O Books

I enjoy reading about Ireland, and thought this book would be like Bill Bryson's A Walk in the Woods. The donkey book was much more serious. I liked reading about the different people he encountered, but at times, felt that it was a glossary of names of potential buyers. I did enjoy his time with the travelers. He exemplified the attitudes of the 70's, and I think the book would have been more effective if he had written it 25 years ago. Still, it was a good story.

At first it seemed a bit slow and I feared it was going to be one of those "Oirish" books full of Paddy-wackery. However, Kevin O'Hara seems to find his barrings a couple chapters in, about the time he finally gets on the road, and ends up writing an interesting, sometimes spiritual, sometimes beautiful book about his experience in an Ireland that barely exists in that same way anymore. My favorite bits were his evolving relationship with Missy, the donkey, the rare glimpse he gives us into the lives of a group of Travellers, Mr. O'Hara's reverence and appreciation of the countryside and it's people, and best of all, his chance encounter with an elderly woman praying the rosary after midnight in a field, just as she did as a child with her family many years earlier... that scene was magic. "Slan abhaile agus oiche mhaith."

This is a fun story of a Yank's trip around Ireland with a donkey cart. His trip fulfills his longing to know the land of his forebears, and he wonderfully captures the language and attitudes of the people just before modernity finally arrived full force. Highly recommended!

Kevin O'Hara's epic 1800 mile journey around Ireland with a donkey is an amazing depiction of Irish culture, humor, historical pain, and generosity. Completing the book 25 years after his journey in 1979, O'Hara paints a detailed mosaic of an Ireland before the infusion of European Union money and a fragile peace accord that has halted the violence between North and South. With only a few pounds in his pocket, this American Irishman discovers his roots, his heritage, and bit of the Blarney during his trek around Ireland (albeit counterclockwise!) An extraordinary read!

Kevin's writing draws you into his journey - a remarkable romp around Ireland with a donkey that seems human. I loved it. You could nearly smell the air and see the characters. A magical look at an island that has changed so much in the 25 years since his journey took place. I wanted to be there by his side as he runs into character after character. His book is the next best thing to being there.

I didn't want his journey to end. Alas, time moves on and progress can't be stopped. If only there could be a sequel.

Anyway, it is written in very short, easy to read chapters. Perfect nighttime reading. If you like adventures, humor, self reflection, and interesting characters - read this book. If you have ever been to Ireland and fallen in love with it, this book is a must read. If you live in Ireland now and want a look back at the country as it existed 25 years ago, this book is required reading.

This is one of my all time favorite picture books for all ages. Peter Spiers beautiful illustrations need no words to tell this story. The possibilities for interacting with a child are endless as you wander through the familiar and find the surprising! My granddaughter is 2 years old and loves animals. What could be a better birthday gift?

The happy and humorous tone of this book will make it appealing to any child, whatever the family's religion.

The only text is at the beginning and it is a charming translation of a poem that summarizes the story of Noah. The poem is delightful in and of itself- Spier did a great job of translating.

The illustrations are then left without text, which is very refreshing, since there are so few picture books nowadays. I enjoy leisurely paging through this book with my young daughter, talking about the pictures in and of themselves, as pieces of art and as pictures that tell a story. I feel that the pressure is off in terms of trying to finish a sentence or a story when there is no text there.

In addition, this book is appropriate for Muslim families as well, since the illustrations (and beginning poem) are sufficiently vague as to accommodate for the small differences in the telling of the story in the Qu'ran and the Bible.

My first Peter Spier book. Not saccharine, wonderful details (including Noah mucking out the ark). Great to have a child read to YOU.

This is an excellent picture book - my three year old really loves it. My only "complaint" is that it takes a long time to go through all the pictures and talk about each one making it less than ideal right before bed unless you want to spend 20 minutes on just one book! Seriously though - the book is just wonderful and allows parents to go into whatever level of detail regarding the Noah story as they feel is appropriate for the age of their child. It is a softcover and the pages and cover are not of the highest quality - it would be lovely to have in hardcover with larger pages.

This book really does not need any words. It is so well illustrated that you can understand every part of the story. His detailing is stunning. Every time we read this book, we find new details. This is the best book of Noah's ark story!

If you want to read about Piscator, Venator, milkmaids, and the rising of huge trout to those "little sailboats", this is not the book for you. If you are stuck in Yellowstone, New Zealand, or the Catskills and are complaining about the hatches while striving for the nature experience, this book is not for you. However, if you are a city bound angler needing to feed his urges, this is a good read. You will enjoy the stories as you gain insight on how to get out and rise to angling bliss when stuck in the concrete valleys. Arelt and O'Kelly have arranged the road trip for the forty-something urban angler.

I'm not a big reader, but I picked this up on a whim cause I used to like to fish and am now stuck in a big city. I really enjoyed the book.

I really liked this book, let me tell you why.

There's a passage toward the beginning of Dandelion Wine where the protagonist is lying on his back in the forest, squinting at the sun as it squeezed it's way through the leaves above him. It's a simple passage that effectively evoked the carefree afternoons of a young boy - it transports you to your own youth - and thereafter you read the book as if you are Douglas Spaulding. Similarly, by taking you along on his first fishing adventure as a child, Chris Arelt reminds you of the tension you feel when getting caught in a childish prank - you're now in synch with the authors as they walk you through their thirty years of piscatorial exploits.

The stories are fun and have a consistent mischevious bent, which for me, strikes home. When I went fishing as a kid, I was always getting away with something. Maybe I snuck out of the house, or was smoking a cigarette, or well, doing something I wasn't suppose to be up to. The Offbeat Angler captures that spirit, and by doing that, captures the essence of fishing.

There are a lot of fishing guides out there that teach you how to land the big one. They're not for me. It was a hell of a lot more enjoyable to sit back & read some yarns that reminded me why I grew to like fishing to begin with. It was all about being young, having time, breaking rules and getting a breath of nature. The dream was catching that big one, but in reality there were a lot of rewarding afternoons where I can't remember if I even got a bite.

So, in many ways, it was enlightening to read this book. I've got kids of my own now, and when I take them fishing, we'll hop a fence, skid down a hill, and pass a no trespassing sign. Then I'll know they know what fishing can be all about.

Buy this book, you'll be glad you did. I'm keeping an eye out for the sequel.

This book is a delight for anyone who has ever gone fishing, would like to, or simply enjoys good storytelling. Fish tales have often been prone to exaggeration, but these tales carry the ring of truth. The book can be enjoyed as separate and complete short stories, or savored as a whole. The authors have inspired me to pick up a fishing pole and go catch some fish.

After reading the reviews I was really looking forward to this book - what a disappointment. Don't the others who reviewed this thing ever leave their apartments? The stories and topics are pretty boring - and not at all well written. I found nothing "offbeat" about their "adventures." After years of angling and reading great books by people who understand the sport and nature, I am dumbfounded as to how others might find this book to be of any real value - especially 5 stars.

Fishing is connection with nature, which usually means the practitioner learns something about nature - this is the first fishing book I've read that calls a rock ledge an "escarpment" and brambles or thorns "pricker bushes". The authors also seem to think they were the first to ever trespass or to fish for carp in ditches or stripers from a rented rowboat. If the authors were talented storytellers perhaps they could turn these trips into something interesting, but this part of their craft is lacking.

If you want to read well written stories of offbeat angling, get some early Gierach books, not this one. Arelt and O'Kelly write in a breathless style, sharing sophomoric observations and their own opinions, which are neither enlightening nor fact based. Guys, Jane Fonda comes from a fly fishing family and she brought Ted Turner to the sport, so don't worry about her. Instead, worry that people in our society mistake what you do for literature.

Michael D. O'Brien is a masterful storyteller. He has compiled a stunning series, Children of the Last Days, of which Plague Journal is the second. I am now just beyond half way through Eclipse of the Sun, the third. I have two more to go, and by then perhaps he will have written some more. While I'm reviewing his work, I'd like to applaud his latest work : Island of the World. That was a "watershed" book for me.There are not words to convey the power and authority which which he strings words together. It is compelling fiction. Any one choosing to read Michael D. O'Brien's work will be in for a major treat as well as learning experience.

Michael D. O'Brien's novels are among the best I have ever read. Plague Journal is the (chronologically speaking) 2nd book in the Children of the Last Days series. Which should be read: 1. Strangers and Sojourners, 2. Plague Journal, 3. Eclipse of the Sun, and the other 3 in any order (although I'd personally read Father Elijah 4th, Sophia House 5th, and A Cry of Stone last--which is the least connected to the other books). They are deep and thought provoking books, and will make you look at the current trends in society in a whole new light. Although there is an element of action/adventure in this story, it is by no means mindless entertainment. The action/adventure element is always secondary to the philosophical/spiritual element that we see and partake of in the lives and thoughts of the characters; in much the same way as the murder/mystery element in Crime and Punishment is secondary to the philosophical/spiritual element.
I've grown up a Protestant, but these books (along with other influences) have made me take a good hard look at Catholicism. I'd say I'm 9 tenths converted--and almost ready to take that last step. But whatever your religion, denomination, or lack thereof, do yourself a favor and read these books.

Michael O'Brien has a tendency to overwrite his books (one of his very few flaws as a writer). But in Plague Journal, he reined himself in (or finally got an editor who did) and the result is a book that is no less packed with plot tension, cultural criticism, and character development than his other tomes.

The middle book of a trilogy of books about the Delaney family (starting with Strangers and Sojourners and ending with Eclipse of the Sun), Plague Journal also fits within O'Brien's larger series, which he calls Children of the Last Days. The first of those is the explosive novel Father Elijah.

While Plague Journal is my personal favorite. I recommend reading it after Father Elijah and Strangers and Sojourners, since it needs the other two to provide its context in O'Brien's view of the Last Days.

And O'Brien's view is a bleak one. The government has become the tool of the antichrist, whether it knows it or not, and an honest journalist (even one who doesn't have a living faith in God) can't get an honest shake, but is hunted down.

Swift, sharp, and poigniant, O'Brien provides his readers with everything that Left Behind readers should have gotten but didn't and without all of the silly speculations. This is good literature that shapes the heart and the mind Christianly.

O'Brien's "Children of the Last Days" series shows what the apocalypse might be like through Catholic eyes. "Plague Journal" shows what an average man would go through when he sees the very land he loves slowly but surely choke off all joy and life in the name of an efficient government. The main character's actions and thoughts make you slow down and wonder what you'd do. Also, not all the characters automatically do the right thing. Each of their actions has a consequence, whether good or bad, and they have to put up with those consequences, which is more realistic. There's no flashy deux ex machina, but God works through the characters in a way that's somehow more majestic than simply suspending laws of nature to make sure the good guy wins. I highly recommend this book no matter what religion you follow. You will laugh, cry, and think.

As I'm sure most reviewers have said, be sure you read Strangers and Sojourners first; PJ is the second in the series. Also, it is good to read Father Elijah too; it occurs about the same time as PJ.

I read PJ in a week. It is one of the most moving books I've read, but I was reluctant to heed its message in the beginning. In this world of half-truths and deceptions where everyone is a partially educated philosopher and politician, PJ really does show the need to not believe everything we heard or read.

Should we be constantly paranoid? Not really. But a healthy skepticism is necessary.

Yes, it's true. I'm contemplating adding a podcast to my blog. So, I bought "Podcast Solutions" on Amazon and read it, front to back. This is a very useful book, and it comes with a CD of demo software you can use for podcasting.

Anyone who is thinking about podcasting should read this book BEFORE they start purchasing any equipment. One of the most valuable things I found in this book was information about the equipment you will need to get start. A large portion of this book is devoted to getting good quality recordings from your recording sessions so that it doesn't turn potential listeners off with popping, clicking, hissing, etc.

One of the other great things I found in this book is podsafe music. Never heard of it? Podsafe music is music from independent artists that is licensed for you to use it free of charge in your podcasts. Check out these sites: GarageBand and PodShow. The music is really good. I'm digging it.

Until someone writes something really comprehensive, this is the best there is in podcasting.

What is podcasting?

If you don't know by now - what's wrong, have you been living under a rock? ;)

A little over a year ago, I had no clue. I actually thought it was using an iPod to broadcast mp3s over FM waves to a radio (which is actually done quite often, but has nothing to do with podcasting). In fact, podcasting has little to do with iPods at all. If I had had a copy of this book a year ago, I would have know that - and a whole lot more!

"Podcast Solutions: The Complete Guide to Podcasting" is just that - a complete guide. Have no idea what podcasting is? This will tell you. Know what it is, but not how to listen to them? This book will tell you. Would you like to know how podcasting started? Look no further. Ever wondered what the relationship between podcasting and blogging is? You can find out. Want to start your own podcast? Then this is the book for you! It even comes with a CD with all the software you'll need to start podcasting right away, and it doesn't matter if you use Windows, Mac OS X, or even Linux - the CD has software for all three platforms. The book even tells you how to start making money with podcasts!

From recording the audio to publishing the XML to getting your podcast heard - it's all in the book. You should really pick this book up if you have any interest at all in podcasting. Highly recommended!

Michael Geoghegan and Dan Klass have done a great job in this 240 page book on podcasting. A great book for any podcaster. They do a good job of taking you through all of the steps necessary to learning podcasting. The book runs the gamut of the steps you'll need to preparing your podcast, to recording and subsequently publishing your podcast on the web.The book is easy to follow and has lots of links to websites for additional reference. Overall the best book on the market for podcasting.

I started out knowing diddly squat about podcasting. I read "Podcast Solutions" by Michael Geoghegan (what's up with that name?) and Dan Klass and now I know everything. But much more important than my over-generous opinion of myself I got my podcast up swiftly, easily and on time thanks to this incredible book.

They answer questions with the insight of someone who really knows all the angles, who really knows what they are talking about, who has actually done it. The book will take you through the entire process and get you up and running. And isn't that what it's really all about?

I especially enjoyed Chapter 10 "Getting Heard" which offers rich detail and many astonishing ideas about how to get people to actually listen to your podcast. And isn't that what it's really all about?

Finally, the price on this book is right. Just right. Enough to make you realize you're getting something valuable (which you are) and low enough that it's well within reach of anyone who's ever splurged on a cup of Starbuck's coffee. And isn't that what it's really all about?

Buy the book. Do it now! Buy a brand new book all for yourself. Don't chintz out and get a used one from Amazon. There's a CD inside that you need and it will probably be missing from any used copy.

There are enough great ideas to keep my son busy for his entire summer vacation!

I SO love Ro... and her focus on children is No.1 anytime you ask her. This is truly an awesome book that can be used BY childern or FOR children. The supply list is simple and you can find most in your home, or you can adjust accordingly. The time spent with your kids/grandkids is the focus. Anything you do together is beautiful and the memory is something you can never replace. Thanks Ro, you are awesome as always. Now, where's book TWO???

Absoluty LOVED this book. My kids were begging to go get stuff for crafts the day we got it!! Its very affordable projects that are fun and easy for the parents as much as the kids!! My BF and I now get our kids together each week for craft day. They choose which one they want to do and we al have a blast!!

This book is full of wonderful ideas. Lots of great ways to spend quality time with your kids.

As a nanny and a future teacher, I've been looking for a book that has a lot of various craft ideas with simple instructions and that can be for kids of all ages. This book provides exactly just that! I especially like how the crafts are for certain seasons and for different situations like "rainy days" and "everyday". The introduction contains a lot of specifics like how to organize your craft area and what you will need in order to complete all the crafts in the book. I think the best part about this craft book is that each craft has a very detailed picture with it, so you are able to see what you are making! Like I said before, this is excellent for kids from ages 4 and up and the crafts are very cute, some even looking like you bought it from Pier 1. :)
The hard cover and gloss pages also add to Rosie's Crafty-U. I'm excited to start creating the crafts for summer with the kids!

If you haven't discovered the wisdom and humor of Bill Perkins, this is a great place to start. Spend some time with this read and try to put it in your daily walk. This book has the power to help you see how God will really work to change your life and feel like a mighty warrior.
If you see that Bill is speaking near you, find a way to get there. ..
Locked in Arms................gymbo

I just attended a Bill Perkins seminar & read this book cover to cover afterwards; I would highly recommend both to any Christian man (even if you don't consider yourself a strong Christian). Todays world is so full of 'advice' and I've read many self help books plus attended many seminars both for professional/business and personal reasons; this little book is more important to me than I can express but fortunately everyone can read it for themselves and/or attend one of the 'Six Battles' seminars. Thank you Bill.

I believe every mens group should study this book. I know everyone who reads this book will see a bit of himself somewhere while reading it. I will be taking this with me to my next mens group and i will make sure our group studies it.
I enjoyed reading about David's Mighty Men. How great would it be if we all had our own group of Mighty Men to encourage us through the battles of life. How much better would it be if we were asked to be a Mighty Man for someone else. A great book.

I had the oppurtunity of attending a Six Battles event in April of 2005. I met Bill and spent time talking with him. What an awesome man for God! My interest was initially peaked when I read his life changing book "When good men are tempted" that helped fuel the change in my life. When I met Bill and he walked us through the "Six Battles" that this book outlines it was and continues to be life changing. I have since read the book 3 times and using this book have started a new men's small group study. I look forward to what God has in store for me and it all started with this Book! So Men , Yes this book will help you get on fire for him and help you in your daily battles.

This book has been such an inspiration for me and my daily struggles of creating balance between God, my family and work. Bill really puts things in perspective and creates an easy to understand guide of what truly works. Breaking things down into 6 battles we struggle with day to day is perfect for any man. I feel that my relationship with God and my wife has grown so much stronger and deeper because of this book. Thank you Bill! I highly recommend this book to anyone!

My 3 year old loves this book! She enjoys looking at the beautiful illustrations and listening to the great escapades of this strong female character. If you and your family like Paul Bunyan stories - this one is great for women to be.

Swamp angel is about a friendly, strong, giant girl; from the South. The conflict of the story is, Tarnation, a giant gorilla is eating up all the food. So, the mayor decides to have a contest to see which man can kill him. Whoever succeeds, will get to keep the pelt of the giant animal. Everyone who dared to try to kill the beast, failed, until one day the Swamp angel stepped in. This book is extremely funny with wonderful illustrations. I believe this book would be suitable for children under the age of eight. I give this book two thumbs up.

Swamp Angel is a great adventurous folktale, with unbelievable illistrations. And a funny southern accent that all will love. A heart warming tale bout a freindly, super-strong, giant girl; who saves her dear little home from dangers like a tornado. Anne Isaacs did an exceptional job to make this book humorous, exciting, adventurous, and fun-filled for all especialy children. Swamp angel is a considerate, generous, and all around nice person. Yet she's strong, brave, and determined. This story is taken place in Tennesse, down south. The problem is that Thunderin' Tarnation is eating all the food, so the mayor decides to have a contest. The first person to kill Thunerin' Tarnation gets to keep the pelt of the giant beast, saves their intire state's food from being eaten, and dthey will have an abundance of food. Many tried and almost all failed but one Swamp angel. But she still hasn't saw Thunderin' Tarnation yet. Until one day by the lake she spotted Old Tarnation. And that was were the showdown between Old Tarnation and Swamp Angel began. If you're a Paul Bunyun fan, well then this book is for you. I thought this was a fun and exciting book. If you read this book, I can almost garuntee that you will feal the same way. I give Swamp Angel two thumbs up!

WARNING!!This review may contain Spoilers!

This story starts out by telling about the birth of a young girl who is amazingly big for her age. No one knows that she will become a great woodswoman since she cannot climb a tree at birth without help:). As she grows older she saves her town numerous times with her strength earning her the name "Swamp Angel".

When a mean bear comes to town many hunters try to capture it before it causes anymore damage.(One is Swamp Angel) Eventually she does capture the bear, named Tarnation, and kills him. Call me a sucker for a happy,happy ending, but I was hoping Tarnation would give up his evil ways and use his strength for good. And then they could have all lived...well you know what I mean.

A truly enjoyable folktale. With Paul Zelinsky's inventive and endlessly amusing illustrations, the book tells as well as it views. With sentences like, "Varmint, I'm much obliged for that pelt you're carryin'", Swamp Angel's showdown with the bear Thundering Tarnation is of epic proportions. Zelinsky has truly outdone himself in his portrayals of their fight. There are thousands of tiny illustrations hidden on each page for kids to discover and delight in. The fight itself is about good old-fashioned wrassling, and it's a joy to watch. Zelinsky painted his illustrations on actual wood veneer, hoping to give the book a folk-art feel of some sort. The result is a beautiful story that adults and kids will both enjoy. As I might have given away, I'm a fan. book could easily be paired with another tall tales, possibly that of the other gigantic hero Paul Bunyun or the great John Henry. Both would fit in well with this story, though Swamp Angel owes perhaps most of her telling to Pecos Bill more than anyone else.

Masterfully written! The descriptiion and detail put into this book is astounding. Crafted with pure genious I personaly recomend this book to fantays lovers of all ages!

Diana Metz has created a world in which dragons and people share our world. She has a gift for description - if I close my eyes I can imagine I am there among the dragons or soaring above the clouds on the back of one of these magnificent beasts! A wonderful book for any age!

After recieving this book, which was HIGHLY anticipated, i must say that I was not dissapointed in ANY way! Being a fan of both dragons and fantasy, I am particularly had to please with literature, but this book surpassed all my expectations!!! I'm now anxiously waiting for the next installment of Talon, and I must say, a big, "WELL DONE DIANA"!!!

I loved this book! Diana Metz finds a great new approach to a dragon fantasy! The words weren't neccesarily as fullfing as the plot was, but it was still great! I recently e-mailed the author and found that there was to be another book! And another after that! I can't wait. You're great Diana!

"I don't know who I am anymore" Talon sighed heavily. "A year ago I knew who I was, a young mercenary with a knack for battle tactics. I trained hard, fought where I was told and planned the deaths of hundreds of young men just like me. That's who I was. Now I'm what you, an old man, and now a dragon queen, say I am. I don't know if I like what you've made me." (pg 154)

When I first read this book (I've read it three times now) I found that I could not put it down. The story is amazing. A young boy named Talon once a warrior, now a wizard, forever the Krrig Daa. He goes through many ups and downs, physically and mentally, and through the incredible writings of Diana Metz you go with him. Her portrayal of Dragons as not only intelligent but incredibly social beast full of magic is one of the reasons I couldn't put this book down.

Thank you Diana for such a great book.

a marvelous book of blessings - a gift from John O'Donohue - who has recently died much too soon...his written legacies will continue to inform, and nurture his readers

O'Donohue has blessed us with this profound treasure. It is replete with soul - a companion for all the seasons and incidents of life.

I can't begin to say enough about this book. It is a collection of "blessings" for all occasions, moods and daily events. Buy it. If you own a copy of Anam Cara then you'll be lown away bu this one.

This book is beautiful in itself as well as in it's contents. John o'Donohue is a poet and an artist with words. These blessings can be used for so many situations. I highly recommend this book.

Bless the Space Between Us is a great book of wonderfully simple yet insightful poems and blessings. If we all blessed the spaces between us, there wouldn't be any spaces as we could all just be the one among us. Beautifully written and lovely in its grace and language.