J Books

One of the book catalogs that I occasionally get in the mail has been singing the praises of the late Beverley Nichols. Besides writing mystery novels, he also wrote about his adventures in renovating and resurrecting a home in the suburbs of London just after WWII. First published as a collection of magazine columns, he would later on assemble them into a trilogy of books.

The first of the trilogy, Merry Hall details his search, at times frustrating, for the perfect house and garden. Very soon he became aware of what land agents (realtors for us Yanks) really meant in their ads, and he started to see his hopes plummet as his hopes were continually dashed. But one listing caught his eye, and with a good friend, he took the journey out of London to look the place over.

The estate, spreading over five acres are a compendium of every gardening mistake. Ghastly ornaments litter the grounds -- the previous owner was very fond of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs). And the house, a lovely Georgian mansion, isn't much better. While it hasn't fallen down yet, there are 'additions' that are ugly and inappropriate, and decorating choices of colours that can be best left to the imagination. Not to mention the holly hedges, a stagnant stinking pond of unimaginable depths, and dire warnings from his friend that Nichols is about to step into a money pit that will sap his life and savings.

Undeterred by such gloomy words, Nichols falls head over heels in love with his find, especially when he discovers the kitchen garden. Not only is it beautifully kept, but along one wall is a collection of exquisite lilies. Soon, he discovers why there is such order in the midst of such chaos. For along with the house and land comes Oldfield, an ancient gardener of superb talents. Smitten, Nichols signs for the house on the spot, and soon starts on that most dreaded adventure that most home owners endure -- renovations.

With his 'valet,' Gaskin, and two cats, 'One' and 'Four' Nichols moves into Merry Hall, and starts the work with a great deal of gusto, and soon finds out that in his own little Eden, there's a few problems. For one, there are the neighbors, Miss Emily and Our Rose, forever scheming to get something out his prized gardens. And Oldfield, is quite another problem altogether. There are towering elm trees and their suckers, the dratted holly hedge (the solution to that one is not one that I would recommend!), and the question of what would you do if you could dream -- and dream big?

I loved reading this book. I found myself entranced with Nichols writing about everyday life, the perils and delights of gardening, and living with cats. At times I was helplessly laughing at Nichols' searing wit and lofty views on post-War taste in Britain. He, quite frankly, doesn't give a hoot as to what people will think of him (save Oldfield, for very sensible reasons).

Where this story shines, however, is not just in the language and Nichols' skills at writing. It's in his loving, vivid descriptions of flowers and plants, and I found my mouth watering, and desperate looks out at my own wilderness, wondering Could I do it too? The antics of his cats had me in nodding agreement, and plucking at my partner's sleeve and crying out, Listen to this --!

Along with Nichols' wonderful prose, there are illustrations by William McLaren in black and white, along with several photographs of Beverley Nichols (including one with 'Four' in his arms). For this new edition, there is also a forward by Ann Lovejoy and an index of all of the plants by Roy C. Dicks. The book itself is a facsimile of the original edition published by Jonathan Cape in 1951. This new edition, only available in hardbound, is published by Timber Press books, and they can be reached at [...] for more reprints of Beverley Nichols books.

In short, this is a book to delight any gardener, bibliophile or cat lover's soul. It's funny, at times sorrowful (I cried over 'Two' and 'Three's stories), and came away with a wistful hope that one day too, I would have a wee garden of my own. If you can't purchase this, do try to get your hands on this one at your local library. It is simply too good to miss.

Five stars overall, recommended.

I want to give my honest opinion of this book. I have never read anything else by this author. While it was entertaining, I found it to get just a little more drawn out than I would have liked. I also did not like his viewpoints on some of the different plants. I guess you just need to take it in stride, but when he characterizes some of your favorite plants as nuisances (or more), etc. it is a little irritating. I did enjoy it, but I don't think I'll read him again. I wanted to give this review, since everyone seems to have LOVED this book but me.

I first read Merry Hall over 30 years ago, and having recently re-read it I was impressed by how much an impression it had made on me. Many a time I have unknowingly quoted from the work, thinking the quote apocryphal!

You must read for yourself how to deal with an overgrown holly hedge, and how to plant hundreds of trees without buying them, and what berberis can do for you, and why you should cultivate periwinkle...

I'm sure you'll be delighted with the finely drawn sketches of the real people populating the story: the characters of gardeners, society ladies, and men who work for the government in a clearly covert and somewhat sinister capacity. You'll enjoy the cats, the lilies, and how to create an English country garden from a neglected and ill directed site.

The gentle humor reflects the gentler times before the horrors of World War 2 brought violence, destruction, and death into the hearts and homes of most of Britain.

This book is a keeper!

Just as Trollope passed the literary torch to Angela Thirkell, so did E. F. Benson pass his to this good fellow! Mr. Nichols' trilogy about Merry Hall is so entertaining, even though at times he comes across as a bit "twee". As you get to know him and his neighbors through the books, you come to realize that yes, some things are more important in your own blinkered surroundings than in the big wide world. I would recommend these books to anyone who loves gardening (on a grand scale), gossip, and the minutiae of life.

The first volume of a trilogy about the author's time at Merry Hall, this book is more humorous garden writing than strict autobiography. We know (primarily from the dust jacket) that Beverley Nichols was a widely-travelled journalist and prolific author, but aside from the occasional mention that he needs to keep working (hard) to pay the (very high) bills, Nichols doesn't mention his life outside of Merry Hall or, more specifically, its garden.

The book begins after WWII, when Mr. Nichols returns from "a job" in India to a ravaged London and develops an overwhelming urge to move to the country and get back to nature in the form of a hopefully large and preferably derelict garden that he can "rescue". After a daunting (and amusingly described) search he miraculously finds what he considers to be a dream property - a Georgian manor house on 5 acres of truly hideous landscaping.

With wry wit Nichols tells the story of acquiring the property against the better judgement of friends, and of what is involved in making a run-down manor house habitable, and in dismantling, re-ordering and re-planting 5 acres of gardens. Along the way we meet Oldfield, the very talented but taciturn and somewhat difficult gardener; Gaskin, the long-standing and nearly superhuman manservant; Miss Emily and Our Rose, nosy and perpetually disapproving neighbors; and the beloved cats One and Four.

Although avid gardeners will no doubt love this book as they mentally compare notes with the author, one need not have ever dirtied one's hands with compost to enjoy reading it. The narrative meanders like a leisurely stroll in the garden, and Mr. Nichols' faith in the therapeutic powers of gardening is reminiscent of that in The Secret Garden (Frances Hodgson Burnett). The author's fond and poetic descriptions of the various aspects of his garden, intermingled with his sharp social observations and dry British humor make this a thoroughly enjoyable read. I have already ordered the other two books in the trilogy.

An additional note: this is a facsimile of the original 1951 edition; it contains lovely line drawings throughout, and is printed on the nicest paper I have encountered in a long time.

OK, so it was the title that got me since i was not a "Who Wants To Be a Millionaire" fan. My friend loaned it to me and i had HAD to check it out. Then i had to have one of my own.

What a clever, funny book that was clearly written from the heart. What a fresh directive. I could almost hear the author talking to me. I could almost "see" the people and nearly experience what was going on, the desciptions were so clear.

I think Im now a Millionaire Fan..

Now i tape all the shows to find J.E.'s show and watch it. -THANKS ALOT -

All i need to know now is.....what's next Millionaire Boy?

about writing a review for this book, Millionaire Boy/The Adventures of a Game Show Contestant, that I forgot to rate it with stars. 5 STARS! 5 STARS! 5 STARS!

Loads of fun!
A very entertaining read!

I wanted to read this book for several reasons. ONE because it was about one of my favorite tv programs, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire and TWO because the author was from Montana.
I enjoyed this book thoroughly! It was well-written and very amusing.
The author has a very comfortable style. It is really like he is talking right to you. There are inner monolouges to let you know what he is thinking at key parts of the book.

This was a very visual book, because the author's descriptions of people, settings, and activities were superb!
I had read other reviews of "Millionaire Boy" and questioned if people were really laughing out loud as they claimed.
I can atest to the fact that this is a very funny book and, yes, I DID laugh out loud. SEVERAL times!
I have passed the book along to other fans of WWTBAM and they have enjoyed it as much as I did.
I too am looking forward to the author's next book.
I think he has a great future ahead of him.

Have a game show fan or a Regis Philbin fan on your gift list?
This is a book for them!
But like I said at the beginning, "Millionaire Boy" really is a book for everybody!

This book was a lot of fun and much like several of the others who have written reviews of Millionaire Boy:The Adventures of a Game Show Contestant, I found myself laughing outloud several times.

The perfect sitting by the pool book!
If you like Dave Barry, you'll appreciate the humor in this book.

Anybody know if the author has written anything else?

With all the wit of a Dave Barry read but better! Full of humor and trepidation about making a public appearance on national television. The true story of making your dreams a reality. A great book that is very difficult to read without pausing to go back and read parts out loud to who ever might be around to listen...friends, family, cats, pillows.

I read this book several years ago because I knew the author. I thought it was a fabulous first novel. I was particularly impressed by the great spiritual tones that were very subtle and did not appear "preachy" or "hit you over the head." I do think it is must reading for young people to inspire and guide them on a successful path. I can't wait to see the book in a movie!!!!!
Pamela Payne Foster, author of "Is there a balm in Black America?"

Dr. Bailey has captivated an audience of adults and youth with "The Dream Merchant". Each page is just as exciting as the previous page. The pearls of wisdom that he has incorporated into his book have stuck with me. I even find myself using some of them when I am in discussions with youth.I have given so many away that I feel that I am the publicist! Whenever I take a nap, I just imagine myself meeting Junior and participating in the adventure! My hat is off to Erroll and the exciting future of "The Dream Merchant"! A movie would be fantastic!

I read this book over two years ago, and I still feel it is one of the best books I have ever read. If you can, give this book to a younger brother or sister and be inspired yourself. It shows how a young man who is in a troubled home, meets a figure who is between real and mythical,yet he teaches him lessons that would take him throughout life. The best part of the book for me is when Junior taught the young man about intimacy. Very enlightening.

All out, my FAVORITE book! Mr. Dream Merchant was one of those novels that you could not put down and once you did, you wanted to read it again, and I DID! It touched on being human and being spiritual, one with God, and understanding life's parellels of being accepted. This book touched me in a way that I thought could never happen. I understand how one's dreams can come to life by the words written in this novel. I would highly suggest that you get this novel TODAY and READ IT. Thank you Mr. Bailey for putting together such a WONDERFUL and SPIRITUAL book. I have highlighted certain areas in the book to remind me of WHO IS IN CONTROL!!! May God Continue to BLESS you on your Journey's END......

A wonderful, inspirational and insightful book. This is a book to sit and read as a family, especially those with males. Truly awesome in my opinion.

I love this author. I have read several of her books and they are all excellent, easy reading, full of fun and mystery. I look forward to reading many more.

I enjoyed the interaction between the characters. The story line was very serious and yet amusing all at the same time. Mrs Miricle was a delight that gave you the feeling there are really angels in our life that help us through the things we are going through. Debby McComber writings can be very helpful in your everyday life as you see her characters struggling with living out life.

I enjoyed this book so much. I have been reading a lot of Debbie Macombe's series book and was kind of disappointed that this was not one of them and before Debbie Macomber I had not been a fan of books in a series. This is an uplifting book. I highly recommed it.
Happy Reading,
Edie~

You gotta love angels!! This is a wonderful story of love, forgiveness, family and faith. My favorite Mrs. Merkle quote (each chapter starts with a quote or saying from Mrs. Merkle)is "You have to wonder about humans. They think God is dead and Elvis is alive." The book also includes a few recipes.

This magical story is part Mrs. Doubtfire/Mary Poppins and part It's a Wonderful Life! I love books set in a faith-based community, and the reason Debbie Macomber is one of my favorite authors is that her style of writing immerses the reader into the setting, making the characters feel like friends and neighbors. The healing power of forgiveness is exemplified in this story. Delivered in a subtle and non-preachy manner, it's a valuable lesson everyone can reflect upon, at Christmas, during Lent, and throughout the year!

It WAS Real. The things you experienced with your alcoholic mother WERE real.

Other people have been through the same horror, guilt, and despair. I found this book very comforting.

I really enjoyed hearing other stories of daughters of alcoholic mothers. It aided in my therapy because it helped me remember events that I was having a hard time remembering. I found that my situation was much like others. Therefore, I didn't feel so alone. I highly recommend this book.

As an adult daughter of an alcoholic mother, I have read several ACoA books but never really found anything that spoke to me like My Mama's Waltz did. I was amazed at how many issues stem from growing up with an alcoholic mother. It was so comforting to read others' experiences and know that I'm not crazy and other women are going thru the same things. This book is a gem and I have recommended it to my three sisters and a girlfriend. So far, everyone has loved it as much as I did. If you are an adult daughter of an alcoholic mother you have to read this book!!!

I have not even finished this book yet, but already I feel like I'm healing. My mother was an alcoholic (now dry), her mother was an alcoholic, and I used to drink heavily myself. It's shedding light on some of my tendencies (trying to bend over backwards to please everyone, feeling abandoned by my mom at times, and so on). It also explains to me some of her behaviors and why she has anger lingering in her life and how it affects her still. Very insightful.

My mother was not an alcoholic, but her mother was. I helped me to understand my mother so much better and how being raised by an alcoholic effected her life. As a person in recovery 7 yrs and now a mom, this book solidified my sobriety to see what a burden an alcoholic mother can be to a child. Thank You.

Lossky demonstrates how theology and mysticism are one in the Eastern Church. Using an apophatic framework he relates Trinitarian theology, pneumatology, contemplation, Divine Light and other topics back to the central theme of theosis. His writing is clear, precise and immensely meaningful. Lossky also displays an incredibly nuanced understanding of various Patristic authors in building his case. This is the best book I have ever read.

"...the mystical approach is set up against systematic theology, the contemplative against the liturgical, the saints against the Church." V. Lossky

"An ever-greater plenitude, in which knowledge is transformed into ignorance, the theology of concepts into contemplation, dogmas into experience of ineffable mysteries" Edward Moore



All Theology is Mystical:
Lossky has carried his contradiction to great lengths, against the historical reality which forced Western theology into a preconceived pattern of Scholasticism and the Reformation. Lossky stresses that, "an ever-greater plenitude,, inasmuch as it shows forth the divine mystery: the data of revelation. On the other hand, mysticism is frequently opposed to theology as a realm inaccessible to understanding, as an unutterable mystery, a hidden depth, to be lived rather than known; yielding itself to a specific experience which surpasses our faculties of understanding rather than to any perception of sense or of intelligence." V. Lossky
Thus the mystical approach is set up against systematic theology, the contemplative against the liturgical, the saints against the Church. Philaret, Metropolitan of Moscow, declared that 'Sermons and Addresses', 1844, as expressed in Lossky's own words, "We must live the dogma expressing a revealed truth, which appears to us as an unfathomable mystery, in such a fashion that instead of assimilating the mystery to our mode of understanding, we should, on the contrary, look for a profound change, an inner transformation of spirit, enabling us to experience it mystically. Far from being mutually opposed, theology and mysticism support and complete each other. One is impossible without the other."

God became man that men might become gods:
It is the Christian East, or, more precisely, the Eastern Orthodox Church, dominate the field of mystical theology. This limitation is somewhat artificial since, 'Christian theology is always in the last resort a means: a unity of knowledge serving an end which transcends all knowledge. This ultimate end is union with God or deification, Established by the Alexandrines as 'God became man that men might become gods', and advanced as the theosis of the Greek speaking Fathers. It may seem paradoxical, that Christian theory has a practical end; mystical as it is, it eventually aspires to the supreme goal of union with God.

Mystical Theology of East & West:
Lossky expressed it best, "In reality, since the cleavage between East and West only dates from the middle of the eleventh century, all that is prior to this date constitutes a common and indivisible treasure for both parts of a divided Christendom. The Orthodox Church would not be what it is if it had not had the Latin fathers. No more could the Roman Catholic Church do without St. Athanasius, St. Basil or St. Cyril of Alexandria. Thus, when one would speak of the mystical theology of the East or of the West, one takes one's stand within one of the two traditions which remained, down to a certain moment, two local traditions within the one Church, witnessing to a single Christian truth; but which subsequently part, the one from the other, and give rise to two different dogmatic attitudes, irreconcilable on several points."

Eastern Orthodoxy & Jungian mysticism:
In a recent study, it has been argued that, one touchstone of scientific validity is the universality of observations independently made. A comparison of the cosmological, theological, and anthropological assumptions that underlie the mystical traditions of the Eastern Orthodox Church and those of Jung's mystical observations about the universe, God, and humankind, the common ground of the two divergent systems of Eastern Orthodox and Jungian mysticism, by Bishop Chrysostomos and Thomas Brecht, suggests a universality and scientific validity in Jung's assumptions about the great unknown (Apophatic) .

BOOK REVIEW:
Lossky explores the roles of apophatic, or negative, theology, and kataphatic, or positive, theology in the Orthodox tradition, and the manner in which their union leads to an ever-greater plenitude.
Edward Moore, an Orthodox expert wrote a compelling theological analysis, of 'The Mystical Theology of the Eastern Church,' on Theandros - An Online journal of Orthodox theology and philosophy; Read it on: [...]

This was one of the first books I tackled in my conversion process to the Orthodox Catholic Church. Orthodoxy is so profound, so deep, so mystical... it makes all man-made theologies look like shallow charicatures.

If you're looking into Orthodoxy, I would recommend this book with the following warning: This book is not really what a professor of mine would call a, "soup and salad" book. That is, it is not one that you can just buy and skim through; it is not light reading.

That having been said, for people out there like myself, who really want to know why the Holy Orthodox Catholic Apostolic Church considers herself to be just that-- THE Church, then this book is for you.

Vladimir Lossky's "Mystical Theology' is one of the most profound books ever written about Christianity. It is a superb volume for armchair theologians, clerics of every stripe, those seeking a greater understanding of God in Trinity and human nature, and those wishing a lucid explanation of the differences between the Holy Orthodox Church and more occidental, rational, and secular forms of Christianity.

Mystical Theology revolves around several themes such as God's Love, the centrality and inexplicability of Mystery, the importance of the early Church fathers (and mothers), and man's relation to the Godhead.

Lossky was one of the great apologists for Orthodoxy in the west from 1923-1958 and his scholarship is peerless. Reading Mystical Theology is profound and profoundly rewarding, but it takes effort. No; the book is NOT poorly written- it is clear. But the concepts presented cause one to go slow, to stop, to ponder, and to pray, sometimes for days.

Are you ready to think about the difference between Eastern and Western notions of Grace, about the three hypostases of the Trinity and how the Son is begotten of the Father while the Spirit proceeds from Him? Are you interested in St. Gregory of Nyssa's intriguing view of Hell and how that relates to the concepts of uncreated energy described by St. Gregory Palamas?

If so, you will just love this volume. It might even be life-changing for you! Man can never comprehend the Godhead, as Lossky himself points out, but this book will allow us to understand more than we otherwise ever would!

While this title appears on many recommended lists of books on Eastern Orthodoxy, it would not be easy reading for someone uninitiated to mystical Christian writings (from either the east or the west). It also helps to have at least a passing knowledge of Greek as many of the terms appear in Greek.

Lossky spends over half the book laying a foundation on the Eastern understanding of apophaticism (describing God by what He is not), asceticism, the Holy Trinity, uncreated energies of the Godhead, image and likeness, the "economy of the Son" and the "economy of the Holy Spirit," before discussing the goal of Christian mysticism which is theosis or union with God, the Divine Light. To me, the heart of the book is in the chapter on "The Way of Union," but it would be meaningless without the preceding chapters.

Lossky quotes profusely from the great mystical theologians of the Eastern Church, from various epochs and geographic locations to display the inherent unity of thought on mysticism in the Eastern tradition.

Readers who need an introductory work before tackling Lossky might want to try "The Illumined Heart" by Frederica Matthewes-
Green, "Beginning to Pray" by Anthony Bloom or "The Art of Prayer" by Igumen Chariton of Valamo.

This lexicon has saved me! Verb formations can be challenging in Greek. Okay, so that's an understatement. There are very few that are cut and dried. Most of the lexicons I found list the root of the verb, but if it's anything more complex, you may never find the word for which you're looking. This lexicon, however, lists each form of the verbs, nouns, adjectives and adverbs along with an analysis and a reference back to its root where a brief definition is given. It will save you, literally, hours of searching.

In a world of relativism and unbridled inclusiveness, we need a clear understanding of God's Word. It is life changing. The Bible does not contain but is the absolute truth of God. As one studies God's Word in the original languages (in this case NT koine Greek), untold treasures are revealed concerning what the Lord has for those who believe. We get a better understanding of the mind of God, the value of life and the salvation that every soul needs through Jesus Christ. I highly recommend it.

Sou estudante de teologia no Brasil e o livro de Perschbacher tem sido fundamental nos trabalhos de exegese bíblica.

In my early years in NT Greek I found this volume quite helpful. Every so often I still refer to it, if my mind seems to be playing tricks on me.

This lexicon lists every single word found in the Greek NT. By this, I do not mean there is just a reference for agapao (love), but every form that agapao appears in the NT. So, for instance, in Ephesians 5:25, is the word agapate. Looking up this specific word, you'll find it is derived from agapao, but that it is the 2nd person, plural, present, active, subjunctive or imperative form of the word. So this book is invaluable to the person learning Greek and for studying and translating the Greek NT.

It is especially helpful as it list words found not only in the Critical Text like many lexicons but also words and word forms found only in the Textus Receptus and the Majority Text. It even indicates when a word in a particular verse is in a different form in each of these Greek texts and when a word form only occurs in one of these Greek texts.

I purchased this lexicon when I was studying Greek at Denver Seminary. And it was invaluable in learning Greek and for studying the Greek NT thereafter. When I felt God was leading me to translation my own version of the NT (Analytical-Literal Translation of the New Testament: Third Edition - ALT), I purchased the BibleWorks 7 software program. And it provides the parsing details for words in its auto-info window.

However, sometimes BibleWorks parsing does not look correct to me. So I keep this book on hand, by my computer monitor. And in such cases, I will double-check BibleWorks parsing by this book. And sometimes I still refer to this book just for the lexical information. So even with computer software, this book is still valuable.

*Were you sincerely interested in the Terri Schindler-Schiavo case?
*Do you really want to see the FACTS and the ACTUAL DOCUMENTS surrounding the Terri Schindler-Schiavo case?
*Do you wish to have a clear understanding of why a young disabled woman's viable life was tortured via starvation and dehydration?
*Do you care to educate yourself about how the judicial system in the United States of America, NOT only allowed a young disabled woman to be starved and dehydrated to her death, but, how the same system assisted in her actual murder?

The book was not written by the Schindler's, Schiavo's, or, by any other party who could be declared as biased towards Terri's case.
The book was clearly written after thousands of hours of research; to depict only the TRUTH, FACTS and ACTUAL DOCUMENTATION associated with an American citizen's life. The book reveals how an innocent, defenseless life was taken via the harsh and torturous death associated with starvation and dehydration.

If you want the educated truth and want to see copies of the ACTUAL documents surrounding Terri's life....spend the 20 plus dollars and buy the book. It will be well worth your read. If not only for the education of how our legal system seriously failed a young, disabled American citizen, but, for how the same system could indeed fail YOU, or, one of your LOVED ONES.

This is a well written account that includes documents, affidavits, and testimony. I would recommend this book to anyone who has followed this case because of the factual content. The hope of Cheryl Ford and Dr. J. E. Craddock is that those in power will be inspired to change the systems that failed Terri.

You need look no further. "Our Fight 4 Terri" is the only book anyone would ever need to fully understand the miserable miscarriage of justice that allowed the longest public execution in the history of the United States. That a young, healthy, innocent girl was forced to die a brutal death of starvation and dehydration while the whole world watched for 13 long days is still just beyond belief. Even more unbelievable is the picture I can never get out of my mind of children being arrested for trying to offer her a drink of water while paid snipers (yes, In AMERICA!) watched from the rooftop to make sure no one got in to save her.
Included in this book are all the affidavits, court testimonies, bone scan image reports, hospital reports, police reports, depositions, and court documents anyone would ever need to realize the immensity of the fraud that was perpetrated in this case in which the wool was pulled so completely over the eyes of the American public that the door was opened to murder of the institutionalized healthy. No person in this country is safe until this miscarriage of justice is corrected. This was done under the control of ONE Judge whose decisions based on hearsay were upheld by others out of misguided respect for his court. When you finish this book, you will be overwhelmed by the fraud, manipulation of the system, corruption between government offices, incompetence, cover-ups, and determination to make this woman die.
I remember the first time I saw the movie "Manchurian Candidate" and how shocked I felt at the immensity of the conspiracy. The revelations in this book place the Terri Schiavo saga on the same level. It is a must read for every American to know the truth of this terrible story.

That's who you're reading the facts from, in this book. To the neuronless brainiacs who left negative reviews: did YOU two ever meet Terri? BOOKSTORE OWNER -*snicker* of what, porn books? Because the only way for you to know this book is trash is if you live amongst trash yourself.

CASADEGA, darling, do your research before opening that polluted mouth of yours; FYI, Terrisfight.org DOES endorse this book's authors' views (do a little research and you'll find a link to their blog). If you had any idea of the publishing world's workings, you'd know why this book is not [yet] promoted on their website, but since you don't have that idea, please, shut up. Ah yes, and go ahead and use the book's pages as toilet paper if you wish: the paper is just about right on its thickness, because stickier derrieres need rougher paper to really get all the caca cleaned off.

I pity you two, it's obvious that you're the little friends of michael schiavo & you're just trying to kick as you drown.

To everyone else, I urge you to form your opinion on this book on your own, by reading it (THEN if you don't like it, tell it). If you're going to give an opinion, make it an informed one, not one based on someone else's (in this case very biased and illiterate) opinion. As for my opinion, the book is vivid & written by people who were actually involved and have the guts to tell it like it really was.

Cheers! And long live Terri.

I purchased this book last year, and found it to be one of the best references for facts in Terri Schiavo's case. Reading this book is like sitting down with Cheryl and Jan, and listening/watching them present the actual evidence and truth about so many things that the mainstream "pro euthanasia" media has refused to tell. You will see the actual hospital documents, police reports, and so much more. I will warn you though, that once you learn about the judicial misconduct, FL laws broken, the details of Michaels malpractice case,(money was paid under the claim that Terri had a heart attack brought on by potassium imbalance that was undetected. The autopsy confirmed this assumption was bogus, and that Terri never had a heart attack brought on by anything. The news however, is consistently reporting to this day that the autopsy confirmed the heart attack! There is a lot more about the autopsy that has never been reported. The geniuses reported that the autopsy proves Terri was not strangled, however, it only proves that 15 years later, there is no sign of soft tissue damage - nor would there be if someone was strangled that long ago!) Reporters should be charged with a misleading the public charge for purposely reporting assumptions as truth. And why is it that all the TV stations do not disclose that Terris records were SEALED by Judge Greer? No one reports on the bone scan that indicated a tremendous force hit her, as well as the multiple fractures and other damage. ****HBO Autopsy Dr. Himself, Mr Baden, had commented on the bone scan before Terris death, and suggested there may have been foul play.*** There is so much corruption involved in Terris case, Pro death judges making their political position the law, instead of obeying the law and keeping their opinions out of it! Greer sealed her case, so why isnt any anchors asking about that? Why were Michaels prescribed anti depressant bottles witnessed by the police the night of the "Incident" taken as evidence? Why were Terris friends and family not questioned regarding Michaels attitude, or any marital problems? The first report on what happened at the Schiavo residence, was titled a homicide. Why was it changed? What happened to the woodwards and Bernsteins in our country? Now each network or cable news feeds off the other, like vultures. They report the same story over and over, from reuters or the like, and rarely ever investigate it themselves. Newspapers follow suit. If someone investigated the five different interviews that Schiavo has given to the media and police reports, Michael Schiavo might very well be behind bars, in the cell next to Scott Peterson. There is actually v ery little difference between the two, the more you learn about what may very well have happened that night to Terry. Yet strangely, Matt Lauer and Larry King, and all the other news media does not bring up these questions, or question Michael why in the 7 years after Terris "incident" did he never ever tell a soul about Terris wishes that for seven years he supposedly denied? No media outlet reported on the testimony that Schiavo told other people that he had no idea what Terri would have wanted, as they had never spoken of something like that happening in any context. The only time Michael did come out with this revelation was after he asked his girlfriend to marry him, and all of a sudden there was a rush to get rid of Terri and whooops, there it is, a million dollar inheritance! If someone is in a position to gain something from another persons death, they should not be the guardian of that person. PERIOD. For all the sappy journalists that report that Michael became a nurse to take care of Terry, the truth is that he did not really "care" for Terry. He bossed around nurses, on a Schiavo power trip but he didnt take care of Terri. Did anyone report on the testimony of nurses that said that Terri would be visibly shaken after his visits, and afraid, crying, etc? Did they report that there were nurses that made entries in Terris medical file about things Michael said or did, or how Terri responded, and Michael would see to it that they were removed? I could go on and on! If you care about the truth, learn more about this case, not just what you hear your TV anchor saying. We all owe that to Terri, because at the very least, what happened to her will affect all of the laws regarding other disabled people like her.

Of course the "Pro Death" movement hates this book, which is why I see some entries in the reviews desperately trying to persuade others to pass it up. They dont want you to see it, which is why you need to see it. Cheryl, who is by the way, a registered nurse gave up her life on the West coast as a consultant to the Schindlers during the fight for Terris life. She was on the inside, aware of all of the facts regarding Terris injuries, her marriage, the inconsistent interviews, Testimonies regarding the night of Terris "incident", and so much more. Ford and Craddock do the legwork in reading all of the court documents, and bring out the parts that others left buried. Cheryl also led thousands of Terris supporters, that grew once the videos were released. Here michael and Judge Greer were talking of Terri as if she were in a coma, as if she were sleeping and not responsive at all. Greer and Schiavo were furious that the videos were released to the public. That now there was proof that Terri was aware, and did respond to family, dr's questions, and requests, could track things with her eyes. Another fallacy of the autopsy was that Terri could not see. False. It was stated that to be sure that Terri could or could not see, a doctor would have to do just what the videos did. They would have to examine her and see how much she was able to see - and any moron could tell that Terri could see to some extent after recognizing family, and following baloons and lights she was requested to follow. The fight4terri group worked 24/7 through internet emails, faxes, phone calls, letters, protests, to reach those with the power to save Terris life.

Anyone upset about the facts in this book, is really angry that the truth is coming out in it. when the truth comes out, the advocates for people like Terri have their agendas pushed back once again. If people like Terri and others with Alzheimers and brain damage, chronic disease, etc are looked at as liabilities within the health system rather than human beings who still have worth, who still have hope, and who still have a right to live with simple food and water. Terri, was not on any machines as was reported on many programs, she was not weak, my Lord, she lasted 14 days without one drop of water. Many of us who are healthy would not last one quarter of that time.

Without this book, you will be missing a great deal of the story on Terris life, the autopsy, as well as what really happened before, during, and after Terri was injured. The book is well written and what really went on in Terri's life will keep you glued to the pages. I am purchasing additional books for lawmakers in hopes of changing our country's guardianship laws. I would encourage everyone who reads it to do the same, if you want to stop seeing other innocent people like Terri sentenced to death. There are many more than Terri, every day, who die silently, with no one to speak for them. The hospice agenda of starving patients has gone out of control. Terri and others like her, are dying painful, horrible deaths, in rooms far away from Katie Courick, Matt Lauer or Larry King. They are dying with nurses and doctors standing by, ignoring the oath they took not to harm their patients. These are people who never agreed to such torture, and pain. People being starved, guilty of being disabled, and needing someone to bring the food and water to their mouth, to a straw or to a longer straw going into the stomach if their swallowing is affected. there is no difference. The Judge in Terris case (Greer) didnt mandate that she only have the tube taken out, he mandated that even if Terri could eat or drink sustenance by mouth, it would not be offered to her, by his decree. He made sure that police would be there to see that no one allowed Terri to even attempt to eat or drink on her own, regardless of testimony from numerous nurses that she could and did indeed eat on their shifts, jello, pudding and other soft or liquid foods. Instead, given that testimony from multiple sources, Greer made sure that no tests would be done on Terri to confirm whether or not she could eat by mouth! He mandated that Terri do nothing less than DIE. We dont starve murderers, it would be too cruel a death. However, for those with disabilities who can not speak, they are the ones who are forced to suffer that fate, by a Judge who never ever went to see Terri once in all the years that her case was in the courts. Bottom line, we need laws that insure food and water be given to any person without a clear written and signed directive. We need to make sure that men who move on and take another family do not get to decide whether hat happens to the woman they left behind. Every womens group that turned a deaf ear to Terri, should be totally ashamed. ACLU as well. The same Judge that was appointed to watch over Terris medical funds to make sure they were there for her, should not have been able to allow her husband to take them, and buy an expensive lawyer that he could not afford on his own with her medical care money! You will see the judicial misconduct in this case and it will make you scream! If the world knew what was in this book before Terri died, she would be alive right now! My gratitude to Ford and Craddock for such an excellent and much needed book.

Mrs. Debra Ferguson
Disability Rights Advocate, SC

These are among the most amazing short stories ever written. Some could be stereotypically described as poetic; others are more straightforward and prosaic. Some focus on brief moments; others traverse entire lives. Other reviewers have added a note of caution, but my suggestion is instead to jump right in. If you don't like one story, try a few more. The mystery and grace of these stories, the fullness of the emptiness surrounding their intensity and concision, and their range in time, content, and form will continue to astonish throughout one's life.

Yes, I'm serious about the title of this review. Nobel Prize winner Kawabata's "Palm-of-the-Hand Stories", a collection of 70 mostly 1-4 page stories makes for excellent toilet reading, reading of the highest order. Don't lie to yourselves, we all do it - even the ladies. So instead of reading some junky magazine or playing a hand-held video game while on the throne, read this book; its stories are of the perfect duration. The stories range from slight observations to deep expositions on human nature. Coincidentally, one of the stronger stories in the book is titled 'Lavatory Buddhahood'. Go figure. So whether you take my advice as to where this book is best read or not, it's worth reading.

I hate the actual physical cover of this book,
the front and back cover are both very much curling outward,
so its hard to insert the book in a bookshelf.
This has nothing to do with the content of the book,
but it is very annoying nevertheless.

If you like Sudden Fiction as a genre but not the usual silliness which accompanies it, this is the perfect union of very short fiction, craftsmanship and seriousness. Not always serious in tone but in effort. For the most part they are tender stories of rememberance, loss and the betterments of life. They are brief and dream-worthy, almost as if they were prose acting as poetry:

"Startled by a sharp pain, as if her hair were being pulled out, she woke up three or four times. But when she realized that a skein of her black hair was wound around the neck of her lover, she smiled to herself. In the morning, she would say, "My hair is this long now. When we sleep together, it truly grows longer."

Quietly she closed her eyes.

"I don't want to sleep. Why do we have to sleep? Even though we are lovers, to have to go to sleep, of all things!" On nights when it was all right for her to stay with him, she would say this, as if it were a mystery to her." from Sleeping Habit

Even when the stories are harsh they aren't beleagured with excess, but consequential life and its misgivings with some ironic humor interjected amongst the living ghosts. The same can be said for the norm: lush stories that are kindly felt but never over-sentimentalizations and mush. A great bed-side companion to make you dream better and wake a little more human.

House of the Sleeping Beauties is one of my favorite anthologies, and I couldn't wait to get my hands on another book from this brilliant author. The stories in Palm of the Hand are full of poetic and philosophical undertones and magical realism. My favorite one is "Bamboo-Leaf Boats," a poignant tale about a woman who grieves the loss of her fiance. The pain the protagonist goes through moved me. The other stories are beautiful as well. I suggest you read this wonderful book...

Paranoia by J.E. Braun is a book that starts out with a man named Jim. Jim used to be your average guy, wife, son, job; all that changed the day of September 11, 2001. He was in the north tower of the World Trade Center working, when the plane crashed, thankfully he made it out alive but his mother that was working several stories ahead of him did not. Forever damaged, Jim begins questioning everything, people, events, conspiracy theories, and even friends and family.

Now living with his Aunt and Uncle and a private detective asking questions around town, Jim begins having flashbacks almost frequently rendering him almost unconscious when he gets pulled into a memory. He's lost his mother, wife, and son and now he's about to lose his mind. He can not trust anyone, and is constantly paranoid that the worst is going to happen, I mean he even helped a group of "terrorist hunters" attack two men for goodness sake! Visiting his shrink doesn't even help, plus he fears his Uncle is sneaking around on his Aunt so he stoops to recording a phone conversation, listening at the door, and hiding in the bed of the pickup truck when Uncle Clint goes out one evening. This has got to stop, but the events of September 11 will always haunt Jim, and it seems there is nothing he can do about it but just face the facts.

J.E. Braun puts you into the mind of a paranoid male. Detailed to perfection and enthralling from page one, this is one of those books that most everyone needs to have on their shelf. While it is not a true story, he did talk to survivors and observe them in hopes of getting information for Paranoia. I really enjoyed reading it, it was a fast paced novel and was actually so well written it could have been a real experience in his eyes. 5 Hearts

Contact J.E.: www.myspace.com/jebraun

Such a unique perspective on an event that hit so close to home! I did not know what to expect from a fictional account of events that were so recent and tragic, but Braun's story was compelling and unpredictable. Jim, the main character, had a sarcastic sense of humor that made me laugh out loud (and made him truly believable as one from the NY/NJ area). How he dealt with life after 9/11 illustrates how not everyone has moved on. I sympathized with Jim as the wonderful life he had before September 11th unraveled before his eyes.

Paranoia is a GOOD thing -- the book, that is. Few authors could handle a subject like PTSD with as much sensitivity, and even humor, as JE Braun does in "Paranoia". His descriptions of Jim's flashbacks and how he integrates them into the character's every day life accurately reflects the unique sense of a split reality that those with PTSD experience. As a nurse I have cared for patients who suffer from PTSD. When they have a flashback they are not just remembering another time -- they are actually THERE, experiencing it as if for the first time. It is very disorienting and confusing for them. JE Braun does a wonderful job of portraying this frightening and generally misunderstood disorder. Far from being dark and depressing, the tone of this novel is uplifting and encouraging. You will find yourself cheering Jim on as he fights to take back what the terrorists took from him on 9/11 -- his friends and family, his sense of safety and security, his very sanity. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I highly recommend it.

I don't typically give reviews on books, but I really felt compelled to do so for Paranoia. As somebody who wasn't sure if I had lost a loved one in the attacks (I didn't, and my heart goes out to those that did), I found the premise to be interesting. The characters seem to come to life in your mind's eye so easily that it really let's you focus on what is taking place in the story. The writing style of the author flows nicely, making the book that much easier to read.

The chapters were long enough to tell a good portion of storyline, yet short enough that you could flip ahead and say "OK, I'll read one more chapter before bed" several times before actually going to bed.

I would highly recommend this book and am looking forward to future writings from this author.

After reading the reviews for J. E. Braun's novel, I needed to see for myself it lived up to its hype. I can tell you it undeniably does. In addition to a well-crafted and intriguing storyline, the novel possesses a remarkably compelling inner dialogue. As the main character, Jim is simultaneously fragile, sardonic, insightful and oblivious. Through his multifaceted personality, we find one frank, and pleasantly wry, man's struggle to keep himself together, despite his tragic experiences. Both a round and dynamic character, Jim is relatable, likeable and humorous. As we read, we yearn for him to overcome not only the events of which he was a victim, but also his own missteps. Despite his extreme circumstances and choices, Jim comes off as someone we all could know, showing how close to the breaking point we all really are. As we root for him to overcome, we also embrace the idea that we all can overcome these tragedies. This is a riveting look at the psychology of the human mind and endurance of the human spirit!