Burke Books

This was written in the early 80's when subjects like child abuse were hugely ignored. Meet Burke, ex-con, criminal, gambler, scam artist and private investigator. He takes cases that cops and most other private eye's will not touch. If he takes the case at all. Burke is suspicious of everyone except his close-knit adoptive family: Max the Silent: a deaf, mute, silent Mongolian martial artist, Michelle: a Transvestite hooker, Mole: a genius inventor who runs a junk yard packed with vicious dogs, The Prof: a brilliant philosopher street criminal. Mama: the Chinese restaurant owner and racketeer. Pansy: Burke's mastiff with a personality of its own. Burke drives a souped up performance car, given to him by a former client. The car looks like a beater, but is a small tank that out-races a sports car. One day, a woman named Flood approaches Burke to find the killer of her friend's baby. Burke takes the case which takes him through the world of pimps, prostitutes and mercenaries. Because of his criminal background, Burke is able to enter doors where the normal citizens or police cannot...do not want to go. Eventually, Burke lures the baby killer into a trap, where his client, Flood, challenges the killer to a death match. Good fight scenes. I liked the short paragraph writing style and the social commentary about child abuse, human traffickers, drugs and the criminal justice system.

WARNING: contains spoilers

This is the first Andrew Vachss novel I have read. Everyone seemed to rave about the Burke series novels. I did enjoy the book, however, Burke is nothing more than a sociopath. He seems a bit paranoid. I think the ending with the pimp was a little bit stupid. Once the Cobra was dead the book should have ended. Could you imagine if he was a real person, and was trying to get a job. He'd first cut the lights and the security system. Then he and his crew would come in through the window and attack the interviewer and tie him up, and then well I think he probably would not get the job. Anyway the book was ok, and I will read the next one in the series to see what that one is like.

Vachss stories always seem to have potential but in the end turn out to be cliched and corny. He puts an interesting mix of characters in his books however they come off as cardboard cutouts. He also has the habit of taking the safest politically correct route by making the villians Nazi pedophiles. Wow your really going out on a limb there eh Vachss? His writing has always seemed to be better suited for comics, but even those ventures turned out to be disappointments.

This is dark stuff bigtime, but so well done and entertaining. Plus, you learn a lot about some unfortunate things that happen throughout our society.

This is not Vach's first book. There is an even earlier book out there that was never published! If you go to Vach's website, he has on there his first unpublished book that tells the story of Wesley. It is equally amazing as the rest of the Burke series. I just read it and it cleared up quit a bit for me. I suggest everyone else to give it a try.

James Lee Burke writes novels that are very atmospheric and rich in dialogue and characters. This is one of the early Dave Robicheaux crime novels. A movie ( financed by the mob) is being made around New Iberia. At the same time Dave is investigating a serial killer and the murder of a black man (over 30 years old). He is also having encounters with the spirit of a conferate general. Dave is investigating the serial killings with a female FBI agent who has her own demons.Somehow everything comes together at the end. This is a dark tale . James Lee Burke makes Louisanna a very interesting place.

I no longer believe James Lee Burke ever set out to write mystery novels, as his Dave Robicheaux series is characterized. Or if he did, that purpose was usurped some years ago.

James Lee Burke is a precious, national treasure. He writes to me of sights and sounds and smells. His character invokes a longing and a quest for purpose and redemption midst the imperfections of the human spirit. James Lee Burke is a poet.

In this book, Mr. Robicheaux is reconciling his past and present, and his spirit challenges his mind with what it already knows. Sometimes the spirit must intrude to teach the mind its lessons.

I found "In the Electric Mist with Confederate Dead" to be one of Burke's most lyrical and self-possessed novels. If there is hope for Robicheaux, there is hope for me. I feel blessed to read James Lee Burke and heartily recommend all his books.

This book was highly enjoyable, and JLB is one of the finest writers you'll find today. He paints a picture that few writers can. Highly recommended!

I loved it. Wonderful hokum. Exciting enough to keep me up till 4:00 a.m. but still pretty clean and very moral, with lots of believable details. The only crime writer I can read. His descriptions are beautiful, he moves the story well, he telegraphs his punches just enough, and the story doesn't seem formulaic. Masterful plotting, especially in the set-up with the hooker in the Buick. Great characters. At the ending, which is predictable but still great, I laughed out loud and cheered, almost at the same time. What fun.

If you know already know the writings of J.L.B., then I need say no more.
If you don't, but have a decent vocabulary and think you might enjoy some action packed stories with a sense of melancholy, a violent (yet literary and well meaning) narrator, and tales of vicious crimes, punishment(and usually, revenge of some sort), set amidst the the jails and mean steets of New Orleans, and the bayous,rivers and small towns of South Lousiana, buy "The Neon Rain", and start at the beginning.The narrators best friend (in most of the books) is one of the most unforgettable and enjoyable "alter-egos" in history.
Tragedy, love, friendship, murder, mayhem, as well as unforgettable dialogue and characters, make James Lee Burke one of my favorite fiction authors of all time.

I got this book for school, it was shipped really fast and the price was excellent.

truth be told i only read this because i heard the harry potter kid is/was doing the play in london.

wish i couldve read it as part of a book club or class..

Truth be told, I got interested in the play because of Dan Radcliffe. Initially, the plot descriptions I had read didn't interest me that much. However, curiousity prevailed, and I am so grateful that I bought it.

It is an extremely thought provoking drama detailing the story of a therapist and his patient. Under close scrutiny, it brings to light the darker and more mysterious aspects of the human psyche, ethics, and the effects that parents could possibly have on their children.

I have only had the play for two weeks, and I have read it many times over. It is easy to read, yet the mental images it gives to the reader are astounding. I thoroughly recommend this book for ANYONE who enjoys theatre, particularly drama that has more beyond it's surface. This is a play that will stand up with the best of of them. From "The Glass Menagerie" by Tennessee Williams to "Tartuffe" by Jean Baptiste Moliere, this is a play worth reading and performing over and over again.

This play first came to my attention when I received information about Daniel Radcliffe starring in it this spring in London. I decided to read the play when I found that the summary appealed to me. I was not disappointed with my choice- it is really quite intriguing trying to understand Alan's crime, and then later to find it is really about the psychiatrist's internal conflict between right and wrong.

This amazing play weaves an incredibly in-depth psyhchological mystery from a very minimalist set. The characters seem to jump from the book directly to your imagination. It's a great story that's hard to put down.

This is a really good book on Chesty's life. Sure glad it was available!

I had heard all the stories when I was in the Corps about Chesty Puller, winner of the Navy Cross 5 times, but knew little else. I saw this book and read it in one night. It was an interesting read about a man who went from a Private to a General Officer.

It dealt with his years fighting the "Banana Wars" in the Caribbean and Central America and dealt heavily with his actions during the Second World War. I have met veterans who served under Puller who were divided on him. But there is no doubt of the impact he has had on the Corps.

If you are a Marine or are no longer on active duty, read this book as a primer. Read his son's book, Fortunate Son and Eugene Sledge's With the Old Breed. They both will give you an insight.

In the 70's I was a teenager, about 15, and I read everything I could on military heroes. When I saw this book I passed on it because it was about a general. My heroes were Sgts or junior officers-Cols were okay if they were pilots. With only a few dollars, I bought Baa Baa Black Sheep instead. Most book publishers felt the same as I did, they didn't want another general refighting the war for self benefit. When I finally read the book, as an enlisted paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne, I realized that this is not at all a general's book. Chesty fought in every rank, first as a sergeant, than from every officer billit from 2ndLt to Brig General. The book is a military history of America's little wars from the 20's to World War II, with an encore in Korea, where Puller was awarded the Army's Distinguished Service Cross and his fifth Navy Cross. I return to this book often and I think that anyone, regardless of occupation, will find this book inspiring. The Army has David Hackworth, the Air Force Bud Day, the Navy has John Bulkley, The Marine Corps has Chesty Puller, and every Marine knows his name. I know, partly because of this book I became one.

"We've been looking for the enemy for several days now. We've finally found them. We're surrounded. That simplifies our problem of getting to these people and killing them."

Burke Davis provides a very readable biography of Chesty Puller - the greatest Marine ever. Although easy to read, the sheer number of combat exploits is difficult to grasp. This man was in and out of combat for 37 years!

If Puller were alive today, I suspect he would face many, if not more, of the same frustrations and roadblocks to training and leading marines. His early experiences with low intensity conflict would be invaluable in Iraq and Afghanistan.

He respected his opponents and learned from their strengths... "We'll have to get over the idea that we're the greatest people on earth in every respect, that we're infallible and that no one else has ideas worth considering. One of the reasons we had to fight against odds on Guadalcanal was this insufferable American notion of superiority, and our carelessness in face of danger. It goes back to Pearl Harbor and far beyond."

An amazing story about a rare breed of soldier that should be required reading.

Chesty Puller is the greatest Marine ever, and this book delves into the events that shaped this man. This book taps into the ineffencies that Puller had but also showed the strengths that Puller strived on. It's very interesting to see that Chesty was not very strong in the math department but was well versed in all the great battles of Rome, Napoleanic wars, Robert E Lee campaign, Persians and many more. Chesty was an avid reader of the classics and utilized those images to help him fight future wars.

This book should be read by all future Americans wanting to lead men into battle.

Roxy Burke has messed up bad. With almost no goodbyes, she leaves her whole life in Boise for a new life in Nashville hoping to become the next big country star. Now, seven years later, she's squandered everything, especially her inheritance, and she's no country music star. She's had no contact with her family in Boise, but returning there is really the only choice that she has. Because of the lack of contact, Roxy is completely surprised when she finds that her older sister, Elena, is now engaged to Roxy's old boyfriend, Wyatt, and a wedding is about to take place.

Now, shift to the other side of the story. Elena can't believe all the attention that Roxy's getting now that she's home. She's the modern day prodigal son. She's completely messed up her life, while Elena has worked hard for everything she's ever gotten. Elena feels like no one's giving her any credit, and she's everything short of being flat out rude to her sister. And then, of course, she questions Wyatt if any of his former feelings for Roxy have returned now that she's back home.

I saw myself relating to Elena's feelings throughout this entire book. While there were times that I wanted to beat her upside the head, I knew she had to go through the phases that she did to come to a point of forgiveness. Robin is one of my favorite authors, and every time I read something by her, that book seems to become my new favorite! This book is no exception. I hope she continues with the series (A Carol for Christmas was the first), and maybe delve into Elena's future.

RETURN TO ME, by Robin Lee Hatcher is the story of two sisters and one man. Your typical triangle? Not on your life! Roxy, the wild one, leaves her home and boyfriend to find fame and riches in Nashville and is gone for seven years. Meanwhile, her sister Elena, the good one, waits for Roxy's old flame, Wyatt, to love her, now that he has turned Christian. Roxy comes home broke and ashamed, it seems, with lessons already learned. Elena resents her sister's appearance and her thoughts and actions are too much. Their father is ecstatic to see his youngest daughter again. Actually, I liked Roxy the best, I thought she was honest to a fault. I thought Elena was shallow in places, (very unchristian-like). I did not feel sympathy for her although I could understand some of her frustrations. Maybe this is how the author wants us to see her, to realize she still has a long way to go to be a true Christian. But I wanted the story to dig deeper. The ending, in my opinion, was predictable, but I would have been disappointed had it ended any other way. Finally, it gave Elena some credibility. I have read many of Robin's books that I liked, no loved, much more, but I did find the plot in this story a good one.
J. Gayle Kelly, author of The Watermelon Patch

Roxie and Elena, broken, misunderstood and desperate for the same thing --love -- choose different paths to get it. Elena, the good girl with the long list of do's and don't's, and Roxie, the rebel.

This modern reblending of the truths within the story of the Prodigal made me think and struggle with the reality of God's raw and generous grace, and the hearts that feel either unworthy or stingy.

Robin Lee Hatcher is a fine wordsmith and provided tension and multi-faceted characters. I especially liked the backstory as it unfolded in memorable events as seen through the eyes of Roxie and Elena as children. The struggle between sisters put me in a position to choose whom to root for and I couldn't decide because I understood how they each made the choices they did, and how much it cost them to do so. I was uncertain how the story would play out until the end so this was a quick read for me. Another book to blame a pile of unfolded laundry on.

Hatcher and women's fiction fans should find much to like in Return to Me.

Robin Lee Hatcher has once again crawled into my heart in her latest novel Return to Me. Roxy is a prodigal daughter and sister. There's no way to excuse the life she lived away from her family, and now she's come home out of desperation. Her father welcomes her with open arms, but her sister isn't quite so happy, especially when she is now engaged to Roxy's ex boyfriend. Roxy needs to find love and be accepted not only by God but by her family. This novel brings to mind how all of us are to model unconditional love. An outstanding novel.

(My review as seen in ACFW's E-zine, the August edition.)

Return to Me by Robin Lee Hatcher is a powerful example of the ideal Christian fiction novel. It parallels the story of the prodigal son and was so engaging that I finished the story in one day. I just couldn't put it down. I identified with Roxy despite her many flaws.

Roxy's change of heart when she discovered Christ in an unlikely setting reminded me of my own personal experience. I remember the same still, small voice calling out to me until I finally gave my heart to the Lord. Of course, Roxy's older sister Elena decided Roxy needed to experience additional consequences for her sin. Like what Roxy had naturally suffered as a result of squandering her inheritance hadn't been painful enough, and not realizing, of course, all that her sister had already lost because of her poor choices. I've never seen a better example of how self-righteousness wounds new believers and destroys relationships and trust.

Return to Me is also a wonderful illustration of the emotional and spiritual fallout resulting from manipulative rejection, and the believer's need for a close walk with the Lord in order to resist pride and jealousy when new Christians succeed where they may have struggled. Thus the spiritual arc of the characters comes across as very genuine, especially when it comes to the older sister's attitude.

There are some gritty situations in this story, but nothing I wouldn't let my teenager read. Overall, it's a fabulous example of the regrets people experience as the result of poor choices, and the subsequent struggle to forgive one's self. The author concludes by portraying the Scripture that refers to all things being possible through Christ Jesus. I highly recommend this story because of the life-changing lessons within.

This is a very readable book of political theory, as Russell Kirk, the Scholar of Mecosta, Michigan, presents us with the great conservative thinkers since Edmund Burke and their ideas. Don't call Kirk an intellectual, which is a Marxist word; call him a cleric or a scholar.

What defines the historical conservative? I must say this conservative is different from a reactionary such Julius Evola who advocated an absolute monarchy who would be a representative of god on earth and closely connected to God to preserve the union of the state. From what I gather from this book, the conservative is for a democracy, but in a limited way, and is for change, as long as it does rock the foundations of tradition. Change is thought to be providential, although I have my doubts. The struggle for conservatives since Burke's time, around 1789, the year of the French Revolution, is to slow down change so that it reforms institutions, but does not destroy them by radical revolution. The main trouble has been that the conservatives were unable to control democracy, this bucking bronco, so that it would be limited within the boundaries of wisdom of tradition and custom, which Burke called "prejudice and prescription".

To get down to the details, arguments about who should be voting are covered. The ever expanding franchise of voting has dismayed conservatives who would rather have men of wealth, ability, and qualification voting in elections for various interests in society. These representatives are not delegates, so once they are voted in to office, do not call them with your opinion, they know better than you how to govern and you should show deference to their authority. The one man-one vote system today does not distinguish between an informed vote and an uninformed one. By limiting democracy to its best representatives, society will not be leveled down to grey uniformity of the envious proletariat who wish that no man be better than another and vote to have income stolen from the rich to give to the poor. It would be better for society not to tax the creative class, the natural aristocracy, who produce the enterprises which give the proletariat their jobs. This creative class is largely responsible for robustness of the economy, not labor. However, those who become rich should make their money in an honorable way.

Conservatives were against such intellectuals as Jefferson, Rousseau, Bentham, J.S. Mill, and Marx. One fault they found with Bentham and Mill were their tendencies to treat society like a machine; by calculating the greatest good for the greatest number, they would atomize society into making everyone just cogs in a machine. But a man is actually supposed to be more than just an unconnected individual; he must have ties to a certain class, guild, church, place, and community to be happy. The philosophies of the radicals have a dehumanizing effect on society. The argument against Rousseau and Marx is that they dream of unworkable utopias and deny the doctrine of original sin which makes it impossible and inhumane to perfect forever fallible human beings. Without taking sin and limitation into account, social policies will not work. These secular philosophers do not realize that morality is severely weakened when it has no transcendent reference to religion.

Such idealists like to talk about giving power to the people. But referring to the people as homogeneous whole is absurd. Which people are you talking about? Government can only serve people as they are grouped in different categories with differing interests. And idealists should not refer to people's rights when they are actually just aspirations or desires. The conservative wants God to save the King, the aristocracy, the country gentlemen, the middle and working classes. Each level should be granted their appropriate rights and privileges. But if we keep following the footsteps of radical democracy, we will find ourselves less free, more equal, and more miserable because we have denied the differences between men.

Another complaint from conservatives is that democratic societies have a lust for innovation by passing an overabundance of laws when it would be better not to pass any at all. In this democratic age, people suffer from impatience and will not wait for prudent reforms. Some radicals throughout history have reduced their arguments down to "Pass this law or I will slit your throat!" But this foot dragging of the conservative amuses me sometimes: As for slavery reform, a conservative before 1860 could have said "Give us more time!" Kirk mentions the joke from Ambrose Bierce's Devil's Dictionary about how the conservative is comfortable with existing evils and the liberal wants to replace existing evils with new ones. And I think sometimes a conservative may place too much faith is the wisdom of tradition, as if the tradition had some pure, infallible beginning.

This widely embraced overview of the history of conservativism gives readers a peek into the thoughts of the main conservative thinkers who have significantly influenced its contemporary form. Alexis de Tocqueville said that, "The surface of American society is covered with a layer of democratic paint, but from time to time one can see the old aristocratic colours breaking through." Kirk shows us the pallet to which de Tocqueville is referring.

Kirk is a "good writer" but an appalling communicator. Instead of just saying what he has to say, clearly and simply, his passages read as if they were a puzzle to be solved. Fancy words, obscure references, half-made hints and suggestions - it quickly becomes irritating.

I get the feeling that Kirk wants to impress us with his intellect. But any writer that leads with his ego is in trouble, and this is a fine example.

~The Conservative Mind: From Burke to Eliot~ by the late Russell Kirk is arguably one of the greatest contributions to twentieth-century American conservatism. This is real conservatism, not the typical neocon tripe by David Frum or Sean Hannity that masquerades behind the appellation of 'conservative.' Kirk presents a rock-solid historical journey through the conservative mind. Conservatives are of course more sober-minded than the assorted radicals and progressives of the Left. Conservatives have a sound doctrine of anthropology, because they grasp man's nature, and are realistic about the implications of it. Whereas, the political Left has a positive view of man, and from that emanates romantic quixotic fixations that manifest themselves in repugnant ideology that seldom meshes with reality.

The vignette sketches of Edmund Burke, John Adams, John Randolph, John Calhoun, Thomas Macauley, James Fennimore Cooper, Alexis de Tocqueville, John Quincy Adams, Benjamin Disreali, Irving Babbitt, George Santayana, and other luminaries represent insightful overview of the conservative movement in all its stripes. The essence of conservatism always lingered in the American mind, but when Russell Kirk distilled its core principles in his erudite works, he reinvigorated the intellectual groundwork for its defense and continuance. "People will not look forward to posterity", Burke wrote, "who never look backward to their ancestors."

"As the prophet of American conservatism, Russell Kirk has taught, nurtured, and inspired a generation. From... Piety Hill, he reached deep into the roots of American values, writing and editing central works of political philosophy. His intellectual contribution has been a profound act of patriotism. I look forward to the future with anticipation that his work will continue to exert a profound influence in the defense of our values and our cherished civilization."
--Ronald Reagan

This book gave greater breadth and depth to my knowledge of conservative history and philosophy than any other book.

What I found to be most enjoyable about this book is its examination of the nature of many conservative thinkers, showing similarities and differences in the thinking of those who made the greatest impact on conservative philosophy. While the specifics of each thinker often differed, the "permenant things" remained in agreement and are the subject of our conservation.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in an overview of conservativism in politics or philosophy, and just as highly recommend it to liberals as a wonderful "come from"; that they may understand the nature and history of conservativism.

Well, I fully expected this to be sexist. But I really wasn't expecting it to be as creepy as it was. There are all sorts of pseudo-sexual, vaguely Freudian undertones, and REALLY weird mother-wife-boychild relationships:

"Dear Peter," she said, "with such a large family, of course, I have now passed my best, but you don't want to change me, do you?"
"No, Wendy."
Certainly he did not want a change, but he looked at her uncomfortably, blinking, you know, like one not sure whether he was awake or asleep.
"Peter, what is it?"
"I was just thinking," he said, a little scared. "It is only make-believe, isn't it, that I am their father?"
"Oh yes," Wendy said formally and properly.
"You see," he continued apologetically, "it would make me seem so old to be their real father."
"But they are ours, Peter, yours and mine."
"But not really, Wendy?" he asked anxiously.
"Not if you don't wish it," she replied; and she distinctly heard his sigh of relief. "Peter," she asked, trying to speak firmly, "what are your exact feelings about me?"
"Those of a devoted son, Wendy."
[The children here of course include the Lost Boys... and Wendy's own brothers.]

Not to mention that the sexism in this novel ascends to a whole new level, as Wendy exists merely to clean up and act as mother/wife to whatever susceptible boys cross her path. This is the entirety of her role in Neverland and the real world, she has no other thoughts whatsoever. Eg: "'Oh, all right,' Peter said, as if he had asked her from politeness merely; but Mrs. Darling saw his mouth twitch, and she made this handsome offer: to let Wendy go to him for a week every year to do his spring cleaning." [Oh joy, Wendy gets to clean for Peter... but only once a year...] "Wendy would have preferred a more permanent arrangement; and it seemed to her that spring would be long in coming; but this promise sent Peter away quite gay again."

I mean, it's an interesting book... but I wouldn't suggest any actual children read it. The value system is even more questionable (in a modern context) than that of the average Edwardian novel. Not to mention the overall atmosphere is just plain eerie. No wonder Michael Jackson took such a liking to it. It's probably no coincidence that the world's creepiest pedophile popstar became obsessed with the 20th Century's creepiest children's classic...

As one reads Peter Pan, one doesn't have to do much thinking to figure out why its story has achieved such worldwide acclaim. I had ridiculously high expectations of Mr. Barrie's imagination before purchasing this title, and he has fulfilled them completely.

Many parts of the story are nothing but nonsense, which I enjoy above all else. Mr. Darling, the head of the Darling family, commands his children to take their medicine after he hides the medicine he's supposed to take. He brags about how noble he is for drinking a medicine that tastes so much worse that theirs. Unfortunately for him, during his bragging his medicine is found, and the whole family agrees to take their respective medicines on the count of three. Sure enough, when three is reached, everyone except Mr. Darling takes their medicine, and Mr. Darling once again tries to hide his.

This kind of scenario is what I'd call Mark Twain nonsense. You can imagine it being true, even though it's quite high up on the ridiculous scale. Then there's what I would classify as over-the-top nonsense - AKA bull - which there is plenty of in Barrie's original story of Peter Pan. Going back to Mr. Darling, if we take a look at how he's doing near the end of the book, we find him going to and from work in a dog kennel. Ah, yes...grown men in pet taxis. What could be more fun than the "he-didn't-even-try-to-make-this-belivable" silliness of such a scene? To be honest, I don't know if I'd even read books if they all left out fun stuff like this.

Other silly parts of the book involve Wendy growing up a day quicker than most girls; the narrator claiming he hates Mrs. Darling only to call her his favorite character a few sentences later; the lost boys asking Wendy to change the characters her story just two sentences into it; the narrator using the phrase "woke into life" because Peter likes the word "woke" more than "wakened;" and my favorite, Captain Hook using a stale cake as a missle and then falling over it in the dark.

I believe the novel version of Peter Pan was written after the author had already established Peter Pan as a successful play. That may explain a lot about the colorful narration, which takes many, many literary liberties. We see everything from blatant narrator interference with the characters in the story to the shameless attempt at informing the audience that the narrator only chooses to make the events in the story happen a certain way so certain characters in the book won't be disappointed. Perhaps without these wacky (and maybe even insane) traits in the narration, there'd be no reason to read the book, since it would be no different from the play. After reading the Peter Pan novel though, I'd have to say it almost seems criminal to watch an adaptation of Peter Pan without any wacky narration.

Contrary to most adaptations of Peter Pan, the individual lost boys (of where there are six I believe) are actually more developed as characters than John or Michael Darling. Heck, at the end of the book they actually end up moving out of the Neverland to live with the Darlings and grow up to busy themselves in interesting professions.

I may not like the actual land of Neverland as much as I like the land of Oz, but Barrie's narration is unbeatable in my opinion. He could probably make a Jeopardy contestant's Friday night schedule sound exciting.

I believe Barrie has written another Peter Pan book as well, a prequel of sorts entitled "Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens." It should be interesting, particuarly if it addresses what is contained in the dark dreams that haunt Peter throughout this book. Freud would have a field day with such dreams and the whole mother issue.

The only thing I expected to see in this book that I didn't see was "happy thoughts." That must have been a creation of Disney.

Peter pan is a great book.It's about a boy that doesn't want to grow up.There is a little girl named Wendy and she has two littler brothers named John and Michle.The setting takes place in Neverland which is a beautiful world filled with fluffy clouds .Also there is a mean pirate named Hook and one of his hands is cut off and is a hook now.His hand is a hook because once when Peter pan and Hook were fighting Peter pan and it chopped off hooks and and he replaced it with a hook.Thats everything you need to know about Peter pan.

This review refers to the Great Illustrated Classics of "Peter Pan" by J.M. Barrie, adapted for young readers by Marian Leighton...

Great Illustrated Classics is a great way to go when introducing young readers to the great literature out there. The stories are timeless, the print is large and there is an illustration on every page next to a printed page. It makes it a real treat, instead of a chore, and kids may be more inclined to pick up the books with this easier read.

Peter Pan is a classic kid's adventure(although reading it again recently, I found I still get caught up in the story and the marvelous characters myself), that has all the elements needed for a fun and exciting read. You know the story, Peter, the boy who never wants to grow up(I know how he feels), takes Wendy, John, and Michael to Neverland, home of the lost boys, where no one every grows up and adventures with scary Pirates, Indians, Mermaids, and a brooding fairy named Tinkerbell, fill the pages. I love the part where the readers are asked to clap their hands if they believe in fairies, to help Tink recover from the poison she drinks to save Peter.

It's a book that is a great to read together and out loud. There is some violence, so may not be suited for very young children, but a classic that should be read by all who want to be taken away to Neverland...even if just for a little while.

It's a wonderfully adapted edition for kids and the illustrations are marvelous.For another must have illustrated classic for kids, try Frankenstein( ASIN:0866119817), see my review of that edition dated 11/28/06.

Adventure, Fantasy and a few life lessons to be learned with the read.

If you believe..clap your hands..don't let "Tink" die!....Laurie

Even though I knew that Disney movie and the various other adaptions out there were more sugar-coated than the original, this turned out to be a rather darker and more sinister book than I expected. Funny and charming and all that, too...but a little creepy in the way seemingly innocuous dreams sometimes are, when everything goes a little sideways and suddenly you aren't so sure everything is fine any more. Peter himself seems far less benevolent a soul than he is usually made out to be. In even the less flattering renditions of the story, he is usually only portrayed as childish, proud and a little selfish, but a stand-up sort of fellow nonetheless. The way I'm reading the book, he's practically a hedonist. The only thing that saves him is the fact that he has brief moments of chivalry and a memory like a goldfish. He and Dorian Gray should get together. Or maybe, on second thought, they shouldn't. Since that could lead to disturbing slashfic.

Seriously, this book made me sadder than I could ever have anticipated. Peter really is mercilessly heartless in his laughing, self-centered innocence. It really hurt my heart to think of Wendy and all her female descendants all giving their hearts' first love to Peter, one after another; the older, wiser women unable to save the girls from breaking their hearts over him in their turn.

Fantastic book, though, and a real treat for those who like to pick a book apart from a psychologist's point of view.

I thoroughly enjoyed Delta's book. While I normally would've been anything but interested in a woman who spent so many years in beauty pageants, I've always liked this actress. She was talented and hilarious on "Designing Women," and there was always something about her that let you know she was interesting, quirky, good-hearted, and strong. (She herself says she always knew pageants were a means to an end.) I was one of the people who sent her a letter of support when that ridiculous obession with her weight gain began. (And she sent back a lovely card of thanks.) Delta sort of had to go through it for all of us full-figured women first - through her experience, the media and U.S. as a whole seemed to realize for the first time that most women in this country are not a Hollywood size 0 (duh). I appreciate how she stuck out the difficult times and has stayed a beautiful person. Her book was a great mix of autobiography and style, makeup and clothing tips. I read it just after reading Carnie Wilson's homage to getting drastic surgery as a way to slim down, and while I realize that Delta was never as dangerously heavy as Carnie, it's such a relief to read about a full-figured woman who accepts herself as she is and is helping others do the same. Go Delta!

Delta Burke has been a favorite of mine since I saw her on the HBO series 1st and 10. She has such a beauty about her, regardless of size. Her book tells about her life and struggles to meet everyone else's expectations. She didn't become comfortable with herself until she learned to accept herself for who she is. The first part of the book is dedicated to that search. I laughed and I cried along with her. To me, it took a lot for her to tell this story. I am not into the tabloids nor tabloid tv programming. I would much rather read about these things from the people involved.

She gives a lot of beauty advice and style advice in the second part. I did not always find her home formulas to be the best. Her tips, on style, however, I really enjoyed.

The thrid part, is a resource section that gives a lot of web sites. I really enjoyed surfing the sites listed.

The pictures of her family and throughout her career were enjoyable to me. Some of us can relate to these people and places. They are throughout the entire book.

Delta's way should be the way for all of us. Just be who we are, love ourselves for that, and let our inner beauty shine through. This book was really needed. Thank you, Ms Burke.

This book is a fun, quick read. It practically jumped off the bookshelf in the "Biography" section. And though the first (and longest) chapter of the book is Delta's autobiography, this book is much more.

The second half of _Delta Style_ is full of Delta's tips about how to dress to fit your own shape and style. She also has good tips on make-up and recipes for various home-made facials along with other skin care tips. The third chapter is all about hair. And at the end of the book is a good reference guide to finding products and services geared to real size women -- including web resources.

What I liked best about the book is that Delta comes across as a real woman -- in size and personality. She shares with her readers the parts of her life that were hard to bear. And then she shares the process she took to get through the though times. She shows how she learned to accept herself and find her own sense of style. She even has a list of 24 questions that help you learn about yourself, the life you lead, and the life you *want* to lead so that you can start to define your own sense of style.

I loved the book. I have always been heavy. I tried to lose weight for someone else not myself. At one time I did lose 50 pounds but I have put it back on and then some. Delta taught me to be myself and love myself for whom I am not how much I weigh. Her beauty tips were great also. I usually don't were make-up because I really don't now how to apply it. But Delta showed me how to be beautiful on the inside as well as on the outside. I have been wearing make-up and now I feel pretty. Thanks for always being there for the big girls.

Ever since the 80s when Designing Women hit its peek I have adored Delta Burke. I have even had the pleasure of meeting her a time or two. Why it took me so long to get around to reading this book, I do not know. Even as an admirer of Ms. Burke I was pleasantly surprised with this book. I reads more like she's sitting in your living room telling her stories than stiff pages of an autobiography. Her personal style and sweetness come shining through in the pages. I could have lived without the beauty tips & dressing tips in lieu of more personal stories, but her shopping guide was a nice touch. There are lots of great pictures spanning her entire life. She is a true southern lady and a steel magnolia to boot.

This is an excellent reference for long distance riding. Following the information in this book a beginning rider can ride a century, the cyclists' marathon, with no difficulties and few surprises. A good way to start getting involved with long distance riding. Not good for those who want to do time trials or other fast racing.

I bought this book when I first got into cycling about a year ago. For someone who is just starting out it is a great book because it explains a lot about the different aspects of riding such as bike fit, nutrition, etc. I am in the process of reading other books on cycling, but I would without a doubt recommend this to someone trying to learn more about the sport and how to get into better shape while on the bike.

This is a good book for anybody looking for an introduction to long-distance cycling.

If you have already done a few centuries or multi day rides there are only few new things you will learn.

Still interesting and covers all the essentials.

I'm on pg 94 and I'm finding this book too general and focused on the long distance racer. The equipment suggestions are summaries, not descriptions or principles. The language level is annoyingly low. I highly recommend Adventure Cycle Touring instead.

This is one of the most COMPREHENSIVE books on long-distance cycling I've ever read and I recommend it to anyone who is going to do any amount of long distance cycling. While you can get SOME of the info off the internet, you can't get it all by far, and why would you want to try when you can get it all in this handy book? Let me tell you about some of what the book covers.

The book does a nice job of going over the most efficient positions to bike in. To me, this is the best way to avoid an injury. But if you do get an injury, the book goes over in some pretty good detail, what the most common injuries are and how to treat them (I also recommend The 5-Minute Plantar Fasciitis Solution if this terrible foot problem causes you cycling problems). I've read a lot about injuries from various sources and the advice is right on the money.

Biking equipment is also covered in a lot of detail, as well as the different types of bikes out there to help you sort out what you need. There's a lot of stuff out there made for cyclists and this could save a lot of people a lot of time and money.

Other interesting topics covered include what to eat (nutrition), how to train for various distance rides (the book breaks this up into up-to-100 miles rides, 100 to 200 mile rides, and 200+ mile rides), specific cycling problems males/females may have (such as prostate irritation), riding in various weather conditions, and even how to stay in shape when you can't ride in the off-season!

As you can see, its a quite thorough book and I can't recommend it enough for those who are looking for a good long-distance cycling resource.

Just finished reading this book. I could not put it down. Another great one by the author.

This was my first reading of James Lee Burke's Dave Robicheaux series and it is easily apparent I have been missing some fine writing. I'm not a big fan of the million big-d&^% cop novels out there. I enjoy a select few, usually those spiced with some humor. If they are dark, and depressing, and full of moralistic BS, I pass. This book, A morning For Flamingos is none of those, nor does it have the overt humor I enjoy. What it has is some fine characterization of Dave Robicheaux as a fragile human being, a caring human being, and the kind of cop one hopes really exists.

I listened to the audio version, and at first I did not care for the narrator, but the story kept me and after the first disc I found I liked that narrator more and more. And, the dang book kept getting better. Not ramped up, adrenaline-soaked action, but understated storytelling that exceeds all my requirements for an enjoying story. I recommend this without reservation, and I'm picking up a few more of Burke's works. But not here, used; at a store, where maybe by the time the leeches get their part, he'll get a quarter.

JLB is just a better writer than most authors of this genre. Dave Robicheaux is a loser you can love and relate to at some level. I think the inner workings of the mind of a less than perfect man trying to do the right thing is what makes this book so appealing. Fabulous reading if you want to understand the alcoholic's pattern of thinking.

I have a complete library of James Lee Burke novels. I love them and I love hiw way of putting me right into the places his stories are about. Not too many writers do this well but I know New Iberia like I know my own town and have never even been there.

On the recommendation of a column in my local newspaper, I bought several in these in the series, a little too much in the language department for my tastes. Nevertheless, you certainly can picture it in your minds eye. So, although I purchased several, I only read about the first third in one. I did not throw them away, I passed them along. There are others authors out there for me.