Authors Books

Entertaining book for the whole family. Lessons in life and in the martial arts are finely inserted into the story.

What a joy to find a book that lays out a life philosophy in a story that is both engaging and emminently readable! Whether you are an adult or a youngster, this book helps you understand what it means to live up to a high ethical standard, and how to find "the way" of a martial artist to establish that standard.

Turns out that to live "the way" is not at all what is depicted in movies --- being able to jump high, kick and punch is not the final goal! The real goal is self knowledge, inner peace, gentleness, honor, respect ---- acquired through the physical training of martial arts.

Read this book, you will enjoy the story that helps you find "the way". Give it to your friends and family, make sure the youngsters read it!!

I am very fortunate to be a pupil of this great man for many years and have been also fortunate to of read his other two books and his recent Bachelors Thesis. I have trained in many styles by many greats including Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris. This book was very pleasant and surprised me because I thought I've heard all of Grand Masters stories. This book made it simple to understand and helpful for young and old. I now use it to help my teaching and as Grand Master says I also use his words to live life has we should.

This story covers a lot of ground. Everything from naive optimisim to serious life and death struggles.

While the lead charater is being put through many trials and challenges to survive the author manages to explain, very simply, of how everyone has it within themselves to find the strength and will to overcome any obstacle. through the physical and mental teachings of martial arts and applying these teachings and princples to ones daily life, ensures that you will have balance and the ability to persevere, even through lifes toughest challenges.

I have been a student of Grand Master Dong's for more than twelve years. The Grand Master never ceases to amaze me in the mount of energy and care that he puts into everything. I knew that he was working on a book and I waited patiently, not asking anyone about it so that it would be a total surprise to me. I was hoping for a "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" style book that explores the mystical side of the martial art. What he has delivered is something even better, because simple ideas and concepts result in big changes and advances.

I knew that it would be written on several levels; each appealing to a different age group or experience level. I saw it as a localized conflict (both between individuals and within the individuals) that you could place in any setting or with any age group. It is about people, and their emotions, prejudices, habits, and fears, all of which are hard to overcome. It is about discipline, goal setting and growing one's self to be bigger that what you are, showing others the respect that you would have them show you. With the correct guidance, each of us has what it takes to overcome insurmountable obstacles that we find going through life. The ideas and concepts in this book are elemental to a good life and better world.

Thank you Grand Master Dong

Word cannot begin to say how insightful this author is. And still speaking to us many years after his death.

Once again Andrew Murray gives excellent counsel for spiritual growth. Every believer needs help along the way and Absolute Surrender is a great tool to use as a springboard. The message is meaty and to be taken in with the intent of life transformation! As Jesus lived His life in absolute surrender to Father God, so must we, and this book points the way!

THIS IS THE MOST WONDERFUL BOOK I HAVE EVER FOUND OTHER THAN Andrew Murray,THE POWER OF Intercession. I suggest the whole world would Understand the Bible A whole lot clearer if they just read Andrew Murray Books. What A wonderful Evnagelist he was.

This book was truly insightful and should be used as a tool to assist all who strives to improve their Christian walk.

Right up there near Brother Lawrence's "The Practice of the Presence of God" (free online at the Practice Gods Presence web site) are the wonderful works of Andrew Murray. "Absolute Surrender" is a classic in every sense.

These gifted children of God have a way of restating, enlivening, and magnifying the very words of Our Lord and do greatly glorify Our Father.

Great, easy and riveting read with brilliant premise. Black Sea Affair draws attention to the potentially dangerous game of maritime terrorism, something that we apparently aren't all that equipped to deal with. Couldn't put the book down.

Don Brown's Black Sea Affair is a thrilling novel about a hydrogen bomb being built in the bowels of an ocean-going freighter loosed on the high seas. Can the U.S. Navy find it, track it, and stop it in the nick of time? Bonechilling, frightening, and highly entertaining!

Don Brown's Black Sea Affair is action, action and more action! From the start of the book to the end of it 320 pages later, Brown kept me up, kept me twisting and kept me unable to sleep because I couldn't put the darn book down. Great read!

Don Brown's Black Sea Affair gives him a breakout novel in the mold of Clancy or Baldacci. I love naval fiction, and this was perhaps the most tension-filled and action packed novel that I have ever read. Sub skipper Pete Miranda is a strong, yet complex hero in the tradition of Jack Ryan who voluntarily puts his life and his men on the line to try and avoid nuclear war. A great read!

Did you realize that the ports of the United States are virtually defenseless against some foreign ship sailing into port with a nuclear bomb in it's belly? Did you realize that the Navy and Coast Guard have virtually no way to stop it? I didn't either, until I read Don Brown's exhilarating novel Black Sea Affair. This novel exposes the bonechilling scenarios of rogue freighters at loose on the high sea with nuclear weapons being constructed on the inside. In the novel, a rogue Russian Freighter, financed by terrorists, is on the high seas with a hydrogen bomb in it's belly. Where will it wind up? Couldn't put this novel down!

Reading these essays which span more than two decades (early 50s to mid-70s), I am struck both by their craft and their antiquity. E.B. White wrote the book on writing, literally, with William Strunk; THE ELEMENTS OF STYLE remains the most useful and concise rule book for modern English exposition yet written, and White's CHARLOTTE'S WEB remains a childhood favorite for many. White was a master of the essay form, sparking a reader's interest in the subject at hand and cajoling further attention to the tangents and digressions which are an essayists stock in trade. He easily wends narratives which include broody geese, nuclear power stations, old dogs, oil tankers and mortality. His voice is plainspoken -- the viewpoint that of a person with deerhunters for neighbors, who enjoys the occasional venison steak, who roots for the deer in hunting season, and yet admits to shooting the foxes who kill his chickens. At the same time, his writing feels dated, rooted in an era when feelings were less admissible than ideas. His writing seems honest, but guarded, particularly after my recent immersion in Ann Lamott, a decidedly unguarded and modernist chronicler. Thus, I emerge from White's work impressed with his grace, language and fluidity, but disappointed in the gut. There are tales untold between these lines and I am left hungry. Old-school excellence, but aging fast.

What do you expect of tomorrow? "THE WORLD OF TOMORROW", perhaps the best known essay among his essay collactiond,"Essa of E.B. White". It contains thirty other essays organozed into seven sections.

The scene of "THE WORLD OF TOMORROW" is in New York in May 1939. White mentions "Tomorrow" remembering the World's Fair held there. The Fair's theme was also "THE WORLD OF TOMORROW", and there were the white ball and spire named the Tylon and Perisphere which were two landmark monumental buildings in the fair. Actually White had to visit there with a box of Kleenex...

At first, the road to the World's Fair is refered as the road to "Tomorrow". Through the street, he arrived at "the very threshold of Tomorrow". At the Fair, he made a few notes about what you may expext of tomorrow--In tomorrow, most sounds aren't these themselves, and we can't tallk back.

The New York World's Fair was filled with man's dream, and it's held 66 years ago! The more I read this book, the more I can be into White's world. His way to use metaphor is brilliant, and it makes me feel more comfortable. So, I really recommend you not only this essay but also his another collection.

I live on a small rural island in the Pacific Northwest, home to fewer than a thousand people in the winter, so I have a deep understanding of what E. B. White means when he writes: "Feeling ran so high that some people stopped speaking to each other--which is a form of discourse."

Lately, I felt the need for something calming in my life and, for the first time in years, I picked up a collection of E. B. White's essays. Reading him is like lighting a fire on a cold and windy evening. This man can write a sentence and create a sense of life as well as anyone I've ever read.

And no one ever wrote more heartfelt prose about barnyard geese.

This is such a marvelous book.

The sentences are simply perfect and the sense of wonder he creates makes this a text you will want to go back to over and over. A great gift for any literate person in your life.

Really great.

Twenty two of the essays appeared in THE NEW YORKER. White had candor. His piece on the death of his pig is masterful. He examined his own feelings and community reaction. The role of his dachshund, Fred, is described amusingly. It is no wonder White wrote so winningly for children.

In 1954 when he had no television he was looked upon as an eccentric. During Hurricane Edna radio worked people up to an incredible state of alarm. It seemed that no wick was available for the Whites' kerosene lamp. White has some gentle fun with mistakes of the exhausted radio announcers. Battered down was said instead of battened down, and unindated for inundated. There are two stages in the country of a storm. There is the period when phones and lights are still going, and then there is the stage when these cease to work. The storm itself did not seem long in comparison to the radio vigil.

He came to feel that living in New England in the winter was a full time job in itself. Another use of his time was having an enemy, the fox. Darkness was more insistent than the cold. Farming, even the kind pursued by the author, is infinitely complex. When the snow arrived early in 1971 White was cut short. The usual things were not done. It got so there was no place to put the snow after it was plowed.

In the city section of the essays it is noted that New York City bestows the gift of loneliness and privacy. In 1939 there were eight million people in the five boroughs. In Florida it appears that the sun and the lizard maintain the same schedule. The tiny spots of the fiddler crab's body enlarge during the daytime hours. To have a pointsettia plant at Christmastime in
Florida seems faintly ridiculous. Pointsettias bloom naturally in the yards. A small chameleon arrives with the Whites' tropical substitute for a Christmas tree much to Mrs. White's delight.

In 1923 the author kept a diary of his trip to Alaska. A ship, docking at Seattle, was to go on a journey for forty days. He had only forty dollars, enough to traverse the inner passage to Skagway, and so he went. The Buford, for some of the passengers, became a high class floating jail because although food and scenery were good, there was no escape. Youthful, White absorbed the vast scene of Alaska. This was a trip promoted by the Chamber of Commerce, but White's roommate was another odd man to the enterprise, a Laplander. He was a reindeer butcher, going to a job in Nome. When the boat reached Skagway White's ticket ran out. The captain came up with the idea of putting him on as a night saloonsman. His metamorphosis took the passengers by surprise.

WALDEN is not a well-liked book among White's acquaintances. Thoreau was torn by two desires, to enjoy the world and to set the world straight. He tended to write in sentences, and WALDEN is a collection of certified sentences. I have tried to give the prospective reader some notion of the enjoyment to be obtained from reading White's essays.

In this mosaic of stories, Lillian comes of age and matures beyond her years, almost against her will. With an alcoholic father and a fragile, flighty mother, Lillian, with her siblings, struggles with her troubled family, and yet they all fiercely love each other, flaws and all. While this isn't a conscious feeling, it does crackle beneath the surface and colors the actions of everyone. Lillian navigates a lonely path encompassing sexuality and a yearning to be free. With a crisp voice and a vivid portrait of Acorn Lake, Minnesota, "A Brief History of the Flood" waxes almost nostalgic as it nudges the reader through these various tales that deliver a surprising portrait of a family unbalanced.

The perfect choice for a book club looking for an undiscovered gem, this is a delightful read that is lean enough to consume in one sitting, or savor over a few days. It's a coming of age story told through the eyes of young Lillian Anderson, a girl growing up in the sixties in a small town in Minnesota. Chapters are short bursts of her life: her Mother's dramatic mood swings, her Father's alcoholism, first sexual experience, first job, first crush.All told with an honest intimacy that at times feels less like a novel, and more like someone's diary entries. Her heroine at times reminded me of Astrid in "White Oleander", and if that was a book you liked you'd probably enjoy this one as well. A well written, comfortable first novel.

This book literally found me (and I must say that I am really glad it did.) I am still unsure how this slim little gift of a novel made it into my hands, but according to the Amazon.com reciept, it is a gift from the author so I figured: What the hell, I'll read this and see what I think. So, I cracked open the cover and was wonderfully entertained right up until the end.

Lillian Anderson is a strong-minded, fiery, wise-beyond-her years-girl who tells the story of her family, her perpetually run-down house and her life in rural Acorn Lake, Minnesota. Lillian begins narrating the story at the age of eight and it continues virtually seamlessly, with Lily's steady hand on the pulse of her family until the age of nineteen. Lily's mother, Marion is a neurotic, manic depressive personality who always has some wierd project in the works. Jack, Lily's Dad, is an alcoholic but no one ever talks in such negative terms. Marion seems to be able to put a positive spin on everything that's wrong, even her husband's years of substance abuse. Oldest child, Randy, (age twelve when the book begins is the dyed-in-the-wool peacekeeper of the family. Mitzy, the middle daughter, seems to see her mother for what she really is and is very bitter about it. Mitzy has no trouble saying what's on her mind and even at ten years of age is tired of ignoring the pink elephant in the living room. I am amazed that Lilian seems to be the only sane one in the family and has learned, (certainly not through example) to take care of herself. She has learned to become a mother figure for the youngest, Davey who is too young to understand the extent of the chaos in the family.

I love coming of age stories and this one was a very good one. It reminded me very much of ELLEN FOSTER by Kaye Gibbons and AMY & ISABELLE by Elizabeth Strout. The writing and the imagery and the lanuage of A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE FLOOD were very high caliber. I will be watching for more from this author.

I wasn't bothered at all by the fact that this book was originally chopped up into several short stories. The stories came together so well and the novel made such an impact that I can't imagine it in any other form. Bravo to a wondeful new writer.

I concur with the opinions expressed by the other reviewers. I casually picked this book up at the library as part of a stack of summer reading. It's such a joy to start a book with no expectations whatsoever and be so tremendously satisfied. I am a bit puzzled, however, at the author's choice of the short story format. Why write a series of short stories and then package them together chronologically this way, so that the result is an "almost" novel? Because each story is meant to stand alone, there is some repetitiousness in certain descriptions of people and places--yet we are obviously intended to read them as a whole. I'd be interested to know whether the stories were written and/or published individually, and, if so, in what order they appeared. Are you out they Ms. Harfenist? Please enlighten us!

  A Brief History of the Flood is that rare book that can't be put down, and one you'll want to read again and again.  Like pieces in a jigsaw puzzle, each chapter fits together with a satisfying click to reveal an insightful picture of an unforgettable family of unique characters. Read the excerpt and I guarantee you'll be captivated by Harfenist's voice, wit, and the wisdom that comes with understanding how we all grow up survivors of imperfect families. If you liked Mary Karr's memoir, The Liars Club, you will love this book. It may be billed as fiction, but it has the unmistakable ring of truth. Ironically, A Brief History of the Flood turns out to be a life preserver--reminding each of us how our unique childhood journeys help determine our destination in the world, and how understanding the past can buoy us in the present.

The kids in my son's fifth grade class were all raving about this book, which was a miracle in itself, so I decided to read it for myself. I have to admit, I've been a big fan of Gina Gershon for a long time and it's hard to imagine her writing a kid's book. What a pleasant surprise! The book is well written, the story is clever, and the dialog is hysterical. The main character, Einstein P. Fleet, is a computer geek turned reluctant hero who faces the challenges of a monster theme camp run by aliens with a great sense of purpose and humor. My son has turned me on to a lot of new experiences --- reading Camp Creepy Time was one of them. Looking forward to the sequel.

Einstein P. Fleet has already logged hundreds of hours trying to blow the whistle on baddies. Through his popular blog, The Smoking Peashooter, Einstein manages to spread the word on all sorts of conspiracy theories, and he's even had a lawsuit pending against him since the fourth grade, all thanks to "The Wilson Incident."

Naturally, he questions his parents' motives for sending him to a remote summer camp for eight agonizing weeks, with no Internet access and a limited supply of Twinkies. From the moment he steps on the bus and sees every other camper in a monster costume, Einstein worries that perhaps this particular camp may be much more difficult to deal with than any normal one would be.

Unfortunately for him and his unsuspecting parents, his fears are well-founded...

Chock full of werewolves, vampires, mummies, giant spiders, and greedy mobster aliens, this book provides the same brand of entertainment as a classically cheesy monster film. Highly recommended for reluctant readers.

Reviewed by: Allison Fraclose

I got this book as a present and really had fun reading it. So much so, I ran out and bought 3 books, one for each of my nieces and nephews, ages 8-13. They loved it! We all had fun talking about the adventures of Einstein and his cohort. My 11-year-old niece really loved Roxie and has decided she wants to be an alien spy. I would recommend this book for anyone. We are all looking forward to the movie version to come out.

Every once in a while you come across a book that makes you laugh out loud. Camp Creepy Time is one of them. The main character, Einstein P. Fleet, is a lovable thirteen year old computer geek. You know, the kind of kid that rarely sees the light of day. His parents send him packing off to a monster theme camp smack dab in the middle of the Mojave Desert for the summer ---- which turns out to be merely a stop over on the way to being abducted and sold to an intergalactic monster zoo in another galaxy. The story mixes all types of elements from the science fiction genre and somehow manages to glue them into a cohesive, original plot. It's also funny and very well written, especially for a pair of first time authors. The book ends leaving the door open for a sequel, which I can't wait to read. I highly recommend this book to anyone with a sense of humor. You will be pleasantly surprised.

You simply can't go wrong with this wacky zany summer send-up. Einstein P. Fleet, a loner-nerd trapped at a hellish summer camp in the Mojave Desert, leads us through a wild storyline of escape, with monster costumes, vampires, werewolves and aliens all in the mix.

This fast-paced, well-written farce is a quick, irreverent, hilarious read for kids and adult-kids. Highly recommended. It's no surprise that Dreamworks has this story in script development....Can't wait for the movie!

this is a total "feel good" book - take a break from all that heavy reading and curl up with this - you will not regret it. Although I do not agree with her view on religion and Christianity I can see how some people may be misled to have such a negative view. Characters are created so we feel we know them - will read more of this author. This is my book club's pick this month.

I sometimes wonder why magical books like this have such a long incubation period. I was fortunate enough to come across a copy in an independent bookstore - Moonlight Books - in Pagosa Springs, CO. Since then, I have purchased several copies and given them as gifts and I keep one copy that I loan out and one copy that I never loan to anyone!

The text below comes from my blog:
... [This] book ... really caught my eye. I loved the title "Church of the Dog." The illustration on the front - just lept off the page! I even liked the feel of the purple paper just inside the cover. This book called me by my true name - I just didn't know it yet.

I began to read... and cry... and read... and cry... This is a love story told through the hearts of an average family. The family is just like yours or mine. Ancient secrets cast long shadows over them. Along comes a woman who enters into this family constellation. She is both the catalyst, the witness, and the container for the ensuing magic. Each of the characters - Mara and Edith, Earl and Daniel enter the container of transformation and are healed. Along the way, I too experienced great love - love of myself and my potential. This story, artfully and loving rendered, gave me hope and healed my heart.

Church of the Dog taught me that my heart could fully grieve my loss. Church of the Dog gave me imagery and metaphors for my pain. Later, the book would play an important role in the mending of my mother's broken heart.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I love healing stories. This is a magnificent story of hope, love, healing, and grace.

I have the privlege of knowing Kaya- I went to school with her. (I wish we still lived near each other, because I'd like to see her from time to time.) She was always one of my favorite people, because she had that nice combination of down-to-earthiness and idealistic-dreamer.

So when I heard that she'd written a book, it didn't surprise me one bit to discover that it was just a great little story and book!

Church of the Dog is an enjoyable book; you want to know how the story will turn out; it's well-structured, and leaves you thinking, happy, and satisfied that you'd read both a fun story and a true story. (The two aren't always the same, you know.)

Anyway, if you're thinking about it, I'd say grab a copy and read it. Odds are you'll enjoy it.

And Kaya... give me a buzz whenever you come to town. :)

In rural Northeast Oregon, Edith and Earl McRae have been married for decades, but over time they have drifted apart though they live together on their farm. Edith reflects back that the somewhat reticent Earl may have loved her, but probably never thought of her as a friend. However while shaving seventy-nine years old Earl nicks his neck; he places toilet paper on the cut only to discover a cyst just like his late dog Blue had. He assumes it is cancer.

Assuming the cyst is a warning sign that he will soon meet his maker, he is determined to do two things before he dies; he needs to regain what he believes he let slide; his ties to his wife and his estranged grandson Daniel, an Alaskan fisherman running away from home since his parents died years ago. Earl campaigns in person with Edith and by letter asking Daniel to come home to his grandpa's "land of success and failure". Mara O'Shaugnessy arrives in town as the new art teacher. She buys a pet, Harvey the Hog. Tim Grennan allows Mara and Harvey to reside on his family's ranch next door to the McRae farm Soon Mara's mischief brings happiness and chaos to all she meets especially her neighbors the McRaes. When Daniel returns, hr is worried about his grandpa dying, but instead he finds his grandparents happy; their catalyst Mara; but even she with her whimsy upbeat demeanor fears she will never reach the soul of the stoic sad fisherman.

This engaging inspirational relationship drama is an interesting tale that rotates points of view between Mara, Edith, Earl and Daniel. Thus the story line is obviously character driven starting with Mara who works her optimistic magic bringing joy to all she meets, especially the elderly McRae couple. Although somewhat stereotyped with its New Age wisdom, Kaya McLaren provides an inspiring story that says fills the cup up if you feel it is half empty.

Harriet Klausner

This is a very character-driven tale, with a hint of the supernatural. It focuses on four main characters: Earl, Edith, Daniel, and Mara. Earl and Edith are an older couple, living on their cattle ranch in Oregon, and Daniel is their grandson. Earl and Edith were going to have two children, but Edith had a miscarriage, following an accident, and their son, Sam, died in a tragic accident, with his wife, as a young adult, when their son, Daniel, was eight. Earl and Edith raised Daniel. Mara is a free-spirited art teacher, who is a bit adrift in life, but lands a job in the small town near Earl and Edith's homestead. Daniel, at the beginning of the book, has semi-disappeared, working as a fisherman in Alaska, for reasons that come out later in the story. By the end of the book, almost everything, and everyone, has changed.

Events occur in the story, but action is a minor aspect of this book. What is dominant is the relationships, the interactions, and the emotions of the characters. Not all four of those main characters will still be alive by the end of the tale, and the focus of the book is handling the changes that occur, and how crises can encourage people to grow, in maturity and perspective. In what is actually a small story, told in but 221 pages, is almost every aspect of the human condition. It is resplendent with the joy of living fully, with the premise that the richness of life is to be experienced fully in its every form, even when that includes tragedy.

The level of development of the characters is a big part of what makes this book as moving and powerful as it is. I know these people! That is how realistic they are, even with Mara's quirks. Oh, I did not mention her quirks, did I? Mara sees auras around people, travels in her lucid dreams, and has some very unconventional beliefs about the nature of life, healing, death, and the hereafter. At times, it was a bit more New Age than I am used to, and I was initially concerned that Mara's aura-seeing and ideas about healing might be dominant enough in the story to cost it its credibility, but that apprehension was quickly dispelled. While Mara's unorthodox beliefs and unusual abilities, or beliefs about her abilities, do continue throughout the story, they are actually not a major factor, but do come off as just an unusual aspect of an otherwise still very credible and likeable character.

The end result of the convergence of these rich, credible characters, is a story that might be the most emotionally powerful tale I have ever read. It covers the entire spectrum of human emotion, and in a manner that simultaneously pulls no punches yet never comes off as melodramatic or meant to push your buttons just for the sake of doing so.

Several strong opinions are voiced in this book. A strong argument for vegetarianism is made, but not in a way that offended this definitely omnivorous reader-reviewer. Organized religion also takes a pretty big hit, here, but not in a condemnatory or sanctimonious or sacrilegious way. Instead, the characters state objections to certain aspects of organized religion, and hypocrisy is condemned, but spirituality and morality and living according to a belief system are lauded.

As I said above, I ended up feeling that I knew the characters, and I am glad to have met them. This book is one of those books that, once one reads it, it is unlikely to ever be forgotten. While I am not sure that it changed any of my beliefs, it definitely inspired me to remember to relish every aspect of life, no matter how painful it might be, and to always strive to move forward toward a better way of dealing with people. Can one ask for more from a reading experience?

-- Chris McCallister, author of Coming Full Circle

One of my favorite books EVER, this is a tale of true love, seen in all its ugliness, honesty, and wonder. I keep it close to my heart. Give it a try, it could make how you see life and love much more rich.

I first read about this book in the paper a few years back, it sounded interresting, so I gave it a look. It was the very first book I had read cover to cover, I was 17 years old and very impatient with books. I am 19 years old now and I am on my 5th revisit to this brilliant life changing work. I cannot express how much this book means to me. I need only to read the first page and my eyes begin to tear. Read this book.

I read this book when it first came out in the early 80's and both my husband and I loved it. Selected it as my choice to discuss for monthly book group, and everyone else loved it as well. Hilarious, poignant, a great read.

When I read this book and reviewed it shortly afterward, I don't think I gave it fair due. As time goes on and I think back to this book I love it more and more.

This is the story of Felicity and Sonny.....life-long lovers with a turbulent and sometimes downright heartbreaking relationship. Felicity, 20 years Sonny's senior, is brazen and even loopy at times. She lends a great deal of humor to the story as well as veiled sadness.

Sonny, on the other hand is a huge jerk throughout most of the story as he becomes more and more bitter and jaded. Felicity seems to be the only spark left in his life...a spark which he almost puts out.

Running parallel to the story of Sonny and Felicity is the tale of Gravelda and Genipur. They are two rather primitive tribal people who are hauntingly similar to their modern-day counterparts. It's a story that Felicity tells to Sonny in chunks over the years as their meetings become fewer and farther between. The story allows Felicity to quietly vent her feelings about her relationship with Sonny.

This is a book that, even if you become a little dazed about in the process of reading, will stick to you long after you've read the last page. Far be it from me to withold credit where credit is due....and I must admit, this book is a jewel.

A haunting, beautiful love story, with one of the most heart-wrenching last paragraphs I've ever read in a book. there is a genuine magic in this tale. sonny has much to learn from felicity, but he's stubborn, clueless, and thinks he has all the answers, like many of us when we're young, and the lessons he learns from her take years to absorb. and in any tale of love and regret he really learns them too late. felicity's parable is a delight, but lost on sonny. sometimes we don't realize how good we have it, until it's gone. sentimental, but not overly so. this is a book to be treasured, and read again and again. I can hear "as time goes by" playing as I read this book. it seems so appropriate.

This book is an outstanding resource for readers who devour mysteries. Heising's multiple ways of listing books (geographical, by profession, etc.) provides a wealth of information for the reader who is always on the lookout for a new author. I just wish there was a new edition! I wouldn't part with this one, though. It's always a good way to start on a new author.

This reference work is invaluable in finding mystery series by woman up to 1999 or so, when I bought my copy. However, it is now very much out-of-date and of little use on newer series/authors/titles. I keep checking to see if there's a Detecting Women 4, and can still hope, but possibly this one is the end of the line. What a shame!

This is a wonderful tool to keep track of all those mystery books on your shelves. This book offers a comprehensive listing of women's fiction mysteries. Books are listed by author and title. It is great way to see the order of books written in a series. There is also a check list where you can check off the book once you purchase it, and then check it after you read it. I like to make notations next to the books once I finish the book. Books that have been nominated or received awards are designated with a star by the title.

Watching the Detectives
How far has Sue Grafton gotten in her alphabet mystery series? What's the first book in Patricia Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta series? Who are writing books featuring bed & breakfasts?

As those who love reading mystery series know, it's difficult to keep track of the hundreds of writers past and present who have contributed to the mystery genre, which is why reading sleuths will love "Detecting Women," a guidebook to the distaff side of mysteries.

This handsome, large paper bound book lists more than 600 series and 3,400 books written by women. Each entry contains a biographical introduction with the title and year of each book, and notes if the book has been nominated for any awards. Editor Wiletta Heising has done an exceptional job of breaking down the information, providing extensive lists that break down series by year, occupation, geographic location and even pseudonym.

The brief biographies are gold mines of fascinating information that invites lengthy browsing. Here is where you can learn that Grafton's fictional P.I. Kinsey Millhone will celebrate her 40th birthday once "`Z' is for Zero" appears in 2009 (when Grafton will be 69); that Agatha Christie wrote 35 novels featuring Hercule Poirot, and 12 about Jane Marple; and that the largely forgotten Anne Katherine Green is considered the "mother of the detective story," and was a best-selling author nine years before Arthur Conan Doyle put pen to paper.

Purple Moon also publishes a pocket guide to help mystery fans track of their favorite series, and comes with a notepad useful for noting suspects, clues, and books desired. "Detecting Women" provides a welcome overview of the rapidly expanding mystery field, and can reintroduce readers to now-forgotten and obscure writers. It is nothing less than required, fascinating reading for mystery fans.

How many times have you discovered a new author and tried to unravel the sequence of the series? Publishers sometimes list previous books - provided they published those previous books. Or the author's work is neatly cited in alphabetical order. Great if you've picked up Sue Grafton, not so good if the author is Martha Grimes. Or only the books still in print appear.

I edit two mystery newsletters, one for a general bookstore. My readers want to know series order. Short of tracking all the mystery writers yourself (good luck!), DETECTING WOMEN-3rd Ed. is the very best thing. Willetta Heising also includes bibliographies to catch the fancy of the most fanatic fan - settings, characters, types, historical venue, pseudonyms, and award nominees/winners. The master list even has blank spaces to accommodate future titles.

There has never been a more comprehensive listing. I wouldn't/couldn't prepare a newsletter without it. This is definitely a keeper -- until DETECTING WOMEN 4 comes along!

I already read this book a few years ago, and like the other people above said, it`s an incredible history you can't not put down the book once you started reading, because you get involve into it. Personally I recommended, I was thinking to read it again...

A traves de este libro asombroso, Saramago pretende explicar que pasaria si a los seres humanos se les robaran la vista, una de las cosas que nosotros como seres humanos muchas veces damos por sentada. Una de las novelas mas humanas que he leido, los personajes al enfrentar la ceguera, llegan a ser meros animales, presos a las privaciones que surgen bajo la cruel perdida de la vista.

I read José Saramago's 'The Cave' about a year ago, and it is currently the best book I have ever read. Saramago's aptitude at illustrating human nature at its very worst is unsurpassed elsewhere. Also, his interesting, unconventional grammatical style (free of commaz, quotation marks, etc.), which is also found in his other books (Saramago is my favorite author, along with Pat O'Shea), is very interesting. He taught me that, in a way, grammatical symbolz can hold back a reader's experience by making them lazy, guiding them from sentence to sentence. His style forcez the reader to really think about what they just read, which is something I sometimez have trouble with when I'm putting alot of thought into any one part of a book.
Another great thing about Saramago's general style is how he truly makes it feel like a first-person experience. I remember when I first read the book that during and until about a month after finishing it I felt a need to feel my way through the house. I actually became physically more aware of my environment to this day, when I can memorize distance and I believe that the depth of the book caused me to gain much greater peripheral vision.
All-in-all, this novel is a tremendous read, and I recommend it to anyone literate in any language, as Saramago's literature is heavily-translated.

No creo que pueda decir nada que ya no se haya dicho sobre la trama de este libro, solo puedo agregar que apenas lei la primera pagina me enganche, y no pude soltarlo hasta terminar de leerlo. Ensayo sobre la ceguera es el primer libro de una trilogia, "involuntaria", de Saramago, y ya estoy esperando con ansia poder leer "Todos los Nombres" y "La Caverna", los otros dos titulos de esta trilogia. Saramago es un genio, que continua emocionandome, conmocionandome y ensenandome el lado obscuro de la naturaleza humana. En este libro Saramago hace una especie de denuncia de la desensibilizacion a la que hemos llegado los seres humanos, eso si, una denuncia escrita muy inteligentemente, con una sabiduria enorme y sobre todo con una humildad infinita. El estilo de Saramago obliga al lector a leer pausadamente, y a refleccionar sobre la profundidad de sus argumentos. Una fuerte critica social que no deja de sorprenderme.

Como uno a uno en el pueblo (sin nombre....) se fueron quedando ciegos debido a la plaga blanca.. el gobierno asustado por el contagio los mando de "internados" a unas instalaciones nada agradables para la vida cotidiana, poco a poco se fue llenado de ciegos, como empieza a hacer falta desde la comida hasta la misma agua...
que tanto tuvieron que dar algunos para recibir la comida, el precio de los otros por haberla cobrado, estrujante y maravilloso!