Having just finished Destiny's Godchild, I was eager to read Diana Johnson's sequel. Her knowledge of history and love of her subject is remarkable. This book is a fictional story that brings to life many characters from history who helped to form our destiny long before Charlemagne's reign. One of the most heartwarming characters is Charles Martel (Charles the Hammer). Ms. Johnson takes you from his unwanted birth to the heart stopping war where his army of foot soldiers defeated the well-trained Muslim horsemen under extremely unequal circumstances, thus saving Europe for Christianity.  You will marvel at the fictional character Egar's wisdom and insightfulness as he mentors Charles' wife throughout her life. Charles' strong character and unyielding integrity will give you a real-life hero taken from the pages of history. Definitely a must read!!! Val Middler Middlebrook, author of "Val's Victory: Defeat was NEVER an Option."

Diana Johnson does a great job of blending history and fiction in this book. She has brought Pepin de Vain's family tree to life and has woven the events that surrounded these lives into a story line with lots of intrigue and excitement. Anxious for the next book!!

All photographs are reproduced in a warm duotone, which brings out the amazing range of light and shadow in the original works. A learned introduction by Robert Flynn Johnson puts Jones in the context of other close-up still-life photographers. The book's only defect is Alice Waters's inane, hippy-dippy Preface: "A bunch of radishes. A bunch of grapes. [. . .] Charles Jones reminds us that horticulture is sacred. There is no other word for it." She drivels off after two pages, but still, that's two fewer of Jones's photographs that we might have enjoyed.

A marvellous and inspiring book, whether you're a gardener or a photographer, or both. Jones' work, found in a trunk in the Bermondesy Market, is quite the most remarkable body of still-life work produced by an English photographer. Reminiscent of the photos of Josef Sudek, Irving Penn or Karl Blossfeldt, it's everything good still-life work should be -- simple, dramatic, evocative and perfectly composed. Since Jones left no negatives -- later in life, he used his glass plates to make cloches to protect his seedlings -- this book is the only public record of his work you're likely to see unless you chance upon an exhibition organized by the author, dealer and collector Sean Sexton. I can't recommend this book enough.

This is a wonderful book. I've found it very useful in my classroom as a teacher of Juvenile Delinquents who dropped out of school. At first sight of the book my students think it's a joke, but I find it as effective as other text boks when teching History. It's FUN and DIFFERENT. A change in the admission of information is very helpful and effective in the acquisition of information in youths.

Very unique presentation of African American history. Basically use two elderly narrators, one male and one female to take the reader in time. Each narrator has a different "voice". The female narrator has a bit of black nationalism, while the male narrator has a more balanced view of America in terms of race relations. Though a cartoon narrative, the book seems to be written for older readers (teenagers to adults). I recommend it for the entire family *and* ALL RACES. As author Russell Banks (Rule of the Bone) says on the back of STILL I RISE, "It's not just the history of African-Americans; it's the African-American history of *all* Americans."

At first this book didn't capture my attention from amongst the mountains of train books that my 3 yr old has found for us to read him, but the poetry of thus book really has stuck with our son. Months after borrowing it from the library, he still goes around composing his own songs, copying the rythm from this book. Amazing to see the the words have such an effect. This is one that will definitely become a favorite in our collection. The pictures are also great, and I enjoy the real life images it conveys.

I don't understand why this book didn't earn at least a runner-up for the Caldecott award. The pictures are superb, reminiscent of Edward Hopper. The text is a poem with rhythm, so that when it is read out loud, it evokes the sound of a train moving down the track. It took me awhile to get the hang of it (how often can you say that about a children's book?), but now my 2 year-old daughter nods her head to the words. She loves trains and loves this book.

I bought this book because I grow carnivorous plants and am always interested in learning about their natural habitats. I was not disappointed -- it includes a section on CP with some satiating color photos. Also included is a complete explanation of how bogs are formed, bog types, plant and animal species found in bogs, a section devoted to Sphagnum moss (helpful to me as a CP grower), a section on native terrestrial orchids, etc. In the back there is a listing of easily accessible bogs in the Northeast.

Keep in mind that this book covers only bogs in the New England region of the United States. However, bogs similar to those described can be found anywhere in North America.

I have but one gripe: there are not many color photographs! Those included, however, are beautiful and I wish there were more.

All in all, a wonderful book for those who want to learn more about bogs!

EDIT: In regard to my use of 'satiating' to describe this book's color photos ... it is admittedly a slight exaggeration. 'Good' or 'nice' or 'detailed' would have been more appropriate. In case you don't know, 'satiating' means 'satisfying in excess'. For example, a meal which gives you a tummy ache would be satiating, that is, satisfying in excess. So, would 'satisfying' have perhaps been a better choice? No, because as my review later indicates, the photos are not at all satisfying. In fact, the book could have been improved considerably with a lot more (or, come to think of it, improved slightly with a few more). Then why did I use 'satiating'? Why don't I change it now? Because 'satiating' is the only thing this sad review has going for it.

Chris Roy

This exhaustive two-volume tome set the standard for twentieth century biography, and belongs on the shelf of every well-read Dickens fan or public library. Great for researching, critical analysis, or enjoyment of this monumental life.

Jean Toomer was one of the great literary figures from the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920's. His signature work, Cane, is known by most people who have studied African-American literatureo. Lesser known to readers is this brilliant work, Essentials, published in 1931.

After his success with Cane, Toomer disappeared from the literary scene to pursue his own philosophical and psychological inquiries. He went against the grain of his time which believed African-Americans were not capable of exploring the world of metaphysics, let alone psychology. Toomer, way ahead of his time proved them wrong as he sought enlightenment in the teachings of George Gurdjieff. During this time (1924-1935), Toomer published this slim volume offering his attempts to grapple with the experience of what it means to be human.

Essentials is a collection of Toomer's ponderings in his search for wholeness in a fragmented world. Drawing on modern psychology and eastern religious belief Toomer falls into the comapny of Emerson, Thoreau and Gibran as he deals with that which is transcendent. He revives the use of aphorisms to convey timeless truths in a world which is incable of moving beyond its limited definitions of life.

Long ignored, this work gives us a glimpse of Toomer's metaphysical side. Through it we capture another alternative view of dealing with reality. It is essential reading for anyone interested in metaphysics, African-American literature, Toomer and as an example of a Black writer who refused to be limited by definitions of race for his life. Think on his words. Grow in the wisdom shared by a great literary giant of the 20th century.

This is an excellent book for anyone planning to move to, or already living in, Colorado. Though not a book that most people would sit down and read cover-to-cover, it provides a broad overview of issues that are important as a reference guide. It is divided into concise chapters and written in language that is technical but understandable. From legal issues such as land stewardship and basics of Colorado law to a tongue-in-cheek interview with "Colorado Red", the book provides us with useful information so that we can all be better neighbors.

Gene Smith's treatment of the l868 impeachment and trial against President Andrew Johnson is beautifully written and presents fair, yet compelling portraits of all of the major players. In the wake of the most recent impeachment crisis concerning President Clinton, this book becomes more important than ever.

This is a superb book, bringing forward the startling testimony of 20 former slaves about the terms of their captivity. These narratives are both literary and true, and 200 million people should read them.