George Books

This is an incredibly well-written book that is nearly impossible to put down. The author magically transports you through time and makes you truly feel you are a part of that time and place (which is a trick when you live in the desert). I am very glad this is part of a series. I can't wait to read more from this talented author.

Wow,this was a great book. I'm eagerly waiting the next in the series. Marlo crafted a fantastic story interweaving history and religion into a powerful prose. I could not put the book down. Her artistry reminds me of Mitchner. I enjoyed this so much I bought another and donated it to the library. ~ Hurry up with the next book!!

What can I say about this book? It's so awesome...I almost can't describe it. When I started reading it in the beginning, I wasn't too excited. I thought it was going to be another one of those pointless "Christian" romance novels where the girl believes in God but never even thinks about Him until the very end when she's got the guy, who she managed somehow to convert, and then they both sappily thank God. But this was so different. The love story, while still there, melted into the background of Kwelik's extreme faith. I also love the fact that she doesn't do Christian platitudes...like,"Oh yeah, I'm going through all this horrible stuff, but the Lord will take care of it" Don't get me wrong, the Lord does get you through unimaginable things, but in the mean time, it still hurts. You can really feel Kwelik's agony and torment, but she still trusts in God. I also love the part about White Wolf. It really shows just how much bitterness and unforgiveness can completely change who you are inside, until you're someone no one can recognize. This book is fantastic!

I really enjoyed Cry Freedom. I do not have much time to read but once I started this great book I couldn't put it down. I was instantly drawn to the characters and the excitement of the story. I appreciate the authors ability to bring the past to life with such historical accuracy. I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEXT BOOK IN THE SERIES!

Schalesky writes with such powerful prose that the reader not only believes the story, we are swept back in time to the early 1700's to experience it. What is the cry for freedom in a land that we today take for granted? What is the cry for freedom that every person feels within their life on a spiritual level? Schalesky weaves these questions into a story of historical accuracy and with characters who live and breath upon the page. As both a historical fiction and contemporary fiction reader, I will definitely return to Schalesky's books again and again. A reminder of our nation's foundation and with insights that touch us today -- a definite must read!

I love all the curious George books. Who Doesn't?

author of "Hobo Finds A Home"

I liked this book a lot. Curious George books are great. He is always getting into trouble and it keeps you reading. I still haven't watched the movie yet but the books make me want to. My 2 year old sister likes them too. It is a good family read. Enjoy!
Jacob - 5 and 3/4 finally (with a little help)

If you've raised any children in the last 57 years, you've probably already read H. A. Rey's 1947 children's classic "Curious George Takes a Job" and you already know how... questionable some of its content is. For those of you who don't have kids, you should know what's in this book before buying it.

Check out page 17. Curious George has been found literally swimming in a vast vat of pasta. Instead of calling animal control and having him put down and tested for rabies, the cook who catches him in flagrante de pesto, instead puts him to work washing dishes -- with both the monkey's hands and his FEET. I sincerely hope no one actually ate off those dishes afterwards. Where is the heath department when you need them?

Anyway, the cook sends him to work with the Elevator Man, washing windows on the outside of a hi-rise building (without a safety-line!!!). Curious George sneaks into a room, paints it, and dashes down the fire escape. He falls and breaks his leg. We're treated to a picture of a crying monkey with a wobbly leg, bent in four or five places.

In the hospital, on page 36, George has recovered from his broken leg and is left alone for a few minutes. Okay, to keep it brief: he gets into the ether. This violates EVERYTHING I was taught in school about drugs not being fun. And then, on the next page you can tell by Curious George's rapturous grin just how much he enjoyed the experience.

And I haven't even mentioned the use of tobacco on page 41 or the prevelence of extremely high-emissions fossil-fueled vehicles on pages 13 and 14.

Bottom line: this book is POISON. Protect your children from it at all costs.

As last week was National Children's Book Week, and CG Takes a Job happens to be my favorite, I figured I'd say a few words about it. As a VERY curious five year old boy whose father bought him a Curious George stuffed animal at the tender age of two, I was in awe of the fact that not only could George paint a pretty cool mural of the jungle on an unappreciative woman's wall, but he could WASH DISHES WITH BOTH HIS HANDS AND HIS FEET! This blew my mind. Here I was, an impressionable (and curious) young lad, who watched his own parents dread washing the dishes, and this monkey did it in double the time. I was hooked. This is still my favorite book, even if it wanders a bit (from the zoo, to a restaurant, to an apartment building, to the hospital to . . . well, you get the idea), I still recommend it for curious kids and adults alike.

News Flash!

In the skyscraper apartment building yesterday a monkey hired to wash windows painted a woman's apartment to look like an African jungle. Hired by the elevator man, he was warned not to get too curious but to stick to his work.

At first the monkey, at the time of this report we do not yet know his name, worked without even looking in the windows. But when he got to an apartment being painted, according to the painters we questioned, he got too curious, stopped working, and watched the painters.

When the painters left for lunch the monkey entered the apartment and used their paint to recreate his native African environment on the walls and furniture coverings of the apartment, complete with palm trees, butterflies, birds, two leopards, one zebra, one giraffe, grass, bushes and a portrait of the "artist" playing in the trees.

Returning from lunch the painters discovered the monkey finishing his creation. The painters, with the apartment owner and the elevator man, chased the monkey down the fire escape.

Forgetting that concrete was much harder than the African jungle ground, the monkey made a foolish leap to the pavement and broke his leg. An ambulance arrived and took the monkey to the hospital where, at press time, he is receiving medical treatment pending identification.

The woman whose apartment he painted said, "He got what he deserved! Making my apartment into a jungle, indeed!" and the elevator man added, "I told him he would get into trouble (if) he was too curious."

If you want to learn not to be too curious, to see how a monkey got hired as a window washer, to find out whether the monkey survives the hospital and to enjoy all of the other funny stuff this little monkey does, then read "Curious George Takes a Job!" A very funny book!

This is a fantastic entertaining book with entire meal ideas for multiple events. The book even includes ideas on decorating, table settings, invitations, party gifts, etc.

I'm working my way through all of the events and have tried five so far. The food has been absolutely delicious, although some of the recipes are more complex than what I'm used to. Thankfully, the book advises what tasks can be done the day before, the morning of, and then right before guests come over so you can budget your time accordingly.

I've found that some of the recipes can be simplified by using more basic ingredients (ready-to-cook lima beans instead of fava beans in the shell, etc.) Also, several of the recipes use a lot of butter, whole cream, etc., so you could cut back on these ingredients or make substitutions if you want something healthier.

I would recommend this book for those who love to entertain!

I just adore ANYTHING Williams Sonoma! Very useful, very tasteful and very beautiful to look at!

I LOVE the ideas they've given for family dinners, tea parties and such. The recipes sound wonderful..I'm dying to try the roast beets salad, stuffed dates with goat cheese and the chocolate walnut cake! The book also gives useful hints on what all can be prepared or assembled ahead. It makes it easier for us...I'm sure any and all guests you entertain using the themes and recipes presented in the book will really appreciate it!

Great book for those who love to entertain and cook for others. Their themes are unique but easy to pull off, and I love how they also have crafts ideas on party favors, flower arrangements, decorating ideas, etc. in addition to the recipes. Probably my most favorite entertaining book so far.

This really isn't so much a cookbook as it is a book for people who love to entertain. The book has party/entertaining ideas divided by season. Each season has 4 entertaining "ideas", each of which is amazing.

The recipes are terrific but more importantly, the book includes table settings and ideas for party favors and gifts for your guests. It's a beautifully photographed and thoughtfully written book with a wealth of great ideas about how to entertain. It has something for both the novice and seasoned party giver. Buy it, read it, and throw a dinner party--that's my advice! Then you can bask in the glow of your guests' admiration.

EXIT edited by George Petros. This is a monster. Charles Manson describes this book as one of his 'best toys' and if you get it, it will surely be yours, too. You won't know how you lived without it. This 384 page collection is compiled of most of the material of the classic magazine. It includes work by Nick Bougas, Joe Coleman, Adam Parfrey, Anton LaVey, Mark Mothersbaugh, Marilyn Manson and H.R. Giger, to name just a very few. It's described by its editor as an 'Outlaw Liberal Sci-Fi Pop Art magazine'. I can't think of any better way to describe it. Buy this!

A burning written sacrament on the altar of the Horrible Truth, "The EXIT Collection" compiles all the writings and artwork originally published only in "EXIT", an ultra- rare publication that enjoyed a decade of illumination under the stewardship of George Petros. Finding the originals of this seminal publication would be well-nigh impossible now; fortunately, Tacit Publications has issued this collection to remedy that situation. "EXIT" brought together the best and brightest, the most daring and unshackled underground thinkers of their day, and offered a unique forum for exploring unwritten histories and unexplored juxtapositions. The combinations of art and text are often fearsome, as with the visual interpretations of Nietzche's and Manson's quotes (by everyone from GG Allin to R. Kern to Mike Diana and Gen P. Orridge, to name only a few). Also edifying are Adam Parfrey's brilliant exploration of eugenics; Salvatore Canzonieri's savory sojourn through cannibalism; and historic tours of the evolution of the pentangle and swastika. There is, of course, much more here worth noting, but you should see for yourself. At every turn through these 384 pages, you'll find something to challenge. Provoke. Prod. Or perhaps even outrage. Put it this way: It belongs on your shelf, right next to "Apocalypse Culture" and "The Amok Journal" (and whatever else sets the blowtorch to your brainpan). For those unafraid of where a fierce, untamed thought can take you, "The EXIT Collection" awaits. Open with caution, but by all means, open ...

What can be said about a compendium of work from one of the most revolutionary publications of the 1980's? This thorough and exciting collection gathers some of the most interesting and politically challenging artists of our time. EXIT, an outlaw sci-fi/political/pornographic/in-your-face-brutal magazine dedicated to jarring its readers out of solipsistic ideologies featured in its time (and in this collection) the work of Robert Williams, Henry Rollins, Lydia Lunch, Joe Coleman, H.R. Giger, John Wayne Gacy, Richard Kern and Raymond Pettibon. The collection ranges from the comic to the strange, from the shocking to the violent. Like its many contributors, EXIT stands as a tribute to America's punk rock history, its concerns, and its themes. The collection's pages are ripe with commentary on sexual domination, political fascism, nazism, Nietzsche, and Charles Manson. Despite its tendencies towards oversimplification it remains a classic collection of political commentary by some of the best artists of the punk generation.

-Jason Cons;

"My time has not yet come, some are born posthumously," thundered visionary philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche at his lack of recognition among the hubristic intelligentsia of 19th century Europe. This same sentiment can be applied to EXIT - a seminal art magazine that remains unrecognized by the motley amalgam of grant scribblers, neo-Marxists, and trust fund bohemians who comprise America's smug aesthetic community. Although the wine and cheese crowd will probably never grasp the importance of this landmark journal, its legacy can easily be evidenced by the current rise in cultural transgression and the large segment of the voting population who have come to reject the absurd left-right puppet show that passes for political debate. Founded by George Petros of Seconds magazine during the yuppie-driven 1980's, EXIT threw off the self-limiting shackles of politicized art to gleefully explore ancient artifacts, prohibited subject matter, and aesthetic extremes. Openly defying the prevailing liberal kulturkampf, valuable contributions by Petros, Adam Parfrey, Kim Seltzer, R.N. Taylor, Nick Bougas and a laundry list of other underground luminaries helped redefine subversive art and push the outer limits of journalistic inquiry. This recently issued compendium represents the fruits of their labors and every freethinker should have a copy of this rich compilation in his or her bookshelf. Face it, when Y2K approaches and the majority of this decade's artistic expression is properly consigned to its rightful resting place in America's rapidly growing cultural dust bin, The EXIT Collection will long remain a force to be reckoned with.

-Cletus Nelson

Under "reviews" you quote Charles Manson as having commented about EXIT Magazine, "This book has become one of my favorite toys". In fact, the letter we received from Charles Manson included, in part, the line "This book has become one of my best toys." Please correct this typo if it is possible.

Sincerely,

Michael Andros
Associate Editor
EXIT Magazine / The EXIT Collection

Young readers will be stimulated by Jean Fritz's story of a young lad who wants to know all there is to know about George Washington! There's a lot that he knows, but he just doesn't know what Washington ate for breakfast.

Following from one step to the next, he researches until the mystery is solved, demonstrating that persistence brings a reward. Kids will want to read this book over and over again. (And the hoecakes aren't bad, either!)

I think this book is very awesome especially if you want to know what
George Washington ate. It talks about a boy who is named after George Washington and has the same birth date. If you want to find out more read it yourself.

This book is wonderful and engaging. It is about a little boy, George W. Allen who shares his name and his birthday with George Washington. He knows many facts about George W. but he wants to know more. One day he decides he wants to know what George W. had for breakfast and the learning adventure begins!! I read it to my boys 6 and 4 and they loved it. My sons enjoyed the facts about George W. like: he had two horses named Nelson and Blueskin. There were many "fun facts" such as this in the book. I loved it because in addition to learning about George W., it shows children different ways to search for information. George Allen first goes to the library from there to the card catalog, and then the biographies. Then his family took a trip to Washington D.C., and to George Washington's home in Virginia. It's a great addition to any family library.

You have the wrong illustrator listed. The illustration on the cover is by Tomie dePaola and you have Paul Galdone listed.

I am a second grade teacher, and have a 8 and 4 year old at home. I loved this book, both at school and home. We read it every President's Day, and bake up a serving of hoecakes. It is a really fun way to teach children about the history of George Washington.

This is a book that my husband just had to have! It is out of print and it took awhile for me to find it. If you are a George Brett fan, it is a must have!!

Steve Cameron's latest work with George Brett is a must for any fan of the greatest game. For everyone who has thrilled to George's accomplishments and admired his blue-collar, headfirst approach to the game he loves, "From Here to Cooperstown" is a joy indeed. This book captures the entire story of Brett's career where he had a lifetime average of .305, 3154 hits, and 1595 runs batted in. Great photos and layout compliment the authoring by Steve Cameron. It includes a great section that has quotes and comments from players, coaches, and writers, that have watched George Brett move from a shaky Single A player to the Hall of Famer that he is. Another feature in this book is that George Brett shares his thoughts, emotions, memories, his recollections, and his feelings about the long journey. It captures the entire story of Brett's career from childhood through his many years with the Kansas City Royals. It also does an outstanding job of building an understanding of why Brett is so passionate about the game of baseball. Here is a quote from George on how he would like to be remembered. "I'd like to be remembered as the guy who always played hard and ran out every ball." Although George has made it to the Hall of Fame he thanks many for his success. George would later add in his Hall of Fame speech a thought about his parents. George said," To my parents, Jack and Ethel. Thanks for the endless hours of support and love. You taught me the qualities of life that I will pass along to your grandchildren, Jackson, Dylan, and Robin. I would recommend this book to all players in high school, College, and the Minors because of the lessons it teaches about respect for the game and a personal commitment to excellence.

This book is the heart and soul of George Brett. If you are a fan of George Brett or a lover of the sport this book is a must have addition to your collection.

Steve Cameron's latest work with George Brett is a must for any fan of the greatest Game. It does an outstanding job of building an understanding of why Brett is so passionate about baseball.

There is a great section containing comments from players, coaches, writers that have watched George Brett move from a shaky Single A player to the Hall of Famer that he is.

I almost think this book should be required reading for all players in high school, college and the minors because of the lessons it teaches about respect for the game and personal commitment to excellence.

Until reading this book, I was sure that no one could love the game of baseball more than I did. George Brett is the one man that does.

Steve Cameron's latest work with George Brett is a must for any fan of the greatest game. For everyone who has thrilled to George's accomplishments and admired his blue-collar, headfirst approach to the game he loves, "From Here to Cooperstown" is a joy indeed. This book captures the entire story of Brett's career where he had a lifetime average of .305, 3154 hits, and 1595 runs batted in. Great photos and layout compliment the authoring by Steve Cameron. It includes a great section that has quotes and comments from players, coaches, and writers, that have watched George Brett move from a shaky Single A player to the Hall of Famer that he is. Another feature in this book is that George Brett shares his thoughts, emotions, memories, his recollections, and his feelings about the long journey. It captures the entire story of Brett's career from childhood through his many years with the Kansas City Royals. It also does an outstanding job of building an understanding of why Brett is so passionate about the game of baseball. Here is a quote from George on how he would like to be remembered. "I'd like to be remembered as the guy who always played hard and ran out every ball." Although George has made it to the Hall of Fame he thanks many for his success. George would later add in his Hall of Fame speech a thought about his parents. George said," To my parents, Jack and Ethel. Thanks for the endless hours of support and love. You taught me the qualities of life that I will pass along to your grandchildren, Jackson, Dylan, and Robin. I would recommend this book to all players in high school, College, and the Minors because of the lessons it teaches about respect for the game and a personal commitment to excellence.

This is an older children's book, but it is also a good book for adults. There were many points where it brought me to tears because it is such an emotion filled story. It is definitely suitable for children, although some of the others in the series are not. I reccomend that adults read the books first and then let their children read them. That is actually how I got hooked on this series. The books were so good, I couldn't put them down.

Here is a person who took care of orphans without ever asking for a penny.

George Muller's life was one of selfless giving and charity, and his biographical account is moving and inspiring. Hearing about Mueller's untiring efforts to reach out and give hope to the orphans of Bristol, and how the majority of his life was lived both in faith, constant prayer, and a relentless dedication to give to others, is just so inspiring. Here is Christian charity at its finest. George Muller's testimony is one to be admired.

shared this book with my teen and pre-teen boys to show how God worked in Mueller's life! amazing!

my mother passed this book along to me after she read it to my younger siblings. it is written at a "young adult" level, which was great, because the story was so gripping, I was glad to be able to read it through in a few hours. sometimes God writes the best story possible in the events of history through the lives of His people, and no amount of "literary prowess" is necessary which would get in the way of those pure and unadulterated facts.

This story has inspired me to: pray specifically and trust completely; give away every extra dollar that I have; get rid of at least half my books; stop reading books about the Bible, and read no other book than the Bible until I've read it completely through, or until another book seems as appealing, embracing the possibility that I may never read another book in my life; live a life of complete devotion to Jesus Christ.

My children and I are so happy to have found and to be enjoying this book! The writer has reminded my children through the book (and me, as well) that there are wonderful gifts upon the earth that almost every human being,universally, may enjoy and drink in..."the ring around the moon at night...the western sky...the air we breathe...a place of dreams and a place of sleep." She connects us with all that has come before ("Thank you for the ancient stones..."), and with feelings that we have all experienced at some time ("the color of joy and the shape of love").

Even death is something understood to be thankful for, in the sense that it is part of the cycle of life, and that death often leads to life which comes after. We all know this to be true. A seed must die in order for a tree to be born. Dead leaves from the fall, nourish the earth and help the plants and flowers to thrive in the springtime. Such wisdom is great for children, especially when they experience the death of a loved one or beloved pet...That there is a larger perspective and a plan, and death is a part of it. Not that it is easy or simple, but it somehow is part of a larger, ongoing process of life that is good. (This is not part of the book, but just even on the simplest level, think what life on this globe would be like if no creature from the dawn of history, and no plant, had ever died but continued to live throughout all the ages of the earth!)

The book points out, without being "preachy," that even toes, eyes, ears, hands, and sweet memories are terrific things we can appreciate while going through hard times! Life does indeed become lonely at times, says Webster, but even when we feel we have no friends, the trees are our friends. They continually give to us, even when we're not noticing this giving.

And, insightfully, Webster adds that during lonely times, "remember to thank your Self, that you have traveled this far along your path and in your heart." Life is indeed often very hard, even for children. Each day that is lived and survived in a tough phase of life can be an act of courage. Webster shows them, and us, that we can give our own souls credit for just going on in the face of adversity - and to realize at the end of a hugely saddening day, that we have indeed accomplished something: we have gotten through it! We have survived it! We are still trying, and have not given up on life. (Shouldn't they have a Girl Scout or a Boy Scout badge for this? The "Survival in Adversity" badge. How important it is for children to learn how to do this because there WILL be adversity in their lives.)

The book neatly sums up its lyric journey through the blessings of life with the following, final things for which to be thankful: "for believing, loving, feeling, seeing, the gift of Earth, the miracle of being." I love that with this book, I can reinforce to my kids what I have been trying to teach them: that life itself is a miracle, and to live in such a beautiful place as Earth, and to be able to know ourselves to be alive and in communion with the Earth, with our fellow human beings, and with our own souls, is a miracle.

Sometimes our eyes can be so focused upon our troubles that we cannot see the positives in our lives. But all around us is a magnificent, marvelous world, and people with whom to share love, and a world full of hope and reasons to give thanks, even if they are not the things after which people so avidly chase: wealth, popularity, admiration and an absence of sadness (from which we run away).

I love that the author is never preachy in this book. Many books for children geared towards the theme of "thankfulness" are "you should" types of books. But this book, written as it is from the perspective of Jamile's thoughts extending themselves in saying "thanks" to the trees, etc., helps to draw children in and brings them to a natural point of gratitude without telling them they MUST be grateful. The book has a comfortable, reflective flow which envelops and welcomes and embraces with acceptance. Children feel completely at home reading this lovely book and relate to Jamile when he is happy and also when he is lonely in the dark in his bed.

A word about the illustrations: we have rarely seen such innovative illustrations in a book. They have a kind of 20th-century art, symbolic feel; yet are, like the text, so warm, embracing and "drawing-in." The colors are vibrant and rich. The little cat is so adorable as he walks around observing nature, becoming carried away by a fast-flowing river, staring up at a vast sky full of stars, hiding under his covers in his bed with front paws just bent over the top edge of the covers, and peeking out of the corner of a lit window of his house at night. Children see themselves in the cat Jamile! This strikes me as a beautiful technique, because the child doesn't feel distanced from the thoughts of the book by illustrations which depict a child very different from himself. The cat Jamile is a "universal" character. We each can see ourselves in Jamile as he walks through the pages of this book, looking at life...pondering...and finally reaching understanding.

As a veteran teacher, I cannot express how grateful I am that a book has hit the shelves that profoundly addresses gratitude -- and in such a thoughtful and artful way! The voice of the author and art from the illustrator are fresh and inspiring. How great that the Society of Illustrators has chosen this book for this 2006 show in New York. This is a beautiful book for all ages.

"The Gift of You the Gift of Me" cleverly captures how the little cat Jamile appreciates the really important things in life, especially nature and those we love and those who love us. When difficult times come, Jamile thinks of those really important things, and finds courage and peace of mind. The poignant story of the "Gift of You" makes a wonderful present for young and old alike.

"The Gift of You, The Gift of Me" is a beautifully written and illustrated picture book which offers hope and wisdom. At its center is the little cat Jamile, who each day walks down the lane to visit his "tree friends." He listens to the trees quietly expressing their gratitude for the beauty of nature in a cadence that will sooth and comfort both child and adult alike:

Thank you for
A place of peace
A place of dreams
And a place of sleep

Thank you for the ancient stones
For sand and sea
And a place called home

Such flow is reminiscent of the soothing tone of "Good Night Moon."

"The Gift of You, The Gift of Me" also carries a message of hope. One day, Jamile is unable to visit the trees because of a terrible storm, and he retreats to his home, "tired and cold." Yet even in his sadness, he is able to recall the voices of the trees, and in doing so, he finds not only comfort but also strength and courage. He realizes that expressing our gratitude helps us, and so he is able thank his eyes, his ears, his hands:

Thank you hands,
For reaching out,
Over sadness and over doubt
Toward all that is of wonder.

The book also offers "a secret" that makes us free, which is recongizing what Martin Buber calls the "I-Thou relationship": that "you" are a gift, and so am "I."

An Amazon-Listmania reader/writer has already said that the illustrations are worthy of a Caldecott, and I truly agree. This book is one of the greatest picture books I have seen in a long time.

This book is a very thoughtful reminder about the virtue of gratitude. It also brings awareness to the wonder and miracle of life and our connection to the environment. It promotes values that are important and does more than simply entertain. The content can spark meaningful dialogues with your children about the things that really matter most in life.

The book also explores adversity and the need to turn inward for guidance when things get tough. This is a good lesson to learn early and The Gift of You, The Gift of Me makes the point that after a storm the sun returns and the whole process of life is a miracle.

The illustrations in this book are colorful and creative. Every other page is a full page water color drawing that convey emotion and has highly symbolic content. Just the thing to spark a young person's imagination.

The book is short and doesn't have a lot of words. However, the words were chosen carefully and are packed with meaning. It is the type of book you can be interactive with and you can uncover layers of meaning with as a child gets older.

I have an upcoming speaking engagement where I am going to read this book to a group of children as a separate part of my speaking committment. I am using it because this book is a good touchstone for talking about the mystery of life, hope and gratitude for the good things in life that so often go unnoticed, especially when adversity hits like physical illness. I think it's perfect for this occasion, but no time is the wrong time to introduce children to an attitude of gratitude for what is good in their lives.

With wit and eloquence, the author shares his search for understanding after a life of tribulations, triumphs, and failures. It's satisfying to find a book that shows the bitter and the sweet of life instead of just complaining or holding forth a one-size-fits-all Pollyanna philosophy. I found it difficult to put down though I found myself overwhelmed at times by the forthright, intimate manner in which he shares the most difficult and painful of ordeals. Our pasts differ, yet I found myself relating to the struggles he outlines and through that, finding some comfort and understanding of my own.

Spending time with the passionate, singular people in this memoir was akin to coming across the diary of an old friend. What's the old line? I laughed, I cried. A truly worthwhile and wonderful read.

In this baring-of-the-soul, Mr. Molho shares events, feelings, and thoughts many are familiar with, while also exploring impactful events in his life with which few of us have any analogous experience. The latter range from the benign "reading of the cups" by his grandmother to his literal abduction by his biological father. Well worth the read!

All of the reviews so far are spot on. It isn't just a book, the author is so honest that you truly experience the story and learn the lessons within along with him. All of the cliches apply- a page turning, tear-jerking, heart-stopping, thrilling, chilling, should-be-made-into-a-movie kind of book. Somebody call HarpO!

After reading Greek Coffee I felt as if I was sitting back watching my whole life pass. Every detailed scene reminded me of my "yiayia" and the things she would do. This was an excellent manner in which to describe Greeks and our culture with out all the "hollywood" hype. It's a MUST read.

As the previous reviewer stated, the sorts of things that he went through really are quite amazing.

However, to my surprise - given the titillating nature of real story behind his kidnapping - I found that the vivid recounts of the therapy sessions he went through even more gripping!

It's not often that you find an author willing to expose himself to his readers like this.

Very good.

In the book Grow Your Own Dope, Plant a Man, the author takes the reader back in time to a splendid sense of peace and laugh out loud joy in a humerous style of living a simple life with a man, willing to let her poke fun at their everyday experiences. It's a perfect gift for Mother's and Father's day, or to youself if you've ever wondered how marriage looks from the inside. Take it to read on a train ride, like I did.

This book is great and a lot of laughs. It will make you forget your troubles for a while.

Ms. Griffin writes a very funny book! Sometimes I think she has been eavesdropping on my life. I hope she has another one coming out soon.

This was an excillent book! It was Laugh Out Loud Funny. A great book for everyone!

This is a delightful read full of funny moments in true life situations. I certainly enjoyed it.