Brown Books

(reviewed by melody age 13)
This story pulled you in from the very first page. It told a story of a girl trying to find her way through life, with a reputation from her past that everyone in town knew about, even 5 years later. Deanna wanted to prove to people that her past shouldn't control who she is now, but the hardest person to convince is her own father, who had seen it happen with his own eyes. Since her older brother and his girlfriend had a baby, it's hard for her dad to believe that Deanna wouldn't end up with a baby, too.
Deanna also struggles with friendship; her only two friends are boyfriend and girlfriend and jealousy seems to appear. Deanna begins to feel as if she can't be a good friend, and this could ruin their friendship.
Deanna develops a lot as a character and soon enough the people around her begin to respect her more and more. I could not wait to pick up the book again every time I had to put it down. I hope others will enjoy this book as much as I did and I encourage people to read it.

I literally read this book in 2 hours. I am a fan on YA books and absolutely loved this book. Great read!!

Very realistic book! Not only did Story of a Girl explore the troubled lives of teenagers, it showed the impact the importance of the support of family and friends. When I first ordered this, I thought it would be just another melodramatic book jam-packed with teen angst, but the plot delved much deeper than I expected.

I'd definitely recommend that you read this book.

This book weaves the tale of a girl who cannot shake a bad reputation. However, though the premise may seem simple, the characters, actions, and motivations behind their actions are not. The style of writing and topic make it a quality story about forgiveness and growing up.

In high school, perhaps more than anywhere else, a bad reputation can stick with you forever. This tender, touching and very realistic novel about teen sex and its aftermath will -- like it's main character's bad reputation -- stick for you for a long time after you read it!

this is the best and most easily understood bio of St Augustine, I love it.

This is an excellent scholarly biography of Augustine of Hippo. Peter Brown gives a thorough and balanced treatment of all of the important aspects of Augustine's life, thought, and historical context. I personally used this book as my set textbook for an independent study course I took on St. Augustine when I was attending university.

Brown does a very good job of summarizing important philosophical and theological concepts that are central to understanding Augustine's significance to the history of Christianity.

However, despite my very positive appraisal of this book, I feel that this might not be the best choice for people making their first entry into Augustine.

Augustine's is a severe and forbidding character. His intellectually rigorous reasoning on(and harsh views of) salvation and grace made him an inspiration to Calvin and the Puritans. But gloomy though his view of human nature might be, Augustine was intense and passionate, a theologian and philosopher with a poet's sensitivity to natural beauty and the use of language. This books puts the reader in Augustine's mind and life: there is the young man dedicated to an idealistic pursuit of truth,surrounded by admiring friends and family; later, his imposition of that truth on the all-too-human structure of the early Christian church will be fraught with challenge. Augustine knew Rome and Roman Africa in their glory days; he died as Africa fell to Vandal invaders who would impose a century of brutal rule. Peter Brown brings the tumultuous period in which Augustine lived fully and comprehensively alive; he makes us one with a brilliant, uncompromising, surprisingly compassionate human being.

This a revised edition of a very good biography of St Augustine of Hippo. Although I am in the mist of reading this bio I find the writing inviting and histology very well done.

Peter Brown's AUGUSTINE of HIPPO is epic study of the adventure...the spiritual-intellectual ODYSSEY...that is Life of Aurelius Augustine,Saint and uber-Father of the Christian Church in the West. Brown's peerless biography details(36chapters;437pp)a life of towering intellectual genius from birth in AD 354 in Thagaste,Province of Northern Africa SPQR ;until his death as Bishop of Hippo in AD 430.His education is sweepingly arrayed ~beginning in Carthage as orator and magister;his thorough indoctrination in Manichaeism; his meeting with St.Ambrose and immersion in philosophy of Platonist...the birth & death of his brilliant son,Adeodatus,"gift of God"..;the everlasting presence/influence of his mother,Monica; the epiphany cited in THE CONFESSIONS,"to take and read(Biblical exhortations of St. Paul)"followed by his Conversion/Baptism and quick-fire Ordination as Roman Catholic priest;and almost-instant elevation to Bishop. This prelude is followed by Augustine's unsurpassed career as The West's first & premier existential-psychologist:THOU HAS MADE US FOR THYSELF LORD; AND OUR HEARTS ARE FOREVER RESTLESS UNTIL THEY REST IN THEE; and ironic humorist~LORD MAKE ME PURE...BUT NOT TODAY. As well as arch-foe of anti-Catholic heresy~Donatism; Pelagianism;and the Occult(with which he was expertly familiar having been 10 year Initiate therein).

Augustine's CITY of GOD is not only the first consummate philosophy of History (surpassing Herodotus "then";and Hegel/Spengler & even Marx "now" in effect on history. CITY of GOD shaped the LOGOS,world-view of Western Man for 1000 years/entire MIDDLE AGES(ca~AD 476-AD 1517).Austine wrote catechisms ENCHIRIDION);treatises on Free Will;predestination;and is formulator of the Christian concept of ORIGINAL SIN.Augustinian theology l comprises(ironically)most fundamental notions of Protestant Reformers. Catholic Church champion St.Thomas Aquinas is -as-indebted to him as to Aristotle in framing THE SUMMA THEOLOGICA.


Peter Brown's new St.AUGUSTINE of HIPPO is not so much revision but carefully written...in modus of Augustine..reflection on what he had once written.There is brief preface.There is extensively documented epilogue comprised as New Evidence;& New Directions(pp441-520).There is expanded bibliography & index.The 1967 edition is 463pp;the new is 538pp.
Any student of Augustine knows that with him "more is More. Whether 75pp mas is MORE, the reader will of course determine.Brown's book is the classic,unlikely to be surpassed,study of a genius in the service of God,SERVUS DEI. Any serious student of theology,philosophy;or history of Ideas must confront St.Augustine of Hippo.This profound, mythology-like masterwork is not the opus to start with.But when you're ready "to TAKE & READ",it is matchless story-telling that is worthy of the unique,perhaps most remarkable,QUEST for God & Truth that a great and gifted man ever committed his life toward. (777 stars)

This is an excellent book. It will give you a more balanced perspective of what means to be a man of Faith, and how society expects this man to actually be.

In my top list of books. Made me cry when I read it. That's powerful writing.

It's puzzling that Loyola Press choose to print Joseph Bottum's preface to The Keys to the Kingdom. After reading his preface, I almost returned the book to Amazon. Thankfully, I didn't because I loved reading this story.

I disagree with Mr. Bottum on three points:

1- The Keys to the Kingdom was not written by a "hack." Cronin was clearly inspired by an ideal, not money. The fact that Loyola Press reprinted it seventy years later as a "classic" contradicts Mr. Bottum's opinion.

2- The thoughts of the main character may not be "deep," but any philosophy Francis voices is less important than how he lives his life.

3- I did not see the "unique Christian faith" that Bottum claims "shines through" the story. Then again, despite the many examples of less admirable clerics, both Protestant and Catholic, I did not think that Christianity was denigrated.

Many things happen in Father Francis Chisolm's life, he encounters many different kinds of people, and he faces many challenges. However, the most engaging aspect of the book, for me, was the mystery of his character. Was he simply born a good person? What was the source of his goodness? Was his humility a virtue and did it help or hinder him? (I also wonder about the ways various people responded to him, but to say more would spoil the story for you.)

Each of the characters could easily have belonged to any religion. I didn't feel that I was reading Catholic novel. Cronin rarely points out specific ideas that propel the less admirable characters ("do this or be damned" or "have you been saved") and never explains what guides Father Francis, the Fiskes, Mr. Chia, or Lieutenant Shon. I don't know if that makes this a good book or a poor one, but it made me think and wonder.

Joseph Bottum is right in asserting that "When Cronin sets down what he clearly imagines are the profound spiritual revelations of his novel they turn out to be little more than pious uplift, along the lines of "Why can't we all just get along?" and "Aren't all the religions really saying the same thing?" Although described disdainfully, those do seem to be Cronin's ideals. However this is not a naive story and Francis is not a weak person. He is strong and admirable and I admire at his ability to walk through the life he had without losing his love or faith.

While I would like to criticize the fact that Cronin does not apologize for the impulse to send missions to China (or to convert an atheist Scotsman), I can't. This book isn't an attempt to promote a particular doctrine; it's not even about China or missionaries. It's about a good man who should be, and sometimes is, an example others emulate.

It is a sweet story.

This book was a bit of a surprise. While it is not the best "Catholic" novel I have read, its many good parts provide much to recommend it. I have been familiar with the story line from the Gregory Peck movie which has been a late-show staple. The book is more intricate and nuanced, like novels used to be. Cronin's characters are well-drawn, seem consistent and grow in your imagination like real people. He has a notion of ecumenism that concervative Catholics might find simple-minded and perhaps offensive, but probably reflects his childhood experience, with which many American Catholics could easily identify, that sometimes God lets himself be found extra ecclesiam.
In sum, a good book. I am glad I read it. I had trouble putting it down at night.

I purchased this book on the cheap not knowing a thing about A.J. Cronin. Reading the back, seeing the "Christian" theme, I decided to give it a try (it was on the clearence table!).

Grabbed from the first few pages, one can't help but feel for poor Francis as he struggles through his emotional and tumultous childhood, discovering his faith and ultimately landing in China to rekindle the flame of a forgotten mission. Through the story he meets various characters: the local militia, outcast roughians, the tender and vulnerable Chinese people, Catholic hiarchy and a few friends...

Francis remains true to Scripture (with one notable exception) and his vocation by being pious, and living in only very minor indulgences. He lives for the God, the mission and for the Chinese people, often to his own detriment, leading the way by his example.

A great read...a treasure that I "just" picked up...

Very interesting and has lots of facts about the Titanic, I give the book a 10, I am glad I purchased it, and think it has about every answer you would want to know about the Titanic..........very good

Some of the "882 1/2 answers" are split up from the same overall fact. But still informative, and a great read.

If you want to know everything about the Titanic, this is the book for you! It is very imformative starting from the builing of the ship to the very end. It's full of information and interesting facts.

This book is perfect for younger children that want to learn about the Titanic.My son who is [...]was learning about the Titanic in school.His teacher was very impressed with this book.It is bold print and easy for children to read with great pictures.A most have book for young Titanic explorers.

This book has lots of informative and interesting facts about the Titanic. Whatever your interest level, this book probably has something in it you didn't know.

For Titanic aficionados, this is a great reference book.

I think this may be the best book of this yummy/gross series! Shan shows some expert creativity and a passion for what he is writing as Darren and Harkat escape to a world possessing the mystical Lake of Souls in an attempt to find out who Harkat was in his prior life. This new world is spooky, gripping, and thoroughly terrifying in sheer Shan style. He brings several major plot strings together for plenty of surprises and more emotion than I expected.

This book was an exquisite read and anyone who loves action and suspence will absoulutly love this book. Darren Shan is a half vampire who helps his best friend harkat find out who he once was by entering a different dimension. The author Darren Shan was bornin London, Ireland. His favorite hobbies as a kid were wacthing horror dracula movies and reading spoky comics. Darren Shan wrote twelve books in this series. And is the author of a new series called; The Demonata series.

Cirque du Freak: The Lake of Souls is about Darren Shan and his friend Harkat Mulds. Desmond Tiny has sent them to an alternate world to find out who Harkat used to be in the Lake of Souls. First they must find and kill the black panther, steal the gelatinous globes, and cross an unnamed lake, but they get sidetracked by a dragon attack. They manage to escape. Then they meet Spitz Abrrams and travel across the land. They meet the kulashkas, see the grotesque, and manage to reach The Lake of Souls. I won't say anymore for it will ruin the story if I do.

I am 38 and I have to guiltily admit I have thoroughly enjoyed the entire series. Quick read, good characters, and just enough twists and connections to other books in the series to keep a series reader interested.

Holy cow! The Lake Of Souls, book ten of the Cirque Du Freak series, is like the others, wonderful! It is so captivating! I finished it in less then a few hours. I just couldn't put it down. Author, Darren Shan (or so he says) has an imagination we could only wish for. With all the twists, turns, and flips that go on in this book, you'll be so to get your hands on the next one! Hopefully, book eleven will be just as great. (of course it will, what am I saying?) Just read the book. Trust me on this one, you'll love it!

this is one the greatest westerns i have ever read, this book should do well at the box office

i have known the writer many years and i am so thankful that he has plublished a great western book... i really enjoyed reading it matter of fact i still read it every day ,,, the leading man whistler brown was the greatest cowboy of his time .. i really enjoy what he did and how it turned out... keep up the great work .. we need a few more lee thanks for everything .. god bless america....

Marvin L. Brown is a gifted storyteller. I thoroughly enjoyed his book which was rich with characters spanning a range from the good, bad and ugly.

The main character of this book, a former lawman by the name of J.M. Brown and known as "Whistler", is a man whose quest to find his sister leads him through a series of adventures and engaging characters throughout this story.

In a world where so many lines have been blurred, Whistler reminds us of a time when compromising right and wrong was not an option. A time when your character and your word were the most valuable things you carried with you. All this and a story that brings the reader along, echoing the sentiments of a time that sometimes seems forgotten. I am glad that Marvin L. Brown has brought it back in this story and hope that he will continue to bring us stories that make us remember.

I just recently read and thoroughly enjoyed Mr. Brown's "Empty Holster". I read it in one sitting and was left wishing that it would have continued on much longer. It's a fantastic story that was well written and researched by the author. The absense of cussing and other unwholesome aspects of modern books was a welcome surprise. It puts one in mind of Louis L'Amore or Zane Grey.It's unfortunate that Hollywood is no longer interested in making Westerns because this little book would be the basis for a great movie. Maybe the screenwriters should have a peak at it anyway.

Not only was I able to read Mr. Brown's book, but I also had the honor of meeting and discussing it with him personally (via the Internet). Mr. Brown strikes me as fine person whose roots and family values are deeply ingrained with the mythos of the Old West.

Lee, the book was excellent. What more is there to say? ...Regards,

V.T. Eric Layton

he book is "Golden Age" meets Hopalong Cassidy. There is a distinct knowledge of who is a good guy and who is a bad guy, yet Whistler's flaws come out occasionally. He is a veteran of the War Between the States and a former lawman and a former cattle drover, yet that is all you are shown of his background. Whistler himself, doesn't recall most of the war.  
The scene that follows the above opening, Whistler is ambushed. All he sees of his assailants is a large white horse. His horse and guns are stolen and he is left for dead. He is found by his long lost sister and taken in for recovery.
Although the description of his renewing his relationship with his sister and becoming acquainted with her husband and two children, Temperance, whom he calls his angel, and Little John, is artfully done, there could have been a bit more detail of his recuperation.
...

Ben Smith, fourteen years old, is just starting high school, he comes from the wrong side of town, his father is an alcoholic, and his insensitive older brother is the school basketball hero. But Ben is a thinker, and can see beyond the dead end hope of those he's grown up with, yet he also recognises he is different in other ways, and soon has a crush on Miles, his history teacher. It is not until a new boy, Aaron, joins the school do things start to happen for him. In addition to providing a tangible and reciprocal interest for his affections, Aaron encourages him to think for himself. This stands him in good stead for all the troubles that are just about to befall him
This is an absorbing and humorous and ultimately positive story, related by Ben as he records the events of his life day by day in his hot pink note book.

I can't even explain how much I fell inlove with this book!! I'm not a big reader and I can't even tell you how many times I missed my stop on the subway in NY because I couldn't put this book down. It's books like this one that make growing up alot easier. I have to find out if the story goes on!!!!!

i read this book in the german version, and it was amazing!!! I love that cute story! The life of Ben and Aaron, and their friends! Is there a way to contact Todd Brown?? There MUST be a continuation of the hot pink notebook!! The meeting of Aaron and Ben again, maybe? :o)

This book is SO good, that it was passed around my entire class. When I was in 8th grade, our English teacher gave the book to someone, and that person loved it SO much that they passed it on to someone else. And that person loved it so much that THAT person passed it on to someone else. Soon, at least 100 of my 300 kids in my 8th grade class had read it, and everyone loved it.

This book is an insightful look at life of a typical teenager boy being scrutinized by critical eye of today's society. Entries From a Hot Pink Notebook is a well-written novel by a first time writer Todd D. Brown. However to fully appreciate the beauty of this book you have to be open minded and willing to accept an open look into a life of a gay teenager. Honest and sometimes heartbreaking details of main character's life, truly pain a picture of struggling teens of today. As you read this book you begin to identify with a character and sometimes even see yourself feeling anger, deception and hurt, just like he does. I truthfully had trouble putting this book down and sometimes even stayed up late in the night excitingly turning pages, wanting, learning, feeling. This book is written in a form of a diary, which personally gave a believable outlook that things described in the book, do in fact happen. As I conclude this, I strongly recommend this book to a reader who is looking for a good laugh and also a lesson on self-discovery.

After reading the glowing reviews, I was hoping for something spectacular. First of all, it is a small book, about 6x6 inches - $10 is too much for this small book. Next, I flipped through and read a few of the quotes, but couldn't see myself -or my daughter, the intended recipient- reading for more than a couple of minutes. Sorry, I'm just not impressed. This book, along with the other 3 in the series are all going back.

It is difficult for people of different generations to find a perfect gift. For my niece I thought that the best thing I could give her in her formative years is a sense of self esteem. Talking was not always the best way. I was lucky to find a book that was meaningful to us both.

I have a couple of girl friendship quote and photography books but this is one which I think will appeal to multiple generations of women, unlike my other books. Catherine Dee has included quotes from female Gen Y heros like Michele Kwan: "If you have nothing in life but a great friend, you're rich."

My 14 year old niece worships Michelle Kwan so I think she would appreciate this, as well as her grandma who worshipped Erma Bombeck.

I can't believe it, another gem by Catherine Dee. What a beautiful book of friendship, life lessons and quotes. This book helps to complete the set of Ms. Dee's other works. With beautiful shorts stories, whimsical quotes and words of inspiration, The Girls "Book of Friendship" is the perfect tool for teaching young girls how to build long-term relationships at the same time, providing words of encourage and empowerment.

I was thrilled to be able to give my daughter something tailored to her. This book lays a great foundation for "Girl Power" and enforces a strength in young ladies which will help them take on the world and deal with the obstacles in it.

Keep em coming Catherine!!!!!!

I was recently in the hospital for open-heart surgery. My dear friend gave me the book of friendship. It meant so much to me for two reasons. One is that it is full of such wonderful quotes and shoret stories, and gave me some great memories and cemented my friendhip with the girl who gave it to me, and secondly, due to the brevity of the quotes and stories it was easy for me to pick up and read and put down when I got tired. It is so hard to concentrate on long stories when first out of surgery, so this book was perfect. It took me two weeks to read it all, but worth very minute.

Easy to read, genuine, covers everything to get one started on the spiritual journey. A totally honest and 'wishing to help' feel about it.
Couldn't put it down.

The author offers interesting perspective to our eternal soul, and some of the passages in the Bible - especially about Jesus. He does contradict his position about Mediums and "cold readings" at certain points in the book, but all-in-all this is a good book - worth the price.

Robert Brown is a phychic sensitive who shares what he's learned about life & so-called "death" in his book "We Are Eternal".

He begins by discussing his "early years" - including the fact that he started off as a "certified skeptic" - with his original goal being to prove the non-existence of psychic abilities. From this point, he shows how & why his views changed, as well as when he realized that he actually had this gift that could be used to help others in so many wonderful ways...

Mr. Brown then goes on to discuss what he's learned over the years regarding various "major" life topics, such as:

Suicide - you can't run away from anything, even through death.

Death of Children - there is a "reason"

Disease - the need to maintain positive thoughts, the damage of prolonged negative thoughts, and the need for there to be a balance between the body & the spirit

Disabilities - we all have the "right" body for our mission

Religion - it's time for people to move away from "blind" faith, and return to their spiritual roots. He also discusses the good and the bad of some of the world's largest religions.

Some of the other topics discussed include: pets, reincarnation, karma, life after "death", and what happens to "evil" people.

Overall, I found this to be an easy, interesting read. As such, I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in spirituality &/or the "paranormal". An open mind is a must!

My husband and I lost our 20 year old son, Nathan. Our grief was intolerable.We had so many questions; where did he go, does he still exist in another place, who is with him, helping him? The day after his memorial service, we found ourselves in a book store looking for answers. We both at different times picked up the book, "We are Eternal". We thought this was a sign for sure that we were to read it.
While reading the book, We were able to find strength in knowing that he still existed, that this was not the end for him but rather a new beginning. My husband, who rarely ever reads, read it at least 20 times. We became stabalized and when we fell pray to our grief, we read it again and found strength. This book got us through and continues to get us through the toughest times of our lives.
We will never see death the same way again. It has forever changed our understanding of who we are and what we are here for.

I'm giving this book five stars because I think that unlike Beatrice Eadie and Sylvia Browne, this author is on the level and actually gets communication from the people we consider dead. Beatrice went much too heavy on Jesus Christ, who is, after all, just a man, and Sylvia is, I believe, someone who makes it up as she goes along and sometimes contradicts what she has previously written. I don't believe a word she writes. So when I come across "the real thing" I have to give it five stars.

The subtitle of this book is "What the spirits tell me about life after death". The problem is that this book does not live up to that promise. It tells next to nothing about life after death. For that, your best bet is Journey of Souls by Michael Newton, the very best book ever written on the subject, taken as a unit with his second book Destiny of Souls. Newton's third book doesn't add much and focuses on less interesting matters.

What did I learn here about life after death? I forgot. Not much. Warning bells started going off early, when the author was simply too chatty, taking too much time to tell us his early adventures in mediumship, making us wait too long for some information of substance. Whenever an author does that, you can reasonably suspect that he isn't going to tell us much.

Give me a minute to remember ONE THING that I learned from this book about life after death. He said that we fall into four different basic types - teachers, healers, warriors, and philosophers. I'd be a teacher. I am always shooting off my mouth about things. Communication is a mania with me, which is why I write so many Amazon reviews. Also, I can take a kid who is failing high school math and turn him into an A student in one or two lessons because I have a gift for teaching, by determining what the person already knows, and building on that, rather than by following my own agenda and hoping he gets it.

I can see myself spending a lot of time with the Akashic records, viewing Napoleon's battles, seeing history develop from a bird's eye view, that sort of thing. I'm always reading books now, in this stupid life. Imagine how much I'll be "reading" back home, when the "books" are what we call reality.

I wish this book lived up to its subtitle and told us much more about what our lives are like when we leave this life. I have so many questions. None of them are answered here.

I loved this book, although it broke my heart to think of what happened to the sweet, caring, fun-loving young boy later in life. June is so "real", I felt I would love to have been one of her friends. I also purchased the DVD "Elvis and June" and once again after seeing June on the DVD thought she was a really fun, strong woman. It was indeed a special time for Elvis and June and she shares her memories freely. The end of their love story was so sad, I wished there had been a way to "rewrite" history to make them both as happy as they had been that wonderful summer. Highly recommended.

This book was very enjoyable to read. It gives lots of insight to Elvis and what he was like when he was just starting out in the music business. Decisions that were made and promises broken but such a great story. Any Elvis fan would enjoy reading this story.

I did love this book. I only wish the book didn't end. At the end I was wanting more!

A very good experience. I received the product in a timely manner and did not incur any problems.

I'm a huge Elvis fan and have read a lot of books on him. This book is one of my faves. It shows a sweet, funny, and sexy side of him before he hit it big. June did a great job on this book and really shows Elvis in a wonderful light. Not only is it a great story about him, but it's a great love story in general. Highly recommended!