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There is nothing but water in the holy pools,
I know, I have been swimming in them.
All the gods sculpted of wood or ivory can't say a word,
I know, I have been crying out to them.
The Sacred Books of the East are nothing but words,
I looked through their covers one day sideways.
What Kabir talks of is only what he has lived through.
If you have not lived through something, it is not true.
-- Kabir, translated by Robert Bly (p. 282)
This eclectic offering of verse reminds the reader of what he has lived through. It illuminates forgotten & ignored experiences through rhythms and images of people who have made their lives' works out of committing the unconscious to the written page. These nuggets of truth find value as they elicit Truth from the reader's experience.
DON'T trace out your profile
forget your side view--
all that is outer sutff.
LOOK for your other half
who walks always next to you
and tends to be who you aren't.
-- Antonio Machado, translated by Bly, (p. 366)
It's difficult to flip at random through these pages, and not find an echo of something stirring deep, writhing in forgotten darkness. These words shine from the page to cast the shadow of that "Other" in sharp relief upon your mind. This is not a book of pretty verse, not poetry to read to grandma during the Christian Ladies Tea Party in the rose garden. These are words to sever the bondage to dysfunctional social programming: "We have been busy accumulating solace / Make us afraid of how we were." (Rumi, p. 135)
Although the subtitle says "Poems for Men," I'm certain women will find power & freedom in these words, too. Some poems specifically name masculine woes, sorrows & challenges. Where these do not apply directly to the lives of women, perhaps they will open a portal into men's souls for the other gender.
I've nearly worn mine out and will soon be getting another copy. If I only had one book of poetry to take to a desert island, this would be the one.
I found this book back in '92 when it was first published. It spans the centuries and the continents; but has a healthy dollop of contemporary writing that is stunning. It's quite possible to imagine that all greatness belongs to ages past; this book proves that a lie by nestling examples of past excellence with their contemporary heirs.
My favorite pieces especially include "Becoming Milton" (p. 81), "The Colonel" (p. 89), "A Story About the Body" (p. 266), and "What Happened During the Ice Storm" (p. 249); which I have redubbed "A Sack Full of Ears," "Entombed in Tanks," "A Bowl Full of Bees," and "Frozen Pheasants," respectively. I just read the last one at a poetry reading in New Hampshire on the first Wednesday in January 2001. A third of the way into the poem, the entire room audibly gasped and tensed. At the end, I felt a tremendous sense of redemption and relief overcome the SRO room as they burst into applause. No credit is due to myself; it's entirely the power of Jim Heynan's words. If you believe, or need to believe, in good poetry, you should own this anthology and read from it frequently, as I do.
And the search continues ...
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Both my dogs (and many of my friends' and coworkers' dogs) give this book their enthuiastic howl of approval!
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However, even Ernie is a bit taken aback when venerable wealthy icon Mary McElroy comes to Ernie's home for assistance. The elderly patron of Southern Belle Letters hires Ernie to uncover the identity of the individual who murdered writer Sukey Lytton six months ago in a reported accidental drowning. Since the same group will be at Mary's home, Ernie joins them on the pretense of helping Mary write her memoirs. Ernie quickly learns that Sukey's final manuscript is missing and wonders if that is the cause of the murder; that is if someone actually killed the author. Ernie also wonders if murder did indeed occur, and it is not the ramblings of a senior citizen, will the murderer strike again if the amateur sleuth gets too close to the truth?
This Ernie Carpenter tale, CLOSER THAN BONES, is an engaging mystery starring a fabulous lead protagonist. The story line moves forward in a genteel way as expected from a Southern cozy, but never slows down or looks back. Ernie is a great character and the support cast, especially the writing group provides the audience with an insightful novel that readers will enjoy while demanding Dean James return quickly with his heroine.
Harriet Klausner
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James Bone, the author, apparently wrote this book with the non-property tax professional in mind. The chapters are laid out in an easy to understand format. The sections covering the various areas are explained very well. For example, we specifically wanted to find out what type of property tax exemptions exist in California and by quickly looking in the table of contents, we found the chapter covering the area.
For a non-property tax professional this book covers all areas of property tax from real estate base year calculations to personal property tax issues. The book can also be useful as a quick reference guide for a property tax professional who wants to polish up on a specific area that they are not too familiar with. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning more about property taxes in California.
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I've made bones and given some in gift bags, and the recipients were always so appreciative to get "homemade" snacks for their puppies!
The book makes a perfect Christmas gift for those petlover friends on your list! Or, send it to your pet friends to give to their owners...!
1.- The recipes really WILL please your dog (they are easy and healthy).
2.- If you're too busy, give the book to your son or daughter. Kids love baking these bones as much as dogs love eating them.
3.- I've given The Doggy Bone Cookbook to other dog owners as a gift, and they love it, too.
4.- The book is stain resistant, and the cookie cutter stores right inside the book.
5.- It's a fun read. The recipe names are a riot!
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Anyone who likes Tony Hillerman's books will LOVE the Shaman series by James D. Doss. I recommend that anyone who wants to step into Mr. Doss' world, begin with the first book in the series (The Shaman Sings) and work their way through the series. Warning: If you read one, you'll have to read them all!