Audio Books

Dr. Daniel Black's The Sacred Place
In 1955, a fourteen year old Black child was brutally beaten and murdered in Money, Mississippi. Once again Black people were reminded that hatred holds nothing sacred. Dr. Daniel Black's historically-based novel, The Sacred Place reminds us that our children's lives are sacred. In the middle of Jim Crow segregation, black fathers, black mothers, black aunts and uncles, black sons and daughters, black sisters and brothers chose to make a stand in Black's "sacred place." Black's gift for storytelling is more than evident in this novel for I found myself transported to the Sacred Place--where hatred could not win, where peace, beauty, courage and tranquility squelched evil--just in time to feel pride in his characters, My People for their courageous stand to survive in the face of so much injustice. The Black Folks in The Sacred Place did not allow hatred to kill their spirit or mine. Dr. Black, thank you for your gift to all of us who remember how sacred our children are and how important it is to teach them the same.

This book is a must read. I have to admit that at first it's hard to follow the old southern grammer but once you get into this book it's hard to put down. It's a sad story that unfortunately must be told and if nothing else it shows the power of blacks in this country. When you read the book the characters jump off the page, during several chapters I was filled with sorrow and anger and their plight.

Daniel the one thing that I wanted more than anything else was to give them justice - and in your own way you did.

Anyone who picks up this book will have a better sense of what this country was built on. Share it with your children and your friends and family. Job well done.

This is Daniel Black's second book that I have read and I most say that this book is just as amazing as his first, "They Tell Me Of A Home." His books strive to teach the readers the history of our culture and the struggles our predecessors went through and overcame. His literary style is on a intellectual level that pushes the reader to bring themselves up to and that is what we need in our community. I encourage everyone to read this book and get a history lesson of what started the change in the South from the Black perspective. I heard of the Emmett Till story, but did not know all the details about his death and the catalyst of change it started. Big ups to Mr. Black and I can not wait for the next lesson...book.

I enjoyed reading this book from beginning to the end. It made you laugh, cry, and rejoice. A must read.

This was a beautifully written story of the struggle of black people. it brings you inside the lives of the oppressed and really opens your eyes to the untold history of our country. i suggest that EVERYONE reads this story.

The book is Sara, Book 1. It is just an awesome book, easy reading, and very easy to understand the teachings of Solomon. Throughout the entire book I felt like I was Sara and that the book had been written just for me. But, this book is for all of us. I recommend this book to everyone who is searching for answers about life and all the wonders and the hurts that are included in each life. This book is a beginning in understanding the "Law of Attraction" by Jerry and Esther Hicks...and, Abraham. Thank you, so much for it.

I am inspired by the Abraham teachings and wanted to share them with my child. I ordered Sara Book 1 on CD thinking my child might enjoy listening. However, the voice (Jerry Hicks) reading the story is not very engaging for my child. So, I decided to put the CDs in my car and listen while driving. WOW!!! This story takes the Abraham teachings and puts them into a parabel style story that really sinks into my mind in a way that the seminars and books don't! I have gotten a lot out of the story and just ordered Book 2 on cd!

I can't wait to read this to my grandchildren. In the mthe series.eantime, I'll enjoy

I ordered all three of the Sara books to see what they were like and I enjoyed them more than what I expected. What great books for all ages!! They reminded me of when I was a kid and how much fun it was only I didn't have Solomon, a fine feathered friend, to teach me so many valuable life lessons.
I have read several of the Abraham-Hicks books (Law of Attraction, Ask & It Is Given, Astonishing Emotions) and enjoyed these Sara books like all the others. Thank you Abraham and Esther and Jerry Hicks!

Although I've been listening to Abraham for many years, and I thought I understood, this book written for "children/teens" has a more simple explanation. I purchased multiple copies for my great neices and when their parents (my neices) read the book first, they too better understood some concepts. They also help children understand what we call death so that it's not something to fear and that there is no such thing. I'm passing along the next books 2 & 3 also to them.

Ellen Meister's Secret Confessions of the Applewood PTA reveals that there is much more happening at PTA meetings than discussions of bake sales. Meister has excellent comic timing and revels in the exploits of her three compelling heroines, Maddie, Ruth, and Lisa, bringing a fresh look to seemingly familiar situations: the appearance of an old flame, caretaking of aging parents, and coping with alcoholic parents. Set in our culture of celebrity, George Clooney appears as a Christ-like figure, seemingly able to deliver redemption, forgiveness, and salvation to our heroines with simply his proposed presence in Applewood, Long Island.

"Confessions" is certainly no literary masterpiece, but Meister's writing style is fun and breezy, and her characters are a riot. No, they're not particularly believable, and the plot sometimes veers off into ridiculous sit-com territory, but you just won't care. You'll be having too much fun to care, and hoping for the best for these kooky women.

If you're in the moody for something light and fluffy with a healthy dose of middle-aged soccer-mom angst thrown in, this is the book for you. (Best if you've graduated from the chic lit geared toward "girls" in their 20's -- this is better for women who've attended a few PTA meetings themselves!!)

Have a glass -- or a bottle -- of wine and enjoy.

Yes, it's a cliché and it's also one of the two highest compliments you can give to any novelist. I'm a busy mom with plenty of my own writing deadlines to meet, but I MADE time to read this novel all the way to its satisfying conclusion. Ellen Meister is a wonderful storyteller--smart, witty and wise. I really did feel I'd made three new friends, sharing their problems and coming through it all with a better sense of what's important to me in my life. Fun, but not at all fluffy, I can honestly say this is a book worth reading (which is, by the way, the other compliment every writer longs to hear). Give yourself a treat and find out what really goes on behind those PTA smiles!

Ellen Meister has whipped up a batch of literary brain candy with her first novel Secret Confessions of the Applewood PTA. If you have an appetite for witty dialogue and a well crafted plot, you may have a hard time sticking to your daily page rationing. That was certainly my experience as I scarfed down all 372 pages in two days.

Meister offers more than just the guilty pleasure of empty carbs. Under Applewood's brilliant facade lurks deeper character. Her heroines are complex,and like women everywhere, must learn how to leverage their strengths and weakness to attain true success.

This is a perfect example of a work of fiction where I didn't like the characters but I loved the book. Good writing, a funny plot bordering on the absurd, and colorful, fully fleshed out character development, make the farcical and morally ambiguous ladies of the Applewood PTA surprisingly believable. The time spent reading these pages was for me, pure, self-indulgent entertainment. It was like watching Bravo television shows about The Real Housewives--or like watching the catfights between the Carrington wives back in the old days of Dynasty. Aside from juicy, gossipy `grown-up' sorority spats, this romp has a little of everything: Medical dramas, tennis matches, infidelities, ménage a trios, alcoholism, learning disabilities, fires . . . just about every kind of suburban drama known to a generation raised on a soap opera diet.

Meanwhile, if the actor George Clooney has ever entered your fantasies, or if you've ever spent time on a PTA committee and recognize the circle of self-important hags running the show like it's work as important as the UN, and if you don't mind a few predictable and contrived plot twists, pick up this book and give yourself a dose of literary masturbation. I don't ever want to meet these women, or serve on any committees with them, but reading about them was a hoot. Well done.

From the author of A Line Between Friends and The Things I Wish I'd Said.

I love this book. I've read a ton of books lately on the planets because of teaching a class on beginning astronomy for kids. This book presents the most interesting facts in the most interesting and compelling way. If I had not had this book to look at, my lessons would not have been as fun or exciting. The author writes beautifully, and has a nose for the intriguing. :)

Fantastic! This book is a perfect mixture of science and storytelling. This was educational and inspiring. I don't re-read many books, but this may be an exception. Loved it.

Many people, including myself, often marvel at the night sky to the point of seriously thinking of buying a telescope. The question that then arises is: What if I invest in a decent telescope, use it a few times to examine some of the celestial bodies, then eventually get bored for lack of knowing what to look at or to look for? This book attempts to help potential amateur astronomers dance around this sticking point. The author discusses the current activities of some professional but mainly amateur astronomers: what they look for, the equipment that they use, what they've found and what they continue to find. The book is well written and fun to read; it covers most areas of interest in astronomy and briefly describes what's out there. The book's only shortcoming is that it contains no figures, pictures or diagrams of any kind (other than star charts in the appendices); this is unfortunate since a few optical diagrams and pictures of the various items and people that are discussed would have complemented the text very nicely. Nevertheless, this is a great book that does much to encourage amateur astronomy. I heartily recommend it to anyone with even a passing interest in the night sky.

I received my copy of this book as an early Christmas present from one of my "stargazing friends". Even tho' I had glanced at this volume on bookstore shelves , I usually bypassed it for books on starhopping , star atlases , or other "hard data" type publocations. I now lament my earlier loss , and have truly enjoyed this very well written and extremely informative book.

The author , Timothy Ferris , takes us on a wonderful tour of the solar system and "near space" in the second section of the book ; he then moves on to the Milky Way and the wonders of gaseous nebulae , open star clusters ,globular clusters , and planetary nebulae within our own galaxy in section 3.

Finally , in the fourth section of the book , the author deals with the imensity of the universe (as we presently are capable of understanding it) by moving on to galaxies , and galaxy clusters.

But it isn't all about the wonders of the Heavens , for Ferris intersperses some entertaining anecdotal material as well. Starting with a personal tale of how he became a stargazer-astronomer to passages about Steven James O'Meara and his phenomonal visual observing feats while breathing oxygen at 14,000 feet on Mauna Kea. We are introduced to Barbara Wilson , a mother and former housewife who excells in actually "seeing" the faintest of astronomical objects.

This is a great book for amateur astronomers at almost any level ; the author manages to communicate his passion for the skies and the fine art of observational astronomy in a warm and entertaining manner. It is an ideal book for a frustrating evening when the clouds roll in as the sun sets , thus postponing the observing plans of the day.

I rated this book 5 stars and give it my highest recommendation. No real warts on this one!

This is an informative and at times whimsical work about outer space, specifically who is doing the observing and what is being observed. The material goes considerably beyond the title, as only one chapter actually treats of near earth objects [NEO's] at depth, and I am still confused over the author's distinction between "amateur" and "professional" astronomers. With those caveats in mind, "Seeing In The Dark" is a fine overview of astronomy for those of us who have been out of school awhile and think of Pluto as the edge of the meaningful universe.

As a boy I was intrigued by astronomy and at age 10 owned an off-the shelf hand telescope that, in my recollection, simply made the bright stars brighter. I once tried to observe the crescent of Venus through my mother's hand mirror and a magnifying glass. I did get to see the rings of Saturn, finally, through the 8" telescope at the Buffalo Museum of Science, and to this day I divide the world into those who have seen that spectacle firsthand and those who haven't. Popular astronomy in the 1950's was lunar and planetary: the supposed canal system of Mars, for example, was still an issue of debate.

I lost my interest in the 1960's when astronomy became less optical and more electronic. Real observations and photos of heavenly bodies are egalitarian. Spectroscopic charts, radio waves, radar exploration and the like required time, sophisticated education, and money. Every decade or so something would catch my fancy: Apollo 11, Viking, Pioneer, Hubble, Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9, Cassini. But why should an amateur like myself spend money and time at something already being done with more precision at Arecibo in Puerto Rico or Mt. Palomar in California, or from a satellite in space, for that matter?

Timothy Ferris argues in so many words that the modern astronomical-industrial complex, so to speak, is too big and too expensive to perform some of the most critical work of present day astronomy. The author provides a plethora of examples, such as planetary weather. Most planets have atmospheres with characteristics not entirely unlike the earth's own. The atmospheres of the large outer planets [and in at least one case, a planetary satellite] have predictable patterns of wind currents and even storms that produce lightning. Mars, we have come to realize, has significant dust storms and seasonal markers. To monitor these systems, however, requires daily observations over months and years. With the crush of competition for seat time for the monster telescopes and the costs involved, such meticulous and time consuming planetary observations are gradually falling into the hands of the dedicated [and exquisitely patient] amateur backyard astronomers. The older, smaller, and midrange telescopes have come into a new age of usefulness, where persistence is of equal value to optical power. And, as the author observes, the marriage of a modest telescope with digital photography, computer controls, and Internet access to professionals, has created a formidable network of information gatherers.

Nowhere is the amateur's value of more importance than in the discovery and tracking of NEO's, asteroids whose orbits regularly criss-cross the earth's. Observation of these dangerous bodies and forecast of collisions is extremely difficult for several reasons. NEO's are hard to see [in some instances, at the 29th magnitude], only small tracks of their orbits are currently known, and they are notoriously vulnerable to gravitational influences from the earth, the sun, and even Jupiter. Science has developed a public coding system for risk from each known object, and I would venture a guess that readers will find particular stimulation from Ferris's discussion of the "Torino Scale." [As I was reading this work, I checked the day's "Torino forecast" on NASA's web site, the very day that NASA used a "Torino 4" rating for the first time, for Asteroid 2004MN4. As this occurred the same day as the Asian tsunami, little or no press coverage was devoted to the event, though astronomers around the world focused on the potential risk of a 2029 collision. The odds for 2004MN4 were downgraded to Torino 1 a few days later.]

Suffice to say that NEO's are the "high needs child" of space observation, and every verifiable observation by an amateur astronomer enables NASA and international tracking systems to add another fraction of certainty to a body's orbit. Ferris intersperses observational details of heavenly bodies with interviews of the men and women who do the observing. His use of the word "amateur" is stretched like taffy. Some of these unsalaried observers have spent six-figures in outfitting their equipment or, in some cases, pursuing doctorates to expedite their work. Some have walked away from lucrative professions and made wholesale disruptions in personal and family life on behalf of serious stargazing. In some cases "amateur" does not do justice to what is more appropriately an "obsession."

Ferris summarizes what we have come to know about planets, stars and galaxies in the past few generations of advanced study. Again, if one has not addressed astronomy systematically since school days, this work is an excellent primer on our current state of understanding the heavens. There is a thorough 25-page appendix that treats of basic stargazing information, including issues of light pollution, choice of equipment, and basic star charts, as well as a summary of periodicals and web sites. I regretted that there are no photos of any kind in the book, so we never get to see with our own eyes the quality of work produced by the amateurs in our communities. Perhaps the author was deliberately setting out to pique our curiosity, for yesterday I found myself investigating the features and price tag of a small telescope at the Brookstone's in my local mall. It's been a long time since I've done that.

Over 350 bird species are represented in this set (3 CDs, 99 tracks per CD, some tracks having more than one species). I find it to be very complete; it even includes several species that only occur as accidentals in the east region.

The recordings usually include several vocalizations for each species (songs, warning calls, imitations of other birds, or chip notes). Most samples are about 35 seconds long.

The short introductory track, in which the Stokes demonstrate reading from a script, is laughably bad, but fortunately that is not the point.

I have enjoyed birding for years and am familiar with a wide range of calls, and I am finding this set very useful for reinforcement of the ones I know and for learning the ones that I only hear for several weeks a year, such as transient species of warblers. I recommend it.

About 300 species represented on 3 CDs. Good quality recordings. Ready to rip to an MP3 player for birding and bird photography outings. If you use iPod, the iTunes software makes it easy to chose a start time for each track, thus removing the 2 - 2.5 second baritone: "Great Blue Heron," etc. See my review of Kensington portable MP3 speakers - something similar with a bit more volume would be ideal.

This is the only CD that provides a complete repetoire per bird. Other CD's provide only one type of sound per bird- a call, alarm or song. You need to have a sampling of all in order to accurately identify unseen birds. I live in an important migratory bird path and until now it was frustrating trying to identify those birds in dense foliage or in flight when I could hear them much better than see them. Since I am familiar with birds most likely to visit my area, it makes identification even quicker since I first scroll to the species I suspect. I have both the Eastern and Western Field Guides since they both apply to me in Texas.

This is a great product. Some of the bird calls I wouldn't have identified as coming from a bird! The bird is named before the call. Very clear sounds.

I bought this set at the same time as "Birding by Ear: Eastern and Central North America (Peterson Field Guides)" and am quite happy with the combination. The Stokes CDs have (nearly) all the birds in separate tracks making it easier to play just the ones I want to work with. I'm new at bird songs, so I dumped the disks to my PC and made a subdirectory of "seen" birds. Then I copied to that directory all the birds that I've visually identified in the neighborhood so I can work on learning those to start. I've copied them to my PDA and MP3 player as well to play in the car and sitting at appointments and such. The individual tracks carry not just a bird's primary song but also its different calls if it has any.

The Petersen set takes a different approach. It's a good set of disks that groups bird songs by some feature of similarity. I never knew, for instance, that robins and scarlet tanagers sound so similar. The disks are quite good for helping you learn the differences between similar-sounding species. Keep after it and you will learn to distinguish Carolina from black-capped chickadees.

Mind you, having the disks does not guarantee species identification. At this moment I'm sitting at the PC with the window to my suburban back yard open, listening to a low "chuck-chuck-chuck-chuck-chuck" that I canNOT find on either set of disks!

I bought this book for one story but it turned out all of the stories were great.

Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings always makes me cry. The other reviews of this book here describe it so eloquently and throughly that I don't feel the need to add to that aspect. The book has a strong emotional pull that made me cry and made long to go to Cross Creek and see it for myself. Rawlings is one of my all-time favorite writers, ever since my seventh-grade teacher read the newly published book The Yearling to her class, a chapter or two each day after lunch.

Wonderful view of an isolated place in FL (near Gainesville) circa 1930 written by a brave, independent woman.

Cross Creek is a series of entertaining if perhaps embellished anecdotes relating to Florida in the years preceding World War II told from the perspective of a educated emigré from the North. Some of the language, which was typical of the times, would no longer be considered politically correct and might be offensive to some. The book, however is totally delightful and gives some insight into life in rural Florida at the time. An excellent companion read is Tom Glisson's The Creek, which gives a native's view of the same time and area. Both books are a must read if you live or are interested in North Central FL.

Rawlings explores the lives and interations of the odd assortment of people living in Cross Creek, Florida in the early 1900s. It is often assigned reading for teens, but I doubt that most of them can appreciate it. Her accounts of neighbors feuding and subsistance living gives us many lessons in human behavior.
The lyrical descriptions of wildlife and the orange groves and wild landscape are very appealing. Your mouth waters as you read her essays on downhome foods like hush puppies. She turned those into a cookbook which I'll have to try out.
Modern readers squirm uncomfortably at her use of the N----- word and her characterization of blacks as irresponsible, drunken, immoral, etc. It is probably a faithful representation of common thinking at the time it was written, so recognize it as a snapshot of the times. Then move past that to luxuriate in the beautiful passages in the book. (I deducted 1 star for this)
The reader becomes absorbed in Rawlings' love of the land and the creation of a home. It gives much the same feelings as A Year in Provence or Under a Tuscan Sun.

Unlike the reviewer who cannot identify with Pastor Stu's military background, there are many who have served this country, that can identify with Pastor Stu's background and his major decision as a Captain in the 5th Special Forces/Ranger with service overseas, including Republic of South Vietnam. I believe his sacrifice to country and his previous role as a soldier (the values of Duty, Honor, Country) makes Pastor Stu more credible and a more powerful advocate of what it is to be a man, a GODLY man. I also believe that had Captain Weber not decided to choose the ministry over the military career, he would have been quite successful in the military and achieve a field grade ranking of General in the U.S. Army. As it turned out, the ministry gained an influential shepherd who has written a number of books that has and will continue to influence other men in their walk with GOD.

There are many worthy insights in this book and the others written by Pastor Stu. It has been some time since reading the book, but I recall that a key decision must be made by all men and that is, "Who is Your Authority?" This is a crossroad..."who will you follow?" With you continue to follow your own personal inclinations, the secular wisdoms of the day, or will you allow GOD to be the authority in your life, the guiding principles of your life, and obey the WORD? It is the most important question for all men to consider and then choose wisely. There are many other Biblically sound teachings that are covered. I will only touch upon one. As Christians who are walking in FAITH, there is a need to eschew being the "lone ranger", the Clint Eastwood-machismo solitary gunfighter that takes on an entire pack of vermin and wastes them all in glorious Hollywood images. Rather, a Christian man needs other GODLY men to stand with them, because the battle against the secular world value system and against evil spiritual principalities cannot be realistically defeated as in a Hollywood-Clint Eastwood shootout type scenario and a symbolic ride into the sunset....NO, Pastor Stu and the Bible identifies the need for comrades-in-arms, "Ranger buddies", other centurions, GOD-fearing warriors who will watch your back and your flank. You need others in this spiritual warfare. Otherwise, you will succumb. He tells it like it is. A strand of 3 cords is tough to break. A group/team of committed GODLY men cannot be defeated. Gideon had his 300. Joshua and Caleb had their forces, albeit invariably outnumbered in their battles, Joshua and Caleb's army prevailed. Obedient to GOD, go to Battle alongside other Christian brothers-in-arms. Put on the full armor of GOD and you will win EVERY Battle. Hope this review helps.

I got this for my husband because it was assigned reading for a Bible study. He is not an avid reader, but he jumped in with both feet and really enjoyed it. He did feel that he should take the time to go through it again, that his study meetings just scratched the surface. High praise from someone who usually reads only car magazines!

Stu is a man everyone could learn from. He redefines 'macho' and, as a woman reading it, makes you long for this tenderness from your own husband. The topics he touches on are supported biblically, statistically and scientifically. A man who can pull from this book and live his life as a 'tender warrior' is truly 'every woman's dream'. I have nothing but good to say about every area of this book. If your husband is at all interested in self and/or spiritual growth, this is a must read.

Stu Weber takes off the gloves and gives it to you straight. If you're a husband and/or father, God's word has some things you need to know. Avoid making the common mistakes and get prepared for the challenges.

This book sat on my shelf for six years before I finally picked it up. I am sorry I waited so long. I could have avoided some heartache and the mistakes I made that caused them.

"Tender Warrior" is a biblical examination of what makes a man. Using scripture, experience, and anecdotes from his own life and the lives of other men Weber uncovers some truths that have been lost to men in our society over the past few decades. He paints in broad bushstrokes that may startle and rub some the wrong way, but keep reading. You will find valuable insights straight from the pages of the bible that will challenge you to look again at yourself and reevaluate how you are doing as a man. At the end of each chapter are reflection questions for individual and group study.

There is something for all men in this book, so read it whether you are married, single, nearing the end of your journey, or just starting out.

I think I will read this book again and find some men to read it with so we can hone each other into the men that God wants us to be.

Having read all the Andrea Camilleri books in Italian, I want to emphasize that the opening of Cane di Terracotta gives a perfect intro to Montalbano's character and ambience, and is an example of his best writing.
All Camilleri's Montalbano books read as if set for TV or movie, with quick moving short scenes, easily engaging the contemporary reader.
Can you imagine reading an Italian translation of Faulkner's works and being able to claim that you understood the depth of his writing? The same is true of Camilleri's Sicilian dialect being translated into English. Aside from his wonderful focus on the pleasures and travails of everyday life, and on the foibles of humanity, the true joy of his writing lies in its dialectical inventiveness, something that cannot be translated.
In fact, Camilleri has elevated his dialect to an art form, validating the usage of dialect in a world which is becoming ever more homogenized. Wasn't there a fellow named Dante that did a similar good turn?
I would encourage inquisitive readers to brush up their Italian so they can read other Andrea Camilleri books, especially those which are not Montalbano thrillers. My favorites are La Scomparsa di Pato, and La Concessione del Telefono. If your Italian is ok, you can learn the dialect from context as you read the books,
but if you want a little help, get Un Filo di Fumo, which has as its appendix a brief dictionary.

This was the first Camilleri novel I read. I started it and finished it in a day. The plot is quick; it drives you along with Inspector Montalbano who is a real "character" in every sense of the word.

Montalbano uses fowl language, LOVES food; he's direct, smug, unpredictable, truly Italian and a great detective. These mysteries have a definite Italian feel to them which only adds to their charm. They may not be for everyone, but if you want a gritty story that keeps you turning pages (and don't mind a few fowl words and so on...) these stories will intrigue you.

In this novel two mysteries are solved. One mystery is from about 50 years ago and the other occurs in present day. Montalbano and his fellow officers unravel both in the way only they can - not always by the book and with a few surprises. You also learn more about Montalbano's ambiguous personal life, which as always includes food, women and a swim in the ocean.

I have become enamoured with the Italian mystery genre in the last 2-3 years. It has been an education to explore Venice with Commissario Brunetti and Florence with Marshall Guarnaccia or Sicily with Inspector Montealbano. All three authors (Donna Leon, Magdalen Nabb, and Andrea Camilleri) know their locale and focus on the daily lives of the citizens, while moving along a rip-roaring story. But there are significant differences - Leon and Nabb write in English (Nabb uses British terms that remind me of Christie that break the spell) while Camilleri writes in Italian. He is Italian - he understands the importance of the land and the wine and especially the food that fuels Sicily. (The translation is superb.) Leon and Nabb certainly know their areas and their craft and they are very, very good, but Camilleri works the magic.

Camilleri captures the angst and the pain and the loneliness of Inspector Montalbano. But he also captures in mouthwatering detail the need to eat with a focus on the quality and variety of food that stops the Inspector's world, even when he has to go long distances to find the right place to eat.

I like to read a series from the beginning. I like to meet and greet the protagonist and then watch him/her grow with fond memories brought about by references to prior books. The Terra Cotta Dog is the first of the series that has been translated into English. Apparently the entire collection is large and the selection for translation has been severe, but the stories and especially the translations have been excellent. This is the place to start.

I highly recommend all three Italian protagonists with Inspector Montalbano and Commissario Brunetti right at the top of my list of "must buy" when a new book hit the market. They take me to places I have never visited, though I now seem to know, and allow me to interact with people I would like to know better.

My colleague and his wife visited his ancestor's Sicily last spring for the first time. I got them 5 of the books and suggested they read them in the order they were written if they had the time. The results were astounding. Apparently there was a fight for the books amongst the 4 that went and Mr. Camilleri's introduction to Sicily through the eyes of Inspector Montalbano made the trip even more memorable than expected. They "lived" Sicily by reading the books - not the big things from the guide books, but the small rituals of life and especially the food. Yes, for the Inspector, it all comes down to food and this is what made the trip so memorable.

Enjoy your tour of Venice or Florence or Sicily!

Any and all of Camilleri's books are worth reading. The series of books are set in Sicily and Salvo Montalbano, Chief Inspector of the small town of Vigata, is a footloose,brooding batchelor, who manages his sleuthing and lovelife with equal skill. He loves his Sicialian seafood and eats with gusto, if and when he remembers to eat as he goads his men and himself in the pursuit of criminals.

Inspector Salvo Montalbano of Vigàta gets an urgent call from his best friend Greg the pimp they need to meet on the quick, Montalbano is informed that Greg was told to relay a message from Tano the Greek (the number two Mafioso) he wants a secret tête-à-tête. Tano the Greek had been in hiding for quite sometime and on every wanted policeman list possible, Tano had made his conditions very clear that Montalbano should come alone and tell no one. Sudden trembles and panic enter Montalbono head, then suspicion why out of the blue would a member of the Mafioso want to meet with him? Curiosity more than anything gets the better of him and he complies to go without calling it in.

Meanwhile in another part of Vigàta a supermarket heist is taking place, Montalbano soon finds out everything did not go according to plan. Why would anyone bother to set up a heist then not only abandoned the goods but also leave a whole bagful of cash?

Inspector Montalbano is then on the move again this time his called to Palermo Hospital urgently to listen to a dying man's words, which in due course leads Montalbano to a secret cave, two more bodies are discovered embracing each other, even more shocking these bodies had been there for at least fifty years what sort of twisted dark past was this, who were these people and why were they being watched over by a Terracotta dog? Montalbano needs to understand what happened here, he takes time rediscovering the horrors of a WWII past. It's the only way forward.

Andrea Camilleri has written a wonderful Montalbano mystery series, what I love firstly about this whole series would be the charactizations and language the usage of dialogue in conversation it's all been kept real it's got sharp wit and comic moments the sly comments on Italian life and culture keeps things interesting and really amusing. Montalbano is a fantastic leading character his middle-aged, melancholy vein, recites certain favorite authors' lines in moments of doubt and his clearly well read. His passion for great flavored food is endless and mouthwatering, his also a thinker and manages to untangle a spun web of lies and sort out the logic of his cases to get to the truth. Montalbano is not afraid to explore all areas even into obsession. His got a huge female following of all ages because he has that attractiveness about him, one would be his "get to the point attitude" and can say it in many different ways. In spite of much temptation from women he remains faithful to his long time girlfriend Livia who in turn is happy to adjust her life and will calm and comfort in his time of need, Livia understands what his trying to achieve in his world that is corrupted and knows how to handle his darker moods. Montalbano loyal team continues to support him no matter what his faults and tactics may be.

The Fictional town of Vigàta is so vividly portrayed by Camilleri that it feels like a real place in Sicily; Camilleri himself in an interview said he based this town on his birthplace in Sicily Porto Empedocle, people of his home town have now recently changed the name to Vigàta to match the book in his honour. The whole series seems to have a timeless feel about them; I took a whole batch of this series on a recent vacation plotted up and read one to the next, it was addictive reading and I was not disappointed by any. Although you can start anywhere in the series, it clearly deserves to be read from the beginning. This is the second book in the series the first being (La form dell'acqua) The shape of Water.

A special mention to poet Stephen Sartarelli, for the clear translation of each book and for the informative notes given at the back on wording. Thank you.

This book was an intriguing wonderful read, the one that will hook and reel you in.

A.Bowhill

Coach Wooden is the Monet of coaching. His philosophy and work ethic, both as a player and a coach, are unparalled. This book will instruct anyone on how to deal with adversity both on the court and in the game of life.

You can't miss with Wooden's thoughts, words and advice. If you're coaching yong people, he hits home lessons that every player and coach should know and understand. Even if you're just a parent or someone's business supervisor, read this book to learn how to better deal with and motivate those who rely on you for leadership. Don't let the coach down and pass these wonerful skills on to the next generation. Wooden's vision will live long past his coaching days. Find out all about it right here.

I purchased this book as part of a Ph.D. level class as a lesson in leadership. Coach Wooden shows his ability to lead and educate through his expertise in the fundamentals and the basics. He demonstrates his ability to change tactics and styles with different individuals, which is essential in good,effective leaders. I would recommend this book on several levels. At face value, it is an exceptional story about an exceptional coach and man. At a deeper level, I think it portrays a good example of how to lead and and how to set an example for those you are trying to lead.

Excellent book examining the life , philosophy and thoughts behind a great coach. Not just about basketball but good for anyone coaching any sport or anyone wanting insight to a great life.

John Wooden is perhaps America's greatest coach. His UCLA basketball team won ten national championships, including seven in a row. Concomitant with winning was his insistence on character and virtue rather than getting caught up with results.

This autobiography is a fascinating glimpse into Wooden's extraordinary life. It chronicles his life as a player (many forget that Wooden was elected to the basketball hall-of-fame as a player and coach), his coaching days (mostly at UCLA), and a little bit about his activities after his retirement. Interspersed in all of this are Wooden's coaching philosophy, pictures, box scores of the national championship games, and Wooden's opinion on how to improve the quality of NCAA basketball.

They Call Me Coach is tremendous for any sports fan, especially basketball. It can also be enjoyed by those who enjoy reading about what it takes to achieve success. Wooden was not a dictator, but imparted his insistence on doing one's best to his players with meticulous detail.

TCMC is not a complete autobiography, and it omits many aspects of Wooden's life. It is certainly not a "tell-all" account, nor is it perhaps the best book on articulating Wooden's coaching philosophy. For that I would recommend another of Wooden's books, appropriately titled Wooden. There are also others out there.

They Call Me Coach is a wonderful account of a man who as achieved true life success, and you will enjoy this read regardless of your previous knowledge on Wooden or college basketball.

I loved this book. It really made you think about "could this actually happen?" I love the bits of history, the attitudes of people in different times, the extraordinary amount of research that Mrs. O'Day must have put into this. She is just an awesome story teller.

I read this book many years ago and fell in love with it. I just found it again and re-read it- yep, still love it! I don't really agree with the last review about the "rape" scene. It's a fictional book and I took it as that- fictional. It was an important part of the plot, although it may be disturbing to some, you soon forget about it as Constance weaves her magical spell. I felt transported back in time with Brianne and almost wished it were true. I hated that the book ended, and the ending was fabulous! I wish there was a part two and I could continue reading about Brianne and Ryan's life. Not to be, but at least I have this copy and I can pull it out every few years and get swept back in time once again and try to pretend I don't know how the story will turn out. I love this book and highly recommend it to all those who enjoy an easy read that will make your heart flutter and your cheeks flush!

THIS IS MY ALL TIME FAVORITE BOOK! I HAVE READ IT OVER AND OVER. A TRUE ROMANCE NOVEL...AND A VERY HARD ACT TO FOLLOW.

and I still think about the storyline quite frequently. Not only did I love the characters and how they developed throughout the book, but I'm very much into the New Orleans: it's such a great setting for a romance to take place. "Timeless Passion" also includes many dualisms, like North vs. South, being a modern career woman vs. being an oppressed wallflower wife, etc. For me, the time travel genre is a great expression of clashing ideals and interests, which can be both hilarious and shocking depending on what's encountered. From a person that reads just about anything she picks up, I'm still a very harsh critic. This book, along quite a few classics, I swear it makes me want to be a writer, too. On a side note, it was clever of O'Day-Flannery to make Brianne so short in comparison to Ryan. We need more characters that aren't portrayed as supermodels so that more people can enjoy these types of novels.

Everybody raved about how good this book was, so I decided to give it a try. I didn't get very far.

When the hero (who up to this point despises the heroine) has sex with the heroine WHILE SHE'S DRUGGED UP ON LAUDANUM and passed out, not really aware of what's going on! His reasoning? She's dressed in pants and must be a prostitute, therefore he's not doing anything wrong. He's got a right to use her because she's a whore! I was so disgusted that this book flew across my room.

Yeah, yeah, I know such things were just par for the course in many 80's romances, but this is sick, sick, sick! Hello, people! Sex without a woman's consent is called RAPE!!!! That's why they call it the "date-rape" drug, and not the "seduction" drug! I can't believe people actually find this romantic.

This disgusting "love" (RAPE!) scene appears just 50 pages into the book. So it's not like they hero and heroine have had any time to fall in love with one another. In fact, they hate each other. I don't like such early sex even between consenting adults, let alone a rape scene (which is NEVER acceptable!) Skip this book!