Lewis Books

This was a fun read. Lewis cleverly makes his point. I seldom laugh out loud while reading. However I did with this book.

The Screwtape Letters is Lewis's classic collection of diabolical correspondence. In it, a senior devil gives continued advice to his protégé on how best to tempt his victim and keep him from salvation.

Lewis does not propose any concrete doctrine on devils here, and this is not his point. Rather he focuses on highlighting the ways, both large and small, that Christians are distracted from God. Lewis explores the dangers of not being purposeful toward God and life, as well as what happens to people when they give in to temptation.

The book is presented as a collection of letters, all from Screwtape to Wormwood. But Lewis does a good job of making the conversation not feel one-sided, and he does a fantastic job with the devils' personalities. In fact the book is rather deeper than this, as there are two other plots going on. First is the fate of Wormwood's man. Second is the relationship between the devils, and the fate of Wormwood.

The Screwtape Letters is deeper than it appears, and is thoroughly thought-provoking. Most every reader will find elements in it to which he or she can relate. Christians of all maturity levels can benefit from this book.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

The battle between good and evil is no more raw and personal than in this magnificant manifest. Read only if you dare to find out what battles are going on in this world and inside you. Fantastic, riviting. revealing.

The Screwtape Letters is Lewis's classic collection of diabolical correspondence. In it, a senior devil gives continued advice to his protégé on how best to tempt his victim and keep him from salvation.

Lewis does not propose any concrete doctrine on devils here, and this is not his point. Rather he focuses on highlighting the ways, both large and small, that Christians are distracted from God. Lewis explores the dangers of not being purposeful toward God and life, as well as what happens to people when they give in to temptation.

The book is presented as a collection of letters, all from Screwtape to Wormwood. But Lewis does a good job of making the conversation not feel one-sided, and he does a fantastic job with the devils' personalities. In fact the book is rather deeper than this, as there are two other plots going on. First is the fate of Wormwood's man. Second is the relationship between the devils, and the fate of Wormwood.

The Screwtape Letters is deeper than it appears, and is thoroughly thought-provoking. Most every reader will find elements in it to which he or she can relate. Christians of all maturity levels can benefit from this book.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

This small book contains within its pages a powerful example of the authors' penetrating insight into human nature. Although aimed primarily at christians, it provides observations of the human condition useful to any student of moral psychology. These lessons are set in a series of fictional correspondances between Screwtape, a high ranking demon, and his young protege Wormwood, a young demon that has been sent out on his first assignment to ensnare a human. The seemingly gentle and fatherly advice to the young demon from his patron exposes the true designs of the masters of Hell, as well as the frailties of the human psyche that they seek to exploit in their attempts to gain a convert for their side. The demonic viewpoints are presented in an ironically sensitive and almost plaintive voice, expressing the motives and problems of the demons from their viewpoint. This wonderful literary mechanism adds power to this probing treatise on the common frailties and pitfalls of humans as they struggle in a morally ambiguous universe. Short, concise, and easily apprehended, this is a classic example of Mr. Lewis' great value as a christian apologist and an observer of human nature. Highly reccommended.

I was raised Catholic and went to Catholic gramar school and high school and am currently a history major. While not practising I do understand alot of christian mythology and am always interested in anything that may reveal interpretations of faith. This novel was a wonderfully incightfull glimpse into the world of a demon (christian). The messages from Screwtape to his nephew challenge the thoughts and actions we take on a daily basis. Lewis tactfully chalenges those who would call themselves atheists not to mention challenging the justifications many of us use on a daily basis to avoid following an ethical life. While reading it makes you stop and say to yourself, wow I am doing the exact thing this demon wants me to do and while it doesn't make you fear that your soul will be taken it makes you wonder, what would it hurt to go that extra mile to take the ethical, morally right alternative. This book offers me a great reminder whenever I am having trouble making a decision on a problem in my life. But be warned if you have been preached to all your life many of this will sound familiar and in too large of doses can be off putting, but overall a wonderfull read.

Lou Lipsitz has a wonderful gift for transforming deeply-felt emotions into colorful imagery, often profound and sometimes humorous. His work is accessible in that I feel that shock of recognition that comes whenever I see my own deep feelings captured by another, but also quite unique and surprising--he takes those feelings to places I have never been...

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Seeking the Hook by Lou Lipsitz moved me. It is a very personal kind of poetry, accessible and beautifully written. I was surprised by how much I liked it.

This collection of poems is refreshing and speaks to a wide range of human emotions. You'll find yourself laughing at "The Blackberry Authorities," wincing at "Seeking the Hook" and crying at "Separation." Lipsitz's poetic descriptions of growing up in Brooklyn are humorous and heartwarming. This is my favorite collection of poetry. And best of all, I CAN UNDERSTAND IT :-) (How refreshing!) I just found out it is available through the Duke University Press.

Richard Lewis takes the reader on a short cruise in his tropical world of warm seas and palm trees. You can feel the breeze off the Java Sea and yearn for the beautiful dancing Nike and glimpse the dark shadow of a shark in the depths. Vivid. Excellent story telling. Excellent reading on a cold winter day.

What a brilliant story! The opening line is one of the best I've ever read, and the rest of the story does not disappoint. I found myself unable to turn the pages quickly enough, to both stay in the moment of the story and yet to see what was going to happen. There's an almost unbearable tension in Shallow Water Blackout that carries the reader along in a rush toward some aching conclusion.

I won't reveal anything here - you really must read this story for yourself - but need to point out Lewis' masterful use of what is for many of us an extremely exotic locale along with an unusual activity to set an internal struggle that is, for its part, not unfamiliar. As the protagonist calls his own existence and ethics into question, the reader finds herself doing the same, wondering what she would do in his place. It's an exquisite dilemma and presented engagingly.

Read this story!

Two men spear-fish together for marlin, a macho sport that requires holding one's breath for far longer than most humans can manage. A sport in which shark attacks and deadly oxygen-starved blackouts are a matter of course. Waiting in the boat for them is the sensuous Nike, one man's lover and the secret object of the second's desire.

So...when your friend, whose lover leaves you breathless, blacks out in shallow water, do you rescue him?

This story is masterfully written and briskly paced. I knew nothing about the physical world in which it's set, but the author moved his characters through it naturally and with great clarity, unspooling the human drama without "teachiness" or confusion.

Wow--very good!

P.S.: Don't be surprised if you find yourself staring at the second hand on your watch and holding your breath.

This novel tells the story of the expedition of Lewis and Clark across early 1800s America, but not from the usual perspective. It doesn't use the point of view of Lewis or Clark, but those of John Colter and George Shannon, two Privates on the expedition.

Colter is an experienced mountain man and hunter, and Shannon is an inexperienced graduate of West Point, who tries, unsuccessfully, to get promoted to Lieutenant. The two Privates have an on and off relationship, ranging from tolerating each other to, figuratively, wanting to kill each other. They also have reasons for wanting to be away for a long time.

The expedition is one day after another of very hard work, rowing or pulling their boat upriver, hauling supplies down the side of a waterfall, or walking for days without seeing another person. Shannon's paralyzing fear of deep water is no help. Colter seriously considers abandoning the expedition, and joining a much more lucrative one, but his conscience gets in the way (he made an oath to the expedition). Also holding him back is another member of the expedition, Sergeant Ordway, who seems to have made it his personal mission to make Colter's life a living hell.

Some of the Native American tribes encountered along the way, who Colter would rather avoid at all costs, are decent and reasonable, while others are simply bloodthirsty thieves. Among the former are the Mandans, near whom the expedition makes camp for the winter. It seems to be almost a point of honor among the Mandans for their women to be intimate with the "paleskins" (the men of the expedition are happy to oblige). Against his better judgement, Colter meets, and falls very hard for, a recently widowed woman named Fragrant Grass.

Every waking moment of Colter's life, after the expedition continues on its way, is filled with thoughts of Fragrant Grass. Several chances to desert present themselves, but Colter's conscience again gets in the way, along with Sergeant Ordway. They reach the Pacific Coast, spend a miserable winter there, and Colter gets back to Fragrant Grass, only to discover that she is no longer "available."

This is a fine piece of writing. The author does a good job with the characters, and with showing a famous bit of American history from an uncommon perspective. My only criticism about this book is that the length could have been reduced by at least a few pages. I understand what the author was trying to do, and this is the sort of story that takes a long time to tell, but, personally, this book did not have to be 671 pages long. Don't let that get in the way of reading a really interesting story.

Immediately after finishing Margaret Wymans book, Mission, I eagerly picked up Shining Mountains, Western Sea. To my delight, it was everything I had inticipated, and more. This passionate account of Lewis and Clark's expedition, is impossible to put down. Wyman's character development is exceptional. This historic crew came alive for me as I followed their labor-intensive adventures from Missouri to the Pacific Ocean. Throughout the book, the emotional account of their tragedies and triumphs literally kept me awake and turning pages, long after my bedtime. I am anxious for Wyman to complete another book. Judging by her first two novels, I'm a fan hooked for life!

After non-stop reading Wyman's "Mission", I needed to check out her other book. WOW! This lady can weave a web of suspense, intrigue and personal connection! You will be so curious about the amazing personalities of the story, don't plan on going to sleep too early! THE BEST PART: The setting is so historically accurate that you cannot help but wonder how much research went into the book.
I heartily recommend both this and "Mission" to anyone who loves a great story, colorful characters and the untold stories of America's REAL history.

Is good to see this book is not just written by nutriologist, there is an important contribution of clinicians dedicated to specific areas.

The 4th edition of Small Animal Clinical Nutrition is significantly different from the first 3 editions -- expanded, more information, different editors, different organization, etc.

Much of this volume is more technical than the average reader wants or needs. It is a textbook used in veterinary schools. But a dedicated reader could gain much from it. Even the average reader could benefit from the chapters on commerical pet foods and on home prepared diets.

If you are one of those people that want to be able to find answers to questions on your own, no matter how technical, this is a good book for you.

First, this review is being written from the perspective of a pet owner, NOT a veterinarian. I do have 20 years experience interacting with human clinicians (doctor, pharmacists, nurses, etc.) so I am familiar with more medical jargon than most people. However, I believe that a motivated student could gain a lot of knowledge from this book. I have used it much more than I anticipated since I got it.

The book covers the following animals:
Dogs
Cates
Small Mammals (Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents)
Reptiles
Birds

However, the majority of the focus of the book is on dogs and cats.

There is an entire chapter dedicated to homemade pet food and all the considerations that are required if you are going to undertake such an endeavor. There is far more to it than I realized to make certain that your animal is getting all the nutrients that they require for good health.

The book covers a lot of simple information like how many calories to feed an animal varied by age and activity level.

There are entire chapters dedicated to Nutritional Management of Animals that are experiencing health problems, these are:

Hospitalized patients
Obesity
Adverse Reactions to Food
Skin and Hair Disorders
Dental Disease
Orthopedic Disease in Dogs
Cardiovascular Disease
Renal Disease
Canine Urolithiasis
Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease
Gastrointestinal and Exocrine Pancreatic Disease
Hepatobiliary Disease
Endocrine and Lipid Disorders
Cancers
Fatty Acids in Inflammatory Disease
Dietary Effects on Drug Metabolism

If you have a question about nutrition for your dog or cat, the answer is undoubtedly in this book somewhere. If you aren't familiar with medical terminology and don't want to be, this might not be the best book for you. However, if you are a motivated student, you can gain a lot from this book even without a current knowledge of medical terminology. I highly recommend this book to animal lovers that want to make the best nutritional choices for the furry members of their family.

Jessie Penn-Lewis does a magnificent job of providing a Biblical Exposition of the triune character and nature of man. Infact, so good is her book that Watchman Nee based a lot of his 'Spirit, Soul and Body' writings on it. Dennis Bennett--in his book 'Trinity of Man'--claimed that Nee's books were pioneering in this field, interesting considering his books were based on Lewis'.

Jessie Penn-Lewis gives an excellent overview of the three-parts of man, the spirit and the soul and the body, and their relationship in a believer's experience of the Lord Jesus. a must read for anyone wishing to go on with the Lord into maturity.

Jessie Penn-Lewis does a magnificent job of providing a Biblical Exposition of the triune character and nature of man. Infact, so good is her book that Watchman Nee based a lot of his 'Spirit, Soul and Body' writings on it. Dennis Bennett--in his book 'Trinity of Man'--claimed that Nee's books were pioneering in this field, interesting considering his books were based on Lewis'.

Initially, one would think that a truly talented author's quirky, unique style could not be very nearly duplicated. But Brad Strickland is doing a fine job with the characters that Bellairs created, and this is one of his best efforts.

Lewis Barnavelt and Rose Rita Pottinger have to participate in a talent show whether they like it or not. When they hit on the idea of doing a magic show (fake, not real), they end up consulting a friend at a museum who allows them to borrow some books on stage magic. But when Rose Rita picks up an old parchment scroll, she inadvertantly lets a drop of blood fall on some magic dust -- and the dust turns into a living spider. The two of them flee, but Rose Rita brings the scroll, with intent to return it.

Except she then starts acting oddly. When the talent show results in a dismal failure, Rose Rita is left with a burning hatred and a wish for revenge. Then she starts dreaming of becoming a giant spider, and hearing the voice of the scroll's previous owner -- Belle Frisson, a sorceress who now wants to use Rose Rita to rise again and live forever.

This is labelled as a "Lewis Barnavelt" book, but at least half of it focuses on Rose Rita. While fans of Bellairs will be well acquainted with Lewis's insecurities, Strickland takes the opportunity to delve into a few of Rose Rita's. He also manages to give us a message about revenge and hatred and grudges without beating the reader over the head with it. The Message is simply there.

How much of a "Bellairs" book is this? Very much so, and not just in terms of having creepy beasties and a megalomaniac villain. The pacing and tone are very correct, as is the usage of maybe-it's-real-maybe-not ancient magics. I could have used a little more bickering between Mrs. Zimmerman and Uncle Jonathan, but the comforting scene between Rose Rita and Mrs. Zimmerman makes up for that.

Strickland does an excellent job with the evil sorceress Belle Frisson, and uses the ever-growing, evil-spirit spider very well also. The idea of a drop of blood turning powder into a malevolent spider is not just good spinechilling material, but it also is quite Bellairsesque.

This is an amazing spinechiller. I do warn you though: Arachnaphobics should definitely not read this book, or they'll never sleep again.

I think that Brad Strickland Did a good job with this title. The story has some depth, and the character development is good, as well. I think this is the best Bellairs' novel that Strickland Has written so far, and would give it a full five stars!

At first serving as a finisher for the late John Bellair's uncompleted DOOM OF THE HAUNTED OPERA, GHOST IN THE MIRROR, and VENGENCE OF THE WITCHFINDER, Strickland took those characters to new heights in the late 1990s by churning out books like THE HAND OF THE NECROMANCER, and THE BELL,THE BOOK,AND THE SPELLBINDER which mimicked Bellair's writing style down to the letter. In SPECTER, Strickland goes from mimicking the man to being the man. He captures the vocabulary and characterizations of Lewis Barnavelt and company flawlessly in a terrifying story darker than all of the other books combined. Please check out this book. I hope Strickland continues to write. He is hitting his stride now.

Smedes' book has wonderful stories of hope inside its cover. Our world sometimes seems so hopeless, but this book will help hope come alive within you. Everyone should read this no matter what religion you are - hope is at the center of your faith and this book will strengthen your hope for the future. Smedes really writes to everyone!

The problem with our society today is that individuals do not have enough hope. If only everyone could read the pages of Smedes' book our world would be a better place and our children would have hope for their futures. I beg everyone to read this incredibly wise and inspirational book. The stories alone are worth the price - renewing or finding your hope is the bonus.

This book's subtitle -- "Keeping Hope Alive for a Tomorrow We Cannot Control -- is more descriptive of its content than the title. Smedes explores the subject of hope from three angles: what everyone should know about hope; how the hopeful keep hope alive; and when God enters into hope. The author shares his wisdom from a philosophical view, a theological view, and a practical view -- all with open honesty. His real-life illustrations clarify his viewpoints. He writes about hope being our most precious energy source, but he also warns that false hope can be worse than no hope, even heartbreaking. Lewis Smedes is a respected counselor, retired teacher of ethics at Fuller Seminary, and a best-selling author of "Forgive and Forget" and "Shame and Grace." (Mature Living, March 1999, reviewed by Mary Darby)

Excellent Bible Study. Not only is my group benefiting from it, but a friend has started a Bible Study using this book as well. I hope they will publish additional studies.

If you've had a hard time making the right choices, commitments and priorities in the First Place program or putting into practice the nine commitments, then you need to do this study. It's not for the faint-at-heart but for those who really need to 'Start Living'. This study gets right down to the heart of why we struggle so. Do you say "Yes, Lord" or "Yes, but...."? that's the question. It's all about moving what we've learned from our head to our heart. Application is key! It's a great study. Linda of a Spokane First Place

All of the First Place Bible Studies are great. Start Living is one of the best ones I have completed. This Bible Study was just what I needed in where I am in my walk with the Lord on the First Place journey. All of the First Place Bible studies address areas of life that will help you work to become all God created you to be as you learn to put Him first physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. You will never go wrong doing a First Place Bible Study. The studies are not indepth but they challenge you to apply the Scriptures to your own life.