G Books

By Guy P. Harrison, author of 50 Reasons People Give for Believing in a God

Anyone unfamiliar with the work of H.G. Wells (1866-1946) should take a ride with his 1895 bestselling sensation, The Time Machine. This is the perfect introduction into the work of an amazing author. Relatively short and easy to follow, this story has the power to make a dead man dream. Who hasn't imagined what the future might be like? Well's shows us. Who hasn't worried that we may destroy civilization one day? Well's warns us. Have you ever wondered what the Earth will be like long after we are gone and the sun dies? Wells takes us there.

The Time Machine launched a remarkable career for Wells who went on to write several brilliant books, including: The Island of Dr. Moreau (1896), The Invisible Man (1897), The War of the Worlds (1898), and The First Men in the Moon (1901). His greatness as a writer is not found so much in the specific words he chose or the way he structured sentences as it is in the originality and power of his ideas. Many of his works, like The Time Machine, remain relevant and entertaining because the ideas are as provocative today as they were 100 years ago--if not more so thanks to advances in science. The Island of Dr. Moreau, for example, is an astonishing preview of the issues we now face with genetic engineering and cloning. The Time Machine is amplified today thanks to astonishing developments in theoretical physics.

There are many fine versions of The Time Machine available today. One of the best I've seen is the Signet Classic edition (2002). It's an inexpensive paperback and includes an excellent introduction by science-fiction author Greg Bear. Even more valuable, it includes an extended version of the chapter in which the time traveler visits Earth's extreme future. It's a thrilling mental trip. Seeing what becomes of our civilization several thousand years from now is one thing. Glimpsing a future so far ahead that humans are extinct and the sun is dead takes it to an entirely new level. Why the two films based on the book (1960 and 2002) chose to omit this portion of the story is a mystery to me. I believe it would have been a highpoint of the films. Imagine Europe, Africa, North America or the Cayman Islands a few billion years from now. Imagine all buildings, roads, and every other human creation erased by time.

A final point about The Time Machine is that this idea of time travel may turn out to be far more relevant than most readers imagine. In my lifetime I have seen the idea of time travel move from purely science fiction to respectable science. Believe it or not, time travel is no longer far-fetched nonsense in the minds of real scientists. Very serious thought is now given to the possibility that something--or someone--might be sent on a trip through time. A few years ago, for example, I interviewed Dr. Ronald Mallet, a University of Connecticut physics professor who hopes to send a sub-atomic particle back in time. If he pulls that off, launching a human on a similar voyage will likely be nothing more than a matter of time.

A dinner party is set in an uproar, when the host, a brilliant inventor, unveils his latest invention, a time machine. The next week's party is even more upset when the inventor stumbles in, dirty and damaged, telling the story of a trip some 800,800 years into the future. There he met a world inhabited by two degenerated races of human beings: the Eloi, beautiful and childlike in intelligence, and the Morlocks, vicious and bestial.

Having seen the movie, I had thought that I knew this story, and that there would be no surprises. I was very wrong! This book is masterfully written, and fascinating to read. The political satire of this work is somewhat out of date, but does not damage the story. Overall, I did enjoy this story, and recommend it to everyone!

The first use of a Time Machine in literature, H.G. Wells' "The Time Machine" is also the first of his scientific romances. After a careful setup, the never-named "Time Traveler" narrates his journey 800,000 years into the future. The bulk of the novel follows this one journey - his time in a far-future where the human race has split in two, which he calls the "Eloi" and "Morlocks".

Wells' setup and narration are effective, and the adventure tale keeps the story moving, but it's heavily flawed. The problem is the "Eloi" and "Morlocks" themselves; the former are the descendants of the aristocratic upper class, and the latter are the descendants of the lower class. And they're unconvincing. The Eloi are weak, unintelligent waifs; the Morlocks are nothing more than monsters that prey on them. This simply doesn't work; both are far too exaggerated to give Wells' point about class and culture a good impact.

H. G. Wells in one of the great originators of sf. HIs novels have inspired writers from Asimov, Heinlein, and Clarke, to , most recently, Ronald Write.
Wells is meticulous about the sentific background and this, together with his pithy, understated narration, makes his fantastic tales entirely convincing. Well's meachanis may have dated since he wrote "The Time Machine," but the issue of time travel remains a central one for sf writer. And Wells's social analysis has been at least as influential as his scientific concepts.
In the Time Machine his future world is divided into two classes, the subterranean workers, called morlocks, and the decadent Eloi. Here, as elsewhere, his critique of sexual relationships is also highly provocative.

An unnamed time traveler sees the future of man (802,701 A.D.) and then the inevitable future of the world. He tells his tale in detail.

I grew up on the Rod Taylor /George Pal movie. When I started the book I expected it to be slightly different with a tad more complexity as with most book/movie relationships. I was surprised to find the reason for the breakup of species (Morlock and Eloi) was class Vs atomic (in later movie versions it was political). I could live with that but to find that some little pink thing replaced Yvette Mimieux was too munch.

After all the surprises we can look at the story as unique in its time, first published in 1895, yet the message is timeless. The writing and timing could not have been better. And the ending was certainly appropriate for the world that he describes. Possibly if the story were written today the species division would be based on eugenics.

The Time Machine Starring: Rod Taylor, Yvette Mimieux

By taking the high road of humor, Amy Berger's book will not only give you a way to smile and laugh, but it will help you keep your balance and perspective in the midst of corporate foibles and fumbles. Read it and thrive!

You don't have to be a corporate warrior to appreciate Amy Berger's unique humor. If you've ever had a job and worked with people, you'll relate to Amy's hilarious book.

Looking for laughter in the not-so-humorous world of the workplace? Then buy this wise, witty and wonderful book. It will not only save your sanity while working in the crazy corporate climate but keep you guffawing as well.

Amy Berger has captured the essence and aggravation of working for big, impersonal companies. Her book is filled with insights and laughs. Very enjoyable reading!

Amy Berger tells us how the day-to-day incidents in cubicle land have shaped her life the past 20 years. Reading her book was like reading my own diary! At times, I was laughing and other times it was all I could do not to cry. Amy is to be congratulated for showing all of us in Silicon Valley that our problems are universal. I know that I forgave several former bosses after reading about Amy's bosses - different companies, different names, but the same puzzling way of managing people. (i,e. assigning work on your honeymoon! Mine was New Year's weekend)

Even though I disagree totally with the title, "Ultimate Guide," I do have to admit that the contents of this book are right on the money and very specific to the sport of boxing. Although all of the exercises and stretches demonstrated in this book can be found in pretty much any good book on weight training and/or stretching, it is the specific focus of this book that makes it so unique. In other words, it is not the individual exercises in this book that make it such a great resource, but the way the material is presented to the reader whose primary focus is on improving their own boxing skills.

Although I didn't necessarily agree with absolutely everything the author presented in this book, I would have to say that I found at minimum at least 90% of the material in this book to be valid.

The majority of workout routines suggested in this book should be considered as just that, suggestions. Use them as guide to go by and create your own training routine based upon your physical abilities and personal goals.

I have already started incorporating several things that I picked up from this book into my own training regiment and have found that I have already made some improvements in just the first couple of weeks. This book was definitely worth the price I paid for it.

Shawn Kovacich
Martial Artist/Author of the Achieving Kicking Excellence series.

This is the best book I have seen for boxing training! No matter what level you compete at, this book is for you. I have really improved my agility in the ring after reading this book. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in being a better, more athletic boxer!

If Rocky could do it so can you -- and this book is the secret how. The book (aka "the boxing bible") won't only put you on a plan to increase strength and stamina, but it will also boost your quickness and agility. After reading this book you'll be able to knockout Mike Tyson.

This book is perfect! A workout plan geared specifically toward boxing that really works! Appropriate for any level of boxing! I highly recommend this book!

This book made great suggestions for improving some of the most critical parts of being a successful boxer--endurance, power, agility, and speed. This book takes a healthy approach to boxing--it succinctly and clearly outlines how, depending on your experience and level of competitiveness, you should proceed on improving your ability as a fighter. I recommend this book without any hesitation.

Give props for writer/filmmaker/critic Cheo Coker for doing such a fine job of this book. And for Vibe magazine for keeping the legacy of Biggie alive. Who would've a remarkable talent like this will leave too early, too soon? This man had it all from his early childhood, to making grades at school, drug dealing, having trouble with the law and now leaving behind to start a new regime. First of all, he wasn't just a rapper or the Greatest per se, he wasn't just Notorious B.I.G. He was a man that been thru the storms and the upbeats and downs. It's more than the music, it's more than the lifestyle, this was the American Way at the time. What if Tupac and Biggie would never been caught up between East Coast and West Coast? What if they live a little longer to see the day and not be killed? I said it before this book details everything goes around and behind the sets here. Best Wishes for the new movie NOTORIOUS coming this January 2009. Let us learn the lessons and mistakes of the two beloved artists [Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G.] that made thru in they lifetimes and how they dreams became reality. Welcome to pass that on to our other generations and older alike. Rest in Peace Biggie you were on top.

Coker has written a readable, entertaining, and comprehensive biography of the man who became, rather improbably, the greatest rapper of all time. Focusing on his life, his titanic talent, his character, and the intrinsic grace of his storytelling, this book does not dwell on the petty rivalries that engrossed the media and dominated most discussions about Biggie Smalls. This book is overwhelmingly positive; in fact, the author seems somewhat infatuated with the subject, and this is the only reason I do not give the book 5 stars. For instance, Coker does not dwell on how Biggie exaggerated the poverty and depravation of his childhood to a great degree. But overall it is a great book that gives a solid feel of the life and times of the King of N-Y, although it is a bit of a puff piece.

Book Review: The Life, Death, And Afterlife of Notorious Of Big

By: Cheo Hodon Coker






The Notorious B.I.G. aka "Biggie" has left the rap game in body, but his music lives

on. Unbelievable; The life, death, and afterlife of The Notorious Big which was written

By: Cheo Hodon Coker. I gave it a five star rating; because it gave a better

understanding of Biggie problems and emotion that he faced on the streets of Brooklyn,

New York to the Hills of Hollywood, California. Coker makes it clear that Biggie

conquered the music industry with his street rhythms to win number of awards. Never

the less he come short to explain why when Biggie saw his wife Faith they did not talk to

each other for the last time.


The book was a good Biography of Notorious Big. It rest; fill with a lot of street

talking just as know Biggie to talk on a day to day bases. The book makes it seem as if

McPherson 2




Biggie was the person telling the story that how good the book is. It also explores a lot

of interesting issues that not many people are willing to talk about. Biggie had attended

Catholic School and getting a lot of things from his mother, who was a teacher, young

Biggie did not have much to do.


By the age of 16 he had dropped out of High School and had become a crack dealer.

Coker often said in the book that biggie just wanted more. Sean Combs, a Music

Producer, who pay Biggie money to stop selling crack. Biggie would not stop

because he had just had a baby and the music was not giving him the money he wanted

Combs one time had to went down south to get Biggie, because Biggie was down there

selling crack. Biggie often says that he did not think that he could make it in the rap

game.

Then come the war "East Coast" VS "West Coast", which the Media put a lot of

paper to the Fire and made it bigger. It ended up with the death of Tupac death, and then

soon it would be Biggie turn.

Over the entire book was a success I would recommend that people take out of there

busy life and read this book, most of all the rappers in the music busy now. It would also

help to stop the "Beefing" of rappers.

This book is Big as biggie smallz, i always respected Biggie smallz and i always wanted to know who really was Christopher wallace and when you read it you just fell pain for his mother, cause christopher was the son every mother want to have, this nigga could have done everything to see the people around him happy, when you read this you see how Biggie would never done nothing whrong to 2pac ,every hip hop fan have to buy this cause we all know many things about 2pac life but finally we don't know nothing about Biggie smalls , before reading this i was taking Big as the best flow hip hop will never had, after reading this book i thing that this fella was the realest hip hop will never have , i want to tell all the 2pac fan who take Biggie as the so called greatest to never forgot that 2pac has 6 lps before his death and Biggie got 2 only, this nigga was at the begining of his career and he was on his way to be the mike anyone jordan , jackson of hip hop!at the reading of this book you see that the 2 dearly legend of hip hop was two friend with nothing in common but with everything complementary, so enjoy cause this may not be the best biography i've read it's arleady one of the best ... it's 25 years full of love, pain, drugs,sex, guns , talent,women and many more!

A must read for anyone interested in the history of hip hop. Before I read it, I had only heard of the Notorious B.I.G. Now I feel as though I know him - personally.

During the 90's, when gansta rap and the East coast vs. West coast fight broke out, I was too busy working on my Bachelor's and Master's degrees to pay much attention to anything else.
I had also heard of Suge Knight and Sean Combs, but only from newspaper reports. Reading this book really filled in a lot of the details for me. Suge Knight is portrayed in a postive light as really caring for his artists and seeing to it that they were treated right. He became violent only when he thought that those artists were being taken advantage of, and that they (as well as he) were losing part of the money they were entitled to. I had always wondered what had prompted this violent streak of his. I remember the newspapers would only report the latest incidents, never try to explain them. The book also explains what it is, in fact, that Sean Combs does. I had always wondered: Is he a rapper? A producer? An executive? And, how did he amass so much money? Combs had always been a mystery to me. To some extent, he still is, but the book goes a long way toward solving this riddle too.

This book explores many interesting puzzles like these and shows how intricate relationships within the hip hop community had become, even by the 90's. Biggie Smalls is portrayed as a flawed yet sympathetic character. At first, he's a child attending Catholic school in uniform, who feels different from all the others hanging out on the corner. His mother is a teacher, he's fatherless, and while not rich, he's by no means poor. His mother gets all the latest gear for him so he doesn't go out and get in trouble. As he grows older, however, the lure of quick profits grows stronger, so that by the time he's 16, he's dropped out of school and become a full-time crack dealer. The book wants us to believe this is so he can buy even more of the latest gear, and that he's never statisfied with what he's got. I'm not sure that that's the whole story, but surely his life was never as bleak as what he depicted later in some of his songs. One gets the feeling that somewhere along the line, something just isn't right - either with the world, or with Biggie. Then, once Biggie becomes a rap star, he says in the book that he never expected to, that rapping was just a hobby and that the profession he had actually chosen was that of the crack dealer. So, we're expected to believe that this rap star thing just happened as a fluke, and came just as much as a surprise to him as to the rest of the world. Maybe all this is so, but if it isn't, the book makes no alternative explanations, nor even attempts to. All we're left with, instead, is an incomplete portrayal of the man who would later become known as the Notorious BIG. All in all, despite the inadequacies in the portrayal, one is still able to admire and respect the genius and charisma of this man. This is both a tribute to the man and to the author. It makes us aware that even legends have character pitfalls, yet we're still able to remember and love them for who they were.

What a great book, it speaks in my terms and I can easily understand every aspect of it.

This is one of the best systems to manage personal money accounts. A concise system if one uses it as it is laid out will provide the information to make informed personal financial decisions.

I also agree its a shame this book is out of print. Learning the basics of earning, saving and spending should be as essential as learning your ABC's. How can schools attempt to
prepare students for life as adults without a basic knowledge of
money. This book provides in a very basic, easy to read format the basics of saving, spending and accumulating wealth. Without
this knowledge the average persons spends an entire life making
financial mistakes while they chase an illusory dream of financial independence.

It's back in print!! My wife and I read and have tried to follow the advice in this entertaining and useful book. (We've read a lot of books on money management, but we think this one has the most practical ideas). We even had each of our teenagers read it through (with a small bribe!) -it was a good introduction to the real world of money they could understand. They were drawn more to the cartoons and quotes, and the stories of doctors and school teachers and their money problems.... Ben Franklin happens to be one of our heroes and we found that this book is based on the principles he followed, enabling him to retire when he was only 42. We especially appreciated what they call the "Spending Window.' It seems to have changed the way we look at our money and has solved a few disagreements on what to buy next. That was refreshing. The book teaches the foundational principles of saving, spending and investing.... We gave it to a few newly-married couples, and have heard back from some of them so far, who also said they really liked it and hoped to implement some of its ideas.

I have been a student of personal finance for many years (Charles Givens, and others) spent over a thousand dollars on what is good information, too. However, the biggest bang for the buck has to be Uncommon Cents. What they do in 114 pages is concise, entertaining, loaded with cartoons, and right on! The plan to get out of debt works, a personal testimonial, and the financial myths timeless. Highly recommended reading!

Venice for Pleasure is an off the beaten path sort of guide, filled with anecdotes, character sketches, and historic photos. Links takes his readers beyond the famous facades and brings the "theme park" to life. Fun to use then to keep and reread for reminiscence afterwards.

Terrific read for those intent on seeing the Venice that lies beyond Piazza San Marco and the Rialto Bridge. Whether you follow the author's routes on his strolls thru the sestieres, or just use his walks as a source of inspiration (as we did), this book is an indispensable addition to the library of anyone planning a trip to Venice. Thanks in large measure to encouragement offered by this book, we ventured into some of the nooks and crannys of this amazing city... we'll see St Mark's Basilica next time we go.

What a strange and wonderful little book!

Venice for Pleasure is essentially four walking tours told in a charmingly conversational style by an author who is clearly in love with Venice. Stopping in a Venetian cafe to read a passage is like having a friend leaning over your shoulder to recall the local history and gossip, point out fascinating details that you probably wouldn't have noticed, and make you smile with his dry wit.

We did all four walking tours and thoroughly enjoyed Links' companionship along the way; I can't recommend it highly enough if exploring Venice on foot is your aim. We also found the directions infallible.

Please note that this isn't a conventional guidebook, so you shouldn't expect logistical information.

If there is no such thing for you as having too much information, then think about buying this book. This book has walking itineraries including places to stop for rest and refreshment, and wonderful details on things to look at while you are walking and even while you are sitting down. This book is not useful for restaurants or hotels or hours that sites are open. Includes history, and comments on Venice from famous writers of the past like John Ruskin. It is to be savored.

Fantastic Book!!! I bought this for my wife as a memento of our 25th Anniversary trip to Venice. It was perfect. I highly recommend it to any armchair traveler who wants to "visit" the world's most romantic city. David

This is easily the most inspirational book I have ever read in my entire life. I picked it up to read to my little brother, thinking it was a cute children's book. However by the end of the book I was crying. It is the best book purchase I have ever made; I've owned it for about a three weeks now and I've read it every single day. Twenty dollars seems pricey, but for this book twenty dollars is more than worth it.

This book is lovely, charming and funny. I'm a psychologist and I will be reading it for my clients who are in group homes or foster homes.

Touching and beautiful both visually and in its text. A special book that invites you to be a part of it as you flip through the pages of different shapes and colours.

My parents bought this book for me when I was a little girl, in the 1970s. It had a powerful effect on me. I felt that someone, at last, understood what *I* experienced - the feelings of abandonment, of not fitting in, of not being liked, and of not giving up despite all of that...

Aside from the emotional impact, it was a fun book to read, almost a three- dimensional puzzle. The pages come in different shapes, and have a variety of cut-outs. It's fantastic! I have read this book so many times, I had to tape most of the pages back together.

I have treasured my very well-worn copy of LOVE for decades, and I have searched the used-book stores for another copy. I never found anyone who had even heard of it.

I am so excited to find that LOVE is available again! I hope you'll enjoy the book as much as I have, and share the feelings of the little girl in the story. With the right attitude, it *is* an abundant universe.

someone lend me this book, I thought it was just another "visually beautiful' book, until I started reading it and was totally engrossed in it, I cried when I read the last page, tears keep flowing down...amazing and magical how that few words touched me! It was a book that has little words and beautiful graphics, the story was told in an almost simple and straight forward way. The story about an orphan girl, who was abandoned by the parents at the age of nine, basically nobody like her and she was unattractive on the outside, doing many things that pissed people off..well I think she was trying to protect herself and distanced herself from people around her, it seems that she had given up hope on people, until the last page you realised that special thing that is always in her that she treasured and kept safe...it's like the whole world had let her down and she received no love at all from others, but she did not give up, she had hope and love in her, even though she was given none...I have no idea how to describe how the book touched me, it certainly touched me deeply, I wil never forget this wee girl...never ever...

This is a prequel of sorts to the Golden Chronicles series by Patricia Veryan and in it we get to see the beginnings of Treve's derring do to help the hunted Jacobites escape from England and get a glimpse of some of the other characters from later books. Treve is your typical cynical rake who's been wounded in love but he's also a man whose eyes show his sadness and longing for a wife and family of his own. Rebecca is a woman forced to seek out the biggest matrimonial fish she can land in order to pay her bills and keep the constable from the door. But she's also a woman who has known love in her family and marriage and longs for it again.

Veryan does a great job with the secondary characters and if you love descriptions of Georgian style clothes then this is the book for you.

I loved this book. It expertly combined humor with romance. If you're a romantic to the core I guarentee that you'll this book. Enjoy!

This is the story of Rebecca Parrish, who is widowed, has a five year old son, and a mass of debts since her husband was killed.
After the customary year of mourning, she comes back into society looking for a man to help pay her debts. She sets her eyes on Sir Peter Ward, handsome and RICH. But she is also drawn to Trevelyan deVillars (whom I love and is a great character) who is pennyless and a rake.
During Rebecca's quest to win Sir Peter, there is much hilarity, as well as duel and the appearance of Jacobite rebels.
I really recommend this book, which is probably my favorite by Ms. Veryan. But don't miss her other books, and you can find Trevelyan deVillars :) in her Golden Chronicles books.

Rebecca Parrish is a beautiful young woman who, although fond of the foolish husband who'd gotten himself killed in a duel, was finally ready to re-enter life after a year of mourning. Nearly destitute, the bills were piling up due to her late husband's mismanagement and gambling. She now is determined to find a wealthy father for her six-year-old son Anthony.

On her first foray out of widow's weeds she attracts two suitors: the dashing but impoverished Trevelyan de Villars, whose intentions are far from honorable, and the handsome, very rich, and impeccable gentleman Sir Peter Ward. Trevelyan, very cynically made a wager with Sir Peter involving the lovely widow and when Rebecca's beloved brother found out, he challenged Trevelyan to a duel. Rebecca believing all of the gossip of the sins attributed to Trevelyan, thought him a blackguard and made to feel uncomfortable over his ribald remarks and double entendres. These tended to only infuriate her more, but for the sake of her beloved brother she would do whatever she could to save him even if it meant compromising herself to the infuriating rake!

Meanwhile, danger lurked in a more sinister manner as treasonous Jacobites are pursued, captured and executed. Rebecca soon realizes that she has far more to worry about than snaring a future husband. Bravely, she must use all her wits and risks her very life to save a desperate, fugitive Jacobite. She soon realizes that people are seldom what they seem as she willingly is ready to toss aside security for love.

This was a most splendid tale of love and danger by one of the most accomplished romantic novelists writing today. I thoroughly enjoyed being propelled back into the Georgian period by the well researched and beautifully described costumes, palatial homes and events from that period. While such a plethora of secondary characters emerged, the reader is made to feel at ease with each and every one through a deft hand with the dialogs and cant of those times. This was truly an adventure in `time travel, fraught with comical situations, adventure, intrigue and a beautiful and tender romance. For those lovers of true historical romance genres, this is not to be missed and although out of print, it would prove to be worth the effort to locate a copy to relish a true master at her art!

Of course, I've pretty much loved all of Veryan's books, but this is my favorite. Rebecca is a smart, funny heroine who is neither overly prudish nor overly argumentative, the kind of heroine you don't find every day. And Trev- smart, funny, a rogue, handsome but human. I thought the story was very entertaining without being contrived, and Veryan's prose is very pleasant. I'm one of those readers who skims a lot when she starts getting bored by description, but I read and enjoyed every word of this book.

In this tale of Florence Colorado Miss Shelnutt introduces us to her aunts. These are the women who ran the Malt Shop above her mother's bakery. We get another glance at the sheer determination of our ancestors who made this country great. She also gives us a glance at what happens when these people are put aside. Thankfully Miss Shelnutt didn't put her Aunt away. It was during visits with her that the question "What do we get," came up. It was just another piece in the puzzle of life and maybe more. Take a trip to an old time malt shop and have a talk with an old friend.

>>>>Doing anything like Annie required that it be done simply, thoroughly, and correctly,using the best, fresh ingredients and never selling "old" stuff. And doing anything like Annie required a daily routine of diligence.<<<<<<

How do you sum up a long and productive life....so as to ensure it is given the meaning it deserves? This is likely too complex an issue for a short concise review of a short, concise story paying tribute to a long and productive life, but the paragraph above, appearing on Pg 5 of Linda Shelnutt's Visceral History tribute to her Aunt Annie Rocchio, isn't a bad start.

Annie and her two sisters and brother-in-law ran the Malt Shop, Bus Depot and Bakery in Florence, Colorado. Linda Shelnutt lived there in the building throughout much of her childhood and as a child in a family running a family business became familiar with every tile on the floor, and every other place that could collect dirt or grease that needed cleaning...And as anyone who's ever worked restaurants can tell you, that's quite a few places.

She first set about memorializing the business and the loved ones who ran it in Coal & Coca-Cola. This was largely the story of her mom Marge and her contributions to this place that saw the birth of the American institution,that blue collar classic diner delight, the Sloppy Joe. She hadn't developed her visceral history project or writing style in time to memorialize the contribution of Aunt Mary and Uncle Joe [who gave his name to the aforementioned culinary classic]. She did, however, manage to write one on Annie.

The portrait that emerges in fifteen fast-moving pages is the person described in the opening paragraph. A hard-working woman who put quality above profit and who enjoyed such simple pleasures as taking walks and solving crossword and jigsaw puzzles.

Like every chapter in Linda's Visceral History series, it includes a focused interview where the subject critiques her own life, then the perspectives of Linda and others who knew her. Like all of Linda's subjects, Annie reflects all that is wonderful and majestic about the Common People of America.

Annie was the one who said "we work all our lives and what do we get?" It is the building answer to that question which makes this particular history so enjoyable.... From the tongue-in-cheek answer "old" to....? What do you think this decent, hard-working woman finally concluded was the answer? I'll give you a hint...it's heartwarming...and well worth the quick, spirit-restoring read to find out.

Five Stars for tenderness, sensitivity and portrayal of a life well worth remembering. John W. Cassell

JOHN W. CASSELL is the author of seven novels in the action/adventure/ mystery and politico-military thriller genres. He retired in 2006 from a career in law enforcement spanning from 1971. His book Crossroads: 1969 is one of those selected for inclusion in this year's publication of London's Arts On The Underground Foundation: "Picadillyland", scheduled for release in June 2008.

Linda Shelnutt has written a wonderful story of family here. It is obvious where her heart lies. She uses such simple and tender words to guide her readers through personal adventures. The importance of family so evident and the short sentence I used as a title from the middle of this story shows me clearly the ease in which her family communicated. This story also brought to me an overwhelming feeling of deja vu. The mention of puzzles, both jigsaw and crossword, brought back memories of my own mother, who loved doing both.

Great story, Linda. Five stars.

Joshua Berry

This lovely story is a tribute to Annie. She was a hard worker all her life. Annie, along with the support of her two sisters, ran a bakery. The mouth-watering treats sound absolutely scrumptous. I admire the way this family loves and supports each other, bringing one another up rather than tearing them down.

This story of Linda's aunt is tender and touching. I can almost smell roses.
>>Is it within us to live in joy and go in peace?<<
This is a very joyful, peaceful, and beautiful story.

This saga, a portion of a family history, takes us down a road of memory, traditions, and heart-felt wisdom coined by someone whose family values include hard work and family connections.

Ms. Shelnutt's stories depicting portions of family history through the eyes of family members are compelling and heart-felt. From the first sentence, the reader is drawn into the memories and through senses, can almost see, smell and taste the culinary creations brought to life by the characters.

In this tale, Annie, at the end of her life, has questions about life's meaning. Through studying family photos and talking to family members, especially Ms. Shelnutt, she discovers that there is a lot to be gleaned from life experiences and that nothing in life is "lost". Everything can be treasured, with life lessons to be learned from each event.

I like the part where Ms. Shelnutt talks about life being like a puzzle in which we can see what we've made and what we've been given.

Compelling read that will linger in my mind for some time to come.

I have only just caught up with this book 14 years after it was published. Kisor is very good on how he managed a life as a deaf person who operates orally in a hearing world, and manages to be quite tactful in dealing with the subject of the Deaf -- people who use sign language. He is perhaps more tactful than he really should be in discussing the ignorance of a lot of educators of the severely hearing-impaired and the rather patronizing "poor-you" attitude they often take.

I can say this because I have only a little more hearing than Kisor -- and for the same reason, meningitis at the age of 3. I am ten years older than he but remember well some of the stages he describes so accurately and honestly. Like him, I was lucky in my early teachers and in being kept away from schools for the deaf.

It does need to be said that cognitive psychologists and students of child language have learned a great deal about child language development since Kisor and I were children and even since his book was published in 1991. Their progress dates from Noam Chomsky's destruction of behaviorist notions of language almost 50 years ago. I hope very much that things have changed significantly in the education of the deaf and severely hearing-impaired.

With luck, students will recognize that Kisor is describing a bygone era. But it is an era that was and is still well worth describing.

I read this book for an ASL class in college and wow. This book is great. An amazing autobiography written by a deaf man, Henry Kisor who has managed to exist in a hearing world as a deaf man strictly by lip reading. He has been a journalist and this is amazing to me. A wonderful story written in the point of view of a deaf man and his lifelong journey to success and living in the hearing world. Reading this book has made me take a look at my life and made me feel as if I could do anything.

I read this book back in 93 when I had just lost my hearing. I was 14 and dealing with suddenly becoming deaf. Most books about Deafness are written by physicians, or parents of the deaf, or children of the deaf, and not by the deaf themselves. Kisor's stories about lipreading and growing up and just being Deaf were wonderful for me to read. It gave me hope... if he is totally Deaf and can accomplish that much, then I, with a little bit of hearing left, certainly should be able to. I would certainly recommend this book to anyone deaf who is oral, anyone late deaffened, or anyone just interested in reading about the trials and joys of a hearing loss.

What should our attitude be towards the deaf? Kisor gives us good insight with his memoir which is beautifully, sensitively and humorouly written. Some would term him an outcast to both the deaf culture and the hearing culture, since he lipreads and doesn't sign. Can't possibly be happy because he can't fully participate in hearing world, he's missing so much. But Kisor disagrees.

He achieved more than most hearing, having accumulated great English language skills. He demonstrates with the rare book written about deafness from a deaf author. His title is fascinating, since it is from story regarding his five-year old son and the nuances lipreading has trouble discerning.

Yes, improvements have happened and will continue with behavioral psychology and deafness, but here the spirit of the human inside is spoken of, something that no program can really guarantee success, but determination, help and support will aid.

This marvelous memoir contributes much to this cause. It is a most wonderful read for all interested in what a deaf person in a hearing world might be going through, especially the emotional strains deafness brings with it. Much to be gleaned here.

I read this book back in 93 when I had just lost my hearing. I was 14 and dealing with suddenly becoming deaf. Most books about Deafness are written by physicians, or parents of the deaf, or children of the deaf, and not by the deaf themselves. Kisor's stories about lipreading and growing up and just being Deaf were wonderful for me to read. It gave me hope... if he is totally Deaf and can accomplish that much, then I, with a little bit of hearing left, certainly should be able to. I would certainly recommend this book to anyone deaf who is oral, anyone late deaffened, or anyone just interested in reading about the trials and joys of a hearing loss.