W Books

I was assigned to read this book for my 10th grade American History summer reading. I loved to read as a teen. I loved history -- I went on to get my degree in it. This book threatened to change all of that.
A ponderous piece of agonizing minutiae, this book brought me to the breaking point. I read it -- the whole thing. As a fifteen year old. I think it actually made me cry, I hated it so much. It's well researched, but seemed almost masturbatory in its envisioning of the motivations of frontiersmen. And excruciatingly long. Some people obviously enjoy this book. To each their own. But for the rest of you, it is okay to hate it. Really. You know you want to.

I first became acquainted with Mr. Eckert's books a few years ago while shopping for a gift for my son-in-law who loves local history and someone recommended one of his books. I took it home and while wrapping it, read a page. I was hooked, I went out and bought one for myself. We live in an area rich in history and his books cover our area extensively. I only wish all the history classes I took in high school and college had been this interesting. Our whole family now enjoys Mr. Eckert's books.

After picking up our pots in Seal Bay we ran over to Port Williams for a few days before continuing on around the northern tip of Afognak Is.We lay overnight at Bluefox Bay where my sister was then living.She lent me her copy of this book,of which,at the time,I thought to be rather a large chunk of reading.However,upon returning to town for more supplies,we were stuck there because our skipper ran over himself with a snowmachine.Now I had much time to read,and read I did! Non-stop.This is history as it should be presented.Real people.Red,white and foreign.Simon Kenton,the man who is the common thread throughout the book,is one man I had never heard of,in history or elsewhere.
The words "WOW!";"AWESOME!":"UNBELIEVABLE!" have lost their power in our current age from over-use,but their original applications do fit this book.
The above trip took place in early 1978 and from that time I have kept my eye out for this book.All inquiries were met with either "Out of Print" or exorbiant pricings of a collectors' item.While I was not looking for it this recent order,by long habit, the title matches for the search criteria were imprinted in my mind and the book is now part of my collection....CliffThe Frontiersmen: A Narrative

This is a book I've read, and re-read many times. That's how good it is.
I bought two this time and gave them as gifts.

Why bother with fiction when the facts, as told by this master historian and masterful storyteller, are so fascinating. After reading this book, you'll never look at those old westerns the same way again. I learned more about the period (the Revolution to the War of 1812), and especially the Native Americans who lived then, from this book than in all my previous life. I'm about to buy the next in the series, Wilderness Empire. If you liked Bernard De Voto's great book Across the Wide Missouri, you will love this as well. Kudos, Mr. Eckert!

The great Polish/Lithuanian empire ruled all of central europe at one point - from Berlin to Moscow. I'm betting most of you weren't even aware of that. I wasn't either until I started reading more of european history. In developing a friendship with some people of Polish descent they recommended this author and his nobel prize winning novels to me. I was daunted by its length and by the date of when it was originally written. However, I started reading and have been hooked on these books ever since. I have come to believe that Mr. Sienkiewicz is the father of the modern novel. This is not a stilted 18th century read!
It gives you history (from a polish perspective) with fictionalized characters and a compelling story behind the backdrop of the calamitous decline of a once proud and powerful empire. The characters are heroic, tragic, conflicted and wonderful to follow. You will love this book and the several sequels in this decades spanning story.
One doesn't win a Nobel prize in literature if they can't write and Mr. Sieniewicz earned his.

I have read "With Fire and Sword," "The Deluge," and "Pan Michael" ("Colonel Wolodyjowski") and I recommend all of them highly. The characters are memorable and well-developed, the heroes are likeable, and even the villains are understandable as people with very human motivations.

Ask around a bit and you'll find no shortage of folks, men in particular, who became readers via their encounters in youth with class adventure tales: The Three Musketeers, The Count of Monte Cristo, Ivanhoe, the Lord of the Rings, etc. ask again and you'll find almost no one whose heard of half the Nobel Laureates in Literature, fewer who've read them, and none enjoyed many of them. All the more remarkable then that one of the great adventure authors of all time actually won a Nobel and somewhat tragic that so few have read him in recent decades. But Henryk Sienkiewicz has made something of a comeback and it could not be more welcome.

Sienkiewicz is the great author of Poland--indeed, to some extent his works are said to have created and helped to maintain the strong Polish identity that prevailed through the troubled 20th Century. When his books were first published -- mostly late in the 19th Century -- the English translations were done by Teddy Roosevelt's friend Jeremiah Curtin and, whether they were adequate for their time, they are are terribly dated now and have served to put off potential readers. Add in the fact that neither the Nazis nor the Communists had much interest in fostering Polish patriotism and you've the recipe for lost classics. But then, fittingly as the Iron Curtain was crumbling, Hippocrene Books commissioned a new translation of his greatest works, The Trilogy and Quo Vadis?, by the highly-regarded Polish novelist W. S. Kuniczak, and these eminently readable versions won Sienkiewicz a modern audience. New translations of other works followed, then a terrific film version of In Desert and Wilderness, and a massive Polish television adaptation of the Trilogy. Suddenly we've a surfeit of riches and some catching up to do.

If you're just starting out it might be wise to begin with Quo Vadis?, a stand alone tale of Christians in Rome that really deserves a fresh film treatment. But it's well worth your time to dive into the Trilogy, the first volume of which is the magnificent With Fire and Sword. Set in 1647, amidst a Cossack uprising against the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, it tells the story of a young Polish patriot and hero, Yan Skshetuski, and his love for the beautiful Helen, who is also coveted the brutal Bohun, who fights with the rebels. Pan Yan's twin tales give us epic history and grand romance, while his compatriots offer comic relief. There's his wily servant, Zjendjan, whose semi-faithful service somehow keeps lining his own pocket. There's the mopey giant Pan Longinus, who has sworn a vow of chastity until he lives up to the example of his forebears and takes off the heads of three enemy soldiers with one swing of his massive battle sword. There's Pan Michal Wolodyjowski, whose bravery and feistiness belie his diminutive stature. And, best of all, there's the Falstaffian Pan Zagloba, who makes up in drinking capacity, gluttony, and biting wit what he lacks in zeal for battle, as he keeps his one good eye peeled for threats to his corpulent frame.

It'll take you a hundred to a hundred and fifty pages to orient yourself and get used to the odd names and nicknames, but the subsequent thousand pages go by far too fast. It's one of those stories you don't ever want to end.

I've read Kuniczak's translation of the Trilogy and greatly enjoyed it. It was my introduction to Seinkiewicz. However, while reading it, it seemed somehow incoherent, like something was missing. It also seemed impossible that the companions of Zagloba would be so credulous of his boasting.

I went and found a copy of the 1890 translation of the Trilogy by Jeremiah Curtin. What a difference! Though the language is somewhat archaic, the story flows so much better and the character of Zagloba is much more believeable. There is more context to his antics, and his companions are presented as far more skeptical of his boasting, making the story much more realistic.

Kuniczak seems to have omitted and simplified much that appears in the Curtin translation, to the detriment of the story. Many believe the Kuniczak version is superior, and maybe it is more accessible, but I recommend you find the old editon in the basement of the local library and read it first.

This was one of the most sweeping epics I've ever read. It's over 1,000 pages, but it takes little effort to finish the book. I found myself white knuckled and breathless through many of the battle scenes. This was truly a good read for both men and women.

I live in the northeast, so I was looking for something for my area. Excellent book. Down to earth, easy, good ideas for the average gardener. We moved our garden and I am going to try his ways. I always had a garden, but did the "old" single row ways. He shares lots of little hints that will help anyone. Good pictures. Not bogged down with extreme details. Highly recommend the book. It was just what I was looking for. I based my decision on the reviews this book got, and they are right.

I added this book to my resource library and glad I did. Lots of useful information presented in a clear and concise manner. The pictures are clear and presented in a manner that allows you to understand.

I grew up on a farm with my mother having a vegetable garden, so growing plants is not a totally foriegn concept to me, but non-the-less, it's been a while since I've "hoed a row." I read the reviews of several books, including this one, and felt confident I was getting a good "go to" book with most everything I would need to start my garden - I was so pleased to be right! I live in the MN, Zone 4, which happens to be the same Zone the author lives in. So though the specific exampels I can apply to my garden, the information is so thorough and sound, I believe the principles can be applied to any Zone! The non-traditional ideas he presents in the book make so much sense! If you want the traditional straight skinny rows your grandmother or neighbor has, this book is not for you, but if you are interested in producing more with less space this book is a must have. I am a good third into it, and I felt every page so far has plenty of good advice without being too wordy, or technical. A very easy read, I can't wait to finish it and start planning my garden!! A thanks to the author for putting his knowledge and love of gardening on paper!

I am a beginner/novice/newbie to the growing food world so I want to get myself empowered with as much info as possible.

So this is just one of an arsenal of info I'm getting.

But the book is well written, came in good condition and was very prompt on delivery

What an incredible person. Ed wrote an invaluable book. There is so much information and it is so detailed. He makes gardening easy. Read this book and it leaves the guess work out of managing your garden!

"The Wisdom of Insecurity" appeared to be a bit over done. Some very valuable points into a journey of self-discovery, however, too many words and not enough wisdom.

A beautiful survey of how and why we cling to the illusion of security. That when we let go of this illusion and allow the fear to just be, it will subside and playfulness and humor will arise. If you are afraid of letting go of your fear, don't read this book!

I think this book is the earliest example of what would become Watts' philosophy as a whole. I don't really like the title, I think that Watts had something other in mind than what most of us think of when we think of insecurity. The term "insecurity" has come to be associated with a psycholigical condition not unlike depression or anxiety. Given this development, a beter term might be flux, instability, uncertainty, etc. In any event, it is a great book.

I t is hard to believe but in the first part of his life Alan Watts was an Anglican priest. His first two books, Behold the Spirit: A Study in the Necessity of Mystical Religion and The Supreme Identity, were written in that Christian mode. Watts however went back to college to study Eastern religion and philosophy, and this book is the first fruits of that work.

If I were rating just the first half of this book it would get five stars. In these first four chapters Watts gives a brilliant diagnosis of the problem of modern man. Put very briefly we are caught in the eternal 'I', feeling separate from life, and caught up in contemplation of past hurts and future hopes. We never really live our life, which after all is in the here and now. We are driven to escape a sense of "insecurity" without realizing that this very uncertainty is a basic feature of life.

In the second half of the book Watts tries to describe a new way of living based on 'now consciousness'. His task is I guess impossible as he is trying to describe something which is basically unknowable unless you actually live it. I did really understand his point that if you mind shifts off the 'I' it naturally turns to contemplating others, and this is the basis of compassion. I suspect that this second half of the book will mean more to me when I have experimented a little and reread a few times. This second half of the book has certainly given me something to think about.

Don't let my comments in the above paragraph put you off reading the book. Maybe you are brighter or more 'enlightened' than me and so it will all make instant sense to you. Maybe you will become instantly "enlightened' as you read, where I was not.

In 1951, Alan Watts wrote about the increasing pace of life and the challenges to maintain one's moorings in turbulent times. If only he were around today to see what has happened recent years and to comment accordingly! Perhaps he would give similar advice, as his principles should not be subject to the current events or fashion.

His two main themes from my perspective, at least in the first half that I found much more enlightening, were that humans do not need traditional religion and that humans should not fight anxiety. In the first case, his analysis is not that science has solved everything, a topic lively today and likely to continue as a perpetual debate. It is more that the human soul can find nourishment and understanding in other ways, and does not need the tenets of religion to make life whole. He does, however, concede that belief has been undermined by the ceaseless march of human intelligence, while claiming that the coldly intellectual angle often leaves the human soul unsatisfied. Mystery helps feed the mind and spirit.

Mr. Watts' insights on anxiety as the necessary complement to freedom and pleasure were particularly succinct and sharp. A favorite quote is, "If, then, we are to be fully human and fully alive and aware, it seems that we must be willing to suffer for our pleasures. Without such willingness there can be no growth in the intensity of consciousness. Yet, generally speaking, we are not willing, and it may be thought strange to suppose that we can be. For 'nature in us' so rebels against pain that the very notion of 'willingness' to put up with it beyond a certain point may appear impossible and meaningless.

"Under these circumstances, the life that we live is a contradiction and a conflict. Because consciousness must involve both pleasure and pain, to strive for pleasure to the exclusion of pain is, in effect, to strive for the loss of consciousness. Because such a loss is in principle the same as death, this means that the more we struggle for life (as pleasure), the more we are actually killing what we love."

Well stated, obviously, and that is one of many. I endorse the modest length of the book, its lack of deep theological argument, and light touch on Eastern thought. Those topics are best served in other works dedicated to the proper depth and sophistication.

I especially recommend a look back at Mr. Watts with the wave of anti-religion books by Hitchens, et al. Read them and compare to Alan Watts.

I'm fairly new to Perl (but not to programming) and this book is great. I really like the format of the code examples, and there's a lot of wisdom here on writing good, idiomatic Perl.

This book shows you some efficient and interesting ways of using Perl. It is very informative and I often use it when I want to see if there is a better way of doing something.

This is a good book for getting a handle on intermediate level Perl and its idiomatic uses, arranged as a series of 60 'items' -- the debt to Effective C++ is obvious. This is not a tutorial on Perl, you should at least be at the level of The Llama and ideally be somewhat acquainted with the material covered in The Alpaca, too. Although similar ground is covered in this book to the latter, I would treat this book as a way to shore up your previous knowledge, rather than learning it for the first time.

The content holds up surprisingly well for 1997. The opening chapters cover a lot of the oddities and gotchas of life with Perl, such as slicing, the various connotations of undef, a persuasive defence of $_ and where + is necessary to disambiguate. The final 'miscellany' chapter also contains useful information in a similar vein. And this also appears to be one of the first books to detail the now famous Schwartzian transform and the Orcish manoeuvre for sorting, so it has a certain historical appeal.

Equally, the chapters on debugging, references, regular expressions and object oriented programming are also pretty good. It's just that there are now several other books that cover these topics. If you only want one book in this style, Perl Best Practices bestrides the field like a colossus, being more comprehensive, and better written. Not that there's anything wrong with the writing here, it's never boring as such, but it does feel flat.

Nonetheless, Effective Perl Programming does the job it sets out to do fairly well, and I find you can never have too much help in explaining the nooks and crannies of idiomatic Perl, so this is still worth getting hold of, particularly because you can find it at an extremely reasonable price.

Well, even though I rate this book only 3 stars, I do think it belongs to the shelf of any serious Perl programmer. (Of course, don't just let it sit there; read it!) I think the emphasis here is it's useful only for the *serious* Perl person, as it contains lots of in-depth discussion on the nitty-gritty details of Perl's idiosyncratic personalities.

The reason I don't like the book as much as I thought I would is things are not explained clearly much of the time. Take the chapter on references for example. While the authors include lots of examples, the explanation of how nested references work is just confusing. Granted, this is a nasty concept to grasp, but I expected something clearer. Instead they just say "oh this looks ugly", which is not helpful. BTW, if you are pulling your hair out over references like I am, the Dumper pragma (not the dump function) is extremely helpful. (Unfortunately, it's not mentioned in this book, nor in the camel book).

As a previous reviewer said, this isn't a book for advanced perl programmers. For intermediate users, however, it is excellent. No time wasted covering the perl basics, just lots of useful tips and hacks

If you like a mystery book that is light and does not go into gory details then Anne George is for you! I read all types of mystery stories but have enjoyed the Souther Sisters Mysteries emensely. It is a shame that Ms. George passed away in 2001.

I cannot go to my grave without sharing the delight I have found in Anne George's books about Murder...., starring the two sisters. I am happy to say that they bear a great resemblance to my sister and I! I have laughed so hard that, yes, I really did wet my pants. But that's not hard to do these days ( I am 64 and obviously not Southern 'cause I just told you my age!). Anyway, I have read ALL of the books. I know because I searched so hard for more that I found out Anne George had DIED! 'Course I was sorry - I mean, real sorry - because by that time, I had gotten addicted to those I have come to consider my true blood sisters! I am so sorry I didn't discover her books before her untimely demise. Maybe I could have convinced her that she owed it to her public to write some more. Anyway, you have a treat in store for you if you like to laugh like I do. Best readings from my house to yours! PRH

As a diehard Elvis fan, I was intrigued by the title of this book one day while browsing books on Amazon. I put it on my wish list and finally purchased it for myself. It is my first time reading Anne George and the Southern Sisters Mysteries but I hope it will not be my last! The characters are awesome. Growing up in the South, I can relate to every one of them. Some of the things they say I can remember hearing my grandmother, my mom or one of my aunts saying. There is much humor along with the mystery, which is my favorite thing in books. I truly enjoyed it and am adding more Anne George books to my wish list.

It's too bad that Ann George was taken from us so soon. She wrote this book just before she passed away in 2001. Even though she didn't know that it would be her last book, it actually was a fitting end to the Southern Sisters series. We have all the wonderful people there, and our two southern sisters that I have fallen in love with as I've been reading the books. There are 30 Elvis impersonators, a dead body, a missing girl, and anything else that you could want. Even a wedding at the end. I recommend this series highly to cozy lovers. It's the best, and I am going to miss Patricia Ann and Mary Alice very much. I'll miss Woofer and Muffin too.

A running gag throughout this series involves the giant statue of Vulcan that looms over Birmingham and literally moons half of the town. Well it seems that someone put a hole in Vulcan's head and he of the massive moon is in need of repair so the people of Birmingham come to his aid. Among other things they hold a fund-raiser at the Alabama theater that features several acts including a chorus line of dancing Elvis's; or is that Elvi? Anyway, before the night is over one Elvis is sent off toward hound dog Heaven to the strains of Jailhouse Rock. Naturally sisters Mary Alice (Sister) and Patricia Anne (Mouse) are sitting right there in the front row.

Since Mouse's retirement after many years of teaching school the sisters have just been up to their necks in dead bodies but this is the first dead Elvis that they have come across. Try as they might to not get involved they just can't help themselves, especially once the murder weapon shows up in Mouse's purse. All the while Mouse is planning for a new grandchild, Sister is planning her fourth wedding, Sister's eldest daughter is being pursued by an amorous Cajun, Bubba Cat continues to sleep, another Elvis is attacked and the whole crew continue to eat more than any group of fictional characters that I have ever come across. This author's gift for descriptive prose is nowhere better showcased than with her descriptions of all of that delicious food that is constantly showing up in this series. This is not a series of books to read while on a diet for you can just smell the homemade vegetable soup, the cornbread and the sweet rolls.

As with most of the books in this series the sisters stumble and bumble along and get themselves in deep trouble but in the end they do get their man (or woman?) whether they intended to or not. Also as usual the dialogue in this book is priceless especially the dialogue between the two southern sisters. They remind me for all the world of a pair of my elderly aunts who used to sit on the couch and argue for hours on end.

Sadly this is the last entry in this oh so lovable series due to the death of author Anne George. I put off reading this book for a long time after I finished the previous entry in this series because I knew that finishing this book would make me very sad. This author writes in such a way that you really come to feel like you know and are interacting with her characters and facing the end of the series was like having to pack up and move away from some very dear friends. I already miss this boisterous bunch and I deeply mourn the loss of Anne George. I never had the privilege of meeting her but since she based Mouse on herself I sure feel like we were old friends.

The Little House series are great read aloud books.

Our daughter is five and this series is perfectly age appropriate, even though an older child would enjoy them equally as well. For younger ones (three or so), there is a great picture book series called "My first little house books," or something like that. One of these is a story based of a chapter in this book and is called "Christmas in the Big Woods."

These CD's are great for long trips in the car. The narrator's voice is wonderful. The adults will find themselves enjoying listening themselves.

"One the Banks of Plum Creek" is the best of the series. It is the one where Mary and Laura go to school and where the character of Nellie Olson is introduced. Her brand of spoiled rotten meanness is nothing short of tantalizing to a five year old. Also, there are the wonderful Christmas chapters.

Just excellent, all around. I highly recommend the books to read alound and the CD's.

Whether you have read the Little House books or have never heard of them, this book on tape is wonderful for everyone from small children to adults. The narrator who reads it does an amazing job of capturing the childhood wonderment and emotions Laura was trying to convey. It is also so interesting to hear the way families lived back in the 1800's. I could listen to this book on tape over and over again.

Book review
I did my report on the book called On the Banks of Plum Creek.
The author of this novel is Laura Ingalls Wilders. It is also historical fiction.
This story is about a family that is very close. There is baby Carrie the littlest, the middle child was Laura but her nick name was Little Half Pint, and the oldest is named Mary. Mary was such a little lady she always did what her mother told her to do. But Laura was the rebel in the family she was always getting dirty or getting into trouble. But Carrie is too little to have a background. Pa traded his horses and bunny for a dugout from Mr. Nelson. There was a creek close to the house and they played there often but they must never go into the deep waters with out Pa or Ma (Laura learned that lesson fast).
I loved this book because I love the time period it was set in and I have read many stories by the same author like Little House in the Big Woods. It would suit some one who loves Family stories and the time period and his farm world it is more like a fun book to read but it is Historical fiction as well.

Laura Ingalls is now eight-years-old, her sister Mary is nine, and Carrie is still just a tiny tot. While they are all still quite young, they are expected to help out with the chores around the house - from sweeping to dusting, cooking and setting the table. But this year, the girls are in a strange new place. Looking to settle in an area where a school and church are close by, and the Ingalls' have a chance to grow a wonderful crop that will provide quite a profit, the family heads to Walnut Grove, Minnesota. Traveling by covered wagon, the family, along with all of their belongings, travels all the way through Indian Territory, across Kansas, Missouri, and Iowa, stopping at their destination in Minnesota. There, they are surrounded by Norwegian's who speak very little English. However, they are good neighbors who assist them in times of trouble. Trading their horses for a home located under the ground, Laura's family begins to call Minnesota their home. And, before long, Pa has built a lovely home by the banks of Plum Creek. He believes that his wheat crop will provide enough funds to pay off their debts when the time comes. But when locusts invade in cloud-like swarms, eating everything in their sight, the family must endure hardships that were unexpected.

But things are not all bad. Having never attended school before, Laura and Mary are finally near enough a schoolhouse where they can attend daily lessons that help them develop reading, writing, and arithmetic skills. It is at this particular school where the two older Ingalls girls are exposed to children - both male and female - who are close to their age. Some of whom title Mary and Laura "country girls." But the label does not affect how the two sisters view themselves, or their family; and only gives them the courage to befriend various girls who love to spend time with them. It is at school, however, that Laura encounters the spoiled, yet oh-so-pretty, Nellie Oleson, who goes out of her way to give both Laura and Mary a hard time. But Laura isn't having any of it, and resolves to get even with the vicious Nellie, even if it upsets her Ma and Pa. Luckily, with Ms. Beadle - the schoolteacher - around, Laura and Mary have the confidence to stand up for themselves, and receive the education that their Ma always wanted them to have; while getting the socialization they deserve. But even attending school doesn't excuse them from having to assist their family when the going gets tough.

Up until last year, I had been a diehard fan of the LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE TV series, but had never had the opportunity to delve into the wonderful tales told by Laura Ingalls Wilder herself. Upon reading the introduction novel, LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE, I quickly fell in love with the Ingalls family all over again; and, since then, they have taken up residence in my heart, and kept me fascinated with the various adventures they experienced throughout their lives. Laura is such a lively, brave, fun-loving character; whose ambition, kindness, and, oft-times, naughtiness, make her appealing from start to finish. Her relationship with her family is hard to resist, as she manages to please and displease them on a daily basis, all to the jovial laughter of her father. I believe that Pa (Charles) is one of the most important characters in the series, as he is such a kind, loyal man; who rarely scolds, and spends his downtime entertaining his family with music from his fiddle, and stories that leave you chuckling. The family, as a whole, are the type of people you would absolutely love to have the chance to know. They are kind to strangers, helpful to neighbors, and both Ma and Pa are two of the most selfless people in literature. The information regarding Rocky Mountain locusts was both interesting, and frightening; but truly provides a wonderful history lesson for the young reader. While the introduction of the devilish Nellie Oleson provides quite a bit of humor, as she and Laura trade insults with one another at almost every meeting between the two. Ingalls did a marvelous job of penning such a cheerful addition to the series; and, thus far, ON THE BANKS OF PLUM CREEK has become my favorite LITTLE HOUSE book yet. A can't-miss addition to the series!

Erika Sorocco
Freelance Reviewer

ON THE BANKS OF PLUM CREEK -- Who could forget the plague of grasshoppers, or spoiled Nellie's encounter with the crab, or Pa's sojourn in the blizzard, among other adventures?

We -- my three homeschooled grandchildren and I -- are going through the Laura Ingalls Wilder series of books for the second time. We read them aloud during story time, and love every minute. These are books written about an American pioneer family in the 1800s with a strong moral compass. In an unsentimental style, the author writes simply of the day-to-day life she experienced firsthand growing up. As the title of this review suggests, a central theme, not only of this book, but the entire series, is that "Pa loves Ma, and Ma loves Pa, and all's right with the world," including in the face of all kinds of adversity and opportunity alike.

I enrich this time for my grandchildren by stopping occasionally to explain and discuss what we are reading about, be it an unusual word usage, a custom no longer practiced, how to do something by hand, historical facts... We have even stopped to do some research and measure out the height of a bear. Our family tradition is that the eldest grandchild (now 11) reads the last page of these books. Otherwise, I usually do the reading. We also try to get started right away on the next book in the series, the same day as we finish the one before, so as not to lose our momentum.

After going through the series the first time, we discovered (almost by accident at the local library) several other series of books, written by other authors, about Laura's great-grandmother Martha in Scotland, her grandmother Charlotte in Boston, and her mother Caroline in Wisconsin, so we decided to start over with the first of those books and carry on through. There is also a series about Laura's daughter Rose which we have not gotten to yet.

Reading through the other series in order has been time well invested. Like Laura, we have strong family roots in Scotland. We have four generations of our family living within close proximity, so my grandchildren know my father, their beloved great-grandfather, quite well, and this series helps them gain a feel of family and historical continuity, generation to generation. (Check for related book series under: Martha Years, Charlotte Years, Caroline Years, Rose Years).

I am investing in and building our own set of all these books in hardcover, having told my grandchildren that I plan to be around to read them to *their* grandchildren!

After reading this I somehow felt changed. Written so well that you feel her emotions immensely throughout the book. I didn't want to put it down.

When Boken Glass Floats tells the story of a young girl and her experiences and life as she lives in Cambodia with the Khmer Rouge. It is very emotional as she weaves the story of her family in the labor camps and then the periods spent in the refugee camps in Cambodia and Thailand. I recommend it as a five star book.

A great book. A very sad account of a young girl that reflect the experiences of million Cambodian refugees. Also showed what perseverance and setting goals can achieve. If Miss Him can survive and succeed, so should everyone.
Highly recommend this book.

This was an entirely good read. One of the amazing things I kept realizing as I read is Chanrithy Him has condensed a number of harrowing years of into just ~300 pages, so the reader only hears about some of her experiences - there's probably much more that didn't make it to the pages of this memoir. Also, Him's story is only one out of myriad others . . . thousands of thousands of Cambodian people who could tell a story even more devastating than Him's.

When Broken Glass Floats kept me interested from cover to cover, and I enjoyed Him's writing style. It's likely I can't say anything positive that hasn't already been said, so I'll pick out a couple of things I wonder if other readers noticed.

For one, the black and white family photos included in the book did not resemble the images I had of disease-stricken, starving children Him described. For instance - granted he is wearing a shirt in the photos, none of the pictures show Map (Him's youngest sibling) with a protruding belly - although towards the end of the book Him tells her readers Map fails to lose this effect of starvation even after his diet improves. Similarly, the photo of Ra on her wedding day shows a young woman who looks healthy (nice complexion, full cheeks, hair in an up-do, clean floral shirt), so I couldn't help but feel confused because this is far from how Him described her physically weak, skinny sister who was barely recognize at times. I realize the photo was taken during better times, but do people so sick and hungry recover to that degree so quickly? Also, the memoir chronicles countless dizzying days, months, and years of walking, working, and barely surviving from severe dehydration, starvation, infection, diarrhea, disease, and depression; personal belongings (books, valuables, etc.) were stolen, taken by the Khmer Rouge, and lost along the way. Under those conditions, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of doubt as I read about the photos Him had "managed to keep safe during the Khmer Rouge time" (p. 330) and the "cream lace blouse from Phnom Penh, which she (Ra) managed to keep safe during the Khmer Rouge time" (p.286). Given the circumstances described, this just didn't seem plausible. But who knows . . . not a major problem for me, it just caught my attention - as did the typographical errors I found from time to time.

Great book . . . would have enjoyed a bit more of a history lesson. If that's what you're seeking you might look elsewhere, because this is a tale focused on a very strong and intelligent young girl's survival.

When Broken Glass Floats is the author's journey to find the magic of a world lost as a result of the Khmer Rouge. This book, as a personal account of the Khmer Rouge regime, is also my personal journey as a reader and a Khmer person. Through this magical journey, my own forgotten memories are awakened and many traditional beliefs that I have pushed to the back of my mind resurface.

I was too young to have memories of the Killing Fields, but I have heard enough stories to feel connected to it. There were gaps missing in my memory and this book filled those gaps. When Broken Glass Floats is poetic and touching, a book rooted in the author's desire to let the world know about the tragic death of her family. It begins when her memories are awakened as a result of her work as an interpreter and interviewer for the Khmer Adolescent Project, studying post-traumatic stress disorder among Cambodian survivors. This is a story of triumph, survival, and hope written from the Khmer soul of a Cambodian-American woman.

When Broken Glass Floats is a book with two moving and powerful purposes: one, as a therapeutic tool for the author, and, two, as a reminder of an event that should never have occurred. The author describes her book as a way "to use the power of words to caution the world, and in the process to heal myself" (p. 23). The process of writing the book became a trek to the Himalayas, "a search to recapture the long-lost magic in [her] life" (p. 23). My travels have taken me to the Himalayas. I have been seeking magic for my own healing like the author of When Broken Glass Floats. The process of reading her book and other autobiographies has provided much healing. I recommend this book for everyone who is interested in this subject, but in particular to Cambodian-Americans, because this book can take you on a journey into yourself, your soul, memories, and past.

I own about a dozen different audio Bibles and this one is by far the best. The score and sound effects are beautiful and the actors did an excellent job.

They split the tracks by chapter and did a good job of putting the complete books on one CD.

My only negatives were that sometimes it feels like the actors are just reading it and the voice of satan/demons were a bit...shall we say trick-or-treat (I was hoping for more of an Exorcist/Omen).

I love The Word of Promise. I listen to it every time I'm in my car. I agree that Jim Caviezel can sound flat at times. But overall he did a fine job, especially the final hours of Jesus' life up to the cross. My favorite actor is Stacey Keach as Paul. He is outstanding! I love the sound effects, too. This would be a wonderful gift for someone of the younger generation that doesn't love to read.

This is very well done. The Word of Promise is very well read and acted. Some of the interpretation may be questionable in regard to the book of Revelation. The overall meaning of the scripture is being conveyed very well. The overall tone and feel of the presentation is very similiar to a childrens' program called "Greatest Heroes of the Bible". This would be a good tool to get your kids interested in the Word of God.

We like it.
Both of them, this product and Amazon services are great!!!
We Recommend people should buy this from Amazon.

"The Word of Promise" brings the New Testament to life like never before! Done in the style of an old-time radio program, actors' narration are blended with sound effects and a stirring orchestral score to bring the listener to the Holy Lands when these events took place, bringing power and emotion to the Holy Scriptures!
Overall, the actors' narration is fantastic! Jim Caviezel is fantastic as Jesus, though he is hit-and-miss in some places. Stacey Keach is fantastic as Paul, lending his voice to a huge chunk of this production. Lou Diamond Phillips, Louis Gossett, Jr., Michael York, Marisa Tomei and many others lend their talents to this truly remarkable production!
"The Word of Promise" is brilliant listening; a remarkable interpretation of the twenty-seven books of the New Testament. Whether you're new to the Bible, or have read the scriptures all your life, you'll find "The Word of Promise" a truly powerful experience!
Grade: A+

This book follows Tomorrow when the war began. It is Full of Adventure and romance, sharing real feeling, and the violence inside us all. it will be hard to let go of this book.

Ellie and company continue their fight to save their families and their homeland from foreign invaders. This part of the story shows just how creative, tough, and competent young people can be and that they are capable of doing well without adults. The encounter with Harvey's Heroes made me root even more for the teens hiding out in Hell. This book is as well written as the first one and makes the reader pine for the next volume in the series.

This book is great for readers that are interested in action and tons of excitement. Elie and her friends are some of the only people not captured in the small town they live in. There is a war that has become very fierce and deadly which makes it hard for them. They try to fight back whenever they can so that the enemies are weakened.

In the first book Elie and her friends were surprised that there was a war going on and hid a lot. In the second book, though, they were more familiar with how to handle things in the war and they moved into action by doing things like blowing up a bridge so it would be harder for the enemies to transport their supplies. This caught me of guard because I didn't know that Elie and her friends would be able to do that.

If you like the Alex Rider series then you should like this series, too. It's one of my favorites because there is action and suspense that makes me want to keep reading on. Also the characters all have their special pros and cons which makes them seem more realistic. For instance, Elie is brave and a leader who can make decisions and Kevin depends on others to make decisions for him. The characters also change from the first book by taking different roles which makes it fun and exciting to read because new things happen. There is one major twist in the book which really surprised me but I don't want to give it away so you'll have to read the book to find out what it is!

The author ended the book by including the start of the third book in the series. This is an example of why you should read the first book in the series before this one because all the books tie together and you need to know the story lines to understand and enjoy the books better so be sure to read the entire series!

This book is great for readers that are interested in action and tons of excitment. Elie and her friends are some of the only people not captured in the small town they live in. The war has become very fierce and deadly which makes it har for them. They try to fight back when ever they can so that the enemies are weakened a little bit.

Elie and her friends are now familar with what they do and what they need to do so they don't hesitate any more; they just move into action. They make big advancements in this book which caught me off guard because I didn't know it could happen.

This is so far one of my favorite series because I like the action and thriller it has just like I think it has in the Alex Rider series. I would consider this a great follow up book to the first one because it starts off with what it ends with in the previous book. I like that because it reminds you of what happened last. The characters all have thier special prons and cons which makes the book more realistic. There is one major twist that suprised me deeply. I never thought of it happening which made the book take a different turn. The characters also change and take different roles which is fun and exciting because you get to learn more and have new things happen. The author does this in a way so that they change by doing different actions, leaderships, and bravery.

This is just the second book of the series so don't forget to check out the rest of the books!

I loved this series when I was younger and I love it now that I'm an adult. I re-read the entire series probably once a year. It is absolutely fantastic writing - Marsden deals with issues realistically and completely and somehow manages to make this scenario seem entirely real.

Every book in this series is on my favorite books list. If you are an avid reader, you MUST read this series.