Two-Year Colleges Books

I really liked this book. It was hard to put down. Robin Jones Gunn writes with such nice imagery and detail about the different locations in this book and the whole series. Since I live in California I know nearly every place she talks about in the Christy Miller series and it brings back memories when I read them. This college series starts in Europe and I found myself longing to go to Europe to see all these interesting places she talks about! I want to twirl and dance on a German hilltop just like Katie did.

I found the spiritual discussions in this book very refreshing and not trite at all. Often Christian fiction seems to add a Bible verse in here and there just to have one. RJG ties the spiritual truths and lessons into the story plot and I actually learned a lot just reading this fiction book!

For example, Christy's life direction revelation really hit me hard because I am going through a similar situation as a college student. Katie's comparison problem also really applied to my life and taught me some valuable Bible verses to remember in times of low self esteem.

Like other reviewers said, the one "weakness" (makes it hard to read anyway, not bad writing) is Christy's selfishness. I found myself feeling guilty reading about Christy's whining about camping and messing up plans since I am also very much a girly-girl who doesn't like to get dirty and I like to have everything organized and planned. But when Christy started her internal rants at Katie for just being there when she wanted to have alone time with Todd, I got angry at her. It was Katie's vacation too! Just because Christy wanted time to spend with Todd doesn't mean she had to blame it on Katie and be so cruel (at least in her thoughts). If I was Katie, I would feel really hurt if I knew what Christie was thinking about me!

Anyhow, this was a great book aside from Christy's selfishness and if you liked the Christy Miller series then I recommend it highly~! I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

Robin Gunn does a great job of speaking to young people through fiction.
The College Years wrap up all Christy and Todd have gone through and grown in age and spiritually, since they meet in high school.

Great Stories.

Donna

I remember being in high school and being addicted to trashy romance novels. It was a time before I knew Christ and I didnt have much faith in him or anything else. Now, in my mid-twenties, I happened to pick this up at a used book store and read it in one day. It is the kind of lasting romance I was looking for when I was younger and I found that even now, married and having a relationship with Christ, I was able to learn some things from the book. It quoted scripture, put it into perspective and provided me with a romance that could only be conveyed in paper. I am going to pass it on to a young woman in my church and hopefully she'll enjoy it as fully as I did.

The reason for the low rating is that Christy's whiny, infantile attitude and behavior overshadows what could have otherwise been an memorable trek around Europe. As Christy's character progresses throughout the series--my view may not be popular there--it is evident that for portraying herself as a strong Christian, her immature behavior proves otherwise. She's just not a likable young woman. Her "poor me" demeanor and overly possessive attitude of Todd is enough to try your patience! I prefer truly strong Christian role models for girls like Christy's friend Katie Weldon (who has the patience of a saint to put up with Christy's nonsense all those years) and Sierra Jensen. I'd go on a trip with Katie and Sierra any day, even one minute with Christy Miller is enough to require a sedative Another thing, prominent throughout the series is Christy's constant disregard for her parents and family; not to mention taking them for granted. If she is as strong a Christian as she claims, she's forgetting one of God's most important commandments: Honor your father and your mother.

Alright people, this is a review for the entire Christy Series..... which was a serious letdown. Christy obviously has some issues. She likes some boy who after several months of no communication sends her a coconut. I'm still trying to figure that one out. If some boy did that he'd get a swift whack across the face. Also... Every time Christy seems to grow in God, all of a sudden she starts whining again. After 3 books of this you get sick of it. Every time Todd does something with another girl she freaks out big time. (Though Todd is kind of a flirt). She needs to get a life. She's a slight spaz. Every time something happens to her that is out of the box, or her routine, she has a hernia. In Europe, Wow. Camping for her was definitely a disaster. Skip these books and read some Bad Girls of the Bible, Linda Chaikin, Liz Curtis Higgs, Linda Windsor etc.

This has become my favorite Christy Miller book!
I read the whole regular series when she was in high school when I was 13/14 and liked it then but rereading it now at college age was a little disappointing. They are similar and teenage Christy can be annoying at times. But I've enjoyed reading Robin Gunn's college series for Christy; Christy is slightly more mature and her romance with Todd is definitely more adult and less naive.

I really identify with everything Christy goes through, all her decisions she has to make and her viewpoints on aspects of college life really resonate with me since I am going through the same situations. Either Robin remembers college very well or did her research!

I also love how she incorporated Sierra, Katie and all the characters from her Sierra Jensen Series and her Christy Miller Series, even 1 primary character from her book "Departures".

I highly recommend this book to older and college age Christy Miller fans.

I loved this book to pieces. Christy struggles with saying 'I love you' to Todd, because she isn't sure of her love for him. She makes a sudden revelation that Todd is 'the one' and feels she is confident to say those three little words, until a tragic event happens, changing Todd and Christy's life forever. Christy is having a hard time finding when she can confess that to her beloved, especially when the life-altering accident occurs. Christy and Todd both grow closer to the Lord, and Todd discovers that it is his calling to work in the church. Christy helps, and discovers she is in her element as well. The very end is beautifully written, and wonderfully romantic and sweet, which is another event that changes both Todd and Christy's life forever. Grab the Kleenex box, the end will have you wiping your eyes.

I think these books are the best I've ever read! Once you pick it up, don't expect to put it down anytime soon!! I've read them over and over, and still love them. They're clean, focused on God, and have a sweet romance in them. I also recommend the Christy Miller series.

You won't want to miss these books!!!
~Hope

I was very happy with the shipping time and condition of the book. It actually arrived before the date given to me, so I was very pleased. I would definitely buy again.

I just finished this book and loooove it! It is sooo awesome how Christy and Todd work things out. And Todd is so creative at the end when he... oops i almost said it!! But I won't give it away! You have to read it for yourself to find out what a superb novel this is! It also helps if you have read the other books in the series first.

There are many books aimed at Christians about to begin their undergraduate years. With this notable exception, the vast majority were written by people who are old enough to be these freshmen's parents. Or grandparents. The Yates brothers finished up their college careers in '96 and '98, and began the writing process for this book while they were still in school. They remember the idiosyncracies of student life because they are fresh out of college. They tackle issues like managing your time and money, choosing classes, churches and fellowship groups and coming home, giving wise advice with a personal touch... like an older sibling or a dear friend would. I was also impressed with the way they tried to make the book applicable to students no matter what type of college they would be attending-- large or small, public or private, secular or Christian. A wise investment, especially for students without an older sibling figure to guide them through the process of adjusting to college life.

Chris Yates actually mailed me this book so that I could relate it to may own college experience, which I am experiencing right now. Much of what is discussed and dealt with here is truly what typical college students who seek a religious element in college experience throughout their years. What I like the best is how the book underscores how to maintain Christian faith in the face of so many other aspects that college affords: freedom, parties, friends, school. All of these, the Yates brothers argue, can be balanced while maintaining a good relationship with the Lord. I have found it difficult to balance all of my activities with Church, volunteering, etc., but I find that my relationship with Christ and the Church actually helps me balance these things. This book has been very instructive in the maintenance of that balance, and I am sure that it can be for many others as well. College is for figuring yourself out, above all, and this book, with the help of the Yates brothers, can help you do that. It deals with many issues that confront students in the normal course of college as well- academics, activism and activities, social life, drinking, and dating. It addresses all of these issues with a Christian yet realistic approach that I find very applicable to my own lifestyle at school. It stresses, above all, the relationships that we foster with friends, family, professors, and God during college. It is the relationships with these individuals that sustain us when we are writing those tedious mid-term papers. For many of us, college is the first time that we accept Christianity for the first time without the coercion of parents. The Four Year adventure shows us how important this acceptance can be in shaping our college experience, and making it that much richer.

This is an great read for any Christian who just graduated and is ready to move to the world of college. I am in just that situation, and I found this book very helpful. It gives good, practical advice on many aspects of college. The first part provides a foundation for what being a Christian, especially in college, really means. The second part talks about all different relationships - with God, close friends, fellowship groups, etc. The third part talks about the practical living aspects of college - money, schedules, etc. Finally, the fourth part provides tips on handling academics in a Christian manner. One of the authors of this book, John Yates, was a speaker at the FOCUS Pre-College Weekend in Martha's Vineyard this summer, and he is a very cool guy and is now in seminary. Both brothers have recently graduated at the time of the writing, and provide the real, practical advice that only recent grads can. For all these reasons, I urge any Christian who is going to college or will be soon to read this book. It will really help you prepare for the crazy world of college and how you can serve God there!!

This thorough book not only covers dozens of careers choices for two-year degree seekers, but contains information to look out for when selecting a college, the right and wrong reasons to choose a two-year college, and checklists for determining what career is best for you.

As a counselor in a Community College, I found this book to be an excellent example of ways in which our students could use their degrees. Many of the students at a two year college are not aware of what they could use their degrees for and this book helps to make them aware of their options.

I have regularly used this handy paper back math book since I was a college engineering student in 1977. I have found it to be the most useful of all of the math books that I own. It is very useful for engineers, because it has very clear and useful sections on units and dimensions, and error analysis, which are not always taught so clearly in college. It has numerous useful diagrams and concise explanations to jog your memory on basic engineering mathematics such as algebraic functions, matrices, sinusoidal functions, exponential functions, gaussian distributions, analyticial geometry, and complex numbers. It also has very concise and clear sections on both differential and intergral calculus for us engineers who don't use them all the time and need a refresher. I have worn out my copy of the book and have decided that I need to buy a new copy.

Honestly, I stopped reading it halfway through. This was one of those books that could have been great, however, it is just OK. As a parent, I am actively engaged in my kids' lives. We talk. When they come home from school we eat dinner together. Since I pay the tuition bill, I see their report card. My wife and I discuss things twice before discussing them with our kids. We strive to give the best advice possible. I just didn't feel I needed the hand holding that this book offered. (For that matter, neither did my wife.)

If you want to understand college, read a book written by a college student. Heck, read a funny, irreverent book written by a college student. This book will at least give you an idea of what it is like in the trenches, College 101: The Book Your College Does Not Want You to Read

This book has wonderful suggestions and great insight. A must for anyone wanting to help their child cope with their new environment without getting in the way. Skim the first chapter or so.I found it very helpful.

I have not read all of "Letting Go" and (as I have been overwhelmed preparing to send my child to college myself) I have not had time to. But the book has been a source of hope and perspective during the difficult time that surrounds this process of separation. I have dipped into the book as needed-- literally reading 5-page snippets that dealt with a particular issue I was facing. Knowing, for instance, that "the goodbye" might not go as planned -- with tears and Kodak moments -- was enormously helpful when...the goodbye did not go as planned.

The book was written with compassion and frankness for parents struggling with the difficulty of watching a beloved youngling launch off into a world of complexity and hard consequences. The book counsels parents on how to deal with kids when you catch them at their worst -- hung over at noon on a Sunday. It deals honestly with the fact that kids use college as a time to develop their sexual selves -- a process that involves a discomfiting amount of trial and error. The authors do not condone illicit behavior -- with sex, drugs or anything else -- but honestly observe that many young people test the rules by breaking them. I did it, you did it, they will do it -- whether right, wrong or otherwise.

"Letting Go" helps parents to keep their heads on at a time when reverting to being rule-maker is both tempting and usually wrong. Whether read cover to cover or on an "as needed" basis between crises, this book is a quite helpful and may even make the college experience bearable and even enjoyable for everyone.

This book provides excellent reminders of what it is like to be young and heading off into the adult world. The stories resonate and there are so many examples you are sure to find you and your child can relate tofits your child's personality and great tips for learning to deal with your new adult child. It also provides you, as the parent, with reassurance that when your child seems to be changing it is usually normal and ok, and if not provides suggestions for ways to help your child that he/she is likely to accept. It is also a great book for the young person going off to college to read real thoughts, concerns and successes from other young people who have recently been in their shoes. Great book

I was so trepidacious about sending my child off to college. And I work at a college! This book is great for parents that have not lived on a college campus-it explains in detail how students find things like health care and academic support, how dorm rooms are set up, and a bunch of details about what living on campus is all about and how to find support services. I did not think it was helpful in regards to dealing with the crazy stuff in my own head about how to send my child off to college with a smile on my face. Drop off day was tough-and there was not enough in the book to help me with that. From my own experience I knew how to get my kid to find an ID and her dorm, the two things she needed the most. For parents that have not lived on a college campus, you may find this helpful. For me, I am still trying to deal with the empty nest and how to be supportive from far away. If anyone can recommend a book for a single parent of a single child, I would love to check it out. The good news is my baby has been away for only 3 weeks, and we're both doing just fine (her more than me, but that's a good thing!) Getting used to the idea of this first step towards independence is hard-harder than anything else I have ever done as a parent. And I wish I knew how to prepare others for this-but it's like childbirth. No amount of reading can ever prepare you for this.

How to Survive Your Freshman Year (Hundreds of Heads Survival Guides) would have been a great graduation gift for me when I was off to college. My Freshman year was filled with more surprises and awkward situations than I would like to remember. This book lets you know about everything you need to be on the look out for, before it happens!

If you know someone who's on their way to college, this is a must have book. It gives you great advice about roommates, studying, relationships, classes and more. If it has to do with the great college experience, this book will tell you about it. And you know it's good information, because it's coming from people who have survived their own Freshman year.

Once I took a minute to adjust to the different voices and seemingly different tactics that varied from page to page of this advice book. I fell in love with it!

There is guidance for every type of Freshman entering college and this book treats each reader as an individual. One size does not fit all and this book has more than enough to fit any need.

A great overview of the complexities and variations that freshmen will face when they go away to college for the first time.

A great book!

The cover and title of this book are fun and enticing and immediately caught my eye at the bookstore - thinking of my daughter who is completing her senior year of high school. I flipped through some pages and the quotes and suggestions seemed thoughtful and interesting. When I got home, I took a closer look and noticed the chapters titled: "Going out, hooking up, dating and sex" and "Parties 101: How to have fun and be safe". I immediately flipped to these chapters to see what advice would be offered to my teen and was surprised to find - as is stated in the editorial review posted on this sight - not only mixed messages, but a real sense that drinking and hooking up were natural parts of the college experience. Of course, reality is that these things do tend to be part of the college experience, but as adults, producing books for guidance for teens, it would seem we would serve them better by presenting a message of discouraging these activities. This book does not do that. In fact, one message sent in the book is "As long as you're staying on top of your work, you're not partying too much". Hmm...not the attitude I want my daughter to learn. While I did find some parts of the book interesting and sometimes amusing - I will be returning this book and looking for one that provides a better message to my daughter.

Excellent advice on any aspect of college life. Well organized and easy to read.

It's fun to read and is a good resource from real students who have been through their college freshman year! I've already bought it for four recent high school graduates. I think it's the perfect graduation gift.

Having gone to a small midwestern college during the same period I found this book all too familar. For me, the 70's were an interesting time of both exploration and rebellion. I thought this novel explored both the pain and the joy of the times bringing back memories and feelings I had not visited in many years. I would reccommend this book to anyone but the most right wing. I loved it.

After reading Nineteen-Seventy-four I could't wait to read the next book. Who would have thought it could have even been better. I felt even more connected to the main character in the second book and found myself hoping he'd get it together. Please keep on writing Mr. Small.

This book is a great read. The characters really come to life . I felt like they were my friends. Anyone who came of age in the seventies can truly relate to the situations the main character encounters in those strange times. The book made me want to relive those days again. I can't wait for Mr. Smalls next novel.

In a literary era of tales of survival under physical extremes, 1975 is a Dickensian tale of psychic survival. Unlike Dickens however, Small's account is realistic, and some may find this hard to face. Ask yourself, what would have happened if I had been raised by people who were unable to love me but merely treated me as boarder, and who treated my accomplishments as threats or insults to their own biological offspring, who tried to drag me down to mollify their own egos? Would I become a well-adjusted young man respectful of authority and without a trace of bitterness like David Copperfield, or would I laugh at social convention, take drugs, and learn to make authority cringe?

On a different level, this story will appeal primarily to all those who harbor contempt for authority; those who lived in nonconformist frat houses in the 70s; anyone who has hitchhiked very much around America; those who attended "DeForrest" or similar small colleges and are familiar with the sociopolitics; and those familiar with the cultural desert of small town Indiana and the wacky things that intelligent people do there to preserve their sanity.

From a nostalgic viewpoint, it's an excuse to remember what it was like to be alive then, to walk down the halls of your old frat house or dorm and revisit the strange assortment of characters you knew there, remember what it was like to get high for the first time and how good all the music sounded, and the awkwardness and then euphoria of your first sexual fumblings. You know, the fun parts of growing up.

On the down side, while the author's savant-like recall of infinitesimal detail is amazing, it sometimes detracts from the flow of the narrative. Nevertheless, the story will leave you with unforgettable images, some hilarious (that second floor toilet), others disturbing (the fight on the roof, goodbye Eva). I look forward to the next installment.

THis is a fantastic voyage back to the sex, drugs and rock and roll '70's experience on a small college campus. Mr. Small has nailed the experience, and I felt transported back to that time by the book. If you've forgotten what it was like, or if you're just curious, I strongly recommend this book.

Author John Feinstein's college basketball narratives are interesting, exciting, and informative. He covers the game with a broad approach, letting readers see many personalities, the pressures, and the often intense practices in this ultra-competitive sport. This book does not focus on any one conference or team, but presents a very interesting and broad national view of college hoops in the late 1980's. Yes, many of us fans realize that this multi-billion dollar industry unfairly gives players scholarships while coaches (and others) get rich, but hey, this is still a very entertaining sport. This is a very readable and entertaining look at the college game.

An exremely entertaining book which takes you on a trip across the United States to examine the great venues and stories of college basketball. From the awesome early-season tournaments in Hawaii to the meccas of college basketball like the Palestra and Madison Square Garden to March Madness, from the Lute Olsen-Steve Kerr Arizona Wildcats to the Admiral to Danny Manning, Feinstein's book is a must for any fan of college basketball.

What Feinstein did for Knight in his Season On The Brink, he now does for one entire season in the world of college hoops. This book is an inside look at everything from the grueling (and often gruesome) practice sessions that go on behind closed doors to the intimate personal lives of some of college basketballs biggest stars, from the tough lives of teams and players going nowhere to an astonishingly close up view of the winners who go all the way to ultimate glory. A Season Inside goes from coast to coast, from top to bottom, from glory to defeat.

A well written and illustrated history of one of America's better liberal arts colleges. The book is large. The black and white and colot illustrations are very good. The author has also written a very good travel book about Maine. My only criticism is that the book lacks recent photos of the campus and a campus map. The campus is usually rated as one of the 10 most beautiful in America. An earlier book about the architecture of the buildings is out of print. This book is well worth the modest price.

For those who have a connection to the College, this book offers an excellent history of Bowdoin, its founding principles, and challenges overcome. For those who have trouble pronouncing the word Bowdoin (Boe'-din), prepare to be introduced to an institution that is every bit what makes some people swear by the magic of a classical New England liberal arts education