Contemporary Books

I was so disappointed in the quality of the paper and print that I returned this book. A big part of the enjoyment of a new book for me is the physical quality of the product. I thoroughly enjoyed the author's other works and was disappointed not to read this one.

All the Live Little Things began the golden era of Wallace Stegner's writing career. Finding the right voice in a first person narrative, he followed this beautiful novel with Angle of Repose, The Spectator Bird and Crossing to Safety; all are highly acclaimed.
In All the Live Little Things Stegner brings to the page a great deal of raw material from his life. The character of Marian was a composite of friends who had died of cancer, Peck was a composite of the 60s "beatnik", which in real life caused Stegner to retire from teaching and devote his time fully to writing. The callousness of Dave Weld's bulldozing on virgin land reflected the author's long term concern for the environment. His beautiful description of nature throughout the novel, and use of nature as a learning tool, expressed his life-long love and dedication to the American West. Even Joe and Ruth Allston were drawn from the real life marriage of Wallace and Mary Stegner. This matrimonial understanding and bliss is reflected in the opening page of the recently published "Selected Letters of Wallace Stegner":
What does more to stay us and keep our backbones stiff while the
world reels than the sense that we are linked with someone who
listens and understand and so in some way completes us?

All the Live Little Things flows beautifully. It has rich, well written characters that keep the novel moving towards a bittersweet conclusion. I did not believe the plot was forced or took unnatural turns; rather it followed the characters as they thrashed about with their struggles, sins and destinies, all seen through the eyes of the flawed but wise Joe Allston. As the character says near the story's conclusion: "There is no way to step off the treadmill. It is all treadmill."

Stegner once wrote that "In fiction I think we should have no agenda but to tell the truth." All the Live Little Things does draw heavily from the truths of Stegner's life in the 1960s, but it also holds its own as a thoughtfully written fictitious story of pain, hope, resignation, acceptance, and other qualities that mark the human condition.

just a note for everyone
the hippie in the book was actually based on Ken Kesey

Wallace Stegner's _All the Little Live Things_ focuses on a nine-month period in 1967 in California and the lives of five neighboring families in a rural area on the verge of becoming a suburban subdivision. The first-person narrator, a crusty sixty-seven year old retired literary agent, Joe Allston, describes his relationships with his neighbors and his own struggles to maintain a healthy, ordered garden. Each of the five families has its own philosophy, whether explicit or implicit, and its own eccentricities. Much of the novel examines how people coexist and how lives become enmeshed. The Allston's garden, which despite Joe's efforts is constantly being overtaken by gophers and poison ivy, is a metaphor for how life all too often resists people's hopes and desires.

The Allstons are an older retired couple from Manhatten who have moved west to find solace and comfort in the anonymous quiet of gardening. The Welds have lived on the land for generations as farmers and with each generation must sell more and more land to survive. The LoPresti family is wealthy and socially connected. Fran, the wife, indulges her artistic sensibilities in sculpture, in part to deflect her tense relationship with her daughter Julie. The Caitlins are a young family new to the area. Marian, the wife and mother, is a beautiful thirty-year old woman whom Joe dotes over. The Allstons adopt Marian, her husband John, and their daughter, Debby. Finally, there is Jim Peck, a graduate student, who squats on the Allston property. Jim Peck and his "family" of accolytes represent the excesses of the 1960s counterculture and the dangers of chaos.

The novel works in a flashback sequence. As he walks around his property, Joe Allston reflects on the momentous events of the past year and his feelings of loss. He feels that he is "infected with consciousness and the consciousness of consciousness, doomed to death and the awareness of death." At the same time, he realizes that the loss he has suffered has made him richer (see the quote for the review) because death, in some sense, affirms the experience of having actually lived. Marian's view, which Joe accepts intellectually but not yet emotionally, is that one must "be open, be available, be exposed, be skinless." Throughout the novel, we see Joe stripping back the layers of himself in his self-reflection. We see his rage as well as his sensitivity and acceptance. He even seems to acknowledge that he has fallen in love again to fill the void in his relationship with his wife.

Interestingly, the ending of _All the Little Live Things_ is similar to Stegner's last novel _Crossing to Safety_ and is written with the same intensity. One of Stegner's gifts is his ability to depict multiple generations in his novels and the conflicting viewpoints of generations. While Stegner usually sides with the older generation, there is a continuity in outlooks among the old and the young. Joe learns about himself--his demons as well as his strengths--in his interactions with his neighbors.

This is my third Stegner novel including Angle of Repose and Crossing to Safety. All the Little Live Things has a more 'elemental' style than the other 2 novels. It is compact and extremely logical. There is not a throwaway sentence in the book. For anyone looking for deeper, relevant background reading - I suggest these pre-requisities prior to reading Little Live Things: Shakespears 'The Tempest' - where the literarary figures of 'Calaban (i.e., Peck)' and 'Prospero' are introduced. I would have been quite lost without having first read Tempest. Another great book that I think provides the 'mythological basis' for Little Live Things is Joseph Campbell's 'Pathways to Bliss'. In Campbell's book I learned the basic philosohpy of Jainism - which is the foundation for Marian Catlin's character as well as the title of the book. You get a better sense of the Joe Allison's heroic struggle as he confront his personal demons (personified by Peck)living deep in the gully across the 'spritual bridge' that he cannot bring himself to go across. Quite a hero's journey indeed.

Since I named my son Graham after Bill, I thought perhaps I should know a little bit more about his life. I now now know alot more!

It is written in a narative style which makes it very easy to read. The stories are told by the people who were there, some happy, some sad ,some very funny.

If you are interested in the life of this man or even the history of modern day Rock and Roll Concert Production, how it started and evolved, I highly recomend this book.

This book is a little weird (to me) in concept but it works out really well in the end. The book goes from Bill's early days in Nazi Germany all the way to his death with no major stone left unturned. Lots of great stories with very little in the way of punches being pulled. I mean Bill really tells you what he is thinking. Very uncensored. Covers the drugs and the behind scenes stuff with no BS involved. Shows the guy for who he was, warts and all and lets him and the people he is talking about retort one another which I thought was weird in a good way. This book is of great interest to anyone who has probably gotten to this point in reading reviews. If you are interested in this type of subject then this book is a must.

It's a good insight into the rock scene back in the 60's and 70's. A must read for anyone who likes classic rock.

i didn't realize how much bill graham did behind the scenes.
montery pop ,woodstock, altamont,ect............

This book is structured so that as Bill Graham comments on different times of his life, he allows the persons hes speaking of to comment in the next paragraph. This makes for some very interesting reading. Grham discusses his time in Korea and killing the enemy. This experience allows him to have an abundant amount of courage when it comes to dealing with band managers in the future. Bill discusses Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, Zeppelin, the Stones, J Geils Band, Santana, the Who and all the tense dealings with each of these personalities. This book could have benefitted from better pictures of the bands. Thats my only critical comment.

If you grew up watching and listening to Bobby Sherman, you will love this book. It chronicles his life in a very simple and enjoyable way. Love the pictures as well as the narrative. Nice size, just fun to flip through it and remember Bobby in his youth ... and our own younger years.

Sweet sweet Bobby! This was such a pleasure to read. This book lets you see Bobby not just as the pop star that we all loved at age 12 but,human. It also tells me that he remained grounded and still is my sweet sweet Bobby. No wonder I loved him at 12 and years later I'm still in like with him.

I recently purchased this wonderful book and am so delighted with it!!! It really does take you back in time to Bobby Sherman's early days - from babyhood on - in his own words - to his present life as an EMT instructor for the Los Angeles Police Department. It is filled with fabulous pictures, as well. He is as wonderful a man as I had always thought he was -kind, compassionate and GENUINE! Back in my teeny-bopper days, I, like so many young females, had a crush on him. I enjoyed listening to his songs, beginning with "Little Woman," and reading articles on him in the fan magazines. He was also a very good actor, as those of you who enjoyed viewing him on his TV classic, "Here Come the Brides", can testify. He is a man of many talents and, yet, has maintained a sweet, almost humble, personality through the years. That is amazing to me. Yet, he is very aware of the loyalty and love which his fans have kept for him through the years, and he admits he dearly cherishes those gifts. Bobby, we dearly cherish your gifts to us through the years, as well. You deserve to be recognized - and loved - for the very special person whom you have always been!!! For those of you who have had any kind of affection or admiration for Bobby Sherman - past or present - this book is guaranteed to warm your heart and soul!!! It is absolutely wonderful - just like him!! God bless you, Bobby!! I love you!

I purchased the book. I cannot wait to read it. It took me by surprise, he has a book. I know I will enjoy reading his book. The reviews were great by other readers. After reading it, I will write another review. Thanks for this opportunity to read about your favorite idol.

Nice, pleasant. Could have been longer but Bobby strikes me as a nice guy who may not be over-reflective or of the mind that there are limits to what anyone needs to know about his private life.

#2 in the Bodyguard series is even funnier than the first. Natasha is on her own this time, hired to guard a show dog named Chumley, who is so obnoxious he's cute, while trying to figure out who is threatening the dog's life. In her usual overzealous way, Natasha manages to get herself into some wacky situations. The chapter with the massage parlor involving Natasha, Pit and Bigun was so funny, I had to put the book down I was laughing so hard.

There's plenty of romance between Natasha and Striker, with the usual cast of quirky characters surrounding Natasha. Roger and Stevie aren't given much space in this book, and I hope to see more of them in future books.

A really fun, well-written series. I look forward to the next one.

I READ ALOT MORE OF THIS BOOK THAN I WANTED TO, DUE TO THE GLOWING REVIEWS...BUT IT NEVER GOT ANY BETTER. THERE'S NO DEPTH TO THE CHARACTERS AND A WASTE OF 3+ HOURS SPENT READING.

[...]

The Bodyguard and the Show Dog is Christy Tillery French's second installment in her Bodyguard series. By some bizarre cosmic twist, I am reading this series in reverse order. Fortunately, Ms. French's stories each stand on their own, and I am able to thoroughly enjoy this book on its own merits. Hang on for a wild ride!

This book is a fast and fun continuation (in either direction!) of the zany, madcap, e-ticket adventures of protection specialist Natasha Chamberlain, a diminutive, clumsy, danger-prone, feisty, gun-toting, southern girl from Tennessee. This time, Natasha has been hired to protect Chumley, a spoiled, stinky, sex-crazed champion show dog. The scene is impeccably set for the wacky situations that Natasha is (in)famous for, and Ms. French delivers on every page.

Although The Bodyguard and the Show Dog is humorous, breezy, summer fun, Ms. French's characters also deal some difficult topics, including animal abuse, with fitting vigilantly justice satisfyingly meted out in true Natasha fashion. Natasha has a strong, well defined moral character, and she always stands up for anyone who cannot stand up for themselves. She delivers apt punishments and has her own special way of dealing with the worst offenders.

This book is truly a wild ride, well written, fasted paced, and very, very funny. The characters are endearing, the situations are hilarious, and the love making is hot. What more could you want? I can't think of a thing.

Hands up everyone who ever fell for a smelly little dog ... or for a hectic, independent heroine with poor impulse control ... or for a handsome hunk of a man not afraid of anything but being too much in love. Anyone left out there? How about a bunch of crazy friends and relatives and an adventure with the energy of a skyrocket?

Oh yes, there's something for everyone in The Bodyguard and the Show Dog (Bodyguard). This is the second book in author Christy Tillery French's BODYGUARD series and it's a wonderful rollicking ride. Natasha Chamberlain is determined to pursue her chosen career -- protection specialist -- in spite of her boyfriend Jonce's objections. When Myrtle Galbreath hires Nattie to protect her prize pug, Chumley, it ought to be simple, right? Then why does Nattie wind up in the Emergency Department so often? Why are people shooting at her? What, for that matter, is Nattie doing hanging around biker bars and massage parlors, and driving around with bags of horse manure? And the big question: how does she get anything done at all with her interfering mother and grandmother on her heels and Jonce's heavyweight employees trying to protect her?

For all the laugh-out-loud action and dialogue, there are some serious elements to the story. Nattie's a thoroughly modern young woman and she wrestles with her need for independence. When Nattie and Jonce are together the sparks fly, and she worries about being drawn into his orbit and losing herself. Jonce, on the other hand, struggles with his urge to protect her from her own decisions. These problems play out in an entertaining "show, don't tell" fashion thanks to the effective character portrayal.

Christy Tillery French is strongly committed to the humane treatment of animals, and this theme is also played out poignantly in Show Dog. Don't be fooled by the fact that Chumley's got his papers -- there are plenty of animals that need rescuing and Nattie does her best for them all.

Just by chance I'm working my way backward through this series of three BODYGUARD books. I just hope that by the time I finish the first installment, there will be a new set of Nattie's adventures for my enjoyment. Don't miss out! Get your hands on these books and enjoy the fun.

Linda Bulger, 2008

"The Bodyguard and the Show Dog" by Christy French is a book that will entertain the reader for hours on end. The characters are easy to relate to and the plot (like most of Ms. French's stories) will leave the reader eager to read the next book in the series.

I am a huge fan and truly enjoy all of Ms. French's books. If you have not had a chance to sample any of her stories then this is the perfect book to begin with. You will quickly become a fan too!

I meant to post a review of this book when it first came out but I have been on location in France and haven't had the chance to get it done until now. For this Ms. French, I'm sorry. Better late than never, I suppose.

I enjoyed your new book very much! Keep them coming.

John Savoy
International Film Maker
California

In this mosaic of stories, Lillian comes of age and matures beyond her years, almost against her will. With an alcoholic father and a fragile, flighty mother, Lillian, with her siblings, struggles with her troubled family, and yet they all fiercely love each other, flaws and all. While this isn't a conscious feeling, it does crackle beneath the surface and colors the actions of everyone. Lillian navigates a lonely path encompassing sexuality and a yearning to be free. With a crisp voice and a vivid portrait of Acorn Lake, Minnesota, "A Brief History of the Flood" waxes almost nostalgic as it nudges the reader through these various tales that deliver a surprising portrait of a family unbalanced.

The perfect choice for a book club looking for an undiscovered gem, this is a delightful read that is lean enough to consume in one sitting, or savor over a few days. It's a coming of age story told through the eyes of young Lillian Anderson, a girl growing up in the sixties in a small town in Minnesota. Chapters are short bursts of her life: her Mother's dramatic mood swings, her Father's alcoholism, first sexual experience, first job, first crush.All told with an honest intimacy that at times feels less like a novel, and more like someone's diary entries. Her heroine at times reminded me of Astrid in "White Oleander", and if that was a book you liked you'd probably enjoy this one as well. A well written, comfortable first novel.

This book literally found me (and I must say that I am really glad it did.) I am still unsure how this slim little gift of a novel made it into my hands, but according to the Amazon.com reciept, it is a gift from the author so I figured: What the hell, I'll read this and see what I think. So, I cracked open the cover and was wonderfully entertained right up until the end.

Lillian Anderson is a strong-minded, fiery, wise-beyond-her years-girl who tells the story of her family, her perpetually run-down house and her life in rural Acorn Lake, Minnesota. Lillian begins narrating the story at the age of eight and it continues virtually seamlessly, with Lily's steady hand on the pulse of her family until the age of nineteen. Lily's mother, Marion is a neurotic, manic depressive personality who always has some wierd project in the works. Jack, Lily's Dad, is an alcoholic but no one ever talks in such negative terms. Marion seems to be able to put a positive spin on everything that's wrong, even her husband's years of substance abuse. Oldest child, Randy, (age twelve when the book begins is the dyed-in-the-wool peacekeeper of the family. Mitzy, the middle daughter, seems to see her mother for what she really is and is very bitter about it. Mitzy has no trouble saying what's on her mind and even at ten years of age is tired of ignoring the pink elephant in the living room. I am amazed that Lilian seems to be the only sane one in the family and has learned, (certainly not through example) to take care of herself. She has learned to become a mother figure for the youngest, Davey who is too young to understand the extent of the chaos in the family.

I love coming of age stories and this one was a very good one. It reminded me very much of ELLEN FOSTER by Kaye Gibbons and AMY & ISABELLE by Elizabeth Strout. The writing and the imagery and the lanuage of A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE FLOOD were very high caliber. I will be watching for more from this author.

I wasn't bothered at all by the fact that this book was originally chopped up into several short stories. The stories came together so well and the novel made such an impact that I can't imagine it in any other form. Bravo to a wondeful new writer.

I concur with the opinions expressed by the other reviewers. I casually picked this book up at the library as part of a stack of summer reading. It's such a joy to start a book with no expectations whatsoever and be so tremendously satisfied. I am a bit puzzled, however, at the author's choice of the short story format. Why write a series of short stories and then package them together chronologically this way, so that the result is an "almost" novel? Because each story is meant to stand alone, there is some repetitiousness in certain descriptions of people and places--yet we are obviously intended to read them as a whole. I'd be interested to know whether the stories were written and/or published individually, and, if so, in what order they appeared. Are you out they Ms. Harfenist? Please enlighten us!

  A Brief History of the Flood is that rare book that can't be put down, and one you'll want to read again and again.  Like pieces in a jigsaw puzzle, each chapter fits together with a satisfying click to reveal an insightful picture of an unforgettable family of unique characters. Read the excerpt and I guarantee you'll be captivated by Harfenist's voice, wit, and the wisdom that comes with understanding how we all grow up survivors of imperfect families. If you liked Mary Karr's memoir, The Liars Club, you will love this book. It may be billed as fiction, but it has the unmistakable ring of truth. Ironically, A Brief History of the Flood turns out to be a life preserver--reminding each of us how our unique childhood journeys help determine our destination in the world, and how understanding the past can buoy us in the present.

Hart has crafted a great story here. The plot is tight, and of course the characters are believable. In this book Annie struggles to free her beloved Max as he's being framed for the murder of a beautiful young woman. She is dealing with a truly crafty and cold-blooded murderer, but she does not hesitate to put herself in harm's way if it will get her to the truth. Ms. Hart builds up the suspense throughout the book right up until the end when he is finally caught. It is easy to see why Caroline Hart has won so many awards. She is truly gifted. I really do enjoy this series.

This is Carolyn Hart's 17th mystery in the Death on Demand series alone. She can't turn them out fast enough for me. I loved it, all the way through.

I had only two problems with the book: (1)I really relate to Max Darling -- what loving husband wouldn't? -- and he is incapacitated and powerless virtually the entire book. (2)For more than a hundred pages I believed I knew the identity of the murderer; I was wrong.

What a fine read. And when is No. 18 coming out?

I feel this may be the death knell of my love for the Death on Demand series. The previous book was disappointing as well. The "Max-in-peril" plot has been used twice before. And in those cases, Annie did not react like she did in this one. She was too serious, intense, morose. Not that I can't sympathize, but I guess my point is, the whole book was too serious, dark, etc. I like the lighter, funnier books Carolyn Hart used to do. I want Laurel being zany; Emma being intimidating; Henny channeling fictional detectives. And where's Miss Dora? I love her! Hasn't been in a book in ages. Plus, there weren't enough suspects in this one. It was pretty easy to narrow down 'who-dun-it'. I still give 3 stars cause Carolyn Hart is great, but I hope she returns to form in the next books.

Dead Days of Summer
Carolyn Hart

If you like murder mysteries or the author Sue Grafton, you will love Carolyn Hart's Dead Days of Summer. The book is one is a long series called Death on Demand. I have no idea where this book fits into the whole picture, but I never once felt that I was left out of the loop because I had not read any of the others. The book does not have a strong Christian base, but it does speak of the Lord, church, belief, and faith. There is even a character who quotes scripture. As a Christian you would not feel weird, or wrong reading this book.

The story opens up on the slow side, and introduces you to a lot of characters right off the bat. This is definitely one that you have to pay attention to from page one or you could get lost in the mix of all the mayhem.

Annie Darling is the main character. The story revolves around her and her husband Max. Annie is the owner of a mystery book store called Death on Demand. Max is a private detective, but cannot call himself one because of the laws of the island that they live on. Broward Rock is the name of the island that they live on. It is one of the islands off of South Carolina.

Annie and Max had lunch together and are walking back to their offices, Annie insists that Max go to the office today and maybe someone will come in. Annie goes to her bookstore and immediately picks up where she left off on planning Max's surprise birthday party. Her mother-in-law Laurel is helping with the planning. It is almost close of business time when Max calls and says that he has a client and will be home later and call if it is going to be real late.

The client that hires Max is a beautiful woman who says that she is looking for her brother who disappeared the previous year. She shows Max pictures of him, and a note that states that he is seen most nights at a place called Dooley's Mine, which is a sleazy bar, that not many people would be caught dead at. They plan to meet there later that evening to scope the place out and see if he is there.

Max never calls and Annie freaks out. She goes to Max's place of business and finds and intruder. She then calls the police. Nothing is making sense, and just as a precaution a missing persons is released, just on a hunch because there is not enough evidence to go on. Annie calls all of their friends and they all start looking for Max. The friends that she calls are a mystery writer, and ex-military woman, an ex-editor, an ex-reporter, an actress, a newspaper man, and others.

The next morning they find a woman who has been murdered, and Max's car just outside the cabin that she has been murdered in. They don't find Max though. Annie knows from gut instinct that this is the person who hired Max. When they don't find Max, the search is on even harder. One of the friends Emma, who is the author, hires a great attorney for them, since it now looks like Max is wanted for murder.

Later on the same day that they find the dead woman, they find Max. He wakes up, confused, sick, and covered in blood. When the police find him they take him into custody for the murder of Vanessa Taylor, who is the woman that they found dead in the cabin. Max has never heard of Vanessa Taylor, and cannot remember anything that has happened. The police chief ends up having to put Max under arrest for the murder of the woman. While he is in the cell, Annie enters the jail and they talk. She vows to find who set him up, and get to the bottom of all of this mess.

Annie, her mother-in-law and her friends do just that. The majority of the book is them sleuthing around and getting information. They follow leads and end up unraveling the whole set up. Max is freed and life goes on as usual.

The book on the whole is good. It takes a long time for the story to develop and get into the action. If you are into meat and grit from page one this one will leave you wanting. If you have patience and don't mind a long build up and climax, then this is the book for you. Ms. Hart has wonderful characters and many of them. She also finds a way to keep them all tied to the story, even if it is just a sentence in the middle of the book. That is a definite gift, and I am glad that she does not leave the reader wondering what happened to so and so even if they were a minor character. Not a bad read at all, life as usual...until the next Death on Demand book.

Max Darling, a murderer? Annie Darling knows there isn't a chance Max is a murderer, but all of the evidence is stacked against him. After all, his car is found with the murder weapon inside and Max himself was covered in blood with no memory as to what had happened. Annie is willing to do whatever it takes to clear Max's name, even if it means putting herself in harm's way. Will Annie and her friends clear Max's name or will Max forever be branded as an adulterous murderer?

DEAD DAYS OF SUMMER is Carolyn Hart's 17th book in the series, but it is my first foray into her world. Needless to say, it will not be the last Carolyn Hart book I read! Ms. Hart draws even a new reader to the series into her vastly entertaining world, populated by the most colorful characters. Annie and Max have a variety of quirky friends and Ms. Hart makes the most of each individual's unique skills in this clever mystery. In fact, the characters are the true heart of this tale as the mystery itself is fairly easy to figure out. It is the characters who keep the reader turning the pages. After all, who knows what crazy plan this group will come up with next in their quest to clear Max's name?

Carolyn Hart does a beautiful job at establishing the community on Broward's Rock, South Carolina. Not only are the inhabitants vividly portrayed, but one gets a real sense of the layout of the island. Generally, the further a series progresses, the harder it is for new readers to jump in the midst of the storyline as the characters and settings are fairly well established. Instead, Carolyn Hart easily welcomes new readers into her Death on Demand series with DEAD DAYS OF SUMMER. Count me in as a new fan!

COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES

Hi all. I really enjoyed reading this book. If you've ever wondered like I have about the life and goings on behind the scenes of flight crews, the people who do the real work minus the pilots then this is the book for you. I couldn't put it down it was so incredibly interesting. It was like reading a diary. I only wish I could have been in on the ground floor of the blog.

I guess I expected a modern version of "Coffee, Tea or Me", so in that regard I was a bit disappointed. As a Delta million miler and platinum member, I really wanted to read about her altercation with Delta, but again there was not much there. Obviously the terms of her agreement must have placed a limit on what she could disclose. I thought the blog format was a bit tedious to read - blogs are OK when read in real time, but a year's worth is a bit much.

The good part is that the author came across as a very genuine person that you couldn't help but like, and I could identify with many of her travel experiences.

Wow! This book is AWESOME! For someone who never reads books, I COULD NOT STOP once I started. I got the book in the mail on a Monday and was finished by Tuesday afternoon. When you are reading this book, you feel like you are right there with her along the way. This Book will literally make you laugh and cry. Ellen Simonetti did a fantastic job telling the reader the true side of being in the airline industry. A+++ JOB!

The book came in at the perfect time. I was having my own problems, but picked this book up, and it literally did help me. It made me realize that I am not the only person on this earth with problems, and she is just an everyday person that has helped so many people by making this book. So please, do yourself a favor and buy this book. I promise you will not be disappointed.

I have become a blogger thanks for Ellen Simonetti, aka Queen of Sky. Her tales of life as a flight attendant gave me chuckles reading it online, and now in this book, I enjoyed her tales once more. This is proof that "It's sure different up here."
I know some relatives and friends who are or were flight attendants, and I have a great deal of respect for this profession. I certainly respect Ellen and her work, and take my hat off to her for her honest, yet entertaining account in "Diary of a Dysfunctional Flight Attendant: The Queen of Sky Blog."
Reading of catching commuter flights to and from "Bustling Base City," bidding for flights, working flights to various destinations in Latin America and Europe, and interesting layovers may make some readers wish they weren't flight attendants, but others may be intrigued enough to give it a go. You certainly get a wonderful ride with Ellen working the cabin, so to speak.
I found it just about impossible to put down. Put yourself in the upright position, seat belt on, tray table up, and enjoy your read!

I truly loved this book. Queen of the Sky's stories are fun and exciting, the writing is great, and the blog format makes entirely different from anything else I've read (and really fun to read). I loved having the Queen of the Sky as a companion for as long as the book lasted me, which unfortunately was only 2 days because I couldn't put it down!! I look forward to any future books that Ellen writes. She is a great person: adventurous, fun, smart and corageous (as well as a very creative person and a great writer!).

I wholeheartedly recommend this book!

Paola.

"The place was close to perfect." This is how Jonathan Luckett's awesomely gripping thriller, Dissolve, opens. According to manuals on creative writing, the first line of a story is important. It hooks a reader in. It creates the tone of the novel. It sets the stage for the narrative which is about to ensue. Nevertheless, Luckett uses this sentence to lull his readers into a false sense of security and comfort. It is the proverbial calm before the storm that is Dissolve which will have you not wanting to put the book down until the end. And even then one is left craving... for more like David Sands, the protagonist of Dissolve, who pines for Nona, the object of his affection who disappears after she and David spends a steamy night of unbridled passion. Following his encounter with Nona, David discovers that his mysterious lover maybe a woman who allegedly was murdered by her husband in the house next door to his apartment. From this point on, Luckett masterfully takes his readers on a roller coaster ride, wondering is Nona a ghost--a sensual succubus preying on David--or alive.

Take it upon Luckett to not only create an erotic, macabre tale filled with suspenseful twists and turns but create a work that challenges readers to rethink their views on women and female sexuality. Though set in contemporary times, the character Nona is an Afro-donning throwback to the seventies--a decade known for women's liberation and, doubly, the sexual revolution. In the story, we find that Nona is the wife of a possessive, controlling and (eventually) abusive husband named Malik. Malik's treatment of Nona and the strain it places on their marriage lead Nona to question why women are conditioned and socialized to be subservient to the men in their lives. Most importantly, she ponders the double standard our puritanical culture has upheld in regards to women who enjoy expressing themselves sexually. "Why is it, she [Nona] thought, as she absent-mindedly fingered her pubes, that men can go running the streets, sticking their dicks into anything that moves without a care or a worry, and yet, when women do it, it was a different story?" Here, Luckett proves that he wants to do more than entertain his audience; he wants to foster cerebral dialogue about the mores of our society. That is, are we moving forward or are we moving back? The author does this most excellently via the character Brehan, an artist who becomes smitten by Nona during the course of the narrative. Brehan is an enigma: he is a free-spirited thinker who questions what he is told and taught, instead of accepting information blindly. Brehan's opinions about love and relationships are, especially, revolutionary and radical even for this century we're in. He tells Nona: "'I believe in a wide spectrum of alternatives when it comes to loving someone--most people see two extremes: dating and marriage, with little to nothing in between. I, on the other hand, see an infinite spectrum of possibilities, and it is these possibilities that excite me to my core--it's what drives me to paint--to create. You feel me?'" That is a question, of many, Luckett's characters pose that may remain unanswered even after one reads the final page of the story.

Jonathan Luckett simply cannot be stopped. His works, themselves, are showstoppers. Just think Jennifer Hudson's singing "And I am Telling You, I'm Not Going," and how that makes you feel inside and maybe you might come close to how reading a Jonathan Luckett novel feels. And Dissolve is Luckett at his bone-chilling best.

I began reading this book, and, as I often do, attempted to read two books simultaneously. Well, the other book lost out when I began to read and turn pages in my read of Jonathan Luckett's Dissolve. This book is so mysterious that just when I thought I knew what would occur or just when I thought I had the characters figured out, I then was not certain. Mysterious, yes in deed! Well written, yes in deed! Great read, yes in deed! Great fiction, yes in deed! Pay close attention. But, do not at any time believe you have it all figured out and do not take a lengthy break....you will miss something. I was so pulled into the characters of Nona and David Sands, that I had to flip back pages to re-read and attempt to determine what really happened. My advice to the reader as you read this mysterious, erotic thriller of a book is to pay very close attention. Thank you Jonathan!
"Brandy" of the Diverse Divas Book Club

Wow...I am still pondering the conclusion of this thriller. Dissolve is a page turner with its sensual and very visual twists and turns. I could really feel David's painful search for love and Nona's desire to be fulfilled in life. I can't wait to read a follow-up to this!

Next up The Mating Game :)

- THJ

I could not put this book down! My heart was pumping the entire time!! And for a variety of reasons. Read it and you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. Just when I thought I guessed right about a situation in the book, I was graciously set straight. I never would have correctly guessed how this story would end. Check it out. You will not regret it. I have read all of Jonathan Luckett's books, and look forward to the next one. Jonathan Is a wonderful storyteller.

Come take a trip through time in this book Dissolve by Jonathan Luckett. Close your eyes and imagine a smoky lounge, mellow jazz playing in the background and a cool breeze floating by drawing your attention to the most beautiful creature you ever saw. Meet David Sands, a painter, who just moved into a nice lofty brownstone. As he gazes out the window he sees a vision of loveliness. It is a cool summer night and he sits watching shadows playing tricks with his eyes; a goddess so to speak entices him to sit every night at the same window hoping to get another look. But after a visit from the mystery woman she vanishes and he is on the hunt looking for love in all the wrong places.

Nona is a married woman who is very much in love with her husband, but realizes that maybe she married the wrong man. Malik is a jealous, controlling, over-bearing husband, who wishes to keep his wife locked away at home. Nona wants to be a free spirit, in charge of her life, and to model. With captivating good looks and a beautiful body, she is desired by all and her husband is not too happy about that.

David watches Nona from across the courtyard, when she suddenly disappears only to appear at his front door. Surprised and happy to have her so close they engage in unbridled sex and David is swept off his feet. He has to have Nona in his life or he will die.

Dissolve is a love story, mystery novel, and erotica all rolled up into one hell of a book. I could not put it down. The descriptions and details were so vivid I felt like I was a character in the book. This was a well-told story, and I recommend this book to anyone who loves a great story with a twist of an ending.

Reviewed by: Cheryl H
APOOO BookClub

these books are a delight to read. i first read them to our sons (the oldest is now 40). this set is for my grandson. charming, well written stories, all with an underlying moral.

These books are classics. I bought them for myself, but plan to read them to my children as they grow older. I had read "Charlotte's Web" in grade school. It was a pleasure to read the others!

So many kids books are written so poorly, and with such poor structure and weak story lines, they make it hard to convey any sense of flow or emotion to your kids. To pick up these classics reminds one of the golden age when authors wrote stories with meaning and impact. Glowing descriptions, scene setting introductions to chapters, polite conversations recorded in proper English, all this is the heritage of EB White and these books. Highly, highly recommended - your kids will not want to stop reading and listening...makes bedtime each night a joy because they can't wait to find out what happens next.

Louis is the main character and he is a swan. He can't talk to other swans. Sam Beaver, a boy takes Louis to school, where he learns to read and write. But this isn't work to other swans and actually Louis was in love with the beautiful swan, Serena, and she spurns hin because he was defective. And Louis's father, the old cob, does a difficult thing. He stoles a trumpet so his son would be able to win his love. Louis wins on his love and pay the trumpet money.

My 6-year-old daughter and I throughly enjoyed all three stories.

Most Creative Story: The "Trumpet Swan" because of the way White takes the reader to different places and settings through the eyes of Louis the Swan.

Most Profound Story: "Charlotte's web". Of all my years of education it took this simple book to grasp a real appreciation of nature and the web of life.

Funniest Story: "Stuart Little". Most of us have on more than one occassion laughed ourselves to tears upon reading, hearing, or watching some funny event. My last time occurred when reading about the trials and tribulations that Stuart had to endure in order to wash himslef in the morning (Picturing him swinging a mallot to turn on the hot water was for me hysterically funny!). I found the Stuart Little of this book much more cute and amusing than the one in a recent movie with the same title.

I usually pass on my romance novels... not this one. It's dog eared, well read many times over, and the spine cracked beyond recognition. I pop on here every few months hoping to find that she has started writing again. This book is just so good!!

When I know I am getting to the part about the rabbits, I make sure there are tissues close at hand... because I laugh so hard, I cry.

I do hope she starts to write again. What a wonderful story. I hated for it to end.

I read this one several months ago, and I dearly regret not reviewing it right after I read it. But, I can tell you, it
stuck with me, because of the plot, the charaters, the detail.
It was just awesome. It felt like it went up & beyond what is
required of a time travel, or even of just a great read! That's
how taken with it I was.

On the 1-10 scale, I would be a good solid 12.
On the star scale, 7 stars. This book was that outstanding.

If you're moving to a desert island or running from a burning house, be sure to grab this one on the way out. It's just totally awesome. It's too bad Amy Elizabeth doesn't appear to
be writing anymore. I haven't read much of her work (yet), but
what I have read is outstanding.

This book was excellent. It kept me wanting to read "just one more chapter" all night long!

In Seattle, Ivy Raymond owns and operates an antique store, ENCHANTED TIME. She normally sees sellers by appointment or in bulk lots, but to rid herself of the pesky elderly woman, she agrees to look at the package. Inside is a book from the sixteenth century that obviously is worth a lot, but the woman insists on $100 or she will sell it to the nearby bookstore owner. A stunned Ivy feels some sort of weird inexplicable connection to the names inside the tome and buys the book.

Ivy reads some of the incantations only to find the spells work though she remains skeptical. However, the last spell she cites sends her back to the drafty abode of a seventeenth century gentleman, Julian Ramsden. As they fall in love, he wonders if she is a spy working for his enemy trying to stop Julian from regaining all he lost. Then there is the Witch Hunter General who will hang female family members of Julian including his beloved Ivy if he is not stopped in time.

This is a reprint of an enchanting mid 90s time travel romance that is one of the sub-genre's best. The story line is exciting due to a tremendous cast who will make moving back and forth in the time stream seem possible. Ivy is a wonderful heroine and her beloved is a delightful hunk struggling between love and desire vs. trust. The secondary characters provide depth to the mid-seventh century especially the Witch Hunter General. Readers will have an ENCHANTED TIME perusing Amy Elizabeth Saunders' appealing tale.

Harriet Klausner

Wonderful time-travel. Ivy is sent back in time by reading a book sold to her by an old lady. She arrives in England at the time of the Commonwealth, witch-hunting & Cromwell from her home & business Enchanted Time in Seattle.

My one hope is that Amy will write a sequel to it for Daisy & Suzanna. I'd love to see them in the 21st. century with their grandmother & Winston. And what about poor Josiah Feake (the witchfinder general) lost in the future. I loved the ending with Josiah ending up in a mental institution & the picture was perfect. Please Amy write us a sequel.