Journals Books

This is truly an inspiring story about real family values. Very well written it gives an insight of a man's journey to find his true identity, of a family fighting for the right to have a baby and society partly not being ready to accept the fact that "family" can be defined in more than one way. But more than anything else it is a book about love.

I really connected with this book. I'm what you would call a "typical person" with a "typical family". But the story really inspired me to be more and taught me to appreciate people who are more. His journey and his perspective are both full of virtue and love. I simply couldn't put it down.

What a great book! I had previously seen the Oprah episodes featuring this extraordinary family and was attracted to reading this bio once it passed into my hands because of the medical anomally the pregnancy's circustances created. In that respect I got my money's worth, but I also discovered a more humanistic theme throughout the book. There is probably no other family in the world like this one, but Thomas Beatie creates a story that tells about universal struggles which all people face, whether they be straight, gay, transgender, young, old, male or female. To me, it is the story of a person's desire to have a family in their vision and to live their life boldly, no matter what opposition there may be and to inspire others to do the same. Labor of Love: The Story of One Man's Extraordinary Pregnancy

This book will surprise you with its depth of humanity and inspiration. The story is captivating and well told- an excellent read. There's so many details in this book not previously known to the public. A lot of people will see themselves in Thomas. At the core of it, his story is universal in his fight for love and family.

I have a different perspective on this amazing story because I knew Thomas years before he became his own man and met the love of his life. It's very easy for people who never met the Beaties to stumble over the 'fantastic' elements of their life, but what I witnessed first-hand was a sincere person humbly and fearlessly living out life as he found it. Thomas is an honest and kind person who only went public to help society to grow; But mostly I think he wrote this to help those struggling with painful identity issues to have some hope and dignity in their own lives. I salute his and Nancy's courage! If you have an open mind, a sincere heart, and are willing to outgrow your preconceptions, then this book will expand your life. We should ALL have love like this family has found. Aloha!ALOHA Where You Like Go?: From Survival to Satisfaction by Honolulu Taxi

I love this book! It gives you a daily inspiration, but also leaves room for you to jot down some of your own thoughts. It is nice to have space in the book to write down your thoughts about the day.

I received the book very promptly and it is just what I need in my recovery.

This book on co-dependency is a real eye opener for anyone who struggles in this area. It was a catalyst for me; I have let go of the responsibility of overseer of the lives of those within my family. It is an essential tool in order to gain freedom from co-dependency.

I don't think we as human beings actually recognize the power of daily reading, meditation, and reflecting. Practicing these powerful principles allows us to remain mindful of the moment and reflect upon the deeper question in our lives. To devote ourself to a daily meditation and to journal on these quiet times is priceless and will certainly aid in the evolution of our soul. For me this practice has allowed an awakening to take place and opens my life up to all the opportunities that are available in this universe. Please give this practice a try! This book will help you in your journey of living and cultivating an active consciousness in your daily life.

Richard A. Singer Jr. Author Your Daily Walk with the Great Minds of the Past and Present.

I just started using this book as a recomendation made by one of my college teachers last semester. By reading the daily pages, and journaling a little bit about each topic for each day I have been able to make some very profound discoveries about myself. It is helping me to not only better understand myself, and my situation, but it is allowing me to become more tolerant of others, and is helping me to understand that I am allowed to feel some of the emotions in which we are conditioned to discount. I would recomend this book to not only people that feel they have issues they need to work out, but to anyone that is interested in learning a little more about themselves.

King's book of letters take you inside the heart and head of one of America's most perceptive and humorous writers. Roy Blount once said that King writes like an angel would if it grew up in West Texas and drank. It's hard to improve on Blount's assessment. King's rollicking missives, directed to friends, family, politicians, critics, and fellow writers offer a fascinating portrait of the writing life. There's also the vicarious thrill of reading someone else's mail. Stories range from fellow author William Styron's run-in with "Mexican boo-smoke" to King's feud with the "alleged actor Burt Reynolds." The fact that a book this interesting has been published by a university press instead of a major trade house is as indicative as anything of the sorry state of affairs in the publishing industry these days. King's book, like himself, defies the mold.

Judging from these often humorous, sometimes poignant, but always brash and candid letters, it is probably safe to assume that few writers have had such widely varied experiences as has Larry L. King. Spanning over 40 years, King's fascinating and provocative letters--along with his no-holds-barred reminiscences interspersed among them--provide a virtual autobiography of this novelist, playwright, essayist, and commentator. What makes this epistolary volume especially interesting is that King suffers no fools lightly, appears to be intimidated by no one, and is always ready to prick the balloons of the famous--and oftentimes pompous. (His accounts of working with actor Burt Reynolds and dancer Tommy Tune are particularly hilarious.

Larry L. King is an American hero. His work should be required reading for anyone who even thinks about the writing life. He ought to win the Nobel Prize, but then, he's a Texan so probably doesn't qualify.

Parents of small children desperately need sleep, so I cannot recommend that they read this book--it has kept me awake for two nights in a row. It's as hard to put down as any thriller, and a whole lot funnier than most.

This book takes the reader inside the head and heart of a working writer and reveals the triumphs and the despair that are staples of a writer's life. There are a lot of famous people in it, too.

When I left England to live in the United States for one year last August, there was only one book I took with me - Alistair Cooke's `Letter From America'. What else could I have taken? Cooke saw into America like no other Brit (or no other non-American, for that matter).

Starting at the mid 1940s, the book winds its way through post-war America nearly right up until the authors death in 2004, picking out the best of his weekly broadcasts. The subject matters range from politics, history, current affairs, entertainment and the topics from the New England fall, jazz, Robert Kennedy's assassination and O.J Simpson.

But it is not the subject matter that makes this book so special (for we already know about most of them anyway) it is none other than Cooke's insight and writing style. The articles flow like the finest novel or poem (which is probably attributed to Cooke's background in theatre). Each time you come back to read the book again it feels as though you are receiving the opinions of a familiar friend, and not some distant journalist.

There are drawbacks. Cooke was often criticised, and quite rightly so, for ignoring the darker side of the American dream. The other possible drawback, depending on your viewpoint, is that Cooke was a committed conservative, especially in the latter half of his career. Many of the final articles from the late 90's and early 00's lament the current position of America and (what he saw as) the sliding standards of journalism. Maybe, but you also can't help feel that he was by this point slightly out of touch.

These minor quibbles, however, cannot undermine Cooke's overall achievement of helping us better understand this important nation, which could be described as love letters to America.

Alistair Cooke is an observer of the American social fabric, of our heros, of our blemishes, of our short history and sense of place. His first hand accounts of American and Americans is not unlike a nation looking at itself in a mirror. He is at times generous with his observations. At other times he is very British in his ability to be critical with a smile. He can describe a familiar person and make us see the person anew. The book is a pleasure to read, each chapter a new adventure of wit and insight. He wanders a bit but his style makes you enjoy the journey and look forward to the next excursion.

For many years I listened to Alistair Cooke's ' Letters from America'. The calm, erudite voice , the super- civilized tone , the suggestion of great intelligence somehow always promised to provide insight into America that no one else had. The British Tocqueville of the airways who knew more about the Americans than the Americans knew about themselves.
Yet somehow I more often than not felt a certain disappointment in the communications. Reading them without the Cooke tone and pause, without his special emphasis diminishes them further. There is it seems to me a great deal of observation and color , and not enough striving for deep general understanding.
And there is too in the calm of Cooke's tone something strange and distant.The many rich voices of America, its ways of shouting and making itself felt are not transmitted strongly here.
Nonetheless in close to sixty years of reporting there are numerous insights and observations and much that entertains.
I think of Cooke's elegy for his old friend Isaiah Berlin. I think of reports made from all kinds of whistle stops on Presidential campaigns. I think too of his capacity for friendship, and how that does move through these letters and give them a warmer feeling of comraderie.
I think also of Cooke's basic real affection for America, his interest and appreciation of much what is good and beautiful in it.
I think too of how many listeners he delighted with his wit, and dry humor and clear - cut language.
This is a lifetime work of special meaning and value for the many thousands who waited each week for those fifteen minutes of his often most delightful and insightful talk.

Alistair Cooke's wonderful Letter from America broadcasts were heard world-wide and were an institution for close to 60 years. In that time, Cooke - UK born but for most of his life a resident of New York City - sought through his thoughtful pieces to convey the complexity of life, of society and of politics in the United States.

In this collection of essays, organised chronologically, Cooke takes us from post-war America through to mid 2005, and his subject matter ranges from the specific relatively "small" topics (for example McLaren's dogged creation of San Francisco's Golden Gate Park) through to large, world-changing subjects including the Vietnam question and the assassinations of both John and Robert Kennedy. The latter is a riveting account because Cooke was there when it happened and his journalistic and observational skills come through as finely honed, dispassionate yet all the more powerful.

What gives this volume real richness are two things in particular.

First; Cooke has an unfailing grasp of history. In writing each week's snapshot of a changing nation, he manages to contextualise what he sees, and to draw upon both his enormous grasp of history and his unparalled contact with top politicians, writers and artists over 60 years. In today's age of soundbyte editorializing and glib simplifications (history seen through the eyes of Forrest Gump, if you will), Cooke's essays are thoughtful, well researched and highly reasoned. As a reader I'm struck by how prescient his comments are, and I'm also struck at how relevant his thought provoking comments about previous political events resonate in today's unfolding history.

The second facet of this rich gem is Cooke's beautifully crafted writing style. He wrote these essays for radio and perhaps this is why they read so beautifully. In his portrait of Charles Lindbergh, for example, he talks about the man for 500 words - creating a vivid, recognisable picture before he even mentions the name of his subject. In so doing, Cooke furnishes the reader (or listener) with the frisson of a delightful guessing game (he's talking about Lindbergh, right?) that allows us to hear more about the subject matter without letting us backfill the story with our own preconceptions. His humour is delightfully wry, and his ability to choose surprising and sometimes quite earthy quotes from the history makers of the past 60 years provides additional pleasure. Cooke clearly laboured over each and every essay to ensure their seamless recipe of wit, fact and observation.

This volume is a remarkable collection of essays: a format that encourages thoughtful, enjoyable bedside reading. In devouring this marvellous book, you are taken to the heart of a complex nation. An easy 5 stars; I'd add that this book makes an excellent gift, regardless of which way your friends vote.

When I left England to live in the United States for one year last August, there was only one book I took with me - Alistair Cooke's `Letter From America'. What else could I have taken? Cooke saw into America like no other Brit (or no other non-American, for that matter).

Starting at the mid 1940s, the book winds its way through post-war America nearly right up until the authors death in 2004, picking out the best of his weekly broadcasts. The subject matters range from politics, history, current affairs, entertainment and the topics from the New England fall, jazz, Robert Kennedy's assassination and O.J Simpson.

But it is not the subject matter that makes this book so special (for we already know about most of them anyway) it is none other than Cooke's insight and writing style. The articles flow like the finest novel or poem (which is probably attributed to Cooke's background in theatre). Each time you come back to read the book again it feels as though you are receiving the opinions of a familiar friend, and not some distant journalist.

There are drawbacks. Cooke was often criticised, and quite rightly so, for ignoring the darker side of the American dream. The other possible drawback, depending on your viewpoint, is that Cooke was a committed conservative, especially in the latter half of his career. Many of the final articles from the late 90's and early 00's lament the current position of America and (what he saw as) the sliding standards of journalism. Maybe, but you also can't help feel that he was by this point slightly out of touch.

These minor quibbles, however, cannot undermine Cooke's overall achievement of helping us better understand this important nation, which could be described as love letters to America.

Having read all of Ron's works, and anxiously awaiting future publication of his fantasy trilogy, I have to say that this book is probably my favorite of all his books.
It allows us a glimpse of his soul, from hurt and lonely when he's left by his 14 year partner, to an optimist looking at the best in the people around him when he escorts an elderly man on his farewell trip to relatives before he dies and staying with 2 HIV-positive young men on a primitive goat ranch.
His description of the New Mexico landscape approaches poetry at times, and his love for his parents is tender.
He only briefly describes the newest segment of his life, and I hope that he follows this work (and My Year of Living Heterosexually) with a sequel. It will be eagerly read by those of his readers who enjoy his writing and want to know more about him.

I have been following the writings of Ronald Donaghe for many years, from his first novel, Common Sons, to essays that have appeared in Hometowns and Member of the Family. But here, in this one volume, I finally got to meet Mr. Donaghe, during a time in his life when he was deeply hurt; yet all of his essays (whether about his pain or his family) reveal a rare optimist. I came away from this collection of Mr. Donaghe's essays committed to my own self-renewal, by following his lead: one must examine oneself as a gay person, in context to one's roots, one's family, and ultimately one's sexual morality. Mr. Donaghe, an author, is filled with love for his family and the love for truth (as it affects him), and gives one a sense of strength, even when in deep psychological pain. Read it, treasure it. Tell everyone you can about this rare gem of a book.

"Letters in Search of Love and Other Essays" by Ronald L. Donaghe is a wonderful collection of essays that are filled with love, hope, despair, some anger, adventure, realizations, relationships, and the importance of a family's love and support. It may be a thin book to the naked eye, but it is thick in content, wit, wisdom, and humor. This small book is so full of what life is all about, what is really important, that you are happy to be along for the ride, picking up bits of advice that may apply to your own life, as you go along.

Donaghe takes us on an adventure from the depths of despair, over the break up of a fourteen year old relationship with a man he thought he would spend the rest of his life with, to the renewal of hope that, time, experience, strong family ties, and connections with other people--even strangers, brings. "Letters in Search of Love" is an open and honest account of a young man's feelings and experiences during a difficult time in his life.

This true story makes the reader feel privileged to be allowed into the private mind of the writer while coming to the realization that we are not as unique as we thought. We often share the same feelings, emotions, and thoughts, and because of this, we need each other, and there is a strong connection to one another.

In response to the pain, sorrow, and possibly even depression, Donaghe posts a letter in a rural gay magazine, RFD, in hopes of finding love or at least to connect with other people with similar circumstances. The responses he receives all help him through his healing and he summarizes some of them from the most poignant to the most absurd. Most importantly he shows that it is through human contact that one can heal thy soul, and be able to move on, and hopefully find love again.

As an adult, he went back home to live with his parents and to help them in their failing health--only to be healed himself by their unconditional love and understanding. He does not regret for a moment this dark period in his life since he was able to "rediscover" his parents and appreciate all they had unselfishly, sacrificed and done for him, and his five siblings, even helping friends, extended family, and strangers alike. They were excellent role models who helped shape the person Ronald Donaghe is today.

My favorite essay is, "The Healing Place" because it is a beautiful tribute to his parents and shows his roots. Any parent would be proud to call Ron Donaghe their son, and his words and actions are the best thank you they could receive, for raising him right.

Donaghe's essays show a kind and intelligent man who may not be wealthy in worldly possessions, at this stage of his life, but is wealthy in what is most important in life, and that is love, caring, compassion, and appreciation for nature and the simple pleasures in life. This is a man whose belief in equality for all human beings regardless of race, religion, or sexual orientation, is best expressed in his essay, "The Old Man and St. Louis", when he compares the plight of gays to that of the Negro slaves. It was an excellent analogy--worth reading and thinking about. In this essay he describes his employment by a sick old man, as his chauffeur, driving him from New Mexico to Missouri, for his last trip to visit his family.

Other essays in this book include: "My Sister and I", about his loving relationship with one of his sisters; "AIDS in Paradise", about his adventure working on a goat farm where he was able to strip down all the conventions of modern living and get back to the bare bones of nature, gaining both inner and outer strength; and "Deming, New Mexico", where the reader gets to happily share Donaghe's joy and excitement of having his first book published, and coming out of the closet to his hometown. Best of all, the people in Deming didn't make too much of a fuss about his being gay, and they celebrated his book, even if they weren't thrilled with the gay theme. If it bothered them to know he is gay, they didn't let on. He learned he would always have a place to come home to.

"Letters in Search of Love" just reaffirms my love for the fiction and non-fiction written by one of my favorite authors, Ronald L. Donaghe. He teaches many valuable lessons and even though he posted on his website that you could read this book without purchasing it, I recommend buying this book at any price. It is worth the money--and for the most return on your investment, lend it to a friend.

Most gay readers know Ronald L. Donaghe for novels that explore gay issues, especially his bestseller Common Sons. However, many of his readers have also discovered his autobiography: My Year of Living Heterosexually...and Other Adventures in Hell. I also suggest that book, but Letters in Search of Love...and Other Essays offers a probing look at various other times in his life, finding wisdom, insight, and sometimes humor from those moments. The fact that he wrote the essays at various times allows him to look back more introspectively, discovering and re-discovering the full impact of those moments on his life.

In this collection of richly detailed and reflective prose, Donaghe constantly stresses the importance of learning from one's family and one's experiences, which makes the essays themselves so much more than just true stories from a fiction writer. Like one of the other reviewers here at Amazon, I found the tribute to his parents especially touching.

You'll share in Donaghe's surprises, disappointments, and personal growth. Though being gay and breaking up with his first lover both affect much of the writing, these essays should appeal to anyone, gay or otherwise, who likes thoughtful, well-written prose that analyzes an individual life. In that analysis, Donaghe finds reasons to keep living, loving, and writing, while you will find reasons to keep reading this truly gifted writer.

Mr. Donaghe has given us an intriguing look into his life, during a time when he was back at home with his parents, hurting from the demise of a long relationship; and yet, shows us how he was able to recover himself and learned to value family. These essays are of pain, as well as healing; disappointment, as well as triumph. Donaghe is a teacher and should serve well as a role model for gay men who fit in to their families and communities. I recommend this work without reservation.

A Life Full Of Days ( Publisher: Authorhouse (May 1, 2003) ISBN: 141072607X) is a sincere and genuine memoir by Chalmers (Chum) Dale. Chalmers Dale is a (now retired) Emmy award-winning CBS news producer whose journalism career brought him face-to-face with distinguished citizens ranging from Martin Luther King Jr. to Bob Hope.

While reading A Life Full Of Days, I couldn't help but hear the song The Long And Winding Road by John Lennon and Paul McCartney.

"The long and winding road that leads to your door
Will never disappear
I've seen that road before it always leads me here
Leads me to your door..."

In his memoir Mr. Dale speaks from a life that has lived on both sides of the tracks -- A man who in his search for his true self and his honest sexual representation while living a double life as a gay man in a "straight" world. From a confused young man to WW2 military service to a ten-year marriage with two children, Chalmers endures to find his true self. Chalmers Dale does an exceptional job at sharing with us his 'personal' meaning of life and living that life as "who he is" and not what society dictates "who he should be".

A Life Full Of Days is an important book with a more important message. As the author says, "Was it time to stop kidding myself and recognize that I was a homosexual? The answer was yes." Chalmers Dale's story is one that will reach and enlighten everyone who reads it but especially this book puts his life out there for young people to see and possibly to "...ease some pain they feel during adolescence, with sexual confusion nagging at them." Mr. Dale's life and story also explores the compassion and understanding he brought to his assignments at CBS -- shows that "made a difference" for millions of viewers."

A Life Full Of Days is the verse and soul of a life and author who so perfectly sums everything up in a quote by Soren Kierkegaard that says, "LIFE CAN ONLY BE UNDERSTOOD BACKWARDS: BUT MUST BE LIVED FORWARDS." In this outstanding and well-written memoir this particular reader traveled "The long and winding road" that was and is the life of Chalmers "Chum" Dale. Thank you Mr. Dale for your story and your life. Hopefully many will read A Life Full Of Days, a book, that leads to your door.
John Weaver -Editor BooksandAuthors.net

A Life Full Of Days is the personal memoir of Emmy award-winning CBS news producer Chalmers (Chum) Dale, and entails the globe-spanning journalism that brought him face-to-face with distinguished citizens ranging from Martin Luther King Jr. to Bob Hope. Recounting his life from a confused childhood to his adult determination to seek out evidence of the human condition for all to see, A Life Full Of Days is an absorbing read and a highly recommended addition to community library American Biography collections.

These were the most exciting times in television history. This personal narrative--fascinating, difficult, ironic, and funny--tells of an ordinary life filled with extraordinary moments. Emmy Award-winning CBS News producer Chalmers (Chum) Dale examined and documented the human condition in over 300 shows. His work took him around the world, introducing him to many of the most distinguished citizens and celebrities of our time, from Martin Luther King Jr. to Bob Hope.
This compelling memoir, written in an approachable, conversational style, also tells of Chum's lonely struggle in leading a double life: A search for true sexual identity during adolescence, WW2 military service, a short teaching career, and a ten-year marriage with two children. His existence begins to make sense when he meets his significant other of forty-two years and starts piecing his life together. Through these enduring experiences, Chum's story also explores the compassion and understanding he brought to his assignments at CBS--shows that "made a difference" for millions of viewers.

Chalmers Dale reveals all about his interesting life. Dale was truly a pioneer, and his courage, integrity, and creativity are evident on every page.

The author tells his story in an honest but tasteful way. Seems like he did some cool things over the years even if it did take him a while to figure out who he was.

There are interesting reflections on music, sports, urban and suburban life in the 20th century and especially TV. The guy was on hand as TV became basically what it is today.

This book'd make great reading for young people in a similar position: figuring out their sexuality and family while trying to make the most of thier time.

His style is unpretentious and relaxed. I felt like I was sitting around one afternoon having a chat. There are photos.

This is the funniest book I've ever read, heck one of the funniest things I've ever seen, read, or heard. Buy this book and you won't regret it.

I got the book about a week ago and I haven't been able to put it down. It's funny and I just love it! These guys are great! This is such a great book for college students. Wait, a great book for everybody. Yeah!

I recommend this book for everyone who has a sense a humor and for those who don't have a sense of humor, you'll get one. Believe me. You'll love it. It is incredible how every day things can be turned into something special.

This book is great for anyone out there who is tired of the same old thing. I felt like my life was bad but when I read this book, my life looked so much better. I love how they turn an everyday thing into an adventure. Who knew getting locked out of your car can be so funny!!! I recommend everyone who has a sense of humor to get this book...NOW!

i LOVE THIS BOOK, IT ACTUALLY MAKES ME WANT TO READ!
EVERYONE READY PAGE 53!!!!!! IT'S THE BOMB!!!!!!
CONGRATS!!!!! TO ALL YOU GUYS FOR WRITING YOUR BOOK.

A Little Fruitcake: A Childhood in Holidays
Wonderful read for getting in the holiday spirit - warm, vivid, witty and fun!

I would have loved this book even if it wasn't so well written, as the author grew up in Maine and is exactly my age, so it was like a trip down memory lane to read about his childhood--exciting trips to LaVerderies to get Christmas presents, the feeling of going to the big city when you are really going to a small Maine city, the extra sunny day when I too went inside from playing in the Maine summer to see Nixon resign, picking a Christmas tree from the woods and trying so hard to find the perfect one among the imperfect Maine scrubby forest trees, the transition from the huge colored bulbs to smaller ones that gradually took place, the feeling of a Christmas pageant in a small church, Grants Christmas albums---WOW!

This memoir is told all in Christmases, little samples of the author's life growing up fairly poor in Norridgewock, Maine, half Cuban and therefore half an outsider (although the fact that the other half was an old Maine family probably made it easier).

I know too the feeling of leaving home young and never really going home, and how the guilt when you do visit can be quite overwhelming. This book evokes the time and place so well that it brought me to tears several times. A real triumph.

give them A Little Fruitcake. As spirited and hilarious as Sedaris' Holidays on Ice, A Little Fruitcake veers between laugh-out-funny and a warm loving look back at childhood holidays. Valdes Greenwood's voice is fresh, wise, with just the right amount of bite -- the perfect holiday guest (unlike the great aunts you actually have to spend Christmas with!)

A Little Fruitcake is my pick for holiday gift this year. It's a wonderful collection of stories about family and holidays that you can feel comfortable giving to anyone from your traditional Grandma to your quirky and hip college roommate (and it sure beats an actual fruitcake). I'm going to send copies out as early holiday gifts, maybe around Thanksgiving, to help everyone get into the holiday mood.

Greenwood, David Valdez. "This Christmas, Try a Little Fruitcake", De Capo Press, 2007.

The Spirit of the Season

Amos Lassen

Remember when? These two words say succinctly and precisely what "This Christmas, Try a Little Fruitcake" is all about. The book is a collection of charming and comical little stories that brim with the spirit of the holiday season. David Valdes Greenwood who gave us "Homo Domesticus" captures with elfin charm the sometimes outrageous unpredictability of family celebrations in a series of delightful and heart warming little stores. He gives us twelve tales, one for each of the twelve days of Christmas and they are all set against the background of the rural countryside of Maine.
Holidays can be compared to fruitcake--they are both mixed blessings. They each offer unexpected chaos and actual merriment. It is so easy to identify with the characters as all of us have relatives like the ones we read about in Valdes Greenwood's stories. Remember the time you tormented Santa Claus or the time you went to the Christmas pageant when the wise men were not speaking to each other because of some petty argument? There is a Scrooge in every family (I resemble that remark) and then there are the homemade decorations that while may not be beautiful hold a prominent place in the home because the children made them.
Valdes Greenwood looks at Christmas through the eyes of a child and makes the holiday come alive. He reminds us of the sappy TV spectaculars and getting together to decorate the tree and then he lets us remember how ewe sat at the kids' table which was not exactly placed too close to the grownups.
It is the humor and the nostalgia of the book that makes it special but at the heart of the stories is David who is loveable and precocious at the same time. There is also a very strong moral here and that is that Christmas spirit is not what is wrapped under the tree or the birth of Jesus but the beauty of the season which gives us memories to last a lifetime.
Even as a non-Christian, I could identify with much of the book. I may not have Christmas but I have the season and it is that special time of year that all of us cherish so dearly.

I was a little disappointed in this book, it isn't really what I thought it would be. I was thinking more along the lines of the farmer's almanac. I guess it's just not my cup o' tea.

I've been using this book for years to garden by the moon. It talks about good companion plants, times to plant and weed, and times to cultivate and fertilize. The book always has interesting and useful articles in it, not only about plants and planting, but about weather, financial outlook, history and lore. I received it in the mail from Amazon before the expected delivery date.

Llewellyn's 2008 Moon Sign Book: A Gardening Almanac & Guide to Conscious Living (Llewellyn's Moon Sign Book )

This is a great book for anyone who gardens. My grandparents always planted "by the sign o'the moon". My parents followed suit and who am I to question the practice. I have planted by moon phases for years and my gardens flourish.

This book is well organized with areas for making some notations on your plantings. I wish that the note areas were a bit larger. It would be great to be able to have only one journal. But, other than that it is chock-full of great information and charts to assure your garden will grow lush and properly.

You will also learn when to weed to keep them from coming back so quickly. Lots of other interesting tidbits add to the interest of this volume.

I've been studying astrology more than 30 years, and I have had one of these books for gardening, hair cutting and most any activity you would want to do and consult what sign the moon is in. Easy to read and full of help for gardening!! I highly recommend this book!

I have been buying Llewellyn's Moon Sign Book's for many years and to date haven't found any other books that come even close to comparing to it. I am really into Astrology, Astronomy, Gardening, Moon Phases etc. but this book goes far beyond these things and this book covers it all. If you want a complete book on these subjects then this is the book for you. You won't regret buying this one, after the first one you'll come back each year for another. You can calculate days to do specific task at hand according to your birth sign, the best and the least best days to do things in order that the final results are favorable to you.

This exquisite book of short essays is for you. She captures New York of the `60s in her highly focused vignettes. A long-time writer for The New Yorker, these sketches were featured in the "Talk of the Town" section of the magazine always beginning with "Our friend, the long-winded lady, has written us as follows:" I always looked forward to them and vaguely thought the author was likely to be a well-heeled matron of impressive family lineage with a flair for turning words. My impression was totally incorrect. Ms. Brennan emigrated from Ireland at age 17, never had much money or security and viewed herself as "a traveler in residence."

She gave personalities to streets, buildings, and stores as well as people. " Sixth Avenue possesses a quality that some people acquire, sometimes quite suddenly, which dooms it and them to be loved only at the moment they are being looked at for the very last time." Her focus is keen and unblinking, but she sometimes infuses the scene and the people with the magic of her imagination. Her word portraits are so incisive, I often felt that I was sitting beside her seeing a man "morose and dignified, as though humiliation had taken him unawares, but not unprepared."

There is a certain sadness and loneliness in Ms. Brennan's peripheral outsider remarks, but you never feel pity only admiration for an author that always looks outward to keep from looking inward.

Maeve Brennan was born in Dublin, which she wrote about in "Springs of Affection," a book that the editors at Amazon named one of the best of 1997. She came to the US when she was 17, and in her 30s hooked up with The New Yorker, for which she wrote the 50-odd sketches about daily life in Manhattan that are collected in "The Long-Winded Lady."

Where the Dublin stories are savage studies of failed marriages, these New York sketches are gentler in tone, more wistful and blue. Brennan, the "I" of all these pieces, eavesdrops on conversations in the bars, streets, and hotel lobbies of the seedier parts of Times Square and the Village. Her vivid, precise reports are then fleshed out with sepeculations, opinions, and little autobiographical details that reveal her own humorous, melancholy sensibility. The book ends up being not just an incomparable time capsule of the city of the 1950s and '60s, but also a self-portrait of one of its many silent "travellers in residence," a somewhat timid, ultra keen-eyed, super-sensitive exile trying to keep her bearings in an often inhuman metropolis. Brennan is never precious, never self-pitying. And there's not a dull or cloying or lame sentence in the book. "The Long-Winded Lady" is a small masterpiece, and both it and "Springs of Affection" are not to be missed.

I am so impressed with this book. Brennan's eye for detail, her descriptions of New York, her own loneliness are written in prose that any writer would envy. I have recommended this book to a couple of friends and also will suggest it for my bookclub. Brennan's writing sometimes reminds me of an Edward Hopper painting-the way she captures the light from a room across the way, her observations of situations in restaurants, hotel lobbies, and subways. I read somewhere that she had a terrible breakdown and her last column was written in the early 80's. After that she was seen wandering the streets of NY. I bought this book on a recommendation and never expected to be so moved. Also the book brings the reader back to the 60's.

Maeve Brennan's book is a collection of perfectly polished little gems. Writing just doesn't get any better than what you'll find here. "Howard's Apartment" is a piece that you won't just read; you'll also see, hear and feel it. Follow this wonderful writer as she leads you through a New York City that no longer exists.

She is a marvel, a gem. Each of these little expositions is so rich... You're walking down a street, when suddenly, gracefully, she turns a corner and glances into a window of our common soul, and describes what is reflected therein. Her observations are touching, without maudlin sentiment, dead-on accurate, and her language clear and hard. It is more a book about New Yorkers than New York; what I mean is that there is a certain approach to life that is genuinely cosmopolitan without being especially clever or reckless or cute, and we who love reading have a deep affinity for the well-tempered, understated observation that Maeve Brennan perfected. This is one of the two or three best reading experiences I've had all year.