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I love this type of book, a strong heroine, the prototypical reluctant hero, and a setting full of history and mystery. Congratulations C.J.!

CJ has a story to tell, and sets the stage in quick fashion. Likened to a cross between chiseling stone and molding clay, CJ Rapidly develops four main characters, five if you include the cat. The common "scar" factor links the pursuer to the pursued. And the rapidity of action and change of scene channels my attention, presumably, where she wants it, first, the inkling that the hunter and prey have a common horrific experience, and second, why is this relationship deadly? As my tastes run toward Clancy, Grisham, and am a fan of Hillerman, I was impressed. So... what's around the corner?

I was drawn in and hooked in no time.. I definitely look forward to reading more! I imagine this will be a book I won't be able to put down.

Don't read this unless you want to be completely riveted - because I promise you, it'll happen in the first page. A whirlwind blend of action, darkness, and humor, in perfect balance. The bathroom scene is especially chilling. Absolutely excellent and I can't wait for more.

While this is generally not my genre, I took the chance. I was instantly taken by the main character, intrigued by her self-purpose, despite the crippling horror and the amnesia. I wanted to know what had happened, why she was running, what or who she was running from...and of course, with just the excerpt available, I still want to know!

It is easy to read, entertaining, and it makes me want to read the rest. I liked the Irish setting as well, and the way the author settles the reader into that setting without hammering it in with pages of description.

I loved the description of the furry doctor -- definitely a kid's point of view. In fact, the depiction of Theo is very real, very true-to-life. The mother also intrigues me. What triggered her depression? Does she come out of it? And what did Dad see in Theo's chart? I would definitely like to read more!

Reading this excerpt put me right into the head of the 11-year old Theo, so much so that I felt a little like I was time-traveling. Theo's POV brings us all of the fears, concerns and simple pleasures of an eleven year old boy amidst the trials and tribulations of a broken family. The mysteries of Theo's injury and his mother's unpredictable behavior hooked me, and the wonderful writing made it easy to keep reading. I like these characters and want to see them through to the end. Looking forward to reading more.

My favorite thing about Ms. Librie's writing is the way she catches the intimate moments. Theo is half angry with his mother when he looks at her sleeping in her bed, yet he wants to climb in next to her the way he did when he was little, "and lose himself in the waves of her breathing." In the hospital, when she asks him if she upset him, he doesn't answer. She gives his hand a little shake and asks, "Did I?" The simplicity and grace in the breathing and the little shake makes me care about these characters and hope I get to read the full story in the published novel.

An intense story of family dynamics is quickly established by Librie's economical writing. The reader is immediately invested in the story which is nicely grounded by details both physical and emotional. Librie has created such a sympathetic character and realistic situation that my stomach knotted when Theo's did. This could be a powerful young adult novel in the tradition of Bridge to Terabithia.

For anyone who grew up with a depressed mom, this story rings painfully true. Ms. Librie gets into the head of Theo, the 6th grader, who can't figure out what's happened to his mum. She writes Theo's push me-pull me feelings exceptionally well, he wants his mom back and he's darn angry that she left. I look forward to reading what ever it was that the Dad read in Theo's medical chart. Is he NOT Theo's dad? A great set up for a great novel, please give us more!

This remarkable book describes the commitment of a young American (17 years) in the Marines in 1968, as a server of the famous M60 rifle gunner. "Guns up" - the order of battle and odf immediate fire - became a classic Overseas Atlantic story of the war in Vietnam. It has all the ingredients for success: good writing, humility, joint commitment ( "team spirit") and even religious faith (not that of George Bush, however, and fortunately).

I found this story in the spirit of the commitment of the elite troops at the French war in Indochina. 7 months of fighting without having set foot in a barrack, living in the jungle: what warrior feat indeed! Embuscades, fraternity, weaknesses of man.

A great book for a superb story.

Vietnam another generation, another war,life in the bush;death nearby everyday,war buddies killed.Life as a teenage Marine, either you grow up or die. A great read if you want to know what life as a Marine is.

if you want to know what the south end of Quang Nam province was like in 1968-69, this is it. i was there, just like johnny clark; but i was in 1/7. he's done a great job of capturing the feel of the time.

This is one of the best books I've read. The writer says in the end that some of this is fiction, or that certain characters are made of multiple people he knew, but the bulk of this story is true, regardless of who it happened to. I have yet to know someone who read this book and did not have to fight back tears at least once. I have read this book 4 times now. I recommend it to anyone and everyone.

I read this book at the suggestion of a friend (Sgt. Watson from the book). It was one of the quickest page-turners I have ever read. The reader is quickly made to realize the challenges of war as well as the personal sacrifices made by our soldiers. Anyone who is a soldier or knows one will appreciate this honest and well written account of this group of Marines' tour of duty.

I loved this book. This book is great for many reasons, but my favorite is the conflicts. It is about four owls, Soren, Twilight, Digger, and Gilfy. They are flying to the Great Tree. On their way, they run into a lot of problems. For example, they see a dead owl, so they go and bury it. Unfortunately, it was a bobcat's meal and he is still hungry. Then there's the problem at the resting spot, a tranquil lake and nice trees. But its a little too tranquil. The tranquility is just enough to brainwash you and turn you on your friends. But when they finally get to the tree, their reward is great. They can become a Guardian of Gahoole. They have made it through the toughest times of there lives.... Yet....

You'll have to read the books to find out what happens to the friends next.

I have read all 14 of them (most twice!) and think this is probably one of the four slowest in the series. I will not spoil anything(a good review shouldn't spoil the ending -..-) but I will say that this is a book that is simply a setter-upper and a filler. Some things happen, and it is fairly interesting, but pales in comparison to the rest of the series and other action packed books. However, don't let this stop you. If I were you, I would buy that 14pack that is the last one left, because this is the kind of book that is the "darkest befor the not-quite-so-far-off dawn" kind of book.

GET READING! =)

"We are a band." Soren makes this statement many times throughout the book. He is telling his friends, Gylfie, Twilight, and Digger, that they are a family and always need to stick together.

This book is about four little owls. They are trying to find The Great Ga'Hoole Tree. They are hoping to find Soren's family there. I felt really bad for the little owlets because they are orphans. They are trying to survive out in the wild on their own. At least they know how to fly, hunt, and fight.

They don't end up finding Soren's family at The Great Ga'Hoole Tree. The four owls, and Soren's old nest made Mrs Plithiver, end up living there. They each go into trainings and got picked for a job. I felt really bad for Soren because he didn't get what he wanted and everyone else did.

Near the end of the book, Twilight and Digger had the job to rescue owls and put them back into there nests. Well, there were no hollows around, so they brought them to The Great Ga'Hoole Tree. Digger was on the ground and saw an owl. It was Eglantine, Soren's baby sister. This was such a happy moment in the book. I am so glad that they found her. I was really sad though to find out she is sick. Soren stayed with her day and night. The real question I had after they found Eglantine was, "Where is the rest of Soren's family?"

The book The Journey is a very well put together book. I would recomend this book to anyone who loves books about animals and adventure. This would be a good book for teenagers, adults, and even younger kids. This series also leaves you hanging for the next book. I can't wait to read them.

Cameron Sparks


IS THIS A GREAT BOOK?
"A wise old owl sat on an oak; the more he saw the less he spoke; the less he spoke the more he heard; the more he heard the more knowledge he gained; why aren't we like that wise old bird?" ~ Old English Proverb.
The Journey is one of the best books in Kathryn Lasky's Guardians of Ga'Hoole series of twelve books. This book which is a fantasy fiction is about four young owls Soren, Gylfie, Twilight, and Digger who recently escaped from St. Aggies Academy, which is a school that mistreated them. The owls go in search of the Great Ga'Hoole tree where a group of dignified owls live. The dignified owls are considered the guardian of Great Ga'Hoole Tree. It is rumored that they live in the tree; however, most owls in the kingdom do not believe that the dignified owls or the tree exist. According to legend, the four owls have heard that the dignified owls have done great things to help other owls. They believe that the dignified owls can help rescue others from St. Aggies Academy. After a long journey to the Great Ga'Hoole Tree, the four owls experience even more adventure.
The Journey to me is a really good book, and I think that this would be an excellent book for grade school and middle school students to read because of the following reasons: First, it describes the events in the story very realistically. Second, it shows good characterization of the owls and other characters that are introduced throughout the book. Third, it surprises you with events you were not expecting. For Instance, when Digger and Twilight were on a search rescue mission to bring back some injured baby owls and they stumbled upon Soren's sister who was badly hurt.
This book was a definite page turner because each chapter made me want to find out what's going to happen in the next chapter. The plot was exciting and adventurous. Even though the characters were owls, I related to them as if they were human beings experiencing the same difficulties that human beings face. I definitely connected to what they went through during their journey; especially Soren because he had a sister that he cared a lot about, like I care about my sister. The biggest surprise in the story that kept me reading was when they rescued Soren's sister. I recommend this book to kids between the ages of 10 through 13. Overall, The Journey is an amazing book and a must read!

After leaving St. Aggie's with his friend Gylfie, Soren, Ms. P., Gylfie, Twilight, and Digger leave to go find the great Ga'Hoole tree. The tree is full of magical owls who perform great deeds at night. While on the journey to this wonderful tree, the "band" stops at many different places. First, the band stops by the Mirror Lakes. This scene is summer all year long. To owls, this place is a paradise! After leaving the Mirror lakes, the four owls completly miss the great tree and run into a little home called the Narrows. Here, a group of puffins survive using certian skills to hunt and nest. After having the puffins look after them, the gang sets off once agian to find the glorious tree.
Once they reach the tree, the four owls are greeted by the king and queen of the tree: Barran and Baron. These two help find a home in the tree for each owl and show them how the tree works or operates. The next night, Soren and the band find out that they will be placed in different chaws or classes in the tree to learn certian skills. Soren is unhappy with the idea of the band being broke so he talks with the teachers of the tree to see if somehow the band could be placed in the same chaw so they could be together. The king and queen talk Soren into spitting up the band for a better cause.
Later that month, Soren's long-lost sister,Eglantine, is found. Unfortunatly, his sister is under a certian spell that almost sounds like moonblinked(when owls go crazy because they sleep at night). Luckly, the owl singer and harp player was able to brake the curse with her songs and harmonising. Now that Eglantine is cured, Soren is releived for the moment.
Suddenly, an urgent message indictates that Ezylryb, Sorens teacher of his chaw and loving, caring, mentor is missing! On a exciting search and rescue mission, Ezylryb is lost and can't be found! Will Ezylryb be found? Will Soren and Eglantine ever find their family? The story contineus in the next book of the series.

If you know Wodehouse, you love Wodehouse and this book will just confirm your feelings. If you don't know Wodehouse, read this or any other book and you will fall in love with him. Every book you read is like going on vacation.

I had only read one or two Wodehouse comedies, so long ago I don't recall precisely which ones. They were good. "Leave It to Psmith" is great. It won't be years until my next. (And my copy of "Leave It to Psmith" now goes to my 90-year-old mother.)

In addition to wonderful, loveable characters, laugh-out-loud narrative and dialogue, and a marvelously convoluted plot that almost defies summarization, the book also features semi-serious but still wryly and deftly expressed observations, such as: "What I like about the English rural districts * * * is that when the authorities have finished building a place they stop. Somewhere about the reign of Henry the Eighth, I imagine that the master-mason gave the final house a pat with his trowel and said, 'Well, boys, that's Market Blandings.' To which his assistants no doubt assented with many a hearty 'Grammercy!' and 'I'fackins!' these being expletives to which they were much addicted. And they went away and left it, and nobody has touched it since."

Yes, this is sheer entertainment, brain candy. But it also is superb and masterly. It is narrative comedy at its best.

This is an early sort of try-out version of his later masterpieces on Jeeves and Wooster. It was absolutely hilarious at times, with that wonderful upper crust stilted language Wodehouse was such a genius at, but at other times could be a tad plodding. Some romance here, which he would totally discard later. You can see Jeeves blooming in PSmith, and Wooster in Freddie Threepwood. Also Aunt Agatha in Lady Constance. But a marvelously convoluted plot, with all sorts of interwoven characters. and The Drones Club is here already.

In my opinion, this is the best of Wodehouse, and I was pretty surprised at it.

"Leave It to Psmith" was originally published in the U.K. on November 30, 1923 by Herbert Jenkins, and in the U.S on March 14, 1924 by George H. Doran. The edition I am reviewing is from "The Everyman Wodehouse" series published by Everyman's Library in the U.K., and for those in the U.S., you may be able to find the equivalent quality in "The Collector's Wodehouse" series which is being published by Overlook Press.

I did not have high expectations for this book, because I didn't think "Psmith in The City" was very good, but Wodehouse's writing clearly improved greatly over those 13 years, and the merging of the Psmith character with the cast at Blandings Castle was great chemistry. The character of Ronald Eustace Psmith (formerly known as Rupert Psmith and in both cases the P is silent), was much more interesting in this book than I found him before. He fits right in with the other Blandings characters such as Lord Emsworth, Freddie Threepwood, and a great foil for Rupert Baxter.

In this story, we have a diverse set of characters, all converging on Blandings Castle, and more than a few with the idea of stealing Lady Constance's necklace. Their motives are rather diverse, but whether they want it for money, freedom, or love, there is no shortage of people out to get it. As one would expect in any Wodehouse story, there is a fair amount of assumed identities and amazing coincidences which drive the story forward. Psmith, himself takes on the identity of Mr. Ralston McTodd, a poet from Canada in his pursuit of the beautiful Eve Halliday. The best part of the book, in my opinion, is the flower pot scenes, which is some of the funniest writing I have read in a long time.

As the second of the Blandings Castle novels, and the last of the Psmith novels, this was a great improvement on both of those series. The Blandings series would continue to grow from this point, and there are many more great stories in that series. I do not believe the character of Psmith appears again in any of Wodehouse's stories, but the fully developed Psmith that appears in this work does foreshadow such characters as Jeeves and Uncle Fred. If you didn't care for Psmith in the previous works, you may still want to give this one a try. This is Wodehouse at his best.

Craig and Mark may be young in age, but they are definitely old souls. Their grasp of Spiritual concepts goes way beyond their years.

The book shows that it doesn't matter what you know intellectually; unless you live it, it is meaningless. As one individual, you may think you are powerless, but everyone underestimates the extent to how much of a difference they can actually make.

These two brothers proved that in what they accomplished in such a short period of time. Absolutely amazing.

I read mostly self help books and I have read many. The book, Me to We was one of the very best. I read it while traveling to and from San Diego this past week. The two authors, brothers in their 20's, talk about how we must take the focus off of me and ask "How can I help others." In changing our focus onto the other person we help ourselves to grow. They give many great examples, examples from both ordinary people and very well known celebrities. Just learning about their own personal experiences helped change my way of looking at the world. Buying AND reading this book will be one of the best investments you can make in yourself.

I found this book to amazingly inspirational! For someone so young, these two young men have been blessed with amazing insight and wisdom. I would recommend this book to all who are stuck in wondering what the purpose for their life is. If you can't find a purpose somewhere in the chapters of this book, you must be dead!
Not only is this book informational, but it addresses much of the complacency and apathy of a society that has become so spoiled. Want to be inspired to go beyond your comfort zone? Read this book!

Free the Children is a fantastic organization, and reading more about it inspired me to live more of the "Me to We" philosophy. I would recommend this book to anyone.

Me to We is one of those books that will get you thinking about what you are doing with your life, and what you could be doing. Written in an easy to understand manner, it is suitable for teens and seniors alike.
Me to We is truly inspirational in the way it speaks from the heart, and encourages all of us to make a difference in our lives, our community, and our world. I truly recommend this book - you won't be disappointed.

It's classic Engelbreit at her best. Exquisite detail in the drawings. It's a book to savor alone, read aloud to children and share the pages, or just keep it enticingly on your coffee table.

This is a classic. The art work is very nice and it will be a great read every Christmas with the kids.

This version of "The Night Before Christmas" is by far the best illustrated edition I have ever seen. The artwork is incredible. My children love looking at all the vibrant, detailed pictures, and I even pause while reading the story so I can look at the pictures too. It seems like I find something new in the artwork everytime we read the story. Make sure to get a copy of the book for each of your children. You will want to pass this down to them so they can read it to their own children some day, and I would hate to have to choose who would get this beautiful book, and deal with the ramifications of the one who did not!

Book is so beautifully illustrated, it does the classic poem justice. It made a great "first christmas" gift.

This is a beautifully done book. It is the same classic story we all know and love, and the illustrations are brilliant. Mary Engelbreit's drawings fill the page, are colorful and detailed. Everytime you look at the pictures you will notice a small detail that you've previously missed. My daughter is 3 months old, but when I read this to her, she actually stared at the page with wide eyes as if she was amazed at all the colors. This is certainly one book I will buy for my friends' children, and I highly recommend it.

Like all the other book that I order at this time this book give their perspective on the affect of war. The class inwhich these books are being used is based on the affects of war from different nationallities.

Surprisingly everyone else rates this as 5 out of 5.
It is good, but not that good.
Paul's writing style is a little dry at times, and shows his limited education.
It is also a littel disjointed , and doesn't give enough insight into characters that he had known before the genocide, and they could have been expanded with further background.
The book took longer to read than it should have, and did not hold my interest or intensity as others on this subject have.
Nevertheless, it is a great adjunct to understanding the movie "Hotel Rwanda" , from which this film was based.
Still an essential part of everyone's library, but I would probably not read it twice.
Derek

My product arrived in time and in very good condition!

would definitely purchase again

This autobiography was written very well. The author was committed to getting the facts out without glorifying himself. Done very well. I appreciated being told about the genocide in Rwanda without all the gore. I understood perfectly what he was describing without seeing it on screen. I learned so much from both his experience and his trials trying to get help from other nations. Great book!

I purchased this book two months before I had the courage to read it. I feared it would be too upsetting and entirely depressing to engage myself in.

The book begins with a wonderful history of Paul's life. His vivid descriptions of The Land of A Thousand Hills, the banana beer, the family, his path to hotel management. It is an interesting story about a young man growing up in Africa.

The middle of the book approaches and details the horrific genocide of 800,000 people in as little as three months. The terror, the worry, the perseverence is all conveyed beautifully (if that word can be appropriate). I found inspiration in his ability to use words and intuition to communicate with people who could have taken his life. I felt connected to Paul's belief that nobody is 100% evil, and nobody is 100% good. I like his description of human nature, and felt he truly "gets" what being human is.

The ending of the book focused on his life in Belgium, among other Rwandan expatriates. And the decision to start a business in Africa. What a truly interesting person. I was fascinated by this story. It also shares much of the pre-1994 and post-1994 politics.

Whenever I gently give someone "the kindhearted blow-off" in my mind, I now think, "that was a Rwandan 'no'" I appreciate Paul's sharing of his culture and political environment.

I would enjoy seeing him speak. I appreciated his also sharing a little bit about how the movie came to be.

I really felt the storyteller is a person I could sit and have a beer with, and truly enjoy an afternoon chatting.

The last few pages of the book include a wonderful reference bibliography with information and suggestions on additional books to be read on Rwanda. I appreciated that, and plan to read several.

The Rhythm of Life is a book that I keep going back to. It brings back that life is made up of choices. The choices we make reflect on how balanced our life can/should be. Happiness is not brought about by the amount of "stuff" we have, but by the substance we share physically, mentally, and spiritually within ourselves and others. I've been told that a happy home consists of a good coffee maker and dog. After reading The Rhythm of Life I need to add to a good coffee maker and dog to include a good book, church, and God in your soul. Well worth reading.

This book is so thought provoking that I plan to buy 5 more copies and share with important people in my life. I enjoyed the insightfulness of Matthew Kelly--this was the first book I have read of his and have moved on to Perfectly Yourself: 9 Lessons for Enduring Happiness.

If you are looking to examine your life and ask yourself some questions about how to move forward and become a person of greater character this book is for you.

The Rhythm of Life books are awesome, in great shape and arrived promptly. Thank you!

I have incorporated the teachings in this book to my life and highly recommend it for all ages.

I am a fan, this purchase was actually a gift for a friend, the perspective while not entirely unique, almost feels like it is, because it touches on the core issues that many of us identify as the true obstacles to personal , spiritual and emotional health. 5 stars becuase of the integrity and depth of the message... you can "tell' when the message is the result of a personal desire to identify ,and more importantly "share" via effective communication practical tools to change and grow

Atmosphere and a strong sense of place make this novel excerpt about early 20th Century New Orleans a delightful yet very dark treat. You can feel the magic swirling above the city's squalid streets and quarters, and Maistros gets the sound of people's thoughts and voices just right. The opening imagery turns downright unforgettable, setting the stage for what can only be darker events to come. Characters' moral struggles, only hinted at in this beginning section, will clearly take center stage in a tale that uses the sultry air and sound of the Big Easy to great advantage. Coupled with a dark yet evocative title, and lyrical prose, The Sound of Building Coffins is a promising start to the kind of book we expect to "break out" and bring the author to prominence. Based on the start, it would be highly deserved.

The music and the magic...and the gruesome details. What a fantastic book. Reading THE SOUND OF BUILDING COFFINS is like stepping through a portal into a dark yet tasty past. The sights, sounds, and scents of New Orleans are here, the real emotions of real people, and the compelling lure of jazz music.

And like THE BIG PUNCH, Maistros's first novel, this thing will knock the wind out of you.

I'm looking forward to his next one.

This exerpt is driving me crazy. It features profoundly haunting images (perhaps uplifting, perhaps disturbing), unique, believable characters, and a strong sense of place. It's an exerpt from a larger work, and it's stuck in my head like a moving song I can only remember the chorus of.

Amazon, why not provide a link to let me buy the complete novel - at least in in e-book format?

The Sound of Building Coffins by L. Maistros presents a masterfully crafted introduction to the world of Voodoo and mystical realism in New Orleans.

We begin by following Typhus Morningstar, one of a clan of siblings with 'sickly' names. At nine, Typhus works (so far) as a deliverer of unborn babies to their watery rebirth. The scene of transfiguration from dead fetus to live catfish is extremely thought provoking as well as paints touching and magical imagery. There is definitely something special about this boy.

Noonday Morningstar, father of Typhus' family and Baptist minister, hears God's voice every day; sometimes every minute. He has little choice but to follow the call. That's his lot. One call brings him to the home of an ailing one-year-old. While reading scripture to the child, the voice of Jesus calls out for Noonday to scram. What follows in the scene with the child is eerily provocative and telling of the mystical forces at work behind Voodoo.

The author does an excellent job a relaying this story through various perspectives. I was completely enthralled throughout. While there were a small handful of incomplete sentences (the subject was MIA), no other flaws were noted and nothing really comprised the overall flow of the story. Job well done.

Oh why did PW miss this? The opening's grand--a midnight ride in Storyville-era New Orleans. Can it get more moon-dark-midnight than this? A kid named Typhus on an errand with a burlap sack in his bicycle basket...

Of course, I wonder what parent would name their kid Typhus. Noonday Morningstar claimed naming his children for diseases was for God's glory.

Typhus isn't a complex kid. He doesn't appear to hate his name or anything else. He likes things simple and he hopes he never grows past the point of a simple cure for his problems:

"Typhus loved his midnight bicycle rides. The sound of the water, the feel of night air against his skin, and the acrid smell of burning tar; it all conspired into a comforting sense of oneness with his father's God. And that's all his child's heart had ever really pined for. Not much else, anyway."

On those rides, Typhus gives life to the lifeless--and catfishes to the river. His friend, Marcus, has a strange obsession with fishes, too. Sometimes he catches perfectly good ones and throws them back...

Oh, why don't I have the rest of this? The characterization is good. The feel is dark as 87% cacao and just as bittersweet. I don't know why Penguin or PW missed this excerpt, but I'm glad I saw it and had an opportunity to make note. The writing's submission quality and the story's quite different.

Congratulations, Louis Maistros, on an excerpt well done. I wish I had the rest and I will be looking for the book. I hope it hits my store's shelves soon.