B Books

I bought this book at the American Book Center in The Hague, Netherlands, a few years ago. As I knew many of the places mentioned in the book, it took on an even deeper meaning for me. I love this book, and I list Diet Eman and Hein Sietsma as heroes. Definitely 5+ stars!

Excellent book. The book is fast paced, exciting and touching.

The risks and sacrifices that the author and her fiance went through for their beliefs and for unkwown people amazed and inspired me. Highly recommended.

The account of the author and her experiences fighting the German occupation of Holland during WWII is harrowing. It is hard to imagine that any human being can display so mush courage at such a young age.

The true story of true Christians, and Dutch patriots, Diet Eman and Hein Sietsma, and their courageous risk of everything to resist Nazi tyranny and hide thousands of Dutch Jews.
True Christians always love the Jewish people and Israel, and true nationalists are opposed to both Communism and Nazism, both the antithesis of national self-determination.
Diet recounts her own life, and experiences and what she saw and heard, as well as her deep faith in G-D, that guided her in all she did and thought.
Diet recounts her experiences in Scheveningen prison, where she describes how Jewish families, who were caught in hiding, were hauled into the prison, mothers, fathers and children: 'On the nights the guards brought Jews in, we always heard the children crying all through that place. It was bad enough for us to have to suffer through a place, like Scheveningen, but it was terrible to hear those poor innocent children crying.'
It is up to true Christians and righteous gentiles to stand by the State of Israel today, in the struggle for her survival and that of her children, against the monstrous Islamic-extreme leftist hate machine.

I have read more than 75 books of this genre depicting this period of history. "What would I have done under the same circumstances?" That is the question I am always asking of myself whilst reading these stories. This is the story of a group of people with the courage of their convictions...Diet's story is inspiring and touching. It illustrates perfectly that the power of prayer is undeniable and when 'all one can do is pray' one has done everything.

It is a great book that gives very important insite in the field that the traditional medicine does not cover. The importance of the understanding human nature and the complex relationship of our "internal" and "external" world is revealed with compelling evidences. The book can be offered to any person who is interested to improve the health. Special recommendation would be given to health care providers.

Hi!
I'm from Valencia,Spain. I received this in a excellent condition. The shipment arrived in the estimated time.
Thanks

I originally bought this as a gift for someone else, however before I gave it to them gave it a good once over and found it quite interesting. For a beginer I found this book to be quite full of detail that was easy to comprehend and was not to heavy with field jargon and terms. It was over all a good read for both beginers and as I have been informed by my friend a good source book for advanced users also. Should be more text books out there like this!

Yes, your hands can heal you...but this book can also heal your views on what you think you now know. Learn how to change your views on your past, and excel into the future. The only way to advance into the future, is to release the baggage of the past.

Learn how to be spiritual, and find out just who you are and where you want to go in life.

The book is clearly laid out and is a big aid in my Pranic healing. It is true your hands can heal.

This is a terrific book on how to love, and how we really do not understand real biblical love very well. A must read for every believer in Christ!

The book takes the reader into channels of thinking
which are spiritually challenging, and most unique,
in terms of exploring earlier relationships that
must needs be addressed once again.
Very well written, and informative.

This gem of a book was published among a flurry of "me too" self-help psychobabble tomes and I think was lost among them. I am amazed every time I pull it out, at how relevant it still is.
I laughed when I saw the earlier review that said "I dare you" regarding this book.
I said the same thing when I gave it to a friend years ago. (I'm married to him now)

Bold Love is probably the most important book I have ever read. It was recommended to me for the practicality of the three last chapters concerning how to relate to evil persons, foolish persons and so-called ordinary sinners. I found these chapters very helpful. What I didn't expect from the book was a new perspective of myself and God. Allender's language is so graphic I wondered how a man could know what I, a woman, was thinking and feeling. Without knowing it, this is the book I was searching for and hoping for but didn't think existed. I will read it over and over.

What does it mean to "honor" a wicked parent? How do you love an abusive person without opening yourself up to more damage? What happens when you can't forgive and forget?

With a few exceptions, I generally write reviews of books I like which means I'm somewhat biasing the overall Amazon rankings. But let me say that of all the books I like or love, none has influenced my life more than Dan Allender's Bold Love. I say life because it has impacted so many areas from my relationships to my politics to my theology to my marriage. The book is about what it really means to love someone, anyone from the love of your life to an abuser to your greatest enemy. The crux of the message is that love is not forgive and forget attitude but rather one that admits the pain and hurt that has been caused and confronts it. But the purpose of the confrontation is really the key to the book. The purpose is not to cover your bases or get it off your chest to enable to move on and have closure. What was revolutionary to me at the time of reading was that it pointed me back to the object of love, the other. It solidified the fact that evil committed against you must be admitted and the accuser must be confronted. This is difficult and thus the "Bold" in the title. But the underlying belief is that no person is beyond saving. No person is beyond to hope of reconciliation.

The authors are Christians. Dan Allender is a counselor with many years of experience. Tremper Longman is a top-notch Old Testament Scholar who writes one of the chapters in the book himself and assists in writing the rest. Why bring an Bible scholar into a discussion of interpersonal relationships? Because their model for reconciliation is God's reconciliation with man. The sin that man commits against God did not disqualify us from being loved, it just made the task more bold. First of all, God calls a spade a spade. He does not deny the sin committed or the gravity of the consequences. He does not just forgive and look the other way. Rather, Jesus, or better to use the name Emmanuel in this context, dove right into the mess and sought after those who had abused God through their disobedience. He never gave up. He was tenacious always believing that reconciliation was possible. He interceded for his killers saying, "Father, forgive them."

The argument is that this should be our impetus for boldly going after those who have sexually, physically, verbally, or mentally abused us, whether fathers or mothers or former friends or outright enemies. God did not give up on creation. He sought after it at great expense to himself. This is what it means to love. This is what it means to love your enemies. The importance that the book places on admitting the evil that was done along with the hope that no one is beyond the reach of reconciliation is what has impacted my mind so much in so many different areas.

If you're interested in this topic in general I also recommend the following:

Exclusion and Embrace by Miroslav Volf - Award-winning book I've seen recommend by theologians/biblical scholars. (Author is a Christian theologian)
The End of Memory by Miroslav Volf - The latest offering from Volf and has been receiving rave reviews. (Same as above)
I and Thou by Martin Buber - Becoming somewhat of a modern day classic on the subject and I've also seen this recommended in theological circles. (Author is a Jewish philosopher)

Here is a summary outline of Bold Love which follows a wartime motif:

Section 1: The Battlefield of the Heart
This is the most theologically oriented section as it introduces the problem and describes the motivation to love based on what God has done.

Section 2: Strategy for the War of Love
This section is the meat of the book as it describes the steps toward reconciliation. First there is a passionate hope and hunger for restoration. Second, we mercifully revoke revenge and as we are reminded of our brokenness and how God hoped and hungered for restoration with us. Third, introduces us to the art of confronting the enemy.

Section 3: Combat for the Soul
This section takes the principals in the first two parts of the book and applies them practically to three different types of people who may have caused hurt in our lives. First, there is a chapter on loving an evil person, subtitled Siege Warfare. Specifically this is about sexual, physical, verbal, or mental abusers. Second, there is a chapter on loving a fool, subtitled Guerrilla Warfare. This is about people who carelessly cause great damage to another's soul. Third, there is a chapter on loving a normal sinner, subtitled Athletic Competition. This is the type of hurt you may deal with from most people on a daily basis.

I bought the set years ago (actually decades ago) and got through the first two before I gave up. I was "done in" by all the Henrys, Edwards, Eleanors, etc. that my head spun. However, being bullheaded, I started again (since I love history) and this time I went straight through.

English and French history can be extremely difficult for someone new to that period of time. There are a lot of players with the same name (Isabella, the most hated queen of England and wife of Edward II; Isabella of Spain, Henrys I, II, III, IV, etc., not to mention the Henrys (Henris of France). However, plugging away is definitely worth it and reaps great rewards because what could be more fascinating as the truth (as far as it can be told after hundreds of years after the fact). John is more famous as being forced to sign the Magna Carta, not for the fact he murdered one nephew and imprisoned his niece as being threats to his throne while Richard III gets pilloried for his "supposed" murder of this nephews. It was John who had the country excommunicated a few times for his actions (no burials, no communion, no marriages, etc.) until people realized that nothing terrible happened. And it was when I came to the last part and reach about Richard III and the difference between the "real" character and Shakespeare's Richard III when I decided to pursue the case further and then read Josephine Tey's famous book on Richard, The Daughter of Time, that started me on the road to becoming a Ricardian. Eleanor of Aquitaine, the first (to me) feminist.

Great history and worth reading and pursuing if you don't manage it the first time. It's worth the effort. (A genealogical chart would be helpful.)

Costain writes 4 history books about the early British Royal Families.The books are very clear, nicely written, and follow the history of England.

The title of the book led me to believe that this book would encompass the entire "conquering" family of Normandy as they became the rulers of England. However, I was disappointed that the actual conquest was bypassed and the book opens with introduction of the first Plantagenets and not with William the Conqueror as I incorrectly assumed from the title. The book is very thorough where the author choses to be. For example, he can hit a few highlights of history and move the story along very rapidly and then suddenly spend page after page on one segment of one chapter of one person's life. I know I bought the book used, but the original publication date of 1949 and the republication in 1964 seemed obvious in the authors style and tone. I think the book is very informative, and if you are interested in the Plantagenets, it is something you'd enjoy. Just be aware of the "late" start of the book. The actual Conquest is over before this book begins.

These are some of the words that come to my mind when describing this work, but I am speaking of the entire 4 volume set - not just The Conquering Family by Mr.Costain who is a blest and gifted authorin my opinion. I first bought the 4 Volumes in paperback and after reading them cover to cover, I bought the hard cover set because I feared I wouldn't be able to get them later - they might go out of print or become more expensive. I have reread all of them 3 times and I would advise anyone interested in World History or an Anglophile to purchase all 4 Books because they are a must for your library. Each volume is thoroughly researched, full of dates, characters, events, battles, but at the same they are an easy read - never boring or drawn out and tiresome - you just want to keep reading and reading to learn more.

I am writing here for all four books instead just the Conquering Family. Its easier that way since most people who read the first book will definitely end up reading the rest of the three books.

This series by Thomas Costain have been around for a long time. Its one of the easiest to read written history on ruling family of the Plantagenats who ruled England from Henry II to Richard III. That's nearly 300 years of English history. Costain's story telling skills mixed with great history make this series one of the best set of books in introducing anyone to mediveal English history.

Having said that, it should be warned that Costain's history isn't exactly very scholarly. The author does take few liberties with the facts, even putting in few liners here and there to advanced the story. Even some events which may be more mythological then true, have been told as if they may be true. Costain also have his own bend to certain views and his sympathic views on certain events and personalities may not reflect history's. (The series almost does read like "historical fiction novels" and has been mistaken for such by the uneducated. Especially by those who worked in bookstores.)

But Costains' creative inputs should not distract from the fact the most of what written in his four books proves to be very entertaining and accurate history. Even those who may not care for mediveal history have enjoyed it since I have recommended this series to several friends who regards such subject as one of the most boring subject next to watching dust bunnies grow. By the time they were done with my books, they were ordering their own set.

The author writes beautifully & this is well-translated.

The pages fly by. Terrific story, wonderful plot with twists & turns. Highly enjoyable.

i ordered this one and the 'special assignments' book at the same time and read them both back to back. the way that 'achilles' slips from fandorin's view to achimas's view is seamless and well crafted. the story moves quickly, and the internal politics between the different departments are just as interesting as the battle between our hero and his main adversary. i liked very much that akunin gives the antagonist a human side (as much as possible for a professional killer). the fact that fandorin is not entirely perfect, and he's not entirely invulnerable makes him so much more believable. this book is well worth your time if you loved earlier fandorin mysteries.

This is the fourth Fandorin story to be translated (with kudos to Andrew Bromfield for a great job) of the eleven stories that Akunin has written. It would be great if the publishers could get moving and get more than one book translated each year. Much of this book is a continuation of the story line from the "Winter Queen" and the conflict between Erast and the assassin Achimas.

The book itself has an inventive structure. The first part (which is divided into chapters) deals with Erast and the 'Death of Achilles' (aka General Sobelev) who was a hero to most of Russia. We learn that the General was planning a 'coup d'etat' and that he planned to set himself up as Tsar. He dies though, inflagarante and this is just the beginning of the story. Erast is certain that the General was murdered but he is not sure why, how or on whose orders. As he works his way through the maze of misinformation, double and triple agents, just as he is about to confront Achimas, the first part ends.

The second part (where chapters are headlined by names) is the biography or history of Achimas. How he came to be an assassin for hire and his training and background. We even see how he first encounters Erast. In the end we follow him through the murder of Sobelev and fill in some of the information left out in the first part. Again this section ends as he is about to be confronted by Erast.

The third part is the short (only twenty pages, two chapters) where the two antagonists square off and we learn the identity of the man who has ordered the 'Death of Achilles' and why.

Though I would have preferred to read more about the six years that Erast spent in Japan (I assume there will be flashbacks in future novels) the background on Achimas is entertaining reading.

Erast Fandorin's return to Moscow is marred by the death of his war-hero friend, The White General - Mikhail Sobolev. Although the apparent cause is an unexpected heart-attack, Fandorin, exercising his unusual observation skills suspects foul play. As he investigates the circumstances, it seems he's correct, but nobody is willing to acknowledge the reality. Fandorin, in fact, sees any support for his seeking the truth not only whither away, but become outright hostile. This is a very political crime, indeed. In an excruciatingly twisted and seemingly endless story, Akunin has again demonstrated the skills that have made him one of Russia's most popular contemporary writers.

Unlike some of the Fandorin books, such as "The Turkish Gambit" where our hero often seems limited to almost cameo roles, the "collegiate assessor" - his innocuous-sounding official title - is more present and accounted for in this story. He even demonstrates his skills at disguise to enter one of Moscow's less salubrious evening entertainment establishments in search of information for his quest. Although the politicians fail to provide Erast with any support, the "registrar's" time in the Orient enabled him to gain a helpmeet. Masahiru, who bears an interesting resemblance to Peter Sellers' "Kato" in the Inspector Clouseau films, has interesting tastes in both food and women. A samurai, he's taught Erast much, but is seriously challenged in adapting to the West. Still, it's a team with amazing potential. Akunin has a talent for giving us only a partial view of Fandorin. Even after four introductions, we remain uncertain of with whom we are dealing. Which certainly doesn't detract from the story.

In this tale, a new prose style and an unexpected element appear as a departure from the rest of the series. The style is slightly more open and there are flashes of humour rarely present in Akunin's work - if you set aside ironies. In many ways, this is the most "readable" of the Fandorin tales. Subtle differences from the rest of the series - it is less "imitative" than the previous books -providing it with a characteristic flavour. The element is to set aside over a third of the book to a [seemingly] new character - Achimas. Akunin develops this man in exquisite detail, weaving a compelling, if disturbing narrative around the forming of a dedicated killer. Known as Aksahir - the "White Wizard" - Achimas moves through Russia and into Europe building a reputation. With so much space dedicated to Achimas' story, it's clear that a confrontation with Fandorin is inevitable. Its resolution, of course, will have surprising twists. After all, this is Akunin! [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

A remarkable series to say the least , with an incredible backdrop of Russia towards the end of the period of the Tsars. The one thought which crossed my mind when I put down the novel was , just where was Boris Akunin all this while. Erast Fandorin , a 24 carat hero, is one of the best sleuths that you will encounter in literature.
The setting is 19th century Russia flirting with enlightenment , with significant tension simmering with imperial neighbors. The nation is rocked with the death of its favourite general in rather suspicious circumstances, conveniently in the same hotel where Erast Fandorin is lodged. What follows is a remarkable story of unravelling layers of intrigue .Every murder seems to indicate an acceptable closure to the mystery , but a never say die pursuit by the detective takes you deeper into the darker forces involved. Fandorin has a remarkable Japanese man friday which tends to deviate from the usual diet of dumb counterfoils to brilliant detectives. Fandorin is Holmes with Zen nay a Bond with restraint. There's much more than just Fandorin to savor here. The rather brutal rural Russian setting gives rise to a diabolical assassin who almost proves too much for out hero.
Its a great commentary on Russian society during the 19th century, much as the pipe smoking Holmes characterises Britain. Never a dull moment , this is a book to savor.

This is by far the most thorough exegetical work I've found anywhere on the book of Romans. It is a masterful commentary full of pertinent insight and many nuggets of considerable import. My only negative critique is that this commentary is not more Pastoral. It is extremely useful (read "invaluable") for scholars, theologians, seminarians, etc., but is not nearly as easily digested and presented for Pastors or Sunday School Teachers or Church Bible Study teachers, etc. I only wish Moo had included more pastorally, but nevertheless this is a magnificent work and highly recommended for anyone wanting to understand Paul's message to the church at Rome. I would recommend that perhaps some other commentaries be included (even such trustworthy classics such as Calvins or Luthers).

Dougas J. Moo has written the greatest one-volume commentary on the Book of Romans!

Two other books by Moo on Romans are also helpful:
1. Encountering the Book of Romans: A Theological Survey (Encountering Biblical Studies)
2. Romans: The Niv Application Commentary: From Biblical Text to Contemporary Life

This commentary is probably the most exhaustive and careful study of Romans I have ever read (and I have read quite a few books on Romans). Douglas Moo stresses that the overarching theme of the letter to the Romans is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He says that Paul wrote Romans for a number of reasons: to defend his gospel against those who were accusing him of saying things like "Let us do good, so that evil may result." He also wrote to show that both Jew and Gentile are in equal need of the gospel, and that one cannot boast against the other. Paul also wrote to galvanize support for his mission to Spain (Romans 15).

Romans 1-3 shows that both Jew and Gentile are lost in sin without faith in Christ. Romans 7 shows the futility that Paul and other unsaved Jewish people in general experienced under the law, and Romans 7:24ff depicts deliverance through salvation in Christ.

Romans 8:29 means that God foreknew us in relationship, not that God foreknew that we would believe in Christ (I disagree, but this is Moo's viewpoint, and he argues cogently).

According to Moo, Romans 9 speaks of God choosing certain individuals to be saved because of His own purpose and grace, and not because of any faith he foresaw in His people. Jacob I have loved means "Jacob I have chosen," and Esau I have hated means "Esau, I have not chosen."

In a tour de force of careful argumentation, Moo shows from Romans 9-11 that God is not through with the Jewish people, and that "all Israel" in Romans 11:25-26 means that all the Jewish people alive at the time of Christ's return will be saved.

Romans 12-15 has ethical material found in a number of other Pauline epistles, and Romans 13 was written because Paul wanted to show that submitting to governing authorities was part of the pleasing will of God mentioned in 12:2 (although he leaves open the possibility of Christians responding to the government when it goes against the clearly expressed moral and ethical will of God.

The list of people in Romans 16 doesn't make for the most scintillating reading, but it shows that Paul's missionary ventures were not solo performances. He relied on others, both men and women.

What else can I say except that this is an awesome commentary. The heavy duty Greek stuff is mostly in the bottom as footnotes, but this is still a commentary I would recommend mainly for pastors and educated lay people. Moo's NIVAC offering on Romans may be a better choice for beginners.

I do not quite agree with the Calvinistic interpretations of Romans 8:29 and 9:22, especially since 9:30-10:21 make it clear that faith plays an important part of the process. In my opinion, God does not choose apart from his foreknowledge of the human response, and I think Romans 9:30-10:21 brings this out.

But otherwise, this commentary is exhaustive (and exhausting if you try to read it in a short period of time!) and extremely helpful. Thumbs way up!

Moo's commentary is good not excellent. I find he tends to chase rabbits. I would have prefered to have read more of his own thoughts on the verses as to so many different opinions of others. Over all he has done a good job, but I would not say his commentary is better than Hodge or Cranfield or some of the other older commentaries on Romans.

Moo is officially classed as a dispensationalist, however, it is known that he disagrees with a lot of traditional dispensational thought, as he is more progressive than most. For one, he is post tribulational in end time thinking, and believes in the 'now and the not yet' of the Kingdom. This book clearly shows that.
I am not a dispensationalist at all and yet I was amazed at the clarity and balanced thinking of this commentator. As he, himself states - he believes more in 'fullfillment' theology. And that's where this book is at especially in the murkey waters of ch 9, 10 and 11.
If he was as dispensational as one reveiwer above says, then Fee or the NIC committee would not have had him, as the niether the series or Fee are at all dispensational.
What Moo does do is bring traditional reformed / replacement thought toward a more Christocentric understanding of Israel as a people, who together with gentiles form God's one fulfillment people, and yet he also deals with the traditional dispensational thought that says Israel are God's earthly people and the Church His heavenly people ( or less in some cases).
I think Moo deserves credit for this book - it is outstanding, and will hopefully clear up a lot of the terrible dispensational mess in the West, and bring Christocentric fulfillment views rather than dual covenant views into people's understanding.

Let's face it, we know the ending when we start. But, once into the book, you are drawn into the world at the NIC unit. You see what is happening as if you were there experiencing it. To see the raw emotion, experience the day to day happenings is to fall in love with the little life that is so fragile at this stage. Then on the other level you see how much love is shared, how everyone is drawn to this family. And yes, it is a family just like any other. I keep going back to the book and reread passages - when after a bath, little Jackson has a breathing problem, you read the "prayer" that BD Wong has going through his head. You get so imvolved that you actually feel emotionally exhausted after you put the book down. I so hope for more books by this particular author! Bravo! I am a Foo Follower for sure!

So, after finishing the wild ride/read on 3 different plane trips and stops at several coffee shops. I was crying, laughing, experiencing a roller coaster of emotions and everything else of this intense, personal family story. I kept having to stop to wipe away tears or suppress laughter in the very pulic spaces that I read the book. I guess B.D. can write as well as act. All of us can thank this family for sharing their experience...and making us all realize that alternative or traditional families are the same. A new Foo Follower.

This book is remarkable. I could, literally, not put it down and then was disappointed when I finished it. It is a real life, soul revealing, sad, funny, inspirational story. I feel that my life is richer for having read it. I am quite picky when it comes to how I spend my time, especially with regard to reading and I would read this again without hesitation.

I was recommended it because I just lost someone close to me through death and this book allowed me to grieve openly and fully for my loss and for all loss.

This book made me proud to be human. I await more from B.D. Wong.

a perspective, from a single woman, with no children-yet:
Believe it or not, this book is one of my birthday presents to myself, to help improve the quality of my life.

BD has helped me become a better woman. Hopefully, I will also become more responsible, as well. Hopefully, I will be better to cope with life's emotional issues, and handling them better.

That's what drew me to the book.

You see, while growing up, many, many people automatically assume that any given person should be able to handle anything thrown at them. You ask those around you for help, or you are impacted by something trumatic, and those around you automatically assume that you're tough enough to go through it, by yourself. Many a time, I would go through life, and not tell of my problems, because I felt that those around me would make the problem worse - or blame me for it.

Some of us have a harder time getting through things. To say "get over it", is a cruel thing to say. I feel that sometimes, those saying such a thing, are really digging deeper into the mess, and allow for things to continue to spiral downward.

I feel that this book allows people to communicate, in ways that go beyond the core scope of what the book was essentially written about.

I find it ironic that 2 men, sharing their account of parenting, pregnancy, and love with the world, including me, would have more of an impact on me, than that from any woman, since I have never received this type of insight from women.

I shouldn't have to get this type of insight about childrearing, etc., from men. However, I am indebted to BD and Richie, nonetheless.

You see, women have this thing out there, where they feel that they don't like sharing, esepcially when it comes to things like child-birth and pregnancy. It's like this secret, kept to hurt those women coming up in the world. Growing up, you ask your female relatives about such things, details inolved, and those female relatives keep quiet!

Women do not share everything, contrary to popular belief.

Needless to say, this is one of the first things that has impacted me, while reading the book.

The other is, of course the trauma, and roller coaster that BD talks about.

Some of the things mentioned, bring me back to the trials in my life.

I am thankful for the book, and the impact that the book has on my life.

When I saw this book, I just had to read it. Not because of who the author was or that he was gay, but because he LIVED what I was LIVING. Mr. Wong's book is the ONLY book about NICU babies that I would suggest as a MUST READ for critically premature parents! It doesn't help you understand the medical terms, it helps you understand YOU, as a parent of a tiny ray of life in a plastic box.
I lost a premature daughter (Mary) at 23 weeks, eleven months after that my second premature baby (Julia)was born at a whopping 28 weeks. I still was grieving Mary's death while trying to stay "upbeat" and "positive" about my Julia in the NICU. I joked, I laughed, but I hid A LOT of emotions. Everybody tells you how strong you are, what a brave person you are, while inside you are screaming "WHY MY CHILDREN!?!". You feel like you are the ONLY person in the world who feels that way.
Well, Mr. Wong's book is the ONLY book I have read that made me feel like I wasn't going crazy. He not only addressed the issues of being a parent of a NICU baby, but losing a child, and the realities of coping with that loss while being exatically happy your child has made a huge accomplishment (She either pooped, or ate half a teaspoon of breastmilk... major things in a NICU).
His humor at the most critical of times is very similar to how I dealt with things when the dr.s would say... "Well, Julia had a good day today, she only stopped breathing twice, and oh, by the way, her blood levels show she may need a transfustion, etc."
Life in the NICU is like constantly waiting for the shoe to drop! And when it does, it is usually a size 15 triple E!

I would love for Mr. Wong to do a follow up to his book, maybe "Following Foo, The Early Years". Julia is now 18 months old, and we are dealing with Early Intervention, Boston Children's Hospital, Weight issues, and Mom (or Dad) going nuts trying to keep it all in check. I would dearly love to hear some advice. Plus, I fell in love with his adorable son in this book and would love to know how he is doing!

Reviewed by Becca Lawler (8) for Reader Views (3/06)

Tia was excited about her new shoes, but when she stepped in the yucky gum it made her sad. Everything started sticking to her shoes, and that made her mad. Because people threw their trash on the ground and not in the garbage like you are suppose to. I put my trash in the garbage at Wal-Mart. If you throw it down it makes the ground dirty, and yucky. Her teacher and her friends helped her put the garbage where it was suppose to in the recycle buckets, like we do at our school. I also help my sister because she is in the science club at her school and they recycle to. Tia and her friends help keep the earth clean.

Gumfounded is a children's picturebook about the importance of recycling one's trash and not littering. When a young girl steps in gum on the way to school things get worse and worse as the gum on her shoe sticks to more and more pieces of trash! By the time she reaches the school itself, she is dragging a mountain of sticky gum and litter, and appeals to the teacher to make a new rule - no more littering on the way to school! Together the children and the teacher clean up and recycle the garbage. The final page offers a very short song that young people can learn to sing as they develop good recycling habits. The bright color illustrations have a cartoony feel and add an extra dose of humor to this lighthearted yet deeply moral tale.

I picked up this book for my two kids, and the whole family loved it so much we immediately bought two more copies for some of our friends! Kirk Werner's illustrations are breathtaking, and the story is both powerful and relevant. Great job Sherry and Kirk!

Annika received Gumfounded for Christmas and it has been the requested book for her nighttime routine ever since. At 3 1/2, she likes someone to read the book to her, but she is able to read it herself. (Grandparents insist she is reading, but memory just may come into play) What a wonderful situation for her to enjoy a book so much and have it be one with a meaningful, important message. The illustrations are bright, cheerful, and bring the story alive.

This is a clever little book for children that shows the hazards of littering in a way that will tickle kids' funny bones as it teaches them an important message. Who has not experienced the annoyance of stepping on a wad of chewing gum and trying to get it off their shoe? In this book, Tia steps on chewing gum on her way to school and, as a result, ends up at school with an entire collection of trash stuck to the wad of gum on the bottom of her shoe.

Children will enjoy the humor of Tia's situation while at the same time learn an important message about litering.

Kirk Werner's illustrations are a wonderful asset to the book- funny and eye-catching. This is a real winner!

In this book, Dr Lust provides a quick reference on every possible herb you could need. The book is very useful as an encyclopedia of herbs and their medicinal uses.

This great resourceful paperback on herbs,is still the best one around.It's packed with useful herbal information and history.Anyone interested in herbs should read this book.Anyone also studying and practicing Wicca can learn a lot from this little book.For the cost of this book,its well worth it.When first published ,in 1974,it was well ahead of its time.Nowadays,everybody knows the health benefits of 'Green Tea',Ginko Biloba and Hoodia.Green Tea burns body fat,aids digestion,surpresses appetite,flushes out free-radicals,and kills bacteria around your teeth.I was glad to have read it years ago and it got me thinking about better,healthier living.It also got me interested in the environment and gardening.When you hurt the environment,you hurt others and it will come back to haunt you too.

I have used this book so much over the years that I am about in need of a new one. This has so many herbs packed into a small, fat book. Excellent!

This is my second copy of this book, I bought my first one when I began to learn about herbs and wore it out from reading it so much. After 15 years of studying and 10 writing about herbs, this is one of my favorite books and I still learn from it. There is an incredible amount of information crammed into this 600+ page book, and its portable.

This is the one, the one book I feel anyone serious about herbs should have in their collection. It has proved invaluable to me in so many ways. It includes cosmetic and medicinal for most any herb you can think of. It is also good for information on traditional uses and background knowledge. It can be a bit overwhelming at first but once you get a grasp on how it is organised (it didn't take me long) it proves indespensible.

Great suspense thriller you can actually see where the authors knowledge and experience of the NYPD come into play

Unprettified, brutal look at good vs evil. Strong characterizations, wild scenes, lots of surprises. Conveys the inside world of cops vividly.

By: Peter G. Engelman, Author of "Running From Justice:"
The Whalens have captured the essence of the instinctive reactions peculiar to the business of fighting crime in the big city. I couldn't put the book down and I congratulate the authors for writing such a powerful novel.
Peter G. Engelman, Author
Running From Justice

If you love NYPD stories loaded with suspense, you'll really enjoy Justifiable Homicide. The NYC descriptions are authentic and the action is fast paced. The story moves so fast, I finished this book over a busy weekend. Nice job by the Whalen's, can't wait for the second!

Justifiable Homicide is just the most incredible mystery/suspense book I have read in a while. It had so much happening. The settings for the book were really great. Being 46 years old and from upstate New york and also from Auburn I can relate to all the landmarks mentioned. A great book !! When can we expect another from the writing team of the Whanlens ?