Dunne Books

Dr. Jane Plant's suggestions are safe, healthy, and well worth a try. I've put myself on a similar program even though I've not been diagnosed with cancer.

It's a very interesting book.

Jane Plant's book is ground-breaking and courageous. Every woman who's had breast cancer should read it. This is information no-one else will give you. Breast cancer is a huge industry, with expensive chemotherapy treatments that benefit only about one in ten women. Conventional medicine is limited in what it can offer breast cancer patients, and tends to camouflage the picture with pink ribbons, "look good, feel good" programs,and the like. I agree with the reviewer who suggested that the dairy industry doesn't want this information out there (remember the Mad Cow scare and the beef industry?)Women in Holland (high dairy intake) and farmers' wives have a higher incidence of breast cancer. Breast cancer patients need to help themselves in any way they can. I have read many alternative-therapy books but this one is tops, and is a must-read not only for women but also for men who wish to avoid prostate cancer, which is now one in eight, same as breast cancer. By the way, I'm an MD and a breast cancer patient.

My Shining Beacon


It may seem odd that I, a man, should write that this book probably saved my life, but it's my very stong belief that this is the case.

In April 2005 I was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer, advanced, inoperable, and my prognosis was very bleak - perhaps 2 or 3 years to live. I had only just celebrated my 54th birthday two weeks earlier.

All I can say is thank heavens for the internet.

After leaving the hospital, still reeling from the shocking news, I sat at the computer and began to research the illness. I spent every waking hour delving through research papers and any new treatments that might possibly be available to me.

Within a few days I discovered the work of Prof. Jane Plant, and her theories on cancer shone out like a beacon in my darkness.

I'm not from any type of scientific background, but she writes about causes and prevention - and diet factors which can stimulate (or destroy) cancer cells, in such a clear, simple way, that I found it incredibly easy to follow the logic of it all.

I immediately ordered this book, read it thorougly, and made the most important decision of my life - I completely changed my diet, totally omitting any dairy produce, red meat, processed foods and harmful chemicals from my lifestyle.

I have waited over 3 years to write this review, because as a cancer sufferer you are filled with fears and doubts, such as "Were the doctors right? Will I not see 3 years?" - but I feel I must share with everyone the results of my lifestyle change.

I combined conventional hospital treatment (37 radiotherapy sessions and 30 months of hormone therapy) with strict adherence to Prof. Plant's diet recommendations.

My results have been spectacular. From a starting point in April 2005 of a T4 tumour and a very high PSA level of 182, I have now been free of any cancer medication for 9 months. Indeed, I was able to stop hormone therapy at 30 months rather than the planned 3 years.

My doctors are amazed that my PSA reading on 3rd June 2008 was a very low 0.9, while my testosterone levels are back to those of any normal, healthy male. An added bonus is the fact that I suffer no erectile dysfunction, and I went through all the radiotherapy with ease.

I am CERTAIN that following Prof Plant's program has brought me to this happy outcome. I know for sure that I will never waver from the path I've chosen, I don't miss dairy produce at all, and consider myself to be one very lucky guy. Thank you, Jane Plant!



George Hardy
11th June 2008

I live in Spain, and some friends from the UK sent me a cutting on the book, which I ordered. I read it while I was in treatment and it helped me no end in many ways. I have followed the diet and I am now still in complete recession almost four years after I finished my treatment for breast cancer and secondary liver metastasis. The book is excellent and well-documented, and Jane Plant makes a convincing case very well indeed. For me the book is like a bible, and I have recommended to it to numerous friends and fellow patients.

I had suspicions that dairy promoted my own breast cancer and found this book through a friend. I had stage IIB, non-metasticized, ER+, node negative. I am now working on prevention. I recommend this book to anyone with ER+ breast cancer.
I firmly believe the too-strong artificial hormones in milk aggravate & promote hormonally-responsive breast cancer.
To the contrary, in my experience phytoestrogens (the weaker but more numerous plant estrogen-like substances) are marvelous...when eaten as actual foods. I don't take supplements or eat any processed soy (ie.tofu, soymilk, isolate.) Soy for me is edamame, miso and tamari, as in Japan.
I combined the ideas in this book with traditional Chinese Medicine and am feeling better than ever before.
Phytoestrogens and plants, yes!
Also of interest to readers here may be Susun Weed's "Breast Cancer? Breast Health!" She covers the topic of phytoestrogens quite well. [..]

His range and his clarity make him one of the best tenors of our generation.

I appreciate the prompt and excellant condition of this item.
I am very happy and am a huge supporter of amazon.com

I found the piece to be beautifully illustrated with very touching photographs that revealed the essense of a naturally talented vocalist and the protrayl of his life. An exceptional voice as many have stated "sings from the heart" and in my mind "the soul."

This is a beautiful book, well written and lavishly filled with wonderful pictures of Andrea and His family, surroundings and special events. This book gives a nice short history of Bocelli's life and a detailed look at his musical career, it is very much a good biography and a good history of Bocelli, it is a good sister book to Andreas auto Biography "The Music Of Silence" which is really detailed about Andrea youth up to his young adulthood and gives his thought's about all the important events of his life, but is not detailed about his career. Felix's book Besides covering HIS Career up To 99 in Great detail she also gives us a nice understanding about those who influenced Andrea musically (the greats of Opera) and about Opera itself. I also agree with the last reviewer it is a nice coffie table book due to the size and the beatiful pictures. Together the books (Andrea Bocelli : A Celebration by Antonia Felix and The Slience of Music : Andrea Bocelli) give a great picture of ANDREA in so many ways, and are a must for every Bocelli fan.

"My blindness has never been a tragedy to me; I don't know why it should be a tragedy to others." This quote by Maestro Bocelli, out of many that are included in this interesting and well-written biography, cogently defines the man behind the beautiful voice.

The author, Ms. Felix, takes the reader on an interesting journey. Her writing style is very engaging and educational, especially for those new to classical music. From his birth with a rare form of congenital glaucoma, all the way to White House to sing for President Clinton, Andrea Bocelli's story has the aura of a fairy tale. But the author firmly grounds the reader in reality. Maestro Bocelli is now a famous man; however, we see his life before and after, and perhaps come away thinking that it couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

From his childhood in the hills of Tuscany, through his years in Pisa for law school, we see the struggle of a young man who never allowed his blindess to close his vision of the world. The author's recounting of his law school years, along with his early forays into piano bars, was very intriguing. The story how he met his wife, Enrica, will captivate the reader with its candor, along with his feelings after their first meeting. "When she touched my hand, I knew I had met the love of my life."

Many would say that Maestro Bocelli, a former public defender, was lucky to achieve his fame. One of his countless demo tapes fell into the hands of the manager of Italian pop vocal star, Zucchero, who was looking for a tenor to accompany him on a certain song called, "Miserere." His inital choice was Maestro Luciano Pavorotti, who after hearing the demo, could not believe it came from an unknown piano bar singer. In the end, the Maestro told him, "This guy Bocelli will sing it better than anyone." And with that endorsement, the path was paved for Andrea Bocelli to become a household name in Europe.

This is a very vivid tale about a determined man. The reader may get the impression that he would prefer to sing to his horse, Gisele, rather than combat his admitted stage fright in front of his passionate fans. Or perhaps take to the slopes with gold medalist, Alberto Tomba, who taught Maestro Bocelli how to ski. Or parachute out of a plane on a dare. But this is a rare man with a lifelong passion for singing, and the author paints a complete portrait of him. The reader will come away with an added respect for the man with the angelic voice.

Thank you for the opportunity to review this book.

In this third installment for the Ladies of Covington, the ladies continue their very busy lives when Hannah's daughter Laura has a tragic accident on the boat with her longtime lover Marvin. When a hurricane comes while traveling on the boat, Marvin is killed, and Laura is injured badly especially with a shattered leg. Her only option is to go live with her mother and Grace and Hannah for several weeks while she heals. This is not pleasant at all, as Laura and her mother never really connected on any level at all, and have always fought terribly. Yet at this time Hannah is all Laura has to help her out. And not only is it their broken relationship, but to make matters much worse, Laura is in a deep depression and spiraling downward. All she wants to do is hibernate in her bedroom unless the ladies can find a way to bring her out of her shell, which happens in time.

Hannah has her new business in the gardens, The Preserve, thanks to Maxwell who seems to be falling in love with Hannah as well as having solved the problem of the land being sold there as well. Hannah finds great excitement in her new venture here, and is blooming, (no pun intended), with many different ideas for gardens. Part of Hannah's job is to educate children about nature, and growing things which she does so successfully.

Amelia is deeply involved in her photography, and in fact was asked to go to New York when her gay friend Mike submits several photos of her work to the gallery there.

Mike falls in love with Roger, Grace's son who already has a partner. This obvious interest upsets Roger's lover Charles terribly, and the boat is rocked seriously between them when Roger seemingly goes off with Mike on a trip, but then stands Mike up at the end there.

Grace is having some tough luck in this book when the doctor informs her of her type 2 diabetes. Grace is in denial and pays no attention at all to her doctor until she has an accident one day and is knocked clear off her feet. It is only then she begins to take her diabetes seriously.

Russell and Emily are happily married and are having their first child, a baby girl. Tyler is excited about having a baby sister, but yet apprehensive at the same time that the baby will require all of his parents attention. He and Emily his stepmom have a great close relationship.

Brenda Tate,best friend and Grace's boss as principal of the school is having some very tragic times when her husband Harold falls very ill with lung cancer which has metastized. Harold is suddenly very terminal and the ladies all gather together to round up the help that Brenda will need in the upcoming difficult time.

This was a very very good book, and I look forward to the next installment

In this third installment for the Ladies of Covington, the ladies continue their very busy lives when Hannah's daughter Laura has a tragic accident on the boat with her longtime lover Marvin. When a hurricane comes while traveling on the boat, Marvin is killed, and Laura is injured badly especially with a shattered leg. Her only option is to go live with her mother and Grace and Hannah for several weeks while she heals. This is not pleasant at all, as Laura and her mother never really connected on any level at all, and have always fought terribly. Yet at this time Hannah is all Laura has to help her out. And not only is it their broken relationship, but to make matters much worse, Laura is in a deep depression and spiraling downward. All she wants to do is hibernate in her bedroom unless the ladies can find a way to bring her out of her shell, which happens in time.

Hannah has her new business in the gardens, The Preserve, thanks to Maxwell who seems to be falling in love with Hannah as well as having solved the problem of the land being sold there as well. Hannah finds great excitement in her new venture here, and is blooming, (no pun intended), with many different ideas for gardens. Part of Hannah's job is to educate children about nature, and growing things which she does so successfully.

Amelia is deeply involved in her photography, and in fact was asked to go to New York when her gay friend Mike submits several photos of her work to the gallery there.

Mike falls in love with Roger, Grace's son who already has a partner. This obvious interest upsets Roger's lover Charles terribly, and the boat is rocked seriously between them when Roger seemingly goes off with Mike on a trip, but then stands Mike up at the end there.

Grace is having some tough luck in this book when the doctor informs her of her type 2 diabetes. Grace is in denial and pays no attention at all to her doctor until she has an accident one day and is knocked clear off her feet. It is only then she begins to take her diabetes seriously.

Russell and Emily are happily married and are having their first child, a baby girl. Tyler is excited about having a baby sister, but yet apprehensive at the same time that the baby will require all of his parents attention. He and Emily his stepmom have a great close relationship.

Brenda Tate,best friend and Grace's boss as principal of the school is having some very tragic times when her husband Harold falls very ill with lung cancer which has metastized. Harold is suddenly very terminal and the ladies all gather together to round up the help that Brenda will need in the upcoming difficult time.

This was a very very good book, and I look forward to the next installment.

The author fills the first part of the book with a breathtaking array of problems including, death, near-death, estrangement of family members, and serious illness. Things definitely improve from there as Hannah begins working on the Gardens of Covington, Amelia pursues her photography and takes on a new volunteer job, and Grace entertains family and friends with her home-cooked meals. There are some loose ends in this book, such as when the family and friends take a trip to a nearby lake which includes their friend Emily, but inexplicably not her husband Russell or her step-son, Tyler. There is a subplot about a little girl that Grace works with in her volunteer job which kind of fizzles and goes nowhere. Although in my opinion this is not the best book of the series, it would probably behoove Covington fans to read this installment in order to understand what is happening to the characters.

This series is wonderful, and this book is especially good. It (and all the novels in this series) deals with serious life matters older people face, and yet there are enough younger characters involved to give it a contemporary feel. As a senior myself, I share many of the feelings of the main characters (fears about health issues, concern for my children, how to stay active as I age, etc.) It's like having a really good time with some of my best friends. Medlicott does a great job of interweaving the story lines until you feel like part of the family and can't wait to see what happens next. The "ladies of Covington" are endearing and vulnerable women, but in themselves and their friendships they find strength that should be an encouragement to us all.

I love this series! Another year in the lives of Hannah, Amelia, and Grace. Hannah's daughter has a bad boating accident off the coast of Puerto Rico and loses her husband in a hurricane. She has no where else to go- so she moves in with the ladies of Covington to recover from her loss.

Their very kind neighbor has an awful diagonsis.

Meanwhile Grace's son Roger has eyes for David even though he is in a committed relationship with Charles.

Death, birth, heartbreak, new loves, renewal and healing abound in this installment in the series.

You will love it!

I borrowed this book from a colleague of mine and was glad I did. This book is impeccably researched and provides fascinating insight into the history of opium -- the cultures it created and destroyed and the effects it had on people, science and civilization. A little slow in the beginning with the biological history, but still a must-read.

This book gives an interesting history of opium and its effects both emotionally and economically on the regions of the world where it grows and is processed. A trip to Laos got me interested in the subject matter. The book is very good at giving an historical perspective on the scourage of the region.

As with his other book, Cannabis: A History, Martin Booth gives a definitive guide to Opium!!!!!! This book traces opium to ancient times and follows its progress throughout history... as technology progresses...new discoveries leading to extracting new derivatives from opium are found.... the destructive force of the opium wars and many more are explained...

"Opium: A History" by Martin Booth is an engrossing work of nonfiction that details human reliance on opium for thousands upon thousands of years and how it has affected us physically, emotionally, economically, and morally.

The book starts with a discussion on the poppy flower itself and how opium is derived from the plant's sap and ending on the efforts of international traffickers, government enforcement agencies, and doctors alike in either expanding or eradicating addiction to opium. In between, you will learn about opium's horrible effects on the body, Britain's establishment of the opium trade in China and later efforts to destroy it (counter to the rest of the world's reliance on opium to support their economies), the transformation of opium to heroin, the use of opium to inspire artists around the world, and the quiet and insidious opium trade that goes on with the permission of many governments to support war efforts and other international issues.

To me, the most fascinating thing I learned from this book was the amount of people addicted to the drug in the past because it was such an important painkiller/medicine and because it helped quiet fussy babies. You can't help finish this book and wonder if it is even possible to win a war against a drug that has shaped the lives of so many humans and so many societies for thousands of years.

I personally found the book easy to read, though I preferred the first two-thirds of the book. This part of the book covered the drug itself, its health affects, and its early history up to the nineteenth century. I wasn't as interested in the international trafficking part of the book (the last one-third), probably because so many people, organizations, and countries were mentioned that I lost track of which country was fighting who and who was doing what with heroin or opium. Still, the book is an eye-opening read. The excruciating description of opium withdrawal should be mandatory reading for high school kids to help stymie any attempt at trying the drug.

The history of opium is a very interesting subject, as Martin Booth initially proves here. Dating from the earliest days of human civilization, opium use has gone through many stages of glamorization and condemnation, while entire nations and peoples have been held in its sway. Unfortunately, after a fascinating start this book wrings out most of the interesting aspects of this subject. Booth's writing shows the British tendency toward dryness and tedium, with an often anal-retentive obsession for small details at the expense of big picture conclusions, especially regarding the personal human effects of the use of opium and its modern derivatives like heroin. Booth makes many dubious generalizations about popular culture, crime communities, and ethnic groups - an example is the claim that American blacks from the south who emigrated to the north took up heroin en masse because they disliked the winters. Booth's very few glimmers of personality occur only when he indignantly criticizes some of his sources, calling one an ignorant bigot and another a pious zealot while quoting them. Most of the final third of the book really drags with tedious drug war reporting on the modern heroin trade. Other reviewers have noticed Booth's complete lack of footnotes and citations, and this is a real issue as his credibility is often stretched by opinionating and speculation. Overall, a potentially fascinating subject is made boring.

I was drawn into Somebody Else's daughter from the first page. Ms. Brundage created characters who were complex, believable, and ultimately like all of us- flawed or scarred in some way. I appreciated her female characters, all different, yet representative of issues women face and how they handle them. Her descriptions were poignant and the voices were real. Elizabeth, through character development, showed us the vulnerablity and disappointment of her male characters. She beautifully gave the point of view of the father having to give up his daughter for adoption, the porn-king struggling with his identity as a provider, husband and father, and the head of school fighting his personal demons. This is a thriller that packs an emotional punch. Whether you read for a great story, or you prefer character development and thought-provoking issues- this is the read for you!

As she did in The Doctor's Wife, Elizabeth Brundage has once again given us a compulsively readable, compelling story of the complicated secrets that lurk beneath the idyllic surface of small town life. Somebody Else's Daughter examines the interconnected lives of students and parents at an exclusive private school in the Berkshires, in the process exploring important subjects like adoptive parenting, drug use, and our fractured expectations for and treatment of women. Her writing is lovely and her characters ring true, and, like with the best of literature, the story here grabs the reader and never lets go. Somebody Else's Mother is one of the most satisfying books I have read this year.

It is amazing that a book which touches on such diverse topics as adoption, pornography, AIDS, drug abuse, gambling, dog fighting, rape, child molestation, alcoholism, learning disabilities, feminism, murder, and cheating at school could be boring. Yet it is. Maybe that's the problem. This story touches on everything, reducing what should be significant topics to nothing more than cliches. I found myself laughing inappropriately -- not the right reaction for a novel billed as "richly drawn" and "transformative." I didn't believe in any character and, what's more, I didn't care.

Dealing with themes of adoption, feminism, coming of age, and secrecy, Elizabeth Brundage weaves a thrilling plot that inspires the reader with her control of language and character development. Her interest in detail, such as her attention to various characters' hand movements, gives unity to the writing. Her focus on the male's reaction to adoption gives a fresh perspective. I could not put this book aside and recommend it for in-depth book club discussions.

This was a fascinating experience; I use the word experience because that's what it was. My ordinary life was suspended in time as I read this novel, so eager to find out what would happen to the characters. The characters were an unusual mix - a socially diverse group of people whose lives connect for different reasons. I have been an educator for many years and thought this perspective on a private school was compelling and unique. Getting into the heads of the kids, as well as their troubled parents, had me intrigued from the very first page. I read this author's first book, and I have to say that she's moving in a very interesting direction. I can't wait for her next book.

This book was not as good as the others. I figured "who done it" right away. I hope the rest of the series get beter. I like Meg but if I were Michael I find someone else to live with. Meg finds too many dead bodies. I like her dad. He's a hoot.

This is the fifth book in an ongoing "bird" mystery series featuring amateur sleuth Meg Langslow. Other titles include "Crouching Buzzard, Leaping Loon" and "Revenge of the Wrought-Iron Flamingos." In this book, Langslow and her fiancé actor Michael are participants in a weekend fan convention of the cult fantasy show "Porfiria, Queen of the Jungle," in which he stars. When the actress who plays the title character turns up murdered, it appears an African grey parrot is the only witness. The hotel hosting the convention is overrun with parrots - and some monkeys - that were supposed to help create a "jungle" atmosphere for the weekend event, but somehow escaped from their cages. Eventually an escaped grey does play a role in the chasing down the murderer, but not in any conventional sense you might anticipate (but then what else would you expect from a grey?)

I found the book to be highly entertaining. The author's characterization of greys is very well done - I could see my own birds (I have two African greys) engaging in some of the behaviors she describes. While I love the story, I do have a problem with the artwork on the cover, however. It features a macaw prominently, as well as a lorikeet - but no greys. (I guess they're not "colorful" enough.) I would think since they do play a prominent role in the story - more so than any of the other parrots - at least one grey could have been featured on the cover, and still have the more colourful macaw featured, if the publisher really wanted one on the cover. No reason not to buy the book, however. I'm looking forward to reading her latest, "Cockatiels at Seven."

When I read the previous book to this one, "Crouching Buzzard, Leaping Loon", I loved everything about the book and worried that it was just because heroine Meg was in a world I adored (computer game development) and her boyfriend was far away. This latest installment sets my fears to rest. Michael is fully back in the picture here, and the story couldn't be better. In fact he's front and center, as his acting career in the cult TV series "Porfiria, Queen of the Jungle" has brought the dynamic duo to an east coast convention for the weekend. Now, I happen to love sci-fi conventions just as much as I love computer games, so it could be the setting again being a fantastic one, but if author Donna Andrews keeps turning out books like this, I'll be happy for years to come.

Just as with pretty much any TV cast set, the actors and actresses have their quirks. There are romantic entanglements in their past, bitter feuds, issues with money, love, family, you name it. None of this comes across as bizarre - it's all quite natural, given the egos involved in many Hollywood situations. The main character, Porfiria, ends up dead only a short while through the con, and of course pretty much everybody is a suspect. I found Meg's reasons for interfering to be a little less compelling than in previous books, though. She wants to clear Michael as a suspect? Heck, he's no more suspected than anybody else. I would believe it more if the book mentioned the many previous mysteries she'd solved and at least gave her some interest in the process. Instead, she vaguely hints at her father's mystery books. It's almost as if they want us to believe, with each subsequent book in the series that it's the very first murder Meg has ever seen. Where, in reality, she seems to attract death like honey attracts bears.

That aside, though, the book is great. Meg's sword-making skills fall right in line with sci-fi convention wares, and the characters are interesting and fun. The book easily pegs the behavior of many avid sci-fi fans. In fact, Donna was a little low key and lenient in some areas :) At a real con, putting out a fresh spread of food and beverage would cause a trampling :)

I do want to comment that in the previous book Meg was eyeing with interest one of the hunky co-workers at her office - and in this book she's eyeing with interest other guys. It's fine and good to say that Meg is allowed to have open eyes and appreciate human beauty, but it is starting to seem that any time a well built guy shows up, she is pondering in her mind "If only I didn't have Michael, I could have enjoyed him ..."

On the other hand, Meg and Michael have both matured SO much since the first books that I'm hard put to really complain about this minor quirk. Yes, it irks me a bit - but in general Meg has a great combination of tolerance, headstrong interest, intelligence and an ability to take care of herself that I really enjoy her.

I really do recommend reading the previous books to understand the whole background on Spike, Michael and the other characters - it makes the tiny moments really rich in layers of meaning.

Highly recommended!

Although this is a part of a series, each book in this series can stand alone. Meg is a superb character. She is funny and sensible and has a hilarious family. Michael her boyfriend is just as funny with a very dry wit.

In this book Meg has decided to try to sell some of her swords while Michael caters to his fans of a show he's on. When the Queen Bee is found dead and Michael is suspect; Meg has to solve the mystery.

This is a funny book that made me laugh. It is a quick moving read. Well worth the money.

Enjoy.

Donna Andrews is a favorite of mine because of her humor -- her books are full of burst out laughing lines and situations. This book is no exception. The setting is a "con" -- a convention of fans of a Xena-type television show. Her detective Meg (also a blacksmith who makes decorative items, swords, etc. -- not a shoer of horses blacksmith) has a boyfriend with a role in the show so she's there with a vendor's booth and her boyfriend. The convention is zany, with most of the attendees dressed as characters in the show, and the conveners have decorated the hotel to look like a jungle, complete with parrots and monkeys. Unfortunately, the parrots and monkeys get out of their cages, and to judge from this book, there are a lot of parrots and monkeys loose in the hotel, causing chaos with their stealing (the monkeys) and imitating sounds (the parrots). The Xena-type character, Porfiria, is disliked thoroughly by everyone on the show -- she's a Queen B, and I don't mean bee. Someone gets murdered, and Meg is the first one to find the body. She begins her own little investigation in this crazy little world (the Porfiria con goes on).

I don't think this is Andrews' best, but it's still well worth a read. It made me want to go to one of these cons to see if they're really as zany as the one she describes. I think anyone who has attended one of these will find this book particularly funny.

How I hated to come to the end of this fabulous book. I've just recently discovered Marcia Willett and am going to read everything she's written. What talent! Occasionally I've been known to skim over parts of books - not hers! I don't want to miss a single word. I just hope she continues to write more books in the future.

The plot is rich, the characters are well developed and believable, and the surprises are very well done--the ending doesn't disappoint. I enjoyed the inclusion of the dogs; the passages pertaining to them are astute observations and aptly describe their characteristics.

I am very thankful to have found this author....this book grabbed my attention from the first page. Fell in love with the main characters...and the book could have gone on forever as far as I'm concerned....totally recommend it...WONDERFUL !!!!

Not only did I love " The Children's Hour" I also found it to be one of the best books I have ever read. I have since recommended it to several friends who have loved it also. Marcia Willett has such an understanding of family life and is able to bring me to tears when she writes about the fears of some of her elderly characters. What a story!!! I have now read every one of Marcia Willett's books that I could gather from any place and have enjoyed each one ; however " The Children's Hour" still remains the one that moved me the most.Be sure a box of Kleenex is at hand because I know you will be moved to tears!!

By reading the other reviews, I know I'll sound unpopular now, but I can't help it. I don't mind a good novel based on past reminiscences where loves stories are remembered and new ones ensue, but I found this particular book to have no depth whatsoever. True, it's a light read indeed and one I'd have avoided had I not spent my money on it.

On the good side, the prose is studied and quite elegant. However, most characters, their feelings and surroundings are described in such a repetitive way, it goes on and on. Yes, there are some "twists & turns", but the bottom line is, this is just the typical he-loves-her-she-loves-him-but-fate-gets-in-the-way kind of story, which takes the reader from past to present back to the past again. Quite predictable too and much too goody-goody for my taste, to the point where the characters seem unreal.

An easy, fun read along the lines of other "pink books" out these days, The Essential Charlotte is different because of its sense of innocence and its Jane Austen-ish portrayal of modern-day daily life.

Whether intended or not, Schmais has managed to fit in all the mundane daily activities of most professional, single women of today's world - work and career, dating and the search for a partner, reproductive issues and decisions, dysfunctional family dynamics, the loss of parents - and create an image of life in society as a middle-class white, female.

In the process, Schmais tells a sweet, sometimes funny story of Charlotte's quest for happiness (mirrored through her favorite computer game and spurred on by the voice of her dead mother).

While I cannot credit Schmais with Austen's biting satirical and political undercurrents, The Essential Charlotte is fun and, although there is some sex, would be a good choice for that set of teen readers who are past juvenile fiction but still like a happy ending.

this is the first book i've felt compelled to review and, obviously, it's not because i loved it. i read "the perfect elizabeth" and thought it was only slightly entertaining. after reading the reviews for "the essential charlotte", i decided to give libby schmais another chance. i really wish i hadn't. the story was soooo boring and redundant, the characters were underdeveloped. i can't let myself leave a book unfinished so i practically forced myself to read it, which wasted a painful three days of my summer (the point is, if it weren't so bland, i could have finished it in a few hours). if you're going to buy this book, don't expect entertainment or originality. if you want any stimulation, you're better off staring at the pretty cover for a few hours.

I read The Perfect Elizabeth some years ago and thought I'd give Libby Schmais another whirl. The Essential Charlotte, like The Perfect Elizabeth, is another enchanting novel about getting to know a significant other in your life as well as oneself. Charlotte is a shy research librarian who lives on the edge by way of her eccentric mother, chic artist Corrine. But when her mother dies, Charlotte feels at a loss. The one good thing is that she'll inherit her mother's trendy Soho loft. But there is one condition: she has to live there with her father for one year. There is one problem: she doesn't know her father. In fact, she had no idea her father had been alive until after her mother died! How is she going to cope living with a stranger, even if he is her father? There are some twists throughout the novel.

The Essential Charlotte is full of wit and charm. The backdrop of the art world as well as the obsession with New York real estate sets the perfect tone for this story. Charlotte is a great heroine and I was able to relate with her every day problems and inner musings. The novel sometimes drifted to the usual chick-lit, single-thirty-something-woman-living-in-New-York angst, but Schmais writes the aforementioned things with wit and insight and therefore making this novel unique. Her writing style is similar to the author Jennifer Weiner at times. I recommend The Essential Charlotte and I look forward to reading more stuff by this author.

Thirty something Manhattanite Charlotte Stiles cannot believe that Corrine (her mother insisted she call by her name) just died. The "Ask the Doctor" research librarian is a bit off but not just because of the death of the only person who loved her (albeit from a distance). It is hard to believe because Corrine was filled with vigor and élan traveling the globe as a nutty but likable artist.

The will shakes Charlotte to the core because Corrine's stipulation for her daughter to inherit her Soho loft, she must live there for one year with her father, whom she thought died over three decades ago. Charlotte cannot even look at him so how is she to live with William LaViolette for one year. One thing is for sure it is not by seeing a hunk of an actor. Her only help lives in San Francisco, but Paul is there for her encouraging her as they talk over the Net; that is not counting her chats with mom.

When the tale concentrates on a deep character study of what is THE ESSENTIAL CHARLOTTE, the story line is superb; when the subplot dips into chick lit turf it remains fun but typical candy fare. Overall Libby Schmais keeps her novel at the highest quality levels as readers become acquainted with Charlotte through her activities, discussions with her deceased mom, and the three males (dad, the actor, and Paul) currently in her life. Fans of powerful character-driven dramas will want to read the near perfect tale of how Charlotte finds her groove.

Harriet Klausner

Meet Charlotte, a quiet and shy girl who wants so desperately to go unnoticed. Until her mother, an eccentric worldly artist, suddenly dies and leaves Charlotte the shock of her life. Charlotte's father, whom she thought to be long dead, is alive and well. And now for Charlotte to gain possession of her mother's loft, her father is now also her roommate.

Charlotte's quiet life is now turned upside down as she tries to survive this year with a stranger. Follow Charlotte as she finally finds the meaning in her life and what it truly means to have a family.

***** Wonderful! The way Charlotte is portrayed, every woman should feel a connection. I think that there is a little bit of Charlotte in all of us. I am going to lose no time in locating a copy of this author's first book, because I am a huge fan now. *****

Reviewed by K. Blair.

I read this book in a university metaphysics course. The assignment was to perform a confirming or disconfirming experiment and, based on this experience and other readings, write a paper on experimental method. This book is an excellent tool for motivating critical thought, if one is so inclined. Or it can be read for warm and fuzzy new-age woolgathering. Whether you think it is science or hokum, it is a stimulating book suitable for college sophomores. Draw your own conclusions.

This book is an interesting look into the mind of J.W. Dunne, who was an early British aeronautical engineer and inventor. He was also a philosopher of sorts who, in this book, explores the nature of time and dreams. This book fascinated me when I first read it and today is still worth multiple subsequent reads. The first few chapters are easy to wrap your head around, however in subsequent chapters Mr. Dunne uses graphs and table to explain vastly complex notions about time. If you are good at variable-centric math or sciences and enjoy a good book on the nature of reality, this is a good book for you. I find that the ideas that Mr. Dunne examines in this book hold both mystery and truth still today after 80 years.

_The author of this book admits that if anyone else had told him of their precognitive dreams he would have had no difficulty dismissing them as coincidence. However, the fact that he himself spontaneously experienced a number of striking examples of such phenomena changed everything. As well it should have, for if we can make contact with the future it means that the entire foundation of our shared conventional assumptions about reality and existence are simply wrong.

_The author, one of Britain's first aeronautical engineers, designed a series of experiments to attempt to repeat such contact with future events by way of dream. First he used himself as subject, and then he brought a larger number of ordinary friends and acquaintances in. He found that if careful attention was paid to documenting the details of one's dreams immediately after waking, and carefully reviewing and comparing those dream records with later events, then almost everyone has this ability to some extent. Most of us tend to ignore this fact out of some ingrained habit of thought. Later, it was found that this ability to contact the future isn't strictly limited to dream consciousness. It was found that while waking, people could open themselves up to seemingly random impressions that were later documented to agree with future events (such as concentrating on a book that one had never read before- and receiving definite "hits" on the contents and specific words and phrases- that go way beyond chance.) Further analysis of dream material also showed that we made "contact" with past events in our lives about as much as we did future ones. Once freed of our habitual way of assuming time as linear (and one way) and the world as strictly three dimensional, the mind seemed to be capable of intermittently ranging past and future in an unfocussed state. The conclusion was that both past and future exist in a higher dimensional framework- and since we can access them- then probably so do we.

_The first part of this book is primarily empirical, while the second is primarily logical (an elaborate model- complete with diagrams- explaining multidimensional mechanics.) The first part is much more readable. As for the second, as ingenious as it is, I cannot but help think that a cerebrum concentrated in third dimensional consciousness is inadequate to explain higher dimensional realities. We can experience the fact that there must be more to our ordinary conception of reality, but to truly understand it is another matter. Yet, the day will come for us all when we no longer intersect with this three dimensional world- and then we will be free to focus our concentration on the higher dimensional extent of our being.

_The only restriction in breaking free of our conventional time-consciousness is shaking our selves free of our ingrained habit of seeing the world. Once you have personally experienced such precognitive events, or perhaps synchronicity, then this is much easier- and their frequency increases. It isn't enough to wish or believe- you have to KNOW....

In this gem first published in 1927, John W. Dunne puts forth a theory of multidimensional consciousness which manifests itself mainly in the "Dream effect". A mathematician and aeronautical pioneer, Dunne found himself having precognitive experiences throughout his adult life. His dreams would come true. Often times the very next day and in rich detail. I am myself mathematicly inclined, and can only ponder at the discomfort this would have created to a scientist of such a logical mind.

And surely enough, he spent the rest of his life seeking an answer to the riddle.
In "An experiment with time", he reveals his startling conclusions, which are based in deductive reasoning and experiments.
By applying the concept of regression in human consciousness and time to the results of the experimental work he finds an answer to the problem of apparent psychic abilities in his more or less ramdomly chosen subjects.
Not only that; he thereby also explains the phenomena of deja vu and many cases of clairvoyance, common precognition, ESP and many other "paranormal" occurances.
It is important to note that this theory, which I can only describe as analogous to the theory of general relativity in its ingenuity and brilliance, have NEVER been disproven in its 77 year history.
Furthermore there is no known physical law or concept that would disallow the "dream effect", even today.
The pieces of the puzzle, therefore, fits uncannily well in the map of the eye-opening reality that Dunne unfolds.
Towards the end, Dunne takes the theory even further to prepose the exsistance of an eternal multidimensional concsiousness and a higher, supreme consciousness, which it has to be said, I find rather speculative and philosophical. However, It is an extrapolation that is not wholly unnatural, at least in case of the seamingly immortal qualities of human serial consciousness.

This piece is in my mind one of the most important books of the last century, and almost tragic that so few know of it. This is in part, I think, due to the non-scientific material which it brushes up against, but ultimately deciphers for the first time.

As to the question of whether or not it is psuedo-science: The experiments can be repeated at all times in any laboratory with any subjects, and from that, the same results have so far been found. These are the parameters which define scientific research. And the more experiments are conducted, the more probable Dunne's conclusions are.

This book is exeptionally engaging to anyone interested in these matters. Its my all-time favorite non-fiction piece and I can only recommend it, so that awereness of the theory increases.

I first read this book 55 years ago, and am glad to have it back in print. Dunne wanted to explain prophetic dreams, and made a good stab at it, though postulated his observers multiply endlessly.

This was a great read. It was not a quick read, but fascinating! I loved that she added on extra information at the end so you know what happened after the sailing trip ended. I highly recommend this.

Written in 1958 and out of print for more than 25 years, Hadley's timeless story of traveling the Far East enchants the reader with the beauty and clarity of the writing, its confiding tone and the author's honesty and enthusiasm.

But Hadley, 25, divorced, and the mother of a six-year-old boy, is assailed with doubts when she finally boards the cargo ship that will bear her and Kippy to Manila and Hong Kong. Dissatisfied with her life as a public relations executive in New York, "which seemed to claim from me barely more than an acceptance" she had expected departure to confer immediate elation. It doesn't and tossing off the smart scarlet coat "that still wasn't paid for," she frets that "all my preconceived ideas would turn out the same way, flattening with experience into dim shadows."

She needn't have worried. Relaxing into the unstructured languor of shipboard life, invigorated by Kippy, "artless, untroubled and reacting in accord to a single heart and a single mind," her sense of wonder blossoms. Hadley has a gift for description, for making the sights, sounds and smells she perceives come alive in the reader's mind.

In Manila and then Hong Kong, everything fascinates her - the rooms, the people, the sights, the food. She remarks guiltlessly on the service. "I felt too light-headed and too comfortable to reflect philosophically on the social implications of cheap labor" and marvels at the oddities in the food market. "Centuries of famine and overpopulation have driven the Chinese to experimental extremes in nourishment....Nevertheless...I prefer Chinese food to French - it's prettier, the flavor is more subtle, and it's much less fattening." Treated to a restaurant banquet, she gamely tries everything. "Until I had almost eaten the last of them, I didn't realize that the lima beans were newborn mice coated with honey."

Hadley is easy with people (most of the boors she runs across are Americans), with a blithe expectation of mutual respect which seems to work. Though most helpful acquaintances are men the prospect of inappropriate sexual advances is scarcely mentioned except for one tongue-in-cheek, "as I was protected by a small child instead of a husband."

It's one of those ugly Americans who, in Bangkok, introduces her to the California, a schooner which seizes her imagination and becomes the real soul of her trip. "How wonderful to travel with uncertainty...to come slowly and quietly to places where there were things you did not know." After three and half years the four American crewmembers are a close unit and want no part of a woman's disruptive influence. Though Hadley begs and pleads for them to take her to Singapore, they refuse.

But when she and Kippy show up at the docks in Singapore, they capitulate. Hadley has a rare gift for visceral communication. With her we feel the efficient organization of the boat, the camaraderie among the crew, the damp, the lousy food, the accumulation of grime and salt on skin, the harsh rasp of a moldy cigarette, the heart-soaring joy of being aboard.

She takes a keen interest in getting to know the crew, surprised at how their disparate personalities contribute to shipboard harmony. Kippy's easy acceptance of everything new, from a delightful shower of squid to the draconian rule that he remain silent during all meals, charms without resorting to cuteness.

The difficulties of everyday tasks, from using the head to preparing a meal are described with good-natured humor and her description of their attempts to teach her to sail are hilarious. Coming into an anchorage one day, the crew takes down the sails. "I smiled to myself, because I finally knew what the Genny meant. It was the general term aboard for the Genoa jib, which I thought was a beautiful name for a sail."

In each port Hadley takes everything in, letting sights, sounds and smells sink into her. Kippy finds sightseeing with his mother boring but will tag behind the crew endlessly. Hadley conveys the bustle and crowds and smells of Eastern markets, the Tamil's annual painful penance day, the luxury of a bath.

On her customary dawn watch she reflects: "On land there was such an infinite variety of people and things over which my consciousness could flow, but now all my consciousness and senses were suddenly confined and focused on the minute area of a schooner...a universe that I could walk around in seconds."

In Ceylon her stint was over, to be resumed again in Beirut, five months later after an interlude amid the wonder and squalor of India. Though she is dazzled by a meeting with Indira Gandhi, it's Kippy's amah, Lucy, who becomes the complex embodiment of India. The quirks, customs and personalities of individuals and the happenstance of traveling, whether it be the aftermath of a violent dust storm or the intricacies of bargaining or the play of light on the Taj Mahal, hold her attention in the moment.

Though Hadley is open to people and seems to expect (and get) the best from locals, she does not hesitate to vent disapproval or dislike. But when she gets to Beirut and meets the usurper George, the fussy provisional addition to the California crew, she pounces. Describing his British tropic regimentals, she conveys a prig. "He was talking to the colonel in French and emitting little neighing laughs at the colonels remarks."

Unabashedly jealous, Hadley's rancor is checked only by occasional defensiveness and, later, by the need for harmony aboard. Hilariously funny, her behavior for the first time emphasizes her youth and, perversely, her femininity as George is always prodding her to dress up and try new hairstyles. And then there's the meeting with the American destroyer in Rhodes which rings perfectly true and perfectly evokes one of the better `50s comedy movies.

All too soon, the trip comes to an end. Hadley had expected to return to New York fresh and eager but feels instead as if "I had suffered metamorphosis in reverse, a butterfly become a caterpillar."

"Like love, travel is absorbing. Everything else withdraws to make room for its emotional demands and the expansion of one's senses."

And she has one more surprise in store for the reader, a shock, which on reflection, seems perfectly in character.

I'm on page 58 and I'm not sure I'll get much farther. The book is full of physical descriptions, but the author, herself, seems distant. Traveling with a six year old should seem significant, but Kippy's impact on the traveling experience has gotten little attention. I'm not convinced of her feelings about the places she visits, either. Too dull for me.

To compare: I really enjoyed KITE STRINGS OF THE SOUTHERN CROSS and TALES OF A FEMALE NOMAD. I finished Without Reservations, but liked it less than the first two books.

FIVE STARS. This book is one of the most enjoyable reads I've had in a long time. A travel memoir so vibrant and alive, it's hard to believe it was written fifty years ago, by a writer who was then in her twenties. So much fun to read - impossible to put down.

Leila Hadley is one of the most descriptive writers of our time. Her words leap off the page and take you inside the story to enjoy her travels, right alongside her. "Give Me the World" is so much more than a travel log or journal. Ms. Hadley invites you along as her guest and urges you to see and feel what she has experienced, to be a part of her journey. You come away with an intimate knowledge of the Far East, as much as if you had seen it all yourself. I enjoyed my time in Bombay,Bangkok, and Singapore and recommend it to anyone who has a spirit of adventure. "Give Me the World" was an experience not to be missed.