Other The Books

Shippey walks the reader through Tolkien's lifelong fascination with and love and study of language, which is the golden thread of Tolkien's depiction of humankind through the mists of our earliest time on the planet.

This book is quite simply superb in every conceiveable respect. It is written by a scholar who understands and respects Tolkien's own scholarly passion for philology, the science and stories of the evolution of words and language. This is very different from the humanistic field of literary criticism, and Shippey explains at some length what a philologist can and cannot do. The close reader will end Shippey's book with a wistful feeling that some very wrong turns have been made in academia over the past one hundred years, and one of the reasons for Tolkien's greatness in his time was quite simply his refusal to accept or acknowledge that these wrong turns had been made. At bottom, a scholar of literature is, or at least ought to be, someone who loves words. We will always have a few of these people among us, and Tolkien's and Shippey's works remind us that no overgrown pathway is ever truly lost.

Tom Shippey has an intimate knowledge of the mind and creative processes of the late Professor J.R.R. Tolkien, perhaps nearly as intimate a knowledge as Christopher Tolkien himself. The degree of the schism between language and literature professors of his day was most startling, and how that affected the early critics' appraisals of his masterpiece was also not what I had expected. Tom Shippey's knowledge of JRR Tolkien's mind is most revealing and is encyclopedic, and his ability to explain how deeply the master philologist would see legends and myths in the most ordinary of names and words left me thunderstruck. I have read all five of the main Middle Earth volumes several times and have read some of the Lost Tales, but I had not gained any insight from previous volumes saying how Pr. Tolkien created his world. The authors of those books seemed to lack legitimacy. Tom Shippey does not have that problem, and his book demonstrates that he is Pr. Tolkien's bona fide pupil and linguistic heir. Fans of Middle Earth should be thankful for Tom Shippey's insight, an insight that could only be bettered by Christopher Tolkien, or Pr. Tolkien himself.

Tom Shippey is a profound student of Tolkien with a deep love of middle-earth and a deep understanding of it and its origins.

Unlike so many academics, he is a fine writer. He has style, insight and erudition. Professor Shippey succeeded to Tolkien's chair at Oxford and he has the feeling of Tolkien's world in his bones. He knows Tolkien not only as a fantasist but also as a philologist and understands - and can explain in simple and lucid language - how Tolkien's studies of words influenced his creative work. He has also written interesting critiques of science-fiction.

This is a most valuable book that will contribute proufoundly to any reader's understanding and appreciation of Tolkien's greatness without - and this is very important! - destroying the magic.

I know Tolkien's work well and cannot fault this book.

Shippey's "J.R.R. Tolkien: Author of the Century" places Tolkien in the context of his time. "The Road to Middle-earth" has the more scholastically challenging job of placing Tolkien in the context of his tradition. As that tradition is primarily philological and philosophical, these are his subjects. He tells us what Tolkien meant the words and names in his stories to mean; he tells us how Tolkien used modern language to convey modern and ancient styles and philosophies in contrast; he tells us how the Ring mediates two mutually exclusive concepts of evil; he explains Tolkien's complex narrative strategies; he dresses down critics who misunderstand Tolkien and blame him for not fitting into their concepts of literature; and he does all this with such a blistering display of erudition and general intelligence that the reader sits back amazed.

The book is discursive, and the opening theoretical chapters may seem heavy going, but have patience: they provide necessary context. Shippey has Tolkien's measure in full throughout. He explains what was important to Tolkien, what Tolkien thought he was doing, and - no less vitally - why it is necessary to understand this if one is not to bash Tolkien in annoyance for not accomplishing something totally different.

If you read Shippey, will you necessarily understand Tolkien? No. But if you don't read Shippey, and if you also don't have his insight and knowledge, you will not fully understand Tolkien.

I just finished the Poldark Saga (all 12 books) and can't recommend them enough!! I was able to secure 10 of the 12 from our local library system but had to buy the other two due to unavailability, and they are well worth their purchase price. I'm a lover of Brit lit and this series takes you to the Cornish coast and proceeds to envelop you into the lives of an engaging family and their friends and foes. Great descriptions of the coast and the weather, both of which figure greatly into the story lines, and the characters are indeed people you would enjoy knowing.

The quest for the 12 books was well worth the effort. Go forth and enjoy!!

These books have no equal in historical fiction. I have read them several times and am starting over again. The writing and character development are the best I've ever read. Start at the beginning and end with #12 - Bella Poldark - which was written a year or two before the author passed away. This series could provide a book group with material for an entire year!

I have recently been introduced to this series and started reading books which were originals from the 40's. It is a wonderful series and I have now read 10 of the novels and wish it would never end. Great piece of history and family. It is so nice to be able to read "new" books, even though I enjoyed the yellowed pages of the old ones I have. Don't miss it! Also have the BBC Video set which is in black in white, but interesting, none-the-less.

In 1783, Ross Poldark, the title character to the opening volume (published in 1945) of the magnificent Poldark series, the great undertaking of Cornish writer Winston Graham's ninety-three-year life, is first introduced to us as a young man in his early twenties, a de-commissioned infantry officer, recently returned from the brutality of the War of Rebellion in Colonial America. Given up for dead and in fact wounded almost to the point of death, Poldark returns to his native Cornwall, a scarred, limping figure, still spirited but aged and hardened by the horrors of war. Grimly, the adventurous risk-taker Poldark discovers his father, the local squire and something of a lothario, is dead, his fiancée, Elizabeth, believing Ross killed in combat, is now engaged to wed Ross' cousin, Francis, and that an ambitious family of rising commercial entrepreneurs, the Warleggans, are in the process of trying to persuade Ross's uncle to sell them the mines that would have been Ross's has his father's will been penned without the apparent tragedy of his son's death foremost in his mind. The story spreads like the branches of a massive tree and before the conclusion of this, volume one, we come to meet the sort of characters that will never be forgotten, and find ourselves witness to scenes and situations that stir the imagination.

What separates the dozen Poldark novels from so many other historical works is firstly the intricate, good-natured, involving plotline Graham sustained throughout the sixty years he was writing about these characters, but above that, there is within each Poldark work a sense that one is entering a past time, not merely reading of it. Life as Graham writes in any of these books is a near three-dimensional voyage two hundred years backward, and he leaves few stones unturned. When one reads these novels one learns about the mining industry of the era, the banking industry, social customs, warfare, and contemporary attitudes on an encyclopedic range of subjects. One witnesses the rise of Methodism, and grasps its role as an outlet to quell ill-will among the English lower classes, as nothing did among the violent-minded masses of 1780's France. Graham tells us what people in those times wore, ate, drank, what they would have felt, witnessed, heard, smelled, thought, and feared. He takes a modern person into what might very well be described as a psychological/sociological time machine. These books boil with the gamut of human emotion and passion, from hate to lust, to love, to desire for all manner of possessions.

Ross Poldark and the eleven other novels that follow it are storytelling at its old-fashioned greatest, and this book launches what I truly feel is the greatest historical saga in the English language.

This is the first Poldark novel introducing Ross Poldark, Cornwall mining owner/farmer/squire and his extended family.

I especially enjoyed listening to the audiotapes narrated by
Tony Britton; his chararcters' accents are humorous and entertaining. I love the Poldark series and after I read or
listen to all the novels I'd like to see the videos.

Wonderful stories and characters, highly enjoyable. Hard to
put down.

This is a great story of what it's like to live, day to day with autism. I prefer this type of book to the type in which parents take credit for their children's miraculous recoveries. This book struck a chord with me. It feels real and true, and is not preachy. This father is an advocate for his son. These parents choose to home school their son rather than put him in a placement that they feel would not be the right fit for him or, in some cases of places they toured, places that would be harmful to him. I wish I had read this book before we accepted services from our local school district, which our son's speech therapist later called the worst program she'd ever seen. The wrong services are better than no services at all. These parents read their son's behavior and cues and persevere to find the best services for him. This book shows that people affected by autism are capaple of forming connections with others. I am hoping for a sequel.

Faith, hope,courage,easy words to say ,even easier to aspire to, but Running With Walker tells of a family who lives these ideals as a matter of course.I read this book ,or rather devoured it, in a day and a half,its' story as compelling,its' characters as real as any best-selling novel.Running With Walker far exceeds the specifics of a family coping with an autistic child. The humor,warmth and some-times painful honesty of the fathers' narrative,the mom's undaunting hope and determination, the younger brother Davy's compassion and love in the midst of an unusual and difficult situation can speak to any of us in a heartfelt and profound way.
Walker, as the focus of the story,is revealed as a joyous , energetic and loving human being who happens to be autistic.Because his family sees the real boy and not the autistic label, we can too , and join the Hughes'in their struggle to provide a satisfying and fulfilling life for both their sons and each other.I know I will reread this book many times for its' insight and uplifting message and recommend it wholeheartedly to anyone who appreciates a true story about family love.

Care providers in Early Childhood and Developmental Delay need to see this book, for their own professional good. The author is an incredibly perceptive parent. He vividly draws the story of his son's experiences in the hands of a range of professionals. In doing so, Hughes shines a hard light on what appear to be the worst and best possible practices in today's arena. His descriptions elicit gasps -- of consternation or admiration -- page after page. Heart-rending frankness here is lightened by a saving sense of humor. As a fellow parent of a special-needs child, I am left in awe.

As I read this memoir-I was struck by the intelligence and compassion that informs it. Of course-it is about a family with an autistic child. But it is also filled with insight and practical wisdom-about parenting and loving and guiding and coping and persevering. A superbly crafted book, "Running With Walker" is perceptive, imaginative, witty, poignant, humorous-all at the same time. Hughes has created remarkable portraits-not to be missed-of his family-even his city-and especially-of himself.

I began reading "Running With Walker" after brunch one Sunday, and didn't put it down until I finished it later that evening. I hope that peple don't make the assumption, as I did at first, that this is a "medical" book about an illness. This is no more a book about autism than "The Da Vinci Code" is a book about art. This is a story about a family and how they used thier stregnth and love for one another help them to overcome adversity. Hughes puts such a lighthearted, often humorous spin on events that many would have a hard time seeing the silver lining in, and you walk away from his story feeling that you have new good friends in the Hughes Family.

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

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

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

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

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

I read this book two summers ago (yes, I unfortunately turned it into the cliched "summer read," but it doesn't have to be that way), and loved it.

I decided, not long ago, to re-read it, and once I did, I picked up so many small facts and witty one-liners that I hadn't picked up on before.

This book is so jam-packed with clear details that it's almost impossible to read them and let them all sink into your mind the first time. Also, in addition to frequent and helpful details, Terri Farley also wrote this book with a lot of similes, metaphors, and symbolism adding key elements to the plot and pace of the book, as well as shaping the main characters into what makes them so peacefully pleasant and so horrifyingly horrendous in their actions.

Like a few other reviewers, I had also read the PHANTOM STALLION series prior to receiving this book. However, I don't think Terri Farley's writing has ever shone more brilliantly or creatively than with this one piece of work.

This book is, above all else, a romance, and should be treated thusly. It isn't a cute, fluffy summer blanket read, which I discovered the first time I read it. I mean, sure, it's set on the beach during the summer and all of that, but I was pleasantly surprised (although admittedly a little disappointed) at the ending. It was definitely a far-cry from how I thought it would end. Hopefully, one day in the future, Terri Farley will continue the story of Gwen and her love interest Jesse, whose mystical secret defined her childhood.

Anyway, I would absolutely recommend this book. Even if beach scenes aren't quite your thing, who knows? Maybe you'll like it for the characters and the quick-paced plot. I know I did.

Seven years ago, Gwen Cooke met a strange boy with dark, slightly titled eyes on the beach. He whispered words in her ears and then disappeared. Soon after, Gwen's family left the beach.

Now seventeen, Gwen is returning since her nana asked her to come. Yet, Gwen knows it's time to go back for a different reasons: She yearns for the sea. Is it the sea itself calling her? Or is it the memory of the boy and his haunting words drawing her back? Either way, it's time for Gwen to find out the truth.

Seven Tears into the Sea by Terri Farley is an enchanting book. It's full of haunting drama, romance, and suspense. The characters fit in easily together and the feelings Gwen has are ones that most girls can relate to, though probably for different reasons. This book is definitely one you'll never want to put down and when you do finish it, you'll want to read it all over again.

I've been a fan of Terri's writing ever since I recieved the first book in her Phantom Stallion series for Christmas a few years back. When she took a break from her horse books to write this celtic fantasy, I wasn't sure I'd like it. It was, after all, very different from what I was used to reading. After reading many good things about it, I finally broke down and bought the book. It definitely did not disappoint. I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys celtic fantasy, romance, suspense, or is just ready to read a great book.

I just finished Seven Tears Into The Sea and had to let others know how wonderful this novel is. It is an enchanting story that has left me wanting a sequel. It can be enjoyed by readers of all ages. If you want to lose yourself in a book about the ocean, magic and love, this is worth reading.

I've never read the 'Phantom Stallions' series, but after reading this, I *definitely* think Farley should end it and start writing more things like *this*. Seven Tears was a lovely description of what happens when reality coincides with myth, and I found it to be much more than just an 'enjoyable read'.

This was a really, really, really good book! i am a lover of horse books, so i usually dont read a book unless it has something to do with horses, but when i first saw the cover of this wonderful book, i knew it had something special about it. but if you're a fan of Terri Farley's PHANTOM STALLION books, you may/may not like this book. if you are a die-hard lover of books about horses, you probably wont like this book since it has NOTHING to do with horses at all. but if you like a bit of fantasy, romance and myth, you'll just love this book. Both ways, you should really get it. The reason i gave it four out of five stars, though, is becouse it is a bit predictable, like other people said. but you probably wont guess the beautiful ending, though. All in all, it's a great book and you should read it.

This is a great story of the magic that Christmas brings each year.

A dear teacher friend recommended this book and said she couldn't read it to her class without crying! I thought I would be able to read it to my grandson without tearing up, but alas...he had to finish the last few pages! (Much to his delight!) It is such a gentle, tender story. Even when you KNOW what the outcome will be, you can't help but FEEL the emotions the writer conveys so well! Outstanding illustrations put this book in a rare class!

This was a beautiful story written and illustrated. It allows one to discover how people can reach into the hearts of so many with a simple act of kindness. It also reassures children that one does not have to have a lot to change the lives of another. And that dreams do come true.

Karen

I like Chris Soentpiet's book called Silver Packages. The pictures he drew were OUT OF THIS WORLD!!! The book was outstanding! I like the part when the boy is holding his first one in front of the Christmas tree.

If you want to read a great book then read Silver Packages because it will just touch your heart. It all started when no one had anything so every Christmas a man came and threw silver packages out the back of the train. Chris Soentpiet's illustrations are colorful and interesting.

This is a very good book on Walt Disney World. It is far superior to the 20th Anniversary Book "Walt Disney World 20 Magical Years". Although, many of the pictures are the same, there are alot more in Since the World Began.

In addition, this book provides much more information on the creation of the park. Still the best book on the creation of the Disney theme parks is "Disneyland: Inside Story" by Randy Bright. Since this is out of print, Walt Disney World 20 Magical Years is a good choice.

Walt Disney lives.

No, I'm not talking about the urban legend about him being cryogenically sealed and stashed below the Pirates of the Caribbean exhibition. Nor is this some soft New Ageism about spirits inhabiting the celestial plane.

He's alive down on a plot of land outside of Orlando, Florida, a boom city that was a dumpy little crossroad when Walt began buying what became a 30,000-acre spread there is the late 1960s.

Walt's gone, but his vision and energy lives on, and once you start dipping into "Since the World Began," you'll see that the scope of his vision is nothing short of awesome.

There are many faces of Disney, the producer of family-friendly and highly profitable movies, the creator of family-friendly theme parks, but also a visionary who thought that, as one associate put it, "bad information was responsible for all the evil in the world." Who tried to change people's attitudes within the confines of an amusement park, the man whose idealism spawned the Epcot center, and under Michael Eisner, the Disney Institute, where education and learning are on a par with entertainment.

What the book won't tell you -- this is published by Hyperion, Disney's publishing arm, and written by Jeff Kurtti, a longtime Disney employee -- is just what hell Walt went through to realize his vision. You won't hear of Disney's fundamentalist upbringing, his retreat into fantasy to escape a brutal father and life in poverty, his endless hard work to make animated movies, his multiple nervous breakdowns. His brother Roy is idealized as the business brain behind Walt's success, but you won't hear that Roy constantly opposed Disney's ideas as a waste of money. When Kurtti writes that Disney founded the design firm Walt Disney Imagineering in 1952 "because he realized that he wouldn't be able to create Disneyland within the boundaries of the studio system," he doesn't mention that it was also because Roy and the Disney board refused to advance Walt the money to design Disneyland, fearing that it would be a failure.

There was plenty of reason for Roy to be worried, too. Disney's ideas constantly threw the company perilously close to bankruptcy, generally on the order of every 18 months, until Disney's deal with ABC in 1955 made him very wealthy and put the company on a firm financial footing. Walt Disney was an idealist and a visionary, and if it wasn't for his tenacity, the company would not be the worldwide giant it is today.

Even while ignoring those shadings, there is still plenty of story left to make "Since the World Began" an awe-inspiring overview of Walt Disney World. It's probably the single largest and most complex construction project this side of the space shuttle. Its statistics are jaw-dropping: 55 miles of canals and levees were built to control the water levels, nine acres of underground corridors thread through the park, housing sewer lines, pipes and cables, and a pneumatic system for hauling trash, 60,000 plants and 800 varieties of trees acquired, moved and transplanted to build the park, 100,000 pounds of linen had to be washed every day.

As befitting its creator, the theme park was ahead of its time in its use of innovative technology. WDW was also the first area to implement 911 service in Florida, the first commercial venture to use fiber optic cables, the first telephone system using underground cable instead of overhead wires.

But the park was also a reflection of Walt Disney's vision of a global coming together of different peoples and cultures, learning about each other and attempting to find and enjoy peace as a result. It's globalization with a human face, to borrow someone else's phrase, and even if it seems outdated or even impossible in this post-9/11 world, Walt's beliefs is a hopeful and sustaining vision, and as American as the culture from which it sprang.

The author dives into the nuts and bolts of Disney history, including the formation of the Reedy Creek Improvement District and Disney's unique infrastructure. Yet the book isn't bogged down with technical, intricate details. Any Disney fan should enjoy reading about the Imagineering behind all four Florida parks' concepts, the hidden meanings of the names on Main Street's second floor windows, the transformation of Tomorrowland, ad infinitum. I received the book as a gift in 1996 and I've enjoyed reading through it several times.

Wow, wow, wow what a great book depicting the history of the number one vacation spot on the planet. I actually bought this book when it came out about 5 years ago. After reading it, I decided I'm going back to Dinsey World to celebrate its 25th birthday. Needless, to say it was a great trip. This is the book for all you wanting to know about Dinsey World History. For Dinseyland I would reccommend Disneyland: Inside Story, but getting on of those under... is a hard task.... What are you waiting for, buy this book! Get ready to experience the magic!

This is a very good book on Walt Disney World. It is far superior to the 20th Anniversary Book "Walt Disney World 20 Magical Years". Although, many of the pictures are the same, there are alot more in Since the World Began.

In addition, this book provides much more information on the creation of the park. Still the best book on the creation of the Disney theme parks is "Disneyland: Inside Story" by Randy Bright. Since this is out of print, Walt Disney World 20 Magical Years is a good choice.

I bought this (autographed copy!) book off of a girl at work and it came at just the right time. I have a nine month old son, I am breastfeeding, working full time, going to school, and single. I kept thinking who the hell would ever want me? When would I find time date? How will I explain to my son where is his daddy? So I "went back for more when there was only less" and invited his dad to come live with us. I read this book a week after he got here, I finished it two days ago and immediately ended my dysfunctional relationship with "dada."
It gave me so much more strength to hear someone else who was doing the same thing share their experiences. I was just about to enter into a very unhappy life. I needed this book! I recommend this book for any single mother (especially with small children) who needs reassured that she is not alone in the world.

Rachel,

I just finished your book and you have hit the nail on the head.
Three years into dating for this 33 year old single, white collar, mother of two. I laughed throughout the book...because it was like reading
about my life over the past three years. Good job woman. I gave the book to my new 'interest' and told him, "Read this and you may have a fighting chance." Thanks!

I saw this book at the library and thought I would give it a read. I read it in one night, I couldn't put it down! I loved it and found it to be highly entertaining and engrossing. I am a single mother as well and have thought about entering back into the dating world but as her story told, sometimes you just have to let things happen naturally!

Dating as a single mother is quite possibly one of the most challenging adventures I've ever been on. During a week when I felt like I'd never figure this out I went searching for some help. I found Single Mom Seeking. I couldn't put it down. Devouring every page, I was often nodding my head, smiling, crying, laughing. Realizing that you're not alone is empowering enough, but also being able to live vicariously through Rachel's dating adventures means you can learn from her mistakes and her successes. This is a must read for any single mom who is ready to start dating again. Actually, if you can, read it before you even get back out there.

This real-life memoir is a raw, honest portrayal of Rachel Sarah's life trying to find love as a single mom. I admire her completely for being so honest about her romantic relationships after having a baby. I think most single moms can identify with her. So many times through this book I found myself repeating "I've done that". Such a great book and a motivator for us single moms to get out and DATE!

Raising a child is no easy task, however with a little humor, a whole lot of patience, a loving family and good friends...Add to that an abundance of God's help and "The Single Moms Little Book of Wisdom"...

"Wisdom, courage and hope sprinkled with reaffirmation
and good information is the essence of this personal
empowerment guide for single moms. Cassandra Mack
speaks straight from the heart and penetrates the
souls of women with this wonderful book. I've
recommended it to a couple of women on the job as I
recommend it to those reading this review."

The Single Mom's Little Book of Wisdom is a thoughtful and inspirational book that takes single mothers through a process of help, hope and healing. Written in short, soundbites this book explores the unique issues that single moms face with special attention paid to the single mom who might be struggling to get back on track.

Sumumba Sobukwe
Author of, Dating Games A Brotha Speaks Up and Founder of The MAAT Series

"The Single Mom's Little Book of Wisdom is a collection of inspiring thoughts and heartfelt advice that will inspire readers to reflect as well as think and act more positively. Any single mother intent on living a balanced and productive life will come away from this book with tools that she can utilize to improve her life."

Candice Jarvis,LCSW
Founder of Someone To Talk To and Specialist in Hip Hop Therapy

After reading the reviews, I expected this book to be full of inspiring insights. But it's not much more than grandma's scrap book of hard-learned wisdom. It has very warm tone, positive attitude towards life, compassionate towards struggling single moms. But for a book, I expect it to be more profound.

This book is filled with insight, wisdom and is presented in a warm and intimate way. I loved it! This is the best inspirational book for single moms that you'll ever read and it will help you reconnect with what matters and celebrate your life.

If you need a book that will give you a good, quick review of Spanish grammar, this is the one you need. Everything is explained, from the present tense to the Spanish subjunctive.

What separates this book from others is that it doesn't drill a bunch of rules into your head. Instead, it gives several examples. Many people learn better from examples because it is the context that tells you what you need.

Brandon Simpson

This is an excellent book on Spanish grammar.

It is composed of many short chapters each dealing with a specific topic.

The explanations are clear and to the point. They are well organized. The chapters on the subjuntivo (subjunctive) are exemplary in this respect.

There are no exercises--the book is thin--but many examples illustrating the salient points.

The book is lightweight, unlike almost any other grammar book I've seen and bought, so I took it into work many days, using it during lunch or on the commute. Often I would bring along a sheet or two of exercise or homework that I had scanned or copied.

The advantage of this book is its conciseness, clarity, excellent organization, and its portability. The disadvantage is the complete lack of exercises.

Supplement it with The Ultimate Spanish Review and Practice, the best overall in my opinion, for the exercises and additional coverage and you'll be pretty much set for grammar. At least, these two did it for me. They were totally superior to the pathetic required--and hugely expensive even when used--textbooks.

Because of its low cost and since there's always room for improvement no matter how excellent a product is, I plan on also purchasing the new 2nd edition.

Buy this book. This book provides a comprehensive guide to verb use and grammar. Other topics include idioms, pronunciation, practical rules, time, suffixes, numerals, letters and extensive vocabulary. The book is easy to read and examples are abundant. The topics are easy to find because the book is brief and well organized.

This is just the handiest Spanish grammar to have at hand. I'm using the Teach Yourself... series of books (I have the Latin American Spanish, Spanish Verbs, Spanish Vocabulary, and Spanish Grammar) and the Oxford Take Off in Latin American Spanish, along with the Pimsleur Audio-only CDs.

Whenever I have a question about a grammatical item, this is the book in which I can find the clearest and most concise explanation. For instance...it takes ages for them to talk about the imperative in the Teach Yourself series. In this grammar, I just had to look in the imperative section, and it quickly summarized how to make all of the forms of the imperative and what other verb forms each one is related to. That's all I really needed, a quick look-up, not a long winded explanation which tries too hard to be "non-technical." Granted, this grammar does assume that you know grammatical terminology--if you do, you'll probably be quite pleased with the speed with which you can find answers to your questions with this book.

I remember enjoying the French edition in this series when I was in high school years ago...and I'm sure I'll continue to enjoy this Spanish version as I continue my self-study.

As the editor of the Learning Spanish Products Reviews (LearningSpanishProductsReviews) site, one of my responsibilities is to review learning Spanish book that are listed on Amazon. I am also a native Spanish speaker and a professional private Spanish instructor, and the author of two learning-Spanish products offered here at Amazon:


1. Anna Rivera's 1000 Plus Most Powerful Spanish Words

2. Anna Rivera's 800 Plus Most Powerful Spanish Phrases

This a rather compact book that covers both Spanish Verbs and the fundamentals to Spanish grammar. In 33 short units, the author Ina W. Ramboz covers the major verbal and grammatical concepts of Spanish. The books is arranged so that each unit is dedicated to covering one particular concept. This enables the user to quickly and easily find specific information.

In addition to providing explanations to help the student understand the key concepts of Spanish verbs and grammar, the author also gives the student numerous examples to guarantee that the student grasps a full understanding of the material and is well on her way to mastery of Spanish verbs and grammar. Unlike some books that use impractical situations and uncommon vocabulary to demonstrate usage, this book uses contemporary vocabulary that reflects real-life situations that one is likely to come across while living in or traveling to Latin America.

Unlike many of the books on the market that cover both Spanish verbs and grammar, this book is small enough to be conveniently carried with you almost anywhere, but also thorough enough to be considered a true guide to mastering Spanish verbs and grammar. If you need to quickly develop a thorough understanding of Spanish verbs and grammar, but you lack the time or patience to read books such as Spanish Verbs and Tenses, the Ultimate Spanish Review and Practice, etc., then this may be the book for you.