Richards Books

This book will have you laughing all the way through. although it is a fiction book, it has real life feelings and actions. It is about a kid who fell in a river, got unconshious, got a concushin, and is trying to remember what happend. The book tells all of the totaly halarious and outragious things that he did before the axcidend. o yea, he has an alein living in hes nose named norbert

My friend Candace Johnson is reading this book. I've been interested to read it, but she just is a slow reader. She says it's funny, but she hasn't even gotten half way! But it's supposed to be really funny!

If you like or love funny, fantasy, science fiction and unpredicable books, then I have the book for you. The book is called Nose From Jupiter by Richard Scrimger. It's about a boy named Alan that has an alien(or someting like that)that is from the plant Jupiter living in his nose. Yup, his nose. The alien's name is Norbert. This is a really funny book and is also good.The only bad thing about this book is that it is to long. You will have to keep reading to the next chapter to find out what will happen. On a scale of one to ten, I would give it an eigth.

I bought this book for my two sons aged 9 and 11. To get them started, I read the first chapter. Well, that was me hooked. I had to read the whole book aloud. For the next week, each night I had to read more than the usual length.
I found myself crying with laughter at the alien forcing the little boy Allen out of his usual routine and behaviour. There are some hilarious moments as Norbert the Alien gets Allen into tricky situations he would normally avoid.
The alien helped Allen sort out bullies and also to understand his mum and dad. All of these life lessons are given in such a positive way.
My sons were invited to a birthday party and they asked if they could buy the 'alien up the nose book' for their friend - this one is a winner for kids and parents.

Alan Dingwall is a real kid: he's worried about bullies, wonders if his parents care about him now that they're divorced, and envies his overweight friend's apparently happy family. Alan struggles at math, and dreads the school bell that means the school population has to find a way out of the school without running afoul of the "Cougars" - the school bullies.

Life is tough - and real - for Alan, and Scrimger pulls no punches.

Then an alien, Norbert, takes up residence in Alan's nose, and things go quickly awry in Alan's balanced (if somewhat sad) world. Norbert is quickly mistaken for "Squeaky" - Alan's new nickname as the school's suddenly gifted ventriloquist. As Squeaky starts tossing bon-mots aplenty around the school, Alan finds himself unwittingly insulting the bullies, telling girls how he really feels, and being - just this once - the life of the classroom.

What's heartening about this tale is not really the antics of the alien in Alan's nose - though certainly the humour is a blast and it's enjoyable to the extreme. What got my real vote was the true-to-life child frustration that Scrimger wove into the plot. Alan worries that his father doesn't care about him anymore, and that his mother is just too busy to really pay attention. He's a witty kid, and very smart (in non-math ways), and I doubt anyone would have any trouble empathising with Alan's world.

The balance of humour and real-life in this book is nothing short of artful, and kids will appreciate not being spoken down to in this tale. Snap it up, and be prepared for an eventually triumphant novel that will touch on some real emotionality.

'Nathan

Though it's written in the context of a story about two lovers, the deeper message of the book is one for every human, every critter.

The book is a beautifully simple but profound little story that whispers a reminder to us all at our deepest levels to remember our soul origins and our energetic connection to Every Thing that is. All-One.

Book is so perfect I sent it to a couple of friends and bought an extra copy for myself!

The illustrations are sweet and juvenile. Gets the point across!

Well written and presented in a simple yet fun way. This story can particularly touch somebody who can relate to the story. I can think of several couples whose love story mirrors this book! Love the illustrations and simplicity of it all!

After flying through this book you'll want to read it again and again. The simple but profound message about love, and the clever, beautiful illustrations have a lasting effect. The perfect gift for anyone with a heart.

Stine's song of love is one of the few volumes you will tuck in your rucksack as you head for a desert island. Its soulful words grow effortlessly from earthy, tropic-toned pastels. It is about our journey, together and alone, our rites of discovery, as revelation leads to transformation. Save your shrink money. Read the book and cherish its timeless song.

I didn't know what to expect when I was given this book. I must say that its simple message is indeed powerful and a quick page turner to boot! It comes off as a children's book, but no, no, no, it is certainly not.

This book will make the feelings that you are trying to articulate easy to understand without going overboard. The person who gave it to me was trying to do just that.

And succeeded.

This novel was written I believe in 1988. As it says in the back of the book, it took the author 7 years to write it. Much like Gone With The Wind, it came across to me as a once in a lifetime book and I guess this author has not written anything since. A real shame. As my title said, this was my second reading of this novel. The first perhaps at least 15 years ago. I think I even liked it more the second time. I read mostly at lunch time and while waiting for traffic to pass, so that I can get home as fast as possible. For this novel however, I kept on sneaking just another paragraph or two in between sales calls all day long and many times I had to reach for the hankerchief to wipe my eyes. I happen to love multi generational novels that take 30 to 100 years to play out such as Jeffrey Archer's "As the Crow Flies". This novel which starts in 1871 japan and goes to the end of WWII has everything that you would ever want in a novel. I would have to rate it as one of the best books that I have ever read. If you can find a copy buy it without haste.

This book was purchased for me by my DH. It is the best book I have ever read. The contents are historical and Richard must have done a tremendous amount of research in order to write this book. I could not put it down. I would highly recommend it.

This is my favorite book of all time. I borrowed it from a friend and read it years ago. I absolutely loved it, but a good friend always returns borrowed books! When I tried to buy it myself, I was told it was out of print. I was thinking about it recently and realized that I could probably find it on this site. Duh!!! Well, I just ordered it and cannot wait to receive and read it all over again and lend it to people who I know will appreciate it.

It's not just a story about love, it's about family, honor, sacrifice, friendship, culture and of course WWII from many different perspectives. I learned a lot, I laughed, I loved and I cried and when I was finished with this book, even though the ending was as happy as it could have been, I felt like I was losing my best friend. I remember when I was finished, I just sat in my room holding the book, silent in thought for almost an hour. Strange. It is a must read!!

I'm from Spain, so I read the book traslate to my languaje. That's no give me a good reality of the book, but buy it was my best idea. It've all for the lovers of japan culture and its peoples, in a dark time from the occidental culture. Richard McGill write like a big master.

I am very picky about what I read and only "go" into a storyline if it will increase my knowledge and thoroughly entertain me. This book did an exceptional job of both. I read Omamori about 5 years ago and picked it up again because I was out of good things to read (imagine that!). I knew very little about the effects of the war on Japan and loved "being there".

Whenever someone tells me they are in a reading, author or genre slump, I suggest this book. It is the best time I have ever had reading.

Online Marketing Success Stories: Insider Secrets From the Experts Who Are Making Millions on the Internet Today Rene V. Richards is a must have for anyone running or thinking of beginning an online business. The book provides background information and current contact information for over 65 successful online business ventures. Tips and tricks of the trades are provided in an easy-to-follow format. While some of the stories are presented in interview format, others are presented as stories. There are multiple other sections which provide additional summaries of the best tips available from insiders of the trades. All of the information is helpful and intriguing, and it is highly recommended, with a 5 star rating overall.

Rene V. Richard offers a comprehensive look at multiple "real world" success stories of on-line marketers. Then, when you as the reader come to terms with the fact that regardless of what you may have heard, success is possible in such an ultra-competitive market, Richard gives information, hints, strategies and techniques to help anyone achieve higher profits from a smaller investment. A worthwhile read if the world of online marketing appeals to you - even just a little bit.

Online Marketing Success Stories: Insider Secrets from the Experts Who are Making Millions on the Internet Today by Rene V. Richards, published by Atlantic Publishing Group, Inc.

Rating: 5 stars out of five.

Rene V. Richards is an accountant and financial services advisor, as well as writer of investment articles. In Online Marketing Success Stories she describes a large variety of successful, online marketing campaigns, including strategies, styles, and secrets, of the great ones, such as Google and Microsoft, and smaller, but also successful, marketers.

Covered in 260 pages are how to successfully develop a website and create visibility for it on Internet search engines. She discusses how to get buyers to visit your site, purchase your products, up sell products, and dangers to avoid. Case studies of Corey Rudl, Robert Imbriale, Jay Conrad Levinson, Dr. Joe Vitale, Dr. Ken Evoy, Allan Gardyne, and Phil Wiley are included. So are Yanik Silver, Declan Dunn, eBay, and Amazon. If you ever wanted a wealth of information about search engine optimization (SEO), e-zines, META tags, branding, ad words, and pay-per-click, this book is for you!

This book is user-friendly and comprehensive, pulling into one resource a multitude of successful, Internet marketing strategies and tips, based on the successful careers of some the most famous Internet marketers.

Richards provides many different stories from both small and large businesses which were successful online. She also summarizes the key points from these stories into simple, easy to follow guidelines for your own internet marketing. From each story, you can get a lesson to apply to your own business - and the reading is more interesting than a normal textbook. Also, each story contains a tip for new online businesses or those wanting to refresh their strategies. Since so much of online marketing is about websites and email mailing lists, these topics are also covered in depth. Overall, a useful book to provide you with some tips on how to make the most of your online advertising dollars whether you are just starting out or just want to be even more successful than you already are.

E-commerce is expected to increase by 500 percent through 2010, so any business anticipating success must have more than a retail brick n mortar presence: that's the message of a title which gathers over sixty true stories from those who have evolved successful businesses on the internet today. Learn from the culmination of hundreds of tips, which here represent the best, most successful advice. There are many books covering Internet strategies - but few packed with real-world success stories, as this provides.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

There was little doubt that this book would be enjoyable. The book accounts the ministry of Richard to a small community of New Cana. It was a small town on the Mississippi River. He recounts his experiences there in this small community. It was a cultural crossover for him. He finished his PH.D program and accepted the call to this congregation. During his time with the congregation, the people loved him, rebelled against him, and in their own way made him feel welcome. Personally, I loved his stories, because in his stories, I was the main character.

These are great lines "The Poet-Preacher John Donne said `I date my life from my ministry.' There is more to life than ministry, but I knew as soon as we pulled out of the driveway that I had needed Cana more than Cana ever needed me. I do make sense of my life from that ministry."

Richard Lischer had a plan -- graduate from seminary, have a few significant pastorates, teach at a seminary, end up as president and 'big wheel' of the denomination. As the lyric says, life is what happens when you are making other plans. In the book 'Open Secrets', Lischer recounts many of the awakenings he experienced as pastor of a small-town, isolated community church, far from the seminary where he'd studied, and far from the city and 'powers' he'd dreamt of.

Lischer begins this autobiographical tale with a brief overview of his life prior to his arrival at New Cana -- only child, good but standard education, 'typical' rebellions in school and seminary -- a fairly conventional upbringing, with only a few points of deviation from the norm. He did have visions of something better, however, and was shocked at his appointment to the church in New Cana, a town so remote that it was difficult to find on a map, and even once he was there, it was still difficult to find.

There was a symbol of foreboding from the first day, in that the cross atop the church was broken. This was a broken community, and had been for generations, in many ways. It was stable, secure in its structure and in its dysfunction, and Lischer's arrival was greeted with what was probably the traditional lack of fanfare. There was one 'ruling family' of the congregation, and insiders were clearly differentiated from the outsiders. Lischer and family were definitely outsiders.

The conflicts in the town were fairly typical of the human condition -- there were family troubles ranging from abuse and neglect to simple emotional wear-and-tear. Overshadowing the town was the almost constant depression that accompanies an agricultural-based community; working the land is hard in the best of times, so people grew accustomed to a hard life.

Lischer ultimately finds value in the community, but one wonders upon reading this memoir if that value was realised largely (or only) in hindsight. The struggle through the conflicts, both internal and external, are very apparent at each turn. Nothing came easily in Lischer's ministry. Ultimately, however, the community was accepting, and Lischer was similarly accepting. One man, Leonard, who loudly proclaimed, 'I didn't vote for you' at the first meeting of congregation and pastor, was in fact the last one to give thanks and blessing as the Lischers departed for new ministries three years later.

The people recounted in Lischer's tale are genuine. We only get the interior reflections of Lischer, but one can sense, among this uncomplicated community, the motivations and simple ways of true living among the parishioners. When Lischer tried for an innovation in the liturgy by permitting guitar music, one member of congregation reacted badly. Worried, Lischer wondered how the trouble might be resolved, others in the congregation assured Lischer not to worry, saying that the trouble-maker had always been trouble anyway.

As a portrait of small-town life, this is a unique and interesting perspective. While the world of the 60s is no longer with us, in many ways the community of New Cana (as many small agricultural towns were) was largely passed over by many of the cultural developments of the 60s (and 70s, and 80s); thus there is a timeless character to this narrative.

Fascinating to read, practical and spiritual at the same time, the reader will be enriched by Lischer's experiences.

With one glance of the cover, a reader could easily misjudge OPEN SECRETS. The cover shows a painting of a quaint Midwestern town complete with churches and the homes of good folk. We can imagine that it will be a story of a minister and congregation and contain all kinds of heartwarming tales, and the author, Richard Lischer could easily have taken the reader on such a journey. Instead he does something different and in the end far more meaningful. He shares not only his experiences, but looks at the experiences in a critical manner that engages the reader.

OPEN SECRETS is the story of Richard Lischer's first three years of ministry. The time period is the late 60's/early 70's. Like many of his generation, he is filled with new ideas and is ready for a great assignment so he can change the world. Just as teachers quickly learn that if they are to be successful they have to be learners as well, people in ministry have to learn a similar lesson that the priest/minister may be the leader but training and education do not always mean expertise. Lischer learns this lesson when he is assigned to a small parish in New Cana, Illinois. The parish is neither ready nor reluctant to his ideas. The congregation simply "is" and in some ways this is infuriating for the young minister. He has to adapt to their ways while still being true to his calling. He does some bold things in the parish which are at times exactly what the congregation needs and at other times is more an example of his being headstrong. We see that the assignment was challenging for him, but we do not see it in a nostalgic way or in a way that belittles the congregation he served.

For me, the most important contribution OPEN SECRETS makes is the way that Lischer is able to see his experiences for what they were, and how he grew not only in his ministry but in an appreciation for the people he served. It is a story that will be appreciated by anyone who takes an active role in a faith community but it will probably speak to people who are in ministry in a powerful way and anyone who strives to serve God in a heartfelt and honest way.

Rev. Richard Lischer gives us a delightful inside look into the life of an ordinary country pastor like so many in all the American Protestant denominations. The reader travels through the joys and pains, successes and failures of a young fresh-from-seminary man's first pastorate. This book is an entertaining, very humorous, and informative journey. I highly recommend it, especially to those who may be curious as to what your pastor's life is REALLY like.

This book may be one of a kind. It's a memoir of a young parish minister accepting his first call to a Lutheran church in rural Illinois, and although there's a reference to the classic "Diary of a Country Priest" at the outset, any comparison with Bernanos' dying, saint-like character ends there on page one. Lischer, schooled in what seems to have been the excessively conservative Missouri Synod of the Lutheran Church, finds his 1960s liberal sensibilities set on a collision course with the deeply rooted religious and cultural traditions of his farming congregants. If there's anything classic about this, it's his role as a fish out of water.

This may sound like grounds for some modestly Lutheran hilarity along the lines of Garrison Keillor, but Lischer has other things in mind. In chapter after chapter, he reveals how he discovers the bonds of community that have held his church families together for generations, and in his three years there, while he never really finds himself at home with them, they help him learn a great deal about what the parish ministry really means - a kind of mutual support that he had not been prepared for in his years at the seminary.

Lischer has a wonderful gift as a writer. He takes his time to find the right words, the right metaphor to bring his subject to life, and like a well-crafted sermon, they illuminate the everyday world, if only briefly, with an other-worldly light. When he and his family leave at the end of his tenure, there is a sadness of parting - and nostalgia for a time gone by - that accompanies the reader long after the last page has been turned.

I first read this book when I was in 8th or 9th grade and was enjoying social leperdom at my high school. I think it is one of the most absorbing, accurate fictional accounts of teenage life ever written. In the past 15 or 16 years, I've read this book at least 10 times, and it never gets old. Our herione, Chelsea, is new in town and is in the throes of teenage-itis. She hates her mom, she's trying to dress punk, she's trying to keep her head down at her new school . . . but then beautiful, untouchable Ashley Packard singles her out for friendship, and so begins Chelsea's battle to not lose herself in Ashley's pretentious and even dangerous social world. With some help from her offbeat friend Pod, she may stand a chance of graduating from high school with her integrity intact.

I just love this book - the plot, the characters, the dialogue - a masterpiece from Richard Peck. What a shame it's not in print anymore! I think today's teenage girls need this story just as much, if not more than I did.

Princess Ashley is an amazing book. I chose to read this book because I thought it would be an easy book to relate to, and it is. This book follows a young girl who moves to a new place and begins highscool. She becomes into the popular group with Ashley. My favorite charater is Chelsea because she is just a normal girl trying to fit in. I think that the best part of Princess Ashley was when Chelsea and her boyfriend, Pod, dress up as hippies and go to a party. I would reccomend this book to any tennager because you can really relate.

Chelsea Olinger moved to a new school as a sophomore, with the intentions of getting by unnoticed. It became nearly impossible when she met a girl named Ashley Packard, who she believed to be the most amazing person she had ever come across. Chelsea admired everything about her, and wanted to be just like her. Maybe a little bit too much like her. Chelsea's mother tried to warn her that Ashley was only a fake, but it was up to Chelsea to find out the truth and realize who her true friends were!
Princess Ashley is one of the most captivating books I have read. Richard Peck, expresses through his writing how it really is to be a teenager. It was so easy for me to relate to the way the characters felt, and it even gave me advice about things I had never even thought of. I believe that every teenager should read this book. It will give you advice, encouragement, different point of views, and almost make you feel as if you're not alone in this world. Once you pick up Princess Ashley, there is no putting it down!

This is one of only a few books about high school kids that I really related to when I was in high school myself. The characters are so real and multidimensional. You see how shallow and immature golden girl Ashley really is, yet you also realize she has problems that make you just a little more sympathetic, and you're even drawn by her seeming worldiness and sophistication just enough to understand narrator Chelsea's admiration for her. Didn't we all wish at one time or another that we could be part of the In Crowd? Chelsea herself is a wonderfully realistic teenager, and her character is extremely well developed as we follow her through high school. Her relationship with her mother is very true to life, and progresses believably as Chelsea matures. And Pod is probably the most loveable, interesting high school boy I've ever come across in young adult fiction. This is one of those books that I've saved since I was a teenager and re-read once a year or so. This book in particular is a real blast from my past as it was published when I was in high school and makes references to things that were big then (Molly Ringwald, Sheila E singing "The Glamourous Life"). Though those things may make it a bit dated, the storyline and characters are sure to appeal to young adults today.

"Princess Ashley" was a believable story about teens, high school cliques, the quest for popularity, and destructive behavior in the guise of fun. Chelsea is a typical teenage girl, flattered out of her mind when the school's head honchoette, Ashley, includes her in the golden inner circle. Ashley's golden boyfriend, Craig, is a youngster dying on the inside for some guidelines in his life and receiving none from his parents or peers. He's in charge and he's a drunk. Chelsea gets in over her head when the golden duo make plans that end in tragedy. Peck's book is a good read and a true-to-life story of what lengths high school kids will go to be cool. No, it's deeper than that. They're desperately trying to be accepted.

This the best book on the subject of data and information quality! The authors have provided us we the means to implement a practical and simple way to achieve data and information quality with the notion that data are products. The emphasis of IT is shifted towards supporting the production of data and information products. Data and information as products, also encourages interactions with consumers of these products. The authors illustrate the importance of this with long chapters devoted to consumers surveys about information timeliness, packaging, content, meaning, and packaging. My organization was fortunate enough to have Dr. Wang offer a seminar based on his book. In the seminar, Dr. Wang emphasised the importance of data and information as products whose quality ia judged by access, interpretation, content, and timeliness. The depth of knowledge and pratical use of basic quality principles to achieve consumenr satisfaction is well demonstrated by Dr. Wang and his co-authors. As all of us must live in a world where data, information and knowledge are commodities of trade, this book is a necessary guide for success.

Deming's TQC(Total Quality Control) and Kanban method were the key for Miracle Japan economy growth after World War Two. Japanese economy were struggling during 1990's decade, one of the reason is to ignore the power of the information structure, and depend upon the old paper information system, which speed cannot catch up with the society change speed. This book will help Japanese Society to enter New Era. Last month, Daiwa Bank's ex-board 11 members were ordered 830 million USD indemnity, because of Daiwa Bank New York officer's fraud. Snow Brand, Mitusbishi Moter, Bridgestone/Firestone, many companies are facing trouble by lacking Total data Quality Management. This book is really help for 21 centure enterprize direction.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

This book will help Japanese Society to enter New Era, October 24, 2000 Reviewer: teruo miyagawa (see more about me) from hiratsuka, kanagawa Japan Deming's TQC(Total Quality Control) and Kanban method were the key for Miracle Japan economy growth after World War Two. Japanese economy were struggling during 1990's decade, one of the reason is to ignore the power of the information structure, and depend upon the old paper information system, which speed cannot catch up with the society change speed. This book will help Japanese Society to enter New Era. Last month, Daiwa Bank's ex-board 11 members were ordered 830 million USD indemnity, because of Daiwa Bank New York officer's fraud. Snow Brand, Mitusbishi Moter, Bridgestone/Firestone, many companies are facing trouble by lacking Total data Quality Management. This book is really help for 21 centure enterprize direction.

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WHY MY COMMENT IS NO VOTING BUTTONS? IS MY COMMNET NOT FAIRNESS AND IMPARTIALITY? LET ME KNOW. TERUO MIYAGAWA

This book presents the readers with an objective and scientific description of IQ (information quality) and a systematic way of measuring, analyzing and improving IQ. It is valuable for enterprise IQ personnels to read this book before fulfiling DQM (Data Quality Management) tasks.

IT has often had it backwards, such as when companies seek to automate what already adds little value. If the data are degraded in the process, you fall back instead of forward. The downside risk is real, as is the upside opportunity. While many books talk in abstraction about knowledge management, this book provides a practical process that will vastly improve IT effectiveness. IT managers should read this first, as should their clients. I hope that this book will be but the beginning of an emphasis on first dealing with the problem, then looking for the right way to deliver and use the data while protecting them, then look at the software and hardware choices. I look forward to future books that provide even more examples of what can go right and wrong with the knowledge and data. This is the way that best practices should be spelled out. I also look forward to seeing how best practices will evolve in this field into future best practices. There is a lot of room for improvement.

I am just starting out with my first show puppy. This book was recommended to me and I bought it. It covers some things that are not covered in handling classes. Great pictures of what you are doing right or wrong when stacking your dog. Lots of illustrations of the patterns a judge might ask you to walk. WONDERFUL book and worth every penny!

I think its marvellous book for all beginner handlers and breeders who are interested for showing their dogs. I just started to read this book, but I can not set down. I found professional advices in this book.Raising a Champion: A Beginner's Guide to Showing Dogs

Thank you for an awesome beginners guide! Even with confirmation training lessons, this guide is invaluable.

I purchased this book and two others prior to showing my 9 mo. old puppy at a four day show with a Specialty in his breed. He placed Second in puppy sweeps on one day of the show and Reserve Winners on another day. In my opinion, my mentor and this book gave me a greater understanding of what the judges look for, how the point system works, how to work with my puppy in segments, and how to handle my dog in the ring. Some breeders at the show said I did fine, my puppy did fine, and that we were a team in the ring.
It was a very exciting and satisfying experience and I look forward to learning more from this book in the future. I am a beginner and there is much to learn.

This book starts at A and goes to Z. I was very grateful when I stepped into the ring the last time and the Judge asked for a "Triangle"...the illustration from this book came to memory and we did just fine though I'd never seen the pattern in practice or at a show! I highly recommend this book and I will no doubt refer to it many times over the coming years. I plan to utilize it as I raise my next litter and look forward to seeing the results when used on a pup from the very beginning!

This book was a great reference tool for starting my 'chicken raising experience'.

This is a great book, growing up on a poultry farm I can agree with the author - it's not easy!

Hens can be difficult, getting the feltch balance is so hard, just how much do you give them? And should it be straw fed?

Managing cocks is just plain difficult! Cocls tend to get trapped in small places and rarely do what you want. If I had 10c for every time I have trapped a cock in the door I wouldn't need pocket money!!

Overall though a good book.

I think this book is great for starting out. It shows everything you need to know. Check it out!

My four Rhode Island Reds are my first ever to care for and this book helped me to quickly know what to do without having to take a college course. It is helpful in building of and requirements of a coop, requirements for the growing chick into adulthood (food, lighting, temperature, water, protection and cleanliness.)I highly recommend this book and also bought one for a christmas present for an owner of a small flock.Plus there is much more information like, illness& diseases, butchering, ducks, turkeys, and incubation.

I own a small hatchery and poultry farm. We sell hundreds of baby chicks every month. When someone with little or no poultry experience asks for some good reference material for their new chicks, I point them to this book. Will Graves covers every aspect of raising poultry in great detail, but does not bore his reader. This book is also a great reference item for the current poultry owner. If I have a question, I turn to Mr. Graves first. I highly recommend this book.

Not classically a Christmas story, THE RED SCARF is a look at life in Arkansas in the fall of 1944. The reader meets a young Richard Mason. He is an eleven-year-old sixth-grader. His best friend is John Clayton. He has a dim-witted dog named Sniffer. And he lives in a small town with approximately 650 residents.

Richard has always had a crush on Rosalie. They've almost been boyfriend and girlfriend. But then Richard does something stupid, like any eleven-year-old boy would do. So to get back into her best graces, he decides he will buy her a Christmas present. Richard has it on the good authority of one of Rosalie's friends that the red scarf in Samples Department Store is just what Rosalie would love.

The only problem is that Richard doesn't have enough money to buy the scarf. At least not since his mom made him spend his paper route money on a new pair of shoes. But that doesn't deter Richard. He keeps getting up at 5am to deliver the newspapers to the townsfolk.

Taking place during the span between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve, Richard tells the story of his efforts to buy the scarf for Rosalie. During the course of the month, the reader gets to experience Richard's daily life. The reader meets many interesting characters from the town of Norphlet. Among some of the most unique are Uncle Hugh, the old black man in the woods that Richard delivers groceries to every week; Bubba, the large cook at City Café, who's pretty daunting with a skillet; Curly Sawyer, the drunk constable; and many others. The reader also finds out about how accident-prone Richard can be. And the reader gets to experience the hardships on a family during the end of World War II.

Richard's spirit is pure and the story is infective. Mr. Mason weaves a sweet tale in spite of the hardships that his main character has to struggle with. As mentioned in the first sentence, this isn't a traditional Christmas story, but the spirit rings out for a joyous holiday season for everyone.

Reviewed by: Jaglvr

Every single person I have shared your book with has loved it.

My father just finished it and absolutely could not say enough wonderful things about it. In fact, he asked me if the New York Times had read it and said they really needed to share it with the rest of the world. And, he's buying a copy to give to my Uncle for Christmas.

My 9-year-old son even told me how much some of the kids at his school were enjoying reading it and grabbed his copy to start reading it on his own.

That is really, really saying something when a piece of literature can cut across so many generations and bring so much Christmas joy to so many. Congratulations and thanks for sharing a piece of your Arkansas childhood with the rest of us!

Excellent story of life in the rural South from years gone by. I would
very favorably compare this book to John Grisham's 'A painted House'.
It exemplifies the upbringing that formed this generation. For all ages,
a really good tale.

The author has written an excellent Christmas story with a most unusual ending. The style of writing is reminiscent of Mark Twain and captures the readers attention from page one to the surprise ending.

The novel recounts the struggles and adventures of two young boys who are best friends in rural South Arkansas during the mid-forties. Despite all obstacles with which the boys are faced, they do have a very Merry Christmas.

This novel is excellent reading and I recommend it to all.

The Red Scarf is funny, historical and emotional. It is goes back to a time when kids were kids free to play and find adventure. I would recommend it for any age.