Johnson has created a masterpiece in journalism! No bias can be found anywhere in her book--only the facts. As the story unfolds, one truly begins to feel as he or she were treading on Holy Ground (page after blessed page). Upon reading this book, no one can ever say againg that the truth is boring or that real stories must be embellished for artistic flare and entertainment. Johnson's words hammer home every riveting detail in a fashion that makes the reader feel as if they are gliding through a well-written novel. Who needs fiction when you can have this kind of truth?

Through telling of how diverse people banded together to rebuild St. John Baptist Church, Sandra Johnson shows the world that love, faith, hope and a spirit of unity can come together to work miracles. It is a message that she proclaims to us all and we're the better for it.

I immediately reassesed my techniques after receiving a copy of this book from a friend. It is clear, organized, and contains practical and helpful information, charts, and sample forms.

If you are looking for a well written book that tell you exactly how to build a large network marketing business,then this book is a must read. I highly recommend this book to learn "how to do it".

This is book is an effective tool for people who are working to build any type business. The writing is concise, easy to understand and flows well. Our company ( Right-Direction Inc. ) made this publication required reading for our managers, executives and other entrepreneurs who we provide business related educational consulting services.

This book will help many to gain a higher level of success by helping people to focus on the 10 key steps of business building.

Based on this book (the only one of his that I have read so far), Himes is an excellent stylist. The prose is tough and muscular, rough-hewn and perfectly suited to the subject matter. In its own way, it equals the prose of Jim Thompson. Himes' view of a morally-decrepit urban setting is the standard stuff of noir, but seen through a kind of angry be-bop lens. Excellent symbolism is present as well, particularly in the character of the old grandmother, who haunts me still.

This is the proverbial "it". The characters, the action, the dialogue, everything is here and it all works perfectly. A true classic. Like jazzed-up Chandler or Moseley with a sense of humor.

All of the Gravedigger Jones and Coffin Ed Johnson books are worth reading. This might be a good place to start, as you'll learn more here about the protagonists' personal lives than you will in other novels. Himes was a great stylist, and one of the most important post-WW 2 American writers.

I just want to compliment the author on his creativity and sense of responsibility to keeping the reader interested. I never lost interest and found it hard to stop trying to guess what was next. I think that says something about a story. I want to read the sequal.

It's hard to put this one down! This is a totally, way out absorbing, fully developed novel, the kind that one always yearns for and so rarely finds! The characters, the atmosphere, the horror descriptions, the sensitively treated themes, the intriguing and unusual plot, and the rare entrée into the mind of a writer, I give this novel the recommendation for others to achieve.

This is a great book written by Earl Johnson. This book is so addicting, I couldn't put it down. Keeps you on the edge of your seat. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes action and suspense in a book. I hope they make a movie out of this, or heck why not even a Playstion 2 horror game.

Note:
This is not a review of the Romance Novel by Diane Johnson. This is a review of the 1977 School Textbook "The Shadow Knows" it is a book of Old Time Radio Scripts of the radio series The Shadow.

ISBN: 0-673-03533-6

The Shadow was on the air from 1937 until 1954 one of the longest running Mystery/ Drama series from radio's best and brightest years.

The Text book has many many episodes that do not survive other than in script form. This book is out of print so if you are a fan of the Shadow, and want to read episodes that are 'truly' lost. Find this book. It's out of print and quite hard to find but worth the effort.

This is one of the best books I've ever read. It has a tete-a-tete, intimate style (characteristic of many novels written by women from the '60s to the present). You feel as though you are talking to your best friend, who is telling in an informal way a fascinating story whose events are very bizarre and--and this is what makes this book brilliant--very familiar.

The protagonist speaks in the first person. It is the voice of a middle-class American housewife of the '60s. She is thoughtful and sensitive; she is perceptive; she is mild mannered--even a little self-effacing. She is a devoted and nurturing mother of several kids. She has a warm, gentle, bemused jenny-wren-like quality, not unlike many women we have known and loved.

She is recently divorced from her husband because they were emotionally incompatible.

Here's where the story starts to veer slightly to the left of center. The protagonist, although apparently middle class, is living in a public housing development, because divorce has left her in financial straits with several children to raise. And the character seems to become more anomalous when she starts getting death threats. She gets threatening telephone calls, finds dead animals placed on her car windshield, and threatening amulets in her mailbox. This gentle, mild-mannered, self-effacing, healthy, normal, and conscientious woman is being threatened with death.

For the rest of the novel, our heroine casts about in her thoughts, memories, and fantasies, with greater and greater intensity, to think of who might want to kill her.

And as she ponders this mystery, she puts together a longer and longer list of people who might like to kill her.

At this point, we begin to see the black humor peeping out of the structure of this novel, somewhat akin to ARSENIC AND OLD LACE. Femininity, daintiness, nurturance poised against death and violence.

And this is where the novel finally becomes most radical, most improbable, most bizarre. A wry, subtle humor becomes more and more apparent, as we realize that no matter how truly sweet, how mild mannered, how gentle, how nurturing this prototypical woman is, she still has a very long list of people who would like to kill her.

Diane Johnson makes us want to know who the culprit is, and at the same time she has us laughing and nodding in recognition--that women in general have many virulent enemies--even a woman of valor and sweetness; that the most stable, sane, and healthy people have bizarre currents running underneath their lives and threatening to engulf them.

And that, along with the author's brilliant writing style--is what endeared this book to me. The author tells a profound truth about the human condition: Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The threat does not just encompass the male of the species--it includes women.

I read this book when it was first published, a long time ago. I loved it then. It was funny and scary and elegantly written. I'm buying it in this incarnation because I want to reread it. I'm so glad it's available.

This is another of those gems of a little one-subject cookbook. Jhonson does great job with history, techniques and recipe collection for this sumptuous little bread.

From sweet type most of us have come to love with coffee, tea or just cold glass of milk, she adds savory items, i.e. a great recipe with Corn and Pumpkin Seeds or Carmelized Shallots.

There are many here that are simply wundebar, e.g. Meyer Lemon-Macademia or Drambuie-Raisin. If you're a shortbread fancier, this is neat collection to use and inspire one's own creations.

I love this book! The recipes are really easy and turn out fabulous! The layout is clear and original and the drawings are entertaining (there are no pictures). This is really a handy little book that any baker would like, because it is so easy to make variations on these recipes, be it ingredients or just shape and decoration. I tried some of the sweet and some of the savoury shortbreads and all were exellent, they actually disappeared from the counter! The Madras-Coconut Crackers are surprising and the Caramelized Shallot Shortbread is a real treat. My favourites are the Green Tea Shortbreads, because I love green tea and I like their not being too sweet, but really crunchy, because of the rice flour.
This book is definitely worth its price! Buy it, you'll love it!

I have been making shortbread for years, mostly for dessert. But the savory shortbread recipes are terrific and were made as gifts for Christmas and got raves.

My book is about these two boys who have a substitute teacher and they switch places. My book is a fictional book but it could really happen in real life. In my book, this boy named Ray and his friend named James are playing softball. Ray falls an his ankle and has a sprain. Ray and James switch places because they have a substitute teacher. My characters in The Sub are James who is acting like Ray. James is a smart kid, and he is not like Ray who loves sports. Ray who is acting like James. I think Ray is kind of a bully person. He makes the real James get in trouble because he gets his name on the board. There is also Mrs. Wallets who is the substitute teacher for the class. At the end she knows that Ray and James did switch places. They got the idea to switch places because James said all the teachers that they have had only look at the seating chart. " If we changed seats the sub wouldn't even know. I would be Ray and you would be James". I think that P.. Peterson is trying to say is that you shouldn't pull pranks on people. My favorite part would be when Ray and James are fighting and Mrs. Wallets write their names on the board.
This book is a homorous book. I think third, fourth, and fifth graders would like this book. I like this book because I like school and this book took place in school.

I thought The Sub by P.J.Petersen was a very good book.The Sub was a funnyand a good book. This book was easy for me because there was not that much hard words for me. I would rate this book 100%. I hope you read this book I guarantee you will like The Sub by P.J.Petersen.

THE SUB BY P.J. PETERSEN If you like funny you should read the sub! In this book is about two boys that do not like their substitute and play a joke on there sub and they try too tell her that they played a joke on her but they always back down because they hate sitting at each others desk. If you want to know what happens next you should read The sub! I think it is the best book I have ever read! My opinion of this book is a really good book!