Reds Books

It is about all of us... Make sure you start reading on a week-end because you won't be able to put it down without finishing! Mourselas' genius is unbelievable.

The book takes you to the journey of your life...

I rarely find a book that makes me think/ponder/sad/excited/aroused. This is one of those rare books.

This is by far the best book I have ever read. Mourselas has captured some of the worst times in Greek history and has presented them with a beautiful blend of philosophy and history. In the tradition of the greatest Greek author Nikos Kazantzakis, Mourselas delves into the human spirit and expresses it in the most beautiful way. While reading it I felt as though I knew each character personally. There are people in my own life who were the characters of this wonderful novel. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in taking a journey through a beautiful analysis of the human race.

This is one of the most beautiful books I've read.
Happy, stimulating, exciting, amusing, delightful, stormy and sexy. A great love story full of flavors, smells and rhythm.

This is the story of Emanueil Razinas (AKA Lewis) the surprising and unexpected man, that near him "all of us are such of midgets.... doesn't get even to his ankles..."

This is also the story of group of friends, and all the women and the wives, Athens and Greece. Four decades on yachts decks, in brothels, in the army, in the street, taverns, cafes, sheds, magnificence houses, and anywhere else.

The story is told in a fluent, open and trustworthy way, both satirical and sad.
You can't escape the noticeable painful feeling of the open wound of Greece that try to awaken from the civil war nightmare and the revolution in every page.

Before I read this book I thought it would be completly depressing and not a very good story. After I started reading the book I realized that it is an amazing story about love and lost. The main character, Sophie, goes through many challenges but she learns to cope extremly well for someone so young. She learns many lessons that I think everybody needs to learn sometime in there life.

Laura Resau writes the kind of books I loved to read when I was a teen, and still do. She takes us to new places with characters who are both loveable and flawed. In her latest book, Red Glass, she introduces us to a colorful cast of characters who quickly become so endearing we are happy to follow them to Mexico and beyond. Her main character, Sophie, is a girl doing what so many of us hope to do, pushing her own boundaries. Through Sophie's adventures helping return an orphaned Mexican boy to his village, Resau teaches us a little about tolerance, a little about bravery, a little about humanity and a lot about love. Her settings are so wonderfully drawn that we can easily imagine ourselves along for Sophie's ride. I've been happily sharing this book with the young girls in my life and they've been telling me that they, too, love it!

Contains all the ingredients for a good story: tragedy, comedy, love, and danger. I'm using it in my book club for adult ESL learners who are from various world cultures. They love it! It treats modern issues of immigration, alienation, and human rights with sensitivity. Hispanic culture is beautifully interwoven as are the lives of common people who come to know and respect each other accross vast landscapes and invisible borders.

Sophie has been afraid of just about everything: cancer, gems, car wrecks, and becoming an orphan. Then one day her stepfather Juan gets a phone call from the hospital. Pablo, a six-year-old Mexican boy is recovering from a trip across the Border. The same trip that killed both of his parents. Pablo comes to Sophie's home. She grows to love this little boy who she calls-her Principito, Little Prince. After a year Sophie's parents are able to contact Pablo's extended family in Mexico. Sophie, her Aunt Dika, and Dika's new boyfriend and son must travel with Pablo so he can make a heartwrenching decision.

On the way down Sophie feels a strong connection to Angel, her Aunt's boyfriend's son. But she fears she'll lose him. A tragic accident forces Sophie to make a dangerous journey where she must learn to face her fears. Will she always be delicate Sophie? Or will her difficult choice make her become fuerte--strong?

I enjoyed this story of a young girl who must face her fears in order to grow stronger. The road trip into Mexico was very vivid and I remembered similar things on my own trip many years ago. The contrast between Mexico and Guatemala are striking. I don't know if I'd be as strong as Sophie to travel down there alone. But what really stands out about this book is how Sophie learns to reach out to those around her. Dika, the eccentric aunt who survived the Bosnia war. Mr Lorenzo who survived beatings from the Guatemalan police. And little Paco, who watched his parents die while crossing the Border. They all learn from each other even when one of them makes a heartwrenching decision.

Laura Resau's beautifully written RED GLASS is one of those books that lingers in memory. It's the story of not-so-brave Sophie, who goes on the adventure of her life, in Mexico, and later Guatemala, an unstable and dangerous country, finding her courage and love along the way.

For teens, and adventurous middle schoolers, who realize the world is wide open to them!

When I received this book I was immediatly mesmerized by the cover photo and the overall appearance. I was quickly alerted that although small in size it was going to be a long journey. Red Plateau is unique and extremely deep, as I began to read, it wasted no time in pulling me well into its depths.
The story is heartbreaking, two former enemies meet by chance, a friendship developes and in time they become dependant upon one another in dealing with the past and one tells the story of the other.
I could write many pages about this work but I am still exploring, it can not be digested in one reading as each sentense is filled to capacity with color, emotion, vivid description, spiritual awareness. This is very good literature and personally I would love to see it released in hardcover form. As mentioned by another reviewer it is well written and belongs in libraries as well as on the desks of politicians.

Out of adversity comes creativity. Occasionally throughout recorded history, some former warriors who have lived through the horrors of war have come out of that experience with a gift for humanity. Having read a few of John Delezen's books, I would definitely place him in that category. In "Red Plateau," he has given us that gift by eloquently portraying in very human terms the war experience and its hardships on his former adversary.

John Delezen has taken that experience and has shared it with us through his gifted writing abilities. He brilliantly relays to the reader that his former enemy was an equally worthy warrior who suffered even more than he did. After reading this book, you will discover that the frontline soldiers on both sides of the conflict had more in common than not and in most cases the North Vietnamese soldiers had it much worse. They for instance when wounded, did not have the opportunity to be medevaced out by helicopter but if they could survive the journey from the battlefield, were brought to damp, foul tunnels for medical treatment. They had to endure the constant threat of overwhelming air strikes and had to deal with survival in the brutal jungle environment which was as alien to most of them as it was to the American soldier. Grunts on both sides did not make policy. They just suffered together as a consequence of their government's policies.

As a Marine who served with Third Reconnaissance Battalion on the DMZ in 1967-68, I found this book very insightful, thoughtful and personally healing. I can now not only have respect for my enemy as a worthy opponent but also have empathy for him as well. I would highly recommend "Red Plateau" to any combat Vietnam vet who wants a deeper understanding of that historical event that none of us who survived it will ever forget. I also recommend this book to all others who want to know what war is really like.

John Edmund Delezen, a twice wounded malaria plagued Marine who served in Vietnam with a Recon unit behind the lines, later returns frequently to Vietnam in a search for an unfulfilled part of himself. He slowly learns the language (he also learned to speak French fluently) and one day in the ancient holy city of Hue accidently meets Nguyen Van Tung who fought for years as a soldier with the NVA Army in the area where the author had served in Northern I Corps.
They slowly and hesitantly develop a close frienship through letters and Delezen's numerous visits back to the village where Nguyen Van Tung lives. As their friendship deepens, and Van Tung, from old wounds and lung problems, is dying, Tung gives Delezen his old battered diary and asks him to tell his story. Delezen hesitates, then promises that he will.
This diary with its long suffering and endurance of pain emerging from Ngugen Van Tuan's deep gently Buddhist spiritualiy is the heart of the RED PLATEAU story. A story that in the end contributes to deepening and guiding the author's own spiritual anguished search.
For me, the beauty and dignity of the story is this quiet self exposure of the struggling and growing faith, and love, of both battered veterans.
Nguyen Van Tuan died in his village a few months before this story was published.

As a Marine veteran of the Viet Nam war I always respected the enemy (NVA/ VC) we fought. This book tells what they did during the war. They were just young men like us going about their lives who were drafted into the communist cause. The book seems to show that most of them were more concerned with each other than with the communist propaganda officers that were attached to each unit. They had a hard life against a technologically superior enemy. Few made it home after the war. They were a band of brothers just like us. It is a great book.

A perfect companion to 'Eye of the Tiger', 'Red Plateau'shows war from the other side. As always, Mr. Delezen's style of writing puts the reader right in the trenches. A must read for veterans, military and history buffs, and should be mandatory reading for anyone with political ambitions. 'Red Plateau' gives new perspective to the 'enemy', and we find that those who share the trenches, on both sides, aren't that much different. Great reading.

The mystery genre is not one that I am fond of. I bought this book from the now defunct (sadly) Common Reader catalog because of the name and description. I'm so glad I ordered it because this is one of the very few mysteries I have ever liked. Joel Townsley Rogers was one talented writer! Some of his gooseflesh-raising descriptions have stayed in my mind for years. This book is not only mysterious and suspenseful but downright scary.

Rogers was a much better writer than some of today's authors who think that gore and perversion are the only way to scare readers, and that we can only handle one and a half page chapters or our puny little attention spans will collapse.

They should all have to read this book--so subtle, so creepy. I promise you will never forget the crazed little sawtooth killer--the hair on my arms is standing up as I type--if you buy this book you will not regret it!!!

I forget how I was introduced to this book, but I eventually bought it from Amazon. All I can say about The Red Right Hand is it is one of the best thrillers I have ever read.

I will admit I had picked it up then put it down again because I wasn't in the right mood to read it; but once I picked it back up and finished it, I realized the ending alone was worth reading the somewhat slow beginning.

I won't even talk about the plot. To give any details to this book would be unjust to any person who will have the great pleasure of picking it up one day.

Just know you will be knocked over the head by Rogers' denouement.

I read this years ago after one of my favorite authors (Donald E. Westlake) cited it as his favorite mystery novel. I loved it. The book is a constantly-shifting and mysterious narrative that repays a close read. Mystery fans: Find it and read it-- the designation of this book as a "classic" is completely justified!

I found this book by chance at a second hand book sale while on summer holiday about three years ago. The edition was printed in 1975 and by now (after reading over and over) looks rather shabby.

I had never heard of the author before and was merely looking for something to pass the time. It didn't pass much time, because once I started reading I couldn't put it down, and only took me one day to finish.

Joel Townsley Rogers puts you, neé, throws you right in the middle of a first-person account of this murder mystery that unfolds in one day. The story and subsequent mystery slowly unravels as he takes you back in time, revealing the characters and the events leading up to the day in which the story is told.

You start guessing and wondering, painting your own mental images of the characters and surroundings desribed with meticulous attention detail.

There are clues throughout the book, and careful reading is required. Read it again and again, and more clues are revealed.

As far as endings to any book are concerned, they're pretty imprtant, so I won't divulge any details. I will say this though...be prepared!

This is whodunnit to the very end, and even though the ending has never changed in the 7 times that I've read it...I'm reading it again for the 8th time right now.

Enjoy and share

A corpse with a missing hand, sightings of a twisted gnome driving a sleek convertible, the lone hitchhiker on a deserted highway comes straight from a nightmare's central casting. "The Red Right Hand", written in 1945, fresh and jolting in the 21st century, must have absolutely rocked the literary world of its day with this strangely creepy tale of young love gone impossibly wrong. Dr. Harry Riddle finds himself implicated in the murder of Innis St. Erme, a young New York businessman who had set off to New England to elope with his bride-to-be when a roadside picnic takes a terrible turn. Author Joel Townsley Rogers spins this bizarre and eerie tale tightly around a non-linear plot, leading the reader down a hallucinogenic trail of murder and mind games that is sure to confuse and delight - like you're kicking back on a lazy Saturday afternoon a pick up an early "Twilight Zone" episode mid-flight. But by the time its over, you're on the edge of your seat, yet still completely unprepared for the final twists and turns that would leave Hitchcock stuttering. Classic stuff - the best - don't miss this one.

I keep this book by my bedside and read it whenever I am troubled.

I shared this book with a couple that were going through a crisis. They liked it so much they gave my book back and bought their own!

It's a must read for any christian.

This is a wonderful book. Following the biblical pattern of the Israelites crossing the Red Sea the author helps you look at life's difficult problems in a new light and gives you guidelines for "getting thought" tough times.

The Red Sea Rules The Same God Who Led You In Will Lead You Out
I was going through a difficult time and this book answered ALL my questions. I read through it 5 times. It is so small that it fit in my purse and I could take it anywhere.

I have read this book now three times. It was such an uplift and encouragement for some difficult times that I wanted all my friends and family to have a copy. I bought 20 copies of this book and gave them all away for Christmas gifts. The message is so practical and sensible and opens your eyes to how God is working in your life even when you don't ralize He is! This book gives you the drive to hang in there, be patient, and let God work in his own unique way. You can relax and trust Him to do it.

Have a problem? Know someone who does? Buy this little treasure book with ten positive rules for moving from fear to faith. Just as Moses and the Israelites found themselves caught between the Egyptians and the Red Sea as related in the Bible, we too, can face life's overwhelming problems by looking to God for help and applying these rules. Try them - you'll love them!

This is one small gem of a book that people of all ages can relate to, can be inspired and encouraged by, and will marvel at the insights the author presents.

Psalm 37:23-24 states: The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him

Pretty tremendous sequel to Final Impact pulls off being scary and full of brooding sense of doom. Really feels like the world has ended! I hope there will be a third book! The story line carries over better than most overblown epic fantasies out there.

This is a classic big-canvas novel, as the children of the FINAL IMPACT characters come into their own. Don't worry: most of the original gang is back as well -- but they take a back seat to the young men and women born during and after the cataclysmic Impact Days. As usual, Navarro's main focus in on her characters, and those in this novel are firmly within the Navarro tradition of strong, intensely believable people, who carry with them that Stephen King-like sense of being someone you actually know . . . or wish you that did, or fear that you might . . . Overall, another superior effort from a consistently fine author. As one of the other perceptive folks quoted on this page recommends, buy both books and read them back-to-back.

RED SHADOWS is a follow up to FINAL IMPACT, where a rogue planet crashes into the Earth. Before DEEP IMPACT and ARMAGEDDON, Navarro weaved a tale of survival. In RED SHADOWS we find out how well the survivors are doing and what they are doing to stop a plague. Navarro has been totally underrated in the women of horror movement of the `90's. We all know about Brite, Koja, Kiernan and Faust. But please add Navarro as an heir to their throne. This novel is an excellently written, character-driven story. The people in this novel live and breathe and you feel for them when some of their decisions are made. Emotionally engaging. Highest Recommendation.

This story had great characters and good detail. You can really feel you are in one of the three zones described in the book and your really worry with the characters about what could be 'out there'. For anyone that likes science fiction and thrillers, they should love this book!

I was so impressed by this book. It's my first by this author and I quickly surmised that it is a sequel, but that was on special order, so I went ahead and read this one anyway. It stands alone as a pretty powerful work of fiction that stayed with me after I'd finished. (a 2-sitting read because I was caught up in the characters. I am not a frequent reader of sf and/or apocalyptic fiction, but this is a wonderful novel anyone would enjoy. I was pleased to see the character names were as ordinary as the circumstances were extraordinary! These people seemed familiar, flawed, and ultimately heroic.

What a great book. My mother inlaw got me hooked on Dorthy Keddington.
I loved this book what a great story. It keeps you guessing till the very end.

This story of family friends, on a hiking trip in the Uintah Mountians of Utah, takes many unexpected turns and keeps you rivited until the very end. They encounter a plane crash, drug lords, death and other surprising events along the trail.

The worst part about the book is that it ends, leaving you wanting more! I am ready to read it again...and I just finished it. Don't plan on doing anything but reading once you pick up this fast paced, ever intense book.

Bravo, Ms. Keddington!

This is my favorite book in the world. I would love to see this book made into a movie... If only she would write more books like these. If you have never read her books, they are a must for everyone. I am not a book lover, but her books seem to touch my heart in just the right ways. I have read this book at least 6 times. Her descriptions of the characters are so vivid it leaves an impression on you long after you have (regrettably) finished the book. She has written 7 books(that I know of) and her first 5 are the best. Jayhawk, Flower of the Winds, Shadow Song, Mermaids Purse and Return to Red Castle. DOROTHY... Please write more books like your first 5.

Dorothy Keddington enables you to live the story. Her descriptive words not only tell a story but allow you to feel like you are right in the story. "Return to Red Castle" has adventure, mystery and (my favorite) romance without all the implicit sexual details. Her description of the mountain scenery lets you visualize and feel you are a part of the hiking expedition. I have read it twice and will keep it to read again in the future. I like her style.

I read this book when I was in 7th grade (that was awhile ago) and loved it. I usually can't stand first person story telling, but Ms. Keddington does it very well. It also was clean and I appreciate that - I just can't comprehend how most writers don't seem to understand the difference between romance and sleaze. I'm not sure if I love it for nostaglic reasons or what - but, I would say if you're going to read one of her books, read this one first.

Melissa comes back to Utah, sees the man she's had a crush on since she was a kid, tracks up the mountain, meets creeps, falls in love, man saves her from creeps, etc. Romance and adventure - this book has it all.

What a great book! This breaks down the seasons and the aromas appropriate for each. I love the easy to follow recipes and suggestions.

I love the way this book focuses on just 12 essential oils. As a newcomer to aromatherapy, I would like to start with just a few oils and add more as I learn more. This book has been a big help in deciding which oils are the most versatile, and are therefore the best ones to buy when only buying a few. Having hundreds of recipes that only use these 12 oils is also a big help. The book is beautifully written with a fair amount of humor. I don't know about you, but I can always use a little extra humor in my day.

I have purchased a number of aromatherapy books over the past year or so and taken out about every one my local library holds. This book far exceeds them all for practical, accesible knowledge. They make it fun and start you out with oils that most people can afford. Some of the books I have list recipes, supposedly for beginners, that use 10 drops of rose absolute, jasmine and the more expensive or unusual oils. That's all well and good, but for someone just getting into aromatherapy, they aren't likely to spend... $$$ for a 1/4 oz. bottle of rose EO.

This book is easy to understand, the recipes are easy to make and easy to enjoy and the information provided is good. They start out with oils that are affordable and easily found, but also present special oils each month, like jasmine, frankinsence, and rose, that one can "move up to".

The only thing I wish they had made more clear or stressed more was about applying oils neat. Some of the recipes aren't clear about that and for someone who is just starting, they may not realize that there aren't a lot of oils that you want to use neat due to their strength.

Anyway, great book! I love it.

Paula and Judi have compiled an incredible introduction for someone new to aromatherapy. The book is so easy to follow and read, and the blends are so easy to make and use. In addition, the blends in this book are timeless. You won't outgrow this book. What I liked the best about the blends is you see results immediately. To top it off, it's one of the most beautiful books I've seen. Great on the coffeetable, a great conversation piece, and forever in use. Keep it handy!

Seasons of Aromatherapy by Paula M. Bousquet and Judith Fitzsimmons is a joy! This book feels like an invitation from an old friend to go exploring. I have been borrowing a copy for much too long...TODAY I AM BUYING MY OWN! Thanks!

The illustrations here are nicely done, but the story is a bit thin, even for 3-4 year olds. Another problem is that the paper stock used for the book's pages is very thin, and not very sturdy. This is a big problem for younger readers, since the book has one page that has a lift-up flap (a door that Loris is behind), and another page that folds out to reveal a larger scene. Because the paper is so lightweight, it is VERY EASY for kids to accidentally tear the door or the foldout page. (I have the paperback edition, so perhaps this is not the case with the hardback edition.)

I took a chance on ordering this in part because it was so inexpensive through Amazon (around $7 when I ordered it). After seeing how thin the book and the pages are, though, I don't think it's worth the money.

I recommend Deacon's other book, Beegu, which our children love very much. Beegu has better illustrations, and the book itself is of much sturdier construction. (I have the hardback version, but it only cost about $3 more than the softcover of Slow Loris.)

We purchased this book to read to our daughter(s) and found it to be an instant success. Sometimes, the book reading requests from the youngsters get a little bit repetitive. This book, however, we were happy to read over and over again. The story is just long enough to engage the mind, but not too long to be tedious at bedtime. The illustrations are great, too. With all the animals of the zoo represented at various times, it's a fun way to start reinforcing the names of the animals by identifying them at the Slow Loris' nightly gatherings.

I fell in love with a slow loris at the zoo as it fell in love with the wide-eyed glassy stare of my almighty cutest stuffed raver elephant pet Akookie... I immediately had to learn all I could about the adorable lor-able, and as a present for dearest Akookie (and Ak's doting human parents) bought Slow Loris... So beautiful and funny and somehow reminiscent of my deranged circle of friends and their amassed collection of hats. *blink blink* The Loris loves you. Prepared to be Awwwwwww-ed.

My family got a big giggle out of the "slow" loris having a wild time after dark, wearing crazy hats and carrying on. It puts a new slant on why the animals you see in zoos are always asleep.

This illustration style doesn't always work for me, but it does here.

cute and funny story about 'slow' loris who is slow during the day for good reason. the drawings are dark and sleepy, a perfect accompaniment for the story which is written in text that makes you feel as slow as loris is.

as the story unravels, the mystery of slow loris is revealed. when she comes out of the nighttime blackness wearing a fiesta hat i had to laugh out loud. truly a delightful children's story. highly recommended. plenty of other zoo animals are involved in the story as well.

I am fifteen years old, and this is my ultimate favorite book!The characters are believable, and the plot is fascinating. It is a mystery/adventure/romance book that, without being preachy, teaches strong morals and christian virtues. I find it refreshing to read a book that has the courage to do all that.

After reading this excellent book a few times each year since it has come out, I have finally decided to read the Grimm's version and may I say that Ms. Doman is one really acurate writer. I really hope she DOES continue the story of Blanche, Bear, Rose and Fish as she mentioned at the end of her book. Also, after reading a book like this, I feel so lucky to be a homeschooling Catholic, Ms. Doman makes every reader feel proud of her religion and so VERY proud of Bear and Fish for their courage. I hope everyone who reads any of these reviews will find the hear(and the time!)to pick up this book and read it and read it and read it, over and over and over and over....

AKA Shadow of the Bear.

Some books just fall into your hands, and instantly become treasures you want to share with all you know. This is one of those books. It is a modern retelling of the story from the Brothers Grimm, of Snow White and Rose Red. It is the story of two brothers and two sisters, all of whom have lost much in life and are not fully what they at first appear. The sisters have lost their father and had to move back into New York City. The brothers have lost their mother and have both been convicted of drug charges. Then one fateful night their fates become somehow intertwined.

The sisters are Blanch and Rose, two girls who grew up in the countryside, and who now reside in the city. They live with their mother and attend secondary school. The first of the brothers we meet is named Bear; he has dreadlocks, is big and tough, yet upon spending an evening with the Brier sisters and their mother he reveals different parts of his past. He has a passion for life, loves poetry and takes the girls on outings. But there is always a dark side to a Bear and this one is no different. He has secrets and his story and journey are still unfolding. The mystery revolves around a murdered priest, an abandoned church and the school the sisters are attending.

This story is wonderfully told. The author draws you in and keeps you captivated from first page to last. Each chapter begins with a quote from the original fairy tale, and foreshadows what is coming, yet in New York the mysteries and magic of a fairy tale are very different from the German countryside. Regina Doman is a true storyteller, not just an author. His skill with the pen makes you see the action as it is taking place, and you feel so drawn into the story that you feel like a character sitting on the sidelines waiting to see what will happen next.

This is the first book in a trilogy and I cannot wait to lay my hands on books two and three. This story was so captivating that it left me wanting more immediately. If you are looking for some great summer reading this term, give this book a try.

I love reading fairy tale novelizations, because I'm the one who always wants to know the why behind characters' actions. Novels offer a much better glimpse into fairy tales than a simple story book. This novel knows what it's doing.

The main characters, Blanche and Rose, are well-drawn and believable; their personalities are distinct but both likable. Doman also does a good job drawing Bear as a sensitive hulk. The swing dancing scene is one of my favorites! The plot flows smoothly and quickly, with heroic adventures along the way, but nothing that a real person couldn't handle. Sometimes, even if you like a fantasy book, the characters seem superhuman (well, I suppose they occasionally are!). But in this real-world adventure, all characters are true to life.

My one complaint is that Doman resorts to the Nancy Drew technique of having the villain explain his plot to his victim, so that the reader figures out what's going on. Still, it's only her first book (written at age 23 or so), and it's remarkable! I can't wait to see what else Regina Doman has for us.

The book is about two sisters, Blanche & Rose, who live in N.Y.C. They are new to the city, and they do not have to many friends. They are well read in poetry and other peices of liturature, they are also christian. They meet a boy, who calls himself "Bear", and then there adventures begin. I won't go into detail, because that might spoil it, but I will say that it is loosly based on Grimn's fairy tale, of the same name. I hope that everyone who reads it will love it as much as I did, (all 7 times) but I don't think it's a book that guys would get into. Regina Doman, where ever you are, thank you for writing a book with intelligent, christen characters, that's still exciting.