Butler Books

This volume is one of a nine-volume series that makes accessible the rich variety of American Catholic experience from the earliest years to the present. Attending to the documentary history of Catholic experience on the frontiers and diverse regional developments in America from the 1780s to the 1970s, this collection affords the reader a revealing look at the shifting social and religious topography of American life. The significance of the Catholic imprint upon the American Frontiers and the role of the frontiers in the shaping of American Catholicity are revealed in an engaging manner through these sources which encapsulate the history of Catholics as they moved across successive Wests, from Kentucky to Hawaii and Alaska. We see how women religious, laity, bishops and priests; French, Anglo, Latinos and Native Americans create a new western religious identity, relate across various faith and cultural traditions to forge a unique Catholic peoplehood. This is a richly-textured documentary history of Catholicity in the United States amply footnoted and including a photo essay and bibliography containing reference to the most recent scholarship in the field. It is an excellent source for bringing to life the story of the church in this vast area and provides the reader with 221 pages of invaluable material!

I just bought a copy of this in a used book store. It caught my eye about two weeks ago. I had never seen a book so beautiful, and I had to have it. I had them hold it, and I just brought it home. It is the prize of my two thousand-plus book library. The content is interesting - old poems - but it is the physical properties of this book that attracted me. I was lucky enough to find one in pretty good condition, but I won't be handling it much. If you just love books, beautiful books, this may be one for you. I am elated with this one.

Playful Poetry with photos of a New England town. Author wrote poems about the photographs he took and explains the different poetry forms he uses including Haiku, Acrostic, Lanturne, Shape, Epitaph, Naani, Quatrain and more. It's a good book for Elementary school teachers to use as a guide for introducing poetry to students.

The beautiful black & white photographs inside the book are of various gates taken in and around the historic district of Guilford, CT with a few color images on the book covers. It's hard to believe that his publication was done by a sixteen year old boy with no formal training in poetry. It's fun to read and the images are striking.

Reviews: "Exquisitely perceptive...gently playful...a wonder of fully realized work and a remarkable achievement for someone of Lanzi's age." by Michael Marsland, Yale University's photographer.

"Lanzi Butler's book gives a new and refreshing glimpse at Guilford's historic architectural charm. We may never look at our gates the same again!" by Bernard Lombardi, Architect & Planner.

This is an excellent account of a blind girl's struggles in working toward her career goal of being a speech therapist. Cathy, the main character of Butler's earlier novel, "Light a Single Candle," goes on to college and faces many trials, including dealing with the death of one of the children she works with and dealing with the parents' attitudes about her blindness.

This book is terrific! I recomend it to anyone familiar with Butler's work (though it is very distinct from much of her older work) or for anyone who thinks it looks even the slightest bit interesting. Even if you disagree with Butler, the book won't disappoint!

This book is very informative. It gives step-by-step directions, and lots of suggestions for leaders of small groups. It shows how to grow your group and how to get others to help. A key step is to give the ministry (or vision and responsibility) away to your leadership team who will help you to fulfill the ministry. It changed my way of leadership and helped my singles ministry to grow tremendously, both with a small group of less than 15, and later with a larger group of 50.

This is a wonderfully readable book that should appeal to a number of different audiences. It is an excellent way for people searching for a deeper understanding of Sacred Scripture, particularly the Gospels, but who are not looking for an overly scholarly approach or academic explanation of the text. There are several layers to the writing that in other hands could have proved awkward and complex. The writing seems simple, but is multi-layered in a very valuable way. I found myself learning about the Gospels, how they came to be, their relationship with each other and the ancient culture and did not realize I was picking up helpful tidbits at the same time.

Butler's detailed attention to the physical geography of Israel, its mountains, rugged hillsides and particularly the Sea of Galilee are a metaphor for the life of Jesus and a mirror for our own inner journey. This is the fifth gospel, which opens up the meaning of the four gospels in a way we have not known them. It is an innovative tool for exploring the Gospels.

In this fifth gospel approach, the author frames a number of significant events in the life of Jesus, the Easter Event, Sermon on the Mount, Transfiguration, offers insightful reflection on them and helps the reader draw out meaning for daily life. There are meditations and prayers at the end of each chapter that invite further reflection.

The author clearly has a love of scripture and a desire to explore the meaning of the Gospels in mind. She does this in a very "user-friendly" fashion that makes the book's real scholarship very accessible to folks who would shy away from other attempts.

Retreat centers should find it very useful and would be wise to make it available to its retreatants. The author's background in retreat ministry gives it a credibility that would encourage use for a small group discussion or at-home retreat.

Anne Lythgoe, OP Past President Dominican Leadership Conference

Believers often fail to realize that God really wants to bless them. Bishop Butler points out in the book that God's grace is sufficient to have success at home, at work, in your marriage and much more. Blessings are not just for the pastors, ministers and reverends - the book shows you how to walk in God's promises and obey His Word through the awesome grace of God.

Pam Perry
Chocolate Pages Reviews

With some incredible photos and narratives by the designers/builders from around the world, this two volume set showcases some of the latest and most progressive branding environment designs out there. A must for any architects, interior designers, environmental graphic designers, industrial designers, set/event designers, and of course exhibit designers. Every design featured is accompanied by a short design rationale and critical informations that you never find in these books such as size, budget, materials, etc. If you've never heard of the world of exhibit design, this book will open your eyes to some of the most beautiful, thoughtful, dynamic, clever and inspiring designs. Trust me.

Ecobeetle has concerns for all species and habitats and the great blue heron is a favorite animal. Beautiful and majestic in flight the Heron is the sentinel of the shoreline and wetlands. Throughout British Columbia this species is under threat through loss of habitat and nesting sites due to encroaching development. The appearance of a thriving heron population is a measurement of a healthy ecosystem. Unfortunately as Robert Butler describes and summarizies in his book 'The Great Blue Heron' that the status of the heron and it's recent struggles with the rapid development of BC's Fraser Valley is a foreshadowing and environmental warning concerning the health of all west coast animal and marine life. Conservation and protection of this magnificent bird is of paramount importance for the Great Blue Heron is a west coast icon, a symbol of our health as an enviroment. Ecobeetle highly recommends this book to anyone with a concern for species at risk or an interest in natural history.