Seasons Books

I read this book in one sitting -- I couldn't put it down! Using the analogy of the changing seasons, Welch takes us through a journey of parenting that is insightful and meaningful for both men AND women. Through his remarkable ability to place the reader smack dab in the middle of the story, he weaves a tapestry of heartfelt and humorous events and memories drawn from his experiences and "seasoned" with the recollections of others. From the all too familiar ritual of hanging Christmas lights to the depths of loss and forgiveness, the reader embarks on a journey full of tears and laughter. At the end, we can't help but contemplate our own stories of family and life while anxiously scanning the Internet for more books by this talented and inspiring writer!

There are few resources written in "laymen's" terms about that relationship that exists between a father and son. But Bob Welch has changed all that with his book, "A Father for All Seasons." The book addresses that "in between time" from birth to death. Welch illustrates the stages of the father/son bond using the seasons, Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter and a Second Spring. The Second Spring is "... a side of fatherhood you don't find on greeting cards." ("A Father..." page 218) Welch's book draws back the vail of sacredness in the father/son relationship by using his own life experiences in the role of father and son. His ability to tie into the range of emotion from sorrow to joy in using tragic experiences as well as his gift of humor is masterful. Welch is the "Erma Bombeck" of fathers. The reader will be drawn into the mind of a father and son thus exposing thoughts, feelings, actions and reactions that are part of that bond. Using his skills to create detailed "mind images" Welch helps the reader reach a deeper understanding of that special bond. In the chapter "Firsts," Welch writes of the first major league game he took his son to. Welch writes, "... sports can bind together a father and son like the lacing of a well-made mitt." ("A Father..." page 49) This book dares to toss out the stereotypical view of the father/son relationship as being a "guy thing" and ventures into the sustenance of that relationship. If you want to know what that special and sacred attachment is, you will have to read the book. "A Father for All Seasons" is NOT a book for men only! It can be a gift for first time parents, Christmas, birthdays, Fathers' Day, Mothers' Day... by all means Mothers' Day! What better way to show you care then by giving a gift that expands a mother's understanding of the family unit. There is no "right" season to give this book to someone. With Mothers Day and Fathers Day right around the corner... search no further for the "just right" gift. "A Father for All Seasons" is sure to hit the mark.

I am neither a father nor a male, and yet I found myself captivated and enchanted by Welch's father-son stories. Though he focuses on dads and their boys, the lessons are universal. Those lessons (and this book) are for anyone who cares about human relationships. At times it's sad, at times delightfully funny, but always engaging. I will be at the front of the book store line when Welch's next book is published.

Bob Welch destroys the myth that most Christian books are fluff....this is quality writing by the best writer in the Christian market today....one of the finest writers in the secular field as well....

Bob Welch has done an excellent job of describing in story form the journeys of men, boys, and fatherhood. One paragraph has you laughing, the next can have you in tears. As you remember your childhood growing up, Bob also reminds you what is like to be a father and to watch your children break away and gain their freedom. This is a must-read book for anyone who is serious about being a Dad. Also nicely done is his easy-going witness of his Christian faith. You will not be disappointed with this book.

Downs has captured, in spare but evocative prose, the downhill path of an aging couple that also opened the way for subtle but meaningful expressions of love between father and son. As a portrait of a person with Alzheimer's disease, the situation that Lillian Neel finds herself in, it is unerring. Downs brilliantly but ever so quietly suggests how confusion and memory loss are experienced, how a loved one tries to protect while also feeling shame, and how the possibility of breaking through on a noncognitive level can be transformative once we recognize its power.

I have spent the past 30 years working in the field of gerontology and the humanities. I plan to use this book in teaching and in writing. I highly recommend it to health care practitioners as a way to see beyond the person who often gets dismissed as the "Alzhimer's patient" as if there is nothing else to the person but his or her disease.

Anyone who has aging parents can relate to Teddy's experience in The Fifth Season. Able and Lillian could be my parents; this could be my family. Robert Downs has written a touching portrayal of getting old and what it's like for the child to become the parent and the parent the child. Responsibilities suddenly shift and it's a painful experience for all. The Fifth Season has just the right amount of tension and humor. It makes you realize that life goes by quickly and each moment should be savored. However, it also says that even in life's most difficult season, there is much to hold onto and enjoy. Beauty never fades and love never dies. It just changes. I highly recommend this book.

As more pulp fiction continues to saturate our American cultural life, it is increasingly delightful to find an author who can show us anew the fine art of the novel. This story and its author find a poignant way to touch the reader with exquisite character, image, and emotional tone. We are carried through the story and leave it with an experience that cannot be summarized - it can only be conveyed through each and every word that Downs lays out. This is the true sign of fine art. A very memorable read.

The Fifth Season eloquently examines one son's attempt to take care of his elderly parents in the face of their harrowing decline. Within hours of visiting his aging parents in Fort Lauderdale, 60 year old Teddy Neel sees that his parents are in a lot worse shape than he imagined. His father, Abel, is in four-point restraints having lost his left kidney to cancer. His mother, Lillian, is largely blind and in the midstages of Alzheimer's. Author Robert Downs brings every character to life with a meticulous prose allowing the reader to witness the love and beauty, the pain and frustration each parent passes through as Able and Lillian pass through the winter of their lives to enter their fifth and eternal season -- and the son who loves them and would spare them any suffering, if he could. The Fifth Season is unflinching, candid, and compelling.

Robert C.S. Downs is the sort of writer that other writers read to learn how it's done. This book, valuable for all the reasons that other reviewers have noted here, also happens to be the best written new novel I've read in years. I had almost concluded, sadly, that no one was doing this anymore, developing characters so fully human and about whom the reader must have maddeningly mixed feelings. The aged father, Able Neel, is as fully realized a character as any I've encountered, and son Teddy's anger, resentment, pain, and, not incidentally, love for his parents, come through with an emotional potency that is remarkable.The Fifth Season deserves a wide readership. It has much to say, to the casual reader and to any writer looking for a model or for inspiration.

Get the book. Pick it up. Open to any page. Read.
Do it again the next day.
And the next.
And the next.
And the next.
Life starts to taste good again.

Finding My Way offers an in-depth look at the dynamics of responding to grief. The author takes seriously the inevitabilities of change, loss, and subsequent grief; and also conveys the hopeful possibilities for growth and transformation that grief invites. The book is rich in description and analysis and, at the same time, very respectful of the deeply individualistic journey through grief. In my work as a grief educator, I like and use the author¹s helpful discussion of grieving as a discovery process: discovering what is lost, what is left, and what is possible. This is a book I return to often, both professionally and personally.

Finding my way is a beautifully written book representing John Schneider's comprehensive description of the transformative model of grief. Schneider has the ability to connect with the reader, capturing the essence of the grieving process in a manner that resonates with one's individual story. Schneider's writing style incorporates the use of rich metaphors which is so lacking in the traditional approach commonly used in texts for health care professionals. As a clinician and educator,I have found this book to be an invaluable resource for myself, clients in psychotherapy, and students. Clients have found this model extremely helpful in normalizing and validating their own grieving process, in providing a frame for reflecting on their own journey, and in offering hope for the future. Students have appreciated Schneider's comprehensive approach, his writing style, and rich anecdotal material. As a personal and professional resource, this book should be on the shelves of every healthcare professional, caregiver and layperson who is interetsed in better understanding the multidimentional experience of grief. It is a resource that one will go back to over and over again.

This book introduces a fresh and unique approach on the subjects of loss, grieving, and healing. It redefines the grieving process for those who choose to take the journey. Transformation awaits each who embraces his/her own grief. The author shares his personal journey of loss and grief and how it transformed his life; freeing him to accompany his clients on their unique journeys into their personal losses, subsequent grief, and their individual transformations. The book is quite readable and includes a Life Change Inventory self test, as well as a Response to Loss Inventory. Information is also included about Integra, The Association for Integrative and Transformative Grief. I would highly recommend this book for professionals, as well as laypersons. If you are in the midst of grief, the book might seem overwhelming with its in depth information....finding a health care provider who is familiar with the concepts in this book can temper this and help to guide you through the process, arriving at your own transformation. Dr. Schneider has recently written two new books that speak more to the layperson and may prove less intimidating if you are in the process of grieving. These books are: Grief's Wisdom, Quotes for Understanding the Transformative Process and The Overdiagnosis of Depression, Recognizing Grief and Its Transformative Potential.

Finding My Way offers an in-depth look at the dynamics of responding to grief. The author takes seriously the inevitabilities of change, loss, and subsequent grief; and also conveys the hopeful possibilities for growth and transformation that grief invites. The book is rich in description and analysis and, at the same time, very respectful of the deeply individualistic journey through grief. In my work as a grief educator, I like and use the author¹s helpful discussion of grieving as a discovery process: discovering what is lost, what is left, and what is possible. This is a book I return to often, both professionally and personally.

This is a really great book - not just about football. Rather a story of quirky life events and a string of tragedies you will never forget. It's gut wrenching story of pain, but yet a bautiful story none the less. Beautifully written. I can promise you won't forget. I am not a huge football lover (i am a fan just not a maniac) but it's not neccesary to love this book. It's truly a great read that you should MAKE the time to read.

The book gives a unique look into college football. I didn't want to put it down once I began reading. Football provides the setting for the story, but it goes far beyond that. You don't have to be a football fan to love this book. Give it a chance. I felt the characters were interesting, and those who would criticize them as stereotypes don't know a good read when they see it. I wonder if the reviewers that blasted it even read this book?

A great book for anyone who likes to read about football or just reality and how the real world is from another persons perspective. It almost feels like you are in the persons shoes walking in their yard playing football or full grown in college playing the big game against ole miss. I gave this a five star rating for many reasons besides the descriptions though. I loved the way he thought about how c.p. was not just centered around football and that he actually liked to read poetry too and was good at something besides football like in many books that i have read that are about a football star. this book is great and anyone that can get their hands on it should read it

I was a 14-year-old in 8th grade when I read this compelling book, "The Forever Season", by the ever-so-talented Don Keith. To me Don was a devious Spider, weaving his finely spun web (The Forever Season). And I, I was the defensless fly, struggling to get through the cobbwebs of suspens and mystery, only to find myself being hooked deeper into the relm of twisted strands leading their way to a shocking and unbelievable douple ending. Once I picked up this book of books, I just could not put it down. It was as if it were glued to my hands. I really related to this book, for Don wrote the majority of it in Southern slang and I'm partly from the South. When Don had put down his pen, what he had infront of him was an elaberate maze, one which you must be prepared for the unexpected to be able to escape its walls of words, and its traps of enigmatic conclusions. I truly recommend this book, for even my words don't do it justice.

I was a 14 year old in 8th grade when I read this compelling book " The Forever Season", by the ever-so-talented Don Keith. To me, Don was a devious spider, weaving his finely spun web (The Forever Season) and I, I was the defensless fly, struggling to get through the cobwebs of suspense and mystery, only to find myself being hooked deeper into the realm of twisted strands leading their way to a shocking and unbeliebable double ending. Once I picked up this book of books, I just could not put it down. It was as if it were glued to my hands. I really related to this book, for Don wrote the majority of it in Southern slang and I'm partly from the South. When Don had put down his pen, what he had in font of him was an elaborate maze. One which you must be prepared for the unexpected to be able to escape its walls of words, and its traps of enigmatic conclusions. I truly recommend this book, for even my words don't do it justice.

This is an excellent book for dedicated homeowners and gardeners wanting to create an excellent landscape design that is attractive all year instead of the peak Spring and early Summer periods. When the book arrived, I was concerned as I could see it was "older" and at first, I was disappointed. My fault as I should have looked at the copyright date. However, after digging in, all I can say is Eureka!

I have about 1 1/2 aces in the middle of 18 acres to landscape and did not know where to start. This provides the information on how to build those "garden bones" that many other books tell you is necessary for a great landscape/garden. Ms. Roth provides helpful and creative ideas on how to start building those bones with a pyramid concept; i.e., evergreen tall trees first, then tall deciduous, then understory, followed by shrubs and all the way down to the bulbs.

She provides great plans, plants and ideas for all four seasons. In addition, there are color photos for gardens that shine in each of the four seasons, which is so overlooked in many gardening books today. There are also lists such as best crabapples, Japanese maples, flowering shrubs, showy berries for winter interest, etc.

Ms. Roth does not stick with the popular and safe choices and I was pleased to see recommendations for plants that offer great potential and are seldom used in today's landscapes.

This is a great book for anyone wanting to learn more about landscape design (in a fun way as Ms. Roth has a delicious sense of humor) that encompasses all four seasons and for building a plan from the ground up. For those that just enjoy trees and shrubs, this book is a great reference because of the lists that are provided and the encyclopedia of over 300 of the best evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs and herbaceous plants for four season landscapes. The plants in the encyclopedia only contain those that offer at least two seasons of interest.

My wife and I are building a new home on 2+ acres. Our current yard is sort of a four seasons approach, mostly by accident though.

So I purchased a dozen or so books here at amazon to plan the new yard. This one is definitely the best. The approach and suggestions are super. I can really see us doing most of our yard using these suggestions. Thank you Susan! Bob.

This book is arranged seasonally; each season has its own chapter. Within each of these chapters are various charts suggesting trees, shrubs, perennials, etc. that offer interesting features during that season. Some of the chapters break it down further: for instance, the "Spring" chapter has different charts for early spring, mid-spring and late spring.

Near the beginning of the book is a wonderful section on how to put together a "planting pyramid" for four-season interest. (Hint: You don't start with annuals or even perennials, as so many beginning gardeners do.) Additional design principles and suggestions are found after the "season" chapters.

Finally, the book closes with a limited "encyclopedia" of four-season plants which includes some suggested cultivars, cultural details for the plants, what seasons the plant holds particular interest, etc. This section is divided into deciduous trees, evergreen trees, deciduous shrubs, evergreen shrubs, perennials, etc.

In all, even if you don't have time to read all of the text, which is a pleasure in and of itself...this author is a good writer...there is still a wealth of helpful information to be found in this book.

I'm a first time gardener and Susan's book has inspired me to use many of her ideas in my landscape. The book is very informative and the illustrations are great. I recommend the book to all who seek a colorful year in their garden.

This book has a great approach to landscaping your property. Susan Roth shows how to make the most of your space by creating mixed borders--mixing trees, shrubs, perennials ans bulbs for year-round color and beauty. The idea is to start with a garden's "bones," to create the necessary structure that will make all seasons beautiful. Her plant selection is very good--only plants that provide more than one season make her list. For example a shrub that flowers in the summer, has good fall color, and interesting branches or berries in winter. I have many garden books, but I like Roth's approach and already the view from my kitchen window makes me feel good just to look at it.

Beautiful book for children. It is a must-have for those who like to inspire questions about seasonal changes. Our children love this book. The illustrations are truly special---full of color and lets little minds wonder about what happens during the transition into winter. I highly recommend this book.

I absolutely love the art in this book. One of my major complaints with a lot of kids books, is that they are too cartoonish. This book is NOT like that at all - very rich watercolor drawings make this enjoyable for adults as well as kids.

Cynthia Ryland does it again! A wonderful book for use with teaching metaphors. Her descriptive words gives visual meaning to each sentence. A wonderful book to use with six traits writing "Voice" and teaching inference to young children. Each page is filled with words to ponder, reflect, relate and to write about. Although there is no reference to Thanksgiving, many children relate to the special day and time with relatives. A perfect book for November and a perfect title. The illustrations are beautiful; giving a feeling of warmth to the words. Every teacher should own a copy.

This is such an enchanting book to read to a child! The illustrations (realistic in style) are beautiful and the text is lyrical, reflecting the mood of the season perfectly. My son loves this book and I love reading it to him. The pictures and story remind us both of the family gatherings that are so much a part of November and December. We read many books together and this is one of our lasting favorites.

My children and I love anything written by Cynthia Rylant, but this book has the added benefit of the most beautiful illustrations. I cannot say enough about how much I love this book. It is something we will pull out every November - probably even after the children are grown! If your children love your family traditions and are comforted by knowing what to expect with each season or holiday, this book is a must for them. You could probably get it from the library every fall, but the illustrations make it worth putting on your shelf with your favorites and keeping for your grandkids.

I was so sad to say goodbye to these ladies. They were my friends! I cried through the end of the last one, but couldn't help laughing in victory as well. I will reread them sometimes, and still need a box of tissue, even though I know what's coming. Masterfully done!

It is not my habit to get overly emotional as I read a book. But, I actually struggled to read the final words of this book through my tears, it is that good...I highly reccomend the whole series. It is touching, rewarding, engaging and very readable. These people could really live in your neighborhood. I wish I lived on this cul-de-sac. The plots are believable and the character developement is engaging. Blackstock and LaHaye make a great colaberative team.

Get all 4 books in the series so you won't have to wait in between them!

I am not much of a fiction reader anymore. A co-worker loaned me the book as her husband picked up a copy at the store. I didn't start to read it right away and after starting it, I'd wished I'd picked it up earlier.

You don't have to have read the other three books to become thoroughly engrossed in this one. I haven't read them- yet. I plan to after reading Season of Blessing. Unless you are one to hide your emotions, expect to shed some tears through the book. You'll also chuckle at some things that happen. The chuckles were appreciated and needed in a book of this nature. Anyone who has lost a loved one to cancer knows what it's like and will be able to relate; thus it will pull on your emotions moreso than others who have not gone through this.

While the basic story is about Sylvia and her battle with cancer, we also get to follow the lives of her three best friends and their families. One is in a second marriage of a blended family and they start to have a great strain placed upon their marriage. Another has a son who had a heart transplant and needs to be on medication the rest of his life. But her husband is self employed and their insurance isn't good, so the expense places a great strain on their finances and she tries to find a job with benefits to ease this. The third is a woman who starts working at the center she takes her child to who has Down's Syndrome. We see her struggles with wondering what her child will or won't be able to do.

While I found there is a book on each of these other families that was written prior to Season of Blessing, you can still very much enjoy this book without having read it. But I am pretty sure you'd enjoy it even more if you'd read the others previously.

The first day I started to read I made it about halfway through the book. It was hard to make myself put it down and go to bed. Had work not been an issue, I probably would have attempted to read it straight through. The next night I read another quarter of the book. I had to take breaks reading the last quarter as it pulled on my emotions strongly.

The ending wraps up many things and brings answers to each of Sylvia's friends. You'll find that despite Sylvia's battle, she has a great impact on the lives of those around her. It is amazing how God can take bad things that happen to His people and use them to do many things.

One thing I did not like about the book was the couple mentions that made it appear God brought this on Sylvia. While I know there are times God may afflict people with something, I am one who believes that much of our sickness and disease comes simply from living in this present world. We live in a fallen world and some things happen just because of this.

Despite this, I absolutely loved the book- yes, even though it brought many tears and brought back many memories from years past. It causes you to laugh and cry and inspires you at the same time. A well written book.

I read all the books in this series! Each was excellent and I really did feel like I was drawn into the circle of friendship with these women. Read the books in order! This last one though-I cried so much and learned many things from these authors. They are not only writing believable fiction but teaching life lessons to all women out there. One of my favorite series ever! Highly recommend! Warning: you may have difficulty getting your work done while reading this series!

I read all 4 of the books, in approx. 2 weeks. They were WONDERFUL! They were so real - the issues we encounter every day. I strongly suggest reading this - and I will probably re-read the entire series. I hope there is a new series soon!

or a sunny one for that matter. P.G always delivers!! If you haven't read him don't wait!

This is one of the lightest and brightest of the Jeeves and Bertie novels, from 1949, smack dab in the middle of Plum's acquaintanceship with the half wit and his gentleman's gentleman. Other reviewers have capsuled the insane plot admirably; let me add a few happy notes. The author limns a number of his ensemble cast quite handsomely in this book, but one who takes center stage, literally, and steals the show is Bertie's lifelong female friend, now a famous Hollywood star, the beautiful willful handful, Cora "Corky" Pirbright. I am madly in love with this character, and not just because she's a gorgeous celluloid ingénue. Her ferocity of purpose is matched only by the nonchalance with which she pursues it. For instance, the way she gets Gussie to do her bidding would be cruel were it not carried off with such whimsy. Her honest friendship with Bertie, whom she clearly likes, is as refreshing as a spring breeze. Corky is actually kind. She tolerates an endless visit with a matronly fan, only later revealing to Bertie that the woman is the final and interminable authority on Hollywood. "She even knows how many times Artie Shaw has been married, which I bet he couldn't tell you himself. She asked if I had ever married Artie Shaw, and when I said No, seemed to think I was pulling her leg or must have done it without noticing. I tried to explain that when a girl goes to Hollywood she doesn't HAVE to marry Artie Shaw, it's optional..."

As the story's climax approaches, Wodehouse takes the reader inside a small English village amateur show, a benefit for an extraordinarily tired church organ. The account is almost as long as the show; the master really takes his time. The funny thing is: every line. It's a tour de force, and exemplifies why we read PG Wodehouse. Not to rush to the finale, not to find out what happens, but to sit as one sits before a warm clear sunrise, to take in every word and phrase and let it slowly bring its own chuckling light into your heart.

OK, I'll put a sock in it now. By the way, Plum uses that phase in this book just the way we use it today. I wonder if it's his creation.

If there is a master of the feel-good book - one of those novels that elevates your mood every time you read a page - it must be P.G. Wodehouse. Yes, his stories may not be deep, but they are always delightfully entertaining. And nowhere is Wodehouse better than with his incomparable Jeeves and Wooster tales.

These stories are typically narrated by Bertie Wooster, a well-meaning but not-too-bright fellow who tries to enjoy the life of the idle rich. Since he isn't all that sharp, he constantly gets into trouble, which is where his valet Jeeves steps in. In any crisis, the omniscient Jeeves is unflappable.

The Mating Season again puts Bertie in the soup. This time, he is coerced by his fearsome Aunt Agatha into visiting Deverill Hall, a mansion filled with a bunch of elderly aunts; they aren't Bertie's aunts, but Agatha has given him a phobia about all such relations. Bertie's friend, Gussie Fink-Nottle, is also supposed to attend, but an unexpected incarceration spoils that. This threatens Gussie's engagement to Madeline Bassett, and Madeline has made clear that she intends to marry Bertie if ever Gussie doesn't work out. For Bertie, there is only one choice: he goes to Deverill Hall impersonating Gussie.

Complications, of course, ensue. First of all, Gussie gets out of jail early and goes to Deverill Hall impersonating Bertie. Meanwhile, there is a tangle of romances that could still well-endanger Bertie's beloved bachelorhood. Corky Pirbright wants to be with Esmond Haddock, who in turn is wooing his cousin Gertrude (to make Corky jealous) who in turn is in love with Corky's brother, Catsmeat. Gussie falls for Corky, Catsmeat gets mixed up with the maid Queenie who is on the outs with the police constable Dobbs.

This comic soap opera plays out perfectly with Wodehouse's adept plotting and even more adept use of language. The only bad part is it eventually must end. But until that conclusion is reached, there are few reading pleasures quite like a Wodehouse book.

Evelyn Waugh, a tight man with a compliment for his fellow authors, referred to P.G. Wodehouse as the Master, and nowhere are the reasons more apparent than in The Mating Season.

There is never a dull moment as Bertie Wooster impersonates Gussie Fink-Nottle, Claude Cattermole ("Catsmeat") Pirbright impersonates the non-existent Meadowes, to appear at Deverill Hall as Gussie's personal gentleman (Bertie is impersonating Gussie at the time), Gussie impersonates Bertie, with Jeeves in tow, no fewer than four pairs of sundered hearts are re-united, as Bertie once again escapes the matrimonial trap, and Esmond Haddock, the landed proprietor of Deverill Hall, defies his five aunts to marry Claude's sister, the celebrated Hollywood actress Corky. With all this action and imposture, however, Wodehouse's writing is so skillful that the reader, with no effort, keeps the characters and action straight. There is, of course, time for Wodehouse's unexcelled magic with the English language. To put it more briefly, this novel provides one whale of a good time.

Wodehouse wrote dozens of hilarious, wonderfully-written, and intricately-plotted novels. It is high praise indeed to note that The Mating Season would almost certainly rank in the top five in any poll of Wodehouse fans.

P.G. Wodehouse's _The Mating Season_ is very entertaining. Wodehouse's wonderful, comic writing is sure to bring smiles and laughter. _The Mating Season_ is filled with hare-brained schemes plotted by the likes of Bertram Wooster and his chronies, disguises and impostors, and tales of weak-willed men, who quail in the presence of imposing Aunts and fall in love (in swoons) with precisely the wrong young women. And, of course, there is the resolute, unflappable man-servant Jeeves. Jeeves "shimmers" in and out of the book at just the right moments, devising ingenuis solutions to extricate Bertie and his friends from their troubles.

As the other reviewers have noted, the story is intricate with four romantic plots and four characters--Berties, Jeeves, Gussie Fink-Nottle, and "Catsmeat" Pirbright--variously impersonating each other at Deverill Hall, an estate dominated by five Aunts. Bertie, the narrator, helps the reader keep track of the story by explaining to characters how things stand as the plot twists and turns. In the final chapter, Bertie gives the reader a final chart, hilariously assembled, of how Jeeves has managed to sort out "the great web."

There are many wonderful scenes, including one where Jeeves literally plays the "deus ex machina" with a "blunt instrument knowns as a cosh" and another where Bertie, mistaken as a burglar, is nearly shot. There are hilarious, laugh out loud sentences like this description of Rev. Sidney Pirbright: "A tall, drooping man, looking as if he had been stuffed in a hurry by an incompetent taxidermist." Bertie's way of telling the story, peppered with latin phrases and exclamations of "Right Ho!," is always funny.

For readers unfamiliar with Wodehouse's Jeeves and Wooster characters, I would recommend as a starting point the anthology _The World of Jeeves_, a great collection of Jeeves short stories. These stories introduce all of the major and minor characters, including the unforgetable Aunt Agatha.

About ten years ago, my uncle lent me his copy of the _World of Jeeves_ before a long summer trip abroad. Not only did I enjoy the stories immensely, but my friends loved them, too. Living without TV for a few months, these stories became like episodes of _Seinfeld_ to us. I'm still "borrowing" my uncle's book.

Is this the book about a serial killer who hunts people like prey???

I have been searching for this book for many years. I read it back in the 70s or 80s and it really captured my imagination and my interest. A genuine psychological suspense thriller, this book started me on a roller-coaster ride of similar novels. Thank you Amazon.com for making these books available!

I read a book called Open Season in the late 70's and I'm wondering if this is the one. The setting was Michigan, lower and upper, with a hunting theme. Is this the right one??

I first read this book in 1978 and have reread it several times. The story is rather haunting and disturbing, but it is one of be best crafted stories I have read in years of reading. I can promise you, you will be hooked after the first five pages, and if time allows, you won't put it down until you finish. I must warn you though, the basis of the story is rape and this could be quite unsettling for some..I know it did upset me. Than being said, the author handles it well and twists a wonderful story from a horrible thing. Recommend it highly. Recommend it for the mature reader though.

I first read David Osborn's marvellous book back in the 70's and it is now the oldest paperback in my collection. Every few years I dig it out and read it again - it's become an old friend. Why? Because it is the best take on a revenge story I've ever read. Osborn sets the scene by introducing the main protaganists as students, who commit an act of barbarism but, due to their well-to-do family backgrounds get let off with a slap on the wrist. The book then moves forward in time to when the grown up students are all successful family men who meet up once a year to go on a hunting trip together. And it's no surprise to find that the prey they hunt normally has two legs rather than four. We learn that each of these characters are psychopathic to varying degrees and we learn that they are excellent hunters and totally at home in the woods. They are supreme predators who fear nothing. That is, until they discover that this year, someone is hunting them! Osborn constantly takes the reader by surprise i.e. just when you think you have the story pegged, he throws you a curve ball, right up to the final and haunting twist. I don't know if this book is now out of print but if you can get a copy, grab it with both hands. It really is a classic of its genre.

"RALLY CAPS is a heartwarming book about perseverance and courage. Congratulations to Steve and Jodi for taking the challenges in their lives and turning it into a wonderful book that helps teach valuable lessons of acceptance and resilience to kids and adults alike."
--Cal Ripken, Jr., Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame 2007

"RALLY CAPS celebrates the game of baseball as it's meant to be played by teaching kids fundamentals and teamwork with a few entertaining old-fashioned pranks. This is one story I'll be reading with my grandchildren."
-- Brooks Robinson, Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame 1983

Reviewed by Brianne Plach (age 10) for Reader Views (1/08)

Do you love one sport more than any of the others? Jordan loves baseball and he thinks he is pretty good at it. He wants to make it onto the traveling team. Due to a tragic accident, he is unable to make it. Just when he thinks that his life will never be the same, he realizes his life is not the same, but could something good come out of bad?

Jordan ends up meeting another boy who has to live a hard life. But the other boy doesn't seem to make that big of a deal out of his disability. The boy has to wear a hearing aid! But even with a hearing aid and facing incredible odds, he still gets to play baseball. Never say the dream of playing baseball is impossible. With persistence, inspiration from unlikely places and determination, no mountain is too high to climb.

"Rally Caps" is a great book for baseball fans, both boys and girls. "Rally Caps" is an inspirational story for kids. I particularly liked this book because I too play softball. One of the other girls on my team last year had hearing aids in both of her ears. I was inspired by her and her determination to be a success. I couldn't help think about her when reading about Jordan. Don't let any thing keep you from playing your favorite sport. Play Ball!

What a wonderful and important story! It makes you realize how people touch and are touched by you throughout your lives. Rally Caps is well written, warm, humorous, and speaks to people of all ages.

This is a terrific children's book about baseball by two authors who really know the game well. As told through the eyes of 10-year old Jordan, this fictional novel takes us through Jordan's injury when a flying bat breaks his nose accidentally, to his attendance at a baseball camp where his older brother is his Counselor. In his cabin, he meets Luca, a boy from Italy that wears a hearing implant, and his sister, Niki, who's disguised as a boy so she can play centerfield for their camp team. There are high pranks going on between Jordan's cabin team, the Orioles, and a neighboring cabin, the Yankees. The book is full of baseball trivia and knowledge about the great ones, such as Cal Ripken Jr., Luis Tiant, Ty Cobb, etc. Luca helps Jordan overcome his fear of playing baseball again and teaches him a secret "knuckle-curve" pitch that Luca learned from Luis Tiant when he was in Italy. Luca also teaches Jordan many lessons about life, and taking what life throws at you, learning from it, and turning that knowledge into success. There is the use of "butts", "piss-ant", and "piss" in this story, but that's the worst of the language that a parent might find objectionable. All in all, the concentration is on relationships between the team players and the wonderful game of baseball - a very enjoyable book for anyone interested in the game and how it is really played.

This type of fiction is awesome for tween aged kids to read. Jodi Cutler Del Dottore is a talented author and I am looking forward to more inspiring stories written by her in the future.