Reds Books

I bought this book in my position as church librarian, seeking stories for preteens about people whose lives were changed by God. There are very few books for kids like that out there that don't send a heavy fundamentalist message. There's also the old joke that Noah's wife was Joan of ARK. I needed to set that piece of ignorance straight, too. So I found an excellent book about St. Joan in this illustrated copy. The text is preteen level with historical information like a timeline of Joan's life and map of medieval France, along with the text of Joan's life. This is a nice volume and I would recommend it if you wish to buy it for medieval history, religion, feminist issues, French history or all of the above. The illustrations are well designed and in soft colors, to express the femininity and grace of Joan.

The illustrations are very fairy-tale looking, lending a mythical quality to the long text. A great example of historical events turned into a stunning picture book. Even high school kids would be inclined to read this one cover to cover; I'd use it in middle school without hesitation! Compare to the new biography of Ann Frank by this team!

I had read this book before, and I loved it. Children will fall in love with this book. This book tells about the heroic story of Joan of Arc, the French maid that helped France win a war against England, and died a heroin. I think children will think she is a saint, and she is a great role model for children. Here children can learn from Joan, about bravery, courage, and patriotism. My favorite quote is, "A saint is like a star. A star and a saint shine forever." Parents, you children will like this book. Plus they learn a little history too on a level they can understand.

Regine Pernoud, the most respected twentieth-century biographer of Joan of Arc, noted that everyone can find a reason to love this saint. This book helps children begin to understand why she still haunts us 500 years after her death. I bought a copy of this book for my three-year-old son to introduce him to Joan of Arc's story, and it has been a pleasure for both of us. Now that it is available in an affordable paperback edition, a lot of parents will want to add it to their child's library.

Angela Barrett's illustrations are striking and memorable. In particular, I like the painting of the English bombarding Orleans, as it shows what a siege was like in those days. The cover picture (displayed above) shows Joan on her horse surrounded by the hopeful residents of Orleans who wanted to touch the maiden that God sent to liberate them. Without being heavy-handed, the fire engulfing the banner hints at Joan's ultimate fate, and her face reminds us that she was in many ways a child. This was a true incident, and Joan was said to have been masterful in guiding her horse to water to douse the flame. There is also an outstanding two-page illustration of Charles' coronation, in which Joan is shown standing in a position of honor as befits the liberator of the kingdom. The depiction of angels visiting the imprisoned Joan while she was on trial at Rouen captures the spirit of her faith in God and certainty in her quest. Remember that this uneducated peasant girl held her own for two months in a contest of wits with masters from the University of Paris. The illustrations alone make this book worth having.

Any biographer of Joan of Arc must find a way to explain the inexplicable. Josephine Poole's text is good, beginning with the simple statement that this is a true story. Ms. Poole offers Joan's story more-or-less at surface value. As is appropriate for her audience of children, she simply relates that Joan was a country girl working in a field when she heard voices that filled her with overwhelming happiness. The author includes some details of Joan's story that one could quibble with, but overall the text is solid as biography. I was frankly glad that she did not go into details of Joan's terrible death, concluding instead that a saint, like a star, lives forever. Indeed, Joan of Arc will always live in the hearts of all of us who love her.

Perhaps my son's actions speak loudest about the value of this book. We never go on a trip without "Joan of Arc," and I have heard him tell his friends, in his own way, that Joan of Arc tried to warn Classidas to go home, but that she ended up having to shoot and was sorry when he died. This book has helped my son begin to love St. Joan, and that is the strongest recommendation for it that I know how to make.

Josephine Poole and Angela Barrett's provide a compelling portrait of an ardent and spiritual Joan of Arc in this illustrated juvenile biography of the 15th-century peasant girl who led a French army to victory against the English and was later burned at the stake for witchcraft. Author Poole emphasizes that this is a true story, which is what makes the story of Joan's courage and humanity more compelling, especially with Barrett's illustrations, which provide a sense of both the time and the import of the story. Poole does an especially nice job of presenting the political complexities of the time in simple terms, yet provides a poetic touch to her text. What comes across is a story of a simple girl who was empowered by her beliefs to accomplish great things, that treats the triumph and the tragedy in equal measure, and underscores how after her martyrdom Joan went on to be named a saint by the Church.

Young readers will understand how Joan's beliefs could inspire her troops at the siege of Orleans, but they will have trouble understanding why there were those who abandoned her or why the English made sure she would be convicted at her trail. However, ultimately this look at "Joan of Arc" is more interested in providing a look at the story of her life without really trying to explain the motives of anyone beyond Joan. Within that context, the illustrations by Barrett make it clear that although she is dressed up in armor and carrying a colorful banner, Joan was a young girl. Young readers will definitely have a sense for why the story of this particular young girl has been a dramatic and compelling one for centuries.

Unfortunately, Jan Swafford did not have a chance to read this book before writing his own "biograohy" of Brahms. If he had, he would have been privy to a wealth of information, much of which has not been available to non-german speakers. Avins' commentary on the letters of Brahms and many of his correspondents is clear and well researched.

I'v been a Brahms' music fan for a long time and i have read three different biographies, without having the opportunity of get closer to his thoughts before i buy this great book. Now I know how Brahms' mind worked, how (really) was his relationship with his friends and how were his feelings and thoughts during the periods he composed that wonderful music.

I'm not an english born speaker, so i had some difficulties in understand the meaning of some sentences, more exactly, some modisms, wich are very frecuent in Brahms' speech.

In spite of this, I recommend this book because it's just wonderful.

The virtues of this book are several: about 800 previously untranslated letters of Brahms, masterfully translated and carefully and judiciously annotated, based on research entirely from source materials which, among other things, give the lie to the unsavory myths of Brahms childhood, proving beyond doubt that he came from a hard-working, well-meaning family who lived in a good neighborhood, and provided him with a good education and normal childhood. The author's research confines to the rubbish heap the silly Freudian theories, never based on any evidence, for his reasons for not marrying. This compendium of letters and their absorbingly written annotation is a gold mine for amateurs and professionals interested in a truthful picture of Brahms.

"Richly informative" - Sunday Times, London. "Occasionally a book comes along which changes perceptions of its subject. This is such a book. ... [The] annotations are not only scholarly but often witty and always full of common sense. ... Wherever you read, you will feel you are in Brahms's world and that he is speaking to you." - Sunday Telegraph, London. "There are many gems here ... much to be gleaned from what Avins has selected.. Those who seek to be on more intimate terms with Brahms and his circle... will find much to pore over in this collection" - Los Angeles Times. "Little short of a bombshell ... Ms. Avins's contributions are terse and often illuminating... fascinating illustrations, a helpful chronological table and other tools... Brahms reveals himself in workaday as well as transcendent moods." - New York Times. "This is a work that will thrill Brahms fans and provide much pleasure to those entertained by the personal correspondence of great artists. Recommended for general and academic libraries." - Library Journal. "It is not much of an exaggeration to say that the book presents Brahms in a new but quite convincing light... the book can be read as a biography... this composer has seldom seemed more lovable, more vulnerable, more honorable." - Gramophone. "This is one of the most important music books published in recent years." - The Oldie, London.

"Johannes Brahms, Life and Letters" is a new biography published by Oxford Univ. Press and is based on the composer's letters. The letters were selected and annotated by Styra Avins and its 550 complete letters which constitute the first such general collection of letters in English, were translated by Josef Eisinger and Styra Avins. The book also contains 48 rare photos, detailed notes and appendices (e.g. on Brahms and Clara Schumann), and a bibliography. The lively text joining the letters is based on the latest Brahms scholarship and provides a fresh view of the composer's life, much of it in his own words. It sheds new light on the early life of Brahms, his numerous friendships, his family, his work, his character and his personality. A well-written book which will heighten anyone's appreciation of the man and of his music. Highly recommended to lovers of biography and music.

This is a great way to learn piano. I have taught this method for many years and it has never failed any of my students. This books offers fun songs yet is packed with important information from the start.

"Schaum's A-Red Book" is great for the student who needs a little extra work before moving on to "Thompson's Grade 1 Book". I usually start my students in "Teaching Little Fingers to Play", but I have discovered that many of them need extra material before they are able to move on to "Thompson's Grade 1 Book". This book is the one!!

The John W. Schaum Piano series is an excellent way to introduce children to the piano. Geared to the early grade school level, A-The Red Book is a follow-up to Pre-A-The Green Book. All the piano books in this series feature colorful illustrations, easy-to-read notes, and simple hand positions. The book progresses from very simple melodies at the start to more complex "melody and chord" songs at the end. Children love to sing along as they play the notes. I have found this to be a great way to for younger kids to learn to read music and begin their study of the piano.

I was very happy to be able to find the John W. Schaum Piano Course books. Many years ago, I was taught to play piano using these books and now I'm able to teach my children the same way. This book provides a very simply step-by-step approach to piano playing that is challenging but still easy enough for children to understand and to practice what they've learned on their own.

I used the older version of this book when I was a child and it was excellent. Easy to read and understand. Perfect for learning to play the piano if you want to go at your own pace. I had a private instructor as well but the book was the key to my lessons. I have almost the entire collection but they are a bit out-dated so I plan to buy the new ones soon for my own review, and also so I can teach my kids to play when they are old enough. I loved the John W. Schaum series. Note: These books aren't really theory based so if you intend to teach yourself, you'll also need a book to really teach you the basics (Tip: I used the AB Guide to music theory by Eric Taylor, it's alittle difficult to find now though), once you master the theory, you'll be on your way to playing tons of songs. Fun fun fun!!!

In King's Highway, McCallister creates memorable and distinctive characters, plenty of believable action, humor, and a satisfying ending. This novel made me oh so glad I didn't run off to Galveston back in the 60's when I considered it.

I started this book one afternoon and couldn't put it down. It grabbed my attention and I could identify with the main character early on in the story. The author uses vivid imagery to take you back in time and live vicariously through Ray-Ray's narrative almost as if he is sitting right there in the room telling you his story. This book is more than sex, drugs and rock-n-roll, and will take you on a few surprising twists and turns. Although Ray-Ray's life is turbulent, the time itself was much simpler then. With all that's going on in the modern world, King's Highway is a much-needed vacation back in time.
I hope to see more from Mr. McCallister soon.

King's Highway turned out to be a real page turner. More than just sex, drugs and rock 'n roll, Mr. MacCallister spins a yarn with lots of twists and turns set in the late 70's Myrtle Beach. The book held my attention for a quick, couldn't put it down read, and it also motivated me to revisit Zevon's "Excitable Boy" album! Filled with subtle pop culture and musical references of the time that it was fun to recognize added to the enjoyment of this book. I would highly recommend picking it up, and listenting to some Warren Zevon while reading!

I read this book in an evening and a half. It was beautiful, deep, and it captured me in it's psychological tapestry. The first person POV is used to illuminate readers with the innermost thoughts and head space of Ray-Ray DeKalb, a son of the South who feels like a fish out of water when in the midst of his politically aspiring father, shrill, deamanding mother, and a brother who decides that Ray-Ray's ex-girlfriend is fair game. The personal realm of this story is well crafted, but the emotionally illustrated account of Myrtle Beach brings it's legend to paper. I remember the colors of the un-corporationalized Myrtle Beach. The smell of salt and cotton candy down at the Pavillion. The feeling that a night on the strip gave you. This is a port that fufills a promise that it never made, and finally, FINALLY someone has written it's subtle, sea-side poetry into a competent and thought provoking novel. It is a place to grow, and this story gives readers the chance to grow with the character. McCallister knows what he is doing, and I hope that another novel is in the works. If it is, I can't wait.

Having enjoyed drafts of McCallister's other works, I was anxious to read his first published novel. McCallister exceeded my expectations by stirring the coming of age angst that still lurks within me. Last Sunday afternoon I was entertained by the thoughts and emotions of Ray Dekalb's time in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Recommended reading! Note to publisher; let's see some more work by McCallister soon.

I enjoyed this book very much, but I would have been happy had it been about 150 pages shorter. I usually enjoy the very long books, but I had to force my way through this one towards the end.

The other reviewers have given wonderfully specific and accurate praise, and I second their opinions. This will definitely be a "re-read" sometime soon.

A character-driven reconstruction of the Restoration period, from the point of view of the ill-fated Duke of Monmouth.

I don't understand why so little historical fiction takes the English Civil War and its lengthy and dramatic aftermath as a setting. Whatever the reason, its rarity makes The King's Touch a particularly welcome book. While a bit more grasp of the period's ideologies and material culture would have been an improvement, in general I thought the Restoration was effectively evoked.

Told primarily in first person from the point of view of Jemmy, Charles II's illegitimate son who becomes Duke of Monmouth, the narrative focuses heavily on Jemmy's childhood, his upbringing and his relationships with others, particularly his elusive father. Morgan effectively portrays human, flawed yet deeply sympathetic characters who have been damaged by disinheritance, exile and uncertainty, without sliding (much) into anachronism. Solely a book about human relationships, King's Touch contains little physical action; a different author might have chosen to portray Jemmy in battle rather than skimming over military events. However, the plot held my interest.

I think this would have a broad appeal to readers of romantic historical fiction (as opposed to 'historical' romance novels).

The King's Touch is told in the first person by Jemmy (James, Duke of Monmouth), the best-known out-of-wedlock son of Charles II. It covers his life from his childhood with his beautiful, unstable mother to his decision to lead his rebellion against James II. Though Jemmy's military adventures play a part in this novel, this is by no means an action-packed tale. Nor is it concerned chiefly with the politics of the age, though they of course play an important background role. Rather, the focus is on Jemmy's relationships, most especially with his enigmatic father

Having been reading some others' thoughts about reviewing, it's struck me that my favorable reviews tend to be similar to each other: I praise the author's characterizations and writing style. That's no accident, because character to me is what the essence of novel writing is about; if I can't connect with the people in a novel on some level, the novel doesn't work for me. So having said that, you'll not be surprised to hear that I enjoyed The King's Touch chiefly for its characters. They're vivid and memorable, particularly Charles II and Jemmy himself.

Morgan's writing style is also a treat: elegant yet unfussy, and full of little gems like this comment about Jemmy's grandmother, Queen Henrietta Maria, who's just been told by Charles that he wants Jemmy raised as a Protestant: "My grandmother sat down tragically. (I cannot give a clear idea of tragical sitting-down, but my grandmother could manage it.)"

The dialogue here sparkles, and is appropriate to the characters, some of the best lines being too bawdy to quote here. Here's a random sample from Jemmy's cousin Mary, who's not looking forward to her wedding day: "'Then I am very well. But I am not, of course. It is not true, by the by, that I wept two days together after Father told me I was to marry Prince William. It was only a day and a half.'"

This was a great read. Pick it up.

A friend recommended this to me recently. I was in two minds whether to read it, as I have little interest in seventeenth century history. However, I found a cheap copy and decided to buy it, and I'm so glad I did.

King's Touch is the story of 'Jemmy' - James Scott, Duke of Monmouth - the eldest illegitimate child of the future King Charles II and his mistress Lucy Walter. The novel is narrated by Jemmy in the first person, and covers his life from the age of seven in the 1650s, in precarious exile on the Continent with his mother, until 1685.

King's Touch is exactly the kind of novel I enjoy most, where the focus is almost entirely on characterisation and relationships. There is plenty of action, but the focus is on the characters themselves - and my goodness, how Jude Morgan makes them come to life. They jump right off the page, vivid, three-dimensional, incredibly real - even the minor characters. We see lots of the French royals too - Louis XIV, Anne of Austria, the Duke of Orleans and so on, as vivid as their English counterparts. Despite the long list of characters, I was never confused about who was who.

Before starting the novel, I knew very little about the period of English history it covers: the aftermath of the Civil War, the Protectorate of Oliver Cromwell, the Restoration of Charles II, and so on. But I was never lost. There's plenty of information to help the reader understand the situation, and best of all, it never appears in 'info dumps' but seems to grow organically out of the narrative. It's beautifully written, with frequent little touches of humour that made me smile. Although it's a thick book - over 500 fairly dense pages - it didn't drag at all.

There was nothing at all I didn't like about King's Touch. Oh yes, one thing: it ended. It's one of those novels that I finished with a genuine sense of regret, knowing that I was going to miss Jemmy enormously.

Highly, highly recommended.

"The Kings Touch" is a marvelous story of Charles II and Restoration England told through the eyes of the boy who was the first born son of Charles II, eventually known as the Duke of Monmouth. Through Jemmy, the boy, we meet Charles while he is still a man in exile holding out for hope. We see how Charles' life, sense of self, and inability to trust in others and to say "no" is shaped by his domineering and jealous mother, Queen Henrietta Maria, his favorite sister, Minette, and his jealous brother James. It seems that Charles is always searching for love and acceptance - yet politics, power and jealousy interfere repeatedly. Through Jem's eyes we see this man grow into an indulgent and excessive King who rules largely ineffectively. He is a difficult father as well - displaying love one minute, distrust another, and with holding the same sense of security from his son that he seemed to long for himself.

Author Jude Morgan has the Midas Touch when it comes to bringing Restoration England alive on the pages. This book is full of vivid descriptions, larger than life characters (as they were in life), and is a story you smell in full and see in color. The King's Touch is full of intrigue, jealousy, sex, drunkeness, lust and drips with the excessive displays of the period.

Despite the many lovers Charles II is known to have had, and the numerous children he produced outside of his marriage which he acknowledged and raised, few know of The Duke of Monmouth though he is said to have been the one most loved and favored by the King. This is particularly odd since Monmouth himself lead such a tumultuous and interesting life, and eventually was arrested and executed for waging a rebellion after the death of this father. These facts alone make this story well worth reading.

My daughter likes Kipper. This book only has the word color and then stuff that color on the page along with Kipper. Pretty simple but very cute. It is a board book so she can teethe on it and not hurt it.

This book has wonderful pictures that really engage children. I especially enjoy the picture for the color "white". Kipper is surrounded in a cloud of flour....my kids (2 1/2 and 5 years old) thought that it was very funny! The book teaches colors in a simple and fun way!

This book is so simple it can be described as twenty pages, ten words, and lots of white space.

So why, you may ask, is it worth five big stars?

For one, the illustrations are big, bright, fun, fully representative of the color being shown, and are all of Kipper the Dog.

For two, it is suitable from birth to first reading, as it's never too early to start your child on the reading track.

For three, it's the first book my four year old has read on his own, spelling the letters, sounding it out, and then proudly coming up with the right words. That makes it priceless.

My one teeny tiny little gripe is that the style of lettering used for those important ten words is different to what is being taught in nursery school. The "a" that he learned is more like a circle with a stroke, the "g" in the book is the one with the closed loop at the bottom, and the "W" in the book looks like two overlapping "V"s. However, after we explained that some letters can look different sometimes, he had no problems whatsoever.

Deceptively simple but fiendishly clever.

Amanda Richards, April 10, 2005

This book has wonderful pictures that really engage children. I especially enjoy the picture for the color "white". Kipper is surrounded in a cloud of flour....my kids (2 1/2 and 5 years old) thought that it was very funny! The book teaches colors in a simple and fun way!

This whole little series of books (opposites, weather, colors and numbers) is really well done, but this one is special to me as it's the first book my younger son (age 2) has really fallen in love with. He took it into his nap with him today! He loves best the page about orange, where Kipper is drinking what looks like orange soda with a very long crazy straw. I like the teddy bear page for brown, with all shapes of cute teddy bears! I'm glad the TV show led us to Kipper books!

This is by far the best book I've ever seen on the Qabalah and its philosophy. William Gray has a feel for the technical nuances of the Qabalah that few others possess. While the Qabalah is indeed "mystical" as Dion Fortune states in her excellent book (a perfect companion to Ladder of Lights), it is also a living thing, growing, changing, and redefining itself as time passes and human culture changes. Gray's technical approach appeals especially to me as a professional engineer - as above, so below, especially with his excellent analogies that ring true today. Grey is not afraid of looking at the Qabalah in new ways, even ways that contradict "tradition". Again, Qabalah is a living thing and living things that don't change are, well, dead.

I've re-read this book every year for many years, and I always find new things in it. Few books come close to the sheer density of insight that this one possesses.

You can't go wrong with this book if you're looking for a way to cut through the veils and get a true understanding of what makes Qabalah the best-ever method of getting a handle on the way the universe works.

Unlike most books on the subject, William Gray's 'The Ladder of Lights' speaks to the reader personally in a simple and sane way, without any obstruction to meaning.

His writing style is very different to other authors who produced books around the same period or earlier and his approach is very down to earth.

He also has a clever capacity to put simple meanings into short phrases which are designed to illuminate and assist the reader in understanding concepts which in other books are consistently given obscure meanings.

He is frequently able to bring fresh meanings and contemplation to Quabalistic symbols and ideas in a way that is very matter of fact which provides the reader with ample room for contemplation.

A very good book that should be on the shelf of any serious Western Magician.

Hands down, this is one of the best books on modern Qabala ever written! Gray takes a step-by-step look at the Ten Sephiroth and their traditional attributions in each of the Four Qabalistic Worlds. A relatively simple, no-nonsense approach to modern Qabalism.

In some ways, I view this book as a companion piece to Dion Fortune's much better-known work, "The Mystical Qabalah," since both books provide the reader with a fairly straightforward approach to this challenging subject. Where Fortune starts at the top of the Tree of Life and works her downward, however, Gray starts at the bottom of the Tree and works his way to the top. Although Grey's interpretation of the Tree is similar to Fortune's, by approaching the material from a completely different perspective he is also able to provide new insight.

This book's greatest strength is that it analyzes each of the ten Sephiroth from each of the Four Qabalistic worlds, providing the reader with something sorely missed in Dion Fortune's classic book on the subject. This book's greatest weakness is that, unlike Fortune, Gray pays almost no attention to the organization of the Sephiroth upon the Tree, or to the relationships between them. Without a word of explanation Gray also reverses the traditional Yetziratic attributions of Malkuth and Yesod, assigning them to the angelic choirs of Cherubim and Ashim respectively, although I do see the logic and consistency of this attribution.

Overall, this is a good, solid title for somebody interested in approaching modern (non-rabbinical) Qabalism for the first time. I'd recommend reading Dion Fortune's book first, if you haven't already, and then tackling this book immediately afterwards for a different take on the same material.

This is by far the best book I have seen which explains the Qabballah. It uses simple language, and very clever symbolism to explain the workings of it. Well worth it.

This is by far the best book I have seen which explains the Qabballah. It uses simple language, and very clever symbolism to explain the workings of it. Well worth it.

This book is best read quickly, if not at a sitting, then over a weekend. In that way Henderson's prose gets its power, and it will take you from youthful optimism to euphoria, then to despair, and then to a sort of middle ground in which she makes peace with herself and the land. She's at her best when she describes her mental and verbal battles with intolerant churchmen: she just couldn't buy into the vengeful God of the itinerant evangelists of the time, and she was not shy about expressing her opinions. This book will make the Great Plains and Dust Bowl come alive, not as a scholarly, "objective" tome, but as a woman's journey of the heart. A very nice read.

Caroline Henderson's letters are historic and illustrative and heart-wrenching. You get to know this truly remarkable person and how life was in this era through her writings and see the progress from youth and hope and optimism to age and despair. Losing her at the end of the book was like losing a dear grandmother. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in studying The Great Depression and The Dust Bowl. I read it as a companion to "The Worst Hard Time" by Timothy Egan.

This is trying. The personal letters presented in the book convey a manner with which Caroline uses to overcome life stresses that come with homesteading a difficult land in a fickle environment. The Hendersons live quite alone in No Mans Land. The welfare of the Henderson family depends strictly on their ability to manifest a steady resource of food substances for nutrition and for trade. The letters from Caroline Henderson are written in a very flowery style that worked well in the early half of the 20th century. Digesting the text isn't easy if you've become adapted to the pace of life today.

However, the reader is treated to an infinite barrel of wisdom. Certainly, Caroline had to deal with much more in her life than overcoming writing styles, so it helps knowing this just to get through the book. It is easy to miss what is really going on here. Homesteading requires a harvest of food for nutrition and another harvest of food for the soul. The book talks very little about dust storms. More is spoken of the planted gladiolas, the harvest, the songs of birds, and of Christmas. Letters are torn up in frustration, and rewritten to be positive. Each response to a letter opens with words of thanks for encouragement offered.

This little book is terrific - the kind of book that changes lives. If you enjoyed Victor E. Frankl's "Man's Search for Meaning" you might also love this. Though not analytical and direct as Frankl, it quietly relates shared personal values. In contrast to Frankl, Henderson lives very much in freedom, but within the shackles of her environoment.

Deftly edited for contemporary readers by Alvin O. Turner, Letters From The Dust Bowl is a collection of letters and published materials written by Caroline Henderson (1877-1965), a woman who lived through the Oklahoma Dust Bowl and the Great Depression. Her articles on the Dust Bowl first began appearing in "Atlantic Monthly" in 1931, drawing the woes of American farmers into the public eye. Her correspondence and articles, which date from 1908 to 1966, offers insight into the daily struggle to put food on the table, and her descriptions of the dust storms that covered the Plains are unforgettable. Enhanced with a biographical essay and precise annotations supplementing this extraordinary compilation, Letters From The Dust Bowl is highly recommended for students of 20th Century American History.

Alvin Turner likes to quip that "Letters from the Dustbowl" is the "best written book" that the University of Oklahoma Press will publish this year. Indeed, Caroline Henderson, the author of the columns and letters it contains, may be the most quoted authority on the social aspects of the dustbowl. Her views on Oklahoma farm life were disseminated across the country both in her columns for "Ladies' World," and her "Letters from the Dustbowl," were published in "Atlantic Monthly." In selecting material for this book, Turner told me that he had twice as many columns and letters than would fit. Alvin Turner is the Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma.

Caroline Henderson moved to a farm near Eva, Oklahoma, in 1907. During the next six decades, she and her husband, Will, endured the hardship of depressions and the dustbowl on their farm, with really only one bumper crop to show for their labors. Turner's overall introduction, as well as his introduction to each section, does well to place Henderson's life in context. She had great dreams for her life, both as a literate woman and as a farmer but by the end of her life, she is disillusioned and considers herself a failure.

Most of Henderson's farming experience demonstrates that dreams can save a person from an otherwise mean life. In 1917 she wrote, "The fact that we cannot see the end does not relieve us of our obligation to push forward, to gain every inch we can in humanity's forward march." As a young farm wife, she met challenges with inventiveness, and hardship with strong will. Even as crops withered and neighbors moved away, she finds beauty in flowers and friendship in animals. However, too many failed crops and dried-up dreams took their toll on Henderson's optimism. In 1952, she wrote in a letter to her daughter, "Every day seems to bring some new sorrow in these last years of fruitless effort and disappointment." With dreams dashed, Henderson loses all sense of proportion and she reads each setback as catastrophe.

"Letters from the Dust Bowl" is as heartbreaking as it is inspirational. Al Turner is right; it's a very well written book.

My nine year old daughter loves books about Tinkerbell and all her friends. She absolutely devours them as soon as I get them. What a boost for her imagination!

We own all of this series! Started reading them when my daughter was 4 (she just turned 5 now), and they are age appropriate. Not too scary and always a happy ending. One book only takes us about 4-5 nights worth of reading together. The longer ones are good too "Fairy Dust and the Quest for the Egg" and "Fairy Haven and the Quest for the Wand", but they are a little bit scarrier than the short books (more appropriate for ages 5-7 I would think).

Opinion: I liked this book more than The Trouble with Tink, but not as much as I liked Fairy Dust and the Quest for the Egg and Vidia and the Fairy Crown though. Lily is much better than I imagined her to be and so is her story. Lily's friend Iris is funny and sensitive, making the story have a deeper meaning than just what you're expecting. This made the sory mean more to me.

Summery: Lily is on a walk, she told her "friend" Iris she was looking for possum ferns just to get away from her. Although she does see a possum fern, she also finds a strange seed. Being a garden talent fairy, Lily can't help but plant it. Since Iris dosn't have a garden, Lily decides to let Iris help her out. But, although Lily and Iris would be heart broken to uproot the plant, they might not be able to help it. Although all the garden talent fairies are trying to defend her, Queen Clarion and the other fairies want it uprooted now! But, the garden talant fairies and Tinker Bell can't outnumber the rest of the fairies, so they might lose, especially if Vidia can help it. Vidia hates this "vile" plant. But is it really what they thought it was? This will ever puzzle them by the mysterious plants likeing and life cycle.

Reporter's Opinion: I thought that this was one of those books that you can't put down no matter what! I really couldn't put it down, so I read it all in one night! I was a really, really great book!

Summary: Lily is one of the best Garden-talent fairies in all of Pixie Hollow. When she was walking in the forest, she found a seed that she never heard of. She decided to plant it in her garden. The next day after she planted it, all of Pixie Hollow smelled bad because of it. The next day, it let off pink pollen that made everyone and everything in Pixie Hollow pink and sneeze. The fairies and sparrow men were about to cut it down, but Lily said to let it live one more day. That evening, it grew fruit. She tried it, and it was delicious. Lily told the fairies and sparrow men to try it, and they all loved it! After you pi a fruit, another one comes in it's place. Lily asked her Garden-talent fairy friend, Iris what kind of tree it was. Iris looked in her book and it was an Ever Tree. All of them were destroyed, but now they know that there is one left. Everyone comes to get fruit from it. It was a good plant after all!

I have read The trouble with Tink, the Berry battle and I think this one is my favorite of the 3!! all are great books though.
They have really done the Fairy series right with THESE books.
I loved the magic Fairy dust created, BUT they stepped up and just made it better! The characters are people you really connect with, and fall in love with. YOu gain a better understanding of the talents. They make sense and seem to have more of a purpose. The fairy world just got brighter.
If you were not a fan of Levine's fairy dust, I do reccomend giving these books a try. It is an improvement!
The illustrations are great too! with the Help of Disney artists, the pictures are a pure delight!

I am a personal growth coach who is educated in biology, biochemistry, biofeedback and psychology. I give workshops on stress management, coach executives on this topic and also do workhshops that combine these techniques with biofeedback. This gives you some background on me and my perspective that I'm writing this review from.

As someone who works with these techniques and sees the results via biofeedback with myself and others, I highly recommend this very inexpensive book as a brief overview and introduction to the topic. The author covers a lot of ground in a small space and the instructions are clear and simple.

If you practice these exercises as they are explained, they will cause effects in your physiology. Regulation of the breath is very tied to the nervous system and to heart rate variability which correlates with resilience. If you buy this book and get serious about a practice, I would pick up some additional material to augment this text such as the SCIENCE OF BREATH and THE LIGHT ON PRANAYAMA. The first of these is a more Western explanation by a respected yoga institute and the second is a classic text with a lot of detail.

I also highly recommend getting a home biofeedback program such as FreezeFramer or Healing Rhythms. You can read the descriptions of each and determine what is best for your needs. However, this additional step will really heighten your awareness and help you to develop more control over your internal states.

Instead of wasting money on Iyengar's books, this is safer, simple way of doing PRANAYAMA. This book is worth it's weight in gold.

Alternet Nostril Breathing is the best for weight loss, however Ujjaini works, too, but little slowly.

Following are two techniques:
Alternate Nostril Breathing
(Anulom Vilom Pranayama with no breath retention) This pranayama (control breathing) is done with alternate breathing from the left and right nostrils for cleansing of Nadis. (energy meridians). Seated in a convenient posture, start off with slow inhalation from the left nostril first by closing the right nostril with the middle of right hand thumb ,and after fully filling the lungs, (not the belly breathing) breathe out slowly from the right nostril by closing the left nostril with the two ( left hand middle and ring) fingers. Now breathe in from the right nostril by closing the left nostril in the above manner and exhale from the left nostril by closing the right nostril with the right thumb. It completes one cycle. Do this for three minutes for two months then gradually increase to 5 minutes.

Do it two hour after eating or drinking. (Do it on empty-stomach) Do not eat for 15 minute after you are done. Better to lie down for five minutes after you are done. If you limit practice to maximum of five minutes, it will be the best.

The very first sign you will experience is lightness in the body and clearer thinking.

The practice of this breathing for a period of three to four months can open up thirty to forty percent of the heart arteries' blockages. This pranayama alleviates all the diseases of the body, leads to the state of joy, enthusiasm for living , fearlessness, peace of mind and deep meditation.

Benefits:
-Hair will regrow within two months of practice.
-Body will go to it's ideal weight by itself.
-Face becomes bright and luminous.
-Lost vision will return.
-Removes fear/anxiety of any kind.
- Aligns both hemisphere of the brain for full brain functionality
- Creates a deeper sense of well-being and harmony
- Helps alleviate migraines and headaches and frazzled states of being
- Works great in situations where you find yourself anxious, board and need grounding
-Blockages in the arteries of the heart are removed and the arteries become clean, making circulation unimpeded.

Ujjayi Pranayama

1. You can do this sitting, standing or walking anywhere anytime.

2. Inhale slowly through both nostrils, keeping the throat slightly constricted so as to make a gentle sound that will help you to feel the breath in the throat. The sound will remind you of ocean waves washing up the beach. Concentrate on the feeling of the breath moving in and out through the throat.

3. During inhalation do not allow abdomen to bulge out, let the chest expand.

4. After completing inhalation slowly exhale. (Either by both nostrils or by left nostril) During exhalation chest should go inside and abdomen should remain steady.

Remember :-

1. While doing Ujjiayi air should touch the throat.

2. Breath must be mentally locked in chest area. (Do not do belly breathing)

3. After practicing it for few days, knowing your limitations, keep the ratio between inhalation and exhalation 1 : 2.

4. In easy Ujjiayi Pranayama, inhalation and exhalation can be practiced by both the nostrils.


Benefits:
This simple practice has a subtle influence on the whole body. It calms the mind and has a soothing effect on the nervous system. Ujjayi is very useful for people with high blood pressure as it slows down the heartbeat. It has subtle effects on the flow of life force in the astral (energy) body and helps you to be aware of its movement within the sushumna (astral spine).

i still need to learn more to understand completely the given material, but a very lucid book and a good source.

This is a great little book for those wanting to learn more about the different types of breathing associated with yoga. The author provides simple, straightforward instruction on various yogic breathing styles, including Ujjayi and Alternate Nostril Breathing. He also talks about how to incorporate breathing into both your yoga practice and your daily life. An excellent reference book, especially for those who feel intimidated by the classic pranayama (breathing) texts.

This little book is an excellent guide for yoga breathing. You don't have to dig through long texts (although interesting as well) about eastern life philosophy and can get straight to work. Several breathing techniques are explained in a couple of pages each and categorized per purpose, e.g. concentration, energy etc. definitely recommendable, especially when you're `a starter' and just want to experience some techniques.