Brian Books

This book, along with another came in on time and for a great price. I Love this book.. I am now waiting to read the two books left that tells the rest of Dave's Story. There are 4 all together!

This book will open your eyes to child abuse. You will forever remember and reflect on what you have read. We all have a need to be loved.

this is a good book! i love it when dave sees that kid and the kid says what you call my sister? then dave says a horror? then the kid punches dave, makes his nose bleed, and says don't you ever, ever, call my sister a whore again! read it if you liek dave pelzer as much as me!

I purchased this book for my girlfrind, and she loved it! The compelling story of this little boy and his fight for survival would motivate anyone to keep moving forward. It is a must read!

"After a few sweeps I shook my head `She`s gone! She`s not there!'" The book, The Lost Boy bye Dave Pelzer, is about a boy named David who goes into foster care. His mom, (who is the actual crazy person) thinks her son, David should go into a Mental Institution! I think that she has already punished him enough, but apparently she will still try harder. On page 203, Lillian (David's first foster parents) tells David how his mom has been trying to put him down since he went into foster care! She try's everything in her power to tell everyone that David is crazy. She tells lies about David like starting fires and much more! I think that ages 13 and older could read this book. I think that anyone under the age of 13 wouldn't really understand this book very well. The setting of the book is in a couple different places, in court, and in different foster homes. This Non-Fiction book tells a true story of how David Pelzer servives his life untill he is eighteen, when he has to move out on his own! It is an interesting book, and I believe that people will like it. (It is a very emotional book.)

I don't know what it was about this book that made me want to read it over and over again. It didn't have any colosal {I don't know if I spelled that right} battles or anything. I guess it was just the amazing storyline! The adventure was fantastic, but I honestly like whats going on with the woodlanders better than Martin the warriors journy, more action happens with them. In all, this is one of the best Redwall books, complete with an awesome one on one battle at the end. Read this book!

This is about Martin the Warrior , a heroic mouse, the self-appointed Prince of Mousetheives (and best friend to Martin), Gonff, the totally evil wildcat Tsarmina, and sundry other animal characters. The plot is that (1) Martin is (after a sidetracked problem) questing for Salamandastron, (2) the woodlanders defending themselves from Tsarmina until Martin returns, and (3) what's happening in Kotir, the moldy, falling-down castle where Tsarmina and her horde of vermin (stoats, rats, foxes, weasels and so on). This is a good series because it never ends on a cliffhanger at the very end. Mr. Jacques is a wonderful author, and I've read all his books except Eulalia!, because it isn't out yet. :(

The Redwall series was recommended to me by my own readers, who recognized a similarity between the writing style, animorphism, and medieval setting of my own debut novel "The Other Side of Yore" and of Brian Jaques' famous books. As I learned more about the books, I was amazed that the books had escaped my attention for so long. Sure I had heard the name in passing, but I really didn't know what the books were about, and had probably passed them over as too child-oriented when I was a young blossoming fan of fantasy. Boy, had I been missing out!
Mossflower may be the best YA fantasy book I've read since "The Hobbit," maybe even surpassing "The Chronicles of Narnia" for imagination, superb writing skill, literary worth, and sheer reading enjoyment!
Far from being just a book for young adults, I am well over thirty and highly critical of most fiction books, and was unable to put the book down. Not only does Jaques write in an incredibly skillful and beautiful style, but his plots and subplots are nothing short of genious. The character developement of the animorphed creatures is far superior to even the average bestselling book of fiction starring realistic human characters. Jaques is a master of dialogue and dialect, and I especially enjoyed the strange coloquial mole-speech;
"Hurr, Oi be liken it moiself better'n any deeper-n'-ever pie oive et, stan' on moi hole!"
The triumphs, determinations, and gallant speeches of Martin the Warrior actually brought tears to my eyes a few times during the tale, and the antics and humorous songs and poems of Gonff made me laugh out loud more than once.
What's more, Jaques created a complex villian to be copied by fantasy authors for centuries to come in the characterization of the wicked cat Tsarmina, and painted a thoroughly believable array of personalities and attitudes in the various soldiers of her army.
Like Tolkien's work, Jaques has also done his homework thoroughly, and has created a vast history to support his tales, which I think is a trait missing from many of the more fly-by-night and commercial fantasies of today.
By the end of this novel, you will have forgotten that mice can't talk and that badgers don't wield swords, having become intimately familiar with some of the most realistic personalities ever to grace the pages of literature. I cannot recommend this book enough, and am sure that the others in the series will be equally delightful!
J. Lyon Layden
The Other Side of Yore

"Mossflower" is the epic prequel to "Redwall". Written by Brian Jacques, it is a book full of adventure and surprise.
The peaceful woodland creatures of Mossflower are forced to live under the tyrannical rule of the evil wildcat queen, Tsarmina. That is until the coming of Martin the Warrior. Martin brings hope and promise to the animals of Mossflower. With the help of a mighty weapon, the habitants of Mossflower will ban together to take back what is rightfully theirs and put an end to the evil reign of Tsarmina.
I highly recommend this book. It is full of action that draws the reader in and keeps him/her reading.

It is all you want in a good book.It has just the right amount of action,
peril,valor,and humor. If you want a book that is good for everyone, you just found one!

*Remember that I am not the target audience for this book, so younger adults will enjoy this novel.

For die-hard Redwall fans, or even the casual readers who've picked up any Redwall book would know who Martin is. He is the source of prayer to the Redwallers, the mouse that annoyingly sticks his snout in other's dreams, giving riddles to the would-be-warrior. He is also featured on a tapestry that hangs at the Great Hall. And what you are holding in your hands, or are probably about to, are the story behind the warrior, and how he was so well honored among the Redwallers and all free good woodland critters.

In the book, Martin is a young mouse who is slave to a wicked stoat named Badrang the Tyrant. He has gathered up a large horde of every evil stereotypical villain except for stoats like himself, and plenty of slaves who mostly do the work of enlarging his fortress called Marshank. He is a sly, wicked beast, like any Redwall villain, stuck with a 'friend' (I say this term loosely because you know there is never any deep relationship between vermin buddies) named Clogg, a corsair stoat, and backstabbing one another to get control of Marshank. Martin defies Badrang, escapes with a few slaves, and then he gathers up an army to attack Marshank and end Badrang's tyranny.

For the pros, this book is up there as my rare Redwall favorites simply because you got at least two characters who are woodland good but turn bad like the bankvole named Druwp, who acts as a spy among the slaves, and a tribe of squirrels who give in to Martin and help him fight.

It's a decent Redwall novel that I do enjoy and that's saying something, since most of my Redwall reviews have been negative. Perhaps I have taken this book as it is (finally): a good childhood story. Well, it's a good story, when you get down to it.

This book is supposed to be about 'Martin the Warrior'. About how his legacy lived on in so many creatures when all other heroes have been forgotten. So this book must be special, and it is.

The characters were mostly one dimensional, with exception to a few villains like Clogg and Badrang, who were very neat, twisted villains with good motives. Rose was put up there to serve as a very weak love interest for Martin that I wished could've been a tiny bit more developed. Felldoh was a very interesting character, and I can admit that I did like him, and I would have liked him a lot more hadn't he fallen through the same path of wickedness as a vermin, or from what the kind, peace-loving woodland creatures call them. I mean, this guy kills off the rats and weasels without blinking, always using revenge as a motive to not care, or because these guys are wicked, that they don't even have souls or lives. The fact that these runaway slaves are so good at handling weapons, far better than any rogue who's had many years experience using swords and such, can also be bending some reality rules here.

But there really isn't much realism here, I'll admit. I mean, when a mouse is the same size as a fox as a fox is to a squirrel, and when all the bad guys act like dumb idiots who have no idea how to keep pecking order, there isn't much room for reality left. How can a couple of dimwitted morons like Badrang's horde even be in a horde if they're always backstabbing one another and running away from woodland creatures in fear?

Adults and those with older mentalities will say these questions, but this is a children's book. And I actually did like it, even with those questions in mind. Skeptics will have a hard time reading it, like myself, but I really did like this book, no matter what insane flaws, and I did get a good few laughs from the bumbling villainy idiots.

If you're looking for a legend, you will actually find it here, and it is better than 'The Legend of Luke'.

I pretty much said it all in the title! This book is awesome! It's got the most action, battles, and the coolest bad guys! It's great! Read this book!

A fantastic story from the Redwall series, Martin the Warrior, is a mix of friendship and battles against a ruthless rat clan. This "National best seller" from Brian Jacques is about a mouse named Martin, who gets captured in the rat's prison. This story is full of foxes, lizards, moles, rats, and of course, mice. Most fantasy lovers and animal lovers will keep rereading this fantastic book about how friendship can help others in times of conflict. As most good stories are, all Brian Jacques books are well more than worth reading. And all animals have human characteristics.

I have to admit that when I first heard of the Redwall series, I had my doubts. I mean, a book about animals? However, I decided to give them a chance and now they are my favorite books of all time.
Martin the Warrior is my favorite out of the series. I love how the characters interact with each other in a way that makes you want to be more like them. They stuck together through everything, and in the end the slaves were freed and the sword that once belonged to Luke was returned to it's rightful owner, Martin the Warrior.
I recommend this book, as well as the whole series to kids of all ages. If you like the Redwall books, you will probably also like Brian jacques' other series, the Castaway series.

Great series for young and old looking for a mental shut-down for bed book.

This is either the best or the second best Redwall book. It's the direct sequel to the Original Redwall, so there will be a lot of familier characters. Complete with 3 huge battles, a cruel monster that lurks in the dark, and an evil slaver named Slager, this book is ultimate, and I highly reccomend it!

Why are the most known and far better books of the Redwall universe the first ones done? Well, they're the first ones done, and they were actually pretty good. 'Mattimeo', along with 'Mossflower', and possibly maybe even 'Salamandastron', were one of the best Redwall books. To me. I don't know if it applies to the rest of you readers, but I stick by my comment. 'Mattimeo' was a well done book. It was also one of the biggest, probably the biggest Redwall book. It's actually a quest I'd actually look forward to reading, and for once, the Redwall creatures are showing emotion that is actually true rather than just coming out strained and downright terrible like in Jacques' recent works.

'Mattimeo' takes place seasons and seasons after the 'Redwall' book, the true sequel, and it focuses on Sela's supposedly dead son, Chickenhound. He is now called Slagar the Cruel, has his band of wicked beasts that we know will probably be weasels, ferrets, rats, stoats...those guys. Slagar is noticed as one of the most intelligent, wicked, and more insane of any warlord that came before or after him. His face is horribly disfigured, cause of a snake's bite and painful venom, and he hides his deformity using a skull mask. Believing his own lies of how the Redwall creatures had betrayed him, he plans to seek revenge by stealing the children of Redwall under the Redwaller's noses and selling them to Malkariss, a warlord who dwells in the underground, building an empire, made from the paws of many slave children.

This story works well, extremely well, as Mattimeo, Matthias' son, slowly becomes a hardened warrior during the time of his capture and how he is forced to endure harsh beatings, cruel words, and many deaths as he is led to Malkariss' kingdom. And while the warriors of Redwall chase after Slagar, the Redwallers are having troubles of their own back at the abbey. General Ironbeak and his birds are set on seizing it. The techniques that Slagar uses to outsmart his pursuers are classic and clever, but for some reason I do not like Ironbeak's part in how he tries to conquer the abbey. Either he's really dumb or the Redwallers for some reason are extremely well trained to handle an aerial attack--either one or both, I just don't like how he tries to conquer it when there were dozens of simple solutions, like a total ambush. Grabbing them and flinging them from a range of thirty feet would have done it, but I'm not the writer. When there's a more awesome story going on, I don't care about the weak side story. I just love Slagar and his twisted schemes. This is truly one of my favorite Redwall books of all time.

I would recommend this book because it is full of action and intensity. When I started reading this book, I never wanted to put it down. After every page, it just got better and better. There were many surprises in this book, like if there is a battle or new enemy; it was just full of surprises. I would and have read a book by Brian Jacques, which was Redwall, the first book in the series. Now I am reading the prequel to Redwall, Mossflower. Overall, Mattimeo was a terrific book.

Tis book tells the story of Mattiemo, a young mouse who is captured by Slagar the fox in a break in at Redwall. He and all of his friends are taken to an evil land but Mattiemo's father Matthias is hot on this trail!!!!!

This is a good book for those that have read the series before (Expecially Redwall). It brings back our favorite characters, including Basil Stag Hare, Jess Squirrel, Matthias, Cornflower, Tim and Tess, plus many more.
It has a good plot, plus many emotions including sadness, romance, courage and a huge fighting spirit.

"Mattimeo" tells the story of the son of Matthias the Warrior, who happens to be named Mattimeo. The plot is compelling and whimsical, great especially for younger readers, and I enjoyed it even more than "Redwall". There were only a couple of minor things that kept me from giving it the full five stars.

First of all, there are the numerous (that may well be an understatement) descriptions of Slagar's mask. Believe me, if you don't know what material that mask is made of by the end of the book then you have some serious attention problems. Quotes such as "Slagar grinned from behind the silken mask" and "The silk mask sucked into a hideous grin" are okay when used in moderation, but when we are bombarded endlessly with these nearly identical descriptions, it detracts from rather than adds to the story. I'm sorry, *what* was the mask made from again?

The other thing that bothered me was the apparent lack of attention to proportion. For example, at one point, Slagar gets angry at an impudent Mattimeo and starts beating the young mouse with a cane. And yet, according to Brian Jacques, Mattimeo does not feel the blows at all. Am I the only one who thinks this is simply absurd? A fox beating a mouse with a cane would be like King Kong beating a human with an uprooted tree - that's how big foxes are compared to mice. Forget feeling the blows, Mattimeo should be crushed by them!

But despite these things, I really enjoyed the story of Mattimeo, and I would recommend it to anyone who has read other books in the series or who just loves animal fantasy. I also recommend the fantastic "Guardians of Ga'Hoole" series by Kathryn Lasky and the "Warriors" books by Erin Hunter.

At one time, this was my favorite redwall book. It was also the first redwall book I read all of. In this book, the fearless badger lord Urthstripe the Strong leads his army of long patrol hares in a battle against the cruel Ferahgo the Assasin. Read this book, it's great!

While the book itself is very good (according to my 12 yr. old son), the size is different than the rest and he likes things orderly (especially since there are so many in this series) so we ended up going out and purchasing the same book, but by "Ace" publishers so they would all fit on his bed shelf.

The Book of Salamandstron



Salamandstron, written by Brian Jacques in 1992 and published in 1993, is the fifth book in the Redwall Series. Like all Redwall books, Salamandstron is an animal adventure saga, which picturesquely describes a stunning tale set in medieval times. Intently, because of the strength of the story line, the reader will continue on through the book, like a bookworm, to find out what happens in the end When finished the person who examines this book, will have perused 391 obsessive pages, which, as interpreted, would have taken the reader through the world of Redwall.



Since the book, at times, tells five different stories, there are several different main characters and several antagonists. The first main character to be introduced is Lord Uthstripe the Strong, the Badger lord of Salamandstron, a mountain fortress. The Badgers lords of this massive mountain are mysterious characters. They are fierce fighters and reckless worries, who at times can be possessed by the terrible blood wrath and kill all in sight. Uthstrip's adopted daughter Mara, at the beginning of the book, was not content with her life at Salamandstron. The military fortress was strict and forcible, and Mara did not like her restrictions. Samkin, a young squirrel, contentedly lived at Redwall Abbey. In the beginning he was very mischievous and many times because of his carelessness, almost caused serous injuries. Ferahgo was an evil, cruel, pain-causing tyrant, who was the assassin weasel and chieftain of the horde of corps makers. Cruelly he Murdered Urthstripes parents and caused Urthstripe and his albino brother to be separated. Ferahgo's son Klitch was just as evil and crafty as his father. Fighting against each other, both wanted control of Salamandstron. Another enemy (although not a living creature) gets introduced about half way through the book. A terrible sickness called Dryditch Fever takes hold of the Abbey. It almost wipes out all. Although the characters all have different story lines within the book, each one is tied together in the end.



Opening at Salamandstron, the story begins with gloom. From the first, as Urthstripe reveals his anxiety for Mara with the words "Any sign of Mara yet?" it tells of Mara's discontentedness with the strictly ruled life she is living. It opens with her gone on one of her frequent run-a-ways. When she returns after two days absence from the mountain she brings two vermin, one of them Klitch, who falsely befriended her. Urthstripe throws the weasel and his companion out of the mountain, and Mara becomes so angry that she runs away for good. Accidentally (at Redwall) Samkin finds the skillfully crafted sword of the Legendary Hero, Martin the Warrior, but two stoats evilly steal the magnificent sword. The vermin were part of Ferahgo's horde but deserted. Samkin and Arula (Samkin's mole friend) chase after the stoats because the sword, which they took, represents the spirit of Redwall and could not be lost. They met some peculiar friends. Back at the Abbey Dry Ditch Fever broke out. Everywhere, from Salamandstron to Redwall Abbey trouble seemed to be taking hold of the good guys.



As the book continues the troubles grow worse. Mara, after being chased by Ferahgo's horde, escapes, but was betrayed into the hands of King Glagweb, the head of a cannibal toad tribe. Unfortunately she and several shrews, which were also caught, were going to be served up at a special occasion. Back at Redwall Thrugg, a brave otter set out on a journey to the mountains of the north to try to find the Icetor Flowers, which will cure any sickness. Sadly, however he gets trapped. Attacking him, a horde of crows in a pine forest almost overwhelmed Thrugg and his little friend baby Dumble. Samkin and his mole friend Arula were still persistently chasing after the vermin who stole the sword, when, one died of Dryditch fever and the other was killed by Ferahgo's tracker rats. The head of the trackers took the sword and headed back to Ferahgo's horde, but Samking and Arula still followed. They followed to get back the sword, they followed for their friends at the abbey, and they followed to slay the takers of Martins legendary blade. At Redwall Abbey, as dry ditch fever took victim after victim, all but two or three animals were stricken. At Salamandstron there was great famine because Ferahgo who besieged the mountain somehow destroyed or poisoned all the mountains food. Will Redwall Abbey be wiped out, or will Thrugg get back in time with the Icetor flowers? Will Mara and her friends be eaten or will they find a way to escape? Will Samkin retrieve the great sword? Will Salamandstron hold out? To discover what happens, READ THE BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



If The book Salamandstron is amazing it is because it seizes and holds the readers attention. Having a good story line, this book is extremely well written. Undoutedly, another reason this book is so good is because Brian Jacques uses very descriptive adjectives and excellent verbs as illustrations for every scene. The story builds up suspense. Throughout, it never contradicts itself. The story is very vivid. Salamandstron is not just a book, which might be ok to glance over; it is a must-read saga.

What would you do if you were being attacked by an army of vermin, or your abbeys most prized possession, or if your abbey was being threatened by a deadly disease? Would you defend yourselves, find an antidote, or would you go after the possession? Well that is exactly what the charaters in this story did. This little world is filled with badgers, hares, vermin, mice, moles, shrews and squirrels. Also thisworld is also filled with a volcanoe, woods, seas, dunes, lakes, rivvers and enormous mountians.

In this fantasy a bagder named Mara left her home because her strict father was always punishing her. When she left, her friend ccame along with her. His name was Pikkle. On their journey they met two vermin who became frineds with them so they woild lead them to Salamandastron )(Mara's fathers fortress). There had been many rumors that there is a great fortune somewhere inside the volcanoe. So now the vermin were going to attack the fortress. Another two vermin acted as if they were lonely travelers (but they really weren't) and went to Redwall and the Red wallers accepted them. They tricked the Redwallers and stole the sword of Martin the Warrior also killing one of the Redwallers. When the vermin escaped one of them died of a deadly disease. He got the disease while at Redwall and now the Redwallers are at great risk.

What will happen to everyone? Will Salamandastron survive? Will the Redwallers perish? Will they get the sword back? This book was relly good and every time it would sound good, it would change to someone else. I would really recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy, action, and adventure. This is the fifth book of the 17 book series.

-Peyton

I like salamandastron for many reasons.0ne is the book has lots of action .the bookis writen by Brian Jacques.This book is fantasy because animals have human abiltys.brian writes many more books.

DRAGS A LITTLE IN THE BEGINNING BECAUSE THEY ARE SETTING UP THE BACKGROUND,
BUT WELL WORTH THE WAIT. ON A SCALE OF ONE TO FIVE, I GIVE IT 4.5 BELLY LAUGHS.

LOVED BOTH "GODS MUST BE CRAZY" FILMS - SAW THEM OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND WILL SEE THEM AGAIN. THIS IS A MUST SEE!!

The first of a type of movie is usually the most impressive and this film is most impressive. It is written in a narrative style; the narrator describes three intertwined themes.

A coke bottle falls from the sky. It proves to be such a useful tool from the gods. This tool causes coveting among a Kung San tribe; therefore the gift must be returned.

On the journey to return the gift, we cross other groups of people pressing their own journeys in life. We follow a keystone cop type good people chasing clumsy revolutionaries. And a tongue tied (along with everything else) scientist who is enamored of a new teacher (Sandra Prinsloo.) Keep an eye on her daisies.

And what trials and adventures lay in store on the journey of the gift bearer (N!xau)?
Will the gift return be accomplished?

In any event you will never look at a coke bottle the same way.

I really enjoyed this movie when it was first released. Recently rented it to share with my kids and we could not even make it through the first 30 minutes. There are wonderful messages conveyed, and it definitely strives to be slapstick, but oy, it's a painful journey trying to rewatch it some 25 years later!

The Gods Must Be Crazy DVD

The Gods Must Be Crazy is a delightfully funny movie. It is about an African bushman who discovers an empty Coca Cola bottle that has been thrown from an airplane and the Bushman believes that anything that comes from the sky must be from the Gods. He has no idea what it is or what its purpose is. He eventually starts calling it "the evil thing" when his family wants to use it for themselves and squabbles develop. There are several side stories, as well. This makes you wonder how much "civilization "has improved our lives.

All in all a funny movie. Recommended for the entire Family.

Gunner March, 2008


P.S. Must have been sponsored by Pepsi

"Dice Angel" is a great fun read. I laughed out loud several times while reading it, and the ending brought a real smile to my face. You also get to see Las Vegas from a locals point of view, which is dead on. The only reason it's not 5 stars is that it's really not meant to be. Its meant to be 4 star fun!

"Dice Angel" is a smart, hilarious page-turner with witty dialogue and vivid characters. Set in the real Las Vegas, known only to locals, the book offers an insider's view into the bizarre dichotomy of this world (i.e., who knew Mormonism flourished in Sin City?) We follow Jimmy D., our flawed but lovable, wise-cracking antihero, as he weaves his way through a series of trials and tribulations which would defeat a lesser soul. With nothing left to lose, Jimmy grudgingly hires the weird and wacky gambling guru, Amaris (the "Dice Angel") in the hopes that she can reverse his bad luck. Never a dull moment between these two, and the wild ride which ensues culminates with a couple of unexpected and thoroughly enjoyable twists. A great read!

Dice Angel is well written, exciting, with a tinge of humor that keeps you enthralled throughout the book. Being from Las Vegas, I certainly appreciated the little details that remind me of the Las Vegas I know. I highly recommend reading Dice Angel, but make sure you aren't working on deadline, because you won't be able to put it down.

I purchased "Dice Angel" based on a couple of reviews I read on Amazon and absolutely fell in love with it. Brian Rouff's characters are quirky, fun, unique and exhilarating. Poon, the IRS enforcer is a hoot as is Aramis, Jimmy D's, dice angel -- I found myself wishing I could come upon someone as gifted as she.

Mr. Rouff is very economical in his writing. He tells a great, great story and if you like Las Vegas, gambling and down and out characters who get to triumph you may just love this book as much as I did. I highly recommend it and I think Rouff ranks right up there with Harlan Coben and Dean Koontz. The book is a fast read and I really wish I did not have to finish it. It's the kind of book you never want to end.

I do not play craps but after reading the hilarious scene in the Luxor with Jimmy D trying to save his bar and Aramis saying mantra's over him in the background so he can win, I may just try. I actually tried calling the dice angel as a lark (her phone number is listed on the book cover). Much to my dismay, the number did not exist.

I would be remiss if I did not mention Pete, the homeless guy, who gave Jimmy Aramis' card. Pete is a great character. Mr. Rouff is right on in his depiction of Pete (who happens to be an ex-stock broker like me).

So if you are looking for a fast, enjoyable read, pick up a copy of "Dice Angel." I promise you'll love it. And honest, the number on the front of the book (Aramis' phone number) does not exist (wink wink).

See you at the Luxor. I'll be the guy with all the dough.

In DICE ANGEL, author Brian Rouff describes a Vegas (this is not your formal `Las Vegas') story in a voice that is Richard Prather-in-Vegas caustic. Rouff's characters speak in dialogue that is snappy and hip. This is a real feel of the Vegas long-time locals know and love. With lots of Elmore Leonard characters, Rouff writes about Las Vegas like Carl Hiassen does of Florida. Describing a lawyer's office, Rouff writes, "Real hardwood floors, expensive art signed and numbered by foreign guys, a leather couch that probably took the lives of an entire herd of Texas's finest." If you want to know what it's really like to live in Las Vegas, DICE ANGEL opens an entertaining window for your view.

Carolyn Proctor
author, 'Elisabeth Samson, Forbidden Bride'

I discovered this book on a dusty HS library shelf and as in Ms. Hanff's words, devoured it "all at once" not coming up for air or cigarettes. I also bought the VHS many years ago as soon as it came available. Since then, I've gone on to go out of head for Donne, Quiller-Couch, Austen, and Blake (though not anywhere near Donne!).

What a great movie this story made. I have watched the movie many, many times and have loved it every time. Now, I just had to read the book. The strange thing is that since I know what is going to occur at the end, my eyes become teared which makes the book difficult to read. Of course, that happens at certain moments in the movie as well. What a powerful story!

Interesting book that proves friendship can be created and sustained by people that haven't met.

In less than one hundred pages, Helene Hanff has given her readers a rare and special gift. Here in this delightful little book are the notes she exchanged with the employees of Marks & Co., a used-book store in England. Being fond of the old-fashioned yet still highly personal act of letter writing, and being equally fond of old books and used-book stores, Hanff seemed to have compiled these letters just for me. I doubt there is anyone who can read this book without experiencing a wide range of emotions complete with laughter and tears.

A lifelong letter writer, Helene Hanff studied playwriting at the Theatre Guild. She has written scripts for "The Hallmark Hall of Fame" and for "Ellery Queen." Her other writings include several children's books as well as articles for Harpers and New Yorker magazines.

Living and writing in New York City, Hanff finds herself unsuccessful in finding certain rare or out-of-print editions of books.

"Gentlemen:
Your ad in the Saturday Review of Literature says that you specialize in out-of-print books. The phrase 'antiquarian booksellers' scares me somewhat, as I equate 'antique' with expensive. I am a poor writer with an antiquarian taste in books and all the things I want are impossible to get over here except in very expensive rare editions, or in Barnes & Noble's grimy, marked-up schoolboy copies."

So begins the opening letter dated October 5, 1949, and addressed to Marks & Co. at 84, Charing Cross Road in London. What follows on the pages of this book are the letters Hanff wrote to Marks & Co., and specifically to Frank P. Dole. Also included are the responses to her requests, mostly from Frank P. Dole. Through their twenty-year relationship, the two strangers become in some ways like family. Frank introduces his family to Helene in letters. She corresponds with the family as if they are her own. Knowing that in a time of rationing, certain items are not readily available to the residents of London, she takes great care to ship Christmas and Easter gifts to the store with plenty of eggs and meat for everyone there.

The final entry, dated 1969, brings the relationship between the bookstore, Frank Dole and Hanff full circle. The twenty years between the first and last notes are fondly recalled on the pages of this book.

These short notes, her requests for specific books, the monetary transactions that took place, and the solid relationships that developed allow the present day reader to glimpse a bit of the nostalgic... a gentler time when costs were lower, trust was higher, and people were more willing to be compassionate to complete strangers.

This is a truly delightful little book that has captured my heart. And, by the way, the fact that I discovered it while browsing through my own favorite little used-book store lends a special sort of appeal to it. I treasure the gifts within these pages--the gifts of self, of the written word, and the appreciation for the simpler things in life.

by Lee Ambrose
for Story Circle Book Reviews
reviewing books by, for, and about women

I just read this amazing collection of correspondence between the author and the employees of a small bookshop in London in one sitting. It was entertaining, culturally enlightening and it had a quaintness about it due to the letters being written in the years immediately following WWII.

The friendship that develops between Helene Hanff as a result of her generosity toward the staff of the bookshop is really endearing and the reader feels like he or she really knows these people after enjoying this short read.
A very unusual and highly enjoyable glimpse into the lives of others through their correspondence. Highly recommended for booklovers , anglophiles and others.

I grew up with this book. I would read it over and over to myself and my siblings. When my family moved though It was lost with a couple of other books too. I just recently found it and bought it. I now read it to my daughter and she gets so excited to turn the pages and read the next phrase and see the next picture. I am enjoying both our childhoods. :)

My adult children list The Big Hungry Bear as one of their all time favorite books. In my 21 year old daughter's Children's Lit class at college, one of her assignments was to name her most beloved children's book and she said The Big Hungry Bear topped her list. I am on my second copy with our littlest three (all under 8) -- and they seem to be holding the same opinion as their older siblings. It is a wonderful book -- suspenseful and exciting! The best part is how it draws the reader into the story as a front row participant. We love this book! (And I bet you will too!!!!)

I read to my daughter literally since birth. I amassed an enormous library of all the kids' books I loved as a kid along with mounds of books which were new to me. We went to the library every week. I read, she read, we read.

My daughter is now turning 18 and I wanted to buy her a copy of her favorite book from those times and this is the one I pick -- the one she remembers the most, and so fondly! She still reads A LOT, is in her first year of college and got a perfect 800 on both verbal and writing SAT. I can only take credit for the fact that I bought this book for her 15 years ago :)

My two year old loves this story. I love the illustrations and the simplicity that fits a toddler.

Great book for preschool ages, just make sure you order the right size. I thought I was ordering a regular book, but this one (for around $27) is GIANT. It's like 2 1/2 feet by 2 1/2 feet. I didn't see that clearly listed in the description; I just typed in a search for this title and this was the first one to come up so I ordered it. I later found a regular size is also available through Amazon I think it was listed for around $10.

I can't really review this book cause I haven't even had the chance to use this book but if I ever do get the chance to use it and have the wonderful experience of the oracle I think it would be a great experience. overall I like the cards and I thnk that I would really like it.

If you work with, or want to work with, the Faery beings, this lovely oracle deck can help bring you into contact with the Faery realms. It can be used as a meditative tool, as keys for connecting with certain Faery, or even contacting your Faery contacts who help you within the Other Realms. One thing I love is that the writer of the book and the artist push you to develop your own relationship with the Fey rather than rely soley on the book for interrpretations which is as it should be!

Hail to the Faeries!

I originally purchased these cards for a friend (on a whim) but when I saw them I was so enchanted by them I kept them for myself! (I'll order another set for the friend.) Their energy is delightful, intense, and a welcome change from the standard tarot deck. I like that the accompanying book is a hard-back and have found it a very useful guide to the cards. Users/collectors of tarot or other oracle-type cards should definitely give these a try.

this oracle has a really good, detailed first part, where in the authors explain everything you need to know not only about getting started with this deck but also everything you need to know about starting to contact the inhabitants of Faery. playful but serious at the same time.

I had a few hours of spare time at a friend's house, so I took this whole thing for a test drive. It was really cool! The cards are gorgeous, (looks like some people haven't been receiving them when they bought the book used though, so watch out if you buy it on here) very charming and lots of fun to look at and read about, and the first few steps for 'reading' with them are easy and fun too.

The steps have more to do with your own thoughts and feelings than with pre-constructed definitions, but they're also well structured and well thought out. The writing style in the book is lighthearted and a bit funny, so it's great to read when you're bored.

I sort of stopped at the part where it required the reader to sing and dance, but I'm sure that would have been a good sort of spacey bit of fun had I been alone. But if I have the chance, I'll probably pick up where I left off. :D