Literature Books

I became a vegetarian a few months ago, and coming from a carnivorous family, problems immediately arose. Suddenly, I needed to learn how to cook protein/iron rich dishes for myself and discover meat substitues. I looked through a lot of books for this, and The Teen's Vegetarian Cookbook has definately been the best.

It addresses teen-specific problems, like how to make really quick, easy, nutritious dishes, eating vegetarian in the cafeteria, and myriads of tips, info, terms, etc.

It's not so big that it's overwhealming, but it's not to small that it's limited. It's perfectly organized and easy to navigate.

It makes foods you didn't like before delicious. I used to hate tofu, but after making some of the recipes in the book, I am a fan.

There are really nice charts to help you figure out how to get all of the important daily nutrients you need, so you don't become anemic or get porous bones and such.

It talks about meat-alternatives that you most likely would never have found out about on your own.

It uses really relaxed, genuine language without ANY straining to be hip and cool to appeal to the youth -- this is so common in books for teens and it is so degrading and stupid. This book has none of that, thank God.

I've made a lot of the recipes and they turned out wonderfully. The rest of my family totally stole my marinated tofu out of the fridge the other day. Which really says something, in my humble opinion.

Easy recipes for adults. Still haven't gotten my 14-yr-old, newly turned vegetarian to read it, but perhaps she'll take it to college.

I purchased this book for an 11 year old vegetarian as a christmas gift. She loved it, and began choosing recipes that she wanted to try immediately. After looking at it, her college age sister asked if she could have a copy. When the non-vegetarian rest of the family tried the foods created from the recipes this book became an instant family favorite. Recipes are clearly written, easy for even a child to follow, creative and tasty enough for adults to love. Teaches many basics of nutrition and cooking. Vegan and non-vegan choices are given for many recipes. Lots of the recipes are developed by real teens.

I got this book for my eleven year old daughter. Ever since we have been enjoying great meals, such as Thai Coconut Curry, on Sunday nights when it's her turn to cook. The recipes are easy enough for her to follow without much help, yet hard enough for a challange. She is sure to grow up to be a great cook and not someone who is afraid of any recipe with more than five ingrediants.

I LOVE this book! Being the only vegetarian in my family (and also being a 'kid')makes it really hard to find things to eat that are healthy that I still like. The Teen's Vegetarian Cookbook is the best cookbook I've ever used. The format is fantastic, the instructions are really simple to follow, the recipes don't usually include strange things or anything that no one would actually eat. If you're vegan, there are lots of really good recipes that don't contain any animal products at all. This book isn't just for vegetarians, though! I got my whole family eating some of it. They added meat to theirs, but they still love the pizza dough. I even make the Chocolate Coma Pie for a party and everyone ate it and enjoyed it. Whether you're a teen, a parent, someone hoping to eat more healthy but still delicious food, or you were just dared to be vegetarian for a week, this book is the ULTIMATE!

Having purchased The Three Musketeers and The Man in The Iron Mask I realised that there were three intermediate novels pulling the story together.Twenty Years After, The Vicomte De Bragelonne and Louise de La Valliere bring the complete story of the musketeers into focus. To gain the most from these stories they need to be read as virtually one book in five large chapters.

After writing The Three Musketeers and Twenty Years after, Dumas wrote a third installment to the trilogy. It is probably the most controvercial book in the trilogy, as can be revealed by reading many of the reviews. For starters, it's LONG: over 200 chapters. As a result, the English-speaking world has split it into three books: The Vicomte de Bragelonne, Louise de la Valiere and The Man in the Iron Mask (the most famous volume). The length is certainly a problem, in fact is it THE major flaw in the conclusion of the trilogy. Dumas is never terse or concise, but in this three-part book, he produces an monolith. This was largely due to him overcomitting himself and having to write this much for financial reasons. However, while this is a major setback, the three books still have elements of great, almost sublime Dumas left in them, which can be extracted if approached in the right way.

The final installment of the trilogy represents the dear old Athos, d'Artagnan, Porthos and Aramis maturing and growing old. The trilogy thus moves from more active and straightforward swashbuckling to a more complex and sombre picture. Like the previous book Twenty Years After, it is not completely clear as to who's in the right and who isn't, only this time it is more so. Like the previous book, age has placed the former Musketeers in a somewhat divided situation, this time involving many a clandestine dealing of state and international level. Finally, in this three-part saga, we are introduced to a huge number of characters while our Four at times take a back seat for several hundred pages. This has been criticised as well, but has a point.

In terms of this specific volume (The Vicomte de Bragelonne), it is the most historical one, as initially d'Artagnan and Athos are brought out of retirement, united in their royalist causes. After completing an adventure reminiscent of their former, more "action-packed" years, the intrigue of the newly-ascended Louis XIV begins. It is here that we can see Dumas as painting a brilliantly detailed picture of what he sees as France moving towards a more centralised, efficient yet pedestrian autocracy from Richeleu to Mazarin to Louis XIV. For the first time, d'Artagnan finds himself serving (and appreciated by) the king, however, the novel asks the question of whether this is at all a good thing. In the power-struggles of the court, we see the irony that the "detractors" of progress are often more honourable than its supporters.

If you only expect more action involving the Four, then don't bother reading this at all. However, if you persevere, you will get to see sublime glimpses of what a long way the Musketeers of old have come (for better or worse), what they think about the entire society they live in and what Dumas thinks. As well as some of the old-fashioned-style adventure. I think that the fact that this is obscured by an overly-drawn-out style, while annoying, does not detract from this being an honourable conclusion to the trilogy.

While the main characters of the Musketeers saga are present here, The Vicomte de Bragelonne does not make nearly so good use of them as in the previous two books. While true that the characters have aged along with Alexander Dumas, they retain their flair for adventure and their basically upright personalities. What fails, unfortunately, is the writing itself. Bragelonne is the first of three novels that make up the trilogy ending in The Man in the Iron Mask. But while the last installment is well known worldwide, the first two (this one and Louise de la Valliere, the latter of which I've not yet read) remain obscure. At least in this case, there's a reason for that.

First, the plot is scattered. Even by Dumas's normal standard there is little coherence. The first third of the book, roughly speaking, is fully up to the normal Musketeer standard, involving two of our heroes in military intrigue during the restoration of King Charles II to the English throne. Bravo all around for that. But after that, the story devolves into somewhat stale palace politicking in the new reign of Louis XIV. We start to see some hints of the broader schemes involving the full cast, but not enough to grab our attention.

Finally, to put it bluntly, there's just something stale about the style this time around. Dumas has yet to find his proper voice for this installment, and hence he loses the reader. I'm assuming he finds it again by the end of the trilogy, but it's just not present here.

If you are reading this review, you have probably already read the Three Musketeers and Twenty Years After. You are wondering if it is worth it to continue with the series. If you decide to go on, you have three more 600+ page novels ahead of you. That is a lot of time and energy.

If you are foremost into the swashbuckling aspect of the Musketeer stories, I would not go forward. The Musketeers are now in their late 50's. They are still vital characters but they are no longer young men looking for any excuse to duel with the Cardinal's Guard. From this point on, there is a lot less sword play and campaigning. The focus of the story moves to the intrigues of Louis XIV court.

I am continuing with the series because I like the characters. I want to find out what happens to the four friends. In this novel, D'Artagnan and Athos are the principal characters. Aramis and Porthos do not show up for the first few hundred pages. Dumas has kept me entertained for the first two thousand pages of this saga and I am counting on him to keep me entertained for the next 1500 pages.

This book is part one of a three part series, the next two being the Louise de la Valliere, and the final being the more well known Man in the Iron Mask. I understand this was originally one HUGE book, but is now more commonly broken up into these three books.

This book starts about ten years from where Twenty Years After (Oxford World's Classics) ended. Although the book is titled the Vicomte de Bragelonne (who is the son of Athos), we don't see much of him except for the first and last parts of the book. The rest is filled with the adventures of D'Artagnan and Athos while they separately scheme (unbeknownst to the other) to aid Charles II of England to claim his throne. LOL, D'Artagnan's scheme in regards to General Monk. Aramis and Porthos are up to something mysterious and make only the briefest of appearances. The rest of the novel is filled with the mysteries and intrigues of the French court, and ends with the marriage of Henrietta (Charles II's sister) to Louis XIV's younger brother, Phillip.

If you loved the musketeers, history and intrique it is well worth your time to spend on these books.

Great educational and fun book! My kids' favorite is the horned lizard shooting blood out of his eyes. Lovely collage illustrations too.

Little known anatomical facts on a number of interesting animals that should entertain inquisitive youngsters.

This book is really hands on, and gets lots of talking and questions going with my 3 and 5 yr olds. It's a clever book and we've had a lot of fun with it.

My family loves this book! Both my sons, ages three and five, enjoy trying to guess which animal this tail, nose, foot, etc., belongs to, and then reading what the animal "does" with it. In the back of the book are more in-depth descriptions of the animals, which we also enjoyed. We ordered this book from Amazon over a year ago, and it is still a top choice when we sit down to read!

It is a good, informative book. Although my 9 years old son seems to be very old for this kind of reading, I still bought it for him because of the book's educational value. Surprise, surprise! - my Big Boy liked the book a lot(!) We now quiz each other about various animals... Another good book that I value a lot for its educational content is Why Some Cats are Rascals, Book 2 by B. Nowiki. I was afraid that in this case my son would to be a "little too little", but he is now reading it and seems to have even more fun... - lucky me, again!

Phillip is an unforgettable person. He enters a classroom and lights up the dreariest of mornings. He excites the most reserved student to open up their mind, look inside their experiences and discover language they never knew they had. With Phillip, creativity comes first. The exploration and the journey are the means by which he arrives at the poetry. When he teaches, he offers a very safe (but not too strict) framework in which students of just about any learning style can let their imaginations run free.

With this book, Phillip shares his innate gift with the rest of the world. His words are honest, emotional and memorable.

Phillip Shabazz's When the Grass was Blue paints a poignant picture of the life of Kathoor, as the title suggests, a young boy growing up in the Civil Rights Era South. Each line, each verse and each story provide the reader with a clear and colorful portrait of this young man-child's world. Shabazz brings this real and turbulent tale to light through the eyes of a child and the words of a poet. A brilliant read at the end of the day for any child, adult or both.

i really enjoyed this book. most of my family read it and they loved it. we all learned so much form reading the book. it put me and my cousins on a new path. By: Rachel

Mr. Shabazz came to your class for poetry week. We were so lucky to have him. He was amazing. He taught us that the best poetry comes either things we experoenced or the things we imagine. This book he worte took our whole class back to their childhood. We began to open up more than ever in our poetry. The way he writes paints a picutre for every reader to see. I recommened this book to all who truly love poetry that comes from the heart. By: Asia

I really liked this book, why because i could relate to some of the things that he was talkin bout in this book. this book made me want to write more and put my voice out there. When Shabazz came to iour classit felt like i connected with him for some reason this man knew what he was takin bout. I felt that i learned alot of things from this book. Who ever read this book i hope you enjoy it.... Gary

I really enjoyed this book. I could really relate to some of the poems written in the book. Maddison

This book was unlike any poetry book I've read. It illustrated a story that opened my eyes to my history and introduced me to a creative way of writing. Shaakira

As a parent and an educator, I have always been moved by the ability of children to speak truth. When the Grass was Blue is a poignant remembrance of family life and of the civil rights era as seen through the eyes of a sensitive, truth-telling boy. The juxtaposition of personal experience, family struggles, and the dreams of childhood to our national experience, political struggles, and dreams of social justice weave both histories, the personal one and the national one, into a single, colorful fabric. By getting the details right, Philip Shabazz, has created a seamless story that does everything good stories should do--it captivates, entertains, reveals, and, when the last poem is read, leaves the reader wanting to know how life turned out for this wonderful boy. Readers, like me, who are old enough to remember the 60's, will relive their own experience through these poems. Younger readers and children will enjoy an uplifting story and learn how it felt to grow up during these tumultuous times.

When the Grass was Blue is a rich tapestry of experience and feeling, evocative of days gone by. Phillip Shabazz transports his readers to another era, when Jim Crow was in charge and tight-knit families lived close to one another. Even those readers too young to remember such times will get a vivid sense of what it felt to live through them from the mesmerizing variety of verse in this enthralling novel.

If you have children... This is the book for you. This is a LAUGH REALLY OUT LOUD book. I have passed this book around to about a half a dozen people. And they say the same. Husbands and wives alike. I wish KEN would write another book or find a book just as funny. It's a MUST read if you have children.

Ken is a master at capturing the parent's view of children. Our collective joy, frustration, and humor is encapsulated in this highly recommended book.

Any generation and believe it or not single people too can relate to the family life potrayed in Ken Swarners antics of his family life.

I received the book for Mothers Day, and jokingly accused my grown-up-sons of contributing ideas to it. It was that easy to share warm hearted memories and stories with family members after I had read it.

A Great Gift to read and save to pass down to the next generation of parents. (God Be Their Mercy)

This was a very funny book. The incidents were a reminder of what we faced raising our children. I hope Mr Swarner will do another book with the updates.

Got our copy about two weeks ago and have been smiling ever since (people generally refer to me as the "Grouch" so the book has helped).

Truly though, Ken has a unique style of reality and humor. He mixes them well in each episode of the book. It is definitely a "keeper" and I am recommending to all my e-mail friends.

I had been reading about the genius of Zora for several years, but I had no idea of what she was about. I heard Valerie Boyd speaking about her biography on Zora C Span. She spoke about Zora with such love and respect that I felt that I had to get the book. In Boyd's hands, what is generally portrayed as a tragic life becomes a story of triumph. In spite of poverty, sexism, and racism, she was able to produce important literary work which is now being recognized as such. The story of her early life in the south, her life in Harlem, and her later years make a great read. I loved this book.

Morris Johnson

While Zora Neale Hurston was truly a great writer, she also did an amazing job of documenting her beloved Florida's history. Taking advantage of President Roosevelt's W.P.A. project and doing her best to get around Florida noting stories of black America that are still available to us today.

'Wrapped in Rainbows' does a terrific job of wrapping all of this plus her excursions to New York and her otherwise sad life in this very well written book. Good luck getting out of this book without a tear shed. I feel this is a must-read for anyone wanting to know the life of an author or of life in Florida during Zora's lifetime.

A side note: Something not mentioned in this book or anything else I've read about Zora is if she ever ran across her contemporary and, I feel Northern doppelganger, Dorothy Parker. Though both had different career milestones, both were also after certain career and personal goals that were never met and both were nearly the same age. This is something that really dogged me while reading the book and noticing the similarities. The big difference between the two is that Parker was a depressed sort and Zora did her best to keep looking up. As well we all should.

This is a very good book on the life of Zora Neale Hurston. It is very detailed and written very well. If you are interested in the life of this famous author this is for you.

Valerie Boyd blew breath into Zora Neale Hurston's remarkable accomplishments. I felt as if I was riding alongside Zora while Boyd narrated the different scenes;Zora was like a felt tip pen, as creative as could be. Of course, I wasn't ready to get off the ride, but I believe Zora lived a fulfilled life with little bumps and potholes or life lessons along the way.

Valerie Boyd does what most biographers cannot; she makes facts as savory as fiction. As a great admirer of Zora Neale Hurston--the woman, I had long been searching for a piece of work that captures her emminence and vitality. I stumbled across "Wrapped in Rainbows" at Borders and resolved then and there that I HAD to have it. I do not at all regret this choice. Order this book, and I guarantee that it will be one of the best investments you ever make! The chapters on the Harlem Renaissance and Zora's involvment with it are magical, and the sections detailing Zora's friendship and eventual fued with Langston Hughes are fascinating. I can't say enough positive things about this biography. If you admire the spunky and talented Ms. Hurston, you will NOT be disappointed.

Well, I know my Presidents now, that's for sure! I had great fun learning them, too, sitting on the couch with my husband one afternoon. The two of us went through the book, working through it and giggling at the references all the while. It was a lot of fun and we learned every president during the read. I planned to buy it, learn them, and then relist the item. But, I decided to instead hold onto it for when my nieces come over. I am always hunting for new ways to entertain them and this will keep them busy for sure! :) Lots of fun for all ages.
I highly recommend that you buy it and have as much fun as we did, and learn a little something, too! 5 stars!

This book was ordered for my son, who is a teacher, for Christmas and it came in plenty of time. Thanks so much.

This book is the best and most fun ways to learn about the American Presidents that I have ever seen. For each president from Washington through Clinton, there is a brief caption regarding his life and accomplishments. There is also a drawing taken from a photo or portrait, a cartoon style drawing and associated play on words to aid in remembering the name and whom they succeeded. For example, the cartoon for Dwight Eisenhower shows the Eiffel Tower with eyes on it being held by a tree with eyes. The caption is "The tree-man is crawling up the side of a huge tower that has eyes on it. It must be the eyes-on-tower!" The cartoon for Harry Truman, who preceded Eisenhower, shows the tree-man.
One of the best books for learning history and social studies, I strongly recommend this book. If my children were of a suitable age, I would buy it for them.

After one night, I knew all 43 presidents of the United States in order without looking. This book is AWESOME!!! :D

I had to memorize the presidents in the fourth grade. I'm in college now and I can still remember everything from this book. Not only does it work, but it's fun to look at the pictures and learn the presidents. People of all ages can learn from this book.

This book honors in simple verse and vivid picture, the triumph of the underdog. For young and old, it celebrates that persistence can materialize and that "losers" can win and that even odd-balls can overcome poor odds. Give this as a gift of encouragement to those (male and female) that may "think" there is no hope and let them witness that even when they feel as though they may "standing out in the field, alone and hopeless" the power of BELIEF can, will and does manifest into a life victory. A sweet story of success against all odds.

My husband and I are expecting our first child in June. I bought this as a gift for my husband to read to the baby. He was so excited to receive this! He read the book and immediately declared it, "Wicked Awesome." Get it! Every other line rhymes, and they are are not simplistic. We both have our degrees in education and feel this a good book to help develop children's personal histories.
Get it!

Our small grandson received one as he joined his dad and grandfathers (yes, one lives near Denver) for the current World Series. In his Red Sox regalia, he wanted it read to him again and again. His great-grandfather had seen the last Series before this one, just like the book talks about, and anyone with children who need to be raised as True Believers should make sure they have a copy to pass on to their children in the future.

Although this is a children's book, people of all ages will delight in it. The illustrations are genuine masterpieces.

The book warms up with a Red Sox game in 1918. Somebody's Great-Grandfather watches that game and celebrates the Red Sox' 2004 victory, poignantly reminicing about that 1918 victory. At the time of this review, Boston is celebrating the 2007 Sweep in the World Series against the Colorado Rockies! Go Boston!

Dirty Water was the anthem of the 2007 World Series. The Standells' classic was very a propos!

The illustrations bring history into the picture, literally with the Duck Float Parade; the 1918 lineup and the excitement of the game! Varitek, who helped the Red Sox barrel into victory in 2004 was also part of the Victory Team in 2007! Go, Boston!

I recommend this book for everyone. If you like good baseball and you love Boston, then you want this book. It will hit a home run into the hearts of all readers, just as Lowell hit that winning home run in Game 4 of the 2007 World Series! Go Boston!

Excellent book for any Red Sox fan young or old. Great story for the young, great nostalgia for the not-so-young! A must for any Bostonian!

Word cannot begin to say how insightful this author is. And still speaking to us many years after his death.

Once again Andrew Murray gives excellent counsel for spiritual growth. Every believer needs help along the way and Absolute Surrender is a great tool to use as a springboard. The message is meaty and to be taken in with the intent of life transformation! As Jesus lived His life in absolute surrender to Father God, so must we, and this book points the way!

THIS IS THE MOST WONDERFUL BOOK I HAVE EVER FOUND OTHER THAN Andrew Murray,THE POWER OF Intercession. I suggest the whole world would Understand the Bible A whole lot clearer if they just read Andrew Murray Books. What A wonderful Evnagelist he was.

This book was truly insightful and should be used as a tool to assist all who strives to improve their Christian walk.

Right up there near Brother Lawrence's "The Practice of the Presence of God" (free online at the Practice Gods Presence web site) are the wonderful works of Andrew Murray. "Absolute Surrender" is a classic in every sense.

These gifted children of God have a way of restating, enlivening, and magnifying the very words of Our Lord and do greatly glorify Our Father.

Alice McKinley's sick and tired of being in-between. At 13, she feels she's not really a woman, but hardly a child, either. One of her best friends, Pamela, suddenly seems too grown up and sexy, while their other friend, Elizabeth, seems to be regressing into childhood. Alice knows things will change over time, but who wants to wait?

Then, as a birthday surprise, Alice's Aunt Sally invites her, Pamela and Elizabeth to visit in Chicago. The trio is thrilled at the idea of traveling all the way from Washington D.C. on an overnight train, exploring a new city and spending time with Alice's cool older cousin Carol.

Of course, as is typical for Alice, nothing ever goes as planned. Pamela, determined to act older than she really is, flirts with trouble when she meets an older man on the train. Then, when the girls return, Alice's happiness is burst with sudden sad news about a favorite teacher.

As always, Naylor's Alice is a true-to-life heroine, funny and self-conscious in equal measure, sure to be enjoyed by readers of all ages.

Like all my life i have been seaching for a certain series of books about a girl and real life. When i found the alice books my search was done i love the alice books they are books i can read time and time agin.I just wanted you to know how much I LOVE THE ALICE BOOK SERIES
Love always
*~*Shawna clark*~*
p.s. me and my friends read these books togetherthey r that great
p.s.s. my e-mail address is tbird09692@aol.com

this book is really great. it's about alice turning 13 and she, Pamela, and Elizabeth going to Chicago over the summer for a week. To visit Aunt Sally because that was her b-day present to Alice.
At the end of the year, a teacher retires and Miss Summers gives everyone an assignment about poetry that is true. I like this book because the author indicates about friendships, going through changes when you're 13, and learning about sad things that had happened back in the past.
Like the fact Alice had accidentally memorized her wrong poem in class. The poem she had said was about her mother. It was sentimental and really sad.
So on the train to Chicago, Pamela meets a guy who is disrepectful. So read it for yourself. It explains about REAL teenage life and friendships. And Pamela gets gum in her hair and getting it cut really short.
Elizabeth tells Alice and Pamela about God. Like refusing to forgive someone is an unforgiveable sin and what God looks like in her opinion.
Alice's dad and Miss Summers go at a music conference together in Michigan when Alice gets back. So for the second time, read this if you're curious with REAL teenage life as 13.

I must say this is the best mistake I ever read....I mean that as a compliment because this story rox! This is a very funny and fun crazy unique story that will make you laugh when you turn to the first page..IM TELLING YOU, READ THIS, WHETHER YOU BUY IT, BORROW IT FROM THE LIBRARY, STEAL IT, i dont care, this is the best book ever and its about three friends on a 'road trip' on a train. P.S. Something very shocking happens to pamela on the train!

Sorry, that was me freaking out at how good this book was! I found it even more realistic and even more popping! I now feel I am one of the characters in this book. I also think that the part of the story where Pamela dressed up to be nineteen, got a date with a guy, flirted with him all night, kissed him, went into her compartment, the guy followed her in and if it hadn't been for Alice and Elizabeth throwing themselves at the door and screaming, she would've been raped very cautionary! Take this story to heart, no grain of salt needed and you may be surprised at how feel when this story is over.

Blessed be!!