Journals Books

I highly recommend this book, and I'm a cop. Which basically means I'm not that bright, and even I could comprehend this book.

Asimov is easy to read and understand. He takes complicated issues, and simplifies them. He possess a brilliant mind, and views the world from a different perspective than most other humans. As I read this collection of essays, I found myself time and time again saying, "that's so true, why didn't I think of that". It's an enlightening book, a good read, and it's cheap.

I highly recommend it.

In agreement with the rest of the reviews to date, Asimov is very good at showing people how creative thinking and logical reasoning can be applied to various topics. This man has had a large influence in my life through his books on science fiction, and science facts. He was wiser than most, and very skilled at teaching.
He was an atheist however, and so some of his viewpoints especially in the first part of this book, could rub a religious person the wrong way. It does no harm to hear another's viewpoint however, if not to learn something new, then to at least bolster up why you feel differently about certain issue's. His book covers many different subjects, and so if you enjoy reading and flexing your mental muscle by having your mind rove about on different topics, then you are sure to find many of his essays, very interesting.

Isaac Asimov was probably the best person ever to write science fiction. He was also one of the best people to ever write science fact. His death in 1992 was a great loss to the world.

This book provides a good look into how Isaac Asimov thought about various issues. With all the problems in the world, the views of Asimov might help to make the world a bit more logical place if we pay attention to him.

No intelligent person needs to be told (surely?) that Isaac Asimov's name on a book is a guarantee of excellence. And most are aware that Asimov's science essays (62 in this collection) cover the multitude and variety of subjects that Robert Heinlein had in mind when he coined the word "synthesist." So instead of trying to gild fine gold or paint the lily, I will simply reproduce Asimov's words on three of the issues he discusses.
On religious doublethink: "If there is an earthquake and a thousand people die, and one person is uncovered in a ruined house, unhurt, the Moral Majority types cry, 'A miracle!' and fall to their knees in gratitude. And the thousand who died, whose deaths, indeed, were necessary to convert the one surviver into a miracle, what of them?"
On overpopulation: "Motherhood is a privilege that we must literally ration, for children, if produced indiscriminately, will be the death of the human race; and any woman who deliberately has more than two children is committing a crime against humanity."
On skepticism: "I believe evidence. I believe observation, measurement and reasoning, confirmed by independent observers. I'll believe anything, no matter how wild or ridiculous, if there is evidence for it. The wilder and more ridiculous something is, however, the firmer and more solid the evidence will have to be."
Other topics to which Asimov devotes essays include resurrected gods, creationism's demand to be taught in public schools, argument from consensus, scientific illiteracy in politics, sexual equality, pollution, and hyperspace ("There is no evidence for its existence").
Want to encourage your offspring to pursue a career in science? Buy them this book.
(see my unabridged review in A Humanist in the Bible Belt.)

The late Dr. Asimov's clear wit and wisdom is taken to bear here on fools and the future. He begins by excoriating "Religious Radicals," in harsh liberal prose that seems rather outdated today. (For instance, there is a chapter called "The Reagan Doctrine" that pokes fun at tactics Ronald Reagan used in battling the Soviet empire.) Other chapters are also dated, including several chapters on environmental predictions that are informed by distinctly Malthusian notions of supply shortages. (To wit, "And in the mad scramble for food on your part and on the part of billions of others, the people of eath will further damage the world they live in and will begin to fight each other over scraps.") Still, Asimov writes lucidly on science in a number of historical and opinion pieces, which are carefully reasoned. Five essays at the book's end give perspective to the late thinker's personal life, and a number of inserted memorials (new to this edition) from other prominent scientists and science fiction authors really round out a book that shows Asimov's incomparable breadth of interest. The "Roving Mind" of the title is Asimov's own intellect; any thoughtful reader will find his own mind broadened for having read it.

Although these are old photographs they stand side by side with any of today's photographers. The youthful men in these pictures are filled with optimism that only youth has. As they sailed the world and posed to remember their adventures and friendships. This is a magnificent collection of subtly erotic and above all stunning pictures. It easily shames all the trite beefcake stuff that is being produced at the moment.

In Sailor: Vintage Photos Of A Masculine Icon, Kevin Bentley has compiled more than 150 authentic and visually stunning period photographs of the sailor. In doing so he showcases the mystery, adventure, camaraderie, exuberance, and romantic allure of the young men who sailed the seas as work and at play. Sailor is a highly recommended collection for students of photography and a nostalgic tour-de-force for anyone who has every traveled the world aboard a naval ship with their friends and comrades.

The scope of this collection is stunning, it almost made me consider joining the Navy! These beautiful young men joined together in true affection is a must have for anyone who appreciates male photography.

It's really interesting to look at old photographs and imagine times gone by, what it was like to live at that time, and what the people in the photos were really like. Sailor has gathered together in one book over 150 never-before published snapshots of sailors and portraits spanning over a century of time. If you ever dreamed of being a sailor you will find these photos fascinating. The youthful men, the masculine exuberance, & companionship shown in these black & white and sepia-tone snapshots are a peak into a sailor's real life. If we could only stay as youthful and handsome all our lives as these photos show, how wonderful that would be.

So if you're a lover of old photos, or a serious collector, or if you just enjoy looking at men in uniform, you will enjoy this book. I felt like I was looking through an older friends personal photo album. Kevin Bentley did a wonderful job in gathering together these old anonymous photos, and the book design by J. White is perfect. I really enjoyed this collection of photos.

This is a gorgeous book! It's a thoughtful and stunning collection of vintage photos that will appeal to all those interested in sailors and those obsessed with collecting compelling historical photos. I've collected vintage photos for years, and SAILOR reminds me of the importance of finding, saving, and sharing such artifacts. A really wonderful book that I'm sure I'll give as a gift for years to come.

I bought this for my daughter's birthday and she was quite pleased with it. It's a very high quality sketch book for a very nice price. Will definitely purchase another

This sketchbook has an excellent, sturdy binding. The picture doesn't show it, but the book's white, spiral binding is exposed on the spine. This certainly isn't a flaw, I was just surprised it didn't look exactly like the photo. It is too large and heavy to carry around all the time, but it is fine for working at home. I am confident that it will protect my work from getting damaged on the shelf. So far, the pages have proven sturdy enough for collage and the few other slightly wet media I've tried. Overall, I recommend this product if you want to treat yourself to a hardbound sketchbook.

Well bound - no sticky wires to scratch or snag when you fold it flat. Works well as a sketch book, but offers the space for notes, journaling, illustrations, clippings, photos, and scrapbook work. Will buy again when this one is full!

I got this to use as a casual scrapbook for magazine clippings, and I LOVE it. It is also a very nice sketchbook, but works well for my purposes.

I bought these for my daughter who is really into drawing right now. Her papers were everywhere so I bought her some of these books. They are great quality, lots of pages and not that exspensive. I would also like her to be able to hang on to her drawings and watch her progress instead of having bits of papers here and there.

I bought this on the recommendation of the first reviewer and I'm so glad I did. My 8 year-old loved it. When I told him it was about a boy named Alex who has an annoying little brother and likes to invent things, he agreed to pick it up. But the story kept him hooked and I soon noticed him scribbling in a little notebook his own inventions and asking for cardboard boxes. And he asked for the second book. That's quite an achievement.

So, Mr. Asch, please keep them coming!

Alex got 10 boxes of cardbord. He started to build a star jumper. then he went into the atic and got himself a space suit. then he got into his sta-r jumper and blasted off!

I like this book because it was about space. I would recommend this book to a 7 year old who is an advanced reader. Anyone who is interested in science and space will like this book. review written by a 7 year old boy

After reading this book, you'll want to go buy a roll of duct tape and get a few boxes. Young genius Alex can tackle any challenge with a little cardboard and that famous tape. A lively story of two brothers: One genius, the other obnoxious. Or is he? Big brother Alex, a math whiz kid, will soon remove himself from the dread of little brother Jonathan, as his Star Jumper spaceship leaps him to another corner of the galaxy. But Jonathan has ideas of his own, and reveals HIS inventive side.

I am a teacher who thought my boys book club for 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders would like "Star Jumper". They loved the book from page 1, even the boys who are usually reluctant readers!!! Their parents commented on how eagerly their children read this book. By the way, we were inspired to build our own cardboard spaceship. A real winner!!

Today I read Star Jumper: Journal of a Cardboard Genius, by Frank Asch. This is a quick and accessible read, which I would put at about a third grade reading level. Alternatively, it could suit older reluctant readers, especially boys.

The book is about a boy named Alex who has a keen interest in scientific invention, a healthy ego, and a pesky six-year-old brother named Jonathan. In order to get away from Jonathan, the bane of his existence, Alex decides to build a spaceship out of cardboard boxes, and travel across the universe. Using odds and ends from around his house, he invents all of the necessary trappings for space travel: the ship, the space suit, the oxygen generator, the atom slider, and the micro blaster (you'll have to read the book for the details). But before Alex can leave town (yes, the spaceship really does fly), Jonathan reveals his own capacity for invention, and throws a wrench into the works.

I think that this book will have considerable appeal for young boys, thanks to the details of the spaceship and the other inventions. I think that for boys who have annoying younger brothers, the book may be irresistible. The sibling rivalry is realistically depicted, as are the caring psychologist parents. I personally found Alex's ego a bit off-putting (he keeps going on about what a genius he is), but I think that the book's target audience will be able to relate to this.

What I love about this book are the illustrations. This is a chapter book, but scattered throughout the text are small black and white illustrations, drawings from Alex's journal. My favorite is a map of the universe, labeled "me" at one end, and "Jonathan" at the other end. Anyone who has ever had a younger sibling will immediately relate to this drawing. There's also a drawing of Jonathan as a baby, saying his first words: "I'll tell Mom". Oh, the joy of younger brothers!

As you might expect in a children's book that addresses sibling rivalry, the book does conclude with some resolution of the conflict between Alex and Jonathan. But it's far from heavy handed, and seemed to me realistic rather than overdone.

So, if you have a child who is fascinated by space travel, or who likes to invent things from ordinary household objects, or who is driven to distraction by a younger sibling, you should give Star Jumper: Journal of a Cardboard Genius a try. You won't regret it.

Weighing in at a mere 131 pages, Douglas Bauer's book is the Cassius Clay of my craft shelf. And though I am tempted to take this boxing metaphor farther, tempted to say things like, "it floats like a butterfly stings like a bee", and draw parallels between its eight chapters and the eight fast rounds Ali went with Sonny Liston in 65', I'll check myself and simply note the elements of the book that I found most helpful.



The language is so wonderfully straight forward and the examples so clear that I used the chapter on dialogue with a group of high level 8th graders who are working with me on an independent study. We were able to have a wonderful conversation about "TV Dialogue" and how we can best to avoid it in our writing. They were quick to point out how rampant this sort of mundane dialogue is in adolescent and young adult fiction.



Along with clear language, the chapters in Bauer's book are concise. Despite their brevity they draw on a wide range of other craft books and essays. In the dialogue chapter, Brauer mentions Dillard's "Notes for Young Writers." A few of my young writers became curious about Dillard and her work. They expressed an interest in this book, and if I wasn't so personally biased against Dillard's other essays I might have taken it on myself.



This anecdote points to the fact that Brauer does not shy away from the words of others on the subject of craft. To the contrary, this book excels at pairing down those words to essential ideas. He draws from Booth's "The Rhetoric of Fiction" and E.M. Foster's "Aspects of the Novel." He quotes from Gardner's "The Art of Fiction" and Joy William's "Why I Write." I am sure that there are others that he mentions, but those are the ones that I personally underlined in the text.



The two most useful chapters for me, the chapters that answered questions I have long harbored concerning fiction, were chapters 5 and 6. These two chapters examine the issues of what Bauer calls "High Points" and "Sentiment versus Sentimentality."



I especially liked his treatment in the chapter, "High Points," of television violence, "the sort of violence with no accompanying long-lasting emotional consequences." It in some ways resembles television dialogue in that it draws the reader's attention to something that has no real importance to the characters or the story. It is interesting to me, as somebody who has not lived in a house with a television for over a decade, to see how television affects the way people write. I also cannot help but to think that it also changes the general public's expectations of stories.



The chapter on sentiment versus sentimentality, cleared up very nicely the differences between the two. I had always thought of sentimentality as something I could recognize, but nothing I could clearly define. I believe Bauer makes a comparison to pornography--we know it when we see it. But he does not stop there; he gives clear examples of how sentimentality can be avoided and points the reader in the direction of people who define this boundary.



"The Stuff of Fiction" is not the end all and be all of craft books. But it is for me at this point one of the most valuable books on craft I have read. It is a book I can draw from as I teach my students about some of the elements of fiction. It is a book that answered some fundamental questions I have had for some years now. Lastly, it is a book that points the reader in the right directions, bringing into view not only some of the great writers and storytellers of the West, but also the great works by others on craft.

This book picks some of the finer points of story/novel writing and analyzes them with great elegance and insight. It does so in light of specific in-depth examples. For instance, on the issue of pinpointing exactly where to end a story, it discusses alternative stopping points and the emotional impact they are likely to have on the reader. What you learn is inspiring but also eminently practical, both in the narrow and broad senses. It is not as comprehensive as "The Art of Fiction" by John Gardner or "Getting the Words Right" by Theodore Rees Cheney. It is, however, just as inspiring and satisfying.

What a beautiful book! I can't remember when I've read such an eloquent work about the craft of writing, making me wonder why any of us pay any attention to advice about writing which arrives in less artful form ("the long half-life of sorrow" is one of the many well-turned phrases which clings to memory). This essay collection (nonfiction writers have as much to gain as fiction writers from reading the book) is elegant, compelling, succinct, and breathtakingly clear without being condescending. The author (who also writes gorgeous fiction) covers all of the most important aspects of craft--openings, dialogue, character, high events (dramatic moments), sentiment vs. sentimentality, and closings, and includes advice from the best of the other writing "gurus" and wonderful passages of first-rate literature to illustrate points made. The Stuff of Fiction is truly a book for writers at all levels. I felt an immediate need to underline when I began reading; the book made me seriously re-think a novel on which I'm currently working. What more could a writer ask.

If you want to understand more about how a good piece of realistic fiction is put together, read this book. It provides both rules and the wisdom to make it clear that if a writer is on the right track, he or she can go ahead and break those rules.

*The Stuff of Fiction* explains to ordinary readers what has gone wrong when a book suddenly turns unsatisfying (for example, when it doesn't know when to end), the book gives new writers a set of guidelines to keep in the back of their heads while they are slaving away, a kind of frame to check the day's work against, and the book offers experienced writers a welcome articulation of the things they have been trying to do since they began this strange line of work.

The book explains how to start a story (maybe at the beginning, maybe not), how to write dialogue that doesn't thud or crawl on the page, how to create characters with mixed blessings and curses (like a human being in other words), how to give drama its necessary subtlety, how to create sentiment not sentimentality (a discourse on how to write with taste, which is kind of like explaining how to play jazz, but amazingly it really works), and how to end a story. Bauer uses examples effectively--taking apart work from Denis Johnson, Toni Morrison, Alice Munro, and yes Wm. Shakespeare--and writes directly but also elegantly.

Douglas Bauer is the author of three novels, each of which I loved (he never does the same thing twice, but since the prose always contains the same steely twists, you know it is the same guy), and teaches at the Bennington MFA Program.

Writing programs, take note--instructors can cut to the chase by judicious use of this handy and straightforward volume. I won't say it's the Strunk and White of contemporary realistic fiction writing--only time can tell that--but it's as close as I can imagine. Full disclosure requires me to say that I know Douglas Bauer personally, but honestly, I would say all of this if I didn't know him. It is a terrific and useful volume.

For the beginner or the serious amateur or anyone serious about writing fiction, this is the book to read.

My 10 year old daughter really enjoyed this book. The story is engaging and well written. I highly recommend it.

From the first page to last Mr. Ortiz' expert handling of his protagonist and her world makes this a truly enjoyable read. Whether it's tending the families herb garden or experiencing the sights and sounds (and smells) of London, Susanna's adventures capture the imagination and encourage the reader to accompany her in her exploits. She is witty and charming and worth the time to become better acquainted with.

Remember your high school History? Me neither. "Swan Town" will give you a second chance. It is written in the voice of Shakespeare's 13-year-old daughter Susanna, a girl who has to grow up real fast. And she is the one who will supply you with all the really interesting information about Shakespeare's era. Did Sister William ever tell us about "ducking"? Of course disease was rampant - there were horse droppings all over the streets! Shakespeare had a son named "Hamnet"? Huh! The pudding game...what's that? Need a snappy retort for that rude neighbor? See page 41. Besides providing all these absorbing facts, Susanna places Shakespeare in historical context for you. So maybe the next time you hear Shakespeare quoted you will have a better understanding of what he was saying...or leaving unsaid.

I enjoyed this book enormously. It made me think about the connections between religion, geography, history and the times that are the backdrop in the book. The diary style made the book move quickly, and learning about Shakepeare, his place in history, and the life of a young girl in his day was joyous exploration. A great middle school read for students studying European history or Shakespeare's plays. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel.

I bought this book for my 11-year-old niece, but I decided to read it first. Mr. Ortiz has given us a superb story for adolescents and for anyone else with a capacity for joy and a weakness for mischief.

The story is in fact structured as a journal, a device that Mr. Ortiz employs to excellent effect. Diary-keeping is still a favorite pastime of girls Susanna's age. What particularly pleased me was the juxtaposition between wisdom and mischief, between soaring delight and the muck left in the tracks of horses and fanatics. Everything is included in the weave.

Swan Town has important, positive values to convey: the goodness of a family, as it germinates in courtship and as it blooms in self-sacrifice; the splendor of the earth and material things; the wonder of language and its artful uses; and ultimately, the profundity of self-giving versus the pettiness of ideology, fear and self-seeking. But because it holds these values, Swan Town is not a tract. It is a good, earthy, beautiful story.

I had thought to finish the book over a long afternoon and evening, but this is a book I had to put down; the writing was often so poetic and lovely that I had to savor it by reading slowly over a few days.

Is this really a book for adolescents? It is, because it requires stretching. It coaxes growth. It expands horizons gently, playfully, and sometimes a little mournfully (but just a little). It is for all maturing children.

Kimberly Kirbergers book is good. Its a good way to answer questions about relationships.

My mom bought me both books at some book signing thing and when she gave them to me I was like...thanks. I started reading the book Teen Love first and I couldn't put it down. The real shocker though was the journal. This was as good as the book. It had so many great things in it. Poetry and quotes and something called Colin's pages which are pages with a guys opinion. I don't know hinm from TV but my friends do..anyways it was good ,too. The two books were great and I was just surpised that something my mom bought me was so good.

Kimberly Kirberger is the most brillant author of todays youth. When i purchased this journal i couldnt stop writing down my thoughts. Colin from the real world 8 really makes the journal complete on his thoughts. I am a fan of Mrs Kirberger and i want to thank her for saving me in every way possible. Through heart and soul, i think every one will agree with me on this journal by saying it was a item in which we all will cherish.

This book is so much more than a journal. I have the Chicken Soup Teen Journal also and this is just as good , if not better. Instead of just a bunch of blank questions, there are stories and poems too. The book opens up with a letter to Dear Boy and one to Dear Girl. These are so great. After I read those I knew I would love the journal.Then there are poems and quotes along with really good questions. I am about half way through with filling mine out and I'm sad becasue I don't want to finsih it. I also love Colin's pages. He is a guy from the Real World and he wrote some stuff in the journal. I really enjoyed reading a guys opinion. I still need to get my best friend to fill in the best friend pages but I am waiting because I am giving her a copy for Christmas. I am going to fill in the best friend pages before I give it to her. I think this makes a perfect Christams present. The Teen Love book is good ,too.

As I went through the book and filled it out, it made me realize a lot of triumph and tourmoil I have gone through in my teenage years. Even though I am only seventeen, I have been through a lot.

When I look back at everything I have written, I realize so many things I have learned from my relationships, from first crushes to first loves. I also learned the difference between the two. Falling in love is a wonderful experience for some, but for me, it was more than that. It was a learning experience. What I thought was love then, I do not consider love now. I first thought it was when you like someone a lot and have a lot of feelings for the person. You want to spend most of your time with them. After looking back on everything I wrote, I realized, I had not had my first love yet. Love is when you will do anything and everything for that person. When you are in love, it is overwhelming. It makes you feel like a brand new person.

I finally came to relaize what love really is when I met my current boyfriend. We have not been together long, but we have been together long enough to realize that my feelings for him go far beyond liking him a lot. He has got all of the qualities that I have ever looked for in a guy. He treats me right, with love and respect. If you truly love someone, you respect them. Not just as a person, but as a whole.

I am glad I purchased this book and completed it. I have learned a lot, and if I would have never bought this book, I probably would have never made a journal of my own to look back on as I get older. This is a great book, and I recommend it to all teenagers. It taught me a lesson or two about relationships. I think it could teach everyone.

My son, age 14, didn't put this book down for 2 days. Great book!

As I said, the Thief Queen's Daughter took me a little bit of time to get into, but once I did, I couldn't put it down. The characterization is lovely for the most part, especially that of Ven himself, who can sound like a 12 year old or a 50 year old, whatever your age and however way you prefer.

(He's a self-proclaimed 12 year old, but his species, the Nain--who I assume are similar to dwarves--live five times as long as humans and therefore consider 20 years old to be 5 years old, for example.)

Ven loves his mother and speaks very highly of her, even while acknowledging her legendary strictness. He has a dry sense of humor. He also has an empathetic heart, as indicated by his reaction to the title character's relationship with her mother.
The other characters traveling with Ven are indeed their ages: Ven's own age. (Now I leave you to figure it out until you go and buy the book to relieve you of the torture of not knowing. Okay, maybe not.

Above all, the story is fun to read. It has good descriptiveness, making it easy for you to visually picture where Ven and the others are and what they are doing. Not a minute goes by without something happening.

The prose is easy to read. That combined with the colorful story leads me to particularly recommend this book to those of Ven's age. Oh, not that I think people of other ages aren't allowed to enjoy it. I'm five, myself.
...In Nain years, that is.

Ven Polypheme is fifty years old, but he is a Noin which translates to twelve in human age. He lives on the Island of Serendair in the lodge of Hare Warren located behind the Crossroads Inn where he eats and does odd jobs. He is also the Royal Reporter to the High king Vanemere so when he is called to come to the palace for his first assignment he is excited.

The King meets Ven in the garden before taking him to a hidden room where he shows him a special artifact that comes from the Gated City in Kingston, a former penal colony in which the citizens can never leave. He orders Ven to go there accompanied by four friends to learn who sent the artifact and why and what does it mean. When they enter the Gated City, they are immediately dazzled by its glitter, games, and market. However when one of them is stolen, the others must reach the inner city governed by the Thieves Guild. There they are taken prisoner so they must find a way to escape while seeking the person who sent the artifact but the gates are close so they will have to find an alternate means pf leaving.

Elizabeth Haydon is a great storyteller whose current work will appeal to the Harry Potter crowd. Her hero Ven is likable and willing to learn which makes him intelligent as he lives in a place where life is cheap. There is lots of action The Thief Queen's Daughter and Ven's curiosity makes him want to learn about the Inner City culture. Not all the people who reside inside the Gated City are evil as some risk their lives to try to help the children as best they can, knowing they will never leave. The villain has a surprising relationship to one of the children leaving the audience with hope that maybe the heroes will survive their ordeal although that is doubtful.

Harriet Klausner

I loved the Floating Island. It was one of the best books of any genre that I have read in a long time, and reminded me of my favorite childhood tomes, with the right amount of magic and adventure, and probably the most likable hero I've encountered. Second books are usually very disappointing, especially when the first is as amazing as that one was, so I was shocked and delighted to discover that The Thief Queen's daughter, which I've awaited anziously since I read the last page of the Floating Island, is even more engagingly magical.

This is a series I recommend, as a teacher, parent, and proud perennial kid, to everyone and anyone. There is nothing offensive about it, but the lessons woven artfully into the plot are good ones for anybody to adopt. The characters, especially Felonia the Thief Queen, will stay in your memory long after the last page of this book is done. I am now anxiously awaiting The Dragon's Lair, the next of Ven's adventures. The little trailer for it at the end hooked me immediately.

Almost seven years ago, Haydon introduced Rhapsody, whom became a Namer and befriended two half-breeds on the island of Serendair. People all over the world fell in love with the Symphony of Ages, and the series quickly became a World Wide Bestseller! Haydon created memorable characters, like Rhapsody, Grunthor, and Achmed the snake whom traveled to the tree of Sagia and escaped the destruction of the Lost Island of Serendair.
In 2006, Haydon introduced a new hero, a new character which we had heard of from Requiem for the Sun, and The Assassin King of the SOA series. Ven Polypheme, the Nain explorer who went on to write: The Book of All Human Knowledge, and All the World's Magic. Which takes place in the Second Age: The Broken World. (Arrival of Man whom dominate as the surpreme beings after the Racian Wars against the F'Dor [demonic fire spirits]).
While The Lost Journals of Ven Polypheme are more for the 'Young at Heart,'we can still enjoy Haydon's wonderful skill of creating memorable characters and her wondeful imagination. We don't see a very detailed plot, (of course, this series is for young readers) but we do get to enjoy exploring Serendair more. Since Haydon only showed us Easton and Sagia in Rhapsody. Which is one reason why I bought the book series in the first place, I wanted to learn more about Serendair.
But, in the bargain I grew to love Ven Polypheme and his close friends. The Floating Island was a real treat! And the magic in it seemed so more original and familar than the epic Mythical atmosphere in the SOA series. The novel was a nice, easy read and didn't cause me to have a headache afterwards. Nevetheless, if you are over 13 and haven't checked out the SOA series, you should do so. But, anyway back to the real reason why I'm here.
The Thief Queen's Daughter brings Ven back to life. The only problem is that, first, The King of Serendair wishes Ven to travel into The Gated City (a place where long ago thieves lived without following the laws and there decendants are not allowed to leave the city) and is a very dangerous place. And two, The King of Serendair fires Ven infront of the entire court (for a reason which you will learn later on) and the Albatross that was always following Ven turns out to be watching him by somebody afar...
Ven than journeys into The Thieves Market with his friends, Char, Saeli, Nick, and Clem to find out about a treasure in the Inner Market when he ask Madame Sharra a question, and the Seren reads from The Stolen Deck (dragons scales that appear gray, but turned in the light, reveal there true hue) for Ven, three scales, and Ven finds out three things. One inludes that something will be stolen from him by The Thief Queen herself.
So begins the second tale of The Lost Journals of Ven Polypheme. I wish not to spoil anymore than I had. So your going to have to read the book for yourself. This series is a delight, and I'm already looking forward to the next installment (The Dragon's Lair) and Haydon's next novel in the Symphony of Ages.

If I order a journal, I get it from Paperblanks. This particular journal is beautiful. All are beautiful. This journal has a magnetic ribbon that comes around to keep it closed. It lays flat which I greatly appreciate.

The Paperblanks line is great. A couple of things about this one - the spine is exposed on the outside which is how it is supposed to be but you can't see that in the picture. Also, it doesn't really look like stained glass, it's painted with some type of raised paint. Still, I challenge you to find a journal more beautiful. I give it four stars not because of its own merits, but only because the pictures on Amazon aren't quite accurate. On its own I would definitely give it a five.

This journal was even more beautiful when I actually had it than when I was purchasing it. I highly recommend this product to any female.

Bought this as a gift so I didn't get to spend too much time with it, however I couldn't help notice how beautiful the cover was and the high quality of the pages and binding. The cover has an embossed design and the colors are wonderful. This makes a great gift, almost too beautiful to use! (Although one caveat for gift-giving; mine arrived with a 1-inch indentation in the cover, presumably from the shipping or packaging.)

First off, in response to L. Lindsey's original comment (the reason, above all, I chose to comment on this in the first place), is that this is also suitable for a male, such as myself. :) just thought I'd point that out. ;)

On to the product itself, well, as the title suggests, it's an amazing journal, should you choose to use it that way. For myself I use it as as an all-in-one memory keeper. A pensive, if you will indulge a little mysticism. I also ordered Varsity fountain pens to use while writing in this thing, and let me say, it's amazing. By the time I'm done writing, I have ink all over my fingers. >.< It makes me feel almost like an old-fashioned writer. The pages aren't thick, but they aren't thin enough to where the ink from my pen will bleed through the other side and garble whatever I was writing previously. I also use a straight razor to slit the paper on some pages where I want to keep Polaroid pictures of things seen, done, experienced, etc.

This baby works extremely well for me. Not to mention the cover, which is worth almost five stars in and of itself. I'm extremely pleased that I was able to find this, because I know already that it has become part of me, it represents a stage in life where I'm trying to figure things out, and it does marvelously at filling in where my permanent memory fails sometimes.

Happy hunting.

This book is the best memoir by an enlisted cavalryman I have ever seen, and I read a lot of Civil War books. At the end of the book, I felt like I had just finished a long conversation with Avery. Buy this book and enjoy it.

No matter whether you're a Custerphile or Custerphobe, don't let the title fool you. Under Custer's Command has very little to do with the "Boy General" and a lot to do with the every day life of a Union Cavalryman during the Civil War. James Avery describes life in the Fifth Michigan Cavalry with frankness and honesty, and without concern for the feelings of those who failed to pass muster.
The book details the part the Wolverines played in such famous battles as Gettysburg, The Wilderness, Cedar Creek, and Yellow Tavern, from the perspective of one who actively fought at the front lines, and brings a breath of fresh air to the Civil War narrative. I highly recommend this book to anyone who desires to explore the facts of life for a Civil War cavalryman.

This book is the best memoir by an enlisted cavalryman I have ever seen, and I read a lot of Civil War books. At the end of the book, I felt like I had just finished a long conversation with Avery. Buy this book and enjoy it.

George Armstrong Custer's fabled Fifth Regiment fought with great distinction throughout the American civil war and suffered the third highest total of men killed in the entire Union Calvary. James Henry Avery, a 24 year old farmer from Hopkins, Michigan was on of Custer's feared "Wolverines". He eloquently described his personal war-time experiences in journals and postwar reminiscences, providing uniquely detailed descriptions of Civil War cavalry movements, and presents the only known account addressing the escape of elements of the Fifth Michigan Cavalry on the first day of the Battle of Trevilian Station. Other battles described include Gettysburg, The Wilderness, Yellow Tavern, Haws Shop, Tom's Brook, Cedar Creek, and Trevilian Station. Under Custer's Command: The Civil War Journal Of James Henry Avery provides an astute perspective on the life of a Union cavalryman in the Civil War and is a "must" for all Civil War buffs and civil war studies reference collections.

As editor Eric J. Wittenberg expands his library of Custer-related works, they continue to improve on the already growing collection of first-person accounts of the "Boy General's" Michigan Cavalry. As the preeminent biographer of Brevet Brigadier General James Kidd, Wittenberg provides readers with a sense of "being there," and inescapable feeling that they are sharing a fireside chat with a living, breathing veteran of our own Civil War.

"Under Custer's Command" is sure to please any readers of his previous collections of James Kidd. The latest book, a well-preserved and edited anthology of the personal journals of Sergeant James Henry Avery, an enlisted man who served with Custer during his formative years, continues Wittenberg's efforts to detail the wartime activities of the Michigan 6th Cavalry. One of the most successful mounted commands during the war, the "Wolverine's" received far less acclaim and few of the accolades enjoyed by cavalry units led by men such as Jeb Stuart and Stonewall Jackson.

"Under Custer's Command" is a rare jewel among surviving first-person accounts. The language is frank, yet simple: the work of a man interested less in impressing than in preserving his personal observations of history. Avery's journals offer an invaluable glimpse into the mind and soul of a man fighting for his country, his values, and his family. This wonderful book is a fantastic addition to any serious Civil War Custer library.