J Books

i have read all of his books. he is an amazing author and i would recomend all of his books to pretty much anyone. the redwall series is my favorite of all, and my favorite book is the outcast of redwall. read his books if you enjoy action, adventure, love, and life.

BRIANJAQUES IS A BRILLIANT AUTHOR AND MY FAVEOROUTE BOOK IN THE REDWALL SERIES IS MARTIN THE WARRIOR BECAUSE I READ THAT ONE FIRST AND IT'S JUST GREAT AT THE MOMENT I'M READING "THE LEGEND OF LUKE"
HIS BOOKS ARE FILLED WITH EXCITEMENT FROM START TO FINISH.
I'D RECOMEND THEM TO ANY AGE OR SEX, RACE OR RELIGEON

Whether your 6 or 99 this book is funny, suspensfull, and just plain good! I would suggest this book to anyone who likes to read with all my heart!!!! If you have any doubts about this book please think again! Don't miss this book!!

Hi I'm Midnight Fire I'm 13 years old. I think Brian Jacques' Redwall series is astounding. What makes his books great are the originality of his writing. He doesn't use people but animals, and for each animal he would use a different accent. Each of his animals would have a different personality that would make the book far more interesting than others. Brian Jacques has inspired young writers all around the world. I recommend his books to everyone.

Redwall is the best series ever written. I own all of the series and have read them 20 times over. They are so exciting and fun to read you can't put them down. Jaques writes in a beautiful way that describes everything to a fault. It's always worth reading if it's your 1st time of your 5th.

I read this book to my son, JW and to his brother - I've gotten each a book and personalized it with their name in appropriate places. I tear up almost every time that I read it because it is so very touching. I would recommend this book for anyone. It makes a wonderful baby gift.

This is a wonderful book for kids. It's out of print, however, but I was able to find it through Amazon.com. It's simple, fun, and a quick read that clearly illustrates how special each child is to God. The author, Max Lucado, never disappoints. I bought a copy for each of my grandchildren for Easter and one for a First Communion Gift and they all loved it.

This book is so beautiful. Its just an incredible love story but written for a child! I used it for my youth group, to bring home the fact that we are all children of God and no we are not adults BUT CHILDREN!

This book is simple, but touching. I have given it to all of my friends. We all need a reminder of how much God loves us, and this really gets the point across in a short, sweet way. It is especially helpful when I am feeling ungrateful or down & makes me look at all that I have in my life. The best book I have ever read. Just awesome!

This is something "wonderful" we can read ourselves, have our kids read and then read to our grandchildren. This will help build their self esteem and make them realize they really are special, not only to us but God, too.

Thomas Nelson's Rutledge Hill Press publishing division has created a lovely book that tells a simple narrative of the Civil War focusing on the importance of maps in the war and the men who made them.

The cover of the book is designed to look like a leather bound canvas portfolio, much like a mapmaker's sketchbook of the era. The text of the book is beautifully printed on high quality paper. I appreciated the fact that the publishers included lots of pictures of everday soldiers - not just the same old posed shots of the generals and politicians.

There are 32 removable maps included as well. The removable maps are stored in between the pages. The publisher has printed on only one side of the thick paper pages and then glued the blank sides together on the edges to make an envelope of sorts between the pages. The maps are securely stored so there is no chance of accidentally losing a map.

I would not recommend this book as an introduction to the topic of the Civil War since it does precious little to introduce the issues that caused the war or Reconstruction. However, it is an attractive volume that would be welcome in the collection of any Civil War buff.

This book is beautiful and interesting - it's a definitely a great book to have!

My dad is a CIvil War buff and a former surveyor. He loved this book. It had a ton of maps he could take out and look at to go along with what he was reading.

We recently moved to North Carolina and our grandson, who has studied the civil war in school, was so excited to see this book. We are planning on taking him to the many sites this summer and this has given him the opportunity to read up before the trip. For his age this book was awesome.

Great Maps of the Civil War: Pivotal Battles and Campaigns Featuring 32 Removable Maps (Museum in a Book, 2)
I purchased this book as a Christmas gift for my dad, who is a big Civil War buff...it was a huge hit, especially since the maps could be removed, studied, then stored away safely again. This book is a definite 'must have' for anyone who enjoys studying the Civil War...

I absolutely love "The James Bond Lifestyle Seminar," but this audiobook fell short. The plot was decent, but nothing better than you'd expect based on the synopsis. The main character is supposed to be 33 years old, yet his voice sounds like an old man. He sounds very unsure of himself. Also, a lot more could have been done with the sound effects. They did not immerse me in the scenes, as another reviewer claimed.

Wow! My sister pointed me to this audio book and I couldn't believe my ears. I just relaxed on my bed to listen and was absolutely delighted with the movie-quality of the sound effects. Not only is this a masterful, well-written plot, it's also a quality production. The best I've heard.

And those stars that the magnificent author/director Paul Kyriazi lined up for this special version of his book!!! Well, all I can say is that I remember swooning each time I saw any of them on the big screen. (I hope my hubby doesn't read this.) But when I saw Rod Taylor--who narrates this story, with such a come-hither voice--starring in The Birds with that gorgeous Tippi Hedren, I almost fainted. Yes, he was that much of a hunk ... and still is, according to my sister!

Incidentally, people used to say I looked like Tippi. Ah-hhh, memories ... But getting back to this audio book, I loved it to pieces.

Keep up the excellent work, Mr. K. You're terrific, and almost as handsome as the great Rod! Ciao, baby ...

Mr Kyriazi's production of Hard Rock Lovers was just fantastic! I was on the edge of my seat on a daily basis! I put the audio book on my iPod and listened while I jogged. I gotta say it motivated me to get out there and I am so sad it is over! I cannot wait for his next Audio production!

The story is fantastic, gripping and sexy. I absolutely loved it!

Bravo!!!!

From the moment Hard Rock Lovers comes on ... it takes you by the hand and mind, and immediately draws you into this intriquing story, narrated by the imcomparable Rod Taylor, of revenge, love, lust, cold reality and spiritual enlightenment.

Robert Culp kept me laughing with his perfect low-life agent performance, always the best! James Darren was the perfect rock star, mean, talented but sad, his performance was # 1. Ishtar Uhvana was great as Medusa, she added the sweetness to keep some reality in the rock world and her ending dialoque brought tears to my eyes. Loved Russ Tamblyn, George Chakiris was brilliant as the evil Reynaldo, and Nefta Perry as Connie played the perfect Rosie Perez.

The ending gives you hope and leaves you with happy feelings. You will want to play it again and again; it only gets better each time you listen.

Paul Kyriazi is my hero. I am his BIGGEST fan.

Thank you Paul for the fun and exciting adventure!

The "Hard Rock Lovers" audio book was not at all what I expected, but what a wonderful surprise! It's a twisted, tangled web of events played out by a handful of multi-leveled, intertwined characters. The story is well written, beautifully told and convincingly enacted centering on the heights of a successful rock star and the terrible costs that are paid when that success is abused. People and events are manipulated by all the characters to satisfy their own needs and agenda.


"Good" and "evil" are blurred. "Life" and "death" are blurred. Relationships are blurred, but the irony of fate is boldly presented and it's made abundantly clear that our "next" existence offers another chance to hopefully do better. The inevitability of change, the subtle and sometimes dramatic interrelationships between cause and effect as well as the ever-present, ever-looming scales of divine and poetic justice are persistent threads. A beautiful blending of drama and melodrama are used to develop both the story and the characters. The audio presentation is top-notch entertainment, particularly when you consider that all acting is accomplished solely through vocal artistry. The actors do a fantastic job of inviting the listener into their world and moving you effortlessly through the story.


I really enjoyed listening to this audio book. It is wonderful from start to finish and my congratulations go out to all involved. It's a winner on all levels.

I am the author of "Hurricanes & Rainbows-Finding Life's Promise After the Storm," and although I am reluctant to submit a review of my own work, I am doing so at the urging of my publisher. "H&R" was never meant to be published. I wrote the pages of what came to be the finished work during a 28-day period in the summer of '06--nearly a year after experiencing two life-changing events--the breakup of an 8-year relationship and the ravages of Hurricane Katrina in my native New Orleans. These devastating events were closely followed by eight more which were equally as challenging. By the time I had endured #10, I was completely out of sorts--so much so that I finally came to the end of myself and sought professional help (something I swore I would never do!).

Long story short, my therapy "did the trick" and I finally got my life back. As part of my therapy, I decided to embark on a much-needed catharsis, which was accomplished through writing what I believed would always remain for "my eyes only." After trusted friends read the manuscript, they encouraged me to pursue publishing, which I did, and the rest is history. Now that my work is in print, my hope is that readers will find hope and encouragement when faced with storms along life's journey. To borrow a quote from the author, "I have learned that without the storms of life there can be no rainbows." Rainbows do await the storm-tossed traveler; yours may be just beyond the next storm cloud.

If you read the book and are encouraged in any way, I would love to hear from you. I can be reached by email at hurricanerainbow@aol.com. Please visit my website at: www.hurricanesandrainbows.com. God bless you on your way--Mark

I wasn't looking for "self-help" when I received Hurricanes & Rainbows as a gift. What I found was self-awareness and confidence to meet life's disappointments with grace and hope. Mr. Armstrong's poignant story of his life's experiences both tragic and happy were true inspiration. He writes from his soul bringing his readers along on his journey as if you were going through the experiences at his side. If you didn't know Mark before reading Hurricanes & Rainbows you will call him friend at the end of his story. To have survived any of the events described takes courage and strength. Having survived all of the events since Aug 2005 and still be able to smile and have compassion for others is simply amazing. Finding a penny will now always be a blessing thanks to this book. I look forward to reading the sequel once Mr. Armstrong finds his Rainbow.

This was not an enjoyable book to read--at least not the parts that described all of the life events that led to Mr. Armstrong's depression. However, it was a highly rewarding read. I am happy that Mr. Armstrong got his life back. I am glad he learned how to cope with the lousy hand his life dealt him. I am grateful that he wrote about his experiences, however painful it must have been for him to do so. His book will serve an important purpose. His words will inspire the downcast, encourage the weary, and lift up the fallen. His book did all three for me. No, I didn't much like this book...I loved it!

Nearly everyone has suffered loss and grief at some point in their lives. Many people battle depression following these painful events. Most of us have experienced many of the same losses as Mr. Armstrong. We've had our hearts broken after a failed relationship ends in a breakup or divorce. We've lost loved ones to death, maybe even violent death. We've dealt with financial problems, perhaps even bankruptcy. We've moved to new cities, taken new jobs, leaving behind famiily, friends, and our sense of security. We've buried our beloved pets. We may have even been hit by natural disasters, such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and floods. The difference between most of us and Mr. Armstrong is that for the vast majority of people, painful episodes such as these are usually spread out over a lifetime. For him, they all occured in less than a year! How he recovered from such a series of events is beyond me. But he did. His book can and will encourage any reader who faces hardship and pain in life, like me and like you. This book will show you how to never give up. It will show you how to learn and grow in your faith, not only in God, but in yourself. If you have faced problems in your life, read Hurricanes & Rainbows. You'll be stronger for having read this sad yet victorious journey.

It's been two long years since Hurricane Katrina devastated the city of New Orleans, the city I call home. In those two years, I've read everything I could get my hands on that had been written about the storm, including Douglas Brinkley's The Great Deluge, Jed Horne's Breach Of Faith, as well as countless others. I've watched Spike Lee's documentary, The Day The Levees Broke. And they are all wonderful! This book, Hurricanes & Rainbows, gives the storm's fury a human face--one man and his dog struggling to get out of harm's way. But that man was already beaten down by another storm he endured three weeks before Katrina. That storm clouded his thinking and caused him to think irrationally in a seemingly hopeless situation. Katrina was only his second storm; there would be eight more to follow in close succession. The city of New Orleans has been slow to rebuild. Fortunately, Mr. Armstrong has rebounded much quicker. His storm story is an inspiration to me as a New Orleanian, but more importantly, as a kindred spirit who has endured his share of his own storms in life. If he can find his rainbow, then surely so can I. I have and I will continue to ride the waves and somehow manage to stay afloat. This book will encourage you to weather life's storms, knowing that you can and will prevail in the end. Extremely well written and blatantly honest, I highly recommend it.

This review mostly concerns the Enquiry. The Letter is primarily a defense of Hume's earlier Treatise of Human Nature, while his Abstract is an anonymous review of the Treatise. It strikes me as very funny, though not surprising, that Hume would review his own work. Funny because any author would give his right arm to get at least one favorable review when all the other critics are completely missing its point. Unsurprising because Hume was probably one of the only people alive at that time who could truly grasp all the facets of his radical philosophical claims.

The Enquiry was written after the Treatise. Hume, though he claimed the opposite, seems never to have really recovered from the blow he took from seeing his Treatise "fall dead born from the press." As a result, his Enquiry is far more cautious in the steps it takes. (For those of you who have read both, yes, I swear, Hume IS more cautious. Compare the claims.) A more robust philosophical stance is taken in his Treatise, while a more focused stance is taken in his Enquiry.

The Enquiry is mainly a work of epistemology and as such, scrutinizes our methods of acquiring knowledge. Making perhaps the most radical (and poignant) claim in all of modern philosophy, it posits, and supports, that there is NO causation, only conjunction. That, for example, when we see a glass drop and break, we cannot say we know gravity caused this (in the way we know two plus two equals four). All we see is constant conjunction. The connection is lacking, i.e., it is not inconceivable that the glass wouldn't bounce, turn to ash, or dissolve into sand (the way it is inconceivable that two plus two equals five). This, in effect, nullifies all the so called "laws" of nature that are formed by science. (Note that this does not state that there are no laws of nature, just that we really can never make the claim that we ever really know there are laws of nature.)

This could be thought of as the philosophical shot heard round the world. Agree or disagree, Hume must be answered. Hume has historically been charged with creating an intellectual and philosophical cul-de-sac with his skepticism. To paraphrase Bertrand Russell, Hume makes a claim which none can refute, but at the same time one which none can accept. In effect, Hume's philosophy seems to bind the human mind, stopping its journey of discovery and ultimately accomplishing what his predecessor, John Locke, set out to do, i.e., map the extent of human knowledge.

However, where one may see Hume's philosophy as shackles and fetters in the search for truth, one could also equally see his philosophy as liberation. Implicit in his philosophy is the idea that ANYTHING is possible. There are no shackles, no fetters, no limits; only those that we create for ourselves. Our limits are self-imposed, constructs of our observance (and inference) of connection. In this way Hume appears in the same light as the Eastern masters seeing that reality is not what we have (through experiential knowledge) believed it to be. It is something much more wondrous. In Zen, our causal thinking is the only barrier between the person and enlightenment. Hume could be seen as implying that when the idea of causality is removed, with only conjunction remaining in its place, the state of true knowledge and wisdom (true zen) is achieved.

This, of course, is only idle speculation. But it is stated so as to demonstrate the richness and immense possibility Hume's philosophy possesses when seen in the correct light. Instead of saying, "Nothing is certain," after reading Hume, one can say, with equal validity, "Anything is possible." The first statement approaches philosophy with despair. The second approaches it with a sense of childlike wonder and hope at the immense possibilities of reality. It approaches life as a beginning, not an ending. It approaches life as the philosopher approaches it.

If one accepts the methodology of Descartes in applying scepticism to reason and the senses, in effect denying the existence of all things but a "thinking thing," two entailments are logically consequent: Either Berkeley's idealism or Hume's scepticism. I don't accept Descartes' starting point, so I find the entailments confused and incoherent. But if one does accept Descartes' starting point, then the two extremes must be heeded. If for no other reason than observing the absurdity of either man's conclusions, it is valuable to read both entailments. But in their confused process, both men bring certain salient features to light.

Hume accepts Descartes starting point, making it his own. But to Descartes method, he adds Pyrrhonist scepticism: That all reason leads to infinite regress, and that all sensations (or impressions) can not be trusted.

Hume begins with the conclusion that all sense perception is either an impression or idea. Even memory and imagination, two other faculties of the mind, are conflated into these two species of perceptions, as impressions. Their difference is one of degree (vivacity), not of kind. Hence, Hume is the author of what is known as the "Copy Principle." Instead of unmediated, direct perception through the ordinary senses, all perception is mediated by the imagination into impressions and ideas. From this follows certain resemblances, contiguity, and causal associations between impressions or ideas, and from this association we develop a sense of self. But even the notion of causality here is one of implied inference, not of actual inductive reason. Hume denies there is any real causality that can be known, although we operate "as if" we infer cause from effect. Even probability is reduced to a mere association of ideas and/or impressions; because neither reason (which always leads to infinite regress) or senses (which can always be deceived) can actually be true. The Enquiry also treats of miracles and the testimony of others derisively; but don't we rely on the testimony of others who claim the earth is round rather than flat, just as we rely on others who testify to miracles in a byegone era? After all, few of us have direct experience with a spherical earth (Popper makes this observation).

Hume's method incorporates five kinds of scepticism: (i) methodological, (ii) conceptual, (ii) nomological, (iv) explanatory, and (v) reductive empiricism. His commitment to scepticism is not without some capitulation. While he denies absolute causality and inductive inference and probability in an actual senses, he relies on them for practical purposes. One can't remain a pyrrhonist for long; some elements of reason and some degree of confidence in impressions is necessary for ordinary life. But if one starts with Descartes' starting point, extreme scepticism is a necessary entailment. Which, after seeing Hume deny so much intuition, is it really worth starting with Descartes' scepticism? Answering that question is what makes Hume interesting.

David Hume was perhaps the leading light in the Empiricist movement in philosophy. Empiricism is seen in distinction from Rationalism, in that it doubts the viability of universal principles (rational or otherwise), and uses sense data as the basis of all knowledge - experience is the source of knowledge. Hume was a skeptic as well as empiricist, and had radical (for the time) atheist ideas that often got in the way of his professional advancement, but given his reliance on experience (and the kinds of experiences he had), his problem with much that was considered conventional was understandable.

Hume's major work, 'A Treatise of Human Nature', was not well received intially - according to Hume, 'it fell dead-born from the press'. Hume reworked the first part of this work in a more popular way for this text, which has become a standard, and perhaps the best introduction to Empiricism.

In a nutshell, the idea of empiricism is that experience teaches, and rules and understanding are derived from this. However, for Hume this wasn't sufficient. Just because billiard balls when striking always behave in a certain manner, or just because the sun always rose in the morning, there was no direct causal connection that could be automatically affirmed - we assume a necessary connection, but how can this be proved?

Hume's ideas impact not only metaphysics, but also epistemology and psychology. Hume develops empiricism to a point that empiricism is practically unsupportable (and it is in this regard that Kant sees this text as a very important piece, and works toward his synthesis of Empiricism and Rationalism). For Hume, empirical thought requires skepticism, but leaves it unresolved as far as what one then needs to accept with regard to reason and understanding. According to scholar Eric Steinberg, 'A view that pervades nearly all of Hume's philosophical writings is that both ancient and modern philosophers have been guilty of optimistic and exaggerated claims for the power of human reason.'

Some have seen Hume as presenting a fundamental mistrust of daily belief while recognising that we cannot escape from some sort of framework; others have seen Hume as working toward a more naturalist paradigm of human understanding. In fact, Hume is open to a number of different interpretations, and these different interpretations have been taken up by subsequent philosophers to develop areas of synthetic philosophical ideas, as well as further developments more directly out of Empiricism (such as Phenomenology).

This is in fact a rather short book, a mere 100 pages or so in many editions. As a primer for understanding Hume, the British Empiricists (who include Hobbes, Locke, and Berkeley), as well as the major philosphical concerns of the eighteenth century, this is a great text with which to start.

Hume, I and many others think, was the greatest philosopher to have written in English, and this is the book to pick up if you want to introduce yourself to Saint David's distinctive brand of classical empiricism. This is a must-read for anyone with even a passing interest in philosophy, and it's hard for me to see how anyone interested in the history of modern thought can avoid reading this book or the corresponding sections of Hume's Treatise.

As is well-known, the Enquiry concerning Human Understanding was intended as an encapsulation and popularization of the views Hume defended in Book I of his magnum opus, A Treatise of Human Nature. Hume assumed that book's commercial failure could be accounted for by its length, difficulty, and lack of accessibility, and so, being a man who desired literary fame, he hoped to acquire commercial success by presenting the same ideas in a more appealing and accessible manner. Unfortunately, it seems Hume misunderstood what the literati of his day were looking for in a philosophical treatise. For the Enquiry, like the Treatise before it, didn't bring him the fame he sought. Still, Hume did understand what goes into writing excellent philosophical prose, and consequently this book is a much easier read than Book I of the Treatise. Indeed, this book constitutes an excellent introduction to Hume's thought, and, except for maybe Berkeley's Three Dialogues, I can't think of another primary source that would serve as a better introduction to classical British empiricism.

Now, let's get to the ideas here. Hume, like the other classical empiricists, was primarily concerned with the psychological question of the origin of our concepts. About the answer to this question, the empiricists were all agreed--our concepts are furnished by experience, which includes both sensory experience and introspection (i.e., the experience of our own mental states). And the empiricists also agreed about the way we can justify our beliefs. Some beliefs are true (or false) in virtue of the ideas they contained, and we can know their truth (or falsity) simply by thinking about them; other beliefs are true (or false) in virtue of how the external world is, and we can know their truth (or falsity) only by drawing on our experiences of the world. According to Hume, all substantial conclusions about the world fall into this second category. That is, the truth (or falsity) of all substantial claims about the existence and nature of things in the external world can be discovered only by checking those claims against the evidence of our senses.

The traditional way of placing Hume within the story of empiricism goes something like this. Hume takes up the empiricism of Locke and Berkeley and pushes it to its logical conclusion. Whereas Locke and Berkeley hadn't been wholly consistent empiricists, Hume, the true believer, demonstrates that classical empiricism leads to a pretty thoroughgoing skepticism. Since he's wholly convinced of the truth of his empiricist premises, Hume is willing to accept the skepticism that goes along with them. However, those who aren't convinced of that his empiricism is obviously correct think that Hume has actually demonstrated the implausibility of his empiricism. If this is where empiricism leads, they think, then it's clear that we need to reject empiricism. Indeed, some, like Thomas Reid, view Hume's arguments as constituting a reductio ad absurdum of his sort of empiricism. On this interpretation, Hume's philosophy essentially presents a dilemma for all future thinkers: abandon empiricism, or accept empiricism along with Humean skepticism.

But a different view of Hume, one of Hume as proposing a wholly naturalistic account of the human mind, has recently emerged as a competitor to the general conception of Hume's place within philosophy sketched in the previous paragraph. This interpretation downplays Hume's skepticism and emphasizes his professed intentions to provide a positive account of the operation of the human mind that appealed to nothing beyond the evidence of our senses. According to proponents of this interpretation, Hume is most interested in a description of the operation of the human mind. He's describing what human nature allows us to know and what it doesn't allow us to know. Furthermore, he argues that our nature is such that, where it fails to provide us with the resources to acquire the knowledge we might want, it provides us with a natural habit of forming the right conclusions anyway. Even though our nature limits our knowledge of the world, it ensures that we possess the habits of mind needed to make our way in the world. Hume dubs all these habits of mind "custom."

If this view is correct, then Hume has abjured many of the normative aims of traditional epistemological inquiry. He isn't attempting to show how we can answer a skeptic or why we have good reason to believe what we think we know. Instead, he wants us to stand back from our everyday beliefs and think about the natural processes that result in them. How, exactly, do our minds operate? How do we come to think what we do about the world? Hume thinks that this sort of inquiry will lead us see that, at some point, the explanation of why we think what we think reaches certain brute facts about the operation of the human mind. When we reach these points, there is nothing more to be said. We simply can't help thinking in these ways, and we lack the resources to demonstrate that these ways of thinking constitute an accurate way to represent the operation of the external world. And, Hume claims, it turns out that many of the fundamental elements of our conception of the world--the belief that things stand in causal relations to one another, the belief that we can know that there is a world outside our minds, the belief the future will resemble the past--end up not being open to ratification by experience. With respect to beliefs of these sorts, we ultimately have to appeal to custom in order to explain their existence and popularity. Hume, then, can be seen as demolishing the pretensions of reason in order to make room for a wholly naturalistic account of human thinking.

First I would like to commend the excellent review of this book by CT Dreyer in which he correctly shows how Hume extended the empiricism of Locke and Berkeley to the point where skepticism seemed our only honest way of thinking about our knowledge of the world. Hume's questioning of induction, of how we can be sure tomorrow will be like today , his questioning of how we can trust our senses to know the outside world, his questioning of how we can hold our world logically together when analysis reveals that there is no necessary connection between ' cause' and 'effect' in everyday life action means he wakened not only Kant from his dogmatic slumber but Philosophy itself from the sense that it will provide absolute understanding.
Hume is a very clear writer. I remember reading the famous billiard ball account of causality in which our common sense view of ' before' and ' after' is questioned and taken apart. I believe Hume says after this account, something to the effect and ' still when we leave the room we leave by the door and not by the window'. A friend of mine in this class when the class ended opened the window ( on the ground floor ) and went out that way.
This is difficult and great philosophy. I do not pretend to understand it or its implications fully. A test of the mind and a necessary read for anyone who would know Western Philosophy.

I expected this parody book to make me laugh, which it did, but I never expected it to make me think. Laughter and thinking, what's better than that. This book is so much more than a parody!

This psuedo-catalog is a riot! As a fan of the real J.Crew brand, I thoroughly enjoyed Racz's poke at the pretention and absurdity of American trends. Well done! Coffee tables all over the globe will envy this one.

Blow me from starboard to bow! This book had me all over the place. A book like this needs so much greater attention! Here in China, even my local friends enjoy reading the book to discuss nuances in American culture. How do I buy a wedgie pick?

Pure genius. I'm giving it to all my friends. I just can't stop laughing!

VERY FUNNY. MAKES A TERRIRFIC GIFT FOR SOMEONE YOU DON'T KNOW VERY WELL

The author does an excellent job of explaining what brought two girls to a point where they could commit an act of unspeakable evil, without apologizing for their actions or portraying them as victims.

These were two little girls that had been abandoned by their mothers, physically and sexually abused by their fathers, stepfathers and other male caretakers. Sadly, when these two became old enough and strong enough to fight back, it was an innocent old woman they chose as their victim.

The laws in California have since been changed, but in 1983, the only option available to law enforcement was to charge Collier and Wolf as juveniles. Little Girl Lost is a most appropriate title for this true crime story. By the time Cindy Collier and Shirley Wolf crossed paths with their elderly victim, the system had already failed and abandoned them. In one instant, they were moved from the column marked victim to the one marked criminal defendant, and one has to marvel not at the brutality of these two girls, but at the fact that it doesn't happen more often.

Had one adult stepped forward in time, perhaps a tragedy could have been averted. The best true stories of personal redemption and juveniles involve some adult stepping forward and doing something, anything to reach out to save a lost child's life. By the time a juvenile who has been an abused child commits a crime of violence against someone else, it's too late. They are indeed little girls and little boys lost.

i just want to say i know the book is a true story because shiley curdit formely shirley wolf is living in our basement

i am a 35 year old woman, and I read this book probably when i was 15 myself. the images of these two girls and their lives have haunted me since then. Its amazing to me that i don't even know these two woman, but i think of them often. i too, would like to know what happened to these woman and how they are doing now. did prison harden them? were they able to return to society and become productive or are they in and out of the system? anyways, i loved this book so much, that i just hunted it down, and am going to read it again!!!!

This is the most haunting book I've ever read. The author did an excellent job of humanizing these cold blooded killers and making the reader sympathetic to their plights. The abuse these two kids endured is unimaginable. Reading of what they lived through, what they suffered at the hands of those who should have loved and protected them, breaks my heart.
Although my heart goes out the family of the murdered victim, I am not untouched by the girls who carried out this crime. They haunt my dreams and my waking thoughts. Their stories are so tragic, so sad.

I knew Cindy at Venture school. anyone who doubts this is true (as one prior reviewer) needs to wake up. They use her maiden name as that was her name at the time. The book reads well and seems accurate in its account. I knew Shirley and Cindy both. It's sad to read from other reviewers that Cindy's not made it on the outside. I'd hoped better for both of them.

Magnolia: A Wilting Flower chronicles the childhood of a Southern girl named Magnolia in a charming, original manner. The young girl grows up in a small town (Ponchatoula, Louisiana, now known as the Strawberry Capital of the World) during the 1950's and 60's. Instead of playing with dolls and staying clean like her sister, Magnolia puts herself into numerous sticky situations - playing with doodlebugs, making mud pies, and tearing labels off her grandmother's canned goods. Her mother in exasperation proclaims "you are certainly no flower blossom". Magnolia and her younger sisters survive their childhood, despite nearly getting run over while playing in a ditch and sneaking to do things such as taking out a Christmas present too early. Magnolia's emotions are interspersed throughout the book. Readers will grieve with her over her beloved father's death, cheer with her when she finally gets a bicycle and a store-bought Christmas tree, and understand her embarrassment over her first puppy love. Magnolia matures and develops an understanding of the importance of education and the joy of having a real boyfriend. Following Magnolia's childhood in Magnolia: A Wilting Flower is a treat for readers!

This is the most stirring book I have read all year. The author delves deep into her past to create the beguiling character of Magnolia, a sweet little girl whose innocent and carefree life is violated at a young age by a heartbreaking loss. Like the flower for which she is named, little Magnolia slowly blooms as she approaches young womanhood, opening her tender petals to the benevolent and purposeful rays of knowledge shed like sunlight. The author also does a superb job of portraying the lush, steamy summer days during the succulent Strawberry Festival where Magnolia falls under the enchanting spell of vibrant young love. You will be entranced as Magnolia moves assuredly from innocence to experience in the passionate climax of this novel.

Dear Barb . . .

To be honest, I VERY seldom read a book any more. I simply have TOO many things to do to take the time to read them.

HOWEVER, as a courtesy to you I read you book this past weekend.

After a few chapters, I couldn't put it down. I had tears in my eyes and was "choked up" as I read the chapters about your relationship with your father and his last days.

You did a beautiful job on the book. Writing it in the third person was a unique way to do an autobiography and you handled it excellently --- and I mean EXCELLENTLY!

When you occasionally re-read your book --- for inspiration and to get ideas for future writing --- do you choice up a bit when you read the parts about your father's death?

I have that experience when I read certain parts of my book.

Although my book is "fiction" it is based on a collection of real life experiences, some mine and some other people's.

The only "autobiography" I am doing is a story of my life for my kids. The nice thing about computers, is that you can add, subtract, and change things and then save them to work on later. I started my life story about ten years ago and add to it whenever I feel inspired. Sometimes that will happen two or three times on one week and sometimes not for more than a year.

What started me on it was talking once to some of my kids about their childhood days. They need to know some of the details about my growing up. I am trying to get Doris to do the same, but she doesn't spend much time on the computer. Eventually I'll get her to change.

Your daughter's story about her kitten was touching. I would be interested in seeing her original --- before you did any editing. She appears to write pretty well and should be encouraged to continue.

Have a good day . . .

Hap

Life's Lessons Learned the Hard Way
Gary Roen
Florida (6/9/2003)
Reviewer Gary Roen reviewed MAGNOLIA: A WILTING FLOWER, and reviews
ran in the March issue of Senior Beat and in the April Senior paper in Daytona.
MAGNOLIA: A WILTING FLOWER by Barbara J. Robinson (Publish America $$
201 pages) is a very touching story of a girl's coming of age. Her hard life will either
make or break her. At a young age she has to deal with the death of her father and
later her mother's remarriage. One thing that kept her going was her father's belief
to have a good life, you had to have a good education. "Somewhere along the hard
row that Magnolia seemed to have to hoe, she had learned how important reading
and writing skills were for a good education and future, though, she actually had no
idea, at the time, just how important those skills would really become to her
someday . . . . Magnolia still had many of life's lessons left to learn, and sadly, she
would learn a lot of them the hard way."

A touching story of a young girl's coming of age. Her hard life would either make or break her, but in her case, it made her the person she becomes. At a young age, she had to deal with her father's death and later, her mother's remarriage. The one thing that kept her going was her father's belief that to have a good life, one had to have a good education. "Somewhere along the hard row that Magnolia had to hoe, she learned how important reading and writing skills were for a good education and future. Though, she didn't realize, at the time, just how important those skills would really become to her one day. Magnolia still had a lot of life's lessons left to learn, and sadly, she would learn a lot of them the hard way.

This fiction has the weight and authority of truth. Antonie was certainly his lover,and the reason why the two star-crossed lovers never made it permanent is convincingly stated by the author, who clearly is devoted to the composer and his lady-love. The narrative description of Beethoven dropping his britches and making love to this lovely woman is breathtaking-- not to be missed. And the author's insight into the music is stunning. Reading the book made me want to go back and listen to the "complete works" as if that could be done in an evening or two.

This book took me from the infancy of a genius to his last days at his piano and in the arms of his immortal beloved. So convincing is it , that if you had any doubt that Antonie Brentano was Beethoven's secret lover, this book will remove all doubt-- entirely convincing. It is a fast moving narrative, not a study, but it is sound. Even where we know the author is improvising, he is convincing. I find it believable that Antonie heard the premier of the Ninth Symphony-- not a shred of evidence, but it is the right conclusion to the premise of the book and its logical momentum. This book stays in the library to be picked up again and again.

This novel explores B's enigmatic relationship with religion and women. B. needed to be rescued, Mr. Gregory says, from the notion of a wrathful god who laid on him the command to be a musician but robbed him of the instrument by which a musician lives-- his hearing. And B. needed to be rescued from his distorted images of sexuality-- female sexuality and his own--for a childhood trauma robbed him of normal development. The author, a psychotherapist and a theologian, gives much intelligent thought to these subjects, and his thoughts are rewarding. In the 6th syumphony, Gregory says, B. heard the thundering of the angry god (in the thunderstorm movement) and the stomping of peasant feet in flight (B's own feet, figuratively speaking). B's erotic impulses were thwarted by the thundering god. Appropriate, therefore, and consistent with this insight, Gregory describes the 7th symphony as B's "pagan" symphony, in which the stomping feet of the 6th can romp and play in festive innocence, and feel no guilt and fear no god. Thankfully, the mood of the 7th prevailed when he met Antponie. But the reader need not fear that this book is a dissertation; it is not; it is a love story, and a very moving story it is.

Leonora's descent into the dungeon to dig her husband's grave made my hairs stand up, so to speak. The furious dialogue between Pizarro and Florestan, interupted by Leonora's pistol, made for goosebumps. Then the captain on the rampart aims his spyglass down the road that leads from Seville; "A four horse carriage speeds toward the prison gate bearing outriders who wear helmets and bear arms... the captain lifts the trumpet to his lips." (from page 106) Reading this scene from FIDELIO was more imaginative than seeing the opera performed. Then Beethoven dashes from the theater because he has spotted his whore in the audience, in the arms of a handsome member of the Guarde Imperiale, with his bearskin headress and red plume...

When I saw the cover of this book, I was struck by the tilted candle by the music stand. Why didn't someone (the girl in the photo) straighten it? When I got to the last chapter of the book I caught on: the tilted candle is a symbol of Beethoven's fear of domesticity and his clumsiness: Antonie (represented by the cover girl) was tempted to straighten it, but didn't-- she was not supposed to domesticate him. The ending is poignant and memorable. As as whole the narrative moves forward with meaning and momentum-- nothing lumpy as in so many historical fictions. The author takes us on stage when Fidelio is first performed: the dungeon scene almost made my hairs stand on end. This book is quite a read!