Publishers Books

This is a story that is more frightening than anything Stephen King has ever writter. It's a realistic 'The Bad News Bears' that will make any reader with an ounce of empathy feel like crying. The harrowing life that the children of the Cabrini projects must endure in their day-to-day existence is a bleak background of violence, drugs, and society gone wrong. The fact that Little League baseball can serve as a beacon for these kids is almost as amazing that a society like ours can let projects like the one depicted in this book exist.

A powerful, important novel, and one that should be read by anyone interested in learning about the differences that exist in our society.

Coyle gave a great story. He was very descriptive. His writing had the affect to make me able to visualize every character and setting. I've spent time in the projects on many occasions' with friends who stay there and I see these things all the time, except children are growing more love for basketball and football. Yet they still show the heart on the court and gridiron as they did in this story in the diamond.

This book is such a great find. Unlike the movie, this is the non-fiction account of a group of volunteer's attempts to organize a little league team in Chigago's Cabrini Green project, possibly the most infamous in the country. Don't expect any Keanu Reeves ex-gambler coaches to show up. Do expect great candor from the kids and an unmistakable affection from the author (who never appears in the book) for the players. Despite all the news stories you'll ever hear about urban decay, public housing and gang violence, it will never have the impact that some of these stories do (3 players lose their fathers during the season, one's is incarcerated, others can identify a gun's calibre by sound.) This story isn't unremittingly grim though and never is it preachy. Coyle's gift is to just let the children and the coaches speak as the story of the Kikuyus journey to the championships unfolds. There are so many sweet funny moments in this book: Louis' Star Search audition, the trip to the Iowa baseball camp (where hillbillies are more terrifying that gang bangers), Jalen's "Rude Dude" bat. Despite the fact that there are no sudden changes of heart, the players never quite permanently comes together as a team, and the league's two founders end up as mortal enemies, this is nonetheless an uplifting story. Some of the kids have potential, some don't, the odds are against most. Maybe a summer of baseball can't save them but as one of the League's founders poignantly notes, "If we save one, then this League is a success."

The best news is that while Cabrini itself is being razed, the Near North League continues. It's a shame this book is out of print. It is definitely worth seeking out.

In my top 3 books, sometimes my favorite. I would like to know where the author was and want to find out what happened to each and every member the team. I know i can't write, but the author and I, think alike and you will enjoy seeing life through these kids eyes.

... should make this book available again now that the movie HARDBALL has hit the screens. I read this book about three years ago or so when it first came out and thought it was a great read. I gave it to a fellow baseball fan, who is a supervising probation officer in our county. For those who feel that youth baseball (and youth sports) can often be more than just a game, this book is for you. Watching the movie last week brought back thoughts of this book. The movie does some Hollywood license on the story line (they win the title in the film) but essentially is well done and gives the essential message the author sought to convey.

This book and the film should be required viewing for suburban Little League teams which have as "must have" items the latest version $250 bats, batting gloves and all the new fangled gear that passes for "essential" baseball equipment these days.

In the film one of the kids is asked by the coach character as the kid returns to his housing project home full of problems and malingerers "What do you do for fun?" The kid responds: "I plaky baseball for you....." Ain't baseball great. This book plus the a little too sappy film shows us all why.

I really enjoyed this Bible. I bought it for my brother, who is obsessed with the Marines. I love its compact size and leather bound cover. The details are really there, and it looks like someone really cared about the marine it was going to. I also love at the back there are prayers, songs, hymns, and devotions for a marine on the go, with an index to point to scripture references. Very good, it is like a devo and Bible on the go.

I couldn't believe that I got this Bible the day after I ordered it!! One suggestion to other Marine Recruit Moms, I had several people write encouraging notes to my son and then I put them in various places in the Bible. That way when he got the Bible he also got lots of reminders that there were people back home that loved him and are very proud of him.

my son was going in the marines right after graduation, so I got him this as a grduation gift. It has prayers from president Washington to Bush. I saw my son reading it a lot the week before he went in.

I purchased this bible for my son before he left for bootcamp the first of March. He also recieved one at his farewell party. He was so glad to have them and has one with him. I looked all over for the right size of bible to get him and found this on Amazon. This is the perfect gift for anyone to purchase a Marine.

My husband and I presented this Bible to our son as a gift prior to entering boot camp. The Marine Corps is very particular about what a recruit can bring with him/her when they enter boot camp. One of the very few things they are allowed to bring is a personal Bible, and then, only if it is small enough to fit in the recruit's pocket. We were very happy to know that this Bible met the requirements and he was allowed to bring it with him. On top of that, it was a very handsome book with the USMC seal embossed in gold on the front. We were very, very pleased with it.

Healing Promises, the second book in Amy Wallace's Defender's of Hope series reunites all of our favorite characters from book one, Ransomed Dreams. Though all the characters are present, Healing Promises focuses on FBI Agent Clint Rollins and his oncologist wife, Sara, who struggles when Clint is diagnosed with cancer.

The book charges out of the gate with scenes featuring Clint, Michael, and Steven hard at work in the Crimes Against Children Unit at the FBI. As in Ransomed Dreams, the suspense plot in Healing Promise revolves around finding missing children, but this time we have a serial killer on the loose. One who loves to share his thinking and deeds with the readers in a very realistic way.

Healing Promises is a solid read that delves deeply into the characters personal lives and their struggle with trusting God to care for them. Wallace brings us a powerful message that we all can relate to as we battle on a daily basis with the many challenging blows we face.

In Healing Promises, Wallace has followed many of the writing techniques employed by good writers. The most notable, is to make your characters suffer and when you think they've had enough, make them suffer more. Wallace takes the characters in this book to their breaking point and then ups the ante, much as God seems to do in our lives. Wallace has done a thorough job of researching cancer treatments and provides the readers with just the right amount of information to make them understand the tremendous struggle involved in surviving this disease, but not too much to overpower the story.

Though this is a suspense novel, as it has the missing children theme woven through out and has very realistic scenes that delve into the killer's motivations, I found it to be equally or more so a contemporary novel featuring faith, love, loss, and relationship struggles. The suspense plot moves the story forward, but it's the characters that make this book well worth the read. So if you're looking for a rush to the finish action packed suspense book this isn't the story for you, but if you want to combine suspense and savor a little romance and a lot of personal life struggles along the way, pick up Healing Promises. You won't be disappointed.

The bullet that put FBI agent Clint Rollins in the hospital, just might have saved his life. The resulting tests show that he has cancer. Sara, his wife, an oncologist, knows exactly what they're facing. She's a Christian, but now her faith is faltering. Clint was involved in trying to catch a serial killer who preyed on young boys. He and Sara struggle to cope with his illness, as the case of the disappearing boys pulls him into a murky world of unimaginable evil. A strong faith message blended with great story telling.

Clint Rollins is a strong man. A well-respected and courageous FBI agent, he loves his job, loves bringing down the bad guys. But then a gunshot wound brings him down...and coincidentally saves his life when routine hospital tests reveal cancer. Maybe...just maybe...they've caught it in time to prevent the worst from happening.

As an oncologist, Dr. Sara Rollins works with cancer patients on a daily basis, constantly striving to bring them hope in often hopeless situations. But when the deadly disease strikes the man she loves, her entire life spins out of control. In the midst of the chaos of chemo treatments, mood swings, and depression--her own as well as Clint's--Sara struggles with diminishing faith and swiftly ebbing strength.

Clint insists on returning to work well before his doctors grant approval. Despite the debilitating side effects of chemotherapy, he's determined to stop a serial kidnapper who likes to play God with the lives of little brown-haired, blue-eyed boys. He too struggles with discouragement and wavering faith in a God he's always trusted implicitly.

For the kidnapper, Clint's interference is a thirteen-year-old poison. He fully intends to see the detective--and his family--pay for everything he has lost.

Healing Promises is an emotional journey through the lives of very real characters with heart-breakingly genuine problems. It's a lesson in trust, a vivid portrait of humanity in crisis and faith put to the ultimate test. It's a picture of tenacity and triumph, of joy and sorrow. And it's a beautiful example of learning to lean on a God who "giveth and taketh away," who loves unconditionally and without ceasing--a God who is good...all the time.

Amy Wallace delivers in Healing Promises. Absolutely unforgettable!

Amy Wallace once again tackles tough subject matter with skill and grace.

I'd heard mixed feedback before opening the cover of Healing Promises and I was concerned that I might not love it. One friend mentioned feeling a little like an emotional punching bag during her time with Clint and Sara.

I see where she was coming from -- the themes of cancer and child predators are grueling at best. Wallace fills her novel with clinical details and law enforcement procedure and the effects of the truth in those details applied to the lives of her characters. At times I needed to take a break from the emotion. Anyone dealing with close instances of child abuse or critical health issues might want to read the first chapter to get a feel for where Wallace takes the reader.

But the reader's emotional involvement in the lives of the characters and the angst over the drama shows Wallace's skill with storytelling. Her characters feel like real people and compassion comes into play. With several points of view the reader is able to get a sense of the major players as the story progresses -- a front row seat to the struggles and triumphs and the failings and sorrows.

Healing Promises continues the tale of Steven and Gracie so readers of Ransomed Dreams should feel at home, but Healing Promises can stand alone. Fans of Karen Kingsbury might want to check into Amy Wallace. I need to add a sensitivity warning. Some scenes are brutal. The novel is full of suffering and details that might make a reader squirm.

Amy Wallace can write a gripping tale of romantic suspense like none other. And Healing Promises was so riveting I finished it quickly despite my busy schedule. The characters were all very well developed and felt so real. I loved how romantic many of the scenes were, especially with Clint and Sara. Yet, they had their marital challenges, too. There were never pat answers to the trials they went through but true emotion and spiritual struggles abounded. I loved the honesty and the detail regarding Clint's struggle with his health. The research was very well done. I also loved how the author got me hooked in advance on the characters of Michael and Hanna. It's a no brainer that I am going to want to read the next installment in this series. I loved these secondary characters and the issues they struggled with. Very well done. This story had so many touching scenes and emotionally gripping conflicts that I can't pick one to discuss without spoiling the story. So I'll refrain. I have to say, however, that the POV of the killer was pretty creepy but very realistic. The psychology of the man was right on target and the hunt for the man who killed children was well paced enough to keep you on your seat and holding your breath. Sometimes when I read a book I find myself wanting to skip over some points of view to get to others but this story was well balanced in that respect. I'm just so impressed with this story. I loved it even more than the first book. It can only keep getting better. Highly recommended. This book is a winner!

the book just spoke to me.I am very new to practice and am looking forward to see where yoga practice takes me.

This book is what you need for mental, physical & spiritual health & growth. It's an owner's manual for the individual. It's the book you need to transform fear & anger into joy & peace, exactly what the title states. It's detailed with many examples, instructions, quotes & personal experiences to help you live the life you want to live. I would highly recommend this book to people who want to change.

Are you happy? Do you feel loved? To be able to truly feel and promote peace and love is our true nature, and going against that causes dis-ease in our world. In Heart and Science, Leonard gives us the knowledge and inspiration to reclaim that which will bring us the happiness, love and ease which we all long for. The wonderful thing about this book is its ease of readability. Along with the pictures, the clear and concise text makes it an invaluable resource book for everyone..... As our 10 year old son has remarked, "Leoneard really knows how to make people feel good!" Thank you, Leonard, for your loving commitment to all of us! Kathleen

I've read so many books on most yoga philosophies, which have profoundly influenced my life, but "The Heart And Science of Yoga" has tied up so many loose ends, even some I didn't realize existed. As a westerner reading eastern thought, it is a challenge at times, and I think I've comprehended to the best of my ability, but Dr. Perlmutter has opened the flood gates for me. I am so grateful for this book.

"The Heart and Science of Yoga" is just what serious spiritual seekers, and well-intentioned people alike need in a world that seems to change so much and be so difficult to understand. By combining careful, scholarly explanations of an ancient thought system with simple guidelines, the author shows us how to benefit from the teachings of yoga science. Engaging stories, both traditional and drawn from real life make the material approachable. The optimism and wonder make it a joyful experience to read this book. Don't miss it!

Christopher De Hamel's "A History of Illuminated Manuscripts" (now in its second edition) is certainly the definitive history for lay readers, but it is probably the best starting place for aspiring professionals as well. It is well-written, faultlessly researched, and copiously illustrated. I happily use it in my university course on illuminated manuscripts together with Ingo Walther's "Masterpieces of Illumination" (published by Taschen)--in my opinion, the perfect companion piece.

The second edition of De Hamel's book is structured as was the first: an informative introduction is followed by chapters which divide and discuss the manuscripts according to their intended users (missionaries, emperors, monks, students, aristocrats, everybody, priests, and collectors); an extended bibliography precedes several useful indexes. This Phaidon paperback edition is a beautiful book, with a white paper cover adorned with a full-color dust-jacket. Many new illustrations have been added, and there are many more color illustrations than there were in the first edition. More importantly, the text has been updated to reflect ongoing research in the field.

My only complaint about this edition is that many of the important full-color and full-page illustrations in the first edition (to which I often referred in my classes) have either been reduced in size or eliminated entirely in the new edition. There are also significant (and inexplicable) differences in the color reproduction of illuminations between the first (David R. Godine, Publisher) edition and this second (Phaidon Press) edition--sometimes the differences are so radical that only a close inspection (or a familiarity with the actual documents) reveals they are photographs of the same manuscript. And since many of these manuscripts are from private collections (to which Mr. De Hamel apparently gained access by reputation or through associations established during his tenure at Sotheby's), it would be impossible for most readers to know which of the differing reproductions are the more accurate. My own experience would suggest that not all the changes in the new Phaidon edition are indeed improvements.

Publishing faults aside, this is a fine book by a scholar with impeccable credentials and a gift for clarity and sensibility in his writing. I highly recommend it.

The title explains exactly what is in the book. It is very infomative and has tons of color illustrations of illuminated manuscripts.

I am thoroughly impressed with this book. Its scholarship is impressive and helpful in my preparations to study medieval history at Oxford. And the thoughtfully written bibliography and through indexing of the manuscripts illustrated assist further studies. Even though it's not on my official reading list and is certainly not a light nor compact book, I'm packing it and taking it with me.

But, as scholarly as this work is, if one simply wants an attractive coffee table book on the subject, this can certainly be one. If one wants a very readable, engagingly written, well illustrated introduction to illuminated manuscripts, this is for you as well.

There is even some helpful guidance on collecting the more available manuscripts such as Books of Hours. And as the Fellow Librarian of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge and with his 25 years experience in evaluating manuscripts for Sotheby's, Dr. De Hamel's knowledge is not just theoretical.

Yet the price is extremely reasonable for a book of this quality.

Simply a treasure in print, Christopher De Hamel's work on medieval manuscripts is an enjoyable and fact-filled romp through the Middle Ages as if no "darkness" in the period ever existed. Focusing on a descriptive narrative that is as delightful as it is informative, the text leads the reader from one interesting setting to another, belying the breadth and scope of its coverage. One meets the educational reformers in Charlemagne's court, the scribes of the cathedral schools of Laon and Chartres, the workers in English scriptoriums, and many others in this highly researched, but clearly and engagingly written book. The reader feels as if he is simply touring the European countryside from one location to another and watching the patient and unrelenting work of scribes, copyists, and illustrators as they seek to develop the most enduring artifact of the period. Underpinning the entire work is a series - no, a PLETHORA - of beautifully reproduced and highly detailed medieval manuscript reproductions, many of them full-page, to the extent that one finds himself questioning why the text doesn't cost three times the price. A rarity in that it contains both outstanding prose as well as stunningly reproduced photographs, this text should be in every medievalist's (and art lover's) own scriptorium.

I loved this book! I used it for a graduate course on Illuminated Manuscripts, and it was one of the main textbooks we used, but I used it often after the course as well. I really enjoyed reading it, and found that it was unlike most of the typical text books I had formerly used. For any art history student, it is an outstanding resource. For anyone who loves illuminated manuscripts, book arts, or the Medieval period in general, this is a wonderful resource. It is a book that I consider an indispensable resource in my personal library. It is very well written and easily accessible for anyone. Although some of the terminology may be unfamiliar, it isn't so esoteric that it is beyond the scope of general understanding. It is clearly one of the best resources on the subject that I have ever come across!

Consider starting with "Insulate and Weatherize: Expert Advice from Start to Finish" by Bruce Harley instead which is a more practical "Go Do It" book with lots of photographs.

A thorough review of everything you can do to save money and make your home energy efficient. Helpful photos, illustrations and charts. Good resource for understanding and maintaining major systems of a house such as heating and cooling, electric and appliances.

The first third of the book is general information about energy, how it is made, how to count it, how to work the numbers. It should be a required class textbook for High School seniors. This background information is very well written and easy to understand. But, that is not why folks should buy this book.

The real meat starts at about page 93 with some very important electrical power safety tips, followed by an appliance-by-appliance list of items that use energy in a typical North American home. It is alphabetical and organized like an index.

Each item listed includes information about the amount of energy it uses and tips on how to save money using it. The "what to do" information is very specific and easy to put into practice. It starts with Air Cleaners and goes right through to Well Pumps.

Some items get just a sentence or two and others get a whole chapter. The biggest energy users get the most page space. Hot water, heating and air conditioning get their own chapters, as they should.

Like most grouchy old engineers, I read the book looking for details to disagree with. That approach was rewarded with frustration. In fact, there is so much good stuff in this book that I put it on the shelf next to my desk where it will be a handy reference.

I am forever getting questions from folks wanting to know how much they save when they shut off the item in question. The book has a handy chart, as appendix C, which does a good job answering that question.

More importantly, it provides focus for action by letting you identify the big energy users in your home. I get too many questions from people worried about the cost of running a computer when they should be focused on their heating, cooling and kitchen energy use.

The book is targeted at folks who own a house, but renters should read it too. If you pay the energy bill at your home this book will pay back the cover price many times over.

Good read, I got a lot out of this book. The author really knows his stuff.

This is the best book I've read on the subject of improving household energy efficiency. Many of the books I've read in the past go through the basic things that homeowners can do to improve efficience, but this book explains the hows AND the whys.

The book surprised me when I first started reading it. I expected another "easy reader" on the subject. I was pleasantly surprised to find detailed explanations on why things should be done, situations where a particular improvement may not be the best, and how to approach the many different systems in a house - air heating and cooling, envelope, insulation, water heating, ventilation, etc. It was also refreshing to find different ways of examining the same system - for example, amount of fuel used for different heating systems, amount of heat generated for a particular type of fuel, and all the relationships between them.

As you start reading, you will find a lot of sidebars and short stories to highlight the discussion in the chapter. One thing I found slightly annoying is the number of Math Boxes that interrupt the flow of the book early on. These are sidebars that present sample calculations for the various topics, e.g. efficiency, fuel used for different heating systems, etc. I'd prefer the Math Boxes to be contained in an appendix with references in the main body of the book, but that's just me. Other readers may not find this annoying, and it's certainly not enough for me to reduce my rating of the book.

I highly recommend this book if you are serious about exploring ways to improve your house's efficiency. It's not an "easy reader", but it's well worth the time to read through it.

How to Manage Your Parents (without manipulation) takes a look at familial relationships and offers guidance toward pure success. How to Manage Your Parents(without manipuation) uses inspiring references for those looking to have meaningful, fulfilling relationships within their family. Anyone could find this guide helpful and enlightening.

I am a mother of three children (2 sons, 1 daughter) and have read many books on how I should raise my children. How to Manage Your Parents - without manipulation, is the 1st book that "hits the nail on the head." The book empowers with knowledge and skills to to get along with his / her parents. How to Manage Your Parents is the children's book for the 21st centruy. It is my choice for the next best seller and Oprah's book club!

"How to Manage Your Parents" (without manipulation), captures the importance of communication, flexibility and mutural respect among family members. "And oh how we need it!

I am a mother of three children (2 sons, 1 daughter) and have read many books on how I should raise my children. How to Manage Your Parents - without manipulation, is the 1st book that "hits the nail on the head." The book empowers with knowledge and skills to to get along with his / her parents. How to Manage Your Parents is the children's book for the 21st centruy. It is my choice for the next best seller and Oprah's book club!

We have just been introduced to How to Manage Your Parents (without manipulation), here at Spelman College, Atlanta, Georgia. We are impressed with this innovative concept to empower the child to determine his or her destiny. The book is very easy to read for children and young adults. It is very practical and powerful! Every college student should read this book.

I haven't tried to get my script published yet, so I can't honestly say if this book "works" or not. Also, it's the first book on script writing/selling that I've read. So that said, while I don't have any comparisons to other books that I can make, I can say that this books was a good introduction to a world I was pretty unfamiliar with.

I liked the easy to follow format and structure of the book, as well as the authors' realistic but optimistic approach. I was pleased that the authors' presented varying points of view regarding various topics (i.e. sending scripts vs. query letters). Also, the resource list in the back, and glossary at the beginning, are wonderful for someone (like myself) who doesn't know where to start.

An interesting and fun read, and a seemingly practical approach. I felt like I learned something!

It is a ggod book, but in the entertainment word it is not what you know, but who you know.

Writing a screenplay for the movies or for television is only the beginning of the process. Once the script is written it must be pitched (sold) to a studio executive or a production company producer. Expertly co-authored by veteran script writers Lydia and Joan Wilen, "How To Sell Your Screenplay: A Realistic Guide To Getting A Television Or Film Deal" provides an informed and informative introduction to how the script writing business works, what the components of a professional-looking screenplay are, and how to format a script to make the best impression. "How To Sell Your Screenplay" then goes on to explain the role and importance of agent and managers, producers, lawyers, directors, and actors. Enhanced with the example of an effective query letter, "How To Sell Your Screenplay" also features the 'Square One System' for submitting scripts with a minimum of time, cost and effort, while achieving a maximum of success. Of special value is the up-to-date listing of resources, the advice for improving pitching skills, and avoiding common mistakes in pitching a script. Simply stated, "How To Sell Your Screenplay" should be considered 'must reading' for all aspiring script writers seeking to establish themselves professionally.

There are endless how-to volumes that skirt the necessary information needed to break down the vaulted door to Hollywood. Between the covers of such books are topics ranging from the author's personal brilliance to trivial and irrelevant sidebars. If you like that sort of thing, good news! There's plenty to choose from.

However, Lydia and Joan Wilen have written the authoritative book for beginning scripters. The Wilens have actually had their material produced. That in itself is a feat most screenwriting "experts" can't boast of. So, when they have a suggestion, I pay attention. And what they have to say has led me to a legitimate producer who has requested my script. In fact, favorable suggestions were offered, which I've incorporated into a revised draft that's being read even as this is being written.

The point is, none of this would have occured had I not purchased How to Sell Your Screenplay. My dog-eared copy has helped open a door for me not previously accessible. Buy this book, read it, then read it again before embarking on a journey as treacherous as writing a script - selling it!

Despite the authors' distance from Hollywood and lack of produced experience as screenwriters, they've done a fabulous job--partly because of the excellent rubrics of the SquareOne Writers Guide series--of putting together a solid overview of what's involved in making a screenplay sale. The book contains invaluable sidebars--from sample collaboration agreement to sample query letters--that alone makes it worth the cover price. The systematic approach to marketing, glossary of industry terms, along with advice on containing your ego and controlling your emotions-all add up to making this a must in the Hollywood storyteller's library.

The Hunting of the Snark is a whacky piece of poetical silliness by Lewis Caroll. Complete nonsense, no-one knows what a Snark is, or why Snark hunters hunt it, or why anyone would want to become a Snark hunter to start with. Anyway, the poem is definitely amusing at times with some of the humour he slips in.

The Hunting of the Snark seems to be a very, very short imitation of The Canterbury Tales. The first chapter (titled a fit) introduces all of the occupations of all the different people going on a journey. However, instead of going on a general pilgrimage and telling tales along the way, their trip is very specific to hunting.

The Baker actually attempts to tell a story, but the Bellman (who leads the group) says there's no time for storytelling. They have to catch the Snark before nightfall.

Along with the Bellman and Baker, a Banker, a Bonnet-maker, a Butcher, a Boots, a Billiard-maker, a Barrister, a Broker, and a Beaver tag along to hunt for the Snark. The Beaver is afraid of getting cut by the Butcher, so he puts on a dagger-proof coat and talks to the Banker about buying an insurance policy.

The Beaver is involved in a hilarious scene with the Butcher later, when the two attempt to compute sums. But perhaps the funniest scene of the entire book is in the Barrister's dream when the Snark declares sentence on a pig, only to find out the pig has been dead long before the trial even began.

I'd highly recommend this short poem for Carroll fans, even though it's not big enough to contain but a small portion of what's to be found in the Alice books.

I have read a great deal of nonsense in the past, but this was by far the best nonsense that I have ever read. There is no point, no meaning, no sense, and no boringness. It is a delightful poem (which is well written and very fun to read aloud) about a crew on a ship hunting a snark. The crew includes a captain who only rings a bell, a beaver, a cook who only cooks beavers (the beaver and the cook did not get along well), a man afraid that the snark would turn into a boojum and make him disappear, etc. As you can tell, this makes for an insanely silly poem. The subtitle is rather fitting, as my sides were definitely hurting from laughter when I was done. Well done Mr. Carroll.

Overall grade: A+

Nonsense poems can easily miss the mark
Yet, this masterpiece has that spark.

"How do you kill a _____?", you ask
To find the answer was the hunters' task.

"What was their fate?", you wonder
Did they ever catch their elusive plunder?

A paragon of haunting Carollian lore
Be in no doubt that you'll finish wanting more.

This poem is just great!

First, this one of the most delightful pieces of writing that ever appeared in (more or less) English. It succeeds as a sustained exercise in illogic. I am sure that only a mathematical logician like Dodgson could possibly have pulled it off - only someone with such deep understanding of reason could master unreason so completely.

Second, Martin Gardner's commentary adds depth and background to the reading. Gardner explains terms that are now obsolete, but also adds his own analysis and a rich history of the Snark phenomenon. It should be no surprise that Gardner is still best known as the long-time editor of Scientific American's column on Mathematical Games, a mathematician himself.

I can't add much to the scholarship or praise that already surrounds this incredible poem. I would like to point out, however, that most non-native English speakers are unfamiliar with this poem. Many of them have only ever seen the serious side of the English language, and have never seen English at play. I consider this short work to be the ideal introduction to the very best of English-language nonsense.

//wiredweird

Every Christmas I buy multiple copies of the best book I've read all year long and give a copy to everyone on my gift list. There is no contest this year! Impressions in Clay is the winner (and it's only August). Everyone will enjoy AND learn from this little book filled with fascinating facts, quotes, Scripture, stories, and profound truths. Wendy Lawton reveals fascinating details about her life, her art, and her own Creator--in a way that challenges me to understand the heat of trials and to look with hope to what God is shaping out of my life day by day. Any adult--even teens and seniors--will find great encouragement in this small, easy-to-read treasure!

This beautiful book is a feast to read. I loved Wendy's insights into the process of becoming a vessel God can use, for our good and his glory. As she writes about being an artist fashioning clay, I found myself on a delicious journey into her world. And for me, the reminder to view the Potter's work through the perspective of time was just what I needed to hear in this season of life.

Wendy's expertise as a sculptor lays a solid foundation for this powerful little book and the spiritual truths it teaches. Its anecdotes, Scriptures, quotes, and prayers enhance the underlying theme -- that God is the Potter, we are His clay, and He is transforming us into vessels fit for His highest purpose. Perfect for gift-giving!

Just as a useless slab of clay becomes a face of beauty in the hands of master sculptor, Wendy Lawton, she convinced me that I, too, can become a woman of beauty when I submit to the loving hands of the Master Potter. Impressions in Clay deepened my desire to become a vessel of worth as Wendy molded my thoughts through poignant stories and powerful imagery. The authoritative chronicle of the sculpting process left my heart yearning to become all that I was created to be. Thank you, Wendy, for calling me to the Potter's wheel.
Jill Rigby-Author of Manners of the Heart

Just when I thought there couldn't be another metaphor on the potter and the clay, Wendy Lawton pens a book that proves me absolutely incorrect. This mighty little book is one you'll go back to again and again. If you want to give a wonderful gift to someone you love, I highly recommend you give this book! Your friends and family will thank you.