N Books

I've loved these books since I was a small boy. I purchased this book for my girlfriend, who had never read the stories. She's instantly fallen in love with these books. The included color map of Narnia in this book is really nicely done. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking to read these stories for the first time or the millionth time.

This book is all seven books in one! I bought this volume for a friend's Christmas gift. I first read these books when I borrowed them from my Grandfather some years ago. These books really take me somewhere else in the gentlest way. I think this is because it's very easy reading. But the depth and the symbolism are only being discovered by me now as an adult. I sometimes like to return to a time or place that I love by just opening the book and rediscovering the adventure I remembered. The tender and loving way Aslan guides the characters to discovering Himself and the adventure in believing He has called them to really symbolizes the incredible journey that is begun when a person puts their faith in Jesus Christ and through obedience and righteousness enter the purposeful life and friendship with God.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Signature Edition (Narnia)Fantasy with morals. A read for all ages. These classic stories by C.S. Lewis are captivating with battles,journeys to the different lands of Narnia, dragons, dwarfs, talking animals, and other characters you'll remember well after you've read them all. Most intriging of all is the hero who is,"not tame".

Beautiful book arrived quickly. I am very satisfied.

For those older readers of Narnia, here are some of my own thoughts on which order to read the Chronicles. For those new to Narnia, you may be unaware that there are two orders of reading the series; one, chronologically by publication order, and the other by Narnia's chronologically progression. The first is is numbered as thus: THE LION, THE WITCH, & THE WARDOBE, PRINCE CASPIAN, VOYAGE OF THE DAWN TREADER, THE SILVER CHAIR, THE HORSE AND HIS BOY, THE MAGICIAN'S NEPHEW, and THE LAST BATTLE. With this omnibus edition of Narnia, one of fantasy's most popular series has, of course, been ordered as Narnia is now published, with MN as the opening book and LAST BATTLE as the ending book. With two publication orders of Narnia, many people question which to read. For several reasons, I recommend the first publication order to be read first, the internal chronology second.

If one reads the history of Narnia as strictly that, one is much more likely to lose the truths Lewis was trying to impart. When one reads The Lion, if they had not read Magician's Nephew, they will be unaware of where the Lamp-Post came. Lion is essential a story about Edmond coming into the salvation of God. It creates a real sense of wonder, a wonder that would be diluted with knowledge of its creation. It's a mystery, an account. You become less concerned with the book in context of the whole series, and more concerned with the book in context of the book. Some things you might miss or not pay much attention to because you have already taken into account in context of the story's chronology, and not examined what Lewis was trying to say through this. Also, you get to follow the characters throughout the books, which is lost in the new order. The four Pevensies are in Books I and II, then only the two younger are in III, along with a new character, a cousin named Eustace. Then they can no longer go on, and Eustace and Jill Pole is in Book IV. This is lost in the new order. Also, you can see Lewis's growth as a writer, getting more and more realistic in characterization as each book was written. Of course, when he was writing these he was already a phenomenal writer: but this provided room for more growth, and he developed his already great gift even more so.

Also, as Paul Ford points out in his excellent Companion to Narnia, the old order is reflective of Biblical history. God's people are in bondage to the Egyptians, and he frees them. But the wine and groan, and in the end many die in the wilderness. Then they go into Babylon, and hear all these creation stories. After this, they go and record their own history. Lewis, after trying to write a creation story, found he could not, and went on telling other stories of Narnia. Only after coming more and more into the spirit of the series, after a good deal of history had been written, could he go back and finish Magician. To quote the preface, Ford says the original order allows "the reader to experience something experience something truer than even Lewis intended: the primordial necessity of passing first thru redemption, then into a reinterpretation of one's own story, and finally allowing the future to take its providence course". And how true that is. How many times can one understand what God is doing in your life until you come to know him? When you come to the salvation and knowledge of Christ, after some time elapses you can go back and examine your life, and can see where God's hand was on you, guiding you to that place where you met Christ. And in so doing, you come to trust God in a deeper sense, and as he took care of your past, he will also take care of your future. Of course, this was not intentional on Lewis's part, but it shows when God gives someone a gift, that person can reach people in such a way as to be totally beyond the person, and directly pointing to God. This aspect truly points to Jesus Christ and the "great Emperor Beyond the See."

Of course, there is a balance. They are stories, and should be enjoyed as such. Through these stories, Lewis gives children and adults alike truth. However, if you overanalyze them, you are losing the spirit of the series. One must first enjoy them as stories, and not go dissecting them without reading them simply for stories. That is why the chronological order also has its merits. Ironically, however, it is better balanced to read it in original order for reasons cited above, also because you can take each story on its own, appreciating both the story and the symbolism. Without the interconnecting theme of history behind it, you are forced to look more at what the story is and what it is saying as to what the Chronicles is saying as a whole. That is one side. That is not balanced. Then, go back and read the stories in chronological order. That makes you appreciate the series as a whole.

In conclusion, each has its merits, and without each it they are not balanced. But for first time readers, read it in the original order. You will get more out of it. That is the most balanced way to read and appreciate the stories. Afterward, go back and read in chronological order. Then you will have a balanced and complete view of Lewis's fabulous and God-given Chronicles of Narnia.

*This edition is a very nice publication, featuring a new map by both Tolkien's and Lewis's chosen illustrater, Pauline Baynes. This edition is a handsome volume indeed.

I have yet to find anything as well designed or pleasing to the eye as a cognoscenti map. The intellect, nay, sheer genius that was put forth in order to create a more perfect travel guide does nothing but boggle the mind of this lay-man. From the informative blurbs to the visually pleasing color combinations to the reassuring texture of the page, this map has it all. I can only wait, with baited breath, for the Middletown guide to come out, in order to see what I've been missing in my own backyard. Cognoscenti, you had me at "hello."

I normally don't write reviews of things I buy on line but in this case I felt I needed to make an exception. The Cognoscenti New York map/guide I bought was instramental in making my trip to New York rich and exciting. I recommend it to anyone planning to go to new York.

I always found using a map in one hane and a guide book in the other to be too cumbersome! I've finally found a neat clear fusion of the two in the COgnoscenti guides. I toured London with their London guide and had the time of my life! SO when it came time to see New york Cognoscenti was the only "guide" I bought. Clearly marked icons let me read info on the guide's flip side without losing my place on the map, the way I always did every time I'd refer to a book-type guide while trying to read a map at the same time. I highly recommend these guides.

After causing several car accidents due to large fold-out maps covering my windhsield as I attempted to roar down interstates I was a tad skeptical when my friend Joey told me Cognoscenti Map Guides were the best guides he'd seen. I was used to large guide books which would weigh me down and take up space in my pack I could have used for skotch. But this guide has it all. Tons of info AND a slim and sleak design. Thank you COgnscenti!

Finally a map worthy of a trip to NYC!

I absolutely love this book! I have wanted to try herbal remedies, but had no idea where to start until I read this book. I have been using the cleanse listed in chapter 4 and have lost 6 pounds, have more energy, and feel great! I have lent this book to friends and they have had similar responses. I had suffered from conditions that medication just didn't help and have found relief in just 1 week from remedies listed here! It is very easy to read and it explains problems A-Z. I highly recommend this book!

Not bad for your first herbal book. But it's visually cluttered and treads cautiously (and a little too cutely). A beginner doesn't want to tangle with bad or dangerous advice, though, so it's a good book to have in the bottom of your herbal book pile. As the best of medical advice and practice - "First, do no harm!"

this book is filled with such useful information, everyone should own a copy.

This is the best herbal book i have ever used. Its easy to understand with everyday words. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to understand. My best fried read the book and had to order one for herself. Since I have read the book I am back on the road to better health. I recommend anyone who is interested in herbs to get this book. You won't be sorry. Worth every cent.The herb store I go to also said this was a great book. I actually went to the dr and came back with a clean bill of health and I know it is from going by this book. Thanks Frankie.:)

I got this book, not knowing how useful the information would be to me. I never used herbs before, but now I know how to take care of myself without antibiotics or drugs. I actually lost 23 pounds by following the author's advice/guidelines! Who knew herbs were so useful and they work too! This book is a must have for men and women!

The Copacabana flooded me with memories of one of my first dates with my then future husband. It was a big deal because we didn't go into New York very much, so it was a special occasion. Kristin Baggelaar's book evokes these special times in our lives. These are wonderful memories of a bygone era filled with elegance, romance, and high-living. It is an easy book to pick up, browse through, and look back on the different times in our lives.

Other books have been written about the famous Copacabana nightclub, but none have captured the feeling of that era the way Kristin Baggelaar has - every page is a joy.

Edna Ryan, former Copa Girl

The Copacabana personified the nightclub era of 1944 to 1953 in the country. Kristin Baggelaar's nostalgic book captures those days of mega stars and their acts in 126 pages of page-turning comments and photographs.
- Former Copa Girl Wendy Bartlett

book is great, it shows and tells of all the happenings at the wonderful
nightclub on 60th st. in manhattan for so many years. It brought back
wonderful memories. I wish it was still there.

The Copacabana captures the essence of entertainment, particularly the1950's, during which time my parents and relatives in the Midwest savored the music and comedy of these young emerging stars. Though they never attended the performances at the Club, they were well aware of the biggest names in show biz through radio and newly emerging television.

Performers like Jerry Lewis, Dean Martin, Jimmy Durante, Eddie Fischer, Frank Sinatra, Julius La Rosa, Red Buttons, Tony Benett, Sammy Davis Jr. Johnny Raye, Milton Berle, Mel Torme, Sid Caesar, Xavier Cugat, and Joe E. Lewis among many others entertained our families and captured our attention while we were gathered around the television at my grandmother's house. My parents and grandparents owned most of their albums.

Kristin Baggelaar makes all of these stars come to life in her book, which celebrates this famous Manhattan Night Club. Her interviews create an intimacy with the characters as if she knew them all personally. In a few words she cites their place in history and highlights their accomplishments and personality. Billy Eckstine was a "robust" baritone, "big hearted" Jimmy Durante was a "perennially crowd pleaser," and Tony Bennett "grew as a performer" at the Copacabana.

Her writing is lively, historic, fast moving and makes all of us who have read this book wish we were indeed a part of the glamour and sophistication of this era of American history.

Jean E. Baldikoski

More good fun from Chester Himes. On the plus side, he finally includes some entertaining sex. On the other hand, one of the main bad guys here (the "Colonel") is particularly flat and unbelievable. Also, as usual, the end is much less satisfying than the ride to get there.

The dialogue, the action, the characters, it's Harlem world and it's all here! What else do you want?

Chester B. Himes wrote a series of "Hard Boiled" detective novels set in Harlem during the the 1950's and 60's. His two main protagonists were "Coffin Ed" Johnson and "Grave Digger" Jones, a couple of black police detectives operating in the seedy underworld of Harlem and New York City. Himes himself had served time for armed robbery in Ohio. While in prison he first read the works of Dashiell Hammet("The Maltese Falcon","The Thin Man",etc.)and decided that he could write similar fiction set in Harlem's vibrant African-American culture. He moved to France after his prison release and then began to write (in French!) his own brand of mysteries set in the New York City section that had become world famous for it's culture, nightlife and intellectual renaissance. The first of these mysteries was "A Rage in Harlem"(first published in French as "For Love of Imabelle" in 1959). Coffin Ed and Grave Digger were only minor characters in this first novel, but by the time of the 5th novel "Cotton Comes to Harlem" they were the stars of the series.

In "Cotton..." a ex con named Deke O'Hara scams $87,000 from a group of families who want to go to Africa to start a new life free from segregation and prejudice. Before O'Hara can abscond with the money a group of white gunmen steal it in the middle of the "Back to Africa" rally O'Hara is hosting and then escape. All this takes place in the first few pages, and the action only steps up the pace from that point on. Cotton Ed and Grave Digger are assigned to the case, and their brand of brutal, violent police work may not be always legal, but they have their own code of honor, which demands that they do all in their power to see to it that the families get their money back, as in most of the cases it amounts to their life savings. Through a maze of deceit and treachery filled with white supremacists, voluptuous women, scam artists, underworld informants, and real to life street people the two cops thread their way with both violence and guile. I won't spoil the ending, but suffice it to say that Himes delivers.

The book was made into a movie in 1970 which played up the humorous aspects of the book. While there is much mordant and cynical humor in Himes' writing, the book is much more than that, and deserves a place in the "Hard Boiled Detective" Hall of Fame. If you like this one I would recommend Himes' other works, especially "The Real Cool Killers".

A definite 5 stars.

This novel has some of the same characters as Himes' Rage in Harlem. This is not a sequel and it is not imperitve that you read "Rage" first, but I think that you will like this book more if you have read about Coffin Ed and Gravedigger Jones in the early novel.

... The book doesn't concern Bible Flowers. It's about the efforts of two black detectives, "Grave Digger" Jones and "Coffin Ed" Johnson, to recover $87,000 in money stolen from a con-man/storefront preacher in 1960s Harlem. Along the way, Grave Digger and Coffin Ed encounter a few murders, a southern colonel, and a 50-pound bale of cotton.

Raymond Chandler wrote that detectives must walk the mean streets, but they must not themselves be mean. Well, Grave Digger and Coffin Ed walk the mean streets just fine, but the "not being mean" part gives them trouble; they doubt the feasibility of solving a case without, say, slapping around a few witnesses or firing a few shots into a crowd. Despite the detectives' unhesitating brutality, this novel compares well to the best of Raymond Chandler and Robert B. Parker. This is due not only to the spot-on dialogue and the stark, vivid character depictions, but also the detectives' uncompromising determination to bring justice to Harlem. The plot is better, i.e., less predictable, than any of Parker's, and Himes's depiction of 1960s Harlem is so bizarre, yet compelling, that it invites comparison to Carl Hiassen's Florida rather than Chandler's LA. Add to this Himes's unique, excruciatingly honest depiction of race relations in the 1960s, and you have one of the best detective novels I have read in years.

...

This book is written to defend the doctrine of Imputed Righteousness against the recent attack by fellow evangelicals (specifically Robert Gundry) who claim the doctrine is not biblical. The doctrine of Imputed Righteousness teaches that through faith, Christ's righteousness is imputed (or credited or reckoned) to us as our righteousness. Gundry, on the other hand, claims that it is our faith itself that is imputed to us as our righteousness. Gundry has committed the age-old error of misunderstanding the mere instrumentality of faith.

Piper proves his case by following through the biblical arguments made by Paul. Readers who take the trouble of closely following the trail laid by Piper will find the evidence for Imputed Righteousness indisputable.

Personally I feel that the biblical support for Imputed Righteousness is strong but indirect. This is because Paul is more concerned about proving that salvation comes through faith and seems to take the imputation of Christ's righteousness to the believer for granted. This is probably why evangelicals (and even evangelical theologians) can confuse the issue. It also makes Piper's effort to prove the doctrine doubly difficult, having to examine the whole of Paul's argument rather than merely quoting single verses. Sometimes Piper is forced to combine multiple passages. Much to his credit, he does it in a way that makes his complex arguments still comprehensible to the non-scholarly mind (even though at times, the mind needs a little stretching).

Is this book important? Is it worth the time and effort to digest it? A resounding YES! to that. Imputed Righteousness falls under the class of doctrines called Soteriology (ie. salvation doctrines) and to me, anything that falls under Soteriology had best be taken seriously. Imputed Righteousness also gives glory to the One who deserves all glory, our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. He has covered us with His righteousness and it is only right that we learn about it and affirm and defend this teaching.

Piper writes with conviction and passion. He lets the Text drive his thoughts, yet considers other implications. The doctrine of Christ's imputed righteousness is at stake in evangelicalism. Piper deals with the Text submissively, faithfully and expositionaly. He sees himself as a student of the Bible. Not the other around. In this brief exposition, Piper has helped us to treat Scriptures carefully in light of other texts and demonstrated that the doctrine of Christ's imputed righteousness is the sinner's only hope. Piper's argument is compelling, persuasive and engaging. "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him "(2 Cor. 5.21).

John Piper is among the most respected American pastors of our day, in part because he comprehensively integrates pastoral theology with biblical and systematic theology in a way that produces a full-orbed Christian perspective and grounding.

In this book, Piper focuses on the imputation of righteousness that is central to the Protestant doctrine of justification by faith alone. Many giants of the faith regard the doctrine of justification as a showstopper doctrine, essential to a right understanding of Christianity. As such, it is no surprise that similar to other essential tenets of the faith such as the Trinity, the resurrection, and the inspiration and authority of Scripture, the doctrine of justification is a stumbling block for many that has resulted in various forms of retreat.

The latest retreat comes at the hands of Robert Gundry, who attempts to argue that the imputation of Christ's righteousness to the believer as a result of faith is unbiblical. He argues instead that the inherent faith of the believer is what is counted as righteous in the act of justification, rather than a transfer of Christ's righteousness to us through faith. While this might seem a nuanced difference, in reality, it goes straight to the core of what it means to be justified. Gundry's view in a number of respects is much closer to Roman Catholicism's irresponsible mixing of justification and sanctification in ways that render many sections of Scripture unintelligible. Gundry believes that the act of justification (of our inherent faith) defeats the mastery of sin over our lives (which is traditionally the separate work of sanctification), rather than a legal transfer of Christ's righteousness to us as the basis for justification and the sole grounding for subsequent sanctification. Gundry's view represents a basic retreat on the doctrine of justification, a retreat that at its core resembles all other retreats in elevating the inherent abilities of man and taking away from the work of God by wholly underestimating the pervasive nature of human sin and overestimating man's inherent abilities.

It is this position that Piper interacts with in this book. Chapter 3 of the book is clearly the most crucial, since this is where he offers an exegetical critique of Gundry and in the process, validates the imputation of Christ's righteousness to the believer that is central to justification. Piper's examination of Romans 1-6 in particular is outstanding, along with 2 Corinthians 5. He builds a logical, step by step case that reveals how Gundry's position is untenable, and provides believers with a great deal of reassurance that Christ's imputed righteousness, rather than their sin-tainted acts, is the basis of our right standing with God.

I will note some minor quibbles with the book that deserve mention but do not significantly detract from the outstanding presentation given by Piper. First, there are times when Piper tends to devote too much ink to peripheral points (at best). The book is four chapters long, yet the reader will find that a good portion of the first chapter doesn't really deal with justification as much as it is a lament by Piper on the theological emptiness that pervades many evangelical churches. And while this is certainly a view I strongly agree with, I found it a bit misplaced here. Second, in his examination of Romans 5, Piper spends several pages trying to demonstrate that Paul had infants in mind in this passage of Scripture. While the discussion is interesting, it is a peripheral point that is not central to Piper's overall argument that Romans 5 discusses the imputation of Christ's righteousness to the believer in contrast to the imputation of Adam's sin to all of humanity. Lastly, Piper avoids the often thorny topic of whether faith is a gift of God or not. While I admit that my thoughts on this are far from complete, it seems to me that this question is pertinent to the discussion on justification and has ramifications on Gundry's view and Piper's response to it. But it seems as if the whole topic is not in view in this discussion, when I think perhaps it should be.

These quibbles are clearly quite minor, and as such, should not discourage potential readers from picking up this book. The doctrine of justification is possibly the most important issue of the Christian faith that's rarely discussed, and as such, is very vulnerable to wayward error creeping in. This book plugs the leak within the body of Christ on the question of imputation and does it in a charitable yet thorough way. Given Gundry's history of doctrinal hiccups, I have rarely considered him to be an authority on doctrine and theology, but the fact is that many other people do consider him to be an authority. As such, his retreat on justification deserved a high profile response from a solidly evangelical perspective. This book is it.

This a very impressive work! This is the first John Piper book I have read, and all I can say is WOW!

A lot of "punch" is packed into such a little book (just over 100 pages). Some readers who are not keen on indepth exegesis may find it a bit overwhelming, but if they stick with reading it they will not be disappointed.

I heartily recommend this book.

In this short book, Dr. John Piper exposes and critiques the serious errors that are being promulgated within evangelical Christianity regarding the doctrine of justification, the righteousness of Christ, the Adam-Christ paradigm, the law-gospel paradigm, and the role of good works in the Christian life. In short, Piper is writing to defend the traditional evangelical understanding of the Gospel (i.e., the one taught in Scripture). There are four chapters in this book. The first chapter is an intro on why the traditional Protestant view of justification is necessary from a familial, ecclesiological, and cultural context. I thought this chapter was quite useless to the purpose of the book and Piper should have just left it unwritten. The second chapter is a short summary of what is going on within evangelicalism on this issue. The third chapter is basically the "meat" of the book. It is quite long and dense (pp. 53-119). This is where Piper defends the historic position based on exegesis and theological argumentation. This is where he deals with the major "justification by faith" passages like Romans 5:12-19; 2 Corinthians 5:21; and Philippians 3:9. Piper does a good job here giving and defending the traditional evangelical interpretation of these passages (that Paul is talking about the imputation of Christ's righteousness and not our "faith-righteousness" or infusion of Christ's righteousness). Piper leaves no stone unturned and many scholars who disagree with the historic Reformational position must reckon with his arguments. (One will find Piper's treatment of the Adam-Christ headship concept very insightful.) It is also refreshing to see that Piper vindicates himself from his ultra-Reformed opponents on the relationship between justification and sanctification, faith and works, etc. Some Reformed people in the past have accused him of joining justification and sanctification or faith and works too closely together. However, Piper makes it clear in this book that justification must never be confused with sanctification (pp. 49-50, 69-80), and that faith is the ONLY instrument in being justified in Christ before God--though this faith leads to good works (p. 89 n. 36). He basically refutes the faith + works theology that is accepted by many professing evangelical scholars today. Hence, many Reformed people have heartily endorsed this book. The fourth chapter is basically a short conclusion of the book. Piper's book is very important for all evangelicals to read. With so much controversy going on these days regarding the nature of the Gospel (i.e., the New Perspective) this short book is a nice read. Not only is this book theologically important it is also (like his other works) pastorally conscious--it leads believers to look to Christ alone for salvation. As there are many so-called "evangelical" pastors who serve at evangelical churches, this book clears the air and shows what the true Gospel is about. There are many "intruders" in the church today who pose as faithful teachers yet proclaim things contrary to their denomination's theological position. (These churchmen, interestingly enough, adopt this new gospel because they think that they have found a new "solution" in fighting rampant antinomianism in the modern church or eliminating the ills of modern society. Apparently, biblical-theological reasons are not the main reasons.) These churchmen worry about losing their jobs and are afraid to admit that their position is contrary to what was taught by the Reformers. They use the same language to advocate a new idea and deceive many. The issue is not only theological, but has to do with the ministerial integrity of many churchmen. This short book is a must read for all students of Scripture. It may make many people uncomfortable, but that is what the Gospel does. Those used to a works-righteousness based salvation will either find this book liberating or frustrating (like Paul's opponent's who were frustrated with his law-free Gospel). A very important book on a very important subject that needs to be in every Christian home.

Toogood captures the readers attention from the first sentence. In today's business world one in surrounded by dot.com innovators and this book inspires introspection for our own creative potential.

As our working lives increasingly encroach on our home lives, we've come to expect more from our jobs than a paycheck. Like Tom Peters, Granville Toogood inspires us to slough off the cynicism of Dilbert and embrace real creativity in the workplace.

Chapter 7, "The Four Fundamentals of Professional Fulfillment," could serve as the manifesto of a business revolution; it's alone worth the price of the book. But the book offers much more than a call to action -- it also gives practical examples from the lives of some of today's (and yesterday's) most innovative leaders: Steve Jobs, Andy Grove, Charlotte Beers, Martha Stewart, Walt Disney.

As Mr. Toogood exhorts us: "Forget the status quo. Way up and way out. Find some other way to go." This book may not take you there, but it'll get you pointed in the right direction.

This is a fun book, filled with stories well told. Unlike many, overly analytical books on creativity, The Creative Executive walks its own talk. The stories and insights kind of wash over you leaving you with not so much a process on how to be creative (although there are some "process" suggestions in the book) as an intuitive feel about your own creative potential. Very nice.

This volume, like each of Toogood's other books (Articulate Executive and Inspired Executive), is a must-read for the entrepreneur, self-employed, corporate and even the "down-sized" professional. He is a master at weaving anecdotes with common sense to create, once again, "personalized messaging". Get a new highlighter, this one is chock-full of sage counsel!

This book is a straight-talking primer for those of us who have great engineering and technical design skills but need help in our leadership and persuasive skills. We may have a vision, but too often we don't know how to articulate it. This book teaches us how in a breezy style that makes you feel as though Toogood is talking to you over a cup of coffee.

This was given to me by my mother when I was a teen. I still have this book today and I read it over and over. This book is really good.

Daddy Was A Number Runner provides a horrific historical and sociological picture of Harlem during the 1930's post-Renaissance era. The reader travels throughout the daily trials and tribulations of Francie Coffin, an adolescent girl living with her brothers, mother and father, who is a number runner.

Statistically we know of the crime, deviance, poverty, fatherless homes and emerging welfare system but what we do not read about is the human elements; the feelings involved. Through Francie's own words and her dreams we are able to feel and capture Francie's plight. While Francie appears to be somewhat naïve she is also able to navigate the streets and people within Harlem. Francie serves as an errand girl for her father, gets into scuffles with her friend and is a victim of molestation. On the positive side she is an obedient daughter and sister, attends school and she loves to read. For Francie, reading and attending movies at the theater is her salvation from the madness.

The book goes one step further to examine Black and Jewish relationships. These relationships are presented in the form of tenant/landlord, student/teacher, customer/business owner and domestic/employer and in each, the black characters appear to be the victims. While not harboring resentment towards Jews as a group, the characters demonstrate a dislike towards the individual because in each example the Black character is shown to be subservient towards the Jewish character for survival.

The characters portrayed are captivating and one of the books largest strengths is the ability of Meriwether to show some positive aspects of the inhabitants. Through all of this despair we find love, kindness and support of family and neighbors, male pride, the importance of education, and compassion. The word community resonates throughout this story and the women are the backbone of this community.

There is no happily ever after and everything is not neatly fixed at the conclusion for there is no conclusion. What we have is Francie's acceptance of her life and her community but also her ability to still dream of a different life. Meriwether has provided the reader with an assessment in the life of a small community but does not place blame on one entity. We, the reader, are able to empathize because Daddy Was A Number Runner offers a lesson in history that is relevant today. This is a story of family and the survival of it.

Reading Daddy Was A Number Runner for the second time as an adult was like visiting an old friend. I first read the novel when I was in junior high and the only thing I remembered from it was this freaky movie theater scene. That and the fact that it was good. Now that I am grown, I took a lot more away from it this time.

Francie is twelve and growing up in 1930's Harlem. She has two older brothers who have totally different aspirations in life. One wants to be a hoodlum and the other wants to quit school to become an undertaker. Her father, a number runner of course, is too proud to go onto public assistance and that causes a lot of turmoil between her parents. She has a best friend that likes to beat her up most of the time. Old white men try to feel her up whenever they get a chance. Francie really endures a lot for a person her age. If you are into period novels, this is a must read because it gives insight in a generation we know nothing about.

I have a 1970 copy of this book, and I love it, absolutely love it. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to get lost in a book for hours. You feel like you're walking beside Francie, and Sukie on the streets of Harlem. This book is a thumbs up.

From beginning to end, the book was enjoyable. Brutally honest and very mature, but an excellent read. Many times hit close to home, others were a learning experience (like the use of rags, the electric hair on juveniles, etc.) It was a quick read that I didn't want to finish!

This book is the follow up to "So, You are going to be a Dad?" from the same Author. ANd the first book was awesome, this b second one is also really funny and the sometimes sarcastic humor is just great !!
Enjoy !!

A great book! Mr. Downey entertains while delivering important, every-day advice to new dads. Dad's will laugh out loud and feel re-assured that they're not total failures at fatherhood. With his unpretentious writing style and unique brand of wit, Mr. Downey covers everything from baby's first steps to "permanent" birth control options, and he never fails to entertain. Dad's can only hope that Mr. Downey continues to share his thoughts and experiences through his children's pre-pubescent and teen years.

Finally, a down-to-Earth, no-holes-barred reference book for new Dads. No fancy terminology - just creative terminology. No detailed psychological analysis from a group of doctors who pride themselves on using 10-syllable words - just the blunt facts from an everyday-Dad's point of view. An extremely humorous, yet insightful view into Dadism.

A perfect follow-up to Downey's "So You're Gonna Be A Dad". I could only hope he continues his wizardry of words addressing prepubescent teenagers!!

As a 46 year old father of 2 young children, I have found this book to be very informative and very humorous(actually at times horrifying for fathers to be). The book could be classified as humorous horror for fathers. Peter Downey touches on all important aspects of childrearing in a down-to-earth, easy to read, practical, "lets get our hands dirty on this" fashion. Fathers with children will really identify with the problems discussed in this book. He doesn't shy away from touchy topics like sex, nudity in front of the children or physical discipline. He's obviously read the "professionals" on childrearing and his advice on how to deal with the many problems we dads encounter reflects this, but is also heavily flavoured with his own personal strategies developed on the frontlines of being a dad to 3 children himself. Of course, if you're a perfect dad, doing everything right or if you're not a dad you may want to read the book for it's humour, with which Peter is not stingy.

Downey's book is a must read for all dads, old and new to this game of parenting. I was the fortunate recipient of this book, and having read Downey's earlier book, "So You're Gonna Be A Dad," I knew immediately that Downey would deliver with hilarious material that would make a difference in raising my two daughters. I have not been disappointed.
One significant diifference between Downey's book and others is that his approach diminishes the anxiety that comes with being a dad. He lets you know that there's a lot of other guys going through the same things, and they're all doing just fine.
Perfect holiday gift--better yet, the PERFECT gift to give Dad when his son or daughter turns two. I give Downey's book, "Dads, Toddlers, and the Chicken Dance" the highest rating possible: *****.

Linda Hall is an excellent writer who combines just the right amount of suspense, mystery, and a pinch of romance with the foundation of faith woven through the whole.

Wesley Stoller is out of prison, and that spells big trouble for Elise St. Dennis. On the day he was sentenced for murdering his brother, Wes threatened to find Elise and kill her. She knows her ex-brother-in-law, and is sure he intends to make good on that threat. Running scared, Elise hires Jake Rikker and May Williams, private investigators to locate the ex-con and make sure he can't find her. Jake is attracted to Elise, which gets in his way, but as the investigation turns up secrets he never expected to find, he discovers she's not all she claims to be.

Linda Hall is a new author for me, and I enjoyed her writing. Dark Water is a tightly woven, exciting blend of death and deception where nothing is really what it appears to be.

Linda Hall is one of the best contemporary mystery writers and each year she gets better and better. Dark Water offers far more than a genre novel, though it certainly has mystery galore, danger and some fascinatingly creepy characters. Hall captures voice and paints complex characters with literary precision and great insight. I sure hope to read more about Dark Water's odd couple PI team, who run a whale watching business on the side out of a purple-painted building in fictional Fog Point. Hall's left room for the villain Moon to re-emerge in a subsequent book because he was never caught. AT least I hope that's what she's planning. What an amazing character.

I love Linda Hall's newest book, Dark Water. I love the people she's created in Fog Point.
As the mystery unravelled, I was riveted, and couldn't put the book down until I found out exactly what was going on.

Linda Hall is an incredible writer. This mystery captured my attention on the first page and kept me guessing through the twists and turns. Great insight on whales and a powerful, surprise ending. Can't wait to read the next book in this series!