Arnold Books

My 4 year old loves every book but my 2 1/2 year old is very hard to please. Both of them love "Giant John". It's been a month now and my kids still ask for "Giant John" every night. How could a mom not love a book when she hears happy chants of "Giant John, Giant John!" at storytime.

This was my favorite childhood book. Mom says that at age 3 I could recite it from memory as she turned the pages. I'm hoping to find a great copy to pass on to neices and nephews.

Grab this book if you see it. The illustrations are whimsical and fun, and the story is a favorite for my kids, as it was for me when I was little.

The story of Giant John is about his love of music and dancing. His obsession and lack of control caused a problem of which he takes responsibility for. Thus so, he once again can celebrate life.

...as the jungle cat in the black of night, this book slips into your very soul. The image of poor John's mother with her shoe on her plate is etched into the deepest folds of my grey matter.

This book will make you reflect on your childhood. I am from Gore Springs, MS and it definitely brought back memories for me. Thanks Arnold for the memories.

I had the pleasure of being Mr. Arnold Douglas Dyre's Fraternity Brother at Ole Miss during the early 1960s. I never suspected that Arnold Douglas had the ability to write a book, much less, a very entertaining book. Growing up in a rural setting, initially in Bullock County, Alabama and later in Jones County, Mississippi, I could identify with Arnold's ramblings. I must say that I have never participated in or even heard of bottle cap racing, however, I believe it to be factual. Being a dog lover, I particularly enjoyed the chapter about Coon, who always returned to the old Keeton Place because it was home to him. I can't say that everyone would enjoy this book, however, if you grew up in the country a few years back, this book will bring back memories of happier and more simple times. You owe it to yourself to read this book. Also, I had the pleasure of serving our country in Vietnam with several patriots from Duck Hill and the surrounding area and I heard similar stories from them about their little piece of Heaven.

Dyre reflects on his youth and the fascinating lives of his parents and grandparents. His storytelling talent is obvious throughout the book. He makes me beg for more.

Mr. Dyre is certainly passionate about his writing and his state. I enjoyed every minute of his book. I plan to keep it on my coffee table for others to pickup and inquire about. Let's hope there is more to follow. My heart and my home is in Mississippi although I reside in Texas now.

Pity those folks who have only lived in a big city. I roamed & hunted those same hills that Arnold Douglas did as we were country next door neighbors. This book is great reading for anyone who has lived in the country & for city folks who didn't but wished they could. Keep on keeping on Arnold Douglas. God Bless. We love you.

Gene Phillips
Gulf Breeze, FL

This book is one of a kind. Whether you are parents already or just thinking about it, How to Avoid the Mommy Trap will help men and women alike think about parenting as a partnership as never done before. This book has been a lifesaving eye-opener for me and my marriage and I am sure I am not the only one out there for whom this is true.

Shields is an innovator. She has changed the paternity leave policies in the State Department. In the book, she gets readers to think about the importance of where your ideal partner stands on work and family issues before meeting him/her or where your current partner stands on such issues before making the making the final commitment.

I am a full-time stay at home mom and I love my job. It is the hardest yet most rewarding job I have ever had and I wouldn't trade it for anything. But I had begun to lose my identity in my mommyness and this book is a guide on how mothers can "let go" without guilt. Julie Shields is helping me get my sense of self back and she doesn't even know me!

Just read the Table of Contents and you'll be hooked too!

Amy Beal

I read this book in one sitting, and when I was done I found myself going back through it again in order to digest it more completely. I really wish it had been available when I was just starting my family, but even though my kids are now older I don't feel it's too late. A wonderful resource for any two-parent household, full of practical advice and suggestions on how to improve the whole family's quality of life. Julie Shields cuts through to the heart of many emotional, complicated parenting issues and presents solutions from a fresh, logical perspective. This is not just another book telling women how to reduce stress in their lives by making time for relaxing baths. I highly recommend it to any parent, or anyone thinking of becoming one.

Shields is a parental leave activist, but she's got a lot of suggestions on what new parents can do until then. She addresses some of the reasons women gatekeep on domestic stuff and childcare, and how to stop doing that. She proposes two part time jobs and a limited amount of child care as a strategy for caring for small children in a way that includes both parents while still allowing them time to work (about thirty hours a week) and nurture their relationship. While primarily addressed at heterosexual relationships, she includes numerous examples from same-sex couples.

Great stuff, especially about negotiation, for peer marriages/marriages where both adults work for pay. Not so great for other situations. Also take a look at Coleman's _The Lazy Husband_ (another book in search of a better title).

What a fantastic book-the author explains that there are hundreds of books on what color flowers go with what color wedding dress but almost none on how to pick a mate and discuss questions of child rearing long before the baby is born. She also explains how to help your mate change his (her) point of view about division of labor.
The book is well written and interesting; the research very detailed. The author presents many couples who have designed manners of living that avoid the pitfalls of being wife, mother, career woman and doing it all badly.
There is a long section on the frightening results of studies on substitute care and an enlightening one on how other countries have far mnore advanced solutions to the working parent.
This is a must for all women who are planning to get married and have children or have children and are unhappy with their lives. Men either love it or hate it but I haven't met a women yet who doesn't find more in this book that is very helpful.
A must read!!!

Julie Shields' excellent book "How to Avoid the Mommy Trap" provides a thorough exploration of strategies to help women and men share parenting responsibilities in a way that benefits everybody in the family.

"How to Avoid the Mommy Trap" illuminates the status quo and the calcified gender roles that many couples default to once they become parents. Shields belives that family life doesn't have to unfold that way, and she encourages couples to look beyond the standard choices of nanny, day care, or mother at home. Shields says 'The term Mommy Trap does not refer to giving birth and then having a child to take care of, or give up something for your child....More than anything else, the Mommy Trap describes a failure to understand the wide range of options available to modern parents.' She gives many examples of what it looks like to be caught in the Mommy Trap, including:

'The Mommy Trap snares a mother when she takes on parenting or household responsibilities that result in more unpaid work, and less leisure time and personal time, than she would like, particularly in comparison with her husband.'

Sound familiar? Do you feel like you couldn't even ask to expect things to be different without feeling selfish or guilty? Get this book! It is a primer that illuminates what marriage and parenting could look like if we stuck up for ourselves, let go of controlling the way our husbands parent, and worked to create truly equitable partnerships.

Many books have been written over the years attempting to tell people how to improve their lives. They usually involve living on a certain amount of money per week or month. This book was first published in 1908, and was a major bestseller. It could be considered the first self-help book, and it takes a different approach, looking at time instead of money.

Time is a very funny thing; everyone gets the same amount per day. Rich people do not get more than poor people. It's not possible to go the store and buy time. Out of that 24 hours per day, everyone must carve out a life (marriage, family, work, hobbies, religion, etc).

This book was written in a time and place (England of the early 1900s) where everyone took the train to work. One of the author's suggestions is to use that time concentrating on one thing; it doesn't matter what it is. If your mind starts wandering, hook a leash to it and bring it back. I'm not sure how well this would work today, when everyone drives to work. You say you can't concentrate for very long? Having to give a big presentation at work, or final exams in school, does a wonderful job of focusing the mind.

Then comes the evening, after the reader has gotten home from work. If this book had been written today, the author might say that occasionally vegging out in front of the TV is not a bad thing, but don't be like the average American, who does it for several hours a day, every day. Take, say, two hours a night, three nights a week, for a total of six hours. Use that time to learn a subject about which the reader is passionate, a hobby or interest. The subject can be literally anything, from A to Z. If a big subject like history is chosen, it's allowable to narrow it down to, for instance, the French Revolution or the Vietnam War. If a subject like classical music is chosen, go to an occasional concert or try your hand at playing an instrument. Again, if this book was written today, the author might say to use the internet to research your topic, but stay away from the chat rooms. During your learning time (for lack of a better term), lay off the popular novels. The author has nothing against them, but the idea is to give your brain a workout; novels don't do that. Most of all, take your time. The worst thing a person can do is burnout.

This book is small, but mighty. It says a lot, and it's the sort of book that can be used by everyone, from one end of society to the other. Not enough time in the day? Not after reading this gem.

Though it was written 90 years ago, "How To Live" addresses the inadequacies, frustrations, disappointments of people today in all walks of life and it does so with humor and wisdom. A daily dose of "How To Live" is at least as nourishing for the brain and soul as a multi-vitamin for the body. Arnold Bennett created a classic of its kind, a self-help book that really helps.

This amazing little book talks about some of the most important aspects of a full existence: the awareness of the passing time and methods of utilizing it to one's unique advantage. It lays out a structure to a possible way of filling one's time, and points to the obstacles and dangers lying in this execution.

The author's style is extremely honest and clear. Although it is an old book and some examples may not apply to you, the core of the approach definitely applies to every individual living in the present day.

So take this book, read it, reflect on what it says, try out its suggestions, then I guarantee you that you will have a fuller/happier life. What more can one expect from any book, let alone a small one such as this?

P.S.: I also suggest "The human machine" by A. Bennett, if you like this one.

With the advent of the Industrial Revolution first in England and then quickly following in America, more and more of the workforce transitioned into what we call white-collar jobs, where the workplace was outside and often far from the home. Because these new jobs more reflected our modern 21st-century jobs, in which the work was tedious, repetitive and the ambiguous results not always readily apparent (as compared to building carriages, homes, and other work in which the fruits of our labor are real and immediately visible), it was harder for workers to take the kind of craftsman pride and ownership in their work as their fathers and grandfathers might have in older trades that were phased out or in the process. Mr. Bennett writes to this new class of salarymen, who are alive and well today and joined by their sisters, mothers and wives. He assumes that MOST employees cannot take much joy in work that is allotted to them during their eight hours of work per day (as opposed to owners who take joy in their work not necessarily because the work engages them, but because they know the profits flow directly into their bank accounts; good motivating force).

I agree with him that most people cannot become truly (internally as opposed to portraying enthusiasm for promotion) enthusiastic when it comes to mundane, repetitive tasks that are characteristic of clerical and accounting-type jobs. Humans were not meant to be computers, and it shows in their passive resistance to such tasks, regardless of the what economy demands. Where I disagree is that one cannot approach ones job like a craftsman to some degree. You may not like the job you do or look forward to going to the office everyday, but you can try to take pride in doing a good job in whatever you do, as even banal tasks are the foundation for forming character that will come to bear in later more monumental tasks that you DO care about (I will mention William George Jordan later). I also disagree in that, one can FIND a job that has meaning, even if it doesn't pay much. My wife is a social worker, and she approaches menial clerical tasks knowing that they are essential to the welfare of her clients, and that little mistakes can sometimes cause a lot of harm. A person CAN find meaningful work, if they are willing to take a big pay cut and restructure their lives. Those aside, all of his advice and opinions rest on sound, tested wisdom.

The book argues that, while you may have no control over the eight of so hours you are chained to the office desk, you DO have control over the other 16. He argues for a program of self-improvement as a means of achieving happiness, and then goes about the details of how you can squeeze 90 minutes at least three times a week for active self-improvement activities to wake you up to the splendor and vibrancy of life, rather than living like a zombie before and after work time, which is the state at which most TV-addicted Americans are at today. Being a salaryman in Tokyo, where almost everyone rides the trains to and from work and where my own commute takes the roughly 50 minutes he projected, I found the parallels with my own life to be frighteningly close. His main point here is not that everyone should ride trains to use their time more efficiently, even though riding trains DOES free up time for the reading and philosophic reflection he recommends. It is that you should be much more aware of the little time wasters in your life and try to use your spare, limited minutes for activities that will improve your spiritual station in life.

I was not surprised that he recommended reading such Stoics as Marcus Aurelius and Epictetus, for two reasons. First, any philosophy of self-improvement or self-help that rests on ageless, tested wisdom of the past will give central importance to willpower and reason. Aristotle and his descendants the Stoics were some of the first to write about overcoming obstacles in life using reason and the power of our own wills. Bennett even write in his book how others may promise you techniques that will make hard work easier, but he rightly and harshly reproaches the reader for their foolishness in thinking that any hard task can be anything but hard. Realizing that self-improvement is hard, and that there are no short-cuts, is the most important point a person can embrace who is on the verge of beginning such an endeavor. The Stoics also realized that self-perfection was nothing but a long, hard road of constant self-checking, self-doubt and brutal honesty about oneself. That is one reason why the mention of such Stoics is not surprising. The second reason I was not surprised was that the Stoics made something of a comeback around this time. The influence is evident in similar self-improvement works of the Industrial Revolution by Samuel Smiles (Self-help (1859), Character (1871), Thrift (1875), Duty (1880)) and William George Jordan (The Majesty of Calmness (1900), The Kingship of Self Control (?), etc.). None of these works sugar-coats self-improvement like authors do now. All state clearly that there are no easy routes to improving oneself, and that self-improvement and improvement of character is a lifelong process until our dying breathe. I have read many self-help books, but have abandoned modern ones for these older ones for many reasons, the above being just one.

Authors at this time realized that life was a struggle, any way you looked at it, with little rest stops up the mountain to pause briefly and enjoy some of the fruits of our hardships. In that sense, their philosophy and style of writing is far more reflective of real life than all of the wishy-washy New Agey self-help bores that stock the shelves today. None of them, including Covey and similar business authors have absolutely NOTHING new to say that hasn't been covered by these men or later men like Carnegie and Napoleon Hill (commissioned by Carnegie to research and write his books). And in fact, theirs is a watered down version of these past authors, with none of the grit to get you through hard times. These past authors integrated Stoic ideas into their work, because only a Stoic, resilient mindset could brace against the many dramatic changes in society at the times due to industrialization and all the wars magnified by the technical revolution and trials people experienced during those times. Is it no wonder that modern readers addicted to self-help books continue to read through the whole stack still unfulfilled and still no closer to where they want to be in life?

I therefore recommend this book, as well as those by the authors I mentioned above. Things could get a little bumpy for Americans in the 21st century. All of the pampered, upper-middle-class self-help philosophies will be trampled underneath when the $%%#$ hits the fan and the whole materially-abundant superstructure that sustains the disappearing middle-class lifestyle collapses. In hard times, only philosophies embraced by those who have seen dark, trying times can be relied on. The Stoics, and their 19th-century revisitors (the guys above) will be a strong pillar to brace against.

Rare is the book that stands the test of time. Rarer still is the book that can be read multiple times and still be engaging. This is decidedly one of those books. Each time I pull it off the shelf, I find once again how current it is, how useful, and also entertaining. Bennett is a pleasure to read and very insightful. I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone and everyone. You can find a short write-up on this and other related books of his online at Wikipedia.

Brilliant, funny, interesting book! One of my very favorities from childhood, and now my children love it. Highly recommend. Will stimulate your children's imaginations!

I bought this book at a library booksale last Saturday. What a find and a steal!! I bought the book because of its illustrations at first. When I first opened the book I was amazed to see how awesome the verses were too! They are just so funny and intelligent! You don't even need to see the pictures of these crazy birds to appreciate the verse written about them. I especially loved the "Glove Dove" near the end of the book. It reminded me of the Menacing Flying Glove in the movie "Yellow Submarine." I am a big fan of the Beatles and this book was very trippy, just like something they would create. These birds would fit right in with the Blue Meanies in Pepperland! I am hoping to become a teacher in the future and this would be an excellent book to include in a classroom. You could read the book and then have the kids make up their own bird from everyday household objects and write a poem about it!! Its just an all around awesome book, I wish I had seen it when I was little!!

When I was in elementary school, I can't recall which grade exactly, I found this book in the school library, or rather, for some reason, I recall it being in the office. Anyways, I absolutely LOVED it. I remember day after day skipping recess outside and instead going to the office reading this book. I was literally obssessed with it. I remember that it transported me into an alternate reality, a wonderful fantasy like world, the atmosphere was just magical. Something about the types of birds and the illustrations, it was like a whole other reality. This was about 15 years ago, and I just happened to find it at the library and it was a thrill going through it again. Amazingly, each time I turn a page, I remember it now again. I am definitely going to try to obtain a copy, but for some reason I remember it being larger when I was little, so I will probably go back to the school and see if I can buy the copy they have. Of course, maybe it just seemed larger back then, but anyays, I will get mysefl a copy. I would recommend it for anyone!

I like this book because of the Ice Cream Cone Coot and all of the other funny birds. My grandmom has a copy of this book and we read it whenever we come to her house. It was my mom's book when she was a little girl. And now it's my grandmom's book.

That's all.

I read this book when I was seven years old. At the time it was unlike anything I had ever read before. It has a touch of whimsy, magic and humor. The words rhyme and the illustrations are well done, which makes it a fun read. Best of all is the last page which still, for some reason, makes me say, "Awww. That's neat."

My uncle came to my home last week. He brought me an newspaper article about Rae and Desiray in the Palmdale's Antelope Valley Press. The first thing I noticed was Rae's smile, then the picture and story of the Organization Rae and Desiray are opening here in the near future.

I am a mother of a child who must face her perp in court. I looked everywhere for this book and my uncle was able to track a used on down for me.

My daughter is now 14. She has nightmares, panic attacks and is terrified to testify. Even though their book is graghic (as I read and cried for hours) I gave it to my daughter to read.

I had heard and seen their case years past, but had no idea they were still advocating. Although this book is shattering, shocking and at ttimes you don't want to read it, then you cannot stop reading it because of the way Rae wrote her past. She endured abuse, yes, but in her words "I wake everyday and I make sure I am not Zola." Her struggles to raise her children as a young single mom and the strength of her father, who helped not only Rae, but the family when their case became national.

I was so impressed that Rae wrote this book before someone else did and continue to write and advocate with her daughter. Desiray, my lord, what a triumph! Both traveled for years to pass bills, won awards world wide for thier work and still had to go to court and face the man who hurt this young child.

Last night my daughter finished the book. She asked me two things when she woke up this morning.

"Can I call Desiray? When is my court date and how can I work with them?"

The samething happened me me, Rae (if you read these), the night she read your book, you gave me my daughter back. With tears of joy, i say this to each and every victim, past, present and sadly the future to come, buy Inborn Justice, your life will change. This is the most powerful and moving book I have ever read. May god watch over all the sweet victims and find this book to their door-step. Please, please, please, don't pass up the oppertunity to survive and have a move on. Rae and Desiray did, my daughter and I am now.

How many woman read a book and leave their partners when they feel they have no where to go? One victim that I know of personally and could be millions if they read Inborn Justice. Our family has been trying to help my sister who was a victim of domestic violence. The children endured the sounds and watched the horror of DV just like Rae and her two sisters in the non fiction book that has brought our family peace for the holiday in twelve-years. I would leave pamphlets, numbers and mail her letters (my sister) regarding domestic violence in hopes she would leave her partner. The family was so tired of the many times she hid from us until her battered body with bruises and cuts faded to scars. Then one day while I was at work, a frantic call from my sister came in. My co-worker over heard my conversation and the next day she brought me her copy of Inbor Justice that she purchased at amazon.com Before I read the book, I read the reviews. I was overwhelmed I had not heard of this case and was eager to read it the following weekend. I began Inborn Justice that evening (could not wait until Saturday) and could not put it down. I was mesmorized by Rae's words and how she described her childhood of abuse. How Rae wrote her inner childs pain, suffering and fear was gripping and hypnotic. Poetically perfect for anyone interested in reading the true life account of a child who was not just a victim, but was a part of a deep seed cover up. From her thoughts of suicide at 9 to her attempted suicide at 11 Rae did not want to die due to depression, she could not handle he world she had to live in. Abuse. Molestation. Watching her mother allow her step-father abuse her. Her sisters torture and then turn a blinds eye when he beat and battered her mother. I related to Rae line by line as I watched my family endure the same abuse. I cried for the first time for my sister and her children. I was angry at her for allowing her children to possibly walk the path of Rae and her daughter Desiray, another review of it's own, is the product of a mothers heart. A mothers true love. A mother who did not become a statistic. A mother that embraced instead of rejected. Rae took the chance by exposing her life after Desiray, 12, went public for print and media when she was molested by her God Father. Desiray would not have been embraced if Rae had not stood strong and survived the years of abuse and a witness to the DV of her mother. I have to also praise the fact that Rae did not allow Desiray become another national headline case to use for attention. This young woman who agreed, after months of saying no to Desiray. After she contacted Attorney Gloria Allred to have her day in court and face her perpetrator, on her own, Rae finally agreed that Desiray was much stronger than she was at her age and knew Desiray had to use whatever tool she needd to fight back and not be a victim as she has, at the same age. Mother and daughter are not the typical Talk Show Tale of abuse. Inborn Justice is a must read for anyone who wants to see the real deal of abuse and DV. They held nothing back and I have read hundreds of books regarding this subject to help my sister gain the power to leave on her own. I gave her the book the next day. She went to a theater with a small light so she would not endure more abuse when she got home. She read the book through 3 movies and called the family to pick up her belongings with the police and her children at school. Thank you Rae and Desiray. You said Gloria Allred gave you your little girl back. Our family thanks you for giving us our family back. It had been almost a year since Inborn Justice came into our lives and changed what we felt was the impossible task of seeing our family together on holidays. If you do not know what to buy your friend, family or someone you know who needs inspiration and help due to abuse, buy Inborn Justice. Who cares what shape the book is in. Old or new you will walk away with the courage to stand on your own and make a difference in your life and the life of your children. Thank you Amazon for carrying this book and selling new and used copies of Inborn Justice. I would only hope that this book could be advertised better so women and families can find this book for someone they love or someone who wants to learn the truth of abuse without glazing over the depth and reality of this aweful cycle. Inborn Justice, Rae and Desiray's true life story, is truly Gods work and shines a light on a dark and evil path of wickedness that has to stop. The angels came out in numbers in a battle that often ends in grief and pain. Now that our path is lit, so will yours. No matter what your pain is, Rae and Desiray will change your life in the first few pages. I would give it 10 stars, but it is not an option. Buy one for yourself and gift a few more to those who need a kick in the head!

There are many books and motion pictures about family members. From good, bad and the ugly readers and movie buffs have seen it all. Pearl Harbor, Ali, Not Without My Daughter, Erin Brochovich and more.

Inborn Justice is the first book I have read from beginning to end and when I got to "Good Bye Debbie" I called everyone I knew and promised to pass it on.

Not everyone is a survivor, but 3-5 are. My copy of Inborn Justice (i just got back) is so worn out now that I have to purchase another one.

Our readers "Rose Readers Club" would like to invite Rae and Desiray to a private party in their honor.

Cheers, laughters, sadness, anger and then I crawled to the most spectacular ending a book about the tiumph of mother and daughter endured. Put this book on Oprah!

I know millions of woman will see abuse, domestic violence and raising their children in a whole new light after you get this book in the mail. Mothers: Pack, get your kids, walk, buse or dive as far as possible without looking back. Leave that life behind. Buy it read it and pass it on to a women's shelter.

Never in my life have I ever read such a powerful story about two very strong minded girls who suffered abuse, became a survivor and then literally changed the world! Rae's writing is purely poetic and shattering. Filled with suspence and the characters are real. This is one story that will make a motion picture in years to come. I read this book in one sitting. It had such an impact on my own life as a survivor that I am ready to face my own abuser, and transform my anger into a incredible bond with my own children beginning today! Tom Arnold did a spectacular job writing about the hero's Rae and Desiray. I could not have written it better myself. Now I am going to write the authors and thank her for taking all the darkness in my life and transforming it into a rainbow of love. A love for myself and survivors across the nation.

Read this book for the same reason you will listen to your favorite album, or root for your team, or look at a statue when on vacation...to see and admire what people are capable of. Rae is a hero, and I enjoyed reading about it. dominickolas@hotmail.com

Drumlish author strikes a chord with his memories of a Longford childhood
By Fergal Quinn - Reporter for the Longford Leader, Ireland.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A life becomes a great deal less ordinary when it is written down. Happily for the readers and fans of the new book by Arnold J Meagher he is well equipped to do just that.
Sound effects and extravagant hand movements accompany the words as he outlines some of the vivid memories contained in 'Ireland, my Ireland', his debut book of memoirs which skilfully weaves a colourful tapestry of Longford in times past.
The long since emigrated Drumlish native, was back home to do readings of 'Ireland, my Ireland' around the county last week. The book is about growing up in County Longford in the 40s and 50s and has been winning a growing band of admirers and fans.
"Readers make it worth while and it's very gratifying to get such positive feedback", he told the Longford Leader at the home of his cousin Sean Donnelly in Longford Town, where he is staying with his wife Jackie for the duration of his stay.
"It does seem to have brought back memories for people. One woman, who went to the same school as me and also emigrated said 'finishing the book was like leaving home again'".
His wife Jackie, with whom he now lives in Eufaula, Alabama was the principal driving force behind "Ireland, my Ireland, memories from the heartland" being written, says Arnold.
"It was a way of life that didn't exist anymore and he remembered it", Jackie explains, "I wanted our son to have a feeling for the life his father had in Ireland".
"Ireland my Ireland" took five years to finish, and after having been turned down by over 60 publishers, was finally published in 2003.
"The ones who turned me away would say `There's no controversy. There's no scandal. It won't sell'," says Arnold.
"Then Publish America, got back to me with similar concerns, and asked me to write and tell them why my book is different.
"I told them the Irish memoirs I had read were all about dysfunctional families. All about city life. My book is about life in the country, in the heartland."
He felt the time was right to tell a different Irish story.
"There was a scatter of books after 'Angela's Ashes' did so well. Frank McCourt's a great writer and I'd never put him down but I wanted to tell another side of Irish family life that wasn't so dysfunctional. I think Irish people abroad are ready to hear a story they can be proud of, that they can feel good about."
Drumlish is in many ways, 'everytown', says Arnold, now 71 years old, and people who had grown up in rural Alabama got in touch and said they related to it.
Arnold's favourite moments , and the ones which kept the children to whom he was reading to last week enraptured is the account of the football match, the banshee and making hay.
"Tea in the meadow was better than anything from Harrods in London! You'd be picking out the grass hoppers, but the older men, who were not so patient, would simply blow them to one side and gulp it down," he says.
Ireland, my Ireland', reads deceptively simply off the page. But to achieve such a flow was no accident. For Arnold, the writing process was slow and rather painstaking, involving lots of rewriting, sessions of recalling memories and jotting them down, before trying to connect them all together. Ann Donnelly, Sean's wife, was also a help in getting the details Arnold wanted.
"Reading it aloud is an essential part of the distilling process.
To Jackie, or even to myself. You never knew how a sentence was until you heard it aloud," he explains.
"The Banshee concept was hard. I wondered how I'd get across the idea on the page. Feeling dictates how the words flow. "
It's many years since 1957 when Arnold left Longford for America, after having been ordained as a priest. He was stationed in Sacramento for 15 years.
The story of his leaving the priesthood is one which he is admirably frank about. Arnold had his doubts about the issue of celibacy, even having written a celebrated article, anonymously, in the National Catholic Reporter.
"My attitude was that celibacy is a gift that not all priests have, so it should not be expected of every priest," he says.
"I did not doubt my vocation so much but I looked around me and more and more came to realize that I did not want to grow old alone."
When he met Jackie he knew that the celibate life was not for him.
"I met Jackie and fell in love with her and got the reluctant permission from the church to leave the priesthood." Arnold has no regrets on the route his life took. "They were fifteen great years. I was a good priest, in good standing until I left of course. "
The Longford man came late to writing creatively but he's certainly used to writing on other levels. He is exceptionally well educated having done a PHD on 'Chinese Emigration to Latin America', a formidable work which is recognised as one of the best on the subject.
On leaving the priesthood, he set up a company 'Best Writing' which write and phrase things for companies for everything from brochures to proposals for Government Contracts. Words have been his trade for a long time.
Arnold has been a fairly regular visitor to these shores since going abroad especially when his parents Arnold and May, the former a policeman, and the latter a school teacher were alive.
His mother May taught at Gaigue school for 41 years while his father joined the Gardai when they were first being formed at the age of 18.
Arnold and his eight siblings committed after their parents died to having a reunion every four or five years rotating between Ireland, England, where three of them were and the US where another three were.
The ability to write was always latent in him, but Arnold admits that he couldn't have written the same book as he did, had he remained living here. "Distance lends enchantment to the view. The distance in time and geography coloured my writing to an extent", he explains.
"And his appreciation too," Jackie adds.
Of course it's not all fun and light. There are fears and unpleasantness, the dentist, the sometimes cruel school master, the fear of the dead and the little people. But it's all written in an engaging, light style that the reader can almost hum along to.
"The little people I believed in unquestionably as a child, as I did God I suppose. My guardian angels were not as real to me as ghosts were," he recalls.
"The children in the school where I was reading asked me about the Banshee. 'Was it real?' I said it was real in my mind, not on the outside. They understood the concept very well."
He's happy and comfortable with immense change that this little island has undergone in the years since he was a boy.
"Each time I come back I see more progress, more flowers, more nice houses. It's uplifting for me to see this happen and I'd love to have shared in that success," he says.
The book is selling steadily, mostly through word of mouth, and with Arnold essentially publishing it himself. He has been one of the best sellers in the Longford Bookshop over the last year. It's a good start, he says. "People who read it seem to like it. That's the main thing."
Will a young fellow growing up in Longford today, have as distinctive and individual a story to tell if he sits down in 60 years I ask him.
"Absolutely!" he says with conviction.
"Since I wrote the book, I have come to the conclusion that there's one book in everybody's life. A life story is unique, like a fingerprint, and no-one else can write it. It's the detail that makes it come alive and blossom."

Arnold Meagher's memoir awakened for this Longford native golden memories of her youth. A must read!

Arnold Meagher has written a charming look back at his years growing up in the middle of the Twentieth Century before the Celtic Tiger reshaped his homeland. Arnold's Ireland is a country of small villages, rural landscapes, and a priest ridden school system. As a child, Meagher found happiness in the small features of nature and society. On his grandmother's farm where he helped his uncle with farm chores, he was an inveterate birdwatcher, made pets of many farm animals, loved the smell of hay, celebrated feast days with the neighbors, and surreptitiously eavesdropped on the same neighbors who many nights appeared at his grandmothers to sit before her peat fire and tell tales of the little people.

Meagher's reminiscences relate a timeless cycle of century-old rituals and work in the Emerald Isle. While the official account of Ireland's history is poignant and sad, Meagher's corner of Ireland was full of light, playfulness, and a tightly-knit large family. A pleasure to read!

Wholly engaging and healing for even the hardest of heart. Arnold J. Meagher has provided this hard-hearted German emigrant refugee a glimpse into the heart of youth growing up anywhere in this world, a wee bit of an "Everyman's" experience. Well done, Mr. Meagher. Your pages are a balm for all souls everywhere who have the courage and wisdom to revisit their childhood experience in search of the whole person in a broken world. Your healing insights and reflective prayer has healed us all who read your book, Ireland, MY Ireland. I shall revisit your pages often. I hope you are not done sharing your beautiful soul in writing. I would love to hear the story of an Irish immigrant and Irish-American. Welcome to the hall of Literary Gems.

Dear Arnold:
I just finished reading your book and for the first time in my life, I am writing to the author of a book I had read. It took me back so deeply that I was again living those years and I hated reaching the end because I had to leave home again.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book and the fact that you had the facts exactly as I remembered them and you used the real names of people that I knew, even though some of them were just on the edge of my recollections, made it so much more interesting.

Although I did NOT like the way they allowed Leo to roam the streets (Ack!! THAT is DANGEROUS nowadays!!!), I thoroughly enjoyed the outpouring of love and affection that this church and its members (including the childrens!!) had for its kitty, all through its life!!!

And the fact that the former pastor traveled 100 miles to be back for the service and burial, to honor Leo when Leo passed on -- THAT is love -- far and above that which most churches usually show to animals (such as the "love" shown to a poor cat who walked into another (different, not in that same area) church one day and was kicked out (literally) by a member of man"KIND" (not!!!)

The illustrations are BEAUTIFUL too.

Save a life, spay/neuter and adopt a pet -- a pet is for life -- and, PLEASE - be a responsible pet "owner".

This book was given to me to read to my granddaughter after my special cat passed away. My 7 year old granddaughter asked if cats go to heaven. This story shows all the love that this cat has given and the only logical conclusion is that they do go to heaven.

My Grade three class thoroughly enjoyed the story of Leo. We were doing a unit on cats and Leo's story was one of the highlights. An excellent book.

A recent survey found that the death of a pet is one of the times when children most want to talk to clergy---rivalled only by divorce. This book asks some difficult questions (what is the church? how do we deal with death?) and offers, in return, God's love. Churches which celebrate the Feast of St. Francis could have someone read it out loud after the service and lead a discussion. This lovely story will appeal to all ages.

This book is wonderful for anyone who's ever had and loved a cat. It does deal with death, and is very sad at the end. A great way to help a child deal with the death of a pet.

To read Van Gogh's letters is to come as close to sitting aside this world class artist as possible. I dare say, he wrote almost as good as he painted--his passion verily jumps off the page.

In this addition, we are treated to an excellent selection of Van Gogh's letters (mainly to his brother Theo) from each seminal period in his extraordinary life. In between the sections, the editor provides us with fascinating details into the travails of Van Gogh's personal life.

Alongside Rilke's Letters to a Young Poet, this collection is essential reading for all artists.

Van Gogh is a tremendously powerful letter- writer. In these letters mostly written to his brother we see a great , suffering , soul, a devoted artist tormented and striving. This may all sound like 'cliche' but Van Gogh is perhaps the most conspicuous example of the cliche of the suffering , rejected in- his- life artist who knows great recognition only after death.
Van Gogh is a person of great intelligence, and of a very strong conscience. There are no greater letters I think ever written by an artist.And while they may be filled with a troubled and agonized spirit they too have a great richness of feeling and appreciation of life.

I bought this book several years ago in a college bookstore. How fortunate these students were to have been able to read and discuss this with others! I have had a long interest in Van Gogh and found this book to be fascinating, an almost voyeuristic look into his short life. I am glad to see that it is available * * and would hope that people now seeing the traveling Van Gogh portraiture exhibit might read it.

De Leeuw has compiled letters covering over 25 years of Van Gogh's life, letters that offer the reader an intimate look into the artist's thoughts and emotions. He writes about his friendships, his family, his attempts at love affairs, his religious beliefs and questions, and most importantly, about his art. These letters reveal him as anything but the anti-social person often portrayed in the past, with the ones about his relationship with his brother Theo being particularly touching.

Van Gogh was a prolific correspondent and an absolutely wonderful writer. His prose is remarkable--he could have been a writer as well as an artist. These letters shed light on the inner thoughts and the inspiration for his art and show him as a person of great passion and compassion.

this collection of van gogh's letters to his brother Theo both captivated me and broke my heart. Such an intimate look into the vulnerability of the artistic soul. Those who appreciate the artistic process will love this collection of letters. You don't need to be an admirer of Van Gogh's to appreciate this; but you will walk away admiring the man behind the sunflowers.

A very fine collection of the letters, with multiple sides of VVG revealed. To read a collection of letters by an artist whose work you know very well is to invite yourself to take a look at him as a person. As a person, I found that I liked him best in these letters when he was struggling with his religion, his art, and his purpose. I'm glad that Roskill didn't make a selection that focused solely on the more famous and theatrical depressions.

I don't agree that this work reveals Van Gogh as a writer. For me, they definitely confirmed his status as a painter. At his best in these letters, he's painting with words.

Which doesn't make it a less interesting read. I found this a good adjunct to taking a look at the work again, it added an extra dimension to experiencing him as a painter.

Well worth the time it takes.

I had this book when I was younger- I'm 20 now. I was thinking about a story I read when I was younger about a couple who moved a mountian (or at least thought they did). I also remembered the Reading Rainbow rendition. I searched all over the Internet for the title because I no longer have it, or can't find it. Then I remembered it was a Scholastics! book. Here it is 10+ years later and I still want to read it.

Ming Lo and his wife love their home, but not that their house is at the bottom of a big mountain, which caused them nothing but unhappiness. Their roof always had holes from falling rock. It rained often under the mountain and with a roof full of holes it meant their rooms where damp and when the sun did shine it's warmth warmed the house and it was difficult to grow anything.

One day Ming Lo's wife told him he must move the mountain so that they may enjoy their house in peace. Ming lo replies that he's just man, how can he move a mountain? Ming Lo's wife knows of a wise man who lives in the village and tells him he should go and ask this wise man. And so Ming Lo does. Each time doing exactly as the wise man tells him and each time the mountain did not move. Finally the wise man told Ming that he must take his house apart stick by stick .They would carry these bundles in their arms and on their heads, and then face the mountain and close their eyes. Next the wise man said you must dance the dance of the moving mountain. You must do this for many hours and when you open your eyes you will see the mountain has moved. So Ming Lo and his wife did as they where told and when they opened their eyes... the mountain dance had worked and the mountain was now far away!

Arnold Lobel has a beautiful book with soft colored drawing! A great book to have as part of your childs' library.

what I liked about the book was that it was kind of funny. Because ming lo had to go back and forth to his house and to the wise man .But the wise man always told the wrong thin like to give some bread because the mountain might be hungry and thats why it didn't move.And also like to hit the montain with
wood and make alot of noise, but at the end the wise man told
ming lo to take all his stuff far from the mountain and they
were never have problem with the mountain agin.

I first heard this story being read to my fifth grade class. It was a story that I would never forget because it was both hilarious and detailed. Here I am, years later buying a copy for my unborn child to enjoy when she comes into the world..

Ming Lo and his wife live next to a mountain. The mountain constantly drops rocks on their house; clouds form at the peak and rain falls on their house (through the holes the rocks have already made) and it blocks the sun. Eventually, they have had enough!!

Ming Lo's wife sends him off to the village wise man that first tells them to run at the mountain with a large pole-this will knock the mountain far away. Of course, it doesn't work, so Ming Lo returns to the wise man many times to ask his advice. Each suggestion grows more and more silly until the last one that actually works!!

Mr. Label is most well known for his Frog and Toad books. The illustration style is similar with "Ming Lo", sharing similar muted colors but with softer outlines. The pictures highlight the foolishness of Ming Lo and his wife as they bang pots and pans at the mountain to scare it away or bring food to the summit to appease the mountain god. The wise man is an amusing character, sitting under a small pagoda in purple robes smoking a pipe (he produces more and more smoke each time that Ming Lo comes to ask him questions, to the point that he can barely be seen).

The story is easy to read and fun without being ridiculous. It's an excellent book for beginning readers and will keep children interested as they read on to find out what Ming Lo and his wife will be up to next! Highly recommended.