Roberts Books

Reviewed by R. J. Brown for RebeccasReads (3/08)

From a Mob hit thirty years ago on the outskirts of Detroit to a fight over a piece of luggage at an airport carousel, "Dead Bang" lopes around the Wolverine State, leaving a trail of bullets, fires, loose cash, kidnappings and bodies.

This is the third Art Hardin Mystery, so there's some catching-up to do, although "Dead Bang" ably stands alone, like the proverbial last man.

I really enjoyed meeting Art and Wendy, longtime married PIs, with their own separate companies and an amusing and familiar repartee. Both being of a certain age, they have history, and in Art's case, something he was working on as a young man, suddenly comes back to bite him.

Art is at a meet with Mark Behler, a local news anchor who's outspokenly anti-gun on his shows and says he has a lead into that long ago Mob hit. When a middle-aged woman comes in and starts shooting, Art, being a concealed weapons carrier and a firm believer in the Second Amendment, shoots back, accurately. Mark rushes to the woman's side with his tape recorder still going. Just as she expires, she says something which makes him very uneasy, and leads him to convince Art to help him legally get a gun, under the guise of showing his TV audience just how easy it is. Turns out it isn't easy, which frustrates the newsman to no end.

Later, when Wendy is driving Art to the airport to pick up Karen Smith, someone Art had been hired to protect a few years back, and whom they had kind of adopted (and whom we might have met in either "Private Heat" or "Dying Embers") returns from a Caribbean vacation towing her latest lover, a comedian of Middle Eastern extract, and a suitcase of lovely new undies. Then Art and lover Manny fight over the bag and it rips open. It's packed with used American money -- the chase is on.

Sometimes it's Art and Wendy doing the chasing, and sometimes it's the bad guys with their arsenal and cell of back-up thugs. All the time "Dead Bang" is fast, lively and surprisingly informative and ingenious. I especially enjoyed the insights into Detroit's past and present, the married with older children focus, and the different perspective that one FBI agent, raised in Egypt and America, brings to the mix.

"Dead Bang" has some things to say about good guys and bad and terrorism, about the sorry state of a once-great industrial region, about gun ownership and misuse, and living long enough to gain some maturity. It also has some great punch-lines.

If you like your mysteries peppered with the bizarre and hilarious, with side dishes of history, then "Dead Bang" is a dead-on read for you!

Retired private detective and Shamus-nominated author Robert E. Bailey presents Dead Bang: An Art Hardin Mystery, featuring the return of hard-boiled gumshoe Art Hardin. When an Islamic terrorist group manipulates and unsuspecting friend of the family to smuggle money into the country - and the money vanishes - Art becomes involved in a murderous, terrorist plot of violence and revenge. An nonstop rush of excitement from cover to cover, Dead Bang is especially recommended for fans of two-fisted intrigue.

When you start reading Dead Bang, you won't stop until the smoke clears on the final page. Robert Bailey's talent for blending non-stop action with interesting plot twists and intriguing characters places him at the top of his craft. Art Hardin is a mystery lover's detective. He's no superman, but he always gets the job done. Bailey's career as a PI guarantees accuracy and detail that other authors just can't deliver. If you like a dose of reality with your thrillers then this is the book for you!

Reviewed by D. H. Brown for Reader Views (3/08)

When a copy of Robert Bailey's new Art Hardin book "Dead Bang" came into my hands, I knew I was in for a thrill-ride. Not many authors since the great Chandler and John D. MacDonald of Travis McGee fame have the ability to write a book I know beforehand will not disappoint.

In the third book in his Art Hardin series, Robert Bailey does not disappoint. "Dead Bang" is filled with the usual thrills and spills that Art and his family get into, seemingly on a routine basis. From a street shooting, to terrorist charging around shooting up the lower-half of Michigan, this tale keeps the reader racing along with howls of laughter and seat of your pants excitement.

Art Hardin is no faint-of-heart PI. When lead comes flying his way, he answers full throttle with fire downrange. Dead-eyed and with the full intention of stopping said lead, he says an emphatic YES to keeping his "Right to Keep and Bear Arms." You shoot at Art and you die.

I hope this author has a long and storied life of writing ahead of him as I want those years to help satisfy my need for speed and good reads!

Dead Bang is the third book in the Art Hardin series by Robert Bailey, and is clearly his best effort to date. Bailey has hit his stride with Dead Bang. This fast-paced book and will keep you on the edge of your seat while you keep turning the pages. The well-developed plot revolves around a friend of the Hardins duped into transporting money for terrorists, with an interesting sub-plot about a 30-year-old mob hit. Art and Wendy Hardin get involved and the bullets, as well as the one-liners, fly.

Robert Bailey has created a cast of characters that are believable, and have become old friends after having read the first two books. For Art Hardin, picture a mixture of Philip Marlowe and Archie Goodwin, married with teenaged children. Throw in a bit of the Continental OP by Dashiell Hammet and you'll find he's a mix of the hard-boiled private eye and the guy next door. In fact, the Hardins are the kind of people you might want to have living next door. Well, you will until the bad guys start shooting up the neighborhood anyway. In this story, Wendy comes into her own and the married couple becomes a team. The dialogue and the way they interact is believable and fun.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a fast-paced mystery/suspense/thriller and I eagerly await the next in the series.

One family's fight to reform the medical system is documented in this excellent, but gut-wrenching book. The author, Dorothy Cancilla, a bright and feisty woman, who learned the hard way how callous and incompetent some medical providers can be. Death by HMO documents her daughter Jennifer's eight years of painful illness that eventually led to a premature and avoidable death. Jennifer died four days before her 30th birthday.

I'm amazed at how much information and detail is compiled into this 132-page book. The reader gets an education on the human body, and the tragic errors made by doctors at every turn become very clear.

Jennifer's problems began with frequent abdominal pain and vomiting. While doctors debated about the cause of her suffering, she trusted her doctor who literally butchered her by removing her pancreas, instead of her gallbladder. Jennifer, who was somebody's mother, wife, daughter and sister, tried to live a normal life around many hospital stays and surgeries. Cancilla portrays her youngest daughter as heroic. Anyone reading this book will fall in love with Jennifer, but what pulls at my heart is Cancilla's loss--a mother's loss--that never goes away. She honors her daughter and family by writing this book.

People need to know what can happen to any of us once we put ourselves in someone else's hands. We must advocate for ourselves and our loved ones. We cannot assume that the doctor is always right. We have to keep in mind that the only body we have has to last us a lifetime. We are the ones who are affected by wrong decisions. Ultimately we must consider the medical professionals as part of our team. They are expert consultants and sometimes gifted surgeons. But even the most dedicated doctors are imperfect, not God-like. Even decent medical people may be cajoled into betraying their patients by the HMO who pays their salary.

Death by HMO will surprise and dismay you. But you will be inspired by the courage of Dorothy Cancilla and her family. This story has all the elements for a great movie.

> This is a very well written and documented story of a family trying to get professional medical care for their daughter (Jenny) at Kaiser Hospital...

> Jenny's family took it for granted that all Hospitals were "100% Dedicated at Maintaining a Very High Standard and keeping all of their patients in Excellent Health"...

> Without going into detail their daughter who was in her early 20's had a medical condition that seemed to be getting worse...

> This family was in for a Rude Awakening when they took Jenny to Kaiser Hospital to be diagnosed and treated...

> What they found out is that Kaiser Hospital did not want acknowledge or admit anything was wrong with "Jenny" and Refused to provide the Correct Diagnostic Tests that "would or would not" verify that she had medical condition that needed treated ASAP...

> Jenny's family spent the next "8" years trying to have their daughter Correctly Diagnosed and Treated at Kaiser Hospital with the end result being that the only thing "this hospital" had to offer them were Lies, Deception and Denial by repeatedly telling them that their daughter "did not" have any medical problems at all...

> What was found out later in Court by Professional Medical Experts and Doctors was that Jenny was provided with "100% Extreme Sub-Standard Medical Care" at "this HMO" starting with her very first visit...

> To put it simply: This young lady could have been Diagnosed - Treated and Cured by the Lowest 10% of the Graduates fresh out of Medical School because as it turned out Jenny had an Elementary Medical Condition that could have been Easily Diagnosed and Cured with Proper Professional Treatment...

> After Eight Years of "Extreme Sub-Standard Medical Care" at Kaiser Hospital and combined with Six Un-Needed Operations: Jenny Died a Horrible Death at the young age of "29 Years Old"...

***** THE FOLLOWING IS WHAT "YOU WILL LEARN FROM THIS EXCELLENT BOOK":

#1 The Red Flags that will tell You to change Doctors or Staff and get an Outside Second Opinion...

#2 To be able to Locate the "Many Great Doctors" that are available at Kaiser Hospital...

#3 To Understand the Fact that you have Zero-Support from some HMO's...

#4 I know that it is a "Known Fact" that there are some "Doctors and Staff" at "This Hospital" who Do Not care at all if you Die or Severely Damaged by their Major or Minor Medical Malpractice Mistakes and they will do nothing at all to save you - Rather than admit they made a Serious
Mistake and Save You - They will keep this a Complete Secret...

#5 Also Keep in Mind that there are "Many Great Doctors and Staff" at Kaiser who have Perfomed Miracles and saved patients who had almost no chance at all of Surviving and / or perfomed Incredibly Complicated Operations or Treatments with Fantastic Results...

#6 It is a "Known Fact" that some very "Unqualified Doctors or Staff" at Kaiser who will: Lie, Destroy and / or Lose Critical Medical Records, XRAYS, Radiology Reports, Dr's & Nurse's Notes, and any Info. that would Show or Prove they Commited a Major or Minor Malpractice Mistake that Killed or Severely Injured You...

#7 You may think so but you WILL NOT get any Support from "Some" Outside Medical "Watchdog" groups that you are told watches out for Sub-Standard Medical Care - This gives some people a Job to get Paid to Do Nothing and they are paid by you the tax-payer...

#8 The Exception to #7 is MEDICARE - "They do an EXCEPTIONAL JOB" at making sure you are OK... >>> BUT YOU HAVE TO LOOK OUT FOR THE RED FLAGS
YOURSELF BEFORE IT IS TO LATE...

#9 Before it is to late this HMO will have to Re-Evaluate their Game-Plan and put their Members & Patients in Priority Position #1... Income and Profits should be Priority Position #2... And #3 Should be to Weed-Out Any and All Unqualified Employees and Staff and hire Only Qualified and Professional Employee's who Desire to be the "Best of th Best" in the Kaiser Hospital System...

#10 If I had to make an Evaluation of the Kaiser Hospital HMO at this time after reading this excellent book and also being a past member of this this HMO - The Words that Clearly come to Mind Are:
***** THIS HAS TO BE THE MEDICAL SCAM of the CENTURY *****...

If Denzel Washington Touched Your Heart in The New Movie "John Q" Than read.....Jennifer's Story...DEATH BY HMO...A Real Life Tragedy.

This book is much much more than one which relays the horrible medical treatment that Jennifer received "While In The Hands of Kaiser" which resulted in her death.

This book is also about an organization that is more concerned about profit and image than the lives of any of it's patients. They will lie, they will trick, they will deny care in any manner possible until it is too late to save the patient if a patient is no longer profitable to them in the long run.

President Nixon when he was considering allowing the creation of the HMO Act was advised by Mr. John D. Ehrlichman who had received information on how Kaiser is run from the then CEO of Kaiser - Edgar Kaiser. Mr. Erlichman stated "...the less care they give them, the more money they make" and that just about sums up everything about this company.

Jennifer was tortured and abused by this corporation and like countless others she and her family found the inconceivable taking place right before their eyes. Medical personnel were not performing their prescribed duties in a professional nor competent manner. The medical staff with their conduct appeared to be a bunch of bumbling fools.

The Kaiser system is intentionally set up so that the patient and their family will choose to believe that a series of errors or incomptent events is taking place. These are really premeditated actions by a corporation that has put in place a system intentionlly fraught with systemic problems to delay treatment until the patient goes away one way or another.

For anyone that would question that statement how else can you explain how a doctor that goes to school for a decade to learn to be a physician and then passes a test to get a license could be so clueless over and over again.

It simply costs Kaiser less to settle an arbitration than it would to provide proper medical care in the long run.

Jennifer's family should be praised. They had the courage, the fortitude and the belief in themselves to put aside their pain and to focus their thoughts so that the public would have the opportunity to learn and avoid the never ending nightmare that they were all forced to endure by Kaiser and the for profit Permanente Medical Group.

This book is must reading for all people. If you must do business with Kaiser then at least be aware of what their business practices are so you can avoid the eternal suffering that Jennifers family must go through.

Jennifer's death was not in vain. She has lived on in this book to tell the story of what happened and to light the way for those that will listen.

This is a very disturbing indictment of modern health care. Dorothy Cancilla exhibits an extraordinary amount of restraint in recalling the preventable death of her daughter at the hands of inept doctors and an unforgiving system.

It's ironic that a organization whose charter is to maintain people's health can actually compromise their lives when the bottom line might be in jeopardy.

Kudos to Mrs. Cancilla for having the courage to face her demons by sharing them with others.

I initially read through this book very quickly, and am now re-reading it with much more care and attention. This book is dense with wonderful insights and instruction on the nature of consciousness in ordinary time, dreamtime, and beyond. The text is informative, and the notes and bibliography are detailed and complete...Mr. Moss has obviously done his homework. The subject matter is, needless to say, compelling. There's a lot here to study and work on as well as many leads to related resources. I was happy to learn so much more about the Order of the Golden Dawn, "A Vision" by WB Yeats, and Dante's "Divine Comedy", among other things. This book is now one of my favorites which is saying something because I have lots of 'em.

A favorite dream of mine is one I had after my mother's death. She has been gone for almost ten years, but has taught me much about life after death through dreams.

I dreamed that my sisters and I were helping at a community church event. Mom was there. We knew she was dead. This was a very special visit. Someone asked me to run an errand, but I refused. I did not know how long Mom would be with us. Sure enough, in the time that I would have been away, Mom told us she had to go. She showed us some sort of gadget that reminded me of an electronic university calendar. It listed many "courses" that one could take. Each course had a button next to it to facilitate movement and choice. Each button had a protective cover to prevent accidental activation of a new course. Mom explained that she was ready to move on. We went outside with her and watched as she pushed the button for her next course. She floated up off the ground and then slowly drifted away across the fields until she disappeared.

Robert's book is in three parts. The first is about this sort of dream, visits with the dead. The second details his own experiences with the poet Yeats, who wanted to write a Western Book of the Dead, and has long served as a guide for Robert. The final section can prepare us for our own deaths, and outlines how to use dreams to assist the dying. Life after death is like a dream, where none of the rules of our earthly life apply.

The Dreamer's Book of the Dead is massively researched, full of stories from myth, dreams, and near death experiences. I expect that some Christian people would be offended or frightened by the idea of an afterlife which we can visit or even create in dreaming, and warn against any attempt to connect with those who have passed over. Robert Moss does address the dangers of connections with the heavy energies of addicted personalities, for example. But even Christian people can fear death, and can find comfort in the words of this book. In fact, pages 235 and 236 hold the most beautiful example of a healing encounter with Jesus, from one woman's conscious dream experience.

Death does not need to be a fearsome thing. Our loved ones may not be with us in a physical body, but are not so far away at all. This book will be a comfort to many.

Robert Moss gives important advice on how to help those we love die with peace and hope. By sharing dreams together, and by giving dreams of beauty and hope to those who need them, we can be active participants and helpers during this sacred time that we all will eventually face. This book has changed my way of looking at life and death.

Personal experience blends with ancient teachings in Robert Moss'sTHE DREAMER'S BOOK OF THE DEAD: A SOUL TRAVELER'S GUIDE TO DEATH, DYING, AND THE OTHER SIDE which offers accounts of death and its survival. Author Robert Moss survived three near-death experiences in childhood and has been dreaming of the departed all his life: DREAMER'S BOOK OF THE DEAD is nearly an escort service, offering insights on dreams, the afterlife, and healing.

Like all books by Moss, I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Although he comes back more deeply in subjects he may have covered a bit in his former books, Moss does not repeat tirelessly. Instead, he manages to bring new stories and bright insights along with a quick review of particular points whenever it is needed.

In the first part, Robert Moss goes over the realm of death and its inhabitants, what they do, what they want, how to contact them through dreams. In the second part of the book he moves on to recount his adventures in the astral with the poet Yeats. He explains that his inspiration in writing this book came through his imaginary relationship with the poet. This book of the dead is meant as a sort of continuation of Yeats's own book of the dead, left unfinished by his death.

Despite the subject, the author is as playful as ever. Here's how he tells of the birthing process: "The Moon priest helps me into my body suit. Part of me recoils from this limiting, this confinement to such a primitive form, with only one organ of generation. Yet this body suit is flexible and moves with my thoughts.(...)It pulls back into its default mode - that of a biped that cannot eat and talk safely at the same time (...)".

He offers one of the few accounts of what happens before birth and the possibility of parallel lives across the space-time continuum. Karma is now! I would certainly have liked more discussion on that particular subject. Instead, Robert Moss stops there, leaving us wanting more explanation and a more adequate conclusion. The rest is as fun-filled and rich as his other books.

If you want a more experiential and intelligent approach to dreamwork (as opposed to just dream interpretation), Robert Moss' books are the way to go.

If you've always wondered where we came from, what happens when we die, what the "flying saucers" some occasionally see could be, or what the heck we are doing on earth, this book MIGHT be for you. It requires a serious and open-minded seeker. I was captivated and plan to read all the Seth books I can get my hands on.

After starting with Seth in the early 80s I have gone thru ALL of Seth's books and multiple times. I have also purchase all the German translations and they are surprisingly good considering the depth of the issues dealt with. This one alhtough certainly 5-star material is not a good "first" - it is for the seasoned Seth reader who knows the story around the human author and her husband and enjoys background info and family stories. I have read this one twice now. But for the novice I would recommend "Seth Speaks".

Jane Roberts revolutionized spiritual exploration and Channeling with her Seth books in the 60's and 70's. I had the good fortune to study with Jane in 1974. By that time her channeling had grown sophisticated and focused on the way we create our reality with our conscious beliefs. The books from that time are the place to begin understanding Seth, i.e. Seth Speaks and The Nature of Personal Reality. Possibly this book and the others with the sessions from the early years would be among the last Seth books I would suggest one read, but they are wonderful. For the real Seth fan, they not only elaborate on and anticipate ideas Seth later explains, they have a certain freshness and they contain hints with useful information about directions Jane chose not to go in.

In this and all the Seth works Seth/Jane take all the mystery out of the mystical ranks that for so many seems to be another ego project ("I'm more spiritually advanced than you are because I saw the edge of the transpersonal realm once when I slipped on a bar of soap in the shower and I can speak ambiguous circles around anybody"). Instead of vague descriptions of nirvanic states from other authors you get matter of factly description of the nuts and bolts of reality. Instead of non-specific meditation techniques you get instructions for accessing psychological time and information on what other planes you might access (dream world) with this procedure. You get a detailed description of reincarnation, the subconscious, inner self and inner senses. Those who don't appreciate Seth either haven't read enough Seth or didn't understand it. I've also run into those 'elitist' types who think that their understanding is above the Seth teaching. These types usually have read only a few quotes or a single book and no background in psychology. I initially read "The Nature of Personal Reality" and didn't think much of Seth until I read "The Seth Material". I've read every Seth work at this point and look forward to the rest of this series. As far as the fact that this is a channeled work. DO NOT let your ego discredit this material because of the source, this is the real deal.

Quantum Mechanics is only now introducing theories Seth describes in simple terms. Seth described Lucid Dreams before Stephen Laberge proved them to the scientific community as fact. Seth is a brilliant light to the human race and a friendly cosmic teacher we are blessed to have. Thank You

Egypt: Yesterday and Today

After reading this beautifully illustrated table-top book comparing Egyptian scenes of the past and present, we purchased it for our granddaughter who is planning a career as an Egyptologist. The artwork is super, and the narrative is clear and crisp. An outstanding gift.

Many books on David Robert's are small or not generous enough to allow you full scope to enjoy his paintings or they focus on his Levantine paintings.

This book is probably the best around that is not to expensive but gives you a feel for his grand Egyptian paintings. Some really nice ones of Sphinx, pyramids and also some of the lesser temples feature. The only other book which is now out of print that deals with this subject well is Peter Clayton's the Re-discovery of Ancient Egypt. Thames and Hudson.

This book is no more available in France (I'm from Paris), and I saw some sketches of David Roberts a trip in Aswan, so wished discover his work. I am delighted with this book. The high quality of printing, the intersting texts (even for a french citizen) are what was expecting. The most spectacular sketches are those of Isis temple that show the paintings on columns and ceiling nowadays disapeared. It is also fascinating to see the evolution of egyptian civilisation from 19th century and today, regarding way of life and architecture.
In one word : thank you mister Roberts.

As in the previous Roberts books, this format of a real-life photograph side by side with the artist's rendering of the same scene gives the reader a very reflective perspective into the Ancient World.

This is a most amazing book, it has both water colours and photos of the sights of Ancient Egypt. As a reminder of a special holiday or a factual account it is the best. The size of the book makes it prominent coffee table book and easy to just pick up and dip into another wondeful page.

Dr. Bob Ronzio, a Ph.D. with 30 years of experience teaching in the field of biochemistry and nutrition, has put together this accurate and thorough listing from A-Z covering vitamins, nutrients, foods, illnesses, and more. If you're a health practitioner or an informed consumer with a health related question, this is a valuable book to have on hand.

Easy to understand format,from lay person to professionals.Very concised and updated information is given. Recomended for everyone who is into nutrition and living healthy.This book is a must for every home.

As a professional consultant to both health care professionals and their patients, I often need accurate and understandale definitions of sometimes difficult concepts. The Encyclopedia of Nutrition and Good Health is a valuable resource for finding pertinent facts and information on almost any subject regarding health. I can recomend it highly to both professional and lay persons. I use this resource on a daily basis myself.

I have found this book to be an invaluable resource both at work and at home. As a Registered Dietitian working in the area of Community Nutrition/Public Health, I have accessedthis resource countless times and VOILA!, I have always found the answer to my query. The Encyclopedia of Nutrition and Good Health is comprehensive, straightforward and reader friendly. The information is factual, clear and practical. Dr. Ronzio's approach is objective, holistic and well balanced.I would highly recommend this nutrition reference guide to both the health professional and the interested lay person. It is a worthy investment with many returns.

As a professional nutritional consultant, I write a two page monthly newsletter and am in awe of the consistent high quality of what Dr. Ronzio has given us. In my efforts to distill pertinent material for the busy doctor from books and scientific articles, I have many reference and text books to further consult from. I invariably look to Dr. Ronzio's Encyclopedia on Nutrition and Good Health for integrity, clarity and depth of understanding in objective and concise terminology. Like the other reviewers of this enclyclopedia on nutrition and good health, I find it a very valuable and useful source.

I highly recommend that nutritional health professionals obtain two reference copies, one for their immediate use and the other as their waiting room copy. Its inviting manner with immediately usable information allows for a better educated patient with even a better chance of getting well.

I also recommend Dr. Ronzio's Enclylopedia to anyone having difficulty explaining the nature of good nutrition to the rest of the family. He adeptly addresses and clarifies much of the bogus nutritional information in today's terms and settings in a very easy to find and read format.

Thank you, Dr. Ronzio, for all your dedicated hard work to provide The Encyclopedia of Nutrition and Good Health.

I have found that Amazon reader ratings, taken as the averages presented, are pretty true to reality, though I might be slightly more of a critic and give books, in general about half a star less. However, this book lives up to its rating! The only thing I can't figure out is why more people have not read it (assuming the number of reader reviews is an indication of the number of readers). Anyway, if you enjoy well-written, thought-provoking literary works, you WILL want to read this one!

I have to say that the beginning of the novel can only be appreciated once you get beyond it. Taken on its own, it is not particularly interesting and would not have drawn me in. Keep reading. Immediaqtely after the first chapter, the intrigue takes hold. This unpredictable, brilliant novel has received my ultimate praise!

Psychologically deep, well-plotted, heart-wrenching, almost Dostoyevskian grandeur. Haven't been as moved and disturbed by a novel since R Yates *Revolutionary Road.*

This is a powerhouse of a novel that will have you reading compulsively until you've turned the last page, and will leave you deep in thought long after that. "The Fall" has achieved a place on my Top 10 list of favorite works of fiction.

Rob Dewer hears on the car radio that his old friend and mountain climbing partner, Jamie Matthewson, has fallen to his death while making an almost suicidal solo climb. Although the two men have not been in touch for years, the news hits Dewer hard, stirring up a series of memories and strong, unresolved feelings from long ago. He immediately turns his car towards Wales and begins a journey, not only to bring comfort to Matthewson's widow, his old friend and former lover, Ruth, but into the past where decades old secrets and betrayals are disclosed.

Author Simon Mawer writes, "At some time or other you must confront your past. We are our past...There is nothing else, and none of it can be undone." Mawer visits the past of a group of people who are intimately connected through friendship, love, lust, jealousy, competition, hatred and blood ties. The enormous power of some of Mawer's characters is almost overwhelming at times, as is their extreme fragility and vulnerability. His prose is masterful and poignant. The plot is riveting, compelling, almost brutal, in its honesty. I have never been very interested in the sport of climbing, but Mawer's narrative transported me, time and time again, on exhilarating treks up mountainsides; the action so vividly described that I felt that I was one of the climbers. His descriptions of landscapes, both fierce and bucolic, are as visual as paintings. Mawer is indeed a master craftsman.

This is a novel of love, of moral choices and decisions that life forces us to make. Sometimes the repercussions of these decisions echo into the future, for generations to come. This is truly one of the most amazingly original novels I have read in years and it has effected me deeply. I cannot praise "The Fall" highly enough!
JANA

Simon Mawer's The Fall is an excellent work of fiction, one of the most enjoyable novels I have read in a long time. The story concerns several intertwining relationships that span the late 1930s through present day England. The novel opens as Jamie Matthewson, world-renowned climber falls to his death in a climb he was sure to fail at. His old, somewhat estranged friend Rob Dewar hears of the accident over the radio in his car, and immediately heads to attend the funeral and Jamie's wife and mother, to the displeasure of his wife. Rob's return to the climbing world he left behind years ago forces him to recall, for our benefit, his relationship with Jamie and the reasons for its disintegration. Rob's story involves not only Jamie and Rob, but the relationship of all of their parents many years ago. The narrative shifts between Rob's first-person explanation of the Jamie-Rob years and a third-person narrative of their mothers' friendship and various loves during World War II England. The Fall is a fascinating look at many "falls"--falling to one's death, falling in and out of love, falling into sin, the fall of one's life. It's a compelling, well-written read. Enjoy.

I read "The Gospel of Judas" last year. So I chose this book for our book club's reading selection. I can't say everyone enjoyed it as much as I did. Most people were distracted by the mountain climbing scenes. Everyone though it was a great story but I am not sure they got as much out of it as I did. As an english major I am a little more tuned in to seeing under the imagery and the words that Mawer chooses. I loved the play with light and dark. And the thought provoking situations. It made for great conversation in the group. And I got to read an author who isn't crusty all over with boring language. Mawer doesn't beat you over the head with the metaphors, he simply puts them out there and you either enjoy them or you don't. It is a great read for readers of all levels. Something for everyone!

The Mom's Choice Awards® honors excellence in family-friendly media, products and services. An esteemed panel of judges includes education, media and other experts as well as parents, children, librarians, performing artists, producers, medical and business professionals, authors, scientists and others. A sampling of the panel members includes: Dr. Twila C. Liggett, Ten-time Emmy-winner, professor and founder of Reading Rainbow; Julie Aigner-Clark, Creator of Baby Einstein and The Safe Side Project; Jodee Blanco, New York Times Best-Selling Author; LeAnn Thieman, Motivational speaker and coauthor of seven Chicken Soup For The Soul books, Florrie Binford-Kichler
Founder of Patria Press, Inc. - an award-winning independent publisher, President of PMA, the Independent Book Publishers Association, and Member of The Children's Book Council; Tara Paterson, Certified Parent Coach, and founder of The Just For Mom Foundation(tm) and the Mom's Choice Awards®. Parents and educators look for the Mom's Choice Awards® seal in selecting quality materials and products for children and families. This book is an honored recipient of this distinguished award.

Finders Keepers? is an excellently written book aimed at children of all ages. Its illustrations are top-quality, very colorful and go along very well with the story. The book carries a deep message about what is the correct and most spiritual way to act according to one's conscience. If everybody would be acting according to the principles exposed in this book, we would definitely be living in a better world. I recommend this book to anyone.

My mom got this book for me and I love it.I shared with whole class and my teacher read the book to us. They liked the meaning of NAMASTE and the colourful pictures.
My favorite part is the honest boy who teaches you honesty in a very simple way.

"Finders Keepers?" by Robert Arnett has been honored with the Benjamin Franklin Silver Award of the Publishers Marketing Association for Best Multicultural Book of the Year, the Independent Publisher Outstanding Book of the Year, and the Seal of Approval of the National Parenting Center. This book is better for school-age children, as it really provides a geography lesson, a study in ethics and a brief insight into Indian culture.

The book tells the true story of an experience the author had while traveling through India. He had just bought some postcards when a young Indian boy tapped him on the elbow and held out Arnett's wallet, which the boy had picked up when the author accidentally dropped it. The man thanked him and offered him a reward, but the boy refused to take any money, insisting that he should not be rewarded just for doing the right thing.

I'm in LOVE with the brightly colored illustrations by Indian-born Smita Turakhia, who said she was inspired by memories of the place where she spent her childhood. In fact, even the youngest kids enjoy looking at the pictures, so I skip some of the more technical stuff when I read it to them.

I got this book as a gift. As an Indian-American it helped me learn more about my culture. I took this book to school for "show and share". All my friends and teachers enjoyed the stories and the nice pictures. Especially the picture with differnt kids holding hands around the world. my teachers also liked that theme. Thank you.

A good book for beginners to the world of food allergies. Otherwise too basic with little new information.

Finally a book that gives me all the answers and then some. I checked this book out of the library, but will purchase my own to keep. The information is invaluable!

This book was easy to understand, practical and informative. I've read several books about food allergies at this point, and food allergies for dummies is the one I found to be most helpful. If you or a family member have just been diagnosed and you've looking for information. I'd definitely recommend it.

Just started reading but love this book already. Must read for those with food allergies or parents of kids with food allergies. Well worth the money.

As a grandmother of an almost 3 year old grandson, with a severe peanut/tree nut allergy, I found this book great...but sadly, not complete. What is missing? Information about products, other than food, that can cause an alergic reaction. Products, for instance, like bean bag chairs stuffed with peanut shells; certain craft items, like paint or Moon Sand, made with peanut/tree nut oils. All are dangerous and can cause a reaction by contact. To keep him as safe as possible, I DON'T BUY ANYTHING UNLESS IT HAS A CUSTOMER CARE PHONE NUMBER LISTED ON THE LABEL. Everything he eats or comes in contact with must be checked and double checked!! Hope this helps others with the same difficulty.

Gail Sangregorio

Having played only American football and Rugby Union, I have found this book invaluable in learning about the "why's" of soccer/football. This book has given me invaluable insight into the mindset of ref'ing and perspectives on dealing with very dynamics situations on and off the pitch. The stories are wonderful and illuminating.

If you are a ref...this book teaches you how to really BE one and be a PART of the game..not the obstruction to it. YOU NEED this book it is the best referee book ever written.

I just finished reading Bob & Ed's book a fourth time in preparation to teach an Entry (Associate) Level Referee Instructor course in Northern California next weekend, and every time I read it, I find not only things to help me (State Referee) in my game, but also to pass on to new Referee Instructors (State Instructor) in the development of referees.

P.S. I read it a fourth time not only for my up-comming instructor course, but also had State Cup U19 matches last weekend, and it helped!

I agree with my friend Steve Piercy (another reviewer) that this is a great book for all referees, but for referees that are serious about advancing as a referee, instructor, assessor, or even an assignor, it is a must read. Also agree with the other reviewers...if you're interested to improve your game in whatever role you play, do it with this book!

As a licensed but former coach and mediocre player, a great read to see it from the other side too.

For the Good of the Game.

As a Grade 7 referee upgrading to a Grade 6 - State Referee I have read everything I can about Soccer Refereeing. I wish I would have found this book first instead of last. The authors bring wonderful insight to the "sport" of Soccer Refereeing. They have given me so many new and wonderful ideas that I can't wait to try them this season.

Whether you are a new referee or an experienced referee I would highly suggest this book. It covers topics that were never ever discussed in my training sessions. So much so that I actually have a new outlook on how I referee this wonderful game of soccer.

The other books are good and are worth your time but read this book first, then go to the others.

Michael Metz - USSF Grade 7 Referee - AYSO Area Referee

This is, without a doubt, the most comprehensive book about officiating now in print; with apologies to Izaak Walton, it's "The Compleat Referee."

If you're just beginning as a referee, study and learn the Laws of the Game. Develop a relationship with a mentor whom you trust. And read this book. More than once. Despite the authors' significant credentials as FIFA and FA referees, the newest official will find their style enlightening and eminently readable. The book covers the entire gamut of refereeing from pre-match preparation to effectively dealing with every imaginable - and unimaginable! - situation on the pitch. Personal anecdotes from the authors' considerable experience appear throughout each chapter and help clearly illustrate each point.

For more experienced referees, this book delves repeatedly into the very personal subject of player management - the mind game. The authors will repeatedly challenge you to evaluate each match on its own and ensure you're employing the right skills to effectively 'orchestrate' it.

I had the pleasure of attending a day-long presentation by Mr. Evans and Mr. Bellion and can tell you that these gents are every bit as entertaining and informative in their book as they are in person. Their good humor and passion for the game comes through loud and clear. You won't be disappointed!