H Books

Everyone hears about the book you can't put down. ELIXIR, by Gary Braver,is such a book. It is one of the few thrillers I WILL read again. Chris Bacon is a trained biologist in search of medicinal plants, but returns from Papua New Guinea with the 'Fountain of Youth.' Now Braver poses some very big questions. Would living for centuries, maybe forever, be too much of a good thing? Where will everyone live if people don't die? Suppose members of families disagree? What will be the new policies? Who decides?

The author draws you in to this potentially changed world, but unfortunately some things never change. Greed, corruption, jealously, murder, all play a part in the compelling plot. This book should be a movie. Someone once said, Man is Nature's sole miatake. Braver shows us why.

A gripping bio/pharma thriller with the allure of forever young and the concequences.
Braver moves your imagination closer to reality in this fine novel.

I want another like it. Mr braver...please let us know when you are gonna write one as good as this. Does anyone else think this would make an awesome movie?!!??

I DO
Jamie

I'm the same age as the hero of the story (Chris Bacon) when he worked on producing the Elixir drug in the first half of the book. Despite his efforts and successful experiments, the drug has a terrible consequence. As I read this fast moving and thrilling story, I wondered if I would want to have Elixir available so I could live much longer than the lifespan nature has given me. Would the side effects be enough to make me fearful of taking Elixir? Would the social, environmental and moral consequences be enough? Where would all those billions and billions of people live if they didn't die? Or would the promise of staying young and never aging be too much of an attraction to ignore?

Braver doesn't just write suspenseful thrillers with good guys and bad guys in conflict with each other. He gets us to think about what can happen when something so promising and not really that far-fetched descends upon us. What will humans do to themselves and their world? Will they do the right thing? But what is the right thing? These are hard questions. Braver does not provide easy answers and we wouldn't want him to. He makes you care about the characters, think about these questions and also enjoy the ride he's taking you on. Any fiction writer capable of doing that deserves five stars and a recommendation to read his books.

Two weeks ago, I discovered a book called Flashback. It looked interesting, so I picked it up at the library. I was hooked at the first sentence. I then ran to the library where I picked up Grey Matter. I'm telling people "This man can flat out write." (That's a southern expression). I am now about to finish Gary's first Braver book: Elixir. Yes, I read them in reverse order; so, sue me.
I have become besotted with Braver's writing and I will BUY his next book, and all that follow. Hope Mr. Braver makes it soon.
I have advised all my friends, family and fellow readers to discover this fascinating writer. I mean, Robert B. Parker loves this guy!!!

Sorry, but the glut of coincidences and melodramatic writing was just too much. I'm going back to my nonfiction now.

I just read this book and what can I say except that it was amazing. I actually prefer Neil to David. David was never very consistent in his faith he was good talker but he had no understanding. I recomend this book to anyone who already has faith or is struggling to find theirs. Read this book! You won't be sorry!

I really enjoyed this book. I also enjoyed the fact that many of the events in the book are in the series released on DVD. I would have preferred if certain subjects had not been discussed in this book so that it would be more appropriate for younger ages. Other than that it was a really enjoyable read.

This is one of my very favorite books! I've read it over so many times and never get tired of it. It's just so interesting, captivating and touching.

By no means am I a Christian but instead a certified Wiccan. So to those who know me actually found it surprising that I had this book in my library. Christy is a heroine that you can't help but fall in love with and her story. The young woman has spunk, ambition, intelligence, and above all a good heart. It was hard not to get caught up in Christy's story and as you move through the book and meet the characters it's hard not to care for them as well. From the aged wisdom of Miss Alice, the determination of Mr. Pentland, and of course to the handsome but stubborn country doctor Mr. McNeil. The book promotes wholesomeness and a goodness we rarely see. So please don't hesitate to pick up this book. I'd hate for anyone to miss out.

I discovered this book on a dusty HS library shelf and as in Ms. Hanff's words, devoured it "all at once" not coming up for air or cigarettes. I also bought the VHS many years ago as soon as it came available. Since then, I've gone on to go out of head for Donne, Quiller-Couch, Austen, and Blake (though not anywhere near Donne!).

What a great movie this story made. I have watched the movie many, many times and have loved it every time. Now, I just had to read the book. The strange thing is that since I know what is going to occur at the end, my eyes become teared which makes the book difficult to read. Of course, that happens at certain moments in the movie as well. What a powerful story!

Interesting book that proves friendship can be created and sustained by people that haven't met.

In less than one hundred pages, Helene Hanff has given her readers a rare and special gift. Here in this delightful little book are the notes she exchanged with the employees of Marks & Co., a used-book store in England. Being fond of the old-fashioned yet still highly personal act of letter writing, and being equally fond of old books and used-book stores, Hanff seemed to have compiled these letters just for me. I doubt there is anyone who can read this book without experiencing a wide range of emotions complete with laughter and tears.

A lifelong letter writer, Helene Hanff studied playwriting at the Theatre Guild. She has written scripts for "The Hallmark Hall of Fame" and for "Ellery Queen." Her other writings include several children's books as well as articles for Harpers and New Yorker magazines.

Living and writing in New York City, Hanff finds herself unsuccessful in finding certain rare or out-of-print editions of books.

"Gentlemen:
Your ad in the Saturday Review of Literature says that you specialize in out-of-print books. The phrase 'antiquarian booksellers' scares me somewhat, as I equate 'antique' with expensive. I am a poor writer with an antiquarian taste in books and all the things I want are impossible to get over here except in very expensive rare editions, or in Barnes & Noble's grimy, marked-up schoolboy copies."

So begins the opening letter dated October 5, 1949, and addressed to Marks & Co. at 84, Charing Cross Road in London. What follows on the pages of this book are the letters Hanff wrote to Marks & Co., and specifically to Frank P. Dole. Also included are the responses to her requests, mostly from Frank P. Dole. Through their twenty-year relationship, the two strangers become in some ways like family. Frank introduces his family to Helene in letters. She corresponds with the family as if they are her own. Knowing that in a time of rationing, certain items are not readily available to the residents of London, she takes great care to ship Christmas and Easter gifts to the store with plenty of eggs and meat for everyone there.

The final entry, dated 1969, brings the relationship between the bookstore, Frank Dole and Hanff full circle. The twenty years between the first and last notes are fondly recalled on the pages of this book.

These short notes, her requests for specific books, the monetary transactions that took place, and the solid relationships that developed allow the present day reader to glimpse a bit of the nostalgic... a gentler time when costs were lower, trust was higher, and people were more willing to be compassionate to complete strangers.

This is a truly delightful little book that has captured my heart. And, by the way, the fact that I discovered it while browsing through my own favorite little used-book store lends a special sort of appeal to it. I treasure the gifts within these pages--the gifts of self, of the written word, and the appreciation for the simpler things in life.

by Lee Ambrose
for Story Circle Book Reviews
reviewing books by, for, and about women

I just read this amazing collection of correspondence between the author and the employees of a small bookshop in London in one sitting. It was entertaining, culturally enlightening and it had a quaintness about it due to the letters being written in the years immediately following WWII.

The friendship that develops between Helene Hanff as a result of her generosity toward the staff of the bookshop is really endearing and the reader feels like he or she really knows these people after enjoying this short read.
A very unusual and highly enjoyable glimpse into the lives of others through their correspondence. Highly recommended for booklovers , anglophiles and others.

I'll keep this short - this is one of the best collections you can own for Calvin and Hobbes. As there is a gigantic compilation that includes all of the strips ever made, you might think there is little reason to own anything else. However, this book contains insight directly from Watterson himself. It includes his own personal takes on some of his strips, how he evolved his artwork, his battle with syndication and layout restrictions, and overall a great look into the mind of a rather reclusive man.

His work is magical in every possible sense.

Don't get me wrong, I love C&H. But Watterson is a bit preachy in this book. He tries to explain his rationale behind some of these comics and that's generally cool. But he has comments where he bashes other comics for being pretentions jerks while he comes across like basically a pretentious jerk. /shrug, it's still a good book with good comics. For me, it was a mix of eye-rolling at Watterson's comments vs. laughing at the comics.

"I've always loved cartoons. With 'Calvin and Hobbes', I've tried to return some of the fun, magic, and beauty I've enjoyed in other comics. It's been immensely satisfying to draw 'Calvin and Hobbes', and I will always be grateful to have had the opportunity to work in this wonderful art form." (p. 208)

This book allows us to see the man behind the pen. This collection is a selection of what Watterson thought was important, interesting or profound about various strips he drew. It is the equivalent of a director's commentary on a DVD.

I relished the introductory essay, which is far superior to the one found in the Monster Box Set. It covers more of the in and outs of drawing, Watterson's battle for control of Calvin, his no-marketing stance, and his push for those wonderful Sunday comics. We have yet to see his artistic superior, much less an equal.

If we read between the lines, Watterson's retirement was not a surprise. The battles he fought for his integrity really damaged a part of his soul. This book provides a better explanation than his terse press release, and I feel for him. The Far Side, Bloom County, and now Foxtrot have run their course, and like these other comics, we can use this book to stoke memories--the roses of the soul that charm us in winter.

From Watterson's point of view, this book is the best of the best. After reading it, I see what he meant. The reason why C&H was so popular was that he touched the soul's taproot. You have the two sides of the man, with the animal being human, and the human an animal, then the shifting frame of reference between the imaginary and real world. As a chronic daydreamer, I understand this perfectly. In fact, I find myself in many situations that Calvin does, with the same results.

This is art--we se ourselves, and are better for it.

Best cartoon series that I can remember. Use it as a coffee table book for guests to flip through and enjoy. Very satisfied with condition when received.

Calvin And Hobbes...What A CLASSIC! It's hillarious, its clever, it's got everytihin! I bought this book as my first Calvin and Hobbes book years ago and I loved it immediatly! If im sad or upset, I just read this book and i'm happy again! IT's incredible! Watterson's commentary is an extra for this book and it's informative too. Also, this book has more strips than some of the other ones so buy this one! I hope this helped!

The Gashleycrumb Tinies is macabre yet hilarious. It's about children meeting untimely absurd demise but with a sense of dark humor. it needs to be taken the way it is meant. It really is quite clever with the wording and causes of death It is done by alphabetical names. examples are S in for Susan who perished of fits, L is for Leo who swallowed some tacks and N is for Neville who died of ennui(boredome). See very clever. By the way I am a 38 year old mother of two and find this hilarious. My kids don't really get it though. Oh well I geuss their sense of humor is not as developed as mine:)

Hahahha I actually read this online because its so short... if you want to take a break from the stress of life for 10 minutes its great fun. The illustrations are very well done and the rhymes are genuis! i think my favorite kid is Basil who was assaulted by bears.. \hahhahhahha... that makes me burst into laughter again! seriously, if you like macabre hilarity, take a few minutes off and ENJOY THIS BOOK! (There is no graphic or adult images but the ideas would be very frightening for young children. I say 11+ because theres a girl with an axe in her head and some blood thats cartoonish but gross.)

This book is great! No matter how many people tell you how horribly sick it is. Read this book.They only say that because they dont have a sense of humor. So any way read this book! Its both sickining,funny, and tasteful.

This is the funniest Alphabet book I've ever seen.
Clearly the author is not fond of children, seen by the ways he "does away with them", SO FUNNY !!!

being an avid Ed Gorey fan it was nice to get a new copy of one of my favorites

I was at the bookstore last night and picked this up because the cover intrigued me...what a wonderful book! I didn't purchase it there, as I intended on purchasing through Amazon, but I will highly recommend to anyone I know. Such simple, beautiful sentiments of love between mother and child. There aren't enough moving books like this out there for parents to share with their children. Don't hesitate with this one...it's worth all five stars!

picked it up in the store
tearing up by page 8
bawling by the end
How could I not get this for my daughter?

I got this one for my baby but when I read it it seems better suited for a little girl than my little guy. Other than that it is a lovely book.

This is a very touching book I bought it for my daughter while I was pregnant with my second and reading it always made me cry. I buy it for all my friends who are having babies.

This is not a bad book, however, I wish I skipped this one, even though I got it at a bargain price. I purchased it based on good reviews. What a mistake! This is a book for the sentimental parents, not for babies or children. My babies who love their story time are not interested at all, and I can care less about it. There are so many excellent books for the little ones, choose something else!

This book is a must if you are thinking of writing anything. Great buy, great condition - Thanks for the fast and honest transaction!

The Synonym Finder is an excellent resource and should be on every writer's desk. This book was recommended to me and I am so pleased!

Flawless transaction, item as described, very happy with vendor and the way sale was handled, no problems at all, very prompt service, absolutely reliable. I love this book, if you need help with synonyms, this is the book!

This tool, invaluable for anyone who takes seriously the written word, should never have gone out of print. I'm hoping to find copies for three grandchildren who have finally come to admire the simple declarative English sentence.

As a writer, I have found Rodale's Synonym Finder indispensible. As a friend to several foreign exchange students, I have given them this book to help them become more familiar with the intricacies and infinite variety of the very confusing, but very beautiful, English language

"If you want to be a writer, don't listen to your high school English teacher", Pete Townshend once told a caller on a syndicated radio program. In this instance, I emphatically agree! I never knew what my high school English teachers wanted either. I can just imagine them with their red pencils, crossing out one line after another if they would ever bother to read a book like this. But in actual fact Mr. Capstick spins his yarns so well in this, his first book, that most of his readers could not put it down.

Reading in the safety of your own home, as you are sitting in your recliner chair sipping an iced drink, I daresay you will look over your shoulder once or twice. Even if the hair doesn't stand up on the back of your neck.

I won't go into the content here, as there is more than enough info in the other reviews. I've read about half of his books and I suspect that this first one is his best. You just have to start here. He writes so engagingly that even the foreword is required reading!

PHC is a spinner of hair raising yarns. He is quite a creative storyteller with a style that makes you feel like you're part of the hunt. His descriptions and details bring you face to face with dangerous game on a safari adventure. I've read and re-read this book many times and each time I am always wanting to know what will happen next.

I read a lot in my profession, and therefore have a difficult time finding books for recreational reading that keep my interest. This book kept me turning pages well into the evening. Capstick's prose and style, along with his wit, make it seem like you are right next to him as he is walking you through the before, during, and after of a hunt. This book enlarged my respect for safari guides and the predators they stalk. The context can be quite graphic as Capstick accurately (but not gratuitously) describes the unbelievably effective ability of these animals to protect themselves when threatened; not to mention when they're wounded or if man is in their prey. It's a reality check for those of us who have only experienced this type of wildlife at the zoo. Personally, I now would not consider hunting lions, elephant, cape buffalo, or for that matter most of the animals he describes. And just when you've completed the list of his typical safari animals, he explains the other sources of trouble that can come your way in the jungle. If you like this kind of reading, better start the book on a weekend or plan to go into work the next day with limited sleep.

Peter Hathaway Capstick is a very experienced professional hunter turned writer. This book covers his experiences with some of the deadliest game animals in the world. From the big five (lion, elephant, leopard, cape buffalo, rhino) to other dangerous species that inhabit Africa, Capstick tells in detail the horrifying, brutal, and deadly nature of these animals from his first-hand accounts of hunting them, guiding hunts, and witnessing attacks.

The author tells several hunting and attack stories for each species of animal. His style for telling these stories becomes a bit repetitive, but it in no way takes away from his stories. Each story will completely shock you when the author describes just how dangerous, brutal, powerful, intelligent, and cunning these animals can be. The lion chapter covering "man-eating" lions is especially good at describing the sheer terror of the vicious attacks.

Along with some of the best hunting and attack stories on dangerous big game, the author also includes some basic information on the different animals, and a few ecological facts and the importance of hunting to the ecosystem, all with some slight dark humor.

Whether you're interested in big game hunting or not, this book will certainly be an entertaining and interesting read. You will definitely have a newfound respect for these creatures.

I believe this to be THE best book ever about hunting the most dangerous animals on earth.There is something about hearing first hand about being mere feet from man-eaters in the wild. Capstick has a way of using humor that makes the book even more fun to read. A very brave man, a great writer and what a life he lived!!

I don't really know how to put the feel of this book into words. Its raw. Its real. There is no BS. On the back there is a review that says "This book is an anti-war book but..." but I did not get that feeling. Its just a book about war, with no bias in either direction. The book isnt based on actual people per se, but I'm sure everything in this book happened to thousands of young men in Nam. The ending of this book will make you hold back tears, I guarantee it.

This book is one of the best, if not the best book about Vietnam I have read.

This is an excellent book. Its very well written with a good story and interesting characters. I'm not a war afficienado but this was a really good read!

I am not widely read in war novels, but this one carries the flavor and angst of Vietnam as well as its dilemmas. Webb scallops the line between hero and murderer to the point of invisibility. His characters live their mostly brief lives on the edge of rage and desperation, cockiness and cool.

Fields of Fire provides glimpses of what it takes to be a fighting man. The Marine Corps can standardize them in boot camp, but the really superb ones have it in their bones- a natural alacrity that keeps them forever watchful and reactive.

Finally, if anyone wonders why combat soldiers re-up, the author demonstrates the reasons. It must be a huge rush to perform this perilous, bloody work, do it well and cheat the grim reaper. No other job is as real, no bonds of fealty are stronger. Thank you Mr. Webb, for all your services.

James Webb, now a US Senator, formerly Secretary of the Navy, and once upon a time, a Marine Lieutenant, has captured the essence of brotherhood, duty, hardship, and sacrifice that all former Marines can relate to so strongly. This book brought back so many of the long-buried ghosts of my own service 30 years ago, and then resurrected my pride in serving. Anyone with an interest in the Vietnam conflict from an infantryman's standpoint will find this book indispensable.

I am a pretty slow reader. As I read late at night before going to bed, I often only read a few pages before nodding off. It can take me a couple of weeks to finish a novel. However, I finished Fields of Fire over one weekend. I could not put it down. I found it compelling, interesting, and all-too-real. I felt like I knew the guys in the platoon. I felt their emotions, I laughed at their jokes, I wept at their losses. Better than any of the many Vietnam movies I have seen, this book painted a picture of what the life of a Marine was like during that terrible war. I hope that all Americans -- regardless of their feelings about Vietnam, Iraq, or war in general -- should read this book to gain insights that they could only otherwise get by actually being in combat.

If you had to choose just one book to read on how to (and why for that matter) practice mindfulness meditation, this would be the one. Certainly read others, but start with and keep coming back to this book.

I havent finished the book yet but I feel if I practice the teachings of meditation as offered by the author it will lead to a much more aware and focused life. I really enjoy the way Joseph Goldstein writes and how honest he is about what to expect. So far I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone!

This was the first book on Buddhism I ever read, but it wasn't an interest in Buddhism that led me to buy it. Rather, I was in search of a book on meditation. But there were so many too choose from. The only reason I chose Mindfulness in Plain English is because it didn't have the word "meditation" in the title. I was not disappointed by my choice. By the second time through it I realized the power and potential Buddhism and meditation practice and how they could lead to a more peaceful way of life.

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about Buddhism in general and mindfulness meditation in particular.

This is one of the most enjoyable self-help books I have ever read!

Mindfulness meditation teaches us how to pay attention to our breathing as a tool to focus while we watch our thoughts without judgment or participation. We simply observe the birth, growth, and death of the short-lived thoughts and let them pass.

The objective is to realize the interconnectiveness of all things and appreciate life and our environment for what it is. We learn loving friendliness, compassion, appreciate joy, and equanimity. We learn to fill our hearts with loving thoughts and manifest those thoughts into positive actions through mindfullness.

I recommend this book for people who want to be free from fear, tension, anxiety, worry, and restlessness; want to overcome inevitable difficulties, problems, and failures in life; and want their lives filled with thoughts of loving friendliness, happiness, and peacefullness.

This book teaches you about a meditative system that brings wisdom, equanimity, and peace to our lives. I am glad I read it!

I found out about this book after going to B. Gunaratana's meditation center in West Virginia. Before then, I had been introduced to various meditation techniques and had gotten my hands on several meditation books. This one was by far the most simple, straight-forward, and easy to follow. It's incredible to think that the more simple a task is (mindfulness is deceptively "easy"), the more guidance we need. This book handles all of the tough spots that a beginning meditator faces and without Bhante G's kind, gentle, and wise advice, I would not have come as far as I have in my spiritual and mind growth. I've brought this book for many friends since: I think it is a beautiful gift to give someone and I will have it next to my meditation cushion for years to come. Highly recommended.