Woody Allen Books

Wow! Science fiction that is full of science! The best kind! I actually had this book on my shelf for a long time before I read it, as I was sort of expecting another sordid disaster novel. When I did read it, however, I wondered why I had waited so long.

I don't know why I've waited so long to praise this book; its one of my favorite reads. I got it several years ago, for a buck at a book outlet store. Which shows that with books, what you pay has very little relation to how much you enjoy it. I re-read it at least once a year.
The story is about what happens around the unfolding event of a nearby star (Sirius) going supernova. I thought the astronomy was very clearly explained. But its also a very human story of the reactions of some of the people this event touches, from the astronomer who first raises the possibility that the supernova might happen (only to be laughed at by senior scientists-a very realistic scene), to a young Japanese technician who finds out that EMP from the event might destroy Earth, to a world-weary psychiatrist who joins a millenial group called the Christ-Riders (who see in the supernova a harbinger of the end times).
In the novel, the supernova's light appears at Earth right around the millenium (year 2000), but that doesn't make the story obsolete--I think an event of this "magnitude" would cause cultish reactions in any year it happened. The human relationships are as well drawn as the science. I can't do it justice in a short review, so I will recommend it to anyone interested in hard-science fiction, or novels with millenial scenarios.
As presented in the book, the possibility of Sirius being unstable enough to go supernova is so convincing, that after every time I read it, I go do some research to see if that star really has changed over time (i.e., whether the premise could be true). And after reading it, for the next several days I'll look into the night sky and wonder if catastrophes have already happened out there, but their effects have yet to reach us here on Earth. In other words, the book causes you to think, for a long time after you read it. And thats my definition of a good book!

The book gives a very interesting view of what may happen if Sirus B goes Supernova. The star is within 10 light years of earth. The individual making the prediction is a young astronomer who just obtained his P.Hd. Due to his young age, he is not taken very seriously. More discriptions were needed within the book reguarding the atmospheric effects of the supernova. The only discriptions given about the changes in the weather patterm was the statement such as "Storms were the result of the Supernova." There were also brief mentions of the unusualy cool days in parts of California. Also, there was a brief mention of icemelt and snowstorms in Antarctica. Book also includes a rogue religious cult bent on distroying L.A. after it is blasted by a Electro Magnetic Pulse from the supernova. Good book if you like to see L.A. and Tokyo burn. I still recommend it. Need some science background to understand small parts of it

How African Americans adopted and interpreted Christianity

In The Talking Book, Professor Callahan presents the early African American view of Christianity as it was adopted and practiced in the early days of slavery. Many of these concepts, he writes, have shaped the faith and mindset of many descendants of those slaves up to this day. He present the material in four sections, each with a Biblical theme.

Exile - an examination of the visions of Ezekiel and the similarity of the African American slaves' exile from their home continent with that of the Jews captivity in Babylon.

Exodus - As the Israelites escaped Egypt is there or was there ever a promised land for the slaves? Was an exodus even possible? There were multiple failed attempts to return to Africa, to the nation of Liberia, but these never worked out. There is no going `home'.

Ethiopia - here, the author addresses the pan-African movement, the resistance against colonialism in Ethiopia and the common bond that African Americans share with all persons of African ancestry.

Emmanuel - finally there is a look at the view of Christ, not as a king in heaven but as a co-sufferer here on Earth. The commonality of the beating and execution of Jesus and the mistreatment of the enslaved Africans is poignant.

This book is very thought-provoking and rife with historical, literary and musical references. I did find it a bit hard to read, as it is so full of anecdotes it feels disjointed and the text doesn't `flow' well and pour out a story. But the richness of the references makes it worth the effort. The more than twenty pages of notes makes it an excellent reference too.

Callahan offers an extensive analysis of how African Americans have appropriated biblical symbols and tropes. He moves fluidly in his reading of African American interpretations of the bible in various forms from the Negro Spiritual to contemporary Hip Hop. The Talking Book is both descriptive in its historical precision and prescriptive in its final Pan-African "call to arms." If you are at all interested in the literary, musical, art, or religious history of the United States, read it. There is nothing else out there of its kind.

Callahan has thoroughly researched and insightfully diagnosed the African American use of the Bible in literature. His most startling interpretation states that some have overemphasized the African American use of the Exodus Motif. I would agree that other motifs are also central, especially the suffering Jesus, but I would also say that the Exodus motif is central to the African American Christian sense of self throughout history. In fact, it might be best to unite both motifs: the suffering Jesus as the means of African American Exodus from the land of slavery to the Promised Land.

That issue withstanding, "The Talking Book" is a searing and probing study of how African Americans have used the Bible to move beyond the suffering to a place of healing hope.

Reviewer: Bob Kellemen, Ph.D., is author of Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction .

This precious little piece about a porker points out both the good and the bad. It is an absolutely fun read and the illustrations are terrific! Ann Clarke, children's book author of People Are So Different! based on tolerance and understanding.

When you think of manners, usually the last thing that you think about is pigs. You get a notion in your mind of a pig rolling around in the mud or digging its snout into the slop and making a mess. I think, though, that the choice of pigs to demonstrate good (and bad!) manners in this book was a perfect choice. Children, including mine, are naturally drawn to pigs, which I believe is the reason for the popularity of Charlotte's Web and Babe. Just seeing a picture of pig dressed up as a teacher on the front of the book was enough to take this book off the shelf and put into our library bag.

My family and I really enjoyed that the author looked at both good and bad manners. The human mind often needs to see a positive and negative connotation to truly grasp an idea. It also gives the parent an opportunity to discuss why something is considered "good manners" and what can be improved in the situations where "bad manners" are exhibited. The author covers a good deal of the "manners" that parents try to instill in their children, but in a fun way for the whole family!

To top things off, the illustrations in this book are wonderful! They tease the imagination to see animals playing human roles. Also, the emotions of the animals seemed to be expressed through the style and colors of the background and the writing on the pages. Then, of course, are the subtle things on each page that entice you to spend time carefully looking at each page. On every page there are small things that are sometimes overlooked at first, but quite enjoyable when found! The use of colored newspaper pieces in the background as everyday objects was ingenious and added so much appeal to the book. This book is a work of art that is useful in teaching manners!

I really liked This Little Piggy's book of Manners. I teach Kindergarten and it was a great introduction to manners and etiquette without beating them over the head with it. The rhymes were great and easy enough for the kids to remember. We also loved the vibrant and colorful illustrations of Nancy Wolf. The situations in the book gave way to much discussion about how we are to act if we expect to have good manners. My personal favorite picture is of the little piggy eating lunch. We liked the phrase Utterly disgusting. We were pleased with the little piggies.

This is a book that's made even better when read out loud. Using diffrent voices for everyone enhances it even further. The illustrations are clever and funny. Within these few pages the complicated famliy dynamic that explains why Mrs. Gimble and her brother Danny only see each other once every year.(hint: he's a drifter, world traveler and has an ugly hat that sheads, but is otherwise well-mannered and quiet.) Mrs. Gimble is near sighted and would rather not have a cat that wanders around as much as her brother does. I'll agree with the previous reviews, this is definitely a book you'll not mind reading five times in one night. This would make a very funny animated short, if it does not already exist somewhere.

A book that i dont mind having to read everynight 5 times!!! Very cleverly written to charm adults and children!
Highly recomend

We collect fun cat books and entertaining children's books, and this one is a keeper in both categories. The story is funny, the illustrations are adorable and there was the added bonus of adding some new phrases to our vocabulary --- we now point out the "swagmen" we see and sit down to "have a cup of tea and a bit of a chin-wag."

I first checked out this book from our public library, among other books with a Christmas theme. My five-year old daughter loved the story and the pictures, that she asked me to renew it twice. I decided to purchase it for her. We still read it although Christmas has passed. This is the story of a little boy who learns about Christmas (when trees are decorated with lights and ornaments) from his mother who grew up in the Unitied States before coming to Japan where they now live. The illustrations are beautiful, you learn about a number of customs. For example, the connection between oragami and wishes, the food that he little boy eats, that his parents planted a tree to symbolise and as a wish that he lives a long life. They make a snowman, in Japan their snowman has two balls, not three like here in the United States. The book has a timeless quality.

I loved this book enough to, in pre-Amazon days, put in two special orders (both failed) through Crown Books and finally, after two years, find a children's specialty book store that could get it for me. It is the story of a small boy learning to obey his mother as well as the story of his first Christmas. The book's strength is its astonishing illustrations. The luminous pictures of the family's Japanese home, the small pine tree with the silver origami cranes and candles, and the emotion on the face of the little boy captivate my son, who is not yet two and a half. Even at his age, which is much younger than this book is intended for, he really responds to the poetic text, the relationship between the boy and his mother, his struggle to obey his mother and deal with her disapproval of his misbehavior, and the beauty of the tree of cranes. This is a peaceful and gentle text, and I am grateful that I can finally read my son this story that both helps to build his character and exposes him to the beauty and grace of Japanese form.

This autobiographical story of author Allen Say's discovery of Christmas is gentle and beautiful. As a little boy in Japan, he wasn't supposed to play near the neighbor's carp pond, but he did, and fell in! Mother was a little mad at him, but she was preoccupied with making origami cranes. She put them on a tree that she brought in from the garden, and explained to her puzzled son that this was called a Christmas tree. (She had lived in California as a girl.) The boy asked for and received a Samurai kite as a Christmas gift. He never forgot that day, because it was the first time he learned about Christmas, and he never played in the carp pond again.

This lovely story introduces us to a traditional Japanese family and to a child who experiences two cultures. The illustrations are quite unique and are almost shiny. The simple text is easy to read and children aged 6-8 love this book.

This book was chosen as the historical fiction winner for the 2008 Allbooks Review Editor's Choice Award. A highly recommended read.

Invisible faces are everywhere. Who are these faceless, nameless people that we encounter every day of our lives? This is especially true in times of war. We notice the infantryman, the tanker, the pilot, but the multitude of the brave men and women who sacrifice so much go so often without notice. This book hopes to change that. It is the story of young Jeremiah Hart who enlists in the Navy in the middle of World War II pretty much on a whim to impress the girl of his dreams. He has dreams of being on a battleship or a destroyer or a submarine. Instead he ends up assigned to one of the lowliest ships in the Navy - an LST. This is where his story really begins.
In his first work, Ron Allen Ames has crafted a work based on the memories and letters of his father who did serve on an LST during the Second World War. Mr. Ames resides in northwestern Pennsylvania.
This is a well-written story of the capriciousness of war and of the choices and challenges that anyone can face in a time of struggle. The style used by Mr. Ames is bright and easily readable. The character development is graceful and witty and the reader feels losses and exults in success as each character grows and transforms with the progress of the story. I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a good war novel, love story, or just a good book.
This book is available through booksellers everywhere.
Reviewer: John Helman, Allbooks Reviews.

Obviously, all of the stories from WWII have not been told. From the home front to the battlefront "Vessels of the Strand" holds little known or forgotten bits of life of that time in history.
This story intertwines the barbarity of the amphibious landings of the Pacific Islands with a romance that continually reenters the story through exquisite letters and chapters. But just when you think you've figured this book out, it changes direction.
The vivid portrait of the LSTs intrigued me. These tank landing ships and their gallant crews who ran around to deliver battle tanks, and other cargo to the beachhead, is something that I personally had never heard tell of before.
The main character leaves home in a lovestruck innocence. The effects of war changes him into a battle hardened veteran. Yet, there are no " John Wayne" in the story, just the unbelievable human emotions of a young man witnessing and participating in war. Letters, are the subject of a deceiving romance that spans from high school, through months of battle, and culminates at the end of the war in occupied Japan. The titled double meaning is an added point of interest, and though there are a few minuscule blemishes, all in all I give "Vessels of the Strand" a hardy thumbs up.

Champ of Champs is a wonderful, wholesome book for young readers. As a parent, I thought the message in the book is important. It teaches honesty and to value diversity. My kids loved the story. My 6 year old really identified with the characters and my 3 year old loved the illustrations. He frequently will set and look at the book on his own while I homeschool our oldest child. Camp of Champs is so popular in our family, it is on our all-time favorite book list for bedtime stories.

As a grandparent invested in seeing my granddaughter learn in a relaxed environment, it was a joy to see how much my granddaughter loved this book. The illustrations are exceptional, with vibrant colors and fanciful fruits gently teaching, in a simple but powerful way, the values of honesty and integrity. Faith loves this book and it is already one of her most treasured possessions. This is a wonderfully well written book, reflecting positive values through an enjoyable and fun experience. Looking forward to more!

Engagingly written by Jeana Thomas and brightly illustrated by Lisa Allen Triefenbach, Champ Of Champs: Why Was Blueberry Orange? launches a new series designed to entertain and teach young readers ages 4 to 8 some of life's lessons. This time it's about the virtue of honesty as Buddy Blueberry gets himself into a compromising position his first day at the "Camp of Champs". In the conclusion of this lively and engaging story, children are presented with questions which will ensure that the lesson about the value of telling the truth and the possible consequences of dishonesty reflected in the story has been understood. Champ Of Champs: Why Was Blueberry Orange? is strongly recommended for private school, parochial school, public elementary school, and home school library collections and reading lists for preschool through first grade students.

For Aussie writers looking to get their work published, this is The Guide. As well as all the resources, there are overviews on various types of writing, which is helpful for those starting out. Anyone who thinks writing a book is easy should pick up this book and learn that there's a lot more to it!

This is the number one guide and reference book for both new and experienced writers. The advice is clear and concise and the references to publishers and agents are invaluable.

(...)

New or experienced, what writers need today is guidance on what they're doing, where they're going and how they're going to get there.

Even with the plethora of writing guides and manuals on the market today, it's rare to find an all-encompassing volume that benefits fiction and non-fiction authors, freelancers, screenwriters and other wordsmiths.

That's why 'The Writer's Guide' by Irina Dunn is an essential resource for all genres and writing types.

Dunn, a published author, English tutor and consultant editor, provides comprehensive information on a wide range of topics including:

* Skills development (techniques for interviewing, researching and self-editing)
* Types of writing (commercial, non-fiction, drama, children's and online)
* Resources (writers' centers, organizations, courses and Web sites)
* Getting published (dealing with agents and publishers, and managing life as a writer)

In addition to being an informative resource for every-day use, 'The Writer's Guide' is also a good source of inspiration, motivation and it encourages introspection. But it's no rose-colored rhetoric ~ Dunn discusses the big issues and offers practical advice and guidance to assist you in your literary journey.

Some of the other topics covered include:

* developing tools and skills;
* drafting, revising, editing;
* online writing and epublishing;
* computer software and hardware
* formal and legal considerations;
* understanding your readership;
* constructive feedback and tuition;
* finding publishing outlets;
* commercial publishing, self-publishing; and
* marketing, reviews, publicity.

Littered with pithy quotes on writing, 'The Writer's Guide' is lively, entertaining and interesting to read from cover to cover. By the time you finish it, you should have many dog-eared and underlined pages that you'll refer to over and over. If not, you're doing something wrong.

-- Michael Meanwell, author of the critically-acclaimed 'The Enterprising Writer' and 'Writers on Writing'. For more book reviews and prescriptive articles for writers, visit www.enterprisingwriter.com

If you're a teacher, you need this book! What a great tool. I've taught both intermediate elementary grades and middle school, and I can tell you that this book gives so many useful tips and strategies to help those struggling readers we all have in our classrooms. ALL of Janet Allen's books are worth buying and reading. I have all of them and constantly refer to them for ideas or reminders. I do not joke when I say that several of the pages in her book are folded down, as a way to remind me that there is something incredible to remember on that page. Her book recommendations are great too.

Another reason this book is so amazing is that Janet Allen is honest. Not all of her strategies work every year. We all know that we don't get carbon-copy classrooms every year and have to modify and tweak our instructional strategies to reach our students. That's the beauty of Allen's books, you can adapt them to how they fit best with your class.

If you like this book, buy "Words, Words, Words" and "There's Room for me Here" as companion-pieces to "Yellow Brick Roads." Great reading, and worth your while!!!!

Janet Allen's book is a wonderful resource for any middle or high school teachers of literacy - especially those teachers involved with at risk learners. Allen's work is also always uplifting and motivational. She reminds all of us who work with kids that all kids truly can learn, as long as we are willing to meet them where they are. Allen does not just offer a philosophical perpective, hower. Yellow Brick Road is also filled with practical and "do"able activities and strategies to implement in a classroom teacher's instruction. The book is an easy and enjoyable read.

Yellow Brick Roads is a must read for the reading teacher who is deluged with new books each year. It will tie up many loose ends for you, rejuvenate you, and validate your gut feelings about the teaching of reading.

Janet Allen's greatest gift is really to the struggling readers themselves. She has total respect for her students, and that respect shines through her writing. She reminds us that our students are our greatest teachers, and that we must observe and listen to them carefully in order to support their literacy growth. Teacher as researcher is the guiding princeple here. She will also help you convince the schedule makers that you need more time for the teaching of reading. I am ready to reread it the third time this summer!

To have the ability to write a book like this and make it credible you are required to be have

a) lived a life like Andrew Griffiths
b) have the balls to tell people the truth and
c) chunk it down so everyone (and I mean everyone) can get something out of it!

This is a book that changes lives. If you want the same old, same old, life, then dont go near this book.

If you want to know how to dramatically increase the amount you suck out of life, then run (dont walk) to get 101 Ways to Have a Business and a Life

This weekend I picked up three books on time management at Borders...Two of them I've heard of before, written by quite well known authors and business experts.

The third one I grabbed at the last moment before I headed to the check-out, and I am so glad I did!

Andrew Griffith's "101 Ways to Have a Business and a Life" is an amazing read! It's not just a time management book. It should've been called "Every Entrepeneur's Bible!"

It covers everything from managing your time and money to managing your relationships, health, employees, vendors, customers, family, kids, and much much more...I swallowed it in about 3 hours (ok, I skipped some section, but that's how I always read anyway).

The other two books were great, but this one stood out for one big reason: it was based on the author's true story of how his business life took a toll on his relationships and his health, and how he made a decision to "wake up" and realize that his business is "slowly killing" him.

Personal story - that's what's unique about this book, and makes his message so much more compelling. Andrew is also being very candid - he shares the things that most people are embarrased to admit even to themselves, and offers simple solutions.

The book is very easy to read, split into 1-2 page segments, just right for busy entrepreneurs.

I think the book cover doesn't do it justice...I'd love to see Andrew's photo on the front cover!

Go to your local book store and get it today!

P.S. If you're a life coach working with business owners, this is a great book to create your own coaching program around....You can even partner with the author to coach people based on his ideas!

P.P.S. Ok, I am off for a 2nd walk today...Andrew's words are magically inspiring!