This book has helped me to change my life. The information and tools that the Masters and angels discuss are profound and inspirational. I randomly open the book each day, and find that the guidance I need. I recommend it to people of all faiths and for those who have none.

This book really shows kids what they will have to do when and if they get a pony or a horse!

Readers who have never experienced one of Deborah Smith's novels will find On Bear Mountain an enjoyable trip into the myth, magic, lore, love, and loss of the Georgia mountains she obviously knows so well. Beyond the story of two lovers who struggle to imagine a future together, the book examines the ties that make a family, the iron chains of assumptions we hamper ourselves with, and the enriching importance of great art in everyday life. It is a wonderful book.

Those who have read other Smith novels, particularly from Blue Willow forward, will find imagery that is familiar here, including the transforming tornado, the photograph that links protagonists from childhood, and the sturdy chestnut beams of family tradition, as well as cigars and chop shops. I wished more than once that Smith would stretch her remarkable storytelling talent just a little further to find new images and symbols to lead us into her deep and delightful world. I recommend this book and look forward to her next one.

Do you know the feeling some will have when you finish reading a really, really great book! That sad, and at the same time elated feeling, that you have just experienced something really special. You read the last paragraph of the story and then back up a page and re-read it again because you just do not want it to end. Then you close the book and hug it to your breast and just sigh, wishing you could read it all over again. ON BEAR MOUNTAIN by Deborah Smith is just such a story!

Deborah Smith, a wonderfully gifted storyteller, has written a definite keeper with On Bear Mountain. It is the story of two families; the Powell's of North Georgia and the Riconni's of New York City. On Bear Mountain tells the story of how these two families become connected and the heartbreaking, sometimes tragic history of their lives. It is also the love story between two wonderful characters Ursula Powell and Quenton Riconni.

Ursula Powell was born in the North Georgia Mountains. Her family, land rich but dirt poor has not needed money to be happy and content. Her father Tommy, an intelligent, loving but eccentric man, while always looking out for Ursula and her mother, believes that love and happiness, not money, is the most important part of life. Bear Mountain, their home has been in the Powell family for many generations. At one time, the black bear used to roam the mountains freely, hence the name. Although hunted and driven out by neighboring settlers, the Powell's had tried many times to re-introduce the bears back to the mountain. To the Powell's, the symbol of the bear had mythical qualities and was directly connected to their families happiness.

Although unsuccessful in bringing the real bears back, Tommy Powell decides to try something else. After reading about a Brooklyn artist by the name of Richard Riconni, and with the financial help of the town matriarch, he commissions the artist to make a sculpture symbolizing the bear. He and the town gather and send the artist large collection of old iron and metal machine parts. It is decided that the sculpture would be placed at college, honoring the contributions made by both the families that founded the town of Tiberville, the Tiber's and Powell's.

Richard Riconni, the Brooklyn artist commissioned to make the sculpture, realizes that this could be the piece that will finally bring recognition as a serious artist to his career. Although happy with the love and his life, his wife Angele, and proud of his young son Quenton, Richard is also driven like many artists by passion and depression. Richard crafts a wonderfully whimsical piece he titles "Bare Wisdom" and sends the sculpture to its rightful home. It arrives in Georgia via the railroad. A huge sculpture of a bear made from old iron machine parts; it is either revered as a masterpiece by the town and the Powell's, or despised by others. Affectionately re-named the Iron Bear, the sculpture is placed at the town college. Over the years, Tommy appoints himself the bear keeper and he lovingly maintains and looks after the sculpture. When the matriarch of the family passes away, her son John Tiber, who has always despised the bear decides to have it torn down. Tommy, proud of what the sculpture has come to mean to the town and it's people, talks him out of it by offering to buy it from him. Although he knows that his family can't really afford it, once paid for, the Iron Bear is moved to the Powell farm on Bear Mountain.

On Bear Mountain is told, strangely enough, in the first person by many of the characters of the book. Deborah Smith is one of the few writers that does this and does it really well. Alternating between Ursula Powell and Quenton Riconni, the story unfolds by giving us the history of each of the families from their perspective. We learn of lives and loves lost and how both of them, each in their own different way, deal with the tragedies that fall upon their connected families. How each deal with what they feel is both their fathers' betrayal and their own guilt. It is the Iron Bear that finally brings these two wonderful characters together and they begin their own love story. A love story, one that is ultimately about healing and forgiveness of self and those dear to us.

Like all of Smith's books, On Bear Mountain, is not a fast paced action read, it is a slow but wonderfully developed story of family, love and life. Readers that enjoy reading a story, which includes the history, and events that drive and form the characters of the story, will laugh and cry as this tale unfolds. On Bear Mountain is another masterpiece by Deborah Smith and the story of these two families will stay with the reader long after the last words are read.

Sandy C.

On Bear Mountain was one the best novels, I've read in long time. Nobody does it quite like Deborah Smith. The lives of Ursula Powell and Quentin Riconni are so different and yet so similar. Both were raised in poverty with loving families (one NY, the other in the Georgia mountains), both have been hurt by love and both have decided they would never allow another that power (love) to hurt them again. The one thing that they each have in common and that brings them together is a sculpture of a bear which was created by Quentin's deceased father. Once Ursula and Quentin meet, although there is major resistance on both sides they both discover that yes they can love and love they do. All the characters are so genuine and refreshing you find yourself feeling as though you are a part of the story. Take a chance and get to know the writings of Deborah Smith, she definitely worth it.

A very nice book that provides the value and information on over 1,800 items. Includes over 600 photos, mostly black and white, and over 100 full color sharp photos of vintage items, with some photos a full page in size. It covers memorabilia from blotters and chewing gum, to playing cards, signs, wallets and watch fobs. Some of these photos won't be found in any other book. Each category of collectible features a short history of that group. Fun to look at, and a useful addition to your collectibles library.

This book is a useful tool whether you are an avid collertor of Coke or a novice. Not only does it price and display many unusual items, but it gives you a background into the history of Coke, which enriches ones appreciation for collecting. A must have for anyone collecting or thinking about collecting.

I have read quite a bit of Ms. Hill's books and have found them very helpful. However, I was a little disappointed in this book. It is geared for a beginner and isn't very useful for the more experienced rider who needs improvement. She had a few useful points here and there but I felt like I was reading a motivational and/or human anatomy book. I would recommend Swift's Centered Riding as a wonderful source instead.

I am an absolute beginner in horseback riding and I have really appreciated the attention that the Mrs.Hill gives to the mental side of riding.(maybe due to the fact that I am not so young even if I started riding only some months ago...)
It's very useful to see and understand that beyond your posture in saddle ,also your mind approach is important to get the best from the equestrian activities.
My personal target in equestrian sports is to have relaxed riding and in this book you may find important suggestions in starting with a relaxed (but not careless) approach to the horse, to the grooming, to the riding etc... having the best , avoiding to transform a anti-stress activity in full-of-doubts-and anxious-one.
This doesn't mean that also worrying features (like injuries) are not considered: on the contrary there are many parts treating about the potential dangers in riding, the wrong approach to the horse, the best way to ride safely .
...To be prepared is the best defence and gives you a stronger and safer confidence when you're going to ride...
I strongly recommend this book to the beginner-riders who are searching for a good source of suggestions to prepare "their souls" to face without worries and approach with self confidence the"obstacles" in riding horseback.

This book was very helpful to me in terms of developing an attitude and approach towards my riding. Not only were the technical aspects of riding covered, the mindset that allows one to gain confidence and control was addressed at length. As a high-beginner rider I found the information in this book very useful for taking the next step, into intermediate riding skills.

I love books that deal with history, and this book is chocked full of history. The down spots of this book is that in several spots it gets to involved with one subject and stays there too long. Thus causing me, the reader to become bored and lose interest. Overall the book was very good and kept me interested enough to read the second book "This is the house of Kingsley Merrick".

This book doesn't provide any good examples.
The description of those models are BAD.
Author suppose that every readers are already familiar with
all the functions of arena?

Author doesn't explain many modeling trickys clearly.

To be frankly, I am disappointed.

What you get for your money: a book on version 5 of Arena and a CD with the student version of the software.
The book is a good introduction to the topic of discrete event system simulation, although if this is your only interest you'll get better value buying A. Law's book or Jerry Banks's book (also available at Amazon).
After introducing the basic concepts in simulation, the book turns into a tutorial in the use of Arena. This is basically a good thing, but you'll find that there are so stringent limitations in the software provided, that some of the examples cannot be completed. This did not happen wiht version 3 (1998 edition). So what is the purpose?
Selling THIS book is a way of whetting your appetite for buying the software. If you are looking for information on simulation you can buy Law's book or Jerry Banks's book, if you are looking for software go directly to the manufacturer of Arena (Rockwell software) or other software manufacturers and find out in their web site. Version 3 was also limited but you could follow the examples with the software provided. Save your money on this book -- don't buy it.

I used this book in 2 grad courses on simulation (one with Dr. Kelton himself!).

This is an outstanding book on the basics of the Arena simulation s/w. The explanations are detailed with screen-shots, etc. to clarify topics. The examples, specially the introductory ones, are excellent illustrations of simulation concepts in the Arena envioronment. The student version of the Arena s/w {version 5} is provided and more than sufficient for learning purposes. Also, the CD includes most of the example problems from the text & can be refered to when in trouble. Arena also has SMART files that are more complex examples illustrating various capabilities and these are very good for reference. The Arena online help is also quite comprehensive too. A big advantage of this book is explanations on building animations of the simulation model. Other books don't offer as good and simple coverage as this one does.

Some of the advanced material and concepts, however, are not explained in as much detail as the earlier chapters. The authors are not to be blamed entirely though; many of these models/examples are fairly elaborate and complete enumeration of details is difficult. However, I would have liked more comprehensive explanations on some features of Arena like: Transporters (this book covers only one type of transporter available in Arena; transporters are accurately explained in an older and out of print book); using VBA for automation of some features {this is very useful to make the simulation read i/p from a spreadsheet or text file}- the authors assume this will be picked up by users themselves, etc. Arena uses the SIMAN language as its engine for simulation. Siman has many, many blocks with more advanced options and features that are not explained here & this is the biggest drawback of the book. For modeling complex systems, I often use these lower level blocks and explanations of these blocks and features are comprehensive in "Introduction to Simulation Using SIMAN" by Pegden et al. In fact, with pretty good familiarity of the Arena envioronment, I use this Siman book a lot more nowdays. Only in animation building is the Siman book insufficient.

It is very important to note that this book is a refernce on simulation using Arena, NOT simulation concepts as a whole (these are covered briefly too); for simulation concepts and overviews, I recommend "Simulation Modeling and Analysis" by Law & Kelton as well as "Discrete Event System Simulation" by Banks, et al.

Let me end with this note: Dr. Kelton used material from this book in his introduction to Arena, so it'll be like learing in class itself. I would consider the Pegden book as a replacement or supplement to this one though.