Lee Books

full of practical advise........not just philosophy........hard to find elsewhere
highly recommended , for laymen and the more so for doctors.
Dealing only "sparsely" with food/nutrition.
stress mainly on supplements,but really worth it if you are looking for proper advise in this area.

hits pretty hard on the medical community but has some really innovative ideas on supplements to keep you young. Well worth having as part of your "medical" library

This brilliant book from the cutting edge Life Extension Foundation reveals the promise of anti-aging medicine and provides a complete programme of lifestyle, supplements etc. to stay biologically young and healthy.

Anti-aging medicine takes an approach built on the principles of functionality, prevention, holism and integration. The authors discuss the reasons for aging, like cellular programming, biochemistry, environmental influences, heredity and lifestyle factors.

The good news is that we can now correct, reduce and compensate for metabolic and biochemical changes that take place as we age. Some of the treatments include the use of bio-identical hormone replacement, the use of a wide array of nutrients, herbs and pharmaceuticals, plus lifestyle and dietary changes.

This book provides practical and user-friendly programmes whereby you can easily benefit from the spectacular advances in anti-aging medicine in order to live a longer, fuller and happier life. It includes detailed information on how to protect yourself from heart disease, cancer, arthritis and Alzheimer's disease through the control of inflammation and oxidation.

There is also plenty of advice and information on retaining and increasing brainpower and mental clarity. Diagrams and charts enhance the text and the book concludes with extensive references and appendices to the latest research.

The Life Extension Revolution is very thorough and detailed and makes the latest research findings accessible to the average person. I also recommend Renewal by Timothy J Smith, The Superhormone Promise by William Regelson, The New Anti-Aging Revolution: Stopping The Clock by Ronald Klatz and Mind Boosters by Ray Sahelian.

the only scientifically pliable book on the market. shure the topic of anti aging is complex. but get over it. the author tried hard to explain the "process" of anti-aging in as least encyclopedical terms possible. thanks. the other way aroung wuold be a magic bullet or some sort of miracle. but i guess you are a grown up. miracles dont happen. we have to do our part.

Herein lies the biochemistry of aging and the steps you can take to slow it down. It isn't simply a matter of finding a multivitamin, exercisiing and hoping fate keeps at bay. It's a matter of premeditatedly taking action to keep your systems running at full efficiency and carefully monitoring your bloodwork to make sure you're on target. In terms off all you spend to stay healthy, and will spend for medical intervention - this information is virtually free. I put a lot of energy into my health and found this information life changing.

This is a amazing book filled with full color glossy pages on every page! The perfect way to get your hands on the "originals." These books make great collectors editions. You will want to display this beauty! I purchased this for my husband who loves Spiderman & this is the only way for him to "have" the spectacular story from the very begining. This hard cover book with colorful dustjacket makes a great gift for any comic book fan as long as they don't insist on the real deal.

I purchased this collection for my father as a gift. HE LOVES IT!!! He owned many of the original Spiderman comics when he was a child and living on a military base in Japan. When my grandfather was stationed back in the U.S. my grandmother made him leave them in Japan.
This is a great gift for any true Spideerman fans or anyone who wants to get familiar with the actual comics. :)

An irradiated spider bite, a tragic twist of fate, a poignant proverb; over the years there have been numerous attempts to re-tell or re-interpret Spider-Man's origin. With some of them being successful and others not so much, any Spidey fan's best bet is to actually read the original Lee/Ditko comics in all their grandeur. The Marvel Masterworks series provides Spider-Man fans with this exact opportunity. Important to note - unlike some trades that compile these comics in black & white, in this collection, they are all in magnificent COLOR!

This particular volume, Marvel Masterworks: The Amazing Spider-Man Vol.1 consists of Amazing Fantasy #15 (Spider-Man's first appearance) along with Amazing Spider-Man #1-10. This volume provides a great window to explore the original and definitive origin of Spider-Man with the introduction of his supporting cast, including: Uncle Ben, Aunt May, Flash Thompson, Liz Allen, Betty Bryant, and J.J. Jameson. We also see first appearances by classic villains, such as: Chameleon, Vulture, Doc Ock, Sandman, Lizard, and Electro, along with lesser known foes such as: the Fantastic Four's Doctor Doom, the Terrible Tinkerer, the Living Brain, and the Enforcers. Spider-Man also runs into some allies, with the Human Torch making multiple guest appearances as the webslinger's teenage foil.

Overall, the strength of these stories is Stan Lee's revolutionary concept in re-defining the traditional characteristics of a superhero. Unlike the morally perfect, father-figures that had dominated comic book pages for decades, Peter Parker was a socially awkward teenager who reflected his youth-oriented readers. Reading these early comics, we witness what is to become the trademark of Peter Parker's life: problems. From girl issues to money woes to his physically feeble Aunt May, it is Peter's personal life that remains the emotional core of his stories. While other heroes have the ability to retreat into their secret-identity, Peter's personal life is only more complicated by his newly earned powers and responsibilities. It is this aspect that made Spider-Man the most relatable superhero. Steve Ditko equally contributes to the success of the wallcrawler by making Spider-Man's world stand out with unique visuals, quirky costumes, and greatly depicted battles, particularly the classic showdown with Doctor Octopus.

Like all older comics, there is some dated dialogue that doesn't translate well into the vocabulary of the 21st century. There also is a tendency for Spider-Man and his villains to verbally narrate every action they engage in. However, the joyful and emotionally compelling nature of these stories diminishes these flaws entirely. This is a must have for any old or new Spider-Man fan!

That's what I call a great comic book collection! It just covers the earlier adventures of the Amazing Spider-man (#1-10 plus Amazing Fantasy #15) and the episodes'arts and scripts may not be as entertaining as some on the further issuses but still this collection remains a classic of its genre and is functional to the full understanding of the super-hero character Spider-Man.

For people who love comic books this is a nice thing to have. See how the Amazing Stan Lee started out his most popular creation. This book begins with Amazing Fantasy # 15 where Spiderman made his first ever appearance then goes on to present Amazing Spiderman # 1 - # 10. It includes Spidermans origin and goes on into battle with some of Spideys' most enduring enemies from Doctor Octopus to the Lizard, to Electro, Dr Doom and the Sandman. Spiderman even battles the Fantastic Four. The book even includes a small introduction by Stan Lee. The Marvel Masterworks series sits really well on the bookshelf next to the DC Archives sets. Collect books from both publishers and build a nice library of Superhero Mythologies.

Most reviewers focus on the issue of religion - Shylock as a Jew - but fail to look past the issues of faith and consider the discussion of business ethics in "The Merchant of Venice".

I won't go into the racism and religions arguments because I have nothing new to say on those subjects, and they have been done to death by everyone from high school freshmen to PhD candidates.

As much as any other theme, greed and impact of greed on business are themes that don't get the consideration in this play. In the era of the collapse of the "Sub-Prime Lending Market" and all the related scams, scandals, and tragedies, and Enron, and the impending collapse of several commodities markets, the theme of greed is more relevant than ever. "Oh my daughter, oh my ducats" has a familiar ring as realtors wring their hands that their properties can only be sold at a loss due to their own thoughtless avarice. As Shylock demanded the pound of flesh he was owned, mortgage firms foreclosing on properties where the buyer was encouraged to lie on the application has familiar feel to it.

"Merchant of Venice" has comedy, and has several other themes, but greed is the least discussed, and has the air of the elephant at a cocktail party that everyone is too polite to mention. The play was written in a time when people would fund military ships in order to share in the loot and salvage the ship brought back. From this play alone, you could make the case that Shakespeare was the first Socialist, the first person to openly question the business ethics and practices of his time. By setting the play in Venice and making the personification of Greed a Jew, he gently deflects the audience to the real statement he's trying to make.

Aside from the possible political message, this is quite a play. The characters are lively and timeless as all the best of the Bard, and the themes of romance, wayward children, and justice are as timely and thought provoking now as when they were written.

Excellent and complex play with as much drama and social criticism as comedy.

E.M. Van Court

_Merchant_ is a hard play to swallow -- brilliantly written and scathing in content. One worries about the futures of all the characters, most of whom are so flawed as to inspire only pity for their respective beloveds. The deus ex machina ending, in which Portia conjures happiness all around out of thin air -- except, of course, for Shylock, is merely bewildering.

Yet _Merchant_ should not be forgotten. One gets the impression that Shakespeare *wanted* his audience to be uncomfortable with some of the horrible prejudices depicted, and one definitely feels challenged. In addition, the extent to which we have moved on from the anti-Semitism so apparently cavalierly brandished in this 'comedy' leaves us with the responsibility to remember and be aware of prejudices that could be recalled to life, given the wrong stimuli.

I bought my Kindle edition for a "Shakespeare Sundae" dessert + reading, and was very pleased with its formatting and readability. The price is right, too.

It's one of Shakespeare's best. I thought the Folger Folio people were a little full of themselves. I mean 3 different reviews of their projects (which are formidable) is a little excessive.

One cannot read Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice without realizing the significance that religion takes in the play, specifically the portrayal of the Jewish and Christian characters. When we first encounter the play's principal Jew, Shylock, we can only feel resentment towards him for the way he carries himself and conducts his business. Then, when first exposed to the play's principal Christian characters--Antonio, Bassanio, and Portia--the audience likely feels sympathetic towards them because of their unfortunate run-ins with the villainous Shylock. But I wonder if this is a truly accurate reading of the play. It appears that critics are divided on whether Shakespeare was further advancing anti-Semitism existent at the time by depicting Shylock in denigrating stereotypes throughout the play or whether he was actually condemning anti-Semitic behavior by turning Shylock into a sympathetic figure by the play's end. It is my contention that Shakespeare is merely reflecting societal norms at the time as he indicts religion altogether.

Though we cannot forget Shylock's appeal to humanity in his "Hath not a Jew eyes" speech, nor Portia's appeal for mercy at the court trial, there is far too much evidence of misdeeds and hypocrisy by all of these characters to think Shakespeare is "picking sides" in this battle of religions. Shylock's greed and need for revenge are certainly damning portrayals of his faith given how religious he claims to be. But given the "holier-than-thou" attitude's of Venice's Christians and their hypocritical actions to the contrary of their religion, it is clear to me Shakespeare has a major problem with Christians who "talk the talk" but do not "walk the walk." I will discuss the villainous representation of Shylock, then analyze the hypocrisy of the play's primary Christian characters and will question if these Christians embody the righteous example of which they speak.

The portrayal of Shylock is paramount throughout the play, mainly because we are torn between disliking him for his cruelty on one hand and empathizing with him because of the abuse he suffers on the other. When Shylock enters the play in the Act 1, Bassanio is trying to get a loan from him using Antonio's credit because he needs a large sum of money so he can appropriately woo Portia. There is certainly no denying Shylock's passion for accumulating wealth. The other characters frequently comment on Shylock's greed throughout the play, and he even tells his daughter that he dreams about moneybags. Shylock suffers ridicule from the Christian community because he charges high interest rates on loans, but also because he is a Jew, comparable to a dog or the devil in their eyes. As Shylock considers the loan, he seems more interested in having Antonio bound to him than with the loan itself, and we soon learn of Antonio and Shylock's mutual resentment. Shylock is hesitant to help Antonio out because Antonio has hurt his own business dealings in the past by lending money at no charge, but also because he is a Christian. The evidence of Shylock's greed continues to mount. In Act 2, Solanio describes "the dog Jew" running through the streets of Venice and crying more earnestly for his lost ducats than for his lost daughter (who has ended their relationship, married a Christian and converted to Christianity, further enraging her estranged father).

Beginning in Act 3 and continuing into the first parts of Act 4, Shylock repeats statements like "I will have my bond"--the dubious "pound of flesh" from Antonio's body. Shylock's repetitions of his claim turn into a death chant of sorts for Antonio since he is now unable repay the loan. When asked what he plans to do with Antonio's piece of flesh since it's obviously worthless to him Shylock replies, "To bait fish withal...if it will feed nothing else it will feed my revenge" (Act 3, Scene 1, lines 45-46). We can now see Shylock eagerly awaiting his chance to kill Antonio and get his symbolic revenge on all the town's Christians, whom he despises.

Despite Portia's famed speech at the dramatic trial in Act 4, in which she lectures about Christian goodness and "the quality of mercy," Shylock refuses to show Antonio mercy. He claims he "craves the law" (Scene 1, line 203) and will not be merciful and forgiving to Antonio, and no one can change his mind. All of these incidents are constant reinforcements of Shylock's bitterness and cold-heartedness, which has been shown throughout the play, and which are clearly not in line with the virtuous nature of Judaism.

Of course we know that there is an unexpected change of events about to happen to Shylock. Instead of having his bond, we find that Shylock's bond with Antonio is impossible to recover since he may not shed a drop of Antonio's Christian blood in the process. Portia then orders Shylock's property seized and "mercifully" allows him to convert to Christianity rather being executed for attempting to take the life of a fellow Venetian, seemingly "delivering" him from his Jewishness. But up until Shylock's sentencing, we might be somewhat content with the depictions of the evil Jew and the righteous Christians. But as we examine Act 4 (and the entire play) more closely, we are forced to recognize that perhaps Shylock is actually a victim of the hypocritical Christian society in which he lives. Being able to read this play in a post-Holocaust and post-Civil Rights Movement world, we cannot help but have some empathy towards Shylock for the way he is treated, though clearly he is not a very virtuous man in his own right.

To analyze Christian hypocrisy in this play, it is necessary to go back to Portia's dramatic speech given at the trial, discussed previously. Portia preaches about the blessings of showing mercy, almost playing the role of a preacher. But if we retrace her steps back to Act 1, we hear Portia confessing to Christian hypocrisy. "Portia alludes to the familiar commonplace of the breach between Christian precept and practice" (Hassel, 117). This assertion comes from the following passage spoken by Portia:

"If to do were as easy as to know what were good to do, chapels had been churches, and poor men's cottages princes' palaces. It is a good divine that follows his own instructions. I can easier teach twenty that were good to be done than to be one of the twenty to follow mine own teaching" (Act 1, Scene 2, lines 11-15).

The primary Christian characters of this play are representative of the people living at the time. Antonio, the merchant of Venice himself, has a great reputation among his fellow Christians who see him as a righteous and self-sacrificing citizen and friend. His bigotry towards Jews is not frowned upon because all of the others share his belief. Behind Shylock's back, Antonio ridicules him as a moneylender, but then enters into a loan agreement with him anyway. Antonio shows no mercy to Shylock when Portia pronounces his sentence. If Antonio were a genuine Christian, would he not have humbly accepted his acquittal then tried to reconcile his differences with Shylock? Instead, Antonio agrees to take half of Shylock's possessions without objection, thus eliminating his main business rival. These actions (along with Antonio's berating of Shylock) are not of Christian compassion and mercy but of selfishness and religious hypocrisy.

Now I briefly turn to Bassanio. Bassanio is portrayed as a bit of a playboy--squandering all he has, refusing to work and willing to beg for financial assistance. He is more than willing to marry Portia for financial gain. He certainly has a tendency toward materialism and consumption, which are not Christian values. Although Bassanio does not really victimize Shylock in the same way the others do, his lifestyle does tarnish the religious credibility of the Christian community.

Now I turn to Portia, who embodies this hypocritical Christian nature and does not practice what she preaches. We are clued in to her racism as she complains about one of her suitors for marriage, the dark-skinned Prince from Morocco. Portia makes the comment "If he have the condition of a saint and the complexion of a devil, I had rather he should shrive me than wive me" (Act 1, Scene 2, line 33). "Portia knows it is a sin to be a mocker, but she mocks her suitors anyway" (Hassel, 114). Portia instead settles for the gold-digging Bassanio.

Although Portia's "quality of mercy" speech sounds like a wonderful description of Christian values, it is really an ironic display of Christian talking points versus actual practice. As I mentioned earlier, Portia's words do not correlate with her deeds. She tricks Shylock in this scene, first by disguising her character, then by turning the perceived law against him, leaving him a shell of his former self while enriching her friends. Shylock's life is completely ruined and she makes an even bigger mockery of his religion. Portia appears spiteful, not compassionate, and certainly does not come off as a merciful Christian.

Though Shakespeare is a tough read for me, I think I finally came to an understanding about what this play was really trying to convey. At first glance, you find yourself hating Shylock and admiring Antonio, Bassanio, and Portia. Later, you find yourself empathizing with Shylock because of the hypocrisy of the Christian characters. While the critics have argued it both ways, I truly feel that Shakespeare is merely commenting on society as he then saw it, which turns out to be a strong indictment of both religions--or at least how their virtues are carried out by their followers.

What exactly was Shakespeare attempting with The Merchant of Venice? Was Shakespeare anti-Semitic? Does the play promote anti-Semitism? What was Shakespeare's purpose in writing such a work?

As the play opens, the eponymous Antonio's dearest friend Bassanio laments his need of cash in order to seek the hand of Portia, the heiress of a noble Venetian family. Antonio is depressed, but it is only as the play progresses that we come to guess the reason for his depression: the marriage of this dear friend will, as such events always do, change the nature of their friendship and make it less intimate. As Antonio shows no other romantic interest in the play, and is alone and lonely, this depression possibly suggests that Antonio is homosexual.

But how would the cash enable Bassanio to engage in this pursuit? In fact we never learn precisely why the money is needed. There seems to be some kind of wealth or social class requirement for playing the game whose prize is Portia's hand and Bassanio needs to purchase the trappings that would, meretriciously, enable him to appear a member of the aristocracy.

As a successful merchant, Antonio is in a position to provide his friend with the desired funds. He doesn't have the cash on hand, however, as his wealth is tied up in his trading fleet at sea. But this fleet provides collateral, and the Jewish moneylender Shylock has access to the ready cash from his own store and from that of his friend and fellow Jew and moneylender, Tubal. But why should Shylock entertain a request from Antonio, a Christian who has reviled him and spat on him in the most public space in Venice for being a Jew, a public humiliation of the most egregious sort, as well as sadistically maligned him in a number of other ways, and now touts his moral superiority by noting that he lends to his own friends without interest. Responding to Antonio's sneering arrogance, Shylock offers to lend the money at no interest -- but demands an awful penalty should the borrower default -- the famous pound of flesh. And why should he not, in the unlikely event of Antonio's default, revenge himself?

Meanwhile, Antonio's and Bassanio's friends help their friend Lorenzo assist his lover Jessica, Shylock's daughter, in running away from her father's home, which she does, stealing a substantial sum in jewelry, including Shylock's most treasured possession, his late wife's gift to him.

Bassanio passes the test of the three boxes and wins the beautiful Portia's hand.

Antonio's ships are reported lost at sea and, defaulting, he is subject to the exulting Shylock's revenge. Shylock proceeds to have the default ajudicated, but the judge fails to appear. Portia arrives, dressed as the out-of-town judge whose fairness and erudition are well-known, and proceeds to play the unsuspecting Shylock with all of Antonio's contempt, to the delight of the vindictive Jew-hater Gratiano, depriving Shylock of his revenge. The "court" relieves Shylock of half his wealth and requires him to convert to Christianity. Antonio, who defaults, pays no penalty, and in the end his ships all complete their voyages to his substantial gain.

In this play, Shakespeare both mirrors the Jew-hatred of his contemporary society and, interestingly, portrays the implicitly parallel society of Venice and its Christian characters with an undeniable condemnation hidden beneath a scrim of identification: the sneering supercilious Antonio who claims the mantle of the generous Christian; the deceiver Bassanio, who borrows a lot of money with which to appear wealthy in order to deceive his future wife; the gratuitously vicious racist, Gratiano; Shylock's daughter and future Christian Jessica, who steals from her father his most intimate keepsake; the angelic aristocrat Portia who mendaciously assumes the identity of a trusted judge and turns the law on its head for the benefit of her husband's best friend and engages in some sadistic Jew-savaging herself to the delight of all the non-Jews present (and apparently Shakespeare imagined that the audience would enjoy it as well).

Shakespeare appears to be playing both sides of the coin here, both playing to popular Jew-hating, and creating a plot which not only exposes the amorality of the Christians but also depicts Shylock as a sometimes truly sympathetic character.

The play's structure is very familiar and guaranteed to please. Evil character plots to destroy innocent protagonist, but with the help of friends the evil character is outsmarted or outmaneuvered and gets his comeuppance, while the good people live happily ever after. Shakespeare though has created a curious drama indeed. The good folks are really quite distasteful characters, though Shakespeare puts beautiful words in their mouths. And the "villain" is in fact much more than an evil stereotype. Shylock is no paragon of decency, but he is the most fully realized human being in the play and commands the careful reader's or auditor's sympathy.

Shakespeare portrayed the Christian Venetians as corrupt characters while on the surface presenting them as the sympathetic actors in a more or less conventional drama of good Christians and bad Jews. A recent book bringing together current research on the life of Shakespeare notes that the most likely identity of the "Dark Lady" to whom Shakespeare wrote a number of passionate sonnets was a Jewish woman. This book (Shakespeare, by Michael Wood) notes that Shakespeare worked in a part of London in which he must have seen Jews frequently. Wood also notes that this play was written quickly at the time of Shakespeare's liaison with the Dark Lady. Interestingly, while Shakespeare was certainly aware that he was portraying the Christian characters as corrupt, he was also treating them, as the "good guys". He was playing a very strange game, both sympathizing with the Jew Shylock, contemning, in a less than explicit manner, the Christian characters, and at the same time portraying Shylock as the evil Jew and the Christians as the beneficent characters he expected his audience to identify with.

The case can be made that, far from producing an anti-Semitic play, Shakespeare wrote a play that, while pandering to the anti-Semitic prejudices of his audience, condemns the hypocritical ethically-compromised Jew-haters of Venice, and, by extension, London.

I really enjoyed reading Molly's Pilgrim. It was just the right reading level for me. It was not too hard and not too long, but it was interesting. It is about a girl who comes to a new school and is different from everyone else. It is hard for her to adjust. One of the parts that made an impression is when the teacher likes Molly's pilgrim doll best and appreciated it. I would recommend this book to girls who might get discouraged with books that are long, because even though it is not a hard book, it's really interesting. By HG.

The book "Molly's Pilgrim" by Barbara Cohen is about a girl named Molly. It is her first Thanksgiving and she founds out that she really doesn't have anything to be thankful for. Her classmates really make fun of her because of her unfamiliarity with American ways.
Then when it comes to doing a project Molly gets embarassed because her mom helps with the project. She helps by making a little doll that looked more like a Russian girl than a pilgrim. But she explains thatthe doll her mom did was because she tried to explain that her mom is a pilgrim because she came for freedom to worshiip god as her own way.

Barbara Cohen understands ESL students like no other author ever has! In "Molly's Pilgrim" she describes the pain of a Russian Jewish immigrant in her American school in Winter Hill. Molly is mocked and ridiculed by the most popular girl in Miss Stickley's class, and Molly's "limitations" are made even more evident because Molly and her mother don't understand Thanksgiving from the viewpoint of American culture. The assignment is to design a clothespin doll to look like a pilgrim woman, but Molly's mother designs the doll to look like a Russian immigrant girl. In the process, the class learns that pilgrims did not stop coming to America for religious freedom in the 1600s. Molly's family are pilgrims too!

Equally important to my ESL classes is Barbara Cohen's sequel: "Make a Wish, Molly", when Molly's Jewish culture conflicts with that of her classmates. Molly's parents are excited because in America they are finally free to celebrate Passover for the first time. Then Molly is invited to her first American birthday party during Passover week. That luscious pink birthday cake contains leaven! Should Molly keep the Passover, or should she enjoy her first American birthday party? The painful conflict between first and second cultures is one which every ESL student can understand. I recommend both books highly to ESL classes everywhere!

Molly's Pilgrim is the best book! Molly is a little Jewish girl from Russia. She doesn't like to go to school because the girls are teasing her. There are no other Jewish girls at Winter Hill and they think she looks and talks different. She wishes she could go back to Russia or even New York City. Molly had an assignment to make a clothespin Pilgrim doll. Her mom made it to look like herself-because mama sees herself as a Pilgrim from Russia. Molly thinks the doll is beautiful but is also ashamed of the doll because she doesn't think it is a real Pilgrim. She brings it to school and hides it in her desk. When Elizabeth and her friends see it, they make fun of it. Molly explains to Miss Stickly that her mother made the doll to look like her because she came from Russia for freedom just like the Pilgrims. Miss Stickly praises it and puts it in a special place on her desk. This makes Molly proud. We loved this book!!
By Mrs. Lee's 1st and 2nd Grade Red Group at Nike Elementary!

Molly is a young, Jewish immigrant from Russia, who moves to Winter Hill where she is a black sheep among the rest of her classmates. They tease her, and call her names, making fun of her voice, and her eyes, and anything else that they could possibly think of to make fun of her. When Miss Stickley, Molly's third-grade teacher, begins teaching the class about Thanksgiving, Molly is lost. That is, until she finds that Thanksgiving is an American holiday where everyone is grateful for what they have. The problem? Molly doesn't feel thankful. In fact, the only thing that would make her thankful is if her family could move back to New York City, and that won't be happening anytime soon. When Miss Stickley informs the class that they must make pilgrim dolls, Molly is excited to do the project. But when she finds that her mother has made the doll look more like a Russian immigrant, rather than a pilgrim, Molly knows that her troubles at school are about to get worse. But maybe...just maybe, the little Pilgrim is exactly what Molly needs...

It is rare that a book as short as Barbara Cohen's MOLLY'S PILGRIM could bring out such strong emotions in the reader, but that is exactly what it did. The character of Molly is sweet, and kind, and the way she is treated at school could bring tears to anyone's eyes, even if you aren't a crier by nature. The awful songs that Molly's classmates sing about her will choke everyone up, but, at the same time, let the reader feel exactly how people who are "different" are treated. This is a wonderful story that will warm everyone's heart, and teach the whole family about the first Thanksgiving.

Erika Sorocco
Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper

There are so many pregnancy books out there that it can be overwhelming, and many of them seem dominated by things to worry about or by political agendas on how you should birth/raise your child. I found this one by accident while on vacation, and have found that it gives you all the information you need to understand what's happening to your body and your baby's, distinguish what's normal from what needs medical attention, and feel prepared to bring your baby home. All with no fuss or lectures!

The book is divided into convenient sections, some of which you'll want to devour (nutrition advice, say, or descriptions of fetal development), others of which you'll want to read only as you get to the next set of changes and decisions (such as choices to be made about pain relief during delivery). The range of possibilities are discussed -- e.g., midwives and home birth versus full medical bells and whistles -- and lots of small remedies are suggested for common woes such as backache or nausea. There are also practical tips, like what clothes you'll want to bring to the hospital (for both mother and baby), which help with things you might forget.

All in all, a great book, that I would recommend to any expecting family.

I'm 13 weeks pregnant as I write this. When I found out I was pregnant, it was a complete surprise and I really didn't know much about pregnancy. After flipping through overwhelming books like "What to Expect When You're Expecting" I decided on this one.

This book had information on everything no matter how little or how much you know about pregnancy or birth. I'm not one to go for picture books, but when it comes to something as life changing as birth, I'll take a book that not only gives me all the info I could ever want, but SHOWS me the information as well. Every page is full color with diagrams and pictures, showing your body and baby as they develop, and various other pregnancy related things.

There's even a section on the first 6 weeks of infancy, so you don't have to say "Oh no! I read all about pregnancy and birth, but what do I do with this squiggly thing I brought home with me?!"

I read this every day and have something different and exciting to talk to my husband about every night. I also know what to look for at the hospital and what to talk to my doctor about at my visits. I also know what to watch out for at home and what I can and cannot do.

I would recommend this book for anyone who is planning to get pregnant, is pregnant, or wants to give the book as a gift.

I loved this book! Easy to read - comprehensive answers to almost all your questions you have about pregnancy. I wouldn't rely on this book alone, but it is a great source of information and gives you the idea of what you should discuss with your OB-GYN or what to request in the hospital. After reading most of it, I even decided to skip the birth classes my hospital offers because I felt I knew just enough and was ready to have my baby.

A teriffic book! I enjoyed how this book was written, organized and presented to the reader. It is truly a must have if you are expecting or expecting to be expecting! I was impressed by the pictures/graphics and the chronicalling of a pregnancy. The information grouped by weeks and trimester easy to read and understand. Many of the questions I had were presented with easy to understand answers. Even my husband enjoyed this book--he read more of this book than any of the other pregnancy references I have brought home. We will definatiely be grabbing this book off the shelf as my pregnancy progresses!

This was the first book I bought about pregnancy. I bought it on sale even before I found out I was expecting. The book is very well organized and very easy to read. It contains great explanation for every possible question you may have about your pregnancy. It is also very richly illustrated with photos, drawings and charts. I still keep it next to my bed and read it every now and then. I'd definitely recommend this book for my friends when they get pregnant.

Very good book. She does it again! Dr. Vliet knows her stuff. I'd recommend this book to any woman who wants to know how hormones effect her life.

Anything that Dr. Vliet writes is always informative. It's information that even your own personal physician may not know.

Most US doctors know very little about the effects of hormones on women's bodies. Testosterone is incredibly important for women as they age-it is the hormone not only of sexual desire, but desire for life, drives to achieve, and enjoyment of life. Find out the testosterone link to healthy skin, hair, eyes, and urinary tract, brain, and mood! Learn how to measure it, what the lab results mean, and how to supplement it safely. This is the clear and complete handbook for women from a female physician who has been treating patients for 25 years, and is on the cutting edge of the latest research. She also covers these topics in a weekly internet radio show at www.blogtalkradio.com/drvliet which is devoted to information, not sales pitches.

I read this book in one night and determined that my lack of test. was the problem and immediately contacted my gyn and got a prescription. She had already told me that I was low and I was prescribed another prescription before but it made me angry and unhappy. This compounded prescription is just right and I feel like my old self again.

Thank you.

Thanks to the author, the word MAY get out. I only found out about Testosterone when I got "pre-cancerous lesions". This was about 8 years after I had total hysterectomy.(Removal of ovaries, cervix and uterus)at age 32. During that time, I lost pubic hair (and even head hair), my vagina shrunk so bad I looked like a Barbie Doll and sex/libido was GONE. Then when I got these lesions, GYN prescribed Testosterone as "useful" but controversial. Within days, the lesions diappeared, hair began to grow back, vagina softened and swelled to normal and then I got HORNY! I've used it for over 10 years now and I look younger than my friends, I have a very happy hubby, my body looks ten years younger and I am in my sixties. I moved to a new state and the new Doctor is not wild over my insistence of Testosterone cream. He says it's controversial. I want to say, "Get over it - just look at your patient, don't you see the health difference?" So don't expect your MD to clamor for the information this good Dr. Vliet is imparting. After all, she is a female. I say, just listen to her!

I was looking for a healthy cookbook with quick and easy recipes and I stumbled upon this one. It is excellent!! She includes a lot of easy to understand information and tips in the beginning of the book. The recipes are super easy and don't taste like you're eating diet or health food. Specifically, "The Gazpacho Monterey" and "Spicy Potato Tacos" are delicious. I've even tried a few seafood recipes, and really liked the "Oven-Baked Catfish". I also tried the "Roasted Basil-Pork Medallions with Red Grapes" and was impressed. I never really thought of pork as healthy, but all the meat recipes in the book use the leanest cuts of meat and aren't prepared in heavy, fatty sauces. As for my favorite chapter, dessert, I found the "Triple Raspberry Brownies" are great anytime when I want to indulge. And I recently made the "Berries with Champagne Sabayon" for company and everyone was impressed. Great book overall!!

Sandra Lee's Cooking Made Light has helped my Mother who has to watch what she eats----and since I am the one cooking for her this cookbook has made it a breeze. Thanks Sandra for this one.

After my stint in one of the big, meal-delivery weight-loss programs, I started to round the bend toward my goal weight. It soon came time for me to manage my weight on my own, with healthy, self-prepared meals. This cookbook made it a no-brainer.

Every recipe has a listing of its nutritional information along with the percentage of vitamins in each meal. Truth be told, I'm not terribly into cooking, but the pictures are fantastic and go a long way to motivating me to cook a meal. The fact that most of these recipes are so easy to make is also a huge plus.

I did find one problem, in that some of the ingredients can be a bit difficult to find. Though, I've been quite successful at substituting similar items whenever I couldn't find what was needed at a local market.

While I could take or leave Sandra Lee's television show, I am very glad to have bought this book. I've made 17 of the recipes, thus far. Not only have I enjoyed them, but my husband and VERY picky 2 year old have loved every single one of these healthy meals, as well.

I completed my set of Sandra Lee books and this one was a surprise. I adore the recipes and tired of the chefs adding tons of butter and sour cream-this one is a relief.

My cancer nurse recommended this one to me & glad she did. Chemo exhausts me & I am able to shop for these easy recipes with the recipe cards & then the photos inspire me to eat.

I love this cookbook! I love Sandra Lee and her show, Semi-Homemade Cooking. I tape her show daily and I have a few of her other cookbooks. I love the idea of light recipes. I am trying to eat great food, but still enoy great flavor. Many cookbooks have "light" or "diet" recipes that include tons of ingredients, take hours to make/prepare, or have really expensive ingredients. Not to mention they often taste gross! This book has lots of ideas for great tasting food that is not going to kill your budget or your schedule. The recipes are practical and easy. I have tried a few of the recipes and I really enjoyed them. My husband didn't even realize he was eating "light" food. I had some friends over and made a few of the recipes and they all asked for the recipes afterward. My favorites include the mango and black bean salsa, sweet potato fries, the pizza recipes, and pears with almond and chantilly cream. I have to admit though, being a huge dessert person, I wish there were a few more light dessert recipes that didn't include liquor.

I was able to read Ms lee's book in 2 hours. I did not read every little detail, I found all the indepth journalling to be more than I wanted to know, but it highlighted her struggles and determination to have a baby. I did not find it helpful per se. IMO it is the kind of book that is best shared with family and friends who know you personally. A great book for her to share with her son one day...

Unless you struggle IF you will never know the pain and heartache. In this book you will see what we go through. You will laugh and cry with each entry.
Another reviewer wrote, "Too much info" If more people spoke out the stigma and embaressment and shame we go threw would lessen.
Thanks Robin for being so couragious to write this book.

Lori

There aren't many people in this world that would open up their most private wishes, struggles and disappointments for others to experience through publishing. This book is a must read for anyone who has struggled or is struggling with infertility - as well as their friends and family members. I read this book in one sitting. It was so compelling to see how each attempt came out that you can't stop reading. I thank the author for sharing her journey with us. And I heartily congratulate her on having the family and son that she fought so long and hard for.

The story of Ms. Lee's journey through infertility is a 'must read' for anyone embarking on their quest for a child. Those who have not experienced this heartache would benefit from learning what it is like to yearn for a child who is seemingly so out-of-reach. It really makes you count your blessings!

This journal is very open and honest. I couldn't stop reading once I started it! The author does a wonderful job of capturing the rollercoaster ups and downs of trying to conceive a child. There are a lot of emotions, both good and bad, that go along with this process and they are all shared within this journal. Financial and social struggles are also seen along the way. This journal is a very good description of the nightmare that infertility can be.

This book may not be the best choice for very young children, as it is rather long (it takes about 25 minutes to read aloud), and they might lose interest. I loved this book as a child, and was not disappointed to re-read it as an adult. This tale of mutual understanding and shared compassion and friendship is very satisfying. While bits of it may be a bit tense for some children, the ending is thoroughly uplifting. I highly recommend this book for children who like stories about animals, as well as for anyone who just wants to read a pleasant, well-illustrated story.

I read this book to my inner city 4th graders--the quiet and stillness in the room was magical. As soon as I finished they asked me to read it again. This is absolutely the best read aloud book I have shared with students in my 30+ years as an educator. Why oh why is it out of print?

I enjoyed this book, but I hate to do the homework.

I'm on a mission to collect all of the Warton & Morton books. When I was growing up, I had all of them, first on tape, and later in print. I wore out the whole series listening to and reading them so much. They're very entertaining and wholesome stories that are captivating to young minds. I can't wait to read them to my daughter when she gets a little older.

This is such a sweet, gentle, loving little book.

It's about two brother toads, Morton and Warton, one very stodgy, and the other more of an adventurer. Warton, the braver brother, decides to go out into the snow (toads are supposed to hibernate in winter) to visit his aunt. Almost instantly he is plucked up by an owl who wants to eat him, but decides to save him for a week, to have as a special treat on his birthday. It turns out the owl is lonely and friendless and little by little he is won over by Warton's conversation and small acts of kindness.

On television and in movies, and even in many books, children are constantly exposed to the idea that violence is the solution to almost every problem. I love the fact that in this work, intelligence, kindness, and compassion solve Warton's dilemma.

If you have a child who is just developing enough of an attention span to sit through a chapter book, it's hard to beat this little gem. It's very short, for one thing -- under seventy pages -- which makes it great for restless five or six year olds. And it has just enough danger in it to have small children on the edge of their seats without being too scary. It's cute and funny, and it's message is a great blessing.

It also has lots of sequels, which is a big plus when you're trying to get kids interested in reading more. Unfortunately most of the other Warton and Morton books are out of print, but any reasonable library should have them.

This book has lots of drills to improve athletic performance. Although I haven't had a chance to try them out yet (I'm currently injured and unable to train), they seem like they would definitely improve your athletic performance.

This is a great book, it covers a wide range of training. I coach little league and have been able to take parts of this book and incorporate them into our conditioning and training at all levels. Have not used the DVD all that much but the book alone is worth it

Exactly what I was looking for.
Some brilliant drills in here.
I was hoping for more speed ladder stuff, but the amount of different stuff in here is great.

It's nicely organized with some good text.

A few descriptions were not so great.

Definitely recommended.

This is a great book and DVD set for plyometrics. Both the book and the DVD start with an "Athlete Fitness Assessment" so you can understand the athlete's performance at the beginning of training. This is lacking in many of the other plyometrics books and DVDs, which begin with instruction right away, without emphasis on assessing the athlete's ability prior to training. The materials are nicely organized into sections for Speed, Agility, Balance, Quickness, and Reaction Time. A "Purpose" is clearly defined for each set of drills, so readers at any level can understand the results which the exercises are intended to achieve. I am using this book to see where I am in my performance, and where I need to go. My only complaint is that the DVD plays the drills one at a time. It would be nice to have a "Play All" option in each section, so that I'm not using my remote every 30 seconds or so. The DVD is easy on the eyes and ears, though. Buy this set first, and save your time and money returning the other books and DVDs! Enjoy!

I thought this book was great for coaching athletes and putting together specific groupings of exercises to work on specific skills. The challenge though was that I bought it for myself and thought it would help me design something to help my triathlon speed. I'm thinking it requires a higher degree of background knowledge than I have at this point.