Francis Books

I started reading my 7 year old daughter's books, primarily to stimulate our conversations, and found myself very keen to keep on reading this particular story late into the night!

Having read many of her Enid Blyton books now (which have almost all been very good), this remains the best so far.

In brief, 3 children find themselves in the care of their Aunt and Uncle when their parents go missing on a long flight in a small plane. The Aunt and Uncle start out quite nice, until everyone starts to believe that the children's parents have died.

Their Aunt and Uncle start to treat them so badly, that they want to run away, but are scared about what might happen when they eventually have to return. An older child they are friends with helps them to run away to a secret island in the middle of the lake, to start a new life all by themselves.

This tale is exciting, funny and educational. The young run-aways learn how very hard it is to make their own living, the importance of work and helping each other, and how careful they have to be with food and clothing.

Each week on their secret island brings new challenges and adventures. The book certainly has momentum, and rises to a great climax, with a satisfying little twist at the end.

This was the first book I ever read entirely on my own, and I'm happy to say it led to a lengthy affair with the written word. It remains, to this day, one of my favourite books.

Its a story of 3 siblings who's parents have died, and they have been sent to live with their abusive aunt and uncle. Their only solace is a local boy who has even less than they have in life. The 4 of them plot and execute their escape. Its an excelent tale of adventure, with a great ending, and is perfect reading for someone just starting out.

The story is set in england in the early to mid 20th century (It was written around then as well) but this doesn't alienate the reader. I first read it in the mid 1980s and found I could completely relate to the heros of this story.

I highly recomend it to get your kids away from the boob tube and start them reading. It worked for me, and I have the attention span of your average gnat.

This is the first book in the Secret series and the most exciting one of them. It's about four children who run away from home. They set sail to an island nearby to hide out. Even bringing along with them a cow and some chickens. What makes this book so fun to read is how they were able to survive on this island. There are descriptions of caves with secret entrances, wild berries to pluck and eat, a club house made completely from interwoven willow trees, cooking and eating at a campsite, hiding from the grownups that are looking for them to drag them back to their mean aunt and uncle. A dreamy whole summer until it starts getting cold. The story does end with the desired happily every after and the promise of more adventures to come.

This was a very informative book for my Acting for the Camera students. Promoted interesting questions and good discussion.

Includes numerous detailed techniques for film acting, such as adjusting your performance for various camera distances (master shot vs. close-up, etc.

During my first read through my jaw kept dropping as I came to understand how little I know about screen acting, even at my low level of experience.

This book did more to open my eyes to the virtually hidden peculiarities and demands of acting for the screen than anything I've ever read. The pages of review sheets at the back are worth the price of the book.

The style is readable and the author speaks with the authority of experience. I'm sure that this will turn out to be the best investment I've made in my fledgling career as a film actor. I'm going to give this book to my closest actor-friends. I can't think of a better way to show how much I value them.

My wife is a psychologist and I took this book from her to read. As a lay person, I now have a deeper understanding of this topic. It was accesible and informational and academic and intelligent at the same time. The ties to history and pop culture make the book timeless and relevant.

As a surviver of childhood abuse, i found this book to be very helpful and insightful. Recovery from such horrendous acts is very painful. Mr. Weiner provides excellent methods to continue with recovery and in a less painful yet productive means. I will forever be greatful to him for his insight and assistance to those of us with backgorounds of this nature. His understanding of MPD/DID was most touching. Thank you Mr. Weiner!

The book is thoughtful and sensitive, and at the same time thorough and informational. I personally went through recovery for childhood sexual abuse and feel that the process is clearly and efffectively outlined. It was most interesting to read the comparison to the Stephen King novel. And some of the imagery in the book is so vivid and poignant. The little girl on the swing...what an image.

The Shenandoah Spy stands one notch above other Civil War novels of recent years. It is especially remarkable that a male author is responsible for such a credible portrayal of the unequivocally feminine character of Belle Boyd. Furthermore, Francis Hamit has delivered a sympathetic heroine while withholding any such approval of the Confederate cause or Southern lifestyle. Given society's normally patriarchal perspective, this is no easy feat. Through historical verisimilitude and some fascinating relationship dynamics, the scenes of this novel were magnificently envisioned. The inclusion of alternate viewpoints such as those of David Strother (Belle's cousin who served as a Union army officer) was a clever way to define the tension of conflict-ridden communities as well as the divisive loyalties within each family during this tumultuous period. It would be interesting to read additional accounts of Antonia Ford or other female scouts and secret agents mentioned in the narrative. All of this leads one to wonder how the few recorded documents of these people and their deeds will continue to spark the imagination of Francis Hamit and inspire other future writers.

Although Women were not formally allowed to become soldiers until the late twentieth century, this doesn't mean they did not participate. "The Shenandoah Spy" is the story of Isabelle Boyd and her time as a confederate spy. Disguising her acts in public by appearing as a Union sympathizer, she uses many deceptive tactics to keep her identity under wraps as she does everything she can in order to give the Confederacy a leg up in the American Civil War. Hamit has done his research, and it shows in "The Shenandoah Spy", a riveting and recommended tale of women in the war where the most American lives were lost.

...of a fascinating woman.

Belle Boyd was an active spy for the Confederates during the Civil War. Motivated by love for her homeland and a fierce indignation at, not to say hatred of, the invaders (the Union Army), Belle at 17 became a spy and devoted herself to driving the invaders from the South. Most young women of her day and age devoted themselves to enhancing their looks in order to catch husbands, even with the War on. Most young women of that era practiced the alluring arts they learned at finishing schools to attract men.

Belle did, too, but in a greater cause -- freedom as she saw it.

In creating this character, author Francis Hamit has broken relatively new ground. First he has written about a nineteenth-century Southern woman, whom most writers dismiss as confined to the parlor and the bedchamber. Second, he has dared to present the Confederate side of the Civil War, when most writers dismiss the Confederacy as an evil conspiracy to prolong slavery. It may have been determined to prolong slavery, but many Southerners also viewed the Union Army as an illegal invader of their territory. In presenting Belle's opinions and feelings sympathetically, Hamit has shown the courage of a committed writer.

"Shenandoah Spy" is a book worth reading.

Very hard to find pastiche but well worth the effort to obtain. Great story with many interesting subplots. One of the best concerning the 3 years Sherlock was away. It is very long and you can bog down in the details, but definitely buy it if you can find it.

I found this book by accident, at a local bookshop. To describe it as incredible literature, understates the true situation enormously.

I have never been "A Sherlockian" but enjoy crime/mystery/thriller scenarios. This has all.

As a long time resident of Thailand, the book brings to life areas of Bangkok which I tread regularly and know by heart. The book is without doubt, the best piece of Holmes Genre literature I have ever got into.

From page 1 it is interesting, by the end of book one (this is essentially two books), you are waiting for the next page before you turn it.

Brilliant read, and fills in the missing years, or at least three of them, since there is a sequel planned to accommodate the rest of the time we have no records of, from Mr Doyle.

Well worth the read.

To begin, I must comment on the physical nature of the book itself. This is a rare and fine example of quality book design. Clearly a good deal of thought and attention was given to the overall form of this publication. A rather muted dark blue dustjacket covers a full leatherette binding with a gilt stamped floral design on the front panel. A very nice touch when compared to the usual publishers output; which generally exhibits the aesthetic creativity of a, less than well planned, cardboard box! More importantly the book is bound in such a manner that it can be laid flat without causing the binding to crack, a necessary feature as the book is over 600 pages in length and weighs in at about 4 1/2 pounds. I only mention all of this as it is so rare these days to see such thoughtfulness applied by the publishing trade. I am genuinely impressed with this Camden House publication, which incidentally was formed by the author.

The story itself is yet another pastiche that explores the doings of Sherlock Holmes during that intriguing period known as the Great Hiatus. Clearly the remarks made by Holmes to Watson, explaining his activities after his supposed death, offer a great temptation to the writer who wishes to legitimately place Holmes on foreign soil.

"I travelled for two years in Tibet, therefore, and amused myself by visiting Lhasa and spending some days with the head Lama. You may have read of the remarkable explorations of a Norwegian named Sigerson, but I am sure that it never occurred to you that you were receiving news of your friend. I then passed through Persia, looked in at Mecca, and paid a short but interesting visit to the Khalifa at Khartoum, the results of which I have communicated to the Foreign Office." - The Empty House

That description is essentially the basis for the current volume and the forthcoming second volume as well, which is to be published as The Holmes Report Vol. 2 - The Egypt Question. A second quotation is also a contributor to the contents of the present volume. It is made by Mycroft Holmes:

"In the present state of Siam it is most awkward that I should be away from the office." - The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans

It is this statement which gives the author (a resident of Thailand) an excuse to bring Siam into the narrative. A thin reason, but one that helps to authenticate the major plot points. Happily, it all hangs together rather well.

The story opens on April 6, 1894, the morning after Colonel Moran's botched attempt on Holmes' life. A letter is received from Moriarty's brother and Holmes is called in on a rather too grisly and graphically presented murder case. In the midst of all this, Mycroft calls Holmes and Watson in to a meeting. During the course of the meeting, it is revealed that Sherlock had spent his time during the hiatus, in the service of Her Majesty's Government, under specific directions from Mycroft. Fortunately for the reader, Holmes had a companion during his travels who kept extremely detailed journals of their doings. The companion was the French detective Francois Le Villard, who is casually mentioned in 'The Sign of Four' as having translated some of Holmes' monographs into the French language. Mycroft's commission for Watson is to draft the journals into a cohesive and confidential report for the Government. Thus the stage is set for the dual narratives that make up the book. As Holmes investigates the current murder case, Watson reviews Le Villard's journals. Needless to say, both stories are strongly connected. The use of Le Villard as companion is a good device. He is presented as talented young Frenchman with an interest in rock climbing, which is the reasoning for his being chosen to assist Holmes on his penetration into mountainous Tibet. By using him as the filter through which we, the readers, view Holmes, the author has cleverly managed the feat of describing Holmes in uncharacteristic situations without having to contort Watson's inimitable style. The minor behavioral differences noticeable in Holmes can be attributed to Le Villard's observational ability rather than being regarded as deviations from Watson's own writings, and so manages to maintain a very high degree of credibility. Incidentally, this is a lesson that more writers of pastiches should learn.

The first third of the book (Part One) deals with our heroes journey to and adventures within Tibet, which makes up the first of four journals written by Le Villard. Much is made of the political 'Great Game', which is all handled rather convincingly and deals with Russian and Chinese influence in the region. The tone of the entire book is grounded in this sort of 'real world' sensibility. It does take away from the usual 'always 1895' fantasy world that we are all accustomed to, but does make for a more, for lack of better terms, gritty and realistic read. Unfortunately the purpose for visiting Lhasa is thin at best, and doesn't seem worth the trouble. As our heroes leave Tibet, moving towards Turkistan, they manage to sabotage a Russian weapons factory and become involved with a great little save-the-princess-bride-from-slavers scenario. A few minor adventures ensue, but the first journal ends in the Spring of 1892, just as Holmes and Le Villard are about to head off to Mecca. The journals continue with the fourth volume, which takes place in Siam in 1893, leaving a one-year gap, and two missing journals. The gap is to be filled in the second book of The Holmes Report - The Egypt Question.

Meanwhile, back in 1894 London, we have Holmes and Watson pursuing the now escaped Colonel Moran and investigating what appears to be a resurgence of the Moriarty gang.

The remaining two thirds of the book (Part Two) takes up Le Villard's fourth journal and the narrative of happenings in Siam. The author clearly has a strong interest in Siamese history and culture, as he spends much more time in this setting than in Tibet. A very rich and detailed picture of the Siamese backdrop is presented to the reader. Much of the political nature of this section deals with Siam's attempts at maintaining independence in the face of French and British colonial expansion. The subplots abound here and became quite complex as Holmes is faced with protecting the Leading Adviser from assassination threats, the unexpected reappearance of Irene Adler and Godfrey Norton and Le Villard's romantic entanglements. During all this, Holmes has time to learn something of the art of Thai boxing (kickboxing) and manages to get a tattoo as well. Airguns, bombs and a hunt for the Great Mogul diamond also figure in the narrative. Sounds faintly ridiculous, but the author weaves it all together in a fairly interesting manner. All this is also tied into the doings of Moran and a world conspiracy involving the Moriarty gang. At the centre of all the intrigue is the rather pathetic figure of Godfrey Norton. We are clearly in deep waters here...

From Siam, Holmes returns to London on the heels of Godfrey Norton, which brings us full circle to the beginning of the book. At this point all the loose subplots are drawn together in a somewhat more traditional fashion. Watson is once again the primary voice and all is revealed...but not by me!

After investing in 603 pages of story, I can say that the book is a worthwhile read. A very different sort of pastiche that has me looking forward to the publication of the second book. My only real complaints are about the previously mentioned lack of good reasoning behind the Tibet sequences and the somewhat overwritten style of the author. Frankly, a stronger hand in the editing stage would have been welcome to this reader. Still, a fantastic book for a first time author, and a wonderful addition to the pastiche shelf.

This book truly gives you a wonderful introduction to Saint Francis. Studying the life and practice of Saint Francis is truly beneficial for all Christians, whether Catholic or Protestant(I am Episcopalian), and actually it would be helpful for people of all religions. I truly adore Saint Francis and am fascinated by his Simplicity. I find that people on the spiritual path tend to embrace Simplicity. This is a great book that can easily be read and it will make you eager to read more about this beloved saint!

The Simple Peace of St. Francis of Assisi is remarkable because it actually catches the heart of this incredible saint, his spiritual development, his formation from troubadour to holiness. I strongly suggest this book for anyone who enjoys books about spiritual transformation or St. Francis. You can actually feel St. Francis as his heart widens and grows into perfect joy!

St. Francis is almost untouchable as a saint. His miracles, his link to the common person and his love of animals (all God's creatures) makes him a hugely popular and well-loved saint. This book allowed me to get beyond all the hype and other worldliness of St. Francis. It took me to his heart and let me feel what he felt as his spiritual journey evolved. His love for God and the world was huge.

I now know that St. Francis is most like us, the most human of all the saints. He lived beyond the average but he loved the simpleness and ugliness of life. This book does not ram religion down your throat and it does not put St. Francis on a pedestal that is unreachable. It puts his heart and mind in focus and attempts to give the reader a view of Francis as a friend might see him today.

Wonderfully rich and full of spirituality. You will feel closer to the saint no matter what other books you have read on his life.

Book arrived promptly and in great condition. Price could not be beat! Would purchase from Amazon again. Avoid the expensive and crowded campus bookstore.

The book arrived in excellent condition, it was brand new. I was very satisfied with my purchase.

This is a great book to have especially if you are a student struggling with theories. It is very clear and gives accurate definitions and descriptions of the theories utilized in the field of Social Work. I recommend all Social Work students to purchase the book.

Book in very good condition when arrived, was new when purchased. Cost was a little high at 62.00 dollars. Received in a timely manner.

This book has some excellent introductory material if you want to learn about soil microbiology. It is nicely organized with chapters (check the table of contents). A very good improvement over the previous edition in that it talks about some of the recent technology such as metagenomics. I would not recommend it as a reference book for graduate students, but a very good intro text book for grad and undergrads.

I was a graduate student in soils and forestry when I took a class in soil microbiology that used this text. It is essentially the gold standard for soil micro texts. It isn't overly technical, but it includes a thorough analysis of the basic concepts needed to understand most aspects of soil microbiology research and application. The book uses mostly agronomic examples, but there is enough variety of ecosystems to make it useful for those working in forestry, grasslands, and almost any type of soil. Those interested in detailed discussions of molecular microbial methods or biotechnology may be disappointed, but for the general student looking to understand what those billion microbes per teaspoon of soil are doing, this book is the best introduction out there.

This book was everything I expected. It came to me quickly and I was very pleased with the condition of the book.

Joyce Morgenroth's work, aptly titled Speaking of Dance, allows us the pleasure of actually hearing the voices of the choreographers and, in a very real sense, seeing their work. This simple integrity of purpose may be a large part of what makes the book so eminently readable. The author signals us with her first introductory words, "Watching dance..." that we are in for a journey from audience point-of-view. Then, Morgenroth neatly take us to the source, her interviews with twelve well-known choreographers. What different sources they turn out to be!

Speaking of Dance lets the choreographers tell their stories with the full flair of their personalities. I get who they are without being spoon-fed. They speak in their twelve highly individuals styles, just what you hope for from contemporary titans in the dance world. (No doubt much clearer sounding than some of them actually articulated before Morgenroth edited for us.) In speaking they let us into their world. How much each captivates is illuminated almost as much by how they present themselves, perhaps who they are, as by what they have created on the floor...and, in some cases, off the ceilings, on the walls, with the music coupled with each artist's internal vision. In every case I learn

I like this book alot. In the introduction, we hear the voice of Joyce Morgenroth, author and interviewer. An auspices start. The writing is smart and lively. Morgenroth loves dance, has a keen eye for details, and lots of questions.Through the intro, her energetic and easy writing makes her feel close... and she is willing to take us along into the kitchens and lofts to speak with dancemakers about the alchemy of choreography.

First stop, though is a short history of modern dance. We get facts but Morgenroth concentrates on the catalysts that led to explorations. She places each of the artists in the book in context.

The interviews start with a short bio but the heft is the voice of the artist. The pieces are spontaneous and intimate and also well-structured. The artists' stories of their histories are funny and human. No matter how well known, it is clear that each artist is still deeply involved with the process of making work.

I teach dance compostion and after reading Speaking of Dance realized what a priceless resource this is for young people making art. We can't give them a formula, just tips and the courage to get out there and try.

This book supports that idea completely.

When one thinks of Saint Francis of Assisi, often what comes to mind are images of a soft and weak man immersed in a pacified landscape, full of birds and bunny rabbits who are awestruck at every word that falls from his lips. However, reality frontally challenges this limp-wristed portrayal.

This is evident from Frank Rega's controversial new book, Saint Francis of Assisi and the Conversion of the Muslims. The author successfully dispels many of the myths spread about the saint's persona. He states: "To reduce this saint to a glorified social worker, a nature lover, or `the first hippie' is a great disservice to his true heritage."

On the contrary, Mr. Rega paints the true picture of Saint Francis: a saint of prayer, courage and action, who, contrary to the claims of many modern biographers, actually supported the Crusades.

The second section of Saint Francis of Assisi and the Conversion of the Muslims proves this contention. This part stands alone, for those who are only interested in reading about the saint's correspondence with the Muslims. However, it is sandwiched between two other sections, which recount the saint's life before and after his missionary journey to the Middle East. Together, these three sections make up an informative and highly readable biography of the Seraphic Father.

The book's main thrust and most interesting section deals with Saint Francis' true position in face of the Muslims. He felt a tremendous desire for their salvation and even risked torture and death to bring them the Gospel. However, he explicitly denounced Islam as a false religion that leads to damnation.

Thus, addressing himself to the Sultan, Saint Francis said: "If you do not wish to believe, we will commend your soul to God, because we declare that if you die while holding to your law, you will be lost; God will not accept your soul."

This contrasts with the false idea of ecumenism commonly promoted today. The author explains: "Saint Francis' dialogue with the Sultan was a dialogue of conversion to Jesus Christ, not a dialogue of finding common ground in order for the two religions to coexist peacefully."

Mr. Rega also refutes the misconception that Saint Francis was opposed to the Crusaders taking military action to regain the holy land. While the saint wanted the Muslim's conversion above all, he felt that war was justified if they did not accept Christ and adamantly held to the regions they had stolen from Christian hands.

Thus, when the Sultan argued that the Crusaders were not following the Gospels which taught that one should turn the other cheek when offended, he quickly rejoined quoting Our Lord's words taken from the same discourse: "if thy right eye scandalize thee, pluck it out and cast it from thee."

Saint Francis explained:

"Here He wanted to teach us that every man, however dear and close he is to us, and even if he is as precious to us as the apple of our own eye, must be repulsed, pulled out, expelled if he seeks to turn us aside from the faith and love of our God. That is why it is just that Christians invade the land you inhabit, for you blaspheme the name of Christ and alienate everyone you can from His worship."

Mr. Rega's work is filled with evidence to support his own Crusade against those revisionists who would like to paint a less virile Saint Francis. He decries those for whom Saint Francis: "was not a bold Christian evangelist, but a timid man, whose goal was to have the friars live passively among the Saracens and `to be subject to them,' rather than convert them to the True Religion."

This book is a must-read for those whose minds have been sullied by the effeminate portrayals of Saint Francis that have been widely circulated. It can serve to shatter this false impression and reveal the true spirit of a great saint.

Have you ever wondered why it's the Franciscans in their long brown habits with rope ties who lead you along the Via Dolorosa, The Way of the Cross in Jerusalem, the most sacred of Christian sites and Christian moments?

In this excellent narrative of St. Francis coming face to face with the Muslims, Frank Rega (a Phi Beta Kappa and Woodrow Wilson scholar) traces a great and controversial moment in Christian history--the meeting of Francis of Assisi with the Sultan al Malik al Kamil, one of the most important leaders of Egypt, Palestine and Syria, in the hot summer of 1219, during the Fifth Crusade. Questions come to mind immediately: what on earth was Francis doing on a Crusade? What was his plan? his hope?

Strangely enough, there are probably many Christians, many Catholics, who are not aware that a crucial meeting took place between Francis and the Sultan. Those who knew Francis, as well as scholars and intellectuals through the centuries, have written tomes opining and debating the reason for Francis' bold venture into the enemy camp during a lull in the heated battle at Damietta, Egypt. But march in he did, with the might of his faith and one companion! He expected he would most likely be martyred. He was not. Instead....

This is Rega's entry into the debate. Francis, who had renounced the world, reduced himself to rags and the most austere living, and who loved every soul and creature on earth, joined the 5th Crusade "in a courageous attempt to preach the Gospel. . . in the Middle East," writes Rega. Standing in his beggarlike habit, Francis began to speak, and because of the simplicity of his arguments and the confidence he exuded, the Sultan was willing to listen to Francis' words. These are gripping moments, and one feels Rega's passion for the subject in his driven narrative, as he shows a Francis many of us have not met before. Along the way, Rega clarifies every question and possibility put forth by theorists, especially today, who "reduce this saint to a glorified social worker, nature lover, or 'the first hippie.'"

Much took place in those few days--or maybe they were more than a few; it is not known--resulting in the unprecedented gesture of the Sultan giving Francis a permit of safe passage to travel "without hindrance" anywhere in the Sultan's domains. Hence, a special relationship existed between the two men, which resulted in allowing the friars to eventually obtain custody of the Christian shrines in the Holy Land. The Sultan also eventually released 30,000 Christian prisoners and negotiated a peace with the Holy Roman Emperor, Frederick II, in which he returned Jerusalem to the Christians, with Muslims keeping their holy sites. This was the period in which the first Franciscans came to Palestine to care for the
Christian sites, and they are still there today!

When Francis finally returned to Italy, he went on to another great Catholic moment on Mt. Alvernia--receiving the stigmata, the Crucifixion wounds of Jesus Christ. This is one of the many dramas in his life that could stand out as the moment he stepped into history. Part of this book is an essence-biography, highlighting the heart and soul of the man whose love for Christ held no room for compromise, and who ultimately reformed the Church. The better to understand why he went to the Middle East.

One of Francis' most passionate disciples was Clare--beautiful, wealthy, patrician--who escaped her pursuing family to follow the impoverished Francis' path. Only 18, if she had any vanities, she left them completely in a gesture of renouncement, letting Francis cut off her glorious blonde hair, and giving up her beautiful clothes and jewels for the rough Franciscan habit. These two figures captured the imagination of Christian Europe, and not by halfway measures. . . .

Rega's research goes back to 13th-century volumes. He asks the polemical questions about Francis' mission and offers his own answers at the conclusion of the book. Although intensity of Faith and Belief has faded in much of the world in our time, St. Francis remains relevant and is still an ambassador for Christ and the Gospel, a blaze of love for all souls, everywhere.

St. Francis of Assisi and the Conversion of the Muslims by Frank Rega is very well researched and written. I found it pleasant to read, as well as very informative. The book explained in great depth the story of the conversion of the Sultan and also gave a greater insight into the character of St. Francis, his own background and conversion. The book also showed St. Francis' respect for all humans. In his desire to convert the Sultan, St. Francis never treated him with disrespect. His goal was only to teach him about Christ and draw him closer to God.

Saint Francis was a peacemaker, but he also recognized the importance of bearing arms in special circumstances, such as in defense of one's country. Being a parent of a son, serving in Iraq, and also a Franciscan, I truly delighted in being reminded of St. Francis' great love for God, his desire to unite all people, regardless of race or religion, and his ability to bring peace to troubled areas. I think all who read this book will acquire a greater love for St. Francis, as well as a true appreciation for his humility and respect for humankind.

Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace!