Lewis Books

We had this book when it was first printed in the 80s and it became a family traditon to read it to us kids every Xmas. We loved the naughtiness of the main characters --The forgotten helper "Aben" and the bratty girl he has to convince to be good..Kids can identify with both characters. We even named our cat Neba (Aben spelled backwards) because of her someitmes unpleasant personlity...although she's really very lovable...just like Aben really is in the book.

This not your typical Xmas book. Through many home moves over the years, I lost our copy. I'm thrilled it's back again. A bunch of people will be gettiing it from me this holiday. Thanks...JE

In Forgotten Helper, T. Lewis provides a Christmas story for kids with reading skills at the chapter book level: Aben is Santa's best toymaker -and the grouchiest, worst-behaved elf. When he's left behind by mistake, he must wait a whole year at a child's house for Santa's return - only to find his counterpart in an ill-behaved child. Black and white drawings in this appealing tale.

This is a fine book about the German infantry until the end of the 1941 Moscow campaign and contains a lot of information about the doctrine, the organisation and the personalities involved. Among the strong points of the book is the great clarity in explaining the organisation charts of the German General Staff and the OKH, the numerous short biographical notes regarding top German generals and fieldmarshals and the absence of verbalism and long drawn analysis. On the other hand the author seems to be taken away some times from his theme and spends many pages to discuss operational and strategic matters that have no direct connection with his subject, although they are extremely interesting. The chapters are: "Something New and Something Old", "From the Ashes: Lessons from the Great War", "Expansion", "Clausewitz and Carburetors: German Army Doctrine in a Period of Transition", "The German Infantry of 1939", "The Lessons of the Polish Campaign", "The Fickle Chances of War: France 1940", "Riches Have Wings: The German Strategic Dilemma, June 1940 - June 1941", "The Long Way Down, Russia 1941", "The End of the Road, Moscow 1941", "Parteitag". There are also a few maps of medium quality and 12 black and white photos.

Dr. Sam Lewis' book, Forgotten Legions, has itself almost been forgotten in the rush of the last decade to hash and re-hash collections of previously published works that purport to contain something newly discovered about the Wehrmacht in WW2 but upon further examination offer nothing new at all. Dr. Lewis' book should be read by all students of the topic, because he delves into original German source material to state his thesis - that the German Infantry divisions of that war became less modern and less mechanized as the war progressed due to the interference of Hitler and the Nazis into nearly every aspect of infantry policy, doctrine, organization and training. Noteworthy is his description of how Hitler emasculated the great German General Staff, leaving it powerless. This had disastrous results, as the author brilliantly relates. Though published in small quantities twenty years ago, it has been recently re-released by the publisher for the serious student of German military history. Highly recommended and a must-read for anyone thinking about buying the entire series of Tessin's order of battle on the German Armed Forces. Before you can delve into the tables of organization and equipment and order of battle details, one must first have an understanding of what they came to be the way they were. Highly recommended!

Since Amazon.com can't be bothered to list the contents of all the books, I thought I'd be helpful: this book contains The Maid's Tragedy (Beaumont and Fletcher), The Maiden's Tragedy (Middleton), The Tragedy of Valentinian, and The Insatiate Countess (from a draft by Marston).

Oh my goodness! What a wonderful gruesome collection of early 17th century plays! Jacobean drama is conventionally characterized as "decadent," and this anthology seems to justify the appellation. How about nymphomania, necrophilia, incest, murder, poison, blackmail, adultery, and rape? Although the subject matter is sensational, these are also serious psychological studies, well-written and well-plotted dramas. These fascinating plays are not widely available, but they should be. Anybody interested in 17th century English drama and culture will enjoy these plays. The plays are especially provocative in their treatment of monarchy; the royal court is typically portrayed as deeply corrupted, tyrannous, and decadent. Amazingly, for an age of royal absolutism, these plays seem to justify regicide. David Lynch, more over, here come the Jacobean sex tragedies.

I agree with the comments of the previous reviewer that the editing leaves much to be desired. The use of endnotes instead of footnotes is horribly distracting. I finally just stopped using the notes. Most of the notes are unnecessary and add little to the understanding of the text. If you're familiar with reading Shakespeare, you can probably comprehend these texts without looking at the endnotes.

I read the book and visualized it in my head as if watching a movie. If you liked the DaVinci Code, you'll like "Free From Restraint" From Whence We Came.
Many lives taken at sea,rowers dripping with sweat, tales told at low breath from one to another.....Blood, Sweat & Tears.

A book worth reading!

I will admit up front that I have not read (well, not recieved) this piece yet. I do however want to make a comment for potential readers on the backgroud of it's author, Red Kittell.
If this story follows the wit, humor, dedication to detail which Red has led his life we are all in for a unforgetable treat. Insurance man, DJ, Emcee, a True Mason and man of incredible depth, I can hardly stand the wait for the 'Big Brown Truck' with my copy! Go Red! You are a Champion!

Fun, easy book to pick up and put down whenever you need a good laugh. Gives you a small insight into some of the raunchy fun that went on in that exclusive club when the masters of comedy were at their prime.

Prepare to be shocked and amazed: saucy and sometimes raunchy jokes and stories along with hundreds of rich Roast moments come from Friars Club members and are compiled by an editor of the Friars Club Magazine The Epistle. Here are jokes that proved too lurid to be televised, and ones which are uncut and uncensored at that. Over 2,000 'very naughty' jokes delight the funny bone.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

My husband and I both read this to our boys without the other knowing it. We later commented on the fact that it's our favorite fairy tale. The pictures are beautifully-illustrated and with fine details. The story itself is beautifully-written and entertaining for our little boys. It is a keeper in our collection!

The Czar orders his three sons to shoot an arrow and whoever is holding it wherever it landed will be that son's bride. The youngest got stuck with a talking frog. He was rather disappointed, but his bride wasn't who he thought she was. Because of his ineptness, he lost her and had to find her again. The basic moral of this story is true love always prevails. And it's a neat fairy tale ~~ a readaption of the ancient Russian folklore.

If you are interested in having your children learn more about different cultures and their stories, this is a good place to start. With beautiful illustrations and a lovely story, your children will be entertained just as you will be.

10-15-03

I collect fairy tales and folk tales for their illustration. This is the best book I've found for beautiful, intricate artwork

This book takes the excellent and unique concept of retracing Lewis & Clark's famed expedition and makes it even more compelling with stunning photography. Even more interesting is that fact that the photographs are taken from above rather than more traditional ground viewpoints. A great addition to any coffee table!

Finally, a interesting piece of history documented with todays resources. Enjoyable for advocates of L & C and those who would want a GREAT photography table book.

I enjoyed this book, have read it several times because I love the characters and the sparkling JAK bickering.

Emily is patted on the head by her whole family, but she never really gives into them or loses her spunk. Jacob is one of the Alpha males that JAK characters loves to run circles around and this is one of her better 'early' works.

Her writing is sharp, the wit incisive and I love the heart she put into this one.

Emily has been in love with Jacob Stone, corporate trouble shooter for her families international business. He once rescued her from a kidnapper, and from that moment Emily secretly kept that awe and love locked in her heart. Two years later, she decided to act on that love and Stone turned her away.

Now,three years since that bruise to her heart, Stone is once more rescuing her from danger - this time a bad engagement. The family fears the son of a competitor is using Emily to gain stock in their business. I loved how Krentz's character thought of Stone, she "thought of him in the same way she thought of hurricanes, charging lions and marauding sharks." You got to love it!!

This collection is a Harlequin two-for-one book (...).

The first book, Full Bloom by Jayne Ann Krentz, is a reprint of one of her short contemporaries (55,000 words or so) from 1987. If you never read it, it is one of her better works of that genre and well worth having.

Emily Ravenscroft is tired of her rich, domineering parents overseeing her every move. And she is equally tired of the interference of Jacob Stone, the tough, sexy troubleshooter her family has sent after her for years to make sure she stays out of trouble. Jacob has been extremely attracted to Emily since the day he met her, but as far as he's concerned, she is strictly off-limits as the daughter of his employers. Unfortunately for his determined vow, Emily has recently decided she is tired of being dutiful, and fiercely protests when her parents sic Jacob on her once again. She doesn't want Jacob as a watchdog, she wants him for a lover, and this go-round, she's determined to change the status quo.

This sprightly book is full of Krentz's trademark, witty sparring between an ultra-masculine, independent hero and a feisty, determined woman. I love the way the two of them battle each other, are equally stubborn and intelligent, and the way all of these elements together make for very hot sex. However, the sex is, thank goodness, also very loving. You can count on Krentz to never dump a hero and heroine into sordid, "let me use you for a while" sex. Her powerful protagonists are always discriminating lovers with strong ethics of generosity and loyalty.

The second book, Compromising Positions by Vicki Lewis Thompson, is a brand-new contribution to her lucky fans. Thompson has written a lot of short contemporaries, and this book definitely fits into that category being about 55,000 words or so. She has a strong feel for the requirements of this popular subgenre of romance, and always respects her fans by lovingly crafting her books.

Mick Farrell has been in business only one week with a brand-new bodyguard business, and he is desperate to get it off the ground. While waiting around for the phone to ring, his younger sister's best friend, Stacy Radcliffe, shows up. She wants to be his assistant, but Mick has no intention of hiring her. He's always been attracted to the beautiful, lively Stacy, but he has no desire to get romantically involved with a woman who shares every tidbit of her life with his baby sister! Unfortunately, his well-laid plans are thrown into a cocked-hat when a former lover of his shows up needing his professional services. As much as he needs her business, the lady is a tiger, obviously after far more personal attention than money can buy from poor Mick. Suddenly he decides he's going to need a bodyguard of his own to ward off the predatory woman, and Stacy is just what he needs to fill the bill.

This story is an excellent pairing with the Krentz book. Like Krentz, Thompson is excellent at getting a story off to a running start. Stacy and Mick collide by page three, begin to strike sparks, and don't stop blazing until the very end. They are a very good match for each other, each attractive, intelligent, ambitious, forthright, more than a little brash, and looking for work they can really sink their teeth into. Of course, work isn't the only thing they want to gnaw on! These two are a combustible combination serving up lots of exciting love scenes.

Not all double books are worth the extra cost, but I don't believe you'll be sorry if you give this one a try.