J Books

I came to the Love and Rockets bandwagon late. I first read both Gilbert and Jaime Hernandez a few years ago when I picked up this collection and the "Heartbreak Soup" collection by Gilbert and tore through each in turn.

This is a review for both, which is perhaps a bit unfair. But I feel that both brothers possess a deep, amazing skill for expressing deeply life in all of its pain and joy. The incredible thing is that, so often, the situations the characters find themselves in seem completely absurd, fantastical, surreal...yet the "realness" and vitality of both brothers' work cannot be overstated. I've been reduced to tears by the struggles and successes of Maggie and Hopey, of Heraclio and Carmen; but to mention only these characters doesn't do justice to the power of experiencing the different choices and consequences of each and every character in both series alongside them.

Please pick these up and read them--it is so worthwhile.

I thought I'd over extended when I bought it a coupla years ago. Now I see it was a worthy investment. There is so much here. It's actually a heavy book, literally. I can't even dig all into it and it's comics. There's just a ton here and it continues to wait for me to dig further. There are so many stories and you enter a world that you know exists somewhere out there, portrayed lovingly in these pages. Definitely worth getting, though now it's a steeper price. I wonder if it'll cost more in 3 years? 10? Comics with a Mexican flavor yet straight outta the heart of the Chicano life. I dig it. I think you will too if yer considering buying it.

Growing up in an artistic family, I was read Love and Rockets as a very young girl. The drawings, language, and storyline always intrigued me and till this day, I think of Luba as part of my family. She is very real to me, because she is like my mother (really). Such a dynamic, sexy character. People may say that Beto is lacking in his half of the L&R series but I disagree on so many levels.

I started reading Love & Rockets when I was in college in the mid 80s. It blew me away in terms of writing, style, layout. Gilbert is not the best technically, but he more than makes up for it in his storytelling and pacing. I continued reading the stories of Palomar until the mid 90s when other life issues took up most of my time. It was wonderful rediscovering this magnificent work in a single volume. Likewise, Locas by Gilbert's brother Jaime is a superlative body of work (700 pages!). Both volumes should take their deserved place on any comic book lovers shelf.

I've loved the Palomar stories ever since a friend handed me "Heartbreak Soup" (an earlier compilation of a few of the stories). The characters are wonderfully real, the art is expressive, and the strange, strange stories are always entertaining.

What a treat to have all of the Palomar stories in one (huge) volume! I totally agree with the reviewer who said that now Jaime Hernandez should follow suit, and release "Locas: The Maggie and Hopey Stories" (or whatever title he likes, as long as it's the complete Maggie and Hopey).

Alfred Hitchcock has nothing on Art Donovan when the legendary Baltimore Colt defensive lineman writes in Fatso about his experiences with the birds hovering over Kezar Stadium in San Francisco. Give me Hitchcock's flock any time!

The autobiography is a must read for any football fan who wants to laugh while learning a few things about the pro game before the "modern era."

I bought the book when it was originally published about 20 years ago based on the numerous interviews on TV and radio where Donovan held court with local and national media members. I give Dononvan all the credit in the world for working hard to promote the book and his stories were absolutely hilarious.

Donovan seemingly has a great quip for every situation and his recollections on his 1952 season with the Dallas Texans is especially outstanding. Talk about a club on the run - from creditors, that is - Donovan played on the team in 1951 when it was the New York Yanks and moved with the franchise to its new home in the Cotton Bowl.

The Texans were sold back to the league midway through that season, played the bulk of its schedule on the road and ended the year at "home" in the Rubber Bowl in Akron, OH. The franchise folded after the season and the remnants of the club became the new Baltimore Colts. Donovan was a rookie with the "old" Colts franchise that folded after one NFL season.

What may be lost on some readers - due to the comic story-telling - is how good Donovan was in the trenches. Selected to five consecutive Pro Bowls, Donovan was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1968. He was a cornerstone player on the Colts, who fielded some of the finest teams in NFL history.

The book may be difficult to locate in second-hand bookstores, so I suggest browsing the available copies through Amazon sellers.

And if nothing else, you will get a different view of certain things that drop from the sky.

Art Donovan played in a very unique age, when, as he put it, "Pro Football was played by Coal Miners and West Texas psychos" to the time when "guys in suits" became the norm. The stories he tells are not only hilarous, but very telling about the brutality of football in the early 50's.

A great read about for the insight on other greats from that time from Bobby Layne, Unitas, Van Brocklin, Y.A. Tittle, etc.

If you can find the book buy it!

Simply stated, this is one of the most enjoyable books ever written. Art Donovan is an incredibly funny man who just happened to be the finest defensive tackle ever to play the game, and his hilarious anecdotes will amuse any reader, whether or not that reader is a sports fan. Besides its wonderful humor, Art Donovan's story is one of hard work, dedication, and talent in the competitive world of pro football. This book is sure to please any reader, so find a copy, and enjoy it.

Art, you are a true son of the Bronx! Although you were in the generation before me, I could relate to MANY of the places you describe, and I felt like I was there in the empty lots, playing baseball and football. Ah memories!!

I also identified with you when Notre Dame didn't take a shine to you because you were from the Bronx -- been there, had that done to me too (not at ND, but in the good old South) -- it's ND's LOSS.

This book brought me back to those days when sis, Mom and I used to watch football games on our little Black and White TV -- those days when the Offense was the Defense too, when safety equipment was nothing to write home about -- when people DID play with broken limbs -- bless you for your falling-down-act Art......

Art is also hysterically funny and doesn't couch his language -- more than one person sitting next to me on the Subway quickly learned to avert their snooping eyes while I was reading this book.

Reading his book reminds me just why I loved the game back then and detest it now. This is a down-to-earth, humble and geniune person who just happened to play football back in the 50's. Not these self-absorbed, spoiled and boorish jackholes of today. If you want to take a trip back in time and understand why many of us are "old school", you'll want to read this. Artie rules!!

This is a great book especially when you started with Duck in the Truck. Very cute story and great illustrations. Lots of detail in the illustrations that are fun to pick out.

What a wonderful story this is....poor Fix-It-Duck only wants to help and he keeps making things worse and worse. A delightful bedtime story you will enjoy again and again.

It's okay, the story is fine. But compared to Duck in the Truck this one is just okay.

that we bought it and donated it to our local library to share with other kids. I have 3 children ranging in ages from 3 - 8 and we all LOVE DUCK!!

This is my 2 year old sons favourite book! He has the the entire book memorized and out of all of his books we read this one at least twice a day. It's a fun rhyming book that flows really well. The other books in the duck series are also great. I'm curious to see the new release of "hide and seek" featuring frog that is coming out in dec.

From Cinderella to CEO was a great read, a lot of fun; Full of good advice. If you've had a job, you'll see yourself in many of the stories; I know I did. This would be a wonderful gift for a new graduate.

Cary's delightful journey into all the archetypes that fairy tales present helps us realize that the big bad wolf, the wicked witch and the trolls under the bridge whom we encounter at work can be sidestepped to our advantage--and gracefully.

She taps the age-old wisdom that helps us find our path safely through the forest of the corporate world. I've known Cary since she was about 10 years old, and she's always been wonderfully refreshing. The same Cary shines through in Cinderella to CEO .
Patrice Dickey, author of BACK TO THE GARDEN: Getting from Shadow to Joy

Cary Broussard's terrific new business book is filled with straightforward and powerful advice on how to get where you want to go in business. The great thing is that she does it by using our favorite fairy tales as metaphors for life in business. She takes us back to a time (our childhood) when we believed that anything was possible. By taking us there, she makes us see that in fact almost anything really is. It's a book, you'll come back over and over again.

Absolutely loved it! This book is a great tool for a woman at any point in her career. It's appropriate for men too!

I started the book and finished it over the weekend. I wasn't expecting to want to read the book cover to cover, but I couldn't help it! I am buying this book for all my girlfriends for Christmas.

Excellent first book after you have received the diagnosis on your child. Good overview. After absorbing this information, you will want to move on to books that deal with the specific type of epilepsy with which your child has been diagnosed.

After hours of internet searching and bookstore browsing with not a whole lot of usable results, finding this book was great. It is clearly written, easy to understand, and covers all of the different causes for seizures, as well as medications and some discussion of the physiology of seizures. I am ordering another copy for my daughter's preschool teachers, who want to be as educated as they can be so that they are prepared for potential seizures at school.

When my 13 year old son had his first seizure, I completely freaked out. When he had a second seizure, I completely lost it and became full of anxiety, fear, and anger. But after reading this book, I found great comfort knowing that all the emotions I had were "normal". The book is also easy to understand, and covers a lot of information which has helped me to become more informed regarding seizures and epilepsy.

I can't begin to describe the grief and fear and utter isolation I felt when my daughter had her second seizure. I remembered that knowledge is power, and I needed to feel powerful. This book gave that to me and so much more! Suddenly terms made sense and I wasn't alone anymore. The section on family coping is amazing: it's as though the authors have reached inside your mind and put down every emotion you've gone through and some that are yet to come. There are case examples throughout that are uplifting, and yes, sometimes a little frightening, but very helpful to read and very enlightening. Most importantly, the book is positive throughout without minimizing what you're dealing with. My only complaint(and this goes for all books, websites, etc) is the use of percentages to illustrate how uncommon different seizure types are, or how many kids outgrow, etc. We already know our kids beat the odds, we don't need to be reminded, and frankly those numbers that in the beginning were a comfort, now are depressing. Again, if a child in your family has seizures, YOU MUST HAVE THIS BOOK!!!

This book contains the answers to most, if not all, of your questions regarding how seizures and epilepsy will affect your child and family. It will also help you know which questions to ask your child's physicians. It is a most complete work. In five sections it describes why seizures occur, diagnosing, treating, coping, and living with epilepsy. Please do yourself a great favor and purchase this book. It is written in language a parent will understand without previous medical knowledge and also it is written with compassion and optimism. I have recommended this book to my family and friends who wish to understand more of how epilepsy is affecting my son's life. You won't be disappointed, buy it today!

I read Harry Potter 1 ~ 5 but stopped at 6th, because my eye sight
deteriorated and reading such a big book will surely make it worse,
so I switched to audio for book 6 and 7 and discovered yet a new world!
Jim Dale is wonderful! Amazing how he can use a totally different (and suitable) voice for each character, considering how many characters there are, use them consistently, switching back and forth effortlessly, and if you have watched the movies, they even match the voices in the movies! I thoroughly enjoyed these audios and highly recommend it if you don't have time to sit down to read the whole thing, or simply don't want to stain your eyes by reading non-stop (like what I used to do, being unable to drop the book in the middle).

Book 7 is my favorite of the whole series. I have read too many suspense stories with predicable or disappointing endings, or dropping a lot of useless (or even contradictionary) hints just to create the suspense without being able to explaining themselves. Not Rowlings, she always has seamless plots and now, a spectacular ending, not to say all the humor and fun which is rare in suspense novels.

I can only say Jim Dale is a genius in linguistics and Rowlings is a genius in creativity!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows is an all and all good book. You connect with the characters as the books goes on and you see how some friendships grow. Harry, Hermione, and Ron seem like they are the best of friends, but after you read this book, you see that they can be even better friends.
I really like in the book how some things are not completely explain and you have to think to figure some things out. I like to think when I read the book. When things are just given to you things get a bit boring. The ending is pretty good, but I just sort of wish that there would be a bit more explanation to it.
There are a few things that could have been better. It gets into a lot of detail and a lot of people their minds start to wonder and they get off topic so the explanation of some things could be a little less yet there are some things could be a bit more detailed.
So I think the book was very interesting and I would recommend the book to anybody who wants a good read and would take the time to read it. º

I wish to instill upon all my readers the solemnity with which I type these words today. It's been just under 48 hours since a large percent of Muggle-kind poured into bookstores worldwide to get their own copy of the most awaited book ever published. It was without a doubt the greatest novel I have ever had the pleasure of reading. Rowling writes so well that it all seems so real, real enough to become an international phenomenon that has made Harry's world leap into our hearts and homes. Hogwarts, Godric's Hollow, and Hogsmeade have all seemed to be out there just beyond the reach of our outstretched, groping fingertips. It is because of this that what I am writing now will be like no other review that I have ever penned. I have followed Harry from Number 4 Privet Drive, to the very end, and cherished every word. Ending the Harry Potter series is like drawing a line between his world and ours, it's the final breaking point at which our ever-growing curiosity will never be satisfied. And we know it. Even though it was voiced by J.K. long before the release was scheduled that this would be the final installment, I thought that, maybe, just maybe, there was some fleeting chance of another book. The first thing I ever read in the book assured me that it was a futile impossibility. In place of a synopsis, it simply stated 'We now present the seventh and final installment in the epic tale of Harry Potter'. This was it. End of story. Literally.

This is a book that cannot be passed up. It answers more questions in such a special way that only Rowling is capable of. If you wanted to know something about the previous books, the answers are in here. Every chapter was a good read, with nonstop action throughout. Many very important questions are left addressed, but unanswered until the latter part of the book, but within the first chapter, key elements of the plot are unveiled. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is one of those books that you will lay reading at night, fighting to overpower sleep, unable to put it down, and get through 100 more pages than you originally expected to before the drowsiness finally overtakes you. The dedication in itself is enticingly vague enough to make you want to read the book all in one sitting. Rowling addresses six of her friends and then has one final thing to say: 'And to you, if you have stuck with Harry until the very end.'. It made me uneasy, and it made me wonder, as I'm sure it will you.

I cannot say much about the plot that you do not already know, without revealing important determining factors in the book. I will however say that during Harry's search for the Horcruxes, he faces more obstacles that he has in any previous endeavor that he has undertaken. The power of evil is growing even stronger, and the magical world is not what it used to be at all. You'll have to read it to get to "the good stuff", and this is guaranteed a book that you won't find boring. It will be one of the best decisions of a read you'll ever make.

As we come to the end of this unique world of fantasy which JK Rowling created, kudos must be given to Jim Dale, who from the first book made every character come alive with a distinctive voice and personality. I have read the books, but for me, listening to the CD's of Jim Dale's narration made the experience fully real. He created little children, old women, giants, monsters, centaurs, and the hissing voice of the snakelike villain. Each voice so distinctive we came to recognize it instantly.
As for the this the final book in the series:
This is the last book in a seven book series that reads as one long fabulous story, a fantasy classic for all ages. It stands with JRR Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings" in that it started out as a children's book: "The Hobbit" in Tolkien's case; "The Sorcerer's Stone" in Rowling's case, and both moved on quickly, as if of their own volition, to proceed away from a simple child's story and become a real world in fact, with humor, tragedy, love, and loss and a great overwhelming evil that the decent people are required to fight in order to keep their self-respect and honor. In each case, the sagas are works that can be appreciated by every age. The Harry Potter series gives us characters as real as any people we have known. They have faults and frailties, we have seen them grow and mature before our eyes through the series from childhood to late adolescence with all that entails, and we have come to really care for them. Though surrounded by magic, by potions, by fantastic animals, and unknown species, the main characters are deeply human. The world they live in is similar to our own, but has the added ingredient of magic, which all the major characters can use. However for much of the story magic is a sideline---very important, discussed and used continually--- but not as important as those very human qualities of friendship, love and trust which actually pull the characters through their losses, to fight their battles, and get them through the on-going great battle with almost overwhelming evil. The human qualities inevitably trump the magical ones in this world: The protective spell of a mother's love...sacrificing oneself for one's friends...those qualities and others are more powerful than spells, potions and wand-work. This, the final book is an excellent entry to the series. Every thread is tied up, and a surprising new subplot is introduced. There is much fighting and death, but it is for a cause well worth fighting for, which mirrors events of our times, and no death is for shock value or the wantoness of blood, gore and pain. The losses suffered by the good people in these last two books have been enormous, yet, again, suffered meaningfully for that great cause, and always appropriate and always mourned. As the book ends, one feels that this world exists and will continue. The work which is the seven part series will stand, I think, in the fantasy literature genre as a classic to be read and remembered. The word "heart" is used frequently, and "heart" is at the center of this world: love, friendship and self-sacrifice are themes repeated over and over, and are the touchstones of this world and what make it special. No recent great work has so unashamedly been so clear on that point, and that is what has drawn so many to it.

I listened to the unabridged audio version of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows and really think this was the best harry Potter book so far. It was spectacularly narrated and, is 19 CD's long, which is probably why I haven't written a review for a while.

I particularly enjoyed the environment in this latest one. It is darker and more urgent. Harry, Hermione and ron are on the run! Harry must find horcrux's which contain bits of Voldemort's soul. Our heroes are also battling uncertainty, doubt, and betrayal. I particularly enjoyed the fact that Dudley seemed to have shown a kinder side, and the revelation about Aunt Petunia was just fascinating. I almost felt bad for her.

I enjoyed the backstory with Lily/Snape which explained a lot. I only wish Harry's dad had been less cruel towards Snape.

Overall, this was a spectacular conclusion to the HP series, although, I think I could've done without the epilog at the end. It didn't add anything.

This book is not just for people who have anxiety or panic disorder. It encompasses healthy living for the mind, body and spirit. I recommend this book for anyone attempting to live a peaceful, healthy existence.

these books (by Edmund J Bourne) don't miss a thing. I was never diagnosed with anxiety disorder, my md hadn't heard about those disorders, and he'd run out of tests to do, and ideas. So,sometime later, when I read this book, everything fell into place, and I could then know what i needed to get(a qualified behaviourist) which i did. I'm still agoraphobic, but won't be for much longer. It's just when your md doesn't know- it wastes alot of time. These books go past informing and cover everything you need to make a recovery.

Although the title of my review may sound a little cliche and gaudy it is actually not far from the truth. Having read the excellent Anxiety and Phobia Workbooks and gaining immense insight from them, I was eager to read one more book from Edmund Bourne. This book is an excellent read/resource for a number of reasons. Bourne, himself has suffered from anxiety for over 30 years and in the first part of the book he shares his struggles with the reader which gives us a sense of connection with him. Healing Fear does have some similarities to his previous books but it has evolved and expanded. Bourne now believes that there are far more circumstances when medication may be appropriate and even necessary. Also, there is a section on herbs which are relatively new to western civilization in the treatmentment of anxiety. Something else that is different about this book is the second section which has some definite ties to spirituality. Developing Your Observing Self is one of the most powerful and meaningful chapters that I have ever read in any book. Additionally, the numerous forms of relaxation are discussed as well as finding meaning in life. There are undoubtable ties between these subjects and lasting recovery from anxiety. True recovery ofter requires a shift in the way we look at things and the pace at which we live our lives. Incorporating a certain amount of relaxation and thought calming in our everyday lives is in many cases very necessary to our complete and full recovery from anxiety. In the last chapter there is a list of things to do everyday to avoid an accumulation of stress and there is a complete appendix to the book filled with suggested readings that are inspiring. Healing Fear does just what the title says it does and you will not be disappointed with your purchase.

Chapter 1 -- The Author's Own Story
Chapter 2 -- Restoring Lost Connections (family, community, nature, self, God)
Chapter 3 -- Simplifying Your Life (reducing stress, doing what you want for a living, reducing exposure to television, increasing exposure to nature, delegating, learning to say "No")
Chapter 4 -- Caring for Your Body (relaxation, abdominal breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, pacing and downtime, exercise programs, overcoming excuses for not exercising, energy balance)

Chapter 5 -- Caring for Your Body (improving your nutrition, minimizing caffeine, reducing sugar, identifying allergic foods, reducing saturated fats, eating whole and unprocessed foods, organic foods, vegetables, fiber, daily fluid intake, protein-to-carbohydrate ratio, vitamins, amino acids, tryptophan, GABA, DLPA, herbs, glandulars, hormones, detoxification, fasting)
Chapter 6 -- Tools that Work: Help for Overcoming Panic and Phobias (The truth about panic attacks: [1] Panic attacks are unpleasant but not dangerous [2] A panic attack cannot cause heart failure or cardiac arrest [3] A panic attack will not cause you to stop breathing or suffocate [4] A panic attack cannot cause you to faint [5] A panic attack cannot cause you to lose your balance [6] You won't fall when you feel "weak in the knees" during a panic attack [7] You cannot "go crazy" during a panic attack [8] A panic attack cannot cause you to "lose control of yourself" [9] Don't fight panic. Coping strategies for managing panic: [1] Use the anxiety scale [2] Abdominal breathing [3] Coping statements [4] Other diversion techniques [5] Revising catastrophic thoughts that contribute to panic. Examples of how to change self-talk: [1] Fear of driving on a freeway [2] Fear of flying [3] Fear of contracting a serious illness. How to face what you fear: [1] Taking manageable steps [2] Relying upon a support person [3] Coping strategies [4] Avoid flooding [5] Practicing exposure to phobia 3 to 5 times each week [6] Maintaining the right attitude)
Chapter 7 -- Medication (Serotonin, tryptophan, St. John's wart, exercise, exposure to light. Types: SSRIs, benzodiazepines, cyclic antidepressants, MAO inhibitor antidepressants, beta-blockers, buspar. Should I take medication? For how long? When should I discontinue it?)
Chapter 8 -- Addressing Personality Issues (Fear of abandonment or isolation, fear of rejection or embarrassment, fear of losing control, fear of death or injury, fear of confinement)

Chapter 9 -- Developing Your Observing Self (Meditation)
Chapter 10 -- Finding Your Unique Purpose
Chapter 11 -- Enlarging Your View of Life (How spirituality can help overcome anxiety, your concept of God, deepening your relationship with God, viewing adversity and difficulties from a spiritual perspective)
Chapter 12 -- Letting Go (relaxation, humor, patience, creativity, doing for others, overcoming perfectionism, relying upon others, tolerating uncertainty, faith)
Chapter 13 -- Affirming Your Recovery
Chapter 14 -- Learning to Love (forgiveness, compassion, generosity, kindness)
Chapter 15 -- Conclusion: Acquiring Courage (Ten ways to heal fear daily)

Dr. Bourne has an excellent track record for providing real help for real people, and this book is no exception. I always love it when a self-help author is willing to put his own story out there, and Dr. Bourne does so in a way that helps readers know that they are not alone with whatever degree or variety of anxiety that haunts them.

As a psychotherapist and author who also teaches about overcoming fear's control in our lives, I have tremendous respect for Dr. Bourne's well-thought out, thorough approach to the subject. He is not a "one technique fits all" kind of author, but instead offers a very complete catalog of options from which to choose.

Last, but not least, Healing Fear has something many self-help books don't have: humility. Dr. Bourne understands that cognitive/behavioral techniques are very powerful in the face of fear and anxieties, but he includes respectful and intelligent information about the value of medication and of spiritual practice. This is a book to which I never hesitate to refer a client, friend or family member.

-Thom Rutledge, Author of Embracing Fear (HarperSanFancisco)

While most of the stories in Ms. Arielle Ford's book were touching it was not exactly what I expected I always thought soul mate is somebody who is really your other half, someone who fills that void within your heart, that very special person who makes you more whole than you already and with whom you have ties to from past lives and future lives. You share that unbreakable cosmic bond. When you see them there is just divine a spark between you that literally lights up both your worlds and the world becomes a heavenly place. Or then maybe I am just a hopeless romantic.
.

This book is truly one of my all time favorites! I've read it about 4 times now and I still get a lot out of it. I stumbled upon this book about a year ago, when I was going through a really difficult break up. I (like a lot of people) hit that moment where I swore there was "no real love affairs, no unconditional love and no such things as soul mates!" (For a hopeless romantic who never gives up on love, that's pretty bad.)

I was really, really hurt, but when out of my pain I decided to read this book I was amazed, touched, and healed. I felt hope coming back into my soul again. I felt renewed, I realized that there are such things as unconditional love, and soul mates. I regained lost hope for my romantic future.

This book is great, Arielle Ford did a wonderful job compiling all these stories and I commend her for not being judgemental of alternative relationships and including them in this book. I sincerely hope she does another book like this with more wonderful stories for hopeless romantics like me.

Gemini :):):)

Beyond the woo-woo New Age feel of this... I do believe that sometimes God is trying to tell you something when coincidences happen too often to be random. Whether you believe in the new physics of love from Dr. Henry Grayson, or in allowing The Circle by Laura Day to lead you to love, or perhaps feel that Attracting love in is the name of the game (there is a book on this too) .... maybe some people ARE meant to be. Squire Rusnell documents this in his "God winks" books too. Since I am writing this on the birthday of my own lost love (see my review of Laura Day's Practical Intuition in Love, Happy Birthday Giovanni, I still love you my favorite Pisces/Aries) ... I'm all for this book for those who are meant to be. So savor and cherish a memory. Don't forget the hot chocolate to warm your heart.

I found a copy of this book at a thrift shop a few years ago.I am open to new age and spiritual philosophies but not a big freak on it.I really liked this book,very uplifting.I held on to my copy,torn between keeping it to myself and sharing with friends.It is a great gift for someone still searching for true love or for that matter someone getting over a broken heart.

This book will remind you how magical and sacred love can be. Whether you're married (or single and looking) this little gem will give you a renewed sense of hope and refresh your perspective on romance. How wonderful to realize that love is more than an ecstasy; but also a unique opportunity to develop oneself spiritually. After reading these stories, it seems the universe has a plan that we all have a special place in. An absolute delight, I'd give it six stars if I could...

I first read Hunter's book as a teenage boy and was transported by his stories of hunting dangerous game in the African bush. Hunter's influence was one of the reasons that I became a big game hunter, myself, hunting all over the world including much of Southern Africa and Ethiopia. Still, it is with regret that I couldn't see Africa in a more pristine age as did John Hunter.

It is pitiful that Kenya, the site of many of Hunter's adventures, subsequently banned big game hunting and the traditions of one of the greatest of all hunting nations have largely been lost. I keep hearing rumors that Kenya is "opening up", again. Let's hope so.

Ron Braithwaite author of novels--"Skull Rack" and "Hummingbird God"--on the Conquest of Mexico

This is the best book on African Dangerous Game Hunting that I have read to date. John Hunter (coincidence of name and profession) hunted in Africa (mostly Kenya) in the first half of the 20th century and with his 'cropping' activities for the Kenya Game Department shot staggering numbers of the 'big five'. His unassuming old world style is engaging and I found the book difficult to put down and was disappointed when I reached the end - I was left craving more. That he survived to write his books is testimony to his skill as a hunter.

A great book, one of the best on African hunting I have ever read. Hunter is right up there with Pondoro Taylor as knowledgeable yet entertaining as well.

This book is a timeless classic and definitely, definitely worth reading. If you are a big game hunter (or an aspiring big game hunter), this book is an essential addition to your library. This is quite possibly the best hunting book ever written. Better than Hemingway's accounts, in my opinion.

I first read "Hunter" when I was in college more than 40 years ago, and I can still remember J.A. Hunter's sadness and lament when he described his feelings upon the loss of his dog. In that instance he said "that you grow too fond of a dog. I sometimes wonder whether the pleasure in owning a dog is worth the misery caused by his death." An excellent book that I would recommend to all readers, but especially teenagers and young adults.

Havnt quite finished reading but this is an interesting journal of the events experienced, people encountered and travels of Mr. Stephens as he visits Central America.

This is a Must read for anyone with even a passing interest in the mayan culture. Still easy to read even though it was written over 150 years ago! Imagine you are one of the first explores to adventure into the the jungles of the Yucatan and vist the ancient cities hidden in the jungle. I wish I had read this book before My trip to the Yucatan, would have made my trip that much more enjoyable! The Catherwood engravings are spectacular!

I realize that not everyone shares my taste in literature, but if you are an armchair adventurer (or a real adventurer) with a refined sense of humor, I guarantee you will thoroughly enjoy this book, as well as Volume II. Many evenings, after a grueling day in the office, John L. Stephens transported me to another place and time with his excellent gift for writing, eye for detail and sense of humor that frequently had me waking my poor spouse with irrepressible laughter. As an author, explorer and humorist with the subtlest of wits, I place Stephens in the ranks with Mark Twain, and that is the ultimate compliment. Enjoy.

I think this book is fascinating for two types of people:
- Those who are interested in the history of Central America, who will see in Stephens a witness of time
- Those very familiar with Central America's geography (specially Guatemala's), who will enjoy reading Stephens' descriptions of many places that (in their majority) still exist

In 1839, at 34, John L. Stephens was appointed as "United States Minister" - a sort of US envoy - for Central America (which at the time was still one country). Stephens was a serial traveler: 5 years ago, he had visited Eastern Europe (Greece, Turkey, Russia and Poland) and the Middle East (Egypt and Syria), and had already published a couple of books about these trips.

Stephens decided to combine his diplomatic duty with his interest in searching for Mayan ruins in the region. By October, he embarked with his friend Frederick Catherwood (another extensive traveller) in a trip that would take them to what was (already) a politically convulsed region.

At the time, Central America was filled with political turmoil. The largest state of the country, Guatemala, had basically fallen in the hands of Rafael Carrera, a non-educated peasant. Carrera refused to recognize the authority of Francisco Morazán who, based in San Salvador, was at least in theory, the President of the Central American confederation. Rumours, political intrigues and suspicions abounded at the time.

And so, in this setting, Stephens got into a boat, and after a few days in Belize, travelled (by boat again) to the Caribbean shore of Guatemala. He entered the country through Rio Dulce and touched land in a small village in the shores of the Izabal Lake.

Starting there, Stephens made a trip, generally by mule's back, that took him to Zacapa, Chiquimula, Copan (in Honduras), Esquipulas, Guastatoya, Guatemala City (already established by then where it is now), Antigua Guatemala, Escuintla, Iztapa (in the Pacific shores) and Amatitlán. He later took a boat and went to El Salvador, and then to Costa Rica, where he disembarked and returned to Guatemala by land.

Apparently, Stephens was one of the first "adventure tourists" of modern times. He ascended many volcanoes and spent a considerable time in Copan, cleaning up the forrest that was still covering the ruins and helping his friend Catherwood to draw reproductions of the ruins (these drawings are included in the book). In addition, and as part of his diplomatic duties, he met some of the leading political figures of the time, like Carrera himself.

Stephens not only did all the above, but ended up writing a very nice and enjoyable book that describes very well what he saw and thought at the time.

In short, this book is a rare jewel that allows the reader to better imagine how was life and nature in Central America in the middle of the XIX century.

(Note: the review above is based on Volume I - a book that curiously did not exist in Amazon's inventory at the time of my reading in 2005. Being respectful of my own past review, I havent' changed it. The next paragraphs though, are 2007 additions in which I comment on Volume 2)

If the reader enjoyed Vol 1, she/he will surely find Vol 2 a satisfying read. Vol 2 starts in Nicaragua, and continues in El Salvador, where Mr Stephens continues in his search of a Central American government. I will not delve into the details of all of Mr Stephens' adventures. Suffice it to say that he gets to meet the recently defeated Francisco Morazán, meets Rafael Carrera (again), travels through the Guatemalan western highlands, gets to know the story of the Los Altos state, crosses the border to Mexico, visits Palenque and Uxmal, finally returning to the US.

Its particularly interesting to read Stephens' account of Carrera and his young government. The fact that Carrera was even known at the time as the King of the Indians is an interesting point to notice -any reader knowledgeable with Guatemala's history and societal dynamics could extrapolate this to many events of the past 50 years.

Also interesting is Stephens' rebuttal of previous accounts regarding the difficulty of visiting ruins like the ones in Palenque. The more widely known stories at the time created the impression that visiting the ruins was full of dangers. Always the practical and matter-of-factly adventurer, Stephens bluntly says that they are (were) untrue, and that the greatest hardships he and Mr Catherwood endured were due to the unstable revolutionary state of the countries.

If the reader is interested or has knowledge of archaeology, he/she must also know that Vol 2 has plenty detailed descriptions and diagrams prepared by Mr Catherwood (who in my opinion was a very gifted artist, being able to draw the intrincated details of many Mayan ruins).

I strongly recommend Vol 2 to anyone interested in Central American history, archaeology, the mayans, or true old-fashioned adventure travel.

This is a must read for any one with an interest in the ancient Mayan culture an ruin sites. the other reviewers have summed this book up great, but I just wanted to throw in my two cents.