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If you know Wodehouse, you love Wodehouse and this book will just confirm your feelings. If you don't know Wodehouse, read this or any other book and you will fall in love with him. Every book you read is like going on vacation.

I had only read one or two Wodehouse comedies, so long ago I don't recall precisely which ones. They were good. "Leave It to Psmith" is great. It won't be years until my next. (And my copy of "Leave It to Psmith" now goes to my 90-year-old mother.)

In addition to wonderful, loveable characters, laugh-out-loud narrative and dialogue, and a marvelously convoluted plot that almost defies summarization, the book also features semi-serious but still wryly and deftly expressed observations, such as: "What I like about the English rural districts * * * is that when the authorities have finished building a place they stop. Somewhere about the reign of Henry the Eighth, I imagine that the master-mason gave the final house a pat with his trowel and said, 'Well, boys, that's Market Blandings.' To which his assistants no doubt assented with many a hearty 'Grammercy!' and 'I'fackins!' these being expletives to which they were much addicted. And they went away and left it, and nobody has touched it since."

Yes, this is sheer entertainment, brain candy. But it also is superb and masterly. It is narrative comedy at its best.

This is an early sort of try-out version of his later masterpieces on Jeeves and Wooster. It was absolutely hilarious at times, with that wonderful upper crust stilted language Wodehouse was such a genius at, but at other times could be a tad plodding. Some romance here, which he would totally discard later. You can see Jeeves blooming in PSmith, and Wooster in Freddie Threepwood. Also Aunt Agatha in Lady Constance. But a marvelously convoluted plot, with all sorts of interwoven characters. and The Drones Club is here already.

In my opinion, this is the best of Wodehouse, and I was pretty surprised at it.

"Leave It to Psmith" was originally published in the U.K. on November 30, 1923 by Herbert Jenkins, and in the U.S on March 14, 1924 by George H. Doran. The edition I am reviewing is from "The Everyman Wodehouse" series published by Everyman's Library in the U.K., and for those in the U.S., you may be able to find the equivalent quality in "The Collector's Wodehouse" series which is being published by Overlook Press.

I did not have high expectations for this book, because I didn't think "Psmith in The City" was very good, but Wodehouse's writing clearly improved greatly over those 13 years, and the merging of the Psmith character with the cast at Blandings Castle was great chemistry. The character of Ronald Eustace Psmith (formerly known as Rupert Psmith and in both cases the P is silent), was much more interesting in this book than I found him before. He fits right in with the other Blandings characters such as Lord Emsworth, Freddie Threepwood, and a great foil for Rupert Baxter.

In this story, we have a diverse set of characters, all converging on Blandings Castle, and more than a few with the idea of stealing Lady Constance's necklace. Their motives are rather diverse, but whether they want it for money, freedom, or love, there is no shortage of people out to get it. As one would expect in any Wodehouse story, there is a fair amount of assumed identities and amazing coincidences which drive the story forward. Psmith, himself takes on the identity of Mr. Ralston McTodd, a poet from Canada in his pursuit of the beautiful Eve Halliday. The best part of the book, in my opinion, is the flower pot scenes, which is some of the funniest writing I have read in a long time.

As the second of the Blandings Castle novels, and the last of the Psmith novels, this was a great improvement on both of those series. The Blandings series would continue to grow from this point, and there are many more great stories in that series. I do not believe the character of Psmith appears again in any of Wodehouse's stories, but the fully developed Psmith that appears in this work does foreshadow such characters as Jeeves and Uncle Fred. If you didn't care for Psmith in the previous works, you may still want to give this one a try. This is Wodehouse at his best.

Craig and Mark may be young in age, but they are definitely old souls. Their grasp of Spiritual concepts goes way beyond their years.

The book shows that it doesn't matter what you know intellectually; unless you live it, it is meaningless. As one individual, you may think you are powerless, but everyone underestimates the extent to how much of a difference they can actually make.

These two brothers proved that in what they accomplished in such a short period of time. Absolutely amazing.

I read mostly self help books and I have read many. The book, Me to We was one of the very best. I read it while traveling to and from San Diego this past week. The two authors, brothers in their 20's, talk about how we must take the focus off of me and ask "How can I help others." In changing our focus onto the other person we help ourselves to grow. They give many great examples, examples from both ordinary people and very well known celebrities. Just learning about their own personal experiences helped change my way of looking at the world. Buying AND reading this book will be one of the best investments you can make in yourself.

I found this book to amazingly inspirational! For someone so young, these two young men have been blessed with amazing insight and wisdom. I would recommend this book to all who are stuck in wondering what the purpose for their life is. If you can't find a purpose somewhere in the chapters of this book, you must be dead!
Not only is this book informational, but it addresses much of the complacency and apathy of a society that has become so spoiled. Want to be inspired to go beyond your comfort zone? Read this book!

Free the Children is a fantastic organization, and reading more about it inspired me to live more of the "Me to We" philosophy. I would recommend this book to anyone.

Me to We is one of those books that will get you thinking about what you are doing with your life, and what you could be doing. Written in an easy to understand manner, it is suitable for teens and seniors alike.
Me to We is truly inspirational in the way it speaks from the heart, and encourages all of us to make a difference in our lives, our community, and our world. I truly recommend this book - you won't be disappointed.

This cleverly written concept (counting and poetry) book combined with the most beautiful illustrations makes this a must have for any home library. Before they can even read, children will enjoy have this story read to them while they look at the vivid pictures and try to count all the bugs to match the story. Opportunities to increase vocabulary are bountiful with the creative and broad use of vocabulary within the rhyming plot. The ending shows a great character building lesson to get to know someone before making a judgement. Just perfect!

Very cute story. I bought my niece the Fisher-Price tea party set and bought this book to go with it. The story is short but the pictures are adorable and very colorful. I would recommend this book. My niece is 1 1/2, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone over 3.

We've been reading this to our little guy since he was three months old, if even that, and he was glued to it from the start, easily his favorite book, still, at nearly 13 months. Great color, great rhythm, and lots of fun bugs! :)

The "Miss Spider" books are pretty easy reads. Nice stories, wonderfully bright, and imaginatively styled illustrations!

My 3 year old is a little concerned with spiders in general and I think by giving a sweet personality to a spider, it helps to take the edge off of the spiders we may find in the house and in nature.

The artwork in this book will keep any child interested. It took my daughter a few reads to get into the story and she still prefers Miss Spider's New Car, but we read this book often.

One of the best business books I've ever read. Danny really "gets it" as far as treating his employees and customers like family and VERY important people. THIS is why he is so successful with the top restaurants in NYC. A MUST read for anyone in sales or who deals with customers and employees on a daily basis

A great book that describes how to create customers for life, with "enlightened hospitality", creating an outstanding customer experience, based on a dialog with the customer. As he puts it "picking up the rocks" (to find the info) and "connecting the dots", a process that could and should be copied for every business.

His passion for food comes across the written page, its contagious.
I'm not a wine drinker but his passion made me want to give it a try.

I never been to one of his restaurants but I now see a trip to New York to visit his restaurants.

Highly recommended not only for restaurateurs, but for every business that has contact with customers.

This is one of the best books I have ever read on the hospitality business. Given that it is the industry that I am in, I probably found it more entertaining and insightful than many may who are NOT in the industry. Either way, a great read.

I was about to leave for vacation, and was looking for a beach read. Danny Meyer had been generous enough to supply an endorsement for my book, The Art of Client Service, so the least I could do was buy his book.

I am very glad I did.

Setting the Table certainly is a book on how to provide superior hospitality to customers, but it's more than that: it's the best book I've read on what it means to provide service to clients in ANY business. Its candor, humility, and generosity of spirit are reflected in all the lessons Danny learned, applied, and now recounts as he grew to be a leader.

My only quibble, and it is a small one, is that the book lacks an index. I assume this was a conscious decision on Danny's part, possibly because he does not view Setting the Table as a "how to" guide. But the reality is, the book is loaded with practical advice on how to build and sustain enduring client relationships. An index would help readers refer to lessons that inspired or motivated them.

My one regret is that I failed to include Setting the Table in my book's annotated bibliography of the 20 titles advertising people should read. I will, however, add it to the Art of Client Service website. And most important of all, I will recommend the book to all my advertising industry colleagues.

Love it, love it, love it. Finally an empowering business book for those of us who don't believe you have to be a soulless, emotionally retarded cheeseball prick to succeed in the business world. Danny Meyer's financial results give ample validity to his approach, so while you can still get rich the "traditional" way, his experience supports the fact that you can also get rich AND make the world a better place. Gets a little blah towards the end, but all of my stars, underlines and dogears throughout the beginning and middle parts more than make up for that. Others will do a better job of dissecting and analyzing the book in detail, so that's it for me. If you're tired of getting the beat-down for having the gall to have "feelings" at work, you'll love this book.

Atmosphere and a strong sense of place make this novel excerpt about early 20th Century New Orleans a delightful yet very dark treat. You can feel the magic swirling above the city's squalid streets and quarters, and Maistros gets the sound of people's thoughts and voices just right. The opening imagery turns downright unforgettable, setting the stage for what can only be darker events to come. Characters' moral struggles, only hinted at in this beginning section, will clearly take center stage in a tale that uses the sultry air and sound of the Big Easy to great advantage. Coupled with a dark yet evocative title, and lyrical prose, The Sound of Building Coffins is a promising start to the kind of book we expect to "break out" and bring the author to prominence. Based on the start, it would be highly deserved.

The music and the magic...and the gruesome details. What a fantastic book. Reading THE SOUND OF BUILDING COFFINS is like stepping through a portal into a dark yet tasty past. The sights, sounds, and scents of New Orleans are here, the real emotions of real people, and the compelling lure of jazz music.

And like THE BIG PUNCH, Maistros's first novel, this thing will knock the wind out of you.

I'm looking forward to his next one.

This exerpt is driving me crazy. It features profoundly haunting images (perhaps uplifting, perhaps disturbing), unique, believable characters, and a strong sense of place. It's an exerpt from a larger work, and it's stuck in my head like a moving song I can only remember the chorus of.

Amazon, why not provide a link to let me buy the complete novel - at least in in e-book format?

The Sound of Building Coffins by L. Maistros presents a masterfully crafted introduction to the world of Voodoo and mystical realism in New Orleans.

We begin by following Typhus Morningstar, one of a clan of siblings with 'sickly' names. At nine, Typhus works (so far) as a deliverer of unborn babies to their watery rebirth. The scene of transfiguration from dead fetus to live catfish is extremely thought provoking as well as paints touching and magical imagery. There is definitely something special about this boy.

Noonday Morningstar, father of Typhus' family and Baptist minister, hears God's voice every day; sometimes every minute. He has little choice but to follow the call. That's his lot. One call brings him to the home of an ailing one-year-old. While reading scripture to the child, the voice of Jesus calls out for Noonday to scram. What follows in the scene with the child is eerily provocative and telling of the mystical forces at work behind Voodoo.

The author does an excellent job a relaying this story through various perspectives. I was completely enthralled throughout. While there were a small handful of incomplete sentences (the subject was MIA), no other flaws were noted and nothing really comprised the overall flow of the story. Job well done.

Oh why did PW miss this? The opening's grand--a midnight ride in Storyville-era New Orleans. Can it get more moon-dark-midnight than this? A kid named Typhus on an errand with a burlap sack in his bicycle basket...

Of course, I wonder what parent would name their kid Typhus. Noonday Morningstar claimed naming his children for diseases was for God's glory.

Typhus isn't a complex kid. He doesn't appear to hate his name or anything else. He likes things simple and he hopes he never grows past the point of a simple cure for his problems:

"Typhus loved his midnight bicycle rides. The sound of the water, the feel of night air against his skin, and the acrid smell of burning tar; it all conspired into a comforting sense of oneness with his father's God. And that's all his child's heart had ever really pined for. Not much else, anyway."

On those rides, Typhus gives life to the lifeless--and catfishes to the river. His friend, Marcus, has a strange obsession with fishes, too. Sometimes he catches perfectly good ones and throws them back...

Oh, why don't I have the rest of this? The characterization is good. The feel is dark as 87% cacao and just as bittersweet. I don't know why Penguin or PW missed this excerpt, but I'm glad I saw it and had an opportunity to make note. The writing's submission quality and the story's quite different.

Congratulations, Louis Maistros, on an excerpt well done. I wish I had the rest and I will be looking for the book. I hope it hits my store's shelves soon.

Maui H.S. Another reason I love Randy Wayne White's novels is that the bad guys usually get what they deserve. It is done quietly and without fanfare, but those that enjoy the pain and suffering of others end up quite dead.
Ten Thousand Islands bring to life a murder ruled suicide fifteen years ago. The psychopath murderer is running for political office. (Not too hard to imagine for me.) Unafraid of anything and believing wealth allows you to do anything, the psychopath and equally psychopathic father aren't afraid. What they want they get regardless the cost, simply because they want it. (More fact in fiction.)
The twist in the novel is a play on the supernatural. Is it a soul mate? Does love truly never die? Ancient Calusa, powerful symbols, and black magic are intertwined in this interesting and unique story.
I love the ending. An Eye for an Eye!

This book was received in great condition. I have thoroughly enjoyed all Randy's books. They are the type of mystery novel that you can't put down. I laugh, I am entertained by eloquence that does not overtake the reader. I experience every part of southern Florida, its heritage, its geography, and its marine life in Randy's books. Since moving to SW Florida, I've also found them an invaluable source of information. Doc Ford is my favorite!

John D. Mcdonald - not even close.

I Soooooo wanted to have this be good. What a fine premise . . . a sophisticated dropout in the boonies. Fascinating possibilities abound!

But White is INCREDIBLY, NUMBINGLY VERBOSE. I do not care about what a snook spawn thinks about the moonlight during the summer solstice while barnacles grow on the bottom of somebody's boat which was built in Texas by some wetback during the summer of discontent when Batista was in power on the "Big Island" . . .

How about just a LITTLE action around the DRONE of White's contemplation of his (and everybody else's) naval.

This could be so, SO fascinating - but it is actually just so TEDIOUS.

Sorry. I'd LOVE for it to be a new love. It isn't

Note: I made some Mormon reader angry over my negative reviews of books written by Mormons out to prove the Book of Mormon, and that person has been slamming my reviews as soon as they are posted. Oh, well.

Your "helpful" votes are appreciated. Thanks.

I ask you, how can a person with a sense of adventure possibly resist a title like "Ten Thousand Islands"? It sounds great and it is.

Doc Ford is up to more adventures and a lifestyle that appeals to men. I mean, he's not married, he lives in the stilt house in Florida, has a lot of friends (some quirky like Tomlinson, a wonderful character), and he has a lot of lady friends. Doc Ford's background is mirky, a lot of it spent on secret missions for a CIA type of organization.

The average man will get lost most of White's novels, sailing away with him on some grand adventure.

I've enjoyed all of Randy Wayne White's novels. If you're not in the mood to read, then get them on CD. Ron McLarty does a super job with Tomlinson's voice! He makes him sound like Jack Nicholson--very funny. Tomlinson is a strung-out hippy type, whose ramblings contain surprising bits of wisdom. A very compelling character and friend of Doc Ford.

Also, highly recommended for men is "Sands of the Kalahari," by William Mulvihill, and "Cry Wolf," by Wilbur Smith. Both are up-in-the-night African adventures. Check out my reviews.

The Sands of Kalahari

Cry Wolf

Your comments--good or bad--are appreciated. Thanks from one adverturer to another.

Doc Ford is great! This book is hard to put down. Definitely my favorite Randy Wayne White book! Just when you think it can't get better he twists the story to add another element. Great read! you won't be disappointed!

272Pgs - This is my personal view of this book.

It did not grab my attention at all. At the fourth chapter, I was looking for my receipt. More Women are becoming Soul Searchers today and if you are a Title Seeker like myself meaning (a title of a book can prompt you to purchase) this book will definitely be a lesson well deserved.

This is book could be named, "When A Man Loves a Woman." Bishop really loved Abeni and she loved him back just as hard.

This book is awesome! It will make you laugh and it will make you cry. The characters really come to life in this book--you feel what they feel as you read this wonderful book!

It's been awhile since I've ordered a few books and rather than bore you with the same old rave reviews, I just have a few things to state. The book kept me up until my eyes could not take it anymore; The character Bishop in the book was fascinating. I won't go into details but the fact that it deals with FGM (Female Genital Mutilation) which is going on in certain tribes in Africa paints a picture for me to better understand the culture. Althought I don't agree with it. Pick the book up and you will not be dissappointed.

I just finished reading this book, it was very good. All the characters were great.I liked what it was about, the story really touched my heart and it made me cry. Get this book, you will not be disappointed.

This is a great book on the fundamentals of leadership. Bo and the author use football for examples of different challenges a leader might face. As a Michigan fan it was wonderful to read how this legendary coach made his way to Michigan, and how he formed his philosophies on coaching. After reading this book, the reader will have a better appreciation of how and why Bo coached the way he did. If anyone knows a person or if they themselves coach anything, this book is a MUST read. But you can still enjoy the book even if you don't coach or lead anything.

Bo's life was a reminder to me about the things that are important - integrity, friendship, leadership, honest communication, and giving your all every single day. Although a football story, I think it's more an inspirational guide to attainment of the highest human values disguised as a football story. Put this on your list to read!

This is the best book by/about Bo. Many of the stories are familiar, but most of the ones that have appeared before have a somewhat different slant on them here. If you have been in a leadership position, you will recognize much of what Bo says as simple truth. You will also recognize examples where you didn't follow his principles, and regretted it later. People like him who see life as simply are rare, and are an inspiration. I'm not sure how much of the effect of the book would be lost on someone who did not have a familiarity with college football, but if you have even a cursory exposure to it, you should find the stories enjoyable and educational.

This book was written as though Bo was talking. Oftentimes after I closed the book I was motivated and charged. It had a lot of great advice and pointers about leadership. I good book for a leader. A great book for a Michigan fan.

This was an excellent purchase! It arrived in a timely fashion and in great condition!

Chicken soup for the cat and dog lovers soul is a wonderful book that warms my heart and gives me a happy feeling reading thru the stories and the love people feel for there pets. When I recently lost my beloved siamese cat it helped me to feel better about my "furry baby" passing over the rainbow bridge because I knew he had a wonderful life and he knew he was cherished. All the books in the chicken soup series are very uplifting and spirtual and make people smile, I highly recommend them.

I have bought many books from this series and found this one to be my favorite. This book is a must for the animal lover. I will read a few stories before bed every night. Some stories bring tears to my eyes and others make me simle from ear to ear. Great book that people of any age will love!!

My 10 year-old son tried reading it,and thought the stories were too sad, but I adore this book. Very sweet, humbling stories about good people and good animals.

I really enjoyed this book. The main reason I liked it is because it is all about cats and dogs, and I am a hardcore animal lover. Another reason I liked it is because the stories are not made up in someone's mind. These stories are real stories that real people lived through. The last reason I liked this book so much is because you don't have to read it like an ordinary book. You can read it like I did and just jump around to stories that sound good to you, instead of reading the book cover to cover.

In this volume, Mr. Canfield and crew have compiled a smorgasboard selection of short stories about pets who fortify us and make life bearable. Especially poignant to me was "the medicine cat" as I, too, had one named Tosca. She gave up the ghost a few months ago at the age of eighteen years, as I had no way to get to her when she needed support of the kind she gave to me several years ago. They recognize the special love and devotion of animals to bless our hearts and homes.

"Cat lovers will tell you that felines are 'poetry in motion,' living sculptures at rest, and that the warm weight of a purring cat...is a surefire cure for all that ails you."

It is the physical acts of love to bring the gift of life as expressed in "The Healing Touch." I cried as I read "The Language of the Heart" about an unusual rabbit and his healing the hurt of a little girl who'd turned inward and no longer could talk. Something had died in that child which this loving rabbit cured. His innocence and trust had rekindled the same qualities in the child. The loving presence of an animal can heal where words have no effect. Alas, Roger Rabbit bit the tip off my little finger one day, which led me to the ER for a Saran-wrap bandage (to stop the bleeding -- a bandaid wouldn't work) and a tetanus shot. Needless to say, I found him another home.

"A small gesture -- the insistent tap of a cat's paw" about Jack, an adopted stray kitten (like Dante in Troy, Alabama), who grew into Ellen's savior. He woke her from a daydream of tragedy; Star woke me up with that same gesture over and over so that I would not strangle from Acid Reflux. Pets do love and care for their owners. This volume is one I will treasure for years to come. It is full of memories about pet owners' animals, not just cats and dogs.

The author's use of carefully crafted dialogue pulled me into the pre-Civil War era (1860) rapidly. The descriptive action and richly developed characters easily conjured up mental images of that place and time. I felt myself being transported back and I definitely want to know much more about Isaac and Henry's lives. What happens next?!

This novel is set in one of the most exciting periods of American history and has focused squarely on the issue of slavery and the lives of slaves in the American South, which is a subject long neglected and worthy of exploration. The author has done solid research and has created sympathetic characters in Isaac and his family. He's jumped right into the action.

As a Southerner sensitive to the nuances, variations and music of "my native language" I appreciate that the author has made an attempt to represent the spoken language of the time in his dialog. He makes appropriate distinctions in the speech of the slaves and of the Confederate cadets. Unfortunately, both seem a little stilted and off to my ear and I found this a barrier to becoming fully immersed in the story. Any kind of spoken dialect is hard to represent on the printed page. Generally, it is better to represent the dialect with a word or two and to let the dialog flow in a fashion that the modern reader will accept.

Otherwise, the author has a pleasant and readable prose style.

I was immediately intrigued by the title of this story and when I started reading this download I was hooked. Mr. Andrews does a fantastic job of connecting the reader to the characters. His writing style is very descriptive and easy to follow and I was able to imagine the story in my mind...a must for any good book in my opinion! He definitely left me wanting more- not just from this story, but from this author. GREAT JOB.

I thought this was great. Jeff's got all the essential ingredients: a hook that draws you in, characters that you care about from the start, a beautiful writing style and a richly developed setting. He's got a knack for description and a flow that is easy to follow and leaves you wanting more. This book should be published.

I was engaged from the start. I want to know more about the characters. This book should be published!