History Books

I purchased this for my 8 year old daughter as a birthday gift per her repeated requests. She already had Farmer Boy, and chose this as her next Little House CD. She and her 12 year old sister both love these. We've read Little House books as a family, but now they can listen over and over.

This is a good CD. Cherry Jones' performance is excellent, and the fiddle music adds a wonderful touch for those who wish they could have heard Pa's fiddle.

As for the story, who doesn't like Laura Ingalls Wilder's classic stories of pioneer life in America? She brings it to life like nothing I've ever read, and I read everything I can get my hands on about American History. Laura give us such a detailed picture of her family, Pa's leadership, Ma's gentle manners, their work ethic, life in the 1800's, old-fashioned morals, and so much more. If my kids listen to this over and over, I know they'll gain so much that TV or movies cannot begin to give them.

The Little House series are great read aloud books.

Our daughter is five and this series is perfectly age appropriate, even though an older child would enjoy them equally as well. For younger ones (three or so), there is a great picture book series called "My first little house books," or something like that. One of these is a story based of a chapter in this book and is called "Christmas in the Big Woods."

These CD's are great for long trips in the car. The narrator's voice is wonderful. The adults will find themselves enjoying listening themselves.

"One the Banks of Plum Creek" is the best of the series. It is the one where Mary and Laura go to school and where the character of Nellie Olson is introduced. Her brand of spoiled rotten meanness is nothing short of tantalizing to a five year old. Also, there are the wonderful Christmas chapters.

Just excellent, all around. I highly recommend the books to read alound and the CD's.

Whether you have read the Little House books or have never heard of them, this book on tape is wonderful for everyone from small children to adults. The narrator who reads it does an amazing job of capturing the childhood wonderment and emotions Laura was trying to convey. It is also so interesting to hear the way families lived back in the 1800's. I could listen to this book on tape over and over again.

Laura Ingalls is now eight-years-old, her sister Mary is nine, and Carrie is still just a tiny tot. While they are all still quite young, they are expected to help out with the chores around the house - from sweeping to dusting, cooking and setting the table. But this year, the girls are in a strange new place. Looking to settle in an area where a school and church are close by, and the Ingalls' have a chance to grow a wonderful crop that will provide quite a profit, the family heads to Walnut Grove, Minnesota. Traveling by covered wagon, the family, along with all of their belongings, travels all the way through Indian Territory, across Kansas, Missouri, and Iowa, stopping at their destination in Minnesota. There, they are surrounded by Norwegian's who speak very little English. However, they are good neighbors who assist them in times of trouble. Trading their horses for a home located under the ground, Laura's family begins to call Minnesota their home. And, before long, Pa has built a lovely home by the banks of Plum Creek. He believes that his wheat crop will provide enough funds to pay off their debts when the time comes. But when locusts invade in cloud-like swarms, eating everything in their sight, the family must endure hardships that were unexpected.

But things are not all bad. Having never attended school before, Laura and Mary are finally near enough a schoolhouse where they can attend daily lessons that help them develop reading, writing, and arithmetic skills. It is at this particular school where the two older Ingalls girls are exposed to children - both male and female - who are close to their age. Some of whom title Mary and Laura "country girls." But the label does not affect how the two sisters view themselves, or their family; and only gives them the courage to befriend various girls who love to spend time with them. It is at school, however, that Laura encounters the spoiled, yet oh-so-pretty, Nellie Oleson, who goes out of her way to give both Laura and Mary a hard time. But Laura isn't having any of it, and resolves to get even with the vicious Nellie, even if it upsets her Ma and Pa. Luckily, with Ms. Beadle - the schoolteacher - around, Laura and Mary have the confidence to stand up for themselves, and receive the education that their Ma always wanted them to have; while getting the socialization they deserve. But even attending school doesn't excuse them from having to assist their family when the going gets tough.

Up until last year, I had been a diehard fan of the LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE TV series, but had never had the opportunity to delve into the wonderful tales told by Laura Ingalls Wilder herself. Upon reading the introduction novel, LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE, I quickly fell in love with the Ingalls family all over again; and, since then, they have taken up residence in my heart, and kept me fascinated with the various adventures they experienced throughout their lives. Laura is such a lively, brave, fun-loving character; whose ambition, kindness, and, oft-times, naughtiness, make her appealing from start to finish. Her relationship with her family is hard to resist, as she manages to please and displease them on a daily basis, all to the jovial laughter of her father. I believe that Pa (Charles) is one of the most important characters in the series, as he is such a kind, loyal man; who rarely scolds, and spends his downtime entertaining his family with music from his fiddle, and stories that leave you chuckling. The family, as a whole, are the type of people you would absolutely love to have the chance to know. They are kind to strangers, helpful to neighbors, and both Ma and Pa are two of the most selfless people in literature. The information regarding Rocky Mountain locusts was both interesting, and frightening; but truly provides a wonderful history lesson for the young reader. While the introduction of the devilish Nellie Oleson provides quite a bit of humor, as she and Laura trade insults with one another at almost every meeting between the two. Ingalls did a marvelous job of penning such a cheerful addition to the series; and, thus far, ON THE BANKS OF PLUM CREEK has become my favorite LITTLE HOUSE book yet. A can't-miss addition to the series!

Erika Sorocco
Freelance Reviewer

ON THE BANKS OF PLUM CREEK -- Who could forget the plague of grasshoppers, or spoiled Nellie's encounter with the crab, or Pa's sojourn in the blizzard, among other adventures?

We -- my three homeschooled grandchildren and I -- are going through the Laura Ingalls Wilder series of books for the second time. We read them aloud during story time, and love every minute. These are books written about an American pioneer family in the 1800s with a strong moral compass. In an unsentimental style, the author writes simply of the day-to-day life she experienced firsthand growing up. As the title of this review suggests, a central theme, not only of this book, but the entire series, is that "Pa loves Ma, and Ma loves Pa, and all's right with the world," including in the face of all kinds of adversity and opportunity alike.

I enrich this time for my grandchildren by stopping occasionally to explain and discuss what we are reading about, be it an unusual word usage, a custom no longer practiced, how to do something by hand, historical facts... We have even stopped to do some research and measure out the height of a bear. Our family tradition is that the eldest grandchild (now 11) reads the last page of these books. Otherwise, I usually do the reading. We also try to get started right away on the next book in the series, the same day as we finish the one before, so as not to lose our momentum.

After going through the series the first time, we discovered (almost by accident at the local library) several other series of books, written by other authors, about Laura's great-grandmother Martha in Scotland, her grandmother Charlotte in Boston, and her mother Caroline in Wisconsin, so we decided to start over with the first of those books and carry on through. There is also a series about Laura's daughter Rose which we have not gotten to yet.

Reading through the other series in order has been time well invested. Like Laura, we have strong family roots in Scotland. We have four generations of our family living within close proximity, so my grandchildren know my father, their beloved great-grandfather, quite well, and this series helps them gain a feel of family and historical continuity, generation to generation. (Check for related book series under: Martha Years, Charlotte Years, Caroline Years, Rose Years).

I am investing in and building our own set of all these books in hardcover, having told my grandchildren that I plan to be around to read them to *their* grandchildren!

I absolutely LOVED this book when I had my saltwater tank. It was invaluable for selecting the right fish for my set up. (Great detail on behavior, aggressiveness, space needs, whether or not compatible with coral, feeding needs, etc.) And the pictures can NOT be beat! Now that I am doing freshwater, I am trying frantically to find a book that was even half as useful and I am somewhat hard pressed. This book is a must have in my opinion.

This is an excellent quick guide to help you learning more about salt water fishes. It not only helps you deciding what fishes you want next but is also a very helpful guide to carry when shopping for new fishes. You can easily identify fishes that you don't know, with a scale with 1 to 5 on how hard it is to have it at home and compatibility with other fishes and invertebrates.

The highlight of this book, in my opinion, is showing pictures of Angelfishes when they are both young and adults, as their pattern change completely.

This book is great for when you want all the basic facts on a potential fish tankmate right there at your fingertips. Quick to find what you need, and very to-the-point. Great handy guide.

If you have a salt water aquarium, this is the one book you must have.

If you need a quick, comprehensive marine fish reference book this is the one to get. It is small enough to bring with you to the fish store and get a quick rundown on behaviors, ease of keeping, etc.

If you ask the fish store about a fish, they are probably looking in this book for the answer.

Ratha's creature opens up a whole new world of cats. Long before the Warrior cat series, lived Ratha and her tribe. This book is full of adventure and suspense for any age. I couldn't put it down. Make sure to buy this one first and while you are at it, order the other three so you won't have to stop in the middle of this great adventure. If you love the Warrior Series you will love Ratha's Creature!

I am a cat person. I happen to believe that all cat people would enjoy this book, given they like a good infusion of adventure. Clare Bell brilliantly reimagines a prehistory where sentient cats are suggested as being the top species and a cat called Ratha dares to experiment fire. The writing here is top-notch and vivid with description that never gets too flowery. These are cats, but they are not cute and cuddly--think cousins of the saber-toothed cats. Bell gives their characters a wonderful blend of humanity and pure cat instinct. I don't know if I would consider this children's literature, but rather something anyone could read. Wonderful pick for any lover of fantasy adventure.

I have read many feline fantasies,but none of them touch this one.It is better than the Warriors books,and I think that older Warriors fans will love this book.The harsh landscape and the complicated,realistic characters are wonderful!A word of warning,though:this is not a cutsey kitty book.Ratha's Creature is a very deep,allegorical,and thought provoking book.Some of the raw,savage images(mating,wounding a cub,death by fire)may be too much for younger,sensitive readers.I would reccomend this book for mature teens who will be able to understand and enjoy this magnificent,powerful book.Well done,Clare Bell!!

The Named Series is a collection that has survived in the hearts of readers for decades, inspiring fanart, fanfiction, and more. Here is the book that started it all - Ratha's Creature, an epic, memorable tale of strife, forgiveness, and triumph. This novel resurrects an ancient world and delivers in full detail, the savage brutality endured by those of arcane laws, a code of claws and fangs - while thrusting into harsh, honest light, what it means to question and discover the meaning of 'Self Awareness'.
Lion King worshipers, Warriors devotees, Animal enthusiasts - you have not stalked the feline path, until you have unearthed these treasures.

For more information, copy and paste the following links:

Clare Bell's official domain:
www.rathascourage.com
For an exclusive look including fanart, fanfiction, and more visit Trails Of Conquest:
www.trailsofconquest.webs.com
For Named (Ratha) Series Cat Role Play (rp) stop by Into The Mist:
www.intothemistrp.webs.com

I am a huge cat fan and I can't believe that this book has existed for so long without my knowledge! I loved it from the very beginning and the story drew me in. I quickly ordered the other books to read. Any adventure or cat fan should read this book. If you do not love cats or do not have a fasination with animals you will soon. The book, while fictional is very realisitic and the characters are very wild and "animal-like." I cannot wait to read more. I genuinely feel the loss of one character in particular...sigh. Read this book! It is a great escape. Welcome to Ratha's world.

Right from the gitgo Ben Hamper's Rivethead grabs you with gritty gusto of passages such as the above; Hamper is an extraordinary writer about life for the ordinary guy... at least the ordinary guy who winds up as an automotive assembly-line worker for General Motors in Flint, Michigan--once considered the Automobile Capital of the World. The author is a natural shop rat, growing up in Flint, with an alcoholic mostly absentee father and a long-suffering, working-three-jobs mother trying to raise the family as practicing Catholics.

...

For my complete review of this book and for other book and movie
reviews, please visit my site [...]

Brian Wright
Copyright 2008

The endless monotony and idiot bosses drive anybody with an IQ above their shoe size to do something to kill the thought that, if they're lucky, they only have 30 more years of mind numbing drudgery to go before they can retire. I'm not saying alcohol abuse is the proper outlet, but it does seem to be the most common and most convenient. Good book, excellent portrayal of what exactly "blue collar America" does for a living.

Ben Hamper shares his life as a worker on the GM assembly line in Flint, MI. Bold, frank, honest and often hilarious. This book was recommended to me years ago and for some reason I never read it until now. Hamper chronicles a part of American history (manufacturing jobs) that seem to be going stateside or as Ross Perot once described in a quip about NAFTA, what's that whoosing noise? manufacturing jobs headed to Mexico. This is prose for the ages. Loved the book.

I didn't really like reading this book because I too work in a (once) major three Auto plant. I didn't feel that it properly portrayed some of the workers. It made it sound like all workers are like the author where they just really don't give a damn about anything except having a joking time on the job. It also made the workers sound like they were underachieving, undereducated, bottom of the barrel workers and I didn't care to have that stigma for all of us. I hold two bachelor degrees, like my job and take it serious!

I grew up with people like Ben Hamper in a place which was much like Flint. For the first couple years of my adult life, I did the kind of work he did. What he describes is the tail end of a lifestyle; the lifestyle of the shop rat. It's dirty, monotonous and smelly. Many of the people you work with are either below average in intelligence or in sanity. Drugs, booze and having no concept of "forethought" are fundamental parts of the culture. It's nihilism with a rivet gun. If you come from a place like that, chances are, your only way out is via a jail cell or a career in the military. Or, you could win a workmans comp suit. Which is presumably how Ben got out.

I miss rust-belt working class america. It's a hard life, and it doesn't have much in the way of rewards, but the people who make it up are genuine in ways that others are not: they have a lot of heart and spirit. Ben's book brought it all back in a great galloping rush of memories. If you've ever wondered what the factory working classes are, or at least were like (back when we had factories); read the book.

This is one of the best books I've read in a long time. It is a story of human spirit and triumph of good over evil. Very inspirational! Wonderful read.

This was one of the best books I ever read. The book was written so well. I wish more books were written about the Holocaust that were this good. 5 Stars!!!

Instead of buying Harry Potter we need more books like this. This was such a beautiful story of hope and courage, strength and determination. It tells history the way it was and I cannot tell you enough how this book touched my heart and my daughters heart. My daughter picked up the book and never put it down, she read the whole thing in 3 days. I could hear her giggle and laugh at some of the funny parts and I could see her tears in some of the sensitive heart moving parts. This book will capture you. Just beautiful
I wish they could make Sareen's story into a movie

God Bless

I read many books on the Holocaust and have always found inspiration and admiration for those people who have experienced such an appalling event and have managed to survive. But this book left me totally disturbed with the graphics given by this amazing woman, Sara Tuvel Bernstein, and I highly commend her for sharing her horrific ordeal.
I recommend everyone should read this book and maybe,just maybe, we will learn something from it... that war is futile, and all people are equal.

True life events .. so well told .. The story is riveting from beginning to end .. I wish I could feel that this will never happen again but I worry that it can and that it will.

This book does not only tell the history of art, at the same time, the history of architecture, since the two are so much interrelated. Therefore, as an architecture student, I recommend you guys to read this book to gain the knowledge of how art and architecture evolve throughout history.

This is a beautiful book with comprehensive text. It is written in common English that anyone should understand. I already have a copy I received as a gift and bought this copy for my grandaughter who will enter college this year to study Art History.

That may sound a bit strange, but this is a great book to take on the plane or train with you -- or even to the beach.

It is a compact volume (though about 1 1/2 inches thick). Because of this compact format the text is in front (thin paper) with the plates in back. Phaidon provides two ribbon bookmarks. That also means that it is easiest to read using both hands.

That said, Gombrich leads the reader along with a style somewhere between a conversation and a lecture -- more like what you might expect from a learned uncle or family friend. Pleasant delivery, but leaving you no doubts about the value of the information that is to be passed along.

There may even be an advantage to having the plates in the back. I found myself dwelling on them perhaps a little longer than if they had been in with the text -- and the text calling for my attention.

You can read this book in long sessions, or in little bits. It doesn't matter, because the information is always there, and in the case of this book, the journey itself is important.

Enjoy.

For somebody interested in art, a book with many pictures is easy to read and enjoy.

An excellent book in an easy to read formatt. My professor used it for my art history class. Beautirul illistrations. Highly recommended. Great reference book as well.

Having just finished "The Strongest Tribe", I'd suggest that every member of Congress be required to read it, as should most of the media. I don't expect that will happen but it should.

Thanks for a concise but readable summary and evaluation of how we got to where we are. Your last page, in particular, strikes me as a truth that no one speaks of in today's world.

I've recommended it when ever the subject of Iraq has come up in conversation.

Sincerely,


F Sullivan

I learned more about the Iraq war from this book than the last 6 years news broadcasts. Read it, and go thank a Vet.

I most heartily recommend this book for anyone who wants a balanced and critical analyis of why the immediate aftermath of the defeat of Iraq went so badly. The book relates how the Bush administration and its thoroughly incompetent administrators turned what could possibly have been a benign peace into a ruthless and violent insurgency. The book also relates how abominably the Iraqi people themselves can pull together with any measure of decency or competence. The author does not reserve all of his political criticisms to the Bush people. The democrats also come in for their fair share, some of it scathing. However the truly scorching political criticism is given to the totally ineffectual, corrupt, and venal Iraqi politicians. General Petraeus has co-authored a book on the surge. I recommend Mr. West's book instead since West pulls no punches and does not have a military career to protect. He thus portrays all of the fools and miscreants in a harsh light. Our own fighting troops come in for deserved and unrestrained praise. As an interesting aside. Our oversight of Iraq can be compared to the Army of occupation of Japan after World War II. In the latter instance, General MacArthur was literally the head of state and ruled absolutely. He was the total and complete sovereign and would simply over rule any of the perfidies of the Japanese politicians, and would blythly ignore or accept Washington directives as he saw fit. He also brooked no interference or dissent from the Pentagon or the press. Perhaps if we had had a wise and omnipotent ruler like General MacArthur who would have simply turned a deaf ear to the stupidities of the Bush people, or sent them packing, things would be much different.

Bing West provides an outstanding look at why Iraq was heading off of cliff and what it took to stabilize the country. His in depth writing covers a wide range of challenges facing the Unites States and Iraqi's. For me the book really hit home as to how much of an undertaking must occur to secure a few city blocks let alone an entire region. The honor and ferocity of how hard our armed forces have worked is a tremendous achievement. Take into conisderation the multiple times Mr. West has visited Iraq and you will gain an even deeper sense of appreciation and respect for his writing. Mr. West pulls no punches discussing our failures as well as our victories. It is tragic that the book ranks so low on Amazon's list.

I am a fan of Michael Yon and have written a review of his book Moment of Truth in Iraq: How a New 'Greatest Generation' of American Soldiers is Turning Defeat and Disaster into Victory and Hope. This book is quite similar in that Bing West is an old Marine in far better shape than I could be and has spent months with the troops beginning early in the war. His book goes beyond Yon's book in that he has a background of strategic thought going back to Vietnam and a book he wrote about that war. It is not better, just more complete and I recommend both. He is harsh in his criticism of the army in the early days of the war, as is Yon. Both believe Fallujah to have been a mistake. West is also very critical of President Bush and his failure to take control of overall strategy when it became apparent that the army was drifting and had lost the initiative. Both Yon and West are very critical of General Sanchez. West doesn't say so but hints at something I have been aware of; the Marines were far better prepared for this war than the army was. They have been training for COIN tactics for a decade. The book goes into almost mind numbing detail on units but will be very useful to families and veterans who will want that detail about their own service or that of loved ones. His last few chapters detail exactly how we won and why. He has harsh criticism for John Murtha and some of the other sunshine patriots in Congress. This will be the definitive book on Iraq for some time and is a classic. I have already passed it on to some Marine friends for their reading. I recommend it.

This book is perfect. The artwork of Ken Marschall is absolutely stunning. The text is so accurate. It is my favorite book on the Titanic to date.
Majestic, is the word that comes to my mind when I look at this book.
I savor each and every page.

I love it.

Amazon rocks!!

Product was of a decent price, arrived in a timely manner and in good condition. Overall, well pleased with transaction.

I have been interested in the Titanic story most of my life, and this still taught me things I did not know about it. The illustrations are beautifully done.

"Titanic An Illustrated History" is an excellent title for anyone who wants to know more about the Titanic from building the ship to the investigations into the sinking.

The book is around 225 pages, has numerous photographs and colorful illustrations, and contains around 12 chapters and focuses on the following main areas:

1. Inception and building the ship.
2. The maiden voyage and details of the sinking.
3. Evacuating the boat.
4. Rescue efforts and memorial services.
5. Investigations into the sinking.
6. Discovery the Titanic on the ocean floor several years later.
7. Some of the Titanic artifacts found during the discovery.

The narrative was smooth throughout the book and was very enjoyable to read. The book also served to dispel myths presented in the latest Titanic movie from Hollywood (1997?) that starred Leonard DiCaprio and others. In particular, while people of different social classes were pitted against one another in the struggle for survival in the movie, the book was full of examples of people who willingly sacrificed their lives so that others may live. While the movie was okay, Hollywood did seem to twist some of the facts. Thankfully, the book was more accurate.

Read and enjoy this great account of an unfortunate episode in maritime history. Recommended.

I have to agree with the previous review posted this is probably the best book ever published on the tragic Titanic. It is a beautifully illustrated history of the tragic liner from conception to her well documented demise and discovery in 1985. Ken Marshall's paintings bring the grand dame to life and also help to put into perspective the wreck as she was in 1994 when the book was first published. It is a must have for any Titanic enthusiase even if it is slightly outdated now.

If you want a gift for knitting friend, this is it. Good fun. A story on each page.

One of my best friends bought this book for me when my husband was very ill in the hospital. I'm a knitting addict and this book was not only hysterical, but really lifted my spirits! It's a book you can't wait to read & will make you smile and laugh! You feel like someone else really understands your world as a knitter! Hilarious! I just loved every page of it! Stephanie has amazing wit! You'll love this book - it's a must, must read for anyone who loves to knit, read and laugh!!

This author never ceases to enthrall me with her true life experiences as a knitter.
If you knit (at all) you will 'see yourself' in her observations too.
The only problem is I can't read the book. laugh and knit at the same time.
However all knitters should rest their hands periodically, and reading this book
and sipping a cup of coffee is my prescription for rest!

Stephanie Pearl-McPhee is not only a talented knitter but a gifted writer as well. I have 4 of her books and want to get them all eventually. It's great to have a knitter I can relate to. She has a super way of expressing herself. This is a gem of a book, and I recommend it, yes I do! Get it for yourself or for a friend who knits. I first read one of her books from the public library, then I was hooked. I usually read them in bed while my husband's sleeping, trying not to wake him, while I'm snickering away. I've even read parts of her books to him. After living with me (a knitter) for so long, he gets her humor too. Wonderful book.

This is a great little book... I decided to bend the corners of each quote that I liked. Needless to say, most of the pages have a little corner turned down. I recommed this book.

This is a beautiful book about Medieval Life and Castles. It is done in the pop up book form and very nicely too. The book has pop ups of the outside and inner rooms of the castle. I teach 6th grade ESOL so this is a great book as Medieval times is part of the curriculum.

I purchased this for my 4-year old as an accompaniment to the castle he's getting for christmas. I am astounded by the quality of this book; it's just like they used to make them. The popups of the castle and the knight are fantastic. The prize however belongs to the interactive pages where the child can pull on tabs to see the workers in the castle at work (hammering nails, weaving, etc), and see two knights jousting.

My son has several pop-up books but this one is the best by far. I am amazed at the quality and for the bargain price of $10 it just can't be beat. The description said that these books are essentially 'seconds' but I can't find any flaws anywhere. An overall excellent buy!

I ordered 7 of this pop-up books. One for my six year old and the others all served as great presents for his friends. I like to see the boys' expression when they opened the book and gave off a big "wow".
This book comes up with brilliant ideas, and is well crafted. It is both interesting and instructive. Thanks Amazon for this perfect product in a good price.

I bought this book for two of our grandsons who are 6 and 3 years old. The 3 year old loved the big colorful pop-up pages while the 6 year old loved learning about the story. I, myself, learned a great deal about the medieval days as well. The book is the right size, made well, and very educational. Makes a great gift!

I adore this book and honestly who knew pop up books could be so informative? This book was so much for me to read and great for my little cousin too. She's three years old and she likes to sit on my lap as we look through the pages. Theres even a little catapult inside where you can throw little pieces of paper across the room! (I'll admit I had a bit more fun at that) This book is really a piece of art that I plan to save for her so when she gets older I can give it to her :) that is after I get one for my own collection. Again a great book and an even more fabulous read.