These books were a delightful part of my childhood, I grew up in southeast Alabama and visited many of the haunted sights (the hole that wouldn't stay filled, the grave of the dancing ghost, Huntington College, et al). I recall attending a "storytelling" by Mrs. Wyndham in the 1970's, never was it more fun to be so scared!!!

From time to time, someone appears in our lives who holds a special place in the culture of Alabama. Those of my generation have been blessed to have Kathryn Tucker Wyndham, a great Lady of the first order, and a true state treasure. It is perhaps fitting that one finds it near impossible to place Mrs. Wyndham in a niche. She is a historian, to be sure, but she is more than that, as is evidenced by "13 Alabama Ghosts And Jeffrey", as well as her numerous other works. Long popular in Alabama, "13 Alabama Ghosts" can be enjoyed by a broad spectrum of readers, both within and without Alabama. Her skills as a writer are equally matched by her rare talent as a raconteur. Mrs. Wyndham is one of the very few authors who makes herself so accessible to the public that she literally emobodies the written works she has produced. Anyone who has ever attended the annual "Pilgrimage" in Selma can attest to Mrs. Wyndham's abilities to hold an audience in rapt attention to her tales of ghosts and such. This book is a must for those interested in a taste of a unique slice of Alabama culture, by the foremost practioner of the art. Mrs. Wyndham has produced a delightful book, one which is a significant contribution to the body of works of Alabama history. Accordingly, this reviewer highly recommends this book - as well as all of Mrs. Wyndham's books - for readers of all ages and interests.

I first read 13 Alabama Ghosts as a elementary school student in Alabama. In the twenty years since then, I have re-read it numerous times. The stories stay with you and provide an interesting and alternative look at Alabama's history. Since the stories involve local ghosts or haunted places, it is possible to visit these locations yourself, which makes the book all the more interesting. I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in ghosts and Alabama history.

These are the songs that I like in book one:Dancing Partners and School Is Out and My Dreydl and Lullaby.
By:Sayaka Koga

The ABC's of Violin has played an enormous role in fulfilling my dream of learning to play the violin. I'm overwhelmed by the simplicity of its approach, and it's underlying structure that has so effectively developed my skills. New concepts and techniques are introduced in such a logical manner as to further a student's development while limiting the frustrations and intimidation that frequently accompany a new undertaking such as learning an instrument. I also enjoy the vast repertoire of material presented throughout the book. The material ranges from focused studies to actual songs, encompassing nearly every genre imaginable, from classical to folk. Many of these songs are famous, others are slightly more obscure, but each cleverly selected to introduce a new element or concept at precisely the right time. The variety of music selection has also expanded the future directions that I hope to take my violin playing.

I also highly recommend acquiring the accompanying CD. It contains beautiful renditions of the songs presented in the book. I've found that playing along with the CD greatly improved my reading, timing, intonation, and confidence.

Janice T. Rhoda is a graduate of the New England Conservatory, a trained Suzuki teacher, and has taught adult beginner classes. I am a current student of hers, and am energized by her enthusiasm for teaching. She has developed this series to coordinate with Suzuki methods and to provide immediate reinforcement for students by playing recognizable melodies that also teach fingerings, bowing, and musical notation. Even though I was a very proficient violinist before taking a 20-year break from playing, I have not been bored working through this book with Janice to redevelop my musical skills. This is book one of an on-going series which includes more advanced books, easy piano accompaniments for them, and forthcoming drill books for further study. If you are a violin (or viola - books also coming) teacher or know one, you really should look at this series!

If the cover of Sophie Aldred having dealt the Black Dalek with her aluminum bat doesn't convince Who fans that she's the toughest companion since Leela of the Tom Baker era, nothing will. Sophie is well-placed to tell her experiences in Doctor Who, as she was the series' last companion. She came in the wake of a tough transition in Doctor Who's history--following the dismissal of Colin Baker and the installing of Sylvester McCoy, Sophie was chosen to succeed Bonnie Langford as the new companion.

Mike Tucker, her collaborator of this work, was the visual effects designer during Doctor Who's dying days. He too provides his point of view and remembrances with equal aplomb.
In each of her nine stories (Dragonfire, Remembrance Of The Daleks, The Happiness Patrol, Silver Nemesis, The Greatest Show In The Galaxy, Battlefield, Ghost Light, The Curse Of Fenric, and Survival) she provides vivid commentary and detail from her diary of her experiences. There's lots of behind the scenes photographs in B&W and colour, early design sketches, listings of the cast and production team, director, story number, number of episodes and date broadcast--it's pretty comprehensive.

And yes, the famous incident of her while shooting Battlefield is included. Basically, she was in a water-filled tank and was to be pulled up. Sylvester McCoy noticed the glass bulging and then... CRACK! Sylvester shouted for the crew to lift her out, which they did, before anything happened to her. She also tells about this in the More Than 30 Years In The TARDIS video.

Considering how she was one of the few ex-alumni of Who to come out in the More Than... video, it shows how much she loved the show. She was very heartbroken when Sylvester McCoy told her that there wasn't going to be a 27th season, and that too is included in the book.

At the end of the book are photos and text of some of her post-Who efforts, including More Than A Messiah, an episode of the Stranger, the short-lived Colin Baker series, and Shakedown, a Who-spin off that not only featured the return of the troll-like Sontarans but paired her with Carole Ann Ford, Dr. Who's first ever companion. Then there's an interview where she tells what her favourite story was, plus her favourite Doctor. I have to commend her on her answer--she has good taste.

This is a splendid companion-piece after watching any of the 7th-Doctor/Ace stories. If you can find this book--get it. Break through hoardes of Daleks to get this treasure.

Sophie Aldred was the last companion for the longed lived Doctor Who program. She and special effects wizard Mike Tucker give their thoughts on the last three seasons of the show. The book is filled with pictures from the show and behind the scenes. It also contains quotes from various people including Sylvester McCoy, AKA the Seventh (and final of the series) Doctor. It really is a good read, whether you like Sophie or just like Doctor Who in general. It also contains mainly behind the scenes antics, even the infamous tank scene, where Sylvester became an actual hero.

This really is a perfect companion book to go in any collection.

This book has it all; full colour pictures, many from the private collections of Sophie and SFX creator Mike Tucker, the technical working of the show, and witty, genuine commentary from Sophie herself. By reading this book you get a real understanding of how episodes in the Ace era were produced, what the cast and crew thought of them, and what they got up to on set. Sophie is full of information, and you'll want go back and watch all your videos again and go "Ah! i know how they did that!"

Reviewed by Jill Cozzi,

Recently I received a press release announcing a Malcolm McDowell retrospective at the Walter Reade Theatre. I forwarded it to a friend, along with a message:

"Gee, do you think I should go to this, walk up to
Malcolm McDowell and say, 'I saw A CLOCKWORK
ORANGE at my college auditorium and three weeks later
was deflowered by a guy who looked an awful lot like
you did then?'"

Now, of course I would never do such a thing, because such an occasion would reduce me to a babbling idiot. But then, I'm not Betty Jo Tucker.

If I WERE Betty Jo Tucker, however, it wouldn't even be an issue, for she would just walk up, make her confession without batting an eye, and two hours later walk away with notes from a truly killer interview. That's just the way she is.

Tucker is arguably the most unique presence among the many film critics on the Web today. In a world dominated by snarky teenagers and twenty-something self-anointed cineastes, Betty Jo Tucker is a gleeful, unabashed movie-lover; not a film buff, but someone who loves the experience of filmgoing. At seventy-plus, she retains the same joy in moving pictures projected on a screen as she did that first time she walked into the "picture show" to see FRANKENSTEIN -- in its first run. A critic who came into the business late in life after raising two children, one divorce, one remarriage (to the same husband), and a distinguished academic career, she is an anomaly among Web critics in that she does NOT subscribe to the Alice Roosevelt credo of "If you can't say something nice, come sit by me."

In her new book CONFESSIONS OF A MOVIE ADDICT (Hats Off Books), Tucker shares her infectious joy in the moviegoing experience with the rest of us. It is truly "a life story with everything but the movies edited out." Written in a breezy tone, CONFESSIONS is truly a snark-free zone. Tucker, who has set herself up as the premier lobbyist for the Return of the Movie Musical has even managed to find the good in such crap-fests as the Britney Spears vehicle CROSSROADS. She doesn't love everything put on film, but you've got to love a critic who's eligible for Social Security but can still laugh her way through the likes of the surrealistically sophomoric CABIN BOY and who reacts to the ghastly THE PRINCESS DIARIES by remembering to call her granddaughters and tell them how terrific they are just as they are.

Where CONFESSIONS OF A MOVIE ADDICT falls short is in Tucker's underestimation of our interest in the journey of a woman through academia, homemaking, and into film criticism at an age when most of us have long since given up our dreams. This may be "a life story with everything but the movies edited out", but many of us would love to see what's left on the cutting-room floor.

Whether she be recalling a mishap at an X-rated film, admitting she laughed out loud during 'Cabin Boy', or taking an imaginary film festival trip, film critic Betty Jo Tucker's novel 'Confessions of a Movie Addict' will have you envisioning her tales of a life at the movies as if she were talking directly to you. Betty Jo's stories are vivid, enthralling, and quite often amusing. Not only does it provide one wonderfully detailed story after another, Betty Jo's book comes with several of her to-the-point film reviews, a collection of celebrity interviews, a photo gallery, an index of movie-related books and websites, and a checklist to see if you indeed are a movie addict. I have read 'Confessions of a Movie Addict', and as a critic myself, I can proudly assure you that Betty Jo Tucker is one of the finest critics out there and a person who flat-out loves the movies, from the good to the bad. 'CoaMA' is an excellent slice of cinema life.

As a recently retired college professor who can go to more movies now, I was delighted by this substantive insiders tale told with such happy and light-hearted grace, candor, and humor. The sophisticate and the novice, young and old, will find Betty Jo Tucker's "show-don't-tell" approach solid, informative, and entertaining. She charmed the socks off me! Betty Jo takes us into her fascination with this dimensional art form, with her life story deftly stitched into the background. "Because confession is good for the soul," she tells us, "I admit enjoying films mostly for their escapist entertainment qualities. But I also love to be enchanted by cinematic artistry, enlightened by a great story, and inspired by memorable performances." We grow together with this unpretentions, knowledgeable professional hooked on movies as she moves from going it alone, to being mentored by the best, including the famous "UK Critic" Ian Waldron-Mangani--who, she tells us, could have been her grandson. I found "Confessions" to be a great three-in-one deal: HerStory, terrific interviews, and crisp reviews. We meet some of the greatest names in film from the U.S.--directors David Lynch and M. Night Shyamalan, Oscar winners Anjelica Huston and Angelina Jolie, and the legendary Debbie Reynolds, along with top international figures, including British actor Sir Ian Mckellen, French actress Judith Godrech, Japanese filmmaker Masayuki Suo, and Oscar-winning Czech director Jan Sverak. Stellar interviews include those with Annette Bening, Willem Dafoe, Tony Shalhoub, and Aidan Quinn. Among her top reviews are "Chocolat," "Bridget Jone's Diary," "Mouline Rouge," "Planet of the Apes," "Legally Blond," and "Scary Movie." Along the way, she tells some delightful stories on herself: great gaffs--foot in the mouth, clear to the knee, as Josh Wise, one of my former students, once wrote. After enjoying "Confessions," you'll never read a review the way you used to!

I am a big fan of Dries Van Noten's clothes. Naturally I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book. It gives a good introduction to Dries as a designer, and what he considers important in his work and the industry. Knowing where his ideas are coming from and how they are executed makes you appreciate his designs more. Andrew Tucker did a very good job at portraiting a very talented designer who has a very loyal fan base, but not necessarily a household name for many. The book has less to do with decribing his designs, but more to do with Dries' creative processes. Highly recommended for anybody who's a fan of his work, or just interested in fashion!

I think this book is very informativ, because it isn't a "pop" book about the glamour of fashion, but a book that concentrats on what has to be more important design and all its aspects(which appears explicit in the title).....And what can I say Dries' design is after my opinion some of the most innovative, yet without being to far out!

I think this book is very informativ, because it isn't a "pop" book about the glamour of fashion, but a book that concentrats on what has to be more important design and all its aspects(which appears explicit in the title).....And what can I say Dries' design is after my opinion some of the most innovative, yet without being to far out!

Robert Tucker's latest book, Driving Growth Through Innovation, is a powerful blueprint for transforming ad hoc, seat of the pants innovation into systematic innovation that can help to drive growth, profit and competitive advantage in your organization. This is one of the most important, insightful books on innovation that I've read in some time. Using extensive real-world examples from 23 "Innovation Vanguard" companies -- some of the world's most successful and innovative firms -- Tucker informs and inspires as he reveals their best practices and how your firm can adapt them to your needs.

Tucker begins the book by building the business case for systematic innovation: Why is it a survival issue for organizations today? Why do so many corporate leaders agree that innovation is a key strategic issue, yet have great difficulty in actually implementing systematic, pervasive innovation within their companies? What's needed is a systematic and comprehensive strategy for innovation, and that is the focus of this book. Systematic innovation, according to Tucker, is comprehensive, involves all employees, is focused on an organized, systematic and ongoing search for future business opportunities, and is focused on delivering new value to customers.

In Tucker's quest to deconstruct the DNA of systematic innovation, he covers an impressive collection of key strategic innovation issues, including how different corporate leadership styles and cultures can influence an organization's commitment to innovation, or lack thereof; how to identify unmet customer needs and build market-leading new products around them; and techniques for "future scanning" -- "mining" emerging trends in an organized, systematic way to uncover exciting new business opportunities.

Driving Growth Through Innovation is highly practical and inspiring book, a field guide to successfully implementing systematic innovation that should be on every entrepreneur and innovation manager's bookshelf, yet at the same time a compelling manifesto for change in how most companies approach innovation. Tucker does a terrific job of clearly and compellingly explaining the systematic innovation methodologies used by the Innovation Vanguard companies, and provides readers with one valuable insight after another into how to make these principles work for you.

I highly recommend this book!

Extending my knowledge in Product Development lead me to read Tucker's book - Just one simple comment - Well written, full of common sense and very practical in the approaches and ideas. Surely inspiring and putting me in a position where I know I have to innovate myself in integrating many of the book ideas and link them with other great Product Development concepts.

Robert Tucker speaks with authority; he does not write in empty generalities. He cites facts, figures, case studies and innovation luminaries. He poses questions, provides solutions and presents answers. Finally, he describes six growth strategies. It is obvious he knows his stuff. This scholarly book is fascinating and fun to read.

If you liked the two books by Jim Collins: Built to Last and Good to Great, you will want to read this book.

As a publisher, author of 28 Books, 109 revised editions, six translations and over 500 magazine articles as well as a consultant to the book publishing industry, I rely on books like this. I will refer to this book again and again.

Dan Poynter, ParaPublishing.com.

I found this book to be both inspirational and thought provoking. I am a mother of an eight year old special child, and this book shed light on the conception that I am not alone. I would also recommend this book to anyone who has a special child in their family. The inspiration from scriputres are excellent and make you realize what a special gift you have in your child.

I have a 1 yr old with Down Syndrome and I wish this had been the first book that I had read, It was so encouraging and up lifting. It was also very easy to read. I am recommending this book for Christian parent with handicapped children. The cover even looks happy and fun.

This book was so helpful for me - as a physical therapist. I was able to better understand where parents are coming from - and it gave me the desire to be a better Christian physical therapist. I LOVED the stories - the good and the bad. I strongly recommend it for teachers, therapists, parents, churches, etc.

I took a course from Dr. Tucker as a Bowling Green State Univ. (OH) undergrad in 1992, and it became the most memorable class I ever took. Eleven years later, I am still recalling his passionate advice...in particular the distinction between an agressive person (which nobody appreciates) and an assertive person (who most everyone respects).

I was in the middle of extracating myself from a business relationship with a Difficult Person (DP) and remembered this slim volume. My sister took this author's psychology class while an undergrad at Bowling Green State U. and passed the book along to me. Dr. Tucker's assessments of common DP's, their behavior patterns, and most importantly, HOW TO DEAL WITH THEM really helped me through that situation, and many others. Lots of people you encounter in life are DP's and this book can help you get more from your dealings with them. I hope this gets put back in print soon.

I din't though that a book could take so many things, that the are so right (and on time)when you are dealing with DP. I was honest very please to see that i am not alone in this world. after i had read this book i feel very confortable with myself.

This book is a wonderful book that not many people come across. I checked it out at the library, and book of few Due Dates during the last four years, maybe 11 times previous to mine. I just happened to run across this book when researching 1800's Nebraska. It looked like a good book, so I checked it out and read it. I read it in three days, with limited reading time. This is a great book about an 11 year old girl who is crossing from the harsh times of the 1890's to a great time of modern inventions. She is about to meet "the end of the world" (1900) which reminds me much of our meeting "the end of the world" in 2000. Through the centeries, people have changed and life has become more complex, but life is just the same in picking up a great book telling of life from over 100 years ago.

Oh I love this book. I was looking through books that other people read that also liked this book. I read this book a while ago so I might be wrong in some parts. I think Evan Tucker's parents died so we went to live with his aunt and uncle. Cassie his cousin helps him in Blue Hill, Nebraska. I remember that at the end Evan's teacher writes him a letter with this on it: Mr. Evan Tucker c/o Cassie Tucker Blue Hill, Nebraska I thought that was so cute. I love to read love stories but this isn't one. I think that Evan shouldn't be Cassie's cousin so at the end they can fall in love. That's what I think so read this book and don't yell at me if I'm wrong in my review or what I think Evan and Cassie should or shouldn't be.

Cassie Tucker is the only daughter of a preacher in 1899 Nebraska. She does have two brothers, one older, one younger, but she wants a sister. So she's dissapointed when she hears her cousin, fourteen year old Evan, is coming to live with the Tuckers. Through a fall of changes, and an unexpected blizzard that nearly claims Evan's life, Cassie comes to accept him as a part of the family. This novel of a farm girl at the turn of the twentieth century is meaningful today, as we face the upcoming start of the twenty first century.