Hearts Books

I was looking for this book as I had given my copy away. Luckily, Amazon had it! It is a place that I can 'travel' that offers kindness and hope. Hearts on Fire fulfills me with the strength to stay fully present to others.

If you have an interest or backgorund in the spirtuality of St. Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Jesuits, you will find this book to be a rich treasure. From Ignatius himself, to Jesuits still serving today, you will discover wise and challenging prayers and poems, each pertaining to specific movements of the Spiritual Exercises. Additonally, appropriate scriptures are suggested for praying the Exercises. If you know nothing about Ignatius or the Jesuits, you will also find this a rich source of meaningful prayer and reflection. I regularly give these booklets as gifts to people seeking good resources for prayer. A special book in deed!

It opens your heart and your mind. It is at once intriging and delightful. Not a book to be read from cover to cover. But one to pick up and read and contemplate.

This was just as I had hoped it would be. I am very pleased with it.

It is seldom that I actually like a book of prayers, rarer still that I enthuse, and only once or twice ever would I actually rave about such a work to my friends. I don't normally think prayer books help; they are after all someone else's prayer and I see prayer as an intensely personal thing that cannot be attained 'second hand'.

Thats probably why, even before joining the Jesuits, I came to appreciate Ignatian Spirituality and the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius Loyola. For the Exercises [often called SpEx in shorthand by Ignatian retreat directors) are not prayers you say specifically but guidelines on how to do the prayer yourself. Even here, in Harter's book, this is clearly the purpose...

In effect, Harter brings us meditations on the four Weeks of the SpEx that clearly serve to aid us in our prayer. We read these meditations - from Ignatius, Xavier, Rahner, Teilhard,Hopkins et al - not for themselves [though the glorious quality of their language makes it aesthetically worthwhile even without praying]but for how they might ignite in our hearts (to use the title's metaphor) our own spiritual encounter with God.

Of course it is not the same as making the full Spiritual Exercises (30 days) or the SpEx in Daily Life (8 months to a year, with 1hour of prayer per day) or even doing an 8-day Ignatian retreat. Though it is certainly a book one could take on such retreats (as, in fact, I did recently). The beauty of this little book is that it can be used by pretty much anyone, anywhere. One hopes, as I am sure Fr Harter hopes, that it will also draw more people to encounter God through the Spiritual Exercises.

The Rita Mae Brown book, High Hearts was a thrilling read from cover to cover. It was a look back in time to a woman who goes to war, the Civil War as a man, so that she can be with her new husband. More than a romance, but with more substance than an adventure tale, I could read this book over and over. I never knew about the phenomenon this book was based on, but apparently, there were several women who did in fact, pass for men, in order to go to war. Not complicated, or hard to follow, this book is enjoyable with some thought provoking aspects as well.

One of the best written by Rita Mae Brown. Gives a different perspective on the Civil War. Should be more like it showing the losers side.I highly recommend this book. I have given it as gifts to friends.

This book is very unusual for Rita Mae Brown and I consider it her best work! It's all in one: A love story, a history book (American Civial War & Slavery), a feminist novel, funny, serious, ironic, and critical of society. The reader experiences the war through the eyes of captivating characters you just have to fall in love with!

There were uncounted women who cut their hair, lowered their voices and took up arms on both sides of The Civil War. Rita Mae Brown does a wonderful job crafting a fictional story using this truth as her premise. The characters are richly drawn (I actually preferred the evolution of Geneva's mother, Lutie, to Geneva herself), and the story layered and interesting.

Geneva can't bear to be away from her husband when he enlists as soon as the guns fire on Fort Sumter. She joins him as a soldier, and learns some unpleasant truths about him and about war. She finds that she has a talent for fighting and that she and her husband aren't as compatible as they might have been had they not rejected their "traditional" roles.

Rita Mae Brown's interesting Foreword and endnotes provide context and explanation for her literary choices, and greatly enrich the experience. I give this book four stars instead of five because at the end, there are several characters whose final stories are only alluded to, as in, "this happened, but that's a story for another day." I wanted to know what happened for these folks, and this abrupt ending felt like laziness, as if Miss Brown just didn't feel like writing any further. Unfortunate, as it left a bad taste after the novel had been so interesting up to that point.

One of the BEST BOOKS EVER WRITTEN!!!! Shared this with my 12 year old son and my spouse, my 8 year old daughter, I would like to introduce,soon an another positive female role model. A great book to even interest( and introduce) HOMOPHOBES who cannot be asked to view another great book, Rubyfruit Jungle.TRy the book... you will LOVE IT!!! Love, war, decision based on love and respect. I wore out 2 copies already. One of my top 5 for a desert island. Enjoy the book.

Children and I use this as a Music Curriculum of sorts & sometimes just listen to the CD to hear great hymns. Very Good for a gift, a must have in any home library.

This book is well written and very interesting to my children of a wide range of ages. The accompanying CD is of very good quality and fun to sing along with. My children look forward to doing a hymn study.

I have used this not only at home, but at school. The stories of the hymn writers are fascintating, and the children enjoy singing along with the cd. I've been amazed at the number of children who don't know My Country Tis of Thee. Each of the stories are short enough to be understood, but they always have a moral principal. Just a great resource for parents and Christian educators.

Great stories to help love the old hymns even more. The music is the only children's singing I haven't felt nauseated listening too! Tastefully done and enjoyable to share with our children.

Wow, what a treasure to have. It is great to have the story about the hymn, the music and a CD altogether in one place. I have enjoyed it as much as my children.

This was my first read of Catherine Palmer. Excellent!!! Good message and good adventure!!

I have read all four books in this series, and have to say that this is by far the best! I love the adventure, and how it never really let up. A great book! Clean, but a good romance too. Graeme is a studmuffin, and Tillie a great girl who seems to love adventure as much as I do!:)A must read for anyone sick of tired over-done plots, this one is definitely original! It was interesting to learn about the different cultures (a.k.a the Tuareg) and I loved that it was set in Africa. Also... Bachelor's Bargain by Catherine Palmer is great! Enjoy!

"A Kiss of Adventure" is an adventurous, passionate telling of a kidnapping, chase, and treasure hunt set in Africa. I was especially impressed with the realistic description of the dilemmas that accompany an attraction to a non-Christian. Thank you for a balanced, introspective book!

I must say that this is my favorite Catherine Palmer book to date. I've only read a few of her books, but I was very surprised and pleased with this one. Having grown up in Kenya (just as Catherine Palmer did), I definitely enjoyed all of the Africa facts and language--I got homesick just reading it! The plot was very interesting, though it was confusing at times, and I had to read certain parts twice to understand what was going on. The romance was wonderful, and the characters were written very well. I would definitely recommend this book, and I can't wait to read the other books in the series!

I bought this book with some doubts because I read some of the other books written by Catherine Palmer, and although I enjoyed them, they all had a little tone of soap opera at times that kind of bothered me. But from the beginning "A kiss of Adventure" proved me wrong! This is an excellent story! I couldn't stop reading...every page is filled with adventure and romance...romance and adventure...
Everything starts when Tillie is suddenly pulled into a Land Rover by the mysterious Graeme McLeod. From that point on, Tillie's life will change for ever. The race for the treasure of Timbuktu is on, and these two characters will have to go through deserts and crocodiles to solve a mystery that started two hundred years ago...
At the end, Tillie will find her real treasure...the treasure that was there all along but she couldn't understand...It's a great story...a great book...If you like heartfelt romance with a twist of adventure this is the book for you!
Enjoy!

very efficient delivery.
product in very good state.

This is the standard by which most other Cardiology board review texts are measured. This new version is not as readable in my opinion as its previous version. The whole reason I bought it was to avoid the Brunwauld-esque style, but alas I think this text book is becoming like the Braunwald text which certainly is not a review book. On the other hand, the ECG section in outline format was too bare bones. All in all, not the greatest review book in the world but not too many viable alternatives when trying to review for Cardiology Boards. I guess it's the only game in town.

I bought this book as a resident transitioning into a cardiology fellowship. The content is between a board review book and a more comprehensive text, i.e. Braunwald. It is an excellent resource for a focused, yet thorough, review of most cardiology topics.

Strenghts are that it is very readable, has key points emphasized in outline format throughout text, is sufficiently detailed to learn a topic relatively well, has pertinent cardiology trials integrated into the text, and a nice very focused key point review at the end for last minute board prep.

One con is that there are no references to journal articles for more detailed reading.

I would recommend this book to any resident wanting a good cardiogy text or for fellows in training. Also a nice review for practicing cardiologists.

Excellent resource book that is written clearly enough for people who are not necessarily medically trained. Reading the chapter on my own heart condition allowed me to have a great conversation with my cardiologist that went beyond the usual "this is what you have, take these pills, see me again in 6 months....". This book is great!

Very good review for Cardiology Boards. Not necessarily an easy read but the review books which are as such tend to be too simple. This is probably a good happy medium between the quickie review books and a Braunwald's

I don't think I can describe what this book did for me twenty years ago. At an age when I didn't have any clue who I was in this world, let alone what drove me to be passionate, I was given this book in the library by a wonderful teacher and was immediately hooked. Not only did I realize my love to read (and be involved in what I was reading), this amazing love for books, but I realized my love of words. I had never known, to that point, that just mere words put together in sentences could bring about the same emotion as everyday life. I remember crying when Colin was abandoned! I remember running in to my mother and telling her all about it - sobbing! I knew then, at twelve, that I wanted to be a writer. I, too, wanted to really invoke in someone the love of books. Today I am an up and coming childrens book author, something I've worked hard for over the last twenty years and I attribute my realized and fulfilled dream to this book.

After reading this, I had my son read it, and my friend's daughter read it. I think all teenagers should read this book.

I first read this book when I was ten years old. It was my introduction to the fastasy genre, as up until then, I'd read primarily The Babysitters Club and Sweet Valley High.

At the time, I thought Colin was whiny and annoying, but I fell in love with the world he was in. When I read it again a year later as a pre-teen, I related to his heartbreak. Again a year after that, I saw how important it was to keep trying, even when everyone else has given up and try to discourage you so that you can join in their misery.

Colin starts out as a self-centered whiny boy, learns to keep going when others say it's impossible, help those in need, when to fight back and when to run, how to love another, mend a broken heart, and keep sight of a goal. Each group of people that Colin runs into faces a different challenge emotionally... and he grows up as a result.

I loved this book as a child, teen, adult, and now as a parent who recently introduced it to my own nine year old. He loved it for the same reasons I did and insisted that we buy a copy for his school library.

"Everybody should read this one Mom, not just the kids who are already readers."

When I first read this at age sixteen it instantly became one of my favorite books of all time. Being young and dumb I didn't realize the incredible depth of the book and even thought the plot was poorly structured, yet I felt there were hidden meanings in it and it facinated me more than any other book I owned. As I age I find greater and deeper meaning in it any read it at least twice a year. I hope it goes back into print someday so other people can enjoy it :)

Like other reviewers, I also read this book for the first time at the age of about ten or eleven, and since then have read it six or seven times. I'm not sure if it's the adventure story aspect of the book or the allegory that keeps me coming back to re-read it year after year. Now 26, I still find something new in the book every time I read it (significance of the color of the fruit?). I doubt that any book that I've read (and I've read many) has stayed with me and given me as much insight as this simple children's book.

Very, very highly recommended for all ages, especially pre-teens and teens. If the prices being asked here are too high, check public libraries in your area.

My two year old son asks me to read this book several times a day. It is such a wonderful celebration of seasons and the loving bond between parent and child. It is pure poetry. The illustrations are beautiful and unique.

This book certainly expanded my three year old's vocabulary! She recently began creative dance and loves the book. You'll find her dancing around outside singing, "Galoshes-galumphing, Galoshes-galumphing, Galoshes-galumphing!" Lots of fun!

This book is wonderfully descriptive and takes the reader through a beautiful journey through the seasons. It also emphasizes the influence special people can have in our lives. Recommended for readers young and old.

This book is a treasure for all who love the melody of words, and the syncopation of the dance. It reads like a poem, and gives a joyous, yet subtly nostalgic, paen to the dance, and the love between a mother and a daughter. I bought it as a gift to the students I have who are dancers, to read to them, and to bring into the world of dance. It is truely a musical book!The scratched illustrations dance in their own right, too.

Nice art and poetry. It's one of our favorites. I love reading it to my children.

This was a great book...I loved it...wonderful character definition...plot twists...great ending...I wanted more!

What a wonderful story! One of the finesest books I've ever read! Can't wait to read the next one!

I really loved this book! Everyone should read it! I could not put it down, and only did when I had to. It is excellent. I can't wait until the next one.

Very Interesting...stayed up all night reading it...can't wait until the sequel!

"My Second Heart" is simply a great book! This is without question one of the finest books I have ever ead. I just couldn't put it dwon - I read it in only two days. The ending was very touching and left me waiting for the second book. Great job, Frank! We knew you had it in you!

I bought this game to suplement a Spades group I run. When we have 6 people, 2 have to sit out while the others play. So now with Wizard accomodating anywhere from 3 to 6, I can have everyone play, no matter how many people! We've had 18 playing - 12 at Spades, and 6 at Wizard. It's a lot of fun.

Wizard Deluxe Edition Card GameThis is a great game with no sure winners. It has become our favorite game for our RV group. It is easy but competitive. Probably good for kids but great for adults

This is a fun card game especially for families with older children (10 and up). It's a trump game that requires concentration and confidence, but not difficult like bridge.

This is a fun game. The strategy changes a lot based on the number of people playing. It is like Hearts, but less frustrating to those of us without much luck.

AS a family we have played this game many times. It's fun for ages 8-80. The rules are simple and easy to follow. One does not have to be a card shark to enjoy this and it works for any number of players from 3 to 6. I would highly recommend it for those who enjoy having family around the table.

Dr. Nathan Stotzfus' "Resistance of the Heart" is one of the most authentic studies of the persecution of Jews during W.W.II by the younger generation of American scholars. It reminds me of Toland's book on Hitler and the Nazi movement in its insistance on direct sources to come as close to the "reality" of history as possible.

Dr. Nathan Stotzfus' "Resistance of the Heart" is one of the most authentic studies of the persecution of Jews during W.W.II by the younger generation of American scholars. It reminds me of Toland's book on Hitler and the Nazi movement in its insistance on direct sources to come as close to the "reality" of history as possible and avoid the deplorable illusions of "Hindsight Histiography". See my review on Marchione's "Consensus".
Rainulf A. Stelzmann, Pofessor emeritus, Univ. of South Florida

Dr. Nathan Stotzfus' "Resistance of the Heart" is one of the most authentic studies of the persecution of Jews during W.W.II by the younger generation of American scholars. It reminds me of Toland's book on Hitler and the Nazi movement in its insistance on direct sources to come as close to the "reality" of history as possible and to avoid the deplorable illusions of "Hindsight Histiography". See my review on Marchione's "Consensus".
Rainulf A. Stelzmann, Pofessor emeritus, Univ. of South Florida

Dr. Nathan Stoltzfus' "Resistance of the Heart" is one of the most authentic studies of the persecution of Jews during W.W.II by the younger generation of American scholars. It reminds me of Toland's book on Hitler and the Nazi movement in its insistance on direct sources to come as close to the "reality" of history as possible and avoid the deplorable illusions of "Hindsight Histiography". See my review on Marchione's "Consensus".
Rainulf A. Stelzmann, Pofessor emeritus, Univ. of South Florida

Resistance of the Heart : Intermarriage and the Rosenstrasse Protest in Nazi Germany by Nathan Stoltzfus is a well written book about the unsuccessful attempt by the Nazi's to exterminate Jews who married Germans of the Christian faith. The fact that the attempt was unsuccessful and that the overwhelming majority of the intermarried Jews were never sent to the death camps and survived the war leaves one with a withering feeling of "what if."

The central thesis of the book is that Hitler and Goebbels worry about the reaction of the Christian spouses led them to refuse to forcibly remove the Jewish spouse. They instead resorted to social pressure to force a divorce, so that the Jewish spouse could then easily be sent to the death camps. The social pressure was unsuccessful not because it was not intense, but because the Nazi's failed to give sufficient consideration to the bond between the spouses and the German antipathy toward divorce.

A central part of the story focuses on the attempt to round up the intermarried Jews in Berlin for transport to the camps. After the round up, but before their transport, they were housed in a building on Rosenstrasse. When word of this got back to the Christian spouses they surrounded the building and refused to leave until their husband or wife was freed. Amazingly, the Nazi's who murdered millions of Jews, Poles, Gypsies and others let thier prisoners go free. Goebbels reasoned that it was better to not force a confrontation with Christian Germans.

What is clear is that the Nazis were extremely concerned about German public opinion and were willing even to ignore their plans for the final solution where it ran counter to the public opinion of even a small part of Germany's populace. The "what if" relates to what would have happened if the greater part of Germany populace had taken the lessons of the Rosenstrasse Protest and attempted to stop the final solution. Certainly the conventional wisdom that they would have been ignored, or worse, must be rethought. In fact, the Rosenstrasse Protest was not an isolated incident, and numerous successful protests altered Nazi behavior. If more Germans, or the Vatican, had learned this simple lesson maybe millions of person would not have perished in the gas chambers of the death camps. It certainly puts to rest the excuse that there was nothing that cold have been done.

The book is very well researched and written. It is well worth reading.