Anne Books

This all happened in a town. The problem was that this guy named Davy was addicted to alcohol. He started to hang around with other people that also drink. That only made it worse. Davy would have fantasies about a girl name Linda. Those people who he hangs around, Linda hang around with them too. One day he went to a place, the cops showed up, his friends started to ask if he was still a virgin and responded to that and he said, "yes." So his friends take him to Maxis house to do it. But he doesn't remember what had happened. Pretty soon they start dating. Davy had fell in love and so did Maxi. One day she told Davy that they should stop drinking, he agreed. They started to go to alcoholics anonymous. Both of them went, but at first they had problems, but as time passed Maxi didn't had any problem but Davy did. When they were one month with out drinking then they had dinner and went to the beach. That's when Maxi drowns and at the end Davy realizes he needs help, so he gets it.

I read this book for my 10th grade IGL Class!! I though it was a good book I know some people that were just like Davy and Maxi! In the beging of the book Davy has no friends and he starts haning out with the popular kids. Davy really like this hanging out with the popular ones because Linda this girl he really like was one of them!! All they did was sit around and drink all the time Davy started hanging out with Maxi one of the popular kids and they did stuff toghther and got drunk all the time!! They finally decided that they had a alcohol problem so they went to a counselor to get help. At the end of the book they are both clean!! That is my review and when you read this book I hope you take it serously and not be stupid and become one your self.

This is a chilling story, especially if you're an alcoholic! You want to hear a story that's not just a number on a page (statistic), then read this. You'll see how low you can get if you're not there already!

This book is awesome. it is deffenitly the best book i have ever read. i would probably read it again if i liked books but it seems that i hate them. i like the story of how davy gets drunk and gets horizontal with maxi. he finally starts to make friends but that all ends when maxi gets naked and drunk. She goes swimming and dies. he was sad. Davy went on a drinking bingeand wound up in the gutter.

This was a very good and scary book. It shows the truth of what happens to an alcoholic when they don't get help. When I first took this book off the shelf of the public library here, I was a bit skeptical of it because of the title. But since I've read it, it is one of my favorite books in the world!!

Anne Fontaine has done a wonderful job of bring a real life tragedy to a child's level. Death is often difficult for people to accept, especially when you have been given a time line. Annie learns how important it is to just BE PRESENT with Ocho, no matter what. This book is a MUST to read for anyone who has a pet or has lost a pet or has a friend or relative with a terminal illness.

I love this book. It's hard to describe in words what it teaches. No matter your age, if you have ever loved a pet, this is a story you have to read.

The beginning of the Annie series, Ocho Loved Flowers is a children's picturebook about coping with the loss of a pet. Told from the perspective of young Annie, who loves her feline friend Ocho more than anything, Ocho Loved Flowers follows Annie and Ocho when Ocho gets very sick and the veterinarian tells Annie they have only one more month left to be together. Annie learns how to give Ocho medicine, share the time they have, and say goodbye without words. When Ocho passes on, Annie is sad for a long time and misses her best friend, but eventually she feels sufficiently better to go to the store and get flowers - one set for her, one set in memory of Ocho. Simple color illustrations and discussion questions for young children (such as "Taking care of a cat or a dog is a big responsibility. What are some of the things you have to do to take care of a pet?") round out this gentle and thoughtful picturebook. Highly recommended.

What I liked best about this book is how even though little Annie went through losing her cat, Ocho, she still had the memories of Ocho. Memories cannot be taken away from us no matter if those memories are of a pet, friend, parent, child, grandparent, etc. I think this book is an excellent tool to encourage a child to talk about their feelings when losing someone special in their life.

Although only a small child, Annie teaches us about love. Through her relationship with her cat, Ocho, she learns what one can "do" when death arrives as well as how one can "be." The illustrations are vibrant and beautifully capture the essence of Anne's message. This is a keepsake book. I have several in my office for clients who are experiencing a loss. They appreciate the comfort the book provides.

I had more fun reading this book than I can ever remember having! I wished I was related to Fern and Sam the entire time I was reading it. The author creates such a rich and detailed world that you feel like you are living inside this magical book! The world of the Otherworldlies is filled with fantastic and amazing creatures. The plot is very surprising and also very familiar. The characters are very realistic, even though they have special powers! I can't believe the author did such a great job of making the fantastic seem so real!!! I can't wait to read the next installment. This is shaping up to be one of the best series ever.

Strange things keep happening to 12 year old Fern McAllister. For one thing a rash of dead swallows in her town San Juan Capistrano, plaguing Fern and her twin brother, Sam. For another thing the voices that Fern constantly hears won't shut up, and they keep whispering of the appearance of a man named Vlad. There is also, of course, the typical weird things that Fern can do; like speak to the family dog, Byron, predict the weather accurately for months at a time, and how simply being out in the sun will cause her skin to blister unmercifully. Suffice it to say, Fern is a very "unusual" girl.

Things at school don't help to negate this complex for Fern. She is constantly picked on by the in crowd who have labeled her "Freaky Fern" for her attitudes and dark appearance, especially in contrast with her handsome, charismatic (and golden) twin. Fern continues to perpetuate the fact that she is odd by acting what is most normal to her, whether it's reading a book in a tree with Byron at her side, or constantly going to the nurses office for painful stomach cramps. Fern is an outcast, plain and simple... the worst crime possible for a 12 year old at a parochial school... But is there more to Fern's behavior then meets the eyes?

Things get even weirder when an incident at school culminates in Fern's disappearance. And by disappearance I mean literally that... one minute she is sitting in her desk at school and the next she is at the beach that her family frequently spends time at talking to some random beach bum who convinces her to go into the cave nearby where she sees two things that she has never noticed before... initials carved into the rock and an inscription in ancient Greek, which Fern cannot read. This incident begins to open up Fern's eyes to a whole new world, a world where she is even more "unusual" than she once thought... a world that she never knew existed until it fell into her proverbial lap.

As a debut novel in a series this is a really good effort on Kogler's part. I liked it to a point. There were a few minutes in the story when I checked out either from annoyance (or potentially from outside interference) and I had to reread the bits I got distracted in. The whole time spent in New Tartarus I found to be a touch.... Meh... overall just not well developed. She could have sharpened a few moments in that particular story arc. However, I was attracted to the overall story at large and definitely checked back in just in time to see what happened with Fern and Sam once they were no longer in New Tartarus. I think with some cleaning up the writing style, and with some tweaking of details, Kogler has the makings of a good series of books... Especially considering that Vampires are the new black right now when it comes to young adult science fiction writing. Structurally, it reminds me a tad of the format of the Harry Potter books, but only slightly, as it is really nothing like the books. I also enjoyed the inclusion of Greek Mythology merged with the mythology of Vampires. I think this is a really bold and inventive choice on Kogler's part and I was thrilled that the book highlighted so many interesting points in Greek mythology (especially considering she is building her mythos base on them).

Overall, I liked it. Enough to sell it where I work. Enough to read further books by Kogler about these characters. I think it's a fine start, and I hope to see her develop this idea further.

From the moment I read the eerie opening line, I was plunged into the weird yet very recognizable world of The Otherworldlies. Although this novel is very different from Kogler's first, the thread connecting both is Kogler's unique gift for making readers feel like they too are inhabiting the the out-of-the-ordinary worlds she describes. In both novels, Kogler makes the strange into something familiar, and the familiar into something strange. Despite her character's bizarre circumstances, whether seedy Las Vegas casinos or underground vampire civilizations, the issues they struggle with are those that confront us everyday, particularly in that in-between state between child and adult. The Otherworldlies' Fern, like Ruby of Ruby Tuesday, and like almost every adolescent girl, feels helpless to control or even to understand the events unfolding around her, and the decisions she makes speak to the uncertainty and unknowabilty of the worlds she finds herself thrust into. Fern's journey is not only about deciding who she is, vampire or human, but also about what world she wants to belong to, and how it might be possible to straddle multiple worlds. In the process she learns how belonging can mean not just losing parts of herself, the way it might seem at her catty middle school, but also finding them.

Fern is an unusual girl, and in middle school, that's just not acceptable. Every day, she has to deal with others' spite over her strange qualities and habits such as blistering from sun exposure, a knack for accurate weather prediction, hearing voices without bodies, and talking with her dog. But what she doesn't know is that she isn't normal; she's a vampire, or an Otherworldy. And among those, she's one of the most special, because her unique ability to teleport distinguishes her as one of the foretold Unusual Eleven. Fern soon finds herself in the midst of an ages-old battle between the two factions of Otherworldies that could destroy her, the people she loves, and possibly the entire world.

The Otherworldies was a fantastic and action-filled combination of vampirism, ancient mythology, and supernatural powers; it was incredible how Kogler linked the three together even though they may seem to be unrelated. The plot was very fast moving and kept me on the edge of my seat, especially as the story neared its ending. I loved how this story kept me guessing right up until the end and how some of the characters I thought were insignificant turned out to be crucial to the plot. You really have no idea what's going to happen next. Besides having a well-written plot, The Otherworldies also has creative characters. My favorite was Fern; I found her to be much more mature than her twelve years would suggest as well as witty and resourceful.

Readers looking for a suspenseful, well-written, and unique read should most definitely check out The Otherworldies. Although I believe this novel is considered in the middle grade genre, teens and adults will also enjoy this story.

Twelve-year-old Fern McAllister is the black sheep of her family, set apart by pale skin that blisters after moments in the sun and dark black hair in a family of blondes. Her strange sensitivity to light, and seeming ability to communicate with the family dog, are secondary concerns to the kids at her middle school who tease her for having an absent father. Despite gaining herself the nickname "freaky Fern," she leads a generally happy life, thanks to her mother's caring and her twin
brother Sam's friendship.

But one day in the middle of English, Fern simply disappears. No one can find her; no one has seen her leave the room, much less her desk. Unbeknownst to her classmates, Fern has somehow managed to teleport to Pirate Cove, her favorite part of a nearby beach. Frightened and unsure of how she got there, Fern tries to tell the truth, but her mother isn't believing it and neither is the school's headmaster. The next time she vanishes and reappears, it is to a much more dangerous location, and by then it's impossible for Fern to keep her activities under wraps. It's only after a series of dangerous accidents that Fern discovers the truth of her identity and the full extent of her powers as an "otherworldly," the politically correct term for any creature that is not entirely human.

Kogler does a wonderful job of detailing the average twelve-year-old's insecurities and the way that they are magnified in Fern, who is anything but average. She presents a compelling picture of what it's like to grow up different in a world where schoolchildren are cruel and ostracize people who don't fit in. I found Fern, Sam, and their mother to all be very sympathetic and believable characters, whose motivations were easy to accept.

I also enjoyed Kogler's conception of the titular "otherworldlies," which made this book refreshingly different from other vampire stories I have read. Her use of Greek myths as the starting point for a number of inhuman creatures and supernatural powers put a new spin on the traditional vampire myths.

Overall, THE OTHERWORLDLIES was a satisfying read, with a plot that asked more questions than it answered but still managed to come to some kind of conclusion. Kogler's left herself open for a sequel, perhaps even an entire series, about Fern's future, and I for one look forward to whatever she comes up with next.

Reviewed by: Candace Cunard

the product description matched exactly what i received in the mail. it was also shipped in a timely manner. i was left satisfied with this experience and only reinforces all the other positive experiences i have had in the past when purchasing from amazon.

This book is for my environment health class, however, I didn't really use this book as often as I expected. Some of the readings are pretty interesting but at the time, it conclude a lot of information.

Awesome work!!! Great textbook; covering soil, air, & water problems & the effect on humans & animals. The author did a magnificent job of organization and handling of the various topics & offering solutions.

This book was a required text for one of my courses. In the past I have not had the best experiences with texts that offer such broad overviews of topics, and as result, I was not looking forward to reading this book. However, I have found the book extremely well written with an abundance of references for additional reading and further research. Every chapter has inserts of up to date events that outline both the environmental and health effects of pollution on world populations. For example the chapter on "Water Pollution" (Ch. 15) at the same time that it identifies the many sources of water pollution it also provides the reader examples of water pollution on health; such as, describing in detail the how and why schistosomiasis infection rates have remained constant for the past 50 years affecting 250 million people globally. If you are interested on a well written introductory book on the environment and health, this is certainly a book to keep in mind.

This is a very well organized book that covers the major environmental issues facing our world complete with case study examples to illustrate the points.

Pattern is here considered not only as a formalised repeating motif in embroidery, but also as embrancing structure, design, composition and elaboration. The book is divided into three main sections. The first is concerned with the nature of fabric, the effect of patterned fabrics and their suitability when used in the techniques of applique, patchwork, raised surfaces, hand and machine embroidery. The second section on threads is divided into two parts. The first deals with drawn fabrics and thread, net darning, needleweaving, blackwork, and canvas stitches; the second with embroidery stitches and the combination of embroidery with print. The third section examines the effect that different grounds have on the print and so on the type and style of the embroidery. Illustrated with over a hundred photographs drawn both from historic and modern sources, the book will be valued as a stimulating source of ideas as well as for its technical information.

This book is a caption-and-picture introduction to the subject. The book is split into three sections- the nature of fabrics, threads and embroidery with printed patterns.

The book will be useful for students in colleges of education and those studying for examinations, and also for teachers since it explains the effects which can be achieved by the use of different techniques. It points out that techniques are chosen for a particular purpose and are not purely accidental. The reader is helped thereby to look more critically at finished work. The inclusion of comparable techniques in both historic and present-day embroidery is very valuable, making students aware that many so-called 'new ideas' can be found in historic work, thus making museum study more interesting and profitable. The problems of printed fabrics with embroidery are explained with sound advice and some stimulating experimental ideas.

This is a beautifully produced book of particular interest to the advanced student of embroidery, studying this subject on an intellectual level. But it is a stimulating ideas source for anyone. There is a minimum of text and an abundance of excellent, beautiful photographs.

Embroidery, like crochet, patchwork and rug making, has made an enormous comeback. There is, however, a vast difference between the embroidery of today and some of the rather insipid type of work that was found in so many Victorian households. Because machines can do so much in the way of stitchery these days, hand embroidery has to be completely individual in design and full of character in order to compete. Gratifyingly, a return is evident to many of the stitches used in the Seventeenth century and earlier, and these are sometimes combined most effectively with modernistic designs. Moreover, much of the handwork done nowadays is used for interior decoration, rather than for small items such as traycloths, or on clothes. For those who are skilful with the needle and interested in this kind of work, this book is full of ideas to stimulate the imagination, and the basic kind of instruction which a beginner needs. It contains a collection of pictures of different pieces of work, some ancient, some modern. The chapter on patchwork, an old art now very mod, suggests varying ways of joining pieces of material to achieve variety in the appearance of the work. For instance, attractive pictures can be made merely by using different shaped patches- another idea for interior decorating. The section on raised surface, quilting in particular, is unusual. In case you think quilting is only for making quilts, or possibly skirts, try this: When embroidering a figure, pad the face, hands and feet. the resulting picture looks very different from that with a flat surface. The book contains on applique; the effects achieved by using grainy fabrics on a smooth background; drawn thread and cut fabrics work: net darning; needle and felt weaving (working over the warp threads of a fabric to create a new surface texture) and blackwork, one of the most effective types of embroidery.

The sheer minimalism, straighforwardness, openness, of the Buddha shows that the development of Chan/Zen could not have been just a phenomena based on the influence of Taosim. Zen could be described as Buddhism minus the baggage that came afterwards. That's just my opinion, many scholars could skoff at me if they like.

I like the story about that very slow monk with the intelligent brother who was embarrassed by him. He couldn't memorize the sutra the Buddha taught him, no matter how he simplified it. So he gave him two words to say while he swept the floor, I think it was, could've been two syllables. And the Buddha saw him some time to find him fully liberated.

Wow, this dumb monk diddn't have to wait eons, or go through some specific objectifiable steps, or read a bunch of sutras, or have the right master to teach him for years, or meditate for decades, or obsess over koans. Or even study thousands of mental factors.

It's examples like this that show that liberation, to the Buddha, was never some idealized thing far out there. Like the true meaning of the 'kindom of heaven' was for Jesus, Nirvana is right here.

If you are interested in the substance of Buddha's teaching and don't want to carry around or read a 1400-page book, then this is your perfect companion.

Here is why:

1) Quality selection of Buddha's teachings on many different topics.
2) Fits into your pocket.
3) Great price for what you're getting.
4) The text can be re-visited daily over and over again.

I bought copies for others. Everybody reports getting a lot out of it.

It is a wonderful collection of the words of the Lord Buddha. By reading this little book, one can get an idea of what Buddhism really means.

This book is perfect to keep with you and pull out when you have a few minutes (like if you are waiting for something/someone etc).

I bought this just so I'd have something with me to read when I have to stand in line somewhere.
Great little book that fits in a shirt or jacket pocket.
Highly recommended, as it contains actual teachings of the Buddha, not commentary.

This is a good book for all ages. It's scarey and funny for kids.

This book is hilarious. The author does a great job in making this book funny for kids. You might think that it's going to be scary but t's cute. I read this book to my little brother and he loved it! My new favorite author is Barbara Park.

This story is about a boy.The bogeyman was under the boy bed whild he was reading a animal book . the bogeyman came , and The boy was scare.the bogeyman start to talk to the boy about something . The bogeyman tell story to the boy, and tell bogeyman told the boy to not leave his sock siting there because he going to chock . So the bogeyman went to the sister room.

I am finally purchasing a copy of this book after my son brought it home from his school library for the fifth time in a row. He's 3 1/2 and I thought it might scare him but I think it actually comforts him. It makes the bogeyman seem funny and harmless and gives kids a magical defense strategy (dirty socks). My son particularly appreciates that the bogeyman runs away to the sister's room at the end.

We have gotten this book at lesst 10 times over the past year at
our local library. I finally decided we had to own it.
The story is hysterical and really eases "boogeyman" type fears in
young children. We love to read it with our own "boogeyman" voice
(A heavy new york accent!). This is a stroy both parents
and kids will love. Barbara Park is the author and she is
also the author of the similarly hysterical Junie B. Jones series.
Highly recommended!

This book starts off with a bang. Lucy Roseman, mother of Hollie, 8, Joshua, 7 and Lisa, 4 takes a drastic step with Hollie. Her oldest child has severe autism and is incontinent and nonverbal. Her destructive behavior, while never willful is taking a major toll on the family. After taking a less than successful stand with the local special education authories, Lucy steps up her quest to find a good residential school that will meet Hollie's needs.

This book is full of unique plot twists and some expected curveballs, such as an affair Lucy has with a delightful attorney who is involved with her legal case for Hollie. An odious barracuda named Paula and an equally unpleasant doyenne who is running for mayor add to the intrigue.

Poignant parts abound; Lucy's palpable delight at the prospect of making a dollhouse with her younger daughter shows her understandable longing to enjoy normal milestones with her child. Lisa and Joshua equate Hollie to Pinocchio and ask when Hollie will become "a real girl" the way Pinocchio became real. The younger children, their interests and needs which must also be considered is a major part of this story.

This book is a bonus and a very realistic look of life raising a child with severe autism and the education system in England. Lucy is a plausible and sensible character; readers keep hoping the family will find a good place for Hollie and respite for themselves as well. Hollie's destructive behavior range from ruining a wedding (albeit unintentionally) when she soils herself; dirties the bride's gown and demolishes the cake. While a disastrous affair, one can't help smiling a bit imagining the whole scene. It takes on a Dick Van Dyke-like pratfall humor, although it could not have been remotely funny to those present.

Still, readers are hooked - one cannot put this book down until reaching the intense conclusion. Ideal companion book to Tilt

From the first page, A Rock and a Hard Place grabs the reader and doesn't let go.
Ms Sutcliffe's style is full of dry humour and genuine warmth, with vivid descriptions which leave you in no doubt that she writes from personal experience.

A very human tale, offering an insite into the joy and pain of living with, and bringing up an autistic child, along with all the usual pressures of normal family life, and the dilema of what you do when a tempting but forbidden lifeline is offered.

The story speeds along taking the reader with it. Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys reading and learning about how normal people cope in extraordinary circumstances.

I am sure other readers will ask themselves what they would have done under similar circumstances...

Coralie, Oxford, UK

What a fanastic book giving the reader an insight into life with an austistic child. This story based on Hollie and her family shows just how challenging life can be but always you know that Hollie's family will do their best for her and you can share their high's and low's in this wonderful book.

I thoroughly enjoyed this outstanding book.It is an enlightening and riveting read which I highly recommend.

As a mum, I couldn't believe another mum needing to put their child in boarding school could possibly be the right thing. But after reading this humorous but very moving tale,I completely understood and sympathised with this lovely lady.

It may be just me but I love her works, and there are many days I wish she could have written more for us readers. The Aggar series is great and how I first became aware of her, but she speaks to the romantic in me in both Bitter Thorns and Annabelle and I. If you liked her writing style in this series, I strongly suggest you check out her other 2 books that were published as well.

Diana n'Athena is ready to go home. An "Amazon" from the all female planet of "dey Sorormin" (which Wolfe translates as the Sisterhood), Diana is a sociologist employed by the Terran Intergalactic Empire for the last 20 years as a Cultural Liaison and Feild Operative. Approaching forty, Diana has served the last five years on Aggar, a patriarchal, pre-industrial, semi-feudal planet located on the Empire's border. Over six foot tall, lean, strong and brown-eyed, Diana must pass as male to work effective on Aggar. Such a charade is not uncommon for Amazons serving on "primitive" planets, but it does wear on their spirits. Facing her last mission before she can return to her home world, Diana must locate and rescue a Terran pilot. He carries information that may mean the salvation of the Empire which is on the brink of war.

After years of working alone, Diana is not pleased when Aggar's ruling Council of Ten assigns her a native "Shadowmate." Shadows are individuals trained for years to act as guides, protectors, linguists, trackers, companions and whatever else is needed to aide the individual whom the Council has determined is important to the future of Aggar. Such assignments are one of the ways the Council "tips the balance" of fate for pivotal individuals and gently guides the planet's future.

Diana's Shadow, Elana is particularly special. In addition to her training and expertise, she bears the rare "Blue Sight." This extrasensory gift (genetically linked with blue eyes)allows her to read people's intent via their aura and create illusions. For years Elana has been training to become a Shadow. For the last five years she's been experiencing dreamlike visions of the Amazon that she is to Shadow.

"Shadows of Aggar" is a classic heroic quest. As such, the journey itself, what happens to both women during the trek and what they learn from the various encounters, is as important as the result of the quest. -- Although having the end of the empire as it is known hang in the balance does build the suspense! -- There are some similarities between Aggar and some other fantasy realms. Yet these parallels reflect cultural archetypes and Wolfe, who died in 1997, created some interesting, unique details and characteristics for three cultures: Aggar, Amazon and Terran. For example, imagine a race of humans whose skin color changes with excitement or exertion, thus making the racial differences we know, moot. Furthermore, Wolfe created the basics of a language for the "dey Sorormin" and provided a glossary of words from Aggar and the Sisterhood in the back for reference.

"Shadows" was originally released in 1991, and this reader has returned to it at least twice in the last decade. The story and characters hold up to re-reading. The same is true of Wolfe's second Aggar novel, "Fires of Aggar." Happily, the publisher has made a commitment to keep Wolfe's titles in print. The new covers of both titles are disappointing and distracting. Yet, to coin a phrase, don't judge the book by it's current cover. If you like fantasy stories with strong female leads that explore complex issues of gender roles, societal pressures to conform and their impacts on the individual -- not to mention a good old fashioned adventure with a touch of lavender romance -- you'll enjoy "Shadows of Aggar." Pick up a copy of it and its companion book, "Fires of Aggar."

This is definitely one of those books that will keep you up until the wee hours of the morning - you just can't put it down! This so reminded me of the Darkover series by Marion Zimmer Bradley (which I LOVED). Like MZB, Wolfe has created an exciting and interesting new world in which two technologically separate cultures meet...with one big plus. The relationship between the two women is protrayed in a more intimate and central way here than in MZB's books. This well written book was a throughly enjoyable read - do yourself a favor and buy it! :)

Many of us have found this dense book daunting, printed in tiny type with almost no white space for relief. However, for those who pick up the book after first laying it down in disbelief at the number of words, there awaits a well crafted world of Amazons, psychics and bad guys. Wolf has created a very believable world that mimics what most of us know about the medieval ages. Her imagination is rich and detailed. You will believe in Aggar before the end of the book.

I was annoyed by Di'nay's ability to be obtuse about her lovely "shadow" bonded to her in their attempt to rescue a downed Terran pilot. The world of Maltar was satisfyingly ominous and the Maltar was sufficiently evil. Once you get past Wolfe's inability to write straight forward dialog, you will enjoy the page turning excitement of the adventure. You will also enjoy the romance. Wolfe writes loving romance which hints joyously at what transpires between the two "shadow mates."

I could only find the most recent edition of this book. The cover should be punished as a crime against the author and the type setting is very bad. One wonders if anyone read the galleys.

I read any science fiction and fantasy novels that have lesbian characters that I hear of or stumble across. Most of what is out there is written for mainstream audiences and often by straight authors. There's nothing wrong with that, one of the attractions of the SF and Fantasy genres is that authors explore a vast array of character types and cultures. But there is a definite lack of fantasy novels written by lesbians for lesbian audiences. What's worse is, most of what is in print is mediocre at best and not worth the space on the bookshelf at worst. In desperation, lesbian fantasy fans end up buying and reading the dreck anyway.

Shadows of Aggar is a rare exception. To say that it's the best lesbian fantasy novel I've run across is true, but defining it that way is a disservice to the book, since that isn't really saying much. It holds up on its own merits within the fantasy genre as a whole, not just within the sparse lesbian fantasy subset. Shadows of Aggar contains most of the elements that make fantasy what it is; a unique world and culture, swords and magic, and imperfect characters on a heroic quest. The icing on the cake is that the lesbian romance is good too.

I do have to say here, I have NO idea what in heck the current publishers were thinking with the new book covers. I don't get this trend of putting photographs of real people on fiction. Part of the allure of written fiction is that our minds supply the images. To be blunt, the new covers are tacky and ugly. (I also note the editor's review said something about a trilogy, but there are only two books with those characters.)

One final note, as I noticed a previous reviewer mentioned hoping for more from Chris Anne Wolfe. Unfortunately for us, she lost her battle with cancer. So I highly recommend collecting all of her works currently in print if you enjoy her writing, as there won't be any more. Shadows of Aggar is by far her best, but the others are all worth a read.

When my work days start to overwhelm me, glancing at a few pages from this work of art help me to gain perspective again. Mr. Kincaids paintings alone have the ability to sooth and calm, but his text adds even more to his message of joy, hope, and learning to find your own "retreat" to reflect and slow your life down a bit. I love this book.

The pictures are perfect, the stories moving and clearly paint the picture expected by the title "A Simpler Time"

I first saw Tomas Kinkades work at a gallery in Port Jefferson Long Island. They were set in special rooms with typical individual lights for each piece. There were dimmer switches in the room that we were able to control the lighting, enhancing the effects. The paintings actually came alive with light as I dimmed the house lights. I'm not in the position to afford his work but with this book I'm at least able to enjoy the experience. The book is so good you can see the brush strokes and even the bumps in the canvas It's not as good as the real thing although it dose tease your senses. So sit back. Put on some soothing music and live the experience.

I bought this book 2 years ago, as a reward for myself. It's so beautiful and tranquil that reminded me of the simpler time is really what I want.

At the college I work at I teach classes on personal development and stress management through hardiness training. Recently, in class, we were discussing whether it is possible to experience joy when in the midst of challenges and trials. Through beautiful artwork and inspired narrative in "Simpler Times," Mr. Kinkade demonstrates how one can experience peace and joy in a hectic world. The book was like food for my soul. Thank you.