Johnson Books

Cormier has always written wonderful characters. His books have always been invitations to walk with them through their personal torment. This is not a happy book, his books never are. You get a sense of strength having gone through the same tragedies as the main character. Its a warm embrace into a cold world.

Eleven-year-old Darcy Webster, caught between girlhood and adolescence during World War II, makes her first friend ever when she meets Kathleen Mary O'Hara, and their relationship blossoms until Kathleen Mary mysteriously disappears. At the same time, Darcy's father is reported missing in action. All this, plus Kathleen Mary's "baptizing" Darcy, brings her to a painful spiritual crisis.

Other Bells for Us to Ring is beautifully written but it raises many issues about God, miracles, growing up and alcoholism.

There are some beautiful passages where Cormier has blended words into a lovely picture.

It had wonderful characters. I felt like I was walking with Darcy through her personal tragedy. This is not a happy book, but I got a sense of strength feeling like I had gone through the same tragedies as the main character.

The most moving part in the entire story was when Darcy looked to an old nun, Sister Angela for help and wisdom, who explained the beauty of life and faith to her. I found this part amazing and extremely moving. I really got something out of it. Sister Angela's words were inspirational to me they really explained God to me. I knew who he was and everything. But I have never really understood things until I read what she said to Darcy.

I thought there would be a happy ending. I really did. It was happy at first, when I learned that Darcy's father was safe and sound, but in the next chapter when I learned what happened to Kathleen Mary, all my expectations came down with a great and glorious crash. It was powerful when John Francis showed up and gave Darcy the news. I thought that the giving of the doll gave me closure. It was a sad ending but yet it wasn't. It is quite hard to explain.

Overall this is a powerful book. It is truly exceptional.

As her father moves the family to an army town Darcy makes a new friend in an otherwise strange setting. She and Kathleen Mary become inseparable, best friends forever, and begin a journey of friendship that exposes Darcy to the Catholic faith. One day Kathleen Mary is gone and Darcy's father is missing in action. Darcy seeks out the help and wisdom of an old nun who explains the beauty of life and faith to her. As Darcy struggles with the loss of friend and father her newly discovered knowledge helps her through. This is a beautifully written story, one that is probably best suited for ages 11 and up. There are some beautiful passages where Cormier has blended words and imagery into a lovely picture.

I am not religious and I'd rather stay away from religion. When I read the back of 'Other Bells for Us to Ring' I thought: oh know, a sappy religious novel. But I read it anyway, because I trusted Robert Cormier not to disappoint me with a sappy religious novel. Religious it was, sappy it was not! I've never been particularly interested in Catholicism and never knew much about it, but I learned a lot from this book and feel all the better doing so. Both Darcy and Kathleen Mary O'Hara are exceedingly likeable characters, particularly Kathleen Mary, who was in my eyes a younger version of Amy Hertz from Robert Cormier's novel 'I am the Cheese.' I thought there would be a happy ending. I really did. It was happy at first, when I learned that Darcy's father was safe and sound, but in the next chapter when I learned what happened to Kathleen Mary, all my expectations came down with a great and glorious crash. My father, when he saw me weeping, muttered about an 'adolescent mood swing.' I just kept sobbing. Why do good people have to die? Why?

This book, along with its Oregon-Washington Second Volume, is a MUST-read for anyone planning their own trip along all or part of the Pacific Crest Trail. This trail guide provides a wealth of information such as mileage, water-stops, trail conditions, tips, maps, and even locations (including addresses!) of post-offices and other along-the trail stop-overs for re-supply. PCT hikers often carry this book with them in their packs and reference it often. More weight-conscious thru-hikers will cut or tear the book apart into sections (it's conveniently divided into a long series of trail sections between stop-overs) and ship the abbreviated guides back to themselves at towns along the journey.

Combining years of research and tens of thousands of miles of first-hand trail experience, the authors have done an outstanding job in allowing future backpackers access to the information they need to plan their own epic adventures. The book usually comes with an pamphlet included to keep you posted on any updates and changes to the trail since the book's latest release (which I believe there have been six such releases since its initial publication in '73).

I'm planning my own thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail, and after much of my own extensive research through countless other books and guides, I still come back to this one for the information I need to plan my own greatest adventure to date. Be sure the check the Oregon & Washington volume of the guide as well, written by the same authors in the exact same format.

I have used this book since 1980 to hike all or part of the PCT. It can make or break your trip. The most important info is where to find water. Some souces are difficult to find, but this book will lead you to it. The amount of info,maps, water, landmarks, milage,trail conditions, suppy points, etc., make this book a must on any hike along the PCT. If you don't have it with you, you're a lost soul.

I enjoy all of the Schaffer books because they are accurate, fun to read and reliable. This book has little chapters on the PCT, and the descriptions of each part of the trail are a total delight. So often these hiking books neglect to tell you how to reach the trailhead and oftentimes they don't provide detailed instructions (I mean this for section or day hikers of the PCT). Schaffer never makes this mistake. You will not need a separate map to locate any of the sections of the trail, his maps and written instructions are first-rate. In fact, there is even a nifty fold-out map sewn into the rear pocket so you can tote it along on any of your journeys. Equally interesting is that this book doesn't merely give elevation gains, difficulty ratings and desriptions of the trail conditions. These are vital to know, but Schaffer also includes little bits of information of what kinds of wild flowers you will encounter, birds, wildlife and other little nuggets neglected in other guides.

The book is supposed to be mainly for thru-hikers of the PCT, but there are many trails here that can be used for day hikes. These trips will be in the 10-16 mile range and any strong hiker can easily do these hikes in one day. If you do choose to go the entire PCT, Schaffer describes water sources, camping sites and addresses whether bears or marmots might be a problem for you. Most importantly, he tells you where to find water and whether the water source is reliable throughout the whole year.

I can't recommend this guide highly enough. Even if you're an armchair hiker, you'll derive many hours of vicarious joy from this guide.

I bought this book & another book, kept this one and returned the other. I haven't seen a better guide to the PCT.

I received my book in good condition and in a timely manner. I appreciate the packaging and promptness.

This is an easy book to navigate, the text is informative, and the photographs are nicely done. I was a bit disappointed that some of the grandeur mansions where absent, but the largest, Mar-A-Lago was included, and that was appreciated. None of the homes are explored in great detail and though every home has an image, I would have liked to have seen more visuals, but as I have stated above the images are well done and the book does cover an impressive list of homes. I recommend this book as a good sampling of Palm Beach homes, but hardly definitive, maybe someone will be able to gain access at some point to some of the grandest private estates, and here's hoping they bring a camera with plenty of gig's.

This fine coffee table book is filed with wonderful photographs of a small selection of some of the finest mansions in the country. The ranges of houses from Adam and Regency, to simple clapboard, to Spanish/Moorish is excellent. The text is informative, accurate and well written. If interested in South Florida fine architecture, this book is a must.

My boss has this book to get ideas for designing custom homes for high-profile clients. I have read the book from cover to cover but every time I open it, it seems like I discover anew more pictures & details of these beautiful homes. These Palm Beach houses were built as if they were competing with one another for the title of 'most splendid work of art'. Most are not sprawling mansions or overly complicated expressions of the wealth of their owners. They are, however, fine examples of the architecture of Palm Beach summer homes of the 1920's priveleged upper class.

I love this book. Of course It would be nice if there were floorplans. And as usual one closes the book wishing he could see more photos of each of the houses. But there are many stunning photos. Kudos to the photographer. It is well worth the money and I will get it someday if I can no longer borrow it from my boss.

Set approximately 1300 years ago, this historical novel is about Charles, born of an illegitimate relationship. His father, Pepin de Gros, is Mayor of the Castle in Cologne (the real authority), and Plectruda, his wife, is past childbearing age. Charles is born to Alpaida, one of the servant girls. Plectruda is irate, and even though Charles' claim to the throne is tiny, she makes sure that he never gets anywhere near it. Growing up, Charles is teased and tormented about his parentage by the other children. Always called Pepin's Bastard instead of Charles, it gets to the point where he might as well make that his legal name.

In his early teens, he is sent to a faraway castle, run by a man named Dodo, to learn how to be a soldier. He spends his winters at the monastery at Metz to learn reading, writing and arithmetic, a rarity. He marries, and starts a family, knowing that if Plectruda gets her hands on any of them, their life span will be very short. Charles rises through the ranks at the castle, becoming Captain of the Guard. Meantime, the throne in Cologne keeps changing hands, usually through assassination. One night, Charles receives the wife and teenage daughter of Grimwald, the latest occupant of the throne and one of Plectruda's sons. They tell a harrowing tale of fleeing at night, with just the clothes on their backs. Charles and the daughter have a child and get married, almost wrecking his marriage to Rotruda, his wife, but there is a reason for it.

Around the year 700, the Franks in northern Europe were a bunch of disorganized tribes, constantly attacking each other. Charles unites them under his banner, and takes the name Charles Martel (Charles the Hammer). The book ends with the first battle with a heretofore unknown group, the Muslims, coming from the southwest.

This is a gem of a book. As much as possible, it is based on historical fact. The author can trace her ancestry back to this time period, to a man named Pepin the Vain (read part 1 of this trilogy). It's interesting, very well done and recommended.

Diana Johnson does a great job of blending history and fiction in this book. She has brought Pepin de Vain's family tree to life and has woven the events that surrounded these lives into a story line with lots of intrigue and excitement. Anxious for the next book!!

Pepin's Bastard: The Story Of Charles Martel is Diana M. Johnson continues her series of historical novels arising from the era of that great medieval king, Charlemagne. But Charlemagne's empire still lies some distance into the future when Charles (the bastard son of Pepin de Gros) is born out of wedlock. Pepin's wife Plectruda is jealous of Charles and will stop at nothing to secure his death so that the power of kingship will be secured for her own legitimate sons. Pepin's Bastard is the thrilling story of how Charles survives, only to face the Muslims who are pouring over the Pyrenees Mountains and waging jihad (holy war) against the Christians -- seeking to exterminate or covert them and thereby dominating Europe as they had mastered the Middle East.

Having just finished Destiny's Godchild, I was eager to read Diana Johnson's sequel. Her knowledge of history and love of her subject is remarkable. This book is a fictional story that brings to life many characters from history who helped to form our destiny long before Charlemagne's reign. One of the most heartwarming characters is Charles Martel (Charles the Hammer). Ms. Johnson takes you from his unwanted birth to the heart stopping war where his army of foot soldiers defeated the well-trained Muslim horsemen under extremely unequal circumstances, thus saving Europe for Christianity.  You will marvel at the fictional character Egar's wisdom and insightfulness as he mentors Charles' wife throughout her life. Charles' strong character and unyielding integrity will give you a real-life hero taken from the pages of history. Definitely a must read!!! Val Middler Middlebrook, author of "Val's Victory: Defeat was NEVER an Option."

This book may be small but packs in great information and recipes. Every soup I have made from this book has turned out great. I have been very impressed. In addition to the recipes, the book has small tutorials and/or explanations of ingredients, techniques, etc. The pictures and explanations are easy to follow. I have plenty of other cook books (Fannie Farmer, Moosewood, Indian & Asian cookbooks, etc.) but I am always using this one.

I checked "Perfect Soups" by Anne Willan out of the library and was so delighted with the easy-to-follow and beautifully photographed recipes that I bought two copies-one for my own kitchen shelf and one for a gift. Anne Willan has written a cookbook for beginners as well as long-time cooks. The step-by-step recipes clearly tell the cook what equipment is used, what ingredients are needed, how to master cooking techniques, what the finished product looks like and how garnishes can be prepared and used to make each bowl of soup a masterpiece. I loved this cookbook and have never seen another book of soup recipes that included such good and healthy-sounding soups.

This book and the rest of the series are fantastic. They are small, have great pictures and meticulous directions. That said, the book tackles really good food. I recommend all of Ms. Willan's books to some degree, but the "Look and Cook" and "Perfect ----" books I particularly recommend especially if you like to see what your food is supposed to look like when it's done.

This soup book was priceles and her "Perfect French Country" book is dog-eared. In fact, the French food in that book is so good my teenaged son will eat it.

Even though this book is so tiny, doesn't mean it doesn't have some really neat tricks to make your soups extra pretty.

One of my favorite ideas from this book is the idea of oven-toasted heart croutons. There are also ideas for cream decorations that are so easy to make, yet look so gourmet.

This book is divided into 9 sections: Super Soups, Making Stocks, Ingredients & Preparation, Creamed & Pureed Soups, Hearty Soups, Light Soups, Cold Soups, Short Cuts and Presentation.

This book is geared to new cooks and gives great advice on how to prepare the ingredients with step-by-step pictures.

Some of the recipes in this book for Fall:

Butternut Squash Soup
Pumpkin & Apple Soup
Borscht
French Onion Soup
Hungarian Sour Cherry Soup

Most of the soups contain a short list of ingredients and could not be easier to make. You will also find information on how to freeze soups (my favorite thing to do so I always have a soup ready to heat up), use your microwave to speed up preparations or make garnishes or even piroshki to serve with soup.

No difficult cooking tricks...this book is just filled with easy-to-make treats!

My daughter is a big fan of Harold books. This is another great book, and it's good for beginning readers.

My two year old enjoys Harold and I just love how imaginative Harold is. I hope the stories encourage my child to think big too. This story is not read in our house quite as often as the original Harold or Harold's Trip to the Sky.

I adored this book when I was a kid (some 30 years ago) and since then I have read it out loud to lots of kids -- including groups in hospitals and at libraries. They always love it -- expecially the age 3 to 5 crowd. The illustrations are very simple, but really appealing to kids. It's also a terrific book for beginning readers since the vocabulary is pretty simple.

Harold needs a picture on his wall, so he takes a crayon and starts to draw and his pictures seem to come to life, getting bigger and bigger as he draws first a line, then a little town, then some woods, then a road. He drew the moon, mountains, clouds and the sea. Then a boat on the sea, fish too, then a cliff and a lighthouse on the cliff. More mountains and clouds next, then train tracks and all of a sudden Harold is lost in his drawing. Fortunately he can erase it and find his way back.

This is a nice little fantasy story my son Devon just loves. Of course I've been making up words for the last year or so, but now that he's approaching three and knows all his letters and that letters form words, he is getting a new appreciation for this book. I am too.

This is a book for beginning readers. The words are simple, grammar too. Harold's story is sure to keep your toddler interested, so much better than the "See Spot Run" kind of early readers. If you want your child reading before Kindergarten, and I do, then this book and books like it are very good additions to your toddlers reading arsenal.

Jack Priest, Dad in Training

A very fat book that will help you get thin and healthy! Prescription for Healthy Weight Loss and Optimum Health, by Dr. Billy Johnson, shows you why healthy weight loss and wellness go hand in hand. You can shed pounds and at the same time, improve or eliminate certain medical conditions. This book is packed with information to help you understand how and why your body reacts to the foods you eat. And you'll find meal plans, recipes and ways to stay with the program and still live your life! No more starving, craving, counting calories or carbs. Throw away your fad diet books and pick up Dr. Billy's Prescription for Healthy Weight Loss and Wellness.

VERY WELL WRITTEN BOOK-A GREAT ASSET FOR TEACHING
AT THE HIGHSCHOOL OR COLLEGE LEVEL

Finally a book that tells the truth about losing weight and getting healthy. Deep down haven't we always known that most diets don't work because no one diet can work for everybody? Metabolism and lifestyle are as unique as fingerprints. When you understand why you gain weight, it's easier to lose it! I read this book from cover to cover and now I keep it handy in my kitchen for inspiration. The meal plans and recipes are easy to follow. There is even a list of healthy fast food choices. Knowledge is power and this book is empowering!

This is a large book filled with lots of information about diet, health issues and dieting. The authors have presented this information in a logical, organized manner. The essence of this particular diet is "balance your carb intake with how active you are" as carbs are necessary for energy and good health.

I can certainly recommend this quality publication to those interested in their health and to those who want to read another book about dieting. The authors have included a 30-day meal plan to assist you in trying their program. It is always interesting to read another diet plan to help us over weight Americans find some balance in our lives.

Perfect for the Aggie lover in your house. Awesome coffee table type book. Stunning pictures. Brings back memories.

The traditions at Texas A&M are unlike any other university in the nation. The Pride of Aggieland is a hardcover book, mixing excellent photograph and stories, taking you through the history and traditions of one of the most unique universities in the nation.

The book begins with with the changes in the mid-1960's that allowed Texas A&M to transform from a male-only military-based college to a full-fledged university . Previous to the mid-1960's, membership in the Aggie military corps was compulsory. The book makes it clear that this transition was controversial and opposed by many, then explains why the transition helped turn A&M into one of the top universities in the nation.

Football history is covered in the middle chapters of the book. A few things become clear here - Aggies love their football; they have had a good history, not a great one; and they love to beat the Longhorns more than anything on this earth. Aggie football greats are well-covered, from John David Crow, the Aggies only Heisman trophy winner to Dat Nguyen, the phenomenal linebacker in the 90's. The book doesn't pull punches when it comes to listing the failings regarding great coaches such such as Paul Bear Bryant and Jackie Sherrill. Both were involved in getting the Aggies placed on probation during their tenures at Texas A&M.

The history and tragedy of the 1999 Aggie bonfire in which 12 students were killed is covered in touching fashion as are the events at Texas A&M just after September 11, 2001. The book ends with an explanation of traditions which appear odd to outsiders, but are part of the biggest team-building exercise in the free world.

The Pride of Aggieland is a good coffee-table book for any Aggie alum who wants to reminisce, or have a 'show and tell' session. The layout of the book makes it easy to read, especially since there are many sidebar stories than can be read quickly.
The book does an excellent job of showing and explaining why the Aggies do what they do - good enough that they almost seem normal. (That's a joke, son - I've spent some time there myself.)

This is the book we Aggies deserve. It's got all the school's history, traditions and spirit. And lots of football. Tons of color photos. Lots of games and great seasons and stats. And bonfire, red white and blue out, and just about everything else. Written by an Aggie. It's fantastic!

Texas A&M is a school built on pride..from the freshman orientation to graduation school spirt is omnipresent. This a well written book on what makes the Aggies unique. The text is very interesting and the images are well executed. As a Texas Ex I always marveled at the sprit in Aggieland, I mean don't get me wrong I bleed burnt orange, but I do envey their spirit, we may own the overall football series, though in the last few decades it has been close to even, but we will never compete with Texas A&M's pride in their university and football program, they have spirit like no other.

This book taught me one thing I didn't know (finite differences -a lot less strain on me to find formulas and equations) and gave me challenging problems.

I borrowed this resource from another teacher during my student teaching as a math teacher. Now I am in my first year teaching full time and looking to buy my own copy--I don't know what to do without it! It is a great resource for problems for many age and ability levels. The problems are interesting, use a variety of well-established strategies, and make problem solving fun! A great book.

Six years ago I actually took Problem Solving from Ken Johnson, one of the authors, at Sierra College. Problem solving became a whole new and exciting recreation from then on. I would have to credit that miracle to the class's amazing teacher and the book he wrote. I have had hundreds of teachers in my life, and am a teacher myself, yet I have never met any teacher that was as gifted as Ken Johnson. His talent is clearly evident in his written work as well. (PS, how many people would it take to give this book 396 thumbs up?)

I had to purchase this book for a Class I was taking at Sam Houston State University. It is an excellent book to help learn problem solving strategies. Although, I am an elementary education major with a math specialization and had to take this class, I would recommend this book to anyone who is planning to teach grades 1 through 12. This book was designed for middle school grades, but could be adapted to any grade level. Problem solving is so important in mathematics.

Go to any bookstore, take a puzzle book from the shelf, and browse through the pages. Of all the puzzles in the book you see in front of you, how many of them are derivatives of previously published material? The answer's simple - most of them. Blandness and repetition can be found on bookshelves in abundance. In contrast, Mr King's work is full of originality and this fact alone deserves celebration. He has done more than most to develop the closed lateral puzzle, the form where all necessary information is given. Their difficulty often lies in there being only a single clue, sometimes only in the title, and this is bound to stretch one's powers of perception and interpretation. If, as a result, the solution is beyond your reach, don't feel cheated or defeated. Just look in the back of the book and try to see it as a work of art - because quite a lot of it is.

This book, as well as Lloyd's other book "Test Your Creative Thinking" have stimulated several levels of creativity and taken my visualization skills to an all-new depth of dimension. Those interested in Lloyd's work should highly consider checking out his web-site. He has put some puzzles on there, as well. www.ahapuzzles.com

This book contains refreshingly new and and innovative/ingenuitive puzzles. These aren't your average, rehashed cliché's found in most like-minded books out there. I have owned several puzzle books in my time and none other can bear comparison to the unequivocal amount of wit and dexterity that Lloyd provides. Not only are his puzzles a bit of a mental tilt-a-whirl, but they are also *Fun*!

The puzzles contained in this book are more than simple puzzles or IQ items; they are kind of works of art, sometimes poetry; you take so much pleasure to read the solution or to discover it yourself! Totally original material.
Lloyd King is a real creative person.

This is the epitome of puzzles. Answers are provided but I sealed those in my copy and am still working to solve them all before I check my answers. Some appear impossible but suddenly get the aha! insight and discover a unique and sometimes amusing answer. If you like a challenge here it is.