V Books


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

V
Stalking the Divine
Published in Paperback by (2004-12-28)
Author: Kristin Ohlson
List price: $14.00
New price: $4.98
Used price: $4.42
Collectible price: $35.00

Average review score:

better than Norris, but never quite making the point
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-10-10
I like this author's writing better than Kathleen Norris. Unfortunately, her book never really gets to the point. She talks with each sister, but sums it all up in a paragraph or two. She never really describes their life in the cloister. Although perhaps the point is that she's never allowed in close enough to find out what their daily life is like. Throughout the entire book, one reads as if to discover some compelling mystery or truth, but it's just never quite there.

This author is a bit less self-absorbed than Norris; still, this book leaves a lot unwritten. It's almost as if she keeps writing her way around some huge cavern that she wants to reveal but doesn't quite know how.

Best to get it from the library if you're interested in reading it.

The Longest Journey
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-01-07
What a wonderful story Ohlsen has written. I heard of this book in an audio tape of a talk given by Paula D'Arcy, called Spirituality for the Second Half of Life. Ohlsen stubbornly pursues the Poor Clares in Wisconsin, a Franciscan order of nuns whose ranks were becoming depleted. The congregation of the downtown church was also diminishing quickly. Ohlsen writes about the church and the poor Clares journalistically and restoration of individuals to both the nuns' ranks and the church's fold begin. Parallel to this exploration of the lives of these interesting women, is Ohlsen's articulation of her own spiritual search...fascinating and comforting all at the same time. A must read.

Don't love it as much
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-11-09
I can see how this book might apeal to some, but I found it far from a "spiritual classic." While touching in many ways, the author kept throughout a sort of superior tone that began to grate, as if she was amused at everything she saw and heard. I think she was trying to be witty, but it often came off, at least to me, as a little snotty. But the book has its moments.

Gaining Access to the Cloister
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2006-01-01
Kristin Ohlson stumbled onto the Poor Clares at just the right moment. It was Christmas morning and she was feeling bereft. A former Catholic who no longer believed in God, she impulsively decided to attend Mass at a church where she could hear the Poor Clares singing. Thus begins this intriguing saga of a search for faith and a newspaper story.

I would call this Divine Providence. Others might call it serendipity. Ohlson needed inspiration, and the Poor Clares needed the attention her journalistic interest would generate. True to the mentality of those who place their trust in God alone, the Poor Clares did not seek her help. It took her months to get the Clares to respond to her requests for an interview, and as she waited, she became involved in the ailing parish community attached to the convent.

Ohlson is an engaging narrator -- open, warm, and honest. She brings her full journalistic skills to this story. Despite my sadness at seeing the diminishment of vocations to contemplative living, I found her presentation of the life of a once flourishing community totally engrossing. Though I cannot claim, as another reviewer has that this is the current "Seven Story Mountain," I will say that I am very glad that I bought and read the book.

'I guess it's OK to like Jesus'
Helpful Votes: 5 out of 15 total.
Review Date: 2005-07-06
You might also call this book 'self-absorbed journalist works out truce with the Second Person of the Trinity.'

I bought 'Stalking the Divine' after reading the glowing reviews on Amazon and elsewhere. What closed the sale was one reviewer's description of it as a latter-day 'Seven Storey Mountain.'

Yet for every expression of admiration for the Poor Clares, Ms. Ohlson is compelled to share, say, the icky feeling she gets when she utters the word 'Jesus.'

On page five, Ohlson describes stumbling into a Catholic church in Cleveland after a lengthy absence and being horrified to hear a priest wag his finger about the evils of abortion. This reviewer has been a Catholic for thirty seven years, yet not once have I heard a priest address this subject outside the petitions at Mass. A lapsed Catholic wanders into an anonymous church and hears a pro-life homily? Call me skeptical.

When I was a stand-offish boy greeting my visting aunts at Christmastime, they'd tell me to 'quit arm-hugging' and to give them something real, heartfelt. Ohlson's book is a 272-page Catholic arm-hug.

V
The True Stella Awards : Honoring real cases of greedy opportunists, frivolous lawsuits, and the law run amok
Published in Hardcover by (2005-11-03)
Author: Randy Cassingham
List price: $18.95
New price: $7.29
Used price: $3.39
Collectible price: $18.95

Average review score:

True stories of real dummies
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-04-20
Yes, the judicial system needs an overhaul! On the flip side, there are some real jerks out there - good throne material!

My Bathroom Reader Book for Two Months
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-09-26
Yes, when the book arrived, I was headed to the bathroom. And the book has been enjoyable reading while I'm otherwise busy. The one to three page stories make for the right amount of diversion.

I've read through most stories twice now.

Stella run amok.
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-08-23
The Stella Awards is a good read, but I can't see how people are doing the thing they are doing to other people for just money. Is this what we are coming too.

Hard to describle...interesting, frustrating, entertaining, sad
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-01-14
The cases decribed make very interesting reading. And it is unbelievable that they are true. It makes it hard to review the book. On one hand, the cases are entertaining because they are incredible...making it fascinating reading. On the other hand, the fact that these ridiculous law suits are real is totally frustrating and sadly disappointing. While reading them I am so utterly disgusted by the behavior of these people and what our society/legal system allows that I have to stop reading. It is infuriating that these lawsuits are even filed let alone heard in court. Filing frivolous lawsuits should be considered a crimial act! Good book...but watch your blood pressure...read at your own risk.

Weird But True lawsuits
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-09-22
Named for the woman who sued McDonalds after she spilled coffee on herself this book is filled with weird but true lawsuits that you have to read to believe.

Some of the suits in the book include:
1. A girl who sued the school system she was at because they wanted to have other kids be Valedvictorian along side her

2. A guy who sued the school system because he got an A on a prject instead of an A+

3. A mom who sued people because her drunk over 21 year old son decided to pass out under a running car and died

and many more interesting stories that will keep you entertained for hours

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The VALUE IN THE VALLEY : A BLACK WOMAN'S GUIDE THROUGH LIFE'S DILEMMAS
Published in Paperback by (1996-11-07)
Author: Iyanla Vanzant
List price: $14.00
New price: $7.11
Used price: $5.09
Collectible price: $14.00

Average review score:

Phenomenal Book
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-11-24
This is a Phenomenal book! It's a great book for all women of color to read. Each chapter alerted all of my emotions and thoughts. I am learning everyday how to attack any negative energy surrounding me and follow the gift of intution. Learning to love yourself in the midst of everything.

I am about to start reading this book
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2005-01-06
Yes, I already gave it five stars, because I read one of her other books "Tapping The Power Within...." When I was about 14 or 15 years old, I was in a afterschool class, and the instructor gave us each a copy of "Acts of Faith." The title of the book was very powerful to me, and I tried to read it then, but I was not ready. See, thats the thing about most self help books like these, you must be READY to read them. I actually got "Tapping the Power Within..." last month from my counselor, thats when I realized I still had two of her other books. My aunt also bought me one of her books when I was of the age 14, because I was going through a tough time. The book was called "Don't Give it Away." Which I am now in my THIRD YEAR OF COLLEGE... YAYY ME, and I passed the book down to my sister. (Also, I wanted to leave this portion of my message for a poster on here named Tigress "JD": Do not feel stupid for buying a collection of her books. Actually, I had just did the same thing. I am about to buy more of her books).Its quite hard choosing which books to read. I am currently reading the "Acts fo Faith" day by day, and I have finished reading "Tapping The Power Within" Which is helping me a lot. The following books I already have purchased was already shipped to me is "Faith in the Valley," "Living Through the Meantime," (which I started to read, but I was not sure if I was ready, after reading a couple of pages through)"One Day My Soul Just Opened Up (which I am debating with "Living Through the Meantime"), and "Yesterday I Cried." So I have about seven of her books. I am going to purchase more right now. I hope you all remain strong, and I hope the books will help you all a lot. (sorry for all the typos its 3:12am in the morning in NYC and I could not help it, but to get back online and purchase some more books, plus I cannot fall asleep).

Wonderful
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2001-09-07
I saw a lot of me in reading this book. It really helped me to realize somethings about myself and why I do the things that I do. It was great. I would recommend it to anyone who needs clarity on themselves and their lives.

Excellent
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-10-16
This book is great not only for black women, but for all women. It helps one to understand life better, and to love ones self better.

Iyanla touches my soul
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2004-10-20
I am a big fan of motivational and self-help books. I have read many in my lifetime. Mostly good, some so-so. It is important to read a book relevant to what one is going through at that time to get the full scope of things from the book we read I believe. Iyanla's books are one of them and one of my favourite authors. The first book I got from Iyanla's collection was "Yesterday I Cried" and that had helped me through the ditch I was going through at that time. A friend of mine recommended a book of hers "One day My Soul Just Opened Up" which at that time I had already knew about her and went on to search on amazon her other publications and purchased the whole series of her books. Yeh - crazy me! But hey, she's good! I like her approach in the way she writes and conveys her message. It's real. I can relate to her. I have almost the whole collection of her books that she has published and reading them one by one as I go through my life's ups and downs. For the past few months I've been going through many valleys, I started reading "The Value In The Valley" which has given me many insights into my own valleys that I am going through and have gone through and approach life and my valleys in a different light. I have just purchased the Audio CD version of it to listen while I drive or at home. Can't wait to get it and the rest of the motivational goodies I just got from other authors. :) Thumbs up to this book as well as Iyanla's other books. Thank you Iyanla for all the insights your book has given me. :)

V
Where Do Balloons Go? An Uplifting Mystery
Published in Hardcover by (2000-09-30)
Authors: Jamie Lee Curtis and Laura Cornell
List price: $16.95
New price: $13.42
Used price: $4.45

Average review score:

Grandaughter Can't wait to READ it.
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-10-12
She is excited about reading this book after reading silly moods, but is happy to wait so we can read together on next visit.

Great for someone going away
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-08-08
My favorite teacher at my son's daycare was leaving - going to a new job. I found this book to be a perfect gift for her. I thought it could also represent the balloons as a metaphor for someone going away. Excellent story with beautiful illustrations.

Great lesson on loss and grief
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-01-18
As an elementary school counselor I used this book to help students cope with grief and loss.

Jamie Lee Curtis ROCKS!!!!!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-01-04
I wish there was a way to promote her books more. I bought one of Jamie's earlier books for a little boy a couple years ago. Recently, I was very surprised when his Mother said that it was the only book he enjoyed reading and wanted "Where Do Balloons Go?" for a birthday presnt. This little boy doesn't read very much but spends a lot of time in front of the television or computer, so it was very uplifting to know he realized there is more to life than visuals.

2nd time purchased
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2006-11-10
Our grandson has this book & loves it so much that we purchased another as a gift for our nephew.

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CALVIN AND HOBBES
Published in Paperback by Andrews & McMeel (1992)
Author: BILL WATTERSON
List price:
Used price: $1.94

Average review score:

A work of true genius and a tribute to the imaginative child
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-08-27
It will only take the reading of at most 10 pages before you will reach the conclusion that Bill Watterson is a genius. He captures the lament of all children whose imagination overpowers them, leading them to other places when they "should" be concentrating on more mundane things like schoolwork. Calvin is a young boy who is always in trouble, yet his problems are a consequence of his tenuous grip on reality. If he can maintain his imagination into adulthood, he no doubt will be very successful as a writer, but as a child, there are strong forces that will strongly dampen his wandering mind.
I was such a child, often preferring to play off by myself on the playground and pretend that I was doing greater things than simply kicking a ball or swinging in a swing. My teachers often wondered about my being alone, yet those were my favorite times during the school day. Elementary school teachers have a collective abhorrence for any child that is "different."
Some people enjoy C & H for the amusement, yet some of us recognize something deeper, the imaginative nonconformist who struggles to hold that characteristic into adulthood. For it is not till adulthood that it is appreciated.

A Pleasure
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-01-10
I ordered this item and received it within a week. Very good timing.

IT'S THE BEST BOOK EVER!!!!!!!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2006-11-10
I love this book!When my friend got a Calvin and Hobbes book, I did'nt really like it because it was not in color. But once I got this book I loved it! I colored in the ilistrations so now I don't have ANY problems with this book! I want to collect all of the Calvin and Hobbes books, but right now I only have 4. I would reccomend this book to anyone who likes funny books. They are so good my dad reads them! Other good Calvin and Hobbes books are Revenge of the Baby-Sat,Scientific Progress Goes Boink, and Attack of the Deranged Muntant Killer Monster Snow Goons. Well, I guess that's it. BUY THIS BOOK!!!!!!!

EVansidolscameron
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2006-10-25
This is a funny book about a kid named Calvin and his stuffed tiger named
Hobbes. They do funny stuff and they have adventures. Calvin is a funny six year old. Hobbes is a smart tiger! YOU NEED TO READ IT!

The beginning of a wonderful adventure...
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-11-10
Forgive me if my review runs a bit on the sappy side, but I grew up with Calvin and Hobbes, and I sometimes think they are among the best friends I've ever had. Bill Watterson's comic is gentle, sincere, and magical. At its core it is an examination of what it means to be human, and the value of friendship. Watterson's philosophy of the comic strip was that it should be based around characters rather than gags; we should feel as though we know the protagonists as real people, rather than as interchangeable vehicles for jokes. That comes through on every page, even from the very beginning. Calvin's world has a cast you can probably count on two hands, but every character (except possibly Moe, the bully) has at least a hint of fully-rounded personality. Watterson's world is one of simple pleasures shared with good company.

As with any comic strip, the first collection is rather crude in pretty much every aspect--the drawings, the humor, the personalities--but as a prototype for what would come later, it is not without its own charms. Even at this stage I would hardly call Calvin and Hobbes a forgettable, generic strip. It still has heart and a sense of profundity, even if Watterson had not yet figured out the most effective way to illustrate these things in his strip. It's interesting to see the origin of Hobbes (even if this version was discarded later), the genesis of Calvin's relationship with Susie (the love-hate romance, which will later be toned down, is at the forefront here), the first appearance of Spaceman Spiff, the introduction of a then-unnamed Rosalyn, and so forth. Also, early Calvin and Hobbes are somehow a bit more adorable here than their later incarnations, but you didn't hear that from me.

In an age of disposable comics, Calvin and Hobbes is one of the few childhood experiences of my life that I can actually appreciate more with age. I would not find it an exaggeration to say that Watterson's perspective of life heavily shaped my own, as I find myself much less concerned with superficiality and the plastic culture of Hollywood than many of my reality-TV-addicted, Nike-sporting, iPod-blasting peers, and more appreciative of the little things in life that we tend to take for granted. All Calvin needs to be content is a good friend and a search for adventure, and even as I grow, kicking and screaming, into adulthood, I find I can still relate.

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The Belgariad Set, Books 1-5: Pawn of Prophecy, Queen of Sorcery, Magician's Gambit, Castle of Wizardry, & Enchanter's End Game
Published in Paperback by Del Rey Books (1986-10)
Author: David Eddings
List price: $32.91
Used price: $23.00
Collectible price: $32.91

Average review score:

Praise-worthy
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2001-06-23
David Eddings' Belgariad series is one of the masterpieces of modern fantasy literature. I fell in love with his books many years ago, and re-read them to this day. His characters are lifelike and amusing, and written in a very human manner. Every time I read, I feel like I am visiting with old friends. Although Eddings writes conflicts into his story, he writes with an assurance that success will come which parallels the great epics of history. His novels, though not thrilling, are relaxing and enthralling in a more stoic fashion-- you will care about the characters and want to see them succeed.

I would recommend this book to the starting fantasy reader, or the reader of modern fiction who hasn't yet delved into the genre. Eddings' personal style and lovable characters have turned me into a dedicated fantasy reader, and I have not yet found his equal among the other authors I've read.

A Great Read
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2005-10-14
Eddings' series The Belgariad is one of my all-time favorite reads. It's the classic fantasy good-vs.-evil, coming-of-age, lost-kings-returning, quest-with-companions epic. These are common themes in fantasy, but Eddings' writing is so witty, and his characters so intriguing, that it never gets old. He seems very aware he is using some well established cliches, but puts new twists on them and even makes fun of them as the story goes on. I especially love Eddings' twist on the concept of prophesy: In this story, the prophesy is actually sentient, and does not hesitate to tell our hero, Garion, when he is being an idiot.
This series is funny, entertaining, engrossing, and complex. It was my introduction to the sword and sorcery genre of fantasy, and I absolutely love it.

To bad it is all finished and in the past
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2004-04-17
I recomend all of david eddings books to any reader of any age.
David eddings is my idle in a short way of putting it... he has brought a new light to me and my writing since i was a child... His books have a certian amount of amusement in them. Yet the characters are all lovable. This is a book that i promise all will remember and read again... I love all of his books. his philosiphy is simple to understand, yet the writing syle is one that i still have not seen in any other books. He allows a certian amount of ammusement into them, yet keeping them serious. His books are like a good movie that you dont want to end. After reading one of them you want more and more. until you have devoured the very sould of his writing.

To put it short i dont know why i like them there just fun loving and honest to god books.

Belgariad & Malloreon. My Favorite.
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2004-04-02
I have never came across a set of books that is so moving,very few authors have made me as emitional as this athor has with this set.I hope their will be a follow up,it would be nice to see how everything whent after all was said and done,peace doesn't last for ever. Highly recomened,own the full set,have read them so much I can almost tell the story myself.

Great Entry-to-Mid-level Fare
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2001-10-16
This is, I believe, Eddings' first real foray into the realm of true Fantasy, and it doesn't disappoint. Eddings does well to develop characters over time and doesn't sacrifice depth for brevity. I've always enjoyed the sense of humor he brings to his works and the repartee that develops between the characters.

If you are looking for a great starter series in the fantasy genre or a more developed work, look no further. Those looking for the complexity and seriousness of high-fantasy should stick with Tolkien and Donaldson.

This was one of my favorite starting fantasy series, and continues to entertain after all these years.

V
Family of Poems, A
Published in Hardcover by Hyperion (2005-09-15)
Author: Caroline Kennedy
List price: $19.95
New price: $12.25
Used price: $7.51

Average review score:

My Children Love This Book
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-10-30
I am using this book with my five and six year olds, whom I homeschool and who are in kindergarten and first grade. We use this book both to study poetry and authors and for memorization selections. My children love this book! They look forward to poetry time and always ask me to read more than just the day's selected poem. They read the poetry book "just for fun." They love to recite their memorized selections to anyone who will listen. This book contains poems by famous poets such as Edna St. Vincent Millay and William Carlos Williams and also poems by people I have never heard of. There are poems of varying lengths, and the poems are loosely arranged by subject. The illustrations, by Jon J. Muth, are gorgeous. I think this is a wonderful introduction to poetry for children. It doesn't talk down to them and lets them see that poetry can be at once beautiful, silly, fun, and emotional. Most of all, it shows poetry to be accessible to children. Highly recommended!

Childrens' Poetry-Caroline Kennedy
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-07-18
This book is wonderful. It contains many of the poems I learned while growing up, and now I can share them with my grands, as I did with their moms. It stays at "Nana's house" for those special visits.. I hope the little ones (5 of them) will learn to love these words as I did.

Beautiful book for younger children as well
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-05-28
We have borrowed this book several times from the library and I am ordering my own copy today. This has become one of my three year old's favorite bedtime books. Some of the poems are too long for her, and there are many I have to explain to her as we read. I'm buying the book because I anticipate that it is complex and interesting enough to hold her attention for some years to come. This book has a great selection of poetry and beautiful illustrations. I anticipate purchasing several copies in the future as gifts for friends and family.

masterful paintings, beautiful poems
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2008-01-23
Jon Muth's breathtaking paintings and Caroline Kennedy's choice of poems make this book a treasure for middle aged me, and children of all ages.

aristocratic in a good way
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2008-01-07
This book is a treasure. The art is light filled and the selections are very satisfying. Leave it to Caroline Kennedy to share her wealth with the rest of us in her tasteful way.

V
Into the Blue : A Father's Flight and a Daughter's Return
Published in Hardcover by (2004-06-01)
Author: Susan Edsall
List price: $24.95
New price: $7.80
Used price: $3.46
Collectible price: $24.95

Average review score:

Into the Blue - Susan Edsall
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-02-24
Into the Blue: A Father's Flight and a Daughter's Return
this was a great book. It's really scary from the perspective that it reinforces what we hear that we must take charge (or someone must do so on our behalf) of our healthcare options.

Everyone should read this book
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-01-30
Into the Blue is a funny, touching, inspiring and educational ride that we all need to take to deal with what this life may hand us. Edsall and her sister did amazing work with their dad in a situation many of us have or will have to deal with. Buy multiple copies and send them to everyone you love.

A fascinating story
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 10 total.
Review Date: 2004-12-29
This book is the fascinating story of two sisters and their dad who was suffering from a stroke. The sisters are determined to get him back to his airplane. In this book the author underlines the support a patient needs from his doctor for a fast and safe recovery. This book will definitely be a welcome read to any one suffered from a stroke.

After eliminating my coffee habit with the help of a wonderful coffee substitute made from soya beans called "Soyffee", I'm feeling so much better. My doctor recommended it to help lower my cholesterol and promote strong bones. It's available online at www.S o y c o f f e e.com.

Exhilarating Read!
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 6 total.
Review Date: 2004-12-28
I loved this book! The writing was so sharp and funny, and the story is heartwarming and hilarious, without being overly sentimental.

Susan Edsall does suggest you go off coffee slowly before you start the plan. This would minimize headaches during detox. I couldn't wait to get started so, of course, did it all at once and had the most horrible awful headache for 4 straight days. I finally broke down and had a 1/2 cup coffee one day instead of taking aspirin and that did the trick...for the moment.

You feel as if you've known the author and her family all your life after reading this book, and you really care about them.

Not for ladies only?
Helpful Votes: 9 out of 9 total.
Review Date: 2005-05-02
OK, I'm humble enough to admit I was wrong. When one of my best friends, a Volvo-driving soccer mom if there ever was one, suggested that I read and PURCHASE "Into The Blue", I was skeptical at best. Scenario: author and sister rehabilitate stroke-afflicted father so he can - *gag* - fly again. Yet another "chick" book. Ho-hum.

So untrue. It's been a long, long while since I've been so entertained, overwhelmed, affected, whatever, by a memoir. Susan Edsall has a great gift for writing, and for viewing the world by crushing the rose colored glasses. If this were simply a novel about how our heroine pulls her dad back from the abyss, it'd probably sell a bazillion copies in the romance section. "Into The Blue" is not simple - not by a long shot.

First off, it should be required reading for every med student, neurology resident, or anyone who has contact with stroke victims. The start of Edsall's tale is pretty grim; not for what happened to her father, but for the reaction of the medical community to his plight - indifference, condescension, and that "oh well, that's what happens, nothing we can do" type of nonsense that we've all seen too well from supposed professionals who you'd think would have more insight and creativity to go with all that specialized education.

Love of a parent pushes the Edsall family into a series of tough decisions, but the neat part of this book is the places that they come to as a result of these mileposts. The author seems as surprised as the reader at times by the way in which her father's stroke and her family's actions cause her (and all of them) to reconnect in new and very meaningful fashion. Susan's descriptions of her relationships past and present with her mother, her husband and above all her sister Sharon are hysterical - and very moving. I could relate 80 percent of her patter to my own family, which was an experience both interesting and disturbing!

This is a tremendous piece of writing, worthy of wide distribution and discussion.

V
Lunch Money
Published in Hardcover by (2005-06-28)
Authors: Andrew Clements and Brian Selznick
List price: $15.95
New price: $9.57
Used price: $3.46

Average review score:

Grandmom's Best Gift
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-04-14
This was a gift for my 9 yr old granddaughter. She told me she loved it.She had rented from the library and was overjoyed to have her own copy.

Teacher's Grade: B
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-01-11
Of all the Andrew Clements school books I've read, Lunch Money was by far the least engaging. The reason for this is that a large part of the book focuses on numbers instead of people, and where Clements has succeeded in the past is in his ability to make us really like his leading characters. Greg, the lead character in this book, is not very nice. He's largely driven by money and selfishness, and although Clements does try to make Greg more personable by depicting his change of attitude, the change does not come off convincingly.

The concept itself behind the book is terrific: schools are hypocritical because while they profess to be trying to promote certain values and healthy lifestyles, the actions districts take are at times directly opposed to the high moral standards the districts are imposing on the students.

I did enjoy the book, and recommend it to those looking to read more of Andrew Clements' books. I would pick up Frindle, The School Story, or The Report Card first however.

Lunch Money RULES!
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-03-14
Lunch Money is a good book for money lovers. Its about a boy who has all these good ideas to make money and then he comes up with his best idea yethe decides to make comic books!The princapal disagres but then Mrs Davenport decidesto let Greg sell comic books. I highly recomend this book!

Lunch Money
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-03-14
I really liked LUnch Money because it was detailed, funny and lots more!
It is about a boy named Greg, who, really, really, really likes money. For almost his whole life he has been enemies with a girl named Maura.
What will happen?Read the book to find out!

A Great Book
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2008-01-10
I'm a nine year old boy from NY. This book is funny and serious, too. This boy Greg wants to make lots of money while copycats try to steal his ideas. He makes money by selling little chunky comics. I recommend this book to everyone.

WB

V
The Mindful Way through Depression: Freeing Yourself from Chronic Unhappiness
Published in Paperback by The Guilford Press (2007-06-01)
Authors: J. Mark G. Williams, John D. Teasdale, Zindel V. Segal, and Jon Kabat-Zinn
List price: $19.95
New price: $12.52
Used price: $12.48

Average review score:

Not only for depressed individuals
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-11-16
This book is an excellent guide for anyone who wants to improve the quality of their life, anyone who has noticed that the mind does not only solve problems but also creates them because we reject the present moment. We may have noticed also that our thoughts judge and reject our feelings and emotions.

The authors offer basic and easy to implement techniques to help us live in the present moment. The present moment is a difficult and misunderstood concept that the book analyzes in a way that makes sense even to a westerner. It's not some weird metaphysical concept where you reject planning things ahead and sit around in a trance. Not at all. They clearly show how distorted deep rooted thinking and emotionally reactive patterns are constantly at work evaluating the moment, rejecting it and striving for another moment that will be better, and hopefully replace the one we reject now. But making friends with our bodies is the key because many of the signals that color our opinions about our current situations are streaming in from the body and sensory experiences.

Real change, they point out, can only happen if we overcome these habitual automatic responses to the present moment. When we spiral into a depression or simply a very negative mind state, "our habitual efforts to extricate ourselves, far from freeing us, actually keep us locked in the pain we're trying to escape". This is the major theme that resonates in the book which they present from many different angles. It's simple yet has many vicissitudes.

The difficult part is overcoming resistance and doing things on a regular basis. But they have broken down the practice of mindfulness in a such way that even a Wall street executive can make time for. The 3-minute breath-focused meditations are particularly helpful and can be used on the spot in any situation. Three minutes can be spared by anyone and the benefits are tremendous. Moreover, the rationale behind the technique creates a lasting shift in our perspectives about life and why we are creating problems where there may not be any, or simply adding more complexity to problems instead of working with what is really happening around us and internally.

The body scan has also been particularly beneficial. It can help you get out of bed on days when one feels a sense of "what's the point, life sucks" or "I don't have the strength to deal with this today". The techniques, taken together, help a person realize that the point is your body, and healthy body awareness will improve life. The body is how we receive input from the environment, which we then process as emotions and evaluative thoughts. In other words, it is how our minds relate to our bodies to keep us grounded so that we are not reacting habitually to circumstances.

So the body is a key player that we tend to completely ignore. The authors really make this point clear when they explain how our aversion responses, the "get me out of here!" reaction to things happening in our lives stems from an instinct ("avoidance system") of the brain that was designed by nature long ago to cope with immediate threats from our environment, such as a lion chasing us. This system now operates not only to external immediate dangers but to our own internal emotions. So as soon as we have an emotion that we've been conditioned to label 'bad', we try to flee--or fight it. We are in a fight or flight mode almost continually. But rather than running physically we run mentally with old thinking patterns that try to explain away the feelings. The mental immediately affects the physical, reinforcing its negative input. If you suffer from body aches--head aches, stomach pain, shoulder aches--due to anxiety, this is the book for you.

So the authors do a great job of showing how body-emotions-thoughts are linked creating and sustaining various negative feedback loops.
It's a must read for everyone who wants to improve the quality of life.

Self Help
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-10-25
One of the authors, Jon Zabat-Zinn, had been recommended to me. I found the book and included DVD gave me new perspective and truly helped me to handle things differently. Thank you!

Very inspiring tape
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-09-30
Not only did I like the tape, it was so inspiring. The shipping was within alloted times.

Good, But Not My Favorite
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-11-14
I read this book based off an amazon recommendation. I was excited to read it since I have heard great things about Jon Kabat-Zinn and there was a CD included, plus I love psychology with a bit of an Eastern influence.

I wanted so badly to love this book. The truth is, it was alright. The reader has to be very dedicated to doing the meditation excersises, while I was more interested in the self-talk and cognitive approaches mentioned.

I think this book would be of great help to some people. I recommend more highly Dr. Daniel Amen's "Change Your Brain, Change Your Life" and Dr. David Burns "Feeling Good."

Simply Fantastic
Helpful Votes: 7 out of 7 total.
Review Date: 2008-09-24
Before I start I just have to say that this book is FANTASTIC and is a really exciting step forward in the treatment of depression. At last - a non-drug approach to one of societies most overwhelming problems: Depression.

As a person who has suffered from depression in the past and as a therapist, I truly enjoyed this book from start to finish. It told me all I needed to know about mindfulness and taught me the process in a very comprehensive yet easy to follow way.

I had read several books on mindfulness by various authors before receiving this book. Compared against the others that I read, I found this one to be the most clear, so even if you do not suffer from depression, but are looking to learn mindfulness, this book could be just what you are looking for. The other bonus with this title is that it is not repetitive like similar titles I have read - it just tells you what you need to know.

Some observations that I would make though are as follows.

1. There were a few spelling and grammar mistakes throughout, however they didn't affect my `reading flow', so this should be an issue.
2. The layout of the separate sections could have been better laid out. It shows you how to follow an 8 week program in the end of the last chapter. I would have liked to seen it laid out so that you read and practice a section at a time rather than learning everything before you start.
3. There is a warning in a couple of places in the book that warn you not to us the program in is entirely now if you are experiencing an episode of clinical depression. This somewhat confused me as the title of the book is `The Mindful Way THROUGH Depression.
4. The book comes with a CD... It was recorded using the voice of one of the authors, Jon Kabat Zinn. The meditation entitled `The Body Scan' seemed a little rushed. As a personal preference, I used an old CD that I had from Jon that was much better quality for me and worked well.

These were the only negative things that I picked up and wanted to include them to make this review as balanced as possible. There were so many things right with this book though that the comments above are small concerns against all the things that you will get out of reading it.

So in conclusion: this book is easy to follow, very inspirational and motivates you to learn mindfulness and overcome your depression. It is simply fantastic.

Warmly,

Richard MacKenzie
Author of Self-Change Hypnosis


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