People Books

Sean Bean is wonderful. This selection (2 cds) is great listening for the whole family.

I had never heard the real King Arthur tale. I enjoyed it tremendously! Sean Bean's narration of this tale is exquisite. His voice is perfect for books on tape. Such depth. You felt you were really there. I would recommend this to anyone!

This CD was bought for our then seven year old son and we listened to it on a long car trip. What a fantastic way to pass the time. Sean Bean is phenomenal as the narrator and characters of the story. We have listened to it so many times and still never get tired of this great story, excellently told.

Thrown into this great story is Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, another exciting story within the story of King Arthur.

This story on CD appeals to all ages from our seven year old to our sixteen year old and to adults. It is one of a few stories that you really can listen to again and again and still be enthralled. I would highly recommend keeping it in the car for the long trips.

Sean Bean does an awesome job on this production. His range of voices and dialects are amazing. Very eerie in the parts that are supposed to be.

The whole family is hooked on this. The classical music that accompanies it is compelling. You think you are there.

I first read this book many years ago and bring it out every so often to refresh Two Trees' persona in my mind. This book is full of the author's love for his subject and he passes this on to the reader with great art. The story is in some ways so terribly sad that it is almost unbearable, but Two Trees and his love for nature and his dog can really only ultimately express joy and wonder. I just love this book and hope everyone who reads it follows Two Trees' wish to pass this extraordinary story along.

Some people talk about spirit like it is taught in "Indian 101", but you can experience something very soulful and ancient in the words and earth here.

Joe Two Trees is the last of his tribe. New York in the early twentieth century is not for him. Or is it? As a native New Yorker with a passion for the past, I loved this beautiful story. Whenever I return home, I can no longer visit the Bronx (especially Pelham Bay) without thinking of Joe and his relationship with Theodore Kazimoroff's father. The writing is lovely, and the story evokes all sorts of feelings at so many levels. It was my Aunt, a former teacher, who told me that I should read this book. It has become one of those novels that I recommend to others regularly.

The Last Algonquin is a sad but heartwarming story about a man and his attempts to come to grips with his place in the world. The fact that this man, Joe Two Trees, is the last of his tribe of the Algonquin's makes his journey that much harder and more interesting. If you are looking for an official history of the American Indians, this isn't the book for you. However, if you are looking for a deep and touching story of one American Indian, and what we as a nation have lost by ignoring the heritage of American Indians, then you will enjoy this book. Mr. Kazimiroff has done an excellent job of preserving the story given to him by his father and keeping the memory of Joe Two Trees and the Algonquin Indians alive.

This is a must read, especially for those of us raised in the Pelham Bay section of Bronx. The tale of The Last Algonquin is inspiring and heartwarming. And, I hope that Mr. Kazimiroff realizes that he has given The Bronx, the Algonquin Indians and his father the immortality they truly deserve.
Remember as long as someone tells( hears or reads) this tale, the story of Joe Two Trees will continue to live on among the rocks and trees of Pelham Bay Park.

I'm obsessed with books. I read everything. I have my splurges; when buy a lot, so much in fact, that I lose track. This book came in a whirlwind of other books, and I have to admit I put it down at first. After reading some flowing, poetic literature, I had a hard time to get into this simple, raw writing style that cut to the heart of the matter. So, I put it away after a while and eventually forgot about it.

A year --yes a year, can you imagine it?!-- passed and a lot of things happened. My mom got very ill (she's completely disabled now) my dad got heart problems and my autistic brother became quite a handful. I have always been a very active person, in school as well in sports, but health problems have left me always tired, out of breath. My grades are going down the drain and I haven't had the strength to participate in sports for over 3 months. I had a meltdown.

Tonight, I was looking through my books --I have insomnia as well: many books of mine have been read twice or more because of it-- and the white cover of Petra's book caught my eye. I decided to give it another chance, and read all of it in one sitting. It's 5 am now, and I'm getting headaches from sitting behind this laptop, but I felt I had to share the impact such a small book made on me.

Up until 10 pm, I was sulking in my situation, wondering all these vain things like "why did this have to happen to us?"

Petra's book shows me that you can always move forward no matter what the circumstances are. Her childhood in the then communist Chech republic was tough, but she focussed on the small treasures of life. She took a chance with modeling, and persisted even though it sometimes meant traveling for hours and being sent home after not getting much more than one glance cast her way. She moved to Milan without knowing the language and she kept positive even though she worked long hours and ate like a bird.

Then she met Simon, and he brightened her life--and the book-- if even only for such a short time. Losing such a wonderful man must've made it made it even harder for her. The book is written in great detail, but it never lingers in insignificant things. It's a truly inspiring story, about the treasures of life, and how great tragedies can bring people to do great things in the most unexpected moments.

For me, it was a kick in the butt telling me make something of my life. I've been tired for ages, but I'm full of energy now. I'm 20, supposedly in my prime. I better make it so. With all the health problems going on in my family, this grey sadness has swept over us, dragging is in one by one. I'm not going to let it happen. Neither did Petra. She's a wonderful woman and I hope that one day she might find a man who fills her with as much love as Simon did during the short time he was in her life.

5 stars for this book!

This book was a great read. It's very intense and it describes everything she went through with great detail. I first saw Petra on tv and on the Oprah show, she as well as many others went through a lot during that horrible ordeal. She was brave to live this experience all over again while writing this book. The story takes you from where she began her life to the horrible day of the tsunami. It is written with such detail that your imagination just takes you to the place & time of this disaster.

I have this book for a while now and still haven't wrote a review on this book yet. I have been reading this book more than once, it simply moved me. The love story between Petra and Simon is written so beautifully. I feel so sorry for Petra for losing such a wonderful man. She is really a strong woman, after having to go through so many downs, she is still positive in life. I really admire her for this, thank you Petra for writing such a wonderful book.

This is not your typical 'Romance" book. This is a true love novel! This book has everything~from the first spark of innocent love to the full blown tragedy of a broken heart of the worst, unimaginable kind! The story of the author is one of bravery, steadfastness and determination, thankfully unknown to the majority of readers. Yet the author continues to show grace, while enduring the worst of situations...only to be rewarded life's greatest gifts! She is indeed and inspiration to all...to remember that after all tragedy....comes hope.

This book is heartbreaking, and very moving. Petra did a great job on her first novel. This isn't all about the tsunami, and the aftermath, as many reviewers have showed it to be. Many chapters deal with her life before the tsunami, and her road to becoming a model. She certainly had an interesting life! It is a quick read, but I recommend it!

I loved this book. It has made an excellent addition to my library of Native American spirituality and practices. There is much in it that is relevant and useful. The Cherokee have a beautiful way of looking at the world.

I have read several books by the Garretts and find them all to be wonderful sources of information and brings my Cherokee heritage home to rest in my heart. Thank You.

The Garretts pull from their experieces from the "real world," as well as their healings and practical experience with the Cherokee to give us excellent starting points in helping ourselves and others. For such a thin book, there is a lot of advice hidden in the stories and accounts, if you know what to look for.

I really enjoyed reading this material and consider it the best for Individuals of Indian ancestry who still believe in the Traditional Ways.

This is a must read book for first time people into the world of the Native americans. It will open a whole new door that you will bring out of it is the respect for all living things and for Morther Earth. The book helps you understand that certain things are sacred to the Native Americans and how it ties into their beliefs. Once you read this book you will begin to see things through the eyes of a different race, but from the point of a Native American. You will learn differemt ways of praying and saying thanks to mother nature. You will take things from the book and apllied to your everyday life. Wah Doh.

We used this book for our 4th grade girls book club. They really liked it. Melanie is very precocious and aware, and the girls liked her personality and could identify with her thoughts and feelings. They liked reading all the information and history on The Netherlands. The book has humor (the girls loved the poems Melanie wrote) and also covers serious subjects, i.e. breast cancer. Everything is handled very appropriately. The book is well-written and holds your interest, whether you're 9, 10 or an adult. Several girls expressed interest in reading other Melanie Martin books.

Are you ready to go to the Netherlands where bicycal riding, canal site seeing, and tulips are done almost all year long? Do you want to know the real story? Know what's happening with Cicily's family. Join me into a world where the Netherlands are the best place to be!

The sequel to The Diary of Melanie Martin is just as charming and rings with the same truthful voice, as Melanie records the ups and downs of a vacation in Holland with her family and best friend. Melanie is reading the Diary of Anne Frank on this trip, and this historic diary lends a thoughtful note to Melanie's own diary, which includes dealing with the threat of the cancer which has infected her best friend's mom. With the heroine's observations as witty as ever, Melanie Martin Goes Dutch will delight young readers as they experience both van Gogh paintings and topless beaches through Melanie's eyes.

Wishing you could take a trip this summer? The title of this book just makes me smile. Melanie's mother has a grant to study Van Gogh in Amsterdam for the summer and the whole family gets to go along. Melanie's diary of their trip is a fun read. Travel disasters such as lost luggage, an annoying little brother, and a fight with her best friend are not what she imagined her vacation would be like. Melanie is reading Anne Frank: the diary of a young girl. As events unfold on their trip Melanie finds herself empathizing with Anne. Her visit to the Secret Annex is very poignant.

I loved "hearing" the Dutch phrases (complete with pronunciation,)smelling the food and seeing the sights through the eyes of a character who is the same age I was when I lived there. This is a very funny book. The presence of Anne in the background of the story gives the story a sweetness beyond the humor.

When you open this book, you will find yourself peeking into the private diary of Melanie Martin, a ten year old girl living in New York with her mom, dad and Matt the Bratt (aka little brother!). Her mom is an art teacher who teaches her kids to appreciate art, and she loves when they do, even if its only because it includes naked people or blood scenes!
The story starts when summer vacation has just got out, and our girl Mel is getting bored. She and her mom do puzzles. It is one utterly boring day when Melanie's mom gets a phone call telling her that she's got the grant (for her teaching) and they're going to Amster Amster Dam Dam Dam!
They barely get this news before it is discovered that Cecily's mom (Cecily is Melanie's best friend) has got breast cancer.
Mel's mom invites Cecily on the trip and Melanie is overjoyed!
They all leave together for Amsterdam. They all expirience lots of adventures including lost luggage, a topless beach, LOTS of museums and a HUGE argument.
Mel thinks Cecily is getting way too much attention so they silently fight.
Will the fight turn this best-friend bliss into a bummer summer?
Read and find out!
Melanie Martin Goes Dutch is a great book that plenty of kids can empathize with - even grown-ups too!
I hope everyone will enjoy this book as much as I have, including Carol Weston's other fantastic books!
3 cheers, two thumbs up, plus five WHOLE stars as well!

I retired from working at a nursing home. I happened across Mrs. Wilders books while working there. I only wish I had these books before my mother passed. She didn't like living alone but wanted to be in her own home. I know she would have liked living at The Home had she not been bombarded by others about the horrible things (they imagined)that went on there (Two of these people eventually lived in a home) and probably would have lived longer than her 80 yrs. She quit taking her meds. unbeknowst to me and died of a massive heart attack.
Reading about the shennigans, shall I say, that went on at Fair Acres was similiar to a day in my 'home.' The residents/folk become family and interacted as such. They took care of each other. And we staff felt like family to them and they to us. We staff/residents were the only 'family' some had. Despite the illnesses some had there was a lot of fun too.
I tried to get in touch with Mrs. Wilder but alas, unable to do as I wanted to thank her for writing those books.
I was saddened to learn this year of her death.

Cute, funny, poignant, sad, etc.--all the adjectives you would expect to describe a book like this. Effie Wilder takes us on a tour of the retirement home and introduces us to her friends and acquaintences. Being able to take people's stories and use them to make people smile is what makes books such as this so endearing and special to read.

I am no where near "Out To Pasture" but I found this novel to be delightful. This book has the oddest group of senior citizens you will ever run across. Filled with both serious and light situations this book will make you cry and then laugh. Effie Wilder teaches us that just because you are older your life is still full and the possibilities are endless. Way to go Effie!!

Baby boomers should read what's in store for us when we, too go to "prison" in an old folks home. Hopefully, we'll have a neighbor there just like Hattie. Written with humor and insight, it rang all too true to the characters I met while visiting my mother when she was an "inmate." Lot of truth to it.
Wilder's also an inspiration to fledgling authors who say they're too old to write that book they've put away time and again. Not so. Go Effie go!

Mrs. Wilder has given all generations a delightful and easy to swallow book about aging. The main character, Hattie, is into everyone's business, but in a kindhearted way. Through her eyes the reader can see much of the pain and joy of being older. Leaving your home and moving into a retirement home is never an easy choice, but I think Hattie shows us that if done with grace, it can work out to be a fairly good life. The book is a joy to read, offers lots of laughs, a few tears, and some good hard lessons about life. I look forward to sharing this book with my "adopted" eighty-four-year-old grandmother.

and get Dr. Fee's audio tapes from Regent College bookstore.
I studied with Dr. Fee at Gordon-Conwell while pastoring in Cambridge, Ma. Our church supported some of Dr. Fee's mission trips around the world. His books are all great, but his lectures, especially his exegetical NT book studies, are simply unparalleled, satisfying the intellect and the spirit and leading one to experience the Holy Spirit in the Word.

Gordon Fee does an excellent job in making his case that from Paul's perspective the Holy Spirit has a central part in our lives. We are to be people of the Spirit! His cry for the church to see that we are an "eschatological people in a world gone mad" resonates in my heart. We are to be the people of God in the world and the Spirit empowers us to be that! This book will breathe life into you and is theologically sound!

I came to this book already in disagreement with some of the author's views on charismata, and I expected to be in disagreement with most of the book.

However, I had little issue with most of the points he made and was glad that he reasoned from scripture and not human psychology.

After the second chapter I was frustrated with the phrase "at the heart of Pauline theology is...". It helps to understand the heart of one's theology to understand where they're coming from in all that they write. However, I think it was unecessary for the author to claim a new "heart" for Pauline theology to make his overall point about the Spirit of God and the church. It seemed to come from a desire to systematize something for its own sake.

Also, when defining the purposes of Paul, the author claims that "Paul was not writing to present a study of God, but to build up churches and address gut issues about being God's people in a totally pagan environment". He never explains why it can't be both. Obviously, Paul's ultimate purpose was for transformation and the practicalities of knowing God. But, the author's claim above suggests that Paul's studies of God in his letters (the indicative) aren't needed for the practicalities.

In the end, when the author addresses charismata, he didn't go into depth with scripture as much as I would've liked, but he does reference another of his books where he does. Also, in fairness, he points the reader to the best defense of the contrary view, which I appreciated.

If the reader is well read, the front 60% of the book will be skimmable.

I would highly recommend this book. The book has a very sound theology and has excellent scholarship at a layperson's level. It will help any reader gain a more insightful understanding of the purpose and leading of the Spirit in connection to the Church (people of God). Dr. Fee is able to properly exegete the Scripture of Paul's writings and help our understanding. This book is good for all Christians and especially those wondering (or concerned) about the role or move of the Holy Spirit.

Gordon Fee has written an easy to read version of his larger work "God's Empowering Presence: The Holy Spirit in the Letters of Paul." Recently, I read and reviewed Frank Macchia's book "Baptized in the Spirit: A Global Pentecostal Theology" and as much as I liked Macchia's work, this book by Fee is in some ways at least, better. I like Macchia's work on tongues and their meaning, but Fee really does an excellent job of showing the continuity and discontinuity of the Church who is the Israel of God and the nation of Israel in the OT. On page 50, Fee has a great chart that shows how that we are living in an already/not yet eschatalogical framework. Fee takes great care to show that the most important thing for the Church to get hold of is that we are the eshatalogical people of God and the Holy Spirit is the down payment on and fortaste of that future which is the come. He deals with Paul and is an excellent interprter of Pauline theology. Fee does not dismiss the importance of the Spirit in Paul, but shows how that, although, Jesus is the center of Paul's thought, it is the Holy Spirit that is driving this life in the Messiah and that give energy and freshness to the revelation of Jesus. This is an excellent work. I recommend this for everyone Pentecostal or not. I believe that a popular audience could probably read this book and benefit from Fee's great and scholarly insight.

THIS IS THE BEST BOOK. MR. MOONEY WAS A TEACHER OF MINE LIKE 10 YEARS AGO. BEST TEACHER EVER! AND HE READ THIS BOOK TO THE CLASS AND I WAS HOOKED. AMAZING! GOOD JOB!

This is an excellent book for anyone in high school and above-its a classical novel that has depth and meaning unlike lots of books today....It's similar to the Notebook in a way; the book deals with a love that lasts through the ages rather than a fling. It's an emotional book that does moves slow; however, everyone in my high school loved it.

In the prologue to "The Pearls of the Stone Man" a young couple, Shannon and Tim, are driving up to Pine Mountain on a Saturday in spring with their two kids in a mini-van. Once again, Shannon wants to stop and see the old house, still trying to solve the mystery of an old man's final words: "Remember the stone." The old man they called grandpa was not related to either of them by blood, but that is the point of this novel by Edward Mooney, Jr.

At the heart of this delicate little novel is the marriage of Joseph and Anne Marino. After 53 years of marriage these two still love each other and live in a small house at the base of Pine Mountain. But even before they find out that there are only months left to their love affair instead of years, Joseph has been aware that they are running out of time and has become preoccupied with thoughts of things undone. For thirty years he has been talking about climbing the mountain that he talks to every day, but that is just one of a long list of things he has not done. In fact, there is a list on his closet door that he made of things that he wanted to do. But Anne challenges him to name two projects that he has actually finished and Joseph is consumed with the idea he has so many unfinished pieces of business and all the regrets that he is carrying.

Then, everything changes because time is running out and the most important thing in Joseph's world becomes trying to reconcile with his estranged son and finishing the stone wall that Anne asked for years ago. Seeing Joseph pulling his wagon full of stones for Anne's wall earns him the nickname of the "Stone Man." The pearls in the title belong to Anne, although obviously there is a metaphorical meaning to world as well, as a much younger Shannon and Tim learn.

That is because while the love between Joey and Annie has not changed over a half-century lots of other things have, such as the way children are raised. Shannon and Tim are but two of the troubled teenagers living on Pine Mountain, where the sight of an old man pulling a wagon full of stones is something that inspires words of ridicule and acts of cruelty. But whereas Joseph responds to these insults and injuries with anger over the impotence of an old man, it is Annie who suggests a better way of dealing with the escalating problem.

"The Pearls of the Stone Man" is about a love that transcends death and that is there today and always. It is also a tale about responsibility that makes the case for how in a relationship each person has 100% responsibility for that relationship, in contrast to the erroneous assumption you only have 50% of the responsibility (it is 100% responsibility because it is a total responsibility for the relationship). Mooney creates a beautiful portrait of such a relationship and when we finally learn the meaning of the old man's words it is a simple and profound message. You should have come to all of these conclusions through reading the novel, but just in case anyone misses the point Mooney provides an eloquent benediction.

It turns out that "The Pearls of the Stone Man" is the first of a trilogy, the second volume of which, "The Journey of the Stone Man," will be published next month (September 2004). This will be an interesting trilogy in that the story will be apparently working its way backwards through time. The second book takes place a quarter-century earlier as Joseph and his teenage son, Paul, take a cross-country trip in a "Woody" station wagon. Given what we know about the troubled relationship between father and son from this first novel, it will be interesting to see what Mooney weaves with his next narrative.

This is an excellence book to read. I found it was a great story on how different generations can work together. It touched my heart all thru the book. A must read for everyone!

While in The States last summer, I visited a bookstore and came across the 'Pearls of the Stone Man'. I read the first page and couldn't put it down. Edward Mooney's moving novel reveals the power of love in family life.
Joseph and Anne, in their seventies, don't have the passion of young lovers but share the deeper love and intimacy that comes from sharing their lives for half a century. 'The Pearls of the Stone Man' is a heavenly guide to understanding the basics for a better, richer life.
Family bonds are as strong and meaningful as love is. Stones will turn into pearls if one can find the truth of life. I look forward to a translation of 'The Pearls of the Stone Man' for the German market. I'm sure it will be a big hit here.
Mooney is a masterful storyteller, and I eagerly await his next book 'The Journey of the Stone Man'.

I ORDERED THIS BOOK FOR A FRIEND. YOU REALLY HAVE TO BE READY FOR A TEAR JERKER BECAUSE IT IS A VERY TOUCHING BOOK, ESPECIALLY FOR ONE WHO HAS BEEN THRU THIS EXPERIANCE. WORTH READING AND PASSING ON TO SOMEONE ELSE.

In living with someone with a disability, the hardship is obvious. The reverse side of this life, as the author describes from his own experience, is the beauty of God's face, His love for us, and how the ability to show compassion and love grow as we care for disabled individuals. Mr. de Vinck's beautiful book will renew one's faith, or light it for the first time.

This book is so perfect for anyone, but especially someone who has a disabled person in their life. It is touching and beautiful...you'll want to read it again and again, and you'll definately want a copy to give to others! I wish everyone would read it and maybe change the way we think about certain things!

The Power of the Powerless is a beautiful testimony to the power of love. It includes true stories of four individuals whom society would consider to be disabled and shows how they brought growth and joy to their families and others. The book is a reminder that we ought not judge the worth of others by how much they can do, but rather by how much they can cause us to grow. We are the ones who benefit from the power of the powerless.

This is one of those books that can cause a dramatic change in perspective for some people; you will never view a mentally and physically challenged person in the same way again. It confirms the wisdom that God has a purpose for us all, and is written with great tenderness and intelligence by Mr. DeVinck.

Larry King is humorous. I read this book in 1 day I couldn't put it down! If you want to understand prayer from a wide range of people from different faiths and beliefs then you should get this book. I read it free from the library years ago and for some reason I just thought to myself maybe I will buy it. lol....hope you enjoy this book as I did.

This book is going on eight years old as I write this review, but I suppose it will always seem timely. Larry has quite a knack for just telling it like it is. As an admitted agnostic he has no agenda in passing along this delightful collection of tales and interviews with those who [mostly] have belief in God. And mind you, this is not a book on religion. True to its title, the book relates prayers - moments - that have moved others to prayer. In some instances it is the circumstance which catches your attention, and other times it is the prayer itself that provides the power. And Larry's personal asides are even more delightful.

All in all I was always interested in reading on to the next page, person, or prayer. This is an "un-fussy" book and a wonderful read.

This book will open your mind if you are agnostic, and it may make you angry if you are set in your conventional religious beliefs. This is not a politically correct book, and King takes some risks, but it is worth a good read whether you are spiritally inclined or somewhere in the middle.

Jeffrey McAndrew
author of "Our Brown-Eyed Boy"

Mr. King delved into the foundation of Spirituality and Religion and made simple an otherwise complex and controversial issue. The book focuses on the individual and his or her communication with God, while setting aside religious beliefs. I would like to recommend to friends who are too formal about prayers and to those who maybe agnostic such as Larry King in his book.

Mr. King delved into the foundation of Spirituality and Religion and made simple an otherwise complex and controversial issue. The book focuses on the individual and his or her communication with God, while setting aside religious beliefs. I would like to recommend to friends who are too formal about prayers and to those who maybe agnostic such as Larry King in his book.