Cross Books

I was very pleased to receive this book. The condition of this book was excellant. I was also very impressed at how fast I received the book. I had it in less than two weeks.
The projects in this book have very easy to follow instructions and I'm sure I will have hours of fun making the different projects.

This book has terrific directions..excellent pictures. So many projects to choose from. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to do hand quilting . these projects were so much fun and gave me a great sense of accomplishment.

Some quilting books are a disappointment and don't deliver the content you expect from the cover, but "Two-Hour Quilted Christmas Projects" is terrific. The items are easy and refreshing. The patterns and directions are complete. This book delivers more than I expected. Although the hardcover price was hard to accept I think I will get my money's worth because I will actually make several of the projects in the book.

I would highly recommend this book for anyone who is interested in how things work. Beautiful artistry and informative. My son loves it!

This book is a 1997 NCSS Notable

My 10 yr. old son brought this book home from the library and loved it. The graphics are second to none and the labels and short captioned boxes of text encouraged him to read several excerpts. The broad range of equipment covered is intriguing even to an adult. It is educational for the young reader to identify vehicles they've read about in school but never visualized. This book will be under our Christmas tree AND under the tree of a nephew who loves figuring out how things work!

This collection is full of love poems for people who don't like love poems but like love. I read a lot of first books of poems and they're the usual "who am I" collections. They're fine. But this first book is different. The title -- "Unrelated Individuals Forming a Group Waiting to Cross" -- could describe a bunch of people waiting for a light at a crosswalk to change (as the note in the back implies), but what the title really alludes to is death. Unrelated people waiting to cross over into death. The human condition in which we're all refugees from a place we try again and again to recall/dream. Instead of a first book of "self-identity" poems, this one is full of multiple identities. Characters. More along the lines of Pound's Personae or Yeats's painted players. What I mean to say is: find this book and see for yourself why "The Teller is the Only Survivor of the Fairy-Tale Ending."

Reviewed by Summer Lopez for Small Spiral Notebook

This eye-catching title turns out to be an apt name for a book of poems that are not similar in style or form, yet form a cohesive and satisfying contemplation on love and life. Each poem in the collection captures a moment, a feeling, and preserves it with words that are fresh, unexpected, and perfect. Mark Yakich is bursting with talent, and this book richly deserves its selection for the National Poetry Series.

Some of Yakich's poems are sparse, needing only a few words to pierce through to the marrow of experience. Others feel more dense, like there is more to say than can be managed by the medium of poetry. Yet either way it is the sharpness of the words that touches you, the images Yakich uses to capture love in its wonder and its horror, like these in "Two-Pack Solitaire: "Like a perfectly potholed surface / We are / Or a cup of wine / Crushed." The book is full of pairings and twosomes, be they fathers and daughters or lovers, and this duality finds expression in pleasing couplets like "Two foreign idioms / in a crowded train," from "How They Existed in the World." In this way these poems chronicle the ebb and flow of romance, capturing the twin demons of desire and regret, as well as hope and disappointment.

The unrelated individuals conjured up by the title inhabit the poems in these pages, yet underneath their apparent dissimilarities, they all share in the struggle to find meaning in love and life. Mark Yakich is not providing answers, but his poems give clarity to the questions and beauty to the wondering.

Mark Yakich's poetry is like the first strawberry of a delayed spring. That blessed tang. Yes! This is what your palate craved in the dark months after Clementines quit tasting like their name. For the jaded winter appetite, sustained on broths and highly seasoned root vegetables, it is a singular delight.

Singular, not simple-many of the poems are accessible in their unadorned language, yet difficult to get the mind around in a casual read-through. Whether the reader succeeds or remains puzzled, each poem is an individual to appreciate.

Subjects range from love and the conundrums of relationships to a short meditation on raisins. Tone varies from playful, as in a bawdy rope-skipping ditty, ("Songs of Salience and Ambience") to melancholic, ("Old Celery") to matter-of-fact: "A Lover's Education" is as plainspoken as an overheard conversation, but includes, and concludes with, lines as memorable as Donne's.

Girding the book is a sweet-tart but compassionate humor you might expect in a Jewish grandmother. Although wry, it is not cynical. The voice is not one of a young adult bitter upon discovering that life and love are not what he'd thought they would be. It reveals an acceptance of the way things are, with the vigor of one who refuses to take it sitting down.

There are plenty of good poets working today, but you'd be hard pressed to find a book of poems more surprising and delightful.

This heartfelt story places the reader alongside a disfigured little boy who is responsible to provide comfort for prisoners meeting their death by placing a sponge next to their mouths as they perish. The sponge has been soaked in vinegar and herbs. This sad, orphaned child had heard of the Messiah and hoped that this healer might see his face and heal him. The little boy never dreams that it would be Christ's face that he sees in a life-changing encounter.

The author tells the story in such a way that you feel as though your right beside the little boy seeing all that he is seeing & feeling all that he is feeling.And when he comes face to face with Jesus after they have nailed His feet & hands to the cross you will ask yourself how could He love us so much & willing suffer all that He suffered for someone as undeserving as I.This is a book that will make you feel the love of God!

I came to know the Lord Jesus Christ at the age of 12. This was the first Christian Book that I read. It really made a great and lasting impression on my life and drew me into the life of Christ. So much so, that I am buying it to read it to my 6 year old daughter.

This book is for anyone interested in diversity. Most of the 19 chapters are written by university faculty and student therapists. However, the academic rigor should not discourage someone who wants to read compelling personal stories about race, culture, and ethnicity. The authors courageously share their own struggles with diversity issues, and these narratives educate the reader along the way. Therefore, the book will not only become an important textbook for students but will also provide a thoughtful forum for diversity discussions.

Patricia M. Cole, Associate Professor
Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Nova Southeastern University
Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Hi, I am a psychology grad student. One of my professors recommended this book to me and I'm so glad I read it! This book describes the experiences of therapists of color in the real world. It was very interesting to read this because I hadn't come across a wonderful book like this before. I think this book will be an extremely valuable resource in work places with diversity. I recommend this book for all clinicians and students.

"Voices of Color" is a fascinating read. It is a collection of chapters written by ethnic minority therapists, all of whom have stories to share. The authors write about their personal background and how that impacts their current professional choices, and interests.

The book is interesting because it makes the connection between one's personal experiences and one's values, career paths and beliefs. Writers also reflect on real psychotherapy cases and other situations in their work that helped me understand subtle truths about race, ethnicity and privilege.

Most of the material is related to psychotherapy, but I found the book to be packed with eye-opening (sometimes painful) thoughts that are applicable to everyday life. I really liked the questions and exercises at the end of each chapter. While the book also contains theory and research for scholars interested in ethnicity, it is very accessible to non-therapists too.

In the end, I learned a lot about myself and my own attitudes towards diversity from this diverse set of writers reflecting on the meaning of their own ethnicity.

Katerina Whitley's ability to take the reader into the hearts of her characters is beautifully continued with this book. She and Noyes Caperhart have worked together to bring out the humanity inherent in the walk to Calvary. For each of the stations Whitley has written a monologue for one of the observers in her honest, natural voice.
Our adult Sunday school class spent each week during Lent reading and exploring our reactions to the monologues and blockcuts. I would highly recommend the experience to any one who wishes to deepen their connection to Christ's walk during the Lenten season.

Before reading this book, I was only vaguely familiar with the Stations of the Cross. Though the illustrations are powerful enough to tell the story of each station on their own, the author has done an excellent job of placing the reader inside each station. The writing style the author uses enables the reader to be witness to the stations as they happen ~ as if you were actually there. The reader is moved to tears as the author sheds light on the gravity of the reality of Christ's crucifixion.
I read this book before seeing "The Passion of the Christ" recently.... had I not read the book, the movie would have been profound enough on its own, but the knowledge and perspective I gained from reading it added to the power of the movie and I am very thankful that I had the chance to read the book first.
If you have seen the movie, you will remember each scene distinctly as you read the book... If you haven't seen the movie, read the book first and the movie will be so much more powerful... Either way, I think anyone who reads this book will be so thankful that they did. For both the monologues as well as the illustrations. The artist is incredible ~ you will LOVE the pictures. They are so real and heartbreaking... you just have to see for yourself.

Walking the Way of Sorrows, Katerina Whitley's third book of biblical storytelling is both similar to and quite different from her previous books. In her earlier books the characters are all women. Each women's story stands alone, connected only by their mutual connection to God. In Walking the Way of Sorrows Whitley chose the linked narrative of the Stations of the Cross. The major change is that the presence of numerous men along the Via Dolorosa necessarily expanded her exploration to include men's reaction to meeting the divine. She speaks, in the introduction, of her trepidation at entering the unfamiliar territory of the male reaction to Jesus. But she needn't have worried. The men all come across as thoroughly masculine and as individual all any of the women she has written about.

The first narrative is of the soldier who escorted Jesus back to Pilate after his examination by Herod during the long night after his capture. He makes sure we understand he is a Roman soldier, not some barbarian riffraff, and that he is tough enough to do his job. But, "I looked into his eyes!" he cries, sorrowing for the good man who must go to underserved punishment because Pilate is afraid of political repercussions.

After a quick read I am looking forward to exploring each story in depth. I read through it in an afternoon, hoping to find material for a family Lenten study. The difficult part is not in deciding to use this book in my education ministry this Lent, but in finding the best way to present it to a group. With each monologue conducted by a different actor the book could lie at the heart an excellent Good Friday liturgy. On the other hand, read and discussed week by week, the narrations in Walking the Way of Sorrows would expand to fill the whole season with Whitley's vision of humanity's response to God.

This book is beautifully illustrated by Noyes Capehart's woodcuts. These illuminations enhance the reader's understanding of the people in the stories. Rather, since the woodcuts were the inspiration for the monologues, the stories enhance the illustrations. Whichever way you see them they also make admirable meditation pieces on their own.

This a deeply personal review, and reflects the joy I felt as I read Meade's work in the early '90's, in the midst of the Men's Movement. I was very involved what was called the Mytho-Poetic wing of that movement, and Meade's work was so deep and rich and resonated so thoroughly. I went back to graduate school during that time and achieved a graduate degree, and began a counseling practice. I have used his work many times to illustrate myth and metaphor with men struggling to make sense of their lives. Some love it, and some hate it, but all are touched. I will be teaching it to my son, and my wife and I based our wedding ceremony on one on Meade's stories. Yes, I picked up the feather. Michael S. Logan, MS

I have just finished this book and I found it deeply moving and wise. The writer takes myths and uses them as a springboard to talk about the wounds that we all receive and how they can be healed.

It is not a light read or a glib self help book that gives you all you need in the title, but a thoughtful, measured and poetic way of re-framing our lives in a mythical context.

Along with the myths and his experience of working with ritual and various groups the author tells his own story of what he faced when drafted for the Vietnam war.

This book has great depth and honesty and clarity and I wholeheartedly recommend it for the thoughtful seeker. I found it powerful, engaging and a much needed antidote to both shallow self help and drab fundamentalism.

Did you ever listen or read a myth or fairytale and wonder "how does this apply to my life?" well here's a book from a master storyteller that opens a door to this question. By revealing the stories that shaped his life, Michael Meade lays out the territory of story and gives a new/old way of seeing the world for an individual and for a community as a whole. A must read for anyone to navigate this chaotic world.

I read this book in two days. It was that compelling and captivating. I plan on getting a copy for a friend of mine. This book is too good to not share. Dr. Cross has shared a message of hope.

I was captivated with the story line and anxious to discover the journey of Charles Cross' life from the start of the book to the finish! The book paints a beautiful picture of the love and watchcare of our Heavenly Father, even when one is not interested in a spiritual connection. The journey of this man's life to the fulfilled purpose of God's plan is such an inspiration. The author easily draws the reader into the moments of his life, so be ready to experience many different emotions. Dr. Cross was willing to share his life events to encourage the reader and share inspiration and hope. Powerful!

This story is an inspiration to all. Charles Cross lets us know that every person, no matter what adversity he faces, has an opportunity to fulfill his dreams. This book would make a great gift, especially for someone who may be struggling with life's choices.

Everything you ever wanted to know........! This is a wonderful resource for anyone interested in issues concerning women around the world. The material is thought provoking, well organized and easy to read. I highly recommend this book--use it for research, read it for pleasure or simply keep it on your bookshelf for answering some of those tough Trivial Pursuit questions!

A tremendous amount of information and statistics to beef up a paper or presentation. Lots of information on domestic violence, as well as legislation that affects women.

If you're doing research or have serious interest in the status of women in a large number of countries around the world, this book provides very useful and important statistics on a large number of countries around the world. It is well organized and, hence, easy for any reader to use.

A magical story that confronts the conflicting roles of men and women both physically and metephorically. So beautifully written that it is effortless to read. Delattre is the Gabriel Garcia Marquez of the USA.

This is not a review. I want to inform you that you have not yet posted the information about this title and the author that I sent you at least three weeks ago. Also, Woman on the Cross won ForeWord Magazine's 2001 Book of the Year Award for Literary Fiction. Could you please post this info as well, as soon as possible? Thanks, Christine Holbert

A magical, sensual brew of the mystic and the erotic, heavily peppered with Latin American magic realism. Funny, tragic and thought provoking, with enough plot twists to keep the lovers of pure story turning the pages. A great accomplishment.