T Books

The front of this book says it is, "A Superb Book" It does not lie. It further states this book should be considered "A Classic of Civil War fiction." It is that. It ranks right up there with "The Black Flower" by Howard Bahr and Cold Mountain," by Charles Frazier. A love story set amidst the ravages of war, it is a masterpiece of emotional reading. for the Civil War buff, a must read, for everyone else, an excellent book to spend some time with. A Hallmark card of 300 pages. Get yourself something to drink and set yourself down in a nice, comfortable chair.

Philip Lee Williams' poignant Civil War novel about the beginning of the 1864 Atlanta campaign is a classic. Charlie Merrill, the central character, is everyman. He is the essence of THE Confederate soldier late in the Civil War when defeat was known to be inevitable yet duty, honor, and country demands to soldier on. Mr. Williams portrayal of the battles are historically accurate and well done, yet he uses his poetic license to examine the psyche of the common confederate soldier in the total context of those horrific times. Sad yes, but oh so glorious in a spiritual sort of way. The horrors that young Merrill sees and experiences are all too graphic yet he continues on wrapped in the friendship of his comrades.
The story is really a 3 part examination of Charlie Merrill's life during those difficult days. Mr. Williams artfully weaves the younger Merrill's life with the horrendous fighting of the 1864 Atlanta campaign, and his older life 50 years later when he is to give a keynote address to his hometown about the Fall of Civil War Atlanta. Charlie Merrill is a complex character that is slowly developed by Mr. Williams. Charlie is everyman of those chaotic times. He loves, cries, grows, and eventually understands the meaning of it all. Times change but memories endure.
Overall an amazing book. Outstanding character development in all respects. The complex relationships between Charlie and others in the book are well developed and although sad represent the circle of life in all its profoundness.
No gratuitous sex, language, or violence. The battle scenes are well done and not too graphic but necessary to the story.
Highly recommended, especially to those interested in the Civil War. A superb novel that anyone would enjoy. Good job Mr. Williams.

A book most readers would enjoy. If your looking for "The Red Badge Of Courage" or "Killer Angels" you may wish to look elsewhere. Not enough battle scenes/army life in this book though.

While young Charlie Merrill can hit a target 2,000 yards away with a Whitlock rifle, he is an unlikely soldier. We see him before the war as a frail, sickly teenager who is well-schooled in poetry and classical literature, living in one of the many North Georgia towns that is not altogether convinced in the wisdom of secession, much less war. We see Charlie Merrill in 1914 as his home town prepares to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the battle of Atlanta, thinking back on the loss and the sacrifice and the love that tied them together. And those of us who have walked the old works of Kennesaw Mountain where hikers now commune with a quiet wood and families spread out blankets and picnics on the warm grass of summer afternoons, see Charlie Merrill in in the contrasting bloody hell of 1864 rendered here in graphic detail. This novel received the Michael Shaara Award for Excellence in Civil War Fiction in 2004. It is a well-deserved honor, for A Distant Flame stands very near the top of the 80,000 books published about the civil war.

A literary Civil War novel that alternates between Charlie Merrill's grim existence as a sharpshooter in the Army of Tennessee, his sickly but love-touched boyhood and his old age.

I have very mixed feelings about this novel and I note from the other blurbs and reviews it's gotten that my opinion is a somewhat contrarian one.

I certainly have no issue with the research, which appears to have been painstaking. I found, though, that my engagement with the story wavered many times as I read. I honestly can't decide if this is a significant literary work told in a poetic style or if it's essentially sentimental in its themes and given to purple prose in its execution. I had trouble with the narrative's total humorlessness, with the saintly profundity of every character, with the endless repetition of variants on "Slavery was wrong." Yeah, obviously slavery was wrong. Every modern reader, hopefully, realizes that. But I'm not really convinced that the nineteenth-century Georgian character Charlie Merrill would realistically feel so unequivocally about it, and, as ever, the statement would have worked better shown than told. The race relations shown in the novel are all actually idyllic.

And along those same lines, I'm tired of reading about Confederate characters who don't believe in what they're fighting for. I think sophisticated modern readers can deal with protagonists who are fighting for a variety of reasons, some of which we do not consider today to be good. Merrill's lack of commitment to any aspect of his cause (whether resisting invasion or states' rights or his comrades, except for his single companion Duncan, or slavery) actually makes his battlefield actions more, not less, morally questionable for me. It severely undermines the quality of moral spokesmanship that I think the novel is trying to give him.

I was more moved by the failed-romance aspect of the story than I was by the war aspect, which is unusual for me.

I think this would probably appeal to readers who enjoyed books like Cold Mountain more than to readers who enjoy, say, David Poyer's Civil War novels. As for its overall quality, I'm just not sure.

Do you feel that marriage should be one of the most wonderful things in life? Do you feel sad about the divorce rating? This wonderful book explains how to live a meaningful and warm relationship. It explains what modesty is and why we need it. It discovers intimacy. A must read!

I recommend this book to all my friends and am actually buying it now for a friend who recently became engaged.

There are some books that defy definition, Doesn't Anyone Blush Anymore by Manis Friedman is one of them. This sweet book addresses many issues involved in relationships, love, and intimacy. It examines how interpersonal barriers that were once seen as sacred, that ensured the integrity of emotional health of individuals and families have been ripped away. The consequence of modern society shedding a traditional lifestyle that appeared superficial, to those living a rote existence according to these age-old practices, is a state of confusion and pain rather than emancipation. While this book appears to be about modesty, it truly deals with innocence, the end result of modesty. Manis Friedman argues that we as a society need to reclaim our innocence by setting personal and familial boundaries through implementing modesty in dress, speech, thought, and action if individuals and families are to become healthy and whole once again.

While comparisons to Return to Modesty and Kosher Sex are expected, this book differs in several ways. First, Manis Friedman never had a doubt that a modest lifestyle is better for someone's mental and spiritual health and second, he's not just talking about sex. The third difference is that he's not so much talking about a broad sweeping movement as much as a method of helping individuals get their lives on track.

Manis Friedman is one of the celebrities of the Lubavitcher movement and his writing and lectures exemplify why the Lubavitch movement is one of the most successful in reaching out to Jews unimpressed with observance. The operating procedure seems to imply "you think it's all going to be too hard for you? It doesn't fit your personality? Well, let's start small and see what you do feel comfortable with".

In this book Manis Friedman doesn't talk about the sexual mores at first. He knows that people see them as hopelessly outdated and Victorian. Instead he talks about modesty as an all encompassing part of the relationship. In his sermons, he helps to sensitize the reader to avoid little things that couples do all the time like arguing in public, making snide remarks when their partner argues with the clerk at the grocery store, etc. Through these stories and examples he gives a very intriguing and real picture of what a marriage could be and how it can be still romantic and fresh forever instead of for the first decade.

By the time he starts talking about the sexual rules of modesty, you are with him. You want the kind of relationship that he describes and if that means you wait until you get married to even touch a woman, so be it. And since this is Judaism, not Catholicism, there is no condemnation of sexuality. It's all about refinining sexuality and making it better than it could ever be in the so-called "swinging single" scene. When Manis Friedman describes a young man who isn't interested in dating or getting married just yet, he even hints at the popular "repressed guy just waiting to release all that pent up energy" fantasy with apparent approval. And just in case, you think that Friedman's ideas based on Halackic Jewish law are terribly repressive and limiting in sexuality, the guy's got 14 kids. He must be doing something right.

Read it. You might not agree with it. You might disagree with 90% of what's in this book, but that 10% that you agree with will make you think and make you feel and help you make healthier decisions in your life.

Years ago I heard Paul Harvey say that every American should go out and buy this book. I ignored him. Recently, while staying with a friend, I began reading her copy and couldn't put it down. I am now buying myself a copy.

What seems to be a passe perspective on life turns out to be brilliant and understanding. Manis Friedman has a remarkable grasp on the "places" inside us that we try to ignore. His advice for living and loving is unusually sound and his gentle delivery is among the finest.

I can't wait to see Manis' next book.

Doing the Right Thing is written for children taking care of their elderly parents. The book is well written and emphasizes the need for setting limits in taking on this difficult task. Specifically, Roberta Satow speaks of reaching a balance for children who have had distant, difficult relationships with their parents in the past. She emphasizes having boundaries and taking care of one's self in order to deal with the issues that inevitably come up at this time. As a daughter taking care of my mildly demented mother, I found this book helpful in validating the positive things that can come out of this new chapter in my life. Feelings from the past can be resolved and a new, positive bond can be formed with your parent. I highly recommend this book to any child taking care of an elderly relative and for children who are experiencing guilt over the resurfacing of old feelings at a time when our parents need us most.

The introduction to this book left me breathless - the author could have been looking over my shoulder at my own interaction with my mother, and dealing with the welter of emotions that come out of that relationship. I very much appreciate the author's disclosure of her own situation - I think this gives an immediacy that the reader can relate with. Anyone in a care-giving situation with their parents' should read this book, no matter what their relationship with their parents was like. I plan to recommend it to everyone I know, because they will need this kind of information sooner or later.

After picking up this book in a library, I was surprised to learn how low it is ranked on this list. Although I do not have personal need of the book (my parents are dead), many of my contemporaries are or were caregivers. This book helped me understand them. Among my aquaintances, nearly every primary caregiver is on antidepressants. With little time for exercise or self-care they have health and weight problems. And the primary caregiver often is not the favorite child. As Pipher says, he or she may be an estranged child seeking a last chance to work out "unresolved issues," in the language of therapy.

The book's title can be misleading. Satow does not limit her topic to children who resent their parents. She provides several examples of selfless caregivers who love their parents and care for them willingly. Often they're repaying an emotional debt or following a culture they embrace.

Given the heavy subject matter, author Satow couldn't take on the usual upbeat, cheery tone of most self-help books. In fact, reading the book can be exhausting. I am reminded of Mary Pipher's book, Another Country: relentless examples of frustration with no end in sight.

Compared to Pipher, Satow comes across more as a hands-on therapist and teacher. And she's the kind of therapist who holds firm to mainstream beliefs (e.g., we never lose ties to our parents) and offers, by way of encouragement, a simple, "That's difficult."

Like Pipher, Satow's message is one of acceptance. At some point in life, there's little to anticipate. And contemporary American society lacks an infrastructure to provide support.

The book would be stronger if the author had stepped back for a broader perspective. Many caregivers sacrificed their own lives, so who will care for them as they age? How will the single or childless elderly fend for themselves?

And some relationships seem so broken or distant that one or more children could move to the opposite end of the world, guilt-free. Remember the Sopranos episode where Tony's mother dies? Carmela, Tony's wife, says, "Who are we kidding? She was awful." A funeral director told me he's experienced this reaction first-hand - more than once.

The biggest omission in Satow's book relates to money. In her last chapter, Satow makes some recommendations for caregivers. She includes a list of questions, encouraging caregivers to assess whether they're experiencing illness, taking out their frustrations on their own children or giving up a social life altogether.

But Satow totally ignores the financial effects of caregiving. When the parent dies, the child who gave up career options now has to move forward, battling age discrimination and a resume gap. Sometimes parents never get around to updating a will. Some die intestate. The inheritance gets divided evenly among three, four or five children, who rarely are motivated to reward the primary caregiver. And the primary caregiver's career can suffer or even disappear.

Still, I'd recommend this book to anyone who's caring for an elderly parent. But I suspect caregivers have little time to read. Ultimately, this book will help the rest of us try to understand a little more.

The interviews in this book were very enlightening, giving me some new insights into the situations that I, and apparently many others, are going through with aging parents. I did sympathise with many of the adults, and I guess the only shortcoming of the book was that I expected it to provide me with solutions. I realize that may be impossible to receive from a book, but I do think I gained a lot by the empathy I felt to others who deal with the same insolvable and sometimes intolerable situations. I would recommmend this book to those just beginning to feel the pull to help their parents so that some strategies may be of help in the earliest stages before patterns are set.

This is it folks! Probably one of the most important books I have ever read. It took me, as the reader, full circle from my childhood all the way through to my current relationship with my aging parents, in a matter of hours. I could not and would not put this book down. It wouldn't let me. Never have I read anything on the issue of children dealing with their aging parents that has so thoroughly covered every human emotion. It is gut-wrenching and inspiring at the same time. Kudos to Roberta Satow for having the desire and the ability to write about a topic that is so controversial and so very necessary. This book pushed all of my buttons and made me rethink every aspect of my relationship with my parents and my own children. This subject cannot be talked about or written about enough. I took on every role while engrossed in this book. I was child, sibling, parent and aging parent all at the same time. I was hit emotionally from every angle. When the book was finished I was literally angry that there weren't more pages. I can't stop thinking about or talking about this book. Now that is the sign of a great book! Please tell me there will be more where this came from!

This book is, arguably, the funniest thing I have ever read in my life. Seeing these "normal" gay guys (and girls, too) has helped me face my own homosexuality. This book can (and should) be enjoyed by mature, open-minded readers of any and all persuasions.

this book is a fantastic insight into the mind of the gay male in society. when i bought it, the woman who sold it to me said I would be surprised how much it mimics straight married people's relationships, and, as a straight, married female, I can sympathize with Leonard's mother controlling his every move!

Bravo Tim!!!!

This book is a must. Not just for gay men, but for members of your family. I have given so many copies of "Domesticity Isn't Pretty" to friends and family members that I have lost count. It deals with the reality of gay couples, with humor and a realistic touch, so lacking in many gay author's work. Besides, once you give them "Domesticity Isn't Pretty," you can bet they'll seek out Tim Barela's three other Leonard and Larry books, as well!

Leonard Goldman is an architect. Larry Evans runs a Leather Store on Santa Monica Boulevard. Together, they deal with marriage, divorce, children, childbirth of grandchildren, the fact that a son may be gay, and who stole the cookies. Well, maybe the cookies aren't the most typical dilemma in anyone's family, but these men feel real, like neighbors.

When Larry's son David makes a very public coming out at his local high school prom, it completely unsettles his fatherhood expectations. Given that Larry, a gay man, is as rattled by the discovery that his offspring is gay makes him just like the rest of us. He's not a Super Human, he's just an Every Dad. Larry must suddenly face a reality that he takes for granted in his everyday life, and it's revelatory to come from a gay book.

One of the other fun things about this volume is that you get to watch the evolution of Leonard and Larry from being side characters in Barela's other strips to the heroes of their own. The introduction by Andy Mangles chronicles Tim's early strips for biker magazines, and how Tim came to terms then eventually came out through his art. Reading about Barela's growth and self realization parallels the growths of Leonard and Larry, making the stories all the more essential and commonplace to gays and lesbians everywhere. Maybe "Domesticity Isn't Pretty," but it sure is realistic. Funny, too. Get this! Get two. Spread the Leonard and Larry world.

This book was one of the best I have read in a long time. Leonard and Larry are the more realistic couple I have seen in a comic in years. Their shenanigans are awesome and their relationship is truly touching as well. Nice to see two "normal" men with "normal" lives who are so much in love.

Leonard is a timeless comic strip that is as fresh today as when it was written. If you would like to see what we are really like and how similar we are to the straight couples in this great land of our BUY THIS BOOK.

I purchased this book after serching for resources on mother - daughter abandonment. I was researching this subject to see if others has experiences such as mine. By reading this book I have come to understand it and grow. It made me feel as though I was not alone in my childhood experiences. I would highly recommened this book to anyone!!!

Don't Call Me Mother: Breaking the Chain of Mother-Daughter Abandonment is a poignant story on several different levels. It's such a compelling memoir, you have to keep reminding yourself that it isn't fiction. The raw emotions and the bare truth of the story pull you into a drama that no child should experience. It's a testimonial to Linda Joy's strength of character that she could survive such an experience let alone re-live it again to tell her story.

Her prose is so poetic, at times you think you're reading poetry. In addition to being a fine author, Linda Joy is a therapist illuminating the spiritual growth that comes from compassion, forgiveness, perseverance, and the courage that can be born of such a tragic childhood.

The driving force behind the book is the hope that the chain of abandonment cycling through the generations can finally be broken. Don't Call Me Mother should be read by anyone who has experienced abandonment, divorce, or living with mental illness; however, the book stands on its own as an unforgettable story.

I had the privilige of hearing Ms Myers speak recently and was touched by her incredible empathy and understanding for people who have suffered abandonment and abuse in their childhood. Though the memoir genre is overpopulated by stories of Hollywood stars and the like, regaling us with their secrets, Ms Myers' account of three generations of mother-daughter abandonment and her quest to heal the rupture in her family reads more like a lyrical and sensitive novel than a true-life story. Poetic and evocative in its depiction of Ms Myers' incarnations as a child struggling to withstand the tempestous damage of mental illness; a young woman seeking the truth buried amidst family secrets; and of a strong-willed mother and grandmother fighting to reshape the future out of the past, this is a book that touches all of us, whether or not we have suffered the same. Healing and powerful in its message while never being self-indulgent, "Don't Call Me Mother" is a testament to the resiliency and courage of those who seek to make peace with themselves and discover truth through their losses.

As a women's memoir writing teacher and coach, I read memoirs to find exemplars for my classes. I recently read the excellent Don't Call Me Mother: Breaking the Chain of Mother-Daughter Abandonment by Linda Joy Myers. Her compelling life story is written as a series of vignettes that reveal a multi-generational pattern of abandonment and eventual healing. Myers, a marriage and family therapist, writes in the voice of the first person speaking in the present tense. If you are writing, or interested in writing, your memoir, consult this book to understand the dramatic impact on the reader of this voice and tense combination. From the author's perspective, Myers says the choice "forced me to integrate the self that I was with the witness I have become." You'll also notice the importance of trains in her life, representing separations and reunions, new ventures and returning home. If you are working on your memoir, consider if there has been a thread running through your life that could be woven into your memoir. Myers, also an artist, creates vitality and vividness in the people and places she shares with us through the use of color descriptors. What passions do you have - gardening, sports, cooking, art, music - that might enhance the telling of your story?

I strongly recommend this book as a "good read" if you struggle with the mother-daughter relationship in your life. I also highly recommend this book for the insights it offers into writing your memoir.

This was not quite what I thought it was but it was enjoyable, if that is the appropriate term for a book that causes one to cry or reflect on familial relationships. I have been surprised to learn how many women end up in circumstances in which they have effectively, if not actually, been abandoned by their mothers. I gave a copy to my daughter and loaned mine to a friend who I learned had been placed for adoption because her mother didn't want more children.

Pam Johnson founded "The Secret Society of Happy People" and found herself grappling with holiday newsletters, worldwide press coverage, a spirited debate on "Politically Incorrect", and asking state governors to proclaim National Admit You're Happy Day. In Don't Even Think Of Raining On My Parade: Adventures of The Secret Society Of Happy People, Pam shares with the reader her perspective on living, enjoying, and celebrating what life has to offer, and presents a spectrum of happiness showcased through insightful stories, thoughtful observations, and witty pieces by other writers. Don't Even Think Of Raining On My Parade is highly recommended for inspirational self-help reading lists and library collections.

This book is two books in one! It tells the reader in chronological order the fences Pam had to jump to get her idea to become reality. With sheer determination and a humorous way of viewing events, Pam succeeded in her quest. The book also is loaded with entertaining stories demonstrating the 21 types of happiness. It was a quick, delightful read.

This book provides a humorours look at how her "Secret Society" got started. The stories of her adventures with the media, politicans, and the public in general are funny. She reminds us fo how lost "happiness" as become, but more important how we should NOT rain on someone else's parade. This easy to read and entertaining book would make anyone a great gift.

Pam's book is an easy to read, humourous look at how hard it is to spread a little happiness. It takes the reader on a chronological journey with Pam as she heads towards making her passing thought of a Secret Society of Happy People into reality. It also contains entertaining stories demonstrating the 21 types of happiness. A fun, quick read that left me smiling

Pam Johnson's "Secret Society Of Happy People" is one of the most unique and yet simple ideas I have ever heard of. Unlike so many other "feel-good" authors of today, she does not suggest that we deny our true feelings or the unhappy realities of this world, but to make a point of expressing our feelings of happiness as and when they arise -- without feeling guilty or inappropriate for doing so. There is a good chance that we are all a lot happier than we think we are! This book also raises awareness of how we allow other people's negativity to zap the happiness right out of our lives. "Don't Even Think of Raining On My Parade: Adventures of the Secret Society of Happy People." chronicles the author's diligent and courageous undertaking to bring acceptance back to the concept of feeling good. It's a wonderful read.

Fans of suspense thrillers and true crime, all women everywhere from 8 to 80 will find the hair on the back of their necks standing on end reading "Don't Just Sit There." Men who read this book will get a tiny glimpse into the atrocities perpetrated on women across the country everyday. Not only is this an intense, page turning read, the message can not be over emphaszed. Easily something within the pages of this book could literally save your life, or that of someone you love. What more motivation could you need to read it?

L.A. Wilson has given the reader a front row seat into the ordeal that changed her life. Based on factual events, the book relates the horrific kidnapping, sexual assualt and her six month journey through the system. From that awful night she was abducted at knife point til the jury foreman read the verdict, she shares it all. An engrossing and unflinching story that took me on a roller coater ride of emotions. Fear, anger, determination, combined with healing, finding new love, a little humor amid the horror, and finally stepping into the dawn of a new day as a new woman.....

Wilson refused to be victimized in silence and with this powerful book, she compels others, to fight for the justice they deserve. "Don't Just Sit There" has opened my eyes and touched my soul in profound ways. I commend Ms. Wilson for her courage. The same strength and grace that sustained her through this ordeal is conveyed to the reader in her words. This is one of those very rare books that stays in your mind long after it has been returned to the shelf. Which is a testament to the power of the story, as well as, the expert way it was crafted and delivered.

Happy Reading!

*Personal Note:
Many victims of violent crime feel they have no where to turn and no one understands.If you are one of the 1000's of women whose lives have been forever altered by such senseless acts of violence please read Don't Just Sit There. It could very well be the first steps on the road to healing and regaining control of your life.

Although a heinous crime takes place in DJST, this is not the basic "true crime" novel. That makes revealing the ending acceptable in a review. This reader was truly gratified that the bad guy got nailed and sent to the slammer. The story line is quite straightforward: The female author, who worked in a Houston bar, is raped late one night upon her return home from work. She was abducted from her own parking lot and driven to a nearby remote location. That one fact may be difficult for a New Yorker to grasp since "remote locations" here are so scarce. The young lady has the extreme presence of mind to plant evidence (!) in her perpetrator's car. She did so by leaving her prints on a beer bottle and rolling up her panty hose under the passenger seat! How did she stay so calm? She then has the spunk to produce-on her own-WANTED posters of her attacker and distribute them. All the while, she holds her job and maintains as normal a personal life as possible. That is the heartening soul of the story. The bad guy easily falls into the stupid criminal department. He is caught quite quickly, more so, I'm sure, than the typical rapist. It helped that he "assisted" in his own capture and conviction. Justice in the form of a solid prison sentence follows. This reviewer would add one recommendation, especially for females but they apply to guys as well: NEVER get in a car with an abductor. Fight on the spot but resist at all costs. Scream "FIRE!" rather than "HELP" or "RAPE". That item was NOT intended to second -guess the victim. DJST is an inspiring story of determination and especially steadfastness in the very face of danger. One does not have to be female to enjoy reading it. This reviewer has the distinct opinion that were he to be in a tight spot, he'd like the calm and collected authoress with him.

I liked this book, it is a neat little story about taking matters
into your own hands and fighting back. Although it was not as
dramatic and inspiring as another book I recently read about survivors, A Reason To Live: The True Story of One Woman's Love, Courage and Determination To Survive, I do recommend it as interesting reading. It is time all of us take a stand against these sexual perverts, and this book is a good manual for that.

I really enjoyed reading this story, about the horrifying experience this woman went through with the assault against her, and the things that she did to not only catch the vicious criminal, but to prove to a jury that they had not been out on a date. These things took a lot of smarts and a lot of courage.

This book could help a lot of women in the event of an assault against them.

I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it to every woman out there. Some of the information contained in it might save your life. I liked it so much...I read it twice.

F.G. Schlundt

LA Wilson does a great job of telling a true and horrifying story of being raped. This woman had the sense to grab up
evidence such as nylon hose, shell casings, and items found in the car during her terrifying experience. Her intelligence by doing this helped to find the rapist. This book needs to be read by all women to understand that any guy hanging around, seen or unseen is a threat to her safety. What is even more astonishing is that after this guy violates her, he has the audacity to keep trying to make conatct with her. I am amazed at Wilson's strength and fortitude. I look forward to reading more of her writing. The story also shows how teamwork pays off, when people (not just women) look out for each other, especially when suspects are released from jail or prison.
Good job, Lisa! Go get 'em!

I bought my son a couple of these types of books, all were comparable but had some different facts in each book, a fairly easy read and fun for kids and adults alike.

Full of fun facts and humorous illustrations, this is an excellent introduction to the Presidents as well as a useful review tool for those of us who, ahem, already learned this stuff. I used it to get ready for a Jeopardy! appearance, and it served me well. I also recommend it as a helpful supplement to younger students as a painless way to fix each President firmly into place!

This is an educational book that tells you about the presidents in a fun way. It gives interesting facts about their lives; like,for example, did you know George Washington's dentures were made of elephant and walrus tusks, cow, hippo, and even human teeth?! This book includes important dates, events, and timelines. Great illustrations. I would highly recommend you read this book for knowledge, and a few laughs!

Excellent book and an easy read. This author makes history fun.

My 8-year-old daughter has literally memorized this book. I think what's so engaging are the quirky facts and the way they're presented. She has now asked me to get her any books I come across by Kenneth Davis. What more can you ask for: a book that is so educational but one that kids will read over and over, all of their own initiative.

Through the Rug
Through The Rug 2: Follow That Dog (Through the Rug)

I am a children's author who likes to read books by other children's authors. I really enjoyed "Don't Know Where, Don't Know When".

Hannah and Alex Diaz and Brandon Clark arrive in England during World War 2, with a mystery to solve. They are unprepared for the world of war torn England. They are faced with air raids, evacuations, and miserable foods that stink. The children also eat dry bread and cakes, and wear hand-me-down clothing that should have been discarded long ago. They are faced with strict rules of behavior and firm punishments.

Brandon, who is black, faces prejudice and is disliked by some who have never before encountered a person of his race.

Alex takes his new environment as a challenge and an adventure. Hannah often opens her mouth and says inappropriate things. Brandon is separated from his friends, not only by being in a different home, but a different time in history.

I recomend "Don't Know Where, Don't Know When", for children and adults. It would be a great book to read to an elementary class for 3rd through 6th graders. This book would also be a good read-together book for a family.

I am adding this book to my list of 'Adventures with Grandma'. Verity's grandmother, Hannah and Alex call Mrs. D, is a harsh disciplinarian and a strict woman, but she is very endearing. She takes Alex and Hannah into her home and under her wing. We later find that Mrs. D has a past and wasn't always sweet and innocent herself. Her personality, as a young woman, was much like that of Hannah Diaz.

Join in the adventure of Hannah, Alex and Brandon, as they travel into the past and bring back lessons they can use in the future.

My sister is 13 years old and she despises books. After much begging and pleading I finally convinced her to read Don't Know Where, Don't Know When. Here's what she had to say:
That was a really good book. I loved it. I read a lil bit every night. I like those kids in the book. I would so read it again.
Don't Know Where, Don't Know When is the first book my sister has read and actually ENJOYED!!

Don't Know Where, Don't Know When is an amazingly engaging book written very well. A good friend of mine recommended me to read it and after I asked what it was like, she responded that it was a bit like Harry Potter only with history. Now that I've read it, I agree. No, there's no wands or boarding school, but there is the magic of time travel and of characters that take you to another place and time. As I read the book, I marveled at some of the things that the kids, Alex, Hannah, and Brandon, encountered and wondered to myself "could this actually be the way it was then?" I found that these things were true.
Annette Laing is a wonderful writer who grabs you with her style. I highly suggest this book for anyone at all.

This brought back my son's love of reading again. We found it under 'Historical Fiction' which is a bit of a stretch. They do talk about history, but not as much as their adventure. I would like to see more history in subsequent novels. My son loved the characters, especially Alex!

Don't Know Where, Don't Know When is a story of many people and times. Hannah and Alex Dias, two young teens from California have just been transplanted from the home they have always known to another world, otherwise known as Snipesville, Georgia. With its private luxury communities in the middle of cotton fields and mall known far and wide as the Small, Snipesville is the last place on earth Hannah wants to be.
Brandon Clark, born and raised in Snipesville, has one ambition: to get out, to be one of the "Big Shots" who leave black Snipesville and make a name for themselves in the wider world. However, Brandon's future seems to stretch before him, planned by his parents, like the grim parades of death that leave the family funeral home.
When Hannah, Alex, and Brandon are drawn together by their mutual differences and isolation, unlikely events begin to unfurl. Brandon's discovery of a British World War II national registration identity card and the appearance of a mysterious woman known as The Professor lead the children on a time travel journey spanning two World Wars and nearly one hundred years. The only clue to the mystery: Find George Braithwaite.
Don't Know Where, Don't Know When is author Annette Laing's first foray into the world of children's literature. It is the promising if slightly raw beginning of a series that has the potential to be great. Those familiar with Maiya Williams time travel series (The Golden Hour, The Hour of the Cobra) will find good grounds for comparison. The differences? Laing's use of social and/or cultural history is easier and more accurate, and there is an absolute avoidance of declaring a moral (not that this excludes the reader from finding one (or more).
The Characters: Hannah is a nightmare. I have never met a child like her (and thank my lucky stars that is so), but I have it on good authority that children like her really do exist. She speaks to everyone, regardless of age or relationship, with snotty abandon, no fear of physical punishment, or even as far and I can see, grounding, blunting her sarcastic tongue. Even those of us not in favor of spanking children cheer when one indomitable British dame finally gives Hannah her just desserts. By the end of the book she is not noticeably changed in attitude, but decidedly challenged in outlook by late experiences.
Alex is largely a secondary character in this book, with no real chances for expression. There are, however, hints of future importance and even leadership to look forward to.
The story built around Brandon is very interesting. Both of the father figures in his life, real life and time travel, are named Gordon. The wives are imposing (and in Mrs. Gordon's case, downright nasty) and there is an idolized older brother figure who looms large but is never really seen. It is lovely to see the confidence and self possession Brandon gains with the Gordons's that he seems to lack with his own family. Speaking of the Gordons, the daughter Peggy is a wonderfully despicable and yet pathetic character, because you have to wonder if it is her own weakness of character, an acceptance of family prejudice, or the troubles she has had to endure that have so warped her opinions. Peggy plays an important, if secondary and sometimes unrecognizable role throughout the story.
The real jewel of this Story is Mrs. D, who I will leave you to discover for yourself. She is a lovely and lovingly portrayed example of all the strong, staunch, somewhat undemonstrative women who kept Britain going during the horrendous years of World War II.
Do yourself a favor: read this book and read it carefully. At times it is a bit difficult to work your way through the teenage angst, especially in the first two or three chapters. Children may not find any of this distracting. By the time you reach chapters five and six you won't care any longer; you will be too involved in the lives and worlds being lived on the pages before you.This book is appropriate for the ages specified and beyond. Paying close attention will reward the reader with clues and hints as to the future of the series. Enjoy.

Dr. Atkins, My parents have read your book and have been on the diet for about 5 month They have really lost the weight they wanted. I live in Hawaii and they live in Maryland and I haven't seen my dad or mom in almost two years. When I saw him last he had put on allot of weight and When he came out to Hawaii I couldn't belive that he had lost all that weight. My mom wasn't a heavey person but she quiet smoking and put on some weight and she has gone on your diet and lost the weight she wanted. My husband and I are going on this diet soon. I am only 15 pounds over weight that I feel. My husband wants to loose about 25 pounds. I think this is a great way to loose weight. Thank your for your time. Diana Steinbach

I purchased this book to get more info on natural remedies for PMS. It is a wonderful reference for Holistic health remedies that can be applied to your daily life.

I stayed away from diets for years because they were making me fatter, then I found Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution. Iam losing weight faster than I ever had in the past, and I can live with the food you get to eat! what diet before this lets you eat steak and whipcream!

Finally!!! A diet where you don't have to eat like a bird! Great book. I lost well over 30 lbs and have kept it off for almost a year!! Thank you Dr. Atkins!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wasn't looking for a cure for my sleep disorder, monthly cramps, headaches and occasional UTIs when I picked up Dr. Atkins'Health Revolution three years back; I was just doing a little preliminary research on the Atkins Diet to see if this guy was some kind of quack, as his detractors often claimed. Lo and behold, a new world of health and physically based well-being opened to me as I began to understand just how my nutritional habits (and lack thereof) were undermining the quality of my life.

A common myth about Dr. Atkins that could stand some clearing up is that he advocates a strict homeopathic system of medical care and an unbalanced meat-only diet. These misconceptions can be corrected by reading the first few chapters. Atkins actually gives well-reasoned explanations of his philosophy of Complementary medicine, an approach that stresses prevention via good dietary habits, vitamin supplements and exercise, then homeopathic and vitamin remedies when there is a problem, and finally traditional medicine when all else fails (Yeah, he's a quack all right!). Without going into the details and logistics here, I was impressed with how logical and simple to apply this system is.

Where Atkins' detractors have hung up on most is the section on diet and how our last 150 years or so of history have affected it. From our pre-industrial food options though the Twentieth Century's sudden proliferation of processed flour and sugar, we can trace the steady rise of heart disease, obesity, tooth decay and Type 2 diabetes. Worse, the industries that stood to profit from the "deadly duo" (and other starchy carb-based foods that were taking the place of meats, eggs, butter and cheese as the bulk of our diets) greatly influenced the medical profession's research and findings. The resulting decline of our national health is a bitter legacy to take responsibility for, and that is just what too many of our processed food makers, doctors, pharmaceutical companies and health experts would have to do once they conceded that Atkins may indeed have been right. For that reason, such an admission may be decades in coming.

Whether or not you find yourself agreeing with that area of Atkins' theory, the book presents sound arguments and encourages a lifestyle that has improved untold lives over the past 30 years. There are changes you can make that will lower your blood pressure, bad cholesterol and triglycerides, eliminate systemic yeast infections, reverse diabetes and re-energize you - all without the use of drugs. In fact, you will probably end up being able to ditch the drugs you are on now.

I believe that someday Dr. Atkins vitamin and diet principles will be the standard recommendations from the health industry. It is hard to argue with the steadily growing segment of our population that simply gets lasting results by using them, and expands slowly via word of mouth. Meanwhile, those happy few of us will continue to benefit from the work done by this incredible man and his steadfast campaigning on our behalf before a tragic head wound took his life a few months ago.
Rest in peace, Doctor.
-Andrea, aka Merribelle.