News Books

I enjoyed reading this novel. I finished it in 2 evenings and was eager to get the next book in the series. I'm looking forward to reading all of her books. It's nice to find good Christian reading.

This second book of Abram's Daughter series is another excellent continuation of the first book The Covenant, where Sadie birthed a child telling no one.

In this book, Sadie is still extremely depressed and does not want to be one of the Amish people. Leah her younger sister, as well as Lizzie, their aunt, have kept her secret.

Leah is in love with Jonas, much more than she ever could be with Gideon, the Smithy's son. With Jonas having a job in Ohio as an apprentice, they are far apart and Leah looks forward to his letters every day. Jonas wants Leah to come up there with him for the last of his time before they marry, but knowing Sadie needs to get away, she sends her instead to help the Amish people there. Leah helps Sadie get away in secret, and once her parents find out, they are very upset of course. It is then that Leah knows she must unburden her heart, and not keep Sadie's secret any longer before her own baptism vows before the People. Once she tells the bishop and her parents what really went on with Sadie, there is the threat of the shunning for Sadie if she doesn't return home to make her own confessions. Sadie does not want to do this. And once Sadie knows that her sister spilled the beans, she is very very angry with her for awhile.

There is a secret of Lizzie's that applies to Leah as well from a long time ago. Her parents have kept it all this time and have never ever told Leah knowing it would hurt her deeply. Abram tells Jonas what it is, and says he plans to tell Leah soon and that she needs to know now. But he can't bring himself to tell even after he says he will, knowing the terrible pain it would cause Leah and that she might not accept it.

Mary Ruth and Hannah are quickly growing up and coming of age. Mary Ruth is in love with books, and she goes to the library and hides them away until she is found out. Reading books other than the bible in the Amish community is a big wordly sin, and therefore absolutely not allowed. Mary Ruth has ambitions of becoming a teacher though, and I look for her to pursue her dreams. Hannah is always afraid that Mary Ruth will go off and leave her alone. Since the two are twins, they are so very close to one another.

These books are hard to lay down, and I look forward to the next one, The Sacrifice.

It was a very fascinating read. The plot revolves around the Abram's family; a close Amish family living in the Amish community with the primary focus being on the second daughter Leah but hardly neglecting the other characters.

Most of the contemporary fiction out there based on Amish life portray them as simplistic and idyllic. While I somewhat do accept the former, the latter didnt always strike me as sincere and this book does a fantastic job of seeming as near to human truth as possible.

Life is far from perfect; sunshine, fertile gardens, bonnets, buggy carts are great on a postcard or in a Thomas Kincade painting.

Instead, people make mistakes, families get hurt, relationships are broken, forgiveness, healing and redemption are needed as badly as the next breath.

The writer who is very popular in this genre explores sin and it's far reaching effects and she does so with a graceful boldness.

I love how it ends when Leah comes to the most important realization of all. Aint that the Truth?

I hope to read the other books in this series.

All of her books are good ,no matter which one you start with.This one was up to par and gave a good read.I wont tell the story but you be sure to read it ok.Nadia Rehmani

The secret eats her!

Can the silent be baptized?

Jonah's jealousy!

The Bible. It can be confusing, and hard to read because the language. I just cannot read a King James version with ease, it is like reading Shakespeare. This is a very easy to read version. I like the simplicity. I am sure Bible scholars will find points they don't agree with, but for this guy I like this book. It even uses the word stupid in Proverbs.

The hardcover is great, I wore out my last "The Book" with the softcover, and this one is very nice. It opened fully even brand new.

I highly recommend "The Book" to any serious or casual student of the Bible. "The Book" IS the Bible. I have used my copy for years, often giving copies of it as gifts. "The Book" uses modern expressions, patterns, and speech idioms that make the books of the Old and New Testaments more easily understood. Particularly helpful are the introductions to each book of the Testaments, where the author, date, content, and theme of each is provided. Additionally, it references parts of the Bible that deal with specific life concerns, such as fear, anger, frustration, pain, guilt, patience, and healing. Also, I would recommend the hard-cover edition which is much more durable than the soft-cover option.

Broken down to simple terms that anyone can understand. If you have a hard time understanding the King James version, "The Book" is the one for you. I bought 2 of them and so glad I did!

This is a great book to have to understand your Bible more clearly as it speaks in terms we all can understand. The Book came to me in great shape and was very timely! Thanks!

I have been attempting to read the Bible straight through for the last year (Christmas 06' to Christmas 07'). Though I already have what I precieve to be a very well translated version a friend has been encouraging me to read this version... Well as a Christmas gift, he decided to buy me "The Book", and when I started reading it I could not put it down! There are no reasons to second guess whether or not you clearly understand what is supposed to be learned, it's there plain and simple! Get this as an "easy to read" companion to your traditional Bible... then as my friend did, pass it on. In fact I'm buying one for a co worker today! Spread the Good News!!!!

My wife and I like to listen to a tape while we read the book. We are rereading this book that way. It is a classic and a good introduction to Alaska, where we have lived and worked and touristed.

Want to read about the realities of the 49th state????
Want to really learn something about this region???
Want to get good visuals????????
If NOT don't read this book!!!!!!!!!!!!

This book is a wonderful relic, the last plausible vision of a living American frontier. In the mid seventies, McPhee went to Alaska to do a few pieces for the New Yorker. He met a lot of trappers, prospectors, and "river people" who'd built moss-chinked cabins and whose individualism, gruff hospitality, and happiness he admired. McPhee made a plea for democratic access to Alaskan land. He argued that land far from roads should remain fair game for homesteaders in perpetuity.

It is odd to read an ode to Alaska's wild immensity at a time when islands are being evacuated in the Aleutians, polar bears are drowning, and the permafrost is melting. The question these days is not whether Americans can still choose to live in more or less untainted outback. The question is whether that outback will soon be transformed beyond recognition, not by oil drilling, but by climate change.

What Coming into the Country offers the twenty-first century is escapism and nostalgia. McPhee's account of the political squabbles over the location of Alaska's capital has lost its relevance, but the rest of the book still comes to life. We meet a mix of clannish Christians, proud native people, and prickly bootleggers in the small, dry town of Eagle. McPhee's tale of a man's survival in sub-zero weather after a plane crash constitutes a minor classic of its own.

The book reminds us how powerful the frontier fantasy remains in American psyches. Can it be harnessed as a metaphor? Can the dream of self-reliance on a private patch of woods help motivate us, indirectly, to cut carbon emissions? It has motivated us to go camping and conserve some wild lands even while ruining others. Still, I suspect that as the environmental movement shifts in response to global warming, we may have to jettison the frontier fantasy. It depends too much on a view of nature as more powerful than man. Whether or not we agree with Bill McKibben that we have arrived at the end of nature, we know that everything is responding to elevated temperatures. There is no untouched patch of land left in Alaska. The romance of a homestead sours when the flora and fauna are marching north past the log cabin, driven by coal and oil fires from all over the planet.

I traveled to Alaska in 2006 but lived there in the early 70's. Why I delayed so long in reading "Coming into the Country" I don't know, but John McPhee has taken me back to that earlier day. Both his character and place descriptions are wonderful and make me long for the cabins, the ice break-up, the dogs, the bush planes, and the 55 gallon drums. The Anchorage of today is much changed, but the bush is still there -- Thank God.

We bought this book in Nome, Alaska on a visit there in 2001 (my brother owns a flying service there). I took my time reading it the first time. Coming into the Country is not a book to be read quickly, but, rather, one to be savored, taking time for the details to seep into the crevices of one's memory until they become part of one's knowledge base. Every page holds a vast amount of information that if read too quickly blurs to nothingness and is lost.

McPhee's descriptions of the land, its rivers and mountains, its challenges, its beauty, and its people are thorough and draw the reader into the pages of his book. It takes a certain kind of person to survive in the Alaskan bush. I, for one, am drawn to its splendor, its starkness, its fearsomeness, but am sure I don't have the right stuff to live there long term. The river people and others, who thrive in communities like Eagle and Central (even Fairbanks and Juneau), have remarkable stamina and a strong determination to live the lives they choose in their respective settings, all of which are breathtaking in their beauty. McPhee also writes of the tension between the races (Indian and white)and the human dynamic among community members (the good and the no-so-good)that always accompanies the sharing of space and resources.

Over the past five years, I've picked up CITC now and then to re-read parts of it. Most recently, I re-read the whole of Part III Coming into the Country. This is my favorite section because it focuses on the bush and its people, most particularly on Eagle, Alaska located on the Yukon River and just across the International Boundary from Canada's Yukon Territory. (Incidentally, the term "coming into the country" refers to the arrival of a person into the Alaskan bush with the intent of staying. I may move from Michigan to Ohio or New York or California, but, if I go to Alaska, they call it coming into the country. "Brad Snow and Lily Allen came into the country in 1973." "Joe Vogler came into the country in 1944." "John Borg came into the country in 1966" (and he's still there. Check out the Eagle site. Borg has worn many hats in Eagle and still sits on the board of the Eagle Historical Society and Museum. Borg's wife, Betty, is the board's treasurer).

The original copyright on this book is 1976, thirty years ago. The growth in technology since that time has allowed almost every municipality to have their own website. Eagle is no exception. [...]

Carolyn Rowe Hill

I like the thoroughness of this devotional it really gives you the meal you crave when you seek to know gods word and develop a deeper understanding of his word.

This is an excellent book. Our Life Group of 12 people are going through the Bible in a year using this Bible. We are all enjoying reading it and discussing it. Thank you.

It is an awesome way to read the bible entirely through. My problem is you do not have any in stock and the backorder will not be available until the end of September. Everywhere I have checked does not have any available so it must be a good bible.

My husband has this same bible in a different version and purchased the NIV for me. Now I know why he loves it so much! It explains to you what you're going to read in big-picture views, then gives a devotional on how to relate it to your life, then gives you insight into one thing, then has a couple chapters to read. I was afraid it would be too much to read in one day but it's very easy to read and especially helpful with the big picture and devotional at the beginning -- really makes it more understandable. I had read the two-year bible which had you read a little old testament, a little new testament, a little psalms and proverbs each day. I found myself confused following so many different story lines. This one goes through the bible front to back which is much easier to follow. I highly recommend it.

I was given this book as a Christmas gift back in 1987. Somewhere down the line I lost it while traveling. I have been trying for years to obtain another copy and finally, because of Amazon, I have. This book is what really got me diligently studying the bible and sparked my growth in my walk with Christ. I like the structure of the book and the small commentaries before each day's lesson. The publisher should really consider publishing this book again.

Since I was given this book I have brought several one year bibles for people, they are great gifts. The value of such a gift is beyond measure.

A friend of mine from the Bronx told me about this book, and I'm glad she did. This if a beautifully written story that gets at the truth of both the time and the heart. The Bronx is a place that seems mythic and all too real to me and this writer keeps both of those images alive.

I loved this book. It gave a shape to Pearson's life and let me understand that there is a shape to all of our lives. It's just up to us to find the meaning that is there for us notice.

For me Dreaming of Columbus read more like a novel than a memoir. I mean that as a compliment to the writer. The story had the feel of fiction to it, as if you could see inside the characters lives and enter the story for a while. I loved it.

Michael Pearson has the right idea, but the ideas that are gathered into the book are a little disjointed and fractured. If he could smooth out the stories so that blend one into the other, the entire book would read better.
On the positive note, Dreaming of Columbus would definitely stir memories of the neighborhood for those growing up in that part of New York. He does have some descriptive stories of people, places and landmarks in the book that are entertainingly delightful.
If you are a Bronx native, I would recommend this book so you can remember things you may never see again.

Despite the images of sea voyages inspired by its title, Dreaming of Columbus is not the story of a young man spending his salad days in exotic, foreign settings. Instead, Michael Pearson takes the road less traveled and keeps his story closer to home. The reader looking for journeys will not be disappointed, however, in the imaginative way the Pearson uses literature to break away from the confines of the Bronx and the unpredictable, bourbon induced, violent outbursts produce by his father's rage to live. Although Pearson engages in excessive epigraph dropping, the means by which literature provides an avenue for escape adds a universal element to his narrative from which we call all learn something about the art of bridge building.

Excellent, as are all of Eckhart's works. I strongly reccomend this set to anyone looking for a deeper understanding of life and spirituality.

Stillness...Stillness in Findhorn Scotland...listening to this audio retreat is not just "like" being there but being there.
Highly recommended.

I like his books but I love listening to him. It is an entirely different experience. The message is one it has taken me a long while to be ready to hear but as I listen and embrace the truth of what I am hearing (for me) I am grateful to have this recording.

I love to buy something like this - something to listen to in the car other than depressing news. Everyone doesn't make time to read, but I found that people are willing to listen to audio CDs. So I enjoy passing on this uplifting material to my friends. It's a relatively inexpensive way to make a positive impact on the lives of those you know and love.

This audio is so clearly articulated that it may change your life if your ready to receive its message.

Good book, I was expecting a more simple book. Comprehensive information. I prefer a simple book, easy to use, basic but helpful information on medications that help on different kind of diseases. Don't need to know on how to perform surgery on a fish and look under a microscope. This is helpful if you are a professional. Great pictures.

This is one of many books about goldfish that I have purchased during the past six months. It is by far the most outstanding. The details provided regarding healthcare, in particular, are very useful. Other books that I have recently read give glossed-over or simplified descriptions of health conditions, and brief (if any) suggestions about treatment. This book has proved to be quite satisfying in that the descriptions are thorough, and suggested treatments are detailed and specific. If you are considering keeping (or already keep) fancy goldfish, this is the only book that I would recommend, other than perhaps a basic aquarium keeper's guide. The photographs and drawings are original, unlike those found in other books (again and again and again). The author is a veterinarian, and he provides explicit instructions for microscopic slide preparation and viewing if you are so inclined. I purchased a microscope and have used it a couple of times to try to diagnose an ailment as discussed in the book. This, however, is not a necessity. Can't say it enough...this is a wonderful book. I highly recommend it.

I pretty much agree with everyone else, this is a very good resource for the experienced or newbie goldfish parent. There's probably more info here than I'll ever need (I don't plan on performing biopsies or even buying a microscope any time soon), but it's well-written and interesting stuff. The basics are covered just as thoroughly, and most of the questions I came up with were answered within a few paragraphs. The photography and production are amazing. An index would have been nice, but it's not necessary as the layout is straight-forward and everything is where you would expect it to be. I don't think I'll ever buy another goldfish book!

Not much to add to the title. The book is written by experts and has more information than any other book I've read on Goldfish. The author also has a website with even more information. The illustrations are beautiful. If you intend to raise or just have pet Goldfish, this is the only book you will need.

My Fiance and I have six goldfish in a 55gal tank and when we started out (with 2 goldfish in a 5.5gal tank) we knew nothing about goldfish. This book has been our lifesaver. It has taught us how to properly care for our fish and has enlightened us to breed differences, breeding processes, and other outside information. It is an excellent resource that most thoroughly encompases goldfish care and I highly recommended it to anyone who has goldfish and wishes to keep their beloved pet healthy and alive. Since owning this book, our fish have doubled or tripled in size and we have been able to cure them of their diseases, instead of having to flush them sadly away.

I adore Goosebumps because I like scary books. The best parts are the funny parts. I get frightened and put the book down and stare at the wall, thinking why am I scared. That's why I give this book 5 stars.

I loved it! It was very interesting, I could'nt put it down! I'm over thirteen years old but i still love it. What i like about the goosebumps series is that every age group usually loves it! This book strayed a little away from what I have known R.L. Stine to write, but it was still good. The title is deceptive though. It says "The Haunted School", but this book wasn't really about ghosts. I think a better title would be "The secret of grayworld"

R.L. Stine is a master of suspense! He once again writes so well it feels as if you are standing there. The details are tremendous and the flow is quick and exciting. This is a GREAT book!

This is my favorite Goosebumps book of all time!

I loved the plot and thought that it was amazing. The story is basically about kids from the school from earlier years to when the book takes place who are trapped inside the wall! How original?

This is the best in the series, and everyone who love(s) this series will love this one.

Tommy Frazers dad just got married.now tommy got a new mom.and he going to a new school.tommy gets lost at that school it is very big.also theres a class room with black and white people in there this is a okay book it has a wierd endening

Bishop Sheen's greatest work. His insight, wisdom and knowledge is found on every page. It was impossible for me to 'rush' through this lengthy book as almost every chapter demanded thoughtful reflection. His love of and for Jesus is something to be patterned after. Truly it is worth more than twice the price and will be proudly displayed on my bookshelf next to my Bible.

This book is the best, most accessible way to learn about the life of Christ. All will enjoy it -- every member of the family!

This is the best Life of Christ that I have ever read, and I have read several. Not only does Bishop Sheen provide insightful commentary on the Gospels, he relates them in a very understandable and practical way to life. This would be my top recommendation to anyone.

This book is a must for everyone! This isn't just an ordinary life of Christ....this captures your heart. It is a truly wonderful book!!

Maybe you are of an age that you remember when the Venerable Bishop Sheen was on the television? I am not one of those people. Maybe you know about Bishop Sheen being an "old" preacher, and maybe that concerns you? It concerned me. But under the guidance of someone I trust I purchased this book 3 years ago and read it.

It is a string of perfect pearls!

Each chapter deals with one section of the life of Jesus Christ and is filled with not just biblical references but with insights from Sheen that could only come from a deep, DEEP love for Christ. A deep understanding of history, and deep understanding of scripture.

When you look for a good book to read on the life of Christ, don't let your reservation (or prejudice) about the authors location in history bother you. My prejudice was, Bishop Sheen was a man of the 50's and couldn't speak to me on a level I could be engaged. I was wrong. I am a woman of the 90's and I do not have a college degree, but I have a solid high school education. Sheen is a man of "letters" and that also frightened me. I promise you, don't let it frighten you.

His method of dealing with his subject is so clear and enlightening, it feels like having the cobwebs and dust removed from an abandoned building. Sheen turns on the light!

One of my favourite parts of this book is when he deals with the "Woman at the well." There is just so much there that after you read this chapter, you'll be as excited as the woman was when she ran back into town shouting to anyone who would listen "Come and see a man who told me everything about myself.."

Bishop Sheen loves Christ, if you are looking for help in meditating on scripture. You will find that help here. I challenge you to learn about the "Life of Christ"

For this book review I read Little Town on the Prarie by:Laura Ingles Wilder. This book is good reading for preteen girls. The story is historical and is about living in the pioneer days.

In this book Laura and her family work hard to send her older sister to Collage and keep her there untill she finishes. Laura and her little sister Grace have to go to school when they move to town for the winter. Laura is very exited about going to school because she wants to get her teachers certifacit when she is sixteen. To find out what else happens you will have to read the book.

This book was fun to read and kept my intrest. It was a little confusing at timeskeeping up with who was talking. It was very interesting also to learn about how they lived back then. Over all it was a good book and I would consider reading it again.

It's wonderful to see how my children love listening to these books over and over, now that we've been collecting the CDs. The little details really stick in their heads, and have been surprisingly useful tidbits of information on several occasions, as they hear or read other things that relate!

When I first bought the CDs, I was unsure about Cherry Jones' accent, but it just brings a nice, down-home aspect to the reading. Of course, the readings are unabridged - the only way to go, I think!

My favorite part of the CDs, though, is hearing the songs, often accompanied by a fiddle. As a child, I remember skipping over the songs as I encountered them in the text, especially those I didn't know, and it has really added to the experience of the books to hear an actual tune for them. Often, the songs reflect the mood of the moment exceptionally well. Cherry Jones sings them out (usually as Pa!) in her low alto voice, and you do really have to hear a few of them to get used to it, but we love them.

Laura Ingalls thought that being thirteen was difficult, but now she is on the cusp of her fifteenth year, and things around her are changing like crazy. After a difficult winter full of one blizzard after another, Laura is happy to be back on the claim shanty with her family, away from the hustle and bustle of town. But she knows that her family will most certainly head back to De Smet to live in the shop before winter comes again, to protect them from the harsh weather that may lie ahead. Weather aside, however, Laura can't believe how many new things are arising. Especially the most important one of all - changes for Mary.

Laura couldn't be happier to be back in school again. After so many months of studying on her own, she is thrilled to be back in the classroom with her old friends Mary and Minnie, and Ida. But there's someone new in the classroom. A person from Laura's past who makes Laura shake with anger - Nellie Oleson. Laura, however, is determined to ignore the nasty Nellie and study as hard as she possibly can in order to gain her teaching certificate, and help to send Mary to college. But even without her being a part of the workforce, Mary is able to go off to college, and Laura couldn't be happier - or more devastated. But seeing how much Mary loves college, Laura resolves to study even harder, and begin earning the money to assist in keeping her there. Of course, Laura never imagined that things could possibly stand in her way. Such as the selfish new schoolteacher who thrives on taunting and humiliating both Laura and Carrie in front of the other students; and working as a seamstress in town. But the most shocking of all, is Almanzo Wilder's sudden interest in young Laura. Almanzo is a handsome fellow, whose Morgan horses are the talk of the town, and now Almanzo seems to have taken a fancy to Laura - something that leaves her confused and excited at the same time. But no matter what, she must remember to continue her studies, or else Mary may have to return home before her education is complete.

It seems strange to bear witness as someone ages, but that is exactly what readers have had the opportunity to do as Laura Ingalls grows in age, height, and maturity. The love she holds for her family is so refreshing and charming, and truly keeps the reader's interest peaked; while the constant maturity Laura displays in each and every one of her decisions is just unbelievable. Laura has completely grown up before our eyes, and each year she just becomes more and more lovable. The inclusion of facts regarding the changes taking place during this era are interesting, and present a fun learning experience for readers; while the sudden budding romances springing up around the young people of De Smet indicates just how much older these characters have become. Almanzo Wilder has grown on me over the past few books, and I love reading the scenes where he is present; and Nellie Oleson, as nasty as she is, will always remain a fun character whom you absolutely love to hate, but hate to love. This series just gets better and better!

Erika Sorocco
Freelance Reviewer

I read this book to my two sons, 7, 9 and my husband, during long drives. We all loved it. Even though the main character is a girl, my boys were interested the entire time and identified with Laura. The descriptions are great and the characters are well-drawn. We're now reading These Happy Golden Years and my family is loving that, too. I recommend this book for a family to read together.

This is a charming, entertaining, and educational story about what life was like among homesteaders in the Dakota territories in the 1880s. I mostly agree with the other positive reviews here. But there is a teaching moment in this book that should not be overlooked. The parents in this book are paragons of virtue, and their behavior matches the highest standards - standards of 1880, not 2006. There is a short scene during one of the "literaries" where several men perform in blackface. Although it occurs with innocent intent, modern readers might find it in questionable taste if they don't allow for the historical context.

If they're smart, parents and teachers will embrace this as an opportunity to open a discussion with children about changing standards, and the work it took to improve those standards.