Characters Books

This is a great book! It is a wonderful teaching tool of how God wants his little boys to be and how He loves them. Great gift for a godchild or baptism/christening/baby dedication.

Another great gift idea. Parents appreciate the character building aspects of this book. No little boy face in the illustrations but when you add a personalized picture in the frame of the book it makes it all about him. Good reading and personal applications.

This book offers beautiful, short snippits of character building stories and pictures about boys all inspired by passaged from Proverbs. Having 4 sons myself, I've come to cherish the little sticky fingers and dandelion arrangements given to me over the years. This book allows you to snuggle with your little one and appreciate what God has given you while enjoying the beautiful pictures and wisdom of Authors Jim and Elizabeth George.

This book has beautiful pictures and a Bible verse which relates to each wise trait that is mentioned. It was a great purchase.

My son is not even two yet and this is one of his favorites. I have read several "Proverbs" to him from the book every night for the past 6 months or so and now he asks for the book before nap time too! If I forget to read it to him before bed, he reminds me by saying "boys." The pictures are fabulous and because the proverbs are made into poems, it's appropriate for even very young little boys. I am thinking of buying a copy to take apart and frame some of the pictures (& poems) for his bedroom. If you're looking for a book that teaches great character, you've found it!

An extremely rich series of tableaus of a fascinating cvilization in all its past glorious history. The author is a superb writer. And this book is a treasure...almost all the vital aspects of Sumer are depicted with bright colors:...religion...culture, way of life...society..ideology...history and fascinating stories..It is rich rich rich. No library on history and civilizations is complete without this book! Really a rare gem!!

Kramer provides a brief survey of the history of ancient Sumer. Even though this book is listed as archeology, he gleans most of his narrative from literary sources. It includes a history of the area from early dynastic times down to the time of Hammurabi, as well essays on Sumerian literature, education, religion, and so forth. Kramer writes very elegantly and includes a large collection of primary sources, making this book, despite its age, one of the best on its subject. On the other hand, it is a rather old book, and there are some subjects where Kramer's interpretations do not seem to have been accepted by more recent scholars, for instance his theories about Magan, Meluhha, and Dilmun. Despite this, his book is a good introduction to the history of Sumer, worthy of a read by anyone who is or thinks they might be interested in the subject.

Very good book to start reading about a people and a time that is hard to research and investigate.I think the author presented a very good account of the Sumerians and in a clear and concise manner.Excellent book!

_The Sumerians_ by Samuel Noah Kramer is a very readable overview of the ancient Sumerians, those ancient, non-Semitic peoples who produced the world's "first high civilization" and were the world's first urban culture. This ancient culture spanned the fifth to the second millennium BC though its scientific and literary achievements would have lasting influence throughout the ancient world and down through today.

The first chapter reviewed the history of the modern study of the Sumerians. As late as the 19th century the Sumerian culture was completely unknown. When scholars and archaeologists began excavating in Mesopotamia they were looking for Assyrians, not Sumerians. The Assyrians were discussed in Greek and Hebrew sources, but of the Sumerians, there was "no recognizable trace of the land, or its people and language, in the entire available Biblical, classical, and postclassical literature" (though some experts now think that Sumer is mentioned in the Bible with a variant name). Sumer had "been erased from the mind and memory of man for more than two thousand years."

This chapter revealed the history of the decipherment of Sumerian writing (the name cuneiform dates from 1700 when Thomas Hyde coined the word to described Old Persian writing that he believed was decoration, not actual speech) and the naming of these people (Sumerian was proposed as a term in 1869 by Jules Oppert, who used the name from the title "King of Sumer and Akkad" found in some royal inscriptions, believing that Sumer referred to the non-Semitic inhabitants of Mesopotamia while Akkad referred to the Semitic people of Mesopotamia).

Chapter two dealt with political history. The Sumerians didn't really produce what we would call histories; they were rather more archivist than historian, chroniclers more than interpreters of history. The first real record of Sumerian events was essentially to preserve for posterity what great building projects (particularly of temples) Sumerian rulers had accomplished. Not all historical source material is "curt and lifeless" though, as one source of information is the royal correspondence between rulers and officials, letters that can reveal motives, rivalries, and intrigue.

As far as history itself the reader learns that two of the truly ancient Sumerian rulers were deified (Dumuzi, a deity whose worship would have profound influences in Judaism and in Greek mythology, and Gilgamesh, the "supreme hero of Sumerian myth and legend," his deeds written and rewritten not only in Sumerian but also in other languages), and that Sargon the Great was the conqueror that finally brought about the end of the Sumerian people as "an identifiable political and ethnic entity" and began the "Semitization of Sumer."

Chapter three looked at life in the Sumerian city. In the third millennium B.C. Sumer consisted of a dozen or so city-states surrounded by a few villages, each city's main feature being the main temple situated on a high terrace, one that gradually evolved into a staged tower or ziggurat, "Sumer's most characteristic contribution to religious architecture." The temple was the largest and most important building in a Sumerian city, reflecting the importance of religion in Sumerian life (though scholars have debated for decades whether Sumer was a "totalitarian theocracy dominated by the temple" or whether there was some relative freedom and private property; opinion now leans towards the notion that while the temple was the major economic player, private individuals could buy and sell property and own businesses).

An important chapter, Kramer looked at such things as the average Sumerian house (a small, single story, mud-brick building with several rooms arranged around an open courtyard), the Sumerian calendar (they divided the year into two seasons, emesh, "summer", and enten, "winter," with the new year falling between April-May), even Sumerian medicine (providing translations of several ancient prescriptions).

Chapter four looked at religion and mythology. The Sumerians recognized a very large number of gods, some of which had some very specific areas of interest (such as a deity in charge of the pickax) but recognized seven gods who "decree the fates" and fifty deities known as "the great gods." Sumerian gods were entirely anthropomorphic, appearing human in form and could eat, drink, marry, raise families, and even die.

Sumerians believed that rite and ritual were more important than either personal devotion or piety, and that man was "created for no other purpose than to serve the gods." They also believed in something called me, essentially a set of rules and regulations that were meant to be followed in order to keep the universe running smoothly. These me's included both positive concepts, like "truth" and but also negative ones like "strife."

The parallels between Sumerian and Greek and Biblical stories were quite striking and Kramer discussed several examples (the Sumerian underworld looked a lot like the later Greek version, complete with a "Charon," for instance and the Sumerians had a Flood myth as well).

Chapter five examined their literature, which included religious hymns and lamentations, epics, dirges, elegies, collections of proverbs, and a favorite Sumerian form of literature, the "wisdom" compositions or disputations in which two opposing protagonists debate back and forth (even if the two protagonists might be say personified animals or tools).

Chapter six looked at the Sumerian edubba or school.

Chapter seven examined Sumerian "drives, motives, and values." The author looked at the role of hatred and aggression in the Sumerian character, their drive for prestige, preeminence, and superiority, though they also valued goodness, truth, even mercy and compassion. Kramer noted though that their ambitious drive for preeminence produced many of the advances for which the Sumerians are noted, such as the development of writing and irrigation but also carried with it the "seeds of self-destruction," which trigged bloody wars between the Sumerian city-states and impeded unification which ultimately proved the downfall of Sumer.

Chapter eight examined the legacy of Sumer, its tremendous influences on other ancient cultures and religions, its numerous technological inventions, even its political advances (they invented the city-state which was in marked contrast to the state of affairs in Ancient Egypt).

I am neither an ancient history buff nor a historian, but began to explore the Sumerians only after my curiousity about the beginnings of civilization enabled me to discover this amazing culture. Here were the beginnings of epic literature. myth and religion, writing and an advanced
culture almost three millenia before the birth of Christ! Samuel Noah Kramer is a specialist and authority in this field, and has produced an interesting, factually correct and fascinating book. If you're bored with the 21st century, give this one a try!

The third book in the Vicky Bliss series, this book unites Vicky and John with her old flame, Tony, and her boss, Schmidt, in the search for the lost gold of Troy.

This novel is excellent- it brings back the character of Tony from the first Vicky novel, and adds to the mix other historians. The suspense is great, and the relationship between Vicky and John reaches a new level.

This is an awesome book!

This is the book that I pick up whenever I need comfort. It's such a treat - funny with fabulous characters that you'll wish were part of your life. I've read this book many times and for ages, every time I started it again, I'd forget who the villain was. The mystery is fascinating with history and art mixed in and enough action and intrigue to keep you going. As good as the mystery is, it's the wonderful characters and their friendships and humorous carryings on that makes the story sing. And there's a fabulous romance to boot. Get ready to fall in love with the mysterious John Smithe!

If you like to read fiction set in the places you vacation, this would be a great book to take with you on a trip to southern Germany at Christmas time.

You know exactly the kind of perfect Sunday afternoon I'm thinking of. It's raining, perhaps with hail bashing against the window. But you're inside and warm, cuddled up under a favorite quilt with a box of cookies and a great novel to read.

This is the great mystery novel that is part of your mental picture.

It's not that Trojan Gold is a big important book. It's not; this is just a fun mystery story. But it trods the fine line between "fluff" and "serious novel, to which I must pay attention." Making it the absolute perfect escapist book for a lazy weekend, a long plane flight or, really, anytime.

Our heroine Vicky Bliss is an art historian working at a Munich museum, when she receives a curious photo in the mail... even more curious, given that there's human blood on the envelope. There are tantalizing clues that the gold taken by Schliemann from Troy (and lost during World War II) might still actually be around. Wouldn't *that* be a feather in the cap of any museum... or thief? The photo leads her into a merry (and I do mean *merry*) chase across the German countryside, as several people are wondering about the same very subject. Quite a few of them have a romantic interest in Vicky, too.

Vicky is a woman of strong character, independent spirit, and wry wit. The situation is fun enough to be a "romp" but never veers towards silly. And I loved the setting: the Bavarian Alps at Christmastime.

Trojan Gold is not the first in the Vicky Bliss series; it just happens to be the first one that I picked up. While I'm sure it might have helped to know about her earlier adventures, I did just fine with this mystery, as it's pretty well self-contained.

I've read all the Vicky Bliss novels, and I can only say I wish Elizabeth Peters would write more. She has such a humorous touch with these novels that the characters are not only believeable, they're a downright likeable bunch. I like the way Peters uses humor to propel the story along, and the exchanges between Vicky and her sometimes lover, John Smythe, are hilarious. But don't leave out her boss, Herr Doktor Schmidt, who is a remarkably innocent man for one of his advanced years, and a wonderful co-conspirator (even if he does have a tendency to view desperate situations as some sort of wonderful adventure). For fans of this series, I heartily recommend this book, since it's about time that Vicki and John come clean about their feelings for one another. The avalanche scene is a real nailbiter, and in keeping with the adventure! Don't miss this one!

and I believe the best of the Vicky Bliss series thus far; I have not read the fifth one yet, preferring to read them in order.

Vicky Bliss is a beautiful buxom art historian, located in Germany, who would prefer to be taken seriously for her brains rather than her looks. In this entry, she receives a photo of a woman wearing the golden jewels that had disappeared during the Nazi reign in Germany known as the Trojan Gold. To make it interesting, however, it is not a photograph of the original finder's wife, Frau Schliemann, as Vicky first supposes, but a modern photograph, meaning the gold has been found.

Vicky figures out who has the gold and races with her boss Schmidt to a small ski resort town, also in Germany, to find the gold. Meeting here there are several other art historians with whom she had attended an art conference the previous year as well as, of course, her sometimes boyfriend, Sir John Smythe.

The action is fast paced enough to keep the book interesting while the romance between Vicki and John reaches new levels. And, making this a perfect mystery read, there is plenty of humor as well. This is an excellently written mystery with suspects to choose from and clues to help along the way.

I have already purchased the fifth and, at least until now, last of the Vicky Bliss series. I certainly wish that Elizabeth Peters would write a new one!

This crime mystery revolves around a magnificent diamond brooch lost during the Holocaust. The author tells the story of a murder investigation from the 1950's and the story of a diamond brooch that resurfaces in the present day. There are also different family issues that are developed in the story such as Gemma's mothers illness and Gemma's relationship with her father that are very well crafted. Both the murder investigation from the early 1950's and the diamond brooch investigation will keep you guessing.

The appearance of a long-lost precious brooch at an auction house in London sets off a wide-ranging investigation by Gemma James and Duncan Kincaid, protagonists in this popular series of mysteries. Coupled with flashbacks to Jewish refugees fleeing to England just before the start of World War II, and Gemma's personal problems--her mother's illness and her own insecurity with regard to her relationship with Kincaid--set the tone for a highly emotional and poignant story.

The author, a Texan with a penchant for the English procedural, travels at least twice in each novel to London to research the places in which the tales take place. A charming map highlighting the locations and characters adorns the inside cover of the meticulously researched book. However, there is one error: the Hagganah as a terrorist group (it was the Irgun that performed such deeds against the English).

The alternating descriptions of the past and present keep the reader on edge virtually till the end of the book. The characters are deep and the interplay of emotions and relationships telling. The author's sensitivity to the plight of German Jews under the Nazis are moving and touching. A very good read, and one which is recommended.

American author Deborah Crombie scored another hit with her latest novel with the crime-fighting duo Duncan and Gemma. We learned more about the family and their dedication to police work. I haven't been to England but feel like I took a trip there. The places were very real and I am sure accurately portrayed. The story had good action and keep me guessing until the very end.

Absorbing story with interesting characters and plot. Just started reading it and look forward each day to picking it up where I left off.
arlene

This was my first (Duncan Kincaid/Gemma James) novel. I thought it was very well written and had an interesting plot. Jemma and Duncan make a very likeable team, and they are surrounded by interesting family and friends. While I certainly had questions about some of the relationships, I felt this book could definitely stand on its own. It made me want to go out and read the books at the beginning of the series. I read a lot of mystery's, and I liked the fact that this story was to the point. Sometimes you get an extra 50 pages or more which are not necessary to the story line. Some of the book flashes between the past and the present of one of the central characters. Debra Crombie does this in an accomplished manner, as we are witness to a truly hateful time in history.

The most practical applications of the most important character trait of the follower of Jesus Christ. Totally counter-cultural, but that's Jesus for you. A must read for everyone who considers him/herself a Christian.
It's all about Christ, and the attitude behind TRUE LOVE born in a heavenly place; then, given to you and me to live out in thought, word, and deed. Thank you, brother Jeremy.

Jeremy Kingsley's Be Last is what is missing not only in our culture, but American church life. We are all so concerned about me, about being first. The way to up is down. This book is simple, practical and relevant. It is solid, Biblical and easy to read. Kingsley's Be Last will cut you open, then sew you back! A must read if you're willing to descend to greatness.

In this harsh world, everyone is seemingly out to protect their own hide, ignoring the needs of everyone else. "Be Last: Descending to Greatness" offers a fresh perspective and a contrary one: the idea that rushing to be number one is not always the best way to do things. Putting the needs of others before oneself can reap its own set of benefits, and can help one's own personal soul with the transformative power of giving charity. A book with a strong Christian message, "Be Last" is recommended reading to anyone interested in becoming a better human being.

Be Last is a convicting yet encouraging book. Convicting in that when you are finished you will certainly recognize an area of your life in which you can improve. Many books do this but few leave you encouraged. Instead of feeling overwhelmed and discouraged at embarking on a daunting task, you'll feel encouraged and motivated to pursue a life that brings glory to God. It's a great book for people of all ages and all stages of spiritual growth. The message is simple, yet profound. The stories are relevant and authentic to the point anyone can relate. Read this book and be directed toward a God-honoring, humility-driven, significant life.

I have just finished reading Be Last, Descending to Greatness, written by Jeremy Kinglsey. I have never read a book quite like this one since I don't really enjoy books that quote scriptures. However, I was extremely interested in the author's basic premise.

Over the course of the last few years, I have noticed how we, as a society, have become self-centered and, at times, downright selfish people. I, myself, have realized that I automatically seem to always consider "my" needs and "my" wants above all else. How did we get to this point?

Kingsley tells us that we need to go back to a more basic place - we need to read and apply God's word to our everyday life and more importantly, we need to stop placing ourselves first and to start being of service to our fellow man - and put THEM first - just as Jesus did before us.

I believe that for most people, this is a tough concept to accept. Not because we are horrible people - but rather because it goes against what society and the "corporate world" is trying to tell us. Yet, there is something enticing about the way Kingsley describes the various situations he has had to live through and how he has applied his beliefs, regardless of what "the world" may be thinking of him.

I also like Kingsley's basic message - that service and humility go hand and hand. If you are available and present for someone else, you will feel the greatness inside. For anyone in a 12 step program, this will strike a cord - as we are told that one of the cornerstones of recovery is to do service - to be there always with a helping hand.

This book is relatively short (165 pages) and is written in a down to earth, easy to read manner and the author obviously lives what he believes. At times, I found it a little difficult to get through all of the quoted scriptures but I do see that they are the foundation of the book and therefore are a crucial part.

This book is a great read for those of us looking for answers.

I used to read Bony Legs when I was little. I was so excited when I saw it on Amazon. It's a silly story about a girl named Sasha and a witch who wants to eat her...good verses evil. Sasha helps some creatures along the way, and it turn, they help her escape the evil witch.
It's a quick read and it's lots of fun!

I have purchased this book for my neices usually around Halloween time.
It is a book not many have heard of, but always enjoy.

Tracy

This book by the Magic School Bus author is really fun to read. It is a russian fairy tale of a witch named Bony Legs who likes to eat children. The story is about a little girl who escapes because of all the good deeds she has done to help others -- a cat, a dog and a gate. My kids (5 and 3 years) really enjoyed it.

My four year old son REALLY enjoys this book. It's a fun read and reinforces the value of being kind to others. It's also a great introduction into Russian folklore.

I wouldn't normally bother to add a review when so many others have already written reviews, but I do have some noteworthy information for people considering buying this book. I'm a teacher advisor for a large public school program serving kids in grades K-12 who are out of regular school due to medical conditions. I have to tell you--this book is a HIT! It's an easy reader, but it's not babyish at all. I've had kids in grades K-8 like it, including middle school kids who are poor readers (often for ESL reasons). The story is just scary enough to be intriguing, but it has a happy ending; there's also an excellent theme of how kindness pays and a fantastic chase scene at the end. As a fairy tale connoisseur, I'm convinced that Baba Yaga--from the Russian tradition--is THE coolest, scariest witch ever. (For a longer variation of this story, see Baba Yaga and Vasilissa the Brave, retold by Marianna Mayer and illustrated by K.Y. Craft.) I only wish there were more stories told this simply and effectively, with this kind of broad appeal.

One of the very special merits of Dr. Newton's "Complete Conduct Principles for the 21st Century" is strict logic, being revealed throughout the whole book. This merit makes the sentences of the book reasonable and precise.

I especially like the Principle of "Lasting" (# 103): "A real friendship should not fade as time passes, and should not weaken because of space separation." What a beautiful and respectable mind! Few friendships have ever attained that. I hope our human beings will be improved by this great book.

Reading the book increases my hope of a better world in this century, which sadly begins with a dark side. May more people read it!

How nice it is! If one wishes to make his or her
life smoother and happier and do whatever he or
she likes without making others unpleasant, this
is a book he or she needs to read.

I agree:
How to make the world peaceful and better --
The solution can be found in Dr. John Newton's "Complete Conduct Principles for the 21st Century". This is what people in the whole world need, especially now.

Ruby Taylor is at it again. In her third book, as she and Wesley are trying to figure out their relationship, Ruby stumbles across a string of robberies targeting her work. This leads to her finding out a town's shady history involving a murder. Amid a missing bull and a county fair involving potato recipes, Ruby tries to find out who is committing all the robberies and how it somehow connect to that story from yesteryear. Her attempts at sleuthing lead to comical and scary situations.

This was such a great book. I like Ruby more and more with each book in the series. I liked her friendship with Starlight and I was glad that Ruby kept trying to point out to Wes that he needed to stop suspecting them just because they were new in town. The whole scentless hairspray made me curious as well as to how it works. I don't want to spoil the ending but the reasons for all the "activities" happening in the area had a sad story behind it. You almost feel sorry for the perpetrators. It's intersting to think how much a father's acknowledgment means to someone.

I am glad that Ruby had realistic reactions to the way Wesley reacted in the beginning of the story. He doesn't tell her where he's gone so of course she's worried and angry when she does find him. I also want to know if they ever have a talk about the letter that Ruby found. If Wesley feels that he has to be a perfect Christian, this might hinder their relationship. I was also glad that Ruby found the Proverbs 31 woman slightly frustrating as well. As good of a role model as that passage is, sometimes I think some Christian women strive too much to attain that status. While Ruby's faith is tested many times, she doesn't lose it instead it helps her to grow. I hoping there's another Ruby Taylor mystery in the future.

Cow Crimes and the Mustang Menace is a great read! Sharon's colorful characters and crazy plot make this book a page turner! Even without reading Sharon's previous books, I was able to jump right into the story and get involved. Sharon has spun another tale of fun, excitement and drama, all wrapped up with a ribbon of laughter! I can't wait to read other books by Sharon Dunn.

The feed and supply store where Ruby Taylor works has been robbed several times. So, Ruby and Georgia, the owner, decide to hide in the darkened store and catch the thief, or thieves. But the women are caught by surprise anyway, and the strangest thing stolen that night is Her Majesty, Georgia's cantankerous Siamese cat.

Ruby's sometime boyfriend Wesley is missing. She's found his pickup abandoned not far from an ostentatious house built by new arrivals in town, and there is blood on the seat of the cab. In typical Ruby fashion, she decides to launch her own investigation because local authorities are less than cooperative.

First thing is to meet the new folks in town who own that house and the Ruby way to accomplish this is to climb through a window. Elementary. Meet Lance Kinkaid and his wife Starlight. Lance? Starlight? You've gotta be kidding.

Now a prize bull has disappeared, Her Majesty is still missing, a drugstore is robbed and somehow Ruby is tangled up in the middle of it. An ancient family dispute brings more questions than answers, but Ruby believes there's a clue in there somewhere.

It is time for the Potato Queen competition and Ruby and Starlight concoct an interesting recipe for potato chips and decide to enter. They arrive at the fair but before the judging, Ruby is kidnapped.

This is a rollicking, fun read. But don't be fooled . . . there is mystery and tension here, too. You may be able to connect the Cow Crimes part of the title with the aforementioned missing bull, but I'll leave the Mustang Menace part for your discovery.

Our Ruby is an irrepressible spirit endowed with a natural instinct that too often leads her beyond common sense and straight into danger. Her tenuous, newborn faith is tested time and again, and her romantic relationship with Wesley and his reluctance to commit drives her crazy.

Sharon Dunn has a knack for telling a good story filled with surprising insight and lots of just plain fun. I really like Ruby.

Ruby Taylor is one of those unforgettable people I love knowing. In this entertaining tale, the self-proclaimed "domestically challenged" heroine takes on a thief, a murderer, a tribe of lively children and the Potato Festival cooking contest. With a wit that matches her fiery red hair, Ruby kept me hooked from the first page all the way to the end. As long as Ms. Dunn wants to write `em, I'll keep reading `em - and recommending `em!

Ruby's world involves stolen property, from a beloved cat to a pet steer, from farm equipment to a belt buckle and a vintage Mustang. Wesley, her deputy-love interest vanishes, blood appears in his pick-up and a trailer home burns down.

Whether seeking purloined Pernicious the steer or a prize in a potato recipe contest, Ruby Taylor is up to it. Or maybe not:

"You get to ride in a parade," she enticed.

My mother is about as subtle as an ice cream headache. ... "Mom, don't push. I know I'm domestically challenged."....

"Domestically challenged? Ruby, you wrote 'over-achiever' in red ink a hundred times by Proverbs 31."...

"That commentary was for God's eyes. We're working on it."

"She tried so hard. What a curse to have me as a daughter. She needed someone who could turn old socks and fabric scraps into a duvet cover. I had only a faint notion what a duvet cover was.... "

God comes through and Ruby, as real and flawed as you or I, does, too.

But where's Wesley???

With her dry wit, Sharon Dunn weaves a tight mystery around eclectic characters and escalating problems, much tension for Ruby and many chuckles for the reader, to reach a satisfying ending.

A.A. literature and independent research make clear the relevance of this little book to the A.A., 12-Step, Recovery picture. See Dr. Bob's Library, 3rd ed.[[ASIN:1885803257 ; DR. BOB and the Good Oldtimers ; The Books Early AAs Read for Spiritual Growth [[ASIN:1885803265 ]; The Akron Genesis of Alcoholics Anonymous[[ASIN:1885803176 ; and Turning Point: A History of Early A.A.'s Spiritual Roots and Successes.[[ASIN:1885803079. A.A.'s co-founder Dr. Bob said hundreds of time that 1 Corinthians 13 was an absolutely essential part of the early A.A. program. He thought so much of this Drummond study that he circulated The Greatest Thing in the World widely among the A.A. pioneers. It was part of his library. It was part of his expression of the meaning of love. For that's what the Corinthians chapter and the Drummond book are about.

I heard Larry Burkett highly praise this book years ago so I got one. I agree, this is an awesome book. read just a few pages and it will change your heart to love others more, no matter how grouchy you are at the time. I prefer the older editions of this book, they fit in my purse better

My brother sent me a copy. He liked it so much he brought fifty copies to share with friends. I in turn have purchased copies to give away. It is the Sermon on the Mount, The Gospel of John, and First John all in one by way of expounding upon Paul's great love expose. Gary Trawick.

This book by Henry Drummond is a much-neglected meditation on I Corinthians 13. With kindness and gentle encouragement, Drummond walks the reader through the characteristics of love we all fail so miserably to exhibit in our own lives. Well-written and short, this book should be on the shelf of anyone who is trying to live Scripture.

Hadn't read Henry Drummond's book in years, but I recently picked it up again and re-read it and found it had lost none of its power for me. This book can be read in twenty minutes, but it's a twenty minutes that can change your perception of life and love.

Drummond, who was an inspiring liberal-thinking Christian of the 1800's, divides Paul's chapter on love in First Corinthians into three parts: "love contrasted," "love analyzed," and "love defended." He shows us what love isn't, shows us what it is, and defends it as the "greatest thing in the world." He helps us understand that it is not a burden to love - it's the easiest thing in the world!

This book is one of the most inspiring pieces of Christian literature I've ever read.

In two parts covering different aspects:
1. Quality of the story - Lots of action, lots of great banner artwork of lots of heroes fighting lots of bad guys. If you know the characters you will care and know if so many who die really matter. To me they just seemed like a lot of red shirts.

These grand stories usually fail because they try to cover too much and use every character that ever existed. This series is far from being a failure, but it still left me feeling like something was missing. It does manage to establish several important milestones in the Green Lantern mythos, so in that regard it succeeded. The plot elements are all there, but the execution was uneven. For example, it seems like the power of the rings can be made by anybody since nothing is done to explain how Sinestro creates his new power in the first place. He seems to recruit a lot of villains that are way beyond his league in power yet for some reason listen to him. Not until book two did it seem to matter or start to address any of this.

Some of the newer characters are developed and a lot of plot development is established for the next big event, but this story should have played out over more issues to give it more depth. It really makes a better prequel than a story onto itself with all of the unresolved fates of so many of the villains and premonitions of things to come.

2. Quality of the book - paper was flimsy compared to other hard cover graphic novels available out there. Makes it fit on the bookshelf better by being thinner, but felt cheap. You can tell by reading these two volumes that they are an amalgam of two different series, so there are a few repetitions and inconsistencies (e.g. what happens on one page, happens again several apages later and it is still a new revelation).

Read Volume 2 and you'll be caught up with all of the plot elements and be prepped for the storyline that will follow. As uneven as it was, it still has me looking forward to "Blackest Night".

Geoff Johns is the current king of DC mythology. As he completes the second leg of his Green Lantern trilogy, it's obvious that Johns has learned from his mistakes in INFINITE CRISIS, because this book is the most accessable event to be written in years.

The only GREEN LANTERN book I'd ever read before this was Johns' excellent "Rebirth" arc from a few years ago. This is so much better. I had little knowledge of the Lantern Corps and its history going in, but coming out I felt like I knew everything there was to know. I was never lost, and no one should be when they read this.

Despite the contribution of four different pencilers, the art is good throughout and, like the writing, never confuses the reader. So, Kudos to Van Sciver, Reis, Gleason and Unzeta for a job well done.
The one qualm I have with this package is that this is only the first half of the story. You'll have to buy Volume 2 separately, and DC doesn't appear to have any 13-issue giant edition ("Absolute" or otherwise) on the horizon. Until that time, this is the best way to enjoy 2007's best comic book event.

Highly recommended for longtime readers as well as those just interested in reading a great comic.

Geoff Johns and the DC team have done it again. I'm a Green Lantern fan from the 60's, so I know Hal Jordan well. It is great to see him and the other Green Lanterns fighting Sinestro, the baddest of the bad and his own corps. I agree with a previous reviewer that the story is so deep and some pages are so richly done that I had to stop and check Wikipedia or one of the GL web sites to get more information. But, don't let that stop you if you've ever read Green Lantern or seen one or more of them in a TV cartoon, and liked what you saw. Trust the old Silver Age fan with matching silver hair, you will not be disappointed. My only caveat is, you most likely will have to come back and purchase volume 2; be sure to budget for that. Enjoy!

Count me as one of those who felt slightly disappointed with how the Infinite Crisis (IC) mini series went. It didn't quite compare to it's 80's predecessor Crisis on Infinite Earths (COIC) in both plot, characters and overall story line.

But out of nowhere you suddenly have the Sinestro Corps War saga. I had read a few issues when it was originally released but decided to just wait for the collections instead. I was not disappointed at all.

The plot was pretty straight forward and the action was non-stop. There are a ton of characters involved. Of course, there are Green Lanterns galore and plenty of villains: Sinestro (of course), Hank Henshaw, Superboy/Superman-Prime and the big baddie from COIC, the Anti-Monitor.

That is why it is too bad that the Sinestro Corps War couldn't have been the sequel to COIC. There are some things in IC that had to occur to bring the Anti-Monitor back to life. Regardless, it was great to see the Anti-Monitor back again.

A can't miss collection for any Green Lantern or COIC fans.

Welcome to the forbidden chapter of the book of Oa ! One of the most serious stories written by geoff johns and dave gibbons. The war is inminent and inevitable, every space sector are involved. The sinestro corps want to establish a new oder in the galaxy and the GL's are determined to win. The drawing art is the best and the colours are amazing . A big story...builds to an epic climax. Let the war begin !