G Books

Like most Taschen art books, this is a high quality publication, nicely printed and bound. There is a good deal of information and many paintings for the top artists (Elvgren, Petty, etc) and short bios and paintings for dozens more. The paintings are why you'd buy it of course, and the reproductions are excellent. Often the editors did not have originals to work from but that seldom shows. A very few of the larger prints of what must be reproductions are a bit blurry, but not many. However, I personally would have preferred fewer examples so that more of the paintings could be full page. Lots are, but in more cases the reproductions are quarter page and sometimes nine to a page. They are still very good due to the quality reproduction, but lose much of their impact. And impact, after all, is what pin-up art was all about. Still, there's something to be said for quantity too, and this 447-page book has hundreds of fine paintings. Two other quibbles. This hardback has a printed cover, rather than a paper cover, which to me makes it less classy as a display book. I know, I know, it's a pin-up book, but still. Also, like many art books, all the descriptions (the words) are in English, German and French. No complaint, but it's worth knowing in advance that many pages are dedicated to this duplication. That said, if the subject interests you, this is a must have, just like another of the authors' pin-up books for Taschen, Gil Elvgren: All His Glamorous American Pin-Ups (Taschen 25th Anniversary Special Editions).

If you like this genre of art, this is a good reference with a wide spectrum of artists and good quality pictures. Nothing obscene, but a bit of titillating work consistent with the style. Good background summaries. Not an all inclusive or exhaustive reference by any means. If you want a lot of a specific artist then you need a book on that artist alone as there is too much out there for one book. This one makes a good coffee table book and is good for art/ fashion inspiration.

I love this huge book. It gave me background on the artists that I wasn't expecting, and discovered new artists that I hadn't seen before. Covers a wide spectrum of styles too. It's my #1 coffee-table book.

They adorned American calendars, magazines, and paperbacks: playful on water skis, glamorous in evening gowns, seductive before their bedroom mirrors, each one presented in luscious, candy-coated colors to beguile the sensibilities of the businessman, the mechanic, the G.I., the clerk. They were "Pin-Ups," artists' near-fantasy renderings of femininity designed to catch and hold the attention of the American male. They were also, unfortunately, disposable--disappearing into the trash when the calendar was out of date, the latest magazine edition released, the book cover worn to tatters.

Fortunately, however, Charles G. Martignette and Louis K. Meisel have gathered together a wide array of these paintings and reproduced them in THE GREAT AMERICAN PIN-UP, a collection drawn from Martignette's own personal collection. And from 1920 to 1980, from Vaughan Alden Bass to Ted Withers, this book offers 447 pages crowded with full page, half page, quarter page, and inset reproductions of the best of the best.

The book opens with a series of essays on the subject--essays which are offered in English, French, and German translations and which cover the social trends and historical events that gave rise to the genre. The entries are listed by artist and ordered alphabetically, each artist receiving at least a small note and some, such as the legendary Vargas, considerably more. But this is all extra stuff: then as now, the real attraction is the art itself, and it is all beautifully reproduced in the full brilliance of original color.

Whether the portraits are bathing beauty cheesecake, sultry glamor, or ill-concealed nudity beneath transparent robes, what most marks the classic pin-up is a sense of playful innocence, and that comes shining through in this truly entertaining, colorful, and often beautiful book. If you are looking for a glimpse of the art, here it is--in all it's radiant and sometimes naughty glory. Recommended.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer

An absolutely brilliant book. It bridges the gap between coffee table book and text book. An excellent overview of pinup art with glorious reproductions of the original pinup girls.

My friend gave this book to me because the book was "thicker" than what she used to reading, and till this day I still thank her for giving me this book for it is a GEM!!!! I tried reading it on a whim and was hooked by midway through the 2nd chapter. The story was soooo addictive that I neglected my school works to read it; I read it in class while my teachers (I was in high school) lectured. I think what made this story different and why it has made a lasting impression on me was the way Holt expland the time the plot takes place. Other stories have their main characters married or fell in love by 6-8 months (some sooner and some later) but Holt takes you through a journey that took years to happen, and she gave all her secondary characters dimension and depth. I may or may not be making sense in my fascination w/ Ms. Holt's work, but other Holt fans would understand me (i hope :D). I also loved how Ms. Holt created the air of romance without (too much of, if at all) pre-marital sex. Call me crazy but i was sooo into her characters that long after finishing the book, i sometimes wondered how "Fabian and Drusilla are doing now, or how many children did they end up having...etc"

I rank The India Fan as one of Victoria Holt's best. Drusilla is an excellent narrator and as in Holt's best, the romance doesn't blindside you out of nowhere, nor does the "hea" seem incongruous because we're shown Fabian's growth and love for her through their interactions. And as is apparent in most of Holt's novels, The India Fan doesn't stint on the lush, vivid descriptions of Indian life and the massacre at Lucknow.

This is my second Victoria Holt book and it is so beautiful. Although I don't get why saves Lavinia so many times , although she does get rewarded. It's a good thing that Lavinia dies anyway.She defineitly deservered that.But this is a pretty story but not as 'The Silk Vendetta', which is a 10 times better than this . But still it is addicting. I recommend this to anybody who likes romance and mystery . But this one has more mystery and doesn't really tell about the Indian culture that well.

The central character of the book is Drusilla Delany. From her childhood Drusilla's life had been dominated by the Framling's - Lady Harriet, her son Fabian and her daughter Lavinia.

As a child Drusilla had played with Lavinia, and later they are sent away together to a finishing school in France. There Lavinia's wild and wayward behaviour leads them both into trouble.

After marrying, Lavinia leaves England for India, and later Drusilla accepts an opportunity to join her there as governess to Lavinia's children.

Arriving in Bombay Drusilla finds that Lavinia has not learned from her previous disasters.

The story moves between England, France and India and covers the period of the Indian Mutiny against the British in the mid 19th century. It is written mainly in the 1st person.

I didn't think this story would interest me, but I was enjoyably surprised; I think because the story is so well written.

Victoria Holt was one of the pseudonyms of Eleanor Alice Burford. After marrying she became Eleanor Alice Hibbert. Others she wrote under included Jean Plaidy, Ellalice Tate, Kathleen Kellow, Elbur Ford, Philippa Carr. She wrote almost 200 books under these names!

Her books are VERY addictive!

Sadly, most of her books are out of print at the date of this review. Some can be purchased on the Internet or from second-hand bookshops.

This book is AMAZING! Ms. Holt did a wonderful job decribing Drusilla's feelings and the setting in which the book takes place. It's about a vicar's daughter who gets forced into becoming friends with selfish Lavinia Framling and helps her out in many ways ( like helping Lavinia through her pregnency of an ilegimate daughter ). Drusilla is faced with many problems throughout the book. One problem, deciding if she loves Fabian Framlimg ( Lavina's older brother ) who has admitted his feelings for her! This is a book that you will only find once in a life time. If you like Victoria Holt and romantic suspense and mystery than this book is for you! I will read this book probably 100 times and NEVER get sick of it! Yes, that's how good it is! READ THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is an amazing book with amazing sermons and testimonies.Oh, that the church could live like john lake did and walk in the annointing and power that he had.He was so consecrated and devoted to god.This book is an inspiration for all christians of what god can do in one yielded sold out life.John lake would pray for hours and days on end for the sick.He would not quit until the sick we're healed and delivered.Today, it's one quick prayer and ," oh well". Worth reading I cannot find such faith on the earth as i have reading this book.Today's preachers are mostly well to do with fancy cars and houses. John lake had much wealth for his day and was a successful business man and entrepreneur and yet gave it up to follow christ and be his disciple.Try that

This book is amazing. The teachings still carry such an anointing. The passion this man felt for the Lord is obvious through his writings and sermons. Reading this book challenges my faith and makes me want to serve the Lord with such devotion.

Read about a man that did the work Jesus intended the Church to do. In the "Healing Rooms" in Spokane, Washington they averaged 200 healings per day.

I have always had great faith. It is now greater! I have read this and given it as gifts....it shows exactly what can happen when we act like we should and believe as the Bible directs us to.

This collection is such a beautiful departure from the often watered-down, sanitized, and uninspired offerings available in today's world of Christian writing. You will be captivated by what God did in the life of one who was totally surrendered to the working of Jesus Christ in his life. When you finish this one, get the Smith Wigglesworth collection by the same author. Fantastic.

On my top 2 list of favorite Holt books. This was great! I couldn't put it down! The entire plot was fascinating, and I loved it from beginning to end. A must-read!!

I may get bashed for this but , I think this book is really pathetic . I really books when girls get seduced and the guy just runs off. And how he is next in line to be king really makes me made.It really was good book and probably a really good fairy tale story but just not for me.

This book was the best of hers that I have read so far! i have read 10 of her books and i have been pleased with every single one of them! This one i liked becasue it keeps you waiting the whole entire book to find out whats going to happen next! i couldn't put this book down i kept on trying to predict what was going to happen next and than you would be surprised with something else! When I read this book i felt like i was actually their watching everything take place! Its a great book taht i think everyone would enjoy! i let some of my friends read it and they thought the exact same thing!

Of course, Victoria Holt never disappoints, and this book is no exception. While it is not my favorite novel of hers (On The Night of the Seventh Moon and Bride of Pendorric are) this is a wonderful book with an interesting, intelligent heroine. Worth reading for the elaborate descriptions of the Bavarian forests, the mysterious secondary characters, as well as the romantic hero Conrad. This will sweep you off your feet -- like a fairy tale for older readers...enjoy!

Victoria Holt truly lived up to her reputation as the queen of romantic suspense. This story combines nicely a romance with political intrigues and murders. What i like about a VH book is that the setting is always done so well i can even feel the real world in the book.
Some complaints about the story, though.(1) Conrad professes to love Philippa, yet never shows any hint of trust in her in the matter of her sister's marriage. (2)Only after seducing her does he let her know he can only keep her as his mistress and never even ask how she feels about it. That looks like cheating to me.(3)The story gets very redundant and repetitive halfway through. Whenever they meet, Conrad is forever whining that he loves Philippa, that he can't live without her; and Philippa is always busy thinking of how she is affected by him and whether she should stay with him or not.
Despite those problems, overall this book is still very enjoyable.

Chaplain George Castillo is my grand-uncle. I think the book is very inspirational. Until I read the book, I didn't know he did such great work in the prisons. He's an inspiration to not only the prisoners and their families, but an inspiration to us all.

George shared from the heart in this wonderful book about ministering to inmates as a chaplain. He also includes some of the politics that go with working within the system, We were so touched by his stories that we included his work in "Chicken Soup for the Prisoner's Soul" and "Serving Time, Serving Others: Acts of Kindness by Inmates, Prison Staff, Victims, and Volunteers."

I would love for the author of this great work to give a talk to my local civic organization. He has profound insight into the criminal justice system, and unique, yet practical, ideas on how to make it better. This book is worthy of being Oprah's Book of the month!

My recommendation of the Rev. George Ramon Castillo's book, My Life between The Cross and the Bars, grows out of a personal acquaintance with the author for nearly forty years as well as several readings of the book. The book is very well written and allows the reader to glimpse a first hand view of the circumstances and events that led George into the Christian ministry and into the Federal Prison chaplaincy. This life service offering reveals the character and integrity of the man, as well as the broader dimension of his professional service.
Of vital importance to George's life story is his account of his early years in British Honduras, now Belize, his early immigration to the United States, and his service in the U.S. Air Force, and his U.S. citizenship (October 26, 1953). Even more important was his marriage in 1957 to Muriel Jermain Seale, who has provided the moral and spiritual support for his successful career.
One does not just become a minister and a chaplain willy-nilly. The story of his religious development and educational experience tells how this came about: the early difficult years, then college and seminary.
I became acquainted with George while he was a student at Bangor Theological Seminary. He and his family eventually joined the congregation I was servicing, the First Congregational Church in Brewer, Maine. He was ordained under my ministry there, one of the high points, actually the highest, of my own ministry. When I left in September of 1967, the church called him to become their Interim Minister. After a year or so, he went on to serve churches in Detroit, Michigan, and in Ohio, and then was accepted as chaplain by the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
All of this is essential to getting the most out of George's career as a Federal Prison Chaplain. The reader will share in the documentation and correspondence that became an important part of George's work within a difficult bureaucratic system. There were also unexpected difficulties with the machinations of opportunistic prisoners as well as with prisoners whose legitimate personal problems were all but insurmountable. If you want insight into an environment and setting that cannot be portrayed in a TV or movie scenario, this is the book for you.
A Federal Prison does not exist in isolation from the rest of society. George spells out the relationship of his work to the "civilian" religious community. This is part of his task in educating the rest of us to the enormity of the problem that confronts American society. Prison populations are growing fast, and the costs are skyrocketing. The solution to this problem, if we take George's perspective seriously, is more in terms of human relationships than in purely punitive or monetary terms.
But this comes only through genuine commitment, in George's case, Christian commitment, in a life of duty and service, with an equally dedicated life companion. There is much to be learned from what otherwise might be considered as one of the darker sides of life. George in his book, and in his life, has shown us the way.

Ray Wilbur

Initially, I was leery about My Life Between the Cross and the Bars for two reasons: I'm generally not a fan of autobiographies, and I don't know anyone who has been to prison. When I was only one-fourth of the way through the book I realized that it contains volumes of material to which I can relate. I highly recommend this book to individuals from all walks of life, as it has monumentous value for everyone. The author is a genuine inspiration to all people of every race and background, and his book is a great read.

So many ideas, most will save you time, some safety tips could save your life.

It would be foolish to think about seriously sailing or cruising without taking Bill Seifert's learned counsel!!

I recommend this book to all novices and many experienced offshore sailors to prepare for the unexpected problems that you need to address or avoid especially when you are so exposed to the extremes of nature, and completely disconnected from any immediate help. Lots of good lessons learned and references.
Chris C.

This book looks disappointing at first because it is a thin expensive hardcover, but it is worth the money. There is very little fluff and the content is well structured and to the point. It covers most things necessary to prepare your boat for offshore sailing including tool lists, weight distribution, polars and VMG, secants and many other useful tips. Lots of pictures, tables and diagrams.

This is a very comprehensive book explaining what you need to know about offshore sailing.

In this extraordinary memoir from 1932-1934, Kitty Crockett Robertson describes her life on the North Shore of Massachusetts during the Depression, a time when she, a Harvard graduate, became a hard-working apple farmer to save the family farm in Ipswich. Her physician father had died, and Kitty, wanting to keep the farm from being sold for development, which her Boston-based brothers favored, decided to give up her job working at the Harvard Library to try to make the orchard profitable enough to save the land.

Working almost single-handedly, she spent the next two years doing all the dirty work, learning in the process that "The Depression was that time of leveling when she and her neighbors kept going on the strength they learned from each other." From her earliest days on the farm, she personally pruned trees, cleared land, repaired sprayers and tractors, gathered swarming bees into hives, hired five workers at twice the going rate (because they, too, needed to make ends meet), dealt with an arrogant banker anxious to foreclose, protected her apples at gunpoint when necessary, and then fought the weather, storms, and a December temperature drop to twenty degrees below zero in her efforts to bring the crop to market.

In the process she earned the love of her workers (who had regarded her, at first, as an idle "North Shore millionaire"), gave up everything in her personal life to devote herself completely to her task, worked up to 16 hours a day for two years during the apple and peach seasons, and gained new appreciation for the values she saw every day among her workers, the wholesaler who bought her drops and cider apples, and the purchasing agent of Harvard, who helped her make commercial connections to sell her crop.

Robertson, who became a newspaper and radio columnist in her later years, was a formidable writer who always recognized the values which unite people, regardless of their "class," and this quality pervades her personal memoir. Unfinished, because her life became too busy to finish it after 1934, it was discovered upon her death in 1979 by her daughter, and it is she who moves the story to its conclusion after 1934. Filled with personal detail and wonderful tributes to those who helped her, Robertson is never self-serving, readily admitting her weaknesses while stressing her efforts to succeed. A unique look at one farm and its history during the Depression, The Orchard is an extraordinary record of the times, written by a truly extraordinary woman. n Mary Whipple

My only complaint about this book is that it only covers two years of the author's life in detail. I hated for the book to end. I wish she had had time to write more, because she was an amazing person. Kitty's father, a doctor, raised his family in a colonial farmhouse by the ocean. Beginning in her childhood, he made Kitty learn to do a man's work in the orchard. He also gave her a series of boats to sail on the ocean. She loved the farm and the sea. She got a college education and a good job in a college museum, but gave it all up when her father died at the beginning of the depression. None of her brothers were willing to do the backbreaking labor to keep the heavily mortgaged farm working. Kitty quit her good job and immersed herself in running the orchard, which her father had always said would save the farm he loved. She lived alone except her beloved dog, with no money and little heat in the winter. Her own family seemed determined to see her fail. She found good, loyal friends though, and though her life was daunting, it was also full of the joy of nature and achievment. I can't praise this book enough.

This book was truly one of the most interesting and capturing books I have ever read. I felt like I was present in the story and now can't wait to go to Ipswich and see this old farm house.

The late Adele Robertson's story of her attempt to save her family's property by establishing a commercially viable apple orchard during the Great Depression is a true gem. Robertson, who later went on to become an award-winning columnist for the Ipswich Chronicle, writes in a clear first-person voice. At times wildly humorous and often poignant, the story is superficially about growing and selling apples. What it is really about is self-reliance and courage. It is no wonder that so many New England high schools now include this book on their reading lists -- Robertson (with the help of her daughter Betsey, who retrieved and edited the manuscript after her mother's death) has produced a riveting work that speaks to a woman's need to "make it on her own" without ever preaching about it.

The Orchard, a Memoir, is a great book. Last week I was on a long flight back to San Luis Obispo from Omaha and I had this book with me, a gift from my mom. I started reading it and totally forgot about the flight, never noticed the movie they were playing. A good number of times tears were just pouring down my face and I'd wipe them away, wondering if the people on the plane around me thought I was a bit crazy.
But I tell you, I'm crazy about this book! Honestly, I read a good deal and this is easily one of the most interesting, deepest, most powerful books I have read in years. Although true, a memoir, it reads just like a fine novel. I was so totally absorbed reading this rare gem of a find, that it was difficult to realize that the author had died some 20 years ago--she, Adele Crockett Robertson, seems so real, so full of life, so gutsy, so immediate.
Briefly, this is the story of a young girl, a smart, educated girl with a good head on her shoulders, who loses her job in the great Depression, and goes back to the family farm to try and save it from the bank. The many people in the book all come to life perfectly and there are surprises aplenty. I am a gardenwriter (author of Allergy-Free Gardening)and have farmed myself, and I appreciate what Adele went through. I would also add that this is no doubt the best picture of life during the Depression I've ever come across.
I plan to review this book every place that I can, because to my mind, this one is so good, so readable, so well worth reading, so enjoyable, so satisfying, that it completely deserves to be a best seller. Do yourself a favor and read this marvelous book!

I retired from working at a nursing home. I happened across Mrs. Wilders books while working there. I only wish I had these books before my mother passed. She didn't like living alone but wanted to be in her own home. I know she would have liked living at The Home had she not been bombarded by others about the horrible things (they imagined)that went on there (Two of these people eventually lived in a home) and probably would have lived longer than her 80 yrs. She quit taking her meds. unbeknowst to me and died of a massive heart attack.
Reading about the shennigans, shall I say, that went on at Fair Acres was similiar to a day in my 'home.' The residents/folk become family and interacted as such. They took care of each other. And we staff felt like family to them and they to us. We staff/residents were the only 'family' some had. Despite the illnesses some had there was a lot of fun too.
I tried to get in touch with Mrs. Wilder but alas, unable to do as I wanted to thank her for writing those books.
I was saddened to learn this year of her death.

Cute, funny, poignant, sad, etc.--all the adjectives you would expect to describe a book like this. Effie Wilder takes us on a tour of the retirement home and introduces us to her friends and acquaintences. Being able to take people's stories and use them to make people smile is what makes books such as this so endearing and special to read.

Baby boomers should read what's in store for us when we, too go to "prison" in an old folks home. Hopefully, we'll have a neighbor there just like Hattie. Written with humor and insight, it rang all too true to the characters I met while visiting my mother when she was an "inmate." Lot of truth to it.
Wilder's also an inspiration to fledgling authors who say they're too old to write that book they've put away time and again. Not so. Go Effie go!

I am no where near "Out To Pasture" but I found this novel to be delightful. This book has the oddest group of senior citizens you will ever run across. Filled with both serious and light situations this book will make you cry and then laugh. Effie Wilder teaches us that just because you are older your life is still full and the possibilities are endless. Way to go Effie!!

Mrs. Wilder has given all generations a delightful and easy to swallow book about aging. The main character, Hattie, is into everyone's business, but in a kindhearted way. Through her eyes the reader can see much of the pain and joy of being older. Leaving your home and moving into a retirement home is never an easy choice, but I think Hattie shows us that if done with grace, it can work out to be a fairly good life. The book is a joy to read, offers lots of laughs, a few tears, and some good hard lessons about life. I look forward to sharing this book with my "adopted" eighty-four-year-old grandmother.

NIELSEN RATINGS 1974 1975 TV SEASON

Here are the season average Nielsen ratings for the 1974-75 television season.
Only series are included in the ratings.
The number preceding the series name is the series ranking.
The network carrying the series is in parenthesis, and the average rating follows.

1. All in the Family (CBS) 30.2
2. Sanford and Son (NBC) 29.8
3. Chico and the Man (NBC) 28.6
4. The Jeffersons (CBS) 27.6
5. MASH (CBS) 27.2
6. Rhoda (CBS) 25.9
7. The Waltons (CBS) 25.7
8. Good Times (CBS) 25.6
9. Maude (CBS) 24.8
10. Hawaii Five-0 (CBS) 24.6
I I . Mary Tyler Moore (CBS) 24.0
12. Rockford Files (NBC) 23.8
13. Kojak (CBS) 23.5
14. Little House on the Prairie (NBC) 23.1
15. Police Woman (NBC) 22.9
16. SWAT (ABC) 22.6
17. Bob Newhart (CBS) 22.5
18. World of Disney (NBC) 22.2
19. Mannix (CBS) 21.7
20. Cannon (CBS)
-The Rookies (ABC)
-Sunday Mystery Movie (NBC) each 21.5
23. Streets of San Francisco (ABC)
-Cher (CBS) each 21.3
25. Paul Sand (CBS) 20.9
26. Gunsmoke
-Medical Center (both CBS) 20.7
28. Adams of Eagle Lake (ABC) 20.6
29. Carol Burnett (CBS) 20.5
30. Tony Orlando and Dawn (CBS) 20.3
31. Emergency (NBC) 20.2
32. NFL Football (ABC) 19.8
33. Barnaby Jones (CBS) 19.6
34. ABC Sunday Movie 19.1
35. NBC Monday Movie 19.0
36. Caribe (ABC) 18.9
37. NBC Saturday Movie 18.8
38. Wesnesday Movie of the Week (ABC) 18.7
39. Mac Davis (NBC)
- CBS Thursday Movie, each 18.5
41. Smothers Brothers (NBC)
-That's My Mama (ABC) each 18.3
43. World Premiere Movie (NBC) 18.0
44. The Manhunter (CBS)
-Harry 0 (ABC) each 17.8
46. Apple's Way (CBS) 17.7
47. Tuesday Movie of the Week (ABC) 17.6
48. Petrocelli (NBC)
-Happy Days (ABC) each 17.5
50. Lucas Tanner (NBC) 17.4
51. Six Million Dollar Man (ABC)
-Movin' On (NBC) each 17.1
53. Marcus Welby (ABC) 16.6
54. CBS Friday Movie 16.2
55. We'll Get By (CBS) 16.1
56. Adam-12 (NBC) 15.9
57 The Law (NBC) 15.8
58. ABC Monday Movie 15.7
59. Born Free (NBC) 15.6
60. Sons and Daughters
- Dan August (both CBS) 15.2
62. Archer (NBC)
- Baretta (ABC) each 15.1
64. Sunshine (NBC) 15.0
65. Bob Crane (NBC) 14.9
66. ABC Saturday Movie
- Planet of the Apes (CBS) each 14.8
68. Hot l Baltimore (ABC)
- Barney Miller (ABC)
- Ironside (NBC), each 14.7
71. Karen (ABC) 14.5
72. Get Christie Love (ABC) 14.3
73. Sierra (NBC) 14.1
74. Kolchak (ABC) 13.6
75. Sonny Comedy Revue (ABC) 13.2
76. Odd Couple (ABC) 13.1
77. Paper Moon (ABC) 12.5
78. Nakia (ABC) 11.9
79. Friday Comedy Special (CBS) 11.2
80. Khan (CBS) 11.1
81. Texas-Wheelers (ABC) 11.0
82. Kung Fu
- Kodiak (both ABC) each 9.9
84. The New Land (ABC) 7.9

Worldly-wise yet innocent 11-year-old girl works with her con-artist "father" during the Depression. This is a classic in the long tradition of American fiction. The author masterfully creates an authentic voice that bowls the reader over. The story verges on the sappy at times, and the "con man with a heart of gold" conceit is rubbed a bit thin by the end of the book. The author also trucks out certain phrases a few too many times. But overall it's a great story filled with vividly memorable characters.

A real gem of a satiric American novel.

If you've only seen the bittersweet comedy film Paper Moon, you're in for a treat. The novel, formerly known as Addie Pray (the "moon incident," incidentally, which gives the film its name, is NOT in the book), is about a streetwise eleven-year-old Southern girl who travels around with Moses "Long Boy" Pray, a con artist who may be her father (her "mama being fast and all"). It is Depression-era Alabama, and the two make their living selling embossed Bibles and dropping wallets and running other cons to make their living. Only once are they distracted, by a sweet-talking hoochie-coochie dancer who has Long Boy on his toes until Addie "takes care of her man." Their written adventures continue past the movie as they go into partnership with a larcenous Colonel and plan to bamboozle a rich old lady out of her fortune (with the help of the woman's mercenary nephew). But as in the rest of the book, there's a twist to this, too. Paper Moon contains rich characters and settings, and memorable events. Highly recommended.

Paper Moon is a comical, enticing, interesting, and beautifully written novel about a young girl, Addie Pray, and her father, Long Boy. That's not really his name of course, but that's what everybody calls him. Addie's mother had died when she was six and so Long Boy takes her with him to do business deals. Doing business just suits the pair, Addie gets so excited, she gets the chills. At first they have a simple strategy of selling bibles to people who have just lost some one. They go around from town to town selling bibles and pictures from or of loved ones. Their rouitine always started with Addie acting way more pathetic and younger than she really was. Long Boy's infallible ways make Addie adore and look up to him. As she gets older, she teaches tricks to Long Boy that just barely save their lives a few times. When the team decides to pick up a business deal with a millionaire, Addie has to change identities in a tedious plot to keep a crabby woman's financial amounts from her fortune-hungry nephew. Throughout the book, Addie's character transcends to a much higher level and her clever mind pulls you in. This book is written by Joe David Brown and is written in first person. I like books that are written in first person just because I feel like I can put myself in the person's shoes and really get a hold of what is happening.
I loved this book because it was intriguing and the author created such great characters that even though they are cheating people of their money, your heart travels to their side. I also picked up this book because they made a movie of it awhile back and I like to compare books to their movies. I always read the books first thought. This story is like a roller coaster with a fast pass, you don't have to wait in line for the ride. You get hooked on the first page, which I know is a feature for people who get bored easily. The dialogue that is used is old fashioned and not contemporary, more slang. It is kind of hard to follow but you get used to it, it is actually a big part of the characters overall because it determines the amount of education that person had. I also love this book because there aren't a lot of books written about this exact storyline and subject. It makes it fun to read because its an unknown story and you don't really have andything to compare it to.

This is one of the best books I've had the pleasure to read in a while. I was already familiar with the basic story, having seen the movie "Paper Moon" (which I recommend highly!). When I started reading this, I was uncertain whether I'd be able to adjust to the change in location and dialect from the movie; the movie was set in the Midwest, the book in the Southeast. My doubts were quickly put to rest just pages into the book, when I became completely engrossed in the story and Brown's easy-going writing style. I plowed through the book in a couple days and enjoyed it thoroughly!

The book follows Addie Pray, a young orphan, as she travels around Alabama, Tennessee, and Louisiana with Long Boy, a con artist who may or may not be her father. During their travels, the two are always devising schemes to weasel money ouf of those who can afford to lose it. First it's the famous Bible-selling trick, but it quickly becomes so much more. There are plenty of deliciously eccentric characters, exciting chases, "heartwarming" moments, and a healthy dose of laughs.

If you liked the movie, don't miss reading the book. The movie plot is drawn only from the first 90-100 pages of the book; the remaining 200 pages present Addie and Mose (a.k.a. Long Boy) in entirely "new" situations. The book is a delight from beginning to end. Highly recommended!

Larry King is humorous. I read this book in 1 day I couldn't put it down! If you want to understand prayer from a wide range of people from different faiths and beliefs then you should get this book. I read it free from the library years ago and for some reason I just thought to myself maybe I will buy it. lol....hope you enjoy this book as I did.

This book is going on eight years old as I write this review, but I suppose it will always seem timely. Larry has quite a knack for just telling it like it is. As an admitted agnostic he has no agenda in passing along this delightful collection of tales and interviews with those who [mostly] have belief in God. And mind you, this is not a book on religion. True to its title, the book relates prayers - moments - that have moved others to prayer. In some instances it is the circumstance which catches your attention, and other times it is the prayer itself that provides the power. And Larry's personal asides are even more delightful.

All in all I was always interested in reading on to the next page, person, or prayer. This is an "un-fussy" book and a wonderful read.

This book will open your mind if you are agnostic, and it may make you angry if you are set in your conventional religious beliefs. This is not a politically correct book, and King takes some risks, but it is worth a good read whether you are spiritally inclined or somewhere in the middle.

Jeffrey McAndrew
author of "Our Brown-Eyed Boy"

Mr. King delved into the foundation of Spirituality and Religion and made simple an otherwise complex and controversial issue. The book focuses on the individual and his or her communication with God, while setting aside religious beliefs. I would like to recommend to friends who are too formal about prayers and to those who maybe agnostic such as Larry King in his book.

Mr. King delved into the foundation of Spirituality and Religion and made simple an otherwise complex and controversial issue. The book focuses on the individual and his or her communication with God, while setting aside religious beliefs. I would like to recommend to friends who are too formal about prayers and to those who maybe agnostic such as Larry King in his book.