Authors Books

The author introduces his book saying it contains "my favorite tools for tuning up the poems you write". From discussing the poet's "job description" to the necessity of writing clear understandable poetry, from how poets should serve the poems they write to the necessity of having an imaginary reader in mind, from the importance of titles and opening lines, to cutting out unnecessary words, from ryhme to writing about feelings, writing from memory, how best to use anecdote, fine tuning similes and metaphors, and to a most inspiring chapter dedicated to "detail", this book guides readers to writing (and reading) poetry with greater sensitivity.

Among the many tools for fine tuning, the author sheds light on the connection between the specific choices a poet makes and their outcome, revealing ways in which a poet could manipulate such choices more consciously to achieve the desired results.

Throughout the book, the author quotes numerous poems to demonstrate his meaning, many of which are striking, some unforgettable. While some of the examples are from his poetry, he draws heavily on the work of other contemporary poets, enlarging the scope of the book to include many other voices and visions than his own.

Although deep insight permeates its every line, the book is written in clear and accessible language and a delightful sense of humor. The author possesses the gift of instructing with a light touch, revealing a great deal of information, while staying out of the way, a feat that requires a delicate and artful balancing act that is the mark of a true guide.

Many books have been written to help one write poems. This slim volume by Ted Kooser is a gem. I did not know Kooser prior to seeing this book tucked in a corner of a bookstore. After reading it, it seems I've known this generous Poet Laureate for a long time.
The work is useful precisely because of its brevity, clarity and warmth. One comes away appreciating the inner workings of a poet's mind. It is never stuffy and wears its intelligence lightly on its sleeve. It does not bog you down in technicalities. Rather,it helps you feel your way and prods you to think better about what you write. It has not turned me into a poet overnight, but, at the very least, it has helped me become a better reader of poems.

This is not an intense workbook to poetry nor a rigid list of rules to follow. Rather, it is a gentle conversation with the author that pleasantly guides you along the finer points of writing poetry.

Interspersed with kind humor, we read sample poems that illustrate various aspects of poetry from voice to how to submit for publication.

It reminds me by its simplicity of "Elements of Style" by Strunk and White.

You might wish after reading it that it had more details and specific exercises to help us develop the poet's skills, but he references a few other works that provide more detail if one is looking for it.

I consider this a enjoyable read that opens up one's eyes to the beauty and nuances of poetry.

Ted Kooser has written a treasure for the beginning poet. The example of the ampersand on pg. 66 is the type of information beginning poets need to hear from accomplished, critically acclaimed authors. To have the insight of a poet laureate who does not withhold any trade secrets, but Kooser lays it all out there for the reader. Tips on what to avoid, like sentimentality, and explanations of the whys and wherefores of rhyme. A necessary book for the writer's library.

I must confess two things: I'm already a Kooser fan and I only found him because he's the current poet laureate of the United States.
But since I came upon him he's become my favorite, not only for his superb writing, but for the person who shines through in every sentence in his poems and in this book, The Poetry Home Repair Manual. What this book isn't, is a list of all the do's and don'ts, of forms and rules. It's not a list at all, but an invitation to have a fireside chat about poetry, get cozy and talk about our favorite subject. And because Ted is a gifted teacher he can't help but share the kinds of observations that let us come away with tremendous insight and learning. What this means is that, as a result of reading The Poetry Home Repair Manual, you will become a better poet (if what you do is write poetry), and someone whose insight into poetry has increased so much that poetry becomes revealed like never before (if you are a reader of poetry). Now here's the bonus: Because Ted Kooser is generous instead of elitist, kind instead of exacting, and possesses a gentle heart and a wise mind you will have access like never before to use your own discernments with regard to poetry. Only last night I was able to put aside a poet with whom I never connected, without guilt. Five stars are not enough! Ted sets you free.

I am actually amazed that I never read Agatha Christie's autobiography before now, since I have loved her books and re-read them many times over the years.

She was born in 1890 in Devon, England and died in 1976 in Oxfordshire, England. She started this autobiography when she was 60 and finished it when she was 75. And, just to make sure people don't get disappointed right away, her publishers state flatly in the preface (of the edition that I own) that she does not, EVER, mention the infamous disappearance the year her mother died and Archie Christie asked her for a divorce. That will be a mystery never solved. You get the sense that she left quite a bit of her emotions and feelings out of the book. She mentioned frequently in the book that bad times were to be got through so that one could enjoy the good times.

The book does ramble on delightfully, as she herself would probably put it. "What I want is to plunge my hand into a lucky dip and come up with a handful of assorted memories." (from the Foreward). Here's a critical paragraph about how one should view her autobiography:

"We never know the whole man, though sometimes, in quick flashes, we know the true mam. I think, myself, that one's memories represent those moments which, insignificant as they may seem, nevertheless represent the inner self and oneself as most really oneself." (also from the Forward).

There is an amazing amount of detail regarding Victorian and Edwardian England. Her ability to describe things minutely and interestingly was one of the things I always loved about her books.

The main outlines of her life are there, as are quite a few details about her family. She loved her family immensely and it shows. She discusses her father's lack of business skills that wasted away the fortune he inherited and her brother Monty's wholly unsatisfactory life in the straightforward way that she wrote her books. She was an extremely practical person, I think.

Her interest in archaeology because of her (2nd) husband Max Mallowan manifested itself in quite a few of her books, and I think that perhaps some of my interest in archaeology was because of her interest. She had one daughter, Rosalind, who died in 2004, and a grandson, Mathew Prichard, who runs "the family business" as it were.

There are a few preachy parts and I would like to have had more dates, but she warns you in the Foreward, and you must simply sit back and let her tell her story and understand her the way she wanted to be understood.

The book ends before her husband, Max Mallowan was knighted for his distinguished archaeological career in 1968 and before she herself was appointed a dame of the British Empire in 1971. Truly an interesting woman, truly an interesting autobiography.

I want to say, up front, that I'm a HUGE Christie fan -- I've read everything that she wrote, over 80 mysteries, plays and her Mary Westmacott pseudonym stuff. However, I was very disappointed in this, her autobiography for multiple reasons which I will elaborate upon here in detail.

First, she utterly fails to discuss her famous 11-day "disappearance" in 1926 (to the Harrogate Spa), which is probably the most intriguing thing that ever happened in her lifetime! Here, I'll cite a website (http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1922888,00.html):

"But Norman, a former doctor, believes the novelist was in a fugue state, or, more technically, a psychogenic trance, a rare, deluded condition brought on by trauma or depression, which may also have led the writer and actor Stephen Fry to travel to Bruges in 1995 without leaving word with his friends or family."

Okay, I'm Hoyle with that (there was a Hollywood movie that implied that she was having an affair, which I did not necessarily accept as truth) -- but why leave such an important event out of an autobiography that is certain to be of huge interest to fans?

My second criticism is more pointed. Over the years, Christie issued MANY racist comments in her various works. I won't repeat them here as all fans will know what I'm talking about. Now, this was COMMON for writers to do throughout the 20th Century so, on it's face, taking into account that this was "an acceptable practice" for the era, I don't condemn Christie for this initial act of making such comments, even though many did not benefit or lend real support to the dialogue.

However, Christie died in 1976 and this autobiography was published in '77. By this time, racist commentary was being very much looked down upon (as it should have been), and Christie could have made some sort of positive overture, however minor, to say that she wished that she had not used certain words that were hurtful to people. No such apology, however minor, is found in this autobiography, that I could find, and I feel certain that by 1976, Christie had received many letters which pointed out these anachronistic racial comments, probably seeking some sort of reaction. Based upon the absence of such thoughts in her autobiography, I seriously doubt that any response was issued. I find that a sad omission.

Finally, as I read this book, I got the distinct impression that her heart was not at all in writing it, that it was a drudgery of sorts. I don't blame her for not wanting to write it but, if she didn't want to do it, she should have simply not done it, rather than issue something that reflects a sort of sideways contempt for her millions of fans.

Here's what I DID like about the work: I learned a great deal about little things that ended up in her mysteries (such as "Truelove"). I learned something of her family (not enough about her trials and tribulations in marriage, though), and I went away sort of feeling sorry for Christie's father. Beyond these things, she came off as pretty drab to me -- my expectations were so much higher as she had been a world-traveler and COULD have said so much more. I found that the whole thing lacked a sense of history.

So, I'll no doubt take some hits for my review and, if I'm in error about my facts, I'll come back and make corrections -- but I just think it could have been a super work and, compared to other autobiographies that I've read, I found this one dull and lacking in honesty.

I have a tendency to over-rate the media which I review but I can't go along with the crowd on this one. Perhaps I'm wrong in that they say you should review what's IN a book and not what is absent. I'm not certain about that but I welcome your sincere feedback and comments.

Agatha Christie recalls a happy childhood in Victorian England. Unfortunately, it's a way of life now gone. Hers was a fairy tale upbringing when customs, manners and the family group were all important in upper-class society. Her portraits of the family, her governesses, the servants, her pets are descriptive and funny. Now I know why she became such a great writer. Wonderful!

Agatha Christie, perhaps the best known mystery writer of all time, did not ever plan on becoming a writer. And when she did become one, it took her years to accept this as her profession and to believe that there was something other than money to be gained by writing books. Her autobiography is a pleasant ramble through the fascinating live lived by the creator of those master sleuths, Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. Her life was no mystery but most definitely an adventure.

Agatha Christie began writing her life story from her second husband's archaelogical dig in Iraq. It is set up in a rather rambling manner, starting from a brief family history to her earliest childhood memories and on through her life. Throughout these memories are punctuated by various tangents, often involving her writings, other times not. It is not a straightforward chrononlogical telling of her life, but rather like having a pleasant conversation or reading a leader that she has written to her readers. It allows fans of her writing to get to know the woman behind those characters.

While not as detalied as some fans might wish for - as author and editor, Christie has left out some events - and rather long, it is a pleasing read for any fan of Christie's stories. I learned much about her life that I did not know, including novels she wrote using pseudonyms, and took joy in reading her views on social concerns. While the time period she lived in and wrote about may seem long gone, Christie's words prove again and again to be timeless.

Often times autobiographies are dull things of interest only to the author or those who may be mentioned in the book, others are glowing brag fests relating how marvelous the subject is, or are filled with juicy gossip about other celebrities. This one is completely different in that Christie did not attempt to write a complete chronicle of her life, or to focus on what the public might want to hear (in fact she deliberately left out the very episode - her disappearance - that most would want to know more about) but instead told about those parts of her life that she was interested in remembering. For example most autobiographies rush through the subject's childhood and focus on the parts of their adult life that made them famous, not so here. Instead Christie takes the first third of her tale to describe her life before she ever thought of Hercule Poirot.

What the reader gets instead of stories about the great and famous is a charming glimpse into the life of a middle-class child born at the end of the Victorian era, her perceptions of a society that was rapidly changing as she grew to young adulthood. She tells about her life as a child in a comfortable household filled with servants, her teenage years with her widowed mother, as a young woman caring for wounded soldiers, as a bride then a single mother through her later years as a successful author and her second, happier marriage to an archaeologist and their travels to the Middle East. She glosses over meeting the Queen but tells at length about various nannies and secretaries that were part of her everyday life.

For fans of Christie it is particularly interesting to learn what inspired certain of her characters or plots, what was occuring in her life while writing some of the novels, to see people or situations that one can recognize in a favorite novel. For anyone interested in life in the early twentieth century this book also gives an insight into that time that is rarely seen.

Most of the time, I read nonfiction because I can't find a novel interesting enough to buy and read all the way through, but this book is definitely an exception. I took it with me on vacation with my husband and my mother, and I couldn't stop reading it. I took it to dinner with me and totally ignored my companions. I know it was rude to read at the dinner table, but I just couldn't help myself. The book is funny, fast-paced, and very engaging. There was not one part of the book that I found tedious or boring. I won't spoil the surprise, but I will say that I had to read that part three times because I was so shocked. I thought maybe I had dozed off and missed something, or perhaps I dozed off and dreamed it, but, no, it was on the page. Never has an author so surprised me with a plot twist. I later rented the movie which was a total waste of time and money. I read that the author didn't like the way the movie turned out either. Just make sure that you read the book first because I can't imagine watching that dreadful movie first and being the slightest bit interested in reading the book. In my life time, I have read thousands of books, but this is one of those books that I will never forget.

I have read this book once a year for 10 years, and each time I find myself laughing out loud at Byrd's witty language and characterization. This version of the book has a guide to book groups, which contains some interesting background on how Sarah Byrd developed the novel. I have also given this book to several friends, all of whom have found it delightful. I would highly recommend it to anyone who wants a funny frolic with a lot of heart.

Sarah Bird is a Texas novelist who humorously celebrates all the stages in a woman's life in her witty and zany books. I have chuckled my way through them all and loved them, but her second book THE BOYFRIEND SCHOOL, remains my favorite. It recounts the amorous escapades of photojournalist (for the Austin GRACKLE) Gretchen Griner as she is faced with the dilemma of choosing between three love prospects: fuzzy-haired brother of best friend romance novelist, suave foreign-accented bad boy, or Grackle editor/master manipulator. Delightful escapism with mad-cap plot twists and ultimately, a big sigh at the end.

I was a little different. I saw the MOVIE first back when it first came out and it quickly became a favorite of mine. I FINALLY found the movie on DVD recently (I didn't know that the name had been changed from "Don't Tell Her It's Me" to "The Boyfriend School") and saw that it was based on a book by Sarah Bird. The book and the movie were quite a bit different, but since Sarah Bird wrote both the book and the screenplay that made it OK. I love books that make you feel that you are going to miss the the characters when you get through reading. This is one of those books. A credit to Sarah Birds writing ability. It's a funny, feel good book. Her sense/style of humor in this book remind me of the comedian Dennis Miller's style of delivery. I just can't say enough good things about this book! A must read! (and re-read!!!!)

This is only my second Sarah Bird novel and I am hooked beyond belief. Her dialogue and characters put you inside the book. You're there watching the whole novel unfold around you.

Gretchen is a talented photojournalist stuck at a two bit publication that has entwined itself thouroughly into her life. From the sordid past of the newsroom to the flim flam ways of her occasional boyfriend and hokey boss who is as unreliable as her salary, she's come to the conclusion that it was all a lost cause. The writing is on the wall as far as Gretchen is concerned when she's assigned to cover the Luvboree. Little does she know that entering the Pink Ghetto will be her ticket to leaving the Grackle behind and gaining her new life.

Reading Gretchen's trials and tribulations over starting her own Romance novel are hilarious. And you definitely feel for her as she goes through her 'dry spell'. Well that is until the handsome stranger comes along. From there on, buckle your seatbelts and make sure you can read until the end - you won't be disappointed.

I really enjoyed the character antics in this book. Dyanmics ruled for all of those involved. All of the elements of a good novel come together as the plot and development go hand in hand with the set up and characters. Also this particular edition of the book has an afterword by Bird as well as a reader's guide for afficionados or book clubs which I enjoy reading as a way to bring closure to the novel experience.

This was a fantastic book and one that I am going to enjoy reading many times to come. Sarah Bird is a terrific writer and her novels should be known far and wide for their witty and humorous entertainment.

I don't write book reviews. There are others better qualified or more eloquent. I do make recommendations. This is a hilarious book. This is a 'scare the cat sleeping on your lap' kind of funny book. You'll root for Marie to win the girl and survive her family. If you want a good laugh and to scare your cat out of a sound nap, this is the book.

It's always a nice surprise when a book turns out to be more than was expected. Most reviews of Greetings From Jamaica, Wish You Were Queer are devoted to talking about the humor and the unique characters. To discover that it also contains some pointed commentary about the difficulty of being a lesbian in America was a bonus.

SanGiovanni makes insightful comments about being a lesbian in a straight society. At appropriate points in the story she remarks about things that most lesbians relate to. When you walk into a room just how do you identify who is "family" and who isn't? Is a smile just a friendly gesture or an invitation to something else? How do you convince your relatives that you really aren't going to change your mind even if they do fix you up with the "right" man? By watching the Santora family, the reader also gets a clear picture of how important family can be in shaping a person and Uncle Tony shows how deep and abiding love can be. None of this is delivered in a heavy, lecturing style. The lessons are delivered with humor and twine within the story quite easily. That means the reader is often learning something before she realizes it.

Welcome To Jamaica, Wish You Were Queer would probably be as funny if it was about any ethnic family. Because Italian Americans are generally known for their bigger than life emotions, that just adds to the fun. You can almost hear the women saying in chorus, "Laugh. Learn. Enjoy." You'll do all three.

This is a fun and funny read about an aspiring screenwriter who ends up meeting her favorite actress during a family trip to Jamaica. The quick banter among the Italian-American family members is wonderfully juxtaposed with the sweet burgeoning relationship between Marie and Lorn. If you're looking for a quick and entertaining book, pick up SanGiovanni's novel.

Greetings from Jamaica was a pleasant relief from the many over priced melodramatic romance novels in the market. What actually appealed to me was the cast of eccentric family members whose appearances in the book never appeared forced or unnecessary.The love story was also quite tastefully written with well paced humourous parts. There were a few coincidences in the book such as the meeting of the two future lovers that was a bit far fetched but this was forgiven - many other things to like about the story. Well Done - now the pressure is on for the next book!!

What'll happen if you mix "my big fat greek wedding" and "bridget jones" and add a lesbian storyline? This great book. It'll make you laugh and laugh while you discover how wonderful love and family can be. For me, it's the best book of the year, it made me realize that every moment with the people you love should be appreciated, or, in other words, how lucky we are to have someone to love and who loves you in return.

Delightful, funny, tender and a wonderful book, if you buy it you're not going to regret it!!!

Noe

This book is a good introductory book, as it contains Michael Connelly's first three novels about Detective Harry Bosh. I will review the Black Echo, his first, with the added comment that this review can also stand for all the Bosh books. These are my favorite books to read for fun. Real page-turners, that keeps you on your toes. I first heard of Michael Connelly and his Harry Bosh series a number of years ago on NPR. He was being interviewed, as he was considered the top writer of fictional detective mystery novels. I was captivated from the first book, and have read every one in the series to date. The plots are interesting, with twists that will surprise you, yet make sense. The characters seem like real people, flawed, rather than perfect. Harry Bosh is a detective with a burning desire to find the murderer in the case he is working on. Sometimes he uses non-conventional means of getting to the end. If you have watched the HBO series The Wire, McNulty reminds me a little of Bosh. Bosh is both a hero and a maverick. He has his problems both on the job and in his personal life, and you watch his character develop as the series continues. With each book you get a little more inside Bosh's characters. For this reason alone, it is good to read the series in order. Another reason that this is important is that sometimes Connelly relates back to characters in previous books, or even now and then to events. Connelly has stated that by the time he writes his last Bosh novel, you will come to know Bosh intimately. I give this book a 5 star rating in what I would categorize as just for fun reading. The only criticism I have is that sometimes I find the romance sideline a bit much, especially in the first books of the series. Bosh seems to go through a lot of romances, a new one with each book, although this tapers off somewhat as the series develops. Still, expect there to be a woman in Bosh's life in each book. Black Echo, the first in the series, won the Edgar Award for Best First Mystery Novel awarded by the Mystery Writers of America. This book is about the murder of Billy Meadows, who was a fellow Vietnam "tunnel rat" whom Bosh had fought side by side with. In this book he is joined with a female FBI agent, and is pitted against enemies within his own department. Bosch has to make a difficult choice between justice and vengeance, as he tracks down the killer whose identity will shock him and you.......I just find these books so much fun, I am sure that I will read every last one of then to the series' end.

[...]

The other great thing about this 3 in 1 book (besides Harry) is the weight of this book. It is light as a feather and easy to hold and carry around. Enjoy!

Couldn't put this down. I was glad I had all three books to read at one time. Excellent homicide detective stories set in LA.

Michael Connelly is an incredible mystery writer. The plots are well-done, the characters believable. I would highly recommend any of the Harry Bosch mystery novels.

Another hit by Michael Connelly. I love his Harry Bosch books, the depth of character, attention to detail and beautifully tailored plots make for a completely enjoyable read. This one is great because you get three complete Bosch books for the price of one. Of course, if you like to lie in bed and read the 3 in 1 format makes it really heavy to hold up, but it's worth the effort.

I'm a writer myself so I know how hard it is to turn out such consistently great tales. If you'd like to check out my book click on The Towers Of Greed and if you buy it please buy it from seller Whitebear54 since that's me, the author.

After reading "The Summer Guest" by Justin Cronin I couldn't wait to read something else by this wonderful author. That's when I bought "Mary and O'Neill". His first novel, "Mary and O'Neill" is just as enjoyable as "The Summer Guest", if in a somewhat different way. Don't let the fact that this is a novel in short store put you off. Even if you don't usually enjoy this type of book (and I don't) you will be glad you read "Mary and O'Neill". I cannot wait to see what else Mr. Cronin has in store for us. Believe the excellent reader reviews and buy this book!

Justin's Cronin's first novel is broken up into a collection of eight short stories about the love between parents, siblings, children and lovers.

The book doesn't begin with the title characters, but rather with O'Neil's parents, Arthur and Miriam. The entirety of the book is balanced on the early revelation of the sweet complexity of their love in life and death. Their death in the first story sets the tone for the rest of the stories, providing their children with both answers and more questions about love and loss.

Mary and O'Neil's love affair is one brought about by just these questions. Mary lives with the ghost of a child she aborted early on in the book, while O'Neil's parents live in his memory with such vitality that he actually tries to call them after the birth of his first child--only to unexpectedly have a sad and beautiful conversation with a lonely stranger. Cronin creates Mary and O'Neil as the answers to each other's questions. Even the names that Cronin picks for them overflow with a sense of completeness: "Mary" and "O'Neil," sound more like a first name and surname than two separate characters.

The surname as name only makes more sense when one considers O'Neil's presence in the book as father figure. It is O'Neil who develops as a source of strength for several characters in the book, anointing him the ultimate patriarch of this novel. Cronin is poetic and beautifully subtle when he baptizes O'Neil's relationship with the woman who completes him and gives him a first name. The baptism is complete when Mary is ready to walk down the aisle and it begins to rain. O'Neil looks at her and all the guests at their wedding and, Cronin writes, "in his heart he marries each one of them."

Cronin's style is delicate and full of purpose, just like all of the relationships between his characters. It is hard not to relate to this book in some way if you've ever loved someone, harder still to not find Cronin's prose captivating in its wisdom and sincerity.

Mary and O'neil was so poignant with paragraphs I read and re-read numerous times because they struck a chord of something lost yet familiar to me. I cannot wait for more from this author; he has my heart!

Just finished reading Mary and O'Neil, and I know that it will stay with me for a long time. I laughed and cried, sighed and nodded my head as I read. This a very well crafted novel comprised of short stories, reminding me of the chapters of our lives. The relationships between parents and children, siblings, spouses and friends are realistically portrayed. Thanks to the author for a special experience. I look forward to reading his novel, The Summer Guest soon.

I read this book after finishing (right after!) The Summer Guest, also by Cronin. I loved both books. THe story line in each is poignant and moving and the characterizations are fleshed out brilliantly - with depth, eloquence and humor. The beauty of Cronin's writing is in his seemingly effortless ability to turn a phrase that just sings with its purity. He is able to capture, and describe emotions and events like no other author I've encountered in recent years. This is a lovely if odd story that jumps through the decades with poignant prose, the building of relationships, and the pain of loss. In reading Cronin's work you are left with a mystical and magical feeling. I did not want this book to be over as the emotions it evoked were much more powerful than those we typically feel in everyday life (unless you are 13). I found it hard to re-enter my own life - as if I were somehow changed by reading the words of this writer. Highly recommended!

What a fun read! I was delightfully surprised with this novel - it went far above and beyond what I expected when I picked it up! The cover is adorable, but it gets so much better!! =)

This is a new chick lit with a completely unique voice - one you don't want to miss! I thoroughly enjoyed the story and was very disappointed when I turned the last page. Must...read...more!!!!!!

I believe women of all ages, shapes, and sizes will be able to relate to the realistic, heartfelt characters in this novel. For example, I'm 23 - a good 30 years younger than the heroine, yet I emphasized and cheered her on with my whole heart!

If you're looking for a chick lit with a deeper storyline and realistic problems for today's woman, look no further. This is one story that entertains without the extra layer of fluff.

BUY IT NOW!! =)

A Stitch in Time was a great romance and a great read. Dee is an engaging character and the "inside story" on fund-raising fascinating. As much as I liked this book, Allison Bottke's next book, One Little Secret, is even better! Keep it up, Allison!

Dee is now living the fabulous life. Once overweight and unhappy, thanks to gastric bypass surgery, plastic surgery and a great job she's starting to enjoy life a little more. She still won't forgive her ex-husband who cheated on her even though he keeps bugging her about it. She's enjoying her new image and wants to enjoy her life to her fullest. Unfortunately her two 30+ year children don't seem to share this idea with her and constantly bicker with Dee blaming her for their parents' breakup. Plus Dee's new clients are not the easiest bunch to work with. Then just as there is a new guy in the horizon, Dee is forced to work with her ex on the project! This definitely puts her new faith in Christianity to the test.

This was a really fun book to read. I enjoyed reading about Dee's business with all the movie stars. Loved the costume ball sequence with Patrick Swayze. I also enjoyed that the person who had kept doing wrong to Dee finally got found out and punished, without Dee extracting her own revenge. I also liked since Dee is new Christian, she is eager to share about her faith but she knows not to blast it out to people when they feel uncomfortable. She's still mostly the same person though, feeling insecure about herself and hoping that plastic surgery will ease all her troubles away. I enjoyed the fashion, shoes, clothes talk in the book. It made it more fun for me to hear about designer names even though I will never be able to afford them! Dee's a very likable character and the reader constantly wants to cheer her on. I felt that it was also very realistic to show that society was treating Dee better just because she was skinnier. Yes Christians are suppose to love everyone, but it's also truth that looks ARE being judged in society. The only thing I didn't like was that I felt the ending was a little too tidied up. I honestly didn't see why she had to go back to Lyle. Yes she should forgive him, but that doesn't mean she can't be angry with him. He lost her trust, she didn't have to take him back. I know he became a Christian but I would have liked to see him at least become more spiritually mature before Dee took him back. Other than this, this book is highly recommended. It's targeted for the baby-boomer set but I believe anyone who likes a fun chick lit book will enjoy this one at any age.

A Stitch in Time is a must-read! Dee Decker is a heroine, not only for those who are or have been overweight, but also for any woman who struggles to survive in a dog-eat-dog world of luncheons, business dinners, and posh banquets. She is the poster child for every woman whose husband has been unfaithful, whose children have been ungrateful, and who looks for herself outside of herself rather than what is at the core of a woman, her heart.

I gave up cuddling on the couch with my husband one Friday evening just to spend time with this book. That's saying a lot, because my hubby's a good cuddler.

Read it. You won't be disappointed.

This story is compelling, gripping, fascinating and amazing. It's clear to me that the author spent countless hours on research. I was at the hospital the other day and recommended it to a doctor who saw me reading it. I told him it had a gross autopsy scene with plenty of details and a mysterious illness they were trying to understand. I think he wrote the title down. Anyway, the natural realm and the supernatural converge in this impressive tale about good and evil. Who better to tell this frightening story than Ted Dekker?

Dekker has an impressive imagination, is incredibly intelligent, and writes in terrifying detail. I think this is the scariest Christian fiction story I've ever read. But it's not mere horror for entertainment's sake. There is a pretty profound message in this story that I believe is well worth reading. I don't recommend reading it at night, though. It would give you creepy dreams and you'd be digging in your drawer for duct tape. Trust me on that one. Read the book and you'll see why. However, if the power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in you (Romans 8:11) you have nothing to fear by reading this story. Some of the theology is "iffy," but hey, this is fiction! This page turner comes highly recommended. Enjoy!

Ted Dekker is known for writing riveting, suspenseful novels and Adam is perhaps his best yet. Dekker as of late, has been on a streak of serial killers and Adam is no different.
Daniel Clark is a FBI behavioral psychologist who has been tracking the serial killer known as Eve. When he finally sees Eve face to face, Daniel is shot and dies. But then 20 minutes later is resuscitated. Daniel knows he's seen the killer's face, but the trauma of dying has obscured the memory and left him with panic attacks. Daniel becomes obsessed with finding Eve.
Adam is not really about Daniel, although most of it is told from his perspective and he is a likable character, Adam is all about the battle between good and evil, the light and the darkness. Dekker portrays that battle in such a realistic way that he had one of his editors sleeping with the lights on(words straight from Dekker).
Throughout the book there are about nine magazine articles that tell us of Eve's back story and how he became a serial killer. These articles were crucial to the plot development. With the help of these Eve has become yet another great villain created by Dekker.
Adam is an exciting ride from the beginning to the chaotic climax. It's a ride that you'll want to take again and again.

Okay.. I have read every single Ted Dekker novel written. And I have to say that this is one of his very best. It's a break from all of the Circle/Showdown things he's been writing for awhile now, and he is still in great form for the thriller. I wanted to know what was going to happen throughout the whole book. The book is about a serial killer, the man chasing him, and the women that are also obsessed with the case. It has everything you need-- death, twists, character development... basically, I'm saying... read this!

I really enjoyed reading this book. It doesn't have the 'Ted Dekker' twists like "thRee" but it's really good. I love how he makes all things in his books a 'God thing'. I look forward to reading his stories. READ IT!

Ted Dekker is my favorite author, and once again he has given me a book that has given me ours of entertainment and some things to think about in life and faith.

In this book, you follow the latest and most career intensive case of an FBI criminal profiler who also, through his studies has come to view religion as one of the driving forces of evil in society (and his serial killers motive), as opposed to an "evil force" itself existing.

Dekker provides us with his normal fast-paced, suspensful story, some excellent research and a plot with some good twists but not so surprising turns and anyone who loves a good mystery or story will read this book quickly and eagerly.

However, having said this, and understand I am one of Dekker's greatest fans, my applauding of the book ends here. Large, crucial and incredibly interesting themes of good/evil, especially evil's reality and the supernatural are addressed in this modern-day thriller. However, Dekker says in an interview about the book that his hope through painting a more real picture of the darkness is to draw people to the light. My biggest disappointment with this book is that in the end, little time or attention or detail for that matter is given to how the Light overcomes the very real darkness. So much time is spent exploring the possibility and then reality of the evil side of the supernatural that you are left to wonder how the light defeated the darkness. Sure you hear the name "Jesus", and Dekker is phenomenal at not being preachy, but when I read the last word of the last chapter, my biggest question was "What? How the...that's it?"

A fast-paced mystery where the conclusion is still a step beyond predictability, but I'm afraid that in my opinion, even though the Light is the victor in the end, the book leaves you wondering, "if the Dark is really so real and powerful, how in the world did the Light overcome it in this story? And if Lights victory is so unplausible at the end of this work of fiction, why would I ever hope in its power in reality?"

Evil is real and powerful, but the Light shatters darkness! However, in this book, you'll find that the light really just kind of wears it down and chases it away to fight another day...

Keep writing Dekker! You are amazing as are your works...but I must responsibly rate this book lower than your others...may your fans forgive me, and remember too that I am a fan.

The book is worth purchasing for the biographical background. His youth and adulthood were extremely tough and lonely. Hughes seems to have lost his religion early in life.

Excellent book and historical treasure that I intend to pass down to my grandchildren in the future.

I prefer his earlier stuff but there are poems in this book that make the entire thing worth it. Nude Young Dancer, Minstrel Song and countless others made me want to weep and smile. What can I say, I felt this guys pain...

If you haven't heard of Langston Hughes, I suggest that you purchase this, THE COLLECTED POEMS OF LANGSTON HUGHES, as an introduction to his style. Hughes was part of the definitive Harlem Renaissance Movement of the 1920s through the late 1940s, that was a very important period of time for African-Americans in the United States. For the first time, their voices were really being heard [and recognized] in the genres of music, writing, and sculpture, in this country.

This book is an amazing collection of five decades of his most powerful, intelligent and sensitive works. The poems start in 1921 through 1967. There are also several poems, written for children, that I didn't even realize Langston had penned! So beautiful and unexpected. What's more, one of his most well-known poems is featured, here, "What Happens to a Dream Deferred." Langston Hughes' views of race, society and social issues are truly timeless and compelling. For me, reading his works is like listening to a quiet, constant patter of rain on the rooftop, gradually growing with intensity, until the raindrops start flowing like teardrops from the great sky. That is how Hughes uses language. Essentially, he derives his beautiful rhythmic poetic language from an infinite river of words, he then pours them over on another and tells stories. This is truly the book to add to your poetry collection.

More than the exiled Eliott, greater than Walt Whitman, consistently clearer than Ginsberg, more powerful than Pound, freer than Frost, more American than Wallace Stevens, moreso even than the mighty Merton, here at long last is our greatest American poet receiving over-due respect.

A thick tome I purchased for my English learners which will instead fill my bed and my head for many cold and lonesome months ahead. Like the collected Poe, the collected Giovanni, an essential element to any American literature shelf, here for the first time meticulously researched and reported, with promise for more should any further works emerge. This is our American voice, clear and strong. This is the consummate volume of this great American poet, the one who wrote:

"( . . .) I've known rivers, ancient dusky rivers.

My soul has grown deep like the rivers."


May we once more grow deep with him, and by him. Read him, once more, here, complete and correct. Read him, and recall our America. Read him.

I don't want to say this is the worst thing I've read, but it comes pretty close. While the plot concept is certainly scintillating, the execution is absolutely awful. Locke obviously hasn't discovered what a thesaurus is and uses the same trite words and boring sentence construction to describe every single event. The 'erotic' scenes(which are practically on every other page) in the book seem straight out of a stereotypical bad porn flick from the Valley. I actually found myself offended by some of the scenarios and how they were arranged and that's not including the poor choice of language. After a while, I had to give up. There was no plot, just awkwardly written sex that read like it was produced by a man. It was that bad and I have better things to read.

I'm a lesbian now but before I read this novel I was teetering on the edge and after reading her detailed descriptions I've discovered this new style of loving is so very enjoyale and pleasing. I suggest every one read her work she's a delight to have around, even if your lifestyle is straight the exciting sexual pleasures desribed in this book should be enjoyed by everyone.

I do, it's so close to the real thing and when I read it I have to be sure I'm alone or I could have an enbarrassing situation. Both her books are so close to reality it's hard to tell the difference except I havn't come across anyone who comes as close in real life. Eve Locke is my constant companion

She, Eve Locke certainly knows how to tell it the way it happens, her descriptions are as close to the actual deed as being there. You don't need any pictures, and I feel as though I'm being included in the lewd festivities. I love it, it's easy to read and the feeling that I get during the time I'm reading is unexplainable, I'll read her novels till I die she's so good.

I'm a lesbian and I love reading as many novels about my lifestyle as I can, many are just kid stuff, but the Lesbian her virgin and Ocracoke Island is as close to me and my lover as a person can get. Its a real turnon from the very first pages, the author is showing talent, style and courage to describe all the raunchiness she fills her novels with, We love it and we're fans for life.Eve Locke should be immortilized and she deserves saint-hood.And she tells it like it is.