Lee Books

Corey's Fire was honored as an International Reading Association Children's Choice Book, as well as an American Library Association Recommended for Reluctant Young Adult Readers Book. -Lee Wardlaw, author

...a pretty good read. It's interesting and keeps you wanting to read. I didn't really like Corey's character though; she was such a baby. But I recommend it anyway. I enjoyed it.

Santa Barbara's brush fires have a terrible reputation of being wild and severe! This is the story of one of those fires and its impact on a girl and her family. Lee Wardlaw, a Santa Barbaran, lived through the destructive Sycamore fire which occurred in Santa Barbara's Riviera area. As a child, her house and everything in it perished in the dreadful fire. All was lost. In the book Corey's house was lost in the fire. Everything was gone! The loss was devastating and the loneliness especially horrible. This is a wonderful book about friendship, feelings, and compassion. Highly recommended! written by Bob Townsend

I first read Corey's Fire when the author Lee Wardlaw came to visit our second grade class. Corey's Fire is a based on an fire from Mrs. Wardlaw's childhood that took her house and the life of her pet cat. Corey the central character in this novel is 13 and loses her house in a brushfie, confused and alone she can only be comfortable with Topher her neighbor who lost his house too, this is a well written book that teaches kids about brushfires and how the aftermath affects it's victems

Today, at school, I did my oral book report in front of my class, and the book I chose for the report was "Corranda's Crown"! I really liked the story very much. Your book is more better than Harry Potter series!

I am amazed by your book Corranda'a Crown. I'm on the last chapter but so far your book is amazing. I just can't believe how much detail you put into it. Out of my life there was some pretty amazing books. But this book is just amazing! It's just that I wish to know how you made it so real and exiting, you made me feel like I was really there. (...)

The imaginative artwork and tale told in Corranda's Crown instantly returned me to a place in my youth. A time when 9 to 5 was not remotely a part of my world. When climbing trees and scraping knees were the only things I got up early or paid attention to the time for. When the most important things on my 'to-do list' were to spy on the animals that inhabited the forest near my grandmother's house. Waiting for them to quiet so that I might find the faeires who lived under wild mushrooms and warn them of the peskie goblins who always followed me on my treks.

Fodi's impeccable writing not only enabled me to re-visit my childhood adventures, it reminded me of the beauty of nature and all things honest and kind and pure. A definate 'must read' for any one longing for a captivating, imaginative, and good-natured get-a-way. For the young, old, and somewhere in-between.

Copyright © 2002 Diana Guerrero
Founder/Facilitator Alliance of Writers
Reviewer Book & Bean Bookstore

From the time I glimpsed that blue starred cap, I knew I couldn’t escape the magic. The wizard cast his spell and caught me. Lee Fõdi will capture you too with his fabulous fairytale, Corranda’s Crown.

The spell of enchantment of Corranda’s Crown was cast upon me from the moment I glimpsed the cover. This book is masterfully written and strikingly illustrated. It drew me in and kept me captive until I had read it from cover to cover. Young or old will delight in this fairy tale set in the mythical kingdom of Kendar.

The infant princess Corranda is just barely whisked away from the grasp of the evil sorceress Odjin. As Corranda grows into a young woman, her inner beauty and fortitude keep her safe on a journey filled with risks in the quest to save her dear “Uncle,” Rollick the Dwarf. Able to communicate with animals, Corranda is assisted by her animal friends, Orufoo the fox (whose jokes make everyone groan), Kapoora the otter, Shutakee the crow, and others. Corranda faces many challenges, climaxing in a direct confrontation with the evil sorceress.

Fõdi’s charming tale is sure to capture the same audience that has delighted in JRR Tolkein and JK Rowling. If you are looking for a good read that is fun and imparts some good lessons including those about kindness, and the magic of nature, then look no further. Buy it today!

I am Wiccan, but pride myself being a student of all religions. I was extremely happy to have come across this book, and to be able to have the opportunity to place CR in perspective.

This book was extremely informative and nicely compact, steering those interested in the right direction by giving an honest reading list as well as a list of websites for your perusal and review.

I really enjoyed reading this book and learned a lot about CR. I think that everything in this book is available on the web, but I am still glad that I bought the book, because reading it on the internet would have been overwhelming for me. Also, I think its great that the profits go to good causes.

I have a few issues with the book that I would like to address. The first is that there seems to be a lot of hostility towards eclectic neo-pagans. I agree with the authors that some eclectics do perpetuate a lot of cultural theft, but I also believe that it is possible to practice eclecticism ethically. The tone of the writing came off as a little self-righteous. For instance on page 74-75 the answer to a question about CRs stealing cultural elements from Native Americans, ends by saying "This is why we do our best to make a distinction between our approach and that of eclectics and "shame-ons." The authors seem to be implying that all eclectics steal cultural elements from Native Americans, because they leave out the word "some" before "eclectics". They also make the mistake of equating shamanism with Native Americans. If it is offensive to call Celtic spiritual practices shamanism, why is it ok to call Native American practices shamanism, when it is not a word from any Native American language? That just doesn't make sense to me.

My other problem with the book is with the reading list--which I really think is a great bunch of books. The problem for me is that the authors take pains to point out which books get a "qualified recommendation" and the reasons why those recommendations are qualified, but it doesn't go far enough. For instance "The Silver Bough" gets recommended without a qualifier, but in the first of the series F. Marian McNeill writes some outdated ideas about early Scots worshipping a "solar god". There are other books on the list that I feel could have used a qualifier and to give it to some and not others could be confusing to readers who may feel the absence of qualifiers mean that those particular books do not contain misinformation.

I do recommend this book highly (with the aforementioned "qualifiers") for anyone interested in Celtic Reconstructionist Paganism and related subjects.

Yes, I helped write this book. It's currently the only book available that is specifically about the path of Celtic Reconstructionist Paganism. It covers a wide variety of topics of interest to anyone exploring this group of traditions, from who we are to how we celebrate our holy days. It showcases a number of different views within the movement and offers resources for getting into the community online and building a personal practice locally. There are ideas for practice, reading lists for folks from beginners to advanced practitioners, and discussions of issues from the place of clergy in CR to involving your kids in your practice.

I give the book four stars because there is so much else to be said that we really couldn't fit into this short volume.

All profits from the purchase of this book go to a Gaelic-language charity that promotes the language in Scotland and globally. None of the authors sees so much as a penny from this work, so in buying this not only can you learn about Celtic cultures and how the modern CR movement is working to reconstruct their polytheistic traditions, you're also supporting Gaelic-speaking communities directly.

Featuring color paintings by Sioux artist S. D. Nelson (who was inspired by the traditional art style of the Plains Indians), Crazy Horse's Vision by Joseph Bruchac is the true story of a young Native American boy named Curly who witnessed fierce battles between his tribe of Lakota Indians and white settlers. Defying the custom of his people, Curly ran to the hills in search of a vision, and what he saw would transform him forever. Curly would then come to be known in history as the Sioux war chief Crazy Horse. An author's note following the story relates a summary of the life and death of this brave an unselfish leader. Crazy Horse's Vision is an outstanding picture book and a welcome addition to personal, school, and community library collections.

I adore Crazy Horse and bought this for my 5 year old daughter who just loves this story. It's a great story for anyone and I highly recommend it for all schools.

This beautifully illustrated book is one to read to your children many times over. It tells a story all American children should hear, and it has a magical feel to it.

I especially enjoyed the illistrations in this book. The pictures almost draw you into the pages. They are drawn in the traditional style of the Sioux People. The story is about a man who is greatly respected by his people.

This book was recommended by a friend. I thought it was a very good story and quite funny, but I think it could be offensive to some people.
There is some disturbing dialogue and references that I wouldn't recommend for everyone. For those of you with a twisted sense of humor... READ ON!

If only it were actually ON TV... no network could show it but I would love to see this done on cable.

Interesting script, ferocious read... Spicy meatballs like this are exactly what is missing from TV.

Gimme season 2, with a tall glass of milk to wash it all down.

This is the Office Space for hospital workers. I never enjoyed pissing myself until I read this book! Stock up on Depends and laugh away!

This is the funniest book I have ever read. I can't remember that last
time I read a book that made me laugh out loud. A MUST READ!!!

Strolling through the Mall I decided to stop in for a brief visit to the mass market oriented bookstore. Thumbing through the Civil War offerings I picked up this outstanding book. I did not recognize the name of George Walsh. He is a Yankee writing on the army whose story has been so well told from Southern superstars such as Douglass Southall Freeman, Clfford
Dowdey and Shelby Foote. Why plunk down a Visa card to purchase it?
Curiosity satisfied is the answer! Walsh writes in a personal style introducing the men and the units making up Lee's fabled Army of Northern Virgnia. Even an old Civil War buff such as I learned new things about the Victorian warriors of Dixieland who lend the forces of Lee against the enemy.
This book is an excellent survey of the war in the Eastern theatre. It is a valuable additon to my Civil War library. I highly recommend Walsh's book to anyone even casually interested in learning more about the American Illiad that is our Civil War!

"Damage Them All You Can:" Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia written by George Walsh is quite frankly one of the best accounts of The Army of Northern Virginia that I've ever read. General Robert E. Lee assembled the best army to ever, to this point in time, fight on American soil. In fact, The Army of Northern Virginia man for man, out Generaled, out fought all that the North could throw against it.

Walsh's book is a true delight to read, the principles in the book seem to come alive as you read on in the book. The prose is written with vivid descriptions and the author gives the reader insights albeit shrewd of how the battles were fought.

I got the inpression that I was there with the incisive insights the author gives the reader, from the Generals, to the commanders, right down to the trenches, told with deeply moving detail. I encourage anyone interested in reading about the Civil War or the "Yankee War of Aggression" to read this book.

I've read Foote, McPherson, and Catton's writings about this time in American History, but Walsh's account here is the best and most personal one that I've ever read, with a probing into the character and the battles that made them feel like they were fought right before your eyes.

This book is, by all accounts, for a single volume the best book written about one of the best fighting armies the Confederacy ever had... the Army of Northern Virginia. This book is worthy of a place in your library on American History.

I am the author of "Damage Them All You Can." Would you please run the subtitle of my book on your web page?
The subtitle is: Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia.
By running it you will provide the potential buyer with instant information as to what the book is about.
Thank you.

George Walsh hit a grand slam with DAMAGE THEM ALL YOU CAN: ROBERT E. LEE'S ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA. Told almost exclusively from the point of view of the Confederate side this book does a wonderful job of getting into the hearts and minds of the men who fought for the Confederacy. The stereotypes of the lost cause or southerners as a pack of racists are replaced by a very human portrait of the men (and sometimes their loved ones too) who fought and died for what they believed in. Walsh has done a very real service to the memory of the Army of Northern Virginia. The battle narratives are really good as is the analysis of Lee's thoughts, decisions and occasional frustration with his subordinates. An excellent treatment!

My daughter and I absolutely LOVED this book when she was growing up. The story is beautiful and the drawings are fabulous. A book about the longings of a younger sister, who in her heart is ready to dance, even though she is told she's too little.
This is THE book I give to [kid] girls!! Their mothers will love it too.

Little Tanya loves to dance. Like her sister she practices plies, pirouettes and arabesques and the two often practice together, but as of yet Tanyette (as she is sometimes called) is too young for lessons.

This all changes one day when her family, celebrating the performance of big sister as a flower in Swan Lake, finds out that little Elise is no longer the cute toddler mimicking the actions of her older sister, but a little girl that is ready for academy

Five Stars. A delightful book that shows two sisters who share a love of dance. My five y.o. daughter loves the talk of `first, second, fourth and fifth' positions. Good read-aloud, the artwork is pleasing with it soft watercolor drawings.

A sample of text follows:

And while nobody was looking, Tanya found her tutu,
and her scarf. And Tanya danced too. All alone.

The music played loud and sweet, and she did a plie
and arabesque and five grand jetes right across the floor.

"Dance, Tanya," her sister said, and her mother held her breath.
Grandma looked over her glasses. "You have two dancers
in your family," she said. Everyone in the room clapped. Elise did too.

This was a childhood favorite of mine, and the pages are tattered from reading it over and over. A young girl wants to be a dancer and is saddened because her older sister can take lessons, but she is too young. She looks up to her graceful old sister and dances with her, but wishes she herself could be in the spotlight...The book is a wonderful story for all ages, young and old.

My 3 and 6 year old daughters enjoy the story for the talkabout dancing and for the "little sister looks up to big sister" and "little sister feeling left out" themes. The adults in the family get misty-eyed over a little girl's discovery of the beauty of dance (if you've ever shed a tear of joy when Linnea is finally atop the bridge in Monet's Garden, you'll know what I mean). This will be one to save for the next generation :-)

Beautiful water-color-ish illustrations appealed to all ages in our family.

Couldn't put this book down. Would and have recommended it to everyone. A must read!

I enjoyed reading Dark Days in Dixie from start to finish. The closely interwoven novel which incorporates politics, business, corruption, drug dealing, murder, revenge, and unpredictable twists in the seedy Southern Alabama political scene is a thriller. The relatively short chapters really keeps the reader turning pages and makes for a quick read. I would recommend it to anyone.

I have lived in places in the south that reek with good old boy politics and criminal activity and this book sure rings true. I love to be surprised in reading and this book sure keeps that promise. I was intrigued and just could not put it down. I recommend this book to anyone!

I enjoyed the story line and the characters of this novel. Having lived in several states in the South, I was interested in the characterization of southerners. As is usual in a murder mystery, there are a lot of people you would not want to know, but that is what makes the action keep moving. There are crooked politicians, crooked businessmen, drug dealers, and enough plot twists to keep your interest through the last page. I recommend this novel to both men and women who like an exciting story.

The 3 customer reviews i saw for this book are quite accurate in this readers opinion. this book provides an excellent foundation for database design

however, i think giving just the in-topic highlights would have helped an interested reader like myself,in making a more informed decision; and as such, i thought i might include these here in a review :

Re:
(A.) Database Implementation & Design elements;
-----------------------------------------------

You will learn all about : how to ;
-Represent business processes with ERD's in a conceptual design & data model/design blueprint,
-Create, control & modify a database,
-Structure a table & normalize it,
-Transform a data model/design blueprint into a relational db,
-Lay-out a solid phyical design, and
how to implement your design/blueprint solution by:
-deciding on the db sytem architecture to use,
-creating,tables,constraints, views,
-controlling db object priveldges,
-transporting data via bulk copy, a study on the import/export wizard,
-querying databases using SQL , subqueries, joins
-SQL procedures ie: Triggers,User defined functions, creating & using stored procedures, flow-control structures ie: IF's , WHILE loops, CASE statements ,et cetera ;
-creating & managing indexes and index views
-Data access via ADO, ODBC,OLE DB

Re:
(B.) The Database Application Development aspect;
-------------------------------------------------

You will learn all about :
-creating database applications with Visual Studio.Net,
-Developing a Web based Applications interface to a database system ,viz:
-creating forms based on views/queries
-creating reports, embedding subforms and subreports,
-creating reports based on stored procedures
-creating network databases ie: client/server architecture,
-using XML, XML datafiles, XML schema, creating XML Web services with Visual Studio.Net

Re:
(C.) Database Administration elements ;
----------------------------------------

You will learn all about :
-Installation of SQL Server
-Server security, Managing Database User accounts,
-Security Authentication, Roles, Permissions,
-Backup and recovery
-Database Replication
-Database Optimization & tools used in performance tuning ie: transactions & locking
-Building a database maintenance plan.

Re:
(D.) Data Analysis Services elements;
-------------------------------------

You will learn all about :
-Building & Designing an OLAP (On-Line Analytical Processing) solution
-Building a Data warhouse ie: dimensional modelling, fact table, ETL(extract,transform,load),
-DTS-(data transformation services)
An example OLAP Case study : demonstrating visually a star-schema, snowflake-schema etc

Re:
(E.) -Data mining ;
-------------------

You will learn all about :
-developing data-mining models ,
-data-mining algorithms
-creating decison trees
-deploying data-mining results with DTS
An example data-mining Case study

et cetera, et cetera

i hope this helps

Excellent book, Easy to understand and covers most topics of database which includes database design with detail explanation about data modeling, table structure, normalization and transformation of data model to relational database, use of SQL in managing database objects and querying databases, views, indexes, cursors for database applications and much more.
Other topics includes data accessing techniques, use of database in network environment, database administration, data analysis using Online Analytical Processing (OLAP), data warehousing, and other analysis tools, and also discusses about data mining.
Since it provides detailed easy to follow instructions using step-by-step case based approach, it helps to understand database concepts clearly. I recommend you to buy this book.

If you consider database administrator or developer as your career, this book is for you. The book covers most topics in the database field from database design, programming, administration, to data mining. All topics are well organized to keep you in track, step-by-step to build a strong foundation for your database career.

With more than five years of working as a DBA and developer, this book is still helpful to me every day. Your every penny counts in this book.
Thank you Dr. Chao for such great work.

They say, how high you get to build or you will go with anything depends on the foundation you are able to establish.

and that we all sit on the shoulders of giants

well, if you want to develop and manage database systems professionally (ie: conceive database design blueprints, develop, implement/produce or bring the blueprint into the physical, and deliver with articulate proficiency any relational database system -(for database applications at the enterprise level ie:client/server-based applications and web-based applications)

then, you are going to need a thorough mastery of the core underpinnings eventually, before you can commandingly build brilliantly the way you like ie:

You need to permit yourself a
1.) Thorough mastery of relational theory in order to have the flexibility & adaptability to consistently produce solid database design blueprints; this implies knowing how to make the right design decisions/design selections & the ability to see the whole picture ie:(how everything will fit together beforehand)+ the ability to then work-inwards & outwards in the detail levels, in order to forge the database you want.

2.) Thorough mastery of putting out a conceptual design to meet, answer/respond to your users business needs.

3.)concrete knowledge of the steps to take to verify the accuracy of your design proposal(logically), checking it for correctness & adequecy, regardless of the design methodology u adopt before you give the green light to implementation.

4.)knowledge of database implementation & how to manipulate the data to retrieve whatever u and the boss require or want out of it.

5.)knowledge of how to fit/hook-up your implementated database as part of a complete system solution and make it belong; eg: as a client/server-based applications & web-based application in the context of an enterprise ie: as an accessible enterprise application residing on a network-share.

6.) knowledge of how to keep historic data , classify these away, organise and set them apart for future purposes ; ie: for future reporting or querying . in short, expertise in building yourself an OLAP side to your design blueprint , a data warehouse et cetera, in order to set up/satisfy a clients data-mining & future decison-analyses ambitions/prospects for the database system.

These are the things you will need. This is the professional know-how which can help you become a highly-paid, consulted professional or a senior developer/designer.

This is the secret most newbee's stuck on the outside looking in on the inside, not knowing how to navigate the tide or where to begin from to get to the heart of the profession, seek.

This is clarity.

Thus, If you have any gaps in your database development know-how, which requires filling -(you'll know this in yourself), then i would recommend 2 primordial books for it:

(1.)"Database Development and Management (foundations of Database Design)" isbn 0849333180
&
(2.)"Database Design and Development a visual approach" isbn 0130351229

Now with regards each book :
Note: (due to review real estate constraints, i shall limit this review to Book 1, the current book in question.
you'll find my Book 2 review on Book 2's customer review page under :"Database Design and Development a visual approach" ISBN: 0130351229)

Book 1:"Database Development and Management (foundations of Database Design)" isbn 0849333180

is your cement/concrete foundation book.

the book does show favor for implementation in SQL SERVER & MS Visual Studio.Net, but the central database design foundation/tenets is sound for ORACLE,DB2,SQL SERVER,MS Access.

Basically, this one book answers questions like: what is a database, the component parts & pieces that make one up , how do the pieces all fit together, what does each one do, what do they each bring to the picture of a database blueprint solution

From the book you will learn all about :
(A.)Database Implementation & Design elements
(B.)The Database Application Development aspect ie: creating database applications with Visual Studio.Net, Developing a Web Application
(C.)Database Administration elements
(D.)Data Analysis Services (OLAP, data-ware housing)
(E.)Data mining

the long & short of it is that,
If database design, development and management appears to be one big convoluted puzzle, well, this book puts it all together for you and tells you how & where everthing fits.

this is the power of this book. and as such, it is brilliant!

This is a book you'll want to keep, its of great value and accessible to the very green beginner, intermediate or pro person.

these 2 books will bring you something most Developers and DBA spend half their careers trying to figure out ;which is, d complete skill-set of how to handle a database project from point A to Z all by yourself. For most people, theory only ever meets hands-on practise in the proverbial 2-3years work experience context , from on the job experience.

However,the db design foundation which this book delivers to one features the core staple a fledging database developer or DBA would go through a
-MCSD -(Micorsoft Certified Solutions Developer) or -MCDBA -(Microsoft Certified Database Administrator) I.T certification/ accreditation in order to obtain.

this applies in a lot of ways too to ORACLE

This staple constitutes the core skill-set,profile/credentials, employers in the real world generally seek to hire onto db management projects despite the hard won bachelors degree in computing.

cheers :-)

Using sources ranging from official documents and ship's logs to personal letters and the Farragut family bible, Lewis presents the fascinating true story of David Glasgow Farragut. An officer in the U.S. Navy at the age of 11, he was prizemaster of a captured British whaling ship (and required to put down a mutiny by her former Captain) at age 12! Described by his Commanding Officer as "Seven pounds of uniform and seventy pounds of fight!", he travels the world, learns several languages and grows to be the officer who is arguably the best American Naval Officer ever, later to become our first Admiral . His life is an example of heroism and bravery told with amazing detail and wonderfully dramatic action. It is compelling and edifying reading. His epic Civil War battles are to be read in Volume II.

An excellent review of an excellent man. Historically accurate and using sources ranging from offical records and ships logs to personal letters and the Farragut family Bible. The first of a two volume set, this volume depicts the life of Farragut from birth to the beginning of the Civil War. A Naval Officer at the age of 11, his Commanding Officer remarked that he was seven pounds of uniform and seventy pounds of fight. He was made a prizemaster of a captured whaling ship, in the war of 1812, at the age of twelve. This is not dry historical subject, but a fascinating account of a truly heroic man. Read this book! The examples of character and heroism in Farragut's life can give us all standards, stories, and examples to live up to.

After over 50 years as a Naval Officer and past 60 years of age, most men would have settled for a rocking chair. David Glasgow Farrigut, however, was to be found in the heat of battle, lashed high in the rigging of his flagship, barking commands through a megaphone, bullets flying around him, while his junior officers begged him to come down before he was shot to pieces! Farragut reached the level of a truly epic hero. Congress wanted no titles of nobility and had no rank above Captain in the Pre-Civil War U.S. Navy. Farragut's performance was so fantastic that Congress created the rank of Vice Admiral and then Admiral to award to a man who is argued in other text "THE DAY THE WAR WAS LOST" to have done more to win the Civil War than any other person. With the daring taking of New Orleans, the Southern armies soon found itself without shoes, or tools or gunpowder. This book tells how it was done in graphic tales of action and stunning detail.

Using sources ranging from official documents and ship's logs to personal letters and the Farragut family bible, Lewis presents the fascinating true story of David Glasgow Farragut. An officer in the U.S. Navy at the age of 11, he was prizemaster of a captured British whaling ship (and required to put down a mutiny by her former Captain) at age 12! Described by his Commanding Officer as "Seven pounds of uniform and seventy pounds of fight!", he travels the world, learns several languages and grows to be the officer who is arguably the best American Naval Officer ever, later to become our first Admiral . His life is an example of heroism and bravery told with amazing detail and wonderfully dramatic action. It is compelling and edifying reading. His epic Civil War battles are to be read in Volume II.