Seven Books

As you read this book it seems as though you are right there with Larry and Lin as they build and sail their small boat from California through Mexico, Central America, Jamaica, up the U.S. East Coast to the Chesapeake Bay and finally to Europe. This is the 25th Anniversary edition of this book. It has been updated from the original with pictures and maps. A great book I would recommend it highly for anyone with an adventurous spirit.

Page turner - made me want to drop everything and sail. The combination of this book and Slocum's book gave me the sailing bug. Contains useful information for those that are thinking about buying a boat. As seasoned, adventurous, resourceful sailors, the Pardeys' books are useful for salties or salty-wannabes (like myself).

Now available in a brand new 25th anniversary edition, Lin and Larry Pardey's Cruising in Seraffyn now sports a new introduction, "Anyone Can Go Cruising," and a new appendix, "Affordable, Attainable Dreams." Cruising In Seraffyn is an exciting, detailed cruising guide with a 16-page spread of full-color photos, making it an adventurous reference for nautical buffs and armchair travelers alike. With its decades of sailor's wisdom and inspirational prose, Cruising In Seraffyn is very highly recommended reading for anyone interested in setting sail for pleasure.

I loved the book, but always wished there were more photos. Now I have seen the new edition, in hard cover, published by the Pardey's. It is great. They have done it for the 25th anniversary of this book. Lots of color photos, a really updated discussion of cruising costs and a really nice story about what has happened to Seraffyn over the past 30 years. The pictures of the Pardey's new boat and Seraffyn sailing side by side are worth the $2l.95 price. Unfortunately, the book will not be on the American market until June. I got one from a friend who is a book reviewer. I was told you could wait till june and get it at ..., or you can go to the news letters on thier web site, ... and order one early.

As other folks have written, this book is lovely to read and inspiring as can be. The new edition, in its hard cover is not just a simple reprint. It is almost a whole new book - the new introduction gives grand info for sailors today, the appendix puts it all where it is for those who want to sail off in 2002. But best of all are the l6 pages of full color photos - stuff to dream about, ideas to use on your boat. Really lovely. If you have the old edition, you'll still want this one. If you've never read the first book, this is the one for you.

I wanted to add that disclaimer so you wouldn't reject my review out of hand. Even though it is a bit preachy, the lesson is a good one for the religious and the secular alike. It's a message of mercy, and also makes it very clear that just because you have made bad decisions in the past doesn't mean you are worthless or that you cannot overcome your mistakes.

Preaching aside, this is an entertaining adventure, and I enjoy it for that reason alone. Just because a book has a religious theme doesn't automatically make it bad. And heck, just because the lesson is religious in origin doesn't make it less valid.

I Want to know why this fella hasn't written more books. I loved the Med- evil setting,the authentic characters, the intrigue, and the romance in this book. This would be a great read for men and women.

I found this book at a thrift store and bought it for 90 cents because it sounded interesting. It was an awesome read and the best 90 cents I ever spent! I was engrossed in this book from the very beginning, and the characters were great! The review by publisher's weekly should be ignored because they obviously don't like the Christian perspective. But I think anyone who reads it could appreciate this book. I ordered the first book, "The Crown of Eden" because I wanted to read them in order. "The Crown of Eden" was a great read too but I liked this one better. I just bought the 3rd book called, "The Bride of Stone," and I can't wait to read it!

I am an avid fantasy reader (though this is actually the first fantasy novel I've reviewed on Amazon). I would like to support what previous reviewers have said-do not listen to the editorial review for this book. Those who would say it is nothing but a corny mini-sermon with overly simplistic characters obviously could not have really read the book-and I do not say this lightly, because as a rule that is what I think of many Christian/allegorical fantasy novels.

This book is the final title in the Seven Kingdoms series, set about 120 years after the reign of King Perivale and the collapse of his Empire. The main character is Evalonne, a girl of the kingdom of Louchland who is forced to flee for her life for becoming pregnant out of wedlock, and eventually becomes a prostitute so as to support her baby. She is freed from this life and becomes a traveling companion of a wandering swordsman named 'Roburne', who is in fact Lanson, the prince-in-exile of Louchland. Eventually, Evalonne is captured and taken to Louchland to be executed, while Lanson takes his murdered father's throne and confronts the Kirk (church) and its corrupt bishop to save his lover and gain justice for his father.

Like William's other books, the characters are realistic and the writing is excellent and very descriptive. Though the Christian/allegorical message is indeed easy to detect, it does not become 'preachy' like so many novels in this genre. Indeed, like William's previous writings it is a very philosophical and thought-provoking book. It only took me three days to read, but gave me food for thought for weeks.

Thomas Williams' first book (CROWN OF EDEN) was wonderful - fun and unique characters that don't always make the right choices. I found I could relate quite well! It also taught me to relax: God's will is going to be accomplished despite the plans and attempted manipulations of His Enemy.

This book was even better! After deciding to see how the Master of the Universe would use every evil plan of the "bad guys" to accomplish His plans, I sat back and fully enjoyed the creative way Mr. Williams has chosen to show us the love and enjoyment of the Master of the Universe in the characters' lives. I could not put the book down. There are many truths from scriptures in this book. For the person who says this is a "sunday school lesson," I say, give me more sunday school lessons like this!!!

First off, the artwork is good, the plot is simple and the only reason I dropped a star was because I wanted more. The story does seem to move slowly, with lots of background information dumped onto us, but the setting is strange and interesting, with ideas unlike most stories and webcomics before it, so you need some data to help understand the world. I hope there are more volumes out there.

A very well written and well drawn comic. I have enjoyed it in it's online version and definitely would purchase more should they come around.

On occasion, I feel compelled to try something new. I had never seen the Earthsong webcomic prior to purchasing this book, so I had no idea what this book was about. But the cover illustrations, plus some other good reviews, convinced me to take a chance on it.

It was a good gamble. The interior pages are filled with lush color and beautiful artwork. A quick thumb through it showed me numerous interesting characters with an incredible variety. Then I got around to reading the story. And the story was just as good as the artwork.

Lady Yates has developed an intriguing storyline, with sentient planets (and stars), a quasi-mythology, and of course a conflict. Added to that is Willow, the central character who has no memory (and even the other characters have no clue about her), and is justifiably overwhelmed by the events she is literally dropped into. The other characters also have distinct personalities. Their special talents (superpowers? magical abilities? whatever) do not eclipse the characters or storyline.

The first volume ends far too soon; hopefully there will be many more published. I found myself rereading the book several times, enjoying the glorious artwork and trying to guess where the story would be going. Of course, I quickly sought out the webcomic site too.

Thanks to Lady Yates for a wonderful new story.

The artwork in Earthsong is a fairly unique style, and over time continues to improve as the artist continues the story. The first volume (this one) is actually entirely redrawn, and some of the original story has been revised for the print edition. The result of this is a very beautiful book, cover-to-cover. From the first page spread, which features the main character laying under a beautiful tree, to the pages in which we meet the main villain, this book does not dissapoint either in drawing or writing.

The story is as stunning as the artwork, with character depth being the primary draw for me. Characters like Nanashi, K'thonya, and Felucca become quick favorites as the main character (named Willow) learns more about them, and more about her new surroundings in a quest to find out who exactly, or what exactly she is.

Earthsong is definitely a story that anyone can pick up (it's child-friendly), and is beautifully drawn and written so it will also keep you entertained throughout. The only bad part about it, is when you get to the last page and realize you can't keep going.

There are so many reasons why Earthsong is worth buying. Number one has to be the art though, it's one gorgeous page after the other. The colors are jaw dropping, the characters are extremely well designed, and overall if for nothing else you'll want to buy it just to be able look at something this gorgeous.

But you'll want to buy it for more then that. Because the storyline is as good as the artwork. It's engaging and unique, but has a lot of very familiar tones to it that will entertain sci-fi, fantasy, and even action/adventure fans alike. In my opinion, it's one of the best on-line to print comics since megatokyo.

I read this book with a few of my friends, and we had such a good time! 'Ever After' is witty, cute, and fun to read! Every teen and pre-teen should read this story about friendship and how sometimes things aren't perfect! Definately worth reading from one of the best YA authors, Rachel Vail!

this book really opened my eyes. Rachel Vail yet again captures the exact feelings of a teenage girl. The main character, Molly, is growing up and starting to learn how to deal with more serious problems like friends, boys, parents, and life in general. The ending is sad, as Molly's best friend lets her down but she grows stronger from this let down. All teenage girls can relate with Molly and what she goes through.

I thought that this book was definitly worth a read. Rachel Vail really seemed to know what it is like to be 13 or 14 years old. It was a great book and I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because I have read books that are similar to this book but were better. However, Ever After is a book that deserves some sort of recognition. Often adults attempt to "relate" to teens and tehy fail miserably, but this book was well-written in that respect.

This made me think back to my teenage days- and I could totally relate! It describes, in great detail, things a girl feels when she's growing up; how we have the ability to obsess over the silliest things, even though they don't seem so silly at the time.
I found the book amongst one of my friends' stuff, picked it up, and literally couldn't put it down. It hooked me from the beginning. Reading this makes you feel like you're not the only [odd one] in the world, and that other people have problems, too.
I also like the fact that it wasn't "sugar-coated." The conversation between the friends sounded like how my friends and I have talked. All in all...GREAT BOOK!

This is definitly one of my favorite books I have ever read. No other author writes about teen girls as well as Rachael Vail does. This book is so true, it was like I was reading about myself. It is about a girl named Molly who is struggling with feelings, friendships, weight, family, boys, her identity, and life in general. I definetly hope you read this book (you will love it if you are anything like me!) and every other book by Rachael Vail as well. This is one of the few books I truly loved reading.

This is the best of the series, but I suggest that you read the "Dragons in our Midst" books first. This book ties all of the lose threads together. As you read things click. It keeps you reading, a great page turner. I recommend this book to everyone who likes young adult books. Very well done and hooks well into the bible and doesn't sound cheesy like the others. Great for most ages. A definite read!

This book is great for both newcomers and old fans. If DioM was a movie, Eye of the Oracle would be the behind-the-scenes documentary. It's great for all those wishing to know more about such characters as Merlin, Morgan, King Arthur, Palin and all the dragons, as well as introducing wonderful new characters. You'll get a whole new perspective on the original books

I just love this book and the DIOM series.When I went on a journey before the Oracles of fire came out,I took the whole DIOM series with me although I had alredy read it I read each book in the journey twice.I recomend this book for every teen who wants to know more about Gods love i'd tell you to read it.This book is really worth reading not only this one but DIOM also.Im anxous for the rest of the books to come out.

A friend of mine lent me this book after he finished it. Truthfully, I was skeptical. I'm a fantasy novel/game type of person, but it seems that a lot of fantasy novels are like sci-fi, a good book is one in a thousand.

Heres the one in the thousand. Bryan Davis masterfully wrote this book, with a strong storyline, that follows multiple plots, and still keeping interest, and not getting jumbled together.

I couldn't put this down. It was almost the same as when "Deathly Hallows" came out after a 3 year wait.

I look forward to reading more Bryan Davis novels, and I doubt he will let me down, with his writing prowess.

This was my first novel of Mr. Davis's. As I had heard that Eye of the Oracle was actually a prequel of his earlier series, Dragons in the Midst I decided to start with it. I was immediately impressed to find several things I really love in a good novel. 1.) being thrown into the action quickly--Eye of the ORacle sets us smack down in the middle of a dragon attack upon a villianess you'll not soon forget!
2.) Superb writing--Mr. Davis's prose flows as smoothly as Bing Crosby singing Silent Night.
3.) The unexpected--Eye of the Oracle seamlessly weaves a tale of dragon heroism into the Biblical narrative. We begin just before the flood with the Ark in preparation for its fateful journey upon the waters of God's judgment. In the midst of this, Mr. Davis blends the familiar biblical persons with many we've not heard of before. New demons, Nephilim, Anakim giants, are all thrown into this epic brew with characters from the King Authur Legend as time progresses in the story. DAvis throws twists at us we would never expect, like Merlin as a prophet of God...WOW!
It all boils down to marvelous storytelling and the kind of heroes you'd be proud to sit down and share night after night reading with your own children. Eye of the ORacle delivers on every level, folks and I for one have been transformed into a FAN!--James Somers: author, The Chronicles of Soone.

If you have always wanted to get the Drizzt stories but can't stand Salvatore's writing style this is the way to go. Great art, great story, fun dialogue. All in one quick to read package. Put it on your summer reading list, or if your a comic geek that is tired of the Fantasy genre being ignored by the big two.

R.A. Salvatore himself claims that this graphic rendition of his famous book is as faithful as it could get. Coupled with Tim Seeley's clean yet evocative illustrations, this book gives old and new fans something for keeps. Kudos to the team at Devil's Due publishing. One could only hope that they extend their work to other Forgotten Realms literature.

The writers and artists that created this book did an excellent job of capturing the essence of Salvatore's first Drizzt book. I had high hopes for this work and was not disappointed in the least. The whole story is told here in an abbreviated but thorough way that, together with the art, tells the story of Drizzt's childhood in a powerful way. The strict and wicked society of the drow is nicely captured. I'd even go so far as to say that the art adds more depth to the original story. This is no substitute for Salvatore's novel, but as a supplement it can bring the story to a whole new level.

One thing I hadn't realized about the drow was that all of their women are so very well-endowed. Either drow plastic surgeons are kept very busy, or female drow just naturally have extremely voluptuous bodies. Personally, I thought it added to the story. Very enjoyable. But seriously, the Underdark (particularly Menzoberanzen) was brought to life by the beautifully detailed art in this book. Some of the artistic representations of various monsters was somewhat different than I had pictured in my head while reading the books (such as the handmaiden of Lloth and the earth elemental), but I'm sure Salvatore approved everything so this must be pretty much how he envisions it. Regardless, this is a beautifully done book that captures the magic of the original Homeland and even adds some depth to the story.

The only complaint I had with this adaptation was the omission of Drizzt's letters before each section. Drizzt's writings add feeling to the novels and I would have hoped that they would have included them in these graphic novels. Maybe they'll consider it for some of the later editions.

Overall, I was very impressed with this book. It does an excellent job of representing the original and is fun to read. Excellent art enhances the story.

The dark elves of the Forgotten Realms live deep underground, in the Underdark, where they plot their revenge against the light elves of the surface, and wage interminable inter-clan wars against each other. On the very night when his clan annihilates another clan, Drizzt Do'Urden is born. He is destined to be special, unbeatable with two swords, and yet separated from his people by a conscience. This is the story of Drizzt, his birth, his coming of age, and his discover of what he is and what he can be.

R.A. Salvatore's Drizzt Do'Urden stories have been a perennial favorite with fantasy story readers, well known for their action and for their gripping storylines. Now, Devil's Due Publishing has brought out the first Drizzt Do'Urden story in graphic novel format, and I must say that it is fantastic! They did a terrific job of capturing Mr. Salvatore's characters, and I thought that the illustration work was excellent.

So, if you are a fan of R.A. Salvatore, or are just a fan of great fantasy, then get this book. You will not be disappointed!

Dark Elf Trilogy Volume 1 is a compilation of a series of comics about the elven ranger Drizzt. I was not disappointed by the book. The art style is attractive and fresh, particularly the eyes, and I thought the characers were well-drawn. The artist really captured the essence of the dark elves, a troubled race.

Peeves? I was a bit annoyed that every female drow seemed to dress as though she shopped at Victoria Secret of the Underdark. Surely in a society where women rule and men are chattel skimpy clothing would be the norm for men? Also, while I love Drizzt, this graphic novel only underscored what a Mary Sue the character actually is. Drizzt is a little too perfect, and his views a bit too modern. I think anyone raised in a society as perverse as the drows would've gotten a bit more accustomed to violence early on. Drizzt is constantly shocked, appalled and amazed at the violence surrounding him.

Still, this was a fast, exciting read. I'd recommend it for older teens and adults. Some subject matter (such as sacrifice), nudity, and demon worship are not suitable subjects for small kiddies.

I love all of Maureen Johnson's books and this one is no exception. Her protagonists are all really easy to relate to and the settings are always imaginitive. The romantic plot line is always well written and combines well with other plot lines. Girl at Sea should not be missed!

Girl At Sea by Maureen Johnson would be a great summer time book because it kept me interested through out the entire book. There were some chapters that seemed to drag on and on. I did like this book better than 13 little blue envelopes because I felt like I connect more with the characters. Also, because the author was so descriptive in describing her characters, I could picture them and their personality with all the detail. I especially love the last few chapters because they make you so sure of what's going to happen but then all the sudden it would take a socking twist causing you to feel so dumb that you couldn't catch it before. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone. This book is a must read for summer!

Clio Ford has lived an interesting life. She became famous at age 12. Her parents are divorced. And she has a tattoo, just to name a few things.

Now, forced to spend a summer with her insane father and his research team on a boat on the Mediterranean Sea, she just might go mad. Especially since she knows they're looking for something...something they refuse to tell Clio anything about.

GIRL AT SEA is simply fantastic. As usual with all of Maureen Johnson's books, the plot is unique and nothing like anything you'll find in most other teen books these days. Clio is lively, fun, adventurous, and witty.

So if you care to read about paper hats, crazy parents, big boats, weird tattoos, lost artifacts, romance, and LOTS of jellyfish, what are you waiting for? Join in on all the nautical fun! Maureen Johnson will leave you desperate for more.

Reviewed by: The Compulsive Reader

Clio Ford is a seventeen-year-old art store employee in Pennsylvania. Well, at least she was going to be until her mom went to Kansas for the summer and Clio was dragged along with her dad and his girlfriend, Julia, during their search for an ancient stone, which holds an enormous amount of knowledge, in the shores of Italy. Although reluctant to go at first, Clio uncovers some amazing secrets about the underwater Mediterranean. I think this book is adventurous because Clio finds adventure in this book, and I felt like I was in the middle of an adventure when I was reading it. I enjoyed Girl at Sea, and I especially liked the discovering aspect of it. The discoveries made by Clio over the summer include those of the lost stone, her dad, and herself. These defiantly add to the book. I would recommend Girl at Sea by Maureen Johnson to any girl in grades 7-11.

Landlubbers and sea lovers alike will enjoy taking a trip with this Girl At Sea. Maureen Johnson once again successfully blends comedy and drama to create an intriguing, realistic story.

The Girl in question is Clio, who wears her heart and her scars on her sleeve. When she was eleven years old, she and her father created a board game called Dive! that took off.

A few years later, so did her father.

Fast forward five years. Now a high school junior, Clio was gearing up to work at a cool art supply store when her father contacts her. He wants her to come with him on a ten-week trip to the Mediterranean, but he won't tell her exactly where or why they're going.

Reluctantly, she goes along, only to discover they aren't alone. She must bunk with a sassy Swedish-English girl named Elsa whose mother is assisting Clio's father with his research. Her father's best friend Martin and a college boy named Aidan are also on board. As Clio's travels take her farther from home, they may or may not bring her closer to her father - and to herself.

Clio is a remarkable character. She's artsy. She's feisty. She's cool, but she doesn't know it. (That may just make her cooler.) She knows what she likes but isn't quite sure what she wants. She has a boldness about her, yet she's not really impulsive. Clio has a backbone, and even when she's vulnerable, she fights to stand on her own two feet. Her unique streak is a mile wide and she's got a knack for witty comebacks. I absolutely love her voice. Johnson's distinctive writing style really makes Clio shine.

Undeniably entertaining, Girl at Sea will not only please Maureen Johnson's loyal readers but should also be appreciated by anyone searching for a witty narrative and a memorable journey.

I'm not a huge fan of comics and I certainly don't spend a lot of money buying comics that were originally online. Yet this series is so fantastically awesome that I find the investment in the paperback printings entirely worth it. These volumes are just thick enough to sit comfortably on my bookshelf and thin enough to read while on my back. You should really read these in color to get the full impact of their rich and vivid world.

This is definitly a must-have series for anybody who likes Steampunk. The characters are fun, the bad guys are grandiose, the outfits rock and occasionally stuff gets blown up. What more could you ask for?

If you don't know Phil and Kaja Foglio from -his- work in Dragon Mag's "What's New", from the MythAdventures series (book and/or comic), the Buck Godot stories, their (blush) XXXenophile series, or their work illustrating "Magic, The Gathering" cards (notably Urza's Science Fair Project), shame on you! Go back two spaces and loose a turn. Gas-lamp Fantasy is sort of like what Jules Verne, Mary Shelly and H.G. Wells were writing back in the day. Steam-powered wonders, cobbled-together reanimated monsters, and pneumatic nutcrackers. (who doesn't like nuts?) Add a bit more modern-times feel, fantasmagoric (tm) illustration and color, and more tongue in cheek humor than you can shake a bag of knezels at, and presto! Genius! And the Girl, DON'T forget the girl! Damsels-in-distress, damsels-outta-de-dress, damsels who would shemk me upsidy-like the head with a 3/17 occipital left-leaning heterodyne wrench if I continues! (Yowza!) So stop reading this and BUY it already! Buy the whole series! (Buy two! Gotta keep one set "Mint Condition", dontcha?)

The art is really the best part of the series. All the bits and bobs and mechanically doodads make for a very pretty comic. (And they serve as good plot devices too!)

I zoomed through the first book too quickly and hadn't yet ordered the rest of the series, which I would say is the only bad part about the book.

The drama is top notch and the fantasy setting keeps it moving forward. You'll find that the plot reveals little secrets along the way that you would never expect. The best comic I've seen from the Foglios in a long time.

This is the first volume in Phil Foglio's ongoing series featuring Agatha Heterodyne and a cast of hundreds. The book collects the first few issues of what was originally a comic book series. The publishing schedule, though, seems to have been troubled for a variety of reasons, and "Girl Genius" now appears in webcomic form (with ensuing regular compilations in print form).

Kaja Foglio, wife and co-creator, describes this as "gaslamp fantasy": crypto-Victorian science and pre-pulp adventures in a world filled with mad scientists, giant steam-powered robots, weird technology, mysterious cults, and cackling villains. A great deal of which is played for laughs, simultaneously embracing and sending up the usual tropes of the genre. The humor throughout balances between sly drollery and slapstick.

One of the major attractions is Foglio's art, which many gamers will well know from his years of penning the "Phil & Dixie" feature in "Dragon" magazine. It's drenched in color and is highly detailed, to the point that you wonder how he ever completes a page. There's almost always 18 different things going on in the background, none of which is ever really relevant, but Foglio apparently really enjoys jamming in the sight gags.

I'm a sucker for this kind of stuff, and the Foglios have done a great job in creating an internally consistent alterna-Earth with its own physical and magical laws and history and politics, and they've also introduced seemingly dozens of plot strands. This latter is both good and bad. In later issues, there is some loss of cohesiveness, and the story seems to wander off into side treks, and none of the storylines ever seem to get wrapped up. (It's sort of the "Lost" of the comics world.)

On the other hand, it's got enormous fleets of dirigibles! And scar-faced pseudo-Teutonic bad guys! And talking cats! And endangered heroines in corsets! So, you know, all of the good stuff. Check it out!

My wife and I play the Girl Genius card game, though up until recently I have known little of the background story. One day, curious, I looked it up and found this volume and ordered it. Before I was finished, I was already in love with Agatha. This volume gives little of the flavor of the full story that folds over the next 5+ volumes, but it does give insight into a richly imagined world.

In some ways, it is a very common story. There is a student who seems not particularly good at anything, though the reader is made aware early own that there is more than meets the eye. There is a university where she learns, that seems to be taking part in caring for her and hiding something of a secret. There is a mysterious set of events in her past, and her family's past. She has an "item of power" that is taken and sets gears into motion. She meets a guy she both despises and admires at the same time.

Somehow, though, the Foglios have found an excellent way to balance the "steam-punk", the cliche story line, and the relatively small beginnings of a comic that are meant to hint at things to come in a way to come up with something that feels fresh and, more importantly, fun.

If you are thinking about ordering this volume, by the way, I recommend getting the next couple as well. It reads fast and I assure you that you are going to want more.

I loved this book. My girlfriends loved this book. It is a must for anyone in a relationship. It doesn't repeat things you already know. It opens your eyes up to things that you should see but don't.

I've read both the boyfriend test and girlfriend test. Finally someone broke the dating game down so that the novice dater who is looking to become a girlfriend knows what men are looking for in a potential gf. Wendy illustrated the steps that we need to get through in a clear, light, and humorous way....Before reading the girlfriend book, I had great difficulty understanding my role as a woman throughout the different stages of dating...I'm a more confident dater now...by doing the tests, I can gauge where I am in the relationship...I must say it is a must read for the woman who want to become gf someday...it's now a reference book that i refer to all the time...the chapters are short and easy to understand.

I find the girl friend test both entertaining and informative .
I happened to stumble upon the book through a reading by the author Wendy Walsh at the Barnes and Noble in Santa Monica. She was late due to a mix up and kindly offered to personally buy us each a copy of her book. (I'm not sure that I would have read it otherwise ,seeing that I'm married).
Most unexpected was what she wrote about the pshychology of the attachment theory based on our first parental relationships and how they shape our capacity to love.
I sure wish I would have had all this knowledge before I was married....It would have helped me keep boys on their toes!

It's strange how sometimes a sequel can be better than the original. I had good things to say about Wendy's first book, The Boyfriend Test -- but I have to say that this one is MUCH more consistently excellent and light years kinder to both men and women, a must-read if you were a fan of TBFT.

Once again, Walsh affects the informal, chatty "girlfriend" style readers of TBFT will remember. But this time the emphasis is on equiping women with the tools to take an inner journey of discovery crafted so as to make them "a better date, and a better mate" on the other end. Once again, there are scored tests and detailed elucidations for each item.

But the real heart of this book is at the beginning, and even more so at the end -- when Walsh lays out her personal wisdom about the work needed to build life's most important adult relationship, as well as the rewards of doing that at-times painful, always revelatory work on yourself BEFORE you hit the trenches looking for a man to share your life with. Drawing on her MA in psychology (and especially something called "Attachment Theory"), Wendy gently, frankly and patiently guides her reader to a place of such inner strength that any guy worth his salt would be crazy not to fall head-over-heels for her. Once again, she shares personal anecdotes so you know it's real. And unlike in her other book, you finish this one with a satisfied sense that all loose ends have been tied up perfectly -- like the pleasantly full feeling you get at the end of a perfect meal among close friends.

So once again, I find my single, male self endorsing a book by and for women on the subject of dating and relationships. And this time, guys, I can wholeheartedly assure you: Wendy Walsh really DOES feel warm things toward us! In fact, the astute reader of both books will note that Wendy puts women through one more test than she subjects us to. But perhaps the very best thing here is the sense you'll come away with that the word "test" has a whole different meaning than it did in school -- being less about scoring points, and more about self-realization and keeping your eyes open, keeping your heart and soul's radar on so as to sidestep life's landmines and go straight for the gold. If you're a man, this may be interesting. If you're a woman looking to develop a higher relationship IQ, "The Girlfriend Test" is pure gold. Good for you, Wendy!!

Hereýs a book that most men will be happy about. Instead of ýThe Boyfriend Testý (how men measure up) author Wendy Walsh takes a serious look at what it is the women have to do in order to become a better ýgirlfriendý and thereby get the love of her dreams.

As a fellow relationship author Iým always interested in what others in my field have to say about dating, romance, and love. And while I liked Wendy Walshýs previous book, I appreciate this one even more.

My favorite part of ýThe Girlfriend Testý is when she writes about the 9 types of girls/women. Iým sure we can all think of a person that we know who fits one of these bills:

1) Daddyýs Girl: no ones can live up to Daddy
2) The Barbie Doll: the perfect girl as long as youth & beauty last
3) The Girlýs Girl: the perfect friend to every woman at the expense of her own love life
4) The Material Girl: the one who appears to want money more than love
5) The Miss Priss: the one who lives by family standards primarily
6) The Corporate Cat: the female executive with all the perks except a man
7) The Chatty Cathy: talks too much, too many stories
8) The Jockette: one of the boys in her recreational activities
9) The Mirror: the one who surrenders to men at her own expense

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My only beef appears on page 22 where she writes, ýHeýs the Hook, But Youýre the Fish.ý And on a philosophical level I have to let her know that an old American proverb states, ýa man chases a woman until she catches him.ý What that means is the woman is the angler and the man is the fish. (The Power of An Enlightened Metaphor For Love)

Back to her book.

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As far as Walshýs tests, there are actually 5 of them, all of which are very practical and insightful. Here they are with my favorite question from each test:

The Hook-Up Test (sounds fishy doesnýt it?): Question #2 Are you more worried about your appearance than your disposition?

The First Date Test: Question #7 Do you talk too much about past relationships?

The Five Date Test: Question #5 Are you rewarding bad-boy behavior?

The Girlfriend Sex Test: Question #9 Do you know how to say no to sex?

The Ninety-Day Test: Question #3 Do you know how to deal with the boys club?

Along the way the author also has important side-bars like tips on going out alone (valet park for safety, meet the business happy hour people instead of the late-night crowd & leave by 11:30 PM because nothing good ever happens after that).

I hope this book gets in the hands of a lot of women. I said much of the exact same things in my second edition of Men Are Like Fish, but the difference here is that it comes from the more trusted voice of another woman instead of from a guy (the nerve of a man talking about love....what do they know, right?)

Anyway, donýt be fooled by the whole ýtestý idea. While it is more on the tactical side than the spiritual side, it does a darn good job of making refined distinctions in the area of hooking (creating secure attachments wisely).

This is one of my favorite new books because it is so focused on this one area of dating which is a key element in the big picture of ýfishing for love.ý

I had the privilege to attend a reading from this book, given by many of its contributors. The stories are powerful and familiar, in that they bring to mind my stories of coming of age. If you know an adolescent girl, I would recommend that you buy a copy for her. And buy one for yourself, too. For those of us who worry about how our daughters will navigate the shoals of adolescence, this book offers stars to steer by.

In appearance this is a very colorfull book which did not prepare me for its very serious content. It is wonderfully rich in the experience and wisdom of many women gained through living productively, if not always happily, while searching for meaning in their lives. More, they tell their stories with very little, if any, rancor towards men. A major strength. In this it is almost a pure celebration of womanhood, a concept still struggling for widespread acceptance in American society. While there has been some editing, the stories these women tell are essentially in their own words which only adds to the volumne's credibility. It also suggests the notion that people have a need to tell their stories, to be heard, and to be acknowledged. In an age when so much of our lives are dictated by forces beyond our control, this, in and of itself is no small accomplishment. In short, this is a book I would recommend for my mother, sister, daughter and grand-daughter. I'm waiting for someone to produce the male version.

I absolutly love this book! It answered all of my questions about becoming a woman and about how to be safe under pressure. It has different sections about different thing that girls want to know. It even has a section on how men feel about the things that their daughters are going through. I recomend this book to anybody who has questions about being older.

Girls to Women, Women to Girls is an excellent collection of thoughts, stories, and poems from girls and women around the globe. I love it, and have read it like, ten times. It talks about things like what it is to be a female, peer pressure and cliques, teen crisis, and sex and virginity. I found it very inspirational and encouraging. It doesn't even really confine to teens and pre-teens either. It is, in my opinion, a great book for all ages. it's a book that grows with you. I VERY stronly recommend this book.

I am twelve years old, and have probably read hundreds of books in my lifetime, but this is one of the best books that I have ever read. It is full of GREAT stories written by girls and women ages 9-98. (There's even a great chapter with some amazing stories written by fathers!) My favorite chapter in the book is the one about peers and friends. When the authors were collecting writings, I submitted a story that eventually made it into the book. All of my friends (and their mothers) own at least one copy of it, and they have all said wonderful things about Girls to Women, Women to Girls. No matter what their age, girls and women all over the world are sure to enjoy this book.