Stone Books

I ordered the book as a present for my wife, an anthropologist and artist. But, when it arrived, I couldn't help but sit down and read it immediately. Beautifully done photos of the cave images, together with a series of excellent essays on the history, layout, content, and "meaning" of the cave. A lovely production, an excellent book.

This beautiful book explores the cave of Altamira in Spain, called "The Sistine Chapel of Quaternary Art" for the splendour of its drawings, engravings and paintings. The cave was first occupied 18 450 years ago and its early history ended about 13 000 years ago when the entrance vault collapsed. It was discovered again in 1879.

The text comprises an introduction by Antonio Beltrán and various articles: The Cave And Surroundings by José Lasheras Corruchaga; Altamira: Art, Artists And Times by Federico de Quirós; Techniques Individual Artists And Artistic Concepts by Matilde Pérez-Seoane; Photographing Altamira by Pedro Ramos; Conservation Problems by Corruchaga and a Conclusion: The Future by Beltrán.

This great monument to prehistoric art is documented by impressive color and black and white photographs of the area, the artworks and the tools found in the caves, including a portrait of the discoverer Sautuola. There are maps of the cave, a bibliography, notes and an index.

This magnificent book offers an exhaustive study of the wonderful and mysterious cave complex of Altamira and also deals with a number of theories about cave art around the world that casts some light on our ancient ancestors.

THE CAVE OF ALTAMIRA, edited by Antonio Beltran, tells the story of the famous paintings found in a cave in Spain in 1879. The book indicates the Altamira paintings date from the Solutrean period of the Paleolithic. Recent radiocarbon dating shows art in the Polychrome Chamber to be between 18,000 and 19,000 years old, placing it around 16,500 B.C. Pedro Saura Ramos, the photographer has a distinguished reputation. A number of prominent art historians have contributed interesting essays.

From the high elevation of the Altamira cave, one can see the `Picos de Europa' - a range of mountain peaks which must have appeared awesome to Paleolithic humans. Judging by the remains of creatures found in pits in the cave chambers as well as portraits of animals on cave walls, the countryside around Altamira must have been a virtual Eden. Evidence shows that great park-like settings near the cave held deer, roebuck, and wild boar, while open areas favored large bovines like horses and bison, rocky areas provided shelter for goats and chamois, and the nearby sea and fresh water lakes and streams were filled with shellfish and other marine life. Charcoal used in the wall paintings and found around the hearths reveal a coastal ecology where willow, juniper, chestnut and pine grew. The discarded bones indicate the cave was probably used as a gathering place for a relatively large number of people.

Pedro Sauro Ramos says it is impossible to convey the impression one receives standing on the cave floor looking up at the wall and it's illustrations. His photos are unusual in that he has held the camera in non-conventional ways and shot angles not normally seen in print. He provides wide-angled, then close-up shots of many of the animals so the reader can see detail revealed at close range. He notes that artists often took advantage surface features when creating an animal. Natural bosses were used to round out forms. A ledge provided the line of a deer jaw. Cracks and crevices highlighted horns and hinds.

As is the case with Lascaux, many of the paintings have been damaged by exposure to human bacteria and some of the photographs reveal black fungus. In addition, ceilings and walls have been reinforced to support badly damaged sections of the cave. In some cases the human supports interfere with the lighting or alter the appearance. For example, natural lighting from the cave entrance that once illuminated the numerous bovines of the famous "Great Panel" and that would have been seen on entering the chamber have been blocked by a concrete wall. For his photographs, Saura Ramos provided natural lighting to show how the painting would have appeared to Paleolithic humans.

The text includes reasonably good essays by a number of noted experts. My favorite is entitled, "Techniques, Individual Artists, and Artistic Concepts in the Painting of Altamira", by Matilda Muzquiz Perez-Seoane. In this essay, Perez-Seoane explains how bone marrow was used to illuminate the areas of the wall the artist painted in the dark interior recesses. Apparently, animal knee caps were filled with marrow which was lighted and provided a flame which illuminated without filling the chamber with smoke and choking the artist and/or blackening the ceiling or walls.

Prior to Darwin, there was relatively little interest in prehistoric art. Then the theory of evolution and the discovery of many wonderful caves jammed with art, almost like museums, conspired to change all of that. Altamira's art dates back around 15,500 years (due to radioactive dating techniques), but it originally drew little attention because it was too wonderful to be real. The psychology of disbelief stall led all but a few scholars to dismiss this gem. It took almost 20 years for its authenticity to be established, and subsequent evidence has only strengthened its claims. Many people feel that Altamira is the most wonderful collection of prehistoric art in existence. The other famous cave is Lescaux in France. In between these caves geographically, many other caves with drawings have been found.

After being initially ignored after its discovery in 1879, it soon experienced a crush of visitors (eventually approaching 200,000 in a single year). But cave art isn't going to last with that much extra heat and humidity, so the caves have now been closed except to the occasional scholar. The good news is that this cave (located near the seacoast in Spain) is being reproduced so that one can visit and get a sense of the place without harming the art.

Altamira is an extensive series of caves (about 270 yards long) with many different sections. The entrances and exits have mysterious masks. In one section with a low-hung ceiling are many wonderful large paintings of bison (many of these you will recognize). Another area features engravings in the soft stone that are remarkable in their detail and delicacy. Yet other areas have different features. The photographs are magnificent and capture both the beauty of the individual images as well as giving a sense of the part of the cave they are in.

The essays in the book are remarkably complete. They describe the history of the cave, the evolution of theories about what the art means, descriptions of how the art was probably created, and the difficulties of preserving and recording the cave's contents. The only drawback was that the discussions of the theories were somewhat redundant, and would have benefited from a stronger editorial hand or more preplanning.

Anyone who loves art, is interested in prehistoric life, or is fascinated by cave art would love this book. Anyone who loves a good mystery will, too.

Open your mind to the possibilities that exist, and use this book as an excellent example of how often we underestimate the potential of what is in front of us.

Closure of a number of palaeolithic cave art sites has produced a wave of books depicting the art by photography. These efforts are of varying quality, but this one on Altamira is one of the more noteworthy examples. In addition to the photographs, Saura Ramos has enlisted several cave art scholars to add informative essays on history of the discovery, descriptions of the cave and the paintings and the problems of conservation and protection. Particularly useful is an article on the methods used to produce the cave graphics. The reader is nearly alongside the artist as the charcoal or ochre stick applied to render the image. It's an effective means of "personalising" the renderings.

Spanish scholars on various topics author all the essays comprising the body of the text. From a beginning of the history of the discovery of the Altamira graphics, the cave's local environment is examined. A diagram of the cave is shown, although lacking any measurement scale. The art and artists in the time of the paintings' creation is given with an explanation of the timescale involved. The images and artefacts were approximately dated in the era preceding radiometric dating methods employed today. Forms and styles of the work are set in the general scope of "Ages" then in use by scholars. The painters spread their work throughout the cave system where space and useful rock forms were available. A very useful addition, often overlooked in accounts of other cave or rock art, is the size of the image. This is handy to have and useful to keep in mind as you view the image reproductions. There is also a discussion of paintings versus engravings that appear at Altamira.

Of major importance, and almost unique in cave art books, is the discussion of the artistic concepts and painting styles used to make the images. Some very precise analytical techniques have been applied to these paintings during the last generation. The layers of strokes, the application of colours and the forms of natural rock formations that underlie many of the images have been closely scrutinised. The author of this essay, Matilde Muzquiz Perez-Seoane has compiled a detailed set of examples of the rendering process. Given the conditions that prevailed in the time of the painters, their powers of observation and application were exceptional. It's not for nothing that Picasso declared "We've learned nothing in thousands of years".

It is the photographs, of course, that render this book valuable and captivating. Saura A Ramon's work is exquisite in portraying how the paintings would be seen were you to visit the site. His professional use of light and shadow, although unable to duplicate the wavering illumination provided by oil lamps and torches, still depicts the scenes as closely as the artists might have seen them. Bulging rock transformed into bison or other animals nearly jump out at the reader's view. Cracks formed backbones, heads and other anatomy, giving the images a sense of life. Only a film using equally effective techniques could offer improvement over the images in this book. It's a superb effort in giving us a sense of what the artists and the people originally viewing these paintings might have felt. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

This is an amazing book to read after reading Barbara Tuchman's "The Guns of August." Both books deal with the psychology of war but Susan Griffin addresses modern war on the level of the individual; telling stories of both the victims and the perpetrators of war's atrocities. Susan attempts something new in her style that is very effective on one hand but difficult for the reader on the other. She asks "Who are we?" and then answers that there are so many strands to a story and one must trace every strand. She literally takes this idea as her form and weaves the threads of several stories together on the same page. I found each "thread" fascinating but ultimately I ended up reading each separately so that I would not lose my grasp on the story. I found Chapters 1 through 5 to be fascinating. The last chapter entitled, "Notes Toward A Sketch for A Work in Progress" is just that--an abrupt departure from the main body of the book. It's what's left over in her journal that she didn't quite fit into the book but still wanted to include anyway. It's interesting but not as engaging as the first 5 chapters. The book is gloomy and yes, Susan Griffin has a depressing outlook on life, but even doomsayers can be valuable soothsayers in our society.

So much of history is centered on warfare. And then, so much of warfare is historically rooted in a traditional perspective of leaders, politics, and other "big" events. Is there a deeper and more complex truth to all this?

Now, here comes Susan Griffin, and her ideas flow freely out of the conventional boxes of interpretation. In "Chorus of Stones," she examines "small" events, and especially the internal dynamics of family relationships, and then links them to the "big" events -- like the invention of the hydrogen bomb or the decision to fire-bomb Dresden. In the process, she shows the reader how such wide-sweeping historical catastrophes like wars are inextricably connected with small, often trivialized realities whose real significance can go unnoticed, or even be repressed. If you ever thought about the old adage that "we won't understand war until we understand why couples argue with each other," then this book will fascinate you. It's a real shame that it hasn't received more attention, for it challenges so many of our notions about the separation of "personal" and "public" lives. Fascinating through and through!

In this book, Griffin explores the connections between subtle violences and small denials, and horrible huge violences such as war, especially the second world war with the holocaust and the use of the atomic bomb as a weapon. One could say that this material has been covered before, but my description really does not do her work justice. The book is a highly imaginative meditation on the connections between events at different times and at different parts of the world, and between internal and external events. She traces the lives of a few historical figures including Gandhi, Himmler, and a British general, woven into the rest of the book. Also, there are some poetical descriptions of biological processes, mostly at the cellular level, and as a cell biologist, I must say that she has her facts straight, which gives me more confidence in the other parts of the book which I know less about (historical events). I feel Griffin does what an artist should do - put into words (or some form that we can understand) thoughts and feelings that are just beneath our own threshhold of consciousness.

I came across this book by chance - an obscure reference in a popular psychology book.Susan Griffin has captured the interconnectedness of life, war, relationships and evolution in a scope so vast, so all encompassing that it left me breathless. An amazingly successful synthesis of conveying the macrocosm by studying the microcosm. It had me scribbling down 'quotable quotes', until I soon realised that almost everything she says is profound, well thought out and corresponding to all my notions of truth. In a time when the USA is contemplating war, everyone would be well served by reading this book. Susan Griffin's work is one of startling intellectual scope written in a language that is as sparing as it is poetic. I am in awe of A Chorus of Stones and am saddened by the fact that it seems to be relatively unknown - particularly in Australia.

all i can say about this book is that at times it was so powerful i had to put it down, i just couldn't take it

In 1932, Philip Johnson and Henry Russel Hitchcock held a retrospective of European modern architecture at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. They coined the term "International Style" to describe this newly emerging style. This show captured the imagination of many of the United States' best young architects and designers. They soon began to put an American spin on the new "International Style" of architecture.

Eight years after the MOMA show, James and Katherine Ford published, "The Modern House in America". The purpose of the book was to draw attention to this new style of architecture as it was being developed in the United States. This volume was in turn republished by Dover Press in 1989 and retitled, "Classic Modern Homes of the Thirties".

This volume showcases sixty four designs by such noted architects as Neutra, Gropius, Breuer, Shindler and Soriano. These works are shown with 194 photographs and 128 plans and drawings. It is important to note, these images come from a book published in 1940 and therefore lack the precision and design values that you would find in a book published today. This reprint is not a coffee table style of book. Its value is more historical in nature.

What I found most interesting in this book, is to see how some of the best homes of this period start taking on an iconic stature within a few years of being constructed. Homes that are the subject of recently written monographs are shown as newly built homes.

Mid-Century Modern is all the rage at the current time. There is no better volume to give an enthusiast an understanding of what forces came together to form this look. To really know Neutra, Schindler and Soriano, you have to know what they were building in the late 1930's.

I am so glad to find a reprint of this book! It has been impossible to return the one I have on loan. Some less known but notable architects like Pietro Belluschi are included along with the big names. Details such as floor plans and original cost per square foot are a bonus.

This is a wonderful book combining insight into "modern" residential home architecture of the 30's with a view into the lives of those who designed and lived in them. Like all Dover books, this title is remarkable well printed which allows the reader to easily see all the floorplans, pictures and other images of these homes. The text tells the reader about the family the house was built for, their lifestyle and needs, the layout and construcion details and decorating details of their home. What is remarkable is how fresh many of these homes look today and how much recent modern architecture owes the pioneers who designed these homes. Very enjoyable... anyone who appreciates architecture and history will love this book.

"Classic Modern Homes of the Thirties" is an unabridged reprint of a book first published in 1940, and thus serves as a valuable historic document. But this introduction to the "modern" style of architecture is not just a book for historians: it is visually stunning achievement that will be appreciated by all who have a passion for the art and science of home architecture.

The book introduces the reader to 62 marvelous houses which exemplify the modern style. Architects represented include Gregory Ain, George Howe, Richard J. Neustra, Raphael S. Soriano, and many more. Detailed floor plans, exterior and interior photographs, and details of construction are included. The houses range in size from modest 1- or 2-bedroom homes to expansive, luxurious mansions.

This book is a spectacular introduction to the vocabulary of the modern period in architecture. The photographs and floor plans capture the bold interplay of geometric shapes, the experimentation with glass and other materials, the profusion of balconies and terraces, and above all, the concern with functionality that motivated the masters of the modern.

Co-authors James Ford and Katherine Morrow Ford have included a interesting introduction. Also included is a collection of brief statements by many of the featured architects.

This is a great book for those interested in American cultural history, interior design, home photography, and other subjects. But at its core this book is an excellent record of and tribute to one of the most remarkable movements in the history of home architecture.

A really super book for the price. This is a paperback reprint of a book published in America in 1940. Each house has one or more photos, inside and out, plus a plan (some a bit too small) and details about what the owners wanted, site, cost, materials, exterior and interior details etc. The black and white photos are good considering they have been taken from a printed source.

The authors describe the concept of modern architecture in the short introduction and in the back each architect writes about their views on design. I must have looked through this book dozens ot times and I still love these houses. Unfortunately I bet a lot of them are no longer standing, which makes this reprint even more important as a visual record.

If you are interested in this type of streamline building have a look at 'The Modern House Today' by Nick Dawe and Kenneth Powell, this has excellent color photos of sixty-three houses in England that are still standing, unfortunately the book is let down by the minimalist design. Charlotte and Peter Fiell's massive 576 page reference book '30s and 40s Decorative Art' covers Moderne houses (mostly in the US and Europe) with photos of interiors, ceramics, textiles and lighting. All three books are worth owning.

***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.

I have read the entire series so far, still haven't read Eagle but will get that soon! Each book has just pulled me right through from beginning to end, very enjoyable. Honor, survival and the martial arts - all good stuff.

This is an awsome book the first one is tiger that one is realy good to. once you read the first book youl be modevated to read the whole seriese. It's about monks at temple and fighting the auther jeff stone writes and creates beutifly, he detailes the fighting so well it's like your there waching it. READ THE WHOLE SERIESE IT'S GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Three companions head down the Yellow River to the underworld of a dangerous city, unaware that their youngest brother is being used as bait in a trap, in this exciting Kung Fu drama which adds to a series with the fourth out of five projected books. Hok has long hidden her identity, but when her old life causes complications in her new world, Hok finds herself allying with other young monks who must use their kung fu skills to survive. Kids who love martial arts will relish this adventure.

An awesome book with the Crane (Hok). It has double the action of Snake, and there are many unexpected turns in the story. I can't wait for Dragon.

My 10 year old has read each book in this series with relish and has now gone back to re-read them all. It has sparked his interest in reading after a lull, and he sped through them in no time. Now we just need to wait for thhe next one...

This is the culmination of her work with "crystals" and should be read AFTER the two earlier books. It is unique in that it is not "Hokey" but well grounded and useful. I studied with her while she was still in Taos, NM and am indebted to her for her insights into the crystalline world.

By the way; It's KATRINA, NOT KARRINA

Katrina introduces the 12 chakra system in this book. She uses higher vibration crystal to activate the chakras outside our body. Crystalline Transmission (transform our physical body to be a crystal!!!) is the goal of crystal practice to adapt the increasing frequency in the Earth. Though this book has be written for 10 yrs, it is still advance for most crystal users.

In this book the third and last of the series, Katrina takes one step by step to the higher levels of crystal work, again intergrating the proper stones for this level. It is a call to enlightment and discusses the transpersonal chakras. Very informative about the intergration of the Soul Star and Earth Star and the Stellar Gateway. Again as always, easy to read, well presented. Highly recommend this book. Gail Fo

This book culminates the crystal trilogy by Raphaell with some pretty powerful tools, descriptions of the last six master crystals, an overview of advanced chakra systems, information about the "predominant power stones," and many new gemstones not covered by the previous texts.

This is a must-have for any advanced worker with crystals. There are a lot of pioneering configurations of crytsals that were popularized because of Katrina's research, and her trilogy represents the best perspective of many of these crytsals. This book helps push the reader to experience many new and exciting developments in the crystal community while expounding upon and expanding older topics, especially with regard to Earth Keeper crystals.

This is Volume III (1990) in a series of 3 very well written and very useful books by Katrina. Volume I is "Crystal Enlightenment" (19xx). Volume II is "Crystal Healing" (1987). You probably want to read these volumes in order unless you already know some of this crystal and energy stuff. Volume III is a little more "out there" but only to those who are new to this stuff.

I guess you could say that Volume III is for the person with some crystal and energy knowledge already. Assuming you know about the 7 chakras (energy centers/wheels within the human body), Katrina refers to 8 to 12 (major) charkas, 3 above the crown charka, one in the belly button (in addition to the one in the solar plexus), and one below the root charka. There are also secondary charkas in the palm of each hand, and other places (which those who do energy work already know).

Katrina talks about the predominant power stones: selenite, kyanite, calcite, and hematite and layout using the. She provides information on additional crystals: the Dow crystal, the Tantric Twins (crystal), the Isis crystal, the Cathedral Lightbraries, the Devic Temple crystals, the Time Link crystals and additional healing stones: Blue Lace Agate, Celestite, Charoite, and others. There is even a chapter for crystal healing for the prevention and treatment of Aids.

If you are really interested in stones and crystals and their possible relationship to healing, knowledge and so much more, I suggest this series of all 3 books by Katrina. I also suggest "Love Is In The Earth" by Melody. Yes, that is her name, just like music. Once upon a time, I laughed at the thought of people believing crystals were more than just rocks. Now I have wisdom. (We all make mistakes.)

If you can agree to suspend your disbelief briefly enough to read and absorb this material, you can open yourself up to a whole additional level of understanding far beyond what you ever thought possible. Know that no one book or series of books is going to make you a crystal healer or something similar. These books are part of a path of enlightenment for those who are called to receive this special knowledge.

God bless you on your quest for enlightenment. Namaste'

Mary Pope Osborne's 39th addition to her 'Magic Tree House' series, DARK DAY IN THE DEEP SEA tells of Jack and Annie, who have to find one of the four secrets of happiness to help save Merlin the magician. But when they find themselves on a misty island, they wonder how they can find anything - and when a pirate ship turns out to be the world's first floating science lab, an even more exciting expedition results.

My grandchildren can't wait for the new books of this series. They wer so thrilled when I brought it over and it's read in one to two days. They already told me how much they liked it and wish the new one was on it's way. I told them it's on order for when it's released.

We have the complete series of MTH books, both the simpler paperback ones and the Merlin Series hardcovers. Currently my (almost) 8 year old son is ensconced in the books, but my 11 year old read this book as well just because she wanted to say she's read them all (granted, it took her less than an hour to finish the whole thing, but she is reading at the 7th grade level so no surprise). Both really enjoyed the story, said it is one of the better story lines in the Merlin Series, interesting, creative, etc. Highly recommend.

the lesson in this book is about compassion for creatures we may not know much about; which takes place in the 1800's and scientists on the HMS Challenger, which really existed, as did the scientist Moseley. This was a time of exploration for scientist and a field that opened up called oceanography. My four year old enjoys these books immensely. This was not one of his favorites, but he still rates it as a "love it."

OK, I'm not reviewing this for myself, although I do enjoy the concept and the stories, but for my (nearly) six year old grandson. He simply adores this series by Mary Pope Osborne...except...at the start of each adventure, when the tree house moves and then stops...when it says..."then everything was still...absolutely still"...anyone remember Abbott and Costello's "slowly I turn, step by step..."?
He just plain squeals when anyone either reads him that part or just starts the quotation (he loves it, though!)
The series shows great imagination (if you can "get over" the part where "magic" is involved. Sometimes I think we lose sight of the fact that magic is simply a storyteller's device to see a different angle of the story or to introduce elements that are more imaginary. If you believe it exists, it does...if you don't, it doesn't) and helps kids to come to grips with cooperation and a bit of self sacrifice, as well as helpfulness. (I don't know about you, but I struggle with that myself, and for our current generation of kids, they need all the help they can get!)
And, quite frankly, I bought it for the grandson because of the Octopus on the cover. He is enamored of this particular sea creature, and the story did not disappoint. (although we have read over 20 of the rest of the series as well, and he only found fault with one that I can remember, and I can't recall which title that was...)
As soon as his mom had read him this one (it was a birthday present), he wanted it read to him again, and that to me says that it hit the right note with him.
The "Magic Tree House" series is a grand adventure for all concerned. It enthralls the younger readers (or being read to), and is a joy for the parents to read to their children or grandchildren. Covering all sorts of adventure and relationship topics, as well as great brother-sister dialogue, it's just plain fun!

This was such a beautifully written novel. I can't wait for more books from this gifted writer.

I am a sleep-deprived mother of two young boys, and I read this book every spare minute I had, and finished it in three days (quite remarkable for me). Throughout the day, I found that my thoughts overlapped into Miriam's world, even when I wasn't reading the book. The growth we see in Miriam in the end, with her friend Esther, her sister Theresa, is so encouraging. Miriam's relationships with her family and friends are complicated, but real, and sometimes familiar. Though sobering and sometimes heavy, I thoroughly enjoyed journeying along with Miriam in her search for hope and love.

Konkle's book started strong and kept me wanting for more until the end. Miriam is a character I identified with, and I found myself hoping she would find her way through the pain she faced throughout the book. The people, places, and events carried me from one chapter to the next, not wanting to put the book down.

Konkle's polished writing made me feel as if I was in Miriam's world of loss with her. Miriam's pain and loss resonated through the pages. The imagery and choice of words have stayed with me long after finishing the final chapter. It won't be long before I take A Dark Oval Stone off my shelf to read it again.

Exploring loss and grief and their effects on a person's hope and faith, Marsena Konkle's debut novel, `A Dark Oval Stone' is a haunting read that will captivate you from the first sentence to the last.
Its protagonist, Miriam Kovatch, has experienced more loss than one person can be expected to endure. At the point in her life when we first meet her she has already had to deal with the deaths of both her parents and two of her brothers. Shortly afterwards, she also becomes a widow after her husband suffers a fatal heart attack while shovelling snow in their driveway.
But into this loss comes new life when Miriam finds out, mere weeks after losing her husband, that she is pregnant with the couple's first child. Devastated by the prospects of raising this child on her own, Miriam struggles with what it will mean to become a single mother.
Having been raised in the Catholic Church under the thumb of her overbearing mother, Miriam's faith has always been based in fear and out of a sense of duty. She begins to find a more spiritual connection after meeting Svetlana, a former legal client of her husband's, who shows her a different side of the man she thought she knew so well.
During her journey to self-discovery, Miriam also realizes some harsh truths about herself and is forced to make some changes in her life. As Konkle puts it, "She had always believed that others perceived her as she wanted to see herself: as a self-sacrificing and giving person, always on hand to relieve the burdens of others. The self-delusion now popped like a balloon in her chest, radiating real pain."
`A Dark Oval Stone' is an emotional journey in itself. While reading this book, I found myself crying, laughing and hoping with the main character. Miriam came alive and her pain oozed out of the pages like hot syrup bubbling in a pan. She is one of those characters who won't let you go immediately after you finish reading and put the book back on the shelf. She will pull at you, causing you to think about her and wondering how she is doing.
Konkle ends the book on a hopeful note, but there are many unanswered questions. We are only given a glimpse of Miriam's life and I was left wanting to know much more. This is in no way a criticism of Konkle's ability, rather it is a testament to the author's style. I am looking forward to seeing what she comes up with next and getting acquainted with more of her characters. If they are anything like Miriam, they will be added to my list of literary friends.

In her first novel, A Dark Oval Stone, Marsena Konkle begins with an ambition that never fades. Her ambition is not marred by overreaching but runs as steady and true to course as a weighty train on polished tracks. She sets out to create a world of her own, and does, bringing a dead body crashing down in the middle of the first chapter. From that moment there is no letup in the momentum or the growing complexity of interrelationships in her novel. One of her great gifts is the clarity of observation and the precision of her language. There may be a reach to make her story too user friendly and politically correct, so that some of her characters we seem to have seen before--the tense Asian beauty, the gay brother, the understated, understanding priest--but the steady procession of page after page of clear and shining prose moves reservations one might have to the background. The ambition that shines through her book is her dedication to do no more and no less than each scene demands, the sort of understated beauty, running under a steady hand, that is seldom seen in first novels and, indeed, in a good deal of contemporary prose. The glow in the warmth of the prose begins to shine with a greater light of the One we see she pursues. It's a beautiful first book that the attentive reader should not miss.

Diamonds, Pearls & Stones: Jewels Of Wisdom For Young Women From Extraordinary Women Of The World a collection of inspirational viginettes, comforting thoughts, and practical advice from a wide variety of famous, learned, and respected individuals for women in today's increasingly complex and moble society. Sage wisdom concerning everything from finding a career to getting married, having children, ending a relationship, dealing with sexual issues or overpowering emotions, and much more fills this compact, delightful, ideal gift. "Don't compromise yourself. You are all you've got." -Janis Joplin, singer

What a fantastic collection of wisdom! This book is a perfect opportunity to reflect on deep truths, simple pragmatic ideas, laugh-out-loud humor and just plain common sense that will lift your spirit in these muddled times. The essence of your heart and soul will most certainly harmonize with these finely tuned women.

John W. Parker

Many times when stressed out I can get so emotional and lose perspective on what tools I can use to get through a tough time. This book offers many tools and perspectives. As my husband and I go through a difficult decision about jobs and moving to a new city I remembered the book, opened it to the section on "Making the Right Choices" and "Stepping Stones for Making Choices" and was reconnected to many of my own resources for moving forward with a decision. Thanks for bringing me home to myself.

My nineteen year old daughter often dismisses advice from me about work and men and life and growing up...actually almost everything! Diamonds, Pearls and Stones offers wonderful wisdom in ways she can hear. Hawthorne and Holden seemed to have gathered these gems for her.

Diamonds, Pearls & Stones is a wonderful compendium of elder women's wisdom. The quotes on a variety of topics of special interest for younger women are short, sweet, pithy, insightful as well as delightful! The intention of this book is to stimulate reflection within the heart of the younger woman about herself. Its design affords both solitary and group contemplation. It's a great vehicle to promote a healthy sense of well-being in the young women who take the time to drink in the wisdom that comes from years of experience of the elder women. In our fractured society, with its emphasis on outward appearances, Diamonds, Pearls & Stones is a refreshing contribution.

My kids loooove this book. They have listened (cd included) to it so many times they have it memorized.

The story in and of itself is a masterpiece to say the least with its poetic style and beautiful, playful illustrations. Adding the CD just makes it come alive for the reader or listener!!! As a former classroom teacher I can see so much creative writing coming from it; to say nothing of the unending pictures that will be drawn all about it and the stories from those pictures. It can definitely be used in classrooms as part of extended health/science lessons teaching children about the best eating habits. The CD makes it a MUST HAVE classroom story from Kindergarten to 6th grade and even older. The 6th graders could write a play and act it out for the younger grades on parent's night. Every child should have this book & CD or at least hear this adventure story. I hope the author is contacting every librarian in every school there is and the public libraries too!!!

My six-year-old was mesmerized with the graphics and narration.
He held on to the book for an hour or two, walking around the house after the first read.
You won't go wrong with this one if you want some fun while the kids are learning about eating right.

Our family reads the Doc Broc book together to talk about how living alkaline foods give us energy and help us to "be healthy and strong like Doc Broc". This is an important message for our children who are surrounded by the unrelenting mass marketing of acidic foods and drinks.

Below are reviews from my daughters:

"I am a eight year old girl and I love the Doc Broc book.

My favorite recipes in the book are Vegan Chili and Grapefruit Super Soy Pudding.

I like the part when Big Bad Burger Bully burps in Doc Broc's face! Then Lucious Lettuce ripped off a piece of her skirt and threw it at Big Bad Burger Bully. He got blinded. Then he jumped on his skate board and it lead him straight into a wall. There were pieces of cheese, ketchup, mustard and mayo all over the room, too much of a mess for a mop or a broom.

I learned that health is not only healthy - it is fun as well. I think that other kids deserve a good life too, free from sickness and weight." - Stefanie

And from my five year old...

"I learned that if you eat alkaline you'll feel good that you taked care of yourself good." - Caroline

This story book is a classic! Written like a poem, it's really catchy. Kids will love this book and the parents will too. It's simple, educational, inspiring and carries a powerful message. At last a book that really steps youngsters into understanding the truth about healthy foods and healthy bodies.

I thought the pictures were adorable, bright and colorful and there are some really hysterical details. I like the fact that kids get to journey through and learn about the digestive system on this adventure.

I loved the CD that allows kids to listen and read along on their own if they want to. The background music makes it really impacting and the sound effects will make kids laugh.

The recipes are actually delicious!!! From breakfasts, to dinners, to quick and simple deserts, and there are some really healthy alternatives to fast foods. I'll eat these foods every day, you don't need to be a kid to enjoy this food!

All round, this books a winner!

This book is a very easy to read and understand guide for parents and teachers. It clearly states the signs of Autism and the importance of early intervention in a nonthreating way for parents. The end of the book gives tips for teachers and parents to help their children deal with this condition.

I read this book when our state EI specialists told us that our son had developmental delays, but they weren't sure if he was autistic or not (he had symptoms both ways). It was a great place to start for me and helped me formulate questions for the therapist and the developmental peditrician (our next stop). I really liked the chapter on how to help your child at home. I also enjoyed the real examples and advice from parents.

An excellent book to get you started down what could be a very long road. It might be helpful to know ahead of going to see a developmental pediatrician that your child might have a developmental disorder. However I would not use this book as the end all and to diagnose (and I don't think the author would either).

Once you know for sure (after getting the diagnosis from your Doctor) try "Overcoming Autism" as a next step book. And settle in for a lot of reading. Stay away from the "simple cure" books too. There is a lot (too much) information out there. Take it one step at a time and talk to other parents too.

I am an employee of the school system and work with many youth who have autism. I frequently look for resources to recommend to parents so they can educate themselves about Autism and better help their child in the home environment. Wendy Stone's book would be very helpful for parents who suspect possible Autism in their young child (Under 4 years of age). It discusses what goes into the diagnosis, and emphasizes the point that parents and practitioners can't dwell on one unusual behavior or deficit when considering a diagnosis (as it involves a cluster of behaviors displayed to a certain degree). The book also discusses strategies for parents to help their children in the home environment. A strength of the book, is that it has accounts from a family as they go through the process of diagnosis and treatment. Also, the book informs the reader of what to expect during the evaluation process, and includes frequently asked questions.

I work in the field of developmental disabilities and am a follower of recent studies and books that come out on various disabilities. Dr. Stone's book is not only educational, but is to-the-point. It is full of figures/tables to help explain the difference of the different spectrum disorders, frequently asked questions, and examples from parents with a child with autism or PDD-NOS. I would highly recommend this book if you are just trying to educate yourself about autism, or if you are truly wondering if your child does, indeed, have autism. The book is well-written and easy for the "lay person" to understand and interpret.