Carter Books

"I have never told this story nor shall mortal man see this manuscript until I have passed over for eternity. I know that the average human mind will not believe what it can not grasp......"

Written in 1912 this book is well written for its time and has intrigued countless generations of readers. I get the feeling that this story is being told over a campfire.

Captain Carter is telling the story form memory as an old man of his adventures here on earth and on the planet of Barsoom (Mars). There are encounters with many strain creatures, situations, and yes even a "Princess of Mars."

This is a part is a series by the writer that brought us "Tarzan." The intro to the book alone will capture your imagination.

It can never be said that Edgar Rice Burroughs lacked for imagination. Best known as the creator of Tarzan, before the King of the Apes was born ERB wrote this first adventure of John Carter, a Southern gent who emigrated to the wild west, only to find himself, by mysterious means, transported to Mars. There, John Carter finds himself amid great green, four-armed, 14-foot aliens, savage beasts, forbidding landscapes, ancient civilizations, and damsels in distress. The book is fast-paced, adventurous, and never dull. While written in a bit of an antique vocabularly, it is still wildly accessible and has lost none of its charm. John Carter is a true hero in the old selse of the word - undaunted, able, and always honorable; his enemies are nothing if not sinister, his perfect opposites. I heartily recommend this work both to fans of science fiction and fantasy, as well as those who have newly come either to the genre or to ERB himself. It will no doubt leave you thirsty for the additional installments (which are also worth reading).

Edgar Rice Burroughs (1875-1950) was a prodigy of imagination. He started his writer career quite late; his first work was published in 1912. From that point on a ceaseless flow of imaginary worlds & heroes poured from his pen: John Carter of Mars, Carson Napier of Venus, David Innes and Abner Perry on Pellucidar at Earth's center and the most famous of them all Tarzan of the Apes.
As many reviewers of this and other ERB stories point out, do not expect "politically correct" tales, they are the product of a society still torn by racial prejudices.

"Princess of Mars" is an astounding piece of fantasy. First story of ERB to be published it contains the seeds of lots of sci-fi and Fantasy novels to come in the following years. Also we may detect some traits of Tarzan in John Carter character.
It's a pleasure to read so "fresh" adventures depicting a whole planet culture, ecology, interaction between different races, monsters, and inventions far ahead of ERB real world, as "rifles with explosive bullets guided by wireless sensors".

It amazes me how ERB can master in a rather short text (for our standards); a high paced action story. Even if this book is more than 90 years old, you will enjoy it from the first to the last page and possibly continue reading all Carter's series.
Reviewed by Max Yofre.

There's no question that "A Princess Of Mars"--the first in the eleven book series--is brilliant. In fact, the first three volumes of ERB's Mars are arguably the best. (By "Thuvia, Maid Of Mars" and "Chessmen Of Mars" the series starts to drag a little bit, but "Llana Of Gathol" and "Synthetic Men Of Mars" are superb!)

One piece of advice: Skip John Seelye's bitingly pretentious "introduction".

If this is your first ERB Mars experience, enjoy your sojourn on the Red Planet! Adventure and Romance await!

--Robert Carter

In this--Edgar Rice Burroughs' first tale of life on Mars (Barsoom to its inhabitants)--we see a brilliantly conceived world featuring titanic green monsters and gorgeous red princesses battling forever across a dying landscape. From the opening set in the American southwest to the deserted cities on Mars to great battles between balkanized nations, this is brilliant adventure fiction. John Carter, the hero, is just standard enough in the pulp vein for readers to identify with him, even as his agelessness and ability to defy Death make him truly intriguing. Even though Dejah Thoris--the princess from whom the novel takes its title--really does very little, her beauty and intelligence are more than enough to convince any man to do as Carter does to make her love him. All this fantastic adventure in a wonderful dream-world leaves the reader panting for more after the last page has been turned. Fortunately Burroughs delivered. I can not recommend this work more highly.

I write this after reading the morning paper about retaliatory attacks between Hamas inspired militants and the Israeli government that resulted in the deaths of innocent civilians on both sides. It is a too familiar and painful story over the past months and years. Decision makers on both sides of this divide would do well the take a few moments from their mutual distrust and animosity to read Mary Elizabeth King's new book, A Quiet Revolution. Painstakingly researched and gloriously written, it tells a story of hope for nonviolent change and documents the arduous journey of peace-seeking activists involved in the first Palestinian Intifada.

After an uplifting review of decisive moments across the span of human history in which nonviolent resistance yielded positive and even revolutionary change (and there are more examples than commonly meets the untutored eye), Mary King plunges into the little know story of repeated attempts by Palestinians to defend their rights using non-violent methods. Occurring during the decades following the Balfour Declaration, these courageous efforts occur against the backdrop of accelerating Palestinian armed resistance that echoed similar efforts on the other side. Her own profiles in courage and imagination include Mubarak Awad, Jonathan Kuttab and Gene Sharp who were among "the accoucheurs for the Palestinians' catalytic alterations in thinking on nonviolent struggle" during the decade of the 1980s and beyond. Completely unattached to the PLO, their peaceful insurgency sparked mobilization that eventually led to the first Intifada. She also points to the East Jerusalem and Ramallah activist intellectuals who struggled vainly against the predations of the PLO to keep the first Intifada from turning violent. As the story of this resistance unfolds, regrettably both sides contribute to the sad narrative of escalating violence. The author gives full expression to the hope for an alternative narrative reminding us again and again that it could have been different.

By documenting the advances achieved during the "non-violent" phase of the Intifada, and corollary movements around the world, Mary King's book forcefully reminds us of the potential durability of solutions that emerge from non-violent resistance. We have only to look around to conclude that resorting to violence doesn't work.

I think the press is slanted toward Israel and Mary Elizabeth King gives a very unbiased picture of the Israeli-Palestinian situation.

Mary Elizabeth King's book, A Quiet Revolution, presents a thorough, documented description of the first intifada (uprising) of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza during the years of December 1987 through the late 1990's. It is a textbook on non-violence, really, and should be used in college courses on peace, non-violence, conflict resolution, etc.

I have been a close student of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict since the early 1960's, but I missed the significance of the Intifada. As King says, coordinated, non-violent resistance is hard to spot. It consists of a demonstration here, a sit-in there, a store closing in another location. Only a trained eye can see that there is a coordinated effort underway.

The book is full of stories of how the Palestinians coordinated their efforts. Such simple things as not observing the onset of daylight saving time (by setting watches ahead two weeks early) infuriated the soldiers who smashed watches that were not set at the correct time. Why? Because they are showing that they cannot be controlled. Leaflets announcing sit-ins were passed arm to arm during prayers when men are standing and kneeling arm-to-arm. The humanity and dignity of those who tried to bring their situation to the attention of the world is vividly described in this "must-read" book for anyone trying to understand the conflict in Israel and Palestine.

King, Mary Elizabeth. A Quiet Revolution: The First Palestinian Intifada and Nonviolent Resistance. New York: Nation Books, 2007.

This is an incredibly important book. The author details the overwhelmingly nonviolent first Palestinian Intifada (usually translated as "shaking off"). This is a quite thorough discussion that includes many interviews and archival research dating back to the 19th century. King employs theoretical discussions of nonviolent pioneers like Gandhi and Martin Luther King though she tends to employ a perspective developed by Gene Sharp (usually referred to as strategic nonviolence). She also develops ideas from Ernest Haas and Antonio Gramsci to explain the evolution and transference of nonviolent ideas and practices to the Occupied Territories. Given the dearth of scholarly or journalistic accounts of the nonviolent character of the first Palestinian Intifada, I suspect that quite a few readers will initially be skeptical. However, this book is very well researched.

Additionally, for those skeptical readers, I think that you will find the author's tone to be consistent with the nonviolent approach, primarily the notion that all human beings deserve respect (in this case Israeli and Palestinian). Further, she does not pull any punches and deals forthrightly with controversial issues like stone throwing and petrol bombs that were used in even during the most nonviolent phase of the Intifada.

Though the book includes significant and lengthy historical material as well as detailed discussions of the inner workings of various civil society organizations that developed during this period (1987-1990), the author does carry a strong argument: "the zenith, this phase produced the greatest and most enduring results of the uprising and lasted for more than two years, from January 1988 until March 1990, when leading figures were incarcerated" (296). In other words, the most nonviolent of this overwhelmingly nonviolent revolution was incredibly effective, resulting in significant political gains as well as the construction of a thriving civil society within the Occupied Territories. Though the gains of Oslo I and II were minimized over time as a result of Israeli backpedaling, the fact of the matter is that a few years of nonviolent activism were objectively more successful than decades of PLO advocacy of violent revolution.

King is also incredibly sensitive to Israeli fears. She concedes that it was Israeli fear that prohibited most Israelis from actually seeing that the first Intifada was not a movement to destroy Israel but rather a movement towards independence. In fact, one of the primary results of the Intifada was to reconcile a majority of Palestinians to the existence of Israel. Thus, the Intifada was waged against the occupation and against the PLO which was forced to concede acceptance of Israel in significant portions formerly Mandate Palestine.
King concludes with an epilogue that is both realistic and hopeful. She reinforces her earlier argument by indicating that further study of the development of a Palestinian civil society will benefit both Palestinians and Israelis. The nonviolent movement from 1987-1990 built institutions that have not been destroyed and there are leaders who have popular support among Palestinians who should be supported not jailed. As she says, the road to Israeli security lies through the creation of a Palestinian state and the road to a Palestinian state lies through a peaceful settlement with Israel.

Mary King has achieved an extraordinary feat. In A QUIET REVOLUTION she first demolishes the myth (especially popular among some academic experts on non-violent movements) that the first Palestinian intifada, or uprising (1987-1993), somehow wasn't "really" non-violent because of the iconic stone-throwing children. She demonstrates the strategic non-violence that in fact underpinned that movement, all the while recognizing that its mass popular character was an equally important feature. In doing so, King demonstrates how the breadth of that social mobilization - bridging class, gender, age, occupation, political views, factional affiliation -- made the first uprising so historically significant. And crucially, King understands, as so many observers of the photogenic intifada did not, that the real power of the uprising lay not in the children and teenagers challenging Israeli soldiers across the dusty streets of the occupied territories, but rather how it transformed and opened up Palestinian society itself. The very term, "intifada," refers less to direct resistance than to the notion of shaking up, or shaking out -- agitating and remixing sclerotic social relations.

Today, as Palestinians on the Gaza-Egypt border, those in the West Bank mobilizing non-violent direct action against Israel's Apartheid Wall and all those challenging the ever-encroaching expanexpansion of settlements, the lessons of the first intifada are more relevant than ever. We should all be grateful to Mary King for teasing out the lessons of history of that crucial time.

I took a Sociology of Minorities class in college. This was the required reading and I found it to be incredibly intriguing. This book does a very thorough job presenting the information.

I taught this as an undergraduate sociology course at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and I looked through about 20 textbooks before I found this one. It's the ONLY textbook on race and ethnic relations that doesn't only or primarily focus on the United States. Race happens in other countries! Americans can be so U.S.-centric. One can only really understand one's own country when comparing with others. Especially with race, which is so ingrained in us, it greatly helps to step out of the box and then be able to come back to our society with a more balanced perspective.

Also, Marger's writing is crystal-clear, insightful, organized, and very balanced and knowledgeable. You won't believe the number of textbooks which never adequately and clearly define the basic and complex concepts such as race, ethnicity, prejudice, stereotype, and discrimination. Also, Marger is one of the few authors who talks about the mostly-overlooked concept of the importance of form of contact (e.g., voluntary migration, forced migration, annexation, conquest) in determining the character of ethnic relations.

With most textbooks, students come away with, "Blacks are like this, Whites are like this, Hispanics are like this, Asians are like this," but with no overall understanding of the nature and social forces of ethnic relations. With Marger's book, the reader is able to make broad generalizations that characterize ethnic relations and understand the conditions which produce various outcomes.

I am super-impressed with this book, and I look forward to continuing to use it for years to come.

I don't know much about this book, but I do know that Martin N. Marger is a class act tride and true. Had his class my freshman year at Michigan State University and really got a lot out of it. Great person

I have read this book and must say that Mr. Marger is brilliant. This book is fantastic if you want to learn about all races and ethnicities. I was so attached to this book each day that I read the material, it was very hard to place down, even for a second. I now have a clearer understanding and sincere respect for other races and cultures.

I first read this book my junior year of college when I took a sociology class titled "Racial and Ethnic Relations." I learned so much information from reading this book, and I recommend it to others who either teach college-level courses or who are writing research papers and need a good reference book. As an anthropologist, I am extremely critical of the way my field inadequately handles the scholarly study of racial/ethnic conflict - particularly anthropology's lack of a coherent theoretical framework for analysis of prejudice and discrimination. Fortunately, Marger introduces students to various psychological and social theories and does so without employing heavy, technical jargon. Another great aspect of this book is its cross-cultural examination of racial/ethnic relations in Brazil, Canada, Northern Ireland, and South Africa.

Reading this book as a junior in college fueled my intellectual curiosity to comprehensively examine racial and ethnic relations.

This is an excellent book. It makes so easy to understand - all those complicated stock terms, author makes use of beautiful examples from time to time. It is a must have for every person who wants to invest money in stocks etc. (may be, except the ones, whose primary carrier is stocks or stock trading). I myself bought and sold stock over the last few years but never understood the terminology completely. It is nice to have it in my library - Thanks to the authors.

If you're a twenty- or thirty-something looking for an accessible, useful guide to investing, look no further. This is a great how-to guide to the markets, written in an inviting yet not condescending style. Buy it. Read it. Tell your friends.

Ever traded baseball cards or comicbooks? You?ve taken your first step in investing!

This book succeeds where many others fail: It does an excellent job of breaking into layman's terms the most complex investing and financial concepts, while at the same time making the whole thing completely relatable for someone who knows *nothing* about investing. That is a talent many wish they had. This is no mean feat when you consider all the jargon you have to learn. Now, imagine having fun while doing it! Wow! Eric Tyson, eat your heart out!

Sure, it?s been a while since this book first came out, so you know it needs a little updating...get over it! I still give the book five well-deserved stars. I appreciate the authors for writing such an awesome little book, as reading a book is a big investment of time, and reading this book was definitely worth it.

Share it with a teen or twenty-something you love, and give them the gift of setting them on the path to becoming investors.

Before I bought this book, I was probably like a lot of young people out there... ya get paid from work and you go blow it on the weekend with your friends at the mall. You just manage to get your bills paid off, and wonder why you can never seem to get a decent amount put away in your savings account? People, wake up! This is the time you should be saving for your future, or you'll regret that you didn't when you get older! I bought this book with determination not to spend every dollar I make and how to put my money towards my future. The book gives excellent explainations on the stock market and how it works, and even explains all those Wall Street symbols in a way that it's actually fun to read! It explains everything from savings accounts, to stocks and bonds, to IRAs! When I was finished reading the book, I was so glad I had read it when I did, because the later you wait, the more you're wasting time! I recommend this book to all! Read it and you'll be glad that you did!

There is absolutely no better tool in the market today. It's a great handbook for those sophisticated Generation X'ers, and an even a better tool for that worldly, younger new generation who are blazing trails right behind the X'ers.

Hey Boomers, your children, the N'Gens, are going to take the world by storm. With your ideas and their cohesive, cooperative energetic spirit, there isn't anything that they won't accomplish.... But without the financial skills so wonderfully illustrated in this book, your child will be left behind the pack. He or She will fail to live up to their unbelievable potential.

As an owner of this book, I can honestly attest to its value. I think it should be part of every high school senior's core curriculum! It is the only book that can make sure your child is ready to assist his/her peers in shaping the future of America and the World.

If your school board has not yet adopted this text, then please makes sure before your son or daughter goes off to college this fall that they have this guidebook to the world of life. America and for that matter the World will be grateful.

A Financial Analyst and Real Estate Investor (Cincinnati, Ohio)

I'm very interested in the sequel...most interested in finding out what "benefactor" knows he is alive and is presently protecting that information....also, I'm occupied with the development of Valeri's character, noting especially the reasons for his distinctly different ideas of the world around him at present in Las Vegas.

Carter Crosby's first in a series book leaves you waiting for the second. A fast and mesmorizing tale of Russian Mafia, the tragedies of Afghanistan, plus a study of humans' fine line between souls - friendships and betrayals - make this book intriguing. Can't wait for #2!

I liked the book very much and highly recommend it. It made time go by quickly when reading it. It was interesting to experience the actions and thoughts of a mafia member from a first hand perspective.

I'm not an avid reader but I enjoyed the first book immensely. I can hardly wait for the next in its series. I especially enjoyed the personal interactions between Valeri and Lena. The drama that comes from Valeri and the Russian Mafia is very exciting.

The first book in the series. This book sets up the main charactor, introduces secondary charactors, drawing upon thier experiences together. This weaves a web of interconnected facets, building into what becomes the focal point in the series. The second book, (due out approximately in December) delves into the concept and construction of the team, developing personalities and traits through various incidents. The third book, (nearing completion) continues on a similar theme, though the intensity level rises dramatically. The story has captivated me, and along with plenty of research into what transpired during those turbulant times, spins an entertaining and enlightening yarn. Enjoy...

This book is wonderfully illustrated. Lynne Cherry's style is to put a large picture on
each page surrounded by smaller pictures all relating to the subject. In this book the
subject is the course of a river over time and the effects of humanity on its health.
The side pictures relate to the people and their lifestyle at the time. The text gives
relatively simple explanations of what is occurring on the page.

Ages 10+
Follows the life of a river from Native American time through present and details the story of human destruction of a river and the human renewal of the resource. Definitely a read for grades 5+ due to the "urgency" of environmental destruction*we don't want to scare the kids to help them appreciate the resource*

This book was given to me at age 12. I am now 17 and it is still my favorite. I will never outgrow the beautiful pictures, or the very important lesson it teaches. Every page is expertly laid out, with exquisite paintings depicting the river and the era being discussed. The message of environmental conservation and protection is inspiring. Lynne Cherry makes this vital part of our existence understandable to young children, and even adults, often the harder group to reach. I highly reccommend this book for anyone who wants their children to appreciate the world around them and learn that they can, and should, do their best to save it.

This is a beautiful book! The illustrations are breathtaking and it follows an almost "illuminated" type of text structure, similar to that found in "The Mitten" by Jan Brett. Each page is bordered by illustrations of items pertaining to the period in history that the page is depicting - the implements used by Native peoples, animals that live by the river, inventions of the Industrial Revolution, etc. There is much more to talk about on each page than just the environmental theme of the book. This book would fit well in units about Native people, progress/inventions, ecology, water habitats, etc. A must-have for classrooms, homes, and teachers

I used this book with my third grade class when they were studying the effects of water pollution on a large body of water. They had already studied Native Americans in second grade and this book just blended the two subjects together. The step by step portrayal of man's harm to the Nashua River helped my children learn about how they were harming the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland. Lynne Cherry is a fantastic author and presents two great subjects that are highly interesting to children. Any teacher that teaches either Native Americans or water pollution should include this book in their lessons!

As a widow of war, I cannot imagine putting my innermost feelings of grief out there for the public to read. Glenda has courageously done exactly that to help other widows of war feel less alone.

Glenda takes her readers from war through the eyes of a young widow, to families torn apart by combat PTSD, to the consequences and lessons learned from unresolved grief.

Sacred Shadow, Sacred Ground made me realize that my feelings of despair, loneliness, and sorrow are not only completely normal, but also emotions that I must acknowledge and accept in order to heal. Because she chose to share her personal experience, I since have been able to share my own story with others and to feel my courage slowly coming back.

Thank you, Glenda, for having the courage to share your story and for leaving such an important and beautiful legacy for Bruce.

Sincerely,
Jocelyn Mintzlaff, wife of SSG Brian Mintzlaff, KIA 12.18.06

When I first received your book in the mail there was definite hesitation being a widow myself. Hesitation due to what I might not be ready to handle or think about.

From the first page on I was sucked in. You wrote in such a way that I felt as if I was reading the words stuck in mind that I was unable to get out. The first chapter alone made me smile, cry, nostalgic and be proud to be a widow of a hero. Your journey and candidness showed me that it is normal to feel what I am feeling, to be happy to have had the love that Michael showed me, and that bravery has always been there to help me through.

There are so many facets to this book. From covering the attack and the soldiers involved to PTSD, Glenda has started a path for the widows of the past and present. She has taught me to not be afraid, to take the love our soldiers blessed us with to get us through the moments when we want to give up.

I have known her and her story for only a couple of months now, but already consider her a very great friend and an inspiration that has helped me through many trying times. She has helped turn the flashlight on in the dark tunnel of grief I am walking through.

Thank you for your story. Thank you for your courage. Thank you for helping me want to live another day. Thank you for being a mentor as I try to take Michael's love and do something as great with it as you did with Bruce's.

Taryn Davis, wife of Cpl. Michael W. Davis KIA 5.21.07

"I do believe that when we face challenges in life that are far beyond our own power, it's an opportunity to build on our faith, inner strength, and courage. I've learned that how we face challenges plays a big role in the outcome of them."
-Sasha Azevedo

While the book is written by a Vietnam war widow, it also has some invaluable lessons for any widow who has suffered a loss, and has for whatever reason found it hard if not impossible to make peace and move on. How many of us have a box with items, be it letters, trinkets etc., tucked away that we are afraid to open for fear of entering a sad word that we may never come back from?

I was struck by the authors original thought to use a pen name, because I know so many widows with wisdom to share, who would do the same, simply because the lessons we have learned are often so horrid, sad, unusual that we fear bringing more grief upon ourselves by allowing others to know its from us that these thoughts and memories come from.

Also appreciate the author writing about widows and others who suffer from post traumatic shock, which is something so many people assume happens to those actually physically injured in some accident or war.

Same with the issue of suicide. I often wonder as do widow friends of mine, what people would really, really, really think if they knew that the pain was so real and raw, that we considered suicide. Even after one, five, ten or more years widows tell me that they have days when the sadness and pain is so real it is a thought they consider. Often because they feel invisible or because family and friends assume they have 'moved on'. Unless you have been there its hard to understand I guess.....

Glenda began writing her book about a box that she had held onto all these years. The box still contained Bruce's belongings that were shipped to her from Vietnam following his death. It was finally time for her "to deal with the loss of Bruce." She searched the Internet for widow groups to get involved with to help her along this path and it has helped her. She not only met other widows but also some Marines who knew Bruce.

She wrote about finding Pauline Laurent's book "Grief Denied" and how it made her feel. Glenda soon realized that she had PTSD as did some of her friends whose husbands had returned home from the war. She finally began to heal herself.

Glenda tracked down some of the surviving men from Bruce's unit. Eugene Caster described for her the scene where Bruce and six other Marines were ambushed. She began to piece together that part of his life while healing herself.

Although Glenda had selected the title for this book long before connecting with Eugene--she soon realized her title was due to the "sacred ground" on which those men died without knowing it at the time. Likewise, the "sacred shadow" was the part of her that had covered her pain. She soon began to see that she was a messenger to help others!

This book was one woman's way to deal with her loss and I'm glad Glenda wrote it. She has been able to pick up the pieces of her life and go forward. She still feels Bruce's spirit with her but she is no longer sad.

Glenda shared a lot throughout her book and now she is helping others who read it to heal. Well Done Glenda!

The impact of losing your husband in a war is not something that you can just get over and move on with. There is a grieving process and for those young widows from the Vietnam War who got little to nothing from their communities for support - the process was never allowed to develop. In her personal memoir, "Sacred Shadow, Sacred Ground," author Glenda M. Carter shares with us her grief, hurts, anger and eventual depression that followed her throughout her life.

Glenda became a war widow as a teenager after just three months of marriage. The death in Vietnam to her husband Bruce on September 11, 1968, also took a part of her own soul with it. Like most all the widows in the Vietnam War era, she never got any grief counseling or emotional support from her country. Much like Vietnam veterans themselves, she was outside the borders of this nations love and acceptance. Unlike WWII veterans and widows, this country did not choose to acknowledge or extend kindnesses to those who fought there or those who died there. So Glenda suffered for the most part of her life isolated and alone trying to deal with the issues surrounding the loss of her husband.

The book takes us on a journey of emotional and spiritual discovery as Glenda writes a gripping account of what she was feeling and going through. She reaches out for the meaning of life and through a series of epiphanies and events that seem almost spiritually timed for her own understanding; she evolves and gains insights into her life and its meaning.

The book shows the author's vulnerability through her intimate and compelling telling of how she coped with Bruce's death. The book could be an insightful and useful tool for other widows trying to cope and deal with these issues. The pain of losing a loved one in any war is a universal emotional experience for which she gives it a personal face.

The book mixes in some short bios and information on those who were killed in that same ambush with Bruce. It makes the book more than just a widow's tale and more like a requiem for those who fought and died with her husband that night in Vietnam. There is some insightfully strong poetry included, as well, as a great introduction by Laura Palmer, the author of Shrapnel in the Heart.

Book is a must read for all those who lost somebody in a war. It will not be an easy read as you will need a box or two of Kleenex tissues to get through it.

Nice collection of recipes for potpourri and sachets. Some ofthe ingredients are tough to find but I found most via the internet for the couple I've tried so far. Last half of the book is on flower drying, arraging and wreaths - not really my thing but I really enjoyed the first half.

Absolutely the best book on making fine potpourri (dry or moist) and much more. Also included are beautiful wreaths, dried flower bouquets, pomanders, cologne-type floral and herbal waters, bath bags, scent pillows, fabric sachets, drawer liners, etc. Gardening and flower drying information too. From cover to cover, fabulous ideas for elegant home decorating with antiques or inexpensive fakes. Gorgeous photographs.

This book is wonderful. I have had this book for about ten years and, although I have purchased many beautiful books since, this one remains a favorite. The pictures are beautiful and the instructions are easy to follow. Also, sources for purchasing any ingredients you would need are listed at the back of the book. Buy it -- you will cherish it!

i've had this book for two days and i love it. it truly inspires me. its easy to read and the fragrant recipes are simple and inexpensive to make. i created my first dried floral arrangement and i was amazed with the results. i love to walk into a room and be surrounded by pretty flowers and nice aromas. you can definitely achieve that with the help of this book. enjoy!

This is one reference book that I read cover to cover, not wanting to miss a single wonderful idea. I bought the book mainly because I have a huge rose garden and wanted potpourri recipes, but I was enraptured by every chapter, including making sachets, door hangings, and dried arrangements, and the section on the centuries-old "meanings" that have been attached to many flowers. There is even an intriquing recipe for making "wet" potpourri, a concoction that I had never heard of before but now intend to try! This book is beautiful, nicely organized, and well written. I could almost smell the scents and see the colorful gardens as I read. A must have selection.

I got a little cash for Christmas and ordered these for myself. They are just wonderful. My only tiny problem I have is the type set in the book. It can be a little blurry at times.

The content in these books is just wonderful. Reading them is like soaking in light or something...so so different from reading modern christian writers...

Well worth the money.

This is a reprint by Baker Books of Charles Spurgeon's sermons originally published in 1883.

Since these books are reprints, the biblical refrences are in Roman numerals and the English is quite different from our own (particularly here in the United States).

However, if you love Spurgeon's works as I do then you will lay aside those petty differences and work your way through these five volumes of sermons. Each sermon is complete and unedited. The theology, the passion, the Scripture knowledge, Spurgeon's keen insights into not only his text but into problems coming to the Church of his day all flow from the pages of these reprints.

You will not regret spending the money for these sermon works and you will have enough Spurgeon to read for quite a while.

This set is a wonderful collection of sermons of the 19th-century "Prince of Preachers" in five double volumes (originally published in 10 volumes). It's also great that these sermons are purely of Spurgeon and unedited (unlike some of his other works that have been revised or edited by certain publishers).

In light of the set's size as a whole, there is a list of "index to subjects" (located at the end of the last volume) helpful in quickly looking up topical sermons as well as an "index to Scripture texts" for those interested in finding expositional sermon on certain passages of the Bible.

This set has been a wonderful investment to encourage my spiritual walk. Besides his humor, wit, and genius in preaching, I love Spurgeon's ability in using concrete examples to explain the truths of Scripture in a way that his laymen audience could easily understand, yet without compromising the richness and depth therein. He is theological and practical at the same time. His diction and delivery are inspirational; they enhance the beauty and force of his messages. There are plenty of sermons in this wonderful set to occupy the interested reader in godly thought and reflections.

Well, I'm sure this product is brilliant, however, when I ordered it I only received the 5th volume, instead of all 5. When I contacted amazon they stated that it was because it was no longer available from their distributor. I suppose whoever was packaging my order thought that the sermons in volume 5 would be more than enough to occupy me for the rest of my life, and I wouldn't miss the other 4. Unfortunately, I noticed. My review of this product was mostly to tell you that you might want to verify the availability of this product before you order it. (:

Comprehensive volumes on Spurgeon's sermons, even with date and place that he spoke them. Easy to navigate as there is a topical and Bible reference appendix so you can either read some subjects for the first time or review a whole sermon where you have heard quotes in the past.

Spurgeon truly was one of the greatest pastors, and he would be the first to tell you it was only by God's grace that he could bring us God's word.

These volumes are very comprehensive and for under $50 it is a steal. I have enjoyed them and used them in many different ways and have enjoyed reading them in Spurgeon's venacular instead of some of the contemporary changes some have made.

If you are a fan of Spurgeon this is truly a great set to have in your library

Emmaline Cayley, an English girl who has spent her entire 14 years in India, has been shipped off by her parents to England to attend a boarding school, St. Grimelda's School for Young Ladies. Her letter of acceptance arrives from the school:

Miss Cayley,
You are to report to this school for educational purposes. Please do not even consider attempting to avoid this necessity. The arrangements are firm and will not be altered.

The harsh tone of the letter is nothing compared to what Emmaline finds the school to be when she arrives. Under such depressing circumstances, how is she supposed to follow her dream of creating a flying machine? Will she ever see her aunt and friend again?

I put The Strictest School in the World on my to-read list after I read Jen Robinson's positive review (she heard about it from Kelly). And I'm glad I did. Filled with charming illustrations and written in a delightfully old-fashioned manner, this story is enjoyable from start to finish. You will cheer for Emmaline and Rubberbones throughout their various adventures and mishaps. I'm hoping for a sequel!

Fourteen year old Emmaline and 12 year old Robert Burns (Rubberbones) are trying to build a flying machine. They are almost done when....she is sent to a school from a horror movie, St. Grimelda's. It is a very funny book. I loved it. Any boy or girl that likes Harry Potter would like this. It is satisfying, and you won't fall asleep reading it. I couldn't put it down. You won't be able to either.

Howard Whitehouse has crafted a hilarious tale about a Victorian schoolgirl's struggle to build her own flying machine. While the story enchants the pre-teen in your life, the Pythonesque humour is sure to keep you in stitches. At no additional cost, you also get to imbibe the gorgeous illustrations of Bill Slavin. All told, it's a rollicking ride. Highly recommended!

I have to say upfront that "The Strictest School in the World" is my favorite type of children's novel. It's a Middle Grade adventure story involving a daring girl, a crazy aunt, a Dickensian boarding school, and flying machines. What more could you want? Written by Howard Whitehouse and illustrated by Bill Slavin, "The Strictest School in the World" is well written fun for the 9-13-year-old reader.

Emmaline Cayley dreams of flying. Her great-great-uncle was Sir George Cayley, a historical figure and pioneer in aviation, and she uses his plans to design flying machines. Her only problem is that she herself is afraid to fly.

When Emmaline is fourteen, she is sent by her clueless parents from India to England to attend St. Grimelda's School for Young Ladies. The only benefit to this arrangement is that she has the opportunity to stay with her slightly-unhinged Aunt Lucy before the term starts. There she meets "Rubberbones" or "Rab," a small boy who never hurts himself when he falls. Rather, he bounces on impact. Emmaline has found her pilot and, in her aunt, a source of funding for her inventions.

When Emmaline is sent to school, all inventing has to stop. Instead, she's a student at a the "strictest school in the world." The girls live in fear, the matron is a monster, and a couple of "birds" patrol the ground. Soon a rescue operation is under way to save Emmaline from St. Grimelda's.

"The Strictest School in the World" is funny, smart, and exciting. Emmaline is a wonderful character, a girl scientist who is unflinching in the face of danger. Give this one to a Middle Grade reader today!

I had read a glowing review of The Strictest School in the World last month, so I was quite pleased when a review copy showed up in my mailbox. The Strictest School in the World lived up to my expectations. It's so much fun! It's a book aimed squarely at the 9-12 set, featuring lovably eccentric characters, larger-than-life bad guys, two independent-minded protagonists, and madcap adventures.

The story is set in Yorkshire, England in 1894 (the late Victorian Era). The two protagonists are fourteen-year-old Emmaline Cayley and twelve-year-old Robert Burns (also called Rab). Emmaline is sent from India, where she has grown up, to live with her Aunt Lucy in England, prior to attending boarding school. (There are definite echoes here of Frances Hodgson Burnett's The Secret Garden and The Little Princess, though Emmaline is a more independent thinker than either Sara Crewe or Mary Lennox.)

Emmaline is obsessed with creating a flying machine, even though she herself is afraid of flying. Imagine her delight when she meets the intrepid Rab, called Rubberbones because of his rubber-like ability to survive falls with nary a scratch. Rubberbones, who has dropped out of school to earn money for his family, is more than happy to be paid by Aunt Lucy to support Emmaline in her flying machine projects. And Rubberbones turns out to have an instinctive knack for aviation. Together, with the support of Aunt Lucy and her unconventional butler Lal Singh, the two spend the summer constructing flying machines. They have varying degrees of success.

Their happy world is interrupted, however, when Emmaline is sent away to school. The school that her mother has selected for her, sight unseen, has a reputation for being "the strictest school for girls in the world." Emmaline has difficulty adjusting, particularly after the relative freedom of her Aunt Lucy's house.

"St. Grimelda's made her think of the novels of Charles Dickens, with their slum conditions, mean relations, dashed hopes, and general aspects of brutal misery (and miserable brutality). But they were cheery tales compared with daily life at St. Grimelda's.

The girls themselves were beastly to one another. Since almost nothing enjoyable was allowed, girls tried to hide small things, like sweets and trinkets. Every piece of this "contraband" -- as if it were smuggler's cargo -- would be seized by older girls.

...

Strangely, though the girls spent a lot of effort being horrible to one another, they were extremely -- in fact weirdly -- obedient to the teachers, especially Mrs. Wackett and Matron. Teachers simply reminded the girls of "the consequences of misbehavior," and the girls shuddered, turned pale and jumped to attention. Or fainted."

(Above quotes from Chapter 9: A Dickensian Sort of Chapter)

Yes, St. Grimelda's school is a terrible place, filled with rules, privations, meanness and betrayal among the students, and an undisclosed punishment that leaves the girls gibbering with fear. Emmaline quickly realizes that she must find a way to escape. However, escape is not so easy. She's not permitted visitors, and her letters are screened. The castle is surrounded by a wall, and hardly anyone is allowed in or out. Emmaline has to reach deep within herself for bravery and ingenuity to find a way out.

Meanwhile, her scatterbrained but loving Aunt Lucy, and Lucy's loyal companions Lal Singh and Rubberbones, quickly realize from Emmaline's colorless letters that something is very wrong. They put aside everything else to travel to the school, and work from the outside to find a way to help Emmaline escape. They, and Emmaline, receive help from a variety of unexpected sources, but also encounter dangerous enemies, in their mutual quest to extricate Emmaline from St. Grimelda's.

There is a lot to like about this book. The author's voice is hilarious, with matter-of-fact recounting of tragedies, and sly insertions of humor. The naming of the characters reminds me a bit of Roald Dahl (e.g. Miss Sharpelbow, a terrifying teacher, and Professor Bellbuckle, a mad inventor). The plot, with loyal relatives trying to help a young girl escape from a prison of a school, reminds me of one of the main sub-plots in Eva Ibbotson's The Star of Kazan. However, The Strictest School in the World is more humorous and in tone, with more over-the-top behavior. The humor of the book keeps the Gothic overtones from ever being too much.

This book has examples of both loyalty and betrayal. Emmaline learns what true friendship means, and what it takes to trust someone (and when not to trust someone). The lengths that the people who love Emmaline are willing to go to to rescue her are heart-warming. The ending is very satisfying, too. I think that upper elementary school kids, both boys and girls, will love this book. I look forward to future books in the series.

This book review was originally published on my blog, Jen Robinson's Book Page, on October 1, 2006.