Richardson Books

Joel Richardson has drawn wrong conclusions biblically regarding the coming Anti-Messiah. He and you would be far better served by reading "The AntiChrist and a Cup of Tea" by Tim Cohen, in which, by the way, Mr. Cohen identifies the coming AntiChrist as a living prince of Roman lineage who also happens to descend directly from Islam's Mohammed! Unlike Mr. Richardson, Mr. Cohen offers hard evidence for his views, and is apparently not speculating on this issue of who the AntiChrist will be.... You must read Mr. Cohen's book if you really want to understand this subject!The Antichrist and a Cup of Tea

I'm confused about this book...

Muslims are waiting for Jesus (peace be upon him) as the messiah, who will kill Dajjal (anti-christ). Imam Mahdi is a secondary figure that helps Jesus against the anti-christ.

This is an eye opening book, especially in conjunction with the bood "Politically Incorrect Guide to ISLAM." I read the PIG book first, then this one. Reading both together was amazingly eye opening.

If you've ever wondered why Muslim terroists do what they do -- the airplanes, the road side IUD's, the beheadings, the bus bombs in Tel Aviv or London, etc., etc. you need to read this book. If you've ever wondered why the Jews don't just pull back to the pre-67 boundaries so that that whole "palestinian thing" would just go away, you need to read this book. If you've ever wondered why Islam, Judaism and Christianty can't seem to just get along, you need to read this book.
Richardson effectively relates his analysis, and related personal experiences, in a calm, professional manner. He is no crazy or sensationalist. He doesn't need to be when presenting this material.

I'm buying several more to give to several of my family and friends, especially those who think that Islam is just another God-centered religion.

This book provides an interesting look into the Islamophobic world of Christian fundamentalist ideology. The fact that the back of this book contains a positive review by Walid Shoebat the con man and pretend "former PLO terrorist" (who fleeces money from people to give lectures on his non-existent "PLO terrorist" past and spread hatred of Islam ) is telling in and of it itself.

I am reading this for my M.A. Thesis Project. I am quite pleased I chose this book. It has everything, courting, rape, virtue, sword fights/dueling, and death. The longest book published in English literature is exquisite.

Samuel Richardson (1689-1761)is one of the founders of the English novel. His 1741 novel "Pamela" was one of the best sellers of the 18th century. In 1747 the printer/novelist issued the behemoth "Clarissa" which is over 1500 small printed pages and logs in at over one million words!Clarissa is a novel of manners written in an epistolatory style. It consists of 543 letters written by the prolific Clarissa; her good friend
Anna Howe; her cad of a lover Robert Lovelace and his friend Mr. Belford. Several other letters are included written by minor characters.
The plot is a simple one. Clarissa Harlow is a wealthy young lady who refuses to marry the odious Mr. Solmes. Clarissa flees to London with the rakish, highly intelligent and utterly charminig Robert Lovelace. This arch seducer places her in a brothel; she is drugged and Lovelace has intercourse with her. Clarissa then goes into a steady mental and physical decline dying before her 20th birthday.
We read Clarissa over 250 years after its first appearance due to its psychological insight into the human soul. Richardson gives us an in depth look at the mind and heart of Clarissa and Lovelace. Clarissa dies as a Christian looking to Christ for salvation; forgiving her enemies and at peace with her unfortunate situation. Lovelace is killed in a duel. The evil characters are suitably punished. The story is a tragedy as the reader mourns the loss of such a brilliant young woman as Clarissa. Credulity is strained since I doubt if a teenager could write like Clarissa! And who would write such lengthy and minute letters dealing with daily affairs?. Perhaps they had more time in the eighteenth century.
Richardson along with such eighteenth century literary figures as Henry Fielding; Oliver Goldsmith and Daniel DeFoe gave the novel a popularity among the new middle class which was literate and craved for
stories which would instruct and entertain them in their homes.
I read this novel in eight days. My eyes are trying to recover but the experience is one I savor. Clarissa will never be popular due to its great lengths and complexity. It will, however, never die but live as long as great novels are read and savored by sagacious souls.

Clarissa besides being one of the longest novels out there is also a hard book to read. Written in a series of letters from the main characters, it is truly work of art. You need to have a dictionary handy when reading this book as you will find many words that are not in your present vocabulary. I am reading Clarissa and I am ONLY on page 157, that is not to say that it is not an interesting book because it is. It's just that if you undertake to read this huge mammoth book, give yourself time alone to squint at the tiny print, look up words you don't know and digest some of the character's unbelievable thoughts and actions. While reading the book, I had to suppress the urge to scream at the sheer absurdity of all of Clarissa's relative. What a bunch of morons. I like it though that this book gives me reason to want to scream at these folks.

While trying to read this book, I noticed that Samuel Richardson also wrote another book similar to Clarissa but slightly more lighthearted and readable. The book is called The History of Sir Charles Grandison. It is the story of the most perfect gentleman you will ever hope to find stuck between the affections of two very beautiful but different women (don't you feel sorry for him?). Like Clarissa, this book is long. You will not be able to find a single volume that contains the whole book unless you are willing to shell out big bucks. Save your money and right here in Amazon you can purchase the digital edition of this book. With this digital edition you can download onto your PDA, eBook or PC and read it from there. Or you could do like I did, I downloaded the book to my PC and then printed myself a hard copy. I must warn you, the book is long. On a regular 8 x 11 1/2 paper, this novel takes up 1,600 sheets so be prepared. That being said, this is one of the best investments I have made as it cost less than 10 bucks and I am thoroughly enjoying this story, daresay I, more than Clarissa.

I will write a review of Sir Charles once I finish reading it but waste no more time, go out and purchase your own copy and read some of the finest literature out there.

In the final semester of my English degree, I spent an entire semester reading Clarissa and composing something of the undergraduate version of a doctoral thesis. I love the themes raised in Clarissa and the underlying predicament common to women in this time period.

Having said that, however, I have to reluctantly admit that the actual _reading_ of this book was painful. Richardson's themes are quite good - his pacing is not. Clarissa is yet another example of periodical stories that appeared, piece by piece, in monthly publications which did NOT encourage the author to reach the point (see also Dickens, who was paid by the word). In a perfect world, Richardson would have made Clarissa about half the length that he actually did, but it is not a perfect world in which we live. If you are interested in the plight of women in this period, in the manipulations of uncaring families, and of the raping 'gentlemen' who plaugued the time period feeling themselves entitled to whatever they want, then pick up a copy of Clarissa. But be prepared to skim judiciously to keep the action moving.

What a group of despicable characters! By page 500, I was hoping every character would be put to the rack. By page 1000, I was hoping for a mass hanging. By page 1500, I was willing to grant clemency to a few.

Dozens of times I nearly relegated this book to the pile of books to be sent to an enemy - BUT - each time would pick it up again because I had to know if my hopes would be realized.

Should you read Clarissa? By all means; if for no other reason than to serve as penance for all past sins of omission or commission wreaked on others.

Definitely on my recommended book list. A must read for women in business.

Susan Bock
The Success Coach for Women in Business
www.SusanBockSolutions.com

I purchased this book as a gift to myself after reading a few chapters of my friend's book. It's caused a huge impact in my life and those around me and has made me re evaluate the simple yet important things in life. If you're looking for a change in your personal life this is a perfect starter point.

What a wonderful book to pick up at start of a new year. It's arranged so each week for 52 weeks you have a fresh activity to inspire and guide you. Titles such as "Give your brain a vacation" or "Finding your lost self" give you an idea of the topics.
You don't have to start this in January, as the weekly format can start at any time of the year. You can even sample it randomly as the mood strikes you. I found the advice and activities so empowering, I couldn't wait for the next week to read further.
Each week you have an essay to read on that week's topic. It's accompanied by a TAKE ACTION CHALLENGE and a list of resources. The actions usually involve answering questions, making lists, or in some other way commiting your action to paper. I really liked the first one where I had to list 25 things I was most proud of accomplishing in the past twelve months. Then I had to select my five most important ones. The next part was to name three ways I've grown over the last year.
What a much better way to start a new year by focusing on the positive instead of thinking of all the things that are wrong with you and making resolutions around those.
The action items give you assignments to work on and the web pages and books listed in the resources will keep me busy all year.

I am so glad to have this book! I had been meaning to buy it for some time and I'm glad I finally did. The chapters are short, and really helpful and practical for making improvements to your life. The most refreshing concept is that of "extreme self care". What a concept! You mean I'm allowed to take wonderful care of myself without feeling guilty? This has changed my life!
Also, at the end of each chapter is a list of references and other sources covering that particular topic. This is as helpful as the book itself.
Cheryl Richardson is a very good writer. I really recommend this book.

This book is loaded with resources. Each week busts apart an aspect of life that needs rev-ving up. Cheryl Richardson doesn't just talk, she tells you how to walk the coaching with plenty of practical resources for the serious player of life. Best for those who are saying YES to a life makeover and committed to doing the work it takes to make it happen. If you're passive instead of passionate about transforming your life, Life Makeovers is your acres of diamonds. Like the folk tale, it is right under your nose and you won't see the treasure that is staring back at you.

This is one of the cutest, intelligently humorous books I have ever read! It is a series of small storries written by the brothers and their guests. The stories are mostly pretty funny and I found myself laughing out loud. I can't guarantee that all readers will laugh as we all have our own funny bone but I LAUGHED.

It's not my style to write reviews that are book reports. I prefer to keep the review simple with a few facts (so as to keep the book a surprise) and my opinion if it's worth the read. With that in mind, I will say that this book is worth the read.

I enjoyed the writing style, the humor and found myself savoring the book; stalling my reading it in order to make it last longer.

Buy it! I think you'll want to read it again and loan to your friends.

I admit that I am only 1/2 way through the book. I looked at the reviews on Amazon to see how this book was received. I am finding the characters very likeable. It's a light, fast read and at times laugh out loud funny. I had no preconceptions as I've never heard of this series before I found it at a book sale.

It's not rocket science but enjoyable nevertheless.

My favorite sentence in this book is when a character describes himself and his guests as "gentle, bookish, and ever so slightly confused." This book will be loved by people who feel they too are "gentle, bookish, and ever so slightly confused." It is truly a gentle book. It is relaxing, refreshing, and if you are a book lover you feel you are among friends while you read. I laughed out loud two or three times, especially at the part where the characters discover music's effect on the rate that chickens lay eggs. It's an easy quick read, and it definitely made me want to stay at a bed & breakfast like this one.

A friend gave me this book earlier this year as a birthday present. I had never heard of it but the minute I started reading I was taken with it. It is funny, quirky, and a little bittersweet. The bird was ridiculously funny!!

Is this on par with the absolute greats of literature? Maybe, maybe not, but the feelings and images that it evoked in me are still with me! Highly recommended, especially if you like books...I mean really like books in an almost "wierd" way. You know who you are!

I am so glad I found this book. It is a small book and I usually devour books in no time at all, but I truly savored this one. It's meant to be read slowly and appreciatively. Going inside of this book made me feel relaxed, comfortable, and peaceful. I'd recommend it to anyone who is a book lover and enjoys cozy reads that show how special that every day life can be.

Starwars Crimson Empire is prehaps one of the best starwars comics darkhorse has created . It had a really great storyline Amazing action and some nice artwork too. Another reason Starwars CE is so memorable is because IT's characters are truly unique . Kir Kanos is probably one of starwar's most complex and mysterious characters and never have I seen a villan as fascinating or as diabolical as Carnor Jax . In conclusion Starwars Crimson Empire Is MUST_READ!

I have not read the graphic novel so the audiobook is my only experience with the story. I think this is important to note since it has to be difficult to convert a graphic novel, with its emphasis on visuals to move the storyline, to a completely audio format. Audiobooks from regular novels don't have this isssue.

This point is important - the audiobook depends rather heavily on sound effects to cover up for this visual to audio conversion. Sometimes it works quite well while at other times it becomes a jumbled mess of various punching sound effects that the listener has to wade through until the story picks up again.

In general though the sound effects, the use of multiple actors (like an old-fashioned radio play) and the inclusion of snippets of Star Wars music from the movie soundtracks is a great help. But, it fails to make up for the often adolescent level of dialogue and mind-bogglingly stupid battle tactics used by the remnants of the Imperial fleet at the end of the tape. These combine to make a potentially great work merely average.

This graphic novel is superb. The art is incredible, the story amazing, and the sheer fact that it engrosses you is wonderful. Once i started reading i couldn't put it down. It reveals many empty voids left after the emperors death at the hands of vader, as well as give a story to the uber awesome red cloaked guards aka the royal guard. If you have never read a graphic novel this is is probably one of the best to start with.

This is a good illustrated novel, I as an adult enjoyed it very much. But if you are thinking about giving it to your kid or teenager I wouldn't recommend it. It has too much graphic violence .

I've long considered Dark Horse to be the smartest and most resourceful comic book publisher. When they started out over twenty years ago, they made the conscious decision to not try to take on Marvel and DC at their own game. Instead, they published truly unique titles such as Concrete and Hellboy and were aggressive in obtaining the licenses to popular movie franchise like Aliens, Predator, and, their biggest coup, Star Wars. Let's not forget that Marvel had the Star Wars license in the 1970's and while they concentrated on the central characters from the first trilogy, Dark Horse has delved into the expanded universe, telling stories that were set thousands of years before the events in the first Star Wars film, as well as tales set well after Return of the Jedi, not to mention filling in gaps between the films.

This tale takes place about ten years after the destruction of the first Death Star and after Luke Skywalker has defeated the last of the Emperor's clones. The empire is fractured and looking for new leadership, and still looking to crush the rebellion. Stepping forward, and nominating himself as the new ruler is Carnor Jax, a member of the Emperor's Royal Guard.

The book sheds some deserving light on the members of the Royal Guard. These Crimson cloaked warriors were always shrouded in secrecy. A back story takes readers to the distant planet of Yinchorr, a desolate planet with no strategic value. It was here were potential Royal Guardsman received their harsh training. Often having to fight to the death to prove themselves worthy to the Emperor as well as Darth Vader. The Guardsman's training was perhaps even more strenuous than that of the Jedi.

On the planet of Phaeda, a mysterious man has just entered a local watering hole and is confronted by several soldiers and Stormtroopers, killing all of them single-handedly. This man turns out to be Kir Kanos, a former Royal Guardsman marked for death by Carnor Jax. Kanos uncovered a plot by Jax to have inferior clones of the Emperor, thereby sealing his fate. Still loyal to the Emperor, Kanos and other loyal Guardsmen battled Jax's forces but were overwhelmed by superior numbers until only Jax remained. Now, on this insignificant planet, Kanos finds himself in a strange alliance with local Rebel forces when Jax tracks him down and is willing to destroy the entire city to kill his enemy.

Here is a great example of an outstanding Star Wars story with little reliance on the core characters. Luke Skywalker and Vader make brief cameos in flashback sequences only. The book holds it own on the strong plot and the powerful enmity between Carnor Jax and Kir Kanos, two mortal enemies. You just know that one of them is not going to survive; it can be no other way. The art is by two veteran artists, and two of my favorites: penciller Paul Gulacy and inker P. Craig Russell. I've been a huge Gulacy fan ever since he worked on The Master of Kung-Fu in the 70's and his pencils are perfectly rendered by the poetic inks of Russell.

REVIEWED BY TIM JANSON

We had the good fortune to meet Brian Richardson at the arcade at Busch Gardens in Tampa, and he impressed us by succeeding at the "Wizard Wire" game ("Wacky Wire" in the book) ON THE FIRST TRY! Overall his strategies are right on track. Buy the book, it's all true!!!

I've never been one to play those games at carnivals and fairs. This book caught my eye as something interesting and after reading all the reviews I wanted to know more. This book provides many hints and tips on how to win these types of games. It does not provide any illegal information or any method of cheating. Instead the author has practiced and practiced and figured out the tricks- the reason the carny can do it and you can't. He provides lists of the best games to play, the worst games to play, and a test to figure out your vision dominant eye. If you are ever tempted to play these types of games it is worth reviewing this book before going.

I first saw mention of Mr. Richardson's book in Maxium a few months ago. I asked my wife to order it for me for my birthday, and received it last week.

All through high school and my first two years of college I worked as a game 'agent' for a small amusement park with a pretty good regular client base. We had 7 or so of the games he discusses in his book, and I worked in all of them on a pretty regular basis.

Most of what Brian describes in his book are techniques that I would share with my customers anyway...just because you know the 'secret' to doing something, doesn't mean you can do it. Sharing the 'secret' was a good sales pitch...Using Mr. Richardson's technique, I tried shooting out the star dozens of times...never once did I actually do it.

Anyway, he misses a few things...especially in the softball/milk bottle throw game. I'm not going to share it here, but there are some things about that game that any 'professional' should know. I was very impressed, however, with his description of the Wacky Wire. We used that game for maybe a season or two...it was another one where I knew 'how' to do it, but usually couldn't. With a little practice, I think anyone who reads that chapter should be good to go for that game.

Anyway, overall I thought it was a great effort, and I also enjoyed the section on roller coasters.

About a week ago, i was visiting Atlanta and I decided to go to Six Flags. A friend and I went on a few rides, but then we decided it was time to play some games. After a few games and no prizes, we go to take a break and watch others fail. While waiting at the "Wacky Wire" game, a man approached us and offered to pay for the game,show us how to win, and even said he'd give us the prize... Well, a few dollars later he beat the wacky wire game. I was amazed, I had never seen anyone win. After giving us the prize (a 7 foot lion), he gave us "The Secrets of Amusement Park Games... Revealed! (Third Edition)." He then went to the "Wacky Wire" chapter and showed us how the book says to do it which was the exact same way he did it.

After leaving Six Flags, we went back to the hotel and read the book. Let me tell you, this is no rip off, the games seem so much easier now and I can't wait until the next time I play them. Thanks to Brian, I have a gigantic lion, his book, and a new found confidence. He is not only a good man, but he writes a great book. Thank You for everything Brian.

I met the author at Six Flags Fiesta Texas a while ago. He gave me a copy of his book, wowed me at the Wacky Wire game, and won me a GIGANTIC realistic leopard plush... you know, the ones that you always walk past, drool over, and walk on empty-handed? Needless to say, I was more than eager to read his secrets.

I read bits and pieces of the book throughout the day, but when I arrived home, there was no sign of it! I learned later that a good friend of mine (who had been at the park with me) had taken the book with her to Seaworld. She came back with a gigantic Shamoo whale plushie, a token of the tricks she had learned for the Ring Toss game.

Now I'm reading up, practicing, and I can't wait to wow my friends on our next Fiesta Texas trip. Thanks so much!!

For anyone not completely familiar with the Muslem religion, I recommend this book. He gives a lot of facts, which he can back up from Mohammed's life, and from the Koran. I think any thinking person would judge this religion very evil.

Excellent information about a religion that plans to replace all religions. Detailed facts about Mohammad and his rise to power on the back of the Jews. Violence being at the center of this religion makes it different than any other I have investigated. Join them or die.

Islam may very well be an incitement to murder, but you won't be convinced by this book. Richardson provides an incoherent, repetitive narrative rife with logical fallacies. The book is equal parts exaggeration and damnation with a dash of fanaticism and just a hint of relevance. There are well made points based on examination of the historical record: Mohammed killed many people, he married a 6-year old, he slept with innumerable women. Unfortunately these points are buried, drowned, book-ended, or negated by name calling, ideological rants, unsubstantiated inferences and poor organization. Find something else.

It seems that the reviewers that had negative reviews for this book have not yet read it.

Don Richardson is very eloquent and intelligent in his writing and the book is so full of incredible truth. He doesn't "come up" with Islamic bashing testimonies, but uses the verses of the Koran, plain and simple and in 8 different translations, to expose the truth. His viewpoints are not warped and he is not misleading in any way. Like I previously stated, he lays out the verses of the Koran - you read the verses yourself and you can come to your own conclusion. The conclusion is quite obvious, however, and should encourage us to reach out to these deceived Muslim people.

I am a Messianic missionary to a third world, Muslim country. This book helped me understand their teachings and to be able to communicate the errors and deception within the Koran. Believe it or not, the average Muslim (from my experience) has never even read the Koran for them self, so often times, they have no idea what it truly reads. Not only are you educating yourself on the history and text by reading Secrets of the Koran, you are able to come to a Muslim in a caring way and bring up questions and comments. I have found this book very useful and I will continue to use its wisdom to bring Muslim's to the one true God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, so that they may find true love, peace, and life by accepting Yeshua (Hebrew for Jesus) as their Savior.

I would highly recommend this book to everyone, no matter what religion they may be.

This is a book I encourage every American, to read, as it will give them a good glimpse to what the future will hold if Islam is not kept in check. Really points out what Islam truley believes.

I think many of the 1 star reveiws on this book never actually read the book, as they do not actually talk about the book and also think that this book is revealing "secrets", (title is a little mis-leading).

As one who has spent almost the last 7 years in Islamic countries (Indonesia, Malaysia, Qatar, Kosovo, Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan), I can confirm much of what is being said in this book.

Too bad President Bush did not read this book!

this book covers all bases with suprising depth. The way it is written hammers home the important points without becoming boring (well, not too boring). I used this as my sole study guide along with a large amount of practice tests and passed first time. The last 2 chapters have a lot of info that is not on the exam but are useful in the 'real' world of proxy. the book did a good job of clarifying the differences between the 3 services. Recommended!

this book covers all bases with suprising depth. The way it is written hammers home the important points without becoming boring (well, not too boring). I used this as my sole study guide along with a large amount of practice tests and passed first time. The last 2 chapters have a lot of info that is not on the exam but are useful in the 'real' world of proxy. the book did a good job of clarifying the differences between the 3 services. Recommended!

Read this book in two weeks, and I have to say it follows the right order to explain the subject.

Don't expect to get a thorough knowledge of proxy server as it can only be achieved, like other reviewers said, with "hands on" experience. Also, make sure you are familiar with iis 4.0.

however it does prepare you for the exam, and with with the help of transcenders you will nail it at first try.

I read this book prior to taking my MCP test for proxy. Although the book did cover many bases, the book was very disjointed and in my opinion unreadable in many sections. Repetition is rampid within it's pages. I passed the exam, but I used multiple resources before I took the test. I would highly recommend consulting other resources in addition to this one.

this book covers all bases with suprising depth. The way it is written hammers home the important points without becoming boring (well, not too boring). I used this as my sole study guide along with a large amount of practice tests and passed first time. The last 2 chapters have a lot of info that is not on the exam but are useful in the 'real' world of proxy. the book did a good job of clarifying the differences between the 3 services. Recommended!

Here's a good criteria for judging this book. Substitute the word "dwarf" or "little person" with African American, Jew, Latino, etc., and you will find this book offensive. The author never gets past the physical differences from himself, and we never get a true picture of the humanity of his subjects. I also happen to know some of the subjects of his book, and he completely distorts their stories, and actual events, for the sake of a good read. Consider it a work of fiction.

I loved reading this book and will read it again. When I began reading, I could not set the book down. I felt Richardson was honest and respectful of difference. He speaks his mind over a subject he initially knew very little about. It was one person's perspective and he told it with compassion. As someone who also has a disability, I gravitated toward each and every page; to each and every person.

I was totally involved, so much so that I started rereading my own texts to often dispute what he wrote. Whether I agreed or disagreed with his assessments is not the point. He's a journalist and told it like it is according to his perspective. Does that mean I have to agree with everything he wrote? Of course not.

Yet I was introduced to a world I would not have been, had I not read his account; conversations which involved both the dwarfs and himself. I was so moved by this book and felt it one of the few books I've read in awhile that created an emotional turmoil with myself.

The only thing I questioned (and this is not about his or other's opinons) was that perhaps Eveyln and her daughter Jocelyn were like a book on their own. It was just something I wondered.

I thank all the incredibly brave, honest and candid people profusely. You brought me a new sense about life and love. We are just people.

John Richardson allegedly went to Atlanta to write about the yearly national conference for Little People of America. What he actually ended up doing was putting himself into the story very much like Charlie Kaufman did in the film "Adaptation." It didn't work for that film and it certainly doesn't work for this book.

So many reviews praise Richardson for sharing this hidden world with the general public. Richardson does not shed light on an unknown world. He reports on a world full of people that he, like many others, fail to see as human beings. He exposes his prejudice towards people with dwarfism throughout, but the most glaring example is at the end. After following Jocelyn and her family for over 2 years he says good-bye and writes that he "bends down to kiss her bulging forehead." Two years and the only thing he still sees are the differences? With reporting such as this he never is able to convey anything to his readers besides his constant "look at the freaks" mentality that the book opens with. Richardson's glee at his entry into dwarf-world simply reads as the kid who finally finds someone the bullies dislike even more than they dislike him and uses his new found knowledge to keep it that way.

Perhaps it's more important for Richardson to blow away the stereotype of "little bodies/big hearts" and let the world know he's the Goliath that slew David. Perhaps his "us vs them" mentality makes him feel superior. Perhaps he has never come to grips that the beauty that he is so obsessed with has eluded him. Whatever his reasons for writing this book, gaining insight on a community he is not a member of is not one of them. There are better fiction books on dwarfism than this supposedly true story.

I saw this book in Half-Price Books. I liked the layout on the cover, it looked "different", and it was cheap (bingo!), so I bought it. Because of time constraints, it took me 2-3 weeks to read this book. However, one could easily finish it within a week if they so desired.
I really liked the book. The author went to a convention of dwarves for a magazine assignment, and initiated relationships that would continue for a long time. One was with Evelyn Powell and her daughter Jocelyn. From Australia, it details their communication and friendship as they return home, go back to America for surgery that will help her to walk, return home again and decide that they are going to return permanently to America, leaving their family behind. In Evelyn you saw both a mother willing to do anything to help her daughter, as well a super-mother who was sometimes overly focused on this quest. You get to know her feelings, as well as those of her other children and her husband, who feel that she abandons them.
You become acquainted with Andrea, another dwarf. She has a love-hate relationship with the author because she's not willing to accept his opinions that dwarves initally strike him as weird. Different. Fascinating. I thought he was being a good reporter, and being honest. It would have been easy to patronize them, and write a touchy-feely big-hearts-in-little-bodies sing-song tribute to the hard lives of dwarves. But I felt that the author really told it as it is. By being intimate about his own response to seeing a little person, he was able to analyze and dissect the reasons why we see people as normal/varying from the norm. I felt that he was brave to be so honest about his thoughts, especially because he got a lot of flak for them. Listen, if you don't want the truth, which is many times ugly, there are a lot of other books you can pick up. I'm not so sure that they will touch you as much as this one did.
Richardson both highlighted the unique lives of dwarves and drew attention to their advantages/disadvantages that come from being short. He also showed, in many times heartbreaking ways, their humanness. Their insecurity. The scrambling that goes on at these conventions to find a romantic partner- because this is a limited opportunity to hook up with someone your own height. The hierarchy within the dwarf community, paralleling that within our own society. I ultimately finished the book feeling drawn closer to humanity, realizing what it is that connects me to humanity, including dwarves, and feeling that I had a glimpse into a group of people that before was unknown to me.

I don't claim to be an expert on the dwarf community after reading this book- without firsthand experience, I will never know what it is like to see life from a lower view. I do feel that this book connected me to a people with passions, frustrations, loves, and hates often the same as my own.

Journalist John H. Richardson attended a Little People of America convention looking for a story he could turn into a book. But the perfect story did not emerge immediately and so Richardson, cynical journalist that he seems to be, apparently decided to force a story. What emerges is more a voyeuristic look into the methods and musings of a journalist than the intimate look at "dwarfs" that Richardson may have intended.

Early in the book, the author muses over how he should approach his story. He is critical of those who write "little people with big hearts" stories and sets out to do something different. He succeeds. This book comes off as little people through the eyes of a little heart.

Richardson chronicles his involvement with a brassy female dwarf ; the blossoming love of a dwarf couple ; and a crippled teen female dwarf who suffers through multiple surgeries with her maladjusted mother. The author takes the subjects on his own terms, works his way into their lives, and gains their trust so that he can expose their worst personality traits with diminished attention to any warmth that they might possess.

The author writes very well as may be expected from one who writes for a living. His coverage of the world of little people is fairly complete with significant discussions on the medical treatment of dwarfism through surgery and therapy. He delves too deeply into the philosophical view of dwarfism through the ages. And he delves deeply into the relationships between little people, their families, friends and others who surround them.

He graphically chronicles the stress that dwarfism can place on a family and even more graphically portrays the havoc that can occur when one turns outside one's family for moral support.

Most of all, however, Ricahrdson depicts the way in which a journalist can invite himself into another person's life to spin a story in his own direction. Although Richardson documents the hurt expressed by some of those who read his blunt newspaper coverage of the Little People of America convention, he sheds any personal remorse and continues his calloused views to the end of this book. I can only hope that those same people hurt by Richardson's newspaper work will save themselves the pain of reading this book.

Like a few other reviewers, I had a hard time making my way through this book. This topic was handled by Deep End of the Ocean and by one of McEwen's books in a far more compelling manner. And then I looked at the copyright. Surprise! It pre-dates these other books, which I find interesting and curious, making me wonder if the other authors had read this one. Really, what made me suspect the book was written a good many years ago was no mention of cell phones and the strong homophobic theme underlying the book. So I checked the copyright, and suddenly, everything fell into place. So then I continued reading with renewed interest. I was surprised by the ending, frankly, which I won't explain because to do so would be a spoiler. Nothing about the book makes me want to read others by this author, but now I am sort of curious about the movie which was based on the book. Oh, and I was taken aback--not offended, but just surprised--by the minutely detailed account of the sexual encounter and episode that led to the main suspect's getting arrested. That just seemed to jar and be out of place and made me suspect that the author inserted it for gratuitous reasons.

I found this book was the basis for the TV movie "Without A Trace" and decided to read it. What a disappointment. The book does hit some home runs when it comes to describing the mother's feelings and reactions but overall, the characters are shallow, undeveloped and stereotypical. I also found the writing to be very poor in most places, even amateurish. The book was more like a high school student reading about Etan Patz (real life disappearance)and writing about it for a composition class. The low point is the ending, which I won't give away. Aside from being highly improbable, it felt very rushed, abrupt and WAY predictable. When an author spends more time and effort describing an encounter with a homosexual prostitute than in a book's conclusion, there is something wrong. I have never read Gutcheon's work before; "Still Missing" would not make me seek her out again.

Normally this type of book, I find depressing, but this time I still couldn't put it down. Being a mother, I have to admit, this is one of my worst nightmares, but Beth Gutcheon made you feel like you were experiencing exactly what the mother was going through from the first moment the boy was lost to the end of the book. So far I think this is her best book I've read. It's defintely worth giving it a try.

I am now a Gutcheon fan and look forwaed to reading more of her work.

This is the first book I have read from Gutcheon and I really enjoyed it. Her character development was great and after a while I could not stop cheering for the mother. I was glad that the book ended on a postive note after investing that much time into reading it I would have been very upset if the boy was never found or had died. I really felt like I was part of the book.