Non-fiction Books

I have read most of Pavic's novels, in beautiful Russian translation which is reasonably close to the original Serbian. This is very far from his best work. Pavic is good at weaving anecdotes and short stories into brief and highly original novels, as in "The Khazar Dictionary" which gained him an international following. However, in "A Landscape...", by far his longest novel, the strategy fizzles. The anecdotes and digressions drag on and don't lead anywhere, the threads come undone. The last 100 pages fall apart completely. Pavic has run out of steam with this one, writing far more pages than he is capable of piecing together.

It's difficult to comment on this book because this is a book that almost defies comment. One has simply read it...or one hasn't. It is the lucky one who has.

In this lyrical and playful novel, Milorad Pavic tells the story of Belgrade architect, Atanas Svilar and his journey through life, a journey he hopes will answer the question, "why had his life been barren and futile, despite the enormous effort invested?"

His journey leads him to an ancient monastery on Mount Athos in Greece, that holy mountain reserved for men, a mountain where no woman has set foot for centuries, the mountain where Atanas' father disappeared during World War II.

Since Atanas doesn't find all he is seeking on Mount Athos, in Book Two, he abandons his family, changes his name to Atanas Fyodorovich Razin and moves to the United States with the beautiful Vitacha Milut. There, something goes his way at last, and he becomes wealthy, at least in a material sense.

Like Pavic's first book, "Dictionary of the Khazars," "Landscape Painted With Tea," is a playful enterprise containing chapters that can be read "down" or "across," much in the same way a crossword puzzle is read. The person who solves the solution to the ultimate puzzle is said to have the key to the solution to the puzzle of life. While I didn't find the key to life in these pages, I did find fun and enjoyment, and, not surprisingly, quite a bit of beauty. So much so that I'm recommending the book to all of my friends.

If stark realism is what you enjoy, you'd probably be better off skipping this book. Those who love writers who can spin magic with words, who are playful and inventive as well as creative, will no doubt love "Landscape Painted With Tea" as much as I did. "Dictionary of the Khazars" made me a Pavic fan; "Landscape Painted With Tea" has simply cemented my admiration for this playful and inventive author.

As exceptional Serbian author, Milorad Pavic always says, "The future always starts from the large intestine." This may be taken as either prophecy or advice. In either case, you should begin the rest of your future by getting ahold of this novel. Of course, as he says, "Whoever wants the second half of life has to remain in the first half of everything else." Let's hope this does not mean your large intestine. But if we concentrate on Pavic' story, rather than on his aphorisms, I think we can quickly conclude the dude is a genius, though one who is not easily understood. What can we say about a heroine who falls in love with you, the reader ? The protagonist with several pasts has several futures too. He is a Yugoslav architect whose designs are never built, but in one future he builds exact replicas of Tito's luxury palaces in the New World. His father was a Yugoslav soldier who disappeared in Greece, or else he was a Russian mathematician who could shovel snow extremely well. The hero winds up extremely rich, but lonely. Or maybe lonely, but extremely rich. Does it have to do with those people who like to work in sync with others or those who prefer to be lone wolves ? Pasts intersect and divide, the future is over though it hasn't started either. Yes, you will dig the leaping non-sequiturs that lead to larger truths or else you will be left scratching your head. Hey, if you always admired Bob Dylan's great songs like "Subterranean Homesick Blues" or if you found Dali's paintings intriguing, you are going to grok this novel in all its fullness. If however, you want a linear, conventional book, forget this one completely.

"All readers of this book are entirely imaginary. Any resemblance to actual readers is coincidental." M. Pavic So be warned.

When I was very little, I had a small purple stone which I swallowed. I never let on to anyone. I felt purple inside. So when I saw a purple stripe on the cover of this book in the library, I knew I would either read it or eat it. Now I can't remember what happened, but as a character exclaims in LANDSCAPE PAINTED WITH TEA, "In sleep, one doesn't age." The same is true with volumes in your stomach. Or was that `brain' ? You can read this book like a crossword puzzle---literally. The author took great pains in its construction, which recalls (Argentine author) Julio Cortazar in some bizarre way. I read the novel in the conventional fashion (or I ate it with a knife and fork) not because I have a stolid or military personality, as Pavic would claim, but because I admire turtles, who always take the shortest route to the pond. The Tajiks say that eels never swim towards the sun. The readers of this book will not wind up enlightened either, but they will be delighted by the author's wit and imagination. Or they will get a stomach ache.

Usually, I do not read the reviews when buying books, and similarly, never write them. However, when it comes to writings of Milorad Pavic, it is difficult to remain indifferent. Unfortunately, he is not too well known in the United States, and only few of his books had been translated. Pavic's characters, or rather, settings, seem to be appearing from a different dimension, the existence of which, we all feel instinctually, but unable to grasp with our senses. Landscape Painted with Tea, is in many ways similar to the paintings of Salvador Dali; it is surreal, it can be perceived on many different levels, each with its own beauty and mystery, and yet, being a part of the whole. Also, people either love it, or hate it, no one, however, remains cold or untouched by it. Just as the unusual twists of Pavic's imagination lead his unsuspecting readers deeper and deeper, layer by layer, into a world where fantasy and reality meet, so the readers' perception alters depending on the surroundings. Thus, if you read one of his novels during the day, your impression will be different from that of the morning or evening readings, and so on. Landscape Painted with Tea also can be compared to a dream, sometimes, strange, and sometimes leaving you guess about its true meaning, but always fascinating. Well, a praise, however high, will not suffice - you must read it for yourself! I hope, you will enjoy it!

Usually, I do not read the reviews when buying books, and similarly, never write them. However, when it comes to writings of Milorad Pavic, it is difficult to remain indifferent. Unfortunately, he is not too well known in the United States, and only few of his books had been translated. Pavic's characters, or rather, settings, seem to be appearing from a different dimension, the existence of which, we all feel instinctually, but unable to grasp with our senses. Landscape Painted with Tea, is in many ways similar to the paintings of Salvador Dali; it is surreal, it can be perceived on many different levels, each with its own beauty and mystery, and yet, being a part of the whole. Also, people either love it, or hate it, no one, however, remains cold or untouched by it. Just as the unusual twists of Pavic's imagination lead his unsuspecting readers deeper and deeper, layer by layer, into a world where fantasy and reality meet, so the readers' perception alters depending on the surroundings. Thus, if you read one of his novels during the day, your impression will be different from that of the morning or evening readings, and so on. Landscape Painted with Tea also can be compared to a dream, sometimes, strange, and sometimes leaving you guess about its true meaning, but always fascinating. Well, a praise, however high, will not suffice - you must read it for yourself! I hope, you will enjoy it!

It was a great book and i couldent put it down. Its so good that it will keep you up tell 3am reading it. I was very sad to have the book end and found myself practiclly crying at the end. I highly recommend this book to anyone.

The Last Run by Leonard B. Scott was a amazing. He can really show a detailed look into a Ranger unit because he was there. His stories are geographically correct also. The villages and landmarks are all there. Vietnam was not a war that was widely accepted and Mr. Scott shows this. Also, he shows a perspective from the North Vietnameese Army. This is especially neat because the stories converge in the end. The suprise ending has really built throughout the book. A reader must carefully read because the details are important in the end. I recomend this book to anyone joining the military and any history nuts. Read this book to find the suprise ending

Once I read The Last Run, I couldn't help but read all of Col. Scott's books. I went back and started with Charlie Mike. As a woman affected by the Viet Nam war on the home front, the books gave me insight into many of the views my peers who spent time on the front lines still hold today. The Colonel is an incredible author. I would like to see another book soon!

A WELL WRITTEN NOVEL. IT ANSWERS THE QUESTION 'WHAT IS HELL REALLY LIKE?' VERY INTERNAL, IT'S LIKE YOU KNOW THE CHARACTERS. CRYING IS UNAVOIDABLE AT THE END.

I have read them all from Clancy to Brown and LtCol.(Ret) Scott is by far one of the best military writers to date. My father served in Vietnam and after he came back my mom said he was never the same and I always wondered what it was like, why men like my father and Col Scott, why they went when they were called knowing they might not return and those that did would be forever altered. I joined the infantry at 17 to see for myself and after serving in Panama and Somalia I understand. Col. Scott says it best in the books with way he connects you to the characters you come to realize they did it for the men to their left and their right, not so much for America, but the men who represent America. Sad to know that he won't be writing anymore books but the four vietnam books he wrote are some of the greatest military fiction ever written and in my opinion should be required reading for all young soldiers and leaders.

As a former nursing home chaplain, I am familiar with the Eden Alternative and the tremendous benefits to nursing home residents and to staff and family members. The book reinforces the lessons (and the guidelines)for the Eden model in a way which leaves no doubt or lack of clarity about the benefits to the elderly and to the community as a whole when we focus on meeting the needs of the elderly. These needs are, in the words of the author,loneliness, helplessness, and boredom. We should all be so fortunate as to have some-one or -ones who see the wisdom in this model!

This book was incredible. I knew Dr. Thomas before he wrote this book and I can honestly say the story and wisdom come from his soul. I was so inspired by the books teachings of caring for our elderly, but also felt a tug on plain old every day living with people of all ages. I felt the authors conviction for respecting and honoring the elders of life who have so much to give to our society if we are willing to slow down and listen. I am reminded of every older person I have ever worked with and what they gave me to apply to my own life. With these lessons I realize how much we have to start with our young so that hopefully they can shape a society similar to the book. I suggest this book to anyone just looking for a warm story to stir your soul and to get you thinking about life in general, and how you will be cared for as you age. Thank you Dr. Thomas for once again inspiring me to see beyond the idea and making it a reality. This is a book that clings to your soul and stays there. I love it!

This book is meant for every man,woman and child regardless of age. In a society where we have grown to see aging as repulsive rather than merely a part of living, this message is invaluable. Dr. Thomas tells a beautiful story of his own growth and journey toward understanding the value of our elders. It is an issue that can no longer be avoided. Change is inevitable. This book offers us a guide to help facilitate that change.

Learning from Hannah is a vehicle by which the author attempts to change our societal view that once you reach a certain age, you no longer have anything to offer, and the author achieves that goal. It tells the story of two people who learn that the elderly have much to teach us all, if only we will listen. The main characters also learn that life itself has much more to offer, beyond the next deadline for some distant project. I applaud Thomas' effort and cause, which is why I give the book 4 stars.

From a story standpoint, it felt a bit preachy after a while, and sometimes repetitive; I found myself saying "I've got the point already." In short, I became a little annoyed with the overall story. The writing seemed a little flat, but it was a good effort.

This book uses Dr. Thomas's talent for storytelling to advance his ideas. The Eden Alternative is a way for Long Term Care facilities to be a real home to the people that live there, a place families will enjoy visiting. The changes are very low tech and save money in the long run. The environment these changes create is not only wonderful for the people who LIVE there, but for the staff as well. I encourage anyone with family in a facility to read this book.

This is absolutely one of Rendell's best. A rapist who accidentally shoots a policeman emerges from jail 10 years later to make amends. How he makes amends, and what happens because of his "remorse" is bone-chilling and remarkably suspenseful. Clue here - the motive behind the shooting has something to do with the name of a restaurant. Rendell loves to pull the rug right under you just as you thought you had sure footing.
Highly recommended. Also read Judgement in Stone, possibly her best and most brilliant!

Though I must admit I might not have made it through this book if I'd read it (I need constant action), listening to it was a real experience. It was slow at the beginning, but I quickly got swept into Victor's world, and felt his humiliation, cringed at his perceptions, and rooted for him . . . for awhile. And then I absolutely hated him. Which, I daresay (can you tell I've been listening to too many British books?), is just what the author intended. Or at least she won't mind.

I thought the book was well read and all the characters were convincing. My favorite was David Fleetwood. I felt I knew him very well, even though only one chapter was from his perspective.

Rendell has written many wonderful books, and this is one of the best. I highly recommend it.

Ruth Rendell books are the scariest there are - not because of blood, gore and mutilation, but because they expose the infinitely greater menace of mental trauma. The number of Hannibal Lecter's in the general population is small - the greater threat comes from the more 'unremarkable' people, like Victor Jenner, this book's main character.

Victor has just been released from prison for shooting and crippling a young policeman. Coping with the changed world without and terrifying rages and phobias within, Victor is resentful, totally amoral, and feels he is entitled to whatever he can get - or take. Unbeknowst to the police, he is also guilty of a number of violent rapes, for which he has never been charged. The 'normal' side he can present to his social workers and employers is countered by the crashing and tortured screaming that others hear coming from his room, and he hears within his head.

Envious of the public admiration for his victim David, whose stoic acceptance of his paralysis has won him high regard and accolades, Victor can't stop himself making contact. To his surprise, David and his girlfriend Clare welcome him, assuming his motives are benign - that he, also, is trying to make sense of how the incident has affected his life. Victor manages to act normally long enough for them to become 'friends', but the tension of his scheming, David's skepticism and Clare's naive belief in Victor make you feel something awful is just around the corner. Away from his friends, all sorts of things in Victor's mind are starting to surface, and go out of control...

Ruth Rendell never writes a bad book, and this is one of her more original plots, no normal whodunnit. From the first pages Victor's incipient violence is so well portrayed, yet what happens is still a complete surprise. Rehabilitation of violent offenders, and their integration back into society, is a very low priority of governments today. The thought that there are people like Victor on the streets around us is all the more worrying for probably being true. A discomforting and somewhat disturbing story.

This is an absorbing story that could only have been crafted by Ruth Rendell, the doyenne of the quirky murder mystery and chiller killer thrillers. Here, she takes a look into the socio-pathic mind of the amoral Victor Jenner, released back into the world after serving ten years in prison for shooting and paralyzing a young police sergeant.

He tracks down the now wheelchair bound officer, meeting both him and his beautiful, devoted girlfriend. You see, in Victor's skewed world view, it was the officer's fault that he got shot, costing Victor ten of the best years of his life. Victor just wants to set the record straight. Who would have thought that they could all be friends? Therein lies the tale.

"Live Flesh" is not the usual crime mystery/thriller. It is, however, a thrilling psychological study of a rapist, Victor Jenner, who suffers from chorea, a disease of the nervous system marked by involuntary, jerky movements of the arms, legs, and/or face. Sometimes this illness is called "live flesh." Victor also has a severe phobia of tortoises, along with a multitude of other neuroses. Throughout the novel, he feels a need for psychiatric treatment, but never follows through. Typically, he blames the system for not providing him with therapy. He does understand that he has serious problems, though, and more often than not knows the difference between right and wrong. The inimitable Ruth Rendell thoroughly explores Jenner's motives, secrets, and complex emotions. She paints a chilling portrait of a man doomed by violence he cannot control. This is obviously much more a book driven by characters, and their development, than by action. The heart of "Live Flesh" lies in the complexity of Victor Jenner's personality and how he interacts with others, two characters in particular. These people are all steeped in a web of consequences stemming from one single event, a gunshot, which alters their lives forever.

Victor Jenner was convicted of shooting a young police officer in the lower back and permanently crippling him. He had been holding a young woman hostage in her bedroom, after breaking and entering her home, while escaping from the scene of an attempted rape. David Fleetwood, the officer, had been trying to gain the woman's release. Victor was not tried for the attempted rape, or the numerous other acts of sexual violence he had successfully committed. The police probably had no idea he was responsible for the crimes. After ten years Jenner is released early, for good behavior. He has serious problems adjusting to life after incarceration. But then, he always had problems adjusting. His irrational thought processes cause him to blame everyone but himself for the events leading up to the shooting. Underneath, however, he feels tremendous guilt for giving in to his irresistible urges which cause so much harm to others. The author allows the reader to enter Jenner's mind, his very thoughts, throughout the novel. He constantly constructs false scenarios which absolve him of guilt. Primary among his rationalizations is that if David Fleetwood had not taunted him by saying that the gun was a fake, a replica, then he wouldn't have had to fire it in order to prove that it was real. Other rationalizations include: if the girl hadn't screamed, then he wouldn't have had to hold her hostage; and if his uncle hadn't owned a gun, which he had easy access to, he never would have had it in his possession. Victor is also firmly convinced that he is incapable of restraining himself because of the chorea, which acts up when he is stressed. He believes that his behavior is as blameless and uncontrollable as the involuntary twitching which torments him.

The plot takes an unusual twist when Victor looks to meet the man he maimed, now wheelchair bound. His delusions allow him to think that, for the first time in his life, he has found true friendship. I must say that I really empathized with Victor, right up until the conclusion - which is a stunning one. His crimes are heinous, but so is the life he has to live with himself. I don't absolve him. I just feel terribly sorry for him - which is all Ms. Rendell's doing. Her characters are rich and so believable. And her narrative is spellbinding. This is a brilliant analysis and portrayal of a deranged man.
JANA

What a surprise! Felipe Alfau, an spanish exile author, writing in english in the spanish civil war period (more or less) and with no political objectives in mind. If you are spanish you have to read him now! Enjoy an incredible style (sounds like spanish tranlated to english) with no paralels, and also discover little stories that relates to one another and builds a unic masterpiece about what literature is. Meta literature, laberinths, narrator within narrators, mirror games and sperpentic world. You really have to give it a try

This is a beautiful, witty series of interconnected stories that pre-sages John Barth and other ironic contemporaries. The characters auditioning for the novelists who will immoralize them at the Locos Cafe enchant, misbehave, and appear to fail Alfau. In an age where most prominent writers honestly believed authorship could change the world, Alfau is a refreshing antidote, suggesting that the act of writing merely troubles the writer.

Felipe Alfau's phenomenal LOCOS: A COMEDY OF GESTURES anticipates a number of other movements and writers - Nabokov, Borges, Calvino and Cortazar could all be said to owe this novel a huge debt, whether they realize it or not.

In 9 interlocking stories which all coalesce around a cafe (and cafe culture) in pre-Franco Madrid, Alfau (who only wrote one other novel, before taking up a working-class life in New York) creates a series of characters who step in and out of each others' dreams and stories, interacting with the author, who in turn is pulled into the novel as a character.

I'm afraid that my synopsis doesn't really do this mind-bending piece of fiction approriate credit. I would however recommend this to anyone with a love of literature, or anyone impressed by the vast accomplishment the human imagination can occasionally be capable of. A magnificent book.

-David Alston

I share the puzzlement of the reviewer below over why this isn't considered one of the 20th Century's great works of fiction. I'd go further and say this is probably the most underrated novel of the last 100 years. The most important literature not only blazes a trail, but does so in a way that compares favorably to the books it inspires. This is true for Locos. The book should have had a stronger edit, but what Alfau achieves here - stories that rewrite each other, characters who morph into each other - unleashed new powers from the fictional narrative that have yet to be fully tapped. There's a moment at the end of a story called "A Character" that is one of the very few mindblowing experiences I've had reading fiction. Alfau was probably the first novelist since Laurence Sterne to understand this potential in narration. There's a character in Locos named Fulano who, desperate to get others to notice him, breaks a storefront window. The owner comes out, ignores Fulano and wonders how such a thing could have happened. In a sad way, Locos is like Fulano. Everyone marvels at the glass it shattered, but nobody can see Locos.

This may sound absurd - but "Locos-...." is truly the work of a genius. Some books surpass the boundaries of time and this is one such book. To summarize the book in one sentence will be like this "non-characters are characters, fiction is reality and solutions are problems".
Felipe Alfau was a strange character and so are his books - very very different, they remind us of the writings of Vargas Llosa with a taste of Cortazar. This is not a translation rather Alfau has written the book in English so all the spices of the Spanish culture are visible. This is extremely rare even with the best of the translators. You get a taste of Spain and a vivid picture of the vibrant society which was so different from the rest of Europe. The people are full of life and passion. Love and passion are the means for making life flow and may be we all need to follow that some day.
You can look at this book either as a short story book or a novel - since it has nine short stories which can either be individually read but they are also connected to each other.
I am long time fan of Marquez and I can promise that this book is equally impressive as any book from Marquez. It is a must buy.

Sheriff Clint Richards went looking for a woman wandering on the back roads of Vaquaro, Texas.
He sustained a shock when he discovered the blooded, wandering woman turned out to be Darlene Remington, the woman who had broken his heart.

Darlene had escaped a violent attack that had stolen her memory. Through confusion and drug induced sleep she didn't know who to trust. The attack in the hospital frightened her even more, forcing her to accept Sheriff Clint Richards protection. But was she safe?

In trying to discover what happened to Senator James McCord, Clint and FBI agent Darlene Remington was sinking deeper and deeper into the twisted secrets of the Senator.

Were the Senator's war buddies trying to protect him or maybe they didn't know the whole story.

What was Clint's secret that he refused to tell Darlene about?
What was the secret the Senator kept from Clint?
Would Darlene be headed back east again? Maybe for her own protection!
What had brought about the split up between Clint and Darlene six years before?
Who was trying to kill Darlene and the Senator? Would they find out in time? Would the Senator ever reveal his secrets?

To find out the answers to all of the above questions you will have to grab MEMORIES AT MIDNIGHT and spend a little time enjoying following the clues to the story's conclusion.
Darlene turns out to be another wussie [whoops, one time lover of Clint]

Definitely Recommended --M - You should really enjoy this series.

Joanna Wayne never disappoints. Memories at Midnight is a super read with old secrets causing new dangers. I loved the romance between Clint and Darlene. In fact I have loved the entire McCord series! One of the best Intrigue has done.

Joanna Wayne's books are the best. Great stocking stuffer for this Christmas. If you want a book that's packed with suspense, then this is your book. It's a seat of the pants read you'll really enjoy. Keep up the good work, Joanna. Renee

In Memories at Midnight, Joanna Wayne blends thrilling mystery and heart-tugging romance to create another page turner! Her characters are complex and involving. I felt their frustration, shared their pain, and most importantly, fell in love with them! Add this one to your collection!

Joanna Wayne gives the McCord saga a boost in her latest Intrigue, "Memories at Midnight." An FBI agent has returned to her hometown at the urging of her mentor, only to wind up in the middle of an attack that leaves her with amnesia and her mentor mysteriously missing. She's forced to turn to the town sheriff, with whom she had a relationship she can't remember, and who has more than a few secrets of his own.

A page-turner to keep you up all night, "Memories" is an able blending of past and present, love and danger, that shouldn't fail to capture any reader. Clint and Darlene's previous love affair is intertwined with their current flirtation very effectively, making it clear this is a couple with a future. The tangled web of relationships between everyone involved adds another layer to the tale, although the impact of Wayne's story is diminished somewhat through Harlequin's atrocious decision to spell out the relationship between Clint and McCord in all of the ads for "The McCord Family Countdown," when she keeps it a studied secret through much of the book. Still, there's enough danger and action, as well as a complex mystery, to overshadow that minor annoyance.

Unlike so many books, it's refreshing to see one set in the two weeks before Christmas that barely mentions the holiday. (Not surprisingly, the characters have better things to do). And how's this for a Christmas present: next year will finally bring the sequels to "Family Ties" (still my choice for her best book) when Wayne offers a new trilogy about the Randolph family in the summer. If they're as good as this, her fans will be waiting on pins and needles until they arrive.

This has many unique images not found in a host of books available and reviewed on Amazon. One of my favorite paintings, one I haven't seen anywhere is of several Mermaids knitting! They're knitting their fishtales! It's a cleverly, sweet image. A fun book full of whimsy for those who thirst for Mermaidenry.

This book was worth the wait! Great pictures and captivating writing. My coffee table was waiting for this work of art. You will not be disappointed in this book.

I bought this book because of all the great reviews and because I desperately wanted good mermaid art. While the book itself is very creative and cool, a lot of the art disappointed me. I was led to believe that the art in this book was beautiful and rare, so you can imagine how infuriated I was to discover that most of the art was either ugly old sculptures or beautiful paintings that I already had in other books! I spent sixty-two dollars on this sucker, and I personally don't think it was worth half that amount. Don't get me wrong; it's not a bad book perse, it's just not the extraordinary work of art I thought it would be. And don't be fooled: most of the paintings in this book are NOT rare. You can find most of them in "Mermaids: Sirens of the Sea", or "Mermaids: Magical Beings" for much better prices. If you can find this particular book for a REASONABLE price, than I definitely recommend it. Just don't make the same mistake I did and spend a ridiculously HUGE amount of money on it.

I ordered this book sight unseen because of the 5 star reviews. They were right, it's a great book.

I COLLECT MERMAIDS AND THIS BOOK IS MY FAVORITE OF ALL THE MERMAID BOOKS I OWN. WHEN I FOUND IT ONLINE IT WAS SO AFFORDABLE I BOUGHT 2. GREAT GIFT IDEA!!

What a sweet story of connection. My 4 yo liked it a lot, and i was moved to tears. Lots to the story.

What a beautiful story to show children that, despite our differences, i.e. age, race, family background, we still have some many important things in common. Characters have wit, charm and integrity. Story is very moving and good for all ages.

This is one of the best children's books I have ever read. In fact, it is one of the most beautiful (in language and illustrations) books I have read--period. Patricia Polacco is a master at bringing diverse, meaningful relationships to life. Every sensitive, mature parent should buy this book for his/her child!

Ms. Katz and Tush is an excellent choice for educators and parents to use when explaining diversity.
In the book, a young boy is introduced to an elderly jewish woman through his mother. The boy develops a bond with the elderly lady, and the two are friends forever.
This book enables children to develop an understanding about life in different cultures. It shows them that different is good and you can learn a lot from someone of a different culture.

This is the story of a loving friendship between an elderly Jewish lady from Poland named Mrs. Katz, and an African-American child named Larnel. Mrs. Katz lives alone in her apartment and doesn't have anyone to visit her. (It's not stated in the book, but, since this appears to be a predominantly African-American inner city neighborhood, one wonders if she was left behind by the Jewish community when the more affluent members moved to the suburbs? In real life it has happened...) Larnel's mother stops by to visit her every other day or so, and brings Larnel with her.

One day, Larnel gets the idea to give Mrs. Katz a kitten from the litter that was born in the basement of his apartment building. (Get the pun -- Katz/cats? Actually, the name "Katz" has nothing to do with "cats," but it's cute anyway.) Mrs. Katz names the kitten Tush, which is Yiddish for "bottom," because it has no tail. Larnel agrees to help her care for Tush, and from this sharing, a lifelong friendship grows.

The story is well-written, the characters are well-developed and "real." The illustrations are vibrant, beautifully done, and ethnically accurate. Well, almost. There are a couple Jewish bloopers. For one thing, the menorah sitting by Mrs. Katz's window only has seven branches. A Hanukkah menorah has nine -- eight for the eight days plus an extra for the "servant" candle. The seven-branched menorah mentioned in the Bible was specifically for the Jerusalem Temple, and is not usually found in the home. Since Hanukkah was mentioned in the story, I have to assume that this was supposed to be a Hanukkah menorah.

The second blooper is the scene in the bakery. Mrs. Katz is shopping for PASSOVER -- a time when no leaven is to be found anywhere in a Jewish home. It is not just a matter of eating matzoh. The entire house is cleaned of anything even resembling leaven, and even owning leavened products is forbidden. That being the case, why is she shopping for her Passover feast in a bakery, of all places? She is clearly pointing at a cake or some rolls, and these would NOT be served on Passover! So nu, maybe she's a Reform Jew and not so strict? But in that case, why is that very Hasidic-looking gentleman in the corner shopping there? Surely HE would not serve bread for Passover! (...)

These are relatively minor quibbles, given the overall good quality of the book. But when it comes to children's books, I insist on total accuracy with regard to Judaism, because these are the images that will stick in the mind for years to come. Granted, this is not a "Jewish" book per se, it's a multicultural book -- which is all the more reason to pay more attention to the Jewish details, lest the reader(s) be misled. For the bloopers I'm docking it a star, but it's still a great story and I highly recommend it to both Jews and gentiles.

I never read a heck of a lot of Margueirite Henry, but this was one I read over and over again as a child. Henry takes on a distinctly more human view point as she deals with a very human woman who falls in love with the beauty of the wild horses and is horrified at their treatment and fate. It's inspiring for all people who want to change the world or at least save a few animals and Henry's passion for horses is evident. Great book.

I have always been a cowgirl, western, country girl my whole life. I bought this book a while back when I was into the Misty series and I wanted to know what were some of hte other books Henry wrote. This book was truly inspiring and beautiful. I was rooting for Annie the whole time! This is the perfect book for the biggest cowgirl and horse nut.

Mustang:Wild Spirit of the West is a good story about a girl who loves horses all of her life. When she grows up, she tries to stop the killing of wild mustangs. It is a story that I'm sure you would enjoy.

When I was in Elementary School, I read all of the books in the school library that had to do with horses. Of all of them, this was my favorite. I've remembered it until today when I decided to refresh my memory from 7 years ago. I think it's so neat that books like this can stay with you and impact your outlook after so many years. This is such a beautiful and inspiring story, I would recommend it to anyone and everyone.

I first read the book in sixth grade for a book report. One of my friends said I should read it because my name is Annie, too. The aspect I like most about it was the fact that it the hero was a woman, and she fought with courage and determination for something that she believed was right.

During the Depression, a young brother and sister must flee from a murderous preacher who has infiltrated their home in search of a small fortune in stolen money. This novel deserves to be better remembered than it has been, for I have read few books that are better at evoking the psychology of children in a realistic way. But Davis Grubb doesn't stop there: the sociopathic preacher with his flexible interpretation of scripture, the lonely single mother whose yearning to experience love and make a secure home for her children makes her vulnerable, the lonely drunk whose personal weaknesses undermine his good intentions, the self-sufficient matriarch with an unshakable sense of duty--these and many other characters are vividly rendered. Grubb also skillfully evokes the lonely rural settings where his drama plays out. Such careful attention to character and setting makes for a scary and heartbreaking novel because we can imagine these things happening to real people in a real place. Highly recommended.

The Night of the Hunter is an old story and movie, but is a page turner as of today. Very exciting and intriguing.

Hemingway, Steinbeck, Tolstoy et al, will always have a place in the pantheon of literature. In this reader's opinion, this novel warrants a little niche in that pantheon for Davis Grubb, whose lean, muscular and evocative prose propels this thrilling story, driving it toward the inevitable conclusion.

Charles Laughton's movie based on this book was an interesting effort and well done, but if one hasn't read the unsentimental, un-varnished novel, then somewhere a potential reader is missing the juice. Like Laughton's screen effort the novel is indeed pregnant, but not at all unwieldly; rather, the book, slender as it is, is bursting with some of the best writing put to paper in any genre and is as good as anything ever written by the more prolific Masters.

Grubb's unpretentious style looms up from the pages like the reek of the bottom waters at river's edge. Subtle by turns, the terrifying game of hide-and-seek between light and shadow jumps at the most unexpected moments, just like the novel's villain with his knife.

Filled with archetypes and certainly many levels of meaning for interpretation by the reader, this is one novel one won't forget soon. It stalks memory and, personally, I find myself still returning to the book from time to time to savor a magnificently rendered mood, and a time, place and story that is as fresh and exciting now as it was almost half a century ago.

Writing true and honest profiles of such diverse characters, let alone children, is no easy thing, and Grubb's work is peopled with wholly believable characters who truly cast shadows, live and breathe, even in the periphery. This is part of the novel's triumph.

I cannot recommend Night of the Hunter too highly. It's simply a "must read" for anyone who loves good literature, fine writing --and isn't predjudiced against genre. In this beautiful, sinister work, Davis Grubb breaks the mold.

Night of the Hunter has always been one of my favorite films: eerie, atmospheric, gripping are just a few words that come to mind for this masterpiece, the only film made by silent film star Charles Laughton. It gets better with each viewing. I only got around lately to reading Davis Grubb's source material and it's just as amazing and mesmerizing as the movie. If you like a book that gives you genuine chills, yet still creates really sympathetic characters, give this one a try. Of course, if you're like me and loved the movie, you owe it to yourself to see why they wanted to make it into a movie.

With the publication of a new edition Amazon seems to have deleted the earlier reviews. They were unanimous in their praise for Night of the Hunter,

I bought the book in Italy to read on the trains. There wasn't much of a selection. I expected a routine crime thriller.

We have cheapened superlatives to the point where they really don't resonate. If I tell you it's the best book I have ever read, I may be setting your expectations so high that it can never meet them.

It did change my life.

Grubb provides one of the best "bad guys" in literature: the Reverend Harry Powell. A bad guy needs a hero. Powell is so bad that it takes two heroes to offset him.

The first is John Harper, the older brother. If you happen to have two children -- an older brother and a younger sister -- the story of their relationship has immense power.

The second is Rachel Cooper. She is my favorite character in my reading life.

She is immensely strong, with a forgiving nature. It was her ability to forgive that helped me to forgive someone -- to change my life.

Of course Robert Mitchum is well known for having played Reverend Powell in the movie -- for good reason. Lillian Gish played Rachel Cooper. She was wonderful.

The movie continues to grow in stature, while the novel seems to be forgotten. (There is a musical version of Night of the Hunter out there somewhere.) This is an unfortunate, as Grubb deserves to be recognized as a great writer.

I've been reading my way through all his works -- that I can find. Fools Parade is the most accessible -- terrific, and Shadow of My Brother is a very powerful story of racism that, unfortunately, is still highly relevant.

Grubb wrote with strong emotional content. The emotional power of Voices of Glory is so high that I haven't had the composure to read it yet. I'm trying to understand how he did that, to be able to write like that myself.