Austin Reviews

...parts of this are hard to believe. Mr. Miles became a circus ringmaster on the way to his dream of Hollywood stardom, and got entangled in the late-80s web of evangelical Christian corruption. That part of his book, and the surrounding stories, are (relatively) believeable. What isn't is the connections to the Kennedy assasination, Marilyn Monroe's death/murder/suicide, and the Jim Jones religious cult mass suicide in Guyana in 1977. Otherwise, those with an appetite for this kind of stuff will, as Austin Miles himself puts it late in this book (quote approximate), "[you] will read this book, cover to cover, because it [has] lots and lots of juicy gossip and that will certainly appeal to the likes of you!"

Whether it will appeal to the likes of anyone unfamiliar with the PTL scandal--now more than a decade removed--is difficult to say at best.

First published at the height of the televangelism scandals of the late 1980's, "Don't Call Me Brother" recounts the story of a boy who ran away to join the circus, became a well-known ringmaster, found Jesus after a miraculous healing of an audience member that occurred after Miles asked for silent prayer for the man, and later became a fixture on the PTL Club. Much of the material here will not be shocking to anyone who followed PTL scandal (and who didn't?), but the slander, hatred, and hypocrisy shown by rank-and-file ministers of the Gospel was quite surprising, at least to me. Also surprising is the contention by Miles that homosexuality and adultery run rampant in the Assemblies of God denomination. I can't help but think he's overstating this just a little. But, there's more to the story than what is emphasized.

Miles is somewhat mysterious early in the book about his first marriage. It almost seems like his daughter just arrives on the scene with scant explanation. As the story unfolds, it seems that his first wife was responsible for getting him caught up in a conspiracy concerning the Kennedy presidency and Marilyn Monroe. Thus, Miles has to go through a name change from Al Maddox, his previous stage name, to Austin Miles. Toward the end of the book, we learn that the FBI has been harrassing acquaintances of Miles, paying them off (or not paying them off, in the case of the good church folks) to come up with dirt on him to destroy his reputation. Therefore, the FBI seems to be as much or more to blame than the church. The hostility he received from the church could have simply come from fear of the FBI. But then, this is a book attacking the church, not the FBI. Miles will probably never write that book.

His second marriage to the love of his life, a Swiss heiress, is threatened by his religious conversion and subsequent departure from his life as a ringmaster to constantly be on the road to speak at churches and religious functions. Once again, it seems the church is to blame for destroying his family. However, if he'd have handled things with a little more wisdom, he could have had Jesus and his family, too. Could it be that he was at least a little bit to blame for the situation?

Interestingly, he still cannot bring himself to explain away the healings and miracles that were part of his ministry. If what a previous reviewer said is true, that Austin Miles has returned to the ministry, then it's probably the undeniable power of God that he experienced firsthand that kept him connected. Hopefully, there are some needed reconciliations that have taken place since this book was written. With all that said, this is a book that is hard to put down once you've started, and is a worthwhile read if the reader keeps things in perspective.

The author is not a particularly loveable guy. After all he was one among the traveling preachers whom he exposes here. However you probably will feel for him as his life and family fall apart. His stories of the evangelists who travel from church to church rang true to me. My childhood church was involved with the things Miles talks about and he even mentions my former church's pastor by name. (See Angels on Assignment.) I have a childhood memory of a one eyed traveling preacher coming to preach at our church. After having someone blindfold his good eye he proceeded to 'read' people's names off their driver's licenses. Once the congregation was all worked up by this 'miracle' they passed the collection plate. (If you're wondering how he may have managed this trick of reading with an empty eye socket read James Randi's book The Faith Healers.) Read this book for an eye opening peek behind the scenes of Pentecostalism, televangelism, and the Assembly of God church. If you or someone you care about is involved with this movement I especially urge you to read this book. The connection to Jim Jones (remember poison kool-aid?) was a shock to me.

This is a story that has great dramatic potential - abused children, deceived parents, abuse of power and political scandal. Unfortunately, the author was unable to put any life into this story. The organization is very poor, with time lines and thematic lines jumbled about. Irrelevant biographical details and interminable discussions of various adoption laws make for annoying interruptions, and when an interesting narrative appears it ends abuptly without discussion of its relevance. With effort, a reader can glean the elements of the story, but it is hard work.

Austin is an attorney and historian. This book is a study of adoption in a corrupt political machine run by "boss" Edward Hull Crump in Tennessee. Crump ruled Memphis during a period when cities were run by criminals. In this age, governments were run for the personal profit of the "bosses & their machines."

Among the known activities these city bosses profited from was gambling, prostitution, bootlegging and the sale of favors from public office. Austin's book adds adoption through secret courts to the list of criminal activities.

The director of the Children's Home, Georgia Tann and the judge of the juvenile court, Camille Kelley were appointed and controlled by Crump. Evidence indicated that these people made millions from baby selling in the guise of adoption. The baby selling was exposed in 1950 by the late Tennessee Senator Estes Kefauver.

Kefauver was subsequently appointed by the United States Senate to head a national investigation on organized crime. As late as 1964 Kefaufer's committee was making recommendations for changes in adoption law that would eleminate the crimianl element. The changes were never "adopted."

Austin's book is a fascinating look at how government can be run by criminals for their own profit. This book sheds light on the nature of secrecy in government. Secrecy in adoption is all criminals need to profit from a criminal activity.

THIS BOOK WAS A EYE OPENER. I WAS A STOLLEN BABIEFROM THE TENN. CHILDRENS HOME AND FOUND THE INFO. IN THE BOOK VERY, VERY, ACC.IT WAS A GREAT HELP TO ME IN GETTING MY SUIT READY TO FILE HOPEFULY IN 2001 AGENSIT THE STATE OF TENN.

Like the last reviewer I was very disappointed by this set. Mainly because I thought this set would teach vocal techniques. This set teaches theory based information like intervals, scales, octaves, rhythms, notes,etc. Howard and Austin take you step by step vocally thorough all the theory based info on the 4 discs. Still despite my own disappointed with this set I would recommend it to anyone who desire to know theory or may be short of knowledge on music theory. However I wouldn't reccommend this to anyone who just wants to learn vocal improvement techniques or general vocal techiques.

Thanks to Austin & Howard, we finally have a practical training program in Vocal Musicianship. Scales, intervals, chords, rhythm & meter are the building blocks of music. ABCs of Vocal Harmony gears to the human voice and helps you play your vocal instrument with greater skill while learning the language of music. A member of my choir found it at Amazon.com and now I have everyone using it. My choir has never sounded better. Be sure to get the CD version for maximum effect in accessing any subject or exercises at the tuch of a button.

"Your Vocal Harmony Course is great! It's fun and encouraging too. For the first time we have something other than just a book for the kids. Having both male and female voice to listen to and match makes all the difference ... and filling in the missing notes of intervals and chords and getting immediate feedback is just what we need. Thanks." Jayne Campbell - Westlake - Harvard School

I believe the very best Indian romance novels are those that are based upon true historical fact. However, this book was fact overkill. The book is 476 pages, but it would have been much better with about 200 of those pages cut out. Way too much time is spent upon describing every single character in the story, including characters whom have nothing to do with the actual story line. Page upon page of details about what the women's lives were like, what the children did with their days, how the men spent their time, blah, blah, blah...... I skimmed through A LOT of these pages just so that I could finally get back to the actual story.
Another thing that bothered me was that, while the main couple (Hannah & Shadow)were separated, they each were with other people. Also, I could not get comfortable reading the story, because it is written in the first person. (From the point of view of the leading lady, Hannah.) This especially made the love scenes awkward, even though the loves scenes only consisted of a couple of sentences each.
When you skim past all of the wasted pages, and overlook the writing style, the core story is excellent. It is very believe and realistic to the way of life of the time. Madelinde Baker takes you on a journey that includes the battle of Little Big Horn, Rosebud River, and more. Everything is not flowery and beautiful. There are hard times a plenty. However, there are also happy times. The love scenes were brief and held no detail, but the passion between the couple was great. I like the leading lady, who has guts and even takes to fighting along side her Cheyenne husband. I loved the ending, as well.
All told, it was way longer than it should have been. Beautiful and haunting story. Too many wasted pages.

I loved this book! It's a great way to escape from personal problems and stresses. There is plenty of action, adventure and romance in this novel. I've read it at least 5 time since I got it! It is definately a great "bath tub" book.

Azalee La Fontaine is sixteen years old. But by the strict rules of Creole society in 1814 New Orleans, she is still considered a child, not even permitted to join the dancing at parties. Rebelling against the rules, she dances with Lieutenant Johnny Trent, a handsome young American soldier. But when she breaks the rules one too many times, putting herself and others in danger, Azalee's father and grandmother decide to banish her to her aunt's remote plantation. But the journey turns dangerous when the British capture her. Will anyone come to rescue her in time? And will Johnny ever see her as more than a spoiled girl who he believes led him on? I highly recommend this historical romance to teenage girls. It's really too bad that it's out of print and hard to find.

I admit, I might be getting too critical when it comes to mystery novels lately. But I have read so many that I start to know what a really good mystery novel is and which ones are not. "Zero At The Bone" was the first novel that I have read by Mrs. Walker. Don't get me wrong, the book wasn't bad at all, but the plot moved quite slowly and there was not much suspense. Most of the novel described in great detail the tasks and obligations that a zookeeper must go through. How to clean the cage, sweep the floor, feed the animals, take the snake out of his cage, and on and on. If you work at a zoo, you'll love this book I guarantee it! Although, the characters were well developed and likeable, I wouldn't put this book on my "must read list" at all. Not bad Mrs. Walker!

Brad Stonecipher

I really enjoyed Zero at the Bone. You never knew where the plot turns were going to take you. It is rare to find a mystery novel that leaves you guessing until the end. I found it a great read along with Mary Willis Walker's other books. I just wish she would write another one soon.

Walker does an excellent job with this book.

As you eneter Katherine's world it's crumbling away and then she gets notice that her father who she hasn't seen or heard from in year dies. She goes off to see him off and go through his extate. When she comes across something that doesn't seem right and this embarks her on a journey that will change her life.

Walker paints a powerful picture with her words. In one scene they come across a lion traped in a cage. You can actually see the lion and feel the cage and his imperfections with your hands. It will send chills up your spine.

This is her best book and the only one that stands on it's own. Her other books deal with continuing characters and are great, too.

Read. Enjoy. Then take a trip to a large zoo and enjoy the animals.

If you liked Silence of the Lambs and Hannibal with all there power you'll enjoy Mary Willis Walkers' work.

This book was published back in the 1980's under the 'mens adventure' category. It is pretty light reading, but it provides a good source of entertainment about an interesting scenario (post nuclear world).

In short, something to read and enjoy and not take too seriously.

If you like books about war that you don't have to take too seriously then scout one of these aging paperbacks out.

Its not in the class of Clancey or Bond, but this is a good read in the "B" category (like OK B or direct to vid movies). I read a lot of military and techno thrillers, and this one has enough of a "feel" of reality and fast enough pace with a sci-fi flavour to have me hunting the others in the series.

This is for the people who love good old action/adventure with great characters. The small group of guardians are formed after WWIII breaks out and it is a fun read, and pretty damn believable.

Half way through this book, I didn't care who killed whom with what. I just wanted it to be over! It was repetative, droning, and had too much detail! I wanted to visualize everything, but the narrative made me lose interest by the time the speaker got to the point. I always stick with a book no matter how boring, but this one, I should've left alone. I did sympathize with Mary's struggle, but I wish this book was paced better.

Austin Clarke's Giller Prize winning novel THE POLISHED HOE takes place on the fictional island of Bimshire in the "Wessindes." During one long night of confession and reflection between Bimshire lawman, Sarge, and Miss Mary Gertrude Matilda, a kept woman on the Bellfeels plantation, Clarke's characters ruminate about the lives they have led. Mary calls the police station and tells them she must confess her crime. Sarge comes to the Great House where Miss Mary resides to record her statement, but is caught in a whirlwind of memories about the woman he grew up with, his own experiences and transgressions, and the contempt circulating the island regarding Mister Bellfeels.

Enriched with native tongues and a sort of stream of consciousness writing, this is a novel that brought to mind some of the great writers of all time. The prose was lilting, and I often found myself caught in a reverie as the characters related memories from their lives. It is not a book for the drama lovers who live for fast paced reads; rather it seems to have been written for those who love narration, historical fiction, and carefully crafted characterizations.

Reviewed by CandaceK
The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

Almost mimicking the sense of time on a West Indian island, this mesmerizing novel begins slowly and then warms up with the Caribbean heat of noon's overhead sun. Now an old woman still living on a big-island plantation, Mary-Mathilda, in the process of confessing something having to do with the 'hoe' of the title to the local cops, reminisces about her past, chronicling the plantation's history as well as her own. The novel explores the brutality of plantation life not in the fields but in the Big House where as a girl, Mary M caught the manager's eye and became his mistress, the mother of his only son. Separated from her own people by her comforts and privilege, she is also separated from the white establishment by the barriers of racism, servitude, and sexual exploitation.

This is the type of book that demands regular updates. It's informative, yes, but presents itself as something it no longer is.

This book when I first read it as a young analyst seemed like fiction, but as the events in especially Africa have unfolded in the last decade, it seems now almost prophetic in its nature. I have read this text again and again, each time I extract something that is relevant today as well as possibilities for our world tomorrow. I also reccomend Race to the Swift, by Simpkin.

This is a book about future wars. Who will fight, where, over what, how it will probably turn out, and when it might happen, for fifty or more perpetual hots spots around the world. People fighting in the Balkans have been repeating the same war for 1300 years and nobody ever wins. Roughly the same for Iraq and Iran, England and France, France and Germany, Japan and Korea... you name it. Peace is only an interlude while the endless war sleeps for a while. It will break out again, in the same place, over the same issues, with the same results. It is only a matter of time.

I wish they had taught us about this in high school. Every American should read this book and keep it handy.

This is, regrettably, a quick makeover of a good book on hardball squash into barely acceptable book on softball squash. For the beginner, it would be a confusing mixture of the two. For an observer, some of the quotes from pros are revealing as to the gaps between the softball and hardball traditions remaining in the USA. For a more complete guide to the game, get "Squash Workshop" by Ian Mackenzie ... or get "Learn Squash in a Weekend" for a brief but technically accurate guide. - Ron Beck, publisher squashtalk.com

I think this would be a very useful book for someone who started with hardball and wanted to change over to play softball. As someone who started with softball, however, I was a little disappointed. I have also read Jahangir Kahn's "Go Play Squash" and I thought that book had much better descriptions of the technical aspects of the softball game. For me, too much of Francis' book focused on overcoming hardball habits that I don't have. But the book did contain many useful quotes from professionals about tactics and mental preparation.

I had been toiling in low-level/beginner squash for a year until I bought and read this book. My game saw huge gains after reading this book. Many ideas, basic shots and strategies are summed up in simple, succinct points. I can not compare this book to other squash instructional books as this is the first that I read but for me the proof is in the pudding. I credit this book with being a major factor in breaking me out of the beginner game and propelling me into the ranks of competitive squash. I was playing hack-ball beforehand and afterwards had a far better understanding of basic stroke, hitting for length and basic strategy. The 8 drills that are detailed are good, my only complaint being that they could have included a few more. Bottom line: Invaluable resource for beginners.

The book is a Christian-based named book. With each name, there is a one or two word "Inherent meaning," to the name and a one or two word "Spiritual Connotation," and then a bible verse that relates to the meaning. I was hoping there would be more explanation of the names.

This was also not the book I meant to order. There is another book with the same title by Pierre Le Rouzic.

Although it's a Christian book, there is a wide variety of names from all cultures that are not Bible-based names.

I like how all the names are listed alphabetically and not divided by sex. To me, it just seems to take longer to go through names when they're divided. With this book, you have one set of "A" names instead of two, etc. Another thing I like is that there isn't an overwhelming amount of alternate spelling and nickname suggestions.

The Name Book is from an interdenominational Christian perspective and includes Bible verses from various Bible translations (each abbreviated). There are also lists in the back of female and male Biblical names. Even if you're not Christian and are simply looking for a name, don't pass this resource up.

This book is an excellent research resource for the serious student seeking to learn the Father's symbolic language to us in regard to dreams & visions. This is not a regular run-of-the-mill book of baby names to choose from (although it provides an excellent resource for that as well). It is brief, concise & to the point with the language/cultural origin, inherent meaning, spiritual connotation & Scripture reference - & precisely because of this form, it is able to list so many names (over 10,000). It is an absolutely invaluable & wonderful research tool. Many, many, many thanks to the authors/compilers!