Downloads Books

First off, full disclosure. I have met Kimberly, and we have exchanged emails. I respect her as a journalist, and now as an author.

Her book is a quick read, but not always a pleasant one. In her brisk style honed as a broadcast writer conveys a candid and authoritative narrative. I found three themes of particular interest.

Her description of military medical practices is fascinating. She gives a detailed yet comprehensible explanation of the life-saving methods practiced by corpsmen and medics on the battlefield. Procedures immediately after the explosion are clearly spelled out, and I think that has to be a comfort to anyone who has a friend or relative in harm's way.

She also tells us about the long and agonizing rehabilitation process from start to finish. Too often we only hear about the tragic incident and then the outcome, whether it's happy or bittersweet. The gut-wrenching middle gets left out or short-changed. But Kimberly clarifies the recovery process without being maudlin or grotesque. This book is highly recommended for anyone facing long recovery from serious injury (and for their family and friends).

Kimberly's decision regarding the choice of psychotropic drugs versus counseling is instructive and can be a guide to others in similar situations. She recognized, or perhaps just sensed, that she did not need drugs. Of the three states of mental health problems -- stress, distress and disorder - she was battling the first two, but not the third.

Her counseling references also are in stark contrast to the situation for many active military personnel. DOD recognizes other mental health professions for independent insurance reimbursement, but not certified counselors. This is a disturbing disincentive, particularly at a time when the shortage of mental health care services for military personnel and their families is well documented. Maybe her book will prod (or shame) the military establishment into making counselors more readily available to service personnel and their families.

Her editors let her down in a few places (dropped words, redundant passages), but otherwise "Breathing the Fire" is a good story told well, with interesting information and revelations for just about any reader.

This is an excellent book, contemplative and moving in its detailed descriptions of a U.S. news reporter's first hand experience of war. Dozier's discussion of her near death and recovery from severe injury and loss is as captivating as it is frightening. Written in the prose style of a scrupulous reporter but with the rhythm of fiction, the book brings the reader into places of desire, anticipation, shock, betrayal, anger and triumph.
Breathing the Fire is recommended for anyone concerned about the Iraq war -- a real war that permanently affects the lives of journalists and photographers, soldiers, translators, health care workers and their families.

Remarkably unflinching - Kimberly Dozier's narrative voice in "Breathing the Fire" describes her road to recovery after being seriously injured on Memorial Day 2006 by a horrific car bombing in Iraq which killed four others, including the CBS cameraman and soundman she worked alongside. In meticulous detail, Dozier dissects the details of the bombing and day-to-day decisions around her medical care and rehabilitation, and punctuates them with her observations and feelings, allowing a rare peek into the mind of someone who has survived an extremely traumatic experience. Even after she learns how to walk again and returns to the newsroom - the author learns that there is no textbook for adjusting to a "new normal" and how to respond to people as they react to seeing a walking miracle. The book sheds light on the experiences of many struggling to recover from the wounds of war. You also learn what drew her to journalism and led her to be a foreign correspondent in a war zone. Readers are introduced to a wealth of supportive people who played pivotal roles in her recovery - from Iowa National Guardsman Staff Sgt. Jeremy Coke who tied the tourniquet on her leg after the bombing that saved her life, to her friends at CBS, innumberable medical and rehab personnel, her parents, and her boyfriend, Pete. Destined to become one of the critical memoirs chronicling the Iraq War.

I started reading this book and could not put it down. It is an inspiring work. Ms. Dozier has given the reader an honest appraisal of her experience to heal herself and heal the many others broken by the ravages of this war. Her story is told in a bipartisan manner, not at all political and should be read by all soldiers and all who care about our soldiers.

I read this book thinking, "I am not sure if I can relate to this". War stories are not my reading genre of choice. But, I had met Kim over the phone one day and so received an e-mail from her letting me and all her address book addressees that her book had been published. So, I ordered one from Amazon not quite knowing what to expect. This book is so NOT a war story. It is the courageous story of a woman with a goal who achieved that goal, a goal which led her into combat where a life-changing event changed her life forever, as well as so many other lives. I was drawn in the moment I started reading. Kim's writing is clear, concise, factual, with just the right amount of emotion and personality. She lets people in to her very personal yet very public experience without a hint of self pity or any reference to a "poor me" attitude. The book is an inspiring one about a woman of intelligence, bravery, dedication, and love who dared to follow her dream, went through a nightmare, and is today a source of strength to people chasing a dream or living with their own struggle.

Frank, Amy, Jerry, Vince and Alison are some of the quickly developed characters that produce a compelling, fast paced introduction to a horrific viral crisis. This first chapter draws me into a rich mesh of plots and people. I now want to know how the crisis enfolds, its outcome and what about the "warped family picture"?.

This chapter is creative, interesting and well articulated keeping a good flow without hyperbole. The book looks like it will be extremely engaging and entertaining, as well as an easy read. I can't wait to finish it.

Ripple had me at the first paragraph. The story was exhilarating with a fresh and direct literary style.
This riveting pageturner, rich with character development griped me from the start. I anxiously await the
complete story and hope to see it in the theaters soon!

Wow! I like a novel whose first chapter explodes like this one. The fact that it is set in the future makes it even more compelling. The story with a viral evil is new, at least to me, as also is the short fuse of terror time. The novel is exciting, challenging and scary....all important to a mystery novel. I do feel that, like the other reviewers, I can hardly wait to find out about "Dagger" and negotiations, if any.

The elements of this book are intriguing. The President of the United States is human and believable. The subject matter is certainly timely, with a unique twist. I'm not even a mystery and suspense lover, but I can't wait to read the rest of this book.

Although I am not usually drawn to mystery or science fiction literature , "Broken Clock" has grabbed my attention. Deadly viruses, terrorist threats and time travel are topics that have been featured separately in novels that I am aware of but to combine all three is very original. This plot is not only original but terrifying. I will definitely recommend this to my book club and am anxiously waiting to read more!

Mike Robbins has written a great self-examination book focusing on appreciating and being appreciated, especially from one's self. Anyone who thinks they could do better in those categories, or have a more pleasant life, should find Focus on the Good Stuff very worthwhile reading.

Great presentation on a worthwhile topic. If more of us focused on what's good around us ... people, events, society in general ... and then expressed that appreciation ... life would be so much easier. I don't remember who said it, but I love the quote: "What we think about, we bring about." Let's bring about more "good stuff" by focusing on and appreciating what we already have.

This was a delightful little book with a gentle reminder to be good to yourself. Stop being so critical of yourself and appreciate the fact that you are exactly who /what you were born to be. Appreciate Yourself !!

I had the pleasure of seeing author Mike Robbins at his recent appearance at the Learning Annex in NYC. I left the event impressed by the power of his message and the manner in which he delivers it. I then read this book and felt so good about the message the author is conveying.

So many new authors and speakers have jumped on the bandwagon of the "Secret" and/or the "Law of Attraction." It is refreshing to see a new star emerging with a unique, basic, implementable message that could change the world if implemented. And, refreshing to see someone who seems so committed to walking the talk!

Recent terrific books by Deborah Norville ("Thank You Power") and Robert Emmons ("Thanks") have similarly sounded the trumpet for the importance of gratitude, the cousin to appreciation. Mike's book is equally terrific with his strong point being the specificity of his wisdom on how to express appreciation in a manner such that it penetrates the thick skins hardened by a world of negativity.

I highly recommend the book and I equally recommend that you partake in one of the author's workshops or speeches. As excellent as the book is, in person the author's message resonates even more strongly.

Buy this book, learn the methods and take action, and you will certainly bring more happiness and fulfillment to your life. I wrote pages of notes, and I use these methods everyday! Relationships are crucial for happiness and fulfillment. Learn to treat others and yourself better with "Focus on the Good Stuff."

Listening to this CD, with Edwene's pleasant voice along with hearing her life experiences, is a pleasant alternative to music. I'm listening to it for the third time and considering looking for more CD's from this production company.

I heard it many times before - tithing will demonstrate to the universe that you trust that there will always be more.... yet I never did it. That is until I read this book. What made it easy for me where 2 things, one Edwene didn't tell you where to tithe to, other then wherever you are spiritually fed.... well that makes it easy. The second point was - try it out for 6 months - if it didn't work for you you can stop.... well I was hooked after 2 weeks. Now I receive money and I am excited about sharing it with whoever inspired me ~ fed me spiritual food... my children, my church, Edwene, a speaker, a song writer, etc. This book has touched me deeply.

This is a great book. I listened to it first on CD and loved the author's chatty wisdom. I bought the book so I could refer back to it often. A small book but full of very important spiritual laws.

I absolutely LOVED this book! I've been reading several books about attracting prosperity, but they were all lacking one thing. That one thing is how God is involved. This book finally connected the two for me. I now see how you can attract prosperity and still honor God. What I appreciated the most what the difference between "go" signs and "stop" signs. Sometimes I get confused on what God is trying to tell me. I recommend this to all those spiritual people that are still trying to find guidance.

For almost 20 years I've been struggling with my relationship to money. Part of me didn't want it (I saw poverty as more spiritual and more ethical) and part of me hated being without it. Not having choices and struggling because of my lack of money have been really hurtful and constraining. It also created great anxieties. There are quite a few things I'd been planning to get around to some day that I had not yet done.

I worked on these problems through every method anyone suggested - spiritually, psychologically, practically. Still, I had no significant shift UNTIL I READ THIS BOOK. Edwene Gaines has written a beauty of a book. It is the perfect book for me. She outlines no "program," has no endless worksheets, she simply lays out the four most basic spiritual prinicples and walks us through how to apply them to life.

Now I know why I could never experience a shift in my relationship to money - firstI had to start tithing. I love it that she starts with tithing and makes it very clear that we must do this first, not when we think can afford to. Through Edwene's book I saw clearly that I can't afford not to. This was a key for me to beginning.

The rest of the book flows beautifully from there. Following these simple prinicples in my life is easy. I'm no longer conflicted about money. I'm no longer anxious. And I have an openness that I did not know was possible. I recommend this book to anyone who wants a better relationship with money.

An excellent illustrated version of a favorite old song from childhood. The illustrations are exceptionally good. Came in fine condition.

I am now a fan of Peter Speir books. This is a very nice book. The provider was very prompt and arrived in new condition.

My four children are now in their thirties and they loved this song when they were young. I bought this edition for my two grandsons aged 18 months and three and a half and they love it. No publisher has it in Australia but Amazon came to the rescue! It also has the music included which is great for our musical famly. The whole family - children and adults- join in the singing and we always end up laughing. The illistrations are tasteful and vibrant.

A favorite family song brought to life with wonderful pictures. Perfect for a child--music and lyrics included.

This is one of my all time favorites. The text consists of one version of an old folk song, general known as "The Fox." There are probably several dozen versions of this particular song, likely even more. I know of at least nine myself. The one used in this work is from a Burl Ives recording done in 1945. I was and am a big fan of Ives, so this book has been a real treat for me. The song originated from a poem, written in the 14th for 15th century in Middle English. I can remember versions sung of this song at various gatherings back to the late 1940s. This particular work was originally published about 1961 i.e. the Spire's version...not to be confused with one written by Wendy Watson which is a good work itself.

Anyway, the text consists of the words to the old song and this is a wonderful sing-along book. The art work by Peter Spier is some of the best. It is extremely detailed, the colors are wonderfully blended and even though they are actual paintings, they give a true feeling of being there. The story consists of a fox who goes out on a chilly night and visits the hen/goose/duck house of a local farmer in or near a village. The fox does this in order to feed his family. The book is the picture and word story of his journey there and back with the meal for his family. I note that there is some disagreement here as to the location of this story. It certainly took place (the story) during the late 1800s or possibly the early 1900s. The setting is rural. If I were to give a guess, I would say it probably took place in New England, possibly Massachusetts, Connecticut or Penn. Of course you could make a pretty good argument for Virginia also, but the civil war monuments shown in the book look to me more Union than Southern. Yes indeed folks, they do grow tobacco in New England. There are several pictures of tobacco drying sheds in the book. There are also pictures of covered bridges and wonderful details of the country side, farm and village.

The illustrations alternate between full color and black and white sketch type drawings. I personally find this technique quite appealing. I know the kids to which I read this book to don't seem to be bothered a bit by it. In fact, I have caught several of them trying to copy some parts of the black and white drawings. I do love the author's use of color, shades and his minute attention to detail.

Now, parents do take note: The fox does indeed kill the old goose and makes off with a duck to boot. There are not graphic details of this other than the fox family finishing off the cooked bones after their wonderful meal. Some parents may feel that their child may have problems with this. To be honest, this is where parenting comes in. Each parent knows, or should know, what his kid can or cannot handle and at what age. I personally have no problems with it. The fox is acting according to his nature and yes, foxes do indeed raid hen houses.(Goodness knows I have lost enough chickens to the little guys). Again though, this should be the parent's call.

There is another note of interest and suggestion. This book is ideal to introduce the young reader to Middle English. A quick wed search can provide the text of the original poem, along with many versions of this song. It is interesting to see how our language has developed and evolved over the years.

All in all, there is little not to like about this book. The art work is wonderful, you cannot beat the text, you get a great sing-along book and I have found that kids love the thing. I have used this particular work from Kindergarten up through the seventh and eight grades. Adults also enjoy listening to it.

Gossamer contains both a delightful story about learning to use one's gifts to ease human suffering and a rich metaphor of the workings of the human psyche. Mysterious creatures of the night, more like angels than faeries, flutter and flicker through the objects of our lives finding fragments from which to form dreams to bestow on us. In this gentle story, a young apprentice dream-giver discovers how to use her gossamer touch to find the right fragments to give healing dreams to an abused and angry eight-year-old boy. Lowry has deftly interwoven the story of the young boy and his elderly foster mother with the story of the young dream-giver and her elderly mentor. While kids will identify with the struggles of the youngsters, grown-ups who work with kids will find inspiration in the work of the dream-givers. "We do such important work," says Thin Elderly. "Sometimes we forget that." Thanks, Ms. Lowry, for a wonderful story that will entertain, enlighten and give new strength to readers of all ages.
Janet Gingold
author of Danger, Long Division

This book pulled me in; I couldn't help but keep turning the pages til I reached the end.

This was an entertaining story. It portrays these creatures that give dreams and their struggles to help people through their dreams and to help them fight off creatures that bring nightmares. It also tells the story of an 8 year old boy abused by his father who also abused her mother and has now gone off to live with an elderly lady. It was a very short book. Very easy to read and pretty interesting. It starts out a little slow for the 1st couple of chapters before you figure out what's going on. Then it's very interesting.

Gossamer was one of the best books that I have ever read! The best part about it was Littlest, the main character in the story. She was entergetic and "happy" from the beginning. Even so, that it also what makes this book not one of my most favorite books. I don't think that the main character changed very much in the book, and she stayed the same. It would be a better book if Littlest changed even a little bit in the book. She was not so dull, but not really that exciting in the book, because of that reason only. If it hadn't been for that reason, I think that Gossamer would be one of my most favorite books of all time.

This is a story by Lois Lowry about three different people living, changing, and their dreams. They experience relationships, hardships, and find ways to understand themselves and do better. In the beginning, they all are facing difficult problems without seeing any solution. In the middle everyone started to help each other and understand the other person's feelings and situation. The power of dreams, through Dream givers and Sinisteeds, start to affect the people. In the end, after much struggle, they all find ways to begin to solve their problems.
Gossamer was a fantastic book for a fifth grade class. This book makes you continue to think a lot, even when you are not reading it. It is well written and lets you understand and feel the emotion of each character. Great descriptions help you visualize the detail. Our discussions were filled with emotions and understanding our own selves. It made you think about your problems and how to solve them more easily. We realized that we get much hope from the power of our dreams and our minds. You cannot put down the book until you are finished. People who are into fantasy, realistic fiction, and basically people in the real world, can have the same feelings. The book that Lois Lowry wrote is heartwarming and everyone will love it.

I was really intrigued by first chapters of Mr. Versaci's book. I'm curious to know what Drew, C-Man and Book could have done to create such fierce enemy as Smarty. Characters are masterfully drawn, a reader takes immediate dislike to the antagonist, who is introduced early enough in the book to picture opposing forces. Personally I would agree with comments of Debbie Wesselmann - it would be easier and more personable to read the book with only one first person's account; however I could also understand Mr. Versaci's objective of creating more of a documental approach by choosing multiple first persons. I really value sense of humour and eloquence of Mr. Versaci's prose, so I'm looking forward to read the whole book!

Green House looks to be a wonderfully told tale of a familiar type: the DC political thriller. Such a structure doesn't admit much tinkering - it's all in the telling and Sid Versaci tells it well with sly humour and a well tuned sense of irony. I think it would make a terrific airplane book.

I'm hooked! Can't wait to read the rest. Interesting, very different characters. So far, a great read.

I like the characters and the story line. I was intrigued by the mystery unfolding from the characters' perspective. I wanted to read on.

Like Jason Bourne on steroids, Sid Versaci's Green House cartwheels into action dealing a hammer fist to the sensibilities within the first 3 pages. Characters are smartly drawn, the prose is taut and the dialog first rate. For those inclined to the "whodunit" genre Green House promises not to disappoint. If the rest of the book is as artful as the first four chapters Mr. Versaci will have no trouble developing a devout readership.

Out of print book came quickly and condition was very good, service was quick. I will be back.

I loved this book! The entire time I listed to this book on cassette I felt I was hearing privileged information...yet Jess Oppenheimer shared his intellectual jewels freely as if they were common everyday thoughts. Well, for him, they were. What a genius. And what a witty, creative, generous, and responsible man! If he were alive I'd write him a fan letter.

This is an excellent informative book about the "I Love Lucy" show and a must have for any Lucy fan! The cd that is included is worth the price of the whole set alone. In the cd it includes hours of hilarious episodes from I Love Lucy and My Favorite Husband starring Lucille Ball, you will also receive lost scenes from the shows on the cd. I am not much of a reader but this book you just can't put down because it is so good and of course I love Lucy! The book doesn't look thick on the picture shown on Amazon but it is a nice thick paperback book and includes lots of wonderful pictures of the cast of I Love Lucy and fun information that you may have not of known about I love Lucy and how it became to be produced.

I THOUGHT THE BOOK WAS VERY INTERESTING AND INFORMTIVE! IT WAS HILARIOUS AND I JUST COULDNT PUT IT DOWN. IT ONLY TOOK ME THREE DAYS TO READ IT. I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING HOW IT TOLD ABOUT THE LIFE OF JESS OPPENHEIMER AS WELL AS THE LIFE OF LUCILLE BALL AND OTHER CAST MEMBERS FROM THE SHOW I LOVE LUCY. I REALLY LOVE THIS BOOK AND I THINK EVERY I LOVE LUCY FAN SHOULD READ IT!!!

I'd like to start with a clarification: this book is not a biography of Lucy, it is the creator's (Jess Oppenheimer) memoir. As such, there are many parts of the book that have nothing to do with Lucy, including episodes from Oppenheimer's childhood and young adult life.

However, this is still a GREAT book! It is well-written and full of entertaining annecdotes. "Laughs, Luck, and Lucy" follows Oppenheimer's slow rise to the top in the Hollywood radio industry. He describes Lucille Ball's program, "My Favorite Husband," which became the basis for "I Love Lucy." The book also includes some behind the scenes information about the making of "I Love Lucy."

The included audio cd is fun because it has clips from both "I Love Lucy" and "My Favorite Husband."

If you are only interested in information specifically about Lucille Ball, this might not be the book for you (try her autobiography, "Love, Lucy"). However, if you (like me) are fascinated with everything surrounding "I Love Lucy" and the Hollywood entertainment industry of the 1940s and 1950s, this is a great read!

This is a good book to read if you are a serious yoga practitioner or teacher, since it reviews in a simplified way the Yogasutras of Patanjali and Iyengar's point of view on life and life experiences. It has nothing to do with religion, it is just a different take on life that might prove useful and enlightening.

If you love yoga, or even think you would like to practice, this book is a must. Iyengar is the guru who will help you see the light and love of your practice and understand what yoga really is all about. I refer back to the book all the time. Merritt Becker, Maputo, Mozambique

Mr. Iyengar writes so anyone can understand and brings humor to complex subjects. The book has helped me deepen my yoga practice immensely. I completely recommend to anyone, especially those choosing to follow the yogic path.

I thought this was quite an interesting book of life--the life of B.Y.S. Iyengar. Recommended for those who are real curious.

This is a surprisingly accessible overview of yoga and levels of practice. It is not a "how to" manual, but rather a "why to" manual with insights for the beginner as well as the experienced.

This is a brilliantly original and creative work. Written with pathos and great humor, I was immediately hooked. The author gives us the challenging task of connecting to a quirky, obsessive-compulsive protagonist, and he succeeds in sparking our curiosity, and eventually, our empathy towards Ernest. I loved the use of footnotes: they created a story within a story feeling that really held my interest and added rich layering to the narrative. I laughed out loud many times! I found myself fascinated by the inner workings of Ernest's mind, and wanted to know more about what made him tick. I especially loved the originality of the piece, and appreciated the genuinely good writing! I would love to read other works by this author, and believe he has a legitimate place in the world of literature. This is an author who should be nurtured and supported in his creative endeavors!

To like this book, one has to throw out past ideas of what fiction is. Once you get past that, you get to appreciate what a wonderful book this truly is. The obsessive-compulsive nature of the narrator is very unique and left me laughing all the way. The things he does with his food (sectioning it, forming Eiffel Towers, and various images etc), the way he does his laundry, and the obsessive analysis of every small event in his life makes him one of the nuttiest and funniest character I've read in a long time. Man, are there really guys like that? Great job, Paul.

"The Outcome Trials of Ernest Delune" is the kind of novel I like to read: clever, inventive, original. It captivates through its sheer obsessiveness, because we want to see what oddball conclusions its irrational--but perceptive--narrator is going to make next. Thoughts come and vanish, but then reappear later, showing that the author has a clear grasp on the totality of this project; the threads appear random, but there is a method to the madness. The only difficulty to be discerned from this excerpt is a lingering question about the compassion we as readers will feel for Ernest; his observations are often more clever and clinical than endearing--something that could prove alienating if left to continue without exposing an underlying human side. But already at the end of the excerpt we see a glimpse of Ernest's humanity; his girlfriend Violet is evidently about to establish an ultimatum--one that will force Ernest (hopefully) to emerge out of his obsessive-compulsive mindframe and return to "normal" live (as much as possible, at least). I feel that "The Outcome Trials of Ernest Delune" has all the makings of a very fascinating read--one that I would definitely take home with me from a bookshelf. I only hope that Violet can bring Ernest out of his world, at least somewhat--so that we can meet the man hiding behind his own intriguing façade.

'The Outcome Trials of Ernest Delune' opens with a unique suggestion from the narrator to the reader on how to read the book. The narrator's voice is hilarious as he talks about literary structural collapse (LSC) and suggests ways to avoid it so that his characters are not forced into the world of abandoned books. The prose is very well written and is both erudite and funny.

Ernest comes alive as a unique, interesting character as he solemnly pontificates his many theories on evolution and existence, and describes in detail his obsessive-compulsive personality of food sorting and his occasional need to reduce the world around him into a single 'reduction word' even as he assures the reader that he does not have a disorder. He reminds one of wonderful protagonists in literature like Holden Caulfield, Christopher -the autistic maths prodigy in 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time' and Sampath of Kiran Desai's 'Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard' who tries to avoid reality and escape from routine life.

This is one book that is in no danger of LSC - A reader might fan the pages to oblige Ernest (As I tried to do with the PDF excerpt), but is sure to keep on reading till the end. I am looking forward to read this book - The excerpt heralds a literary bestseller.

If I were a literary agent, I would track this Paul Margolis down and pray to god that someone else hadn't snapped him up first. This is the freshest, smartest fiction I've read in a very long time.