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Book reviews for "Vigness,_Paul_G." sorted by average review score:

Nobody's Hero
Published in Hardcover by Black Belt Press (01 September, 2002)
Author: Paul Hemphill
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Better Than Long Gone
Hemphill's hilarious Long Gone was made into a movie, but Nobody's Hero is better. A former award-winning sports writer and a southerner, Hemphill's description of the relationship that develops between a down-and-out ex-jock from AL and a young African American athlete is beyond believable. You KNOW these guys and pull for them. And, their story is seasoned by the insertion of two salty female characters who are completely captivating. The reader can't help wondering what happens to these characters next so, Paul, how 'bout a sequel?

Another Hemphill Jewel
Paul Hemphill's works are marked by carefully drawn characters of complexity and sublety as befits a great writer who has delt so effectively in stories with a Southern context. His Birmingham upbringing, his Auburn U. 'education" and his Atlanta experience provide the football background and the racial context for a story of recovery and redemption in the modern South.

A Great Story
You don't have to be a football fan to appreciate this beautifully-written story of a man who finds out he's a lot better than he -- or anybody else -- thinks he is. It's a novel of redemption, and it's full of flesh-and-blood characters who grow and change -- people you find yourself caring about.
If you are a football fan, you'll appreciate "Nobody's Hero" all the more. It captures the grit and the glory of high school athletics, the kids who play and the adults who guide them. And it's a great read.


Outside the Bungalow: America's Arts & Crafts Garden
Published in Hardcover by Penguin USA (1999)
Authors: Paul Duchscherer and Douglas Keister
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Unique style beautifully presented
This book covers the architectural aspects of the property surrounding the bungalow - gates, arbors, fences, walls, paths, steps, water features, courtyards, patios, pergolas, porches, outdoor furniture, etc. The photography and color illustrations are superb and it is hard to take your eyes off the photos to actually read the text! And although the photos were taken at the present, the authors have not neglected the history of these dwellings and have included beautiful colored postcards that were so popular during the 1920s and 1930s. An introductory sections discusses the movers and shakers of the Arts and Crafts Movement, like William Morris, William Robinson, Gertrude Jekyll and Gustav Stickley. The final chapter is devoted to the architectural firm of Greene and Greene, whose style was a major influence. Most of the houses and gardens photographed here are on the West Coast (mainly Seattle, WA, Portland, OR and Pasadena, CA) although there are some Rhode Island properties included as well. A final section is devoted to planting the garden and includes lists of plants which are good for any situation imaginable. This is a wonderful book - beautiful, unique and inspiring!

Nothing like it.....
Disclaimer: I'm a bit biased, because its my home on the cover, despite this, the book is a crucial tool, there was so obvious a need for a book on this topic, one that relates to what people were wanting to do with their homes, and helping them to avoid. to a point, having to scrounge through years of bound periodicals in the library, and random drives through promising neighborhoods in search of inspiring examples....not that you would get to see the back yards.
Doug and Paul have gone out of their way to search out appropriate examples for all three of their bungalow books together, ranging always from the garden shed to the Gamble house. This is the only in-print book I'd recommend for the topics of Arts & Crafts fencing, walls, paths, site integration etc.
Having seen many of these sites in person, I can say that photographer Doug Keister, has brought a focus that many would miss in person. My wisteria only blooms 4-5 weeks a year, but of course, they got it then.
My only complaint is that the photos are so compelling that many might never get to read all the text, which is what the book is all about.
There is some validity to the point above about a West-Coast bias to the topics, but when you consider that virtually every other A & C garden book has a English tilt, it seems less a problem. There is room for a knowledgeable Mid-Westerner to write a good book as well. "Outside the Bungalow" is not the last book that should be written on the topic, just the best, by far, so far.

Excellent resource for creating a "complete" environment
What a great resource for those who feel that their home begins outside in its surroundings. The bungalow has never really gone out of style and continues to hold national appeal. This book is full of ideas that cross the spectrum from simple to ellegant. It draws the reader outside of the bungalow and gives one cause to reflect on making the outside environment beautiful, comfortable, unique and completmentary to the structure itself. Many of the small towns in Southern California have undergone a second life with downtown revitalization projects that have extented into the older neighborhoods. Duchscherer & Keister give the reader an appreciation for the beauty that can be created around these older homes.

The constant theme running through this book is the timeliness of the garden. The garden didn't come into being during the Arts & Crafts period, it simply became a tremendous complement to the home.

Don't be discouraged if you don't live in a Greene & Greene, the effort and love you put into the setting of your home, will give you the same level of pride in ownership. You may not be able to have the largest or most expensive home on the block, but you can have the most beautiful garden.

Many of the gardens in the book have multiple photographs which are cross-referenced to give the reader an almost 360 degree visualization. The only suggestion I would make is that the author include an overview of those superlative gardens and identify the various views to provide the reader with an even better understanding and appreciation of the home's surroundings.


The Pointing Labrador
Published in Paperback by Clinetop Press (01 April, 2001)
Authors: Paul Knutson and Julie Knutson
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The authority on pointing Labradors
This book took me from not knowing anything about the breed and what made the difference in pointing labs, to well rounded and having a foundation to learn so much more about these amazing dogs. The Knutsons really have done it right with this book, they go from prior to purchising the dog, all the way to the finnished lab. If you are intrested in this type of dog I suggest you make sure the dog has some good pointers in its breed, and it is not an average lab from the classified ads. If you want a dog that can do upland as good or better then the common pointing dogs, and can also go get that duck in the middle of the pond, this is the book. I have never seen a book cover so much and make it so easy for the reader to understand and do, if you want an outstanding pointing lab, buy this book before you buy your dog.

The Bible for training pointing Labs!
What a nice book. Paul and Julie Knutson have written a great book that emphasizes training the pointing Lab as an all-around hunting dog. The text is factual and clear, but there's also a lot of thought and careful observation on what works and what doesn't. It's easy to tell that the authors really love their Labs and want to train them to the highest level of their ability. For anyone who has a pointing Lab, this is the Bible for training those dogs!

The Pinting Labrador
This is a must for anyone interested in a pointing lab. The book is great for those who know nothing, aswell as for those who know everything about pointing labs. The book is very easy to read and understand and provides simple but effective techniques to work with labs.


Porsche 911 Story
Published in Hardcover by Haynes Publishing (1997)
Author: Paul Frere
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Porsche 911 Story
THE book for any fan of the 911. Frere's engineering knowledge combined with his racing experience mixed with his close relationship with the Porsche Factory makes this book the reference for all things 911. Mr. Frere's writing style is easy to read while containing vast amounts of detail and content. If I had one criticism or suggestion, it would be to rewrite the book in one cohesive style. Since the book has gone through 6 editions, the information on the later cars has been patched onto the existing manuscript. A total rewrite would allow Mr. Frere to integrate every aspect of the 911 evolution. It would give the book a seamless flow and greater continuity. With the end of the air cooled cars, now is the time for that rewrite.

911 history from the Guru
No living automotive author can match the elegance and technical depth of Paul Frere's writing. Accordingly, only Frere could produce such a book as this, dense with minute technical detail, yet balanced with a broad view of how Porsche designed, raced, and evolved the 911.

The look on Frere's face as he sits in his own Carrera (in the color photograph section of the book) says it all: the 911 is a singular automobile, and this is the author to tell its story.

The Definitive Porsche Geek Guide
Its simple. No one knows more about Porsche's that Frere. This book is incredible rich in detail and a great resource. Its not like the other books, which might look good on a coffee table but lack substance. This is THE book for Porsche. Make no mistake.


Snow White
Published in School & Library Binding by Little Brown & Co (Juv Trd) (1974)
Author: Bros. Paul/Grimm Heins
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Snow White by Josephine Poole & Angela Barrett--SUPERB!
The cover image stopped me in my tracks at the bookstore, and I bought multiple copies. The young woman at the checkout counter was mesmerized by the image as well. The illustrations inside equal or surpass the one on the cover.

The images are detailed but not fussy. They are highly evocative of German Romanticism -- very moody, dreamy, somewhat melancholy, with an emphasis on the grandeur of Nature. If you enjoy the illustrations of Maurice Sendak, Edward Gorey, Arthur Rackham, et al., you will like this book.

Like Barrett's artwork, Poole's text tells the classic tale soberly, including the queen's botched attempts to strangle Snow White with silken laces and prick her with a poison comb. There is also more mention of Snow White's mother and father than in many retellings. This version is certainly more in line with magical/mystical/matriarchal imagery than Disney's.

Some of the images -- e.g., drops of blood -- and the story itself may be too intense for very young readers. For me, this book is a contemporary gem and is worth seeking out.

Poole & Barrett edition of Snow White
Wonderful illustrations, of course, but also the story includes the incident with the poisoned comb (left out in many editions). A great book for parents looking to replace the Disney-fied version for their children.

If you like this, also check out the same author/illustrator team's collaboration on "Joan of Arc."

The illustrations are beautiful without being frou-frou, serious without being creepy. Highly recommended for ages 4-8.

A nice twist to the fairy tale
This is the well-known story of a princess whose evil stepmother tries to have her killed. The huntsmen could not go through with it and tells Snow White to run away. When she does she finds herself in the company of seven small men. They live in a house very happily until the queen finds that Snow White is not dead. She finds Snow White and tricks her into eating a poisoned apple. Snow White dies. She is awoken from her death by the kiss of a prince and they live happily ever after.
The reason I enjoyed this version of Snow White more than others that I have read was that is was not as much of a fairy tail like story and more of a darker approach to it. The seven dwarfs, for example, are not shown as happy little creatures that sing and dance all day long. They are merely shown as small, kind men. The illustrations in this book are so beautiful even though they are not the bright colors that would usually go along with this story.


Revelation X : The 'Bob'Apocryphon : Hidden Teachings and Deuterocanonical Texts of J.R. 'Bob' Dobbs
Published in Paperback by Fireside (1994)
Authors: The SubGenius Foundation, J.R. 'Bob' Dobbs, Rev. Ivan Stang, and Paul Mavrides
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Let me say first
that I had to buy THREE copies of the first book, because it would 'disappear' when I lent it to friends. I certainly wore out the binding of each copy myself, because it was one of the funniest books I'd ever read hands down. Naturally, when the sequel, "Revelation X" hit the shelves, I needed to have it, even though I knew I'd already given enough money to these raving hucksters(I mean, I loved the Church-bought the mebership and all). While not as side splittingly funny as the first one, this is still light years ahead of any other humor books. Each SubGenius book is literally crammed with things to read and look at, artwork and rants and gag philosophy from embittered nerds all over the world apparently, all about the mythical figure of Bob Dobbs and his plan to save us from the maw of the Conspiracy that is perpetuated by so-called normal people to destroy noncomformity. Obviously, if you are the shy, intellectual type with a truckload of inner rage and a brain that no one appreciates or understands, then this is your bible. Women Subgenii take note: there's a chapter devoted just to you. Enjoy one of the last decades' coolest in-jokes.

YEEEEEAAAAAAAARRRRRRGH! (again!)
I bought this one too, now I'm even crazier!
Thanks again, "Bob"!

Revelation Indeed
Bob has kept the secret well hidden, however there are those of us who have come to figure it out for ourselves. Prior to the New Testament, the Koran, the Book of Ulvolva (ancient text of Atlantis), the Book of Zen, the Zoroastrian Scripture, the Talba, the Tonka, the Willy Wonka, and the Sears Roebuck catalog-- we have, written in the time of Ancient Maldaistheregasinthecar (formerly Rowwanda East of Gucci), a holy text. If you have mastered the Tao of Jeet Condo, then perhaps you are ready for the Apocryphon.

Bob has encrypted the actual 'date of text.' In fact, within the Apocryphon are the architectural plans to the Ark of Noah, the Leaning Tower of Pizza (hold the anchovies), the Great Wall of China, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, and the electrical schematics for the Univac, the Cadillac, and the Rayovac--- all encrypted. Not to mention a fascinating 'Table of Elements' containing over 92 undiscovered elements and a killer Betty Cronkyte chocolate chip cookie recipe.

Bob knows, and perhaps with some basic instruction and years of grueling practice, you too could know. Keep in mind that the Apocryphon doubles as both a CPRRPMWPM and an MFCCOICSOIC manual. Having the knowledge, as Bob warns, is half the battle. Knowing just what to do with having the knowing of every aspect of everything and everything in-between everything in and of itself is besides the point. However, despite these dichotomic delemmic conundrums one must insist the practice itself is beyond the ability of even the most skilled novice. Therefore Bob suggests that perhaps the reading of the Apocryphon backward could produce more or less understanding of the meaninglessness of the attempt not to do so.

Using the Apocryphon I have gained enlightenment and understand that, had I not pursued these truths, I would have undoubtedly overcome. Thank you Bob for being there, even when I did not need you, and thank you also for your wisdom and arrogance.


The Mystery of Romans: The Jewish Context of Paul's Letter
Published in Paperback by Fortress Press (2003)
Author: Mark D. Nanos
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"difficult to read"
It was said of Paul that he wrote some things difficult to understand which some "twisted" to their own distruction. Well, I wouldn't say Mark Nanos twisted anything, but it sure was a difficult book for me to read. Mark did an excellent job of documenting his research and supporting his conclusions which I thoroughly enjoyed when I finally figured them out. Furthermore, I think his controversial positions deserve serious consideration & adjustment in the thinking of many , if not most, conservative Christians & evangelicals. My only suggestion is to shorten the sentences & organize the thoughts that have been penned a bit more concisely. Again, I was awed by the research & insight but distracted & sometimes left wondering where he started in a sentence (or thought) soley because of his writing style. Sometimes less is more. Is it just me?

A very different message
Paul's letter to the Romans has turned out to be one of the most misunderstood books in the Bible. His words have been interpreted in such diverse ways as to launch various religious movements and spawn new theologies that are completely contradictory to the message that Paul intended. One such example would be "Replacement Theology." Such ideas are based in part on anti-Semitism, which in turn, is based in part on a misunderstanding of Paul's words.

The author notes that Paul is not well liked. "Jews often perceive him as a traitor, or worse. Christians often consider him arrogant and manipulative, at the very least, and among scholars and those sensitive to the integrity of the Jews and Judaism his perceived disregard for and betrayal of his Jewish heritage and the Jewish people is justifiable cause for suspicion."

Mark Nanos "locates in the author of Romans a very different Paul: a thoroughly Jewish Paul, functioning entirely within the context of Judaism, giving priority to Israel..." With this mindset, "The Mystery of Romans" starts to reveal a message different from what history and Christianity has perhaps taught us.

"The Mystery of Romans" is a fascinating book based on brilliant scholarship. There are extensive footnotes throughout. One of the most rewarding chapters, Chapter Three, asks and answers the question: "Who were the 'weak' and the 'strong' in Rome?" It was this chapter alone that opened up a new understanding of Romans for me personally.

Every once in a while you come across a book that you wish every Christian would read. This is such a book. - Ronni

Finally! We're back to the basics.
Finally! This is simply a great book. Contextually sound, theologically based, and historically appropriate, this book peels back the layers of Romans and breaks it down into its simplest terms. The LCD (Least Common Denominator) is the focus of this study (The Shema) and if your eyes remain focused, the contradictions simply dissolve. If every Christian was to read this book and act according to the understanding that comprises these pages we would be united and the internal strife would end (1 Cor. 1:10-13). At the same time if the Hebrew people would read this text, they might not have the animosity they do toward Christianity, provided we live up to our end of the bargain. If you read this book and don't come away with appreciating the Hebraic roots of Christianity and a thirst for more, then your heart is hard. I don't give many 5 star ratings!


Poseidon Adventure
Published in Hardcover by Amereon Ltd (1976)
Author: Paul Gallico
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The Poseidon Adventure
The best sea distaster ever! The film was a hit and the book is da best!

So much more than a mere adventure.
Granted the film adaptation by Irwin Allen is a classic of its kind, but Paul Gallico's source novel is so, so much more than a mere adventure novel. The Poseidon Adventure is also a dark psychological novel about the human will and the human character, how it constantly shifts and changes, yet remains the same at its very core. Don't be fooled by the swift pace and high adventure, careful reading of this excellent piece of entertainment will be a richly rewarding experience for you. Highly recommended.

A Giant Wall of Water...90 feet high!
No wonder Irwin Allen was so determined to make this movie, what a great book! Although the characters can come off a little like soap-opera actors, Gallico has written an exciting maritime classic, which actually bears little resemblance to the subsequent motion picture of the same name. You'll be swept up in this exciting epic!


Space Cat
Published in Hardcover by Peter Smith Pub (1992)
Authors: Ruthven Todd and Paul Galdone
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Space Cat is timeless.
The "Space Cat" books are truly timeless adventures of a curious cat who has been stealing hearts for 2 generations. And Ruthven Todd's creativity is sparkling.

"Space Cat " stories are superb!!!
The "Space Cat" series is my most favorite reading from my Elementary school years!!! I, too, renewed as often as permitted, read them to my cousins, and whoever else would listen. As an adult, I've read them to my children, and have been searching for a way to have them as part of our family library. This is great!!!

In the hope that the series is reissued.
Space Cat, Space Cat Visits Venus, Space Cat Meets Mars, and Space Cat and the Kittens, are all favorites from my childhood, and my adulthood. I rechecked them to read to my children and would like to have the rest to keep my copy of Space Cat company in my private library and to share with my grandchildren.


Seek
Published in Paperback by Pulse (2003)
Author: Paul Fleischman
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Seek By:Paul Fleischman
This story was quite interesting to me, but from what I understood of it, I'll explain to you. There is a boy named Rob, and he lives with his mother, but leaves her to go search for his father. Rob tries to discover his father through their mutual love, music, and the radio. The story is full of true love that Rob has for his his family. The book basically goes through a young boys mind, living with one parent and making peace with it.

My opinion of this book is that it was pretty good, out of the stars i would rate this book a three out of five. This is because the book was hard to understand. I would recommend this book to everyone who loves journeys, because this book is such a journey and it's kind of hard to put the book down.

A unique & enthusiastically recommended audiobook experience
Featuring a full cast providing an authentic "theater of the mind" listening experience, Paul Fleischman's Seek is a complete and unabridged, 2 hour and 42 minute audiobook performance on two cassettes. Robert Radkovitz is a highschool senior assigned to write his autobiography. But what Rob creates is a kind of "sound portrait" of his life as he remembers it, including his mother's singing, his grandmother's mysteries, Mexican soap operas, Edgar Allan Poe, poetry, and the voice of his absent father from a single tape from one of his old radio shows. Told in a collage of voices, Seek describes Rob's search for his father through a labyrinth of airwaves and along the way encountering psychic readers, baseball announcers, pirate DJ.s. Seek is a unique and enthusiastically recommended audiobook experience, and would make a welcome and popular addition to any school or community library audiobook collection.

An Orginal novel!
In Seek, High School teenager Rob is assigned to write an autobiography based on his life so far. Rob reflects back on his life not with writing descriptions and dialog but with sounds bites. He remembers his grandmother telling him stories, his grandfather teaching him history, his mother watching Spanish soap operas with him, he and his friends creating a controversial and popular newspaper in school and most importantly his continuous love for the radio. He remembers listening the radio, searching the many channels in hope of one day hearing his father's voice come over for once, the father who abandoned him and his mother before birth because he didn't want a child. Seek is a really great book. This novel/play is a familiar story but told in an unfamiliar way, instead of descriptions it's told through simple sound bites. If you're in the mood for an honest, touching, and often humorous story about a boy's search for his father and growing up in the world this is defiantly for you. It's a rarity you see a YA book with such heart.


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