Anne Books

What a great book! Filled with ideas to inspire originality or to copy. Great for school or classroom bulletin boards. Many "cool" ideas for Middle School age as well.

Creative, easy directions, best bulletin board book out there. An excellent resource for any club sponsor, office secretary , but especially new teachers. Clever slogans , helpful tips, fresh ideas.

This is a spellbinding story of a young man recalling his past, and the person who changed his life. This was absolutely heartbreaking, and I really enjoyed. Being translated straight from french, the writing style is a little odd, but before you know it, you're into the story. This is really good book report material. I read this book when I was twelve but I'd recommend it for anyone over thirteen.

This book was the absolute best book I've ever read. It is a story of a boy who travels to Paris but retells his childhood. I found it hard to understand at first, but as I read on, I understood every word of it. I think this is a great book for all students who are my age, 12. It is an excellent read. A mixture of tragedy and romance and will touch your heart.

Anne-Marie Levine's poetry lies at the intersection of everyday life and experience with her gift for finding just the right word, just the right moment, just the right question, just the right irony or outrage. If you have ever had the pleasure of hearing her read, you will know that she leaves her audience in stitches...The right response to her poetry is a very special laughter--the laughter that is simultaneous with curiosity and wonder. Reading her poems, brilliantly compressed into the sort of writing that everyone can make time for, Levine has the power to peel away the layers of mixed messages, confusion, and complexity heaped upon us by our cultural conventions and to reveal the real state of human affairs beneath. Anne-Marie Levine hears the poetry in the ordinary prose of the New York Times and the nightly news; she sees the poetry in the actions of those around her who have no idea their utterances are becoming lines in her poems. She can make a poem out of a news report, a dinner party, a painting, a medical disorder, a research report, or the coincidence of her own birthday being on Kristallnacht.

Bus Ride to a Blue Movie is a gem. If you want to know what is new and fresh in the poetry market today, read Anne-Marie Levine.

Anne-Marie Levine's new collection of poetry, "Bus Ride to a Blue Movie," is intimate, moving, prickly, funny, endearing, and revelatory. It is poetry for those who wish to experience more than one emotion at a time. An antidote to the mono-emotional narratives of television and Hollywood movies, the poems evoke a bewilderingly delightful assortment of feeling and response.

Anne-Marie Levine's poems observe daily life, with its conflict of joys and humiliations. The poems, sometimes lyrical, sometimes flatly direct, evoke the mordant wit of Oscar Levant, both self-effacing and critical. Humor's welcome presence does not hide the pains; it is in addition to.

In "Night Bodies," Anne-Marie Levine says she suffers from amusia - "the inability to produce musical sounds," but her poetry contradicts that diagnosis. Her words take on compelling musical forms: the scherzo of "poems," the fluorescent nocturne and clinical counterpoint of "Tunnel Vision," the elegiac "First Wife," the journalistic concerto in six parts in "From the Front Page of the New York Times, 10/19/87," and the haunting melody made of real notes in "Solo for David."

The poet's wisdom is conveyed subtly, parsed and rhythmic. "Mournful Nutrients" unsettles, with its analysis of the confused clarity of medical pronouncements, an analysis which concludes with an observation of Mies van der Rohe. Two pages later, personal experience and medical fact come together again in the playfully titled, "Out of a Stamp Roll and 400 Eggs."

The poems interrogate memory and its obligations. "Four November 9ths" shows how memory endures when the personal intersects with the historic, exemplifying the complexities of the narrated self. "Who Has the Right to Complain? Grete" questions if the memories of others can be appropriated. In "Dreams, Fragments," the poet asks, "May one loose one's Holocaust memories on another, or must one keep them oneself?"

The detailed reality of the poetry glows. Yes, there is a real place in London, near the village of Golders Green, "between a crematorium and a Jewish cemetery," but it is also a metaphysical place suspended between two finalities: the choice described in "Sex, Death, and Bad Taste in London."

"Bus Ride to a Blue Movie" is a book meant to be taken from the shelf and slowly read - and read again. This reader hopes Anne-Marie Levine continues to compose poetry and does not "give it a rest."

The stories of these priests were so inspiring, what they overcame to become the "sons" of Blessed Mother and Jesus is awesome. I loved all the stories, but Fr. Maxim Popov touched my heart the most. You won't regret ordering and reading this book.

I highly recommend this book for all young men discerning their vocation to the priesthood. The vocation stories are truly inspiring and I felt humbled when I read them.

My five-year old daughter checked this book out of the library and I expected it to be just another picture book. Instead, I swear, I cried at the ending. Then I went right to Amazon and ordered two copies. One for myself and one for a writer friend.

This is a must read for not only kids, but for anyone who has ever played sports, sent something into a publisher, or checked their book's stats on Amazon. (sigh)

Thank you for writing this book!

Janette Rallison

Callie Cat, Ice Skater is a children's picturebook about the joy of doing something one loves for its own sake. Young Callie Cat enjoys ice skating on the pond in her backyard, more than chocolate cake or going to the mall. When the Honeybrook Ice Rink announces a contest, it could be Callie's big chance to win the prize - but is winning the prize what she really wants to do? When another skater achieves an even better performance, she's heartbroken at first, until she remembers that skating can be joyful fun for its own sake. The enthusiastic artwork of a playful cat and her animal friends adds the perfect touch to this heartwarming story.

This is a book that I wish I had not read and yet it is one of the best books I have ever read. Camille Claudel's soul found it's path into mine and I felt all the hate towards August Rodin that she was incapable of because of her love for him and breathtaking passion for her own and his work. In a lot of ways this book resembles "One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest" in revealing how a human spirit will not bend....

Ann Delbee's nonfiction treasure introduces us to one of the most compelling personalities of recent history. Camille Claudel was, in trite terms that fail miserably to serve her, a contemporary, colleague, and lover of the famed sculptor Auguste Rodin. Not merely a biography, but an unabashed dissection of the life, loves, and works of a true Renaissance woman, this biographical masterpiece illuminates every nuance of an extremely complex persona. Detail and development are so extensive that it is difficult to remind oneself that this is not AUTOBIOGRAPHY. We are thrust into the midst of the stormy relationship between Claudel and Rodin and learn of her influence on the great artist's life and work. At the same time we reflect on Claudel's own place in the art world of her time. The artist paints a vivid portrait of Camille's home and family life, particularly the special bond she shared with her brother, the poet Paul Claudel. Delbee succeeds with splendor in developing an understanding of Camille's unique positon as a woman in her society. Ultimately, Camille Claudel rises from these pages both triumphant and tragic.

"Cancer: 101 Solutions to a Preventable Epidemic" is an extremely valuable book that provides a summary of the what is known about the prevention of cancer, and what actions should be taken, including political actions.

The present emphasis in the cancer industry is on collecting money from scared people who will die. For example, the book recommends you see the web site of Samuel S. Epstein M. D., who is quoted on page 62. According to Dr. Epstein, the American Cancer Society is the world's wealthiest "nonprofit" institution.

Quote from that chapter: "Priorities [of the Amercian Cancer Society] remain fixated on damage control -- screening, diagnosis, and treatment -- with indifference or even hostility to cancer prevention. -- Dr. Samuel Epstein" (The misspelling of "American" is in the book.)

In the United States, the present politics surrounding cancer is viciously corrupt. Sometimes drugs cost in the U.S. 5 times what they cost in Canada, for example. (See page 6.)

ERROR: The chapter that starts on page 84, "Minimizing Your Exposure to Radiation" is correct except for the sections titled "Electromagnetic Radiation (EMR)" and "Cellphones and Power Lines", which are partly nonsense. Apparently the authors of the book are not scientists themselves. Planck's constant expresses the intensity of interaction between EMR and matter. Planck's constant is a VERY small number. Remember that anything that is warmer than absolute zero radiates EMR. The Sun, for example, radiates EMR of all wavelengths longer than ultra-ultraviolet. Certainly you would not want to expose yourself for a long time to EMR from being very close to a radar or TV transmitter, for example. However, no one has been able to show any connection, or possible manner of connection, between cancer and the tiny amount of EMR from cell phones.

The researcher mentioned in the book who discusses a link between chemical change and EMR of cell phone wavelengths was apparently using enough energy to cause local heating. No one doubts that heating causes chemical changes. Be very careful of "scientific" studies that aren't scientific. Be very careful of good studies that are incorrectly interpreted.

The book says that cancer is more than 200 different kinds of diseases, all of which are characterized by out-of-control division of cells. (See page 8.) However, apparently the biochemistry of almost no cancers, or none, is completely understood. The book provides sensible advice for prevention, such as avoid extended exposure to chemicals and pollution. However, no one should take the advice as a complete understanding. For example, it is well known that smoking tobacco pre-disposes people to get cancer. However, some chain smokers die of other diseases than cancer, or die of what is called "old age". To use the book correctly, it is necessary to understand that a lot is not known.

Cancer comes in many forms and affects every population demographic. "Cancer: 101 Solutions To A Preventable Epidemic" is the collaborative work of Liz Armstrong (photographer and environmental activist), Guy Dauncey (author and founder of the Solutions Project), and Anne Wordsworth (writer and environmental researcher). The primary focus is upon those environmental poisons and other factors that have so substantially contributed to the growing numbers of cancer cases appearing in America and around the world. The focus is also upon possible solutions to avoiding, preventing, and ameliorating those environmental factors by community activists, healthcare workers, labor unions, city and county municipalities, businesses, state and federal government agencies. Of special note are the ten proposed and specific global solutions to the problems identified. "Cancer: 101 Solutions To A Preventable Epidemic" is very strongly recommended reading for medical professionals, governmental policy makers, environmental activists, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in cancer and cancer prevention.

If you want to read this book, and aren't concerned with buying an original, McCaffrey has recently been re-published as "The Lady." And yes, Amazon has it!

As an occasional reader of Anne McCaffrey, I picked up this book as an interesting diversion from what I normally read. Oh, boy, was I in for a surprise! This book caught my attention right away with the focus on horses and breeding. Instead of the normal fantasy/scifi that McCaffrey writes, this book presents the reader with a look into the life of a young child growing up on a horse farm in Ireland. It is a page turner, filled with dramatic events, sadness, joy, and (of course) horses. At times, I wanted to jump into the book and slap the mother, beat up the lady's husband, or shake some sense into the cook. McCaffrey's development of the characters in this book are a prime example of why she's sold so many books and has so many avid readers. Also, the addition of the cousin gives me some idea of what the Irish think of us Americans. (Are we really that obnoxious?) Part of the plot was predictable if one ever reads romance novels, but I won't tell you which part. The only downside to this book is that it ended all too soon. I keep looking for a sequel, but haven't found one. I'd love to know what happens later in the young girl's life and see her running the horse farm, even though that isn't proper for a lady. The overall message of the book, to live your life as you desire and not for someone else's wishes, is pounded home quite efficiently. All in all, a good read that I couldn't put down.

I was leafing through a stack of books at a thrift store and this book caught my eye. It was a paperback edition that looked well-loved and well-worn, but the beauty of the illustrations was not diminished in the least. The cats look real enough to touch. This book is a treasure for any cat-lover. I like it so much that I ordered the hardback edition. I have to say, the print quality of the hardback edition doesn't do the illustrations justice. I would recommend the paperback edition - the pictures just "pop" with color and warmth. Really makes a difference. Either way, this book is a keeper.

The best of both worlds for cat-lovers and quilters - cats prowling thru the best places to play, sleep, and have kittens. Each page is beautifully bordered with quilt patterns, vines, and/or cat designs. A quiet, yet colorful book to share with children.

from back cover: "Ferris Byrd had no intention of marrying a cat burglar. she trusted her fiance', but when news came of jewel robberies in European cities Blackheart had recently visited, she began to wonder. Had he taken to the rooftops again?"

Catspaw II (Harlequin Intrigue #103, 1988) is the sequel to Catspaw (Harlequin Intrigue #9, 1985). There was over three years between the releases, but when read together, you will see they flow flawlessly as one story. A sequel that is as good as the original! A rarity, indeed. With Anne Stuart's brilliance dazzling Romance readers for over twenty years, the two novels demonstrate her amazing talent from the very start. They are Stuart at her very best. It's a shame Harlequin does not release both of these tales together under one cover. They had a tiny touch of dating in a few places, but to us who were readers back then, it's more like a hint of memory lane! But frankly, you will be so wrapped up in Ferris Byrd and John Patrick Blackheart you won't notice or care about anything else. These two characters are simply amazing.
Ferris Byrd is a self-made woman, but she tends to find herself more casual these days because her reformed cat burglar fiance likes her that way. Only, Blackheart is making Ferris wonder about their engagement. Oh, she loves him, but she is having doubt problems - same problems she faced in the first novel - she fears the lure of excitement is just too much for Blackheart to resist. So when he starts vanishing, without saying goodbye, and is gone for weeks at a time, she suddenly fears the worst, especially since there are big burglaries in the news all over Europe that sound like Blackheart it on the prowl again.

When the book takes up, it's exactly six months after Catspaw left off. They are engaged. Ferris is still living in her old apartment, though with new locks Blackheart installed. She is packing to move to his apartment, but on the rainy day, she is beginning to question if she has made a good choice. Her car had die and had to be towed to the garage, and worse, her house keys are in her purse. Going back to the garage is useless; they have already closed. So Ferris is left with breaking into her own apartment. After she goes their her cat burglar routine, coming from training from her husband-to-be, she is horrified and angry to find Blackheart has been sitting his in car watching her. She was not amused he enjoyed her bit of B&E. Neither were the police, when they nearly site her for tossing garbage around the area, since she used the trash cans to stand on to get to her balcony. She has to go out into the rain and pick up the mess. To say the least, that only lets her temper with Blackheart grow.

When she comes back, and finds he offers no excuses for his absence and says only he had been to England on business, she is far from pleased. When he is making coffee, she goes through his kit, finds burglar's tools - which he said he did not have need of anymore - and a passport, showing he had been to every country where there had been a big jewel robbery. She is not a happy camper. When he refuses to explain why he lied to her, she tells him the engagement is off.

Blackheart is furious Ferris refuses to trust him, but he is not going to involve her in the nasty things happening to him. Someone is trying to frame him for all those burglaries. Worse, now he is back in San Francisco, he discovers he is being set up to take the fall for two different robberies. Blackheart has to save his long-lost little sister from the clutches of jail, foil the robbers intent of making him their fall guy, and convince Ferris what she really doesn't trust is not him, but herself.

Ferris ex-fiance and his mother, characters in the first tale, are back. There is also a secondary romance between Blackheart sister, Dany, and the policemen doggedly determined to see Blackheart in jail.

All in all, it's Stuart Magic! Craft, imagination, insight, sexy characters that steal your heart, all stirred into one potent brew. It just does not get any better than Ferris and Blackheart.