Journals Books

I've been coaching Little League for five years now, and loved reading this account of Little League from about 20 years ago. The stereotypical depictions of coaches that Geist uses are still dead-on accurate, as are his descriptions of how bad the catching equipment is, and how to hide a bad ballplayer that you have to play in the infield. This is a priceless look at Little League ball that anyone who has ever coached should enjoy.

There are lots of laughs to be had, and you'll find yourself sharing parts with other coaches you know.

I am sure the book is great-the book was purchased for a gift.

The humorist columnist Bill Geist had many years of experience coaching his son's little league baseball and kids basketball and his daughter's softball team. He relates his experiences with his usual wit, sarcasm and humor. The book focuses on a particular season of little league baseball where he was able to work with his son Willie's team and actually win the league championship by upsetting Knavery's team in the final game of the season. The tale tells how he bends the rules (though not as much as some other) in a way that still allows the weak players to have fun and yet stay competitive. There is a large degree of truth to the various caricatures of players, coaches and parents that he presents in this tale. But some of the stories are so incredible and it seems like fiction is mixed with reality but clearly it is based on real experience. I relate to many of the issues he brings out. ...
In the epologue Geist confesses that he want his son Willie to be a star player but was satisfied that he made the high school varisty teams. In the end no matter how good or bad they are in little league they all eventually stop playing to do other things that interest them more or they find to have more success and rewards.

To illustrate the humor in the final game losing 12-4 Geist gives the kids sugar treats to pick up their energy. A rally starts but thinking ahead with the worst hitter Monique likely to come up with two outs, Geist gets a 40 ounce drink and gets her to leave on a bathroom break. ... This book has short easy to read chapters and integrates Geist's softball and basketball experiences in the theme of the little league season whereas Dunow had long chapters going back and forth from little league with his son to his childhood experiences with his father. Both books are good in their own way. But this one is much easier to read and more light hearted.

I do a ton of reading and just went back and re-read this book. This is probably my favorite all-time book. This book has to be the funniest one I've ever read. Geist is not only a gifted writer, he tweaks all the right people and no irony goes unnoticed.

At least, I'm half of Mean Gene Huffman. Gene Ret and I were conglomerated into one large, gawky intimidating Little Leaguer. Who was the more large, gawky, and intimidating is one of the great debates of our time.

Great story. I never knew my drunken high school antics were witnessed by Bill Geist until I got to the end of the book. Geist saw me crash through his bushes and play some sloppy basketball with his son and friends for a few minutes while reminiscing about the old Little League days. And, he parlayed my mishap into a convenient parable on lost youth to wrap up his story.

Well, he's just lucky they were playing basketball that night and I wasn't trying to unload my ferocious fastball or swing a bat. Stay young, eat flax, and long live the glory days of Little League.

"The author provides a touching glimpse into some of the most profound areas of life: candidly and clearly setting out not only the rough spots in her road to having a child, but the joyous moments, too. I was impressed not only with the personal aspect of the story, but with the political and social aspects, as well- the author is clearly a force to be reckoned with."
Writer's Digest

This well-packaged, straight forwardly told and ultimately poignant journal of Kari Gilliam Palmer's determined effort to adopt a child movingly captures the twists and turns involved and makes clear the toll the process can take on the prospective mother and those around her. We never lose sight of the authors supportive family- We keep track of them through diary entries as well as letters they send to Kari to help maintain her spirit and perspective. In large part, active ingredients in the author's ultimate success come down to faith, courage, focus and hope, and the happy ending will provide comfort and encouragement to others in a similar situation.

One Tiny Hope is an interesting chronicle of a woman's struggle to overcome both infertility and the adoption process. The journal format provides the reader with a candid look at very private issues surrounding one's ability to conceive or the frustrations surrounding adoption. The journal format also provides a "report" format for a very emotional situation, as a result, giving the book a more objective, narrative feel. While the book is valuable in that is shows the reader the value of perseverance, it is quite moving to think of the author's two children reading this book in twenty years and understanding the tremendous love that fueled their mother's efforts.

This is just amazing on what all you have accomplished in your life Kari. From being raised in wonderful family that you have to having family you always dreamed of and I know what a wonderful mom you are. I have not read the book just the breif discriptions of it from the site and I know you have given so much hope for women and men out there who are looking for that family and you also make those who are not sure on having a family really think about it. I am going to get this book so I can read all about your little hope.
Both of your girls are very precious and blessed to have you and your family they are great people.
Thanks for sharing this with me.
Congraulations!

"One Tiny Hope" is as gripping as a great novel! Kari Gilliam Palmer's words powerfully communicate her painfully real dreams and despair--and love. Kari's gentle heart and her faith in God shine through her writing, but her straightforward prose is often jarring, reminding us that this is her life, and not just a story. This book altered the way I perceive adoption, as well as how I think of families and babies. Kari's story is a moving reminder that every baby is precious, and all children should be cherished. "One Tiny Hope" touched my heart.

I've never written a review of a book before (at least I don't think I have), but I just had to lay down my feelings about my favorite comic strip series. The whole anti-humor is a bit confusing to me as I don't think I've ever laughed as hard at a comic strip as with the "Jim" strips. Maybe the anti-humor thing comes from the refreshing lack of cynicism.

Jim's life feels real -- it's like watching another person's life unfold with all of their personal thoughts out in the open. You become attached to Jim as he goes through his mundane daily activities. The humor, weirdness and sadness in Jim's life resonates more because you feel you are connecting to a real person rather than some wise-ass talking cat.

If you like 'Pathetic Geek Stories' and 'Life in Hell' you'll love this book. If you can't find the collection make sure to pick up the five individual books offered on Amazon.

I fell in love with Jim in college. One night, several years later, he popped into my head. I got out of bed and started looking up Jim's Journal on the internet. When I found this book, I was ecstatic!! It was so great to read some of my favorites that I remember from college.

Also, if you're a cat-lover, Jim provides some poignant, yet hilarious, reflections on owning a cat.

We all have a little bit of Jim in us.

Who is Jim? For ten years, readers of selected daily newspapers wondered that same thing. Even more, though, they wondered, "Why is Jim?"

"Jim's Journal" was a ten-year-running comic strip which revolved around some average guy living an average life. He had average friends, worked average jobs, and did pretty much less than you or I do on your slowest day. Only, Jim kept a journal, where he would write all about what he did.

"I made some brownies today," he would write. "They were pretty good."

"Mr. Peterson [Jim's cat] ran into the other room," would be another typical entry.

"Today, I took a nap. I woke up at 6 o'clock and wondered whether it was day or night."

And those were the punchlines. There were no jokes to speak of. Only snippets of a boring day. However, there was something redeemable about Jim... He was the pinnacle of Anti-Humor! He wasn't funny, he did nothing remarkable from day to day (although he did get married, in a three-strip special entry)... and yet, this collected edition of all the published "Jim's Journal" cartoons is tremendously difficult to find without paying a premium price, even though it is less than 10 years old!

Readers fall in love with Jim, despite himself.

I find this comic strip absolutely hilarious, as well as charming, poignant, life-like, and sometimes a little melancholy. College students will relate to many of Jim's mundane life experiences, but so will many others simply growing up and living day to day. Jim himself is definitely an observant little fellow, who quietly finds humor in the cliched, sometimes obnoxious sentences his surrounding workmates and friends constantly spew out: it's these moments within the strip where I can't stop laughing. Mostly, though, Jim relates more sober moments about walks, work, eating, his cat, daydreaming, sleeping, and the life and times of his handful of friends. Jim is just a normal guy who probably unconsciously holds back his real emotions in his journal, with the result that the other characters come across much clearer. Speaking of Jim's "handful of friends," here they are:

Tony: the funniest dude in the strip. Where Jim is quiet, Tony is louder and more obnoxous; where Jim simply observes life passively, this guy has an opinion about everything, and is sure to tell anyone within his path how he feels. Tony is famous for going through phases and boasting about how smart he is (drinking 6 glasses of water a day; collecting coupons to save money; attempting jobs to conquer the world, etc., etc.).

Steve: this guy also has his funny moments; he's kind of like a much less aggressive Tony, perhaps somewhere inbetween Jim and Tony in terms of personality. He has academic problems at first, but seems to eventually find his niche.

Ruth: Jim meets Ruth at McDonalds, and the rest, as they say, is history. Ruth is cheery, fun-loving, somewhat non-descript, and sort of in the background most of the time, even when she's hanging around with the rest of the crew.

Also of note is Mark, Joel, Julie and Hal, all workmates of Jim, and all very distinct personalities.

It's hard to say who would latch onto Jim's Journal and who wouldn't, but I know I liked it from the very beginning.

If you haven't heard of Jim's journal and you ended up here because as a fan of the Onion you wanted to see what Scott Dikkers once did, then you're in for a pleasant (or unpleasant time) people are completely polarized by Jim - either you love the strip or you hate it. I love Jim. Don't bother buying any of the single collections when you can own the whole Jim Treasury. Also included in this book (and missing from the other stand alone books i.e. I got married, I made some brownies) is an introduction for each of these books in the collection. Plus you get various insight into the characters and strip from Dikkers in some revealing passages that are both laugh out loud funny and kind of sad. If you are a fan of meta comedy - i.e. comedy that is funny because it is done in such a blank fashion that its hard not to laugh - if only for the absurdity of the whole thing - then this book is for you. If the idea of a comic strip where the punchline for a strip is "when I woke up from my nap I was even more tired than I was before" leaves you scratching your head - then you should probably buy some Marmaduke or Garfield. Maybe a collection of Hagar the Horrible would be best. On the other hand, if you like things that don't always make sense - buy this book. You'll love it.

A light-hearted look into a Christian's struggle to be of more service to God, even though he feels completely unprepared, ill-equipped and lacking in talents and traits that would be so useful in ministry. It's a great moment when he realizes that if God called him into service, God knew what he was doing, and it is God's problem that he has all these deficiencies, not his.

This book is very easy to read. I finished it in two afternoons.
I can't remember the last book I read that made me laugh so hard. This is really, really funny! Regardless of your denomination or doctrine, I think anyone would really enjoy this book.

We both thouroughly enjoyed this book. Funny, without being sacreligious. Probably funnier to an active Christian as many of the jokes are 'insider' jokes that wouldn't be funny to a non-christian.

I'm planning to buy/read more of Mr. Plass' books based on this one.

Friends in the UK sent us this book a few years ago, and I can't thank them enough. Adrian Plass has now outranked Frank Peretti and Max Lucado as my favorite author of all time. He has an amazing ability to make the reader laugh out loud, and on occasion, even cry. I am an avid reader and no other writer has ever touched my soul the way that Plass does. Whenever I am having a particularly rough day, I read a few favorite parts of this book and I find the stress melting away.

Do yourself a favor and start building a library of his works. I am doing that now, and can honestly say that I have not been disappointed by anything I have read so far. If you live in the US, it can be hard to find Plass's books. But it is well worth the investment and the time.

Excellent, excellent book!

I've read this book about three or four times now and I can safely say that it is the absolute funniest piece of Church humour I've ever read.

Scratch that. This is THE funniest book I've ever read. The first time I read it, I was rolling on the floor and crying. My wife and I will still sometimes just pick it up and start reading bits from it to each other for a few minutes of hilarity.

I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Your enjoyment will be greatly increased if you've spent time attending an evangelical church. It also helps to know that the book was written by a Brit and includes a number of references to people and practices that may be lost on those not from the UK.

Buy this book. It may not change your life but it'll be sure to give you a much needed break from your read through Calvin's "Institutes".

I read an essay by Offutt in The Eleventh Draft--a collection of essays on writing by graduates of the prestigious Iowa Writer's Workshop--that I loved so much I knew I had to read more of him. Offutt is a Kentucky native, who in this memoir, weaves a thoughtful, smart, often funny reflection of his life in different stages: in it, he works his way between life as a sort of aimless vagabond to falling in love with his wife and awaiting the birth of their child, all with a gorgeous attention to the natural world around him and the love that makes him feel whole. This is beautiful, meaningful, brilliant writing. I loved it.

Chris Offutt's first memoir is a pretty decent read. "The Same River Twice" is essentially the story of the years after he left home and hitchhiked across the country. The writing is lyrical and concise and there are quite a few amusing bits to this book (see for example the hilarious exchange between Offutt and a NYC-by-way-of-Jamaica hooker on pages 28-29). This memoir alternates (by chapter) between Offutt's cross country travels and his wife's first pregnancy. The latter portion of the pregnancy stuff is occasionally moving and majority of the book is amusing and well written. Recommended and I strongly suggest interested readers review pages 28-29 for some very useful looooove tips. Batter up!!!!

i picked this book up as a recommendation from a bookstore and it was great read.
The author who left home at age nineteen and drifts along with various jobs and finally ending up living on the banks of the iowa river.
He takes regular walks comtemplating how his life is going to change and how good a father he is going to be(his wife of course is pregenant)as he takes these walks the stories from his odd jobs are woven in.For me the best job he had was when hewas pretending to be a real live walrus in a small circus.This is a great book give it a shot

This magnificent memoir is absorbing, funny and deep, full of surprises. One of the best things I've read in years.

Besides the fact that Chris Offutt is a great writer, I like the guy's work because he's so honest and genuine. For those of you who can't tell the difference, Chris is an authentic country boy. Reading this memoir and sections of his novel "The Good Brother", I recognize the rhythm of speech, turns of phrase, and basic life assumptions that are innate in country boys like us from the Great State of Kentucky and southward, although I'm afraid that some traits are more reflected in the guys I prosecute than in myself. Offutt has given an admirable voice to a class of folks who are ridiculed and berated, but rarely understood. Thank you for helping us understand, Mr. Offutt-those of us seeking to understand ourselves, and those for whom the country is a place to visit. I'm afraid there aren't too many people today who get sentimental when they hear their state song the way we do when we hear "My Old Kentucky Home" (or "Georgia on my Mind"). It seems like no one understands the point of standing on a handful of dirt from your homeland when you get married in a foreign land (or New York City). At least they will recognize great writing when they see it. And here it is in your memoir.

I was able to read Ms lee's book in 2 hours. I did not read every little detail, I found all the indepth journalling to be more than I wanted to know, but it highlighted her struggles and determination to have a baby. I did not find it helpful per se. IMO it is the kind of book that is best shared with family and friends who know you personally. A great book for her to share with her son one day...

Unless you struggle IF you will never know the pain and heartache. In this book you will see what we go through. You will laugh and cry with each entry.
Another reviewer wrote, "Too much info" If more people spoke out the stigma and embaressment and shame we go threw would lessen.
Thanks Robin for being so couragious to write this book.

Lori

There aren't many people in this world that would open up their most private wishes, struggles and disappointments for others to experience through publishing. This book is a must read for anyone who has struggled or is struggling with infertility - as well as their friends and family members. I read this book in one sitting. It was so compelling to see how each attempt came out that you can't stop reading. I thank the author for sharing her journey with us. And I heartily congratulate her on having the family and son that she fought so long and hard for.

The story of Ms. Lee's journey through infertility is a 'must read' for anyone embarking on their quest for a child. Those who have not experienced this heartache would benefit from learning what it is like to yearn for a child who is seemingly so out-of-reach. It really makes you count your blessings!

This journal is very open and honest. I couldn't stop reading once I started it! The author does a wonderful job of capturing the rollercoaster ups and downs of trying to conceive a child. There are a lot of emotions, both good and bad, that go along with this process and they are all shared within this journal. Financial and social struggles are also seen along the way. This journal is a very good description of the nightmare that infertility can be.

Reinhold Ziegler (synergyca@earthlink.net), A reviewer, February 9, 2005,

To all the kids that grew up in 50's and 60's...To those who were told by their parents and teachers that they had more opportunities available to them than any other generation in history...To the Kennedy generation that was asked what they could do for their country and not what their country could do for them...To the idealists who took these statements seriously and marched in the streets for civil rights...To the Vietnam veterans who fought in a foreign land and gave their life for democracy and freedom...To all those who felt that we had been betrayed by the adults...Walking the Midway in Purgatory is your story. It is a remarkable journey and it will draw you into the heart of the action. This journal makes you realize that you are a witness and a participant of the times that you live in, that life in America is not just a wiennie-roast or a spectator sport. As Mr. Masesso's first book it is a five star performer and a probable screen play. I look forward to other writings from this author.

Admittedly there were parts I had to think about ...

It is a reminiscence of a lifes journey with a by play of events that are part of History.

I was also there for the turning of events.
The reflections brought to me a reminder of the visions that could have been.

Now again I have been caused to weep.

This is a journal style story about social events and personal experiences during the sixties. True to the sixties the messages are timeless and apply today. The author's style is direct with enough sensitivity to allow easy ruminating. The author's discriptions gives one the feeling of being there. This book is entertaining and educational. A text book for anyone curious about the sixties and the people that came from everywhere to the Bay Area. I am giving this book to my kids ages 35, 30, 16 and 12. Every page contains moral and metaphysical questions presented in a unique way that demand thought, discussion and answer.

This is a new voice regarding the generation born in the 1940's.
The author is at times angry, sad, often funny and writes some meaningful poems that make you feel and think. It is an easy and quick read, but its better to muse over the thinking behind the words. A good book if you like to stay current with world events and their effect on individuals.

The premise of Masesso's tome is the fact of this similarity. His theorem is that we can unravel today's confusing world affairs and America's participation by looking to the 1960's, the decade that was murdered in its sleep, for our redemption. The sneak attack on Pearl Harbor looks a lot like the sneak attack on the Twin Towers, the horror of 911. The World War that raged for four years afterwards, the bloodiest and most destructive in history, looks a lot like the open-ended War on Terror. The Second World War influenced the work of Norman Mailer, Jack Kerouac, J.D. Salinger and others, profoundly effecting 20th century literature. Masesso thinks that a new generation of thinkers and writers will emerge to take us in a new direction as a result of our new obscene conflict. With his personal, social and political examination of America both then and now he has staked his claim as one of those voices hoping to lead us out of the wilderness.

This book is a must have for any family. I have shared with family and friends many of the poems such as Learning to Read by Frances E.W. Harper page 26. It is so inspiring in times that require a reminder of how important education is and how much sacrifice has been made for us to have it! I enjoy reading it to my 2 year old and 3 year old because I am learning so much at the same time. I think this book is so important to have that I am now including this with my gift for every baby shower!

Read this book! It is a wonderful celebration of race, culture, and heritage. It has some of everything and is a great resource. It covers all different types of values and approaches each from different genres. I use this book every time I do a research paper because it touches everything that has worth.

Steven Barboza has done a wonderful job! It's the kind of book you can pick up again and again! Very entertaining and thought-provking. I was surprised how much I enjoyed this book! A real find!

This book has everything that is traditionally and newly important to the African American. Not only are some of the leaders of literature included, but there are essays from leaders in all fields, science and technology, medicine, law, religion and education. All too often when the world gets its views of who our representatives are, it is none too flattering, I give accolades to Mr. Barboza for changing and challenging that. This book is sad, funny, inspirational and eccletic. One could not ask for a better read.

The book is like a library of our people's trials and tribulations. A collection of poems and stories that will inspire you to do great things. African Americans come from royalty and we can do anything because we are doers and achievers. I wish every "American" could read this book, perhaps African Americans wouldn't be looked down upon. I learned so many things that our people had accomplished that are not taught in school, but should be known and should be printed in text book form.

This book is now being used a bedtime ritual for my children. This means that each night I read a story or poem from the book to them, "about them (African Americans)". About their creativity, their inner strength for survival, their ability to do anything they want to do, about their ancestors that were forced to travel from afar, about their people who invented items that we use today, about their people that broke the color barrier, about their people who walked for freedom, about their people who used the pen to fight their battles, about their people who were forced to feign ignorance in order to survive, about their people who prayed and had faith that God would free them from bondage, about their people who loved each other and encouraged each other, about their people who stepped out there on faith.....

This book is awesome!

This book has inspired me to go back to school which is the least I could do after seeing what my people endured just to give me an opportunity to "step out on faith" "act accordingly" "mind my manners" "represent my hood" "believe in myself" "reach for the stars" and broaden my horizons. For they paved the way through sweat, tears, backbreaking work, picking cotton, washing Missy's clothes, raising Missy's children, eating in the backroom, riding in the back of the bus, being treated as second class citizens.

Thank you, my people past and present.

Thank you Steven Barboza (Editor) for having a vision and seeing it through.

This book looks very useful..wish i had it when my boys were born...one of us was always forgetting to write down amts and feeding times at the ungodly hours of the morning we were up...great for baby sitters also..love it and hope my neice will too..

I have brought this log book for all of my expectant friends and they rave about how useful it was. Recommend it highly.

I received this journal as a gift and really thought that it would take more time than I would have to make the entries and that I would be able to remember without having to write anything down anyway...wrong on both counts! This journal was a godsend. I kept it in whatever room I was in and jotted down EVERYTHING (the notes pages came in handy). On the one or two occassions that I didn't make an entry (because I swore I'd remember), I regretted it and realized how much of a relief it was to have everything recorded in one place so that I could refer back without me having to stress about keeping such important information in my head. A simple and great tool.

Seriously. Whether this is your first baby or your fourteenth, this little book is an absolute essential if you have a newborn. My daughter is 6 months old already and I have used this journal since the day she was born. It has helped me to keep track of her ever changing (you guessed it...) eat, sleep , poop patterns and keep all of her growth and immunization info. on record and more importantly, all in the same place! I received it as a gift and now I give it as a gift. And someday I will gift it to my daughter when she is grown so that she can get some insight into her life as an infant.

Our son was born early and this journal was a huge lifesaver! We were able to keep detailed track of feedings (including volume), bowel movements and wet diapers at a time where we were overwhelmed with making sure he was meeting all the requirements of those categories. We would bring it to his pediatrician as well and she was very impressed and thanked us for making it easier for her to track his well-being. Definitely worth it.

I'm reading this book now, i'm when Roger is crossing the Taurus to Jerusalem, and i make to myself the same question that, surely, makes a lot of people: Is this HI/story truth? or just a simple novell of a brilliant man like Stephen? cause, i been reading "Cabayo de Troya", from J.J. Benítez (spain) that tells a story about Jesus, that he say is true, but i have some doubts about it! . Please, i really wanna know... Thanks a lot. Deus le Volt!

the book is great!very good really!Ni!
of course i had some doubts if the book was true..(eustace part) but
anyway...i really thought it was true..this means just one thing...that his research and work are brilliant!Ni!
(could also mean I'm a little idiot to believe in that..)
its a very good story and i recomend anyone to read it!

So be it!

-Foge cão, que te fazem barão!
-Para onde, se me fazem Visconde?

The critics do this novel an injustice by stating that it is a slow read and more of a documentary than a epic novel. True, there are many historical points and notes which root the story in actual history, but these only help to show the richness of the history and help to express the story's fine details. I could not put this novel down, and I have gained a seemingly firsthand knowledge of the tragedies and glories of the crusades. I recommend this book to all interested in the crusades as well as those wanting to learn more of military camp life and history without the trials of textbooks.

The Booke of Days is the story of a minor lord from Southern France who joins the first Crusade. His name is Roger of Lunel. Roger joins the Crusade because the Pope has promised absolution for any who fight, and kill, for Christianity. The irony of this is not lost on Roger who keeps a diary of his journey. At first Roger examines the ideas of the crusade even as he compares them to the reality. Knights who ravish women in southern France, wear body parts cut off from their enemies, and murder other Christians who don't follow the proper pope. These are the people who will save Christianity?

With this start, I was concerned that his book might become an anti-Christian or anti-West book. It is not. It is a realistic look at the Crusades which describes the good and ill, of all sides. A Booke of Days also describes the people, the customs, and the times, better then any book about this period I have encountered. Some of the twists of the personal story seem stretched, but I liked the story so much I will was willing to believe. In the end, rather then being a book about the Crusades, it is a book about Roger of Lunel, set in the Crusades.
I liked Roger, so I loved this book. I also loved the hundreds of small touches which show the effort and the artistry of the author. If this book really isn't true, it could be. And anyone who has even a passing interest in History or Romance should read it.

The Booke of Days is the story of a minor lord from Southern France who joins the first Crusade. His name is Roger of Lunel. Roger joins the Crusade because the Pope has promised absolution for any who fight, and kill, for Christianity. The irony of this is not lost on Roger who keeps a diary of his journey. At first Roger examines the ideas of the crusade even as he compares them to the reality. Knights who ravish women in southern France, wear body parts cut off from their enemies, and murder other Christians who don't follow the proper pope. These are the people who will save Christianity?

With this start, I was concerned that his book might become an anti-Christian or anti-West book. It is not. It is a realistic look at the Crusades which describes the good and ill, of all sides. A Booke of Days also describes the people, the customs, and the times, better then any book about this period I have encountered. Some of the twists of the personal story seem stretched, but I liked the story so much I will was willing to believe. In the end, rather then being a book about the Crusades, it is a book about Roger of Lunel, set in the Crusades.
I liked Roger, so I loved this book. I also loved the hundreds of small touches which show the effort and the artistry of the author. If this book really isn't true, it could be. And anyone who has even a passing interest in History or Romance should read it.