Laidlaw and Redmon were raised together in the Tennessee hills on the horse farm owned by Laidlaw's father; the black Redmon family living in one of the out-buildings and Redmon, Sr. working for Laidlaw, Sr. The boys are friends, a friendship complicated less by their different races than by young Redmon's perception that his father prefers Laidlaw to him. The boys, as boys will, grow to manhood, enter the army and are shipped to fight in Vietnam, where terrible things happen. They return, independent of each other, and spend much time alone-Laidlaw living in the Redmon's old home (Laidlaw's father died when the main house burned down) and Redmon in prison as the fall-guy in a real estate scam. Laidlaw had used his solitary year, surrounded by nothing more than a motley of farm animals, a stray dog, and a runaway peacock, to become proficient enough with a banjo that he can attract a following playing with a blue-grass band. Redmon seeks him out at a performance and the friendship is renewed.

In "Soldier's Joy", Madison Smartt Bell has much to say about tragedy, loss, solitude, betrayal, fathers and sons and the psychological devastation that can be wrought upon young men who have spent a year up to their elbows in gore. This is a book rich in both description and nuance. The Tennessee countryside is vivid and the musical imagery-and there is a lot of it-doesn't come across as forced or cloying but instead reads like a soundtrack. The writing is so fine, so "writerly" that it is easy to overlook the fact that the plot is almost an afterthought and is full of holes. This is not to say that Mr. Bell can't tell a story-he can. There are several scenes of firefights that are gripping and exciting and rank with the best of the breed. However, the basic plot (introduced well into the novel) about the Klan being somehow offended by the interracial friendship of Laidlaw and Redmon and by the interracial following of a local evangelist and trying to end both by violence, is thin. There are also two characters-Laidlaw's musician girlfriend and the ex-Green Beret leader of the Klan-who deserved better development. These are quibbles. "Soldier's Joy" is post-Vietnam fiction that is well worth reading.

This is a wonderful book, the kind that you start to read slower when you get close to the end because you don't want to say goodbye to the characters.

the story itself is engaging and interesting, but the subtly crafted dialog, revealing so much about the characters so naturally is what astonished me.

This is a book that celebrates the extraordinary in ordinary people, and made me feel better about humanity (be warned, I don't think you'd call it a 'feel good' book though!).

I loved this book, and will be seeking out more by the author.

Although this book has now been superceded by more recent scientific creationist scholarship, this small book provides a good introduction to this topic. It is not overly technical.

We all know of the dragging argument over creation/evolution but this book really put it in perspective for me. By the time I was done with the first chapter, I just couldn't put it down. Although some of the scientific talk I had to read over a couple times, it was still easy to follow. It really made me think about things. The good part about this book was how Morris made things so easy to understand. He found so much proof against evolution that I was nothing short of amazed. If I was involved in a creation/evolution argument, this book would be the first book that I would grab for referance. It is an excellent book and very well written. It answers so many questions. I recommend it highly and only wish I had read it back in high school.

I first came upon this book in a senior seminar in college. At the time I apppreciated it for the varying voices of women. I was able to see women like and unlike myself and be warmed by the fire of this sisterhood. I had no idea that when I wrote my Master's thesis how important this text would be. Unfortunately there are few anthologies like this one that covers so many bases so effectively. Madison has collected well known and lesser known talents into an invaluable research tool. It should be required reading for anyone interested in stepping into the world of writing by women of color.

"The Woman That I Am;" an anthology containing such literary geniuses as Gwendolyn Brooks, Jamaica Kincaid, Amy Tan, and poet laureate Rita Dove; seethes with life and vitality. Essentially a collection of poetry, short stories, plays and essays on the lives of colored women, the focus for the anthology lays within the diversity of the writers selected. Synthesized in this collection are the lives of women from all walks of life completely free of judgment. "In loving ourselves for who we are --American women of color-- we can make a vision for the future where we are free to fulfill our human potential. This new framework will not support repression, hatred, exploitation and isolation, but will be a human and beautiful framework, created in a community, bonded not by color, sex or class, but by love and the common goal for the liberation of mind, heart, and spirit." (Merle Woo) A celebration for all womankind, whis book is a must read for colored women, lesbians, conservatives, breast cancer survivors, daughters, mothers, wives, students, mentors, bosses, plebeians, independents, mujeres, lovers, writers, readers... humankind. Buy it now and enjoy it tomorrow.

This book is a labor of love: a hand-lettered study of certain geometric solids. The shapes in question are relatives of the Platonic solids, only with holes! For me the joy of the book comes from 2 sources: First, the author uses an elegantly simple set of rules to define what solids fit into his study. He proceeds to show how these rules unfold vast families of solids, beautiful for their regularity and dazzling in their complexity. Second, the book is very oriented to helping the reader build gorgeous models of the shapes, using nothing more than rubber bands and triangles, squares, hexagons, etc. of cardboard. If you have ever been facsinated with intricate objects and shapes, this book is for you. With high school math and a little determination you can understand enough to make fantastic models, but that by no means exhausts the content of the book. There are also plenty of concepts from solid geometry, symmetry, etc. for students of higher mathematics. A must for every high school and college library.

If you're looking for interesting or educational content, or commentary, or "how-to" then this isn't your book. Beyond an introduction and appropriate credit for each image, you won't find anything but images.

Now, for what this book IS. It's chock-full of wonderful logo samples in full color. The logos span over a vast array of designs and styles. This is a great resource for study or to get ideas. I would highly recommend it as a great resource for graphic and logo designers.

This book is an excellent introduction for children into the lives of ten of the most important and influential American writers who helped shape the horror novel or story (be it on the written page or screen).

Very short chapters will both keep a young reader's interest and provide a surprising amount of information at the same time.

The expected luminaries of the field (Stephen King, Anne Rice, Poe) are here, but the nicer surprise is seeing coverage given to several masters of the field who usually are not given their (much deserved) due: Robert Bloch, Rod Serling, Shirley Jackson, etc.

Make no mistake, this book is written for a younger audience, but even I was able to glean some previously unknown information concerning the authors I was less familiar with.

An enjoyable and informative book, it also provides an invaluable service by giving these gifted and deserving writers an opportunity to be discovered by a new generation of readers.

To see a Robert Bateman work is to glimpse a moment in Nature's time when an elk treks across a vast winter landscape of snow, conifers & mountains; or a stream bank where tender green plants glow against the moist earth & a minute bird perches; or a trumpeting bull elephant confronts you in a storm of dust. Roger Tory Peterson has written an expressive introduction & Ramsay Derry's profile of the artist makes good reading - especially as he's included a history of who Robert Bateman is; where he's lived; several works-in-progress sketches; photos of the artist in action & on location. A worthy addition to your library.

I have bought that one, I've found it useful, many exercises and many tricks. I dont have much time to look all the books that I can explore this site, but I've found the most useful one.

An essential book for every American both young or old, male or female, Democrat or Republican. A delightful discovery on the need of God and guns (or perhaps swords) in the United States and the intolerance of a government in charge of all but answerable to noone. An undeniably perfect fit for todays culture.

Discover your roots from the men that gave their lives for the signing of the Constitution; true heroes. Their resolve was unquestionable and the love for country without reproach.

They brought us so far. We've walked away. Read it and weep. BK