Y Books

Having read this book to three to five-year-olds at Halloween for three years running and having it be a HUGE hit every time, I decided to get my own copy. The children love the repetitiveness of it and the spooky pictures. The tension builds and builds right to the end when everything turns out to be just fine. (Note: That's a total of 180 children with very big eyes and almost no wiggles!)

The artwork is beautiful and detailed. My three year old loves to find the cat in each picture and to find the faces in the windows, walls, and curtains. One can always find something new in the paintings. The story uses repetitious wording, so he can virtually read it to me. We have read this book many times, yet neither of us ever gets bored with it.

What a surprise--and disappointment--to see the cover of this book in green instead of brown as my copy is!! Green makes the book look like spring and fun. Back to my brown picture with a castle in the background in fog and mist and browns! A real invitation to a scary experience just as Ruth Brown, the author/illustrator intends!

Even the title page has cobwebs and mushrooms and spiders and a tiny, little mouse caught up in the browns of the book. So we begin: "Once upon a time there was a dark, dark moor." The browns and grays and strip of purples and touch of yellow show a desolate moor. Oh, wait, not so desolate! What do I see in the blowing, dark grasses? Hide, little rabbits and mice, here comes the owl looking for you! Look, in the distance! What is that? A dark dark wood?

"On the moor there was a dark, dark wood." How many creatures can you find hiding there? Way up on the hill is a dark, dark castle. Look carefully, there's the black cat we saw on the cover. He has taken us to a dark, dark door. Inside in the dark, dark hall there are gargoyles and cobwebs and shadows and that black cat.

As the cat takes the reader deeper and deeper into the darkness of the great house, things get scarier and scarier. How the story ends sometimes makes children laugh, sometimes annoyed, but never scared! That's all I will say!

This book is a wonderful Halloween treat because it has such an unexpected ending! A must for all library collections!

This "Dark Dark Tale" by Ruth Brown is simple, short and sports a gothic flair. The illustrations (also by Brown) are nothing short of brilliant. Brown the artist captures the fog, shadows and light of her own dark dark little world. Perfect for preschoolers (my two year old loves it and always anticipates the ending), it holds their attention (there can't be more than 120 words in the entire book) with the repetative prose that children love. Perfect for lovers of children literature and childrens illustrations as well (which is what drew me to the book in the first place). We love it and read it daily.

A wonderful choice for young children at Halloween or any time of year. Reading this aloud is lots of fun -- you can make it seem scary as you go through each page, then watch your child's reaction at the end. My son wanted me to read this over and over. We also have fun looking for all the little critters in the forest: owls, bats, tiny glowing eyes peeking out of the dark places, the cat, even a badger!

Like a lot of Maurice Sendak's books - you love it as a kid, and you love it as an adult for very different reasons.

I guess I need Dear Mili afterall to remind me of other things than life's mandane, and to help me see our seemingly unsatisfying life in a different light.

Maurice Sendak's drawings enhanced the classical beauty of the Grimm's fairytale. You can almost see the elegant images listlessly brings the words to life as the best storytellers do.

This story is sad, but told beautifully. It is also inspiring and comforting.

A little girl is sent into the woods alone by her fearful mother when war comes to the village. She manages to find peace and loving care in the home of St. Joseph. When it is time for her to return to the village so much has changed.

This tale by Grimm is beautiful. In my opinion it is translated well as the words are rich and descriptive and there is a satisfying pace to the story throughout. The introduction itself is nearly as moving as the tale that follows. Sendak's illustrations magically combine reality with imagination and the double page spreads grow out from the page and allow you to fall into them.
The setting and scene changes are enough to tug your emotions. This story's scene sequence is as follows: a quiet country village, a village in panic at the threat of invasion, a child wandering alone in the woods, a child in the comforting care of St. Joseph, back to the village which has now changed.

The subject matter is not light in this tale about love and two hearts coming together. A tale like this could not be as well told if one were to attempt to tell it lightly.

Dear Mili was a surprise in many ways. While Maurice Sendak has never failed to amaze, this tender rendering a newly discovered fairy tale set as a metaphor of children hidden in the holocaust is one of the most beautiful experiences a reader can have. This is my favorite children's book of all time: the artwork is I believe the peak of Sendak's career. A small girl living alone with her mother is sent for safety in the forest when a terrible foreboding threatens. In the forest she meets St. Joseph, and another small one, who keep her safe. Returning after a pleasant journey, she finds her mother aged and alone.
Their is joy and reunion: this is a poignant story on many levels. Looking deeply at the artwork one will see shoah themes:
Sendak in premiere Jewish sensitivity has done a remarkable thing: taken ancient Grimm Catholic legend and woven it into a metaphor for all of us, for all time. If this book does not tender the heart of the older who read to the younger, they have no heart. Absolutely 5-stars: Should be a classic and not out of print.

This book scared the crap out of me as a child. The images, the story are dark and nightmarish. The pictures are incredibly striking - I haven't picked up the book in years but I still remember many elements - fire licking from the sky, greyish tangling trees and flowers, the ghostly quality of the little girl. I wouldn't recommend this book for children. I don't think I've encountered anything in children's *or* adult literature since that has so disturbed me.

This beautifully written book is a stirring antidote to the reigning image of American Christianity as insular, intolerant, and monochrome. Gutierrez has found in the story of a hip-hop Episcopal church in the Bronx a complex and moving reaffirmation of Christianity as a force for hope, transcendence, and social justice. And joy. This portrait of a white gay Episcopal priest who discovers his mission in hip-hop and in the vibrant, troubled South Bronx projects is ultimately about the possibilities for joy in even the most troubled, contested circumstances. It's full of wonderful detail, humor, sadness, surprise, and a deep understanding of the frailty and potential of each of its closely observed real-life characters. It made even this (very much) lapsed Catholic feel the spirit!

In this engaging book, Eric Gutierrez tells the dynamic and interrelated stories of a parish in the Bronx and the rise of a hip hop ministry. Primarily covering a three-year period (2004-07), Gutierrez's historical account offers the reader a window into the faith, lives, and passionate personalities of a variety of people. Better yet, Gutierrez tells their stories in a highly readable prose that preserves each individual's voice and perspective. Not surprisingly given the presence of "promise" in the subtitle, the book is optimistic and uplifting in its overall vision. Still this is not merely a "feel good" account. Gutierrez makes this story timely by engaging some very important questions facing contemporary Christians. The book revolves around the core issues of the nature of tradition (continuity/change), what are appropriate ways to communicate the Christian message (only inherited forms? or also new mediums such as rap?), what counts as a Christian community, and what constitutes a prophetic Church. Furthermore, the book takes seriously the question of how God's radical (and radically inclusive) love relates to each individual person as well as the collective.

While I found the book compelling, there is one issue I wish Gutierrez had contemplated more. On p. 86 a longtime female Church leader asks several connected questions about the Church's responsibility toward developing the economic futures of the youth as part of Christian service. Unfortunately this question of the Church's relationship to the faithful's material life--what I take to be the heart of Paula's concerns voiced at this particular moment--is left in silence. But as the evangelical minister Jim Wallis likes to remind us, the Hebrew prophets and Jesus were deeply committed to socio-economic justice. In our own economically perilous era, such questions remain timely and urgent ones.

Eric Gutierrez has written an original and important book. The odd-couple pairing of Kurtis Blow and the Reverend Timothy Holder of Trinity Episcopal Church in the south Bronx is a scoop any journalist would drool over--and the author, an accomplished journalist, does this story proud. But Gutierrez also brings another element to his narrative: a keen sense of the spiritual and scriptural precedents for Father Timothy's mission. The result is a fascinating and provocative narrative, much more interesting than most readers will expect and much more profound than its scoopworthy subject matter initially suggests. Highly recommended.

Not a hip-hop fan and not interested for a variety of reasons? Then all the more reason to pick this book up. I learned about the origins of hip- hop and the accompaning culture and like many of the characters in the book, I made peace with certain aspects of hip-hop and continue to be perplexed by others. Certainly the read is a mind opening and balanced account of the struggling sub-culture of religious hip-hop to reclaim its roots. Gutierrez's writing is a refreshing look through all eyes focused on the illusive prize.

Not so much in the born-again sense but in the living-in-the-now sense, this book chronicles a specific rebirth of organized religion, with all the disorganization, mess, and glory it entailed. This story is complex and multi-sided, and the writer possess an admirable (and humbling) ability to listen and record. Most writers would be injecting their own feelings and opinions everywhere, but this author listens. His attention to detail and nuance is wonderful. Once I started reading I couldn't stop. That's rare.

Este libro extraordinario, nos ofrece más de cien caricias emocionales diferentes...No desperdicie la opportunidad, por favor, amiga.

y acertadas, las personas vamos muriendo por dentro

DE LA QUE ESTE LIBRO HACE UN ARTE,
ES EL NUTRIENYTE MÁS PODEROSO QUE EXISTE...
EL QUE NOS PUEDE CONVERTIR DE MALVADOS EN BONDADOSOS
Y DE PERDEDORES EN GANADORES
Con unas cuantas dosis al año, tienes suficiente combustible para conquistar al mundo

caresses are more important than food, water or money !

If no one strokes your heart, you wither slowly and end loosing all interest for life...

And this Book is THE ESENTIAL MANUAL OF EMOTIONAL PAMPERING !

HEART!
When you feel loves, apreciated...you are happy !
And many times, words are not enough and THE EMOTIONAL CARESS IS VITAL!
This wonderful book teaches us THE ART !!
This art will become the happiness of those you really love and respect!
You'll give them new life !

Very good resource if you are considering the ethical implications of IVF and infertility treatments.

This book spent the first several chapters helping you know how to best feel sorry for yourself and understand your grief. It does have some good information in it also but I sure could have done with out the pity party section. My wife and I need the answers not sympathy.

The Infertility Companion: Hope and Help for Couples Facing Infertility (Christian Medical Association) is a book that is part almanac, part dictionary, part personal testimony and part Bible teaching and study. It's written by a Christian Infertility Doctor and a Christian Infertility Patient.

I'll start with my critiques because they're pretty minor. My biggest complaint about the book is that for some reason I've not quite put my finger on, DH and I both found it visually hard to read. I can't decide if the text is smaller, the leading is smaller, the characters are closer together, the lines are longer or if it's because the pages are gray and not white, but I found it hard to read more than 20 pages in one sitting before my eyes were too tired. I've never experienced that with a book before and I'm quite confident it wasn't the content that made it hard to read so I'm quite befuddled. At times I was frustrated because I wanted to continue reading but couldn't comfortably do so.

My other critique is that the book is littered with one paragraph personal anecdotes from various people that I found distracting on almost every occasion. I struggle to see their purpose and at times, was frustrated by the incongruence that occurred when the anecdotes interrupted the primary authors' train of thought, with little explanation as to why they were offered in the first place. The primary text is stronger when one skips the interruptions (though for thoroughness' sake, I did read them all).

However, those two, minor things encompass the totality of my complaints about this book.

What I love about this book is how straightforward it is. This is not to be confused with authors who are insensitive. This book just lacks the emotional aspect of a lot of the other books, which my husband especially appreciated. He felt much more comfortable reading this book than reading some of the others I speak highly of, including ones I've recommended here. The book reads largely like a textbook on infertility, if such a thing could exist given the diverse nature of individual experiences. However, it is very conversational and approachable in tone-not at all dry and difficult to read like the mention of a "text book" would suggest.

The authors write with one voice and do an excellent job at it, which I think lends itself to the "neutrality" of this book. It's not a book by women for women, or men for men. It's a book for a general audience, which I think is rare in this particular genre of texts.

The book spends some time on the interpersonal aspects of infertility, including the patients' relationships with themselves, with each other, with God, with their friends and family, with Christendom and with the general public. It also address such things as parenting after infertility, secondary infertility, childlessness by choice, and responding to well meaning advice.

Perhaps one of the most instrumental things I've read in any book on the subject was in the authors' chapter on myths of infertility. In response to the myth "If you adopt, the pain will go away," the authors cited another author who identified six key losses that are rooted in infertility:


1. Loss of control
2. Loss of individual genetic continuity
3. Loss of a jointly conceived child
4. Loss of the pregnancy and birth experiences
5. Loss of emotional gratification surrounding pregnancy and birth
6. Loss of an opportunity to nurture and parent a new generation

pg 29


How freeing it was for me to read that it is perfectly normal to mourn the loss of pregnancy--a need that will never be met through born-child adoption! I've already shared this with a few other people because it was so instrumental to me to identify the various types and sources of grief and loss. I wish I could put it on a flyer and distribute it to the world and maybe then people would cease looking for trite things to say or ways to help their infertile friends "get over" this loss!

The rest of the book, however, is what I found most useful. It's an explanation and bioethical exploration of the tests and procedures common in the treatment of infertility. It covers everything ranging from sample collection to examinations to medications to surgical procedures. The authors are quick to confess their own limits and biases, but even with the procedures with which they don't agree, they highlight the benefits along with the risks. I appreciated this neutrality. They are also careful and responsible to state that their opinions on anything that falls outside the bounds of clear scriptural teaching and/or does not jeopardize innocent life is their own opinion and not gospel truth. On the other hand, where something does violate clear scripture or the sanctity of life, they are firm in stating its inappropriateness for the committed Christian (examples would be fornicating to produce fluid samples or children, selective reduction abortion, etc). In some cases (IVF for example), they are very helpful in helping the reader understand the limits they should place in order to keep the procedure one that honors God and human life. Where Catholics and Protestants might differ, they offer information and resources for both world views.

I appreciated how respectful the authors are of opinions that differ from theirs when it comes to matters of interpretation. There is no condemnation-only simple, undecorated statement of their opinion and where applicable, medical and scientific facts. They do not pressure the reader to come to the same conclusions and as I mentioned, are generous in even offering the benefits of procedures that they would not choose for themselves.

They offer a very useful grid for evaluating the ethics of reproductive technology. They have borrowed the framework from a secular textbook and offer it as being both useful and consistent with a biblical worldview.

The four principles are:

Beneficence-to do good. Thus, we ask, "Does it do good?"

Nonmaleficece-to do no harm. We ask, "Does it avoid doing harm?"

Autonomy-the patient has the right to make decisions about care rendered to him or her. We ask, "Does it respect self-determination, the patient's right to decide for him- or herself?"

Justice-fair, equitable, and appropriate distribution of social benefits and burdens. Our own definition of justice goes beyond this definition to ask whether something seeks what is right or due the patient in a given instance. So we ask, "Does it give what is right, due and equitable?"

pg 171


So long as the reader retains honesty careful grounding in scripture when answering the questions posed in this construct, I found this to be a very useful and practical framework.

The book also has quite a few extra curricular resources. The end of each chapter has discussion questions for the reader. I suppose with some moderation, they could be good prompts for a group discussion as well. The appendices of the book include a scripture-based workbook of questions and exercises for each chapter, an infertility medical workup worksheet, the Christian Medical Association Statement on Reproductive Technology, an IF glossary with common vernacular explanations, a list of resources and complete citations for all of the studies, interviews and writings cited in the book.

The book is very well cited. Each time the authors mentioned a clinical study, a public statement by a group or committee, a medical fact, and even in some cases a hermeneutic explanation, there was a corresponding citation. This set me at ease that the things that I was reading were true, or at least easily verifiable. It also gave me a place to go if anything piqued my interest to the point of wanting to seek out further information. I appreciated this responsible treatment of a lot of things that are offered as "fact" in a world full of questions and controversy.

I will confess that I did not complete the workbook or discussion questions yet, and am not sure if I plan to. However, I did read through them and found them relevant and thought provoking.

The book is like an encyclopedia insofar as there may be portions (even large ones) that are not relevant to you if you are not considering a certain procedure or class of procedures. I did read the entire book so as to have a firm understanding of it, but I admit to times when I had trouble staying interested in subjects that are not a part of our journey. I will say that the book can easily be read in sections or chapters. If you skip a section that is not relevant to your journey, I do not think it will make the rest of the book unreadable and I think you would still benefit. Each chapter can stand on its own and be contextually accurate and understandable. However, the book also feels unified enough to be read through as a traditional chapter book.

There is a ton of clinical information in this book, which distinguishes it from other books in this genre. For that reason, it's a lot more difficult to retain all of the information in the book than it is with other books that are more narrow in subject. For that reason I think this book is most useful when consulted many times, especially the subjects of particular relevance to the reader. I know I shall have to read through the details of some of the Reproductive Technologies several times before I feel I have a firm grasp on them but again, that selective reading is very possible in a book structured this way.

This book is an excellent resource for infertility patients. I'm not sure it's useful for pastors, friends and family or doctors, but I suspect it was never intended to be. This is not your typical infertility Bible or personal enrichment study, so I would not add it to my library in lieu of books that are more personally challenging, but it is an excellent academic reference resource, which is especially useful in a world where the sheer volume of facts and anecdotes can be overwhelming.

I am so glad I happened upon this book! The personal experiences of Sandra, the expertise of Dr. Bill, and the spiritual issues addressed in this book have been an invaluable resource to my husband and me as we have struggled through the difficulties of infertility. This book is a terrific guide to anyone going through infertility themselves or any lay person or clergy helping a couple that is struggling. Rarely does one find a book that balances medical terminology and its great detail with the emotional and spiritual aspects of the patients' experience, but this book does. I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone that is beginning the journey of infertility as it clearly gives medical information. More important to me, though, was the biblical content that reminds us that we are NOT alone through this process, that God is still God, and that the emotional roller coaster is a normal thing. Not to mention the chapter that deals with handling well-intentioned advice... great content there, too! :)

Right around this time of year, sermons about Mother's Day and the beauty of parenthood bring grief to those experiencing the hellish ride of infertility. Though I have not personally experienced this, I have walked with several friends that have. This book was invaluable in helping me understand the medical, spiritual and emotional issues facing infertile couples. Glahn's personal story is woven throughout, giving the reader glimpses into the pain of infertility. Cutrer offers the reader practical and sound medical advice, gleaned from years and years of treating infertile couples. Both grapple with theological questions like "Is infertility a curse from God?" and "Why did God create sex?" Perhaps the most helpful chapter detailed the well-intentioned (but painful) things people say: Just relax. You can have my children for a weekend. If you adopt, you'll conceive. Just trust God. The latter half of the book deals with the ethics of medical intervention in an honest, non-alarmist way. If you are looking for an infertility manual with heart, pick up this book. If you are longing to love a friend or family member through infertility's minefield, read it for understanding.

Our small group used this book along with the study guide and worked our way through it. The group consists of couples. This is important to know because I believe the women in the group were able to get just as much out of this as the men. The Power and Purpose of Woman is next on our agenda.

This book was a real eye opener. It really taught me about men- how God created them differently but complimentary to women. This book will definitely help me in my relationships with men.

awesome book. Men are created in God's image but need help from godly women to help channel some of the testosterone into constructive areas. Because of godly women in their lives they can be balanced this book explains how women can help men become the strong spiritually and mentally.

The power to define is the power to determine destiny. If you want understanding of your masculinity and your purpose as a man then Dr. Myles Monroe's book is for you. I found the book to be an indeph look into the masculine soul. It is a book that women will never forget and a book that men will never feel alone again. If you want God's purpose for your life as a man, then this book is a powerful tool for men who want to find their way off the False Roads To Manhood which is a book out that helps men too.

I have always had a fascination with understanding people particularly men, maybe this stems from the fact that I was very close to my father (now deceased) and brother when I was younger. What affected them had a direct knock on effect on me and the rest of the family. As I grew older and entered my first relationship I started to recognise a pattern of self destruction in men and I needed to know why.

There many years ago began my quest for knowledge and understanding; I believe that God is using Dr Myles Munroe in an `awesome' way. My first introduction to him was when he visited the ministry in England, that I was a part of and spoke on the Primary Purpose of Man, this seminar explained the disconnection of man/woman to God and the consequences of that disconnection, giving clear illustrations, for example complicated technology that is used without first reading the instruction can appear to malfunction when in fact nothing is wrong with the machinery it is just not being used correctly and to its full capacity, he likens this to man/woman not knowing God and so continuously trying to find him/herself. Dr Munroe explains that no matter how successful they become there is an emptiness something is missing, something that no matter how hard they try they cannot find as they are looking in the wrong area.

This book explores the male in depth from a different angle; it looks at what it means to be a man with and without God, and delves into their innate drive to find fulfilment and purpose and examines what happens when purpose is not found. In this book is the answer to many questions that the world is asking such as what is happening in society today? Why are brothers killing brothers? Why are men taking something so precious from women (their bodies) irrespective of their age but give nothing in return it also explains why women let them. Why is recreational and illegal drug use on the increase? Why are people fearful to walk the streets at night indeed why are the older people in society not treated with respect? Why has the family structure broken down? Why is society as we know it, in chaos?

I know that there are a lot of why's at the end of this review but I make no apologies for that as the answers are in this book. On a final note God ordained men to be leaders whether they believe in Him or not, and whatever they lead on they will do to the best of their ability and it doesn't matter if what they are doing is good or bad, they will still do it to the best of their ability for example their bad will be really bad and their good will be really good. The thing with being a leader is that leaders set examples for others to follow, (what you do your children will do) When you thought he wasn't looking, he learned most of life's lessons that he needed to know from you.

This is a must read book for men and women, it is clear and concise, Dr Monroe writes with such simplicity that even a child could read it and get understanding, in fact I recommend that you get your children to read it so that they are clued up and don't repeat previous generations mistakes. I will definitely be reading Understanding the Purpose and Power of Woman.

Anything where Mr. Collins is involved it number one with me. End of discussion.

When attaching ones self to a celebrities persona, (i.e. actor) one tends to critique only the physical contributions. Stephen Collins is not just an actor. He is an intellectual literary artist capturing your interest from beginning to end in this book. The character, "Nicolette Stallings" embraces your fantasies and simultaneously engages you in a plethera of empathy. Her erotic behavior is stimulating, believable, and before long, desirable to any red blooded American woman. Stephen Collins? A Minister?
(Eric Camden) not in this book.............he's too delicious for words.

I actually read `Eye Contact' a few years ago. It was the first erotic thriller that I'd ever read and it still stands out in my mind as on of the best.

This is the story of actress Nicolette Stallings who only feels powerful when seducing someone of the opposite sex. However, her sexual game of cat and mouse soon turns deadly when she propositions a man she meets in a restaurant who she playfully dubs as "Wally Wall Street". After their one night encounter at a high class hotel Nick finds it hard to get rid of "Wally" who now blames her for the break up of his marriage. After an unsuccessful attempt on his own life "Wally" otherwise known as Jeffery White, finally does succeed in killing himself but not before he manages to frame Nick for his murder! As Nick becomes the center of the medias attention and hunted by the police she tries to find a way to prove her innocence not without having a few sexual encounters along the way.

`Eye Contact" is an excellent erotic thriller not for the timid and will keep you at the edge of your seat trying to figure out how everything will play out in the end. Who would have though that the minister for 7th Heaven could write like this?

This novel really does stand the test of time. I read this book many years ago and it still sets well in my memory to this day. It has just about everything in it that one can imagine. Reading this novel is quick and doesn't drag on and on like some novels that I've completed. The long of the short of it, "If this book stands out in my mind today, even though it has been many years since I've read it, then it has to be good reading."

If you don't believe me - buy it and read it yourself.

I actually read 'Eye Contact' a few years ago. It was the first erotic thriller that I'd ever read and it still stands out in my mind as one of the best.

This is the story of actress Nicolette Stallings who only feels powerful when seducing someone of the opposite sex. The sexual game of cat and mouse soon turns deadly when she propositions a man she meets in a restaurant who she playfully dubs as "Wally Wall Street". After their one night encounter at a high class hotel Nick finds it hard to get rid of "Wally" who now blames her for the break up of his marriage. After an unsuccessful attempt on his own life "Wally" otherwise known as Jeffery White, finally does succeed in killing himself but not before he manages to frame Nick for his murder! As Nick becomes the center of the medias attention and hunted by the police she tries to find a way to prove her innocence not without having a few sexual encounters along the way.

'Eye Contact" is an excellent erotic thriller not for the timid and will keep you at the edge of your seat trying to figure out how everything will play out in the end. Who would have though that the minister from 7th Heaven could write like this?

Es un libro interesantísimo que nos da un recorrido por las diferentes rutas que han llevado a latinoamerica a la decadencia de hoy en dia.
Le recomiendo este libro a todo aquel interesado en saber mas allá de lo obvio sobre el origen del subdesarrollo y la miseria en nuestros paises.

I know a lot of intelligent people whose ideas never change and think that determinate regimen is the solution to sweep away poverty. But they never attend the facts in their effort to maintain their beliefs. If you think you are a smart person you must agreed William Blake's quotation "The man who never alters his opinions is like standing water, and breeds reptiles of the mind". No matter what kind of ideas you profess about underdevelopment, this book surely is going to confront a lot of them and will provide you with a wider view. Give it a change to understand why Latin America is so poor.

This book shows everything that has gone wrong n latinamerica and it not only shows one side. It talks about the bad things that corporations, unions, dictators, politicians etc. have done and why thanks to all of them and also the peole latin america is as bad as it is today.

Brilliant! An excellent book for those really concerned about the social and economical future of Latin America...For those who want to make a change.

excelent book, I really enjoy it because tell the true history of Latin America

This book is everything I'd want in a book about the natural history of where I live. Plants, animals, fungi, rocks! I especially love the etymology of all the scientific names and the section that details the traits and histories of all the parks in the area. I aim to visit them all. It's a lot more relaxed than a bird-specific field guide, a more pleasurable read.

This book is a handsome, valuable addition to the library (or backpack) of NYC dwelling natural history lovers. Unfortunately, it is not "complete," as several reviews suggest. Missing, for example, is the red-eared slider(Trachemys scripta elegans), the most commonly seen turtle in Central Park. Migrant and occasional bird species, too, are not to be found. The wild turkey is now reestablished on parts of Manhattan, but does not find a place in Day's guide. There are many such oversights; generally, however, I recommend the book.

"What a wonderful resource NYC has in Leslie Day. I purchased her recently released book (hardcover edition) Field Guide to the Natural World of New York City, and was so impressed by her knowledge and intense communion with nature. This book is a work of art! Illustrated by Mark A. Klingler and containing many photographs taken by Dr. Day herself, it is a piece to be treasured. It is so complete, comprehensive and beautifully edited. It is also amazingly user friendly. Thank you Leslie Day for your dedication to NYC and the enlightening of nature lovers everywhere."

Leslie Day describes her book perfectly in the first chapter:

"Today the city is a complex ecosystem, the result of its tumultuous history. Hundreds of species of birds inhabit its streets, parks and waters. Insects, worms, crustaceans, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds,mammals, trees, wildflowers, and mushrooms are within walking distance of virtually every apartment building, house, and hotel. The city has more than 500 miles of coastline, some fringed with saltwater marshes, such as the islands of Jamaica Bay in Queens. New York's 37,000 acres of parks contain hundreds of species waiting to be discovered, identified, and appreciated by the reader. This guide is designed to make the natural world of New York City accessible by revealing the living and diverse, and ancient geological treasures the city has to offer."

She describes her book with the help of well done drawings by Mark A. Klingler and a number of color photographs. Day is a keen observer: we've fed dozens of mourning doves over the years, but I've never noticed the color of their eyes. As she told a "New York Times" reporter: "If you look closely in their eyes, they are blue. It's startlingly beautiful."

(During the same interview walking around a single block, Day identified several trees and a lichen: Willow Oak, Honey Locust, Sophora Tree (aka "Eve's Necklace"), three Callery Pears, Mulberry (with two types of leaves: some egg-shaped, others lobed), London Plane, several Lindens, and, of course, a Gingko.)

Day maintains an interesting website devoted to the Guide, and posts short, informative, well illustrated updates on new developments in New York City. The last few entries included a Harp Seal at the Boat Basin on 79th Street (where she lives on a house boat), Winter Weeping Willows, and Canvas Back Ducks.

This is a very human view of one of our greenest cities.

Robert C. Ross 2008

BTW, I was born Brooklyn in 1926. My family "emigrated" to Staten Island in the early 1930s. Having last lived on rural Lighthouse Hill on Staten Island in 1951 I am well-acquainted with Staten Island's flora and fauna.

The best endorsement I can give is the fact that I originally bought this book for a friend who is an avid birder in Connecticut. She was so impressed with it that I bought one for myself. Now I am a birder (albeit, an old bird!).

Lorie Conway takes readers into one the of most historic landmarks in US history, Ellis Island. FORGOTTEN ELLIS ISLAND: THE EXTRAORDINARY STORY OF AMERICA'S IMMIGRANT HOSPITAL peruses history, and revisits an important relic from America's immigrant past, which is also the epitome and constant reminder of the history of the United States and its people. The book examines the building that housed, nursed, and recorded/documented the many immigrants who passed through its halls.

With its impressive narrative and an array of photographs dating back to the early twentieth century during the height of immigration, Conway writes about one of the most defining moments in the American Dream story. But there also entailed the dark moments of immigration that involved the "other" or non-American born peoples, and how they had to endure painstaking and excruciating steps after walking off the ships in which they came from afar, which involved medical examinations and quarantines. Furthermore, immigrants were scrutinized, and many believed that they hindered the social make-up of American society; their reactions came in the form of discrimination and partisanship that was sociological, medical, and political in nature. For example, jingoist political cartoons show the depictions, such as one cartoon of Uncle Sam "rocking the boat" or shaking his fist in defiance towards newly arrived immigrants.

FORGOTTEN ELLIS ISLAND is an important part of American history. This story is an eye-opening narrative filled with retrospection. For those who may have visited the main building of Ellis Island, which is now a museum, this book may enhance their understanding of the immigration history and experience. But most importantly, it also delves into the issue of American identity, and how the United States was shaped and built by immigrants.

This was a great book to read. It never dawned on me that immigrants were medically screened before coming into the US. The pictures were great and the documentary was very informative.

The staff at the hospital were caring and willing to help when no one else was.

I plan to read more on this.

This was an interesting part of the Ellis Island story I had never before heard. The book was fascinating and enjoyable. However I dropped the last star because of a two things - most photos were not labeled and I felt that the stories of those who worked there, with the exception of the doctors, were ignored. I was left with the desire for more information, but I recognize that resources are apparently difficult to get find and access.

I FOUND THAT THE BOOK GAVE A LOT OF VERY INTERESTING FACTS ON HISTORY THAT HAS PROMPTED ME TO LOOK INTO EVEN FURTHER ! GREAT BOOK

I really enjoyed this book because I did not know a whole lot about the Ellis island situation and was fascinated at the detail that this book gave about the construction of the hospitals and how patients got placed in them. I also had no idea that the immigrants had so many skin diseases but after reading about the sanitation conditions I was not surprised. It is truly amazing what our ancestors had to go through to live here.