Fletcher Books

I somehow tragically managed to make my way to adulthood with never reading anything but the kiddie version of this book. When I found this book for super-cheap in the teachers' lounge book sale and I figured "hey, why not?" And thus I picked it up and immediately fell in love with the sheer Old-South charm that only Twain can deliver. Really, people, it is no wonder that this book is such a classic! It may not have the soulful human reflections of "Huckleberry Finn", but in the solemn concern for the pleasures of boyhood it certainly makes its own mark.

Mark Twain tells the story purely from a storyteller's view. No deep analysis of character that takes you right inside of Tom Sawyer's psyche, nothing blatantly philosophical. It is as if Mr. Twain lives to simply tells us into what trouble Tom is getting. He does not go out of his way to give lengthy, dull descriptions or even fully flesh out the details of just what Tom and his friends are doing. It gives it a charming, folksy style that allows for plenty of plot and action. Even, so the writing is unparalleled.

And it truly is a great story. It's fun! I don't know how many poor students have been tricked into believing it is not. It has all the great elements of a good boy story, what with the murders and buried treasure and faked deaths and hoodoo--not to mention the delight taken away by discovery of bacteria.

I'm also a huge fan of this Whole Story edition. It's beautiful, easy to carry around, and I guess I'm a sucker for the documentary feature.

Fantastic, fun story. Everyone should read it.

These audio books help children that are having trouble with the written word. I also use them in the car, so each trip we hear more of the story. The kids love them and I think it makes them interested in reading.

To understand America in the nineteenth century, you must understand Tom Sawyer. His life, so full of adventure set amidst the bustle of a changing nation, is in many ways the dream of nearly all male children. To spend your time swimming in the creek, gathering "treasures" and eating goodies is truly the good life. Tom's romance with Becky is also the way it is with most boys. Girls are universally considered to have some kind of contagious disease, when I was young, they had cooties, until you see that one perfect girl that you will share everything with.
The wonder and mischief of Tom and Huck are captured in this book, superbly illustrated by Michael Ploog. Tom is wide-eyed, freckled and has bulbous cheeks. Huck has a pointed nose, bright eyes and a suitably scruffy demeanor. With the exception of Sundays, the boy's clothes consist of a series of patches sewn over rags. This book is an excellent introduction to what is the tale of American youth of the nineteenth century, very appropriate for classes in English. Of course, after covering this book, the students should be required to read the original.

This book is a great example of what makes Twain one of America's most belvoed writers. Twain's unique sense of humor and his keen insights into human nature shine through in this book. Twain's style is wonderful, the characters are dynamic and the plot never hits a snag. Twain has created a novel here that is light enough on the surface to entertain young readers yet contatins enough substance to speak volumes to an adult audience. You are sure to love this one is you have read any of Twain's other works. If you haven't read Twain, delay no further--this book is the perfect starting point.

Ever since my dad first read this timeless classic to my sister & me as kids, while camping in our trailer during the summer, it has left its indelible impression upon my imagination. How I too wanted to shove off from shore on my "skiff" and have my own adventures down the Mississippi! I know of no other book that so wonderfully captures the essence and joy of carefree boyhood.

When I say "carefree", however, I am not forgetting the grim and serious elements of the novel. But these work just as well as the sunnier and funnier parts. In fact, just when the narrative needs it, a murder comes along which boosts the plot most effectively, giving it a shot in the arm. And speaking of the darker aspects, does not Injun Joe have to rank highly on the list of greatest villains in the history of literature? I can assure you that as a boy listening to the cave chapters, his menace was palpable and unforgettable.

Unfortunately, literary snobs have often found it fashionable to belittle Tom Sawyer as inconsequential and a 'lightweight' seen against the towering greatness of "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn". I couldn't disagree more. (I love Huckleberry Finn dearly and plan to review it soon as well). I read a quote in a foreword that I thought was very insightful: "Huckleberry Finn is a greater book, but not a better one." I think this is exactly so. Extol the greatness of HF by all means, but don't make the mistake of downgrading Twain's other masterpiece, just because its theme is not so weighty and grave. In fact, the episodic nature of the telling of Tom Sawyer fit Twain's particular brand of genius perfectly (whereas there were some sub par stretches in Huck Finn).

Loved it as a boy, love it no less as a man. Thank you, dad, for imparting such an enduring gift.

Took a tour of America with a chip on his shoulder. Guess it gives you a different perspective.

I have written many reviews for Amazon.com. Blue Highways is the only book to which I've given five stars. I would recommend it to anyone.

Blue Highways is William Least Heat-Moon's account of his 1978 low-budget car ride across America. Heat-Moon's reporting reminds me a lot of Charles Kuralt's On the Road reports for CBS News. Heat-Moon has a talent for engaging strangers on the road and bringing out the best in them.

What separates Blue Highways from so many other travel books? There are a variety of factors. Heat-Moon is a good writer. He understands pacing - and does not allow the story to bog down. He is, overwhelmingly, positive about the people and places that he encounters. Heat-Moon took pictures of many of the people he met and I think that those pictures add much to the book.

More so than the above factors, however, I think that Heat-Moon's philsophical bent adds a lot to the book. Blue Highways is not just an account of a trip; in meeting these people and engaging them, Heat-Moon wants to help answer some of the big questions about why we are here and what it means to live a good life. While no one can answer those questions once and for all, Heat-Moon provides some great food for thought.

As several reviewers have pointed out, Heat-Moon's 1978 descriptions of the USA are now poignant due to the changes in our society. Sadly, many of the older people he encountered must now be dead. Many of Heat-Moon's other observations are just as valid today as they were in 1978. Specifically, he laments the increasingly-homogeneous American culture, materialism, careerism, and many other problems.

I first read Blue Highways in 1993. I reread it this summer (2008). It lost nothing on the second reading. If you like travel writing and are at all philosophical, this book will "speak" to you on so many different levels. Don't pass this one up; it's that rare, wonderful book that makes reading all of the mediocre books worthwhile.

I bought this book over 25 years ago. I picked it up by random because the the book's cover synopsis was intriguing. This book has been one of those books that I come back to over and over again. I enthusiastically recommend this book to anyone who seeks a soul-searching adventure. You will feel like you are travelling right along with the author; experiencing his adventures and depth of self-discovery,,, first-hand.

Buy this book and it will be a treasured book that you too, will come back to again, over and over throughout the years.

If you stop to think about it, this book and those like it really aren't about anything - just a person driving around the country because his relationship wasn't going well and he didn't have anything else to do. But for those of us who love to travel, doing it in person or vicariously through the words of a good travel writer is equally enjoyable, and Moon's anecdotes and experiences - the take he has on humanity - is ample reward for accompanying him on his wanderings.

This is an excellent journal of a troubled man's attempt to try to figure out who he is by taking a solitary journey to meet real people and see real places in this country. For all the loners and independent thinkers out there this is our "magic bus".

Dr. Pagano has written a great account of the true cause of Psoriasis, a detailed a thorough plan of action for treatment, and a long-term view on the way to prevent recurrence. Though some supplements, such as herbal teas, are needed, these are not very expensive and can save you hundreds of dollars compared to pharmaceutical products and steroids.

Best of all, you will not have any side effects from following the regimen (other than going to the bathroom more often, which is actually a good thing). In general, you will feel better and gain confidence from knowing you are in control of your own skin.

Please do not go try harmful pharmaceuticals like Enbrel that kill your immune system and can cause death from a minor infection, at least give an alternative approach before having to shell over the big bucks (around $1,000 per month) for the killer drugs. With the alternative approach, once your body and immune system are in balance again, you will not have to continue to take a lot of supplements to keep your skin looking clear, rather than a temporary fix to suppress the systems while creating other, more severe issues.

This diet got me on the road to healing, and gave me hope where the doctors gave me only despair and cream with a black cancer warning label.

I found, from a very smart guy named Randall over at alt.support.skin-diseases.psoriasis on the news groups, that I could "cheat" this diet almost completely except during an outbreak when going to far with alcohol, etc. The simple program I use is to take a table spoon of sweet whey (Bob's Red Mill sells it, it's VERY cheap). This feeds the "good" gut bacteria, which balance the immune system and line the gut.

But you may have to start with a probiotic powder mixed with oil, which keeps the stomach acid from killing the probiotic. Of else you could try Flora Smart probiotics (sold here), they seem to have a special liner that works. If you really want to go after it, try thewholewhey(DOT)com. The sell a probiotic implant system, but be ready for a little surprise how it works!

You can read all about this over at the news group I mentioned. Again, the book was great, but with the additional knowledge, I have been able to go back to a nearly normal diet for 2 years and keep the P totally clear, except for a few times when I drank a beer every day or two for a while.

Good Luck!

I've read this book twice. I followed it as close as I possibly could. I evidently wasn't totally committed because I went back to my old ways. I tried it again later. I did see much improvement in my skin & I lost 35 pounds also (a major plus). Then, on 3-17-08, I read Dr. Peter Gott's column. He always provides "natural" cures to problems. Try rubbing banana skins on your skin?? What? Yes, the inside of the banana skin! After two days (applying morning only), my skin is almost clear on my hands..a place that I couldn't cover up & I was always very embarrassed about. Sounds strange, I know. And I am almost in disbelief...something as common as bananas. I eat them every week..almost daily. I've just never rubbed them on my skin. It supposedly has something to do with the fatty acids in banana skins. Go figure! Here's the article from Dr. Gott's column dated 3-17-08: Question: I have used several of your home remedies with success. The "drunken raisin" for gout, the soap under the sheets for leg cramps, castor oil for arthritis and more. My husband thought I had finally "gone off the deep end" when I went after him with a handful of banana peels. We had been using a prescription medication on his psoriasis every day for more than two years. It has had very little effect. I rubbed the inside of the banana peels on the affected patches (his head, neck, face and back) once a day. After three days, the psoriasis had nearly cleared up (about 90 percent was gone). My husband now uses the peels once a week to keep his skin clear. Thank you, from both of us, for passing along all these helpful hints.
Answer: Other readers have had marvelous success treating their psoriasis with the banana-peel therapy. It is cheap, easy, safe and -- apparently --effective. For those unfamiliar with this therapy, all you do is rub the inside of the banana peel on the affected patches of skin once a day. Remember not to waste the banana. It is nutritious and delicious. End of column.
If you suffer from Psoriasis like I have, try rubbing the banana peel on your skin. What do you have to lose. Bananas are cheap & you were going to throw away the peeling anyway, right? I don't know longterm how this will work for me, only time will tell. In the meantime, I try to eat right and I've begun to exercise. It all plays a part in your overall health. Blessings to you all!

FOR EVERYONE READING THE TESTIMONIALS, JOHN PAGANO'S METHODS
DO WORK, NATURAL HEALING IS NOT LIKE CONVENTIONAL DRUGS.. THEIR IS NO
MAGIC PILL THAT WILL HEAL PSORIASIS, ECZEMA, OR ANY OTHER CHRONIC SKIN DISEASE., THESE SKIN DISEASES BELIEVE IT OR NOT, ARE A RESULT OF TOXINS GETTING INTO THE BLOODSTREAM, AS PAGANO MENTIONS IN HIS BOOK LEAKY GUT SYNDROME, IS AT THE ROOT.. YOU CAN ALSO TRACE PAGANO'S WORK BACK TO EDGAR CAYCE.. EDGAR CAYCE IS A WORLD RENOWNED NATUROPATH WHO HAS HIS OWN LINE OF SKIN CARE PRODUCTS THRU [...] (PLEASE NOTE I AM NOT ATTEMPTING TO ADVERTISE THEM FOR ANY PROFIT) I AM NOT CONNECTED WITH THEM, I HAVE MERELY BEEN A USER OF THE PRODUCTS. GETTING BACK TO THE CORE MESSAGE.. DETOXIFYING YOUR SYSTEM, ESPECIALLY SOMEONE WITH A CHRONIC DISEASE..
TAKES TIME, AND YOUR SYMPTOMS DO ACTUALLY GET WORSE BEFORE THEY GET BETTER, THIS IS CALLED A "HEALING CRISIS" IN THE NATURAL WORLD, YOUR BODY HAS TO ELIMINATE THE TOXINS, BECAUSE YOUR LIVER, KIDNEY AND OTHER DIGESTIVE ORGANS ARE NOT DOING IT EFFECTIVELY BECAUSE THEIR OVERLOADED WITH TOXINS! IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU DO SOME SERIOUS RESEARCH ON CLEANSING YOUR DIGESTIVE TRACT.. THIS ONE THING ALONE IS LINKED WITH A MULTITUDE OF DISEASES. ONE OF THE INDIVIDUALS SAID THEY DID EVERYTHING BUT THE ENEMAS AND COLONICS, AND WANDERED WHY THEY DID NOT GET ANY RESULTS..

PEOPLE BY FAR THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU NEED TO DO WHILE ON PAGANO'S DIET OR ANYONE'S DIET IS COLONICS.. AND OR ENEMAS.. THIS IS WHAT WILL ELIMNATE THE MAJORITY OF TOXINS BUILT UP IN YOUR SYSTEM, UNTIL YOUR SKIN IS WELL ENOUGH TO DO IT.. (YES YOUR SKIN WHICH IS THE LARGEST ORGAN IN YOUR BODY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ELIMINATING TOXINS.

COLONICS, CAN PREVENT COLON CANCERS, PROSTATE CANCER, AND A HOST OF OTHER DIESEASES.. THE PROBLEM IS OUR SOCIETY IS EATING SO MANY PROCESSED FOODS, THAT ARE CAUSING ALLERGIES, AND DISRUPTING THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM..WE ARE NOT GETTING LIVE ENZYMES, DIGESTING CORRECTLY..
THE OTHER PART OF THE EQUATION IS YOUR DIET.. RED MEATS, HIGH FAT, FOODS
YOUR ASKING FOR IT!!

MY WIFE HAS HAD ECZEMA ALL HER LIFE AND IT RECENTLY, SHE HAD
OUR LAST CHILD IN 2005.. THE DOCTORS GAVE HER ALL TYPES OF PAIN MEDICATION
FOR A C-SECTION DELIVERY.. THE MEDICATIONS SOMEHOW INTERACTED WITH HER
SKIN(THEIR HIGHLY TOXIC) AND SHE FROM THAT POINT HAD PSORIASIS
WE TRIED EVERYTHING LIKE MOST OF YOU.. FROM THE STEROID CREAMS
TO THE SHOTS.. ALL THAT DID WAS HAMPER THE SYMPTOMS.. BUT THEY COME BACK MUCH STRONGER. MY WIFE STARTED GOING FOR THE COLONICS.. HER SKIN STARTED CLEARING INSIDE OF ABOUT 2 MONTHS OR SO.. WE ALSO DECIDED TO CUT OUT MEAT ALTOGETHER EVEN THOUGH PAGANO, DOES SUGGEST CERTAIN MEAT(NOT RED)

I WOULD ALSO RECOMMEND, BENTONITE CLAY BATHS, OR AVEENO ECZEMA BATHS
I WOULD ALSO RECOMMEND BLOOD CLEANSING HERBS, LIKE RED CLOVER LEAF, AND BURDOCK ROOT..

PEOPLE THE DISEASE CAN BE BEAT.. BUT YOU HAVE TO DO YOUR HOMEWORK
AND BE WILLING TO GO OUTSIDE OF THE BOX WITH CONVENTIONAL MEDS..(MEANING YOU NEED TO USE NATURAL HERBS, COLONICS AND EAT THE RIGHT FOODS.
NOBODY IS GOING TO TELL YOU THIS, BECAUSE OF THE U.S. MEDICAL MONOPOLY
HERE IN THE U.S.

I am so grateful for this book. my road with "THE RASH", as I call it, began just 10 months ago. ten frustrating and frightening (just how much of my body is going to be covered with this disfiguring and insanely itchy RASH? forever?) my dermatologist was completely unhelpful and does not believe there is a connection between what one eats and their skin...hello?!? my doctor, who does understand the connection, could only advise stopping all dairy. I found reference to this book while reading in curezone.com and purchased it right away from amazon. I have followed almost all of the protocol - and it is extensive - and less than 3 weeks later I am 98% free from THE RASH. the program is for those who are willing to do everything it takes. there are no pharmaceutical magic-bullets. there are thoroughly explained and detailed instructions for following this health program. also good photographs of before and afters to generate enthusiasm to get yourself up for this. try not to be daunted, just start. as I said, I am grateful beyond words for john pagano.

this book was awsome and i couldn't put it down.i so wish there was another book that followed this one. you really felt like you were part of the story and felt the pain and joy of marjan.

This book was okay. It kept my interest most of the time, but I didn't like the ending too much. It was exciting at times, and it was interesting how Shahrazad loved the sultan. Kind of weird though.

Don't waste your time on this book, there are more valuable ones out there. First of all, what has she DONE to the fabulous story of Shahrazad? Practically torn it apart and sewed it back together with very rough stitches. I read this book trying to get away from the stereotype some writers have of typical "weak" women (I am partial to strong heroines with wit) and therefore thought another retelling of Shahrazad would be just the thing.
Well, it turned out I was wrong and this book just had the stereotype I was looking to get away from.
If you want a strong heroine, if you've been disappointed by this book and how it portrays Shahrazad, go read Cameron Dokey's version (called "The Storyteller's Daughter). In all, that is a much more satisfying read.

"Shadow Spinner" by Susan Fletcher is a touching tale of courageous women, a sultan, his sins, and his reign. When the Sultan's first wife betrays him, he vows to kill each and every woman in the kingdom. So, on a dangerous killing spree, the Sultan marries a woman one day, and kills the bride the next. What are the women going to do? Some leave the kingdom in fear with the help of an outlaw name Abu Muslem... but one brave woman, Shahrazad, steps up to the plate and comes up with a clever plan. On the night after marrying the Sultan, Shahrazad tells a story to her little sister, Dunyazad, as the Sultan listens in. She stopped at a cliffhanger, and the Sultan, wanting to listen to the rest of the exciting tale, lets her live another day. By doing this every night, she saves the women of the kingdom and soon she becomes an inspiration to not only the country, but also a crippled young woman named Marjan. One time, while Marjan was with her Aunt to sell some jewelry to the women of the castle, she told a story to a group of children. When Dunyazad overhears, she brings Marjan to Shahrazad, so Marjan can help her find new stories. But when Marjan can only remember the beginning of an old tale, she must do something strictly forbidden- go outside the castle to see if she can find the old storyteller she heard tell the tale long ago. Will she succeed or will she fail Shahrazad and the women of the kingdom?
My favorite character was Marjan- she really spoke to me. The message she had to share was wonderful and everyone needs to take it to heart. Although I cannot share it here without giving away ending, I would recommend this beautifully written tale of overcoming obstacles in life- but only to a few people. Even though the author creates a wide range of characters and kept me wrapped up in its blanket of words until the last sentence of the Author's Note, I feel either you would love or hate this book. It requires an open mind, a love for stories, and knowledge of Indian customs. Having an Indian friend, I do have knowledge of some basic traditions so I could keep up... but after reading some other reviews, I realized that some people didn't and had a harder time with reading it. Others either Indian born or had a better knowledge of the stories this book was based on ("The Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night") hated it for its bad representation of it. Really, this is for a few select people in a group all to their own. I, being one of them, enjoyed this book, but you may not. Approach this with caution. I would recommend it for seventh graders up.

This book was both spell-binding and educational. I read it to my 11 and 12 year old daughters. They could read it themselves, but I enjoyed it too. It has a mature theme, but it is handled well. It also has a subtle wisdom that is neither preachy nor heavy handed. Love is the greatest of virtues. Mercy is near the top, and hatred should be overcome.

Dragon's Milk

Dragon's Milk is a fantasy novel by Susan Fletcher. The novel, told through a third person narrator, is about a girl named Kaeldra. I liked that she has found herself caring for three dragons and being pursued by a dragon slayer, town folk, and the king. Does Kaeldra get the baby dragons back to their own kind? Kaeldra is a girl who first lost her mom and then her dad when he was killed in a war. Kaeldra is a very different girl compared to the ones in the town of Elytha. She is unusual due to her green eyes in contrast with other girls who have brown eyes. Her green eyes developed in ancestors who drank dragon's milk. This book is an interesting choice for fantasy fans, like myself, who find dragons fascinating and like an adventure in which characters choose to trust someone or not, with their love. This is a fast paced book with dragons, life and death battles, and characters who accept responsibility.

This was a really good book, even though it was short. It was a touching story and different from other dragon books I've read. I wish there was more than three books in the series, but out of all of them this is my favorite.

Read this heart touching story of a girl that has ties to a dragon and her draclings!
In this book is not really a ordinary girl. Some people belive she is from the other side of the mountain. The people over there have ties with the last bit of dragons. She has to protect the last of all baby draclings.
But will she succeed in saving the draclingsfor being used for stuff and huge amount of money.
I think the theme is to tell myths and adventure story.
One reason the auther may have written this book. Is that they enjoy reading about dragons and about baby dragons and a adult dragon.

Granmyr's hands shaped the special red clay as it spun round and round on the pottery wheel. Kaeldra saw a mountain forming, a man and woman scaling the sides, and in their arms lay a limp babe. The entrance of a cave appeared, and Kaeldra saw dragon's eyes bright and fierce, she could feel their thoughts touch her mind. Kaeldra, they spoke to her. The mountain collapsed inwardly and she once again saw Granmyr, the red mountain now a normal vase. "Granmyr," Kaeldra questioned, "who was the child?"
"Ah you have seen Kara."
"Who is Kara," Kaeldra asked.
"She was the ancient dragon sayer. She was also, your great grandmother."

Kaeldra had always known that she was unlike her Elythian foster family. She was tall, taller than most of the men at only sixteen. She had wavy chestnut hair, while most villagers of Elythia had hair dark as the crow's feathers. But most unwelcoming were her eyes, green. Those eyes not only separated her from Elythians, they separated her from everyone. Those were the eyes of a dragon sayer.

In this fantasy tale, Dragon's Milk, Kaeldra a young girl at only sixteen must find the courage to help three young baby dragons find their kin before they are slain and sold. Trailed by a murderous merchant, a kingdom, and a dragon slayer, Kaeldra must find it within herself to save the dragons, to fight for what was meant to be.

Susan Fletcher writes the story with flowing ease. There is suspense, fantasy, and fairy tale, all rolled into one outstanding novel. I greatly enjoyed reading this book. It is a definite page-turner, very intriguing, and emotion filled. I think this book is similar to the Two Princesses of Bammare another outstanding read for the fantasy lover.

dragon's milk by susan fletcher is a boring book that I wouldn't recommend to any buddy.

A girl's sister is sick and about to die.The girl has to have dragand's milk to aid he sister form death.The girl's sister Lyf got sick from dragons. Lyf's sister has to not only get the milk also draggling (baby dragons.... about five).A storm as arrived and every one in the villages will either die or stay alive.

An amazing effort creating an amazing result.
One of the most remarkable collection of concepts, ideas and observations.

Never fails to nudge the creative mind our of a slump.

The product was shipped the next day and got to me quickly. The book is awesome and was in perfect condition when I got it. Thanks!

This book is a tour de force of creativity and it is suitable for everyone, not just graphic designers. Each page is so thick and rich that you shouldn't browse through it. I highly recommend you limit yourself to 1 page a day so you can absorb and digest what it contains. It is a stunning whack of creativity that you need to take slowly. Over time this book will help you to see and to think in different ways and with significantly more "creativity".

If you consider yourself to be a creative person you absolutely, positively, have to get this book. It will change you.

All the scraps of thoughts, quotes, illustrations, art, and scientific insights all blend into a very nice amalgam of a book. I didn't read it from cover to cover, but rather opened up somewhere random and read different pieces. The randomness of all the inspirational thoughts allows for this type of reading - I think it actually makes the book even better. It almost works as the mind itself: getting bits and pieces of information to juggle with really gets your creative juices flowing.
A must have, and must-random-read, for everyone in the creative industries and arts sector. Not sure about what other people should do with it.

the book is big, heavy and has a confusing layout(page numbers refer to spreads, not individual pages) Some pages are printed with black type on darkblue or gray making them almost unreadable (including the index which also has numbers smaller than most eye charts.) There is no index and little way to get back to something you found before without post-its. Yet for all its drawbacks, it's a fascinating compendium of design ideas - ideas in general. Great price for this much imagery. And if one has even a bit of leisure to peruse books for what just might pop out, this would be a good one to have.

My enjoyment of the Who's music, curiosity about the legend of Keith Moon, and my interest in drummers and drumming in general led me to check out this rather massive book. By the time I reached the final chapter I was both sad that the story was over and completely emotionally drained, and not exactly sure I was glad to have learned all I had about Moon. Having grown up with an alcoholic/drug-dependant family member, far too much of what Fletcher described of Moon's problems was painfully familiar to me. The way he treated those who cared for him, particularly the women in his life, was quite terrible and sometimes difficult to read about.

Fletcher pulls no punches and presents both Moon's greatnesses and his weaknesses. He illustrates where and how Moon was a genius on the drums yet also where, when and how is performance was sub-par. He does not sugar-coat anything. Still, the end result is not as tawdry and cheap as some celebrity biographies I've read, for the reader gets the impression that Fletcher respects the subject matter instead of simply looking to provide cheap thrills and sensationalism. He also works hard to disprove some of the wilder stories and legends of Moon's behavior and stick with the facts, which may disappoint some who hate to see the legends shattered, but there is still much madness and mayhem that is apparently quite true.

If you are a Who fan and/or interested in the story of one of the most legendary drummers of rock music, you owe it to yourself to check out this book. Just be forewarned that you may find it difficult to look at Keith Moon in the same light ever again.

I've read this book and I have to say not only is it a bunch of garbage but I would like to know who gave the author his degree in clinical pyschology?! I would also like to know where the author gets off giving out personal addresses?! The author is a rock'n'roll wannabe. This is his claim to "fame" and a poor one at that. Anyone knows an author should be objective and not try to interject his own personal, misguided views into a biography. Avoid this trash like the plague.

When I was 14, 30 years ago, I discovered the Who. Not long thereafter, I started fiddling about with the drums. Keith Moon was my inspiration, because listening to him made it seem the drums were important, that they were as an intregal part of the music as any other element of the ensemble. That serves as testamment, everso redundantly, what he meant to music. First and foremost it should be made needlessly apparent that Keith Moon was an incredible musician. This book would lead me to believe that drumming came as naturally to Keith as walking.
This book paints a portrait of someone that was so many things to so many people. It's a disappointment that Keith could be such an arse, yet it's as if he always redeemed himself by being his jovial, generous way, and of course what he made for our listening enjoyment.
This book is excellently researched. Having been someone that thought they knew much about the legend of Keith Moon, there was much in this book I'd never heard and/or read. It was revealing, and disturbing to see how much Moon actually made his self destruciton a full time job. I sympathize with Kim, Mandy and Annette. It's sad to realize how badly he treated some people, disspelling this idea of such a jolly fellow, always the loon and funmonger. Fletcher does an admirable task of breaking down who this guy was, that I empathize with him, where in reading this, he like I, must have had difficulty coming to grips with that as much we loved Keith, that sadly he was the orchestater of his demise. Yet at the same time I can't help but to feel more than ever for Keith Moon because certainly he needed help that no one seemed able to give him, and was perhaps destined to die before he got old.
God bless you Keith Moon. God bless the Who.

For me that's a true statement! I first heard of THE WHO when I saw them on the ABC show Shindig, and I thought this is the band I've been looking for! It was a shame that at that point in time American AM radio were not playing their records. That didn't stop me from getting my local TSS record department manager from ordering songs "I Can't Explain", "Anyway Anyhow Anywhere", "My Generation", and "Substitute" for me. He automatically ordered a copy of "I'm A Boy" for me when it was released. He knew I'd want it. The next release was "Happy Jack" and it became a hit in the states. I watched their massive hits success in the U.K. from the beginning. But what made these four guys so special to me was not Pete Townshend's outrageous guitar playing though I thought he was better than the rest. It was not John Entwhistle's masterful bass playing. He too was by far the best I had ever heard. It certainly was not Roger Daltrey's singing though when he sang lead on songs such as "The Kids Are Alright" or "So Sad About Us" (why that song was never released as a single, I'll never know)I thought he had a better voice than McCartney. No, what set this band apart from all the rest was Keith Moon's drumming! He was and remains the greatest rock and roll drummer in the world, dead or alive! This book, his biography is fantastic! Yeah there's a dark side to him, and it is well exposed throughout! But when I read about him and the locomotive records with the speakers hidden in the hedge to scare the little old women in his neighborhood as they walked by, I broke out in uncontrollable laughter! It's the type of thing my friends and I would have done as kids. His drug problem and drinking problem no doubt contributed to the horrible way he treated his wife. Such is the behavior of so many of the so called celebrities that we place on pedestals in our minds! The Who were never the same after "Who's Next"! It was not too long after that that Keith moved to California. There might be a half a dozen good songs in "Quadrophenia". But really, the energy was gone! When Keith died, for me rock and roll died. The Who have never been the same band! (Sorry Kenney Jones, you know it and I know it)! True, for some years I enjoyed the occasional rock song, from Van Halen, Madness, or more recently Smashmouth. But there will never be another Keith Moon. I saw The Who twice. In 1968 at the Westbury Music Fair where I met Roger Daltrey. The group had me out of my seatand on my feet from the first chord of their classic song "Substitute". Wow what a show! I saw them again at Forest Hills in 1971 when they opened their "Who's Next" tour. That album remains the best album ever done, and "Live At Leeds" remains the best live album ever done, especially with all the songs now included with the CD that weren't with the original album. This book is terrific! Everyone should own a copy! Because of it I feel as though I actually knew Keith Moon! And I am thankful for the "Live At The Isle Of Wight" DVD that I have seen over and over with great enjoyment! If you have never seen Keith Moon, rent it or buy it! Check out also "The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus" and see The Who performing "A Quick One (While He's Away)"! Wow what a performance! They stole the show, thanks in great part to Keith's playing. They performed that when I saw them at the Westbury Music Fair! I Love You Keith!

...as the book was entitled in Europe is a thick one, but this is the definitive biography of one of rock's greatest drummers, and one of its most outrageous personalities.

There have been books written about the Who, and about Moon. "Full Moon," written by his longtime personal assistant Dougal Butler leans heavily on the more salacious aspects of his time with Moon the Loon, but has its moments.

This is deeper; Fletcher examines Moon's early life, his influences, both musically and comedically, and the events that brought him together with the three iconoclasts that would make up one of rock and roll's pioneer bands.

Moon's drumming technique, mostly his own is well-examined here, along with those of his contemporaries, and the bands of that era, both famous and unknown are stacked up well against the Who in their various incarnations.

Fletcher gets a good insight into the Mod movement, which has been look at elsewhere, but also the many things that interested and drove Moon himself...he was an early Carnaby Street regular, whose appearance and style would have put Austin Powers to shame!

Moon's health problems are also examined, especially the mental ones: Keith was obviously a hyperactive child, but growing up in post-war Britian, that kind of affliction was considered something you grew out of. Some of us did, like myself, but with Moon is stayed, and I think it can now be said he suffered from some form of manic depression.

This made for great energy, whether playing a powerful, improvisational style of drumming or coming up with bizarre ideas and practical jokes. It also made for great publicity, something his Who mates now seem to regret a great deal.

Moon is such a fascinating figure--one of the nicest people one minute, a complete jerk the next. The way he treated his wife Kim, and later Annette Walter-Lax would have him in jail today. How they both dealt with him I have no idea.

But it's obvious he is troubled; unable to get offstage and just be himself, the self-blame he takes for the accident that causes the death of a close friend, and the loss of his marriage. He sometimes becomes a pathetic figure, alone and terribly lonely amidst fame and fortune, the latter of which he blew in huge quantities.

Townshend once said he believed that Moon was never truly happy, and never had one true close friend. That may be. At least at the end Moon was trying to clean up, get off the booze, etc. But sadly, an overdose of a drug he should never have had his hands on ended his life.

Whatever the case, this book tells the story and tells it without pulling any punches about one of the greatest drummers in rock history, one who should not be remembered just for his lunacy.

Flirting with Pete intersperses chapters from two different romances. Casey Ellis is a struggling psychotherapist in Boston. Her (out of wedlock) father was a prominent psychiatrist who never acknowledged her even though Casey followed in his professional footsteps. After his death, Casey is stunned to learn that he bequeathed her his Beacon Hill townhouse (some of the most coveted real estate in Boston), complete with funds to maintain it, and a maid and a gardener. This is fantasy territory for sure. Most of us would consider forswearing our actual fathers for a deal like this. The maid turns out to be a gourmet cook, eager to provide for Casey. The gardener maintains an exquisite private garden, and just happens to be incredibly sexy - and to start making eyes at Casey.

Meanwhile, in a remote village in Maine, Jenny waits anxiously for her father to be released from prison. She's been the outsider in her small community as long as she can remember; what she knows of normal human interaction she has learned from magazines and TV. Pete is a loner, passing through on his motorcycle. Meeting Jenny changes the direction of his life, and Jenny's too. Through Pete, she will be able to escape her suffocating small town and twisted home life.

These two trite-sounding stories are woven together skillfully by Barbara Delinsky, who creates a whole that is more than the sum of the parts. Sure, the events that happen to Casey (and Jenny) don't happen every day in real life, but that's not the point. It's what the characters do about them. Casey and Jenny change and grow in the face of these events - which bring bad things along with the good. Personally I'd get a little spoiled with the gardener and the maid, but I guess that's for the sequel.

Flirting with Pete is definitely one of the most memorable books I've ever read. Lent to me by a friend, I was sort of reluctant to pick it up. It looked like a fluff romance novel, and I'd never heard of Barbara Delinsky. But I picked it up one night, and wasn't able to put it down again until I'd turned the last page! This is a fantastic story of discovery, loss, pain, and sharing. I'm so glad I began my acquaintance with Delinsky's work over this book. I highly recommend it (yes guys, you can read it too, it's not a fluffy romance novel).

I've since read several more Delinsky novels. This is the best one, by a long shot!

Great two stories in one. Typical love and drama. Great reading

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel. It drew me into the story from the beginning. The characters are very believable.

Jenny/MaryBeth - A troubled woman who had been physically abused by her mother and mentally and sexually abused by her father. Her struggles of day to day life make you empathize with her. Even when she becomes delusional and commits suicide... Or did it happen at all?

Casey - Her mother was hit by a car 3 years ago and was in a comatose state. Her father died and she never got a chance to know him, much less even speak to him in person. So why after his death did he leave her his townhouse?

Connie - The father Casey never knew while he was alive. Though he is dead, he is a major character in this book. The relationship between him and Casey forms beautifully proceeding his death. Why didn't he reach out to her when he was alive?

Caroline - Casey's mother. Casey visits her often in the care facility and in her mind has conversations with her. Most of them make her feel guilt... Or is it Casey refusing to let go of the guilt?

Jordan - The mysterious and sexy gardener. Bet you can figure out what part he plays in the story?! Well, he does actually... But so much more also.

Meg - The upbeat house keeper. Always full of questions, always full of spirit. Is it a facade though?

Pete - The man so perfect that you wonder right from meeting him whether he's real or not. Is he too good to be true?

I read the prologue and was a little disappointed that I did. As I began reading the book, I was still wondering about the characters in the prologue. When I was introduced to the characters, I immediately started trying to figure the book out. I knew instantly the mysteries that were being questioned as well as who it was. I was a little disappointed about that.

The story did have some pleasantly unexpected twists though. I kept turning page after page and wasn't disappointed for the most part. I will say that I felt a little let down at the end. I wanted to know more. I originally came on Amazon to see if there was a second book to this. But there's not as far as I can tell. So I'm left wondering what about Meg? I feel a bit as if the story started focused on one character, but ended focused on another. Although that isn't the case, I can't help but feel a little cheated nonetheless.

I do recommend reading Flirting with Pete. It was a good story and an easy read.

What do you get when you have a psychologist, a deputy, a gardener, a maid, a sexually and emotionally abused girl; a mother in a comatose state, a father you never knew that just died, a townhouse given to you by this father and a manuscript that you believe to be true? You get a wonderful and intriguing story that is hard to stop listening to.

Casey Ellis is the psychologist and she has inherited her father's townhouse worth $3 million. With her mother in a coma from a tragic accident, Casey tries to come to terms with her life. Finding a manuscript among her father's papers, Casey believes the story to be true and begins a search to discover if she is right.

The townhouse comes with a gardener, Jordan, and a maid, Meg, both of which her father's will asks her to keep on. Jordan keeps the garden alive with blooms and also triggers a bloom in Casey's heart. Meg is a wonderful cook and fills Casey's body with good food. Between them, they ground Casey and help her settle in the townhouse.

Ms Delinsky writes with twists and turns that keep you wanting to listen to more. Just when you think you have things figured out, Barbara throws another idea in. This keeps your interest high and the story alive. The tragedies she writes of are all too true in today's society which makes them all the more real and alive.

The reader, Linda Emond, is easy to listen to. She doesn't use a really deep voice to represent the men in the story, yet you know who is talking. The female voices are easier to tell who is talking as she gives them more distinctive inflections which would be easier as she is female herself.

I highly recommend picking up a copy of FLIRTING WITH PETE and settle in for a good evening of listening enjoyment.

I've given away many of the book ONE by Richard Bach; to graduates who need a little inspiration to take the first giant leap of faith into the working world. This book reviews the writers live and some of the decisions not made earlier in life and the consequences of those decisions.

This book barely surpasses Illusions. I absolutely love Richard Bach. What an incredible, INCREDIBLE book. Must read for anyone with an open mind. If you like Richard Bach's style as a whole, you will love this book. You probably wont be able to put it down.

I think I'll read it again...a lot.

After reading "The Bridge Across Forever" I wanted to read more from this couple. I was disappointed that this book was full of political propaganda. Yes it would be nice if everything was fairies and elves, but life just isn't like that. "The Bridge Across Forever" was a good book that I would recommend. I wouldn't recommend "One" to anyone.

On a business trip in 1990, I took a detour to visit my hometown of Bedford, Va. and stopped at a nondescript drugstore. While walking down an aisle, a tiny book flew out of the shelf (from two feet away) and landed on the floor in front of my moving feet. No problem. I got the message.

Over the last 35 years I've read hundreds of seminal books on transformation, attended seminars with high profile teachers, traveled to energy vortexes around the planet.....but ONE stands alone as the only book to ever blow my mind apart. Getting wacked in the pyramid at Palenque rivaled the mind-altering potency of this secret jewel, but ONE is available for everyone for 5 bucks.

The characters didn't matter, the writing didn't matter, the information didn't matter. What mattered was the underlying structure, the mathematics of the Is-ness that transcended the words and spoke in a silent language throughout the book. This non-verbal energy field shifted and restructured my thought process. My mind remains stupefied and still shakes the head surrounding it at the memory of this amazing adventure.

The magnificent mind, our greatest block to Beingness, must surrender its hold (thinking) or we cannot actualize. ONE was a major player in giving my mind the understanding it needed to LET GO! No contest, the NOW wins. It's the only book that has my SUPERRRRR-STAR rating.

I grew up reading Johnathon Livingston Seagull over and over, and became a fan of Richard Bach after reading a few of his other books later in life, but with One it seems he's become too comfortable in his role as an always-inspiring and thought-provoking author, and didn't strain himself to be either. The book rambles on quite a bit and has an extremely different tone than something like Illusions. Still made you think a few times, but I definitely didn't feel at all enlightened when reading it. Very mushy and soft throughout, and occasionally even preachy and self-righteous. I'd recommend one of his earlier books over this.

Holt's debut thriller features FBI agent and computer hacker Janet (Jay) Fletcher, whose zeal doesn't always follow proper legal channels. When her illegally obtained evidence blows a murder case, she is assigned to an arson detail in Santa Fe. But she can't help running her computer tracking system to find a local serial killer.

Find him she does but her methods are not court admissable. Agonizing over what to do, she finds herself face-to-face with the killer - and evidence of an on-line network of people like himself - serial killers who've made a game out of ritualistic murder.

Holt knows computers, and uses this fantastic scenario to dazzle rather than confuse the reader. The action never flags but even more interesting is the ethical nail-biting. With expert manipulation, Holt fires the reader emotionally with gruesome murder scenes then asks "What's more important - stopping a serial killer or obeying the law?" And to really make it disturbing, Fletcher begins to get a thrill out of her rogue vigilantism. Exciting from first page to last.

... try books by Christopher Hyde ("A Gathering of Saints", etc). Holt and Hyde are one and the same. :)

This was a good read. I would've given it five stars if it didn't have the Killer Webboard and meeting thing. Not very realistic. Most serial killers don't have the mindset to interact like that I don't think.

But it was a good book, no doubt about it. Me for, I'm someone that likes extremely realistic type fiction. Like -Killer On the Road- or -The Alienist-

If you like a strong minded, intelligent and very capable woman who is fed up with the limits and pettifogging details of today's rule-bound society, then you'll love the growth and daring of Special FBI Agent Janet Louise Fletcher.

Like all mystery stories, this book deals with the chaos of criminals who know no rules and who operate in a rule-dominated society that is increasingly restricted and victimized by "the rights of criminals." All mystery stories are based on the premise of a hero who solves a crime with logic and perseverance to restore the normal peaceful and orderly function of society. This is no exception.

Today, life is not so simple. The question of guilt or innocence often takes second place to whether all of the accused's rights have been respected. One very good defense attorney once told me he could get an acquittal for anyone "because every prosecution involves thousands of separate and intricate procedures, and the police merely have to get one wrong for the accused to go free." Anyone remember why O.J. Simpson was aquitted?

It's what Fletcher faced as the book opens. The book is about her solution, which was very practical if somewhat unorthodox.

The underlying element of the book is even more interesting. Some people have an innate desire to hurt the object of their love -- whether it's a spouse, a job, or even a friend. It's not a lack of caring, instead it's a cry to be able to say, "You love me despite the horrible things I do to you and all the pain and misery I cause." They need proof they are loved despite their betrayals and the pain they inflict; in a curious way, it's very much an expression of caring.

Remember the saying "It is sometimes easier to be forgiven than to get permission in the first place." Think of Fletcher as operating on this principle.

In other words, "Even though I hurt you terribly, please forgive me." For Fletcher, it covers her education, career and job. She loves and believes in her work, yet she is bitterly frustrated in watching the judicial system throw away months of her best efforts to nab the most devious of criminals. So, counting on forgiveness, she plunges into risky behaviour intended to force her superiors to take extra-special steps to let her know she's still appreciated.

Sound complicated? Okay, think of 'The Matrix" films which are a magnificent screed against the dangers and excesses of modern technology. Yet, these films are beautifully crafted using the most modern, complex and manipulative technology. It's nothing new. Metropolis, in the 1920s, took the same approach and became a film classic. It is hardly surprising to use the techniques we fear to destroy the results we fear.

Why? Because The Matrix, like Metropolis, like 'Watch Me,' is built around an exceptionally fine story that will keep you up late reading -- then keep you awake in bed wondering just how much of it is feasible and real. Holt is a masterful story teller, and this is a good story that leads you into cheering for Fletcher and her unorthodox methods of achieving everything her years of training and work cannot accomplish.

In general, older mysteries are based on a private detective solving a crime -- an unsolved crime is a "mystery" -- that the "system" couldn't unravel. In today's world, the "system" is seen as part of the problem that prevents the just resolution crimes. Remember the old adage, "If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem." Think of all the problems we hear about every day in those terms -- the book is Fletcher's journey to being part of the solution by promptly doing what the system is unable to neatly accomplish.

It's a far cry from the old traditional mystery stories. But, it's a welcome reflection of how today's world is very different; to quote an old Biblical saying, "New bottles for new wine." Fletcher is very clearly "a fine new wine." You'll love the bouquet of this book.

I read this book about 10 years ago and was reminded of it after re-watching Silence of the Lambs recently. The story was memorable for me because I thought the premise was really inventive. It went something like this: Special Agent Jay Fletcher specializes in computer programs. She designs some software that narrows down lists of violent criminals in order to predict the likelihood of their being serial killers. Turns out the program is incredibly accurate, bringing one such suspected killer to trial. As I recall, the methods her software used to profile the suspect were deemed an invasion of his privacy and therefore inadmissable in court. Suspect walks, but everyone knows he did it. Frustrated and disgusted, she begins to track these guys herself. When she finds and confronts the first one, she kills him on the spot. At first she's stunned by the violent act she's committed, but when she recovers she resumes the hunt. Here's the part I love: deliberately and methodically, she finds and kills these guys, and one by one, she becomes more desensitized and more ruthless. In effect, she becomes a serial killer... of serial killers. Such a clever twist. I'm surprised no one ever made it into a movie.