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I read this book when it first was first published.
Over the years I have made reference to it a number of times to students and colleagues. I just mentioned it recently, and decided to contribute here reviewing it.
Amazingly, the same book that I read, is still available on the stacks...
and if I remember correctly, is as timeless as when it was first written. Right after this book "came out", there was a television movie where a child spoke into a reel-to-reel taperecorder, and accidently someone put it on a different speed and the specialists then were able to witness that the child was speaking extremely FAST, and when the speed was changed, they were able to know what the child was saying.

I highly recommend, without reservation -- SONrise!

This book has helped me with my feelings about my twin boys who have autism. It also confirmed a lot of my feelings and intuitions as a parent. I really felt like I had an inside look on this family's life, their feelings, their concerns, and ultimately their actions that turned their child's life around. Incredibly inspiring and I would recommend it to anyone who cares for someone living with autism.

When I was in college I wrote a term paper on autism. It was in my research for that paper that I had the unbelievable luck to read this book. The story had a profound effect on my life. The admiration I have for Barry and Suzy Kaufman to this day has guided my life. A couple of years ago, while surfing the internet, I came upon the Option Institute's website. I was so thrilled to get a return email from them telling me how wonderful Raun is doing. I would recommend this book to absolutely anyone who is questioning the power of love and determination. This is an incredible book of hope.

I'd like to weigh in on the "I don't have an autistic child" vote...

I read the original "Son, Rise" back in 1982 or '83. There was an interview with Barry Neil Kaufman on the radio one night, it caught my interest, and I bought the book and read it. Even though I had no direct connection to anyone who were autistic, it was an outstanding read.

I don't read a lot of "true life" stories, but this is probably the one book I remember the best of ANY BOOKS I have read. Period. As another reviewer states - this book had a profound impact on my life. And 23 years later, I still remember not just the book, the story, and Barry Neil Kaufman's name, but the way it affected my view of interpersonal relationships. Heck, I recall the radio interview...

For some reason, other reviewers seem to have missed what I found to be a key point in the story, one that I find valid in all dealings with others: Expectations are a source of much frustration.

We all have "expectations" - all the time, in every situation in life, and whether we realize it or not. When those expectations are met, the effects *usually* range from neutral to mildly satisfied. After all, we *expect* it, so there's not much of a positive upside when the expectations are met. But there's a huge downside when they're not. Because most expectations are not communicated and often not even fully understood by ourselves, those expectations tend to become unfulfilled and thus the source of frustrations. And when positive things happen, they don't *seem* positive - because they're not what we "expected".

Learning to recognize expectations - and either expressing them or deciding to let them go - is a big step towards removing many everyday frustrations.

But I can't describe in analytical terms what the original book so unbelievably well conveys - and how this real life story is simply riveting. I just can't think of a better way to describe it.

The book is a must-read for anyone - or at least the original was. I find it to most likely be unfortunate that the book has been modified, but I haven't read the "...miracle continues" so I can't say. But I'm sure the original message is intact, so if you can't find the original - a rewrite is sure to be at least the next best thing...

Does the book cure cancer, depression, or other physical, mental, or emotional issues? I wouldn't *expect* it to...

Does the book provide a cure for autism? To me, that is a moot question. Would it help someone deal with an autistic child? I can't see how it wouldn't! Any positive effect on the autistic child would be gravy!

At the same time, beware of your expectations! If you *expect* a result of attempting to use the book's approach to "curing" an autistic child - you are walking straight into the expectation trap. Can anyone or everyone rid themselves of their expectations and thereby achieve a maximum result? Probably not. Should someone who isn't able to "cure" their autistic child feel bad about it? Come on - you have completely missed the "no expectations" criteria! If you feel bad about the result, it is because you expected a certain result.

This isn't about results - which are ultimately about expectations - it is about love and acceptance. If or when that leads to an improved situation - that *should* be an unexpected side effect which would be the source of endless joy. If you follow their principles will it happen to you? If you build it will they come? All I can say is - if you DON'T build it - I'm pretty sure they WON'T come. Just don't plan on a sell out every night. Plan on enjoying having a place where you can always get a great seat...

Is Kaufman's personality an ingredient somehow? I'm sure it is - not everyone is capable of letting go of all expectations. But don't get confused by those who claim the book is cultist. Sure - Barry has a certain way of looking at things - or he wouldn't be Barry, and maybe there are some "flower-power" influences in his "love" approach. But is love a bad thing? I would think not. Is unconditional love a bad thing? I, for one, would love to be loved unconditionally!

If you have a dog, you may know what "unconditional love" means. Just think how awesome it would be to have another PERSON love you like that!!! Please - if you are a woman between the ages of ... just kidding ... :->

This is the most beautiful book about autism in creation.Barry Neil Kauffman, his wife Sumitra (then Suzy) and their daughters have shown just how strong and potent love really is.

The Kauffman's third child is a bright, beautiful little boy named Raun. Raun develops an ear infection early in infancy and from that point on develops autistic behaviors. He does not talk, he rocks and spins objects and only rarely looks at people or responds to his name.

Refusing to give up on this child, the Kauffmans devise a one on one program with Raun. They choose the bathroom as their classroom because that is the one room that "has the least amount of distractors." Raun's parents and sisters all participate with him in whatever he is doing, all the while talking to him about the activities. They turn Raun's solitary stimulation into a group activity and little by little Raun emerges from the shadows of autism.

This is truly an outstanding book. You will not only come to dearly love the Kauffmans, you will come to see that they have provided a gift to all -- the gift of a healthy child.

Sorrell and Son is a beautiful story of the love and commitment of a father to his son. Returning to civilian life in England after fighting in World War I as an officer and being decorated for bravery, he comes home to find no place to fit in. His wife leaves him, he cannot find a job and raised as a gentleman has no marketable skills. The only thing that keeps him going is his twelve-year-old son who is utterly dependent on him.
The book spans the boy's youth and adulthood. It's a story of self-sacrifice and love and finding meaning in a harsh environment.
The only thing that bothered me in the first half was the author's negative portrayal of women in general but he made up for it in the end with his understanding of the young woman Sorrell's son falls in love with.
The author shows a sympathy for the limitations women faced at that time with only wife and motherhood their only real options. Sorrell's son has to nearly lose her, as well as his own life, to understand that she, too, deserves to find a fullfillment in her work.
Wonderfully told, really, really well-written.

This is a book to read over and again. The central theme has its Horatio Alger aspect in Sorrell's climb from adversity (failed marriage,underemployment), to affluence and success, through the combined forces of hard work and professionalism with a good dash of luck.

The secondary story is Sorrell's wonderful relationship with his son, and his strong but tender rearing and overseeing his of education in school and in life.

This book is a first rate read and a must addition to your library.

This intriguing story takes place in England in the early twentieth century. This book was about a man who devoted his life to making his son's life a success. So many deep intellectual questions are asked, but not necessarily answered about life, marriage,love, career and relationships between father and son, husband and wife, and life in general. Definetly food for thought. He wanted his son to be more than just a worker. He wanted him to be someone special. This story has a surprise and delightful ending.

Simply an outstanding story! An excellent book! Honor, duty, loyalty, beauty and truth - We could well use this book as a guideline for the values needed both now and into the 21st Century.

When I first began to read Sorrell and Son, I was prepared not to like the main characters because I felt that the excessive pride and snobbery was beyond that which I, a born American, was able to tolerate.

However, when Sorrell bows his neck to fate and takes the job of porter at a somewhat disreputable inn owned and run by a horrible sadistic woman in order to be able to make a living for his son, I was hooked.

Neither adversity nor hard-work is able to defeat Sorrell. His and his son's "job" is the preparation of Kit for a successful life. Nothing is too demeaning for Sorrell if it will help further the "job." Slowly but surely, Sorrell begins to be smiled upon by the gods and his situation in life improves until he is quite well-off and is able to send Kit to excellent schools and the obtain a Tutor who prepares him for University after Kit has decided that he wants to become a surgeon.

The son, Christopher, could well have become a spoiled self-serving little prig, but he did not. Instead, he grows up to be a strongly principled, intelligent, caring man. My, what a lucky boy he is to have a father like Sorrell, and, Sorrell, my, what lucky man he is to have a son like Kit! Even the fleshy, self-indulgent mother's reappearance with her Circe's charms to offer Kit after an absence of ten years is not enough to tempt him away from his "pater."

As a result of Sorrell's later success in life, Kit is not required to scrabble about hungrily trying to make a living while studying medicine and yet his physical ease neither softens him nor makes him any less intent on succeeding at the "job."

The ending, albeit a tear-jerker, is not in the slightest bit maudlin. Sorrell maintains his unflappable dignity until the very end.

This is one of my favoret books. It has lots of adventure, I love it!

At firse I thougt, meh. What is there to be said about Esperanza finding a mate and then finding somewhere to live? But every second is packed with great immage discription, throughtful wrighting, and perfect words to describe what the horses are doing!

Instead of saying "the horse rubbed his leg" She would say somthing like "As the horse relaxed, he lowered his head to rub an itch on his foreleg."

WONDERFUL! Love it!!


Her wrighting is so good that she inspired me to wright a book,(for fun only!) Here is a little piece of it!----
......the wolf in the front stood on a large bolder, she tilted her head back and let out a call. Shadow and Tally stood to afraid to move, finally Tally snorted and turned to run off bumping into Shadow as she did. Shadow realized her friend was running, and her bolted after her. The wolf on the bolder barked fiercely and jumped after the frightened foals.
Elsewhere in the Hills, Bonita and Ella where looking for the missing foals. The foal's screams pierced through the air, reaching all the horses in the herd. Everyone lifted their head from grazing and pranced around startled. Star's head shot up at the sound of his young's desperate cries for help, his nostrils flared, and he shot off in the direction of the commotion.
Tally and Shadow where running from the wolfs, but the distance between them and their predators was getting smaller. One of the wolf's snapped at Shadows foot, luckily the wolf got kicked in the face instead. Star broke from some thin bushes, and struck out at the wolfs with his hoofs. The wolf who had gotten kicked in the face ran off, but the remaining three where deliberate to not leave empty pawed.
Star's neck rippled as he reared up to lash out with his front hoofs. He whirled around to strike. He snapped the air and stomped on the ground, but the wolfs dodged out of the way. As sudden as Star appeared, Ella came from the bushes. Her short legs couldn't carry her as fast as Star's legs carried him. Together her and Star lashed and kicked, until only one wolf was brave enough to keep fighting. It was the wolf who had been atop the bolder. Star reared, trying to warn the wolf, but Ella cantered out and attempted to stomp on the wolf. The wolf dodged and jumped on Ella's back. The dark wolf bit into her powder white neck and wouldn't let go. Star tried to strike the wolf, but he couldn't get close enough without kicking Ella. As Ella bucked and kicked in panic, trying to free herself, she slipped and plummeted to the ground......

(don't think I am copting, because although my story includes a wolf attack too, it isn't the same. I also know that most of my horses names are from the book. But I am so bad at coming up with them! I tryed to think of my own, but couldn't. Besides, I'm not trying to publish it or anything. :)

The Best Book I ever will Propably read, I read it in one evening! For anyone, who wants a great book, Esperanza should be at the top of their list!

This book is amazing! I have read all the other books in the Spirit collection, but this one is the best. I like these books because they are about wild horses. Esperanza is a palomino(and Spirit's dam), so she is my favorite. ESPERANZA RULES!!!!!

I loved this series. I loved how the author took it from the horses point of view and not the humans view like so many other books have done in the past.

I hope Kathleen Duey ( the author) will keep writing!
I recomend this is a good book for any horse crazy people ( and the other books too!).

I know that almost everyone out there in the world loves a good book and if your one of those people go to your library and check out Step Up it is based on the cool tv show Thats So Raven.it has two awesome stories, but i want to tell you about my favorite, story two it is soooooooooooooooooooooooooo cool Raven,Eddie,and Chealse have to get the zoo to come to Ravens house, because Ravens parents got food poisning and had to cancel Ravens brother,Corys b-day party at the zoo,but next time Ravens parents tell her to throw out the food that made them sick mabe she shold listen!!!What happens next you have to read Step Up to find out!

I pick all of the stars.It's about her cousin Andrew.Raven does notlike her.I don't like it i love it.I love it because when Eddie made his kissing face it was funny.I love it alot.Y ou should try it.It's a good book.

I like the show and I have five books from That's so Raven.I like both parts when Raven's cousin Andrea came from Paris and Cory had his 10th birthday party and Raven ruined it.I enjoy the book.

Raven is a psychic who has visions that her cousin is going to kiss her best friend. In part one it teaches you a lot about how to solve problems. This book can help you solve your problem, instead of making it worse.
In part two it is Cory's birthday. How do you think she is going to put up with it? Now Ray has a bad vision about Cory. Do you think she will let her vision come true?
I will recommend this book cause it has interesting facts in part one and cool party tips in part two.
K.G.

I enjoyed this book, some of the parts were different from the TV show, Raven RULES!

This is a well done audio presentation with excellent production values and superb voice acting (the only problem I had was with Supermans voice but that was a minor issue). I enjoy relistening to this ever so often, it is really superb.

It follows the story pretty well. The abridgement didn't hurt the story. The author did a good job.

Worth the wait. The dramatization isn't the best of the best, but still has re-listenability.

I though that this was a pretty cool audio book myself. I had heard that it wasn't very good but I though it was. It did have the kind of cheesy drama effects in their voices at times, but that is to be expected with any audio book.I like to read the novel books based on comic characters so I do my best to get every one there is.Now I have really gotten into the audio books about them because I can listen to them in the car. This CD pretty much follow the "Death and life of superman" novel by Roger Stern. I have read the book and really liked it. I was confused a little in some parts but after listening to this CD I understand it perfectly. I would recommend this to any comic book fan. I would also love to see more comic audio CD's very soon.

In the tradition of the Mercury Radio Theater and radio masters like Stan Freeberg and Douglas Adams, this CD collection proves that anything visual mediums can do, radio can do even better.

Excellent talent, flawless editing, magnificient sound effects and complete commitment to the story all come together to make this an outstanding audio experience.

Though not a Superman fan myself, after listening to the BBC and Warner Brothers adaptations of Knightfall, I knew I had to hear this as well and I'm glad I did.

I actually bought this book because I am always looking for great, meaningful movies to watch and when I saw it I thought this would be perfect!

Also - I passed it along to my friend who is a teacher and she has used it in her class for friday movie-days . . .

I just saw this book listed in my local paper and I ordered it right away because I have teens who are difficult to communicate with. Last night I actually sat down with my son and daughter and we watched "Scent of a Woman." We had a great discussion afterwards about cheating, friendships etc. This book was a god send. I recommend it to anyone with children who are tough to talk to. Thank you to the authors for this wonderful addition to our library.

Every parent has been confronted by the blank stare displayed by their child when confronted with a difficult topic they simply wish not to discuss with you. This book overs an antidote to that ennui with the simple, but brilliant idea of 'taking" your kid to the movies instead. This is accomplished by the easy expedient of slamming a video tape in your own home vcr.It offers the "safe" outlet of entertainment as a catylist for serious discussion by employing salient guidelines and analysis of over 100 theatrical films.

This is a terrific book for sharing with yor family and almost every family likes movies. The analysis is quite inciteful and the movies choices are interesting and inspired. The lessons are good ones and easily followed by children and adults.

I really like this book! The introduction is extremely helpful and provides a lot of insight into using films within the family structure. A giant step beyond just a movie guide, this book shows parents like me how I can use movies to learn more about my kids. I have a ten year old son who is not the easiest person to talk to, so I'm confident that many of the movies in Talking Pictures will provide the common ground needed for us to have some of those meaningful talks.

I read a Nancy Drew book. I liked it a lot. Nancy Drew and Bess Marvin are detective�s .Nancy and Bess were going to watch Cindy. (Cindy is a model) But Cindy was missing! So Nancy and Bess are trying to find her. It�s a great mystery! Find out what happens!

First of all I just want to say this is sad that no one can make a little effort to write a review on one of the best series. Anyways, I liked this book. It had everything like all ND mysteries do. Action, adventure, romance (sorta) and mystery (duh).

This mystery takes place in chicago.Nancy is the major character,Of chors she would be because she is the detective! Her best friend Bess is one of the major characters too!The minor character is Cindy who got kidnapped. The problem occurs when Nancy and Bess go to chicago. To see there friend Cindy who is a modle. But when they show up to the shoot Cindys missing!! Ater that Nancy and Bess go on a wild gosse chase to find out the unexpeted.The most sacrist part of the story is we Nancy is waiting to get on to the subway when someone slashes her jacket with the a razor-blade!The stroie ends in away you didn't think possible!

This book was SO great!! People, if you are reading this, I strongly encourage you to read this book!...If readers read, then everyone that have careers will follow!' my preschool teacher likes to say. If people can't read, then nobody would be able to do anything that has to do with literature. Fashion, modeling, action, mystery, and Nancy...the top five things that girls ABSOLUTELY love!!

This book was sooo good. It aws scary plus with something older kids like. Modeling and mystery. I was upset that some of the Nancy Drew books weren't very good but after I read this one I kept wanting to read more and more!

We have Community Theatre Groups. Now, with David Shepherd's ground breaking book, we can have community movie groups! Movie making is a social art similar to theatre, but the great thing about it is you get to keep your finished work and share it with future audiences. Anyone interested in screen acting and movie making will benefit from this. Most importantly, it opens up the movie making process as a community nurturing activity that can eliminate barriers and build bridges. No serious movie maker, community leader or drama teacher should be without it.

Lots of video cams get purchased every year, especially during the holidays. But too many of these cams end up gathering dust on a closet shelf. Why? After you've taped that sixth grade concert and the odd birthday party or three, there isn't much to do with the darn thing. This book opens up ways that the creative person can use their camera to experience a great group process, building friendships and making a real statement along the way.

The author has been experimenting with video and performance with regular folks for many years, and his expertise shines through. If you're considering getting a video camera, buy this book first!

David's book is rich with ideas and formats. This book is a treasure for all levels of improvisational work. It's the kind of book you come back to for new avenues and inspiration.

Innovative and exciting. I devoured this book - which can be appreciated by people from all walks of life. A fantastic creative outlet for those bored with sitting on their couch in front of the tv. By the end of the first chapter I was already shooting test footage with my friends.

Informative and entertaining. This book has some great suggestions for getting people engaged in creating and collaborating.

It never occurred to me that gay people went down on the Titanic. But of course they did. Think of how gay an airplane or cruise ship is today. Why is the Titanic always considered a straight experience? This book makes the probable seem very real. Also the other stories in the collection are good--particularly the camp-like "I Married an Aquanymph" and the butch story of gaining muscular weight in the hot "Buzz Spaulding's Training Academy." The Hollywood theme keeps going in the porno screenplay of an actual video, "Buck's Bunkhouse." Also, I liked the dozen photographs in the book--for nights when I don't want to read as much as "look."

Be assured this tale of gay victims and gay survivors is historically accurate in its details of Titanic culture on board in all classes, and in its details of the sinking and rescue.

This novel is reviewed with praise at several Titanic websites for both its accuracy as well as for its rather daring angle in being the first book to deal with gay men on Titanic as passengers, pursers, and stokers.

This story, which is a QUEER EYE FOR THE STRAIGHT READER, is a metaphor of what gay people must do to save themselves in a time of Aids and fundamentalist politics.

As such, it is true to the legend of Titanic which has always been about progress and how ALL OF US, STRAIGHT AND GAY, MUST SAVE OURSELVES IN A TIME OF TERROR that changes everything.

The tone of the book is romantic and will be culturally challenging in a good way to those readers who have never thought about all the gay people who served on Titanic. This is their FORBIDDEN STORY that till now they were NOT ALLOWED TO TELL.

It's a charming hoot to read how MOLLY BROWN interacts with the gay men on board! And to read how Molly, handing out her ballgowns, teaches "survival at all costs."

Fritscher is also the author of the nonfiction books, "Popular Witchcraft: Straight from the Witch's Mouth" and "Mapplethorpe: Assault with a Deadly Camera."

"Titanic" is recommended for those readers open to cross-cultural experiences. Actually, Fritscher's "Titanic," despite the ending, has a fun, musical-comedy feel appropriate to the way the passengers felt as the celebrated ship set sail.

Enjoyed the read(so did my seat mate as I flew to NY).
Hot and very creative man to man action..a real fantasy come to life in the pages. The scenes on the Titanic with the hunky engine crew is amazing. A bit of romance and nostalgia as well.

I was glad to search "disaster" and find this book, because the 9-11 attacks on the World Trade Center made me wonder about the human interest stories of all the lesbigay people in the Twin Towers. Then I read that it took 3.5 hours for the Titanic to sink and only 2.5 hours for the Twin Towers to collapse. Which all brought me to this book which tells the gay stories from Titanic. Not only informative, but imaginative and probably true, and certainly erotic, particularly the scenes with the sexy Stoker below decks. The story does not trivialize disaster, but rather makes you think about what being gay and being inside a tragedy is like. AIDS, of course, is a parallel subtext symbolically present in the Titanic sinking, just as HIV scares for gay people make the anthrax scares a bit simple by comparison. (At least for now.) I recommend this book particularly at this time that everyone is watching disaster on TV and maybe wants to read some escapist fiction around disaster--where some survive. Timely and hot.

"Love And Slumming." Okay, that about wraps this one up. Or how's about: "Now I know why handguns should be outlawed."

This is the fourth collection of Jack Fritscher's short stories, collected from three decades of sensual erotica. But perhaps this time, more than in any other of the collections, "Titanic" displays his razor sharp wit. The temptation to just list line after memorable line in this batch of stories is tough to resist.

Tied loosely together by a Hollywood concept, "Titanic" is also something else that many never expect from a collection of Fritscher's magazine work. There is very little leathersex involved here. Plenty of man on man horseplay, more than a few uncircumcised folks (the book could just as easily been subtitled Memories Of Headcheese) and lots of hypermasculine images, but the ropes and the dungeons are pretty much kept locked in the projection booth. That doesn't make the pieces any less wild, in fact, it enhances the craziness of a story like "CBGB 1977" and reminds you that the 70's in New York weren't all boogie nights at Studio 54.

Yes, the sex is fast and dirty, and often, funny. Funny in a way that suggests whimsy, which is pretty much a lost art in American humor, where a fart joke is easier to insert than a set up for a pattern of good belly laughs. To have a starlet so shamelessly exploit her he-she sexiness (in "Aqua-Nymph") will make many squirm in the fact that they're becoming more than a little female icon worshipping suckler, all while looking for Fritscher's usual cask of rough players. Think Bette Davis. Or even Cher. Not leather. Glitter. ...

OKAY! You want the nasty? Read "Buck's Bunkhouse Discipline: The Screenplay." (You thought no-one concerned themselves about porn film plotting!) "Three Bears In A Tub," which attempts to answer the question of how much sex can you fit into a single sentence. It's a gasping run-on of he-men in the wild for reel men in the big screen world. There's not a story here among "Titanic's" dozen that won't leave you with a 16cc smile. I'll indulge myself with one more Jack Fritscher quote to close this review: "Most people prefer masculine men...masculine in the best sense, not macho in the worst."

I have every one of the Charmed series books, this is just as good as all the rest. The girls keep you on the edge of your magical seats in another great adventure.

Trickery Treat (Charmed) was an awesome book. It had lots of history, detailed history that made me realize that it was the last in the series, but it still could have gone on another few years. They could have done what the Buffy book have done, written stories in different seasons. They could have had short stories even books written by fans. I think that would have really ended the series on a much higher note. To bad there was no Prue in this book! This whole time, we could have seen Prue at some point,especially since when we didn't get to see it in the series. Only a few minor bloopers, but all and all a great book for all you Charmed fans. A great ending to a wonderful show.

The Charmed Ones must stop this ghost before it does more harm to the house.

'Trickery Treat' was a wonderful treat to read. It gave us 'our' witches back AFTER the end of the TV series. I was delighted to resume my relationship with the characters and would encourage more books on the same vein. We want to know what happens with Wyatt growing up and Peobe pregnant. And please note not all readers are aged 9 to 12. Us grownups loved the series and I consider the books a continuation of this relationship. Thanks Diana and keep em coming!!

As always great book loved it & would like to see more books written on the charmed series