V Books

Ireland has a strange relationship with England. For generations we were part of the British Empire and we still have the echoes of this in the designation "British Isles". Many of our countrymen answered the call to arms in World War I and fought on the side of the British Army, something that is often glossed over in history books. Another thing glossed over is the treatment of the Irish soldier after the 1916 rising.

That's really what this book is about. Willie Dunne is the son of a British Police officer, living in Dublin Castle, born in Ireland to Irish parents but for all intents and purposes a Briton. Too short to become a police man he answers the call to fight for England. This story follows him through the trenches, to return to Ireland and experience some of the 1916 rising and back to the trenches. The 1916 Rising is only a short part of the book but with a big impact to Willie's life when the leaders of the British Army start asking questions about the loyalties of their soldiers.

It's an interesting read, I am glad I picked it up because of Dublin City's One City One Book project.

This is a superbly written and moving novel about the thousands of Irish men who fought in the British Army's Irish Divisions in the Great War and were later largely written out of the histories of both countries. It tells with wonderful pose the story of their sacrifice, immense bravery, and eventual disillusionment through the eyes of a young Dublin Fusilier Willie Dunne. It is a novel that says a lot about Ireland in those years and the Great War in general from the view point of some of those caught up in the tragic events. Its central themes have echoes that can be seen in many of the later the conflicts of the 20th century and those of today.

A truly outstanding novel of the Great War that tells the poignant story of the thousands of ordinary Irish soldiers that fought in that conflict and the over 35,000 that died.

This is an incredible touching book. Millions should read this. It is a cry against the violence of war. President Bush should take notice of this message!

He writes like a poet (which he is) and moves his reader as very few other writers ever have. War is brutal and senseless, and it destroys the hearts of the young men (and women now) who go to strange places to fight it. No one can bring home the sense of the innocent soldier who is loosing his soul more than Sebastian Barry, except perhaps Hemingway. Barry writes about Ireland's heart and the hearts of its young as no other.

Sebastian Barry's Booker shortlisted "A Long Long Way (LLW)" isn't just about the First World War. If it were, there wouldn't have been much of a point to it, since landmark works by Robert Graves, Siegfried Sassoon, Wilfred Own, etc already define the canon of war literature. The accolades that have greeted the publication of LLW have much to do with the fact that Barry offers a fresh perspective of the war experience and the poetic sensibilities he brings to the telling of it.

LLW is about the heartrending confusion and torn loyalities one Willie Dunne of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers fighting for king and country against the Germans experienced when the 1916 Easter uprising erupted that would destroy trust among compatriots, strain family relationships to breaking point and precipitate personal identity crises. It is Willie's ordinariness that generalizes his simple hopes and dreams, making them the symbol of Irish consciousness.

Ironically, despite the many battle scenes of war, terror and destruction common to war stories, restraint and understatement typify Barry's richly poetic prose which spawn fully drawn and utterly memorable characters like the sergeant Christy Moran, Father Buckley, little sister Dolly, and the tragic Jesse Kirwan. Scenes that show little Dolly's unconditional love for her big brother, Willie's father's rejection of his son for siding with the nationalists and committing - in his mind - treason are poignant, though more often heartbreaking. The brutality of Jesse Kirwan's execution and the discovery of a buddy's betrayal that would lead to Willie losing his sweetheart Gretta only heighten the pain that's felt when the knife is driven deeper into the wound.

"A Long Long Way" is a wonderful piece of work, an exceptional book. The subject may seem a little well worn, but Barry doesn't just give it a special spin, he offers a perspective rarely encountered in war literature. Highly recommended.

I bought this book along with Luscious Lemon Desserts and couldn't be happier. Both have a nice range of ideas, and those ideas don't tend to call for exotic ingredients. Everything I've made so far has come out perfect.

This book covers a wide variety of recipes using berries. The directions are simple and easy to follow and the three recipes I've tried so far all turned out very well. Whether you want to make berry ice cream, sauce or a crisp, you'll find what you want here.

We are at the heighth of berry season here in Arkansas, quite frankly it's hard to beat fresh berries by themselves, but I have to tell you, Ms. Longbotham knows a thing or two about berries. My husband brought home a flat of strawberries the other day, and I was so distraught about what do with them. Like a beacon, my "Luscious Dessert" series of cookbooks was on my bookcase. I made the "Strawberry-Hazelnut" crisp and people were literally licking the dish. As a side-note, I absolutely love the photography...it's so appealing, yet so understandable. As we say in the south, "presentation is everything!" Lori Longbotham gives new meaning to the expression, "easy as pie" Page 52 of my cookbook is literally stained with berries and sugar, I can't tell you how many times I made the "Double-Crust Blueberry Pie" it's my signature summer dessert!

Luscious Berry Desserts, as the title suggests, is full of tempting berry desserts. Most of the desserts feature strawberries, raspberries, or blueberries. A few feature blackberries or other more unusual berries, that even I have not heard of before this book.

There is a rather lenghthy introduction that goes over different types of berries and other ingredients, tips on how to buy, store, and use berries in cooking, as well as equipment information and tips for other cooking methods used.

The rest of the book is devoted to recipes, most with photos. The recipes are divided into seven chapters.

In the first chapter, Cakes, there are only four recipes. Three of them are quite innovative, including a rosemary, rose, and blackberry cake.

In the second chapter, Pies, Tarts, and A Cheesecake, there are seven recipes, four for tarts, two for pies, and as the title suggests, one for a cheesecake. These recipes are more traditional then the ones from the Cakes chapter, but just as yummy. Included are a innovative raspberry truffle tart and a more classical blueberry pie.

Despite their being only four cake recipes, Ms. Longbothom has managed to devote an entire chapter to Shortcakes with eight recipes. Recipes include such temptations as hazelnut shortcake with caramel berries, which is photographed on the cover, blueberry ginger shortcake, and strawberry and basil shortcakes.

The next chapter, entitled; A Crisp, Flummery, Cobbler, Grunt, Buckle, and Betty, has six recipes, once of each mentioned dish, including a strawberry-hazelnut crisp.

The next chapter, which is one of my favorites, is Puddings and a Souffle. Nine recipes are included and include recipes such as English summer pudding and strawberry creme fraiche panna cotta.

There is then Frozen Berry Desserts, which features five recepies, including two for ice cream, and a recipe for a blackberry and raspberry semifreddo.

The final chapter is Sauces, Toppings, Creams and a Truffle. There are ninteen recipes for sauces, whipped creams, and other recipes neeeded throughout the book.

The only reason I gave this book four stars is due to its size, which makes it difficult to use, and on a lesser scale,the script font used for each recipe name, which is difficult to read. Otherwise this is a fantastic cookbook.

I've given all Lori Longbotham's Luscious books to my sister in North Carolina, who really likes to bake (and she's mad about lemons, so that's how our tradition got started). She made the blueberry cheescake first, and her whole family loves it. The berry title really appealed to me too because I love fruit, and berries seem to be the only kind of fruit I can really depend on anymore to be consistently tasty. I was glad to see this book includes recipes for frozen berries, too, which I have found to be quite good, easy to come by, and inexpensive. I tried the Strawberry crumble first, which uses fresh strawberries and hazelnuts--it was so easy to make and so good. Anybody, of any age, would love it. Next time I'm going to try adding the crystallized ginger Lori suggests. That's a great idea. The book is full of great ideas. (The banana whipped cream IS great on fresh strawberries.) This Luscious Berries book and the Luscious Chocolate book pair very well--MY two favorite dessert choices.

As the mother of a colicky newborn, I found myself struggling. Frustrated and exhausted, I felt desperate and disappointed in myself for not being as blissed-out as I believed every new mother should be about her baby. Reading Momma Zen was like relaxing into the arms of a good friend who understood everything I was going through. Karen Maezen Miller is so refreshingly real, and her eloquent account of the everyday challenges of parenthood has been both a comfort and an inspiration to me. I credit her with helping get me through many those first few months, and revisit my favorite passages whenever I need a reminder to just let go, or reassurance that being frustrated doesn't make me a bad parent. Momma Zen has earned a place of honor on my bookshelf, and it's become my go-to gift for new mamas.

This is a good book. I was hoping for more advice on how to cope with motherhood in a Buddhist manner and the challenges it brings, but even without it was still refreshing to know other mother's are having the same experiences I am. If you are already practicing the Buddhist Way there is no new information in this book to help you apply Buddhism to Motherhood

I gave this 5 stars because it is written by a "real" person not claiming to be more enlightened than anybody else. You can sense the genuineness of the author's intent in this book. It's an easy read.

It is truly rare to find a book so full of Truth. This brilliant little treasure will help struggling mothers to find peace and joy in their own journey through motherhood. I can not stress enough how perfect this book is! The author, Karen Maezen Miller, shares her life experiences, from the simple to the heart wrenching, and then is able to use those experiences to present, more than just Buddhist truth, but what I consider to be universal truths. I finished feeling enlightened and inspired. Miller provides mothers with not just encouragement, but encourages a perspective transformation, which will help restrain the suffering and guide you towards joy. Every mother should have this book.

One can almost feel they are listening to Karen Maezen Miller chat with them across the coffee table, so intimately does she confide. It is easy to see her in a chenille bathrobe and smudgy mascara as she pulls you closer into her world. I am glad to find a Western Zen practicioner, a priest yet, who is as solid and real and as loving as my mom. Someone who is teaching me but is so much a student too. As an active and doting aunt to 9 children ages 8 months to 35 years, I have gained insight on my sisters' lives, shed guilt about taking their kids to Mickie D's, and can understand the grace of an apology to a child. I was captivated by the honesty and the wonderful writing. I have given this book to several friends, it makes a perfect gift.

I love the graphics in this book which portray so much emotion! The story of Harriet Tubman is inspiring and amazing and to be coupled with these graphics makes it really come alive for the reader. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants an inspiring book of courage, determination, and perseverance!

Well let me tell you you are wrong if you don't already have this book! This book is simply breathtaking. I'm kicking myself for waiting so long to get it! I've never heard a Harriet Tubman story told quite this way before. She prays to God and listens to His responses to lead her away from slavery that first fateful time. I actually felt like I was there...hiding...holding my breath. Will she make it? Of course we know the answer but the way the book is written is just amazing.

Now on the equally tantalizing images. Kadir Nelson lives up to his reputation here. Quality through and through with this project. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it.

Beautiful pictures, historically accurate account of Harriet Tubman in a personal way, told from her point of view. Excellent for thrid graders.

This book is truly inspirational. It shows what one person in God's hand can do to change the world around them. Harriet Tubman was truly a heroine. She was a humble person who was raised up to do a great and mighty thing. The illustrations are wonderfully drawn and the writing is almost poetic. This is a wonderful story for parents who are trying to teach their children about social justice, hearing the voice of God, and communing with Him. I highly recommend it!

This is a very spiritual book. We have a copy for our home and gave one to the Godparents. It has a creative flair to it and lots of wisdom. It is a good guide to remembering to trust in God.

I can't say this to people enough; that MBTI method typing is flawed, because of the following reasons. First, the test you take on typelogic dot com determines you internal self. Myself for example-internally I am ESTJ but in reality I am INFJ (ESTJ is my dual-the person who is the best match for my personality type). Second, as you can see from my example of testing ESTJ my internal dual-seeking self is menefesting outwardly flawing the resaults of the test thereby putting you in a pool of people you wouldn't get along with. For correct resaults-type yourself using How to Find Yourself and Your Best Match Socionics by Rod Novichkov then take the MBTI test and you'll know exactly what I'm taling about.

The profile of my ENTP personality was right on. I found this book useful and interesting to understand my parenting strengths and struggles as well as those of other mothers I know.

I have been an accredited MBTI trainer for 6 years - but I have this daughter who's now 5 and she's, lets say, 'spirited'. I've read lots of parenting books but none have really hit the mark - because she's not bad and most of these assume 'difficult' children - even The Spirited Child! So I bought this book - blind - don't know anyone who has it or has read it.
For me the first part of the book was superfluous - it's about working out your style and whilst I understand the book has to do that for non-MBTI people - it's a little unfair for those of us that get it.
Then it gets into the analysis. My first surprise is that the author has a preference for 'T' - so do I.
I found the book interesting - first read. You can also put by the bed and read a bit each night - you don't need to devour at one sitting. The examples are great. There's one particular example that could have been written about me and my daughter - about sticky tape and sissors! and it was like wow - OMG - now I get it.
Has it made me change my parenting style - no, will it, probably not overall, has it helped me understand my daughter more - you bet!

This book was very helpful to me in understanding WHY I do things the way I do (for example, how I relate to my children). It also helped me to understand why my mom did/does things.

I was able to make a guess a my children's personality types (there is info in the book in how to do that) and found out that my daughter and I only share 1 letter out of 4 - no wonder I have a hard time understanding her! Taking our personality styles into account, I am better able to provide her with the emotional and physical attention that she wants and needs. I also try to focus on the strength we have in common and have been able to bond more easily.

I have loaned this book out three times already and have another person waiting - but I want to read it again first. I highly recommend it!

Ever since before I conceived my daughter, I have devoured parenting books by the score. Only a few have passed the "purchase test." (I borrow everything I read from the library, then decide whether I'll reread it enough times to want to own it.) Motherstyles is different from anything else I've come across. After reading ONE PAGE I purchased it on the spot. A few more pages and I was already laughing and crying, feeling deeply affirmed as a mother and energized by the powerful truths this book contains. Since first reading it cover-to-cover in a couple of days, I have referred to it several times a week for my own parenting and to share its insights with friends.

Ms. Penley has used her deep understanding of personality type to show every mother why she shines in certain areas and struggles in others. Motherstyles solves an amazing number of mysteries about why different mothers, kids, and people in general operate differently, as well as shedding light on family dynamics. The book "justified" for me certain strong needs I have as a mother--such as why I need daily solitude for my very sanity, while for many of my mother friends, a little time alone is simply a luxury that they can postpone if need be. So I'm meeting my needs more consistently--without guilt. I have stopped comparing myself to other mothers, instead embracing my personal style as a gift to my child. And everyone in my family is happier!

Mothers in our society are in an strange bind: At our fingertips is an unprecedented amount of theoretical knowledge about all that children need in order to thrive. Yet on the practical level, ONE person, with her very human strengths and limitations, is expected to provide it all . . . while socially isolated, sleep-deprived, and overwhelmed by the rest of life's demands. It would be funny if it weren't so serious. This book goes farther than any other to lighten the load of that impossible burden, empowering mothers to claim their own uniqueness as a vital part of their children's thriving.

Motherstyles has changed my world. Since reading it, I've been imagining a world in which every mother had a copy of it. It would be a world in which every mother was doing her very best parenting, her unique kind of parenting--while having fun and feeling plenty of ease and joy! A world in which every mother approached her children, her partner, other mothers, and herself with warm and deep understanding. A world in which every mother felt free to be fully herself. And THAT would give children what they truly need. I urge mothers, their partners, educators, and everyone who works with mothers to buy Motherstyles and help change the world!

A great book for parents, children, brothers and sisters alike. Fantastic insight to society settling for mediocrity and allowing the "inmates" to run the asylum. Many of our parents used to say, "No, because you don't get everything you want, and that's just tough." But we find ourselves saying, "Maybe" or "Next time". If we REALLY want to see young people in our society excel saying "No" is a great place to start.

Generally insightful and helpful. The author provides a number of specific examples that are applicable to real-life situations - educators and parents would get a lot from this book, as it's an easy read and practical.

I purchased two copies of this book after seeing Dr Walsh on television. I sent one copy to our daughter, who was expecting our first grandchild, and kept the other for myself, as a refresher course. After reading it, I was so impressed, I decided to get copies for my nieces and nephews, and my adult children who aren't parents yet. Dr Walsh shares the same kind of pragmatic approach to child rearing that my own parents used, but he shows us how to teach "old fashioned" values in the modern world. Every parent should read this book, and grandparents should read it as well. Raising children has always been a tough job, but never before has a parent had so much competition from outside influences. Parents, grandparents and other adult family members need to work as a team, and provide reasonable, but consistent limits.

The first few chapters about the influence of media and advertising, and how they have shaped our culture and values over the last 40 years is very enlightening. They explain a lot about issues we see in the workplace with younger employees.

It is easy for us parents to get caught up in saying, "yes" and giving into our kids demands. It was just easier for me to give my kids what they wanted (when reasonable). At the very least it quieted them down, for a little while. However, what this book showed me very clearly is that we have an entire culture of "Yes", "Anything you want honey" and "My child couldn't do anything wrong". It also made it very clear that this attitude, or culture is hurting our kids and making our lives miserable. Dr. David Walsh delivers a strong dose of reality in one word, "No". Incredibly he does it in such a way that children and parents can enjoy more freedom and less anxiety. It becomes perfectly clear why we parents need to hold our children to rules and make them earn respect, and delay gratification.

When we give our kids everything (they think) they want it fosters attitudes of instant gratification; worse we set them up for failure and ourselves up for needless struggle and hardships. We or I also need to feel good about holding my children to higher standards and expectations, and Dr. Walsh does and excellent job of spelling that out in this book. There are many suggestions and checklists for each chapter.

This book has so many great lessons and insights; too many to list in the 5 minutes I have to write this review. All I can say is that I highly recommend the book "No' to any parent and then pass it along to some parent who doesn't need it. You will understand what I mean after you read it.

First off, don't let the generic "self-helpy" cover and title of this book turn you off. This is one of the better parenting books I've read this year. It's extremely well written and engaging with endless amounts of useful tips and food for thought. The author is not just a PhD, but also an experienced parent who has clearly spent ample professional and personal time working with kids of all ages.

I completely agree with his premise that:
1) parenting isn't easy and certainly isn't (and shouldn't) always be fun
2) the most successful parents are those who work hard to remain flexible, open, and calm
3) we owe it to our kids to set appropriate boundaries and enforce those boundaries consistently
4) rules are not "one size fits all" but should be tailored to fit not just the child's age but also the child's individual needs and personality
5) the judicious use of "no" with your child -- while it may produce some acting out in the short term -- will eventually pay off for your entire family (and, dare I say it, society) in the long term

Why four stars? As a parent who is very focused on my young child's nutrition, I was surprised this author recommended witholding meals from toddler/preschool age children who refuse to eat/finish lunch or dinner. While I think this is a valid technique to use with older kids, the fact is toddlers a) are natural grazers and not likely to eat everything put in front of them for the "big" meals of the day and more importantly b) have smaller stomachs, higher levels of energy, and are prone to low blood sugar and therefore should eat at least every two to four hours a day. I totally get how important it is to teach your children that their choices can either lead to a positive or negative outcome. But I personally don't feel witholding food is the way to go at this age. Should you withold desserts and treats? Totally! But don't send a toddler to bed hungry -- look for alternative food sources (fruit, carrots, crackers) to ensure they aren't sleeping on an empty stomach.

Aside from the one negative, and regardless of what your personal parenting style is (laid back, strict, etc), I recommend you do yourself and your kid(s) a favor and get your hands on this book. Chances are it will either confirm that you've been doing the right thing all along (and provide some additional tools) or give you the wake-up call you need to get your family back on track.

A truly moving book about the mission of the International Baccalaureate Organization. The ability to look at someone who looks different than you do, speaks a different language than you do, and believes in different values than you do and yet see yourself in that other person. That is what makes for a truly internationally minded human. Old turtle tells her story so well and in that story is the power to change the world.

Old Turtle is a beautiful book for young and old alike. My children loved it when they were very small, because it was peaceful and the watercolors are superb. Now that they are growing older, it gives us a starting point to dicuss such a large topic, such as God. The book is non-denominational, but instead takes a more unitarian approach to God, how we all have our own interpretations and how we can learn from others at the same time. Makes a great gift along with a turtle stuffed animal. Overall, I think the entire world would do good to read this book and take the message to heart.

Old Turtle and the Broken Truth is a beautiful story with lovely watercolor illustrations. I believe it is meant to help us realize some very deep truths. If all children could know this story maybe the world could become much more at peace.

Not only is the story timeless and wonderful, the art work is amazing. You can't go wrong sharing this story with a child or - maybe even more importantly - an adult.

The story opened doors for me and caused me to have an "Oh-my-gosh" moment. "Each of us has only a piece of the Truth," I thought. "Of course. How could I have missed that? In order to have the complete Truth, I need to connect and have more pieces of the Truth."

A touching and powerful story.

We enjoyed this book very much. I think it has a good moral to tell. The humans only have ½ of the truth and really begin to worship it and fight over it. Eventually a small child finds the other truth and unites them all. I have it recommended for grades K-3rd but I would recommend it for all ages.

This should give you a general idea of how good this book is: After reading the last page, I turned to page 1 and started reading it all over again.

When was the last time you read a book twice?

Ziolkowski's style is like a perfect wave--clean, gorgeous, and unique. It's not just about a surfer searching for perfection, but a boy searching for himself in post-Vietnam era of sunny Florida, where everyone is tan and bleachy-haired, Led Zeppelin is on every radio, and pot is as prevalent as palm trees.

The story begins with the author at ten, still reeling from his parents' divorce and craving diversion like any normal kid. But it is surfing that becomes his ultimate grace, giving him confidence and the room to dream outside the troubles at home. When his family begins to unravel, his heartbreak at dreams realized and lost will strike a sympathetic chord in anyone who is connected to the sea, to family, and to one's true self. The author's search for his identity comes full circle--beginning, ending, and beginning again--on a wave.

I loved this story of a young boy's passion for the ocean easing his growing pains. Very well-written.

thanks for the prompt delivery! I will definitely look for you again when ordering

Thad hits the nail on the head! Having grown up in Melbourne Beach during the time period described I feel qualified to speak on the authenticity of the scene depicted: perfect, took me back in time! Anyone who grew up in the space coast area during the 70's will be able to identify some of the characters described. This is an execellent book for the non-surfer as well as the surfer. This book will remain on my annual reading list along with Caught Inside, Lighting out and West of Jesus. Thanks Thad for an execellent read!

Excellent.This book will stay with you long after you read it. As a 50ish surfer from the Texas gulf coast this book reminds me of why I consider myself lucky.

Zen of Watering Your GardenHi I am the Author and editor of a book that has good to great photographs. All are not as great as these. But my book has a wide array of not just flowers but other wonders to be found in Mother Nature's vegetation. Each photo is paired with an aphorism, poem or thought to encourage the viewer to see where one can easily immerse themselves in the garden process and achieve an inner peace. Matt Cohen

As a fashion designer, I look for inspiration everywhere.
I felt attracted by the picture on the cover and I wasn't dissapointed at all when I received the book.
The author capture trough his vision the simple beauty of nature and gave me that sense of movement and fragility that I was looking for while working with the colors and textures of my next collection.
A real treasure.

There are many varieties of flowers presented here in beautiful and detailed images. Very little text accompanies the images, but enough to chase down further if other information is needed. It is the images which are the prime focus -- and rightly so.

If I could wish for anything, it would be for more. And more. The design makes me wonder about why each specific flower/composition was chosen, and how many were not. I tend to want to see groupings and images that elaborate on one another.

Receiving this book is like being given a gorgeous and lasting bouquet.

This is a beatiful book with extreme close-ups of many different types of flowers. The large size also is a plus so that each image looks grand and brilliant.

I just gave this book to my mother, who paint flowers, and she just love it. A lot of excelent models for painting.

The problem I've seen with technical books is that either they are in tutorial/textbook format which includes lessons and then review questions at the end of each chapter, or they are purely reference type books ideal for looking up things on occasion and not really good for a beginner to learn the subject matter. This book was the first one I felt that was ideal in both textbook form as well as a reference book for looking things up.

The chapters were basic enough for the beginner to grasp the material, and the lessons were rife with hands-on examples which I thought was the best part. I like to try things out as I go through the lessons and so the material was very useful for me.

The printing of the material was interesting and draws the reader into the subject, important notes and pitfalls are highlighted between the text to avoid the paragraphs from becoming too long and drawn out. The writer's diction is sometimes humorous to avoid the reader from losing interest.

The book is kind of bulky and thick so as a consequence of regular use, the glue based binding gave way somewhere in the middle of the book so when I open it, the first half of the book is attched merely by a shred to the second half, so I have to be careful now when I lookup things in it. I wouldn't trade this book for anything.

I have never taken any instructional classes on Perl scripting and can safely say that everything I know about Perl scripting I've learned from this book. That being said I am able to write fairly sophisticated perl scripts and have the ability to understand fairly obfuscated perl code without difficulty. I use perl as a very strong and useful tool in my day to day tasks for scripting and text processing needs and I often dazzle and amaze my colleagues at work with the tricks I'm able to pull off by using perl scripting and I owe it all to this book.

In short, I give two enthusiastic thumbs up for this book and the 5 star rating that I gave this book was merely due to the amazon limitation on the number of stars you can give in your review.

I started learning Perl two years ago. I first browsed libraries, free tutorials, news groups etc... It was nice for the beginning but soon enough I understood that's not the way :)

I started looking around for good Perl books and somehow got to this one. I think I can clearly say, that this book did the work. Teached me Perl from the ground up. I'm now planning on buying "MySQL and mSQL" to start working with databases. I also consider buying "Mastering Algorithms With Perl" & "Programming Web Graphics with Perl & GNU Software".

Anyway, if you want to start learning Perl, buy this book. I also use it as a reference.

The book is a good and detailed tutorial for all novices who want to learn Perl. No hit around the bush stuff and the chapters were well thought of. Credit should be given to the author and the publishing group for these helpful information. The Source codes on the CD-Rom comes handy when when you want to test out the sample codes in the book. The questions at the end of each chapter is a good revision after scanning the chapter. I strongly recommend those who want to learn Perl to get a copy of this book as their first book.

After the Camel book, of course. This book is very well paced with well thought out examples. I needed it as a refresher last year, and now use it as a reference.

The only down side is that the Web Based interactive segment is no longer available. not a big deal since it's the same quizes as in the book, but there was a gee-whiz, isn't it fun factor to have it available online.

This book covers everything from soup to nuts. It starts the learner off slowly with the basic perl syntax and then smoothly moves into subroutines, OOP, DBI modules, Security, etc. all with the same interesting and amusing style.

I don't know if it's mentioned in the Editorial review, but the author is the Editor of The Perl Journal (www.tpj.com) which is a magazine devoted to the perl programming language. So Jon Orwant *knows* his topic.

I've read and use most of the Perl books out on the market today, but none comes close to getting you going well with Perl as does Jon Orwant's book. I still use it as a reference today, but it is the best any money can buy for learning Perl. I'm back buying another copy because I loaned mine to a friend and I miss it so much that I want to make sure I'll always have a copy handy. My old copy is so well worn that a fresh copy is enticing also. As for extras in the book: the quizzes are great for testing your understanding, and someone has done a great job at proofreading this book -- I don't know whether that person is at the Waite Group or is Jon himself, but I know that anytime I have questioned an answer, or a script, or anything in the book I have always found the book to be accurate on closer inspection. It is very much like the Camel Book in being authoritative -- what Jon says is Perl Gospel Truth - if I had to pick two Perl books, I'd pick this one for learning and the Camel Book for ultimate reference. Jon's book should be rated a 5 and a half star - this is the best that it ever gets!