Acorn Books

John Schlee was a student of Ben Hogan. His technique may seem a bit unusual but it works!

this book changed my view on haddiecapped people. i think every kid should have to read it. it is one of the most life changing books i have ever read.

Very realistic! Your opinion of campers can change in less then a day. The very first time you see campers getting out of the car you do wonder what the heck you have gotten yourself into but then by the time you have dinner you have already realized what is special about each one of them. This was an excellent book to quickly describe children with various different disabilites.

I only paid a couple dollars for this book, but the shipping was $5 something. It also took about a week to get my shipment, even though I paid for express delivery. I should've just bought it at my university bookstore.

I was appalled to read some of the ignorance in the reveiws of this book about someones experience. I think he captured the spirit and importance for camps for people with special needs. THe point of the camp wasn't trying to "make' these kids be normal at camp the point was they were haveing a great summer despite their challenges. It wasn't about saying "all the things your suppose to say about handicapped persons" as one review read it was about sharing the initial fears and concern that often people deal with when faced with such a task and showed how it turned to great blessing. I didn't feel this book was about the children but about the change and growth within the writer because of the children. Its a beautiful message that is just a little rough around the edges with the writing skills of the author.

Camp Wiggins was not a place for medically sanitized facilities, safety rails, or strict activity schedules. It was a place for memories to be made, accomplishments, and fantasies to be fulfilled. By no means were the handicaps of the teens attending this camp would burden this in any way. The Acorn People, by Ron Jones, tells a story of how a camp of handicap teens grow together and accomplish more than they could ever dream of doing at a camp made for boy scouts. In this true story, Ron Jones, the camp counselor of a group that goes above and beyond the expectations of camp, ables these teens to work together to climb Mountain Lookout, swim for the first time, and then struggle with getting the approval of the camp owner Mr. Bradshaw. Over all, this story was emotionally filled as well as giving you a new look on people not as fortunate as those not handicapped.

The kids in Ron Jones group whom he counseled each were very unique. They all had their different disability as well as something that they were good at. Martin was blind. He was one of the most mobile in the group. He always seemed to have a smile on his face, as well as all the other blind kids at the camp. He always was in motion. Then there was Benny B. Polio had taken both of his legs. He was a speed freak. He could do wheelies and many other things in his wheel chair. Spider was another kid in Ron's cabin. He had no legs or arms. Spider was always alert and loved to talk. He was a so-called "jukebox". Then there was Thomas Stewart. He had muscular sclerosis and weighed about 35 pounds in all. He never talked and you never could tell what he was really thinking. Aaron or "Arid" had no way of the waste in his body to be exerted out of his body. His smell was horrible causing him to not have too many friends, and getting the nickname "Arid". Throughout this story, you saw how each character developed from handicapped boys into outgoing, dream filled young men. This occurs when Thomas actually talks to them for the first time, when Spider shows them all how he's such a great swimmer despite having no limbs, and when Aaron gets crowned King at the dance.

The Acorn People gets its title from a conversation that Benny B. and Ron had. Ron was making a necklace made of nuts because he was feeling extremely stressed out. Ron did not have the job as a counselor because he wanted to work with handicap teens, but he had the job because he needed one. He was not prepared at all to have to change sheets every night from the bed wettings that occurred, or to feed many of them individually. He decided to make this necklace of acorns to express how "nuts" he felt being there. While he was doing this, Benny B. walks over asking him what the necklace was for. At first Ron didn't answer him but then, after constantly being asked by Benny he told him how he felt a little nuts being here and so he thought the necklace to be appropriate. Benny B. responded with saying, "So do we counselor, we all feel a little nutty here! You might want to call us the nut people, yeah, that's a good name for us." After this, Ron's whole group made these necklaces and then eventually made them for the whole camp. The name "The Acorn People" got around the camp quickly.

The kids in this story experienced many new things that they had never been exposed to before. Ron and Dominic (the other counselor) heard an old announcement that was for the boy scouts that said something about climbing Lookout Mountain. Benny B. heard it as well and said to Ron if the boy scouts could climb it then why couldn't they? So eventually the group ends up taking a hike up to the mountain and then stops, looking up at it pondering how they will get up it. Martin steps out and starts up Mountain Lookout, experimenting ways they could possibly get up it. He finally finds a way that would be possible. They would have to scoot up the mountain on their bottoms and Thomas would sit on Ron's lap and Spider on Dominic's. This scene in the book just puts forth a new perspective to the kids in that group. It shows how much, despite their disadvantages, they want to accomplish things that regular kids are able to do.

Throughout this book it shows different instances which state that they aren't different but they are just like those not handicapped. When they had the dance and the boys and girls were dancing together showing emotion for each other it showed this. Who says handicapped people can't have crushes on the opposite sex? I would suggest this book to those that have had experience with those handicapped. They would most likely get the most appreciation out of this book. This book brings forth so much emotion and a new perspective on those handicapped. I have much appreciation for this book and the view it is written from.

-H. Cooper

Set in fictional Barsetshire, England, this book is simply a delight. Ms. Thirkell is most adept at portraying the interplay of quirky characters, from the scholarly, socially inept Mr. Downing and his brusque yet well-meaning housemate, Miss Pemberton; the social terror that is Mrs. Spender; the Frenchified Hopgoods; and the attractive Mrs. Turner, among others - centered around Mrs. Villars, the Rector's wife. The setting of the novel, a country town amidst the uncertainty and austerity of World War II, is practically a character itself. I loved reading this and look forward to more of Ms. Thirkell's books.

This is one of my favorite Barsetshire books, as it introduces the amusing Mrs. Villars. Further, the appearance of the delightfully cranky Miss Pemberton provides much amusement. Overall, the book not only introduces us to a host of Barsetshire characters who appear in later books, but also paints brilliant character sketches that are somewhat reminiscent of Jane Austen's highly colored depictions of characters like Mr. Woodhouse and Miss Bates in Emma.

In response to one reviewer's comment that Mrs. Thirkell's novels change over time - Indeed, they do. But it seems to me that her books change in synch with the British country psyche at the time. Britain underwent fairly significant changes in terms of class and financial structure during and after WWII. This change is reflected in her books, as they are primarily set at the time she is writing them.

I totally concur with the last review. Angela Thirkell makes fun of the foibles and follies of the upper crust and to even suggest that there is "snobbery" in her books is totally ludicrous! Rather, being an avid fan of her writing, I take great pleasure in reading of a time gone by and the eccentricities of small English villages! Her books are full of humor and she manages to portray it without being meanspirited; something which is not easily achieved.

I have been working on reading all the Barsetshire novels in order on and off for several years. Whenever I have sufficient leisure time I start again, usually trying to pick up where I left off and always finding I want to start again at the beginning so that I don't miss any of the book to book references.

Obviously, I am one of the fans of Thirkell's Barsetshire novels, those somewhat predictable, but always witty and delightful, tales of a fictional England around the time of WWII.

But these books are not for everyone. Certainly anyone who thinks Thirkell the equal of Austen is mistaken. Equally certainly, those who deny an element of snobbery are allowing their fondness for the novels to blind them to its presence. Yes, Thirkell mocks the foibles of upper-class characters, but she is far more tolerant of them than of the flaws of the lower-middle classes. While the working classes are treated nearly as well as the upper (mocked but always fondly), the middle classes (whom she often treats as social climbers) are often treated with scorn and distaste for the mildest of faux pas.

I love these books and wouldn't want to discourage anyone from reading them, but because some of the positive reviews are misleading, I wanted to give a more balanced view than I think either the attackers or the defenders have given.

Of the dozen or so Barsetshire novels I have read so far, Northbridge Rectory is my least favorite. For the reviewer who liked Before Lunch and wanted to know which others were more like that, I recommend Wild Strawberries, The Brandons, and August Folly. Those who object to Thirkell's snobbery should avoid Miss Bunting (this is the title of a book, not a character or author).

I came to Amazon to buy a copy of Northbridge Rectory as a present and was astounded by the childish lack of acumen in the other reviews. Two stars because of "snobbery"!? If that is the level of sophistication Thirkell is facing in her American audience, she'll be out of print quite soon. Thirkell's books, Northbridge included, are comedies of manners. They represent types of people, and that includes snobs, cowards, eccentrics, people of little distincton, people of much distinction. Northbridge uses a biting humor that I, and many others, find extremely funny because it so deeply transgresses all of the Steven Spielberg-like instincts to be agreeable and popular that so plagues American writing today: find out what sells, do it to death, hope to get in on the Oprah Book Club Bonanza, and above all, be agreeable to as many people as possible. Blahh! Thirkell was a fantastic writer who represented a world that was on its way out, as her novels make quite clear, and she was obviously sorry to see it go. She was not, in the Oprah vein, writing novels meant to make insecure or troubled people "feel good about themselves," which is death to literature. Thirkell's humor is not just meant to make us laugh, but also a part of a scheme in her works -- to hold up the silliness of the world she inhabits for all to see, and to suggest that we've lost something in the passing of time, rather than gained. That's why they are such wonderful books: they they're funny, they are sharp, they're literary, and they're light, all at once. I agree that not all of her Barsetshire books are of equal value, but none of them ranks below four stars, for heaven's sake!

Worthless propaganda... not worth reading. If you want to get a well-rounded education on abortion, run far away from this book.

I'm grateful to David Reardon for collecting these stories. For those of us who unexpectedly suffer significant emotional distress or even trauma after abortion, it is such a relief to realize that we are not alone and not crazy. When I came across this book, it broke down my isolation and gave me hope for healing. I looked around for other resources to help me pursue that healing and have been incredibly grateful to find them. For me, knowing that other women also suffered was a vital first step toward recovery.

This is an invaluable book for anyone interested in the abortion issue. It details the very real emotional and physical fallout of elective abortion, and features the strained voices of women victimized by what our society calls "safe, legal abortion." Abuses against the poor and women of color are particulary distressing to read about. I hope every woman considering abortion will read this book first.

One must read a few chapters of "Aborted Women: Silent No More" before realizing that despite its seemingly non-judgemental title, this book continues to force subtle pro-life propaganda on its audience. As a woman and feminist who has experienced abortion, I wholeheartedly agree that most women who undergo abortions suffer long-term emotional trauma as a result; this experience and suffering deserves to be given a voice and should not be denied or overlooked in order to further either side of the political debate. However, Mr. Reardon's use of the personal histories of women who have all since come to believe that what they did was bad and wrong, become pro-life advocates, and found solice in the Lord seems disgustingly biased. What of women, like myself and the many aborted women I know, who do suffer emotional trauma, but continue to believe in freedom of choice? The personal histories which Mr. Reardon utilizes are immeasurably valuable as testimonies of the abortion experience - but they are of a limited and obviously-slanted perspective. Mr. Reardon's book is full of useful statistical and factual information about the overall abortion experience, but these too are explained in a clearly "I told you how evil it was" tone. Is it so impossible for one to honor the voice of these women who have made the decision to abort without forcing religious or political propaganda down the throats of readers? Abortion may never be out of the public eye - and it is its presence in the public eye that has allowed it to become a political and religious issue. At its heart, however, it is a personal issue - the personal decision of every woman who is ever pregnant and does not immediately know that she will carry the child to term - whether she eventually does abort or not. This book is a useful example of the manipulation of women's stories for the sake of the greater pro-life cause, but it is difficult to read with any level of comfort if you don't already subscribe to that rhetoric.

I own a copy of this book printed in the 80's. I assumed the new edition would have updated statistics. Unfortinately its just a reprint, not really a new edition.

The book is powerful but the stats need to be updated.

I have always believed that the BBC made the finest adaptations for radio and television, and indeed the BROTHER CADFAEL series is no exception; Bert Coules (who most recently adapted Sherlock Holmes for BBC radio) and the fine actor Philip Madoc brought Cadfael to life in three adaptations which are well worth listening to if you can: MONKS HOOD, THE VIRGIN INN THE ICE and DEAD MAN'S RANSOM. However, Sir Derek Jacobi was an excellent Cadfael for television ... even if some of the teleplays didn't quite follow the plot of the original novels. Acorn Audio did something quite extraordinary when they turned the audio tracks of the four teleplays of the first Cadfael TV series into an audio series, adding a narrator to fill in the gaps and adding some slight commentary on the action which could not be seen on an audiotape; in doing so, they tightened up the narrative to keep the stories moving at a good clip so that the listener would not lose interest, and Stephen Flynn's narrations are well-read and well-written. I am sorry that Acorn Audio hasn't adapted the rest of the televised Cadfael stories into this format, and the only grievance I have is that the cast of characters is not read out at the end of each story (all we get to know is that Sir Derek Jacobi plays Brother Cadfael, when there are some fine actors in each of the stories). This is something entirely new, coming somewhere in between actual radio drama and books-on-tape, and I highly recommend it for anyone interested in the Brother Cadfael series. The listener will not lose anything by not seeing the action on a TV screen, and the acting you will HEAR combined with the narration will definitely provide an ejoyable listening experience.

-Derek Jacobi takes the lead in the role of Brother Cadfael. In the Cadfael box set, four television episodes are soundtrack recorded with a narrator. Vocally, these four stories are wonderful pieces of fiction. However, even with a narrator, it sounds as if we are missing something. The production values are excellent, since these are the Brother Cadfael TV series which ran on PBS . . . But on audio, it sounds hollow . . .

Fans of Magnus Mills would enjoy this short collection of stories. Mills writes in simple, understated prose and has become famous for his dead-pan style that contains dry, dark humour.

Acorn Books are a fantastic independent publisher who specialise in (literally) small books. This short collection of stories from the award-winning Mills is not their finest volume but is a neat little book that is well worth a read.

I tend to keep a selection of their books in the guest room and many visitors have enjoyed dipping into them when they stay.

If you are a fan of Magnus Mills then this would be a nice addition to your collection. If you fancy checking out other books from this publisher then I recommend Snow by Maxence Fermine which is their finest.

Fans of Magnus Mills would enjoy this short collection of stories. Mills writes in simple, understated prose and has become famous for his dead-pan style that contains dry, dark humour.

Acorn Books are a fantastic independent publisher who specialise in (literally) small books. This short collection of stories from the award-winning Mills is not their finest volume but is a neat little book that is well worth a read.

I tend to keep a selection of their books in the guest room and many visitors have enjoyed dipping into them when they stay.

If you are a fan of Magnus Mills then I would suggest you try his other collection from Acorn - once in a blue moon - ahead of this one.

I have read dozens of WW2 German memoiers, but few as self serving as this one. It is simple to read and entertaining, but far from believeable. The romantic exploits seem over the top as does most of the authors adventures. The main charactor always took the easy way out by running away, or whining his way out of the situation. Bottom line a great premice but as the author states in the book, it is mixed fiction. If you are looking for war stories skip this one. Don't believe me, look at the authors review of his own book above!

Born On A Sunday is one of the best books I've ever read. It's not often you can read about someone that has served in both, the German and American, armies. I liked the description of his life during the time when Hitler was in power, aswell as his account when he was stationed at Hitler's headquarters during the war. His description of being a stowaway on a ship is something else. Good reading.
(...)

The area reviewed is one of the most beautiful in Wisconsin. However the book had no pictures. Maps would help orient one to where they actually are in the area. Descriptions of places ommitted important information. An example was the description of Hotel Chequamagon - the book ommitted the fact that this hotel is located right on the shores of Lake Superior. Price ranges for all lodging, eateries, etc. would be a help. There were no website addresses. With some updating this would be a much better reference for this lovely place.

As a product of the seminary system myself, albeit 15 years after our hero, I was stunned by the similarity of experience. Despite the passage of time, and the historic changes in the Catholic Church, the seminary system, with its petty rivalries and repressed sexuality, survives intact.
This book,although chronicling the passage through a very confused and destructive formation system, has deep flaws.
First, Jim Murphy, carrying around deep anger and resentment even after all these years (I can only hope he felt purged after writing this, otherwise it's very disturbing!) would have been far better to write an autobiography rather than pen this as "fiction". The transparency of the main character reveals Jim Murphy just below the surface. The interlaced journaling thoughts throughout the story are rife with anger and resentment that would be more appropriate for a private counseling session.
The conclusion of the story is disappointing. Murphy glosses over years of theology training in just a few pages, as if there were nothing there to really discuss as it wasn't powered along by anger.
Finally, the book is filled with misspellings and grammar errors (fax pas? The Beetles?). Whoever the editors were for these pages deserve to have their licenses revoked!
A fun, fairly quick read for former angry seminarians, and those wanting some glimpse of the origin of sexual abuse in the priesthood, but otherwise take a pass.