Stanley Books

I get this feeling that interest in Leonardo da Vinci is going to really increase next month (there's this little film called "The Da Vinci Code" coming out, based on a modestly-selling book). If you are too lazy to read an adult biography on Leonardo (and I am), this book provides an excellent glimpse into da Vinci's life and artwork. Kids love the pictures, and I love subversively introducing students to paintings (even though art is no longer taught in most schools). For more cool adult, young adult and children's book recommendations (under 250 pages), visit www.lazyreaders.com.

For those who do not yet know, Diane Stanley writes the best kid-level biographies out there, and Leonardo da Vinci is no exception. She carefully traces his life from birth (including alluding to the legitamacy question) to death. Worked into the illustrations are many of Leonardo's works (so that you needn't buy a separate book for your child to appreciate them). A wonderful book that should be mandatory reading!

I bought this for a summer reading project for my daughter and she loved it from the first sentence. Great book.

Leonardo Da Vinci is, in many ways, the perfect subject for a children's biography. Above and beyond his myriad of accomplishments (scientist, inventor, artist) his life is one of adventure and interest. The illegitimate son of a leading man of Vinci, Leonardo went into the artistic life precisely because he was considered too base for a, "noble profession".

This book is a combination of good artistry and confounding problems. On the one hand, Stanley has drawn beautiful accompanying pictures for each point in Leonardo's life. On the other hand, these pictures sometimes take liberties with the few details of the artist's life we know of. When the text states that Leonardo, "found a loving friend in his young uncle Francesco", the accompanying picture shows the boy piggyback on his uncle. It would be nice if such facts were given appropriate footnotes, but all sources are listed in the end of the book without any references to pages. Also, the aging of Leonardo is a little haphazard. One moment he's a young man writing a letter. The next moment he's bearded and about to slice up a corpse. The Duchy of Milan is described as having black hair and dark skin, but appears to be more of a slightly tan Italian. These are tiny details, but they distract from an otherwise interesting text.

Undoubtedly, the actual drawings and sketches Leonardo made in his lifetime are some of the best parts of this book. It would have been nice if Stanley had included more of them in the story. Leonardo's paintings are nicely presented, but they're usually seen from a distance. At no point do we get a detailed and close look at any art that Leonardo created. Finally, a timeline would have been helpful in this story, but it has not been included.

None of this is to say that Stanley hasn't taken a difficult subject and made an interesting book out of it. The final product is a bit too advanced for those children accustomed to reading picture books, but older kids may shy away from the type of book they would consider "babyish". Open minded children may be the best audience for this piece of non-fiction. For those of you who would like something a little more in depth and interesting, I recommend "Leonardo: Beautiful Dreamer". In interesting book that suffers from an array of tiny nagging problems.

The cover of this excellent juvenile biography of Leonardo Da Vinci is quite interesting because it shows him as a young man in front of the background from his most famous painting, the "Mona Lisa." I saw a story once that compared the face of the "Mona Lisa" with the famous red ink drawing of Da Vinci as an old man, which did size comparisons and argued they were the same. In other words, the "Mona Lisa" is really a self-portrait of Da Vinci. This makes a bit of sense since the artist worked on it for years, obviously with the benefit of a model. Diane Stanley's cover painting, intentionally or not, references this intriguing hypothesis.

Stanley does some fascinating things with the art throughout this book. She puts reproductions of Da Vinci's actual paintings into her own works and includes various drawings by Da Vinci to complement her text. Young readers will learn about the highlights of Da Vinci's life, both as an artist and as an inventor. Consequently, they will see not only the painting of "The Last Supper" but the flying machine he designed. In a fascinating postscript Stanley details what happened to the grave of Da Vinci and what few of his paintings remain. Stanley provides an excellent introduction to the life of the original Renaissance Man.

I was expecting a puff piece that had only adjectives like "wonderful, spectacular" to describe its subject.

I was hoping to enjoy a handful of special-effects secrets-- important in this truly (TRULY) ground-breaking film.

I got SO much more. There are negative (and positive) reviews that run into several pages, and go deep into both technique and subject matter. There is double or triple the usual volume of pictures, a real blessing...and with thorough descriptions. (Although, to be fair, I admit I have a murder contract out on the editor who decided to remove all "the" and "a" from the CAPTIONING for those pictures. It makes the captions horribly unreadable.)

Errr...back on track, eh ? There's a discussion of alternate endings, and the text to the Arthur C. Clarke short story that was written at the same time as this script. There's the ending and other snippets from the novel, which adds new depth to understanding the film.

Oh, and hordes of notes on production, stuff that was edited out of the final version, and the apparently endless mountains of alternate special effects which were discarded in favor of what we see today.

It makes me weep to think that my DVD of this movie lacks outtakes and deleted scenes, now that this book has shown me how much I'm missing. (For example, the original film as presented at its premiere, was at least 19 minutes longer.)

I love this book. It's one of the most interesting books I've read about the making of a movie. The style is a bit chaotic as far as how its put together but the actual info is great. Its got a HUGE 96 page photo spread which I supposed was amazing in 1970. The impact is less now that people can go onto the internet and look at as many photos as they want. If you're like me you'll feel inspired to pop the movie in and watch it after reading this book. I would imagine that anyone who would go to the trouble of getting a book about the making of 2001 probably owns a copy of the movie as well. It's also got an essay by a (Then) high school student which I found surprisingly interesting.

I wish that DVD's were as complete and eclectic as this book. A must for any true blue film buff. Its both informative, irreverent, and brilliant.

Don't expect detailed descriptions of how the movie was made because there aren't any. There's a small section in the middle of the book with some good pictures and very cryptic abbreviated explainations of said pictures and that's about it. Most of the book contains reactions to the movie from critics and regular viewers. There's some talk from Clarke and Kubrik regarding the process of writing the screenplay and such as well as the full short story "The Sentinel" that inspired 2001. There's also quite a few essays about the plausibility of various subjects covered in the movie. That said, there's very little information about the actual making of the movie but it's still a facinating read.

.... Agel's book is of note as the most illustrated book in this field. Although they're all in black and white, the number is way beyond any other book's attempt. This book is a standard paperback size, 368 pages with a 96 page photo insert. Most pages contain several images, some are full page, but the screen resolution of the images is quite fine, they are printed on fine white paper and thus the images are nicely detailed. The images in the insert are mostly scenes from the film, but they also include many behind-the-scenes peeks at some of the technical magic on screen. Apart from the insert, there are a few frames reproduced from the MAD magazine version of the film, also the instruction sheet from the Aurora model of the Pan Am Orion III Space Clipper. I can recommend this book for its text content alone, but the photo insert made it literally my constant companion through the 1970s. A bookshelf neighbour for Agel should be Piers Bizony's 'Filming the Future', a larger book with a smaller number of larger, rarer, colour images.

This is a great book along with it's companion, Daddy Loves Me. They rhyming and rhythm of the text is delightful. The illustrations are just wonderful. We had to buy two sets - one for upstairs and one for downstairs so we wouldn't have to lug them up and down the stairs several times a day. They are our little guys favorite. I highly recommend them. I've given them as gifts and they are a hit!

My 2 year old son loves this book! I read it over & over to him. It has very colorful pictures & each page is short enough to keep his attention. The pages rhyme & are simple & sweet. My son loves to look at each page & tell me what's in the pictures. It's a very nice book for young babies & toddlers & makes a great gift.

Great book. One of the best kids books out there. I highly recommend it.

My son's favorite book! It makes a perfect shower or first birthday gift! I have purchased 5 copies of this book!!! A must have!

My son loves the "Daddy Loves Me" book. So, I decided to buy this book too. It is a big hit. My son loves to put both of the books in his bed, so when he wakes up from a nap he can "read" them again. When read, both books have a "rhythm" about them that is enjoyable to read and he really sits and listens and looks at the pictures.

For Novices, all they need to know to be respectful, comfortable and a vital part of the experience. Good job!

This book provides an excellent overview of native ceremonies. You feel that Julia lives what she is writing about. An excellent book for those who want to get involved in native philosophy seriously.

Julia provides her reader with a straight forward and easy to understand guide to Pow Wows. She provides all the information they need to get the most out of their Pow Wow experience.

Julia White has captured the essence of the pow wow. The information provides the proper protocol for being part of a pow wow to prepare the viewer as a courteous participant. I particularly enjoyed Julia's descriptions of the various dances. I have been to several pow wows and have seen "guests" do all the wrong things and act in a way that would be considered offensive to Native Americans who are sharing their culture with us. These events are "gifts" to those of other nationalities and it is important to show respect when attending a pow wow. These ceremonies have sacred meaning and it is incumbent upon us to to know what is expected of guests. Julia presents the information in an interesting manner - straightforward yet very easy reading. The supplemental information about Native American background leaves me wanting to know more. Her knowledge is exemplary and she herself is a very special person. I highly recommend this book to any who attends pow wows or just wants to gain additional insight into the Native American culture. I personally appreciate that I can go to a pow wow and act in an appropriate manner. I hope Julia White is planning on writing additional books. I will be first in line for anything else she comes out with.

This excellent book tells in great detail and wondeful illustration, the history and tradition of the modern Native American Pow Wow. Readers will find great information on where to find Pow Wow's as well as how to act when they attend one. A must read for all those interested in Native culture.

This was a wonderfully written intricate tale. As a seasoned and jaded mystery reader, I found this a fascinating story, about a young man's life and how it unfolds. There are enough elements in the story to keep the reader wondering till the end, and then some.
I couldn't put it down and I haven't forgotten it.

I met Stan Wilson about a year ago in conjunction with his work to promote child safety programs in the State of Washington. I knew that Stan was a clinical psychologist and active in community service. Through meetings and emails, I'd discovered that Stan was intelligent, professional, personable, and witty. I did not, however, have the slightest inkling that he was a novelist! I was more than a little suprised to receive a copy of "Stubblefield" one day in the mail.

I'm embarrassed to say it was months before I had a chance to pick the book up to read it (part of that time it sat in a moving box). To be honest, when I started reading it, I didn't know what to expect in terms of quality with it being a first novel. It was kind of a strange experience to begin to read a novel written by someone that I'd gotten to know in a business setting and whose literary talents and aspirations were unknown to me. As I read the acknowledgments, I thought that I might be distracted thinking about Stan being the author. Worse yet, I worried that the book might not be any good and end up being a drudgery to read. I mean, how good could a first novel be?

Within a few pages, I was so totally immersed in the story that Stan Wilson, this guy I know, was the farthest thing from my mind. Oh-my-gosh, the book was so good; I had a hard time putting it down! I am really impressed! I was reminded a lot of works by John Irving and Nicholas Sparks. The characters are extraordinary yet credible; the plot is gripping yet plausible; the flow is compelling, clear and smooth (which is more than I can say about works from famous authors that have required me to re-read sections to untangle snags in the flow). The discovery of love, sex and heartbreak feel familiar and real. The story includes enough interesting and well-crafted anecdotes and vignettes to flesh out the story without bogging the reader down with trivial details about time and place.

The foreshadowing in the beginning really drew me in to story and had my mind cranking out possible conclusions with each twist. Still, I was happily surprised by the ending. I wondered right up until the last page whether this would be a tragedy of star-crossed lovers or a Cinderella story. Though I only have a pedestrian knowledge of chess, I enjoyed learning more as I read. I appreciated the imaginative way the game was used as a multi-layered metaphor in the development of the plot. I also appreciated that the chess metaphor was not over-used. (The book actually inspired me to buy a chess set for my 5-year old so we could start to teach him the basics.)

I hope Stan Wilson keeps writing! I also hope many more people read Stubblefield. I really enjoyed it and rate it as a top-notch novel.

Dear Fellow Readers,

Stanley Wilson's novel Stubblefield is home to so many beatifully heartwrenching stories and wonderfully real characters, I could write on and on. Instead, I will say that out of all the novels I have read in the last year, Stubblefield is, without a doubt, the finest.
From page one, I was completely consumed by the world of Bryan Matthews. Stanley Wilson writes with such an eloquent style that seems to bring every word, sentence, paragraph, and page to life. Set in Washington state and California, this novel is filled with brilliant scenery and touching relationships.
Like any great classic storyteller, Stanley Wilson causes the reader to hate the bad guy, and absolutely fall head over heels for the ones we should love. The conflicts in the novel, big or small, all are written with such care, that I found myself lost between the pages.
Portraying the reality of love and the emptiness of its loss, Stanley Wilson truly had me totally consumed with a hunger for resolution until the moment in which I read the last page and closed the book, feeling complete satisfaction.
Stubblefield is truly a "must read" and a genuine masterpiece.

It is hard to read this book in more than two or three days... and you know what that means (as other reviewers have warned): neglect of sleep, work, home family, etc. It is a very compelling story excellently written that grabbed me emotionally in an unexpectedly intense way. The book really isn't about chess, so don't worry if you aren't all that interested in chess. Chess is just part of the setting. Likewise, if you are familiar with Walla Walla,Whitman College, or Topanga Canyon you'll enjoy the settings, but they're just the backdrop. The book really is about the intense desperation that young love can bring. It's also a terrific tale that will keep you turning the pages into the night. When you're done, the feelings that this book elicited in you will remain for a long long time. This is one you should not miss reading, and sharing.

This first work of fiction by Wilson is a gripping and tightly woven tale of discovery, angst, epiphany, and penetrating characterization, wrapped around the passion and precision of chess. Those who like deep character development in a book will be enthralled. Those who enjoy romance in a novel will be swept along. For those few who can imagine a book whose main character is a chess prodigy, this will be an epic. But those who would disregard a book because the main character's life is wrapped up in the world of chess, would miss an exciting read where championship chess is a thread in a vivid tapestry. Bryan Matthews, the main character, is magnetic from the beginning. Witness to a tragedy early in his life, he discovers a genius at chess which leads him from the parochial setting of a hard-scrabble mining town to the pastoral setting of a university campus, and opens his life to new adventures. The tragedy in his childhood presages dark events that color and steal his youth, bouncing him from extreme joy to desperate suffering. [Disclaimer] Possible side effects: Loss of sleep from being unable to put the book down; emotional disturbances from the roller coaster ride of involvement with the characters; and nervous twitching from a desire to flip to the back of the book to find out the end of the story. I recommend this book because I suffered all of the side effects described in the disclaimer. Buy and read this excellent first novel by Stanley Wilson.

This is what a Lovcraftian collection should be. Almost all the stories are spot on good. While one or two stories in the collection fell flat for me, most were excellent. I will not go into each story in the collection, as others have done that justice already; but "The Insider" was so good that it still gives me a shiver thinking about it.

Any fan of the "mythos" needs to have this collection. While dovetailing closely with HPL's writing, it has originality and freshness that made it a joy (or horror) to read. And you have to love the cover.

These days one of the hardest problems facing Cthulhu Mythos authors is to be able to write exciting tales within Lovecraft's framework, and yet tell these tales in a new and exciting voice. A fresh approach unfortunately seems to be something that numerous authors who've recently contributed to the cannon have been unable to do. So it is refreshing when an author such as Stanley C. Sargent succeeds to do just that, bringing a new perspective to the worlds of cosmic nihilism.

The Taint of Lovecraft is Sargent's second collection of Mythos tales, the first was , also published by Mythos Books LLC. This later collection contains nine tales, nine poems, two essays and numerous illustrations, including interiors and a cover illustration by the author of H.P. Lovecraft dressed up as a Pharaoh.

The standout tale in this collection would have to be "Nyarlatophis, A Fable of Ancient Egypt" which draws us back to the life of Pharaoh Amenemhat I, founder of the Twelfth Dynasty, and his encounter with Nyarlathotep (in the form of Nyarlatophis). The Outer God once more attempts to destroy humanity as we would expect, but this time in a land and culture nearly three thousand years distance from the time when Lovecraft penned his first tale. It is evident that Sargent knows his subject, both Cthulhu Mythos and Egyptian history, and so is able to take us lovingly back to this splendid age so often referred to, but rarely visited by other cannon authors.

One of Stanley C. Sargent's great strengths as a storyteller is his ability to adapt Lovecraft's style, yet make it his own. Stories such as "Live Bait" and "Double Screetcher" incorporate those horrific twists readers expect at conclusion, a trait Lovecraft used so well. But these stories also allow us to see the comic side of the mythos, and to see that our perceptions of what is right and wrong is based purely on our `humanness', and that sometimes we are no better than the horrors we ourselves fight against. Sargent's favourite of his own work, "The Black Brat of Dunwich" likewise has a similar theme. This story tells "The Dunwich Horror" from a completely different perspective, in this case from the viewpoint of Wilbur Whateley, and makes for interesting reading, especially if we consider that Lovecraft's protagonist Armitage is seen as the antagonist here.

The end of the collection contains two essays, the latter of which provides an interesting analysis of "The Dunwich Horror" offering a rarely discussed insight into what self-inflicted and societal-inflicted demons Lovecraft might have been fighting against all his life, but demons that also allowed his fevered artistic expression to flourish. Lastly, each story is introduced by steadfast scholar Robert M. Price (I can see this guy on his own Mythos Collectable Card), who provides his own special touch to the collection providing insights on each story for those who like to know how and where such tales originate.

In summary The Taint of Lovecraft doesn't take the Cthulhu Mythos into new places and new times, rather the reader is drawn back to Lovecraft Country - be that Arkham, Dunwich, Innsmouth or Ancient Egypt - and once arriving there, Sargent turns everything on its head. Nothing it seems, is what it seems, but isn't that what the Mythos is all about?

The Taint of Lovecraft is a joy on many levels. Stanley C. Sargent writes with wit and insight that are equally incisive in crafting the tales collected here. These brilliantly original takes on the Mythos fiction created by H.P. Lovecraft will undoubtedly please fans of horror fiction in general and Mythos readers especially. Sargent labors over the historical research that forms the backbone of many of his tales, and the results show in the authenticity and accuracy of his work.

This mix of stories, poems, and two highly entertaining essays is an important contribution to Mythos fiction. More importantly, though, it is a highly satisfying read.

The centerpiece of the book, "Nyarlatophis, A Fable of Ancient Egypt" is one of the most impressive Mythos-inspired stories I've ever read, and achieves the almost unheard of feat of rivaling the work of HPL in its sense of dread and eerieness, even though it is set in time period far removed from that in which HPL wrote.

What may stand out most about Sargent's tales in this collection, though, is their unerring capacity for nurturing the humor and sense of irony that is native to HPL's work but is often lost or overlooked among other Mythos fiction efforts, and bringing it to the forefront.

In short, this is a beautifully written, fantastic book.

A devoted student of the Lovecraftian writing, Stanley Sargent has brought fresh and exciting blood to this art form in his book TAINT OF LOVECRAFT. His stories grab you at the beginning and hold you spellbound to the final words, often those that are unexpected and surprising.

You need not be a student of ancient history to understand Mr. Sargent's stories. He brings everything to life for you, keeping you on an exciting journey through words that are alive and ready to leap out at you as you turn each page. If you are ready to be shocked, surprised, thrilled, and mystified, this book is for you.

In this, his second collection of tales inspired by H.P. Lovecraft's writing, Stanley C. Sargent firmly establishes himself as a master of his craft--a compelling storyteller in his own right and an important torchbearer for the legacy of Lovecraft's Mythos. The best tale in this collection is "The Black Brat of Dunwich," an insightful reinterpretation of Lovecraft's "The Dunwich Horror" that meshes so well with the original one cannot help but think Sargent found the key for cracking a sinister code Lovecraft intentionally wrote as a hidden subtext. It almost begins to feel that one needs Sargent's later work in order to appreciate the antecedent text on all of its multi-faceted levels. I don't want to overstate the point, but I wish future collections reprinting Lovecraft's original tale could all include "Black Brat" side-by-side with it. That being said, Sargent's story may lose some of its relevance for the uninitiated.

Most good Mythos fiction is not only steeped in a sense of otherworldly terror and the macabre, but is also solidly grounded in real-world history. "Nyarlatophis" is no exception; Sargent's knowledge of ancient Egyptian history and mythology appears exhaustive, and this tale--the longest in the collection--was obviously well researched. In some ways, it may actually have been too well researched, as the first third of the story is rather ponderous as the reader wades through what often feels more like an historical essay than a novella. But again, readers who stick with this tale will be glad they did, as the pace picks up significantly half-way through, and the dark, cataclysmic ending is all the more powerful for the grounding in history Sargent provided earlier on.

As for the remainder of this collection, it is a varied mix: an effectively disturbing science fiction tale that brings the Mythos to the stars, a prequel and a sequel to two other Lovecraft classics that also stand on their own as powerfully creepy narratives, a handful of comic takes on HPL themes (fun but probably my own least favorite pieces in this bunch), and one or two twilight-zone style horror pieces with only very loose connections to the Mythos per se. These stories are handsomely illustrated throughout, including a drawing or two by Sargent himself. The author also throws in nine of his whimsical poems, written in a style that blends Edward Gorey with Shel Silversetein. Two of Sargent's non-fiction essays complete this set, one that is really little more than a collection of anecdotes about the possible influences of Lovecraft on the EVIL DEAD films, and the other of which provides some fascinating insights into Lovecraft's biographical self by finding clues in his stories.

For all those enthusiastic minions of things Lovecraftian out there (among whom I count myself one), THE TAINT OF LVOECRAFT is a book that should have a prominent place on your shelf. For the rest of you, TAINT might well serve as a good introduction to the expanded Mythos, but if nothing else, it offers a handful of diverting tales.

A symphony of one of Chicago's most famed room, told by none other than whom indulged in the exotic temptations, mystical delights and heavenly atmosphere provided by the playground of Hollywood Midwest created by Ernest Lessing Byfield. Thank you Stanley! Many have no idea, the glitz and glamour were had right here in Chicago. Take my advice Stanley's experiences are truly a delight to be had by all.

Slap a Sinatra tune on light a fire, mix a martini and grace the pages, it's gonna knock your socks off... don't forget the cigarette!

I have enjoyed Stanley Paul's music, especially the CD which arrived with the book. Now I can enjoy his stories. The man is simply a natural born story teller and all you need to do is listen to him to know that this is a book that would be eminently successful if it were merely transcribed with little or no ghost writer interference. Paul brings an era back to life with unforgettable stories. Thank you.

I was lucky enough to be invited to one of Stanley Paul's lectures, where I bought the book, which is as much fun to read as Mr. Paul was in person. With a guy like this, writing this book must have been a snap. Obviously, all one needs to do is transcribe a tape recording of Stanley Paul's charming stories to create a memorable book.

I recently attended a book-signing here in Chicago and listened to Stanley Paul tell his stories as he's never told them before, and believe me, we've all heard most of them before. But now Stanley's on the road telling his tales the way his author wrote them and what used to border on boring is absolutely wonderful! I would heartily recommend this book to every Chicagoan for sure, and anyone else who likes to read a well woven series of stories. I even ordered two more of them myself as Christmas presents. Great job!

Stanley Paul is well known in Chicago, but for his associations with celebrities much more than his musical talents. This book offers some wonderful insight into how he was able to manipulate his agents and the media in order to put (and keep) himself in a spotlight. A shameless self-promoter who not only admits his strategies, but actually prides himself on them, Mr. Paul's maneuverings make for interesting reading. It is a credit to the author, Diane Palmer, to have presented his character as possessed of a sensitivity and warmth he does not, in actuality, possess. It makes the stories much more interesting than the way they've been told by his newspaper friends throughout this last quarter century. Bravo!

I first discovered this book about 8 years ago. At that time, I purchased several copies and quickly gave them to my closest dog-lover friends. Since then, I have given this book to three friends upon the loss of their dog. I am so impressed with this book because of the content and the format. It not only sheds new light on the faithfulness and simple inner beauty of dogs, but causes one to contemplate one's own inner self. It provides both humor and comfort. It is such a poignant book that it will touch anyone who values their dog, whether the reader is a Christian (as is the author) or not. Two of the people I gave this book to were not Christians and absolutely loved reading and receiving it. It is easy to read, and will be read repeatedly over time by any owner.What My Dog Has Taught Me About Life: Meditations for Dog Lovers

I began reading this before bed one night and couldn't stop...this book is riveting! Dog and animal lovers NEED this book. The incredibly heartwarming and powerful short stories read like devotionals. If you have ever given your heart to a dog, you really must buy a copy of this book and have a box of tissues ready when you begin reading. You will most certainly learn or recall life lessons too valuable to forget.

I just finished reading this book and discovered an abundance of chuckles and many insights about my own life.

A few minutes ago, I finished Mr. Stanley's book. I had wondered if there were others who learned from those special dogs who are insightful, attentive, intelligent and totally devoted. Obviously, Gary Stanley is one of those, and he communicates so well the blessings of sharing life with another of God's creatures.

My mother is a friend of the author, and for a while in 1999, she took care of "Griffin", one of the dogs described in this book. She talked often about his remarkable face and demeanor, and raved about Mr. Stanley's stories. Twice now I have been amazed at how right she is-- Griffin is an amazing dog-- he can look at you in a way that almost goes through you. And then to see that translated into these short stories is just amazing. "The Dog Who Walk Himself" has much to teach us, even though he probably doesn't know he's doing it. As this book shows us, God has many ways of teaching us His lessons. I think even my cat-loving self can agree with that!

The only problem I had with this book was its' length. I found myself wanting to reach the end and start something else. BUT, on the plus side, the 'true' letters, without the aid of being 'cleaned up' by correct spelling or punctuation really, really added a lot. You may find a letter now and then that really doesn't hold your interest. Do not stop there, or you will miss out on some very wonderful, interesting text.

As a war veteran myself, I have never found a more absorbing, accurate and sincere attempt to capture the true emotions of combatants, their loved ones, and all others involved in the major conflichts of the ninteenth, twentieth and twenty-first centuries. A must read for anyone interested in getting an unbiased glimpse into the thoughts of those who were affected by war.

I purchased this book recently and could not put it down.Who better to tell a story than the ones who lived it?The letters are not only from the soldiers who fought on either side of a conflict,but from the very people who lived through them.The accounts are graphic in many cases and I now have a better understanding of the horrible reality of it all.The historical quips help with the insight as to what was going on at the time of the letter.Its a great read by an outstanding author who has done so much for our troops.

This is a great book!! I really enjoyed reading it, and found myself unable to put it down. The book gives readers a better understanding of what soldiers and their families go through. After reading this book, I believe I have a better appreciation for our Veterans and our troops serving our country. Definately a recommended book in my opinion.

BEHIND THE LINES is a powerful collection of fragments of thoughts that were initiated over the past two hundred plus years of war scars. Andrew Carroll continues his commitment to bring the reality of war to the forefront of our attention and I know no better manner for anti-war statements than the words found in this illuminating and horrifying book.

Carroll approaches war as a panacea - an evil that has been with us around the globe for centuries and just continues unabated. Many poets and writers are struggling to make the public cognizant of the horrors of war, but Carroll scans American involvement in wars from the Revolutionary War to the present and in doing so he demonstrates the madness that we must learn to stop.

Letters, documents, memos, soldiers' notes as well as civilians' responses fill these pages, some eloquent, some simply pitiful, and some stoic as well as some encouraging. The messages are not skewed in a way that makes Carroll seem like he is ranting. Rather he lets the words of the living and the dead speak truths far larger than fiction.

This is a beautifully conceived volume that for the sake of the survival of civilization belongs on the reading desks of everyone. Tough reading, this, but enormously informative and important. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, August 05

I love all the books in this set. They are wonderful. I do believe in the "borrowers". I bought the whole set for my 11 year old granddaughter. Hopes she loves them as much as I do.

Being 13, I'm pretty picky, but this book was awsome! It's so in my shopping cart! I love how the Clocks are so smart, they can make everything out of anything! This book really appeased me, because I love models and mineature things, an the thought of moving, living, mineature people is so thrilling! I really liked how they made a hot-air balloon out of a strawberry basket, a fountain pen, and a plastic (or toy, as it says in the book) balloon. Soooo coool! I'm SO reading the other books (I've already read the book and seen the movie "The Borrowers").

Again great reading in this series of books. Couldn't put it down. Great for children and adults alike

I liked this book a lot. I like to read about how resourceful the Borrowers are when they use stuff humans don't need or misplace. It had really nice pictures, too. I recommend this book to kids five years and older.

In this, the fourth book in the Borrowers series (after The Borrowers, The Borrowers Afield and The Borrowers Afloat), the Clocks have moved into Little Fordham, and are starting their new life. Unfortunately, unknown to them, the greedy Mr. Platter has built a rival model village. Having seen the Borrowers, he kidnaps them to add them to his own model. How can such small people escape from a prison built by such huge human "beans"?

Ah, Mary Norton (1903-92) was a genius! Her Borrower stories are an excellent combination of suspenseful adventure and heartwarming drama. My children and I love this book, and highly recommend it to you!