N Books

Slow Way Home is really a nice read. Light, easy, sweet in spots, slice of life story and interesting. It is an important fiction since it deals with the issue of an absent parent, grandparents raising a young boy, a parent who has a wilder lifestyle - not necessarily condusive to raising a child, and legal issues.

It's not my style to write a review that is a book report but instead to give some simple facts and advise if I believe it is worth reading.

With the above in mind and simple facts given, I believe this is worth reading. WHile it isn't a challenging read and is a little predictable, it is new territory for fiction and well done overall.

Borrow it, read it.

Enjoyed it thoroughly - THANK YOU!

Slow Way Home by Michael Morris is a good Southern novel with an extremely strong little boy as the main character. The author does a terrific job at capturing Brandon's anger and helplessness as he is pushed around from one family to another. Brandon Willard is abandoned by his mother to his grandparents, but when she decides she wants him back, they take him on the run. Poor Brandon is moved again and again before finally finding his way home. There are Christian elements to this book, but they aren't overemphasized. The way Brandon clings to Jesus is a strong testimony to the power of the Spirit. The episode with the Ku Klux Klan in Florida seems a bit odd, but much of the book is made up of short, odd episodes in this little boy's life, perhaps it was intentional. The one complaint I have about Morris' writing style is his overuse of metaphors and similes. Many paragraphs end with one or the other, and while some are powerful, the amount of them makes the reader immune to their power.

From the first sentence spoken by Brandon to the last one written by the author in the acknowledgement section, this book had me spell bound. I was lost in the world of Brandon, a boy I saw as a modern day Tom Sawyer. Having lived most of my life in New York (moved to south Florida six years ago) I enjoyed the 'old south' setting of the panhandle of Florida. There are lots of characters to savor in this book but by far the young narrator Brandon outshines them all. A beautiful story. Today I'm going to the library to see what other books I can find by this author.

A young boy is a pawn in a custody fight between his grandparents and his broken mother. While at first it appears that there is one victor in this case, the author draws out the complexities involved in such cases and adequately shows how no one wins when the custody of a child is at stake.

I found this story to be one of heart felt redemption. While the opening scene pulled me into the book, it is the young boy's voice that forced me to keep reading. This novel is tragic, tender, and most of all very real. The writing is artfully crafted and the plot, while sometimes predictable, does not disappoint.

This book is the real deal! Truly authentic. Just like my Nonis cooking. Try the tortellini recpie and cookem in Chicken broth, en brodo! You will die and go to food heaven!

I love cookbooks, and I love to cook. I have an extensive library of cookbooks, and this one is absolutely one of the best. The instructions are clear, the food is exquisite, and, above all, this book is a pleasure to read. I love learning the history of the recipes, the anecdotes add to the enjoyment. This is by no means a basic cookbook, it is definitely for the cook who goes beyond the basics, and many of the recipes require a long list of ingredients and lots of time. The results, however, are well worth the effort, and, for those who enjoy cooking, this book is a must.

Before there was a food show available every minute of the day on TV, passionate American cooks learned how to cook at their local cooking school. For many years, before her popular NPR radio show (also called The Splendid Table) went on the air, Lynne Rosetto Kasper was one of the most beloved teachers on the circuit. I saw her teach many times, and I still use her tips and recipes. (For example, soak raw onion slices in a little vinegar or water to remove their sharpness in salads.) This book was published in 1992, so it didn't benefit from online bookstore sales, and the fact that few people have reviewed it shows how it got lost in the shuffle. If you are a fan of Giada and Mario, make room in your bookshelf for Lynne, who really raised the bar for Italian cooking in this country. These are not fast-and-easy recipes, only incredible dishes with depth of flavor that you rarely see anymore in cookbooks. I have fond memories of the Jam Tart, the vinaigrette with sauteed shallots and garlic, and the long-simmered ragu. It is one of the very few books that has won both IACP and James Beard awards for Cookbook of the Year (akin to winning the Oscar and the Golden Globe for Best Picture). Three words: Buy This Book.

I used to work in a great italian restaurant. One of the books from the chef's library that stood out was this one. It has great recipes. Very true to the food. Close your eyes. Pick a recipe. Make it and its a hit!
I am one that LOOOOVES to "twik" recipes. With this book, there is no need.

I'm surpised no one has reviewed this book yet. A winner of prestigous book awards, I say without question that this is my favorite cookbook. (Julia Child's The Way to Cook comes in a close second)..I was working in a high-end Italian restaurant in San Franciso that also sold fresh food, Italian wines, and great cookbooks. The author was there to prepare dishes from this book, so I got to meet her, taste her food, and got a signed copy. Not only was she nice, she really knows how to cook. The food is from Reggio-Emilia, in the center of Italy, and the true home of Prosciutto, Bologna, Pamigiano Reggiano, Balsamic vinegar (the REAL balsamic vinegar) among other fantastic food. The recipes are comprehensive, very well written, and authentic. She gives background and hints, and the book is very educational and interesting just to read. She even tells you step by step how to make real pasta, and find ingredients. I've made many recipes and they are all so good. This is a book where I would make something for a dinner party without testing it beforehand; that is how much I trust it. Worth every penny!

This wonderful, entertainingly written account of a Sports Illustrated writer's sabbatical at the religiously-based St. John's University will surprise and delight you (as, I think, the experience did him).

Like many of the reviewers before me, I've grown tired of the NFL and NCAA Division I football, and now prefer small college and high school football. This is a great way to be introduced to the game at that level, although you never really get to know John Gagliardi as well as you'd like (a fact that frustrates Murphy). Murphy will at times give away how a particular game ends early in the chapter dealing with it, but it's never a great distraction because the story is so well told.

The only shortcomings to me are the lack of photos or stats, plus I detect an occasional bit of smugness on the part of both Murphy and his wife in their dealings with the locals (News flash: Minnesota is NOT the Bay Area), but he IS a very funny and perceptive writer and this is a worthwhile read.

I really enjoyed this book that is about a football season, but also about so much more, including marriage, raising children, coaching and the personalities at this small school in Minnesota. While we often think of Lombardi and Bear Bryant school of hard-driving coaching, it turns out the softer style of coach Gags can also be successful. This book reminded a lot of First and Last Seasons: A Father, A Son, and Sunday Afternoon Football, another book about football but also a lot more.

I read this book after reading Mr. Murphy's "How Tough Could It B?" and loving it. Although I'm not much for football I thought I'd give this book a try because I enjoyed his writing. It was terrific - a great commentary on St. John's and its coach as well as another look at Mr. Murphy's refreshingly real family (well, perhaps they are not real but they sure are like my husband and children). I'm waiting for another book please!

Lack of pictures and statistics of Gagliardi's 50 years in coaching cause this book to come up just short of 5 stars. Also, I expected the author to provide a few more "game details". I actually found the epilogue, where St. Johns makes it to the Divison III championship game the following season, more exciting than the body of the book.

I thought this was an amazing book. Lisa has a way of giving advice and encouragement that never sounds condescending or preachy. She really has a beautiful spirit. I've given this book as a gift to several of my girlfriends.

Not only is a quick read, it has some great ideas for how to help any Mom with the struggles that she faces every day. I really enjoyed it and look forward to trying ideas in her "rest stops". One note though it is very spiritual, so if that isn't your thing you may not like it as much.

I am always looking for help getting myself better organized and doing what is right not what is easy. This is an awesome book with great suggestions. Thanks Lisa!

This is a great resource for mothers with small children who struggle with making time for their spiritual side. Many practical suggestions that can be incorporated in everyday life. I would recommend it highly.

I really enjoyed this book and found it very helpful. Lisa shows busy moms how to take care of their spirits, bodies, souls, selves, and relationships. After discussing the importance of each area, she gives several specific examples of how to take care of this part of you. For example, under taking care of your soul, she lists some fun things to do with your family--such as pillow fights, a paper airplane distance contest (big hit at my house!), making a house out of cardboard and having a meal in it, playing dodgeball (outside!), buying a cake and having them print "Happy Monday" on it, taking the kids to breakfast at a fast food restaurant in their pajamas, etc. I liked that she not only discussed general considerations for us as moms and WHY it is so important to take care of ourselves (and that we aren't being selfish in doing so), but she shows us HOW.

This book is well written and easy to read and understand. The literary quality is not lost in the scientific terminology. A must read prior to a trip to the tropics. A good written explanation of why we should save the tropical forests.

I just loved this book. I have always been fascinated by tropical forests, and this book did a great job of presenting lots of factual information about them and at the same time giving a really good feeling for the aesthetic pleasure of being in one. Forsyth and Miyata are excellent writers, among the best pop science writers I've come across.

I just wish I had read this book before before or during my recent Costa Rica vacation. it would have made it all that much more enjoyable.

It's much more readable than a textbook but still provides a lot of detail. It's probably an excellent way to actually gain some understanding of tropical nature, and the many types of inter-relationships. I'm a biologist by training, but knowing nothing about tropical nature I wanted to learn about it before going on a tour in Panama & Costa Rica. It's easy to read a chapter at a time. I recommend it if you're really interested in nature or if you're going there or been there.

I first read this book when I was on a jungle trek in Ecuador - it was available in our lodge. This book perfectly reflected our experience of life and death of the rain forest. It's an essential first read for someone who wants to truly understand the basic concepts of the rain forest. I happily read it over again whenever I return to the rain forest whether it's in Borneo, Peru or Costa Rica.

Still in print and selling well 23 years after its first publication, this is a classic book about the beauty and importance of rain forests and their many inhabitants, both plant and animal. I read this book for an undergraduate class that included a trip to Costa Rica. It's an interesting blend of history, organismal biology, and plea for conservation. It also contains practical information about how to hike around in a rain forest. Overall, a very pleasant read told in a conversational manner. Author of Adjust Your Brain: A Practical Theory for Maximizing Mental Health.

I bought this book as a gift for my son who is a police officer. It was on his wish list. I could not believe how fast it came. It's like I placed the order, went to the door and there it was! Almost. It was packed well and arrived in pristine condition. Thanks.

The book is a large collection of very short cop recollections. Most of them are sentimental and warm and fuzzy. Like one tale about rescuing GI. Joe from a storm drain. Awwwwwww!

I dont recommend the book for boredom relief.

A COP'S LIFE, by Sutton, is what you want.

This really reminds me of when there is a lull in calls and we are able to sit around, drink some coffee, and tell some "You remember when..." stories.

Randy Sutton has done a superlative job of putting together the best collection of police stories I have ever seen. He touches the soul of the law enforcement officer from the mundane to the terrifying and heart rending, with each story standing alone as a classic--and a tribute to all who have worn the badge. Some of the shortest are the most touching, and behind the solid image that all cops are asked to maintain, one gets to hear the emotions they keep to themselves because no one wants to hear them. This is not a collection for those greedy for blazing gun battles and wild chases, though there are a few, as there should be, and they are painful to read--the horror of survival is not like television, brushing off the dust and "back to work."

These are stories by men and women who work a world of darkness and strive to find, in it all, a little humor, a little humanity, a little something to hang on to. My hat is off to all who contributed to this book--I know it wasn't easy.

This is the book I suggest cops hold onto and leave for those after them to read. They'll understand.

Andy O'Hara, Badge of Life

So... This is an amazing book that allows you to reach down deep into the minds and souls of the police officers. Just like Sutton's "A Cops Life" I found this book to be amazing. It also has a section dedicated to the officers of 9/11. Sure we have all heard about 9/11 but have you heard true behind the scenes, in the hearts and minds of a police officer who responded that horrible day and survives?

As a "professional" dieter for many years I was a bit skeptical when I purchased the Automatic Diet. While it is true there is no magic formula for weight loss ( too bad), I did like the practical approach suggested in this book. Although a lot of the information is just plain old common sense, it provided a refresher course on the best way to succeed at any diet, simply but making simple but permanent changes to make your "diet" a permanent way of life, hopefully leading to permanent weight loss.

This book goes a long way to help us understand eating behavior and how to break unhealthy habits and develop healthy ones

After losing 40 pounds on Weight Watchers, tremendously improving my health, my appearance, and my pleasure in life, I started regaining weight and could not stop gaining. Rejoining Weight Watchers did not help. I kept gaining! I was at the point where I could not stick to a diet for more than four hours! I was desparate by the time I'd regained 25 of the 40 pounds I'd lost. Fortunately, I found Charles Platkin's The Automatic Diet and was able to turn things around. He explains not only what to do but also how to do it and make it part of a lifestyle I can comfortably live with. One week after starting to follow his suggestions, I was down four pounds and am actually enjoying my life while losing! Many of his suggestions are things I already knew but it was like taking an advanced course after completing a beginners course. I've read many wonderful books on fitness and nutrition, but Charles Platkin just puts everything together in a simple way that works and that I (or anyone) can enjoy living with!

"Muscle mass is the body's most ancient furnace." ~Charles Stuart Platkin

Charles Stuart Platkin's "Breaking the Pattern" helped me to analyze my self-sabotaging behaviors and again in The Automatic Diet, he presents strategies for overcoming negative patterns in eating.

The Automatic Diet presents ideas for promoting overall health, controlling weight and enhancing your self-esteem. Charles Stuart Platkin unveils misconceptions about weight control and shows you how to have long-term success.

The Diet Detective takes you through your eating behaviors and you can decide if you want to include behavior modification strategies to your everyday diet. Through self-analysis you start to break negative patterns and destructive eating tendencies. He explains how most diets deliver temporary results and most people gain the weight back. How is this diet different?

This is not a diet where you have to give up chocolate (Who could give up Leonidas Belgium chocolates?) or your favorite foods. What the author seeks to encourage is a healthier lifestyle. Since most diets don't bring the results we are looking for, Charles Stuart Platkin advises a lifestyle change. In most cases, he doesn't take away foods like popcorn and carrots; he shows you the best choice. There are a few lists of "items you ought to think about throwing out." These include the usual suspects - sugar, soda, ice cream. I was a little shocked to learn about the calories in the Starbucks Classic Coffee Cake.

I still think in moderation, you can handle a little ice cream, although I must say I feel terrible if I eat too much sugar in a day and it can produce the feeling of chronic fatigue for 24 hours. The author recommends good protein sources, a good variety of vegetables and healthy starch choices.

I am happy to see that another author is talking about the muscle mass issue, because this could help many dieters over the initial hurdles of initial weight gain when you start to exercise. The author also explains why a drastic reduction in calories triggers the body's famine-survival mechanism. This of course slows down your metabolism.

There are also ideas about "excuse busters" and self-talk is definitely your friend or enemy. My most recent self-talk to increase my exercise includes telling myself how good I'm going to feel after I exercise and eat my fruits and vegetables. Being proactive and buying clothes that are too small also seems to be good motivation. I also threw out any clothes that are too big for me, so I simply will have nothing to wear if I don't exercise.

Another idea is not buying anything that you know you should not be eating and buying lots of things you know you should be eating. Then, when you are home and hungry, you make better choices. Doing Yoga also seems to help because it generally puts you in a much calmer state of mind and you feel more in control of your choices.

If you are heading towards 40, then you may also want to read The Metabolic Plan to learn about amazing supplements and how you can stop the aging process, increase muscle mass and feel younger each year.

~The Rebecca Review

I wanted to rate this book 3 1/2 stars.

While it is true that virtually nothing in this book could be considered "new" as in groundbreaking, it is the way he presents the information systematically that makes all the difference between his book and all the other diet books out there. His plan is sound, and it does take into consideration that perhaps some of us would rather eat spinach than bell peppers, if we do have to eat our vegetables.

However, what keeps this from being 5 stars:

1. No end-of-chapter summaries, which would have been extremely helpful.

2. The index is not that great. You cannot, for example, look up specific notebook exercises, and would be well-advised to make up your own location list for them. It would be nice if this oversight were remedied in the next edition.

3. I was surprised he would steer someone towards buying several different types of low-cal/low-fat ice cream, rather than suggest something healthier like a frozen fruit bar or a sorbet. Often you just want something cold, not necessarily rich in fat. And he mentions in one appendix how great this one product is, despite having some coconut oil in it (an ice cream product), yet fails to mention that by making some of these treats (and indeed other foods) yourself, you can cut out a lot of the fat/sugar, yet still have a great-tasting food.

4. In line with #3 above, I was somewhat disappointed that even though he often pointed out that so-called "fat-free" foods have just as many calories (or more) as their fatty cousins, he also tended to recommend "calorie-bargain" substitutes that could also be objectionable due to their ingredients. A lot of low-cal foods are chemical-laden, and to use another example, even if you are an ovo-lacto vegetarian, you are still not going to want gelatin in your food. So, reading the labels for nutrition information is not enough--you will also want to check the ingredient list as well, especially if you go the substitution route, as opposed to real portion control.

5. His suggestions for restaurant eating made it not worth the effort to eat out. Here's a better solution: order whatever you want, along with a take-home container. Immediately package up 1/2 or 2/3 of your meal for yourself the next day, or give the container to your friend or another family member to take home.

6. The book could have been written in a more organized fashion. Good tidbits of information are buried in the middle of long paragraphs, which makes it hard to refer back to the book for specifics.

Bottom line, buy this book. Dr. Barbara Rolls (of Volumetrics fame) wrote an introduction, and in addition to her book I would also recommend reading Dr. Shapiro's Picture Perfect Guide to Weight Loss books. He too falls into the "Frankenfood" substitution trap from time to time, but his books with their photos dovetail nicely with the Calorie Bargain/Calorie Rip-Off concept in this one.

I bought the trilogy for a nephew. I read it many years ago when I was in college. While this is a fictionalized version of the true story, it is fairly faithful to the facts and it successfully portrays the difficult lives of 18th century seaman. It inspired me to become a bit of a Bounty buff and I've read many books and articles of the true story. I think Men Against the Sea is the best narrative of the three.

The Bounty Triolgy is a story for all ages. I read it when I was 12 and I loved it. I read it again twenty years later in my early 30's, and I loved it. More than twenty later again, I just read for a third time, and I loved it. The Bounty is not only a great adventure, but there is magic in the story as told by Nordhoff and Hall. And just for fun, read Pitcairn's Island with evolutionary psychology, or even feminist doctrine, in mind. Or maybe not. Just enjoy the story. No better story could ever be handed to an author. And Nordhoff and Hall did the story justice. It's a timeless classic.

Wyeth Edition; contains Mutiny on the Bounty, Men against the Sea, and Pitcairn's Island.

The stories themselves are of historical interest because they are early historical fiction (originally published 1932-1934) before historical fiction became a separate section in the bookstore.

Excellent blend of history and fiction adventure interest. It is hard to tell where the history ends and the fiction begins, a testament to the skill of the writers.

Absolutely fascinating stories, each completely different in setting, action, and (mostly) characters. Hard to believe all three are written by the same pair of authors.

To all those actively seeking hardy adventure from the comfort of a chair:
Look no farther, your search has come to an end. This is it. This is 100% total immersion into a world of adventure. So this thing comes in three equally consuming parts. I mean who writes an entire book about sixteen guys stuck on a small wooden paddle boat out in the middle of the pacific, and makes it a treat to read? Hardy adventure seeker I have your fix, and it's not a quick fix, it's a time consuming gem that will have you in its grips until the last page is eaten up. I have to admit that I can't think of an adventure novel(trilogy) that I've enjoyed this much. Quality entertainment. Quality.

This was one of my favoret books... a must read!!!! In the first book, you begin to think captain Bligh is evil but in the second book he seems verry reasanable guy...

This was one of the most moving books that I've ever read. I lived in Rockaway Beach for four years (my father is from Rockaway originally) and I had first read the book when I moved into the neighborhood. I picked it up a few years later and was brought to tears. Rockaway is SUCH a tight-knit community and reading it the second time made it even more poignant as there were many people that I now knew well. It was well-written and for most people, Rockaway is a place that many forget. Rockaway lost over 80 firemen and policemen in 9/11, so it is not something that is taken lightly. It really is an amazing place to live, everyone knows your name, everyone looks out for you. I now live in Phoenix, but Rockaway will always have a special place in my heart. Thank you Kevin Boyle, for bringing this neighborhood to life. Never forget!!!

To know Rockaway is to absolutely know what it's like to not be able to live without Rockaway. Kevin Boyle captures Rockaway's darkest moments and shows how a community bonds together and rebuilds. He shows our strength and our unity during these tragic times. Thanks Kevin.

Kevin Boyle writes about Rockaway and its inhabitants with respect and humor. It has a nice balance of history, humor, and gripping unreal reality. I am from the area and lost a loved one. This book was tough for me but I can honestly say it is the most personal and realistic look at not just the firefighters that were lost, but the people that were lost. I recommend it.
- James Suhr

Fascinating account of the history of The Rockaways, and the devestating impact of 9/11 and the November 2001 airline accident. The reader is introduced to a number of families, and how they were impacted by the two tragedies. It is a wonderful read, and although The Rockaways are a scant few miles from Manhattan, the feeling is one of a small-town, where neighbors look out for neighbors and there is a community spirit of togetherness.

I must have read twenty 9/11 books and only came upon this after doing a search about 9/11 books. I had only heard of Rockaway Beach from the song, Rock, Rock, Rock, Rockaway Beach. I didn't know such an amazing place actually existed. Kevin Boyle writes of a place we want to call home and of people we want as friends. The bravery and toughness seen here is superhuman, and so is the goodness and strength. It's a story I'll never forget.

WE LOVE CHICKENS! WE LOVE SALSA! My son and I have a thing for fowl I suppose so when we see a book on chickens, ducks, turkeys or any other number of birds we nab it.

The chickens are tired of their feed,the pigs are tired of slop, the ducks are tired of fish. IT is a revolt in the barnyard, and thanks to that Rooster's ingenuity and the mice who know how to get stuff and the simply abundant crops on the farmer's land there is going to be a fiesta.

I read this story in the voice of a newscaster reporting a mystery. My son helps with the OLEs in the book. There are also a few (I think 4) recipes on the cover flaps, we have tried the Quack a Mole, and the Hog Wild Nachos. Good story, lots of fun, interactive recipes set the mood.

This one is a family favorite. We like that the recipes are included on the inside covers.

If I could give this book 6 stars I would. My children love this book and it is so much fun to read. The story is very interactive as the kids shout out "Salsa!" and "Ole!" etc. I have read this to my own children and groups of children and it never fails to capture everyone's attention (even the adults) and make everyone laugh. I don't think there has been a single time that I have read this book that I was not asked to please read it again, and again, and again..

Chicks and Salsa is a delight! Our little ones loved the story, funny names for familiar southwest food (Quackamole), and especially the refrain: "Olé."

Great gift book! We bought two as gifts for grandchildren, then two more for other friends, and finally one for the kindergarten teacher, along with a grocery gift card, since her classroom's certified for cooking. She loves it too. Chicks & Salsa's so ... "Ooo, la la!"

Wonderful read aloud. Illustrations are super and so is the vocabulary. You can't go wrong with this one. Wacky farm animals who are tired of the same old, same old. They are cooking up some interesting recipes. My daughter loved it and so did my 5th graders.