Martinez Books

I love this story and was planning on getting it for my daughter at some point- when I saw it as a board book I decided to get it right away! The book seems well made and has nice bold, vibrant illustrations. The only negative thing I noticed about it- and I noticed it right away when I received it- is the fact that it has pointy edges. Most board books are rounded at the corners. It's not a huge deal, but for young kids/babies who are clumsy and put everything in their mouths, it seems like a poor design.

Max Lucado has an touched a nerve with his delightful stories. This book reaches the heart of all of us.
We all want to know our worth. This beautifully written and illustrated story reminds us that we are all of infinite worth, in the eyes of our creator.

LOVE this book - perfect gift for an adult or a child - beautiful pictures and wonderful, meaningful story.

I work with children with Autism and have given this book to each of them once they do not need my services anymore. This book is a rare find! Excellent story and great pictures!

This is an excellent message for children that they are special and not to place too much importance on what other people may think. My 2 and 3-year olds are captivated by the story.

I have recommended this book to read to all my friends, I
read it in one full day, just could not put it down.
It's written with honesty, to the point, words written
directly from Marco Martinez's heart and mind.
My husband (a retired Marine) read it and was flooded
with memories of Camp Pendleton.

this book is not only for military personnel and their
families, everyone from all walks of life should read this
book. All teens should read this, it will give them an
insight of what it takes to keep America Free.

To all those who says, "Support our Troops", read this
and you will truly appreciate our military serving this
free country, USA. Freedom is not free.


Marine Sgt. Marco Martinez is truly a great American,
may success follow you always, God bless you.

This is an awsome book i hope whoever is reading this review decides to get the book. I havent actually read the book but i can tell it will be a good one just by looking at the cover.

This book is a smooth read taking you from the author's life as a gangster to becoming a marine to fighting in Iraq. I wish it was longer I really enjoyed it. I'd also recommend the book Lone Survivor for anyone who enjoyed this book.

I am proud to say that Marco Martinez was a student of mine. It was an honor being the teacher of such an outstanding American hero. His book is an extraordinary account of personal responsibility, devotion to duty and love of country.

He is also an excellent scholar with unlimited academic potential.

I wish Marco the best of everything. He represents the best America has to offer.

Michael Fremont Redfield

I've read several books on the war in Iraq, and this was one of the better ones. Cpl. Martinez shows his love for the Corps that all of us who have been there can understand. As others have mentioned, there's foul language involved. This is a book on war, not a night at Chucky Cheese.

I would have liked a few more details on the patrols and combat, but this is still a very worthwhile book. It's a first person account from the eyes of a trigger puller grunt on the ground. Not an imbed or officer. You're getting his story, not each and every person that was there.

Martinez doesn't want to think of himself as a hero, but his actions saved the lives of his fellow Marines. It's a shame that he didn't decide to reenlist. He shows us all why "Uncommon valor is a common virtue" among Marines. Semper Fi.

This is the best book ever, I realy enjoy.

Sonila Herber

This is a surprising and fascinating book.

I confess when I first saw it I thought, "Oh, how curious", and then put it back on the shelf. Another "celebrity" book, I thought, that was probably not particularly well-written or thought-out. However, I read some other reviews and decided to give it a try. The result was that both of my negative assumptions were proven quite wrong.

Geller is a very good writer; his skill shines in character development, plotting, pacing, etc... The book was, for me, truly a page turner. But more - I often find myself getting bored with fast-paced books if there is no sense of meaning underlying the action. With ELLA, I was compelled to keep reading, but even beyond the fully engaging plot there was a strong thematic sense that held everything together, that made me feel like I wasn't just passing the time as I read the novel.

In other words, ELLA is a solid and satisfying work of fiction that is more than just entertaining - though it's certainly that as well.

This proves that Uri has not just the ability to entertain the world with his psychic abilities but also has the imagination to write a wonderfully powerful and griping story. If you like superb fiction that intregs you read this book

This book is increadible I mean it makes you feel like you have your own great power of White light WoW!!! Uri Geller is terrific only a person with the mind of a giving genreous great person!!! Uri has a great mind to make a book that even children like and love. God bless Uri Geller for making a book that makes you look deep in your self and love your powers that you have!!! Ella is terrific and she has powers that no body knew about wich also Uri Geller proved and he is a good person in this earth.

Love, Fiona Star

To work magic is to weave the unseen forces into form; to soar beyond sight; to explore the uncharted dream realm of the hidden reality. This book is very good. In this remarkable novel Uri Geller tells you how to be an Extraordinary Person in an Ordinary World. Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a New World is born. Ella's story it consider example, attitude, humor,values, generosity, faith, courage, power and love. Uri Geller is an Extraordinary Psychic who help you to be more yourself.

Very good, I enjoyed going over the recipes and found them easy to follow and very tasty. A great small cookbook with delicious recipes to enjoy at home.

What a gem of a cookbook this is! Plus, it's more than a cookbook. Complementing page after page of mouthwatering recipes are beautifully crafted articles written with the purpose of learning about tropical foods such as: guavas, mangos (my favorite!), avocados, chayote, coconuts, ginger, and so on. There are so many gems found in this cookbook. Sonia even tells us how to make Christmas gift baskets using her recipes for "Herb Flavored Oils and Vinegars" and preserves such as, "Onion - Raisin Chutney" and "Lime Curd." If you like tropical food, this one is for you! A perfect addition to your cookbook collection!

What a charming and exciting cookbook Sonia has written! To me, it's like reading a good novel while finding really easy to follow and delicious recipes. I like the little history and health lessons that are throughout the book (for example: the ginger root, ulu, herbs, etc.). I also enjoy hearing about the Cuban influence in the recipes. I have bought several of her books to give friends and family. I HIGHLY recommend this book!

This cookbook has all of my favorite features -- the recipes are elegant but not snobbish, and are delicious without being hard to prepare. In addition, the book includes many of the columns the author has written on food for the past few years, so it is a great cookbook to curl up with on the couch if, like me, you use your cookbooks as much for reading material as you do for actual cooking. And, as all cookbooks should be, it is spiral bound, and it uses print large enough so that those of us getting to be "of a certain age" can read it. Finally, the table of contents is organized in a way that makes it easy to scan the recipes and choose one that meets your immediate needs.

People not living in the tropics may wonder if this cookbook is worth having, or if it only focuses on foods you can't get except on the islands. Not to worry -- almost all of the highlighted ingredients (such as mangoes, ginger, coconut, bananas) are available just about everywhere these days. I have two copies of this cookbook, one for my house in Hawaii and one for my house in Egypt, and treasure it in both locations. That should give you a sense of the book's versatility!

My mouth is watering after reading Tropical Taste. It's one of the most informative and enticing books I've every read about the fresh produce and local foods of the Hawaiian islands. From mangoes to guavas, carambola to coconuts, Sonia Martinez educates and entertains about the local fruits, vegetables, and produce, with practical descriptions and historical background. And the recipes, along with the author's tips and suggestions, are reason enough to enjoy this wonderful book! The Pineapple-Macadamia Charlotte is magnificent and easy to prepare; and I can't wait to try the Banana Bread Pudding.
Portia Little
Author, New England Seashore Recipes & Rhyme; The Easy Vegetarian; Finger Lakes Food, Fact & Fancy.

In this page-turner of a first novel, Al Martinez deftly plunges us into the wild and revolutionary days of San Francisco circa 1965. At the center of this novel is the once-great San Francisco newspaper, the Herald, which is dying a slow death. Our "hero" is the young reporter William Colfax who joins the paper after a fighting in Vietnam. We see a world that no longer exists both within the outside of the Herald: student protests, bombings by "revolutionaries," and hard-drinking, computer-free reporters. This novel rings true and benefits from Matinez's many years as a bay area reporter. Bravo!

This book brought back the '60s, the newspaper industry as it once was, and the decency of people like Al Martinez who made working at a newspaper both exciting and rewarding.

Although the craft is shaky in some areas, the story is strong, and the men and women depicted are people all of us who have worked in newspaper have known.

Few survived those times, and this sensitive novels shows why. Treat yourself to a trip back to the less-complicated world of the '60s, in a time it was much easier to tell the good guys from the bad. You'll taste the whiskey, smell the cigarettes and experience a time that will never be again.

Bonnie Hearn Hill
Author, Huelga House

I must state first, I read few novels all the way through. Eighty percent of the time I read non-fiction. I always check with Amazon critiques regarding all the books I read and usually attempt "5-star" books only when reading novels...and most of those I seldom finish. Well..I finished THE LAST CITY ROOM and enjoyed every page.

The characters are developed where you care about them (even the bad guys...to get their due)and the events and personalities are interesting and true-to-life. On one side the reader can see where a reporter could be a celebrity type person where they are in the spotlight and then again the job could be filled with drudgery and danger....as well as low paying to the extreme.

This story depicts the times of the sixties and many of the events that went on at that time. For me the "flavor" of a newspaper job was well developed as was the personalities of many of the characters. I don't believe anyone would be disappointed with this book.

I found the book interesting and fun to read. Mr. Martinez has a true gift for writing. His play on words and deep insight into the subjects he writes about this book made for a pleasurable easy read. I strongly recommend this book for all lovers of great fiction writing.

From the moment you pick up this book and read the introduction, you are compelled to keep reading. The characters draw you in and you want to know what is going to evolve. Newpapering experience isn't necessary to reading this book. Nor is being a child of the 60's. But it makes you feel as though you were there and have first hand knowledge. The characters become important even if you have never met anyone even remotely like them. Good reading that makes you want more.

I have a pet peeve. Well, I suppose truth be told, I have several pet peeves. But the one most relevant to this book review is the trend of "how-to" and "you-can-do" books, often written by people with dubious credentials, or occasionally - no credentials at all.

"The Art of Column Writing" is NOT one of those publications. Suzette Martinez Standring approaches her topic with ample credentials, and innumerable anecdotes on the craft of column writing, collected from her own first-hand experiences, and contributed to from an A-list assortment of the nation's best-read columnists.

Peppered throughout with her own rise throughout the ranks of a Boston newspaper, to national syndication of her own column, Standring has collected nuggets of wisdom from the likes of Dave Barry, Art Buchwald, and Arianna Huffington to name a mere handful of the book's contributors. Practical, honest, and in some instances outright spellbinding- "The Art Of Column Writing" is a blueprint for anyone hoping to either enter or improve their skills in the ever-changing landscape of the newspaper column.

Standring has also picked up tips and tricks from her many years of association with the National Society of Newspaper Columnists, The Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop, and any newspaper columnist she met with, that was willing to give her a few moments of their time. Like picking an overflowing basket of fresh strawberries, Standring has gathered journalistic gems and anecdotes in abundance. The end result is a frank, comprehensive and entertaining overview of what it takes to be successful as a columnist, right from the source.

Or sources, in this case...

Dan St.Yves
Columnist/Author

This book is a valuable resource for any aspiring columnist. It is concise and well organized and would help anyone aspiring to become a columnist anticipate and overcome hurdles. Ms Martinez is sensitive and yet humorous and entertaining. She addresses all potential issues including online rules for today's high tech world. Get those insider secrets!

The reviewing trade has a law that a critic doesn't write up works created by friends. Also, a critic cannot fairly consider a book in which he's quoted or has contributed to, even a tiny bit. Excellent rules, designed to provide objectivity to a deliberately subjective practice. An exception, to both counts, follows.

This is not the usual writing-instruction book, and few have been published on columns. Standring's focus is on teaching, not being The Authority: She knows that lots of examples and guests in the class are effective. Standring covers the main categories of columns, their construction and idea generation, as well as blogs and ethics 101. She reprints a number of columns, by others and herself -- even one to show where she messed up -- as well as quoting at length the best columnists explaining themselves. By her own experiences and learning from others, she has figured out not only how to create and market good work but to explain it to people already in newspapers and aspiring columnists.

Her from-scratch views on principles, research and structure refresh longtime journalists. The Art of Column Writing is valuable to budding columnists. Reader reviews in Amazon already demonstrate this. What journalists do, what the branch called columnists do, is by design transparent, but that can be confusing. Columns with facts have to be absolutely certain. Commentary must be bolstered by reporting and ethical uses of rhetoric. Humor must be grounded. It's tempting to drop a star in this review because this is a tough endeavor and Standring is so upbeat -- but when thumbing back through it, this book does not shirk from the realities of writing columns in the 21st century. At just 200 pages, it's a how-to that explains how-to.

I am a novice at column writing, and this book inspires me and provides me with so much good advice and information. I had the distinct pleasure of meeting the author, Suzette Standring, and she not only is an amazingly great writer, but ditto as a person. She is my inspiration, and her book is well deserving of major kudos. Her columns are also well worth reading. She's a wonderful addition to the world of writing.

As a columnist, it's embarrassing to tell you that I didn't know too much of what Suzette Standring reveals in this light volume. It has so much heavy information tamped down on each page, it's amazing her book doesn't plunge right through the table.

An easy, smiling read the first time; second time, get out your yellow highlighter.

That so many popular writers willingly contributed their secrets is a tribute to Ms. Standring's ability to ask the right questions. Her own secrets of successful column writing are simple: Velcro your butt to the chair; A fresh angle is a sharp foot in the door; and Assigned to cover county news was like being plunked into a pilot's seat and told "Land this thing!"

Many different writing styles are given, some by writers who use words that sashay across a page, some use words that slither or stride. Sandring's strut.

A must read for journalism students and homemakers who want to communicate on a larger scale than husband and kids. After all, Erma Bombeck had to start somewhere. Standring tells you how.

thanks a lot, el libro, cd y dvd llegaron a tiempo, muchas gracias!!
un manual practico para iniciarce en el mundo del flamenco

The product lived up to my expectations. The DVD allowed me to see the way that the flamenco players accomplish techniques. It is a great way to introduce the flamenco guitar technique.

Very good an interactive, but a little short of content, I think (thogh I haven't gone through all of it yet), but I'll definetly gonna buy the second volume.

Graf-Martínez's Value Pack is truly a bargain. You get not only a text in a familiar, carefully annotated and progressive format, but also its parallel breakdown in lessons on both CD and video (DVD) format. The author's detailed explanations make much of the flamenco nuances accessible. Go through the DVD first to familiarize yourself with the material, put the CD in your digital player so you can enjoy it in your car or home, and then go back to the book and follow the method.

I started with this DVD two months after I started playing the guitar. I found the DVD very helpful, and kind to myself as an ultra beginner (although I do read music).

PROS:
*Martinez plays a song in its original speed; then, with tabs and music available to the viewer, he plays it much slower.

*The DVD starts with easy techniques, working its way to more difficult ones. The techniques are shown in regular speed, then a much slower speed.

*The camera gives close-up angles of right-hand techniques.

*Tabs are available.

*After a technique, a song follows using only that technique.

*A highlighted bar moves across the music showing where Martinez is playing. This also serves somewhat as a metronome.

*Great songs

*Wide range of techniques introduced and explained.

CONS:
*The translator for Martinez sounds a bit awkward; nonetheless, every word translated is very comprehensible.

*Sometimes the tabulature (i.e. the actual numbers themselves) is hard to read.

*Rarely is there a close-up on the fingering hand of Martinez.


Overall: I cannot recommend this DVD enough for beginners--it has been immeasurably helpful for me, and has turned me into an intermediate player.

This book is well written and very interesting to my children of a wide range of ages. The accompanying CD is of very good quality and fun to sing along with. My children look forward to doing a hymn study.

I have used this not only at home, but at school. The stories of the hymn writers are fascintating, and the children enjoy singing along with the cd. I've been amazed at the number of children who don't know My Country Tis of Thee. Each of the stories are short enough to be understood, but they always have a moral principal. Just a great resource for parents and Christian educators.

Great stories to help love the old hymns even more. The music is the only children's singing I haven't felt nauseated listening too! Tastefully done and enjoyable to share with our children.

Wow, what a treasure to have. It is great to have the story about the hymn, the music and a CD altogether in one place. I have enjoyed it as much as my children.

We are a homeschool family of four children (ages 2,4,6,8). Each and every one of us loves this book and CD. It's great for teaching God's truths, music and history. It's been an established part of our day throughout the year -- not just during our schooling months. Thing is, it doesn't FEEL like learning or school. It feels like fun. Last summer, after six months of enjoying this book, it wasn't uncommon for our children to start belting out Amazing Grace or other hymns while climbing trees, swinging, playing in the sandbox, or jumping on the trampoline. Amen! We also enjoyed the Christmas book and CD.

I echo the review from "A Customer".
In addition...
I'm a preschool teacher and the kids definitely understood the story. It's a great addition to a multi-cultural program and can open up conversation about culture.
As for the book, I enjoyed the illustrations!

I bought this book for my three year old daughter. She absolutely loved the story. Now when she plays in her kitchen she makes me homemade tamales. :-)

Our family loves this book! We checked it out from our local library and soon it was my four year old daughter's favorite. When December rolled around, I checked it out again, bought tamale makings and my four year old and I made cheese tamales. We took them to her pre-school class for snack along with the book. Her teacher read the book to the class and then they all had the tamales that my daughter and I made. It was a huge hit!! Now that she is in kindergarten, we will do it again (I am buying the book since I have two girls and I think this tradition will go on for a while!). Tamales are a really kid friendly activity and it was a great experience for both of us. You should try it!

I love this story because it brings back memories of when my family would get together at Christmas time to make the annual batch of tamales. Everyone was involved and when all the work was done, we couldn't wait until they were ready to eat. The story is well told and my students look forward to hearing the story year after year.

My class of second and third graders really enjoyed this book. Many of them make tamales at home every year. They enjoyed reading about someone else that shares the same traditions. It opened up a lot of discussion about telling the truth. The only problem was all the talk about tamales made them hungry!

I read this book to my 8-year-old son (a true test of a children's book merit). He really felt that it was a good book; one that he would enjoy reading again and felt that his friends would enjoy, as well. As a parent, psychotherapist and children's book author, I thought the book was a great contribution to children's literature and their well-being. The book gives historial examples of people who possess the good values the book promotes. I'd highly recommend this book for elementary-schoolers.

Great tool for teachers and parents and kids to learn and grow with each new book written by the author

Reviewed by Brianne Plach (age 10) for Reader Views (1/08)

What is the importance of having a dream? Not a dream like one you have when you are sleeping. It is more like a dream of what you want to do when you get older. You could say a vision for your future. A young boy named Roy is asking his dad where he is going. His dad tells him that he is going to visit his brother Alvin who is in prison. Young Roy doesn't understand why his Uncle Alvin would be in prison while his Dad is a successful doctor. Why is it that both of the boys have such opposite lives even if they have the same parents?

In order to help young Roy to understand why Alvin's life took such a drastic turn, he tells him a story about a time when his grandparents made quite an impression on him and his friend Jesse. Roy's dad and Jesse were approached by some boys who wanted them to join a gang and "be protected." Roy's grandparents explain to him why gangs aren't a very good place to make friends. His grandparents tell him why it is important to have a dream for their success in life. Grandma tells them the stories of how some famous Americans like Ben Franklin, Abe Lincoln, Helen Keller and others have taken their lives in poverty to become successful. A visit to a hospital and meeting someone who had already goofed up his life is an eye-opening experience for the young boys except for Alvin who doesn't want to listen to their valuable advice.

Carl Sommer has written a terrific book for kids. This book will give young readers insight into how their choices in their childhood and teen years will impact their lives as adults. This is an awesome book which I think all kids should read. Even the more advanced readers could learn something about the importance of daring to dream! "Dare to Dream!" is written in a very easy-to-read and understand style which will appeal to many. Your dreams can make a difference!

"Dare to Dream" is a remarkable book about three young boys. It demonstrates to the youngest reader the long-term results of their actions as told by a man to his young son, Roy. The father explains to Roy why he visits his brother in prison, how they came to make different decisions, and the effects of those decisions. Roy's father is a doctor and his best friend is an architectural engineer. Things were not easy for them growing up. The two of them were teased for studying hard. On the other hand, Roy's uncle chose to take the path of joining a gang, becoming involved in crime and drugs. The lessons are easy for a child to understand although they may need help with the meaning or pronunciation of the words. I would not only recommend the book for children in 1-4 grades, but also those getting ready to go into school. It is a book parents will enjoy reading with their children time and time again.

Dare to Dream! is a book that honestly looks at the choices children can make for success in their lives. One wrong choice can easily lead to another, where the consequences may be devastating. Carl Sommer clearly illustrates the lives of two brothers and their friend. One brother chose to join a gang, and the other brother, along with their friend, chose to work hard in school...even if they were teased. The outcomes in the brothers' lives are so different. This is a good book for a parent or grandparent to read with a young child. There may be some good discussions that come from it.