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Smith Books sorted by Average customer review: high to low .

Smith
When Hell Was in Session
Published in Paperback by Smith-Morley (1998-09)
Authors: Jeremiah A. Denton and Ed Brandt
List price: $14.95
New price: $100.00
Used price: $12.24
Collectible price: $45.50

Average review score:

This Book Changed My Life
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-10-09
And I just came upon it by accident at a friend's house in his "Shaklee Store" in his basement back in the early 80's. It was just sitting over to the side on top of some other books. I historically have Never purchased a book "because, well, it just looked interesting". In this instance, however, I did. It changed my whole outlook on life. There was a one page magazine advertisement that one of Denton's "Hotel mates" (Everett Alvarez) did for Phillip Morris after he had returned to the U.S. and became successful. It talked about "everything tasting better" and "smelling better" in Freedom and that "nothing in life was a problem" (or something to that effect) after what he had gone through and survived. That advertisement and the book "When Hell Was in Session" should be required reading for every high school and college social studies class.

Disturbingly raw...
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-01-23
This book is intensely disturbing, gut-wrenching and horrific... That being said, it may sound cliche, but Jeremiah Denton provides an entirely new insight into what our servicemen have endured for our country -- what he went through will hit you hard. I dare anyone to read this book and not come away a changed person in some way...

Harrowing in all aspects
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2007-11-05
I was impressed by Denton's horrifying experiences as a POW in Hanoi for 7+ years. He accurately describes the torture he and his fellow POWs experienced for several years before the tides of war slowly changed in the early '70s which lessened the tortures they were receiving. You, as a reader, are right there with Denton in his cell as he learns the tap codes and other methods of communication; how he is horribly punished and tortured for communicating and not cooperating. One has to ask oneself, "How would I have handled this situation?" To be locked in Alcatraz for several years in solitary confinement and wondering how to cope with it...what would YOU do?

I had seen the film of Denton's return in the movie, Dear America: Letters Home from Viet Nam and never really understood his horrible times in the Hanoi Hilton. Now, I do. A treasure of a read to add to any library. The only drawback...not enough maps to put his location in perspective.

Nevertheless, fascinating. In the words of his captors, "Shut mouth. Read book!"

Humbling
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2005-01-26
Mr. Denton and his fellow POWs are the very definition of the the word hero. In this book, Mr. Denton tells the story of his 7+ years as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam with grace, dignity, and courage. His great love for the United States and his pride in being an American are evident again and again. He endured unspeakable agony and conditions so horrible they are beyond my comprehension, yet he never wavered in his love for his country, his family, and his God. I am humbled and overwhelmed at the sacrifices this man (and many others) have made on my behalf. The despicable act of the California state "leadership" and Fabian Nunez in barring Mr. Denton from speaking before a California Assembly on Independence Day 2004 is reprehensible and disgusting.

Thank you, Mr. Denton! You deserve our undying gratitude.

outstanding
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2006-02-10
This is one of the best books I've ever read. I have so much respect for Denton and the prisoners of war he was held in captivity with for over 7 years. It amazes me that anyone could survive within that environment. These soldiers helped each other survive under great distress -- even while many of them were in solitary confinement and their story is amazing. This book isn't just a recap of Denton's experience; it contains deeply thoughtful content throughout the book about love, patriotism, encouragement and more. There is much wisdom contained in this book. I learned a lot and highly recommend it to others.

Smith
Who's Buried in Grant's Tomb?: A Tour of Presidential Gravesites
Published in Paperback by (2003-05-01)
Authors: Brian Lamb, Richard Norton Smith, Douglas Brinkley, Carol Hellwig, Anne Bentzel, Karen Jarmon, John Splaine, Susan Swain, and C-Span
List price: $15.00
New price: $3.00
Used price: $2.99

Average review score:

Surprisingly Fun and Informative
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2005-03-12
Who's Buried in Grant's Tomb is an unusual combination of travel guide and presidential biography. The authors discuss the American Presidents by describing how they are memorialized. By exploring each Presidential gravesite, the Authors also describe the lives of the Presidents. The book is far from morbid and quite enlightening and entertaining.

Brings presidential history alive
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2006-11-20
Although this book is about the deaths & funerals of this nations chief executives, it brings history alive for folks like myself who enjoy all things presidential. Focusing on the events that led to the end for each of our late presidents, this book is a thoroughly enjoyable read. I have visited many of the gravesites mentioned here & intend to endeavor to visit the the ones I haven't yet. This book is an indespensible guidebook for my future travels. Lots of great photos, too.

When it's over and done with....
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2006-08-25

This book does not immediately give one the impression that it would be as good as it is. My first impression from the cover was that it would be just a compilation of unknown facts and surprises about famous people ,things and places.Then, after noting the sub-title "A Tour of Presidential Gravesites";I thumbed through it and immediately saw it was a very good summary of all the Presidents,their time in office,their wives,what they did after leaving office,the cause of their death,funeral arrangements,interm and final resting places and detailed information for anyone who would like to visit any or all of them. From this book you will learn what to expect at the sites as well as what else exists as 'museums'
there,hours open and any admission costs.It also details other final resting places of other known personalities nearby.
Lamb does an excellent job of showing that in the American system of Government, the President is one of the people and remains so; even after his term of serving in the world's greatest office; he returns to being just another American Citizen;a point often made by President Harry S Truman.
One of the things I liked about this book was that the author didn't just put together a bunch of readily information to fill a few pages on each President.He provided all the same information for each President, and in doing that;he makes it very evident that these were highly different people and comparisons are clearly brought out.A guide of this type where things are given about one President ,but not another, would be a lazy approach and frustrating to the reader.
In a very thumbnail manner the author shows that all these Presidents put the privilige of holding the office above all the politics involved in their lives.
I have to admit,that the answer to the title,s question,left me wondering until I saw the answer in another Cusromer,s Review.
If I may,here is something to entice you;
What President was the sole mourner at the committal of a politician,who had gone to jail for tax evasion; and when asked by the pastor; "Mr. President,why are you here?, he asked. "It's cold and bitter. Did you know this gentleman?" The President replied; "Pastor,I never forget a friend."
Anyone interested in American History or Politics will find this a great source of information and a readily available reference source. While a super guide to the Presidents' graves ;it is also a good reference.

This Is A Fun Read, & Much More Reasonable than Sarah Vowell
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2005-07-07
Brian Lamb and his C-SPAN team have written a number of wonderful and extremely-informative essay-filled booknotes on American History and Characters. "Who's Buried in Grant's Tomb" is no exception.

With contributions from Douglas Brinkley, Richard Norton Smith, and other noted Historians, this compact, easy-to-read volume is filled with vignettes and facts about all of the deceased Presidents, their last days, presumably their last words, and where they are buried. Admission prices to their libraries and museums (and this includes living Presidents and Jefferson Davis too) is also included.

Brinkley's insightful essay at the end of the book, in which he writes with great eloquence of the attachment of Springfield Illinois to Abraham Lincoln, and of his visits to other Presidential gravesites and museums is almost worth half of the price of this bargain edition.

Note: This book was published prior to the passing of President Reagan, yet it does note where he wished to be buried, and has information about the Reagan Presidential Library and Museum.

The book shows the human and humorous side of the Presidents, including Calvin Coolidge's funny comment to a woman who said she'd bet him if he would say two words ("You Lose", was Silent Cal's response), or how William Howard Taft, a Unitarian, deftly fought back against religious prejudice.

A solid and fun read, especially around the July 4th holiday, and at 4.99 is a much better buy, and totally devoid of political commentary ala Sarah Vowell's weak-at-the-knees "Assassination Vacation".

A Different Perspective
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2004-08-31
This unique book is full of surprises, plenty of clear pictures, and short evaluations of each president. From Washington to the present George Bush, the reader visits the final resting places of our American presidents and learns how and when they died and their final words, in many cases.

Altho this book was published before the death of Ronald Reagan, pictures of his library and of the other living presidents are discussed.

In back of the book are names and places of the presidential libraries, the presidential and vice presidential gravesites listed by state, the burial places of president's wives and a host of other relevant material. Websites are even included.

Reading this book is an armchair traveller's delight. The traveller will appreciate the excellent directions. The research is phenomenal. Students of American history may want to add this to their book list.

If you are a fan of the American presidency and appreciate the valuable information that Brian Lamb and C-Span staff give us every day on the cable channels, you will absolutely enjoy this lively and well written book. Chapters are short, to the point, and contribute a wealth of information .

Smith
Boom Towns & Relic Hunters of Northeastern Washington
Published in Paperback by Elfin Press (2002-03)
Author: Jerry L. Smith
List price: $24.95
New price: $19.55
Used price: $16.68

Average review score:

Has good information
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2008-02-22
This slender book has a good deal of information. However, it is somewhat helpful in locating ghost towns.

The encyclopedia of Washington ghost towns. Their history and how to find them.
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-04-06
For anyone who loves the history and romance of the Wild West, this is an outstanding book that will help you understand more about the where and when of boomtowns in the old and the new west. It was mining that drove development in the western United States, not the cowboy. The products of Northeastern Washington mines were what held together this pioneer country and it helped to sustain development of the west and the United States.
Get lost with this book on a road trip through the dusty corners of Washington State! You will love it.

Nostalgia in Okanogan County
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2006-02-25
Upon purchasing your fantastic book and reading many of the wonderful stories on the history of Washington State, we decided to do an article in our Nostalgia Magazine. Thank you for sharing your stories and photos, folks like you keep Nostalgia Magazine a favorite read.

The Mysterious China Wall
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2005-08-18
In August 2005 I visited the mysterious "China Wall" in Okanogan County. If it had not been for Jerry's book, which included detailed directions on how to locate the China Wall, I would not have found this historic structure. Once I had arrived at these massive granite walls Jerry's book explained in detail the history of this mysterious wall from yesteryear.

In Search For Hidden Treasure
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2005-07-20
I purchased a copy of Jerry's book. It was taken along with me as my personal history reference guide as I searched for his Boom Towns & Relic Hunters "Geo Relic Treasure Caches". His book explained the detailed history of the area I was visiting while conducting my historic treasure hunt.

Smith
Getting the Most from Riding Lessons (Horse-Wise Guide)
Published in Paperback by Storey Publishing, LLC (1998-01-11)
Author: Mike Smith
List price: $19.95
New price: $2.00
Used price: $1.98

Average review score:

Very Helpful
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-07-15
I love this book, it has helped me post on a trot. (Seemed impossible at first :)

It gives lots of good tips from basics to jumping. Learn how to keep yourself safe. Learn good technique. If you're taking riding lessons, this is a definite must-read.

A well-titled book!
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2007-03-15
Riding lessons are expensive, so it's important to get the most bang for the buck. This book will help. Mike Smith explains the basics of riding clearly, and offers some classic "what to do if...?" scenarios one is certain to encounter while interacting with horses. In addition, the photographs are very helpful in illustrating topics like posting the trot and dismounting properly and safely. I have found that this book helps me review specific material covered in an actual lesson, and also gives me ideas for further discussion with my teacher. Mike Smith's writing style is straightforward and enthusiastic. Highly recommended for beginning riders of all ages, and one of the best books I've seen for a riding student. This book covers English riding only.

such a helpful book
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2006-11-24
I love this book, I have been taking lessons for about a year and a half, and I bought this book after about 6months of lessons. It clearly explains so many things, I constantly refer to it. I think that all new riders should read this book before even going to their first lesson, to give a clear explaination of horse lingo, positions and care. I think this has been the most constant resource that I have used to explain things that my instructor and I are having trouble with.

Thanks to Mike, From An Old Student, and a New One
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2006-06-08
Mike taught me to ride as an adult student at Woodland Horse Center in Maryland back in the 1980's. I'll never forget his patience, humor, and innate "horse sense." I've since moved to Wellington, Florida (a major equestrian and polo center), for reasons I thought were mostly unrelated to horses. I haven't ridden in many years. So there I was in a store looking for a book to help my son Will Tedesco, who at [...] and maybe 40 pounds is just beginning to ride. Imagine my surprise to come across this book, which I hadn't known existed! At 50, I'm once again feeling that old tug to get back on a horse, and I'm sure Mike's sensible advice will again stand me in good stead. Unlike most of his readers, however, I'll be able to hear his voice inside my head reminding me to "steer!"

Not very helpful for the Western rider
Helpful Votes: 7 out of 12 total.
Review Date: 2006-03-26
I realize many techniques of English riding are transferable to Western, but, as a Western rider trying to improve my seat and aids, I found this book frustrating and unhelpful.

Smith
Golden Ass
Published in Textbook Binding by Peter Smith Pub (2000-01)
Author: Madaurensis Apuleius
List price: $5.00

Average review score:

My favorite classic
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-01-08
This is easily my favorite Classic work of literature. Unlike many of the other classics, such as the Odyssey, Iliad, Aeneid, and others, this book kept my attention the entire time and I couldn't wait to finish. Robert Graves does a tremendous job of translating it into an easily readable version.

great valentine's gift
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-01-06
book includes the original story of Cupid (Pysche). perfect gift for lovers possessing a sash of intelligence.

An enjoyable and enduring classic
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2007-12-23
Apuleius' The Golden Ass, or Metamorphoses, is the only Latin novel to survive in its entirety. Composed in the second century, this picaresque work tells the tale of Lucius, a man whose curiosity in magic and indulgence of sexual pleasures leads him to accidently transform himself into an ass. What follows are the various trials and hardships he endures as well as the tales he hears throughout his travels. It is not until the intervention of the goddess Isis that Lucius is transformed back into a man, and he devotes the rest of his life to her cult.

Apuleius' storytelling is lively, witty, an often sexually explicit. Indeed, many forms of fetish are showcased within the pages, including beastiality. More often than not, the novel indulges readers in their guilty curiosities while also providing hilarious and adventurous prose, with a splash of red-streaked violence thrown in for good measure. However, despite being written nearly two-thousand years ago, what may shock the modern reader most is how approachable and familiar is not only the humor but also the sentiments and sensuality of these Roman characters. It is not difficult to imagine Lucius' world.

The Golden Ass offers readers a romp through ancient Rome through the eyes of a contemporary while also entertaining. It is also a highly revealing documentation of religion and magical belief in Greco-Roman polytheism, and contains the only complete description of the initiation into a Mystery cult. The true essence of the novel is that it is a fable culminating in the religious transformation of the individual and the embrace of salvation (soteria). However, the pagan salvation was not one of the afterlife, but of this life, and involved changing one's perspective of the world and also of life and death. The ass in the ancient world was seen as the most base of animals, an utter slave to its desires, and Lucius' transformation at the end should be read as symbolizing his overcoming of those passions.

The Golden Ass is bawdy and shocking, but also intelligent and satisfying. Graves' translation is fluid and easy to follow. The prose is as enjoyable (and perhaps rewarding) to read today as it no doubt was nearly two-millennia ago.

Humor. Sex. Adventure. Magic.
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2005-10-21
Everyone should read The Golden Ass, especially this translation. Just reading it can deepen a person. It's one of those books to be treasured and re-read every few years, finding new insights and humor. The Cupid and Psyche portion is rousing and sly and stands alone. I've given copies as gifts over the years and notice my friends still hang on to them long after.

A wild and entertaining romp of a novel
Helpful Votes: 5 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2006-03-07
This is certainly an entertaining reading experience and Robert Grave's translation makes this 1800 year old novel come to life for modern audiences. The book is full of stories within stories, a device that I found very entertaining and reminded me of the best works of A.S. Byatt. The story within a story approach allowed for multiple wild digressions of the most fantastic types. Stories of magic, murder, rape, incest, poison, bribery, theives, beastiality, orgies, homosexuality, and all other manner of hair-raising encounters populate the multiple stories within stories.

Yet there is certainly a strong central theme and storyline in the plight of poor Lucius, the attorney turned into a donkey. The world and humanity are seen anew through the eyes of an ass.

The book does take one major departure with the longer story of Cupid and Psyche, skillfully told. The book ends with another change of pace when Lucius devotes himself to the gods, especially the goddess Isis/Diana/Artemis, the White Goddess.

I think the book was excellent and would never have survived so many centuries if each age did not find the human condition to be much unchanged despite the wild and wooly tales encountered here.

Smith
The Lottie Project
Published in Hardcover by Peter Smith Pub Inc (2003-01-31)
Author: Jacqueline Wilson
List price: $20.00

Average review score:

Lottie!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2006-03-04
Lottie's real name is Charlotte, but noone calls her that..... until this 'horrible' new teacher Mrs Beckworth arrives, and doesn't let her sit next to Lisa (who Lottie has saved the best place for), but makes poor Lottie sit next to that swot Jamie. Lottie hates Mrs Beckworth, and sends around humorous poems about trains and teases about Jamie. Lottie's teenage mum, Jo, is having problems with work but suddenly Mrs Beckworth gives the class a project. it is about the victorians and Lottie writes a diary about it. she buys Jamie, who comes her friend in the end, some postcards and everything but then Jo gets a nerdy man called Mark as a boyfriend because she babysits his son, Robin, who is small and shy and has a little stuffed robin toy that his mum made for him before she died. lottie lets him use her felt pens but he just draws a house and his mum and dad and himself. when Jo and Mark go on a love ride on a picnic where Robin is sick, Lottie sees them kissing and bullies poor robin until he runs away from home and then there is a search party because everyone is worried and he gets found and put in hospital and lottie makes him a cake and draws him pictures of birds. lottie suddenly feels bad and crys in her bathroom because she doesn't feel old and hates herself. she even needs the comfort of her old barbies, which are packed away in her drawer and she and jo used to dress them and drive them to posh parties to make them dance, and jo enjoyed this more than lottie! you should read these other books too:
Best Friends, Diamond girls, the bed and breakfast kid, sleepovers, the suitcase kid, the lottie project, clean break, the worry website, girls in love, girls out late, the dare game, the story of tracy beaker, vicky angel, cliffhanger, the illustrated mum and girls in tears, the cat mummy.
I have 56 jaqcueline wilson books because i am a major bookworm and book collector. i have read over 8 billion books in my 10 years of living, and so has my best friend.
so girls, get readin'!

Really cool great book!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2005-07-13
This is such a fantastic book! It's about Charlie who lives with her mum Jo in a flat. Her mean teacher, Miss Beckworth wants the class to do a school project on the Victorians.
"Boring!" she thinks at first, but gradually she likes it more
and more. She writes a project and wants to keep it private.
Her project is about Lottie and how she copes with her frustrating life. First she's an ordinary eleven year old girl
living with her family in a cottage but then she has to leave school and get a job as a nursery maid. The children she looks after are such naughty little monkeys and she doesn't lke this job.
Stupid snooty swotty boy Jamie Edwards is so annoying to Charlie. YOU'VE GOT TO READ IT IT'S SUCH A BRILL BOOK!!!!
Don't call this book stupid. Honestly, don't. If you think it's
stupid, read "Best Friends" or "Vicky Angel" or "Girls in tears". THEY'RE the stupid books. OK, so that's all I want to say.

lottie or charlie im so confused!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2004-12-20
charlies life is really changing. Her teacher is mean, makes her sit next to Jamie Edwards,and assigns a "dreary" projecton the "dreary" victorian period. So charlie decides to create a diary for her project, and creates Lottie, a Victorian nurserymaid, and history comes to life.

charlies mom is also causing trouble in her life. Charlie thinks she has a boyfriend, and that can't happen!!!!!

i loved this book and how Charlie brought Lottie to life.
i would recamend this book to anyone.

~tara~

Lottie Project-what a book!!!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2003-07-16
I have read many books from Jacqueline Wilson, and have admired her ability to express how kids feel, what they want. This is all true. Being a kid, i have lots of friends that match those in the story. This book, Lottie Project, is one of my favourite books she wrote. I know how it feels to be forced to write a project, but i have never wrote a project, that like Charlotte's, matches my own daily life.
In school, i have just learnt about the Victorians, and told my teacher, Miss Battram, about the book. She too admitts that it is a good book and should be added into the Victorian learning program for year 5 next year.
Everyone can see that Jacqueline Wilson has shown us how an 11year old girl's life can be similar to a maid in the Victorian times, and how they coped with it.
This book is really great for everyone to read, maybe single parents should take a peek in this book too as it will tell single parents how their child feels when they start dating someone else. then, they can talk it through with their child, so mistakes like in Lottie Project, that Charlotte Enright had to cope with, will not happen.
Furthermore, this book is very good to be used in Victorian sessions in school, seeing as the book is very funny, and still useful in teaching about a 11 year old girl's life in the Victorian times.
Rita Teo Bangkok Patana school, Thailand

A Wonderful Favorite!
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2003-08-16
This is definitely one of my favorite books. I guess sixth graders will enjoy it most, but parents will also enjoy it too. Jacqueline Wilson really knows how to get into the world of 11-year-olds.

Charlie Enright has a lot of problems at school. Her new teacher is strict and mean. She assigns the sixth-graders a Victorian project right at the beginning of the year. Also, she makes Charlie sit next to Jamie Edwards, which Charlie isn't sure she likes or hates.

She also is having problems with her friends. They have abandoned the 'We Hate Boys Club' and are now very interested in boys and not paying much attention to her.

And her home lifes not that wonderful either. Her single mother has just lost her job, but she finds another one quickly. It turns out that she has fallen in love with her boss and Charlie has got to stop her. Somehow. Someway.

Will Charlie's problems ever end? Read this great book to find out!

Smith
Murder by Mushroom
Published in Kindle Edition by Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense (2007-08-01)
Author: Virginia Smith
List price: $4.95
New price: $3.96

Average review score:

Great Cozy!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-11-11
I am an avid readers of cozy and am thrilled to find Ms. Smith. Murder By Mushroom is just the type of book I love to read. Well done, Ms. Smith. This is a must read for anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries.

Fun, quick read. Great cozy.
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-09-07
This is the first book I've read by the author and I am really impressed. She kept you guessing until the very end. A very quick read, really witty and fun. I anxiously await her next book.

A Good Winter Read
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2007-10-27
I enjoyed reading this book. It had just enough mystery and just enough romance. I look forward to reading another cozy mystery by this author.

Gossip Can Be A Killer!
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2007-09-30
"Murder By Mushroom" by Virginia Smith, published by Love Inspired Suspense was an incredibly fun read. Here's the blip -

A Killer Casserole

Serving up murderous munchies at a church potluck social wouldn't win any popularity contests, as Jackie Hoffner discovered. Someone had laced the casserole she brought with poisonous mushrooms...and the deadly dish had fellow churchgoer and town fussbudget Alice Farmer pushing up daisies. Now the gossip-hungry townsfolk suspected Jackie of foul play. To prove her innocence, she decided to conduct her own investigation, and Trooper Dennis Walsh's helpful efforts and boy-next-door charm were welcome. Meanwhile, the town's mysterious poisoner seemed to have more victim's in mind...

This is what I considered a fluff book (a quick, fun, light book with not a lot of depth but still satisfying somehow), until I read it. It turned out to not only be very fun and highly enjoyable book that kept me guessing til close to the end (although I did figure it out before it was revealed :-) but it also had a lot of meat to it and really hit home in some areas too. It dealt bluntly with the issue of church gossip and how it can really hurt when people assume and rush to judgement, but without being preachy. The heroine is NOT perfect, but is willing to ask forgiveness when she messes up. I finished the book with a smile and a resolve to think a little more before I judge and to be a little quicker to ask for forgiveness when I mess up. What more can you ask from a quick read - enjoyment, suspense, romance, comedy and some real meat in the middle. Pick it up and give it a read!

Murder by Mushroom
Helpful Votes: 5 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2007-09-13
Jackie Hoffner loves the homey feel and fellowship of Heritage Community Church a small Kentucky church she's become a part of. One of the church's mainstays is its monthly potlucks following Sunday service. Jackie can't wait to show off the Italian casserole she's cooked, her right of passage for becoming fully accepted by the women of the church.

The casserole is a hit. But when Alice Farmer, a crotchety parishioner, brings home some of Jackie's leftovers and winds up dead because the dish was laced with poisoned mushrooms, matters look bad for Jackie. She vows to clear herself, launching her own private investigation, bull dozing through and plying church members and associates with questions that offend many. What she learns is that just about everybody had a reason for hating Alice Farmer.

If you have ever been a part of a small church you will surely identify with and enjoy Murder by Mushroom which successfully nails both the characters and the character of small churches and small towns. Add in a dash of romance with a handsome cop assigned to accompany the detective Jackie's involvement in the murder, and you've got a winning recipe for fun, romance, and suspense.

Smith
The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency Box Set: "The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency" "Tears of the Giraffe" "Morality for Beautiful Girls"
Published in Paperback by Anchor (2003-10-28)
Author: Alexander Mccall Smith
List price: $39.85
New price: $13.50
Used price: $10.49
Collectible price: $38.85

Average review score:

No l ladies detective agency books
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-06-26
These are the best. A great read, leaves you feeling happy you
entered this world.

Delightful
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-06-26
When I get any of this author's books, all else falls by the wayside until I emerge, smiling, after spending a day or two in Africa or Scotland or wherever he places his wonderful characters. The No. Ladies Detective Agency series is peopled with particularly gently drawn heroines and heroes.

I wish I could have tea with Mma Ramotswe. I wish Mr. J.L.B. Matekone could care for my car.

The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-03-14
This is a wonderful novel.
No.1 Ladies Detective Agency (three novels by Alexander McCall Smith tell the story of the delightful cunning and extremely charming Precious Ramotswe. Ramotswe is drawn to her profession to help people with the trouble in their everyday lives. Instantly upon setting up shop in a small storefront in Gaborone, they hire her to track down a missing husband, uncover a fraud man, and follow a naughty daughter. However the case that tugs at her heart, and lands her in danger, is that of a missing eleven years old boy, who may have been snatched by witch doctors.
The story touches the bones and heart all at once. Nevertheless, Smith is a sincere loving person in heart, writes therefore this good novel. (This is my subjective feeling of course) I haven't met Alexander. But I can assure the public he is a person who loves people.
I have a long experience of watching weavers, this is a similar product, a product of hard work, combing and spinning the wool and here we see similar good product as a result, an extraordinary nuance tapestry by Alexander McCall Smith. How did I discover this novel? It pays to wander at the Amazon forest.

Excellent reading!
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2006-08-28
This is one of the best books I have read in a long time - I couldn't put it down. I would definitely recommend this book to others.

The NO. 1 Ladies Detective Agenc Box Set
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2006-03-10
I love the box set . It is a great gift for any young adult or adult. I have finished " The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency" and really enjoyed it. I would recommend these books to anyone.

Smith
Room of Marvels
Published in Paperback by Broadman & Holman Publishing Group (2004-01)
Author: James Bryan Smith
List price: $9.99
New price: $1.19
Used price: $1.09

Average review score:

A Story of Healing
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-09-22
Smith's book, Room of Marvels, provides a pathway to healing for those grieving. If you have ever wondered how God can be good in spite of personal tragedies, then this book is for you. This book was easy to read, yet profound in implication. I'm thankful for this book, as it has offered hope to me.

Make Room for Marvels
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-09-18
"Room of Marvels" covers familiar territory in the vein of 'what happens to those we love?' That question is answered, but the suspense is more along the lines of 'what happens to faith in the face of overwhelming loss?' Diseased with self-loathing and repressed anger the hero's faith is wasting to a shadow. Revelation is the cure, of course, and it comes in traditional literary fashion. Despair is not what goads the catharsis, however. But it does open the lips, and we become the confessors.

Mitch Albom has made an industry out of the basic fears of death, loss and pursuit of a meaningful life. In the case of this author (James Bryan Smith) it's a far more personal and compelling case, since it is founded on his real-life losses - His own mother, daughter and best friend (the ever-venerated Christan musician, Rich Mullins.)

It's also firmly rooted in orthodox Christian theology, but this little book is decidedly un-theological in tone. It's really John Bunyan and Pilgrim's Progress more than Dante's Paradiso. It starts in a very accessible, modern, and plausible (if mildly exotic) setting, then transports us for the body of book to a mash-up of a place where important literary heroes, friends and family come brilliantly to life. These people become the archetypes for every Christian virtue.

Dialog is full of humor and never stiff, even if it seems like the self-revelations come without too much effort. In the end, we get more than a satisfying tale - we're left with the gift of HOPE.

Lovely, wonderful book
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-02-08
This was a particularly enjoyable read for me because I am a huge fan of both Rich Mullins and C.S. Lewis. I also have a disabled daughter, which helps me relate to the author. But I have passed this book on to several people who don't share those interests, and they all loved it! I look forward to reading it again as I think there is much to be learned here.

This is one the BEST books I've read.
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-11-30
I have ordered this book for Christmas gifts for at least 15 friends and family members.

I'm an avid reader (at least 1-2 books a week) and I usually forget about the books shortly after I've read them. This book is hard to forget. Weeks later I can still recall whole chapters. It has touched my life so much and I want to share it with as many people as possible. I highly recommend this book.

A journey toward healing
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2007-11-05
I read (and lived) this book a couple of days after the death of a dear friend while on a personal retreat. In a retreat setting much like Tim's in the story, I discovered that God had much more for me than the grieving for my friend who I know is enjoying her own Room of Marvels. Through laughter, tears and gentle nudges in my spirit, I came to a new understanding of what it means to live in the Kingdom of God, of the transition from time into eternity and the conversation between the two that begins in this life. Hope, grace, forgiveness, joy and a new sense of what it means to be a follower of Jesus emerged as I followed Tim's journey of reconciliation and understanding to hope and joy. James Bryan Smith's writing is exquisite and inviting. This book is not to be missed.

Smith
The Space Ship Under the Apple Tree
Published in Hardcover by Peter Smith Pub Inc (1993-10)
Author: Louis Slobodkin
List price: $18.00
Used price: $157.12

Average review score:

Totally Unforgettable
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-01-18
As a fifty four year old I can still feel the excitement and joy from reading this book in 1960. (or it could be my meds) I had finally found a match for my vivid imagination and have been a reader and writer ever since. A disservice to humankind if this story isn't availiable to any and all.

Great Books!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-06-03
I discovered these books when I was in Elementary School. I loved spending the afternoon reading about the adventures that these two had. I am happy to see that these books are now once again available.

I'll echo the call
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2006-02-01
I loved these books as a kid, and as a 40+ year old adult would love to get a new copy. Please reprint these books!!!

Good fun for kids of all ages - A window into another era
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2006-03-05
In the 1950's, I "discovered" the books in this series at my grammar school library by accident (sorry, no wonderful teacher story here.). A miracle they had a cool book like this since we had so few books in there. The title, pictures and the easy to read prose hooked me. So much so that I read it several times and even found the second book in the series - "The Space Ship Returns..." and read that a couple of times too.

As I grew older, I would tell people about these books - asking them to keep an eye out for me at used book sales. I even searched the Web and eventually found the entire series from a used book seller. I plan on sharing these books with the little ones in my family. And I hope twenty, thirty, forty or as in my case, fifty years from now, they will do the same.

I hope they get reprinted so more people can enjoy these fun books.

Pure Imagination
Helpful Votes: 6 out of 6 total.
Review Date: 2005-09-19
Louis Slobodkin is well known as an illustrator of children's books. He is less known as the author of this 1952 sci-fi masterpiece, the first in a series for ages 9-12, and once a staple in every library worth its salt. It's the gentle, wonder-full story of Eddie, a boy scout who spends summers on his grandma's farm, and his encounter with Marty from Martinea. The two become fast friends and travel the world in Marty's spaceship, disguised as a little green car and powered by secret power ZZZ. Exciting and easy to read, and drenched with Slobodkin's beguiling illustrations, here's a series kids will love to discover.

So why is it out of print? My copy is stamped "DISCARDED," which tells the sad tale of the days when imaginative books were cycled out of libraries in favor of "educational" ones. This was the first book in the series, others being "The Space Ship Returns to the Apple Tree," "Three- Seated Space Ship," "Round Trip Space Ship," "The Space Ship in the Park," and "The Space Ship Returns to the Apple Tree." The first three books were also reprinted as paperbacks and offered as a boxed set as The Amazing Space Ship Adventures Boxed Set in 1981. Until imagination again gets the upper hand and these books are reprinted, find them used at Amazon and discover Eddie's wonderful world.


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