Editor Carleen Brice has put together a wonderful collection of stories and essays along with some poems for and about Black women in their "midlife". Midlife, in Brice's words at a recent book signing, can be defined not so much by age, as by the life experiences a woman has gained. For Brice, mid-life began for her in her late twenties when her mother became ill and died. At about the same time, she began to evaluate her relationships and aspirations.

In this anthology, women who are well known such as Alice Walker, Pearl Cleage, J. California Cooper and Nikki Giovanni and others not so well known, write about a period in their lives that define midlife in all of its joys and tribulations. Gloria Wade Gayles regales us with a tale of a middle-aged woman throwing out her inhibitions at a dance in "Who Says an Older Woman Shouldn't Dance". It is a commentary on how society in general feels about women who just don't care what others think. Lucille Clifton's well-known poem "New Bones" is a delight and fitting here. Elaine Lee tells of preparing her mother-and herself for death in "Full Circling". In "Homegirl Reunion", Joan Hopewell-Hartgens questions why her friends would throw a reunion for their childhood friends who are turning fifty that particular year. She almost backs out of the reunion but decides to go and basks in the seasoned womanhood they have attained. There are excerpts from "The Women of Brewster Place "by Gloria Naylor and "A Day Late and a Dollar Short" by Terry McMillan. And remembering that getting older oftentimes means getting better as far as sexuality is concerned , Opal Palmer Adisa adds sassiness with her poem "Gray Pussy Hair". Amazing!

This collection proves that as women grow older, they can grow with grace and wisdom despite the issues encountered. This is a delightful compilation that will make a great gift for any woman, young or old.

Dera Williams
APOOO BookClub

Brice's anthology - Age Ain't Nothing but a Number - is all about ways to feel good about oneself. Written from the Black Women's perspective -- an oft-whispered voice in the self-esteem arena -- this book creates a great sense of pride -- for all women -- about feeling good and feeling all the better in the process of aging. I found it very inspiring and insightful - but more so, truly a delight to read. I would highly recommend it to anyone.

I really enjoyed this collection of writings by now middle aged African-American women, Nikki Giovanni, Susan Taylor,
J. California Cooper, Plearl Cleage, Maya Angelou, April Sinclair and many more not so famous sisters, but excellent writers with wonderful stories to tell. Not about their bouts with hot flashes, but just about life and the changes in it. It's like sitting with friends and listening to their stories, I really enjoyed it!

A fun vacation read. Anecdotes from a real wild west lawman -- who didn't do a lot of shooting and killing but somehow managed to be in the action none the less. It reminded me a little of the excellent Dustin Hofmann film, Little Big Man.

given the title, i was prepared to be unfavorably amused by this book but wound up thoroughly charmed by the direct and often witty descriptions and characterizations by this bona fide turn of that century wild west lawman, who, one must assume, was just as tough and unyielding as the 'hard cases' for whom this work is titled.

harkey's plain style and simple accounting of the events develops a remarkable bond of trust with the reader, and i came away almost with a casual sense of familiarity with some of the most savage and desperate bad men produced by that savage and desperate era.

recommend it very highly for anyone who would like to get a highly entertaining -- but pretty much unvarnished -- picture of life on the edge at that time.

More than fifty years ago I read Dee Harkey's account of his experiences as an old time western lawman, and "Mean as Hell" still sticks in my memory as the best account of what it was like to wear a badge in the old days. I give this book five stars not as a literary composition but as a highly intertaining account of how things really were in the heyday of the wild west. It is fast and easy reading, written in colorful language as it was spoken. As you read Harkey's writing you are soon magically transported into another era that will never return. You find yourself not just reading about his exploits, but living his experiences with him. I feel as though his unique unsophisticated writing style has expanded my own life experiences to include an important part of history that occurred long before I was born. Not many writers can do this.If you want to actually experience the old west, read this book.

Teaching in a high school with a large number of minority children can be challenging. After reading this book, recommended by the debate teacher, I feel that I am better prepared. This book is an excellent resource for those wanting to understand the student from a background different form their own. If you plan to work in public school, this book is a must-read. I borrowed a friend's book, and then decided I had to have a copy of my own.

Language is power. Heath, a reflective practitioner of both human nature and schooling, provides an in-depth view of communities which epitomize the struggle for such power. In her ethnographic study of Trackton and Roadville, Heath lays bare the socializing process of children through words. The discontinuity between home and school is disturbing; a realization that students who do not fit the traditional way of schooling are left behind. Clearly illustrated is the need for teachers and students to bridge the gap which exists in relation to both language and culture, for without this effort some students will never acquire the power needed to take control of their education or pursue opportunities from which they have previously been excluded. This is must reading for student ethnographers, doctoral students, and those dedicated to school reform, particularly those in the areas of diversity in public schools, and language. This extraordinary book compares favorably to "Growing Up Literate: Learning From Inner-City Families" by Denny Taylor & Catherine Dorsey-Gaines.

Crouch and Brice have done a creditable job in their biography of Cullen Baker, noted opponent of the reconstructing authorities in post Civil War Texas and Arkansas and probably America's first real gunfighter. In a complete revision of Ed Bartholomew's 1954 book, which presented Baker as a hero who opposed Yankee occupation, a "social bandit," as it were, Crouch and Brice present Baker as more of a "public monster," a wartime coward and deserter with a big psychological problem, who went around shooting innocent people after the South lost the war. As usual, the truth lies somewhere in between, depending on one's own view as to what Reconstruction means. But the Crouch and Brice book is easy to read, and ably gathers all that has been said about Baker over the years conveniently under one cover. Most surprizing is the volume's measured tone in handling historians with different viewpoints, something Crouch has never been noted for previously. Maybe he has mellowed with time or perhaps that is Brice's contribution to the volume. One wonders, however, if Reconstruction was as successful as Crouch and Brice seem to think, why has America had to go through the whole process again during the past forty years? Maybe Ed Bartholomew was on to something. In any case, it is a well-done piece of research and writing, suitable for all readers interested in the West and South during and after the Civil War.

This is a satisfying,well reasearched, and enlightening look into the real truths behind famed comic and Ziegfield star Fanny Brice. With harsh facts yet obvious respect for her subject author Barbara W. Grossman peels away the myths propagated by the Streisand films and gets to the facts and the core of the real Fanny Brice. This is a very entertaining biography and may also be used as a great tool to research the early days of Vaudeville, Burlesque, and the Ziegfield Follies.

i am so glad that ms. brice wrote this book. there is such a need for it in the african american community. i now make it a standard practice to send a copy to friends and family members who have recently lost a loved one.

This is a good book for people interested in the nitty gritty of music acoustics and mixing. It has in-depth discussions on every topic.

I'm never sure when or where I first hear of new interesting lit. (I think I stumbled on this book, via the web, - scratched on a wall, mumbled into phone machine. I forget which But my friends - it was a refreshin' pleasure I shelled out for. Great humor and a dark pathos prancing in some celestial vaudeville. But, that being said, there are a few criticisms. First, someone ought to sue this chap's editor. I was constantly feeling like the power and the glory were peaking through; read "Dharma Bums" "Big Sur" or other beats, or Ken Patchen, and then the mood would change and I'd be stumbling around trying to piece it together. After a few pages the rage would then capture me and pull me on again. Second, it jumped around a great deal and never came to some context I could understand. Maybe that's life... But I was confused. Lastly, the language was dense and demanding, but a bit oblique on meaning.

In the end, like the novel's title there was hope and there was death. Death to preconceived expectations, that is, but hope for the next book by this very interesting and witty author. I would have given it 4 or 5 stars - but like I said it was rough and needed a little more polish... But if you like your pleasures that way, then cheers! LOL!*

*(All I know it was a sure a cool way to put off pursuing my thesis ... Which, by the way if my mum is reading will be finished soon...:)

I'm still drifting in the dream map of the author's mad-mad steamin' mind. What a frickin trip. I loved it!

"DSS" mixes a pastiche of styles from symbolists, stream-of-consciousness, and a range traditional modern writers. The Story? Hmmmm... Mainly: Things fall apart (and stay that way... hallelujah!) Everythings broken and the plague is on its way... Hope and missiles. Dark politics and curruption. Only Obscurity and humility can offer hope.

Wit, sarcasm and absurdity reign in this conundrum of fiction, poems and strange missives. Forget postmodern, were living in some Vicoean warp zone -- and this is the testament.

I'm not sure if drugs were involved but something's cooking. Weird USA rises again... yippee

I can't wait for the next work (if there is one...) I definately recommend.

This has got to be one of the most poorly written books I have ever read. It seems to me that Ms. Winterbourn is trying to write in the style of Rosamund Pilcher, (whose writing I love) but with a Christian twist, and in my opinion, she fails miserably. The main character, Lucy, is supposed to be this grieving, tormented widow, struggling to get on with her life with this "autumn time" move to Cornwall. She seems to do it just fine! I was unable to feel or sense any real emotion from her at all! None of the characters are particularly well drawn and the inconsistencies in their character are glaring, especially in Lucy's love interest, who transforms from a serious, man of few words into a scatterbrained chatterbox in a matter of seconds. The whole story is just plain hokey and unbelievable.

Lucy Summers moves to Cornwall after the death of her husband to escape the memories of her life with her husband. She goes through a crisis of faith, and has to face her past in order to begin to overcome it. Her initial idea is to just be by herself, and not get as involved in her new community as she was in London; that however, is quickly put aside as the small community takes her in and makes her one of their own. A surprising romance is built into the story and helps Lucy begin to live again.

I enjoyed this book. The story is inspiring and seems so real. I feel like I truly got to know Lucy and what she was going through. I would highly recommend this book.

The overwhelming feeling of this book is one of gentleness. This is nothing harsh or abraisive about it, but there are plenty of emotions...bereavement, loss of faith, coping with serious illness...as well as love, commitment and a sense of community. It is a sweet story, with believeable characters - and the kindness and patience of the central characters makes the reader feel inspired to become a better person themselves. There is a real lack of Christian fiction in Britain - unless you're into demonic warfare courtesy of Peretti or La Haye - and I hope more books like this become available soon. If you enjoy putting your feet up and disappearing into another world for a while, you'll enjoy this story - whatever your age.

I've taught Historical Geology labs from this manual starting with the third edition. I believe that this is one of the better lab texts on the subject but I hear the same complaints from students using the seventh edition that I heard from those using the third - "How are we supposed to interpret the information contained in these poor quality black-and-white photographs that typically lack a scale and a complete verbal description?" and "Why do the questions in the manual seem so 'obtuse'? We can't understand what is being asked for." I've seen only a slight improvement in photographic illustrations over the years (very, very few new illustrations) and minimal improvement in the "clarity" of questions. The colour geologic map plates are typically so poorly printed that I long ago stopped having students do geologic cross sections because we couldn't see elevation contour lines, differentiate colour patterns for formations, or read the strike and dip symbols. There are still (after 20 years) no exercises dealing with evolution theory. Examples of "applied" geology (petroleum, mining, hydrology) are still few in number and simplistic.