Saint The Books

I randomly got hold of this book from our church library & checked it out
for 3 weeks. After I got started reading it, I could not stop! This book is the next best thing to reading the Passion of Christ. I am now in the
middle of reading it the second time. I love the book so much I ordered my
own copy to keep & to share with friends. I would like to thank the author
for this awesome accomplishment. More power to you, Mr Gerard Thomas Straub! May your tribe increase!!

Much can be said about the quality of this book. Straub weaves together his spiritual journey and the stories of Francis, Clare, and the city of Assisi to produce a very readable, engaging, and inspiring work. Although somewhat long, there is much wisdom within its pages. Having read The Sun and Moon over Assisi, I am motivated to follow Francis' example in living out Christ's gospel.

This is an incredible book of one man's journey from Catholicism to atheism back home to Catholicism. Although I was not Catholic myself, I enjoyed the ride immensely. He has so much to offer Christians of all kinds. There is much to meditate on and he beautifully and accurately describes the places where Francis and Clare lived/ministered. I have bought copies for friends and will continue to do so. I will read this book again and again. It is a wonderful study and well worth the time. It took me quite a while to read it because I was savouring each chapter. Highly recommend!!!

When I pick up a book on spirituality, that is nearly 600 pages long, I find myself flipping back and forth, counting the number of pages I still have to read (yawn). Having admitted that, I will add that "religion" is probably my first choice when searching for new books. Conversely with this book, I found myself counting the pages to see how many pages were left, because I didn't want it to end. Straub takes us along on his spiritual pilgrimage. In his "Thoughts Scribbled While walking," we can almost chart his spiritual growth (like an ascending line on graph paper). This book will inspire you to follow his lead by pursuing a deeper relationship with God. I was skeptical upon reading his background as a TV/soap writer, but I found it (along with his honesty and humility),to lend credibility to his personal transformation . I have never read a book that inspired me to write the author to tell him how much his writing touched me. This is one author I would like to thank.

This is a book to be savored. As a resident of Southern California, I found his personal observations on the cultural values of Americans right on target. It's too bad this book may never make the N.Y. Times Best Sellers' List, it could change the world.

I love this book and, in fact, I'm buying copies to give to friends. The story of the ongoing conversion of the author is an example of the journey of any seeker of God: great awakenings, stumbles, doubts, reassurances, understanding.
The first portion of the book is compelling and hard to put aside. The other chapters, however, are so rich with material from additional sources that I found them best to meditate on, think of as you live your life, and then dip into once again. This is perfect as a devotional for the liturgical seasons of advent and lent.

I have loved this book for years. Hugh Nibley was not only a brilliant man, a great scholar, and a dedicated teacher; he also had the gift of being able to cut past all the endless intellectual distractions to focus on what is important. When I first read this book, frankly, I was blown away. There was so much richness about the temple that I did not know. However, more than all that are the essays and talks on what the implications of all this are for the way should live our life here with regard to what comes hereafter.

A temple is the House of the Lord and God uses it to teach, enrich, and endow the lives of his children. Brother Nibley is right that the temple is a scale model of the universe. It shows not only our place and purpose, but sets us on the correct path through teaching, covenants, and ordinances. Temples make eternity understandable and unite all ages of time in one eternal present with our Father. In this book we not only see what was restored with the Church through revelation, the author also shows us echoes (not sources) of the true teachings in ancient and pagan temples and ceremonies.

There are a wide range of essays on various aspects of the theme of the temple and the cosmos (the everything). In one of them, Brother Nibley even talks about science fiction and the gospel! It is full of interesting illustrations.

Hugh Nibley enriched my own appreciation of the temple through the essays and talks collected in this wonderful book. If you are interested in what he had to say on this important gospel topic, I recommend it to you. The author makes so many great points of so many details that are easy to miss that you will never be able to look at the temple the same way again. And opening your vision to seeing the world anew is what a great teacher does.

I'm no scholar, but I foind this book to be very readable and extremely stimulating. Nibley's thought is astounding. While a couple of his statements on science are now a tad dated, the thought itself is as sound as ever. The coverage of the essays in this volume is astounding--you name it. Nibley's thought is very helpful to all who wish to supplement faith with intellect

Nibley's work on Temples, ancient and modern, are incredible. Many of the articles in this book were previously unpublished works. Others are from firesides and addresses at BYU and other places. All are generally aimed towards the LDS audience.

Scholars have, in the last 10 years, expanded on many of Nibley's proposed ideas. Scholars, LDS and non-LDS, have found similar conclusions as Nibley has proposed and have expanded on them (as one example on Nibley's "One Eternal Round" see Mircea Eliade "The Myth of the Eternal Return" (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1954) for more on "parallelism" see John M. Lundquist's "The Temple: Meetingplace of Heaven and Earth" and it's respective bibliography). Many students of temples of the ancient world would find few qualms with the conclusions expressed by Hugh Nibley as they relate to the temple.

This book is mostly directed toward the LDS audience. Despite this it may be informative to the beginning non-LDS student of the temple (especially as seen by the LDS mind). Other books may be suggested but many of the conlcusions would be the same.

This book is amazing. Nibley's grasp of the subject matter is truly astounding. While it is true that Nibley is a mormon apologist, this work is not skewed like many of his other works. This is his best effort. Whether you are mormon or not this book brings up a lot of intersting similarities with almost every ancient religion and their temple type. Zoroastrian fire temples being the most notable exception. a pure joy to read.

Nibley does not go into depth concerning mormon temple ceremonies but many of the things he discuss will still be easily understood by the non-mormon reader. In addition, a large portion of the book is devoted to the actual structure of the temple as a microcosm of the universe. Also of note is his discusion of sacred vestments through the ages.

Often the scholarly become so involved in proving their thesis that they lose sight of where they are going. In other words they can't see the forest for the trees! Such is the case with Nibley's Temple and Cosmos. Although very informative and well documented, in his zeal to justify the existence of Mormon temples by showing many amazing similarities to temples and temple rituals of the past, he fails to notice that nearly all of his examples are from pagan cultures. Nibley proves well that the origin of Mormon temples is paganism. While the Mormon Church claims its origins stem from ancient Hebrew culture, any real evidence supporting such a claim is conspicuously absent from Nibley's book. ...Go figure!

A marvelous book, extremely well written with accurate detail and and hundreds of wonderful street scene photos on virtually every page. Book is worth twice the price.

Fascinating book for a boy who lived in St.Paul from 1928 until 1951. Great pictures,maps and text. A real joy.

What a great book!! John Diers and Aaron Isaacs have given transit fans and Twin Cities historians an in depth look into the horsecar, cablecar, and streetcar era in our towns. I knew that there were horsecars in the Twin Cities, but did not know about the cablecars. In 1953 and 1954, my aunt took my on several streetcars routes prior to their abandonment. About 1960, I joined the Minnesota Transportation Museum and helped restore the TCRT 1300--the car that runs in Linden Hills. Both Mr. Diers and Mr. Isaacs are involved with that streetcar museum. My goal this summer is to have both authors autograph my book.

I wish they would have had a short chapter on the Hiawatha Light Rail line to complete rail transit history for the Twin Cities.

As information, Aaron Isaacs late father (George) was very instrumental in getting the Hiawatha Light Rail line for the Minneapolis area.

Ed Burns of Anoka

This is a wonderful book. The pictures are amazing. We actually found a picture of my husband's Grandfather, George, that worked on the Lake Steet line.

Unlike many streetcar histories that assume that the reader already has a familiarity with at least the geography or operation of the traction company being presented, the authors of this book combine a creative layout and numerous maps with a discussion of all aspects of Minneapolis/St. Paul streetcar operations that can be easily grasped by non-Twin Citians. The maps are the best that I have ever seen, especially the individual route maps that show each street along with dates of the start and end of service on each segment. The book has a rich, "coffee-table" appearance that invites picking it up for frequent browsing, and the nicely reproduced black and white photographs and well-written text amply reward the effort.

This is the first book by Lisa Higdon I have read, and let me tell you I enjoyed this book so much, I loved all the characters in this book, Well not uncle Will, he was such a jerk, as I was reading along I kept hoping that uncle Will would get what he deserved. I loved the way Caitlin loved Cole, and how Cole loved her, I thought there son Jamie was so cute, it was an enjoyable love story that I will remember for years to come.

Happy Reading Lisa

This book is great. It will grab you from the very first page. If you want a really good book to read this one is it. It keeps you on the edge of your seat wondering what will happen to them next. If you haven't read this one, you should.

This book just grabs you from the first sentence: "He's going to kiss me". If you are a fan of romance you won't be able to put this book down. It is very fast paced and will take you through the full gamut of emotions of two persons in love!

This was a wonderful read for someone who enjoys historical romances. I had trouble putting it down. A story of an outlaw and a rancher's daughter who fall in love and face more obstacles than they can endure. Or can they! Read this wonderful story and see what happens. You can't miss with this one.

This story prove just how hard it is to change sometimes. Change as Cole finds himself doing. Cole's father is a brutal outlaw and his uncle is no better. Cole falls in love with Caitlin McDonnel, but shortly after their meeting Cole's father stages another hold up, leaving him dead and Cole on the run from the law! Cole convinces Caitlin to go with him and they join Cole's uncle. The outlaw life is all Cole has ever known and though he wants to stop he finds it hard to resist the easy way out and steal. Do to a misunderstanding Caitlin returns to the protective arms of her father and then word gets out that Cole is dead. She finds herself pregnant. Three years later their son Jaimie is kidnapped by Cole's uncle and Cole magicly reappears in her life again. It is a while until either can trust the other but all work out in the end. This is a sweet story and well worth the time to read it.

It takes a very sharp author to write this type of book. The hero and heroine are thrown back in time after a night of dazzling sex, and the hero is possessed by his ancestor's ghost. The scenes between Paul (the hero) and Sam (the ghost) are hilarious, and the romance just sizzles all the way through. I'll be looking for more of Ms. Stover's books.

I searched months for this book after hearing so much about it, and it was worth the effort. It takes a brilliant writer to interweave such complex issues and characters. I'm now searching for all this author's books and have ordered her newest. Wonderful, sexy read

This is one of the most outrageous and delightful books I've ever read. The heroine's ex's divorce attorney as the hero? Oh, but does he ever get what's coming to him. This is a must read, and secondary character Sam Weathers is one of those cowboys who fills the room. And my dreams. This book sssssssssizzles.

Wahoo! Take a modern-day divorce attorney, put him in a houseboat with one client's ex-wife, throw them back in time, and you won't believe what happens next. This book had me laughing from the beginning. It's fast, funny, sexy, and one of the best time-travels I've ever read. The character of Sam (the "Willing Spirit") deserves a book of his own. Read this book!!!

A Willing Spirit is aptly named, because the hero can't make a move unless the Spirit is willing. The spirit in this case is the hero's great-great-grandfather. Paul Weathers and Winnie Sinclair end up on the same houseboat in present-day Oklahoma, where a violent storm throws them both back in time to 1896 Indian Territory. Problem is, while Winnie is sexually attracted to Paul, she has a slight problem with him. See, he was her ex-husband's divorce attorney! The sexual attraction is mutual--and how!--but being thrown back in time sort of gets in the way. Paul witnesses his great-great-grandfather's murder, and then the dead man decides to borrow his descendant's body to hunt down his killer. Winnie thinks Paul is just nuts, and all she wants is to return to her own time. This book is laugh out loud funny. Don't read it in public unless you don't mind staring, because you will laugh and laugh and laugh. And blush in places, too.... Outstanding read!

I have read many books on the visitations of The Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of Jesus Our Savior, and this one is certainly one of the very best. The accounts are factual and consise. An excellent starting point for any Christian. Highly recommended.

A Woman Clothed With The Sun examines the seven most significant apparitions of Our Lady in the past two centuries, from Lourdes and Fatima to Banneux and the appearance of Mary at Guadalupe. Each apparition receives historical explanation, description of the vision, and Mary's messages as quoted and interpreted by scholars and experts. An excellent, highly readable overview.

That's exactly what I was looking for. I didn't want to read lengthy volumes on each apparition, but I wanted a solid account of each, especially the most important, recent, Church approved ones.
And that is exactly what this book is. Yes, pictures would have been lovely, but not many artists can do Our Lady anything close to justice.
It's difficult to imagaine anyone being able to read these factual, very touching accounts and not be moved to not only belief in them, but come away with a strong determination to do what the Blessed Virgin Mary asks of us all. Come back to the faith and live it! Very inspiring book.

A series of 8 essays published in 1960 on Marian apparitions from Guadalupe to Fatima and beyond. The most recent sightings covered are Banneux and Beauraing from the 1930s. If you want some basic background on these earlier visits of Mary and don't mind the official Catholic version this is a very useful book.

I usually write more elaborate reviews, but it's not necessary here. Suffice it to say that this is one of the best books on Marian apparitions. Highly, highly recommended.

This book was read as part of the Catholic Mosaic program with our kids. It happened to be read around the first week of school and the subject of being a scholar and how important books are to EVERYONE was highly appropriate. Definitely a keeper!

In the Year of Our Lord, 521, in the Dark Ages that haunted Europe, was born Columcille, the son of a minor king in Ireland. This is the story of Columcille, his growth, his education, and his founding of the great monastery on Iona, in Scotland. The book itself is written for the younger reader, and contains many colorful and extremely beautiful illustrations.

Overall, I found this to be a very good book. It does a good job of telling the story of St. Columcille in an easy-to-read, no-nonsense way. It's a very entertaining read, and an educational one. I highly recommend it.

"Columcille was born in 521. He was the son of a king, from a corner of Ireland scrubbed hard by ocean winds, in a time that came to be known as the dark ages..." So begins Don Brown's marvelous picture book biography of the scribe and monk, known now as Saint Columba. Brown traces the Celtic legend of this remarkable man who desperately wanted to bring learning and books back into the world after much was lost with the fall of the Roman Empire. After a bloody war was waged over the copying and ownership of a special book of psalms, Columcille left Ireland forever and with twelve followers "set sail on a dark and wild sea." Landing on the tiny Scottish island of Iona, he and his followers built a monastery and scriptorium where books were copied and scribes were trained. "Books were made and dispatched, like small boats on a dark and wild sea, to places where reading and writing had been forgotten or ignored. The books made colonies of learning, and people's minds, once dark with ignorance, were brightened." Mr Brown's poetic text is filled with imagery, is rich in history and drama and complemented by powerful and evocative artwork in quiet and subdued tones. Together word and art bring Columcille's inspiring story to life with passion and respect. Perfect for youngsters 8 and older, or as a read aloud for younger children, Across A Dark And Wild Sea includes an Author's Note to enhance and complete the story, the Unical alphabet used by scribes, and a bibliography. This is a rare and wonderful story celebrating books and learning, that shouldn't be missed. "Columcille, the man who loved books, helped the world love books. So we remember him and retell his story."

The only thing that I can add to the professional and reader reviews is that St. Columcille is also known as St. Columba. All the other reviews do a great job of describing this book.

Deftly written and superbly illustrated by Don Brown, Across A Dark And Wild Sea is the true story of Columcille (also known as Columba), a beloved figure from Celtic history. Columcille loved books so much that he secretly copied a volume of psalms from Rome against it's owner's wishes. The resulting and bitter fallout in 521 A.D. caused Columcille to deliberately leave Ireland in a tiny boat, vowing never to return. He founded a famous monastery on the Scottish island of Iona and left a legacy that endures to this day. Brought to life with moody, windswept color illustrations, Across A Dark And Wild Sea is a most engaging picture book and recommended for readers of all ages.

This has been one of the most inspiring books I have ever read. I have given copies to some of my friend and they have commented in the same manner. It really hits home in many aspects.

I found this book enormously rewarding. Fr. Rolheiser is one of the sharpest Catholic writers out there today. He really "gets it." He is very gifted in articulating some very profound ideas in very real, human terms. Some of these ideas could be a bit shocking to someone used to more traditional Catholic books (esp. his thoughts on Eucharist). However, don't let that initial shock throw you. I truly believe he is not trying to be provocative for the sake of getting attention. Rather, the ideas he explores are truly a way to go deeper into some of the most profound Divine mysteries. And when we break through the superficial and enter honestly and deeply into those mysteries, the rewards are enormous.

I am grateful to Fr Rolheiser for sharing his insightful writing talent. Too often Catholic writing are nice, but can be too intellectual/theoretical or historical. At some point we need to move beyond the dry/clinical talk and dive into the deep... the honest places that we are sometimes afraid and/or ashamed of... the real and gut-wrenching places were we risk exposing those hidden parts of ourselves to that Infinite Horizon. If we never get to what is truly real and honest, then what is the point? In this book, Rolheiser leads us into those real places... and the view is spectacular.

I have read a few Rolheiser books. All have been good, but I thought the Shattered Lantern was a little dry. However, when he hits the mark, he is excellent. In addition to this book, I highly recommend Forgotten Among the Lilies. Another true gem.

I am a fan of Rolheiser's books and his weekly column. He sees scripture as a whole work, woven together as only The Master would have it. Rolheiser is able to relate various scriptural passages in a way that makes sense and relates to our everday lives.

The title, "Against an Infinite Horizon," asks us to view our lives against the infinite horizon of God's love and power. Not only does that put our earthly troubles into perspective, but it also unleashes the great power of God's love to change the world. Regardless of whether you tend to liberal, conservative or middle-of-the road, this book will challenge you to live your faith more fully and meaningfully. In one section, he states that the problem with modern Christianity is that the "liberals are not pious and the pious are not liberal." What if they were? he asks, stating that we are called by Jesus to be both pious and work for change, both in compliance with Divine will.

The only down side to this book and more generally Rolheiser's work is that he tends to be repetative. Sometimes this is to the good; you don't miss anything. Other times it's laborious.

Christian books often become cliche, filled with the same old rhetoric and dogma that leaves us cold and searching; however, "Against an Infinite Horizon" is very fresh in its approach to seeing God in every moment.

I can't think of one aspect of living that Rolheiser omitted. He discusses social justice, marriage and sexuality (His assertion that sex is a sacrament still has me thinking!), death, the gender of God, and the simple act of being grateful.

I didn't always agree with his premises, but Rolheiser gives so many unique perspectives from which to view the ordinary in our lives that you will simply devour this book. He challenges the reader to reconsider our lives and how we view ourselves "against the infinite horizon" of God. There were times when, with my mouth open, I had to stop mid-paragraph and think about what he had said. Nothing revolutionary, just a fresh approach.

This is an excellent book for group discussions,or, like me, for personal growth. Read it and think!

Fr. Rolheiser has given us a wonderful gift in this compelling spiritual guide. I was especially inspired by his use of the stages of motherhood of the Virgin Mary and our own stages of faith. I loved his book "The Holy Longing" but I think I like this one even better. If you're on a spiritual journey, Catholic or otherwise, this is a real treasure.

So the Ghost of Christmas Past came to visit me this year. He came through a porthole in the ethers otherwise known as Google, after I entered my name. There he showed me "Under a Christmas Star," a book published by an apparently Mormon outfit called Cedar Fort. This was a collection of new Christmas tales by various writers.
Here is how the Cedar Fort website touts it:
Under a Christmas Star is a collection of Christmas stories---not sappy or sentimental ones, not dark or hard to understand ones, but stories that uplift and inspire---tellable tales. These are the brightest and most prized Christmas Stories. Most are true stories about people touched by the light of the Christmas star.
One writer was singled out for praise in an Amazon.com review by a teacher who said she was going to read the stories to her third-graders. That writer, by the way, was. . .
Me.
Not since I walked into the living room at age 11 and saw a gleaming lime-green ten-speed Schwinn Varsity under (well, beside) the Christmas tree have I had such a Christmas shock. You see, Cedar Fort didn't bother to mention to me that they were publishing my story that is not dark or hard to understand and uplifts and inspires tellable (sic) tales, and paying me a whole lot of Christmas nothing for it. Nor did they mention to me that my story was so compelling that they used it as the inspiration for the cover illustration of the book: Santa Claus pumping gas into a taxi cab.
Merrrrrrrry Christmas, Rip!
Now, when I say Ghost of Christmas past, here is what I mean: the story that Cedar Fort---a Utah-based outfit that publishes religious tracts and Mormon-themed stuff under Latter Day Saints Books---published without consulting me concerns one of my oldest, most personal and cherished Christmas memories. And I don't have many! Allow me to summarize:
When I was ten, I was sent on a Greyhound bus to visit my mother on Christmas Eve. My father and jealous stepmother had fought about it for days, but my father prevailed and I was dispatched to Newport Beach, California, with a paper-bag suitcase and a whole lot of ambivalence. I was to call a cab upon arrival, in order to be taken to the hotel where my mom worked as a cashier.
One problem: the old man had forgotten to give me cab fare---which I discovered just as the taxi arrived around 7 p.m.. To make a wonderful story short and less than artful, here's the punchline: Santa Claus was at the wheel. Really. His halls were fully decked. Red suit, black gloves, nylon beard. I didn't tell him I didn't have any money, figuring I could just bolt when I got to the hotel.
In the end, I confessed, and Santa explained that in all the Yellow Cabs on Xmas Eve in the area, only one had a Claus, and if you got him, you rode for free. See? Great story, eh? It sure as hell thrilled me as a kid, let me tell you. Father Christmas was watching over me that night, if not my father. There is more to the tale, but I don't want to get into that here. You can read it in full detail in my forthcoming novel, which should be available in late January, if you want.
Or you can read it in the Cedar Fort book, which I ardently, fervently, and otherwise enthusiastically hope you. . .do not.
Here's why:
I wrote the story used in "A Christmas Star" for the L.A. Times in the early 90's, and they slapped the cheesey headline on it: "How Santa Spread Cheer Without Eight Tiny Reindeer." At the time, I was writing regular essays/columns for what was called the "Life and Style" section, more affectionately known as "Strife and Bile" for its pandering to political correctness and touchy-feely sentimentality. I wrote about a hundred columns for L&S before being offered a regular gig there---only to have said offer rescinded because, as one enlightened editor ruled, "we have too many white male columnists here." (See 10/11/06 Riposte.)
(Merrrrrrrry Christmas, Rip!)
Well, the Times paid me for that article, about $350 or $400, I guess, which enabled me to buy a few extra ginger snaps to go with my eggnog that Yule. But the Times also did something that would make Santy frown, that would take the rosy red glow right out of his cheeks, something very, very un-Christmasy---something you would expect from Scrooge and Marley, Ltd.
Some might call it extortion. The Times called it "business."
This noble newspaper changed its freelance contracts to claim total rights to whatever it purchased---as opposed to traditional first-publication-only. And if freelancers didn't sign such a contract, the Times would not buy their work.
At least they didn't send someone to your home to break your knuckles.
At that time, I was what was termed a "regular contributor" to the Times. This meant I was a full-time employee without any of regular rights or regular benefits of full-time regular employees. This is also called "business." What's more, because I was angling for that full-time column which was later withdrawn due to my gender and race, I cut back all other freelance work. The Times, at that moment, comprised about 90 percent of my regular income.
Then there was the little complicating fact that I could just barely manage to get up and walk to the store every day to buy groceries, courtesy of a paralyzing three-year bout with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. My Times paychecks, after rent, were going to doctors and supplements. Typing was a workout.
Did I want to sign that contract? Every bit as much as I would like to congratulate George W. Bush for a job well done in Iraq.
Did I sign that contract? You betcha.
Did I think that someday my Santa-in-the-taxi column might be licensed to a proselytizing Mormon publisher for profit? And used for the cover illustration?
You betcha I didn't.
And there are more presents under this tree:
The "author" of "Under a Christmas Star" is one Carol Jean Coombs. That's correct. Author. My name and story are in this book, but Carol Jean Coombs is on cover as the author, apparently because she compiled the contents. Gee, I'd sure like to be considered an "author" for compiling a bunch of stuff written by other people!
You're welcome, Carol, baby! Glad to oblige!
Of course, it just fills me with the Christmas spirit that Carol liked my story enough to want to compile it. And whew, that compiling is hard author work! Here's what Carol said to a little newspaper: "Getting permission from the copyright holders was time-consuming and because some of the stories are 20 to 40 years old, a real challenge." Right! Almost as hard as writing! I wonder how much of an author challenge it was to secure my column from the fine people at the L.A. Times.
Yes, of course I looked into suing. I know that's just so humbug of me, but gee, it's the season. So I spoke with an excellent attorney who specializes in theft of one's work. Well, it turns out that I have every bit as strong a case as Saddam Hussein had in that Iraq courtroom. Even if I wanted to sue, there is the little matter of the Times extortion---er, contract. And another little matter called a statute of limitations which gives me three years after publication to file (it's been five.) And another little matter called settlement not covering lawyer fees.
Ho ho ho.
It's just another example of legalized crime that defines our world, of course. I mean, you wonder why criminals bother to break any laws, when you can steal legally. No---no one here has broken any laws---not the Times, not Cedar Fort, not author Carol Jean Coombs. Moral and ethical laws are another matter, but anyone who believes in such things can go fly a reindeer.
Still, I can't help but say this is all not very. . .Christian.
So there you have it. My writing has helped enable some Mormons to make some money. Of course, I do not like or approve of the Church of the Latter Day Saints---I think their members are painting without a brush, buttoning without a shirt---and I suspect the Church would not like or approve of me. The closest I've ever come to a Mormon Church was stumbling around on codeine outside the Tabernacle one morning about 5 o' clock (long story.)
In the meantime, I hear that "Under a Christmas Star" is quite popular. A friend in Atlanta told me that when it was given away as a gift at a recent book club party, there were "ooo's and ahhh's."
I'm a commercial success at last.
Why, you might even call me a Christmas Star!
---RIP RENSE

This is a great Christmas Book to add to your Christmas book collection. The stories in this book are inspirational and full of the Christmas spirit. This is a book that the entire family will enjoy!!

I couldn't put it down. The stories are without exception warm and meaningful. I am giving this book to my grandchildren. Sharing these stories is sharing the best of Christmas with them.

This gem includes 25 stories that will appeal to readers of all ages. Most are true. Each story tells of the warmth and love of others--the real light of Christmas. They uplifted and inspired me. The author selected her best stories, most unavailable elsewhere, from a collection gathered over more than 40 years. Authors vary from famous writers and newspaper reporters to people who just wanted to share a personal Christmas experience. The 25 stories are short-- perfect for the whole family to read together each night throughout December. This is a book I will read over and over again--at Christmas time or whenever I want to remember the goodness we all have inside us.

Most collections of stories, Christmas or otherwise, have a bunch of mediocre selections, a few good ones, and one or two great ones--but this book manages to have ALL great ones. Plus, they're not those sappy ones that make you roll your eyes; they're touching without being obnoxious. Maybe it's because almost all of the stories are true experiences, told in a straightforward way. My personal favorites are "The Gold and Ivory Tablecloth" by Howard Schade, "A Christmas Gift I'll Never Forget" by L.D. Hummel, and "My Christmas Miracle" by Taylor Caldwell. Okay, also "How Santa Spread Cheer Without Eight Tiny Reindeer," by Rip Rense. (I'm a school teacher, and I'm going to read some of these to my third graders in December.) Enjoy the joy!

This well written account by Peter Lion will touch your heart as you follow the story of GI's in Luxembourg in 1944 and a Christmas to remember. They donate their packages from home and Corporal Brookins plays the part of St. Nick. The people of Luxembourg remember this act of kindness on the part of our soldiers because it is still celebrated today as year after year the story is reenacted in the small town of Wiltz with our GI's as the honored guests. The book is well written and will give you a glimpse of the compassionate side of a terrible war.

It's a great, easy read AND it's true! When you see what these guys went through and what they did as a wonderful act of kindness you can't help but be moved. I challenge anyone to read this story and not be at the very least a bit misty-eyed when you're done. And the photos that are in the book are amazing. Obviously well researched. Why Hollywood hasn't latched onto this story yet is a real mystery. This one has "all the makings"!

In this time, when our Veterans from World War II are realizing how much we all need to hear their stories, THE AMERICAN ST. NICK is a heart-warming one grandfathers can share with their grandchildren, helping them to see that behind the face of the Warrior beats a father's heart. No matter that the young men thought what they were doing was just a lark.

Rebeccasreads highly recommends THE AMERICAN ST. NICK as a fine recollection of one shining moment in a dark horrendous conflict that glows like a child's grin. It is a tale, simply told, of bringing joy to some needy children & their community. It is also the story of how one town never forgot the GIs who gave of their bounty, & by doing so resurrected the Spirit of Christmas for a devastated people. Nor have they forgetten those GIs who gave their lives & never went home.

I come from the town in question and beeing a child I once recieved my candy from the American St. Nick. (It was one of the years he had come back to play his role again.) I can remember that we children make fun of the way he tried to speak to us in luxembourgish. But what I didn't realise by then was the whole story behind it; I knew it was something special about it but I couldn't explain why. Now after having grown up and after having read the book I know that what they did was something very special.

Fellow WindRiver author Peter Lion brings new light to a tiny flicker of joy in the darkest moments of World War II and tells the tale of a holiday tradition that lives into the 21st Century.

In December of 1944, American soldiers from the 28th Infantry Division were stationed in the village of Wiltz, Luxembourg. Two members of the Signal Corps, knowing they wouldn't be home for Christmas, decided that the next best thing would be to celebrate the holidays in Wiltz. With gifts and treats donated by soldiers from the 28th, they gave the town's children a full-blown St. Nicolas Day party on December 6th, complete with a visit from the beloved Saint (an American soldier dressed in cleric's vestments and a bishop's miter). After the war, many of the participants put aside the memories of that day along with the horrors of the war but the people of Wiltz never forgot.

Every year, they observe December 6 as both St. Nicolas Day and the anniversary of the visit from the American St. Nick with one of the locals recreating the part of the American Signal Corpsman.

Through a series of chance turns-of-events, the first American St. Nicolas is tracked down and over thirty years later, he returns to Wiltz on St. Nicolas Day.

Filling the inevitable gaps in memory with vivid fiction, Peter Lion's story leaps from the page with a vitality that transports the reader through time and distance into the streets of Wiltz in 1944. The two photo sections are filled with the type of pictures one lingers over.

There's material here for a feature film or a perennial holiday TV movie. Let's hope some studio folks with good sense have read "The American St. Nick".