T Books

The writer of this book makes a serious effort to teach quilters to produce fabulous quilts. It is presented in a clear, concise manner. I recommend it for the beginner as well as the more exoerienced quilter.

This book has gorgeous quilts in it, especially the quilt interrupted. I would recommend this book.

I just started quilting 10 months ago, I had never sewn or quilted before that. I have now made 2 quilts from this book and am going to make more. I love this book! The directions are very clear and easy to understand and follow. There are smaller quilts and large quilts. You really can't go wrong with this book!

I have been dying to take a class on M'Liss Hawley quilts but don't like paying the price for the classes. I bought this book for the Quilt Interrupted pattern. Wow!!! All the projects are beautiful and its great the there are two or three versions of each quilt to spark every quilter's imagination.

Phenomenal Fat Quarter Quilts (c 2004) by M'liss Rae Hawley has a string of 5 star reviews. While this book has some traditional quilts, it focuses more on more contemporary artistic designs. Color choice varies accordingly. Looking to go beyond the tried and true? This book's for you! Designs and color choices are reminiscent of art displayed in a modern museum. This book stretches the creativity of the reader.

Rivers is a wonderful author and I expected these books to be as good as her Lineage of Grace series. They were not quite there...

When I was a child, I became an avid reader when I picked up my first secular novel, and I was particularly facinated by historical novels because of my love for history. When I became a Christian, I was in such love with my Savior Jesus Christ that I couldn't get enough of Christian literature. I put aside novels for years. I never thought that there were good Christian novels available, except for romances and the like which only seemed to arouse in me sinful passions and desires. I ran across Francine Rivers somewhat inadvertently. It had been so long since I read a novel that I decided to try once more with "The Prophet." I read it within a week and was rushing to order another one. I was overwhelmed by her skill of writing. She intrigued every facet of my interests, from a good story, to a historical drama, to a Biblical edification. The focus of this book from start to finish was the awesome glory of God. I was in tears often. As the book begins, God's glory is demonstrated in a somewhat allegorical format as we are led along with Amos in the pastures of Tekoa where he shephered his flock. I saw Psalm 23 come alive and was deeply impressed by the gracious patience of my own Good Shepherd as I saw the parallels between the sheep of Amos and myself, as well the actions of Amos to Jesus Christ. Following Amos further through his life exhaulted the long-suffering love of God in bearing with the obstinent sin of His people, and yet His perfect justice to deal with unrepentent rebellion. Rivers' novel brought the Biblical book of Amos to life, which I read in the Bible at the same time. I would highly recommend this book. It is the best novel I have read.

You did a good job in getting the book out fast and it was what I wanted. The book is like brand new.

Thank You

God Bless

Char

The Prophet (Sons of Encouragement)Even if you are an avid student of the Bible, most of us don't spend the time it took Francine Rivers to get to know the prophet Amos. We might study the words he wrote but Rivers has brought the man to life. I came away from this novelette with a new appreciation for the calling that God has on a man's life and what path that might lead one on. Just as Amos was compelled to walk the chosen way that God lead him - so are we. I thank Francine Rivers for reminding me that I too must walk in love and obedience - no matter what the personal cost.

This was a great book! I was in the middle of another book when I got it, so I didn't get to read it right away and my husband started reading it. He loved it so much and I had to wait until he was done before I could start on it! And he never reads my books! But he finished it quickly, so I didn't have to wait long. :-)

The quilt projects in this book are gorgeous, original, and will inspire any quilter in new directions. Each section is interspersed with helpful mini lessons, paper patterns, quilting designs, and the author's photographs of nature and radial images that enrich the reader's understanding of the design process.

I already own this book and have made a quilt. It is my favorite one so far. I purchased this book for a friend I like it so much.

If you understand how to read and follow the pattern of this quilt you can not just make one . This is just such a great quilt book.

This is an excellent book and it was in excellent condition when it arrived.

This is a wonderful book. I learned many new things. It got my creative juices really flowing. Awesome, creative stuff with the techniques to carry it out.

I should read this book in detail -- but it's so full of details, I can only use the index to get where I want! THE book if you're going to buy land.

If you're looking for a book that explains the basics of realty with humor and style, the newly updated 15th edition is the answer...Comical illustration keep you flipping the pages...to explain difficult real estate and financial concepts.The book explain all the basics involved in buying or selling a home or single piece of property.

While I have had this book for awhile now, it still is one of the better books for beginners in real estate investing. It covers a lot of topics broadly. It is good in that it gives you a general idea of major concepts and then you would have to either do more research or read another book to learn more about a particular subject. The cartoons are also helpful in keeping the book light and funny. Overall, a good book for beginners who want to a high level knowledge of general concepts in real estate investing.

After 20 years the updated 15th edition is still the best for the "feel" of real estate.Not too many people are aware that the 400 illustrations can be made into transparencies and make a great presentation.

One of the only books on real estate that is still going strong...after 20 years.I found the 60 internet websites on taxes and real estate...to be worth the price of the book. It is up to the minute.

An excellent exploration of the meaning, possibilities, and problems of postmodernism, free from jargon and caricature. My only complaint: Isn't it time for a new edition? The book was published in 1995, meaning it was probably actually written in the early 90s or even late 80s. Most of its examples from "current events" and pop culture are of 1980s vintage or even earlier. Many of these examples would themselves require explanation for people younger than, say, dirt.

I assume that the author was pretty old even then, so he might be dead or retired now. But the topic is still relevant, and this is an excellent introduction to it. We need an update. For example, what has been the impact of 9/11 and related events on postmodern culture and thought? Or the coming ecological meltdown that was mere conjecture in 1995, but is an imminent certainty now?

Of all the writings on the subject of postmodern thought I found this text to be of invaluable worth. It conveys the ideas of post modernism in lucid everyday english rather then having its messeges veiled in the recondite jargon of academia. It is a distillation of the rudimentary ideas that run through all strands of post modern thought. As a neophyte to the subject, I found this book far more useful then any other cultural theorist's longwinded and wordy treatise. Other vital introductory texts on this subject are Anderson's "The Truth about the Truth" as well as "Teach Yourself Postmodernism" by Glenn Ward. With these books under your belt, Derrida, Foucalt et al won't seem nearly as daunting as before...and you will start to see how much they obfuscate their messeges in labyrinths of language.

Many books and/or their reviews glibly claim to "change your life". This one doesn't explicitly make any such promises, but change my life it has. More specifically, it has changed the way I look at life and the world. Postmodernism has brought about radical and sweeping changes, whether we realise it or not. This is a book that blows the lid on reality in terms of the paradigms that most of us have grown up with, and within which humanity has come to understand religion, politics, history and culture. Indeed, it is a timely and sobering deconstruction of many of the illusions (or Socially Constructed Realities) that people across time and cultures have come to regard as sacred and infallible. Its purpose is not to deconstruct for the promotion of its own paradigm or belief system (though I suppose an element of that is inseparable from any such undertaking). One of the most enduring images from the book is the description of a postmodern art piece which shows a hand drawing a hand that is drawing a hand. What a striking metaphor for the postmodern world, and indeed for epochs that have gone before us. Where indeed is the line between objective, absolute 'reality' and that which is subjectively constructed? Does it and can it exist for human beings at all? Whatever else may be said, this is a book that challenged me and stimulated me to think about all aspects of modern life in new and profound ways. If you are anything like me and read books which do that very thing, then believe me - this one is for you.

This book was published almost twenty years ago and I only wish I had found it sooner. Written in an easy-to-read and understandable style, it covers the influence of post-modern thinking on politics, pop culture, religion, art and philosophy, among other areas. Powerfully, Anderson makes the argument that everyone has their own version of reality, carefully providing examples from everyday life. For example, he contrasts the objectivist (there are a few perfect rules that everyone must obey) and the constructivist (aware that many rules are part of a socially constructed reality), the exoteric religions (Christianity and Islam - God said so, it must be true) and esoteric religions (Zen Buddhism - a personal journey without judgement).

Why is this important? Because of most of the tension in the world comes from the differences of opinion between six main groups he has outlined: Christianity, Islam, capitalism, communism/socialism, environmentalism and new age. All of these groups passionately believe in the truth of their message and would like the entire world to conform to their thinking. In the end, the book makes you wonder where all this will lead to -- complete freedom is a beautiful thing that makes many people uncomfortable.

Get this book, take it to a quiet beach and you won't see the world the same way again.

I first stumbled upon this book by accident, read a few pages, and was amazed, amused, aghast and (forgive me) agog! Written in 1993, the author's observations and predictions (although he wasnt trying to be prophetic) were accurate and correct -- especially the section about whatit would "take" to get Americans to support a war - and how long (or short) the govt. could keep the people from getting fed up. He said it would take something like Pearl Harbor -- of that magnitude in order for teh govt to whip up enough support for a vindictive invasion/assault etc. He was right about that! That's just one small section -- the entire book is fascinating, easy to read, and explains the fracas over Globalization better than any other book I've read.
Buy it.

I forget how I was introduced to this book, but I eventually bought it from Amazon. All I can say about The Red Right Hand is it is one of the best thrillers I have ever read.

I will admit I had picked it up then put it down again because I wasn't in the right mood to read it; but once I picked it back up and finished it, I realized the ending alone was worth reading the somewhat slow beginning.

I won't even talk about the plot. To give any details to this book would be unjust to any person who will have the great pleasure of picking it up one day.

Just know you will be knocked over the head by Rogers' denouement.

The mystery genre is not one that I am fond of. I bought this book from the now defunct (sadly) Common Reader catalog because of the name and description. I'm so glad I ordered it because this is one of the very few mysteries I have ever liked. Joel Townsley Rogers was one talented writer! Some of his gooseflesh-raising descriptions have stayed in my mind for years. This book is not only mysterious and suspenseful but downright scary.

Rogers was a much better writer than some of today's authors who think that gore and perversion are the only way to scare readers, and that we can only handle one and a half page chapters or our puny little attention spans will collapse.

They should all have to read this book--so subtle, so creepy. I promise you will never forget the crazed little sawtooth killer--the hair on my arms is standing up as I type--if you buy this book you will not regret it!!!

I read this years ago after one of my favorite authors (Donald E. Westlake) cited it as his favorite mystery novel. I loved it. The book is a constantly-shifting and mysterious narrative that repays a close read. Mystery fans: Find it and read it-- the designation of this book as a "classic" is completely justified!

I found this book by chance at a second hand book sale while on summer holiday about three years ago. The edition was printed in 1975 and by now (after reading over and over) looks rather shabby.

I had never heard of the author before and was merely looking for something to pass the time. It didn't pass much time, because once I started reading I couldn't put it down, and only took me one day to finish.

Joel Townsley Rogers puts you, neé, throws you right in the middle of a first-person account of this murder mystery that unfolds in one day. The story and subsequent mystery slowly unravels as he takes you back in time, revealing the characters and the events leading up to the day in which the story is told.

You start guessing and wondering, painting your own mental images of the characters and surroundings desribed with meticulous attention detail.

There are clues throughout the book, and careful reading is required. Read it again and again, and more clues are revealed.

As far as endings to any book are concerned, they're pretty imprtant, so I won't divulge any details. I will say this though...be prepared!

This is whodunnit to the very end, and even though the ending has never changed in the 7 times that I've read it...I'm reading it again for the 8th time right now.

Enjoy and share

A corpse with a missing hand, sightings of a twisted gnome driving a sleek convertible, the lone hitchhiker on a deserted highway comes straight from a nightmare's central casting. "The Red Right Hand", written in 1945, fresh and jolting in the 21st century, must have absolutely rocked the literary world of its day with this strangely creepy tale of young love gone impossibly wrong. Dr. Harry Riddle finds himself implicated in the murder of Innis St. Erme, a young New York businessman who had set off to New England to elope with his bride-to-be when a roadside picnic takes a terrible turn. Author Joel Townsley Rogers spins this bizarre and eerie tale tightly around a non-linear plot, leading the reader down a hallucinogenic trail of murder and mind games that is sure to confuse and delight - like you're kicking back on a lazy Saturday afternoon a pick up an early "Twilight Zone" episode mid-flight. But by the time its over, you're on the edge of your seat, yet still completely unprepared for the final twists and turns that would leave Hitchcock stuttering. Classic stuff - the best - don't miss this one.

Though I have not experienced divorce (or marriage for that matter), I found myself relating to Relational Shifts. Recently, I lost a loved one unexpectedly. My family is still feeling the effects of that loss. "Relational Shifts" gave me insight and allowed me to see families in an entirely new way.

Though I have not, and am much too young, to have gone through a divorce, I have found many ways to relate to this book. I was going through a breakup while reading this book and felt empowered by the beliefs and wise words of the authors. This book definately helped me believe that I could make it through and taught me many life and relationship lessons.

This is a story told with brave honesty and deep love. While their story is certainly unique, I would imagine most families can relate to many parts of their experience. It should give people that are going through relational shifts a sense of hope and a new perspective on the possible outcomes of these shifts. Julie, Lee and Tasha face adversity with humor and hope and are an inspiration to those who want to heal and grow with their experiences.

In these days of reality television, I thought I was immune to shock. Wrong. This book about how divorces happen and how to respond to them shocked and surprised me in so many ways that I had to step back and think about what I had read before having any idea of how to review this book. This reaction occurred despite having gone through a divorce many years ago. In fact, if the personal story parts of this book had been portrayed as a novel, I would probably have complained that the book was unrealistic.

The book's format is an unusual one that I can only characterize for you as "She felt and said; He felt and said; Their Daughter felt and said; and Lessons drawn heavily from Buddhist thought." The level of candor is extraordinary. There doesn't seem to be much that happened to these three people that they won't relate to you.

What's the basic point? I would paraphrase the book's advice as being to approach marriage as a way to live with personal integrity while adapting the relationship to match the needs of the moment and the long term.

Julie Rappaport and Lee Liberman got into trouble with their marriage because they didn't know each other very well before marrying. They also didn't spend enough time discussing what kind of a marriage they wanted. Julie wanted to try her wings and Lee wanted a traditional wife. The couple also experienced sexual issues that are apparently more common than I was aware of. They both ended up feeling like they were giving away parts of their personal identities to be in the marriage, yet they loved the other person. Becoming parents was similarly haphazard, although they are both devoted parents. Unlike many people who divorce, they clearly did their best to put their daughter's interests first.

Even though Julie soon remarried, the three continued to function as a family after divorce . . . celebrating family events, taking vacations, and covering for each other. I thought this aspect of the book was potentially the most valuable for those who are considering divorce: You can divorce and still have a good relationship with your former spouse.

Where the book is weakest is as a guide for planning for marriage and building a strong marriage. While the questions are certainly good ones, they aren't nearly enough to help those who are in the throes of passion and a new marriage to think through what needs to be thought through. As I read the material about how each spouse felt like they couldn't be themselves in the marriage, I was reminded of a neighbor whose husband left her after 30 years of marriage commenting that he was tired of not being able to be himself. I suspect that complaint is fairly common. I know that my favorite compliment about my wife is that she lets me be myself.

But independent of the book's advice, it's riveting reading. I couldn't put it down.

This is the story of a family, but more so about two people who married and then failed to adjust to each other. They tell how they divorced and then reformed their family with their children so they could raise them without rancor. There is a lot of self-examination about happiness and fitness of being with someone or not, in the style of the current philosophy about personal happiness. The authors allow their daughter to tell some of her story, about how she adjusted to the divorce. But the underlying questions--could this marriage have been saved, how much adjusting did Tasha have to do to normalize a tragic situation for her (being now part of a split family) is not as well-defined. The authors make a very complete roadmap of how they thoughtfully crafted their divorce (which is amazing cooperation) and brings to mind the question; why could they not learn to get along, at least until the daughter grew up? The designation "mismatched" is interesting but begs the question--if they got this far, how come they couldn't go farther and learn to adapt? So though couples who plan on divorcing can certainly learn a lot from "Relational Shifts" on how to avoid rancorous adjustments to splitting up a family, if you are considering divorce and you have kids, you might also read Divorce Culture which is another thoughtful book on the impact of divorce on children and society.

Very useful. Well written in a very readable format. The somewhat dry, sometimes self deprecating humor kept the discourse lively and never became pontifical.

Bill has written a folksy exhortation to "hang in there" to pastors thinking the church they will transform is the next one. With the usual caveats about gettin' out the door when the attacks are personal & toxic, Bill has a weight of experience and a slew of friend and colleague interviews to say that your best bet is to beat the average stay (now less than 4 years), slowly but steadily empower and train up the lay leadership, and open up the congregation to the possibility that God might just choose to work through them.

This is a great book for any Church or anyone who goes to Church. It reminds us that the color of the kitchen is not as important as the people in your neighborhood. I know of a Church that is dying because they refuse to change and they like it that way. It's sad. Dr. McConnell uses real examples of real people in real congregations and how it affects ourselves and community. A must read!

As a minster who has been in leadership with three different congregations who worked on transformation, I can attest to the veracity and relevance of Bill McConnell's book. He starts right at the heart of ther matter, spiritual awakening and growth as the first key to a transformed congregation. Throughout the book I found truth jumping off the page..."If your church is not growing it' dying"..."we don't tell the truth becasue in church we don't want people to be angry"..."somehow we've let seniority become more inportant in picking leaders than spiritual depth"...it takes purpose, willingness to change, and leadership (all three)to transform and grow a congregation" These are the gems he shares from experience and hard knocks. I am going to use the new study guides he's just completing (Mar 08) to help my church leadership grapple with its spiritual journey. Thx Bill!

What I appreciate about this book is that it is deep but not dense. It contains valuable insights about church transformation that are readily accessible to the reader. It is a perfect book for a leadership group in a local church or a group of pastors to read and discuss together. Bill gives you something to think about as well as something to act on. This book is hopeful and helpful at the same time. It gives you a sense that church transformation is challenging but not impossible. Bill is somehow simultaneously irreverent yet also caring towards the local church and that is a healthy combination.

This is a great primer on retirement, though retirement is truly a misnomer as the authors indicate. This period of life is less about leaving a career behind and more about transitioning to a new phase in life. The two Dr's view retirement as a "second career" and should be viewed as the "business of living well". This period of life demands just as much planning, forethought and implementation as your first career. The 8 Traits of Successful Retirement help articulate the process and enables one to develop their own plan for the golden years. The book is realistic and looks at the 4 phases of retirement. As you age and your health and abilities diminish, your attitude needs not when you have a plan and purpose. I really appreciated the emphasis on engaging your spouse in the process and tackling the future as a team. A great book, well researched, insightful anecdotes and helpful in creating a game plan for the 2nd half of life.

I read this book with new thoughts on looking at our retirement objectives. It gave me new ideas on how we could use our time but more important it was very emotionally supportive to enjoying life. It also reduced my fear of facing our older years especially fear of getting ill. THEN- using our strengths to fight illness and possible disabilities.

Excellent book. Very wise; filled with excellent advice and opportunties to self-assess preparedness for retirement.

Loved the book. Not only is it a great read, I think it's important. Lot's of well-researched insight regarding what could amount to the final 20 or 30 years of your life. Also, the solutions are extremely pragmatic. For the reader nearing retirement, I think the "8 traits" described in the book will provide a "no nonsense" road map to successful retirement and eliminate guesswork. For readers like me with a few more years to prepare, it sets off a few alarms regarding areas that may need a tune-up. I'm planning on living a long time. And I'd prefer to finish strong. I think this book is going to help me get it done.

This is a great book for everyone in any phase of life. It gives a comprehensive look at what is required to make retirement your best phase of life. I loved the way the book clearly identifies the eight critical traits that are needed to ensure a highly successful retirement and the tools needed for developing those traits. I am fortunate to still have time to prepare for the coming four phases of retirement. My wife and I have begun to implement several of the books suggestions and have found them very helpful in guiding our future. Thanks Retirement RX's.

Arthur Koestler has called this novella "a minor masterpiece." He writes, "[The use of the word 'minor'] was meant to refer to the small size of the book, and to the impression that although its theme was the ugliest tragedy in man's history, it was written in a nostalgic minor key" (Introduction, Fontana Books edition, 1977). Having now read this amazingly moving journey of a friendship, I can only agree with Koestler's assessment of this work as a masterpiece. Mr. Uhlman has keenly expressed the depth of friendship with all of its joys and fears. His descriptions reminded me of the beauty of Hesse's own romantic language: "...the Black Forest where the dark woods, smelling of mushrooms and the tears of amber-colored mastic, were threaded through by the trout streams with sawmills on their banks." Mr. Uhlman has also deftly expressd the philosophical wanderings of two young men who attempt to find meaning in the world around them as their understandings are transformed because of the naturalness of their friendship. This terribly good story is not over-emotional, nor melodramatic. It conveys some seriousness and a touch of irony. This is indeed a marvelous--albeit brief--masterpiece.

I read this (short) novel originally as an assignment in high school, more than twenty years ago. It moved me then, and as I reread it today I still think is a powerful book. The protagonist of the story is Hans Schwarz, a Jewish boy in high school in the Germany of the early 30s. Hitler is about to take power. The novel narrates as the boy (and his family) slowly starts suffering creeping discrimination, from the teachers and from his fellow students. One of the few friends he has is the aristocratic Konradin von Hohenfels (clearly inspired by Hitler would be assassin Claus von Stauffenberg, as it becomes clear in the last pages of the book). There's not much to it plotwise, but what I like about the book is the sad, melancholy undercurrent throughout the book, as we see a tragedy slowly happening. The book is written as if it were an autobiography, but it is not. Author Fred Uhlman was born in 1901, so it was impossible for him to be a schoolboy in the early 1930s. Note: in 1989, a not so good film version of the novel starring Jason Robards was made.

A simple tale that leads you along the edges of evil, the ugly gratuitous possibilities that lurk within the human personality, and also reminds you breathtakingly that each person is an opaque mystery. A very important read for an evil-infatuated age.

A short, excellent novella about the relationship of two boys on the eve of Hitler's rise to power in Germany. On of the boys, Hans Schwarz--the narrator--is the son of a doctor (and former officer in the Imperial Army), a descendent of rabbis and shopkeepers, whose German roots go back hundreds of years, and whose Jewishness is little more than a matter of heritage, not faith. He feels himself to be as German as anyone can be, but even moreso, like many Germans, a citizen of a region (in this case Swabia), of which he is fiercely proud. At school--and exclusive school for the elite--he befriends Konradin von Hohenloh, a member of one of the most noble of aristocratic families. Despite their difference, a friendship ensues--but is brief and idyllic. Soon the outside world, of which they had remained largely ignorant, begins to creep into their lives, and their friendship is unalterably effected.

Reunion is an excellent short study of this tragic time, and I highly recommend it to everyone.

I read some of the other reviewers' comments before buying this book. I thought: 'come on...! it cannot be that good'. I was wrong, Reunion's even better than that. The book was a delight to read, but the ending devastated me like no other book in 30 years of reading has even come close to. I cannot think of anything (Tolstoi's Hadji Murad, Kafka's Concerns of a family man, Shakespeare's Lear) that has the same emotional impact of this little book. I know, I know... It's too much. Well, read the book and see.