Shadow Books

I read this book when I was a teenager, involved with gymnastics, and it was such an inspiration to me not to give up. The book is about staying positive in life even when hard trials may come your way. This true story is heartwarming and full of courage. Diane (main character) is truly an incredible person.

I found this book to be great reading. It is an inspiration to all who have lived with adversity.

Don't start reading this book late at night. I have shared it with many of my friends and when they start at night, they don't get any sleep.

Renon Hulet captures the pain and ultimate triumph of a real life champion gymnast who becomes paraplegic after an untimely and devastating fall. This book will lift and help anyone who has or is facing seemingly insurmountable tragedy.

A compelling and honest portrait of the effects of addiction on family members and loved ones. Watson's anguish is palpable as she writes of her many failed "plans" to help (or force) her brother to overcome his food addiction. In doing so, she does not attempt to whitewash or gloss over her own insecurities and shortcomings. She shares intimately with the reader and there is a feeling that you really know the author and her brother. Her easy-to-read and self-revealing prose makes the book hard to put down.

What a wonderful rendition of a tragic life experience. CL's amazing writing style catches you at the very first, pulling you through her desparate attempts to save her brother. To read through the whole ordeal from her perspective was at once humourous and heart-wrenching. I believe every person who has loved someone who has lost themselves to addiction, any kind of addiction, needs to read this account if only to understand their own futile attempts to save anyone except themselves. Life can be a harsh teacher, but the gifts we receive if we always choose love are immeasurable. I am truly grateful for CL's story and hope it helps millions of people.

The epidemic of obesity in the developed world threatens to lower life expectancy and add yet more burdens to already strained health care systems around the world. Like many others who don't suffer from weight problems or food issues, I find it hard not to think that people who eat too much and exercise have only themselves to blame, even though it's clear that obesity is, like alcoholism, an addiction, requiring a holistic, multilayered therapeutic response rather than moralizing or finger-wagging.

The pressures and difficulties of food addiction were brought home to me by Eating the Shadow. The book tells the story of author CL Watson's brother, Carter, who turned from being a chubby kid into being a 400-pound invalid, and how his mother, siblings (raised with an alcoholic father), and friends tried to help this man who found it hard to accept his condition or the advice of others.

Ultimately, tragically, they fail, and Carter dies from complications stemming from obesity. In the meantime, however, we get startling, funny, moving and heartfelt insights into a family struggling with the patterns of addiction and denial, and of the power of food and sugar to smother every raw and necessarily painful emotion. Meanwhile, the extended family is forced to deal with the schizophrenia of one of Carter's niece's, another nephew's night terrors, and financial difficulties that bring home the sheer cost (both emotional and financial) that weigh upon a family when there is dysfunction and illness at its heart.

The moral of Eating the Shadow is that it is possible to intervene in the addictive process (whatever that addiction might be) and stop your loved one from dying, but that it has to be done early, and massively, and with total family support. It remains true of this, as everything else, that while the addict must first recognize that they have a problem, their road to recovery cannot be walked in isolation and that, ultimately, it is about us and our relationships with each other rather than our relationship with food.

The amazing thing about this memoir is that it makes you laugh as often as it makes you tear up. Authentic, caring, illuminating, it takes on the problem of the addictive personality and the family frameworks that perpetuate or help end this problem.

This is a delightful, heartwarming book, which reflects and gives courage and energy to all who are struggling with life's common problems.

I thought the start was a little slow with the development of El Murid (and to a lesser extent Bragi, Mocker and Haroun), but the story really takes off after that. I may feel that way since the narrative is so compelling, you aren't drawn into the characters backstories as much. Having read a lot of Cook, I can't think of too many other times where he has delved as far into the early years of his characters. Generally the early years are referred to casually, almost as asides.

As good as the orignial Dread Empire stories are, the prequels are even better.

I reread the Dread Empire prequels recently in this omnibus volume, and the only bad thing I can say is that average book size used to be quite a bit shorter (200 pages or so) when Cook was writing much of his stuff in the 80's. This would apply to the shadowline trilogy, the darkwar trilogy, and other stuff as well.

Cook provides a fair amount of backstory for Haroun, Bragi Ragnarson, and Mocker as well as introducing El Murid (referred to in third person in the original trilogy) and describing much of the early conflict between Haroun and El Murid and illustrating how Bragi and Mocker came into contact with Haroun.

This story tell of the appearance of a fervent religious leader who first takes over his own native areas, and begins to export his crusade into smallern westernized kingdoms. It isn't hard to figure out the archetypes for this conflict are in the near and middle-east in contact with central and western europe in what I best gather to be the early middle ages, but, as in other Cook works which draw heavily on real-world historical situations and cultures, it becomes more backdrop than a story-driving force. Several battles are described, the early role of the Star Rider in the conflict in Hammar al Nakid is illustrated (this isn't a spoiler - it happens on like page 3 or so), and overall you are left wishing there was more.

Epic Military Fantasy doesn't get any better than this, in my opinion. I think it is wonderful Night Shade is putting much of Cook's out-of-print work back in print, and cannot recommend this series highly enough.

This book actually is set prior to the first Dread Empire book. It discusses the roots of Bragi, Mocker, and Haroun. In the same tradition of the Dread Empire series, it describes an epic conflict of world scale where the forces of the Western cultures fight the cultures of the MiddleEastern desert tribes. Classic Glen Cook that requires thought to follow the complexity of the storyline and strong character development. The characters are neither good nor bad, rather they are amazingly human and you can see your own actions and decisions in the choices that have been presented. You may need to read the book several times to pick up on many of the nuances missed in a casual read.

I have been a fan of Glen Cook for over 20 years. I read these first books as a teenager and enjoyed them. 20 years later I have re-read them and enjoyed them every bit as much as I did the first time. The concepts and situations are timeless and applicable to any generation.

Unless I am badly confused, this was originally published as "The Fire in His Hands". My copy was printed in 1984. I am glad to see it reprinted and available, but when I saw the title I thought it was a new book, so I am annoyed that the publisher decided to change the name. I am sure they will sell a few more books to Cook fans that don't recognize it, but it is a slimy trick.
If you have not read it, and like strong characters and complex plots, you are in for a treat.

This book was a god-send when I was recovering from my experience with rape and I have recommended it to countless others in the crisis intervention work that I do with other survivors. It is one of the best books available for explaining the after-math of rape to survivors and to their friends and family. This book is NOT SCARY TO READ. Far less likely to trigger fear and panic responses in survivors (especially recent survivors) than many on the market. The content is honest and comprehensive but not graphic or anecdotal. The organization of the book is such that even someone suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (whose powers of concentration may be significantly diminished) can read and digest it relatively easily - the sections are very short and the type is large. Each chapter also includes "for the friends and family" sections, which give invaluable advice about how loved ones can support the survivor and take care of themselves as well. T! his book was the first "person" to tell me that what I was experiencing was a normal reaction to what had happened to me and that I wasn't going crazy. It's a very important book for anyone who is recovering from rape or anyone who cares about someone who is.

I read this book after an experience that I had in college. It was very easy to read and also informative. "Free of the shadows" is a great book for anyone who has experienced sexual assault. It is also a good book for family and friends to read who are trying to help a love one get through a difficult time. I loaned the copy I had to a friend, who in turn loaned it to a friend. I have been looking for a copy of this book for years! Ever bookstore that I went to told me that they couldn't order it. They said it was unavailable. I am very happy to see that this very resourceful book is still in print.

This book is fantastic. My friend was raped, and I wanted to get her a book that wouldn't scare her but would answer her questions thoroughly. This entire book is a series of VERY helpful questions and answers grouped by topic in chapters. A good book for raising self-esteem and helping get on with life. I agree that it is definately NOT scary to read, and definately one of the more gentle books to read. This is an especially helpful book in my case where my friend believes it's her fault, when it really wasn't. It helped a LOT!!

At first I thought it was overly simplistic. But I think its like that for people to be able to read it immediatly after a rape. Anyway, I think its very good. As rape tends not to be something that is openly discussed amongst even close female friends, (for me anyhow) it gives the opportunity to outline some pretty basic guidelines which- sadly just arn't discussed as freely as they should be. Very good. I thought I was pretty aware, but this reinforced and highlighted perspectives that lurk in the mind, but werent addressed. Surprisingly informative. Made me realize how far reaching the effects of the rape were and how recovery from the effects of the rape were just as important as recovering from the rape/assault itself. If you are on the recieving end of unwanted sexual attention, this is a great book. I have found that there seem to be very few books about rape, which is surprising, as I have always found rapes and assaults to be far too commonplace in this society. I think the word rape puts a lot of people off, because they think it always refers to something quite extreme or violent, but sexual assaults are often not 'OTT', but can be just as scarring. -meaning the act itself is one of violence, but the rapist will not always beat people up or yell etc,. It might be a threatening act, but be equqlly as damaging to the psyce as a more voilent rape scenario.

As an adult who enjoys YA literature, this book was so fun and refreshing to me. The author clearly feels no need to push the envelope of how many adult themes can appear in a book aimed at teenagers. Freshman for President is touching, funny, inspiring, and thoroughly enjoyable to read, all while maintaining what I'd consider a PG rating. Well done, Ally Condie!

There are not many YA authors that capture the "teen voice" as well as Allyson Condie. My daughter and I both read Freshman for President and loved every page. We were rooting for Milo and his gang from the first chapter on. Obviously you'll have to suspend disbelief with this one as Milo is a kid trying to win the White House. But the clever twist on how his campaign can affect change keeps the pages turning.

Buyer Beware: If you're a teen, you just might be inspired to run for something. Class President, Treasurer, Secretary, maybe even President of the USA! Even my daughter now has grand plans of her own.

(FYI: Don't pay attention to the release date, it's obviously in stock since I bought one from Amazon.)

You should definitely read this book. You should definitely NOT read this book at the gym, a doctor's waiting room, at church, or anywhere else where laughing aloud to yourself will earn you some curious glances. Let me just say that I made this mistake and there are now several people who won't be stair stepping next to me anytime soon.
I was prepared to have to do some pretty heavy suspending of disbelief to buy into the plot of this story. Milo is a typical 15 year old boy who decides to do something atypical with his life--run for President of the United States! However, despite my reservations I was immediately drawn into the story and the fact that Condie made it actually seem possible for a teenager to make a significant difference on such a grand scale.
But that is only a small part of what makes this story so clever and touching. Milo not only takes on a rigorous campaign, but he does it while coming to terms with serious emotional issues that touch the lives of those he cares for the most.
This book resonated with me and I believe it will resonate with anyone who reads it. I think that readers will relate to Milo's struggle to know how to help a sister who is struggling with emotional issues, while dealing with some of his own. I also thought that Condie's treatment of life and death issues was very real and timeless.
The plot moves at a good pace and is full of humorous banter, believable relationships, inspiring ideas, and beautiful symbolism. Through it all, Milo's character development is a potent illustration of how we really are the product not only of our experiences, but how we choose to handle them. Milo is definitely my favorite candidate this year!

I found this book to be interesting on a few different levels. First, it's got a fun plot with warm and interesting characters. Milo is charming because he is so average in many ways. I found myself rooting for him because it felt a little like I was rooting for the good kid that (literally) lives next door. He's not eloquent, or intellectual but he is earnest and sincere.

I also enjoyed this book on a more fundamental level. Surprisingly, the theme of this book is not the at times trite "anything is possible." It is really about the important teenage issue of how the attention and love of others affects your own self esteem. This theme is developed nicely in the contrast between Milo, who would do anything to have people know who he is and Milo's sister Mara who, because of some events in her life, wishes that she could be forgotten. Both eventually realize that they can get what they are seeking. Milo achieves national recognition and Mara buries herself in near complete isolation. The interesting part comes when they realize that the kind of fulfillment that they have been seeking can't be found in the places they have looked.

I really loved this book, and I think that teenagers would love it even more. It's both exciting and deep, two things that don't often go together.

Anyone interested in Szilard, early 20th Century World History, the A-Bomb, or all of the above will find this book hard to put down. This biography is comprehensive, well-researched and properly kind to its subject. Dr. Szilard probably will never get enough credit for his genius and all his great ideas and achievements, but this book does him justice. He seems to come alive in this book, always several steps ahead of everyone else.

American culture's emphasis on individualism often ignores the more collaborative contributions such as Dr. Szilard's. An original, he both created and collaborated, and this book tells his story.

At times, I thought the author might have been over-stating some of Dr. Szilard's accompishments, but the story is otherwise well-done, and frankly, Dr. Szilard deserves a little promotion, so I didn't mind.

Leo Szilard's life is traced from his early childhood in Budapest, Hungary through his student days in Berlin; and the development of the first atomic reactor and bomb. Dealing openly with Szilard's ambitions, obsessions, and fears the book delves into the intriguing details of his intensely adventurous life. For example, the very day in 1933 Adolf Hitler became Chancellor, Szilard caught the last train out of Germany; saving his worldly possessions and himself from the hands of the Nazis. Szilard's pluck is revealed when in England, not having access to a laboratory, he borrows equipment and performs perhaps the first nuclear physics chain reaction experiments in his hotel room! Throughout the details of his evolving atomic theories and practical inventions is woven his love life. Because of his genius, vision, and high human values, Szilard is always regarded with suspicion; especially by the American military bureaucracy. Indeed, General Grove who oversees the United States atomic bomb project has it in for Szilard; and even tries to get him deported as an undesireable alien. This is the story of the man who not only ushered in atomic power into the 20th Century but maintained his individuality while doing so. A somewhat sad love story is woven through the fascinating history of Szilard's atomic power. Many classic photographs of Szilard at important and personal events accompany the very well organized text. Although not a literary masterpiece, this book is a biographical masterpiece and should be read by scholars and romantics alike

"Never destroy what you cannot create" was one of Leo Szliard's codes of conduct. Books about unsung heros' of the scientific age are almost like novels. Nevertheless, great men seem to rise above dry biography if they had some esoteric ways. We have all read stacks of magazines and books about Albert Einstein to probe into all the details of what made him tick (in relative time, of course). Leo Szliard was a mental gypsy from the old world who saw the new world before most of the other "famous" thinkers of the 20th Century even opened their eyes. A must read for a knowledge foundation in enjoying the lifestyles of the Wise and Unusual.

Leo is one of my ultimate heros, and Bill Lanouette has done what is in my mind, the perfect popular bio of a rocket scientist. Knowing Leo's peripitatic life style, I can only imagine the horrific amount of time and cunning it took the author to get his research. Few books I go back to more often, just for pure pleasure. And I met Leo when I was but a wee sprout. Please. Don't miss this one.

The Golden Filly series was absolutely fantastic! I would highly recommend this series. You will be blessed in a very special way and inspired by these books whether you're a Christian or not. I will definitely reread and save these books for the rest of my life. I've read a lot of books, but none have touched me in the same way as this series has. If you love horses and enjoy reading about a person's life, even if it is fiction, you'll love these books.

These book were the best books in the world! Lauraine Snelling should write some more! I think the girls that see these books should read every one of them! My mind got lost when I started to read them! I did not stop till I was finished with them all!

I like it that the story line was liked it hapened in real life. Nothing out of this world. At night I couldn't put them down.

this series was one of the best series we ever read. we are twins and are horse crazy. we have a horse crazy best friend also. we love this series so much!!!!!!! we wish we had all the books. we have read all of them but we wish there were more!!!!!!!!!

This book serves as one of the most important spiritual AhHa moments of my life. I loved the book and it changed my life forever. I will never forget as I sat in my college apartment and read the last page of the book
I had tears running down my cheeks and knew at that moment I found the answers I was looking for.

moving book about the truth of life...finding the truth, letting it change you and hanging onto it forever.

This novel is a wonderful dramatization of a true story.

Albert Einstein makes a statement about our universe that motivates a brilliant and resourceful college student to search out the church that would best represent Jesus Christ. With the help of his best friends they search the Holy Bible for clues. Together they turn into Bible detectives and discover 17 identifying features that Christ's church would have.

Now, the question is can they find the church before it is too late? It's early World War II and in just a few weeks college will end and they will go off to war. There is a very real chance that they might never see each other again!

Five of the closest friends (two who want to marry) start searching churches, but World War II separates them all. The story line continues following the two who want to marry. You are pulled in to the story to feel the binding friendship that only young people in war time could have. You feel the heartthrob of romance and the heartache of loss. And, throughout this excellent story there are the Biblical clues that all of us have wanted to know.

I am a senior in college, and I usually have 3,000 to 6,000 pages of textbooks each semester to read and/or study--and, the thought of reading for pleasure is just a little repulsive. A friend gave me this book, and it laid around for months before I got around to reading it, but once I started, it was soooo good, that I couldn�t put it down. I hope they make a movie from it!

I want to loan the book to another friend of mine, so today; I bought a second copy of the book so that I wouldn't be at risk of losing my only copy. This is a book that I want to keep as long as I live. I hope you enjoy it as much.

I was given this book as a gift for my 17th birthday. I am now 24 and have read it 12 times. It is a life changing book! Absolutely amazing! The story is so intense and thought provoking- you can't put it down! I especially like that the author included the evidences of the true church in the back of the book as a reference for anyone who has questions.

Read it! You will be forever changed for the better!

The Mom's Choice Awards® honors excellence in family-friendly media, products and services. An esteemed panel of judges includes education, media and other experts as well as parents, children, librarians, performing artists, producers, medical and business professionals, authors, scientists and others. A sampling of the panel members includes: Dr. Twila C. Liggett, Ten-time Emmy-winner, professor and founder of Reading Rainbow; Julie Aigner-Clark, Creator of Baby Einstein and The Safe Side Project; Jodee Blanco, New York Times Best-Selling Author; LeAnn Thieman, Motivational speaker and coauthor of seven Chicken Soup For The Soul books; Florrie Binford-Kichler, Founder of Patria Press, Inc.- an award-winning independent publisher and Member of The Children's Book Council; Tara Paterson, Certified Parent Coach, and founder of The Just For Mom Foundation(tm) and the Mom's Choice Awards®. Parents and educators look for the Mom's Choice Awards® seal in selecting quality materials and products for children and families. This book has been honored by this distinguished award.

I Love You More is a gentle picturebook about the bond between father and daughter. Daughter and daddy play a game at bedtime about how much each loves the other; ultimately, they learn that love is immeasurable, with no beginning and no end. The soft, colorful, and faintly impressionistic art style adds the perfect dollop of gentle warmth to this wonderful story, ideal for bedtime reading.

This is a beautifully illustrated story about the love a father and daughter have for each other, with the final saying of "I love you to Infinity plus one". It is my daughter and husbalnds relationship and bedtime routine in a book! It's a perfect gift for any father... and a wonderful bedtime tradition!

A wonderful book. I can see this one quickly becoming a classic along the lines of "Love You Forever." The illustrations are beautiful paintings, used to show the love of a daughter for herfather and a father for his daughter. I Love you as much as the stars in the sky, the grains of sand on the beach, the lilacs on grandma's tree, the colors of the sidewalk chalk. I loved reading this book to my grandaughters, ages 1-6. And they loved it too. This is one of the nicest picture books I've seen in a long time.

This well-written memoir is an opportunity to get a first-hand peek at a whole different culture, society and way of thinking. The author is not pretenuous at all in the almost matter-of-fact style that she uses to describe a privileged life where money was always available to provide the necessities and the luxuries. Here we see a glimpse of the reaction of the privileged class to the horrors of war when it made its way to the door steps of their salons.

The best part of the book though was the insight into the author's opinions about the philosophy of writing. Here the modern middle-class American is allowed into the thoughts and opinions of one who was raised with all the advantages of tutors, exposure to the best art in the world, and variety of influential and interesting characters who sailed through her life.

The book would have been much better had the author allowed her emotions to shine through when writing about the deaths of her loved ones. This is the only flaw in the book and this failure leaves the reader with a longing to have had more opportunity to learn the complexities of this intelligent lady.

Anyone who enjoys reading about the aristocracy will enjoy this small, spare book.

I read both the Origo books many years ago and found her company delicious. One really feels honored to enjoy the refinement and intelligence of such a writer.

I turn to this memoir whenever I need perspective on what matters in life. Origo, despite her privilege and access to many of the great figures of the 20th century, never lost sight of what mattered: the people that she loved. This is how she introduces her memoir: "It has sometimes been pointed out to me that I have had a very varied and interesting life, have lived in some extremely beautiful places and have met some remarkable people. I suppose it is true, but now that I have reached `the end game', I do not find myself dwelling upon these pieces on the board. The figures that still stand out there now are the people to whom, in different ways and in different degrees, I have been bound by affection. Not only are they the people whom I most vividly remember, but I realise that it is only through them that I have learned anything about life at all. The brilliant talk that I heard at I Tatti in my youth, in Bloomsbury in the thirties, in New York and Rome in later years, has lost some of its glitter. All that is left to me of my past life that has not faded into mist has passed through the filter, not of my mind, but of my affections. What has not warmed by them is now for me as if it had never been."

This a charming and moving account of what on the surface appears to have been a very privileged life; however the author tells her story (which at times is very sad) without 'showing off' at all.

For those who have enjoyed this book, I recommend Kinta Beevor's A Tuscan Childhood and, also, although it is about an English childhood, James Lees-Milne's Another Self. Both manage to evoke the magic of childhood in the early 20th century in settings that are closer to, say the 17th century, than to today's world.