Carlson Books

The book is age appropriate and I read it before I gave to my 18 year old niece for her birthday. She wants to buy the whole set. She found it interesting to read.

Great teenage stories that draw students to want to read the book. I can't keep the series of books in my classroom. As soon as it's checked in it's checked out by someone else.

I recently purchased this book for my fourteen year old daughter, she told me it was a great book. In fact I am looking at purchasing more in the series. She said it was not too religious for her- she could relate with the main character.

Most book's about Christian teenage girls there life is perfect. Which in real life could never happen. This book is about a teenage girl named Catlin O'Connor. She is 15 years old and struggles with many things in her life. She goes from being a Christian just because her parents make her go to church every Sunday to really loving God and having a personal relationship with him. In the begging she wants to be popular and gets to be but after awhile she realizes that it wasn't how she had thought it was.
Well I don't want to tell the whole story so I will now give my opinion.
It sure wasn't a typical Christian book, it was actually better. I liked it because it was real. It was probably the best diary I have ever read.
I loved it. It actually reads like an teen was writing it. And the best
thin about it is that it is Christian.
This book is for Christian teens or preteens. Or if you want to become a
Christian. This is a really good book.

Caitlin O'Conner is a 15 year old girl who has a true best friend called Beanie Jacobs. Caitlin really likes a girl called Jenny who is a popular cheerleader. When Jenny suddenly wants to be Caitlin's friend, she ditches Beanie to be friends with Jenny. Caitlin realizes that Jenny's life isn't too good. Caitlin then has a crush on jock boy, Josh Miller who Jenny is dating. Caitlin realizes then that she needs someone more then being popular, Jesus. She begins to find out more about Jesus and makes most of her dating life but then she remembers about Beanie after she finds out about her dating life but she realizes it's too late for Beanie because Beanie is pregnant. You'll laugh and cry and realize, Caitlin is a true friend.

Maureen is such an amazing artist. If you are wanting to make figures in clay, then her books are a great place to start. I have several of her books now, and I love them all. Each one teaches you something more. Also this book came in great condition for a used book. Really good seller.

I have four of Maureen Carlson's books. They are all fantastic.
This one is my favorite. Very clear instruction. Gets you started and wanting to sculpt all the time. I love it!

Indeed a marvellous book you should have as one of your clay-book collections. Maureen has good eyes and different angles when seeing new things, and new thoughts to convert them into brilliant figurines. I love her ideas of how making the snakes and the dragons, and her tricks to get new color mixtures are awesome.

I almost bought her books entirely, and have no regrets so far. Thanks to Amazon for superb service, even though I must bear waiting for a month and so for my orders.

My advice, you always can give your book collections to your kids when you no longer need them.

Wonderful book with all sorts of tips and techniques. Being a novice, I found so much that I will rely on over and over again. Well written, with many pictures as well that are just beautiful. Highly recommend for anyone wanting to get into doll making.

How to make clay characters by Maureen Carlson is not available to buy in Australia. I had it on loan from my local library but only for limited periods and it was never long enough. I am happy to say that although it may have been printed initially a long time ago I am delighted to have obtained it as it has such excellent instructions and lots of handy hints for the polymer clay first timer onwards.To anyone reading this revue who wants another hobby to try (even in Australia) buy this book and you will be hooked.

The mere fact that it is still in print is a sign of how good it is for any age. Easy to follow and great fun all you need is polymer clay your imagination and this book.

This is a great book, well worth every cent.... I know my grandkids are grateful I bought it also.

The Mom's Choice Awards® honors excellence in family-friendly media, products and services. An esteemed panel of judges includes education, media and other experts as well as parents, children, librarians, performing artists, producers, medical and business professionals, authors, scientists and others. A sampling of the panel members includes: Dr. Twila C. Liggett, Ten-time Emmy-winner, professor and founder of Reading Rainbow; Julie Aigner-Clark, Creator of Baby Einstein and The Safe Side Project; Jodee Blanco, New York Times Best-Selling Author; LeAnn Thieman, Motivational speaker and coauthor of seven Chicken Soup For The Soul books; Florrie Binford-Kichler, Founder of Patria Press, Inc.- an award-winning independent publisher and Member of The Children's Book Council; Tara Paterson, Certified Parent Coach, and founder of The Just For Mom Foundation(tm) and the Mom's Choice Awards®. Parents and educators look for the Mom's Choice Awards® seal in selecting quality materials and products for children and families. This book has been honored by this distinguished award.

If you really, truly care about your grandchildren (children of all ages and whether they live close to you or far from you), then this is the book for you!

There are so many great activities in the book, your grandkids will be saying, "Grandma, I remember when you and I did. . . . That was really cool." As you do activities together, your life's wisdoms will be instilled automatically, which is something kids need especially in today's world.

Hats off to the authors for their excellent suggestions for increasing love between the generations. Whether you are a brand new grandparent or an already established pro, this book contains ideas that will cause your grandchildren to say, "Grandma, I'm glad you're my grandma!"

Margaret Rouse Shontz
Is Your House Making You Overweight, Sick or Tired?

The subtitle says it all: "Making Memories with Your Grandchildren: a world away...or next door."

This book won the National Parenting Publications Gold Award, and was selected as "Outstanding" by the Parent Council.

For anyone who has grandchildren living somewhere else (as I do--over 2000 miles away!), this is one terrific book!

The authors quote: "Grandparenting is a gift between two people at opposite ends of their journey." Alex Haley said, "Grandparents...sprinkle stardust in our eyes." If your desire is to bridge the distance from your heart to your grandchild's, here's a book to help.

It's full of ideas galore: how to keep in touch when they're out of reach; how to make their visit to your home enriching and memorable; how to make your visit to theirs restful and fun.

Do you need ideas for crafts? Plenty here! Do you need creative ways to keep in touch by mail? Peek inside. Almost 300 pages of creative help, with extensive lists of books for children (and for grandparents!). A good index makes finding that gem you came across last week findable again.

I like this book. It's motivating and it's practical.

"Grandloving" is a delightful, informative book packed full of activities to share with your grandchildren regardless of their age or if you live 'a world away'...or next door. The activities are arranged by themes and 'do together' projects or those that are 'sent to' the grandchild.
This book touches on how families can work together creating new relationships as the children become new parents and the parents move into their next role of being a grandparent.
More than an activity guide, Grandloving is a beautifully written book full of common sense suggestions that touch upon how everyone can work through everyday interaction, to how special events and holidays can be celebrated that brings families closer for the happiness of the child.
As a first time grandparent, I am thrilled with this book and look forward to sharing many good times and activities with our new grandchild. This is a must read for anyone involved with children and their happiness.

Mike Robbins has written a great self-examination book focusing on appreciating and being appreciated, especially from one's self. Anyone who thinks they could do better in those categories, or have a more pleasant life, should find Focus on the Good Stuff very worthwhile reading.

Great presentation on a worthwhile topic. If more of us focused on what's good around us ... people, events, society in general ... and then expressed that appreciation ... life would be so much easier. I don't remember who said it, but I love the quote: "What we think about, we bring about." Let's bring about more "good stuff" by focusing on and appreciating what we already have.

This was a delightful little book with a gentle reminder to be good to yourself. Stop being so critical of yourself and appreciate the fact that you are exactly who /what you were born to be. Appreciate Yourself !!

I had the pleasure of seeing author Mike Robbins at his recent appearance at the Learning Annex in NYC. I left the event impressed by the power of his message and the manner in which he delivers it. I then read this book and felt so good about the message the author is conveying.

So many new authors and speakers have jumped on the bandwagon of the "Secret" and/or the "Law of Attraction." It is refreshing to see a new star emerging with a unique, basic, implementable message that could change the world if implemented. And, refreshing to see someone who seems so committed to walking the talk!

Recent terrific books by Deborah Norville ("Thank You Power") and Robert Emmons ("Thanks") have similarly sounded the trumpet for the importance of gratitude, the cousin to appreciation. Mike's book is equally terrific with his strong point being the specificity of his wisdom on how to express appreciation in a manner such that it penetrates the thick skins hardened by a world of negativity.

I highly recommend the book and I equally recommend that you partake in one of the author's workshops or speeches. As excellent as the book is, in person the author's message resonates even more strongly.

Buy this book, learn the methods and take action, and you will certainly bring more happiness and fulfillment to your life. I wrote pages of notes, and I use these methods everyday! Relationships are crucial for happiness and fulfillment. Learn to treat others and yourself better with "Focus on the Good Stuff."

I purchased this book for my sixteen year old daughter who has discovered the joy of creating with clay. She has been making figurines for quite some time now. With each figurine, her technique is improving. This book has helped her to fine tune her technique as well as giving ideas on what to do next. She loves this book!

I recently have decided to try polymer clay. I wasn't sure where to start so I ordered this book first. I love fairies, trolls, etc. I sat down as soon as I received it and read the whole thing. It is very informative. I tried my first polymer clay creature last night and it turned out wonderfully. Without this book, I wouldn't of known where to get started. Although I have not tried making any of the creatures out of this book, I am excited about attempting it. There is so much detail about each individual project that I feel comfortable with it. I highly recommend this book for all levels.

I have always loved Maureen Carlson's work. This book has a lot of fun projects (15 in all) and it is a great way to spend an afternoon. When your project is finished it is sure to make you smile.

The book has great pictures, and just enough detail to create a fairie, troll, etc. Patterns are very helpful for a beginner like me! Over all- it's a start. Marg.

I found this book while browsing the shelves in a bookstore and my only regret is that I didn't know that the author is offering an autographed copy on her website! I'll probably order one at some point because this book was exactly what I needed to move on to the next stage in my art and I'm forever in her debt. I started sculpting with polymer clay about five years ago and up to now was entirely self-taught when it came to sculpting figures. Just a month or so before finding the book, I attempted faces but knew I had a long way to go. Maureen's book is just what I needed and more.

Her instruction on proportion is excellent and she shares many valuable tips on working with this medium, which can be very sneaky and tricky. From the point of an intermediate level and experienced artist, the instruction is extremely easy to understand and put into practice. Exact measurements are given whenever possible, making each project practically foolproof. I believe that the book is also very valuable to the absolute beginner but would recommend that they take their time and spend a great deal of time becoming familiar with the quirks of polymer clay before expecting to complete the projects quickly and easily. If I had only one tip to offer, it would be that when your clay "turns gumby," as I call it when it becomes stretchy and too soft, put it down and let it rest because you are not going to get anywhere with it until it does.

Every project is adorable and easy to accomplish. In addition to a good variety of characters, projects for props such as tree spirits and fairy portals are also provided so that you can create an entire fantasy village! So far, I've made three of the characters and am very pleased with the results, even on the first try. My first figures turned out a bit larger but it was very easy to scale them down on the next attempt. You'll learn how to create and use armatures and molds and sculpt faces, body parts and even clothing! I love the way that each chapter is written from the point of view of one of the characters, The Storyteller, (who bears a strong resemblance to the author!) and that we're guided through each project with tips from another character, Woodpecker Pete. I own several books on polymer clay technique and this is one of the few that I intend to keep forever. It hasn't made it to the bookshelves since I brought it home and it's unlikely that it ever will. The stock that the book is printed on is also very sturdy and will hold up to many hours of flipping through and holding it open for a reference.

Investing in this book increased my skill level tremendously in a very short period of time. I have already applied so much of what Maureen teaches to my own work in sculpting goddesses and dancers.

I also love the way that the author nurtures creativity by encouraging us to tell stories with our art, as she does. This book is so much more than a technique manual. It's a treasure that belongs in every clay artist's toolbox and a priceless investment.

Struggling to cope with the sudden, unexpected death of my two year old cat, I sought out many books on grief and bereavement. None helped until I encountered Laura Carlson's book. Through it and its letter writing process I began to work through my grief. My letter evolved into a framed memorial photo tribute. Thanks to this book and its process I found peace of mind and began to heal. PARTING WORDS/PARTING WAYS definitely provides a means to cope with your grief and move through the process.

For anyone who has lost a pet, those cherished loved ones of our family, this book will remind you of why you made an animal a part of your life in the first place. The memories of love and joy that our pets have brought us and why it was all worth it, even with the heartbreak of losing them. They give us comfort, love and laughter. This books brings forth those warm, sentimental feelings once again. This would not only make a nice gift for someone grieving the loss of a pet, but also bring comfort to us all.

A beautiful tribute to pets of many, like me, who loved them dearly. Personal testimonials and words of love spiced with writings of people like Winston Churchill, Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson, George Eliot and those of whom you've never heard but whose thoughts are beautiful seques to the pet owners' loving messages. Laura Ritter Carlson has a heart of gold and a true understanding of God's gift to humans (our pets) and those of us who loved and continue to love them.

Pam Hanna

Texas

I love this book.
When I lost my dog, there was such a feeling of being alone...but, with this book people can know that there are others out there..going through the same thing. It is such a comfort and that time of loss. Highly recommend.

In our society we have various acceptable ways to deal with the loss of a loved one. Everyone knows what is expected of them and the rituals that we go through to help us to work through the grief. However, the loss of a family pet can be very devastating and leaves the pet owner with no set of rituals to help move pass the pain. "Parting Words/Parting Ways: Saying Good-Bye to Your Pet" fills that void.

In the first part of the book Laura Carlson discusses the five stages of grief, the five stages of healing, memorial services and memorializing your pet. Throughout the book one thing stands out, that it is okay to grieve over the loss of a pet and there are ways to work through the grief.

The second part of the book contains many letters from pet owners who have lost a pet. The letters are written to the pets and show the deep emotions involved with the loss of a loyal companion. Reading the many letters one comes to realize the strength of the bond between many pet owners and their pets and the depth of grief that many go through. Recommended for those going through such a loss as it offers constructive methods of working through the loss and validation of their feelings.

I love Maureen as an artist and my rating has nothing to do with her or her book in general. The detail in her artistry is fantastic and her instructions are easy to follow.

I was dissapointed in the condition of this book though from the seller. It was used, but I was surprised at how bad the condition of it really would be. Out of all the used books I've purchased through Amazon, this was the worst...... Again, this has NOTHING to do with the author or her book in general. It is still worth your purchase.

this is a fun project one both young and young at heart will enjoy. Mom if you want a project you and your childern can do together, this is it. What a great feeling when you see the finished friend your child created. They will want to do more and more. It is very additive.

Polymer clay figures are difficult to make at first, but the book is easy to understand and entertaining to read.The author discusses topics from choosing clays and tools to learning to see the different shapes of faces and body proportions. She includes a variety of facial shapes to practice, with step by step guidance. There is no confusion and loads of clever ideas for caricatures. There is also a chapter on problems and solutions. I am working on caricatures of my family right now, and I don't know of another book that could be as helpful as this one. I am very pleased with it. I have a few others, but this is the one that I recommend to friends, and basically the only one I need.

Whether you are a beginning sculptor, or an experienced doll maker, this book is a good one to have on your reference shelf.

The artist has a playful way of explaining/showing you how to do things, and the step-by-step color photographs are really helpful. She even shows you how to make tools from common everyday things you'll find around the house.

I was impressed by her ability to sculpt perfect caracatures of her friends and family. There was no mistaking who it was when you saw the finished sculpt along side the photo of her person.

Enjoyable book.

In this book, Maureen Carlson presents all of the information you will need to get started at making either figurines or art dolls . . . or both!

Not limited to friends and family, the book contains basic information you can work from to also create your own characters. The information can be overwhelming if you just page through the book, but the author's fun tone and excellent photography work hand in hand to create a text that truly welcomes you into what should become a fulfilling hobby.

I especially appreciate her focus on how everyday items probably already within your home will work just as well as the more expensive tools available in craft stores. So be sure NOT to stock up on supplies while waiting to receive the shipment of your book from Amazon!

My one "complaint" is that the author focuses so much on her more mature friends and family. It would be nice to have more examples and instruction relating to children and babies.

I read this book my Freshman year in High School. I ordered it and read it again now that I'm in my Freshman year of College and I loved it just as much as I did the first time I read it. I'm a fan of Melody Carlson's work and I consider this book to be among my favorites.

Alice is a twenty something college student who seems to be living a normal life. But then after her boyfriend breaks up with her, something in her snaps. Thus begins Alice's journey of life with schizophrenia. It's a a terrifying ride that robs Alice of all her senses and is definately not a trip to Wonderland. Shunned by the church and taken into an institution where drugs are forced on her, she hides out in the street, with her mind becoming her worst enemy. But there is hope and with a little help from new friends, a way where Alice will finally find herself again.

This was one of the hardest and most impacting books that I have ever read. It was a definite eye opener with a subject you don't hear much about. I cannot even imagine what I would do if I was in Alice's situation. It would be a daily struggle to survive every day. Frankly it was quite scary to read about Alice's schizophrenia and what it did to her. The voices inside her head almost drove her to kill herself because they made her doubt everything and everyone. It was really frightening to think about how many people have to suffer from this every day and even if they get help, still have to deal with it for the rest of their lives. The worst part, for Alice, is how her church (which to me seemed more like a cult) completely shunned her and banished her because they believed her mental illness to be a demon. I really appreciated how the author handles this, showing the reader that while there are Christians who do understand and will help you out, there is also a darker side that won't acknowledge this situation. It's painful yet refreshing to show how there are severely flawed Christians who need to be taught not to be judgmental or walking around with planks in their eyes. I'm glad though that there was a glimmer of hope for her and that she was able to cope with her mental illness. I really love how Melody Carlson writes about subjects that many Christians shy away from and don't want to talk about. She writes these books with such conviction and grittiness because these are topics that we shouldn't avoid. This is edgy fiction at it best and I believe that it rivals mainstream fiction. This is not just a Christian novel, this is a novel that EVERYONE should read to learn more about what mental illness is really like. If you want a book that will leave you impacted, pick this book up.

I don't usually like Christian fiction because a lot of it is too fluffy and not like real life. I saw this book at the library, though, and picked it up. I really got drawn into the story - it is incredibly well written and Carlson's descriptions of Alice's psychosis and time leading up to it seem right on.

I was a psychology major in college and am now studying to be a social worker; I helped with research on Christian attitudes towards mental illness as an undergrad. I also have a mental illness (although not schizophrenia). Christianity, it seems, tends to ignore mental illness, to the detriment of the many Christians who suffer from it or have relatives who do. It's a huge opportunity for ministry that we really drop the ball on. That's why I am so incredibly happy that Carlson wrote this book (if you ever read this, Ms. Carlson, THANK YOU!!). I'm hoping it will open people's eyes to the issue. It is also realistic in its expectations and I was really happy the cure wasn't just - pray and God will stop it, because that isn't the experience for most people. It also showed how we really need more than just meds, which is something the mental health community is just waking up to. Carlson is ahead of the curve! In short, this book has the potential to really open some eyes in the church.

So - if you're Christian (or even if you're not, the Christianity is there but doesn't slam you over the head), and you're have a mental illness or are interested in it or just want a good read, I highly recommend this book.

For some, the frightening descent into full-blown paranoid schizophrenia is rapid. Alice Laxton, an intelligent and seemingly "normal" senior at an Oregon university, finds her life spinning out of control after a break-up from her boyfriend triggers the beginning of a long list of eerie symptoms. First, Alice begins hearing the insistent voice of "Amelia." Then she begins to suspect that everyone is plotting to hurt her. Finally, the cruel tricks that schizophrenia plays on her mind take her places she never imagined...back to the confines of her strict fundamentalist Christian home, to the streets, and to strange places of healing that Alice never believed she'd find.

Carlson has done a masterful job crafting this novel about schizophrenia. The first person narration works perfectly, giving Alice's voice a poignancy it would not have had otherwise. As Alice narrates her story with the perfect mixture of realism and intelligent eloquence, readers will feel as if they are living through schizophrenia along with her-fighting to figure out what is real and what is merely a part of a diseased imagination, wondering if a broken life can ever be truly repaired, and sometimes being forced to accept kindness from unlikely sources. And speaking of those unlikely sources of kindness, the supporting characters in this novel (in typical Carlson fashion) are well-drawn and unique. But beyond being a novel that is easy to get lost in, "Finding Alice" is also an enlightening look at mental illness in the context of a Christian worldview and a brave exploration of a subject that seems to be rarely addressed in Christian fiction. Kudos to Carlson for choosing to forgo the cliched "Western frontier" settings and instead writing about a fresh subject with universal relevance. If you enjoyed "Looking For Cassandra Jane," you will definitely find this genuine, hope-filled story equally satisfying.

This book gave me hope. My mother is paranoid schizophrenic, as is Alice, the main character in this book. Before reading this book, I had lost all hope that there was help for my mom, but after reading the book and seeing how Alice found and accepted help from others, it allowed me a glimpse of the hope I once had. Thank you Melody Carlson!

This is a life changing book. It shows how our thoughts create our perception of life. Our perception of life is our experience of life. It doesn't go overboard and claim their is no objective reality outside our thoughts, as some new age teachings do. However, it does say that it's not the circumstances of our lives, but our reactions to them. It does repeat it's central ideas several times, but sometimes it takes a while for something to sink in. I really liked the chapter on wisdom. My only problem with this book is the subtitle, because I read this book when I wasn't depressed and still got tons out of it. It could be read by anyone who wants to think optimally and discover happiness in life. I am only writing this review, because I have the hope that someone might read it and get solid info about living a better life. Carlson is influenced in his writing by a school of psychology called Psychology of Mind. Psychology of Mind is based on the concepts originally presented by Sydney Banks. I think this is the most clearly written of the Psychology of Mind books. However, if you read this book and like it I would reccomend any of the books from the Psychology of Mind authors (e.g Wisdom Within by Roger Mills, Divorce Is Not The Answer by George Pransky). Also check out Sydney Banks website and books.

Dr Carlson has written many self-help books aimed at helping us to find the stable state of happiness that naturally exists within us all. He has now written this book specifically for those of us who suffer from depression. The book contains practical truths that are so obvious that most of us miss them or at least bypass them in the rush of our everyday lives. If you are suffering from depression this book will help immensely. Richard Carlson will show you how your state of depression is as much perpetuated by your own thinking as it is by any chemical imbalance that may or may not exist. I have read this book at the same time as receiving treatment with an SSRI anti-depressant (Cipralex). While I am unsure if the SSRI has benefited me at all after 6 weeks, I am certain that this book has changed my outlook completely after two weeks and that it continues to do so more and more with each re-reading. If I allow myself to slip back into my old ways of thinking, the severity of my depression rapidly returns. The good news is that it just as rapidly alleviates when I get back on track with my thinking. The book is simple to read and may seem repetitious. However, if you are one of Dr Carlson's target audience of sufferers from depression you should read this book and keep on re-reading it. You will find that on each re-reading something will leap out at you with greater meaning than it did before. I have highlighted many sentences so that I can rapidly re-read them, and have noted down the keywords on the title page. This way I can pull myself back on track quickly. The approach takes some work to put into practice but there is nothing as hard work as being in a depressed state. The hard work, by the way, is only in terms of changing your habitual modes of thinking, it does not involve making lists and analysing things as do many cognitive (i.e. thinking) approaches such as that found in Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy by David Burns. I have found Dr Burns's book to be of some use also, mainly because it has helped me to identify particular types of cognitive distortion that help perpetuate depressive illness. This enables me to more accurately recognise when I should dismiss my thoughts, as Dr Carlson recommends in his approach. If you are depressed, low, angry, resentful, dissatisfied, unfulfilled, stressed, hurried, fearful or just not happy most of the time then read this book and keep re-reading it. I only wish this book had been available when I was aged twenty rather than forty.

The first time I read this book, I read it straight through and it seemed to say the same thing over and over again: I began to wonder why on earth I bought it. I am now on my third reading, and I'm reading just a few sentences each and every day. However, although the basic message is still the same on each page, "Live in the Present", Mr Carlson constantly gives new aspects to the message so that it drip feeds sanity into my brain. I wish I'd had this book 50 years ago, and maybe it wouldn't have taken so long to do its work.

Never has something I've read had such an impact on my life as this book has. In fact, I would never have imagined that a book could have this much impact on my life!

Never has something I've read had such an impact on my life as this book has. In fact, I would never have imagined that a book could have this much impact on my life!

John Welshons is an amazing author. Both of his books (Healing the Grief,Finding the Road back to Joy and When Prayers Aren't Answered) have brought so much peace and healing to me personally and all of my friends with whom I have shared his works. God has truely blessed him with a wonderful gift and blessed us, the rest of the world, with him. Both of his books are definately a MUST READ.
Carrie Joyce
Dunedin, Fl.

John Welshons has written another fantastic book! In an easy to read, compassionate and nonjudgemental manner, the author urges the reader to try to look at the way life is and not how we each believe it should be. A scholar of the world's religions, he draws on traditions from both the East and West. While the book does deal with different types of prayer, I think its appeal is much broader than those interested in theology. It is a book about how to find joy by understanding what is truly important. I recommend it as a gift to anyone you want to help find more joy in their lives!

First, please ignore the odd review of this wonderful book from Publishers Weekly and follow the reviews of the other readers of this book who have given John's book 5 stars. I have seen John Welshons in person at workshops and he is in every sense the real deal. He is one of the most patient and loving people I have ever come across and he has a unique ability to address every questioner in a caring and direct manner. I have given copies of John's first book to many people who have experienced a loss in their lives and they have always thanked me for the gift. They also recognize that "Awakening From Grief" is not just a book about death, but very much a book about life. I hope you will all give this book a chance to serve you in your quest for love and happiness.

A book I can pick up at any time to get an inspirational lift. Filled with such tenderness, compassion and lots of hope when so hard to find when carrying such a heavy heart. As fate would have it, When Prayers Aren't Answered came out to the bookstores it was like the book was written to match my life for the past five years as the same with John's first book Awakening From Grief. Once you start reading you will not want to put it down. I highly recommend reading it. John Welshons books are my Beacon of Light..

I definitely recommend this book. I love it because it considers all religious beliefs, and it makes quite clear that we are like little children in our love to God. If He doesn't give us what we want then we desert him and loose him all along, while the challenge is to love God and be connected with Him either He gives us what we want or not. Most of the time for our best.