Digital Books

Zen of Watering Your Garden

This book is what Tony the tiger would call Greaaat!!!! It really teaches the basics off nature photography. I found it very useful even though my interest is in flora and not fauna and in flowers plants and gardens rather than landscapes. It helped with composition and technique. i would recommend it highly to anyone ready to jump head first into the digital portal to Mother Nature. Matt cohen

I like this book, learned a lot from it, it will help you take better pics! Some parts maybe a bit to much for absolute beginner but if combined with another reading or class you will appreciate it. Contains valuable info to any photographer.

I am in the process of reading about 20 guides and books related to Nature Photography (Landscapes, Macros, Wildlife, etc)...everything from the older Shaw books to new digital books such as this one.

This book has a lot of good information. I enjoyed the mentoring style of the book and thought the LCD (Lighting, Composition and Digital(Eposure) approach to each of the sub topics was well presented. There are good ideas for assignments also.

I only have one fairly minor flaw with the book and it is a rather subjective one...while the photos in the book were good examples of the topics being discussed, not a lot of them were jaw dropping and inspiring to me personally. Obviously this is a subjective point and others may disagree. After reading the Shaw and Audubon and acouple of digital nature books prior to this one, the photos in this book just didn't wow me as much as the others I have read.

I don't feel the above is enough for me to knock the book down to a 4 star so I am still giving it a 5 star rating although if there was a 4.5 star option, I would probably select that.

Don't get me wrong, though, I still feel this is quite a worthwhile book to buy. The approach is friendly, encouraging and refreshing and the author obviously knows his stuff and has produced a good book.

One further note...I also liked the fact that this book is definitly about nature photography and doesn't spend an over-abundance of time on generic photography priniciples that one has more than likely picked up from other general photography books. Some nature books are general photography books with a splash of nature thrown in. This one is a nature photography book with just the right amount general photography thrown in. An honest approach to a nature photography book.

Nature's a big place, and you can easily get lost -- photographically. This book does a good job of explaining all the varied aspects of outdoors and wildlife photography from a digital perspective. You'll learn how to choose lenses, stalk elusive creatures, and capture great "close-ups" from distance perspectives. I liked this book very much.

Excellant written. I bought this and his other book Digital Photography together. Not only did I get an excellant deal but both were well worth the investment. You can't get much more clear and easy to understand than this. Very down to earth written and everything is so well explained and simply put. It's almost like your sitting down over a cup of coffee with a good friend. I learned more from these books than any other material that I've read. AND from the first day started to notice a big improvement in my photos. A must read for anyone that is serious about photography!

It's 2008, I'm at my computer and start reading-- suddenly it's 1900 and I'm submerged in the harsh, beautiful, brutal world of Charity, South Dakota. I've never been there; don't know what it's like or how anybody could survive (or if I could survive), but Ms. Callen's story sweeps me into the steel sky and knifing wind and people who survive and dream, nurture and destroy in the complexity of their `simple' lives.

This is a tease--ravishing, poetic storytelling that stops way too soon. I want to know what happens to these people and this place NOW. I fervently hope to be reading more before too long. Bravo!

The story starts with a hard child birth. A drunken husband gets a vet instead of a doctor, but the local midwife along with some other women save the day. This seems to be a saga about the lives of these women in the beginnning of the 20th century, starts in 1900.

The characters are well drawn and would be interesting to follow. From this beginning it does seem a sparse, hard life they are leading on the prairie. Well done, as much as I was able to read.

Paulettes writing has texture and depth. I need to know who these characters are as I drop into their long ago world and guard my senses against the harsh environment. I know I will get "lost" in this novel when I read it in its entirety.

EDITED: This writer has beautiful style. She states the facts and bang, gets right into the drama.

Fervent Charity hints at deep spiritual awareness as Rose begins to narrate her story, which began before she was born. She refers to the energy that the wind carries and how it exposes imprints of incidents that happened long ago.

Then the story begins: Lena is in labor, but her drunk husband goes for the vet and the vet proceeds to treat her like a horse until Alvinia and three of her daughters arrive to rescue her and save her life. Gurtie travels all night to get there.

And there is Mary, who's thoughts of her Polish Babka (grandmother) who taught her the Rosary and all that (which she recites while praying for Lena after the birth, recalling her love for her Babka), remembers how everyone thought Babka was crazy when the locusts came and she fought for three days to save the roses. So, the roses have received great care. I had it wrong, Rose, who narrates, is Mary Kaiser's love child, not Lena's. Sometimes when there is the introduction of a lot of characters, I keep reading in the excitement and go back and figure it out later. I was really excited to read this, the way the writer gives such uniqueness to her characters. I really get the feel of the early 1900's.

Gurtie ritualistically tends three transplanted trees for three graves and roses and nurtures them as well. They are in South Dakota, you see, the Bad Lands, so to speak. And now the story changes it's pace with Lena and Alvinia discussing her children and Lena's gratitude for Alvinia's children who have taken over Lena's household chores. The women have joined together to care for this woman who is ill-married. Lena cried out for both Gurtie and Alvinia when she was in labor being handled by the horse doctor. As is noted, most everyone's had to step over her husband once or twice (as he lie drunk).

This story starts with great promise. The birth is exciting, the stories of how the women came to be in South Dakota and Rose's excerpts as she poetically sets the scenes are well done. I enjoyed the Catholic prayer Mary recites with her rosary beads. Some of the words I will cut and paste because I can't seem to remember them as they are being said as I watch the Rosary on Catholic Television.

The excerpt ends with Lena and Alvinia siting around caring for their infants in Lena's small home. Everything has been quite spicy so far and now settles into dialogue regarding the paths some of Alvinia's ten children are taking. Alvinia seems to have a bit of prejudice against Polish people, so I wonder how that will come to play in the story, as Mary Kaiser and Lena's husband are of Polish descent. Alvinia tells Lena she doesn't want her daughter to marry 'that Polack.' It was a bit of a downward shift, the change to more dialogue. I would definitely continue reading this story, especially considering the fact that interactions with Native Americans are to come, as I understand from the PW review.

As many other reviewers have noted, this excerpt is beautifully written. The language instantly captured my interest and the richly drawn characters held it. Lena's anguish, Alvinia's tenderness, Mary's devotion - the author painted such clear pictures with her words that I was transported to the turn-of-the-century prarie and lived among those who populated the pages - I regretfully returned to my world and my computer when I came to the end of the excerpt. For me, one measure of excellence is when characters live on in my imagination long after I finish a book, and these characters are still with me. Wonderful!

"Right Ho Jeeves" was first published in 1934 in the UK, though was first published in the US under the name "Brinkley Court". The book is set in England and features Wodehouse's best known creations : Bertie Wooster and his valet, Jeeves. Bertie is the book's wealthy, good-natured and rather dim narrator. He's a member of the "idle rich" and, rather than having to work for a living, lives off an allowance provided by his uncle. He spends much of his time in the bar-room of the Drones Club, is fond of the occasional wager and has an appalling dress sense. Luckily, Bertie has Jeeves, to look after him. Without Jeeves, Bertie's life would be a mess : he makes an excellent hangover cure, his bets usually win and is intelligent enough to rescue Bertie from nearly any situation. He disapproves of Bertie's more garish items of clothing, and will - occasionally - take it upon himself to deal with the offending item.

The book opens with Bertie's return from Cannes, having spent two months on holiday with his Aunt Dahlia, his cousin Angela and Madeline Basset - Angela's best friend. Arriving back at his flat, Bertie is surprised to learn that Gussie Fink-Nottle has been a frequent caller in his absence. Gussie, an old school-friend of Bertie's, is something of a reclusive character : he doesn't drink, looks rather like a fish, prefers country life to the city and is a noted newt-fancier. Gussie has apparently fallen in love, and has - wisely - taken to visiting Jeeves for his advice on how to win the young lady's heart. However, following a disagreement with Jeeves about a white mess jacket purchased in Cannes, Bertie decides to take over Gussie's case.

By sheer coincidence, the object of Gussie's desires is none other than Madeline Basset - who, after the trip to Cannes, has returned to Brinkley Court (Aunt Dahlia's stately home). Bertie sends Gussie off to the stately home in question - though his motives aren't entirely noble. As well as spending time with Madeline, Gussie will also be delivering a speech at the local grammar school's prizegiving day - a job Aunt Dahlia had intended for Bertie. However, when word comes through that Angela has brokern off her engagement with Tuppy Glossop, Bertie and Jeeves race off to the countryside to offer their support. Naturally, Bertie's attempts to ease smooth things over land everyone in a great deal of bother.

A very easy and enjoyable read.

If there's one thing Bertie Wooster should never do, it's make elaborate plans to bring estranged lovebirds back together.

And he demonstrates just why in the second full-length Jeeves novel, a screwball disaster saga that sees Bertie confidently trying to fix people's lives. Of course, things go horribly wrong, and Wodehouse's arch, nutty look at what happens next is an absolute gem.

When Aunt Dahlia summons him to Brinkley Court for a prizegiving, Bertie sends his newt-fancying friend Gussie instead -- especially since Gussie is enamoured of a girl staying there, the soppy Madeleine Bassett. But when Bertie hears that his cousin Angela has broken off her engagement to Tuppy Glossop -- and his aunt is in need of money -- he rushes down to assist all his relatives and pals by advising them to feign such sorrow that they're unable to eat.

Unfortunately his plan falls through, and they manages to enrage the cook Anatole to the point where he storms out. Even worse, the prize-giving is a disaster and the wrong people end up engaged -- and pursued by homicidally angry exes. Only Jeeves' formidable brain can somehow save the day -- and Bertie's behind.

P.G. Wodehouse made a pretty good living off of spoofing the upper crust of England, and the subtlely intlligent servants who bail them out. "Right Ho Jeeves" is a prime example of his writing -- some small mistakes rapidly balloon out into a crazy tangled mess, which only an intelligent manservant can rescue Bertie from.

Much of the book's charm comes from its complex plot and series of disasters (such as Tuppy's homicidal rampage). And as usual, poor Bertie finds himself the object of young ladies' affections -- in this case, the appallingly goofy Madeleine thinks he's madly in love with her, when she's not rambling about fairies and bunnies. If there's a flaw, it's that Jeeves' final solution is a bit limp.

But Wodehouse's writing is what really makes the book timeless. It's arch and wry, whether he's describing basic actions ("He leaped like a lamb in springtime"), or goofy dialogue ("But if you were a male newt, Madeline Bassett wouldn't look at you. Not with the eye of love, I mean").

Jeeves and Bertie are the perfect comic team -- Bertie is proud, goofy, and not terribly bright, while the quiet Jeeves is a towering intellect with wry wit. And they're backed by a colourful, small cast of nutty aristocrats, schoolboys, sharp-tongued aunts and cousins, newt-fancying fish-faced men, and a girl who talks about how "every time a fairy sheds a tear, a wee bitty star is born." Yech.

"Right Ho Jeeves" is a hilarious, tangled farce of love, money, jealousy, dinner jackets and the mating rituals of newts. Absolutely priceless, from start to finish.

got the blues? melancholia got you in its grip? the prospect of death got you down? jeeves to the rescue! nothing like a good wodehouse read to cheer one up. problem is, the man wrote just short of a million books, and not all of them are good. so where to start? right here, with this book. of all the wodehouse books i've read, this is my favorite, the most consistently entertaining. just what the doctor ordered to smash you in the funny bone and get a smile going on the old face.

If you love Monty Python, Faulty Towers, and the like, you'll love RHJ. The glowing reviews on this page are spot on. This is timeless stuff. And Cecil's reading (if you incline towards the recorded version) is terrific. Laugh out loud funny. I adored every moment!

It is rare that I derive such pleasure from a book, but Right Ho, Jeeves, gave me a delightful surprise. Not only does Wodehouse make an art of the satirical novel, but in the process wraps the reader up in the witty speech of Bertram Wooster and his strange arrangement of friends, family, and butler. Bertram, or "Bertie," as he is commonly known, stumbles through the entire novel with the idea that he alone must bear the weight of being the sole aid to his friends' problems. Despite several attempts at a kind reprimand from Jeeves, his personal servant, ("I beg your pardon sir... What I intended to say, since you press me, was that the action which you propose does seem to be somewhat injudicious."); Bertie continues to give it his best. Among other things, Wooster implements the best intentions while attempting a match between old friends, but with little success: "All he had to do was propose." "Yes, sir." "Well, didn't he?" "No, sir." "Then what the dickens did he talk about?" "Newts, sir."

Despite the playful banter, colorful characters (such as a sensitive French cook), an inept yet lovable narrative voice found in Wooster, and of course, Jeeves, behind all is an incredibly clever satire on the "upper crust," so to speak. Although, admittedly, many readers cannot associate directly with the early-middle twentieth century, one cannot help but feel the idle, privileged and somewhat clueless lives of the English aristocracy seep from the pages of Jeeves. Wodehouse does a wonderful job of capturing the lives of people who have nothing better to do then dabble about ridiculously in the lives of one another.

Indeed, Wodehouse does much to reflect the over-privileged lives to which Bertie and company cling to so humorously. However, what might have become a novel filled to overflowing with hilarity and drama is brought back down to a more substantial level with the constant subtle humor and patronization brought in by Jeeves. "Jeeves, don't keep saying `Indeed, sir?' No doubt nothing is further from your mind than to convey such a suggestion, but you have a way of stressing the `in' and then coming down with a thud on the `deed' which makes it virtually tantamount to `Oh, yeah?' Correct this, Jeeves." The nature in which Bertie and the rest are virtually ignorant to Jeeves' little jibes such as this shows clearly the statement of Wodehouse, how the aristocracy is too self absorbed to notice even the slightest. In short, this is a wonderfully clever novel, which keeps the pages turning with quick wit and snappy humor. I highly suggest it.

i found this to be a very good book. the story kept moving and everytime it began to wind down it lifted back up with another twist. never a dull moment. The character Vash the Stampede is more noble then one would think. it's an intense ride through the story as one reads as Vash risks himself time and time agian.Vash proves heroic when traveling on teh steamship and he sets standards for selflessness. not only does he risk himslef but he also takes on a child not so much as his own but to take care of in a sense. the storyline is excellent and it's improved by the cartoon format that it's written in. the pictures bring the book alive in you mind. it's incredible how this story can suck a reader in. what can be said about a book that both sucks the reader in and captures their emagination?...excellent.

Before i began i must tell you that i believe that Trigun is one of the best series ever vreated. I really enjoyed this book, it is the first in the series and is definetley one of the bests. This book introduces all of the characters and it has awesome action! If you like lots of action and guns then you should buy this book!!

This manga is great! It is the first manga I have ever read so it took me a couple pages to get used to it and sometimes I would still end up looking over a frame many times before I understood what was happening. This has a lot to do with how much action there is and what I am assuming are the sound effects (still in japenese because they are part of the actual artwork and would be difficult to switch to english). There are some things that I don't like but overall its great and well worth the money.

I am a high school senior who enjoys manga, anime, and the like. The topic of this review is Trigun. This is the super thick volume 1 of Yasuhiro Nightow's masterpiece, Trigun. So you'll know a little more about Trigun's manga, it goes; Trigun volume 1, Trigun volume 2, and then it goes to Trigun maximum.
In this volume we learn of Vash the Stampede. A man with a 60 billion double dollar bounty on his head. The pacifist Vash runs into many adventures along his quest for a man. It all takes place on a sandy desert planet. .I won't tell you any more because it might ruin it, and this is such a great series full of surprises and I wouldn't want to mess any of it up for you.
With equal amounts of humor, adventure, action, and intrigue, this title shouldn't be missed. This is definitely one of my all time favorite titles, and I've read a lot of manga in my day. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys manga and has good taste.

There are tons of manga on that I regularly collect. Dragonball/Z, Yu Yu Hakusho, Rurouni Kenshin, Ranma 1/2, Case Closed(Detective Conan), Yu-Gi-Oh/Duelist/Millenium World, and others.... but there are a rare few that grab me, that are are real gems that contend for the greatest manga in existence, such as Akira, Nausicaa... and Trigun(and Trigun Maximum).

Most people are probably familiar with Yasuhiro Nightow's series through the 26 episode anime series that was released in the US by Pioneer(now Geneon) and has aired on the Cartoon Network's Adult Swim block, and let me tell you, as good as it can be, does not do this manga total justice. Covering only about 1/3 of both Trigun and Trigun Maximumn, the anime was forced to not only cut the overall plot short, but also cut out the development of many characters. Vash, the tortured wanderer throughout the planet Gunsmoke, who endlessly searches for his sinister brother, Knives, has a slightly deeper history, as does his eventual traveling companion, the priest/gunman Nicholas D. Wolfwood. Millions Knives, Vash's bro, is far more vicious and cruel, as is his subordinate, Legato Bluesummers. Bernadeli insurance girls Meryl Strife and Milly Thompson are pretty much the same, although personally I found Meryl far more likeable in the manga. Most of the Gung-Ho Guns are also far more sadistic, screwed up, and crazy than the manga(particularly Zazie, although I won't spoil anything), shocking anyone who's used to their anime personas. Nightow's artwork is a true sight to behold, something people will just have to see to fully understand its beauty. The grimy, dusty, and decayed design of Gunsmoke truly is a marvel to look at, and I often spend minutes just staring at the art before proceeding on with the story. The fast-paced action sequences have a fantastic rush, although often they also cause things to become intensely confusing, wondering who's shooting at who and what's getting blown apart, and it does take some time getting used to Nightow's style during these action-packed parts, but once it does, you are in for one crazy yet entertaining ride.

The first volume is episodic for the most part, other than introducing Vash, Meryl, and Milly, the real plot doesn't really begin until volume 2(and continues on into Trigun Maximum), but the stories are a nice read and help us get to know our three main characters, thus setting up the main Knives/Gung-Ho Guns storyline. Overall, this makes one heck of a great read. Welcome to Gunsmoke, and enjoy your trip.

Even though I have only read a small part of this book, it immediately drew me in, and was disappointed that I couldn't read more. I can't wait to read the entire novel.

Enjoyed this excerpt from an intriging new novel, TWO WEEKS of SUMMER. I lked how the title related to the story without giving it away. The story catches your interest right away. What will happen in the next two weeks with Summer? It definately leaves you wanting to read more and more. Great Job.

The main character Kim is like a lady from, SEX and THE CITY but she is much more real, bad habits and all.

Looking forward to the rest of summer. Love the new fresh approch to life as a single woman.

This short is most intriguing. The bonehead who made derogatory comment is no doubt suffering from envy. Ms. Tirado's text is stimulating. It elicits visual images while effortlessly pulling the reader through a comfortably maturating story line. Sentences like, "Frost eats at the corner of the windowpane and ice has splintered across the glass" ground the reader in a three dimensional space while providing insight into the complexities of the protagonist subconscious.

I guess the thing I liked best about this story was that I was forced to accept and gradually empathize with the main character, sickly white breast or no. For all we know she is beautiful. Ms. Tirado taunts us into wanting more.

Five deserved stars.

DAM

This piece is a very interesting and enticing look into a young woman's life and her problems. The detail is definitely there for character development, and I look forward to reading the rest of the novel when it is published. Come to think of it, I need to be cleaning my couches with "Viking ferocity" as well...

Two Weeks of Summer embodies the best of what one hopes a book has to offer - characters that captivate and intrigue you, with a story line that pulls you in, fascinating the reader enough to make them want to continue to turn that page to find out what will happen next! The author has taken the simple, day-to-day event of how families pitch in and help take care of the little ones, and turned it into a real and genuine moment of self-reflection, appreciation, and inspiration. Two Weeks of Summer is a page-turner that not only explores the family dynamic, but also leads the reader down a path of self-discovery, as the women characters in the novel learn more about themselves than ever before...a discovery they unexpectantly learned through the roles all women play, as daughters, sisters, aunts, and mothers.

The first 5000 words of Vengeance Falls are absolutely explosive! Smartly written, Mr. Savelloni begins to expose the twisted mind of an escaped serial killer, only to propel the reader through a nail-biting sequence of action and suspense. It will leave you reeling, shaken, and hungry for more! I NEED to KNOW what happens next!

I have been waiting for the next Thomas Harris style of villain and Mr. Savelloni certainly creates a great introduction to Craven. Right from the start he pulls us into the action and promises a thrilling read.

What a gripping opening, with some great twists on thriller favorites - introducing a villain that is deftly painted as beyond evil, enough veiled truths to make the reader turn the page. Print more!

Taught, well-paced and exceptionally well-written, this is a thriller that deserves some serious kudos. Not only are the characters so compelling and dynamic, but Savelloni manages to maintain their edge throughout the story. And his grasp of the genre's language makes this a read that will be hard to put down. Read! Read! Read!

Matt Savelloni captures the readers attention in a death grip and never lets go! Amazing turn of events in this short excerpt. The story takes hold of your imagination, keeping you on edge as you ponder what's next. Matt Savelloni has a great future as a mystery writer!

In the first paragraph of McMahon's novel Chloroquine Dreams, we can already feel our clothing stick to our skin in the heat of the El Salvador sun. This novel, marking McMahon's thunderous debut to the literary stage, keenly juxtaposes the beauty of a Graham Greene travel narrative with the darkness and grit of a Denis Johnson novel. We meet Jeff, the narrator, at the epicenter of depression where his family life unravels back in the states while he has committed himself to improve the lives of strangers a thousand miles away. Like Alice in Wonderland, McMahon introduces us to a world where the rules are known only by the locals and outsiders like Jeff learn the rules as they go. With carefully constructed sentences that come off the page as effortless, McMahon splits open the heart of narrator Jeff and allow us to explore the various caverns where redemption and destruction wrestle like Jacob and the angel.

I seem to have come a little late to this, and there is little for me to add to what better and more eloquent reviewers have already said, other than this-Not only does this excerpt make me want to keep reading, it makes me want to keep thinking. As entertained as I am by the narrator and the narrative, I am just as entranced by the ideas sitting below the surface. I see here the beginning of a fine novel, one I hope to soon have the pleasure of reading in its entirety.

In Chloroquine Dreams the protagonist, Jeff, reads and rereads a book about Ernest Shackleton's Arctic voyage. McMahon writes: "He (Shakleton) and his men all faced death for the sake of walking somewhere nobody else had walked before, and they didn't even accomplish that. They didn't come close. They never even reached land. Now they're remembered as heroes, just for suffering as much as they did--for putting themselves close to death, but never too close." Throughout the novel, McMahon writes of Jeff's own heroic failures: in grieving for his brother's death; in relating to his love interest, Lucy; in knowing where he belongs and how to relate to his family and the world at large; and in following through as a Peace Corps Volunteer. Jeff gets close, but never too close to giving away his grief, anger or heart, and his biggest struggle is within himself and the decisions he does or doesn't make. McMahon depicts Jeff's emotional paralysis and anguished periods of uncertain self-exploration with clarity and unsentimentally. His gift for restrained yet elegant prose is evident. Jeff doesn't always make the right decisions, but they're his decisions and McMahon has written a heartbreaking and endearing narrator who wants to do good, but isn't quite sure how to go about it. I love this new writer, Tyler McMahon. I hope we get to see how the story ends.

"You can be rude to strangers, ignore your friends, destroy yourself--and the world will chalk it up to whatever it is you're grieving for." Jeff is young to have made this discovery, but his situation as a Peace Corps volunteer in a rural El Salvador still suffering from the civil war, mourning the suicide of his younger brother, confused by his parents' reaction to the death and his colleague Lucy's ill-timed overtures has given him cynical insight. McMahon plunges us into Jeff's world and the surreality he experiences as a man suddenly bereft of his idealism in a tropical environment nothing like paradise. The authority of the narrative voice is particularly compelling in this excerpt, and we've been pulled into a story that promises much more revelation. In only a few pages we've been made to care about Jeff--like Lucy, we're worried about him--and I look forward to reading the rest of this extraordinary novel.

Jeff with no last name narrates this tale of the hard scrabble life of farmers in the town of Carasercia, San Salvador where he serves as a peace corp volunteer. He begins with an account of holy week where dogs are run over routinely by rich folks on their return from a week of beaching. Jeff has lost his idealism in this second year of building a water pipeline to the town. He has also lost his goth brother to suicide. In the four months since his brother's death, Jeff has listened repeatedly to the music his brother loved as he reads and rereads the account of Shakletons Artic mid-adventure.

The one light spot in these killing fields --dogs, brothers, fire ants, snakes -- is Fredy, the young boy who shadows Jeff and prods him onward with a stubborness born of need. Fredy accepts everything that life hasn't offered and condenses all, including speech, to basic necessities. He keeps Jeff grounded in the same way that Jeff, despite alcohol and hard labor, grounds himself against the modern world and its puny acceptance of grief.

This is one of those books that doesn't deserve just one read. It must be perused again and again to understand and savor the wisdom and tight writing contained within sparse lines. I'm not sure what pipeline-building in South America has in store for these two amazing young men, but I definitely want to read on and find out.

I have to agree with some of the other reviewers in that I found that I could close my eyes and feel the textures and temperature in Phyllis' young world. I could see the sights and smell the scents. I knew the fear.

I am particularly moved by Wilma's description of Phyllis' first realization of her power over the cow. Her all too human tendency to exercise that power immediately in the wake of the master exercising his over her is poignantly demonstrated.

I was confused though near the end of this excerpt where on page 5 Wilma has Phyllis say, "I never saw my mother leave." Then on page 6 he vividly describes the mother's departure. Did Phyllis witness that event or not?

Overall, a good and enjoyable read. I expect that I will also find it informative when I am able to read it in its entirety. I look forward to doing so.

The excerpt actually reads like a memoir, full of insightful observations and character development that seem like they could only have been articulated had they actually happened. The synopsis looks promising and so I would definitely read the rest of the book when it becomes available.

Mr. Wilma's "Down the River" excerpt starts out well and quickly captured my interest. Wilma's writing style is easy to read and-- for me at least-- effectively paints a vivid mental picture of the setting as well as of the characters. I would like to read more. So far (and the excerpt is short), I can say that both the writing and the story line are quite promising.

The author paints a vivid picture of the Old South and creates a strong character that is easy for the reader to care about....well written descriptions that draw the reader into the action...

Fulfilling read, thoughtful, insightful, sensitive, compelling. I savored this touching story and would recommend it to friends.

Am enjoying hearing about the adventure and waiting to turn the next page on the story . . .

Bravo for weaving actual experiences into a novel.

Someone please publish this so we can read the rest of it after getting hooked! Reminds me of three of my favorite books: The Quiet American, Saint Jack and The Year of Living Dangerously.

Publish this book! I want to read more.

Anna's narrative immediately transported me to Cambodia. She's observant, brash, nervous, compassionate, and occasionally naïve. I can believe her reactions to and sympathy for Cambodia and its people.

Jennifer Berman writes with a very authoritive and convincing verve. Berman has rendered Anna's voice so effectively, that one might think this book is autobiographical.

I immediately cared about Anna and what happens to her. Is she a fish-out-of-water, or a quick study who adapts to overcome and eventually contribute to Cambodia and its people?

A Fistful of Water is artful, witty, and timely. It is a real and vivid view of Cambodia, and other developing countries in SE Asia, from the perspective of a real American - slightly flawed, slightly spoiled, but ultimately sincere and generous.

This is an impressive first novel. I rate it "5 Stars."

We meet Anna just as she gets off her international flight, physically exhausted, emotionally fragile and so unprepared for her trek into the Third World that she has not even notified her employer that she is coming. Through Anna's culture-shocked senses, the author shows us Cambodia in riveting detail. This is excellent work and way cheaper than an airline ticket!

There's an interest cast of expatriates and Cambodians. Ominous foreshadowing hints of adventures to come. One senses by the end, Anna will have had to face past traumas and become more competent to deal with life. Usually, I'd like to see more of the plot unfold by now, but some mystery writers need more time to unpack their corpse. For writing like this, I'd be content to let the author develop her theme at her own pace.

A Fistful of Water promises to be entertaining and enlightening in equal parts. Author Jennifer Berman provides a window into a culture and experience most Americans will never know first-hand, through the effective medium of an engaging story. As Graham Greene and Eric Ambler were able to do with other settings and time periods, she vividly and realistically depicts life in Cambodia during the mid-1990s with both compassion and humor, while avoiding avoids the pitfalls of condescension or patronizing preachiness. By acknowledging how her protagonist Anna's genuine do-gooder idealism is intertwined with naivete and her own cultural baggage, Berman makes Anna a much fuller and more interesting character. The reader winces at some of Anna's missteps and fears, but these are winces of recognition and sympathy. Even in the short excerpt available here, Berman is able to show how identity, culture, and sometimes even morality are more local than they often appear, and that one's understanding of these concepts is constantly being adjusted through experience.
All in all, an exciting and appealing beginning that makes one eager to read more.

The excerpt from Rachel Newcomb's "The Gift" is written in extremely lucid, graceful prose. She rapidly and deftly establishes the central characters, Celia and Elise. I loved the Professor and especially the description of his office. (I did want to know just a little more about the father, and to understand the decisions to leave South Carolina and Key West a little better, though I know this backstory was introduced mainly to explain Celia's aversion to restaurant work.) I am very interested in learning how the insecurities or discomforts of each of these women will play out in the relationship that develops between them.

From the quirky Princeton professor in his paper-filled office which is about to combust, to Celia's alcohol-soaked father, spinning the globe for a place to escape, this excerpt is peopled with characters for whom I felt immediate affection. In addition, the plot had me completely enthralled so that I was beyond disappointed--I was angry--when I came to the end of the chapter. Please publish this book!

In just a single chapter the author manages to draw two intriguing characters--Celia and Elise, the first an unmarried working-class woman from the South, the second a married middle-class woman from the North. Despite these differences, they share a quality of intelligence and thoughfulness, both are deeply reflective, and they both live a rather alienated life. Celia is something of a guest worker, struggling to find her way in a largely affluent and professional environment, and Elise does not feel a true membership in the Princeton society she inhabits and, partly due to her infertility, is detached from and perhaps threatened by her SUV driving, childbearing counterparts. Elise, on the search for an egg donor, and Celia, looking for a new job, are destined for an interesting encounter. The author does an excellent and economical job of establishing these characters, setting them against class and regional divides, and giving unique and genuine voices to both. A pleasure to read, fascinating characters, and a strong plot--what more could one want!

What a delightful way to spend a few moments on a Saturday morning! I wish that I had the entire book - I would not stop reading until all of my questions were answered! The author is a gifted writer with the talent of fleshing out her characters until they are our friends. Each setting is described in beautiful detail. I can't wait to buy this book, and I hope that Rachel Newcomb will "gift" us with more of her novels in the future.

Rachel Newcomb exhibits an attention to detail that brings her characters to life. She draws a connetion between Ceclia and Elise through their discomfort in the Princeton Community and their desire for change. From this short excerpt, the reader anticipates that their yearning for change may require a greater sacrafice than expected.