Mythology Books

I was not familiar with the Orpheus legend, but it didn't matter. I really loved this book for the romantic story, and by the time I finished, I certainly had learned the story of Orpheus and Eurdyce. I was really able to picture all the characters, and the settings as well. The house, the beach, the Hell, I could see it all as clearly as if I were there. This book revealed the love bond that I was longing for myself. And who wouldn't long for a love story like Gard's and Deesh's? I want a sequal! Where is my sequal?! Now!!!

Last Night and the Night Before gets its hooks into you early and keeps you compelled through all of its twists and turns. It rewards you for trusting the author to guide you through a strange and surreal journey. The seemingly disconnected events of the story pull together like stitches at the hands of a skilled surgeon. With the decidedly anti-hero succumbing to his own personal demons, only to vanquish demons of a grander scale. It is a haunting story that stays with you long past the closing chapters.

Ok, lets start with full disclosure: as it says in the author's bio, she and I have written a few nonfiction books together. That said, this is a very enjoyable read, mainly because of the mix of high culture and low culture (i.e. rock n roll), much like the two main characters. The book overflows with powerful images and descriptions, yet counterpoints with softer more subtle insights into the human condition. There's also a mix of genres -- love story with the supernatural - and its all build on the dual-foundation of a classic myth and the public reality of one rocker's life, like a brave yet damaged bat flying into hell.

This beautifully written story captures a love that goes beyond the depth most of us wish we knew for ourselves. This story makes the complexities of the relationship between Deesh and Gard tranparent and engaging. Read it and be enthralled.

What a learned novel! If you want to discuss evolution--it is in the book. If you want to play around with eschatology--it is here. You can even pick up a lesson in iambic pentameter. But most of all you will want to read this fine novel for the transcendent love story between an intellectual young woman and a talented rock star. Read it! You will dig it--and learn from it.

How could some one possible start with a peice of burned pancake and go to a full blown recreation of a person's life and last moments of death? Read the book and you will find out.

It is one of the best books out there that combine archeology and good old fashioned sleuthing to give you a great ride, one I will guarrentee you will never forget.

If you are intrested in the Druids and the Celts and want an accurate look at them, then this is your book.

This book stands out in my memory as one of the best popular books ever written on an academic topic. The tale of the of Lindow Man- a body found in a peat bog- unfolds like a great mystery tale, and yet every bit of it is firmly rooted in fact. The story begins with the discovery of the body, and progresses through not only the investogation of the body itself, but through the discovery and reconstruction of ancient Celtic legends, the later British legends that derive from them, and finally their relation to the rituals that spelled the death of the man in the bog. The result is a tale far more exciting than anything you'd find in any fantasy or mystery novel.

Towords the end of the book, the authors get a bit speculative, but they're up front about this, and careful to seperate what's known from what is more conjectural. The authors' scientific training shows in the care they take to make the distinction clear.

Why this book went out of print when so many purely speculative books that aren't have as thrilling is certainly a mystery to me. If you have any interest in Celtic or Druid history, or in British legends, or in cultural and phsyical anthropology, get this book. If it doesn't go back into print soon, chase down a used copy. It's that good.

Lovernios is believed to be an ancient Druid prince found ritually sacrificed in a bog. Who was this man? How did he come to be there? Discover for yourself in this fascinating historical story of Lindow man.

I really enjoyed the story of Lindow man. The authors discuss and bring forth theories on the life of Lovernios, the climate and time, and the ritual thinking which (may) have led to him paying the ultimate sacrifice to the Gods' of the bog- his life.

Great for those interested in reading about the life and times of the ancient Celts, as well as those interested in understanding elements of ancient Celtic traditions.

A friend of mine gave me this one a number of years ago, and I placed it with my stack of "books to read" and, well, to make a long story short, it got lost in the shuffle...Anyway, I recently ran across it again, and this time I actually read it. My goodness, I wish read this one years ago. It is a very well written and well researched story. I was absolutely amazed at what could be learned from a body found after it had spent several centuries in a peat bog. The author wove a fascinating tale of a people long departed, yet, culturally are still with us to this day. Any of those interested in Celtic history or just the history of Western Man, needs to find and read this one. It is certainly well worth adding to your collection.

It is remarkable how much the authors and forensic anthropologists manage to induce from one partial body found in a bog. I found their speculations generally very persuasive, and the writing is very good.

My only quibble is that, as other reviewers have mentioned, the last 1/3 of the book the authors lose their narrow focus and go off on all sorts of speculation involving the druids in general - that part isn't nearly as interesting.

If you like this book, the closest analaogy I can recommend is to books describing how much information archaelogists have wrung out of Lucy, the Nariokotome (sp?) boy, etc. - this book reminded me of those.

Everything I said about the first of this series (Wysard)applies to this book as well (see my review under Wysard on this site). The book can be reviewed as a reader and as a writer: As a reader, it draws me into it, transports me to another world of magic and treachery, romance and suspense, with memorable characters who I feel I know and care about. As a writer, the book inspires me to write more myself and aspire to do the same, with beautiful imagery and eloquent language. Bravo!

Once again, I join those clamoring for the next book in the series!
Sirius Recommends Book Reviews at sirius-books.com

The second half of the Ryel Mirai story is perhaps better than the first, well-balanced and more insightfully written. The story of a strong young wysard is continued, in a quest to save himself, his mentor, and the world from an unspeakable foe.

In "Wysard," Ryel went on a quest to defeat the evil daimon Dagar and to reunite the body and rai (soul) of his mentor Edris. In the twisting path, Ryel saved the lovely Sovrena Diara, and encountered Michael, an acolyte of Dagar. Now Ryel is on the road again, encountering a simpering poet and a tough soldier.

But when Ryel cures a man called Redbane of a strange illness, he contracts the illness himself (much to Dagar's delight). And to find the spell he's looking for, Ryel must go into deeper, darker places than he's ever gone before: the Fraternity of the Sword, religious fanatics -- and if he loses his battle with Dagar, he will lose everything.

Kephart's fantasy world is a stark, complex one, a bit like Ursula Le Guin's Earthsea, but much grittier, sexier, frightening one. No elves or dwarves, pixies or time travel here. Instead, Kephart takes care to craft a bunch of different cultures, religions, customs and traditions, all well-written and very intriguing to read about.

It's possible to get a little lost even if you've read "Wysard" (and you should -- readers who don't will be hopelessly lost if they don't). The plotting is steadier and we have a better glimpse into Ryel's mind as his situation gets worse and worse. The prose flows a little better, as does the dialogue.

Ryel is a solid hero, flawed but very likable; Edris pops up from time to time, gruff but a good mentor for Ryel. And Dagar takes the cake as a seemingly indestructible, very gleeful villain; other characters like the Countess and Alleron are good supporting cast. All the characters are distinct and individual, very well-written.

"Lord Brother" is a worthy follow-up to "Wysard," and a treat for those who like their fantasy a little darker and unpredictable. "Lord Brother" is a rare read.

The Lord Adept of Markul Ryel Mirai allegedly seeks the truth behind the death of Edris, his mentor for twelve years, but the wysard actually searches for a spell that would enable him to bring back to life his teacher by rejoining the soul with the body. As Ryel starts on his dangerous quest, the daiman Dagar has other plans for the wysard. Dagar plots to return to this world by occupying Ryel's "corpse" after his obedient servant Lord Michael Essern completes a special mission deadly to his chosen "host".

Ryel continues his quest to save Edris, but has side adventures on the way. He liberates individuals suffering from Dagar's sorcery and nears the inevitable battle with the daiman. The price of defeat is not just losing his life for defeat to Dagar will allow the daiman to use the wysard's body to commit atrocities at a level unheard of on the unsuspecting world.

LORD BROTHER is a fabulous, vividly descriptive epic fantasy tale that brings to life a different real that seems so real under the brilliant tutelage of Carolyn Kephart. Though the action never lets up, the support cast makes this good vs. evil novel so much fun to read. Also adding to the fun is that Ryel is a strong hero but Dagar is an even more powerful villain. Newcomers to the series will want to obtain WYSARD while joining in the chorus of readers shouting at the author to release the next tome in the Ryel saga.

Harriet Klausner

I am not a huge fantasy fan, though there are fantasy writers I like a lot, such as McCaffrey, LeGuin and Tepper. Kephart writes a thrilling saga that should please the most discriminating of fantasy afficionados. "Lord Brother" is much better, more exciting and more interesting than its predecessor "Wysard."

You should read "Wysard" first for the background of Ryel's society and his history, starting with the loss of his mentor Edris. In "Lord Brother", Ryel continues his quest to bring Edris back to life, joins a bloody brotherhood, is befriended by the delightful Markess Gwynedd and suffers great pains along the way.

There is a lot of adventure here, and very fine imagery. I only wish the print were not as fine in this book--the typeface was for my eyes a bit difficult....but for the average reader of fantasy (younger than I!) it should pose no problem at all.

When last seen Ryel Mirai, Lord Adept of the wysard-citadel Markul, was preparing to leave Lady Srin. In this sequel, Ryel heads North, to the city of Hallagh. There he finds Redbane and takes the Bane of the Red Esserns upon himself.

Ryel must fulfill the prophecies of the Foretold, which he learns from Riana, The One Immortal. Dagar's depredations MUST be stopped and Edris' rai must be brought back from the Void.

Many twists pop up in this book. Every time I believe Ryel is almost omnipotent, the author does something unexpected to make his powers seem childish in comparison. The character of Dagar, the evil villain, was done especially well. He seemed almost unbeatable, which added a delightful tension to the whole story.

If you have not read the first book, WYSARD, I recommend you do so before beginning this second book. Though you would be able to understand all that happens, it would flow nearly as smoothly. Wonderfully composed novel!

Michael P. McGarry has provided the necessary and useful lists of essays on all 6 of the Papers from the Eranos Yearbooks, edited by Joseph Campbell. I only wish to add a few comments on Volume 6 since I finished reading all of the essays in this volume today.
There is a good amount of information by Gilles Quispel in his 37 page essay "Gnostic Man: The Doctrine of Basilides" and in the impressive 68 page essay "The Concept of Redemption in Manichaeism" by Henri-Charles Putch. However, the literary prize in my opinion goes to Erich Neumann for his wonderful 41 page essay "Mystical Man." This is a distinguished piece of essay writing, worthy of an Emerson. It is the only essay that is wholly Jungian in approach, and he does a magnificent job of presenting the concept of mysticism in strictly Jungian terms. He proposes man as "homo mysticus" for whom the mystical experience is not something distant or rare but a part of the normal human experience. "The reality of this encounter is one of the fundamental facts of man's existence . . ." I found Neumann's essay to be very inspiring, which is something one does not often find in academic papers of these kinds. To me, it was worth the price of the entire book.

Since 1933, the Eranos Conferences have gathered the world's leading scholars of religion and mythology. This set consists of Joseph Campbell's selections of the best papers from that conference. This is Volume 3, "Man and Time". The twelve papers include: Erich Neumann, "Art and Time"; Henri-Charles Puech, "Gnosis and Time"; Gilles Quispel, "Time and History in Patristic Christianity"; Louis Massignon, "Time in Islamic Thought"; Henry Corbin, "Cyclical Time in Mazdaism and Ismailism"; Mircea Eliade, "Time and Eternity in Indian Thought"; Carl Jung, "On Synchronicity"; Hellmut Wilhelm, "The Concept of Time in the Book of Changes"; Helmuth Plessner, "On the Relation of Time to Death"; Max Knoll, "Transformations of Science in Our Age"; Adolf Portmann, "Time in the Life of the Organism"; and G. van der Leeuw, "Primordial Time and Final Time."

Since 1933, the Eranos Conferences have gathered the world's leading scholars of religion and mythology. This set consists of Joseph Campbell's selections of the best papers from that conference. This is Volume 5, "Man and Transformation". The eleven papers include: Mircea Eliade, "Mystery and Spiritual Regeneration in Extra-European Religions"; Fritz Meier, "The Transformation of Man in Mystical Islam"; Henry Corbin, "Divine Epiphany and Spiritual Birth in Ismailian Gnosis"; Paul Tillich, "The Importance of New Being for Christian Theology"; Daisetz T. Suzuki, "The Awakening of a New Consciousness in Zen"; Ernst Benz, "Theogony and the Transformation of Man in Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph Schilling"; Lancelot Law Whyte, "The Growth of Ideas"; Jean Daniélou, "The Dove and the Darkness in Ancient Byzantine Mysticism"; Adolf Portmanm "Metamorphosis in Animals: The Transformations of the Individual and the Type"; Heinrich Zimmer, "Death and Rebirth in the Light of India"; and G. van der Leeuw, "Immortality."

Since 1933, the Eranos Conferences have gathered the world's leading scholars of religion and mythology. This set consists of Joseph Campbell's selections of the best papers from that conference. This is Volume 2, "The Mysteries". The fourteen papers include: Paul Masson-Oursel, "The Indian Theories of Redemption in the Frame of the Religions of Salvation" and "The Doctrine of Grace in the Religious Thought of India"; Walter F. Otto, "The Meaning of the Eleusinian Mysteries"; Carl Kerényi, "The Mysteries of the Kabeiroi"; Walter Wili, "The Orphic Mysteries and the Greek Spirit"; Paul Schmitt, "The Ancient Mysteries in the Society of Their Time, Their Transformation and Most Recent Echoes"; Georges Nagel, "The `Mysteries' of Osiris in Ancient Egypt"; Jean de Manasce, "The Mysteries and the Religion of Iran"; Fritz Meier, "The Mystery of the Ka'ba: Symbol and Reality in Islamic Mysticism"; Max Pulver, "Jesus' Round Dance and Crucifixion According to the Acts of St. John"; Hans Leisegang, "The Mystery of the Serpent"; Julius Baum, "Symbolic Representations of the Eucharist"; Carl Jung, "Transformation Symbolism in the Mass"; and Hugo Rahner, "The Christian Mystery and the Pagan Mysteries."

Since 1933, the Eranos Conferences have gathered the world's leading scholars of religion and mythology. This set consists of Joseph Campbell's selections of the best papers from that conference. This is Volume 4, "Spiritual Disciplines". The twelve papers include: Heinrich Zimmer, "On the Significance of the Indian Tantric Yoga"; Erwin Rouselle, "Spiritual Guidance in Contemporary Taoism"; Theodor-Wilhelm Danzel, "The Psychology of Ancient Mexican Symbolism"; John Laynard, "The Malekulan Journey of the Dead"; Carl Kerényi, "Man and Mask"; Martin Buber, "Symbolic and Sacramental Existence in Judaism"; Friedrich Heiler, "Contemplation in Christian Mysticism"; Maw Pulver, "The Experience of Light in the Gospel of St. John, in the `Corpus hermeticum', in Gnosticism, and the Eastern Church"; Fritz Meier, "The Spiritual Man in the Persian Poet Attar"; Rudolf Bernoulli, "Spiritual Development as Reflected in Alchemy and Related Disciplines"; Carl Jung, "Dream Symbols of the Individual Process"; and M. C. Cammerloher, "The Position of Art in the Psychology of Our Time".

If you like Harry Potter you wil love Manitou. Magic is real! You get a feeling that all the characters in the book can come to life. You know that you can become a magician...a singer ... anything you want to be once you are involved in the world of Manitou. There is a secret in H. Potter that I have found in Manitou, that secret is in all of us.

Manitou brings mythology to life! This book seems to radiate love and understanding, as an unusual assortment of young people, gods and goddesses, and a cat, travel through time up a mysterious river to Manitou, the Land of Living Imagination. An amazing amount of wisdom (and love) is imparted in this must-read novel by the remarkable Ramona du Houx. This is a book you will treasure and want to share. The illustrations by Ramona and Emily add to the pleasure.

Manitou brings mythology to life! This book seems to radiate love and understanding, as an unusual assortment of young people, gods and goddesses, and a cat, travel through time up a mysterious river to Manitou, the Land of Living Imagination. An amazing amount of wisdom (and love) is imparted in this must-read novel by the remarkable Ramona du Houx. This is a book you will treasure and want to share. The illustrations by Ramona and Emily add to the pleasure.

This amazing novel brings together peoples from around the globe with wisdom imparted through clever, funny and serious stories. Serious situations are defused with the stories making me see how much we need stories in our everyday lives. The tales keep me reading, as if I was involved in a Greek myth. I never realized how much so many nations have in common through mythological tales until I researched cats around the globe. Manitou honors them as did ancient civilizations. From the Egyptian "Best" cat to the Japanese Welcome cat and the American pussy, Manitou gives cats , and other animals, roles they deserve. I am an animal lover, and believe anyone who believes in humanity shares this love. That's why I recommend Manitou, for it has restored my belief in humanity.

Wow, I was hoping to find a book full of adventure and myth and I did! The way the adventure builds is surprising. It was what I had been looking for. I needed a book to project the truth that adventure is everywhere we explore in nature. Just to be in nature with the insightful characters of the book has inspired me. It brings the ancient days of the Greek gods and goddesses forward into our time conveying an atmosphere from a magical land. Truly exciting. I want my middle school students to read this novel.

Lyn Cole

Jane Ellen Harrison was a ground breaking scholar in the field of mythology--she was one of a group of what was called the "Cambridge Ritualists" who believed that contrary to prior belief that myths arose from rituals rather than rituals from myths.

Her primary thesis in Prolegomena is that the religion of the Greeks and Romans has been only selectively reported in order to support a vision of rational, highly civilized people as the progenitors of western thought. Scholarship of the 19th century was founded on the notion that "the integrity of Western Civilization depends upon the exceptionality of the Greeks" (p. xx). This vision was developed by the Romantic movement to support a superior intellectual foundation to western civilization that emerged from the Greek and Romans.

Harrison argues that in fulfilling this desire to have exalted ancestors, the true religion of the Greeks has been overlooked. Her scholarship is focused on what has not been noticed-her conclusion is that the Olympian gods of Homer are the final product of centuries of evolution from a more primitive collection of chthonic deities or forces.

Harrison is more interested in the earlier forms of religion--the underworld beings that were placated to prevent evil. She is a master at examining greek texts and art to delineate these ancient deities. As Harrison says: "Great things in literature, Greek plays for example, I most enjoy when behind their bright splendours I see moving darker and older shapes"

This book can be utilized as a reference to understand certain Greek myths more easily--or read it straight through to get a more thorough understanding of the world of Greek mysticism!!

Although published in the early 1900s and outdated in certain areas, Prolegomena to the Study of Greek Religion is still an essential read for anyone interested in Greek Religion. Perhaps the best description of the book would be to call it the Greek Golden Bough.

In this classic work, Harrison sought to uncover the primitive substratum of Greek religion, so rather than focusing on the
Olympian deities, she spends the better part of the book discussing ghosts, 'demons', and the chthonic deities. The religious landscape that she illuminates is therefore nothing like the cheery and rational world of the Olympians. The dark, the creepy and the uncanny tend to predominate.

The book is very well-written, and the author's fascination with her material is infectious. I found it so powerful a reading experience that I can only describe Prolegomena in terms of a kind of anthropological prose poetry. Although its ostensible topic is a rather specialized and obscure field of enquiry, one comes away from the book with a feeling of having gained a deeper insight into that most general of topics, the human condition.

I have to agree with the other reviewer who emphasizes that this is not a book for those completely unfamiliar with ancient Greek religion. Moreover, parts of it might be frustrating and tedious for readers without knowledge of the ancient Greek language, since Harrison is constantly engaged in the elucidiation and discussion of Greek religious terminology.

All in all, an unforgettable book that, unlike most academic studies, is a piece of great literature.

This book is an indispensible classic for anybody interested in Greek religion. I was considering following up Prof. Harrison's weighty tome by writing the sequel: "Avgolemeno to the Study of Greek Soup Making," but I couldn't find an interested publisher, for some reason.

*Note: "Avgolemeno" is a well-known Greek, lemon-flavored soup.

Although partly out-of-date, Jane Harrison's analysis of 'neglected' aspects of Greek religion proves these aspects to be 'essential'. By dissecting rites, ceremonies, festivities and mysteries, she exposes the real obsessions of the Ancient Greek (Plato included). Instead of being 'possessed by a set of conceptions based on Periclean Athens', she shows astonishingly that Ancient Greece was still a totally irrational, savage and primitive society, dominated by ignorance and fear. Her picture is far more gloomy than the rosy one drawn by other scholars, who imposed their own language on ancient societies ('We should not monotheize').

In Ancient Greece, there was no 'civil' law. Law was essentially magic and in the first place a curse. People thought that they could injure their enemies by curse tablets, swathed figures ... In Plato's 'Laws', people who injured other citizens by magic had to die.

Ignorance and fear concerning the souls of the death, sprites, ghosts and demons were a fertile ground for theology (better: demonology). Evil spirits reflected the population's own savage, cruel and irrational passions and relations. (Porphyry: 'No Greek sacrifice of a camel or an elephant').
The Greek believed that evil was a physical infection that could be transferred on animals and human beings. The latter could be sacrificed in order to purify the rest of the population. One is astonished to learn that human sacrifices still took place in the 5th century BC. 'Pharmakoi' were kept and fed at the public expense in order to be slaughtered in rites of Aversion (riddance of evil spirits).
Winds were believed to be ghosts who had to be placated by sacrifices. The latter (humans were better than animals) took also place for mandic reasons.

In Greek theology, there were 'no gods at all', only conceptions of the human mind. Theology's formulary was 'panta rei'.
New gods developed out of heroes or crystallized out of a gentler form of ghost or were imported from other regions. One of the new gods was Dionysos coming from Thrace. He was the god of all growing things and of physical intoxication. His double was the god of spiritual intoxication: Orpheus (Orphism). The latter Mystery had a profound influence on Plato and his theory of the immortality of the soul (essentialism).

The author's analysis of the Eleusian Mysteries and Orphism are interesting but partly out-of-date, because new sources of information were discovered after the publication of her book.
For Eleusis I recommend G. Meautis's 'The Mysteries of Eleusis', and for Orphism, W. Guthrie's 'Orpheus and Greek Religion'.

This book contains excellent graphic material, which is magisterially analyzed by the author.
Harrison's book is still a must for all those interested in Ancient Greece. It is the work of a superb free mind.

I was searching for an answer to the mystery that was in the Greek Mysteries. Harrison provides the answers. Prolegomena provides a very detailed account of the Mysteries that are rooted in worship of the the Chthonic (Earth) Gods that preceded the Olympian deities. The reading level of this book is probably the most difficult I have ever experienced in a book that I am reading purely for pleasure. You must have a burning interest in the field of ancient Greek religion to be able to appreciate this book for the great work it is.

Jaime Gomez

This book is so great I had a old copy that was my moms when she was litle then mine, so I bought a new one for my daughter it is GREAT, very interesting and good for the imagimation. However there were some coffe stains in the book when the seller listed it as new.

Over the years I continue to love this book. Part of the reason is that it is a well told story involving animals. I also love the drawings.
I recently purchased this book for my niece and for the older children of two families who will be having a new addition. When I was asked to present a child's book to my class in middle school this was the book I chose.

MY DAUGHTER LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH, THAT WHEN SHE WAS SELECTED TO READ TO OTHERS DURING LIBRARY WEEK, SHE CHOSE THE MITTEN. THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN A FAVORITE OF OUR FAMILY'S AND NOW I AM ORDERING THIS ONE FOR MY FIRST GRANDCHILD. A READER FROM CA.

Even though I buy them for my daughter, I try not to review items that I owned or remember from my childhood as I feel I am biased towards them simply because of the nostalgic factor. However, I do think I would still love this book even if I had just recently come upon it. For starters it has such vibrant colors with the alternating turquoise background and the bright red and gold Ukrainian clothing. And what child wouldn't love the thought of woodland creatures taking refuge from the snow in his or her lost mitten, although the story is just folklore and the product of a child's imagination...or is it?

What a treasure: the illustrations and the story go hand in hand so wonderfully, quiet and witty and authentic. If you have Slavic roots, the Ukrainian illustrator's work may have extra resonance for you. Yaroslava drew the animals wearing Ukrainian costume, but with subtle touches of real life; this one's boots have creases, see the wrinkles in that one's heavy coat. I always wondered if there was an anti-Soviet subtext to the characters all insisting on sharing one living-space until it bursts at the seams (literally)...

If you like tall tales and humor, you'll like this book. Stories range from the wonderous fishing exploits of the "Monster Stick" to the Herculean feats of Buck The Wonder Dog. I especially liked the story about how wild turkeys learned to disappear from the hunters. Another favorite is a tall tale of how the author won $1000 in the lottery, only to lose it to a Wildlife Officer in fines. I hope the author will write many more!

This is really a fantastic book. I read a friend's Rev. Regina Spring's that she bought it directly from Rev. Bil ar her course of studies. I am purchasing this book for a Christmas present. I would recommend it to anyone! Funny! I would recommend it to all preachers!

If you like tall tales and humor, you'll like this book. Stories range from the wonderous fishing exploits of the "Monster Stick" to the Herculean feats of Buck The Wonder Dog. I especially liked the story about how wild turkeys learned to disappear from the hunters. Another favorite is a tall tale of how the author won $1000 in the lottery, only to lose it to a Wildlife Officer in fines. I hope the author will write many more!

If Mark Twain, John Steinbeck or Ernest Hemingway had been twins we'd be alot better off, but since that didn't happen we need as many W.V. Lepps as they had Waltons.

The Lepps have pieced together a hilarious array of short stories and tall tales that you'll want to share with everyone from your preacher to your parole officer. These stories capture a vanishing part of Americana in a way the old Andy Griffith show did, except that the Lepps lie alot.

Can't wait for them to get a book on tape, but until they do I'm sure glad they wrote this book.

Bil Lepp and his brother have put together a collection of new "Tall Tales" that is not to be missed. Not buying this book is akin to bypassing Twain in his day. (O.k.-Maybe that's a little much, but you get the point.) The storytelling is superb, always compelling and surprising, twisting around hysterical subjects and impossible(?) settings. In this day and age you don't get many chances to read a new author with as much talent as Bil has for spewing forth untruths that sound so believable! Take my word for it, this one is a keeper! You won't be disappointed!

The Moon Riders is an excellently written story about a young woman warrior, Myrina, and her involvement in the historic Trojan Battle. I thought the plot of the book was exciting as the tragic events from Homer's Iliad slowly unraveled. Cassandra, Paris, Helen and other characters from the Iliad were seamlessly interwoven with the fictional characters of the novel. Myrina and her friends and family felt real in both their behaviors and emotions.

After reading this book I did a little research on Cassandra -- a character from the Iliad I knew almost nothing about. After reading various stories about her, I felt that author Theresa Tomlinson did an excellent job of merging a mythic two-dimensional character into a believable three-dimensional person.

I also appreciated the Cast of Characters listed at the back of the book. Some of them were obviously fiction, some were obviously from the Iliad, but some were from other Greek writings. For example I had never heard of Penthisilea from the heroic poem by Quintus of Smyrna. I'm glad Tomlinson used other ancient Greek sources for her characters. After reading the reading the author's note -- it was very apparent how much she enjoyed the research and writing of this story.

A compelling novel, the Moon Riders will make readers feel like they are getting a glimpse inside the world of the ancient Greeks.

The next book in this two-part series is the Voyage of the Snake Lady.

I loved this book almost as soon as i started it. It starts out when Myrina is just 13 she joins the rank of the warrior prestiess the moon riders. Then as she is leaving she discovers the Trojan princess Cassadra (whom she befrieaned early in the book.) has stolen away in her bag, this is the starting point for the adventure, soon myrina is tangled up in the Trojan war. This Book is very well written, and is the first book that ever made me cry. It is a story of strong female charcters, first love, friendship, war, adventure, heartbreak, and beauty. It is a story that will leave you on the edge of your seat begging for the sequal. I high recommened this book!!!

Another great book by Tomlinson. Emotional and inspiring. She captures femininity and adventure so truthfully. Her characters are honest and real, easily relatable to.

Although the writing in the book is nowhere near as proficient as 'The Forest Wife', 'Moon Riders' is definately worth the time. At first I thought I was going to love the book, but when I started reading and got bored with it's slowness I was sure that forcing myself to read it would make me hate it. Guess what? It was well worth getting passed the boring stuff, because it all adds up in the end. I was amazed with the story, and utterly fell in love with it. Well worth the effort.

Theresa Tomlinson shows an amazing understanding of how stories and mythes grow and shape. For intance there is the young princess Cassandra who ,in greek mythology, was loved by the sun god Apollo who granted her the gift of prophesy,but she turned away from him. He could not take away his gift so he made sure she would not be believed by makeing everyone think she is insane. In THE MOON RIDERS Cassandra was promised to be a priestess at the temple of Apollo but left to become a moon rider,she did have the gift of prophesy but everyone thought she was just jelouse of her elder brother so she was not believed.
There are a lot of mythes in this book yet the all seem like real events that grew to become mythes.
This is a wonderful book which has a lot of research in it and it may be this which enables her to write so vividly and compellingly or it may just be the fact that she is a very strong writer.
I would recommend this book to anyone, but if you have an interest in greek mythology ,as I do ,then it is a must.

This book is a view into the life of a young girl forced into adult hood and is forced to cope with the trials and troubles of an adult in post WWII. It shows a very brave woman with a strong sense to survive. This book is a must read for anyone who would like to understand what people had to go through during post WWII or anyone who wants to read a captivating book. Very, very good book.

This book is a poignant account of Gertrude's childhood in Germany during and after World War II. She intertwines the historical perspective well with her childhood memories. The book is written from a young girl's perspective with amazing details. The feelings and fears of a child in an abusive situation are compelling. As a social worker, I find this to be a very realistic account of a child's life in an abusive environment.

Gertrude's story is by far one of the most intriguing true life post W.W. II experiences written. In her book, she expresses some of her most traumatic life experiences, and how she survived with the help and love from her grandmother. A well written novel, and must read.

An outstanding novel this is from the beggining to the end. A true epic bringing up emotions while forcing one to the edge of there seat. For all who have not read this fascinating book, please read it, you will definatley enjoy it.

An astonshing peice of work that Gertrude has written. One of the greatest books of this era. Very few books have been written about post German war. Many must read this novel to fufill there voidness of the time, a wonderful novel.