T Books

I agree with those below who consider this Brautigran's best work. I'll add that SO THE WIND is among my favorite books of all time, fiction or nonfiction. It does take you to an absolutely singular emotional/geographic landscape. Each sentence feels like it's reeling you further and further into the truth. I first read the book when I was 23, on the advice of a friend. It blew me away. :) Still does.

he takes you in into his heart in this one. the lost that he feels innocense blown away the ache in its place. Its a very ERRIE placeBrautigan walks us through a vanishing america wistfuly he must recover a past thats alreay extinct. HE THINKS THRU BACKWARDS PLACE METAPHORS AND SYMBOLS OF REGRET.places like tombstones on his path to escape an unfortunate act.AS always theres the random wonder in .

he takes you in into his heart in this one. the lost that he feels innocense blown away the ache in its place. Its a very ERRIE placeBrautigan walks us through a vanishing america wistfuly he must recover a past thats alreay extinct. HE THINKS THRU BACKWARDS PLACE METAPHORS AND SYMBOLS OF REGRET.places like tombstones on his path to escape an unfortunate act.AS always theres the random wonder in .

From a survey of reviews of Brautigan's work here at Amazon, it seems he is lost to Gen X or whatever they're calling "youth" these days. They don't "get" him, but maybe they should avoid "Trout Fishing in America" which is supposed to be his all-time classic. The three that truly deserve a place in the canon are "The Hawkline Monster," "Willard and his Bowling Trophies" (both written while Brautigan was in the ascendant) and this one, "So the Wind Won't Blow it All Away," his semi-autobiographical elegy to a lost America; not sentimental or maudlin, but mournful and challenging. I have never forgotten the scene of Brautigan and another soaking-wet ragamuffin shooting apples with .22s in an abandoned orchard, while the rain poured. "We were Pacific Northwest kids!" he shouts with defiant joy. The terminal scene, with the couple who take their couch with them fishing, teaches that living one's dreams necessarily entails exhibiting one's "eccenctricity" (actually authenticity). Brautigan did away with himself in his 40s due to a wife who fled, along with a career on the skids and alcohol (allegedly), but readers of this book know there was more to it than those merely contributing factors. Brautigan didn't want to pick up the pieces of his self after it had been homogenized and processed as we are now, in an age where we spend so much time staring at TV sets and video screens, and being stared at in return by "security" cameras. Suicide is a terrible wrong, but this little volume shows that Brautigan did not wish to endure the torments of a 21st century-style modernity, for fear of how he would be diminished by it. I liked him for many disparate and "crazy" reasons, including the fact that he was a true Oregonian westerner, Montana transplant and disparager of everything for which Woody Allen stands. Bruatigan and Keoruac could only have been Americans...The wind has blown a lot of it away, but maybe not all.

Richard Brautigan's story of a young boy whose life is forever changed by the decision not to eat a hamburger is simultaneously sweetly amusing and heartbreakingly tragic. That this novel is out of print, especially in light of his death in 1984, is equally tragic. If you read no other Brautigan work, read this novel.

Sometimes Art Can't Save You is powerful, compelling and poignant. Author Jill Ferguson has the courage to tackle the tough topics in society today. Jess has difficult issues to deal with and quite a story to share with the reader. The book is brilliantly written as if you are a trusted friend and Jess is sharing her secrets with you. It wasn't long until I forgot Jess was a character in a story. She became real, a friend I cared about. When she smiled, I smiled. When she cried, I cried. And when things were awful, I felt her pain. I anxiously await the sequel so I can continue on her journey.
Sometimes Art Can't Save You should be on high school reading lists. The difficult themes in the book will probably prevent that from happening, which is a shame. So I encourage teenagers, young adults, educators, and parents to read this important novel. A girl like Jess could be your friend, student, family member, or even you.

I loved every second of reading Sometime Art Can't Save You. It is thrilling, authentic, and captures teenage years by the neck. Abuse is more relevant for high schoolers than I thought and this book made me feel like I wasn't alone in the situation with my mom. The ending left me wanting more. I am already recommending this novel to friends and family and would happily purchase any other Jill Ferguson book in the future.

"Sometimes Art Can't Save You" is a poignant tale of an awkward teen who is living the nightmare of sexual abuse and self-mutilation. I was swept away into Jessica's world, related with her feelings of vulnerablity, mourned for her lost innocence and feelings of despair. Jill Ferguson brought these characters to life and exposed a reality so prevalent in modern society that one has no choice but to face it. The cliff hanger at the end fairly had me crying out. The next book cannot be published fast enough.

'Sometimes Art Can't Save You' is a must read book. It reveals the horrific world of abuse and secrecy in which the innocent are forced to live in. This book guides you through the life of the main character who is a sensitive young girl who's voice is caged by her painfuly unbearable family experiences. Jill Ferguson's book put me in that place and helped me to experience those emotions. This is something I would have never felt on my own and for this I thank her.

Ferguson captivates the teen experience so well, you'll be tempted to check in the mirror for pimples. The heroine, Jessica, thinks she's ugly. Is mortified by her mother. And is hesitant around the opposite sex. But poor Jess undergoes more than any normal teen. And you'll find yourself rooting for this child-woman, hoping she'll survive and find her way. This seemingly upbeat story takes a dark turn which leaves you thinking...and thinking....and thinking some more.

SQUIRE'S LEGACY is a story told with so much love of the author's family.It is a true story that any of us who have grown up in the mining communities of West Virginia in the 30's,40's and 50's can relate to in many ways. When I started reading this book,it touched my heart like no other. I read this book aloud to my husband. Being a native New Yorker, I knew he might not relate to the book as I did,and I wanted hime to know what my life was like growing up in southern West Virginia during that time. We were both held captive by this book,from beginning to end. We laughed together and cried together at their joys and their tragedies.In this book,the authors JAMES AND ELLIE WHITE have caught the very essence of what family is all about. Theirs is truly a love story told with much love and tenderness.

My husband and I grew up in the same area as portrayed in this book. We felt the honesty, storytelling, and details of the lives mentioned were just like we remembered. We laughed, and cried and wished others would read and apply the values taught in this book. It reminded us of hard times, hard work, the love and lessons we grew up experiencing. We would recommend this book to any and all who long to be inspired.

True, it is written in Appalachia by Appalachians, but it is a universal book about love, tragedy, courage, and seeing blessing in life regardless of circumstance. Not only does the reader see the pure love of the parent for the child, you see the pure love of the child for the parent; a child who finds joy in a parent who could have seen little reason for it himself, but who chose from the deepest resources in his being to continue to live a life that rewarded him and all that he touched. A must read. And you will also enjoy that it is based in the Center of the Appalachians.

I grew up in this coal mining town. The tragic and heartwarming events described in Squire's Legacy are very accurate.
We did not have money or material things, but we had lots of care and love.
Growing up in this small mountainous town of West Virginia helped me become more caring and loving to my fellowman. Hopefully this book will help all who read it do the same.
When I started reading this book, I could not put it down. The characters are so fascinating and true to life. You can tell that they are real. The first time I read it, I was afraid that I had missed some important parts, so I read it once more.
The Whites did a wonderful job. I highly recommend this book to the young and the old. The young will be enthralled and the old will remember all those days "gone by". A wonderful Christmas Gift for all.

Lois Legg
Hayes Va

Many have tried to portray the lives of the coal camps and the trials the people endured. This one succeeds highly.
I was the young boy who lost his father in a coal mine accident and knew Clifford and Ethel very well. Jim shows a
keen and accurate memory on these events and Ellies "editing" and writing are superb. They are to be congratulated. It has been said that someone is not really dead until they are forgotten. Jim and Ellie have assured Clifford and Ethel will not be forgotten for many years.

I am a lover of star blocks and this book is great for making stars without having to deal with points. The instructions are easy to follow and the author gives you all the information you need to complete the blocks easily and timely. I would say the only drawback to the information in this book is that due to the technics used you will end up using more fabric than if you did the blocks in the tradional way. But again the technics used are much easier than tradional ways.

Such a great book. I like the look of stars on quilts but have never tried doing any myself. They always sound so difficult. Not any More. This great book has given me an easy way to make great stars!! Thanks to the author for sharing her ideas.

This is one of the easiest ways to make quilt stars that I have ever encountered. It is a must have in any quilters library.

This book will forever put to rest the notion that eight pointed stars are difficult! Anyone will be able to make those pesky stars with complete confidence and perfection. Nancy has done ALL the work by giving us 30 stars in many different sizes. She also gives us some beautiful quilt projects to make. She also shows us how to use the "leftovers" to make absolutely beautiful and imaginative quilts. Nothing is wasted. There are some techniques out there that are so wasteful, that I hesitate to use them. With fabric prices steadily climbing, I am very happy to use this wonderful book. Thanks, Nancy. I love the book. It's one of my favorites.

As I was reading "Stars by Magic", I wondered just how many more star ideas could be presented in this book than was given in "Block Magic". As I continued through the book, I found out that there are literally dozens of ways to put these squares and rectangles together to make wonderful new patterns.

But I am ahead of myself. In the very beginning of the book, Nancy provides two "No-Fail" tips sections; one on sewing on the diagonal and one on pressing. Learn what she says and it will give your blocks a more professional look. Then, there is the "how-to" on reading the charts which tells you how to figure out the sizes of the squares and rectangles you need to make the blocks.

30 block ideas later - no make that 90 blocks later as each block shows three different color-ways - I was eager to get out my fabric and try a few. The blocks range in size from 4" to 18". Putting a few 18" blocks together and you have a quilt in a hurry. By now, you realize there are cut-offs from making the blocks. WAIT! Don't throw them out (and what quilter would anyway!?), put them together and you get "bonus blocks and borders". The final pages of this book provide ten quilt maps. Oh my, which one do I start with first? If I have such a difficult choice to make, think what my students will have!

Since my students now realize that making star patterns are not that difficult, they are eager to try other ideas such as taking one-fourth of a block to make borders and by just turning that same quarter block, they get whole new look. But don't just use them for borders, use the quarters together to make a whole quilt! With this book, I will be teaching "Stars by Magic" for several more classes!

I loved this book. I kinda wish it was more about Ashley and Sean and less Kate and Tyler but it was amazing! I never would have guessed the ending. I did think it was sad that everyone sacrificed their lives to protect the family's secrets but I guess I can understand that. I would recommend this book to anyone.

This was a most intelligent and enthralling story; not only intriguing, but sensual as well. All characters were well-thought out and interesting. From the very first, when Tyler appears on the scene, the story and romance grabs you. There was one fascinating plot after another, and I found myself half-crazed to know the secrets, and to see how Tyler and Kate got together, along with Sean and Ashley. And to find out whose baby it was and what became of Jeremy. I have been reading romance/suspense for a number of years and Ms. Freethy has become an addition to list of my best authors.

Stormy relationships and a stormy sailing adventure combine to make this a better-than-average read. Barbara Freethy keeps you guessing about the big family secret and the ending is predictible but still fun. It's a great way to pass a summer afternoon at the beach or just curled up on the living room sofa.

If you want a love story wrapped up with some intrigue, SUMMER SECRETS is the book for you. All the while I was reading the book, I was trying to guess the secret ... and never could! The romance and mystery will keep you turning the pages as fast as you can. Great read.

I, for once, never disappointed with Barbara Freethy, ever since I purchased my first book of her (One True Love) few years ago. She is my favorite author when it comes to family stories. She always manages to write such beautiful, heartwarming, and also real family stories. The joy, the tears, the fears, the loyalty ... they are always there, knotted into one amazing story. She did it again with SUMMER SECRETS. Each character stands out with their own self. The sisters are uniquely different with one another but nevertheless, united with a strong bond called "family. The romance of course, is also beautiful. I love the chemistry between Tyler and Kate, also Ashley and Sean. I just wish Caroline will get her own man. This book is wonderful read ... if you don't know Barbara Freethy, you're missing such a talented author!

John Gardner wrote many good works, the Sunlight Dialogues being by far the best. In it he captures the range of hope and anxiety that made the 1960s such a thrilling and tormenting time to be alive. Using the small town of Batavia, New York, Gardner plunges the reader into the life of a prodigal son of the most prestigious family in town and that of the dedicated police chief. And do the intellectural sparks fly! The illustrations by John Napper are reminescent of those from the Yellow Book in the 1890s, by Aubrey Beardsley. There is a lot of subtle humor ("take a gun of, say, x caliber...") as well as dead-on observation of what makes people do outrageous things for perfectly logical reasons.
It's a roller coaster of a novel, so hang on and enjoy the ride. You might even want to go back for a second trip. I did.

The Sunlight Dialogues_ is truly John Gardner's magnum opus, equaling and perhaps overshadowing _Grendel_, the book for which he is best known.

Grossly over-simplified, it is about the tide of discontent and change that came about in the 1960s, exemplified in the stories of a handful of people who live in the small New York town of Batavia. All of these characters' stories occur at roughly the same moment, and to a certain degree overlap each other; they all come into contact with one another at some point during the novel, and may even influence each other, but every member of the book's huge cast has his or her own story and denouement.

The primary one of these stories is the one that concerns Police Chief Fred Clumly and a haggard, maniacal drifter known as "the Sunlight Man", and the happenings of this particular storyline are the catalysts for the rest of the stories. "The Sunlight Man", whom we later find out is Taggert Hodge, the black sheep of the wealthy and powerful family the members of whom comprise roughly half the other characters in the novel, is the one who sets all of these denouements into motion with his seminal return to his hometown as a magician, hippie, murderer, and poet. His has been a life of disillusionment, loss, betrayal and unattainable wants, and he returns to Batavia to set into motion a sort of romantically juvenile plot to take revenge on the world and to mewl out his disappointment with the way things are, the latter of which he does through Fred Clumly(thus is the origin of the title.)

Gardner is remarkably adept at character development; Taggert Hodge, Walter Benson and Fred Clumly are among the best painted characters of fiction I know of. The author has a gift for articulating neuroses and flaws of characters, from miniscule ticks in their everyday behavior to major personality faults. And with a cast of roughly eleven major characters, making each and every one entirely unique in their drives and hamartias is no task to be scoffed at. However, the ability of John Gardner's I perhaps envy the most is that of taking a very normal, even pretty environmental setting, and turning it nightmarish and haunting. In the novel, the dense forests and century-old barns of Batavia are made into artifacts and ruins of an almost Lovecraftian caliber of queerness, and yet it does not serve to displace the small New York town from the realm of believable reality, but rather forces you to evaluate your reality on the same dark and weird basis as his authorial voice.

The sheer scope of the novel (that of several stories cycloning around a unifying theme and plot catalyst) at times threatens to tear it apart, however; the reader at times is left wondering why the author has switched point of views when the scenario he was describing previously had yet to be resolved. This is a mere annoyance, however, and is not really something for which I believe the novel should be faulted, for the rewards of its pages are vast ones.

Due perhaps to its relatively young age, it has yet to receive the proper "classic" status it so rightly deserves, and, sadly, it may never, for "Grendel" seems to be John Gardner's only remembered and widely read work, and is perpetually overshadowing the rest of the author's material, most of which are just as powerful and memorable as tale of Beowulf's tragic nemesis. In fact, some may even be better, as I propose The Sunlight Dialogues is, but until the higher-ups at Norton and the like get around to looking at this master of fiction as a master should, I advise any and all of the people reading this to purchase this book from whatever obscure publisher it has currently been tossed to.

Back in the 70s, I became fascinated with John Gardner, starting with The Wreckage of Agathon and Grendel. When The Sunlight Dialogues came out, I was hooked. I picked up a paperback copy and just fell into the story. After that, each new Gardner was purchased in hardcover, which I could ill afford back then.

About 10 years ago, I tracked down a fine condition copy of TSG and re-read it. Bad move, though, donating the paperback to the library.

I welcomed the arrival of a new trade paperback edition of the novel, and of one or two others by Gardner until I actually had the opportunity to hold them. The reprints were done without the original illustrations, which are integral to the books. Unbelievable!

For old times sake, I bought a used Ballantine paperback copy and am re-reading it. I have no intention of buying this new edition.

So, five stars for Gardner and the book, with a one-star demerit for this compromised reprint. The new introduction doesn't add much to the book.

I recently met a recent graduate of the State University of New York: Binghamton, an English major. He had never heard of John Gardner, author of the one American post WWII novel that stands comparision in scope and quality, if not import, with Middlemarch.

This novel is unabashedly symbolic, it's many characters each representing the dichotomies of order/chaos, love/hatefulness, light/darkness. But don't think that the work is heavy handed or didactic because of the obviously metaphorical quality. Rather, it is like other great metafiction, the reading of which is akin to entering a complex microcosm, and best of all, having a bird's eye view into the lives and minds of all the many characters. The multiplicity of narratives, some dramatic, others hilariously banal, is nearly perfectly balanced so that when one character might get tiresome, we are transported into another new and fascinating life. Most impressively, all these narratives are eventually woven together in perfect and beautiful harmony. Once you enter this work, you will not want to stop. I don't advice reading this unless you have some free time, otherwise all your other responsibilities will suffer.

I am a guy and I have heard from a lot of people that the book is great but it may not be for men. I read the book and I'd just like to say that it doesn't matter what gender you are, Swimming Lessons is a great book for you.

I usually don't read what I'd call a "chick book"--but I found this at a library sale and gave it a go. What a surprise! I just loved this book. Having 2 authors writing the chapters was unique and really gave the story it's own vision. When you "get" the premise (and it hits you like, WHAM!) you'll laugh and love it even more. It will also teach a great lesson in "walking in another's shoes"...grab your swimsuit, lay out on a towel and enjoy!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I am a former swimmer so I really enjoyed the analogies between swimming and life. The writing is terrific. Right now my copy is almost completely dog eared so i can look back on certain passages!

My mom recommended this book to me, but I was a bit skeptical. I was very pleasantly surprised to find that this book, which follows the relationship of two women, could hold my interest so easily. While I was able to predict some of the big twists and turns, the quality of the writing and the exploration of the two main characters developing frienship make this a must read for anybody...male or female.

Swimming Lessons is a great story of friendship. One of courage and determination. You cannot imagine my surprise to recognize the location of the swimming pool Marna learned to swim in. My best friend and I drove over and were delighted to find the pool as described, viewing window and all. What a kick! The characters were engaging. The relationship between Marna and her mother, Roxie, and the way it developed seemed very real to me.

I work in public health and struggle to find resources that are useful. This is a great book for everyone. There is no magic pill and there is no easy fix - but there are LOTS of ways to make things worse. Until we have changed our social norms, our environment, and the availability and ease to make healthy choices, it's going to be a long, tough road. This book is a great read that describes what it's like to struggle with weight - good for those of us who are lucky and think our 5-8 pound struggle is horrible, as well as those who struggle with real weight challenges and are ready to hear the painful truth of a child's experience. Well done, Abby.

An honest look at America's obsession with weight loss and how it affects the younger generation. The author, a former fat kid and fat camp survivor (though not a parent, as she acknowledges) explores various ways to lose weight from fat camps to nagging to behavior modification and surgery, among others. Sadly, there is no quick fix or even well-planned diet and exercise program that works for all, or even some. Due both to lack of willpower or incentive, and physical factors beyond the dieter's control, often the weight is lost then gained then lost again.

"Teenage Waistland" lets the young subjects speak for themselves. It is a fascinating look at a controversial subject.

Prepare to laugh, cry and cringe --- but also to learn --- as Abby Ellin leads us through the landscape of obese teen life. First, though, a confession: When I volunteered to read this book, I feared that I was facing a hard, long slog through a dry tome packed with scientific studies on how to help an overweight kid drop a few pounds. Instead, I could barely put down this lively read. Ellin keeps a page-turning pace as she skillfully weaves her own story as a heavy, weight-obsessed teenager through the stories of other such adolescents.

Ellin begins with her own family, who courageously support her by not challenging her right to tell the unvarnished truth about the ways in which her home contributed to her weight problems and food fixations. Interestingly, the family's attitudes toward weight resulted in the author's sister becoming anorexic. Even as Ellin grew larger and larger, her sister began dieting by third grade.

Ellin's grandmother was a major influence on her self-image, withholding affections when Ellin gained weight. On visits to Grandma's house in Florida, Grandma weighed Ellin daily. At home, Ellin's mother obsessed over her own weight, restricted her diet and exercised before stepping on the scales each morning. She taped a photo of an obese woman on the refrigerator door. Both grandmother and mother repeatedly drilled into Ellin and her sister the dangers of gaining weight. As a child, Ellin was devastated when her grandmother told her she couldn't come to Florida for a visit at Christmastime unless she lost 15 pounds. The ploy didn't work. Nothing really did, for many long, sad years.

Ellin spent six years at weight-loss camps. She lost weight but also learned more about dysfunctional eating and how to do it (one counselor sneaked Ellin out to buy a cart full of candy and cookies because "Your body's getting used to the diet. You need sugar to give it a jolt."). In describing her fat camp days, she tells us the story of the owners of weight-loss camps, beginning with her visit as an adult with the man who ran the first weight-loss camp Ellin attended. During her visit, she talks with young campers, giving us the first of many insightful conversations with teens seeking to lose weight. What they say about their parents can make a reader weep.

In TEENAGE WAISTLAND, we learn what has helped teenagers lose weight and, (heartbreakingly) more often, what has either not helped them or made them worse. Experts --- from fat camp leaders to directors of weight loss programs to bariatric surgeons, researchers and fat activists (and more) --- represent a variety of attitudes as each discusses the best way to help heavy adolescents. Ellin compassionately presents suggestions to parents on ways to support an obese child, all based on respect.

Although there is not a single solution to such a complicated problem, reading this book is informative and helpful. It is a horrifying and fascinating study in our culture's warped attitude toward food and weight. Even if you don't have a child with weight issues, TEENAGE WAISTLAND is an engrossing read.

--- Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon (terryms2001@yahoo.com)

This book was extremely helpful to me and my family. As the parent of an overweight child, Abby Ellin's insight as a "former fat kid" is a hands-on "what to do/"what not to do" primer for any parents dealing with these sensitive issues. You're never really sure what to do until you're faced with it head on and Ellin's book showed that it's the sensible approach that makes the most sense. Don't panic; don't over react (as is the most instant impulse). Just act sensibly. Well done!

Simply put, Abby Ellin "gets it". She had a childhood relationship with weight, food, and family that stays with her, regardless of what the scale says today. She candidly tells her story, which isn't always a happy one, but it's often hilarious. When it comes to the "fat kid epidemic", the author doesn't claim to have all the answers, but is very willing to explore a variety of solutions. Teenage Waistland is tragic, eye-opening, humorous and true. Once you read the introduction: Fat Kid Blues - you'll be hooked, just like the author is on Hostess cupcakes!

I used an earlier edition in seminary, and have referred to it many times as a pastor and university professor. Ladd lays out a theological orientation that gives Christian leaders an effective framework to help connect contemporary generations to the Word of God.

I am just getting into my study of this book and the lessions has already brought change in my Christian walk as I see more clearly what it means to be in the Kingdom of God. I highly recommend this book for anyone who is serious about knowing what our Lord was preaching about and what He was living.

Ladd's New Testament Theology is a helpful introduction to the Biblical Theology of the New Testament. Ladd's primary contribution to the field of Biblical Theology is the incorporation of the "already" "not yet" eschatological dimension into New Testament theology. In his work he argues that there is a tension between realized and future eschatology throughout the entire New Testament. The future Kingdom of God has broken into the present and has radically shifted the entire redemptive history of the New Testament. While this Kingdom of God has become a present reality the entirety of its reign remains a future hope. This tension exists throughout the entire New Testament.

Ladd treats the Synoptic Gospels together and focuses primarily in arguing his case that the future coming age has broken in to the present age. R. T. France adds a helpful chapter where he looks at the unique contribution of each of the synoptics to theology. Much of the material on the Synoptics seemed a bit redundant and could have been shortened. However, when Ladd proceeds to discuss the Gospel of John he is at his best. The chapter where he discusses the Johannine Dualism is extremely helpful. Also the chapter on John's view of eternal life is very instructive.

In my opinion the best chapter in the book is on the resurrection of Christ. If Christ be not raised from the dead then our faith is useless - Ladd showed the importance and necessity of the resurrection throughout this chapter. He argued persuasively for the undeniable historical fact of the resurrection. Also in his dealing with the relationship of the church and Israel I believe he is dead on. He argues correctly that the church is the new spiritual Israel.

I must confess that his section on Paul was slightly disappointing. I believe that Ridderbos' Paul: An Outline is the best on Pauline Theology and most other works pale in comparison. With that said, the section was still helpful. Much of the section on Paul seems dated as it was written before the "Sanders Revolution." However, his section on Paul and the Law proves refreshing compared to the material written today although I disagree with his interpretation of Romans 7.

The chapter on the work of Christ, which detailed the atonement, was helpful. Ladd treats various biblical aspects of the atonement such as its relation to the love of God, its sacrificial and substitutionary nature along with propitiation and redemption. In his chapter on justification he highlights that justification is eschatological. While I believe this is true I remain nervous at the possible outcome for holding such a view. One potential danger is to say that the ground of realized justification is the work of Christ while the ground of future justification is the resultant good works. I believe he is correct to write, "Justification, which primarily means acquittal at the final judgment, has already taken place in the present. The eschatological judgment is no longer alone future; it has become a verdict in history" (483). Although I hesitate to use the word "primarily" for justification also seems to be rooted in eternity while worked out in present time and consummated in the future. Ladd uses the language of imputation and argues that the ground of our justification is the work of Christ and his righteousness imputed to our account (489, 491).

The rest of Ladd's work is most disappointing. He spends a mere 70 pages in dealing with the rest of the New Testament. His treatment of Hebrews - a theologically rich book - barely skims the surface while his treatment of the rest of the Catholic Epistles is hardly worth reading. Also it is surprising for someone who has done so much work on eschatology to only spend 15 pages on the book of Revelation. David Wenham's essay on the "Unity and Diversity of the New Testament" is a helpful introduction to a difficult subject.

Overall I believe that Ladd's work is a helpful contribution to the field of New Testament Theology although I believe it is sadly lacking in some places. Some of the additional essays (Hagner, France, and Wenham) have sought to fill the void, but there remains a large gap in the Catholic Epistles. Nonetheless, it is a volume worth working through and should remain a valuable repository for years to come.

this is a thick, beefy book! Exellent treatment of new testament theological themes, deals with just about the whole range of new testament studies, a gold mine!! hits a home run with responsible biblical interpretation, although it's a bit involved at times, it may not be the best choice for beginners. Even beginners though, if they are willing to work through this book, will learn loads of new testament theology.

I have just completed reading this book for a New Testament Theology class. This book is amazing. I keep a good portion of my school books for future use on a book shelf. This book does not belong on the book shelf, it belongs on my desk. I recomend this book to anyone interested in the Theology of the New Testament.

I thoroughly enjoyed "There Ain't Enough Front Porches."

I found it to be a spell binding and delightful tale whose characters came to life for me.

Mitch Stennett
President of EDA, Jones County MS

16 y.o. Billy Rose Marsh's story starts with a death many years after she meets the love of her life, Kenner Golden. It is a nostalgic look at small town life in the South, but there are mysteries, secrets kept until near the end of the book and deaths, sometimes suspicious. It is a hard book to put down and I found myself identifying with some of the characters, since I lived for a time in a similar Southern town. Your feelings can range all the way from amusement to sadness. There are a number of touching moments in the book, particularly notice when a dime is mentioned. Buy the book, read it, then give several books to people you love. As a book reviewer for The Funseekers Radio Network I read a lot of books every month. This one really held my interest. The combination of a 16 y.o. classical pianist who is influenced by Elvis, the air of mystery and the keeping of "the secret" in the book until the last part, plus the surprises at the end make the book a great read.

If you have the winter blues and find yourself in desperate need of a vacation, may I suggest you read "There Ain't Enough Front Porches" by Molly Marx Brent. She's a highly descriptive writer. She draws you easily into her story. So easily you will swear that you can feel the gentle Mississippi breeze and feel the grass under your feet. Her characters are so well written you can almost reach out and touch each and every one. It was an incredible read and quite the delight. I can't wait for book two.

Can one person really make a difference in this world?

This is the story of Billy Rose Marsh, who was affectionately known as "The Kid". She had been trained since birth for a career in music, however when she turned sixteen, her plans came to a crashing halt. It all started with a mysterious blind date, arranged by her overly protective father. Little did anyone know that from that day forward, "The Kid" would be caught in a downward spiral, as her days of pink ruffles and laughter were slowly replaced with a hospital gown and sedatives.

Ms. Brent has written a flawless novel! Set in the fictional town of Dunn Berry, readers will be treated to the down-home hospitality of the South as they relive the "good old days" of 1955. The author has magnificently portrayed this time and place through dialogue and description. The characters are all richly drawn and utterly unforgettable.

Yet, it's the story line that will clutch readers' hearts with this tale of regret, repentance and reconciliation. The book begins at the funeral of Billy Rose Marsh and is really a journey into her life and the lives of all she touched with her love and talent. This poignant story is filled with shocking twists and turns, love, hate and even murder. Gradually, all the secrets of this sleepy town are brought to light. However, in spite of the sadness and scandals, there is an overriding trust in God and an unshakeable hope for the future.

The author herself seems to be acquainted with the themes of trust and hope. At age sixty-five, she was totally disabled from a heart attack and stroke. This book was written from her bed. It's her desire that this story will be an inspiration to others to never give up. It's this reviewer's belief that her goal will be accomplished. This book undoubtedly has the potential and power to influence lives.

There Ain't Enough Front Porches is a journey back in time to dramatically give readers hope for a better future.

After reading "There Ain't Enough Front Porches," you might find your speech has slowed to a lazy drawl, you have a sudden hankerin' for cornbread, and you've suddenly started using words like "hankerin'". That's how deeply the characters and the story draw you in to the world of Dunn Berry, Mississippi.

Meet Billy Rose Marsh--better known to Dunn Berry as "The Kid"--a 16-year-old girl whose talent is rivaled only by her beauty and spirit. Her life has been a series of performances intended to prepare her for real stardom, until Kenner Golden drives into her life in a brand new Cadillac. Neither of them expects to fall in love--they barely even like each other at the start--but a blind date on Halloween night in 1955 proves to be the beginning of a journey for both of them that changes their lives and the lives of everyone they love as well. Along the way, some long-buried secrets are unearthed, hearts are broken and mended, tragedy strikes without regard to bank accounts or social status, and more than a few miracles are witnessed. Like a visit with the kinfolks, this book will make you laugh, cry, cuss, and cheer, but it will also leave you feeling heartened and at peace, as if you'd just spent a balmy Southern evening holding hands with your sweetheart on your mama's front porch.