Places Books

Ever wondered how Hell's Kitchen got it's name or why Bowling Green is called that? Well, finally there is a book that can answer these and many other place name questions. "Naming New York: Manhattan Places and How They Got Their Names" by Sanna Feirstein, and published by the respectable folks at New York University Press is a great, well organized book that discusses how most places in the borough of Manhattan got their names.

Chapters, which are divided by areas on the island such as Upper East Side, Inwood, and Harlem, discusses the origin of many street, park, and neighborhood names. The author, who briefly gives the origin of the place name in a simple sentence or two, apparently has done some deep research at a local library or archive in order to amass such an extensive list of information. With a great cover design and feel, the book captured my attention at a local bookstore. Overall, the book is a must for anyone who loves the City that Never Sleeps. It's a great book for a great price, which today can be a rarity.

I'm hoping that by the time you read this review, you will be able to take a look inside (right now, you can't). If you could, you would be able to see the exquisite layout and illustrations of Sanna Feirstein's "Naming New York: Manhattan Places and How They Got Their Names". It's a gloriously good-looking book.

But more important, Sanna Feirstein has gotten her facts right. When people think of the place names of Manhattan, they probably think of the grid and its numbered roads. Or that Manhattan is so modern, that all its place names begin with the Rockefeller era. WRONG! The island of Manhattan reaches further back in the history of American cities than any other one: the Wall Street area itself existed while Shakespeare's plays were first being produces. Manhattan, especially the older neighborhoods from Houston Street south to the Battery, are filled with twisting little streets whose names resonate with Manhattan's history. This book is where you'll find out why Houston Street is pronounced "HOW-ston". Where did Maiden Lane get its name from? Who was Barclay? This book will tell all.

This is a very informative book. If only it can tell me why New Yorkers pronounce Avenue of the Americas as "Sixth Avenue".

This book is great for everyone - from history experts to casual street walkers. I highly recommend it!!!

Even non-New Yorkers will enjoy the sweeping history that is brought alive when you peek behind street signs. From Broadway to Shinbone Alley, there's something fascinating about how New Yorkers have chosen to name their byways. Each section of town is presented with an introduction which outlines its place in the history of the city. Then each street is listed with an explanation of its name derivation. The mysteries of SoHo, NoHo, NoMad, and NoCa are explained. There are scores of beautiful illustrations. East side, west side, all around the town, Ms. Feirstein puts a human face on every corner of the Big Apple.

This book explains the origin of every named street in Manhattan, New York. A native of Topeka, Kansas may rightly be inclined to say "So what?" but, to anyone interested in NYC, this book will provide plenty of raised eyebrows of new found insight about "Gotham". The book is broken down into sections on Lower Manhattan, Mid-Lower Manhattan, The Villages, Midtown South, Midtown, East Side, West Side, and Upper Manhattan with additional sectional breakdowns in each group. A page and a half of historical background for each area is given along with a very basic map of the area. The story of the name for each street in the area is then explained in a couple well written lines. Many pictures are included of the persons or places named. The only detracting points are the paucity of effective maps detailing where some of the more obscure places are.

Highly recommended if you are into New York City history.

The 2008 Spirit of Place Weekly Engagement Planner is a wonderful planner. The reason if got 4.5 out of 5 stars is because the side flaps were a bit cumbersome compared to other Engagement Planners I've had in the past. Otherwise, it is an excellent planner and I look forward to more than likely purchase printings for future years.

Weekly planner is excellent qualtity and the phots are breathtaking. Would use this selller again. Thankx! :-)

I found the photos in this calendar are so inviting , peaceful and beautiful. They almost take you on a journey! Each photo captures the beauty and serenity of the natural world. Untouched by hurried schedules and the hubbub of day to day life. Time almost stands still when you look at these wonderful places. I will definetly purchase more of his work.

The photos are amazing, but there are 3 pages missing. Almost the whole month of January is missing!

I ordered this calendar and kept my fingers crossed. If I recall correctly it didn't show the monthly pictures in the description. (Only the front) What a pleasant surprise when it arrived. No regrets what so ever. The photographer or should I say artist really has a good eye for this. This work of art really lives up to it's name. Good quality calendar worth the price. Would make a wonderful gift, I highly recommend it.

This delightful collection of short stories was based on Rose Wilder Lane's life as she was growing up. She accurately
described the issues women faced at around the turn of a century, especially that of being an old maid! An old maid if
you're not married by your mid-20's? Wow!

The stories in this book was a combination of humorous and some seriousness. The characters were realistic and seem to come to life for that time period.

I bought my copy at the museum in Mansfield because I always wanted to read Rose's work. This book is a gem. The essay introducing the book is worth getting the book but each story is a gem on its own. Her voice is fresh and rings well today. You would not know she lived in the first half of the 20th century.

I have loaned this book out to 2 people now and all of us are knocked out at how good Rose was. Purchase it, read it. Rose was well known in the early part of last century for good reason. Let's bring this author back to the audience she richly deserves today.

This is a hidden jewel in american literature: a detailed portrait of life before women's right to vote was a federal law, before Margaret Sanger, before Rosie the Riveter. The author survived small town life, and lived to tell and in her own way celebrate it. I will be giving this book to all the tweenager girls I know (and my own daughter when she is old enough!).

This book is wonderful, funny and hearwarming. My great aunt was born in the same era and used to tell me similar stories in this fashion. What a life women had in the olden days, there are not many real life accounts in print that are honest and true. This one is. What a fun book to read.

Rose is just as gripping a writer as her mother, although with a far more adult narrative style.

Miss Read's novels capture the best aspects of the small town provincial novel--the sense of connection, the wry Austenisms--while leaving the sentimentality and pollyanna-ism sometimes afflicting the genre to her lesser imitators. A Peaceful Retirement brings us another step--perhaps a final step--nearer to the end of this series. I recommend this series, and this book within the series, to anyone who wishes that a novel might have both a 20th C. awareness and a somewhat 19th C. sense of perspective....Most people have not discovered Miss Read, and one somehow wonders if "most people" really ought to. But I am certainly glad that I did....

Miss Read has written over 40 titles, with this final tome describing how her headmistress heroine copes with her new-found life of leisure.

In an afterword, the author says she is laying down her pen "with a thankful heart". It is all the more surprising therefore that these final tales show no sign of staleness. In fact, "A Peaceful Retirement" is quite playful in tone as Miss Read copes valiantly with a series of unlooked-for marriage proposals.

Given that the school year is so regular the author manages to describe events such as Christmas celebrations and harvest festivals with no sense of repetition, and as ever captures the tensions between town and country living, children's and adult worlds and men and women beautifully.

With this book Dora Saint, the real-life Miss Read, can take her own retirement from authorship knowing that she has served her readers well.

I just finished reading "A Peaceful Retirement". Just like her other books, it was excellent reading. I was sorry when the book ended because I wanted to read more. Few years ago I wrote Miss Read a letter stating I loved all her books. She was kind enough to write me a handwritten letter in reply. After a hetic day, I look forward to reading her books and revisit the loveable characters in the quiet town.

I enjoyed this book just as much as I have all the other books written by Miss Read. The reason that I enjoyed this book so much was that it was like catching up with old friends and being transported back to the Village and all the surrounding scenery which captures my imagination. I recommend that you read not only this book but all those that Miss Read (Dora Saint) has written for anyone that enjoys people and a very descriptive story which includes the lovely countryside that one can only imagine. I will miss my friends very much. Thank You Dora Saint for giving me many hours of pleasure.

I just finished reading "A Peaceful Retirement". Just like her other books, it was excellent reading. I was sorry when the book ended because I wanted to read more. Few years ago I wrote Miss Read a letter stating I loved all her books. She was kind enough to write me a handwritten letter in reply. After a hetic day, I look forward to reading her books and revisit the loveable characters in the quiet town.

This wonderful book resonates with emotional truth about family life, friendship, and the challenges a Taiwanese-American girl faces trying to find her place amid competing cultural expectations. The characters in this book are vivid and compelling, as is the depiction of life in Peiling's family. It is hard to imagine a more moving and entertaining story for middle readers than the one told in this poignant, and very funny, book.

When I started reading this novel, yes before sending it as a gift, I was startled to notice that Peiling's nemesis shared my first name! Just a silly, literary coincidence (it is fiction, after all!) no big deal, but odd, nonetheless; maybe because I live in the same town with the author?

In any case, I need not have worried. Of course, I can't spoil things, and it really is Peiling's story, not her friend's, or rather, the story is about how friends, and families, can change and grow, together, and no one is merely a nemesis, by the end. Heart-warming, at any time of year, but maybe especially now, at the December time of year.

As others have noted, while this is officially a novel for "young adults", it is a novel that even a no-longer-young adult can enjoy, quite a lot.

See for yourself, and/or, ask your local library or school to acquire it!

I was looking for a gift for a friend's daughter and liked the title of this book. I ended up reading the whole thing myself in one sitting. Poignant and funny story. Even though it's written for kids, it's not heavy-handed in its treatment of racial identity. I think it'll make a great present!

My 10 year old daughter and I found this story engaging and entertaining. From the beginning we found ourselves relating to Peiling and feeling her anxiety, despite the fact that we have no personal immigrant experience. Chen describes the school setting vividly and I felt like I was there. Peiling's classmates and friends were also extremely believable. My favorite was her quirky friend Grace.

As the population of the US becomes more diverse, with various ethnic communities having their own celebrations, this book is quite timely. The Hindus have Diwali, the Sikhs have Vaisakhi, and the Chinese have Chinese New Year. This book explores how young Peiling, whose family immigrated to the US from China, struggles to adapt to the hectic and happy preparations for Christmas as celebrated by her peers at school, but not her. She is pleasantly surprised when her parents decide to celebrate Christmas after seven years in the US, but is then disappointed when they take a Chinese approach to it.

The rest of the story centers around how Peiling comes to appreciate the differences between her and her classmates, and takes pride in her unique cultural traditions whilst coming together with her friends and celebrating Christmas. Its a unique but timely tale that is sure to appeal to readers, both young and old.

The authors use the framework of the Apostles' Creed to provide a helpful description of the Christian story and some of it's implications for the way we might live today.

This book is an especially good first step for those who are becoming disillusioned with an exclusively "head-based" evangelical perspective on faith. (IE - Christianity is about holding the right ideas.) It offers a simple invitation to begin to "try on" the idea that doubt is an essential part of faith.

Per James Pond's review (below), the authors clearly wrestle with these questions in the context of orthodox Christianity, and do not engage with a larger, global perspective on Spirituality.

I am one of the skeptics this book was written for. I also happen to be a Christian. The authors of this book not only understand, but promote, the idea that the two can coexist. As they quote from Dostoyevsky: "Sometimes the greatest act of faith is in the doubting."

What a gift it is to go on this 30-day journey with people who readiily acknowledge how fragile faith can often feel. Larson and Mitchell are refreshingly honest about their own doubts and questions, which is probably why so much of it resonates with me. They actually encourage us to be skeptics, in the healthiest sense of the word, leaving room for the mystery that is God. If you're looking for answers, look elsewhere. If you're open to the value of living with questions, you will probably appreciate, as I did, what this book has to offer. An excellent choice for devotional reading and meditation, regardless of where you are in your journey.

I found this book to be a wonderful tool to share with friends who are asking questions about God and looking for something to help them along. I like the conversational approach, the 30 day format, the way it breaks down the Apostle's Creed and helps the reader understand what it is all about. I have given numerous copies to friends who are at various places in their spiritual journey, some just starting out, others further along, and all have remarked that this book was very helpful to them.

What a great little book! The authors take the time to explore spiritual questions, rather than simply rushing to answers; and each writes with a humor, honesty and humility that I enjoyed and appreciated.

The daily readings are refreshing and challenging - providing a unique and interesting mix of scripture, creed and thoughts on faith. I used the book as devotional reading and have returned several times to chapters like "What About When Doubt Overshadows Belief?" and "Will Life Ever Be the Way It's Supposed to Be?"

I'm grateful to have this book - and have already given copies to friends

After reading A Place for Skeptics...I could have entitled it "A Place for my Friends and I". All my life I have heard the Apostles Creed, and this book helped me to take the next step in understanding my faith and belief in God. More than that, this book has been a helpful tool for me to give to friends as they try to understand their own beliefs in God, and how those beliefs make it into their everyday lives.

A Place for Skeptics is an excellent resource for making the bridge between God...Religion...and your everyday common life. It invites you to explore the reality that God does bring Real Answers to Real Life.....

Do you need a break? Do you need a refreshing? Stop what you are doing now and make a cup of tea and emerse yourself in the soothing book. It will aid you as you slow down from your fast-paced lifestyle. It will enable you to pause and rest.

I have read alot of devotionals and many books encouraging the reader to have quiet time with the Lord. But this one is the best yet! If you already have a daily established time set aside for you and the Lord, it will make you guard it even more. If you have not yet begun, you will be excited to do so and wonder why it has taken you so long!

Full of rare jewels, overflowing with treasures; reading this along with your journal is a must! You will not only record great finds from within the book, but also from within your relationship with the Lord!

--- reviewed by Susan for Christian Bookshelf

If your daily time with Christ has become no more than a check on your "to-do" list, then let this book turn it for you, as it did for me, into a daily "love time" with Jesus Christ. The book has been adequately described in detail by other reviewers, but I just wanted to confirm their reports and relate that this is a book that will change your daily devotional time to an activity you cannot live without. Journalling, Bible study, intercession, singing, and other elements of a daily quiet time are covered in detail. Nancy De Moss shares her own failure at times to carve out her time with Jesus and does not set herself up as an example of perfection, but gives us enough tools to help us keep our devotional life vibrant. With notebook and Bible nearby I now thoroughly enjoy my time with the Lord each morning. The book is a great gift but be sure to give one to yourself first. Keep it, and re-read it once a year. It will become a favorite for a "renewal week-end" for yourself once a year.

This is an excellent book from one of the great Christian women of our day. I have found this book so encouraging and instructive. Though it was written primarily for women, I have found great help in it. I think every Christian would benefit from the practical Biblical teaching that Nancy DeMoss gives. Very few, if any, leaves are left unturned. Extended time is given to issues such as obstacles to overcome, dealing with distractions, preparing our hearts for devotion, time in the Word, and both praise and prayer. Each chapter ends with a "Making It Personal" section, giving a list of application questions, and a testimony relating to the devotional life from other Christian women such as Elisabeth Elliot, Joni Erickson Tada, and Kay Arthur.

This book has added meaning to me, because I was on staff with Life Action Ministries for three years and know Nancy DeMoss personally. Her testimony regarding her father's consistency in daily devotions had an impact on me in 1994. I also remember her own personal testimony in 1995 when the Lord did a lot of the ground-breaking work in her life in this area (this book being one of the results!). She is a special Christian woman with a special message to ladies of this generation. Men, this would be a great gift for your wives! (Ladies, reading and applying this would be a great gift to your husbands!) Highly recommended!

Okay, I finished this book! You'll find my initial review below - I was the first reviewer of this book. This book has impacted me more than any other book I've read on the subject of having daily Quiet Times with the Lord. If you need to be convinced of the need for this in your own Christian walk, or you need to get back on the path, please read this book! Nancy Leigh DeMoss does such an outstanding job with this book. Chapter 6, entitled "The Hard Thing for me is..." discusses many "excuses" or things that stand in the way of having productive daily devotional times. The author addresses all these issues and gives really practical and helpful suggestions, all the while giving examples from her own life.

One of the women in our small group Bible Study had been to a Women's Conference where Nancy Leigh DeMoss spoke on this issue "Devotional Time: Duty or Delight" and she came back and told our group about it. I was already reading this book and after hearing about the conference and looking at my book, every woman in our group wanted the book for themselves and already several of them are reading it and reaping the benefits of a closer walk with the Lord! Nancy, when are you writing another book?

The heart of this book is in the right place but it could be crippling for those of different temperaments than the writer. Those who often journal, make lists, and are comfortable with routines will find this book practical and encouraging. Spontaneous people and those who don't enjoy writing may feel like spiritual failures when the practices suggested come so unnaturally to them.

DeMoss SEEMS to limit spiritual growth to "quite times," leaving out the practices of servanthood and secrecy. She seems to overlook the value of stillness and waiting for the Lord, generally suggesting you fill your quiet time with activities.

In chapter 5, DeMoss presents a strong argument in favor of MORNING devotions. She presents numerous scriptures for support (the most convincing being Job's example). She does not address Mark 6:46-47 (afternoon prayer), Luke 6:12-13 (all-night prayer), Psalms 55:17, Daniel 6:10 (Three times a day), Psalms 88:1, Luke 18:1, 7-8, Deuteronomy 6:6-9, 11:18-21 (day and night). Those don't believe morning devotions are sacred and those who would do better at another time may feel unnecessary guilt from this chapter.

Chapter 9 is titled "Getting the Word into You." Showing her bias as a writer, every technique she suggests is based on various forms of writing. (There are lots of good ideas.) This chapter ends with an unusually overwhelming set of questions in which you are instructed to try EVERY method of study recommended to study Psalm 19.

DeMoss writes: "Of course, there's always a danger that a daily quiet time or any other spiritual discipline can deteriorate into a lifeless routine. But I have discovered that it is much easier to breathe life back into a dead routine than to get life there is no routine at all." (Pages 94-95) DeMoss' heart is in the right place. Her book is full of practical suggestions. The forward and the first two chapters are outstanding. The rest of the book will be helpful to some and frustrating for others.

Those seeking to practical suggestions for spiritual growth of a more spontaneous nature may enjoy The Life You've Always Wanted by John Ortberg.

FINALLY!, here is a book that shows the practicality of faith for young people, specifically African American teenage males. As a mentor for an all African American high school athletic team and the older brother of a high school athlete, I found this book to be a great conversation starter for many of the issues faced by the aforementioned demographic and generally the teenage Christian population. Moore doesn't shy away from the issues of sex, drugs, the ensuing "teenage love affair" difficulties, complications of progressive friendship, and/or other issues normally quieted in Christian culture. Instead, she offers the simply, yet fervent prayers of Perry, the novels protagonist, and follows up with his clearly demonstrated actions of faith to see those prayers come to fruition.

As a recent graduate with an honors degree in English and World Literatures, I also find the novels easy to read and audience appropriate. My younger brother and I often finish the books included in this series within a days time. We enjoy every moment of it!

Perry Skky, Jr. is a very talented high school football player, and he's being recruited by the best colleges. He's an A student and a popular guy in school. It seems a lot of girls want him, but he's not like his player friends, Damarius & Cole. Perry's heart belongs to one girl, and that's Tori. He desires to share all of himself with her, but Tori's Christian beliefs keep him from getting what he wants. Being a Christian himself, Tori's decision is the right choice for both of them, but Perry's relationship with the Lord is a bit off track, so he doesn't always have God's will in mind. He does, however, get to where honoring God becomes his top priority... eventually, that is.
I don't know the first thing about football, so the many chapters about college recruiting and football games weren't interesting. But that's just me. However, Stephanie Perry Moore has enough knowledge about football to hold the attention of every reader who has an interest in this sport.
Perry's relationships with his family, his boys (their situations helped him to start appreciating being abstinent), and the opposite sex (quite a bit of drama there) - that is what kept me turning the pages. Perry rededicates his life to God during the story, getting his walk with the Lord back on track. He intends to put God first in all that he does, and by the end of the story he is beginning a relationship with a girl who feels as strongly about pleasing God as he does.
After reading this first book in the Perry Skky, Jr. Series, I did not hesitate to purchase Book 2 - Pressing Hard. I'm interested in finding out how well Perry resists temptation with his new girlfriend; someone he became attracted to when he claimed he was in love with Tori.
I recommend this novel to teens and adults who love to read YA fiction. And as for young people who are reluctant readers, this could be the one that ignites a passion for reading.

I really love Perry. He's a great character and a good role model for young men. I've always loved Stephanie Perry Moore's books but I hate how she always makes her characters either the star of their sports team, Miss Popularity, or like in the case of the Laurel Shadrach series a person who dates the popular star jock. Can't she write about any other types of characters? I also hate how it seems that although it has been two years, Payton's life is still exactly the same and the fact they killed off Dakari's brother.

Being a Young African American Christian Male myself, this book indeed shows the stuggles that young men go through trying to live there lives on the straight and narrow with everything that swarms around the world. I have read the first two books in the series, and i plan on buying the next two. Great Book! Keep up the phenomenal work.

This is a great book for teens and young adults. It's hip and with the programme and talks about stuff that teens and young adults talk about and deal with on a daily basis. Things like curfew, sex, virginity, going steady, dealing with parents - it's all here. There's no preaching down or preaching at - just real talk. I'm a mother and I enjoyed the book. It also gave me MORE insight into what kids deal with today. Sometimes as adults, we forget what growing up is like. Even if you are not a christian you will enjoy this book.

I loved reading this book, it was an exciting adventure. It expanded many of my understandings and put me in much deeper awareness of the topic, and I really enjoyed that.

One of the ways I could relate to this book is that some of the exercises resembled Aikido warm up exercises, which made me understand why I feel the way I feel when I practice Aikido and the sense being charged with positive energy.

I gave this book a rating of 4 stars, even though it deserves 5, simply because there were parts that I couldn't tune into or relate to, but it presented a really interesting argument.

I am full of admiration of the writing style and the stories, and I loved the introduction, because I could relate to most of it.

This is a really sound book and gives you extremely good advise. I enjoyed reading it and it is a keeper. I highly recommend it if you want to stay positive and proteted especially in the work place.

I loved this book because it's simple and yet very effective. The author is personable and shares his own experiences. There were more than enough suggestions and meditations to achieve the psychic protection and understanding that I needed.

I bought this book a while back and found that the book is very useful for those who are in search of the basics of learning how to protect themselves. I tried out a few of the ideas in the book and feel that it really has worked especially the bubble and the shield. Many ideas suggested in the book were things I never would have thought up if I hadn't read about it. Overall, this book is very easy to read and very helpful.

I recommend this very "easy to follow" guide in the "art" of Psychic Protection!

It covers all the "basics" in the field in an easy and understandable way on how to protect yourself, others and "spaces"...

Also, to its credit is that it does not avoid the subject of evil and fear as some other books tends to do.
Having read this "introduction" book I recommend further "deeper" reading, i.e. the books: 1. "White Light" by Diane Ahlquist; 2. "The Art of Psychic Protection" by Judy Hall etc.

Mats Fondelius - CEO

Cooper does a great job of detailing today's high school students' experience. Some parts of that experience are universal and regardless of the background of the reader, they will be able to identify with some portion of the protagonists' lives - whether they want to remember those high school days or not. At the same time, Cooper deftly notes what is new, not least of which is technology and Starbucks. These compelling stories are literally illustrated with Cooper's distinct and appealing artwork.

This book came across my desk and it took me a while to even open the cover. It's about high school after all - I was happy to have forgotten high school. I was surprised, however, to find myself enjoying the way Cooper presented the students' stories. They may be seventeen, but they're human. I enjoyed watching them struggle after already having gone through it. Though I think many of them have more grace than I ever did (still?). Short version - I liked the book and would recommend it.

Cooper follows up his witty "Crawling: A Father's First Year" with another gem. In "R/H/T/C", he entertains with the narrative of eight Chicago high school students through their senior year, capturing the challenges of self-absorbed adolescence as I had forgotten it. He shows these kids for who they are, avoidig tempting cliches, instead weaving in his trademark wit and analogisms. I often found myself laughing out loud. The book brought back memories of classmates of old, and a little bit of myself in one of the characters (but im not telling which one!). A really enjoyable read.

As an adult reading ridiculous/hilarious/terrible/cool, one can't but help to be taken back to the days in high school. And, to feel fairly relieved not to be there again. The excitement of having your whole life in front of you, but also the angst of an uncertain future and the peer pressure to underachieve, as well as the complications of being a youth in 2008 -- all these things come through via the subjects of Cooper's book, and Cooper does a great job of presenting them in a (fairly) dispassionate light so that the reader can more experience than judge the happenings. As a father of a <1 year old girl, I read ridiculous/hilarious/terrible/cool thinking all the while of what lies ahead for my little girl and thinking, "can I keep her a toddler all her life??" but also realizing that the enormity of the exciting experiences that await her!

I was riveted by this carte-blanche-access account of real teens in a real school. "American Teen" has nothing on Cooper! I highly recommend this alternately heartbreaking and hopeful story.