Algerrie "Gerri" Jones is a freelance writer, who, "after 6 years of being divorced, . . . has awarded herself a Ph. D. in Life Survival." Her book of poems, An Onion In An Orchid Patch, includes the title poem, "An Onion In An Orchid Patch, " which describes two older women stuck at a young singles bar, and when the woman next to her tells "Gerri" "I feel like an onion in an orchid patch," that is all the inspiration Gerri needs. As she puts it in her poem, "Upon entering my front door I hurried to/ Salvation: Websters Dictionary./ ORCHID: A tropical plant cultivated for its delicate/ flower.// ONION: A plant consisting of a core of layers,/ cultivated for its pungent, sometimes sweet, edible/ bulb. Virtually impossible to destroy.//

This is the kind of poetry "Gerri" writes and shares in her book: "delicate flower(s). . .virtually impossible to destroy." In other words, I could not help but enjoy the poems I read in this book which chronicle a wealthy southern woman's fall from prestige from being married to single and having to survive alone which was something her culture never prepared her for. As "Gerri" puts it in "Momma said," "momma said/ give it up/ find a man/ settle down/ be normal again" but "Gerri" refuses, saying her life "now has only me to blame/ when only me did it wrong/ which sorta makes it all right." Later, "Gerri" will write in "Sudden Awakening,"

My today was wonderful.

Nothing exciting, nothing disastrous. . . . No white knight rushed in to help, but none was needed. . . . A friend felt better, another encouraged, then the sudden awakening, 'I'm happy.'

Lightning didn't strike when I thought it.

Tomorrow may be the pits, but damn, today was good.

"Gerri's" poems are everyday epiphanies, written in the everyday diction of journal or diary writing which explains their popular appeal. I have seen her give readings at local book stores in which all copies of her book immediately sell out after she finishes reading her last poem. Why? Because she speaks to women who suffer divorce and does not preach, but speaks, in everyday terms on how to cope. One of "Gerri's" most poignant pieces is a short one entitled,

Metamorphosis to Single (From 14 Rooms to 4)

As I walked from the minuscule kitchen the radio crooned Have yourself a merry little Christmas and I sank down and wept

because I don't have a piano

It reads funny or even hints that the speaker is spoiled, but how many times has a song come over the radio that has hit upon the reality of the situation? I imagine a former rich housewife with a huge house that was truly half hers with a piano suddenly stuck in a small apartment listening to Bing Crosby during Christmas and suddenly crying for no reason. . .The poem is one of my favorites in the collection for those last two lines, "and I sank down and wept/ because I don't have a piano." How honest, how funny, and how poignant all at the same time. . .

"Gerri" dedicates this book "To / The Fifth World of Aliens:/ Singles & Unknown Writers./ They are the onions in the/ orchid patch of life!" A perfect description of herself, and certainly an interesting and fun personality to explore in this collection of poems, An Onion In An Orchid Patch.

This book is written in a consise easy-to-follow format and went along perfectly with a music history college class I was taking. I found it half way through the course and used it to review and consolidate information I was confused about and then aced the final! Topics are addressed clearly and musicians and their countries are linked for easy reference and understanding. Fun to read and the lay out makes sense. Good reading.

Here is a book on acting craft for teachers and students that both explains basic technique with clarity, specificity, and humor; and offers one of the largest, most effective step-by-step collections of sure-fire acting games and exercises available. What you will find here can make an instantaneous difference with acting students on any level. Each exercise includes the following: a set of clearly laid out objectives so both teachers and students clearly understands the purpose behind it; a step-by-step set of instructions to ensure maximum results for each; the most likely scenarios that will play out along the way for maximum preparedness; suggestions for the best ways to respond to students' questions;suggestions for building on the exercises to develop the craft behind them.

The material in this book will help young actors develop their ability to find and play given circumstances, stakes, conflict, and objectives; better use their bodies to make clear what they are thinking, feeling, and doing; help them listen and react more effectively on stage; better analyze and synthesize dramatic material; use dialogue more effectively; and most importantly, think as actors to improve their work in any acting situation.

This book was recommended to me by a professional in the field. I poured over it's theory, built of moving examples, rather easy and engrossing to read. Now I see that a desire for connection is not a weakness, but a strength.

This book demonstrates how traditional psychology is based on a male point of view, and it reveals some of the unknown about healthly "life-giving" attitudes. Read this quickly, before you buy into an archaic model once again. Amazing, in this day and age, that this light has not been shed on us before.

Comprehensive chapters lay out what you need to know about health insurance options, choosing a doctor, hospital stays, long term care, and alternative medicine. When a friend needed information on home health -- fast -- we immediately found the answers here.

Good description of illnesses and practises. Easy to comprehend the treatments for any particular problems, especially the CPR for colts.

Wonderful job Kathleen! Great information for potential patients.

It is a pity that this quartet of David Miller's books: The New Polytheism, Christs, Three Faces of God and Hells and Holy Ghosts are out of print. They are simply brilliant examples of Archetypal Psychology's eye (that is, a polytheistic, mythopoeic, psyche-logical eye) turned on the beliefs of a montheistic faith. Not possible you think ? It is absolutely necessary I think, necessary to turn the two Doctors of the Soul (Jung and Hillman's) eyes on a faith whose soul has been long missing. For those Christians who have experienced the polytheism of their own soul and are seeking to integrate this experience into their faith these books are tailor made. I don't know of any other books that have attempted to do what David Miller has done. His accessible style in explaining complex notions is at least equal to that of Thomas Moore (of Care of the Soul fame).

Robert Ferguson has written a spectacular biography on legendary writer Henry Miller. Ferguson, unlike other Miller biographers (such as Mary Dearborne, Alfred Perles), relates the details of Miller's life & works without personal bias or an angle. Although a very tough task, Ferguson is able to distinguish reality as it happened from reality as reported by Henry Miller (which at times is filled with bald-faced lies, such as claiming to have met Emma Goldman although she was not allowed in the city when Miller claims to have met her) most of the time. While some fans of Miller will not like the work because it "spoils the mystique of a legend", others will, I'm sure, agree that this is a thorough, fair and accurate biography about a man who tried very hard to erase the tracks he made in life with all new marks created by semi-autobiographical romances. And dang good ones at that!

Edited by Lawerence Durrell, The Henry Miller Reader encapsulates some of the very best of Miller's writings. It includes sections from the Tropic books, Black Spring, and Big Sur and the Oranges of Hieronymus Bosch. I have the 1956 New Directions edition of the book, and I don't know whether it has been re-edited since that point, but any erotic, or sexual content had to be strained out for the censors. What is left is pure genius. There is a wonderful section on Alfred Perles...otherwise known as "Joey," to those familar with Miller's work. His insights on the writings of Anais Nin hold a certain poignancy in light of their twenty year relationship which both writers had to withold from their readers; Ms. Nin was married still to Hugh Guiller. I would highly recommend this book be purchased along with The Tropic of Cancer, or any other of his works.