Short Stories Books

A great read. Perfect for the multi-tasking woman reading on the go or filling rarely vacant snippets of time. Quick, humorous stories that satisfy the need to read without bogging a girl down in a plot line. You'll love it!

Lucy Adams is the author of If Mama Don't Laugh, It Ain't Funny

If you want to forget your problems and just enter funny land...then read this book. I seldom laugh out loud while reading books;...this one, though, has made up for all the others. It's really truly spittin' chucklin' good.

I read a few chapters each night so I could guarantee that I would go to sleep laughing. Georgia Richardson (aka Queen Jaw Jaw) has been through it all and came out writing so we could laugh with her. You may recognize yourself and wonder why you weren't laughing when it happened to you. Thank you, Queenie, for your unique and Southern perspective.

It takes a southern person, a female southern person at that, to come up with the side-splitting situation Georgia Richardson relates to things which happen to us all, but which Georgia finds hilarity in it. And writes about it . . . hilariously. I read this book with tears in my eyes, because of such topics as "Dreaming of Elvis, Mel Gibson, Bob Villa." Because my wife has cataracts, I read it to her. She cried also. From laughing. You want to see how everyday things and everyday situations can bring a smile, then a snort, then a guffaw, then uncontrollable laughter? By this book and find out why

Queen JawJaw has written a wonderfully humorous book with lots of stories I could relate to! It's 'laugh out loud' funny and I can't wait for the next book. Maybe if we all send her a package of Oreos, she'll get it done faster - I understand she CAN be bribed! Enjoy!

este libro es muy bueno, como todos los de la serie, por supuesto. se lo recomiendo a los padres que quieren tener a sus hijos leyendo libros en lugar de estar pegados al nintendo wii!

English is my first language and as an adult I love reading the Harry Potter books. Because I'm learning Spanish, who better to practice on than Harry?! I purchased all 5 in the series available. The book arrived in excellent condition and very quickly. Quite pleased with my purchase experience.

I just LOVE this book, and all the harry potter books. I wanted to say to Eric J Justice, who wrote a review above, that your review was incorrect. It DIDNT have a mistake; saying QUE TE TENGO DICHO es right. In fact, im pretty sure what you said was right too. But anyway, anyone who hasn't read this should, but read the SORCERER'S STONE first, because it's really best to read them in order.

I'm a high school student taking Spanish as my foreign language. I decided one day to buy Harry Pooter y la Cámara Secreta to help with my Spanish. Though some of the words aren't what I'm use to I still understood it and it helped my Spanish greatly. Many of the higher level Spanish classes are reading this also. For students taking Spanish this is a great way to help with your Spanish. It puts your knowledge to use and it helps you to remember things better. They're just as great as the English version!

Aconsejo no prestar demasiada atención a las críticas que se quejan del vocabulario castizo en contraposición al vocabulario americano. No hay prácticamente nada que un lector castellanohablante educado no pueda entender, y el castellano utilizado en el libro es adecuado para la trama.
La traducción en sí, exceptuando algún resbalón con el subjuntivo, es gramaticalmente correcta. No conozco el original en inglés.

El argumento abunda en lo descriptivo, con un ritmo de la acción lento durante casi toda la obra, concentrando la mayor parte del desenlace en los últimos 3 o 4 capítulos. La sensación de desasosiego que algunas críticas mencionan en este sentido es leg?tima.

En general, la obra es medianamente entretenida y contribuye a adquirir vocabulario.

There is no story it's equal. When I think of a man truly loving a woman, this book comes to mind. It's the most deeply intimate telling of one man's heart, mind and soul. Is it possible love like this is possible by a man or a woman for the other? The story is to be nestled and protected for its lofty ideology. I view the Harvesters love for the woman as many saintly priests and nuns have loved God...deeply beyond what most of us can grasps with our worldliness. I might buy this book for my teenage nieces--they should read this story. Why? I wonder if they could, in their wildest fantasies, imagine a young man loving them similarily. Perhaps they may be more choosy in whom they date.

Gene Stratton-Porter is an excellent author. His books hold your interest and take you to a time where stress is far less an issue. His characters are fully developed and richly represented. An excellen book for peaceful reading.

I loved this book, although it definitely did not compare to The Girl of the Limberlost which is my all-time favorite.

I first read this book 37 years ago. It was the original book published in 1911 and belonged to my 1st husbands grandmother. It was written of a quieter time, the slower paced, clean living and was very inspirational. I loved all the information about the nature and plants. I started out trying to recreate the "Yellow Garden" several years ago. I now have a gorgeous garden with many of the same perennials and herbs listed in the book. The garden has certainly evolved from just yellow to every color in nature. I have passed down the love of gardening to my daughters by sharing the flowers and herbs from my own garden. I have thoroughly enjoyed this book.

I can't count the number of times I've read and re-read this book. Pretty sentimental by today's standards, but the basic story tells of a country man of character who falls deeply in love with a city girl who has issues. That description doesn't do justice to Gene Stratton-Porter's touching romance, but if I had to pare my library down to just 20 books, this one would be in the "keepers."

Heavy/Light book - hard to explain. There is a realness to the characters that made me say "Hey, I know that person!" and sometimes even, "Eeek! Too like the self I don't want to be!" This ain't no fairytale collection. This is life, complete with trips to the toilet. Not exactly anti-heros, the main characters show their flaws unknowingly as they search to move forward, often even unsure what direction is forward or which way to up. Some do successfully navigate towards up. There is some hope. But some also stagnate and a few slide further down. The stories hang in my head weeks after reading them. Thankfully, Bannan has a wonderful dry wit that helps us do more than muck our way through human exposure. We can wade along splashing, enjoying the lightness of the weight that reveals our world to us and makes us think.

Keith Banner, just reviewed in the New York Times for his "Smallest People Alive," also from Carnegie Mellon University Press, says on the Inventing Victor back cover: "Jennifer Bannan's Inventing Victor is a sharply written collection of funny, unnerving short stories that never settle for easy answers. Bannan's characters, self-reflective losers negotiating their ways through life with the low-volume enthusiasm of pro-bowlers, narrate each story in deceptively simple voices. But the stories themselves are never simple or deceptive. Bannan is after a kind of truth most literary writers try to avoid: brutal honesty in the face of all the bad things human beings do to each other. The title story alone is worth the price of admission. Fast-paced yet creepily intense, hilarious and very sad, it tells the story of a 15-year-old girl who can't stop lying, even while she knows this lying is slowly destroying her life. As you read this story, you start questioning all the lies you've ever told in order to impress people, all the ways in which dishonesty is sometimes all you have to keep yourself interesting, and maybe even aware of who you are."

This is the kind of book you want to give as a gift to all your friends. In fact, I did that. It's a beautiful collection of witty and moving stories, with characters who are so vividly drawn they seem like people you might have known once. It's the kind of book you'll read more than once; the kind of book that makes you remember why you love short stories. I highly recommend it.

We've all read stories that wipe out any trace of energy by trying so hard to be profound. And then there is gorgeous prose that doesn't manage to say much of anything. And then there is Inventing Victor. With pitch-perfect language, fresh takes on familiar insecurities and fantasies, and one wicked sense of humor, this one stays with you long after you're turned the last page. A really stunning debut.

Ms. Bannan's style defies categorization in that her stories are seemingly unrelated and there is no recognizable theme unifying them, which makes for each story its' own unique read, and makes for a small book packing an assortment of refreshing voices. She also embodies a literary style that is both masculine and feminine, vulnerable and pragmatically caustic. She is a fine teller of stories, less focused on melodic writing than on luring you in with the guts of the story itself, with the guts of the characters' thoughts and actions, and thus you are anxious to know what precisely is going to happen next. Written with a good deal of assurance, confidence and downright moxy.

When I was in 5th grade (25 or so years ago), our teacher, Mrs. Smith had a reward system where if the class got enough checks, we could redeem them for various treats. Time after time, once we got enough checks, we'd beg her to read to us from this book. I don't recall our class ever asking for anything else. I'd strongly recommend this one to parents of kids of any age. This, to me, is as good as American fairy tales get.

This book is very dear to my heart. The stories told in this book came from my family, R.M. Ward. I grew up hearing my grand parents, father & Richard Chase tell these tall tells. I read them to my kids now and I hear my relatives in my head so I begain tellin-um like they told me.My hope is that these stories live on through the generations of my family as well as other families.I love hearing my daughter ask for just one more just like I did.

I remember reading an earlier version of this book as a child. The collection of folk tales is as enjoyable to read as an adult as it was years ago. In fact, I can now bring my children the tales of the Appalachian Mountains and let their imaginations run wild with giants, witches, talking animals, and a witty little scoundrel like Jack. The tales are preserved in a very close "mountain vernacular" language. There is a noticable difference between some stories in the use of terminology, but this helps me to envision another storyteller spinning the yarn in his/her own fashion, which is part of the fun of listening to folk tales. My only complaint is that the collection is not larger.

I had this book as a child, and loved it so much that I bought it for my own children and read them a story out of it every night until they had heard all the stories it offered, and they loved it, too.

I heard about this book from a teacher who used to sub. in inner city schools. She said kids always remembered her for it. It's a compilation of short stories that are supposed to be told orally. They use HEAVY Appalachian dialect and I had thought that might be a problem for my second language learners, but THEY LOVED THEM. The stories tell of how Jack (from the beanstalk) outsmarts giants in different situations. His tricks often have a violent description, but because he's doing it to giants, it's not very traumatizing. A terrific oral language developer, and a whole lot of fun!!

In the late 1860s Prussia, led by Kaiser Wilhelm and Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, engaged the French government headed by Napoleon III in heated negotiations over the throne of Spain and the sovereignty of the Low Countries. The dispute grew as France looked for a fight.

France declared war in 1870 but was ill prepared to fight the ensuing Franco-Prussian War. Poorly equipped and incompetently led, the French soldiers were badly used. The result, from the French point of view was a catastrophe. At the battle of Sedan the Prussians captured over 100,000 French troops and Napoleon III himself. France was forced to cede Alsace-Lorraine to the Germans. In the immediate aftermath of the war, a left-wing rebellion erupted in Paris. It was suppressed with brutal rigor.

Like Tolstoy's War and Peace, Zola's The Debacle is a historical novel in which the facts of the war are very accurately described, and then well-drawn fictional characters are inserted. The story is told with verve through the eyes of two soldiers. The events of the Franco-Prussian War are extremely complex, yet Zola never lets the reader get lost. The story is engrossing and compelling. This is one of the great books of French literature.

To the reader who comes to this review by way of my history of the Tour de France, this book is related to the Tour rather obliquely. Tour founder Henri Desgrange wrote extensively in the sports newspaper L'Auto, which also owned the Tour de France. Desgrange tried to model his own writing style on Zola's.
-Bill McGann, Author of "The Story of the Tour de France"

As a big student of the War of 1870-71, I was a bit skeptic when I saw this was a historical novel, especially one that was a political commentary. Well, my skepticism was destroyed after about 15 minutes of reading this book. Not only is the author a veteran of the war, his style is SO engrossing I didn't stop reading until I finished the entire book!

The amount of details that are in the narritive can only come from someone who participated in the historical events that are narrated. Zola's characters are easy to identify with, and anyone can pick one character and say "yeah, that's me" as they read the story.

I recommend this book to anyone interested in the F/P War or French/European culture/life of the Second Empire. Vivé Napoleon III!

Emile Zola's La Debacle, the 19th of his 20 volume Rougon-Macquart series, describes the crushing defeat of the French armies at the hands of the Prussians in the Franco-Prussian war of 1870-71. During Zola's lifetime, this novel was regarded as his masterpiece. History has decreed that it would be Germinal that would be more enduring, but this is still an outstanding novel. All the stories in this series are linked with recurring characters and interwoven plot lines. Like Germinal, this is a story of destruction and rebirth.

This novel is divided into three sections. In Zola's typical style, each section is focused on a period of several days, with several weeks or months between sections. The main character of the story in Jean Macquart, a character from an earlier novel (La Terre) in the series. Macquart is an enlisted soldier marching to the front with his comrades to face the Prussians. Zola, never a soldier himself, describes well the lot of Jean and his comrades. Lots of marching, fatigue, boredom, and grumbling about the leadership. Hanging over the story, and unbeknowst to the characters, is the coming whirlwind. The Emporer himself (Napoleon III) makes an appearance, but it is rather tragi-comic.
The second section is focused on the battle of Sedan. There are several story threads designed to explain the action of the battle at different times and from perspectives. The descriptions are quite graphic and detailed. Ultimately, the French Army is totally destroyed, the surviving characters become prisoners of war. In the third section, Jean is reunited with his comrade Maurice in Paris at the height of the Commune. The primary theme of this novel is to describe the `rot' of the Third Empire, and how its destruction gives the survivors hope for a brighter future.

The Oxford World Classics translation is outstanding. It contains detailed endnotes to explain topical or historical references that would be lost on modern English speaking/reading audiences. There are several maps and a detailed list of characters to keep everything straight. This edition also contains a well written introduction to allow the reader to place the novel in historical and literary context.

I have several thoughts about this novel that potential readers may or may not find interesting. First, this is an outstanding novel, whether one likes war novels or not. Zola is one of the greatest novelists ever to put pen to paper, and this is arguable one of his best works. The characters in this story are detailed and realistic, the dialogue outstanding, and the plot complex and compelling, but easy to read. Anyone who is afraid of approaching Zola because of past experience with the 19th century English `greats' should not be concerned. Zola has none of the pretentiousness or Victorian puritanism of his English contemporaries, and his writing, while often gloomy, is not ponderous.

Second, with the exception of a few small tweaks for poetic license, this book is an outstanding example of historical fiction. Beyond an enjoyable novel, this book will also provide the reader a history lesson of the first order. In particular, I would highly recommend this book to American readers who know little or nothing of French history of this era. I think that the events of the Commune would be most surprising to many Americans. Certainly the Franco-Prussian war was one of the defining events for the French (and Germans), much as the Civil War was for Americans. The outcome of this war had long lasting political, economic, cultural, and military implications that affect us today.

Third, if I had one complaint about this book, it would be that the author's knowledge of the outcome of the battle weighs over the entire novel. I would almost argue that this novel is defeatist. This is definitely an antiwar novel, but no real sense of imminent destruction covers the Prussian soldiers as it does the French. That is, this is an antiwar novel from the French perspective, but not really from the Prussian. It strikes me that the message conveyed by Zola (probably inadvertantly) is not antiwar in general, but antiwar only for the losers.

Overall though, this is an outstanding novel, one of the best ever written. Highly recommended.

In this novel, as in all of his greatest works (Germinal, La Terre), Zola achieves the wide-ranging scope of a sweeping, romantic epic, without romanticizing the details of his settings or the emotions of his characters. As a result, we get an in-depth examination of the effects of war, on both national and personal levels. Zola thoroughly outlines the movements of troops and supplies, the political intrigue happening within the French government, and the diplomatic relations between nations, yet he never loses sight of the individual.
The narrative focuses on the friendship between Jean Macquart and Maurice Levasseur, two French soldiers from contrasting backgrounds who are brought together by the war. Jean Macquart, who previously starred in Zola's novel The Earth (La Terre), is an experienced soldier and a sturdy, dependable, salt-of-the-earth kind of guy. Maurice is a novice in the military, was raised in a privileged background, and has an emotional, introspective, and fragile nature. In addition to these two players, Zola presents myriad perspectives on the war. The multitudinous cast includes an emperor and a king; generals, grunts, and officers in between; farmers, shopkeepers, industrialists, doctors, and their wives. The combatants in this war range from highly-skilled military men to peasants with guns thrust into their hands, from the privileged elite to penniless beggars. The chaos of war ensnares them all in a series of events beyond their control or understanding, pushing them to the climactic tragedy of the Battle of Sedan.
Throughout the book, Zola condemns the futility of war in general, and the ineptitude of the French commanders in particular. The book is not totally pessimistic, however, as he does include some romantic concessions to the glory of patriotism, the strength of friendship, and the heroism that can arise when ordinary men are thrust into extraordinary circumstances. This is one of Zola's greatest works, and I would recommend it to anyone, especially those who enjoy classic literature or historical fiction. It is both intellectually challenging and emotionally moving. I would caution the reader that it does help to have some knowledge of French geography and happenings in French history around the time of the Franco-Prussian War.

This was an amazing story about the Franco-Prussian war, but it could have been about any war and the destructive influence it has on men and women, and on all human relationships. Zola tells the story, in vivid, sometimes gruesome but always very compassionate and heartbreaking detail (most of the plot is based on real historical events), of the absolute disaster that was the Franco-Prussian "debacle" of 1870-1.

For anyone interested in French history, it is required reading. This was an absolutely pivotal event in the formation of the Third Republic and the death of the Second Empire, an Empire which Zola had already suggested in his previous novels was rotten to the core. Writing twenty years after the event, Zola was describing a memory still vivid in the minds of most of his readers.

The Franco-Prussian war was truly a debacle. Not only had Napoleon III provoked the French into a doomed war with the Prussians, who with their superior artillery and military tactics ended up invading France and slaughtering and starving thousands upon thousands of men, but he ultimately set the French against each other when, at the end of the war, some Frenchmen and women wanted to surrender the hopeless cause-and some wanted to fight to the death-their deaths-on principle. Many of the French showed amazing bravery and refused to surrender, even after Napoleon III was taken prisoner and a new French government acted to conclude the war.

In a famous and tragic episode, after the war was lost and many French were working to effect a surrender, political radicals staged a hopeless but heroic last stand in Paris, electing an independent municipal government-the famous Paris Commune-and holding the city. Eventually other Frenchmen were finally set against their brothers to force them to wave the white flag. In their determination to not yield one inch of the soil to the Prussian invaders, in one of the most powerful and haunting scenes in the novel (and in history), the Commune sets Paris on fire and Zola describes the entire city of lights roaring with fire, gone up with smoke and having turned the sky red.

If you've ever been in Paris it's a compelling scene and you'll remember all the places he mentions if, like me, you've spent some time there. It's odd to think that the Pere Lachaise cemetery, where so many of us go to see the graves of Oscar Wilde, Sarah Bernhardt, Jim Morrison or Abelard and Heloise (a site featured on an episode of America's Next Top Model no less!) is where thousands of French radicals-and uninvolved Parisian civilians as well- were lined up against the wall and shot point-blank in summary executions-by their own countrymen-something that Zola and others would never forget. I think it's very important that Zola dealt with these crimes in his novel.

Although Zola doesn't pretend that some of the Communards were not, in fact, war profiteers or criminals, he has much sympathy with some of them and their sincere political committments; as a man of the left he cannot help but find common ground with some of their arguments or with their feeling of betrayal by their own government. He is also disgusted, as so many French were, with the brutal way in which they were liquidated.

The hero of the story is Jean Macquart. You definitely don't have to have read any of the other books in the Rougon-Macquart series of twenty novels (!) to appreciate this book, however if you have read La Terre (The Earth) you will already like Jean for his general kindness and sensible nature. He is a sweet man who has an unlikely friendship with Maurice, the young radically-inclined soldier who ultimately joins the Commune. The introduction to my book was a bit heavy handed, (I suggest reading it after you've completed the novel since it gives all major plot points away) claiming that they represent the two "eternal sides of France", but there's a real human relationship here.

By today's standards this friendship would seem over the top and overly sentimental, but taken in the historical context it's quite a beautiful friendship. More than anything we get a sense of the senseless slaughter of a pointless war, the deep fraternal divisions it causes, and these are embodied in two very appealing characters, Jean and Maurice. Zola makes it clear that it makes sense, obviously, that Maurice would be furious and feel betrayed. I'm a pacifist, but if the invaders are at your door-which they literally were in this case-it's hard to know how you would feel.

On the other hand Jean's view is portrayed with sympathy-he's endured tremendous suffering due to this ridiculous war, and like Maurice he's shown tremendous bravery and courage, like so many Frenchmen did at that time (take that everyone who makes fun of the French tendency to surrender-I wish all of you had to read this book!) but he is an ordinary person who would like to get back to ordinary life-which really is a normal emotion to have. He also hates to see Paris burning-it's the epitome of craziness to him, and to us, even while we also see Maurice's view, that no one should care anymore, France is dead and defeated.

At the end, when Jean perseveres and goes on to build a new France, we're hopeful for him. But we can't help feeling the looming shadow of two World Wars to come, and it's also a sad book, reminding us of the vast physical and emotional wounds war leaves behind.

An absolute masterpiece!

My daughter loved Sandra Byrd's novels when she was a young teen, so I was excited to see that she was writing something for adults (that teens will love, too!) I thoroughly enjoyed the novel, and I can't wait for the next books in the series. I think my favorite aspect was the Seattle setting. I love that city and reading this book was like a week-long vacation there with stops at all my favorite spots.

This was my first Sandra Byrd novel, and I agree that is was deliciously enjoyable! Lexi is a character that we can all relate to at some point in our lives, regardless of our age. We have all been there! Lexi is faced with the reality that she must now figure out a way to take care of herself - despite some difficult realities in her life. Watching friends and family members moving along with their lives, eats away at her even more.
This book was down right fun to read and rooting for Lexi added to that fun. I can't wait to find out how Lexi's life plays out in the near future. I am anxiously awaiting the follow-up to this story so I can dive into some more French pastries!
Enjoy!

I'm not even a twenty something but I remember what it was like to be one and I loved this book. Lexi is witty, interesting and generous. I loved watching her spiritual journey and seeing the choices and their consequences. This is not a cookie cutter chick lit novel. Nothing is clearcut or predictable. You will find plenty to chew on (no pun intended). And don't forget to try the recipes. The Boyfriend Bait Beef Stroganoff is wonderful even if you aren't trying to catch a beau. I can't wait to try the Let Them Eat a Perfectly Divine Coconut Cake. Let Them Eat Cake has left me wanting more. I look forward to reading more about both Lexi's spiritual and culinary journeys. Delicieux!

I thoroughly enjoyed Lexi's food filled romantic life and could relate to her search for love at that age. I also loved the bits of reality that spiced the pages: job applications, recipes, plane tickets, and the special message on her blood donor card. My 14-year-old daughter read it in two days. Now my 15-year-old is glued to the pages. She's taking her first year of French and loves all the french phrases. I highly recommend it, especially for young women entering adulthood and all the pressure that goes with searching for a job.

I ordered this book because a trusted souce told me that she fell in love with Sandra Byrd's writing style. I'm glad I listened.

"Let Them Eat Cake" is a delightful story of Alexandra, better known to her friends as Lexi, and her quest for the life she's always known she is supposed to live. A recent college graduate who is more in love with French culture and fine cuisine than all the jobs she has been able to land and then lose, Lexi is on a search for it all - home, job, love and happiness. Her parents are disappointed and dismayed when her college degree in French/Literature leads her to a job as counter help in a bakery where the chefs speak french. Next to her brother, a new attorney, and other successful friends and associates, Lexi looks like a failure. However, we get to follow her on her quest for the life she has always wanted which includes her rekindling her relationship with God.

This is one of the most delightful Christian fiction books I've read in a long time - and I read alot. The story definitely left me wanting much more. So I'll ready other Sandra Byrd books while I wait on the Lexi's sequel.

This second-hand copy of "The Madness of a Seduced Woman" sat on my book shelf for a number of years before I finally pulled it out. After looking at the cover I thought to myself that it really didn't appear to be the style of book I usually enjoy and considered tossing it or trading it back in for something else. However, hating to give up on any book, I decided to read a few pages and give it a chance. What a great decision that was! I was drawn into the story of Agnes Dempster, her unusual family, and her tragic love story, from the first beautifully written page to the very last. From her unhappy childhood, her turbulent and violent youth, her sad journey through depression and mental illness, to her somewhat calmer and more stable maturity, you will travel with Agnes from birth to the grave and she is someone you will not soon forget.

This is a book to be treasured and will remain in my personal library along with other all-time favorites such as "Gone With the Wind" and "How Green was My Valley." I'm now planning on reading "Anya" by the same author with the hope that it will come somewhere close to the perfection of this one.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. If ten stars were available in the rating system it would certainly deserve every one of them.

"The Madness of a Seduced Woman" is the story of Agnes Dempster, who enters life with a strong legacy from either side of her family. From her father's side she has inherited wealth and from her mother's, beauty, yet people in each of her parents' families have exhibited mental instability in recent generations. As with her mother and grandmother before her, Agnes' dissatisfaction with life leads her to believe that there must be something more for her if she can leave her home town and escape the influence of her family. After the death of her grandmother, Agnes leaves her family's farm at the young age of 16 to live and work in a nearby city.

Agnes meets Frank Holt, a young stonecutter who lives in the same boarding house as her, and they begin a relationship. In her naiveté and immaturity, Agnes believes Frank to be all that she has been looking for in her search for a meaningful life. Their romance begins normally, but over the course of time is tested by a series of difficulties and Agnes' increasing dependence on and obsession with Frank. When Frank realizes that he cannot love Agnes in the same, all-encompassing way in which she loves him, he begins to cool off the relationship. This leads Agnes to a decision that will affect her and those around her for the rest of their lives.

This is one of my favorite S.F. Schaeffer books, even though it is a very dark one. This is definitely not a light read for the beach, and the description of a home abortion is not for you if you are at all squeamish. What the book does is capture what I like about Susan Fromberg Schaeffer's writing - her ability to transport the reader into the times and places of her stories. I am also impressed by the timelessness of the subject - obsessive desire is something very common to hear and read about, but the twist to "The Madness... " is the period in which it takes place (the 1890's). This book is a study on all that can go wrong with life if one is dependent on others and their happiness in order to feel fulfillment themselves.

This book is my absolute favorite and I've read it several times. It is the story of how an extremely beautiful woman's obsession takes hold, grows, and eventually takes over her life.
The story follows Agnes Dempster through her late teens, early twenties as she discovers men and relationships. Her first relationship is with the perfect "nice" man who completely falls for her. She had to work so hard for her father's love that she feels any love easily given isn't worth it,s o she quickly becomes tired of his doting. Suddenly the untouchable man, the one our mother's warned us about, seems to reach out to her and she completely falls for him and, it would seem, vice versa.
This dark, heartbreaking story is so intense, so real, so incredibly moving that at one point I had to put the book aside to wipe my tears. At another point I found myself holding my breath. I could feel her obsession growing while knowing that he was using her and leading her on, and yet, Agnes is still drawn to him. He repeatedly gave her just enough attention to draw her in and give her reason to believe; and then he was gone again.
This protrayal of obsession was so intricate and detailed that the web was spun around me as I read what seemed to be a love story. The abortion is so real that I felt her pain and shame, yet understood her sense of duty. The field scene at the end is so well described that I feel like I was there. The court scene is so well written that I found myself gripping the book tightly.
This book is for every woman who has ever loved and lost or loved and obsessed or loved and borderline obsessed, and I think that covers every woman alive. We've all been there.

This author does a fabulous job of conveying the main character's madness in a way that comes across as a dream sequence. One seldom finds an author who can write a well-rounded story that truly involves the reader. By the end of the book, Agnes comes shining through -- with all her shortcomings. Read this book! "...a woman scorned..."

This is a novel that springs from an amazing imagination. It is as if the author tapped into a dream vision of Agnes to creat a haunting and memorable charcter in an ethralling narrative. The story is gothic in its imagry, and brings the reader deep into the spooky farm country of New England, and enchants us with a kind of psychological mystery. There are some flaws, though- because this book obviously stems from the author's fantasy, rather than real life experience, there are obvious inconsitencies. For instance,the novel purports to describe a rich farming family, but at one point the narrative asserts that girls in the family were out working in the field as soon as they were old enough. I don't think the daughters of the area's most wealthy family would be "working in the fields." Also, there are weird little problems like descriptions of apple blossoms... in the wrong season. If you can swallow the little editing problems,this is a wonerful and entertaining read.

"Men in the sun", a novel by Ghassan Kanafani, is one of the most breathtaking realities that the Palestinian people lived in the modern history we know. "Men in the sun" is neither a story about Yasser Arafat`s legacy and his PLO's sense of politics nor a debate on Oslo or Madrid agreement. The novel is a piece of art that visualized the Palestinian tragedy from an aspect of extreme reality that has been forgotten or marginalized at any time and place frames.

It is the story of three men's quest for a better life. They plan to migrate from the occupation cage to a new "promise land" where they meet the promised demise in the desert, the home of the original Arabs and Bedouin.

The dream of the three Men is the dream of every man who loses the feeling of being at home at some time. The work to achieve that dream requires a struggle with harsh acquired values of life. The result is not guaranteed.

Struggle, suffer, dreams, hope, fatigue, thirst, and death will form an amalgam that would describe the Palestinian identity which has been evolving during the last decades.

I wanted to write more about the details but you would like to read it yourself. The symbolism in this story is just intriguing. In fact, the trends can symbolize the migration of any man to any "self-imposed exile", where "enforced dreams" replace the simple -but lost- passion, love and happiness to form a complex and bitter reality.

The novel ends with a beautiful and so influential paragraph that tries to raise the question of why the 3 men (main figures of the novel) did not try to knock on the walls of their symbolic "prison" (Empty tanker) or at least shout to ask for help.
"Why? Why? Why?", The "Why" of Kanafani while concluding is: why did not some of the oppressed people reject the abject reality? Why did not they fight for their life and freedom? Could it be that they were so hopeless and tired, or were they so afraid from going back to the occupied home? Did they prefer death to losing their dream?. The questions were asked by Kanafani in the past to project on present exprience and to reflect the suffer of the palestinean-age on the future memory.

This book gives you an idea of the suffering and neglection of a nation, on the watch of the whole civilized world.

This collection of short stories is a brief, but poignant look into the life of people living in Palestine. At the same time, the stark writing illustrates many universal themes forcing readers to reevaluate life as they know it. The writing is plain and easy to read, but ultimately, deep and impossible to dismiss.

The stories were great. Well written, poignant, the most so being the one involving the tank.

Written and published in the 1950s and 1960s, this slender volume of stories by Ghassan Kananfani speaks of the displacement of Palestinians in ways that are timeless and still fresh today. They speak of loss more than hope, and although the author was an activist and spokesman for the Palestinian Popular Front, he seemed in these writings to simply bring attention to the human cost of political struggle in the Middle East. He himself was killed by a car bomb in Beirut in 1972.

The most compelling of these stories is the novella "Men in the Sun," which tells of the efforts of three men being smuggled into Kuwait from Iraq and the truck driver who has offered to help them across the border. The fierce desert heat represents the terrible odds against their ever being able to escape the consequences of war and loss of homeland. But this is only one theme among many, as Kananfani explores traits of Arab character which seem to intensify inner conflict and erode the ability to act purposefully. The story "If You Were a Horse" concerns itself with superstition, fear, and overwhelming regret that divides father from son and leads to misfortune. The book includes an informative introduction by Hilary Kilpatrick.

If you took the poignancy and moving love story of "Bridges of Madison County", sprinkled some of the spiritual wisdom of Eckhart Tolle and Deepak Chopra, and added the ingredient of heart-tugging romantic music into the mix, you would have something approximating "Midwinter Turns to Spring." Not only did this novel and its music stir feelings in me I've never felt before, but while reading it, I would often close my eyes to ponder and experience the profound truth in the author's words. Alfonso's words, "I find that, in stillness, I am transported to that remarkable place where I can know God and be aligned with his wisdom" were reminiscent of Eckhart Tolle's assertions about being fully present. With stillness comes a knowingness that loving another human being is God's way of affording us "glimpses of His unfathomable love." I was also awestruck by the transcendent definitions of love that the author managed to weave into the dialogue. I've found that they've helped to redefine and liberate my own concepts of love. Brandon's words, "Love is not just a feeling - it is a choice, a commitment, a way of behaving toward another" is a concept worthy of the late Leo Buscaglia's teachings about love, and one that more people should embrace. "Midwinter Turns to Spring" stirred me emotionally and spiritually, and moved me to tears. I'm certain that all who read it will come away with not just another feel-good love story but will savor the same enlightened experience that I've had.

I love "Midwinter Turns to Spring"! I can't remember the last time I cried reading a novel. It made it more special listening to the music soundtrack -- and I cried even more listening to Zendrik sing, especially "La Ultima Vez." The book has given me a renewed sense of hope about love. It is such a touching, beautifully written love story and a feel-good type of book. I fell in love with Alfonso right from the start -- so passionate, caring and loved life so much. Savannah is what every girl can relate to. We have a little bit of Savannah in all of us. And the way the author described every place and thing and feeling was as if I was there. I've been telling everyone that this is a must-read book!! This certainly deserves to be on Oprah's Book Club and I've written an e-mail to Oprah telling her so. This book rocks!

"I enjoyed 'Midwinter Turns to Spring' so much -- it was such a lovely story, so believable and so well-written from beginning to end. The characters just came to life for me. Throughout the whole book, I was just riveted to it, and couldn't wait to find out what would happen in each chapter. I'm an artist by profession, and therefore, I loved the art aspect of the story -- it intrigued me and drew me into the world of the characters. I cried on numerous occasions throughout this book, but at the end when I read the letter from Christina to Savannah my heart just broke for them all. Whenever I read books, I usually tell the story to my husband as I go along -- and he got as engrossed in this story as I was. When I finally finished reading the book and was trying to tell him the ending, I just fell into his arms and broke down sobbing. I was so happy with the ending and I just had to fall in love with the character of Alfonso. The whole package is beautifully done -- from the book cover to the companion music CD. It's simply marvelous -- and I told my husband this book needs a big audience, and should be made into a movie -- I'd love to see it come alive on the big screen because the story is so lovely. Maria Veloso is an incredible writer -- I wish she'd write more novels like this."

I just finished reading "Midwinter Turns to Spring" last night! Amazing! This is the best book I've ever read! I did not want it to end! I loved listening to the music soundtrack while reading the book, curled up on my sofa with a glass of wine -- what an unforgettable experience!

I am a fan of Oprah, and have read many of Oprah's book club picks -- and I think "Midwinter Turns to Spring" is very worthy to be a part of Oprah's book club. The messages, emotions, and definitions of love given in this book should be shared with the world.

Maria Veloso is an amazingly talented writer. Before I read this book, I had stopped believing in love because of so many marriages I've seen end up in divorce. This book made me believe that love does exist and is something one can find if one chooses to. This book also strengthened my faith in God and reminded me to trust in him and follow his plan for my life. This book is life-changing -- it certainly changed my views on life. I've recommended this to all my friends and will be ordering more copies to give away as gifts.

Wow! I just finished reading "Midwinter Turns to Spring" and I can't say enough good things about this novel and accompanying CD. What a literary piece of work! This novel is one of the best love stories I've ever read. The accompanying CD really took me to a whole new level while reading the story! I hope that the author plans to write another piece of work like this one. The author has such a gift for writing. I can honestly say I just became so engrossed in the story I felt like I was watching a movie as I proceeded through the book. What a wonderful idea and interesting concept to incorporate music into the story...I definitely had a deeper understanding and relationship with the characters while listening to the CD. The music is just beautiful. I've played the CD so often my 3-year-old now walks around humming the songs.