I happened to see Randy on line and traced his book through his Web Page and anxiously waited for it to come from Amazon.com. I found the book to be a very soul searching book about a gay man from early childhood to a matured adult that leads us through high and low times of the Heart that we who are gay have all experienced to a degree but maybe not to the degree that we read about Randy. The underlying story of how AIDS affected his life keeps the story on an even keel and reminds us all of those that we have lost. This book is a real treasure and I highly recommed reading it.

Randy Chumbley's book struck a familiar chord for me. Although I did not suffer through the horrors of a father like his, I have found myself searching for a similar sense of security and protection in the men that I have pursued. I enjoyed reading how Randy came through the stages of his life with growing self awarness and was rewarded to find that he recognizes that life is a constant process of growth. I think that many of the moments in Randy's life will seem familiar for many men in the gay world. I am happy that he wrote these things out so that others will know how familiar their own experiences are for all of us. While I wouldn't say that Randy's book was easy to read at times because of the familiarity to certain instances, it was good to read because it gave me a sense of companionship in my own pursuit for personal happiness. Thank you Randy for sharing a life well lived.

Few books can be so rewarding as IN THE ARMS OF ADAM. Mr. Chumbley shares with us a journey of his life in a truely sincere and honest story. His examination of this journey is thought provoking, heart warming and beautiful. His poetic writing style is exquisite, as we follow a young man from chilhood horror to adult self satisfaction. Any person who has lived with abuse, and questions their own lifestyle and choices, needs to read IN THE ARMS OF ADAM. Gay men should Thank Mr. Chumbley for a true representation of our society towards gay men during this timeframe in our history. I really cannot say enough about this book, and the rewards it has given me after reading it. I will definitely read it again.

I couldn't put this book down, once I picked it up. This true story, is a well written account of a young boy's life in a German concnetration camp. This book was hard to read at times, because you can't believe that a human being would treat another human being this way. It made it especially hard for me to read this book, because David Faber is my next door neighbor, and the nicest man you could ever met. This book should be required reading in every school, so we all know what really went in the Geramn concentration camps, and to make sure this horror will never happen again.

David Faber book was the most outstanding story I had ever read. By reading this book made me realize that I live one of the greatest years in history. David has been my encouragement to live without hated to someone who has done wrong. One of the parts in this reading that touched the inside of my heart was when he described the killing of his parents, brother and sisters. The way that I found this book was through my cousin, she said that she will never forget the suffering and hatred that Germans had towards the Jewish people. I recommend all teens to read 'Because of Romek' this book would make them realize that now we have the greatest opportunities in life. I encourage my comrades at school to read this book; they would see the world differently as we see it now. I would like to meet Mr. Faber someday. I give this book five stars.

Young David Faber survived the horrors of the Holocaust because of Romek and because of a vow he made. Romek was his older brother, a Resister whom David watched tortured and murdered by the Nazis. That was at the beginning of the persecution of the Jews. The vow David made to his mother was simply that he would live. The true experiences related in this memoir left this reader first breathless, then chilled, then nearly numb. To say more would lessen the impact for the next reader. Just order it and read it now! The story of David's survival in the Ghetto, in flight and in hiding, in the Partisan band, and in the concentration camp is simply-written but powerful. These days Mr. Faber is a sought-after speaker at San Diego middle-schools and high-schools. Students rarely fail to be moved by the courage and endurance of a 15-year-old child of the Holocaust. This book really should be required reading, alongside Anne Frank's "Diary of a Young Girl" and Inna Konstantinova's journal in "Defending Leningrad".

Stacey is such an inspiration to young Black women...and an encouragement to me. She is about to blow up ... move over Mayo Angelou - there is a new poet on the scene and her name is Stacey McAdoo!

One of my favorite chapters was the mental illness, this was very heart touching and on the real. I felt that she really bared her soul and enlightened the Black community that no it's not limited to the white community...it's right in our family and all of us need to be aware of this illness and take a stand. And stop acting like it doesn't exist because it's real...Stacey is a very talented writer and this book had me in tears.

A friend of my purchased a book and originally I read portions of her. And it was so good that I had to buy one myself. I really enjoyed reading this book. Mrs. McAdoo undertook a huge project to write about, with such honesty and bravery, subject matters that many of us only whisper about. And while I found the entire book interesting and a page turner, I especially liked the section on race relations or "Black & White" and "White Privilege" as they were respectively entitled. I think it's sad that in this day and time, we still have a race problem. I also found myself saying "Amen" during the "Real Men Don't Cry" chapter and laughing during the "Marriage Isn't Logical" section. This was a great read. Stacey is an excellent writer and I can't wait to read more of her work.

If the book "Baring My Soul" by Stacey James McAdoo was to be made into a television series, it would define the true meaning of "reality" television and open the door for more of the kind to follow! Stacey tears down walls and barriers to let nothing but the truth - plain and simple - come barreling through. I could definitely appreciate the raw and intense honesty delivered by Stacey when sharing of her brother's bout with manic depression and the effects this mental illness had on her and her family. The incidence of mental illness is more prevalent in our society than we may want to admit and we can not afford to turn a deaf ear to it. In her "non-mincing of the truth" style, Stacey brings the message home with a distinct IN YO FACE delivery.

Thank you Stacey for exposing yourself and allowing me to get to know you on a more real and peronable level. Your memoir further drives the point home for me that we all have a story we MUST tell!

I have read extensively on the life of Tecumseh and this is the defintive novel. I feel it is best to read last, or reread once one feels he or she understands the settling of the Northwest. It takes knowledge to respct this novel. This is the book that tells the tale of Tecumseh, but one must understand the tale of Tecumseh before one appreciates this book. Thom is a thoughtful and dedicated writer. Outstanding.

Truly a work of art in literature format. Thom brings the Shawnee Nation to life again as it once was and evokes great feeling through his work, which has a depth of its own, almost unparalleled. He is a master at his particular craft. The thing which depressed me most about this book besides reading of the destruction of The People in seemingly all too vivid detail, was the fact that i think i shall never read a better book, for this would be hard to top. Understand though that i am a great admirer of Tecumseh, so bias may come into play. But also understand that being as i am, such works would endure intense scutiny, as this book has, and yet from me, it receives nothing but praise. Too often, i have witnessed history butchered by those unskilled in its telling, but Thom has shown through his work that he is truly a student of the past and is the teacher when it comes to its portrayal. 5+ stars!

Over the years I've read many Indian folklore books, both fact and fiction. Panther In The Sky is my all-time favorite and a book I'll soon read again. James Alexander Thom brings Tecumseh to life in this fascinating, semi-biographical tale. The pages will fly by as you become mesmerized with the story. Highly recommended.

I noticed that my mother was using the paperback edition of this devotional to write little prayer requests and thoughts in the margins. This prompted me to buy her the journal version of the devotional which gives her much more space to write and includes the same powerful devotionals. It was a great gift!

Another great idea is the "Devotions for Morning and Evening With Mrs. Charles E. Cowman : The Complete Daily Devotions of Streams in the Desert and Springs in the Valley". Even though it is a little harder to find, my mother claims that the evening devotionals which are taken from Cowman's "Springs in the Valley"
are just as moving as the Morning devotionals (taken from "Springs in the Desert"), if not more so.

I have been reading the paperback devotional and I enjoy it greatly. It is non-judmental and very loving. My fave devotional!

I noticed that my mother was using the paperback edition of this devotional to write little prayer requests and thoughts in the margins. This prompted me to buy her the journal version of the devotional which gives her much more space to write and includes the same powerful devotionals. It was a great gift!

Another great idea is the "Devotions for Morning and Evening With Mrs. Charles E. Cowman : The Complete Daily Devotions of Streams in the Desert and Springs in the Valley". Even though it is a little harder to find, my mother claims that the evening devotionals which are taken from Cowman's "Springs in the Valley"
are just as moving as the Morning devotionals (taken from "Streams in the Desert"), if not more so.

I have been reading the paperback devotional and I enjoy it greatly. It is non-judmental and very loving. My fave devotional!

I have been reading the paperback devotional and I enjoy it greatly. It is non-judmental and very loving. My fave devotional!

I noticed that my mother was using her copy of this devotional to write little prayer requests and thoughts in the margins. This prompted me to buy her the journal version of the devotional which gives her much more space to write and includes the same powerful devotionals. It was a great gift!

Another great idea is the "Devotions for Morning and Evening With Mrs. Charles E. Cowman : The Complete Daily Devotions of Streams in the Desert and Springs in the Valley". Even though it is a little harder to find, my mother claims that the evening devotionals which are taken from Cowman's "Springs in the Valley"
are just as moving as the Morning devotionals (taken from "Springs in the Desert"), if not more so.

"Effective Phrases for Performance Appraisals" is the equivalent of a "Roget's Thesaurus" for supervisors and managers who have to evaluate employee performance on a regular basis. It organizes effective phrases under headings such as 'Communicative Skills" and "Leadership". You pick the most appropriate phrase to describe your employee's performance, e.g. "optimally utilizes all channels of communications", and write the review. Even if you don't want to use phrases out of this book, I've found that it is a good pattern book for brainstorming my own phrases.

The only omission (in my opinion) in "Effective Phrases for Performance Appraisals" is the lack of phrases for below average performance. Try "The Definitive Performance Writing Guide" by Douglas L. Drewry for your below average performance appraisals.

I purchased a previous edition of this pocket handbook some years ago and replaced it recently with this newer edition..

I get the impression that this thoughtful and well laid out guide was originally for use in the military and other government agencies. It is a very useful tool for allowing your own creative juices to work for you when writing up an appraisal.

The best method that I've found for this little guide is start in with an employee appraisal, then scan through the relevant pages when you feel you are at a sticking point and need some time in order to place the correct phrase that just doesn't seem to come to mind at the moment.

Rest assured that taking a break, scanning through this guide for a while, and then putting your work aside for a few hours will result in some very constructive ideas for you..

s/ Patricia Gibbons

I've been writing performance reviews for five years now, and found this to be the best guide ever to help fill in the blanks. Almost every appraisal form requires analysis and precise commentary about the employee's behavior, and this book is well-organized and chock-full of helpful phrases to adapt for just about every performance situation. I also used this book as a resource for a class I teach, How to Conduct Effective Performance Appraisals.

Julian Drew lives with his abusive father and stepmother. The physical and emotional abuse he receives separate him from everyone he meets. The only outlet for his pain is his NBs, or notebooks, where he writes his deepest thoughts and feelings. Afraid of the consequences for his honesty, he writes in a secret code, to some he calls "U." Although at first, the reader can not fully understand Julian's code, it creates sympathy for Julian and a need to understand him and with each page Julian reveals a little bit more of himself. Deem treats the topics of abuse and abandonment with sensitivity, and portrays them in a very real manner. The book is separated into three sections, each one a different NB. With each notebook the reader experiences the growth and progress made by Julian through each of his trials. Recommended for all YA collections.

Parts of 15 year-old Julian's life are so terrible, the only way he can write about them in his journal is in code.

"My hand is going 2 write U if it K1775 me," he writes in his NB, an 80 page green spiral notebook.

As his diary unfolds, we slowly see the horrible emotional and physical abuse he receives at the hands of his stepmother and the longing he feels for his dead mother.

This book is challenging to read, but well worth the effort: _Flowers for Algernon_ meets _I Am The Cheese_. Highly recommended.

I rate this book a ten star! Too high for a 5 star scale. The code in this book was exiting to figure out and it helped you unravel the story of Julian with him. I read this book in one day and loved it! One of my all-time favorite books! If you don't read this book, you are going to miss out on a wonderful experience!

Maritime artist and historian Jim Clary's new Titanic book is a neatly self contained history of that most famous of all shipwrecks. The book's first half is a consise narrative of Titanic's short life. The conception, construction, sea trials, voyage and disaster are all well presented. This section's straightforward approach will appeal to both newcommers and long time enthusiasts alike. Then, things get interesting. Mr. Clary analyzes several theories and "what if" scenarios that have been popular Titanic topics for 86 years. His primary sources are the testimony and writings of Second Officer Charles Lightoller and passenger Lawrence Beesley who are generally considered accurate and comprehensive witnesses to the disaster. The coverage of the Titanic theories is brief but what is lacking in depth is made up in clarity, a quality often lacking in printed Titanic discussions. An interview with a 96 year-old Edwina Troutt McKenzie was also interesting. The ending chapter called "The Last True Story" is an original thesis claiming the Titanic resumed sailing underway after hitting the iceberg. Mr. Clary gives us a compelling case for this scenario and I believe it deserves consideration and more research. I recommend this book for both new and old Titanic buffs. It's brevity and personal style are easy to approach while the theories and arguments bring new thought to old issues. Many will find these thoughts controversial, but the Titanic legacy is fueled by controversy.

From the incredible amount of foodstuffs loaded at Southhampton to the numerous breaks in maritime tradition that some think doomed her from the start, the story of the Titanic continues to enthrall. Many theories about that cold, April night have been launched, but this book shed's new light on several major points -- all based on extensive research -- that might have changed history and made Titanic's sinking a footnote instead of a major tragedy. Jim Clary's abiding love for the ship, but, more importantly, the 1,500+ victims of Titanic shows in this gripping book. Jim is also a wonderful and gracious guest on radio talk shows!

Jim Clary provides the reader with details about the "Titanic" which have up to this time, either been ignored or vague. His insightful presentation leads the reader step by step through a succession of events which occured from the inception of "Titanic" to her demise. Issues which were known but never elaborated upon, take on new meaning and thus magnifies the tragedy. He gives a sensational account of an event with fact. Definitely an excellent book to read for anyone, but especially for those who have followed and studied this tragedy.

James Baldwin's novel The Fire Next Time is a narrative of Baldwin's thoughts and perceptions of society throughout his life. This book expresses the point of view of a man who grew up in poverty. Poverty for Baldwin was the streets of Harlem and all of the drug trafficking, prostitution, alcoholism, and crime that took place on a daily basis. The atmosphere in which Baldwin grew up in directly affected the man he became and his views on certain issues.

Baldwin was a young man during some of the most critical times in United States history and his outlook on the Civil Rights Movement is the focus this book. Growing up in Harlem, the inequalities of the black man become painfully apparent to Baldwin. He struggles with the black leaders of the time and their preaching. However, an invitation to meet with the leader of the Nation of Islam, Elijah Muhammad, provides important insight to this group. Baldwin and Muhammad's perception of white people are clearly different but the two accept each other and continue on with their lives. Muhammad and his followers believe that the white mans reign over the earth is coming to a close and blacks will soon be superior. The relationship between these two men is complicated; Muhammad seems interested in recruiting Baldwin to his cause but Baldwin remains focused on equality.

W.E.B. DuBois once said, "The problem of the twentieth century is the problem of the color line" (103). This issue of power and the color line is constant throughout the novel and it becomes apparent that the struggle for power seems to be drawn with racial lines. The key black figures in the novel struggle against the white culture to gain a foothold to launch themselves out of the wings and into the spotlight of the nation. Dialogue between Baldwin and a few characters question whether power is obtained from the number of followers, "it is now absolutely clear that white people are a minority in the world" (70), or the amount of money available, "He spoke to me...of the amount of money that is annually at the disposal of Negros-something like twenty billion dollars" (79).

Baldwin seems partially interested in joining the Nation of Islam but rethinks his decision and draws his own conclusion of how equality and justice will be obtained. His brilliant insight has the strength to change lives and lead to equality. This novel would be perfect for a reader who is looking to understand how people of different social and economic classes perceived the civil rights movement. As a college student interested in history, the historical changes presented in this book held my attention. This book requires the reader to think of their own society and how it evolved to its current standing. This book demands the reader to think and to understand the meaning of Baldwin's words. With thought and consideration, Baldwin's theories on equality and accepting others will become clear to the reader.

Of all of the great authors of the 20th century, James Baldwin was probably closest, both in style and moral authority, to some of the prophets of the Hebrew Bible. "The Fire Next Time," first published back in 1963, represents Baldwin at his most impassioned. This book consists of an open letter to Baldwin's nephew, along with an extended autobiographical essay. Throughout the book, Baldwin writes with insight and compassion about the complexities of race in the United States.

Baldwin writes of his spiritual crisis as a teenager--a crisis which led to his career as a youth minister in an African-American Christian church. He writes bitterly of his ultimate disillusionment with the emptiness and hypocrisy he found in the church. Baldwin also writes of his meeting with Elijah Muhammad, the fiery leader of the Nation of Islam sect and mentor to controversial Black leader Malcolm X.

Baldwin's testament is a harsh critique of 20th century Christendom. Reflecting upon the rise of the Nazis in one of the world's most "Christian" nations, Baldwin declares, "From my own point of view, the fact of the Third Reich alone makes obsolete forever any question of Christian superiority, except in technological terms."

"The Fire Next time" is both an illuminating historical document of a turbulent era, and a superb piece of literary craftsmanship. All those interested in the art of nonfiction prose should take time to experience Baldwin's mastery of the medium. But even more importantly, we should all take time to consider his ideas on race, on religion, on prejudice, and on hope.

Originally published in 1963, James Baldwin's, "The Fire Next Time", is an indicator of what society was like as many viewed it, and forces questions about the degree of change that has happened since he originally wrote the work. The position or the perspective of the reader, will greatly affect how each reader reacts. One issue that I do not believe can be doubted is that this is a powerful, and passionate book, written and published at a time the Author risked all manner of hatred and violence upon him. Published when Mr. Baldwin was 39, the book is not the rose colored view of youth, nor the writing with an entire lifetime to reflect upon. It does not suffer from the first, nor does it fall short do to the latter. It is writing that will elicit powerful emotions by all those who read it.

Great change for the better has taken place. Former Joint Chief Of Staff Colin Powell will soon occupy the most powerful post ever held by a person of color in this Country's History. This was probably unmanageable in 1963. However this example does not represent the state of change in our Society. As an argument for how much change has taken place for the better between the races, a person pointed out to me the march on the anniversary of the sick events in Selma Alabama, and the lack of any violence. My feeling was that if the President Of The United States had made the same march with the same people in 1965, as the President did recently, the violence would surely have been different. The participation of The President and all that surround him tend to minimize Civil Rights abuse in his presence.

There is no definitive measure of how much change has taken place, who is responsible, and who if anyone is to blame. The ease with which "The Race Card" is played by individuals of any color, at any level of our Country may not measure change, but it certainly does indicate that whatever change is needed is not yet completed.

A very powerful work about a conflict that still occupies too much time as an issue in our Nation. This book is one man's views, and his shared personal experiences. He writing is not the final word, but after 38 years, the fact that his work and his thoughts are still relevant, speaks for the work and the man who wrote it.

... oh, and did I mention a real cool silver wolf named Saul.

This is my one of my favorite books. Of course, I love all of James Byron Huggins' books, but I treat this one with care. Wolf story is about a brave, silver wolf named Saul and and a large, wise hare named Windgate. Both are warriors. Both lead their clans with strength and honor in the ways of the Lightmaker, and against the forces of the Dark Council.

This story is similar to the Redwall series, in that it uses fantastic animals as the charactes to tell a tale to touch the hearts of men and women - boys and girls. Huggins uses fantasy to bring to life that their is a difference between good and evil, and in whom you put your faith, does matter. This is a book for all ages. I am 28, my friends son is 13, and we both loved it.

This isn't a mussy, gooshy story of love (although that theme is present also). No, these are courageous animals with the will, the faith, and the fight in them to battle the forces of evil to the end.

This book is greattttttt!I'm reading it for my second time and i still love it.an amazingly written book,a mixture of Watership Down,Redwall,and a little bit of chrestianity thrown in!A story about a young wolf Arumus,and his struggle to overcome the Dark Lord and worship the Lightmaker.It's full of action.Read it!

A Wolf Story, is a book about a young wolf who tries to survive and follow his Lord the Lightmaker, and to resist following the Dark Counsel. It is a book about good and evil and the pain, and struggle to survive, and to have peace. Anyone who has read this book I am sure that they will be as moved by it as I was.