Ward Books


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

Ward
Seven Days
Published in Paperback by Lady Leo Publishing (2005-10-03)
Author: Sammie Ward
List price: $13.95
New price: $10.29
Used price: $24.99

Average review score:

"...A page turning read...full of dirty deals, infidelity and hidden agendas."
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-04-11
"The intriguing novel 7 Days by Sammie Ward delivers a page turning read about murder and suspense exposing political life and the shadiness that can be found."

"There are only seven days until Lieutenant Colonel Victor Sexton's retirement from the Army Criminal Investigation Division becomes official. His dreams about living a simple life are about o become a reality. He's looking forward to beginning the second phase of his life. Unfortunately a series of events changes his plans. "

"First of all a previous acquaintance re-enters his life and several murders occur which draws him into an investigation that uncovers information that forces Victor to question the motives of those whom he thought he could trust."

"Sammie Ward does a remarkable job pulling readers into this dynamic story full of dirty deals, infidelity, and hidden agendas. Ward's ability to capture the reader with her well developed characters will keep your eyes glued to the pages of this compelling story."

Drama, Suspense, Political Intrigue - What More Can You Ask For?
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-09-06
Lieutenant Colonel Victor Sexton is not a complicated man. He likes things simple; so simple, in fact, that after his retirement from the Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID), he's looking forward to settling into a low-key life of co-managing the Cadence Supper Club, a local nightclub owned by his brother, Gerald. Other prospects, such as a career in politics, tempt Victor, but he's resolved to getting some much-needed rest after a long life of service and sacrifice. All he has to do is wait seven days, and his dreams of a new life finally become a reality.

Suddenly, a series of events erupt in quick succession that threaten the cherished stability and simplicity that Victor craves. First, he unexpectedly re-enters the life of the lovely Captain Dominique Frazier, officer in the Army Nurses Corp, with whom he had a brief but torrid affair over three years ago. Next, a series of suspicious murders involving Victor's friends and close associates disturbs the peaceful, ordered life to which he's become accustomed. Finally, as he investigates the murders further, the hidden truths that he reveals cast shadows of doubt on those he has grown to trust, and he becomes an increasingly dangerous threat - most especially to his own life.

7 Days is a fast-paced and enjoyable read. The dialogue is crisp, the action quite satisfying, and Ward does an excellent job of crafting a compelling storyline, capturing the realities of back-room deals and the many other unsavory truths of political life. With each new plot twist, she leaves you with just enough questions to keep your interest at such a high level that it often feels as though you can't turn the pages fast enough.

Moreover, 7 Days differs from many of its relatives in the suspense/thriller genre because of its true heart: by displaying the concomitant agony that Victor endures as each of the tough decisions that he has to make places further strain on his personal and professional relationships, Ward gives us the true embodiment of a hero: physically and spiritually conflicted, yet resolved to do what's right for a cause greater than his own. His determination to persevere until true justice is served wins Victor your constant admiration and respect and keeps you silently cheering for him to overcome increasingly tougher obstacles.

Look out for more great works by Sammie Ward. Her versatility in interweaving such divergent themes as political intrigue, infidelity, and ghosts from the past makes her a superb writer to watch.

What can happen in Seven (7) Days?
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2005-12-03
Sammie Ward masterfully draws the reader in a fast-pace, page turner that spins a web of intrigue, murder, and suspense. This lethal combination with romance will leave you wanting more than Seven Days!

(RAW Rating: 4.5) - The past comes back to haunt
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-11-22
SEVEN DAYS by Sammie Ward is a mystery involving military personnel and murder in the Officer's Quarters. Lt. Col. Victor Sexton had a week left in the military before retiring when the murder of a female Lieutenant occurred in her quarters on base. There was no one around at the time of the crime except her married lover's wife, who had followed them. Sexton wasn't interested in her story about seeing another man on the scene. Sexton saw it as a way to take the pressure off. Meanwhile, a former commander's wife set him up with a blind date. He wasn't very interested, but because of his relationship with the commander who now a senator, he agreed to go. The blind date, Dominique, wasn't interested in him either, that is until she saw him. He was the same man she had a two week affair with two years ago which abruptly ended when he left Germany and didn't tell her as much as good-bye. She also had a vested interest in solving the mystery of the murdered woman because she was a nurse under her command. Soon another nurse died in a very similar way and Sexton knew he must solve this case before the killer got Dominique. The pressure was on.

Sammie Ward created a mystery with a lot of tension, hot romantic scenes and hidden agendas. The characters were well developed and the plot kept the suspense going until the end. There was even suspense in the rekindled affair between Victor and Dominique. Would they succeed this time or was Dominique still too angry at his abrupt departure two years ago? It was a real page turner that I couldn't put down until the last word. It was an excellent read for those who love mystery entwined with romance. You got plenty of both in this excellent book.

Reviewed by Alice Holman
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

Seven Days Left
Helpful Votes: 10 out of 10 total.
Review Date: 2007-05-17
Seven Days by Ms. Sammie Ward, tells us the story of Colonel Victor Sexton. He has served sixteen years in the United States Army and is due to retire in just seven days. As Victor prepares for life as a civilian, a nurse is found dead in her room. As Victor's last assignment in the Criminal Investigation Division, he is determined to find her killer before his retirement.

Along with investigating the murder of Lieutenant Tamara Hill, Victor tries to win back the affection of Captain Dominique Frazier. A woman that he spent two wonderful weeks with in Europe a few years back, before he was unexpectedly called away on duty. After Dominique gets transferred near Victor, he is convinced that fate brought them back together. Dominique, hurt from his sudden departure, refuses to accept that she still has feelings for Victor and continues to push him away.

Seven Days is a good book to curl up to on a rainy day or any day. This is a fast-paced mystery that will have you wondering whodunit all the way to the end.

Reviewed by Shaquitta Leday
APOOO BookClub

Ward
Simply Live It Up : Brief Solutions
Published in Paperback by Purposeful Pr (1995-06-01)
Authors: Teri-E Belf and Charlotte Ward
List price: $16.95
New price: $6.85
Used price: $2.00
Collectible price: $16.95

Average review score:

Your Identity vs. Your Infinite Self
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2003-11-25
Belf and Ward offer a way to grasp a personal growth concept that can be difficult to understand. At least, I know I struggle with it. Chapter 13 dives right into a good description of a difficult paradox -- squaring the concrete "identity" of who we are with the abstract "infinity" of our spirituality. If you want to get anything done, one has to set limits, create structures, and define boundaries. That's often difficult if one takes a broader view such that "letting go" is paramount so that those details don't matter. Cultivating the ability to dance between the two paradoxical partners of identity and infinite self opens the world to incredible richness.

I now have the tools to get out of stuck places
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 1996-01-26
I now have tools to get me out of stuck places and a framework for managing my life from a wholistic perspective. Tina Anderson, Management Consultant, U.S. Arm

Now I can make magic
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 1996-01-26
I have been depending upon magic, now I can make magic. C. White, President, Management Support Systems, Internationa

Practical tips for a better life
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 1997-11-29
I've recommended this book to all of our clients and customers because it gives you things you can do today to easily make your life better. I particularly enjoyed their chapter on the PhotoReading whole mind system which tells you how to read books at remarkable speeds with heightened comprehension. And if you ever have questions, both authors are very responsive to mail and telephone calls. It is obvious that they live what they teach.

The Joys of Life
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2002-08-17
Simply Live It Up gives each of us an opportunity to fine tune our living space which includes family and friends since they are in our realm of daily activities. I followed the simple steps in this book and my life has been more wonderful each day with better communication within famiy and friends, with greater abundance of love and acceptance coming into our life each and every day. I now bring all of this to my clients.
These were my goals and I am meeting them every day.
The fine tuning can come in different ways but once you have your Purpose combined with your Values and Beliefs, you can only imagine the wonders that will liven up your life to give you more of your time to do and enjoy things and people you want.

Ward
Ten Redneck Babies: A Southern Counting Book
Published in Hardcover by Pelican Publishing Company (2004-09)
Author: David Davis
List price: $15.95
New price: $9.64
Used price: $7.02

Average review score:

This book is adorable .
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-05-11
I think this book is adorable and I love the fact that "rednecks" can have a laugh at themselves. I'm sure there are those that would say this book is politically incorrect.....but I don't agree. The two little kids ages 2 and 3 that I read it to loved it!

Precious Book!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2006-07-30
This book was recommended at a recent math workshop I attended. It provides great counting fun for young children. It is truly a southern book that mixes southern culture with math. No kindergarten classroom should be without.

Ten Redneckbabies
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2005-08-30
An absolute delight! Thank you so much, it is the perfect new baby gift!

Adorable!!!
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2005-11-27
This book is so cute. I am going to buy it for all my friends who are having babies. A very cute book. A nice baby present to tuck in with all the other gifts.

I can't resist a baby
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2004-09-17
A most adorable counting book, lending its southern hospitality, while counting up to ten and back again. Ten Redneck Babies tug at your heart as they shinnie up magnolia trees, gobble down Moon Pies, and lap up buttered grits. The rollickin' verse, accompanied with the extraordinary illustrations makes this book a must read. You will to gather up 'Sounthern Humor and hospitality' that will suggest you read this book over and over again. Whether you're chompin' on watermelon or spending your time trying to treed a possum, this book will stand out in your library and make you know that's it's hard to beat 'Southern Charm'.

Ward
The Tin Forest
Published in Paperback by Puffin (2003-10-13)
Author: Helen Ward
List price: $7.99
New price: $3.98
Used price: $3.50

Average review score:

A Touching Work
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2002-02-09
The story is touching and the illustrations are haunting. The ethos of the old man, to make something out of seemingly nothing, is a wonderful trait that many would be lucky to emulate. The language is poetic and the artwork striking. I would recommend this book to be part of any school library collection for its content, language, images and message.

Beautiful, spare, and haunting
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2002-07-16
I was drawn into this book the first time by the beautifully intricate illustrations. It has a dark, lonely feel to it, and reminds me somewhat of Maurice Sendak's work (especially the work of Dear Mili). On a second read, I enjoyed how the text is spare and achingly poetic. It's just a gorgeous, gorgeous book.

teacher review
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2002-04-16
I used this book in a 3rd grade class as the last lesson in a rainforest unit and it worked wonderfully well. After reading the story, the students loved doing a picture walk of the beautiful illustrations and noticed many interesting things about them not obvious from the first perusal.

Let your dreams run wild!
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2002-05-30
The Tin Forest is recommended for readers from 4-8, but this book, to me, is a wonderful book for all ages. The story teaches the lesson of hanging onto one's dream, of not letting it go, of nourishing it, tending to it, until it indeed sprouts leaves and blossoms into a life of its own. The old man constantly held onto his dream, and never gave up what he wanted to achieve. He had hope and that hope spurred him on. The forest he constantly dreamed of became a reality.

He lived in forgotten place, where he was surrounded by trash and objects that others once wanted, but no longer did. He tirelessly cleared away the trash, organized it, and dreamed at night of his forest with wild animals and lush flowers. One day, the idea came to him of making his own forest, if one was not going to spout up amidst all of the garbage. He made a forest of "things", a forest of tin, fashioned only after his own imagination and the books he devoured each night. He made trees, and flowers, and plants and the wild creatures that would inhabit his forest. Then one day, a visitor arrived in the form of a colorful bird, eating the crumbs the old man gave him, and singing his thanks back to the man. Sadly, the bird left the next morning, which left the old man very lonely.

Yet, the next day, the old man awoke to the melody of his visitor and his mate. They brought seeds to plant and decided to make their home here, in the tin forest. Soon, green shoots sprouted, flowers bloomed and various wild animals came to the forest to make their home. . . . "And in the house lived an old man who never stopped dreaming."

This book is just precious and the illustrations are just as wonderful and precious. I absolutely LOVED this book! A wonderful tale of teaching children that nothing is beyond their grasp.

"There was once a wide, windswept place . . . . but where there is a dream, hope can grow."

Imagination Makes Your Dreams Come True.....
Helpful Votes: 8 out of 8 total.
Review Date: 2002-01-30
"There was once a wide, windswept place near nowhere and close to forgotten, that was filled with all the things that no one wanted. Right in the middle was a small house, with small windows, that looked out on other people's garbage and bad weather. In the house lived an old man..." The old man had a big dream. Every night when he went to bed, he dreamed he lived in a lush, wonderful forest, full of exotic plants, flowers, and trees, wild animals, and beautiful birds. But each morning when he woke up, nothing had changed. Then one day he noticed a broken light fixture, and realized how much it looked like a flower, and an idea began to bloom. Soon all the trash, garbage, and bent metal pieces began to take shape as the old man created his own "tin forest", just the way he remembered it in his mind. And then one day, a beautiful bird landed on one of his tin branches..... Helen Ward and Wayne Anderson have authored an engaging and whimsical story, with a gentle message, that won't be lost on young readers. Ms Ward's simple, lyrical, yet eloquent text is full of imagery and magic, and beautifully complemented by Mr Anderson's evocative and detailed artwork that blooms from dull sad grays to vibrant gold and warm, joyful colors. Together word and art will send little imaginations soaring as the old man's dream becomes real. Perfect for youngsters 4-8, The Tin Forest is a masterpiece to treasure and share, and a reminder that with imagination and hope, all your dreams can come true.

Ward
Ant and Bee and the ABC (Ant & Bee)
Published in Hardcover by William Heinemann Ltd (1989-04)
Authors: Angela Banner and Bryan Ward
List price: $7.95
Used price: $95.71
Collectible price: $75.00

Average review score:

Ant and Bee
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2003-11-08
When I was 10 I was lucky enough to travel to Great Britain with my parents.On one of our excursions there,we entered a bookstore, because I had seen an Ant and Bee book.My mother bought it for me. Now at 36 years I still cherish it.So does my four year old daughter.I could not believe how much these cute little books go for now.I guess Ill be holding on to mine!!!

Sincerely
Carola Sosinsky,Wi,USA

A book your child will love over and over again
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 1998-12-05
Our first experience with Ant and Bee was in 1975 when my own grandmother bought Ant and Bee ABC for my daughter. It soon became a book that I read many times a day, in fact I have it memorized to this day. We have a favourite family story that we still laugh about today. My father came over to our house when our daughter was 18 months old. She sat in her grandfathers lap and of course wanted him to read her favourite book, "Ant and Bee ABC". As he began to read, our daughter suddenly took over and began saying the words to the book, word for word. My father jumped up and came running into the kitchen. "She can read!!" my father announced. "She is a genius!! We should put her on TV." We began to laugh so hard that we could barely speak. Our daughter had memorized this book word for word by the time she was 18 months old. You should have seen my father! It was a moment to remember forever. Thank you Ant and Bee books.

One of my favorite series of all time!
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2004-12-08
I can't sing the praises of Ant and Bee loud enough. I loved them as a young child in the mid 70's. Luckily, I held on to five of the books. (Ant and Bee and the ABC's, Ant and Bee and the Rainbow, Ant and Bee Go Shopping, Around the World with Ant and Bee, and Ant and Bee Tell Time) Unfortunately, seeing how much they are now worth (not that I'd sell), they were loved a little too much. My three year old daughter loves saying "Naughty Mommy" whenever we read a page with some "additional" artwork.
I can't quite put my finger on what makes these so magical, but the illustrations are a big part of it. I used to just stare at the pictures....the variety of ways Ant and Bee travel the world, the Shopping Center they shop at, the three-legged race at the zoo, their teacup home, etc. The stories were simple yet interesting. Repetitive but not irritating. Full of friendship and fun. And I must add, the image of Ant and Bee sitting on their make-believe rainbow as day turns to night is one of the sweetest children's book moments ever. Please publishers re-release these. They are a gold mine.

Ant and Bee and the ABC
Helpful Votes: 9 out of 9 total.
Review Date: 1999-12-06
As a kindergarten teacher, and a fan of the Ant and Bee series from the time I was a little girl, I highly recommend these stories. I have vivid memories of my grandmother reading me the stories, and now my kindergartners love them as well. They are quite new to my students, but they love the characters, drawings, vivid imagery and repetition. They often "read" them during our free choice time. Of course, they now want me to add to my collection, so I'm working on it!

Wonderful to be able to find these classic books still
Helpful Votes: 9 out of 9 total.
Review Date: 1999-07-25
I could hardly believe that the Ant & Bee books were still available. A neighbour lent my two young children some of her's which her (now) adult children had as toddlers. My children have become obsessed with reading them on a daily basis. They have been wonderful for building my five year old's confidence with her solo reading. I urge the publishers to consider reprinting the whole series. Believe me there is a new generation of readers itching to get their fingers on the Ant & Bee books!

Ward
Bad Behavior, People Problems and Sticky Situations: A Toolbook for Managers and Team Leaders
Published in Paperback by Winding Creek Press (2002-06)
Author: Gregg Ward
List price: $19.95
New price: $6.02
Used price: $6.02
Collectible price: $19.99

Average review score:

Practical tools for everyone
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2002-12-17
Mr. Ward's book is pleasantly free of theory and psychobabble and, instead, provides sound, practical guidance for dealing with the challenging people and situations that often trip us up. The "tools" section is especially helpful in providing specific solutions to a well-selected range of issues. Kudos to Mr. Ward for giving us what we need most -- practical tools for all levels of employees.

A Perfect Primer
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2002-09-06
This book was great! Practical applications for problems all of us in business encounter on a regular basis. I would recommend this book to every manager as a guide to handling those bad behaviors, problem people and sticky situations which, if you haven't had to deal with, you most certainly will. The case studies will be a great source of training for the rookies in my company and I think every training department should look at this as a 'basic' text for new supervisors and managers! Great book and great information.

Workable Solutions
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2002-08-27
This book provides managers with excellent, clear advice that is useful when seeking to remedy staff-related issues. A basic premise of this book is the application of workable solutions that ensure the on-going success of both managers and staff alike. The earlier sections address the basic principles of staff management and leadership while the latter sections provide case studies that are pragmatic, relevant, and readily applicable. The index is well constructed readily guiding the reader to those sections that are most pertinent for resolving specific issues. The material reads well and is logically presented. Gregg's writing style is energetic, candid, and to the point. I recommend this book to all who lead and manage staff.

Robert J. Makar, Principal, Booz Allen Hamilton
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2002-08-26
This book provides managers with excellent, clear advice that is useful when seeking to remedy staff issues. A basic premise of this book is the application of workable solutions that ensure the on-going success of both managers and staff alike. The earlier sections address the basic principles of staff management and leadership while the latter sections provide case studies that are pragmatic, relevant, and readily applicable. The material reads well and is logically presented. Gregg's writing style is energetic, candid, and to the point. Finally, the index is well constructed to guide the reader to those sections that are most pertinent for resolving specific issues. I recommend this book to all who lead or manage staff.

Susan Lindsay, University of California
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2002-08-14
A valuable read for all employees. An opportunity to target your communication shortcomings in the workplace and respond at a higher level for more satisfying results.

Ward
The Bride of the Wilderness
Published in CD-ROM by Blackstone Audiobooks, Inc. (2008-05-01)
Author: Charles McCarry
List price: $29.95
New price: $18.67

Average review score:

THIS BOOK WILL KEEP YOU UP LATE INTO THE NIGHT!!
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2004-01-21
Bride starts the saga of the Christopher family which Mr. McCarry has written about in his other novels. If you like a book about adventure, family and love, this book is the book for you!! It takes you back in time and deposits you there where the sheer beauty and explosiveness of Mr. McCarry's writting will keep you for many hours!! You will miss these characters when the book is over and if you are like me, that is how you measure how good a book is!! Read this book, you will not be let down!!

extremely vivid
Helpful Votes: 5 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2004-05-14
This book is one that will consume you. It is a haunting tale, amazingly well researched, and with a very uncommon story line. Follow the wealth of characters and their almost dickensian development, each more vivid than the last. Fanny, although the central character, is merely the path to carry the reader through one experience to the next. This book has many dark angles ,often inherent with this level of tangibility. The contrast to your more typical novel only amplifies the life that literally courses through this book. It is well worth the time. But be warned ,it sticks with you, for better or for worse.

If I Had To Choose One Book. . .
Helpful Votes: 6 out of 7 total.
Review Date: 2001-05-28
. . . to take to a desert island, this would be the one. Bride starts the saga of the Christopher family and if you like adventure, espionage AND a story of faithful love rewarded, this book will surprise and please you on every page. You will be stunned by the sheer beauty and power of the writing and when you turn the last page, you will wish there was that much more.

a wonderful book
Helpful Votes: 8 out of 8 total.
Review Date: 2001-05-17
McCarry was able to bring actual events of late 17th century English and American history to vivid life and his research into the time period is thorough. For example, I believe that he used actual events like the cold and snowy February 1690 night attack by French and Indians on present day Schenectady and the extraordinary escape of Mrs Hannah Dustin from her Abenaki captors, for the fictional attack on Alamoth and the manner of Rose Barebones escape from the Abenakis. His dreamy writing style lends itself to the way Fanny, his main character, sleep-walks through life, as if she and the virgin forests of America are waiting to be awoken to reality. This book is something which one seldom sees on the shelves of bookstores these days: it is exciting, thrilling, romantic in the grand manner of true romance (the worth of true patient love), as well as giving the average reader a taste of what life in America once was, a land filled with enormous trees, wild strawberries so abundant that walking through them was like walking through strawberry preserves, filled with danger and Indians who lived by a code of morals that only the French tried to understand. I highly recommend this book!

Unusual Adventure Story
Helpful Votes: 9 out of 9 total.
Review Date: 2005-07-14
I nearly didn't read this book because I thought it was a romance and didn't feel in the mood for that particular genre.

Despite my intentions of passing it on to a friend, I opened it up and decided to just read a few pages -- I'm SO glad I did! Once I started reading, I couldn't stop.

I won't try to rehash the plot as other reviews have covered it nicely, but I will add my thoughts as it's an amazingly realistic and engaging read full of adventure with extraordinary writing that pulls you in where you find yourself holding your breath, at turns horrified or astonished. I found myself pulled into another world, and I highly recommend this book.

Don't make my initial mistake of dismissing it lightly -- this is literature to be read and savored.

Ward
Cider With Rosie
Published in Hardcover by Hogarth Press (1959)
Author: Laurie Lee
List price:
Used price: $10.25

Average review score:

The Hills are Dying with the Sound of Lee
Helpful Votes: 13 out of 22 total.
Review Date: 1999-11-25
I happen to live in the Cotswolds, the setting for this beautiful book, this Monet of literature. And, complying with the below reviews, I have to say that Stroud has become a concrete river, choked with litter, sidelined with Burger Stars, neon lights; a MacDonalds is in the blue print stages. Hills are lined with new developments. It's like, and I quote my mother, "A disease is spreading."

Yet there are places untouched by Americanisms, consumerism, electricity (and here I apologise, as this becomes less of a review, more an account of personal experience). But there are still rivers afloat with leaves, valleys deep that welcome sunsets. They frost the sky in winter, burn it by summer.

"There's beauty in decay," as someone said. Haven't got a clue who. But there you go. Although dying of shallow needs and commercial interests, snippets of the old way can be found. And in all their glory, too.

A beautiful piece of work.
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2004-09-26
A book to read & re-read. Finely crafted & evocative of a now long ago & far away time and place.

On my Top Ten List.
Helpful Votes: 22 out of 23 total.
Review Date: 1999-08-09
This book was required reading during my childhood and, of course, I couldn't have dragged myself more slowly through it. How wise we become with age. This is an astonishing book. Lee is such a master of description that, after only a few pages, you slowly start to smell the fresh country air and hear the languid sounds of summer as you are inescabably drawn into the world of his childhood - a world that you realize has already faded into the mists of history. But this special time has not been lost - it has been captured forever in this irreplacable series of pictures. The people in these stories become more real than seems possible with only pen and ink: his characterizations are as clever as anything by Dickens or Dostoevski, and he catches the very essence of the sights, sounds and people around him with a charm unmatched by any other English writer. But this is not a story-book universe: the people in his young life have all the frailty, vanity, delight and tragedy that you would expect in any small community - but what other has been crystallized with such talent and wisdom. A wonderful work of art.

one of my favorite books
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2006-05-04
There should be more than five stars for books like this one. All the reviewers who wrote about how poetic yet concrete, magical yet real this account of boyhood in the Cotswolds have said it much better than I can. It is pure magic. I wish it was 20 times as long. You might also find this book under the title "The Edge of Day". If you loved "Cider With Rosie" you might also enjoy "Lark Rise to Candleford", "The Golden Evenings of Summer" and the movie "A Christmas Story".

Rooted in the fertile English Cotswolds of the 1920's
Helpful Votes: 5 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 1999-08-03
Rooted in the earth and shining with long gone summers and freezing winters this is a beautiful and poignant flower of a book. Written in a sensuous and lyrical poetic prose it tells the story of the authors's boyhood in the Cotswolds of the West of England. Spinning round the great orb of his clutter-minded and loving mother are his sisters and wider village life. There is Illness, murder, private sorrow, boiling summer and frozen winter and finally the running down of the feudal clock as long awaited change comes to the valley. A book, more even - a place to be visited again and again...

Ward
The Collected Stories
Published in Hardcover by Secker & Warburg (1984-08-06)
Author: Colette
List price:
Used price: $68.14

Average review score:

Amazing Writer
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-05-28
God, I love these short stories. These are a must, must read for anyone interested in France during this time period, and someone interested in the nuances of human relationships. Colette was given as a gift to me some 20 years ago, and I have reread these stories so many times, the book is falling apart.

superb
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 7 total.
Review Date: 2003-08-11
Her short stories are superb! Much much better than any of her novels. If you like short stories, try reading John O'hara (A completely different vein, but excellent also).

A full life
Helpful Votes: 23 out of 24 total.
Review Date: 2003-05-28
The Collected Stories of Colette by Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette, ed., and with an introduction by, Robert Phelps. Highly recommended.

According to the introduction, this collection represents 100 stories taken from a dozen volumes published during Colette's lifetime. They are categorised as "Early Stories," Backstage at the Music Hall," "Varieties of Human Nature," and "Love." Some, like the Clouk/Chéri stories, appear to be fiction, while many, like "The Rainy Moon" and "Bella-Vista," seem to be taken straight from Colette's varied life and acquaintances.

Whether writing fiction or chronicling fact, whether writing in the third-person omniscient or in the first person, Colette herself is always a character-rarely as an influencer, that is, one whose actions or choices drive the plot. Colette's preferred role is as observer-and it is one for which she is well suited.

An inveterate sensualist and a former music-hall performer, Colette integrates her characters (real and fictional) with everything around them-their clothes (costumes), their abodes, dressing rooms, and haunts (sets), and their neighborhoods and towns (theatres). Much of Colette's writing, no matter how mundane the surface subject, is about art-the art of living and, notably, the art of loving. In "My Goddaughter," the subject tells her godmother how she injured herself with scissors and a curling iron and recounts her mother's reaction. "She said that I had ruined her daughter for her! She said, 'What have you done with my beautiful hair which I tended so patiently? . . . And that cheek, who gave you permission to spoil it! . . . I've taken years, I've spent my days and nights, trembling over this masterpiece. . . ."

Colette is attuned to everything, every sense, every nuance. "A faint fragrance did indeed bring to my nostrils the memory of various scents which are at their strongest in autumn." ("Gibriche") ". . . set in a bracelet, which slithered between her fingers like a cold and supple snake." ("The Bracelet") " . . . the supper of rare fruits, an[d]of ice water sparkling in the thin glasses, as intoxicating as champagne . . ." ("Florie") "Peroxided hair, light-colored eyes, white teeth, something about her of an appetizing but slightly vulgar young washerwoman." ("Gitanette")

Colette does not pretend to be an objective observer of human behaviour; she does not hesitate to express to the reader her weariness with certain individuals or situations, and her stories of her vain, pretentious, overbearing friend Valentine reveal her jaded and waning affection. She knows this woman so well that she sees her almost as Valentine sees herself-a drama queen acting out stories, roles, and games without depth of feeling for them. "What Must We Look Like?" becomes Valentine's driving philosophy, to which Colette responds with "a mild, a kindly pity." In "The Hard Worker," Colette says, "I can see she does not hate him, but I cannot see she loves him either." What Colette sees-and does not see-is to be respected.

Some stories, such as "The Sick Child," are vivid and imaginative and reveal Colette's amazing ability to think and dream like a gifted child. "The Advice," with its mundane beginning and premise and twisted, horrifying ending would enhance any collection of gothic or mystery tales. Other stories, like "Gibriche," several of the other music-hall stories, and "Bella-Vista," tackle topics that even today remain controversial. "Bella-Vista," in which Colette's moods seem to wane with every familiarity achieved with her hostesses, offers an ending that is heavily foreshadowed throughout but is surprising and gruesome nonetheless.

Most of the stories, whether fiction or nonfiction, seem to come from life in one way or another. The quantity of stories and the quality of the collection reveal the incredible scope of experience of Colette, the dry, often weary yet obsessive observer, interpreter, and chronicler of human nature. As Judith Thurman says in her introduction to Colette's work, The Pure and the Impure, "This great ode to emptiness was written by a woman who felt full." As well she should.

Diane L. Schirf, 27 May 2003.

Perfect Intro to a forgotten female author's best work
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 6 total.
Review Date: 1999-07-14
If you're looking for a refreshing deviation from the mean of women writers, then Colette is it. Her stories offer a pleasurable clearing of the literary palate.

If you love Colette, these are absolute gems
Helpful Votes: 30 out of 31 total.
Review Date: 2001-05-01
Ok. You've read the Claudine novels, and Cheri and the Return of Cheri. Now what? There are other novels (The Vagabond, Gigi, My Mother's House) but there are these short stories that are "must-reads."

Colette was one of France's most distinguished writers. Though not a writer of massive books like Victor Hugo or Proust, or of psychological novels like Zola or Flaubert, she caught that French essence of individuality and quirkiness and the golden age of La Belle Epoque before World War One changed France forever. Her books are pure joy as are these short stories. If you have NOT read Colette, you are in for a treat. (And don't neglect Claudine or Cheri. )

Ward
"I'll Have What She's Having''
Published in Paperback by Xlibris Corporation (2005-05-20)
Authors: Denise DiTrani and Deirdre Flanagan Ward
List price: $31.99
New price: $23.51
Used price: $23.70

Average review score:

EXCELLENT & HUMOROUS
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2006-05-10
The BEST book I've ever read. I would have said, the BEST recipe book, but it's more than a recipe book. It's like a mini adventure book along with some great tips to life and great recipes to supplement the experience.

Thoughtful, poignant and fun
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2006-03-06
"I'll Have What She's Having" is a fun-filled, pun-filled and often poignant view of two women and the journeys they have taken so far in life, both together and individually. Denise and Deirdre are perfect examples of how you have to let go of your own plans and experience life's plans that present themselves to you. You will feel like you know these women soon after you open the book and that you will want to know where their journey takes them in the future.

ENJOYABLE!!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2006-03-01
"I'll Have What She's Having" is an honest and funny story about a 20 year friendship and what life has in store. It gives just the right recipe for life and more importantly leaves you with a moral to the story...embrace your life choices, and believe in the synergy of life.

When Denise Met Deirdre
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2006-02-28
"I'll Have What She is Having" is an honest and funny story about a 20 year friendship, and what life has in store. It gives just the right recipe for life and more importantly leaves you with a moral to the story....embrace your choices in life, because "the grass is not always greener".

Fantastic!
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2006-02-27
A great book about two girls from Villanova University that each had an idea of the way they wanted their lives to go, however, they wind up following the opposite paths, and still maintain a great friendship (true story). The book is funny and interesting! A great gift idea! Great food and drink recipies!


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