T Books

Great job Frank. Very glad you were able to make it home. The title says it all. Thanks very much for the autographed copy via you golf buddy Luis.

Take care, Jon

In life we regard a hero as someone who has done something great. For example Michael Jordan is a hero to many because of his basketball prowess. In life there's another kind of hero and Frank Anton is one of those.

An extreme pleasure to read the words of a man who spent over five years in the worse kind of hell imaginable, a POW in Viet Nam. Anton's book is more than words on paper it's a living testimony to those who served.

Follow along and you'll find yourself living out the horrific condition he was subjected to. You read about Bobby Garwood and how he turned on his fellow prisoners. Most of all you stop to catch your breath.

From the depths of despair to the ecstasy of coming home, Frank Anton shows that heroes don't always make a thunderous entrance. In fact, those that survived and those left behind are the real heroes. 10 Stars!

This book is quite different from what folks might come to expect from a "war" book. This story brings the raw truth of the personal account of being a soldier and captured. I agree with another reviewer that this account is completely different in that it is about an Army pilot being imprisoned in South Vietnam before being sent up the Ho Chi Minh trail to the North. The years of endurance and emotional drain are hard to even imagine. And then, in the end, find out that your military knew of your locations and only took your picture! Hanoi Jane could do no worse. I served with a sister unit of the 71st in the 178th Boxcars at Chu Lai and was in country when Frank was captured(though we didn't know it that time}. I was getting ready to go home in just a few weeks - Frank's tour got extended by 5 years. Sorry Frank, if we knew where you were it would have been different or we would have been dead. I have the highest respect for this story, the truth, Frank and all the POWs who served their country but the "higher ups" could have done alot more to help but choose only to "observe" instead of have the guts the POWs did. Read this book and put yourself in Frank's shoes and you would ask the same question he did - AND he's right!

This is a powerful book that gets to the heart of what it was like to have been a POW in the jungles of South Vietnam. Anton's account is a remarkable account; a gut-wrenching story that will take you to the edge on a very real nightmare, teach you something about perseverence, and give you hope. It is a story that must be included in any war books you have on your shelves. I urge you to buy this book.

In January of 1968, helicopter pilot Warrant Officer Frank Anton was shot down in Southern Vietnam and spent 5 years in captivity. Many prominent books have been written of U.S. POW's in Hanoi's prisons but this story is a riveting look at POW's held in prison camps in Southern Vietnam which may have been worse.

Frank Anton has written a very detailed and graphic account of severly brutal conditions and treatments he and others suffered at the hands of the North Vietnamese and the Viet Cong. For 3 of his 5 years in confinement in the south (he spent time in 4 different camps), he weaves a harrowing tale of torture, starvation, non-existent medical treatment, disease, and barbarity suffered by prisoners. He further adds that during his confinement, he was witness to many Americans dying in the camps and also of betrayal and enemy collaboration by one of their own.

After 3 years of confinement in the south, Anton and the surviving members of his camp, in an incredible display of courage, strength, and determination, are forced to march on foot for an astonishing 6 months to one of Hanoi's prison camps known as the Plantation. For an additional 2 years, this was Anton's new home before being released from captivity in 1973.

Upon arriving home, Frank Anton was debriefed by the military and he eventually found out, to his dismay and horror, that our government know exactly where he was the entire time he was being held and that no serious attempts were considered to rescue him or his fellow soldiers.

In the last chapter of this book, which is absolutely astonishing, you will find out why no attempts were made to rescue many POW's. Additionally, you will learn the current fate of large numbers of POW's that were left behind and are currently unaccounted for in Vietnam. This information is highly disturbing and tragic and paints a very callous and unscrupulous portrait of our government with their regard to our missing servicemen.

This book is exceptionally good and comes highly recommended. As a side note, Pfc Robert Garwood (possibly the most notorious U.S. POW collaborator of the Vietnam war) is featured prominently in parts of this book. For those interested in the complete story of Robert Garwood, you would be well rewarded by reading "Conversations With The Enemy: The Story of Pfc Robert Garwood" by Winston Groom and Duncan Spencer.

I found this book to rehash information found in many other sources. It covers a wide range of topics, but none in sufficient detail. A good overview of the topics; for detailed information look elsewhere.

I have a nice little library of books that would put a small library to shame, but I find myself connected to a few much like the kid with his favorite teddy bear. Well, this book is like that teddy bear. I carry it 2 miles each day to and from work. Any good book is invaluable to a job/certification. This is one of them!

I read the entire book over the last few weeks and found that is was very helpful in giving me a better understanding of networking. I learned a lot about the basics and a ton about the advanced aspects of NT networking. I found out about how to use key NT tools and the book was a great resource.

I don't usually take the time to come back and comment on a book unless it's very bad. In this case the book is way better than I've come to expect from most NT books. There were so many extra topics in the book that I don't think I've seen elsewhere. Important registry setting are listed and explained but not ALL of them (with no explaination) just what is important. I liked the IP Management section and DNS overview. The capacity planning section that somebody else here mentioned was excellent and the tuning and troubleshooting chapter had a great section on problem resolution. It covers a very wide range of topics relating to NT and networking and does it very well.

-Tom

This book, along with Tony Northrup's Windows NT Plumbing, will put you a step above your other NT peers. Both of these books go into the nitty gritty details of how NT REALLY works in the real world and how best to deploy and configure it.

Both are excellent primers on networking and TCP/IP as well as NT specifics. Highly recommended.

Anybody who's interested in how we write the world over would do well to pick up this book. It's awfully costly, it's true, but if you're patient and you poke around a little, you can find it used for a third or less of what it's listed for.
Serious linguists specializing in writing might read it through, but amateurs--like me--will just pick it up and leaf through it, stopping here and there, reading this chapter or that, or will use it to look up some specific thing they might want to know about, say, Bishop Wulfila's Gothic script's roots in the Greek alphabet or the origins of the Georgian or Armenian alphabets.
It tells about scripts found all over the world, big ones--Latin, Cyrillic, Arabic, Chinese, Korean, and so on--and far less well known ones, like Berber, Cherokee, Ethiopian, Deseret and some found in Indonesia and islands in the Indian Ocean.
It tells the historic backgrounds and--for lack of a better word--genealogies of the scripts, then shows how they work.
One thing that irks me no end is a shortcoming not with the book itself, but rather with the publishing business as a whole: the font used in the book is inadequate. It is appalling that in a book about writing systems, there are characters that have to be set in other fonts from the main book forn--sometimes even within one word--and characters that show up as composite characters with diacritics off center from the letter they modify. It is a fairly simple thing to edit a font and add characters as needed. It is a shame that major publishing companies seem unwilling to make the small investment in typography that would let them set a book like this in one font, with all the characters needed, so that it reads smoothly, without distracting inconsistencies throughout.
Now, this is indeed a niggling compalint, and it in no way reflects on the beek itself, the writers or the editors. It is the fault of the publisher, and should in no way dissuade anyone interested in this admittedly esoteric subject from getting this book.

It seems that this book is not intended for a general reader, judging both by its price and by multitude of unexplained linguistic terms plentifully sown in the book. I bought this book becuse of many positive reviews and because it was drastically reduced to USD45. The book scans many dozens of wrining systems, as good as it's possible to squeese into ten-some page article, but unfortunately, many of the systems, especialy the ancient and the modern Oriental are too complicated and extended to be fully accounted in a limited space, so you can get acquanited with some 30 Sumer pictograms and never know the other 550, or you can see the 200 Chinese chanacters and just recall there several thousands more or look into Devanagari alphabet but then keep in mind there is a multitude of amalgams that are not easily recognized and so on.
It is also very helpful if one knows like what exactly sounds a linguolabial or a laminal or a voiced epiglottal fricative, otherwise he may be at lost..

The "World's Writing Systems" is a rare event for in one tome it covers all the ways of writing known to us at present. As a professional graphologist this is an absolute boon not only for what it is but because it is also on special offer. While there are other tomes of similar ilk and implication this work has no equal. Until now the study of written language has had no clearly defined reference work.

It has now. Thoroughly recommended.

Peter West

This a detailed survey of the systems that have been used for writing the world's languages, going far beyond the most familiar ones to encompass ones normally known only to specialists, ranging from the ancient Turkish runiform script to the Vai syllabary of Liberia, invented in modern times. Although it was written by experts for experts to read (and priced accordingly, but see the last paragraph below) most of it is well within the understanding of interested non-specialists. The authors assume a knowledge of the International Phonetic Alphabet, but it would have been almost impossible to avoid that, even if the book had been intended for the general reader. Even there it is perhaps an exaggeration to say that this is assumed, because the IPA is set out (albeit without much explanation) inside the front and back covers.

In a book of this kind the quality of the printing is a major consideration, as the samples of text need to be large enough and black enough for the individual characters to be read, and ideally should harmonize with the surrounding text in English. Before the age of computer-based typesetting it would have been impossible even to approach this ideal except at enormous price, but now it has become realistic. In general this book comes very close to the ideal, with a very high level of typography.

At more than 900 pages the book goes far beyond a mere listing of scripts with samples. It also includes a great deal of historical and cultural information, explaining how the different scripts evolved to their present state. In addition there is information about how the more successful scripts, not just Latin but also Arabic, Russian, Hebrew, Aramaic and so on, were adapted to languages different from those where they began.

At its published price the book is probably beyond the pockets of most general readers. It is worth mentioning, therefore, that on at least two occasions in recent years it has been available through Amazon with a very large discount, and one can probably expect this to happen again. I bought my copy at 40% of the published price, for example, and with that sort of discount it need not be restricted to libraries and specialists.

...it's missing many language script tables that I was hoping for. Don't get me wrong, this book is amazing and filled useful information and language tables - just not all of them. I was hoping for some representation (optimally in an alphabet table format) of the usage of the Arabic-based script for Hausa, Swahili, the Central Asian languages, and some complete detail of which languages have (ever) incorporated an Arabic-based script, when they did, when it was withdrawn or changed (if applicable), comparative texts with the modern scripts, etc. In conclusion, a treasury of information (a lot of which might be quite difficult to track down on your own and would be very time-consuming), marred only by my high expectations. I definitely recommend this book to language lovers and for those who can appreciate the diversity of human expression.

When I had found out about James Crumleys writing style,I figured I'd start with his first Milo adventure...or, is that misadventure? All I know it was a depressing ride!!! But what a ride it was. I just can't get enough of this 'ol style/noir/hardboiled( whatever you want to call it).
Mr Crumley has moved right toward the top of my favorite authors!!!

This gritty detective mystery has everything a good hardboiled book should have. A beautiful, yet troubled woman who has entered the detective's office looking for help, the down-on-his-luck detective who talks hard and drinks harder, a city that is in the grip of a crime-wave and a cracker of a mystery that builds to a terrific and unexpected ending.

We are introduced to Milo Milodragovitch and his hard-drinking, drug-taking, skirt-chasing ways. Milo's on the edge after two failed marriages, a failing business and a drinking problem. He makes no apologies for any of his bad habits and is prepared to blow off anyone who has a problem with him. The woman who has entered his office steals his heart and asks him to find her brother who has been missing for the past three weeks. It's a case that he doesn't really want to take, but does because, as he freely admits, she is such a stunning woman he'd do anything on the off-chance she might go to bed with him.

If anyone ever wanted to get a taste for modern hardboiled noir fiction, this would be the perfect book to read. I found myself drawn right into the book and could picture the town of Meriwether perfectly and at times I could picture myself occupying a stool at Mahoney's bar, the imagery is so vivid.

Milo Milodragovitch isn't just any private eye. He's cloned from the literary DNA of Phillip Marlowe himself. Except it's the 1970's and instead of LA, Milo's shabby one man office is in downtown Meriwether, a city of 50,000 in the Pacific Northwest.
When early in The Wrong Case, the comely Helen Duffy of Storm Lake, Iowa nervously enters Milo's place of business to hire him to find her missing brother, the reader is likely to feel as though he or she has picked up Raymond Chandler's The Little Sister by mistake. That's how similar the two novels are in their opening passages.
We soon learn that Milo is a deeply flawed individual with alcoholism as only one of his many problems. He agrees to take the case, not out of professional interest and not for the wad of traveler's checks Helen eventually offers him. No, he takes the case because he lusts after Helen's body. At this point, one has to hand it to James Crumley. Few other author's would have dared to offer up a protagonist who is that much of a creep.
A lot happens as the narrative unfolds. On more than one occasion Milo is beaten to within an inch of his life. He kills a man using a derringer at close range. He even has sex with an uninhibited hippie chick he meets along the way.
Eventually, almost reluctantly, Milo discovers the key to the mystery surrounding Helen Duffy's brother. It then becomes abundantly apparent to both Milo and the reader that the case he's spent the entire book working on has been in so many ways a wrong one.
This is hardboiled detective fiction in its most unvarnished form. Recommended to fans of the genre.

This is probably the most noir crime novel I've ever read. The main character is so far the anti hero, that you almost quit caring about him. The pacing of the story is a little odd also, it seems to come and go with no clear arch. The climax (if you can call it that) isn't really that climactic, and leaves the reader feeling almost let down. Also, this was written in the 70's and the dialog shows it. When they say 'ballin' or 'outa sight, man', it seems almost quaint.
The story was interesting, and there were a lot of twists that I didn't see coming.
Overall, it's good, but I would have liked a little tighter pacing.

Milo Milodragovitch is a private detective in the Pacific Northwest, probably in the post-Vietnam, drug using, clenched fist, promiscuous late '60's and early '70's.

Like C.W.Sughrue in The Last Good Kiss, Milo makes no bones about his lifestyle, frequently strung out on speed and alcohol, taking beatings and giving them, finding sex where and when he can. He takes a case for all the wrong reasons, and then Crumley shows us that he would likely as not have taken the case even if he had known the right reasons. If there were any right reasons.

He falls in love with Helen Duffy and offers to help find her lost brother.

He has the wrong information from the wrong friends. He is disliked by any and all that would help him, misled by clients, aided by winos and criminals, and continually sifts through misinformation, disinformation and lies. But it's tough to ferret out the truth when you're going from one binge to the next.

It's difficult to find something redeeming about Milo except there is a certain nobility in his tenacity. The characters are strong. This is dark mystery and not for the weak of heart. But it is particularly native to America and the American myth of the hardboiled Private Eye. We're talking hardboiled. Vintage Mike Hammer and Phillip Marlowe.

Good stuff. And life goes on after it's all done. At least for Milo.

You can find this book in an updated version in Amazon with the same title. If you are seeing this review in November or December 2007, you might even get a great discount from Amazon while it is in presell--32% off the list price and then another 5% before it is in print! Although the price went to full price after Thanksgiving keep watching as it may go on special again. If you put the book in your shopping cart and the price goes down it will automatically be reflected!

The new edition is at the printer right now.


The new book has the same content, but it's got an updated cover and the inside is easier on the eye to make it a more comfortable read.


So, mosey on over and have a look. You Don't Have to Learn Everything the Hard Way Be sure to keep in touch with me and let me know how you like the book, how it's helped you, and what else you'd like me to write about. You're invited to check out my blog at AuntLaya dot blogspot dot com for more from me.

With love and blessing,
Aunt Laya

Author of the best loved self help book for young adults, "You Don't Have to Learn Everything the Hard Way"

I'm not done reading this book, but so far, I'm elated that I purchased it. The book is very simple to read and Aunt Laya provides many of her personal life stories which is always delightful. I would highly recommend this book to any teenager, and also adults as the book offers heartwarming inspirations. You have nothing to lose and alot to gain from reading this book. You cannot go wrong with purchasing this book..at all! She doesn't say anything harmful, uncomforting nor dangerous for the human spirit. The price is reasonable for such a book. I suggest reading this book before bed, or after a relaxing shower. Your mind should be very relaxed, if not, you may have to read something twice! Enjoy ;-)

Aunt Laya Saul is a wise, witty and wonderful person who genuinely cares about helping her readers become independent adults . . . who become that way by minimizing the mistakes they make.

Will young adults listen to anyone other than other young adults? In some cases, they will. The same advice that will be rejected from a parent (as part of young adult rebellion) may be very welcome coming from someone a little more emotionally removed. Aunt Laya Saul tries to play that role and does a solid job.

You will find bits and pieces of the Bible and the best self-help books in You Don't Have to Learn Everything the Hard Way. For that tiny minority of young adults who have figured out that they would like to learn by ways other than falling down, this book can save years of reading by distilling so many other sources into bite-sized pieces. "How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time." That's the philosophy behind this book.

How about for young adults who need good advice but don't realize that someone else's experience can be a good teacher? The only hope there is for a young friend to recommend this book . . . or better yet, give it as a gift for a birthday or other non-threatening occasion.

The best way to introduce a young adult to this book who isn't looking for self-help is to read a story or a brief section to them aloud. I suggest starting with an intriguing part that isn't too personal . . . like the butterfly story on page one or Sam's Sandwiches on page 46. Then hand the book over and say something like, "There are a lot of other good stories in here too."

Then, in the secret recesses of the young adult bedroom, the delicate, but fascinating, material on sexual relations, making and keeping friends, suicide, drugs and alcohol abuse, and finding a soul mate can be explored in peace and quiet.

As I read the book, I tried to remember myself at around age 16 with the questions I had then. It never occurred to me to look for a book to get answers, but if it had, Aunt Laya Saul would have been an excellent source. And I would have avoided some major bumps in the road if I had learned these things through a book rather than by bumping my head on the road of life.

I commend the author for creating such a well-intentioned book that delivers on its premise . . . and I hope the book sells well for her.

The book's main limitation is that it doesn't have contemporary material that connects to the young adult world. If Ms. Saul ever redoes this book, I suggest that she co-author it with a young adult.

As I read the book, I kept comparing it to Life Strategies for Teens which was written by Jay McGraw (Dr. Phil's son) in 2000. No one knows how to talk to a young adult like another young adult.

Aunt Laya Saul's "You Don't Have to Learn Everything the Hard Way" is an inspirational and motivational book for young adults. As parents of teens undoubtedly know, adolescence is a tough time for everyone. Teenagers often feel uncomfortable as their hormones rage and their bodies change. They worry about their popularity and they feel pressured by the need to grow up too fast. In some cases, adolescents are frightened, depressed, lonely, and totally stressed out.

Laya, who has a master's degree in applied psychology, imparts words of wisdom that come from her professional expertise, personal experience, and from famous people whom she quotes liberally throughout the book. In easy-to-read language and with many pertinent and entertaining stories and anecdotes, Laya covers a lot of ground. She discusses such topics as developing a positive attitude, handling difficult challenges, establishing healthful and long-lasting relationships, and adjusting to the inevitable changes that life brings.

Laya doesn't shy away from the tough issues of suicide, sexuality, and drugs. She counsels teens to think hard before they give in to peer pressure and to choose their friends wisely. She lets teens know that it is not a sign of weakness to seek help from parents, teachers, and spiritual advisors. The world is a tough place and it is not easy to grow up these days. Laya's book can be a useful tool to ease the difficult journey from adolescence to adulthood.

When I was growing up, I can honestly say that I don't remember ever hearing about "self-help" books for teens. If they were out there, I simply never heard about them, and no one ever pointed me in their direction. Maybe if I had gotten my hands on a book as well-written as YOU DON'T HAVE TO LEARN EVERYTHING THE HARD WAY, I would have had a better guideline to base my choices on. Thankfully, this book is available now, and it's a resource that every teen and pre-teen should read. Aunt Laya Saul is never preachy, she doesn't tell you what's right and wrong, she never says you can't make mistakes. Actually, the author is very adamant about that fact that each young adult should make their own decisions, and that you can learn from your mistakes. But as she also points out, there is still something to be learned from the mistakes that have already been made by others. Just as you know that jumping off the Empire State Building would be a bad idea (as shown by those who have tried it), you can realize that doing certain things will only bring you harm by seeing the results they've already had in other people's lives.

The book is laid out in four main categories, with many sub-categories in each one. They are:

Attitude, which includes Believe In Yourself, Everybody Has Something, Trust Your Intuition, Defining Boundaries, Don't Panic, The One Percent Adjustment, What Do You Expect?, It's Your Choice, and Accountability.

Challenges, which includes Failure-Missing The Mark, Handling Regret, Trusting The Hard Times, Pain And Suffering, Alcohol And Drug Abuse: Self-Medication, Sexual Abuse, Suicide, and You Are Never Alone.

You And The World, which includes Reflections On Relationships, Family, Friendship, Communication, Gossip, Be Nice, Feedback, and What You Really Need To Know About Sex.

Gaining Altitude, which includes Because You Are Noble And You Can, Forgiveness, Lend A Hand, You've Got To Stand For Something, Live Your Dreams, Changes, and The Gift of Time.

There is also an introductory letter from the author, a final word, a section on recommended reads and a bibliography, acknowledgments, how to contact the author, and an author biography.

This is a great book that you can give to the teen or pre-teen in your life. Or if you're a young adult looking for a handbook to get through the tough times of adolescence, pick up a copy of YOU DON'T HAVE TO LEARN EVERYTHING THE HARD WAY. I guarantee you won't be disappointed.

Excellent resource!!! I found it useful at work the first day I
received it.

The item was just as described. Very fast shipping. Would do business with again. Thank you!

This book is a great refrences book for medical staff professionals. I work in a hospital and when ever I need to find out dosing, stability ,or even description of a intravenous medication it's in this book. Also this book tells you all about how to store IV medication properly. This book really helps me alot. It's also a great resources for pharmacy school as well.

I am a pharmacist with the Cleveland Clinic and need to have a reliable, thorough, and handy reference available at all times. This book is one of the best resources I have come by thus far in my career. It is a must have! Quick and easy look up to a wealth of organized information. All hospital pharmacists should not go without it!

As a hospital pharmacist, this is the book I have at my side at all times. Gives important information on infusion rates, stability, and usual dosages and concentrations. This information can be found elsewhere of course but I have been accustomed to looking here first.

This Bradley Hathaway book and CD are amazing. He is so real. I love it!

This book is cool because it comes with a cd combo. You can really feel the emotions when listening to Bradley read his prose. Highly recommend if you are a fan of indie poetry or just looking for something to listen to that inspires you. He talks about his faith in a way unlike most ive heard. its raw, its deep and it captures your attention.

There are no words for this book. Bradley Hathaway has captured the christian walk in a simple book of peoms.

Bradley's Book is absolutely amazing!!!!!!!!! I't is full of the honest truht about practicaly everything!!!!! I recomend this book for everyone ages from ages 1 to ages 1001!!!! It is deserving of your household and is calling your name... It opens the eyes to the simple beauty of God and his creations... You should buy it!!!!!!!!!!!

This book/cd is an excellent source of inspiration whether you are a Christian or not. Bradley's poems speak to the very basic issues that, I dare say, all of us encounter. From the need for a hug (my personal favorite) to the issue of what it means to really be a man.

The book is an excellent way to explain where the poems came from and a little more about what they mean. The book creates a context for the poems that help people understand the poems and not jump to conclusions about what Bradley "really" meant.

This book/cd offers an enjoyable collection of honest, insightful, and sometimes satirical, poems that will make you laugh, cry, and think.

I was given this book ages ago and it sat on my shelf unread for over an year. I was put off by the book jacket and the description of a girl in an iron lung. I even gave it to my sister who was eager for something to read and she finished it quickly and said it was good. having similar tastes, I finally picked it up and read it. I loved this book!! It is sweet, engaging and funny. It is not depressing at all and you are captivated within the first 20 pages. I read a lot of books. all types of books interest me and this one was one of the best I have read in a long time. I have been burned a couple of time by these customer reviews so now I am a little suspicious of them but I really highly recommend this book. Do yourself a favor and pick this one up. You won't be disappointed!

Having spent the first 19 years of my life growing up in Baltimore of the 60's and 70's, I was able to relate to the setting so it helped add to my enjoyment of this book.

The story of a young child who finds motivation and maturity from an older person who enters his/her life is not exactly an original idea yet Deford makes it just a bit fresher by using a growing city,changing times, and a good assortment of true-to-life characters as the backdrop.

The only nitpick I have is that there are a couple of minor subplots involving a rape and an affair that seemed to be there only as a device to hammer across the point that when you're a 14 year old boy, you learn people can do bad things. For me, those portions added very little. When the story stays focused on the relationship between the two leads(the aforementioned 14 year old boy and a 23 year old girl struggling with polio), the book is gripping and moves forward rapidly. Actually, it seems as though this book could be translated to the small screen pretty easily. I hope we see this as a Lifetime or Hallmark channel presentation soon.

You might be able to see the ending a mile a way but if you need some breezy reading for a vacation or a day trip to "the shore"(a term that will be clearer when you read the book), "An American Summer" may be a nice way to pass the time.

Last summer I came across this book by accident and I decided to read it and now I am so glad I did. An American Summer is the best book I've ever read and the entire time I was reading it I could picture what was happening in my head and I felt like I was there. i would definately recommend this book to anyone who wants a great book to read.

I have to admit I was reluctant to read this book club pick when I saw the cover. It looked like a trashy summer novel without much substance. How wrong I was!

Frank Deford brings the summer of 1954 to life with his novel about the unlikely friendship between a 14 year old boy, Christy Bannister, and 23 year old Kathryn Slade. When Christy rescues Kathryn's dog from near disaster, he is befriended by Aurelia Slade, her mother, who consequently introduces them, and through her connections helps him salvage his paper route. Although Kathryn is confined to an iron lung because of polio, she's one of the liveliest characters I've seen. She proceeds to teach Christy all sorts of things that summer: about girls, about swimming, about competing, and about having a vision and determination. While he secretly shapes his muscles with a Charles Atlas program, Kathryn demonstrates such personal courage that she helps him realize his own strength. Their friendship is bound through family secrets, challenges, laughter and perseverance.

This is a poignant tale, often humorous and touching without being maudlin.
All the senses are involved with Frank Deford's nostalgic story: The sounds of Kathryn and Christy singing "Sh-boom, sh-boom," smells of a pool and blooming nearby garden, tastes of RC cola sipped through a straw, and touches of an empathetic hand to a lifeless one. Although a quick read, it will be one you'll think about for a long time.

While browsing in a local TJMaxx this past summer I came across a copy of this book on the bargain aisle. The cover drew me in - different from on the one pictured on this site - the text on the flaps took hold of me, and the bargain price of $1.00 clinched the sale! I must say, it was the best dollar I've ever spent. Fourteen year old Christy Bannister moves from Indiana to Baltimore, MD with his family and learns a lot about life through his unique friendship with Kathyryn Slade, a twenty-three year old young woman with polio. Deford weaves a great story with true to life characters, ones that could be your own neighbors, as he touches on the issues of suburban growth in middle class America in the 1950's, the fear parents had of devastating childhood diseases, truth and trust among both family and friends, and how love can touch you at any time, any age, any place.

After finishing "Faith of My Fathers," I was convinced that "Among the Gods" was the II Chronicles version of Manasseh's story. Hey, I was correct. But Lynn Austin made sure that there was more to it then that. She made certain that the reader wouldn't forget the ultimate lesson in the life of Manasseh. And the lives of those he affected too. That's why she also continued the story of Joshua ben Eliakim.

Manasseh's story was anything but a fractured fairy tale, plain and simple. When he was king for most of his reign, all hell broke loose! You will see that in these pages. You'll also see the blinding bitterness and hatred that Joshua carries with him towards Manasseh. Throughout all this, he tries to make sense of his life. He also attempts to make amends to a future son that he vowed to raise as his own. Joshua has to see past his ways, and eventually understand that when it comes to God's will, God doesn't always make sense. Do we think that we seriously understand God all the time? Who do we think we are sometimes? If you find yourself asking that question a time or two, don't worry. God isn't afraid of tough questions. God is also a forgiving God. We need to do the same.

Has somebody hurt you and literally destroyed your life? God knows. Do you claim to belong to God, and his son, Christ Jesus? Then don't hesitate to forgive. In a twisted sort of way, that is one way in why I decided to give this book 5 stars. I don't agree in any way, shape or form with using crap like Apocrypha! I know that it was never an inspired "Word of God." I don't care what the scholars say, I care about what The Bible says. We indeed know for certain that Manasseh did say a prayer of redemption. What that prayer was, it was never revealed, and I believe that if God wanted it revealed, then it would be in His Word, not Apocrypha. The Bible is very clear about adding to His word in Revelation at the very least. BUT (and this is a very big BUT) this is a work of fiction, and I can understand why adding The Prayer of Manasseh might make it interesting. In my case, it really pissed me off. But I can overlook it, all the while I express what I know to be true. I may not be the most popular reviewer for my comments. But I've said what I've said, and I didn't make my comments lightly. In saying that, this was still a great read as a whole!

This whole series deserves a booming 5 stars! Lynn Austin did her homework. And if one person who isn't saved happens to read this, then praise God! For the most part, Lynn Austin is Biblically accurate. Compare the fiction you read in the pages of all five books with scripture in God's Word. Let God do the rest. This was great!

Another wonderful book from Lynn Austin. I had to stay up reading until 3:00 am to finish the book. I enjoyed it very much!

Excellent condition, prompt delivery. Wonderful story. I couldn't put it down.

I've never read a series as breahtaking as this one. I could not put the books down and I still think about it when I finished reading them. I definitely look forward to many more books that Austin will offer.

"Do you know that in the two years I've known you, I've never heard you laugh or seen you smile? I'll bet you have a nice smile, too. Like your mother's. She told me that A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."
Joshua tried to smile, but his heart felt as if it were breaking. "Would it help you to heal faster if I laughed?"
She considered for a moment, then shook her head. "No, I think the shock would probably kill me."
He did laugh then, but it was bittersweet. He sat up and wiped the tears from her cheeks because he knew that she couldn't do it herself.
"You're right," he said. "I can't remember the last time I laughed. And I'm so tired of feeling this way. Grief has affected every area of my life--it's hamstrung my work, blinded my judgment, poisoned all my relationships--but I don't know how to shake it off. I can't get free of it."
"It isn't grief that did all that," Miriam said. "It's hatred."

Excerpt from Among the Gods by Lynn Austin

Based on the life of King Mannasseh, chronicled in the Old Testament, as well as current archeological finds of an exact replica of Solomon's temple on Elephantine Island located in the Nile near Egypt, Lynn Austin has masterfully intertwined history with both Biblical and fictional characters.
Book five of the Chronicles of the Kings series, Among the Gods follows the physical, emotional, and spiritual struggles of Joshua as he impatiently waits on Yahweh to purge Judah of its evil king, Mannasseh. As the temple is defiled by false Gods, babies are being burned in sacrificial fires, and every type of depravity scourges the land, Joshua and Prince Amariah (the king's brother) followed by a host of Levites carrying the sacred Ark of the Covenant flee to Egypt for asylum.
Joshua thinks that waiting on God to act is torturous, but understanding His ways results in being more difficult a task. Even with the enduring support and encouragement of the woman who loves him, Joshua spiritually fails God again and again.
His relationship with his Heavenly Father isn't the only one that is daunting. The one he's attempting to build stone by weary stone with his rebellious, hate-filled adopted son, Nathan, is as well.
When will Yahweh once again call his people out of Egypt to inhabit the sweet hills of Judah? Can Joshua's insatiable need to control be broken, and will he withstand the test of fatherly love despite all, so that Nathan might see God's love through him?
Lynn Austin has given life--faults and all--to her characters in a way rarely seen. I invite you to pick up Among the Gods and take a ride into Judah at one of its worst times. Feel the utter wickedness of the kingdom, experience the robe-tearing sadness of God's people, and see Yahweh's justice and forgiveness as He sets the nation aright.
I deem this work a superbly written piece of historical fiction.

While I support this book to encourage girls to imagine a woman president, or even themselves as president, there just wasn't enough character development in this story. So many important details are left out, I really couldn't understand parts of the story. Vanessa has lost her father in the last few years, but yet we know very little about how they got from what must have been a horrible experience to the present with her mother running for president. She also has this annoying habit of spelling words in the middle of sentences, so much it drove me B-A-T-T-Y. I also disagree that teens will enjoy this book. Vanessa is only 12 3/4, and is just starting to like boys. This book will be best for 10-13 year olds.

Very entertaining book. The author had me wanting to read more. I couldn't put it down. A must read for all adults and young adults this election year.

At one time or another, everybody has wondered what it would be like to be a president's kid, and Donna Gephart gives us a hilarious look at one in-the-making. The humor revolves around the fact that even though Vanessa's mother may be headed for the White House, Vanessa is still an everyday 12.75-year-old: with uncontrollable hair, an uncontrollable crush, and uncontrollable feet. The main difference is, she sees her personal security agent more than she sees her Mom. Gephart does a great job of making us think about the very-real and sometimes scary issues that face political families while still creating an intimate look at a funny, fresh, and appealing mother-daughter duo. This page-turner will appeal to readers of any age who can't find enough fun in most of their bedtime reading. And like me, I'm sure they'll be asking for the sequel so we can find out what happens when Vanessa's endearing klutziness threatens the Presidential china!

What a hoot! Donna Gephart kept my whole family in stitches with "As if Being 12 3/4 Isn't Bad Enough, My Mother Is Running for President!"

With vibrant characters, compelling conflict, and random moments of hysteria, Gephart kept us entertained with a quick read that couldn't have come out at a better time in political history.

Part romance, part mystery, part pre-teen angst, and all laugh-out-loud funny, this is the kind of book to give to friends and loved ones.

My family and I can't wait to see what comes next from Donna Gephart!

As the governor's daughter, Vanessa Rothrock already has a complicated life. Not only is she a complete klutz, but she's the only kid in school with a bodyguard, she gets absolutely no privacy, and she has to make an appointment to see her own mother. Things would be much easier if she didn't spend her life in the scrutiny of the public eye, because, whenever in the spotlight, Vanessa will surely trip over her own gigantic feet.

Now that it looks like her mom might have a good shot at becoming a presidential candidate, everyone else is scurrying around, and all Vanessa wants is for her mother to drop out of the race. Is it really so wrong to just want your mom there, to see you win the county spelling bee and comfort you in the emergency room after you break your wrist in PE?

Then the letter appears in her locker, the one that threatens her to stop her mom's campaign. Frightened that her mother's life might be in danger, Vanessa decides that she has to deter her mom, no matter what.

Extremely well-written, this book surprised me with its humor, action, and poignancy. With this winning combination, this is a read you will certainly want on your ticket!

Reviewed by: Allison Fraclose