Literature Books

This book is sweet and educational. It is one of our favorites to read.

An absolute treasure! Emily is adorable and Simon James perfectly captures childhood innocence and love for a special friend.

This is an all time favorite in our preschool. Had trouble finding it until now. Great service. Good book.

Wow! This book serves a plethora of functions... From the very young they will be enchanted with the beautifully jewel toned colours on the pages... If your child likes ocean animals they will learn all about whales in this beautifully told tale of the growing bond between a young student and her teacher as Mr. Blueberry teaches and corrects her misconceptions of whales habits and habitats. It is a great vehicle to use in the classroom to teach letter writing, writing notebook, and several other writing workshop minilessons. Great literacy selection... My son who is 6 as well as my class of aged 10 and 11 year olds adore this book on many different levels... ;)

I've been using this book with my kindergarten and first grade to introduce text illustration. They absolutely love it. I get applause every time I read it.

The illustrations are beautiful watercolors inspired by Emily's view of what is going on in her back yard.

My favorite part of the book is that readers are not told conclusively whether there was actually a whale in Emily's pond. It preserves a bit of the magic of believing that Arthur the whale was real.

A wonderful book for boys and girls.

I think deconstruction is important but have difficulty understanding it. This book is the only lucid explanation I've seen of it's basic principles.

If you are beginning to read derrida, this book will be very helpful. Now if they only made one for Judith Butler! (Skip the Foucault, his theories are not that complex.)

Derrida is my favorite philosopher. I don't think that his 'Deconstruction' is holistic necessarily but the gist of it explains the inherent problems of doing philosophy better then anything else I've read.

Unlike the greats of Science who simplify complex ideas (i.e..Stephen Hawking, Richard Feynman), the guru's of philosophy take fairly straight-forward ideas and shroud them with such mysterious sounding proprietary language that their work becomes nearly impossible to decipher. Derrida is no exception. This is a shame because his underlying message is brilliant...and really not not all that abstract.

So until philosophers realize that less words does not directly translate to less intelligence, we should be very glad to have commentators like Jim Powell around.

"Derrida For Beginners" concentrates on developing the key concept of "differance" and defining the necessary Derridian terminology used to communicate its meaning. The book clearly defines, "binary opposites", "texts", "logocentricism" etc.. and has plenty of diagram's to help you get the idea. While I can't say the artwork did much for me, the cartoon setting does force the message to be carried accross succinctly...no babling. The first book I read after failing miserably to tackle "Of Grammatology" was "Derrida" by Christopher Norris. While his was an excellent introduction..I will say that after I read "Derrida for Beginners" I went back and read most of Norris' book again and got a lot more out of it. Try this: read "Derrida for Beginners" as many times as needed until you have all the words in bold print at your fingertips..then, read Norris' book "Derrida". With this few hours of investment, do some online searches and read some of the commentaries and criticism of Derrida. You will be surprised at how badly he is misunderstood by so many who have studied him a lot more then you, and should feel good about your knowledge in comparisom. Of course you then need to get humble again so start reading "Of Grammatology". :)

This book is concerned with making accessible the often inaccessible Derrida. Derrida's philosophy will help you develop a healthy sensibility and cynicism for 'knowledge' and 'representation.'
Do not be fooled by the 'for beginners' title; it is not simply an introduction, it is a hands-on intepretation of several his 'major' works. The book has any value for anyone interested in learning about the world in which we live.

This book is concerned with making accessible the often inaccessible Derrida. Derrida's philosophy will help you develop a healthy sensibility and cynicism for 'knowledge' and 'representation.'
Do not be fooled by the 'for beginners' title; it is not simply an introduction, it is a hands-on intepretation of several his 'major' works. The book has any value for anyone interested in learning about the world in which we live.

I loved this book. It kept me on edge from start to finish. It keeps you wanting more. Wondering what will happen next. Finished this book in a day and a half.

My copy of this book was only 192 pages and I did not expect it to be packed from cover to cover with all of the drama, mystery, laughs, erotic and emotional heart pulling scenes. I read it in a few hours and had to stop myself from laughing and talking out loud while my husband was sleeping while I was reading. Brian W. Smith definitely did not disappoint with Donna's Dilemma. He is unquestionably in tune with the feminine prespective displayed in the character Donna and the camaraderie between her and her friends. I also enjoyed the vast and diverse characters, you have thugs, homosexuals, dead beat dads, single mothers, and so many personalities in this book. I am so happy my book club, Phenomenal Women Book Club is reading 2 of Mr. Smith's books this July. After reading Donna's Dilemma I couldn't wait to share my opinion and dive into our second book The S.W.A.P. Game. [...]

All I can say is wow! This book was off the chain. I started reading this book and I couldn't put it down. Brian really outdid hisself with this book. If you would like to read something that will keep your attention please read Donna's Dilemma.

I read DD within 3 hours of starting the book! I loved it!! I thought I had figured out the ending but was definitely surprised. A sequel is a must...want to know what happened with the other characters. Donna and Michael's love scenes were steamy.

Donna Ledbetter is a divorced woman with two children trying to get on with her life. Her mother and best friend are in a tragic accident that leaves her mother's friend in a coma. Her mother dies and Donna's life changes instantly. Her ex-husband, Nathan, doesn't make things better bringing more problems to Donna's plate. She then meets a new guy, Michael, who steps in to make changes.

When the best friend awakes from her coma, all the answers to Donna's problems unravel. This is one of the best books read this year and I will continue to read more of Brian W. Smith's books in the future. Brian W. Smith has not failed me yet with another excellent book, "Donna's Dilemma." This book is filed with drama from the beginning to the end.

Reviewed by: Tekisha

Mama's Lies-Daddy's Pain
S.W.A.P. Game

The book shows you step by step how to draw cars.

This is a helpful book whether you are drawing for the first time or have been doing it for years!

It goes from simple shapes and line structure all the way through shading and adding detail.

Definitely a must for anyone who wants to add cars to their visual story telling or even an automotive design student.

Just remember to be patient with this book.

It takes a while to get the hang of it.

Once you do, you'll be fine!

This was a 9th Birthday present for my nephew. It kept him entertained for hours! He loved the book and still uses it almost daily after 8 months.

This book has many examples of step-by-step drawings. The only drawback might be that there is very little explanation. You learn mainly by copying the examples. It has a great selection of different cool cars and vehicles to draw. Equally good for young teens or adults.

I have the 1993 publication of this book, and it's amazing. It teaches you how to draw cars in general, not just the ones shown in the book.

Hi!!The book is wonderful for beginers.It helps you get the basic right.Almost all aspect are covered so that you can start sketching cars on your own like side view,3d view.Gives detail information for drawing tyres.This book has helped me a lot and I would recommend this book to everyone without any hesitation.

Superb. Simply. Great literature. The character of John, the main character's friend was the best and most gratifying of all. Please obtain and let your eyes go to work. To think the author died short of fifty. Man, we get burned sometimes.

I am thilled to see this book being available in hardcover and paperback as well. I read this book about ten years ago and I read it regularly every couple of years. The story is very compelling and the scene of the protagonist walking home through a run-down community is a classic of American literature.

What this book and O'Connor's other novel, The Last Hurrah, apart is the writing. In an era where writers seem to challenge one another to be more like Faukner and less comprehensible to the average man, O'Connor wrote very well and his language is beautiful. From this fine prose arises really deep characters which are flawed and so easily identifiable to us all.

I found this to be a wonderful novel and a great pleasure to read. I have been trying to find this for years and could not in any bookstore. While this could not translate to the movies as easily as Last Hurrah, I found this to be so much more interesting. A truly Catholic novel, it is a joy to find something that takes spiritual issues seriously and yet is hardly preachy. And if you are Irish, the dialogues of the "friends" of the family will make you laugh outloud while reading. This brought back the charms and frustrations of my childhood and my own family of Irish aunts and uncles. Long but worth the effort. A great find.

As I was reading THE EDGE OF SADNESS, I couldn't help but think that in 1961, when this Pulitzer Prize winning novel was published, it must have been rather controversial. It dealt with the humanity of priests, noting flaws but in a respectful manner. While some writers such as Georges Bernanos dealt with such issues in his DIARY OF A COUNTRY PRIEST, American audiences were still used to the Hollywood Big Screen concoctions of Spencer Tracy--Father Flanagan/Bing Crosby--Father O'Malley models of priesthood. While the priest in THE EDGE OF SADNESS may be worthy of the warmth and love given to his movie counterparts, he's hardly perfect.

The novel tells the story of an alcoholic priest named Hugh Kennedy beginning again in ministry in an older, run down parish. Readers get a sense he's not the priest he once was, and throughout the novel we learn of his early ministry, the ramifications of the death of his father, the struggle with alcohol, and the loneliness that is a real part of his life. The book is written in the first person, and we hear the story of his life as he tells of his rekindling of a friendship with the Carmody family: Charlie, the patriarch, his son John the priest, Dan, the ne'er do well, Helen, the outspoken sister married to a doctor and Mary, the daughter who remains at home to care for the aging but still independent and at times ruthless Charlie. We also meet a host of minor characters: Helen's husband Frank, their son and daughter-in-law Ted and Anne, Charlie's longtime friends P.J. and Bucky, Roy, the maintenance man who works at Fr. Kennedy's church, and Fr. Stanley Danowski, the endearing yet naïve and at time nerdy young curate at Fr. Kennedy's parish. As the events of the novel unfold, we see changes in Fr. Kennedy as he discovers his love for God and his vocation.

This is an older style novel in many ways. O'Connor is not short on words and he gives a number of details, yet the novel flows and is a fast read for a volume of nearly 650 pages. The issues of struggles in priesthood, vitality of parishes, older priest verses younger priest, unstated yet real competition between clergy people, and a hunger for God are all present in this book. In some ways if some historical details were changed in the book, it could be about modern day Catholic life. Perhaps this is the power of this book and why it can seem timeless. While it tells a story from an earlier day, it's not an invitation for nostalgia, at least for Catholic readers. Instead it will remind readers of what truly matters in life: the importance of faith, and the importance of having people who love us and people we love in return. While it may seem dated in some ways, readers will agree that the editors at Loyola Press were correct in reissuing this book as a classic.

This simple but beautiful bittersweet story of life among the Irish-American citizens of an unnamed eastern city is a joyful and beguiling tale. O'Connor's characterizations and dialogues are engaging and from my personal experience utterly authentic. I feel as though I have met all the main chacters and could give them names among family and acquaintances. The set piece of Father Kennedy' battle with alcoholism is tastefully done.

This book for a first timer was excellent. Single mothers need to screen their dates! Outstanding read. Can't wait for something new from this author.

Dominga had thought she found the love of her life with her new husband. James was a Dr. but he was also a sick pedophile who fed on the sickness of molesting young children, even one as young as the age of two. Along with the above mentioned children, he began sexually abusing his step-daughter Olivia at the age of just five years old.

He told Olivia that Even Numbers was a game, a game that was just to be between them and NO ONE could ever know. He would reward her with gifts after each game, as the years progressed so did the height of sexual activity. At age thirteen Olivia ends up pregnant... at the same time as her mother; from the same man.

Dominga is so blind, she does not see or notice anything going on between the two, she also has no idea what he does when he cruises the town at night; he's searching for more needy single women with little girls at home.

Barbara Grovener's book, Even Numbers is told from the "fly on the wall" perspective, this book tells about the all to real happenings of sexual predators and the victims. Sexual molestation and abuse is a huge issue in this world, and Ms. Grovener only tells you the tale of one family but in reality there are uncountable numbers that still have witnessed this in their lives. James is a sick man, but it would not be the guilt that killed him, it would be something else. Sometimes the story was overly detailed but it was still a book that I couldn't put down. 4 Hearts

I must say that Even Numbers is a wake up call! The reader is left wondering, did this mother know her child was being molested but turned a blind eye in order to maintain her way of life. Did she sacrifice her daughter's virtue and peace of mind for her own materialistic pleasures?

Barbara Grovner wrote an excellent story that will appeal to mothers and youth alike. I recommend this book be read and thoroughly discussed at dinner tables all over the world because we have to educate our kids and let them know that no matter what the abuser says, TELL ME or SOMEONE if you're being hurt! No amount of money or material wealth is worth your virtue.

I am looking for this book on the big screen with Halle in the role of Dominga! Thanks for a great read, Barbara!

A man who touches a little girl deserves to be in jail because that is wrong. Olivia should have told on him right away but because she didn't James went on with life, touching other little girls. The fact that Olivia had to live with her stepfather touching her and her mother not believing her affects Olivia for the rest of her life.

I enjoyed reading this book. I will talk to my friends about it!

Shrelle Herman in South Georgia

Haven't you always wanted to be a fly on the wall to witness what was going on in your neighbor's house? Well, EVEN NUMBERS gives you the insight on the story from the fly's perspective. Dominga the youngest of 11 didn't have the opportunity to truly bond with her siblings because of the early and untimely death of her parents. The loss of her parents plunged her into a deep depression leaving her open to abuse, low self-esteem and teenage pregnancy. An early marriage proved unsuccessful, leaving her alone to raise her daughter, Olivia.

Years later she was met James. He was a doctor that used his influence, money and power to inflict his sexual desires on unsuspecting females. Dominga quickly fell in love and married James. Her life changed dramatically - a fancy home, freedom to live the good life, and weekly visits to salon. Olivia and James would form a unique relationship by playing a unique card game every Saturday - the game was EVEN NUMBERS...

The subject of molestation is rarely discussed and this unique view of storytelling is eye opening. The character interaction displays the manipulation of the predator and the innocence of the abused. This is a must read for anyone that cares for children. EVEN NUMBERS was a quick read and reminds this reviewer of a novella rather than a novel. The addition of facts, definitions, and web sites added to the importance of this subject matter. I applaud Grovner for tackling a tough topic with a new bold flavor.

Reviewed by:
Deltareviewer
Reviewing for Real Page Turners

Far Above Rubies, by Cynthia Polansky,(ISBN978-0-9773893-3-7)is a brilliant literary historical fiction narrative. Polansky has given tribute to Sofie Mecklenberg Rijnfeld Davidson, a selfless woman of incredible strength. The novel is based on the women known by her niece as Tante Soof. Sofie was a Polish Jew who married a man with six wonderful girls. Although not their biological children, she became their mother and loved them as if she had given birth to them. So much so that when her six girls were summoned to report for resettlement, Sofie decided she could not let them go alone. Sophie made a mother's sacrifice to her six stepdaughters, selfish and with love. She willingly accepted deportation and yet had to persuade the SS to take her. The horrors of Auschwitz told through the eyes of Sophie are real. This unflinching women who faced up to the SS, survived the atrocities of this death camp even though at times she jeopardized her own life to help her daughters and other prisoners. Tante Soof lived life with dignity and an ability to inspire hope in hundreds who would not live another day. You will feel an inspirational uplift unmatched when you read this moving memoir who Polansky quotes from Proverbs, "A woman of valor who can find? For her price is far above rubies." You will be compelled to devour this book in one sitting, so plan ahead.

I purchased this book from you (Cynthia) at Carroll Community College and I am so glad I did. I don't know where it is at the moment because I am Jewish and it is being passed around my family right now!!! What a beautiful, inspiring story. I read it in I think 2-3 hours. I couldn't put it down. How amazing was this woman. I thank you for writing something that I could read and really feel. This is something my children will read when they are older...

5.0 out of 5 stars Far Above Rubies, May 12, 2008

Just finished 'Far Above Rubies'. Oh my! What an incredible (as in not untrue but amazing) tale and what a wonderful way to bring history alive. Beautifully and tactfully and impressively written. Thank you so much for writing Sofie's story. This book should be in every library and every school all over the world. Can we learn from history? One would hope. But it appears not. This book might be just the tonic to make a difference.
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The novel Far Above Rubies is more than amazing because it's based on a true story that transcends expectations. Straight forwardly written by Cynthia Polansky, the character of Tante Soof comes alive because of the simplicity of the narrative. This courageous Dutch woman who chose to accompany her six step-daughters to Auschwitz will haunt you in an uplifting way. It's the little moments that surprise and keep you reading. When Mirjam, one of the daughters, writes: "I believe in the sun even when it is not shining,/I believe in love even when not feeling it,/I believe in God even when God is silent." God may be silent but Sofie Rijnfeld isn't. She speaks to our hearts. That has to be God. Thank you forever for writing this horrifically uplifting story about the human spirit. Rosalind Lacy MacLennan, a theater reviewer, mother and author as well.

Combining true facts with the harrowing experiences of one family brings the horror of the holocaust alive. Because we see how the family lived and loved before their world collapsed, made vivid by detailed story-telling, the often-asked question about why the Jews didn't fight back is skillfully answered. We read each incident with disbelief, wishing it could be undone, wishing it could be untrue, as certainly as those who suffered in the camps must have. Bringing the gruesome experience into our minds and hearts is the real gift of this book. The voice is honest and heartfelt and makes reading the unbearable compelling, because we keep hoping until the last page. This small book should be recommended reading in all high schools where Holocaust units are taught and read by anyone who is learning about what happened for the first time, but that does not exclude those who already know. Anyone can benefit from the story of hope and love so compassionately told here.

For me this was an amazing discovery. I read a review of it in a literary magazine in the waiting room of my optician and when I got home I immediately ordered it from Amazon.
What caught my eye in the review were the names of the inhabitants of the February House - Auden, Britten,McCullers... in that amazing year. I knew of their work individually but to read of them living under the same roof was a revelation.What a cauldron of creativity! All against the background of the war in Europe and the period leading up to Pearl Harbour.As I read the book I felt as though I were there. I hope that someone will make a documentary about it or better still a dramatised reconstruction. The two Truman Capote films have blazed the trail.

A friend just recommended this book to me and it's fabulous!!! I live in an artist bldg and it's nothing compared to the energy of Middagh Street. The book is a great read and the research is most impressive. I cannot wait to read the one she's writing about the Chelsea Hotel!

Thomas Wolf once famously said "only the dead know Brooklyn." There might be some truth in that, but some of us know Brooklyn, N.Y.,U.S.A., pretty well,and are still very much alive. Quite a few people are aware of Brooklyn's brownstone belt, that swath of historic houses stretching from the East River to Prospect Park and beyond. Many of these people would declare Brooklyn Heights the ultimate Brooklyn brownstone neighborhood. It's beautiful, and gets scenic views of Manhattan. It's got history galore--an important Revolutionary War battle was fought here;and it's been, and still is,home to a lot of well-known important people.

One little-known fact is that a number of celebrated people shared a house on Middagh Street, in 1940-41, right in the middle of the Second World War. That house, which came to be known as February House-- a number of its residents had February birthdays-- has long since been torn down to make room for the Promenade that provides storied views of Manhattan. But among occupants of February House were poet W.H.Auden, writer Carson McCullers, writers Jane and Paul Bowles,composer Benjamin Britten, and stripper Gypsy Rose Lee.

Writer Sherill Tippens has produced an interesting, pleasantly gossipy book about the house's residents and their accomplishments. Jane Bowles began "Two Serious Ladies," her only completed novel here. The young lesbian Carson McCullers had just tasted, at the age of 23, great success with her novel "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter." She began two other great successes, "The Member of the Wedding," and "The Ballad of the Sad Cafe," between drinking bouts, right here on Middagh Street.

Auden and Britten, both homosexual, but not involved with each other, were being raked over the coals at the time by the British press for choosing to sit out World War II in the U.S. But they were working: they collaborated on the opera "Paul Bunyan,"not critically well-received. Auden who continued to live in the Heights, on his own, to pursue his lifelong, unrequited love for the young American Chester Kallman, was working hard in the interstices of his personal soap opera: He produced "The Double Man" in February House. Britten produced "Peter Grimes;"considered one of the great masterpieces of 20th century opera. Meanwhile, he pursued his own personal soap opera: many critics believe this opera echoes developments with his partner, tenor Peter Pears, at the time.

The most unexpected resident of February House would have to be Gypsy Rose Lee, burlesque artiste. She was talked into joining the fun by George Davis, homosexual himself, fiction editor of "Harpers Bazaar" magazine, whose idea February House was, and who worked hard to keep it alive. Davis had published some of his own writing, but he was best known for the talented writers he kept on discovering.

In Gypsy Lee's case, she brought some money, a lot of common sense,and a cook to Middagh Street. The house's residents needed all the above. Her reward for her support: George Davis, great editor, midwifed her book, "The G-String Murders," a publishing sensation for many years.

George Davis continued to live at 7 Middaagh Street after its time as an artistic commune had passed. After Kurt Weill's death, Davis married his widow, Lotte Lenya, and devoted his life to introducing America to Weill's great works,such as "Three Penny Opera,"from which we get "Mack the Knife."

There are some informative photographs, extensive notes and acknowledgements in February House. Tippins evidently did a lot of primary research, but she managed to organize the voluminous results in a very readable style. February House well rewards the reader.

Sherill Tippins has done an amazing job of finding the significant narrative threads in the chaotic convergence of creative lives that occurred in the months before Pearl Harbor when Harper's Bazaar editor George Davis and British expatriate poet W.H. Auden rented a brownstone on 7 Middagh Street in Brooklyn Heights and actively recruited other creative artists to live with them. Among the co-renters were Carson McCullers who had recently published her highly acclaimed first novel, "The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter," soon-to-be famous British composer Benjamin Britten and his parnter, singer Peter Pears, unpublished novelists Paul and Jane Bowles, Broadway set designer Oliver Smith, writer Richard Wright and his wife, and burlesque sensation Gypsy Rose Lee, who it turns out was the most reliable in the rent-paying department and joined the little "creative commune" on the condition that she could bring her own cook and maid. Her fiscal reliability and drive along with Auden's willingness to take on the unpleasant role of house disciplinarian (collecting rent and other "dues" and establishing and enforcing many house rules) are probably sufficient explanation for why this menage managed to last the two or three years it did.

Tippins wisely focuses her attention on the leading figures (without neglecting to name the many others who partied but did not reside at 7 Middagh--Salvador and Gala Dali, Lincoln Kirstein, George Balanchine, Erika Mann and her brothers Klaus and Golo, to name a few). One passer-through, Anais Nin, christened the dwelling "February House" because so many of the residents had February birthdays. Tippins has a good knowledge of the works of these creative people and is able to see how one of the artists intentionally or inadvertantly influenced a subsequent work of one of his or her co-residents. For example, McCullers was struggling with the novel that would later become "The Member of the Wedding" when she was able to appropriate an experience from Chester Kallman's childhood to explain her heroine's profound sense of alienation and abandonment (Kallman was Auden's lover).

Tippins other great achievement here was her ability to slice through history and palpably recreate the political atmosphere in pre-war New York and to do so in a way that reflects on both British and US perspectives. She takes a good hard look at the criticism expatriates like Auden, Christopher Isherwood, Britten, and Pears faced from the British press and fellow artists who chose to remain in Great Britian during the war. She is similarly insightful in her analysis of the role the Mann family had in trying to get an apathetic America to respond to the European crisis. A lesser writer might not have bothered with these issues and chosen to report only the salacious and saleable anecdotes about the goings-on of the February House residents.

I highly recommend this book to anyone even passingly interested in one of the artists who lived at 7 Middagh Street (you're sure to learn something new), to anyone who ever wondered how great works of art come about, or to anyone interested in knowing how history and art intersect. I'm sure I'm going to use Tippins's Selecte Bibliography as a basis for future Amazon.com purchases.

Sherill Tippins' volume fills a tantalizing gap that fans of Auden, McCullers, Britten, and Gypsy Rose Lee have long wished could be filled. Most overdue is Tippins' portrait of George Davis: failed literary wunderkind; editor extraordinaire (who "discovered" McCullers and got much-needed writing jobs for her and W. H. Auden in the lean months before Pearl Harbor); husband to Lotte Lenya and the catalyst that re-invented her for American audiences in Marc Blitzstein's staging of Weill's "Threepenny Opera"--the list goes on and on. Davis and Auden are central to Tippins' account and to the amazing colony of artists who called 7 Middagh Street in Brooklyn Heights their home in 1940-41. But Tippins gives everyone in that circle his/her due. Her depictions of Auden's rocky romance with Chester Kallman, of Benjamin Britten's coming to terms with his artistic destiny in England, not America, and Gypsy Rose Lee's ability to charm and disarm everyone she met are more than engaging--they are extremely moving.

Tippins' research is exhaustive and impeccable, and she lets her characters speak naturally and eloquently. I could not put this book down and practically read it at one sitting. I was hungry for the kind of information Tippins delivered, and I finished the book with the deepest satisfaction. Gracefully written, carefully organized and researched, and extremely relevant: this book wins on all counts.

It was a timeless story.I was quite upset cause it wasn't all about horses.

This is a very good book. Although it features horses it is not completely about horses. It is a strange--in a good way--study into human nature, from Uncle's disturbing rage to Will's defiance.>>Summary<<Where will Christina fit in at Flambards, the once-prominent foxhunting stables? After riding a horse named Sweetbriar, she loves foxhunting, but life at Flambards isn't easy.}This book is excellent, for anyone. It is not a novel for children young than YA, for some scenes are mildly violent, and contains mature situtations. This is not to say the book is bad, it's just a warning. ;)...ps, I'm really 15, the adult form doesn't work.

I first read this trilogy 18 years ago, shortly after I had seen bits and pieces of the series of the same name on PBS, and I was unable to put it down. Although the books are geared towards young adults, do NOT let that hinder you--adults of any age will find these novels appealing because they are well-written, the characters are fully developed and engaging, and the storyline, with its triumphs and tragedies, is timeless. They are the stories of Christina, a young orphan who is sent to live with her uncle because she is an heiress and he needs her money to continue the lifestyle he is accustomed to living. The story progresses as Christina grows up, learning to both love Flambards, the ancestral home, and yet despise the backward-thinking ways of her uncle and his eldest son, Mark. It tells of the rivalry between Mark (the favorite) and William (the second son) not only for their father's love but for Christina's as well. It illustrates how life was changing in England at the time (just before WWI), and the hope that those changes brought to many who felt restricted by hide-bound Victorian (& Edwardian) rules. I think that readers will be able to relate to Christina, William, Mark, Dick, Sandy, and Dorothy regardless of their age, or where you grew up. I do suggest reading them in their proper sequence, beginning with "Flambards", continuing with "Edge of the Cloud", and finishing with "Flambards in Summer". I have read these novels again and again, and have loaned out my copy of the trilogy so many times. The author has a rare ability to truly take you back to an Edwardian county estate and to draw you into that world through Christina and her cousins. The books are very emotional, and have touched me in ways that other books depicting this era do not. I think that the best word for them is "haunting". It is too bad that they cannot be rated as 10 stars.

I'll admit it....I'm a Flambards Fanatic. I read this book in the early 80's, after seeing the series on television. I found the book at a local bookstore, loved every word, reread it immediately, ordered so many copies that the bookstore owner started calling me "The Flambards Lady". I was thrilled to be able to get another copy here at Amazon. This book is sometimes considered to be a child's book, but I think adults enjoy it very much. It's a marvelous, unforgettable story of love, loss, and picking up the pieces (or reins) and moving ahead. The series is available on VHS and DVD. I own both but prefer the DVD.

This moving story of the struggling relationships between Mark, Christiana, William and dick will touch the hearts of anyone who reads it. I finished reading the whole series a few days ago and i cannot forget the effect that these books had on me, i admit that i did cry at times. The book tells the story of christiana, an orphan, who is sent to live at the crumbling Flambards. It tells of her life and loves in the old manor. An excellently written story and a must read, especially for a country lass like myself!

Wonderful is too weak a superlative to describe this book. Written in a factual style and incorporating historical events such as Peary's trek to the North Pole, it is one of the most delightful stories about Christmas ever written. There is also a detailed account of the land expedition by Will Steger, the only man to actually see Santa's village at the North Pole.
The chapters are:

*) The reindeer by the river: It was a wondrous thing. In which the author tells of his search for the true Santa Claus.
*) The echo of hooves: Searching for yesteryear's reindeer. In which Santa's history is detailed, past adventures are recounted.
*) The North Pole today: On the roof of the world. In which the kingdom is visited, the elfin life is described.
*) The miracle of reindeer flight: Mysteries explained, science revealed. In which the way he does things he does is discussed.
*) Eight tiny reindeer (Plus one): Santa's starting team and his helpers. In which a host of heroic animals and people are met.
*) Like down on a thistle, evermore: Work that never ends. In which the future of Santa Claus and his mission is pondered.

The spirit of Santa Claus within the concept of Christmas is a powerful one, in this book you can capture some of that spirit and appreciate the strength of the man and his mission.

I have this book, with some handwritten annotations. The author got a couple facts wrong, but then I used to be in the Air Force, worked in many. many different command posts and operational centers, and well somethings are still classified. Some good guessing and all!

Cute book, I love it, my husband, a "Santa Helper" loves it, our teens liked it (really!) and the few copies I have given as gifts were very well received.

If you have older kids this is a great book.

I have the movie with Bridges and Thomas and I love it. It is called "The Christmas Secret" it is suppose to be taken from part of the book "Flight of the Reindeer" I don't know if that is true or not. Because I did not buy the book yet.

There is a Santa Claus! This is an amazing book, written in documentary style about the existence of Santa and his reindeer. It is a delightful addition to anybody's coffee table at Christmas time or any time. I really love his description of how he found Rudolph, and how he guided the team that one year, a small reindeer with a big heart. The description of the reindeer's year is fascinating!

This book will warm the hearts of Virginias everywhere. Yes, there is a Santa Claus!

I found this a long time ago in a bargain bin for $2. I *love* this book--it's one of my all-time favorite books. Although I haven't put up a tree in years, it's now a tradition to read this book every year. It puts me in the Christmas spirit--and adds realism, proof and perspective to the Christmas mission.

Buy it and make your own family tradition.