Texas Books

LOVE THIS BOOK. IT is silly but awesome. So memorable. My son loves this book!

These books are smaller than I expected but I cant complain for the price. Good for young children. Simple

This is one of Dr. Seuss's best for very young children. It is fun to read, and will surely make you giggle, especially when you see the pink underpants! The pictures are cute and we always pause to talk about them. There are few words and soon your toddler will have them memorized, and be reading along with you. The kids and I highly recommend this book.

We also recommend "Jamberry" by Bruce Degen and "There's a Wocket in my Pocket" by Dr. Seuss.s

The thing I like best about this book is that the words and the pictures go together nicely. When the words say "Our eyes see bees," there is a picture of a lot of bees. So, from an educational perspective, you can have your child point to a picture while he or she hears the verbal description of the picture. It's helped my baby lean several words and phrases.

This simple concept is something that a suprising amount of childrens' books lack. It is good for two reasons. It helps them put words to pictures, and it helps them learn to read. The book is for children that are 4-8, but it's ability to help children match the verbal sounds of words to pictures makes it appropriate for infants as well.

The learning potential of the book is enhanced by the rythm of the words. The book's sentences ryme and procede in a rythm that makes the book more enjoyable for your child. My baby is noticeably delighted whenever he sees that we are about to read this book.

It is highly recommended.

This is the perfect book for the youngest of Seuss fans. It's a very simply book that starts out with a boy pointing to his eyes and saying what they are...and then to his bunny friend's eyes. The book goes on to explain what eyes do and what they help us see. I thought the pink underpants was a little strange, but they're just kids afterall!

I'm a little surprised that I didn't notice anyone else had harped on its beautiful cover. The cover is absolutely beautiful with its its pretty sea-mint green background and wonderful illustrations. I always thought the boy's eyes looked more like they belonged to the rabbit...they're huge!

To sum it up, it's a cute story about eyes!

This is a great true crime book. It is the first book I've ever read where Im on the edge of my seat reading. Look out Ann Rule here is an author who is going to give you some competition!!!
This is a must read,even if you don't usually read this type of book you will really enjoy it.
True crime at its very best. If I could give it more stars I would give it 10 plus.

Kathryn Casey has earned 15 perfect scores and I don't want to mess that up. I didn't care for this book as much as the other but I did walk away with a strong impression about the case itself. Casey does an excellent job. She manages to maintain a good pace of covering the story as it unfolds. She doesn't repeat information which can be infuriating in this true crime genre. Jennifer Cave's body was discovered and the author has maintained some suspense to that discovery by her own family when the police didn't or couldn't unlock the apartment door of Colton Potyniak. Obviously, Casey portrays Jennifer Cave as a complex young woman who has overcome so much especially the dark side of drugs and the wrong crowd of people. Casey's description of Jennifer helps us understand her need to help everybody and see the good in them. Unfortunately, Colton was trouble from the very moment. He was obviously obsessed with Jennifer and couldn't let her go. He had already a lovick equally obsessed girl, Laura Ashley Hall who is troubled herself. Both are now in prison. Colton destroyed Laura's dream of being a lawyer but she is sick herself at least mentally and still professing her love and devotion to such a cold-blooded sociopath without any remorse towards Jennifer. I wished Laura that she would realize how close that she came herself to having the same fate as Jennifer someday. Regardless, the Cave family have suffered enough after Jennifer's senseless murder. I won't spoil the crime here for readers. You'll just have to read it yourself.

I couldn't put this down. A very tragic, but compelling story. It will make you want to go hug your daughters.

This is such a sad, horrific story. Kathryn Casey gives a well researched timeline of the crime and it's aftermath. Casey draws you into the suffering of the victem's family and friends hitting home just how much damage a murder can do. An excellent read for all, especially true crime fans.

Kathryn Casey tells a tragic story of drugs, obsession, murder, and dismemberment. As are all of Casey's books, DESCENT is impeccably researched and no stone is left unturned with regard to the individual histories of the offender and the victim. On the surface, the murder appears senseless... until you enter the dark world of Colton Pitonyak. A brilliant student turned drunken punk, turned drug dealing thug, Pitoniak not only sold drugs, he used street drugs daily and popped prescription pills like candy.

Jennifer Cave was a bright, caring young woman but she too destroyed a promising future with drugs. Addicted and unable to right the course of her future, Jennifer paid for her mistakes with her life. Sadly, if not for her use of meth, Jennifer never would never have met Pitonyak.

Some argue that Jennifer and Pitoniyk were good friends. Perhaps. But Jennifer also admitted, "The relationship was all about drugs." In addition, Jennifer recognized that Pitonyak was a dangerous individual whom she could not and should not trust. After being threatened with a knife, Jennifer told many that she would never spend time with Pitonyak alone again. However, her resolve was short lived. (As the time of Jennifer's death grows near, Casey employs a masterful use of suspense and with a sense of growing dread, I felt compelled to continue reading toward the tragic conclusion of this story.)

In a impusive drug fueled rage, Pitonyak killed Jennifer. However, it is the rest of the story that is truly compelling. Enter Laura Hall. Hall was obsessed with Pitonyak and admired his bravado, his criminal history, and his carefully constructed drug dealer image. Hall loaned Pitonyak money throughtout the course of the relationship and did him favors. In return, Pitonyak used Hall. Often derisive toward Hall, Pitonyak borrowed money, sent Hall on personal errands for him, and banged her when he felt like it. He also requested her help following Jennifer's murder.

Forensic evidence would suggest Hall assisted Pitonyak in attempting to dismember Jennifer's body. Given the post-murder bragging Hall did, one could reasonably assume the plan to dismember the body was hers. At a minimum, she participated. There is less historical information about the person Hall was before this horrific crime, but the existing information suggests she was quite mentally and emotionally unstable if not obsessive, somewhat delusional, and tending toward the antisocial.

On a particularly painful note, Jennifer's mother, Sharon Cave, lamented frequently that Jennifer was murdered just as she was "...beginning to turn her life around." Maybe. But Jennifer's history was unstable and she eventually found herself a college dropout, unemployed, and homeless if not for the generosity of friends. Similarly, while Jennifer had spoken of recovery from her addiction, autopsy analysis revealed drugs in her system. She may have lessened her use of drugs, she may have wanted to stop, but she had not stopped. Haunted by a poor self-image and living with the consequences of drug abuse and addiction, every decision Jennifer made led her one step closer to death. This is not to say she is responsible for her own death. Only Pitoniak is to blame. But it was horrifying to read about a bright, attractive young woman who spiraled into the black hole of addiction.

My only complaint about the book is the subtitle. Sure, Pitnonyak was an altar boy... FOUR YEARS prior to the murder. And Jennifer had not worn a cheerleading uniform in at least that long. The subtitle suggests the roles of altar boy and cheerleader are current ones. Hardly. This is the very kind of trashy hype that detracts from the True Crime genre as a whole. At best, it is unnecessary. At worst, it is misleading. For True Crime fans everywhere, ignore the subtitle and enjoy the read... and the ride. Kathryn Casey is one of the very best.

Could not put this book down. Loved it! Only thing I didnt like was the cover--- It's weird looking; while I was reading it everywhere I went I would put the book face down.

I just finished this book and found it hard to put down. Piper Rountree is right up there with the worst of the worst - an incredibly narcissistic, coldblooded, self-absorbed individual. Kathryn Casey pulled it all together seamlessly, from the beginning of Piper's and Fred's relationship to the tragic end. It's the first book of hers I've read, and I'm here now to order another.

DIE, MY LOVE is Kathryn Casey's account of the murder of Fred Jablin, a respected college professor, by his self-centered and narcissistic wife, Piper Rountree. Rountree's motivation was to assure that she was granted custody of their three children, and, not incidentally, that she would not
have to pay child support. She is presented as a woman who professed repeatedly to care more about her children than anything else in the world, but who in fact simply used them when it suited her needs, one of the main ones being to show the world that she was, above all else, a MOTHER!
Fred meanwhile became the one who actually cared for the children on a day to day basis, performing the routine, mundane tasks that a truly loving parent repeats daily to raise and protect a child, because Piper found this necessity boring and beneath the artistic, new-age, and ultimately just "special" person she considered herself to be. Both before and after the murder, Rountree and her equally self-centered sister clumsily constructed a series of events designed to provide Rountree with an alibi. But since the sisters were not as smart as they believed they were, the attempt ultimately failed.

This is the fourth Casey book I have read and reviewed (the others are A WARRANT TO KILL, THE RAPIST'S WIFE, and SHE WANTED IT ALL) and they are all outstanding. Casey, as is for her routine, avoids filler and drama. Her research is so deep that she has no need to copy police reports or trial transcripts, a common tactic of the lazy incompetents who litter the true crime landscape. Her writing, as always, is crisp, reportorial, and adult. It is also highly literate, and it is always a pleasure to read a writer who actually appears to have more than a passing familiarity with the English language.
The highest praise I can think to give a writer is to say that you realize that when you have finished a book you are truly glad you read it and then realize that, while it was beautifully written, you were not aware of the author's personality while you were reading it - that the author does not personally intrude on the story he or she is telling. And I can praise DIE, MY LOVE as well as Casey's other three books as meeting this standard.

DIE, MY LOVE is outstanding true crime, and I believe Kathryn Casey is among the very best true crime authors currently writing. I unreservedly recommend this one.

Oh those minority opinions, sure to get the writer in trouble- especially when all the foregoing reviews have awarded DML 5 stars! Nonetheless, let's give this review a try: Piper and Fred are not the ideal, happily married couple. In fact, they are poles apart. He is a distinguished egghead of a college professor; she can kindly be described as a "free spirit". Early one morning, Fred meets his demise in the driveway of his Richmond, VA home. It is not divulging much to state that the slate of suspects is short. Wifey quickly emerges at the head of the list, as most spouses do in these situations. The challenge to the Law is to place her at the crime scene. What makes DML interesting is Piper's alibi-she claims to have been in Houston at the time of the murder. Plus, there is a Texas-based sister who could pass for her. That draws 2 investigative departments into the chase. The story ebbs and flows as scenes shift from Texas to Virginia and back. This reviewer found it difficult to track all the detectives, district attorneys, lawyers, witnesses, family members and hangers on in two cities. Sometimes interest would heighten, other times it would wane. The end result was an often frustrating read. One has to hand authoress Casey credit. Imagine how challenging it must have been to document the myriad of facts and personalities herein. Ms. Casey certainly set a high bar for herself but this reader found DML a bit much. This reviewer is actually a Casey fan, but one has to call them as he sees them: Ms. Casey has simply done better work elsewhere, most especially with her first tale, "The Rapist's Wife". This review could not conclude without mentioning the infamous Ann Rule rule: Tundra will be happy to read that it is not in effect here. Those centerfold photos do not even hint at the resolution; they do the proper job of putting faces on the main characters. Also, the front and back covers reveal nothing. Casey fans take heart: Most reviews are favorable. Scroll up or down to receive more favorable opinions of "Die My Love".

For so many years Ann Rule has been the reigning ruler of the true crime genre. Well she better watch her back because KC is poised to steal that crown. All of her books have been excellent and this one does not disappoint. In the days of so many poorly written, lazily researched and badly edited true crime books ruining the genre thank goodness for Kathryn Casey. Rather than start the book at the point of the murder, she is like the proverbial fly on the wall and takes us back through the lives of Fred Jablin and Piper Rountree. From what shaped them as adults to their meeting and subsequent marriage, all the way to the contentious divorce and custody battle and then the tragic murder of Fred Jablin. All this back story may sound boring but it is far from that. It gives insight that makes the story of the police investigation and subsequent trial all the more interesting. She also delves into the dysfunctional and troubling bond between Piper Rountree and her sister Tina which added a creepy element as well as in my opinion a bond that helped make the murder happen. If you are thinking of giving up on true crime because of all the bad books out there give this one a read. It is an excellent book and will restore your faith in the genre.

This is one of the best books I have ever read! I devoured it in a day. Beautifully written.

The simple title belies a great author and an even greater reading experiance.

The author writes so that you actually *feel* you are there and know the streets and towns and things he speaks of and what you couldn't possibly see with your minds eye--he makes you feel with your heart.

A"MUST-READ" for anyone who has ever had a death made worse, by things left unspoken.

Into That Good Night may well be the best book I've ever read. Having been raised in a small Texas town in the same era, it really hit home. Ron's story of life's experiences, of loves and losses, is a heart felt story that is enjoyable and easy to read. It is a wonderfully written story of growing up when racism was really becoming an issue in the south, of his beloved father's Alzheimers, and much, much more. I highly recommend this book.

THIS BOOK COMPLETELY OVERWHELMED ME. I LIVED IT ONCE, AND NOW I'VE LIVED IN AGAIN THROUGH RON'S EYES. THERE ARE NO WORDS TO DESCRIBE OUR FATHER. HE TAUGHT US INTEGRITY, COMPASSION, HONESTY, AND LOVE WITH HIS QUIET WAYS AND GENTLY DEMEANOR. HE WAS BIGGER THAN LIFE TO ME. IT WAS SO HARD TO SEE WHAT HE HAD BECOME WHEN ALZHEIMERS TOOK OVER. HE HAD THE SAME SWEET DEMEANOR, BUT SOMETIMES DIDN'T RECOGNIZE US. IT WAS HARD, AND RON TOLD THE STORY BEAUTIFULLY. I CAN JUST SEE OUR DAD'S BEAUTIFUL BLUE EYES TWINKLE IN PLEASURE. THANK YOU RON FOR THIS WONDERFUL GIFT. I LOVE YOU...DIANE

A memoir called Into That Good Night by Ron Rozelle,
is the story told from Ron's point of view when he was
growing up in Oakwood and even in his present day
life. It talks about segregation in schools and in
some stores throughout the town where he grew up. This
book shows the change Ron goes through with his family
when his mother becomes sick with lung cancer. Ron
learns to appreciate his family much more as he got
older and started to realize he won't have parents
forever. He ultimately realizes this when his father
looses his battle with Alzheimer's disease. You also
see segregation come to an end in Oakwood as time
progresses. You see the town where everyone knew
everyone suddenly become very lonely and empty after
most of the population got old and passed away. There
weren't many people moving in to Oakwood because it
didn't have many job opportunities.
Ron wrote this book in a then and now format. Every
other chapter switches, describing his child hood and
what happened in the future. It is a little confusing
but you catch on right away. It's very interesting
this way because it keeps you wondering, "What
happened to Ron".
Ron's ability to describe things just painted a clear
picture of what everything was like for him back then
in my mind. He gets right to the point when he rights,
it's not hard to comprehend or anything. That is what
is likeable about his style of writing. He writes in a
very appealing manner. Into That Good Night's main
focus is about Ron's relationship with his dad.
Ron and his father were very close because Ron's
father is a very calm kind of guy. He doesn't show
much emotion where as his mother is described as moody
and not afraid to yell when something makes his mad.
This is why he had more of a connection with his
father because in many ways he was like his father.
Ron is not quick to show emotion either. Ron and his
father form a special bond.
Ron graduates high school and is drafted in to the
military. He gets shipped off to Germany for a year.
In the mean time, his mother's health is decreasing.
She is getting worse and the doctors say she doesn't
have much time left. She started chain smoking when
Ron was a kid and that led her to her deathbed.
Fortunately Ron got to say goodbye to his mom right
before he headed off to the airport to be shipped off.
He felt that finally, he and his mother were at peace
with each other.
Ron and his dad form a strong bond after Ron gets
back from the Army and gets his own apartment. His dad
comes to visit him and they spend quality time
together. A few years later Ron's father eventually
re-marries and lives with his new wife. When Ron's
father gets in his older years he starts forgetting
things. His loss of memory starts increasing and he's
even forgetting simple things like where he is. He is
diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
What is Ron going to do when one of the most
important people in his life is starting to forget who
his own son is. What is it like to die not remembering
what your life was like and what your legacy will be.
This story was very easy to relate to. It is a very
easy understanding and likeable memoir of Ron Rozelle.

Tarkovsky's 'Sculpting in Time' offers a fascinating glimpse into this master's theoretical and poetic approach to his craft. Reading it alongside with 'Time Within Time', his diaries collected, the text casts a new light upon the work and mind of this artist of truth and sacrifice - A true must for art lovers worldwide.

I was introduced to Tarkovsky's work about 20 years ago during my time in film school, and The Sacrifice was the movie that turned me on to his outstanding cinematic legacy. The more I saw, the more I wanted to learn about the artist. Then I came upon Sculpting In Time; a cinematic memoir which has forever changed my life, and my artistic visions.

This book is nothing short of inspirational. I highly recommend it even if you are not familiar with Tarkovsky's work. Each chapter is loving written, eloquently detailed and profoundly insightful on topics such as the importance of sound, story and visual aesthetics in filmmaking. Tarkovsky's ability to, quite literally, sculpt cinematic moments in time in each of his films is nothing short of genius.

Thames & Hudson have triumphed with what collectors might regard as a limited edition, artist's book.This isn't the place to start chipping into Tarkovsky. It is more the devotee's piece - a touchstone which alludes to the magnificent ediface of his films: all which return the viewer to their world with a deeper, more spacious vision, an expanded present moment. In 'Rubelov','Solaris', 'Stalker', and,'Sacrifice', to name my favourites, he re-invented the epic with sustained inquiries into our transience without heady verbalism or vanity. To grapple with his own thinking about his achievements and how he positioned himself as an artist, one should seek out,'Sculpting In Time,'penned towards the end of his relatively short life. Recently, French documentary-maker, Chris Marker('Sunless') compiled a stunning homage to this Russian cinematic master. Bits of Tarkovsky's aforementioned book, and excerpts from his diaries appear with the reproduced polaroid snaps(the present book's theme)which fall into two geographic zones, Italy & Russia and are bookended with short tributes by two Italian friends. Every effort has been made in layout to convey the darkened atmosphere in which the illuminated materiality of these world's float to the viewer's eye. And in images barely larger than matchboxes this scale has some of the hallucinatory power of his movies. The layout & medium insist on episodic, fragmentary framing. Tarkovsky's films privilege the same exquisite framing with a sensual appetite for textures above narratives that makes us feel newly arrived at a primary experiencing of the world. These polaroids could have served as his flexing towards film projects: even their outtakes.

Sculpting in the time represents one of the most expressive eloquents statements of one of the supreme masters in the cinema art as Andrei Tarkovsky was .
All long this book you will read several aspects of the man , the thinker , the poet and above all the unvaluable reflections about the art in general and his craft in particular .
Tarkovsky makes an account about all his filmography ; making a detailed and exhaustive explanation about every film .
You will understand in all his wideness conceptual some concepts derivated about the role of the cinema in the actual world . The influence of ancient directors , his opinions about the role of the artist in the world , and some mesmerizing photos from his films as Ivan' s childhood , the Mirror , Nostalghia or Andrei Rubliov . There are some poems from his father Arseni Tarkovsky who were part of films such The mirror in the Spanish Civil War and the poem from the poet from Nosthalgia for instance .
It's a must for you to acquire this book . For me it was a delightful surprise to get this text in New York in 1995 .
Fundamental artistic legacy from this russian ( 04-04-32 / 12-29-6 ) master: in memoriam!

"Sculpting in Time" is truly an amazing work of art in its own right. Certainly filmmakers have written books about their artistic styles in the past. Philosophers have written elaborately on the subject of aesthetics as a whole in the past as well. And yet "Sculpting in Time" offers those with aesthetic interests something truly unique.

It should be forewarned that Tarkovsky, like Ingmar Bergman, was heavily interested in aesthetic philosophy. In fact Tarkovsky's ideas regarding art borderline the metaphysical (as this book is often used in higher level philosophy classes), and yet - through the tone in which the book is written - "Sculpting in Time" manages to appeal to the average Tarkovsky or cinema studies fan in such a way that no other aesthetics book has managed.

Tarkovsky's self-written "Sculpting in Time" is an amazing supplement which describes the brilliant filmmaker's use of filmic techniques but also goes a step further by explaining (at great length), why the filmmaker believes those techniques are significant. The value of his tried efforts to create a meaningful work of art directly relate to Tarkovsky's view of art as a whole.

Tarkovsky's views of art are complex and yet are reiterated for the reader so simply they stand out in "Sculpting in Time" like a gem. For instance the underlying theme in Tarkovsky's writing is the idea of an "absolute truth" of art which can be derived a given piece of art. Without giving too much away, Tarkovsky's beliefs, as expressed in his chapter "Imprinted in Time" mostly, is simply that art done for the right reasons - containing some form of objective truth within it - serves to link us (subjective beings), with an "absolute." From that blooms Tarkovsky's entire creative aspect fans of his films know and love him for.

I have to recommend this book to anyone interested in aesthetics, cinema studies, or Tarkovsky. I think this is a nice supplement to have when watching Tarkovsky films as well, so it might just serve to spark the interest in a philosophy buff to check out a few Tarkovsky films! Enjoy!

In his observation of the organizing principle of the Tanakh, whereby Westerman concludes (Elements of an Old Testament Theology, 1982) that the general theme of Torah being the deeds of God, and Nevi'im (The Prophets) being the Words of God, he rightly describes Ketuvim (The Writings) under which Psalms fall, as the people's responses, or I should say, God-inspired people responses; covering the entire range of expressions of human emotions; fear, desperation, faith, hope, compassion, love, submission, indignation, repentance, sorrow, joy, and praise; the reality of life in a fallen world. Spurgeon laboriously and masterfully unearths these jewels from the rich treasure chests of David that the readers may enjoy, adore, cherish, worship, and love God in the display of his grace, power and glory through these expressions with solid theology, Christology and soteriology in mind because in some of the Psalms; Psalms 2, 8, 22, 45, 102, and 110, for examples, they undoubtedly speak of vision about the Lord Jesus Christ. If the readers are familiar with the format JC Ryle used in "Expository Thoughts on the Gospel," Spurgeon implements a similar one. He begins with introducing the theme of each Psalms, then continues with verse-by-verse exposition that attempts to bring the readers as close as possible to the affections, the state of mind and the vision of the Psalmist when he wrote that particular verse. In the next section called "Explanatory notes and quaint sayings", he includes commentary for each verse, though may not be exhaustive but definitely extensive, from other theologians; mostly the Reformers and the Puritans. The last part called "Hints to Preachers" consists of outlines to aid ministers for preaching purposes. Here are some samples to show the style of exposition the readers would be benefited from, intended to wet their appetite and to support my recommendation:

"Proud hearts breed proud looks and stiff knees. It is an admirable arrangement that the heart is often written on the countenance...A brazen face and a broken heart never go together... there is much more to be learned form the motions of the muscles of the face than from the words of the lips. Honesty shines in the face, but villainy peeps out at the eyes. See the effect of pride; it kept the man from seeking God. It is hard to pray with a stiff neck and an unbending knee. `God is not in all his thoughts' he thought much but he had no thoughts for God. Amid heaps of chaff there was not a grain of wheat. The only place where God is not is in the thoughts of the wicked. This is a damning accusation; for where the God of heaven is not, the Lord of hell is reigning and raging; and if God be not in our thoughts, our thoughts will bring us to perdition" (on Ps 10:4).

"This prayer evinces a humble sense of personal ignorance, great teachableness of spirit, and cheerful obedience of heart... A path is here desired which shall be open, honest, straightforward, in opposition to the way of the cunning which is intricate, tortuous, dangerous. Good men seldom succeed in fine speculations and doubtful courses; plain simplicity is the best spirit for an heir of heaven: let us leave shifty tricks and political expediences to the citizens of the world, the New Jerusalem owns plain men for its citizens" (on Ps 27:11).

"The unusual strength which overleaps the bound of threescore and ten only lands the aged man in a region where life is a weariness and a woe. The strength of old age, its very prime and pride, are but labor and sorrow; what must its weakness be? What panting for breath! What toiling to move! What a failing of the senses! What a crushing sense of weakness!... Such as is old age. Yet mellowed by hallowed experience, and solaced by immortal hopes, the latter days of aged Christians are not so much to be pitied as envied. The sun is setting and the heat of the day is over, but sweet is the calm and cool of the eventide; and the fair day melts away, not into a dark and dreary night, but into a glorious, unclouded eternal day. The mortal fades to make room for the immortal; the old man falls asleep to wake up in the region of perennial youth" (on Ps 90:10).

"It is impossible that any ill should happen to the man who is beloved of the Lord; the most crushing calamities can only shorten his journey and hasten him to his reward. Ill to him is no ill, but only good in a mysterious form. Losses enrich him, sickness is his medicine, reproach is his honor, death is his gain. No evil in the strict sense of the word can happen to him, for everything is overruled for good" (on Ps 91:10).

"A survey of the solar system has a tendency has a tendency to moderate the pride of man and to promote humility. Pride is one of the distinguishing characteristics of puny man and has been one of the chief causes of all the contentions, wars, devastations, systems of slavery, and ambitious projects which have desolated and demoralized our sinful world. Yet there is no disposition more incongruous to the character and circumstance of man. Perhaps there are no rational beings throughout the universe among whom pride would appear more unseemly or incompatible than in man, considering the situation in which he is placed. He is exposed to numerous degradations and calamities, to the rage of storms and tempests, the devastations of earthquakes and volcanoes, the fury of whirlwinds, and the tempestuous billows of the ocean, to the ravages of the sword, famine, pestilence, and numerous diseases; and at length he must sink into the grave and his body must become the companion of worms! The most dignified and haughty of the sons of men are liable to these and similar degradations as well as the meanest of the human family. Yet, in such circumstances, man, that puny worm of the dust, whose knowledge is so limited, and whose follies as so numerous and glaring, has the effrontery to strut in all the haughtiness of pride, and to glory in his shame.

When other arguments and motives produce little effect on certain minds, no considerations seem likely to have a more powerful tendency to counteract this deplorable propensity in human beings, than those which are borrowed from the objects connected with astronomy. They show us what an insignificant being, what a mere atom, indeed, man appears amidst the immensity of creation!

Though he is an object of the paternal care and mercy of the Most High, yet he is but as a grain of sand to the whole earth, when compared to the countless myriads of beings [in the universe]" (on Ps 8:3-4, quoting Dr. Dick).

"Communion with God in secret is a heaven upon earth. What food can compare with the hidden manna? Some persons have excellent banquet in their closets. That bread which the saints eat in secret, how pleasant is it! Ah! What stranger can imagine the joy, the melody, which even the secret tears of the saints cause! Believers find rich mines of silver and gold in solitary places; they fetch up precious jewels out of secret holes, out of the bottom of the ocean, where are no inhabitants... Saints have often sweet joy and refreshment in secret; they have meat to eat, which the world knows not of... They that know what it is to enjoy God in secret, would not leave it or lose it, to be kings or commanders over the whole world" (on Ps 63:6, quoting George Swinnock).

Can't go wrong with Spurgeon. I bought these volumes for a deeper study of the Psalms, and so far they have been amazing. There's more for each psalm that I can really get in to, but that which I do has been all that I could hope for: reinforcing lower view of self next to high view of God; the only kind of perspective that brings any real sense of hope and encouragement.

Spurgeon is still the best. This 3 volume set is essential for a deep and meaningful study of the Psalms. Great for teaching and preaching research. I'm happy to have purchased it and I recommend it highly.

While Spurgeon's magnum opus is neither technical nor devotional it can meet either of those needs. It is inconceivable that anyone would have an interest in the Psalms and not have these volumes on the shelves.

This is a great commentary series on the Psalms and has the same feel as Spurgeon's sermons. Great resource for any teacher and pastor to prepare in study for the Psalms. Very detailed, which I can't say the same for other commentaries done during this same time period.

The price once again shows how many people have lost interest in both commentaries and our past church saints.

If you are going to be going through the Psalms in your own study or teaching you should definitely have this at your disposal.

ENGLISH
Julius is a young boy growing from childhood to the beginnings of adolescence in a Lima family of great inherited wealth and power. Devastated by the loss to illness of his adored older sister Cynthia, he struggles to fit in at his exclusive private school, while his predilection for socialising with the family servants makes him a source of concern to his mother and business magnate stepfather.

The genteel 1960s/70s Lima of "A World For Julius" no longer exists. But anyone who has spent some time in Peru will recognise the manners and attitudes depicted here. Bryce Echenique patiently and expertly satirizes the Peruvian obsession with social status as delineated by class, race, culture and language. The central figure of innocent, sensitive Julius is a window through which these values are viewed, at times with humour, at times with barely restrained indignation.

But "A World for Julius" does not merely lampoon the oligarchy in whose midst Bryce Echenique himself grew up. Beyond the powerful social criticism, it is a portrayal of the universality of human suffering. The novel's great achievement is to maintain empathy with the anxieties of the rich and powerful, at the same time as exposing their hypocrisy and complicity in the suffering of the powerless. Regardless of the walls erected by privilege, Bryce Echenique shows, no one can escape from the encroachment of age, disappointment in love, or the loss of a child.

Some patience is required for the long and detailed passages of stream of consciousness, which bear comparison with Proust or Joyce. But patience is rewarded by the subtle and skilful development of character. An additional pleasure comes from Bryce Echenique's success in capturing the rich flavors of Peruvian idiom--this is a book best read in the original Spanish, if possible.

ESPAÑOL
Julius es un niño que va acercandose a la adolescencia en una familia limeña de gran riqueza heredada. Trastornado por la pérdida de su adorada hermana mayor a una enfermedad fatal, le cuesta integrarse en su escuela exclusiva, y su tendencia de buscar la compañia de los empleados de la casa preocupa a su mamá y su padrasto

Ya no existe el Lima de "Un Mundo para Julius", pero quien haya pasado algun tiempo en el Peú reconocerá las actitudes representadas aquí. Con paciencia y pericia, Bryce Echenique satiriza la obsesion peruana con el estatus social y las diferencias de clase, raza, cultura y lenguaje. La figura central del ingenuo, sensible Julius es una ventana por la cual se examina los valores sociales, a veces con humor, a veces con una indignación apenas contenida.

Pero "Un Mundo para Julius" no sólo se burla de la oligarquía en medio de que se crió el mismo Bryce Echenique. Más allá de su fuerte criticismo social, es un retrato de la universalidad del sufrimiento humano. Lo que logra esta novela es mantener la empatía con las ansiedades de los ricos y poderosos, al mismo tiempo que va descubriendo su hipocresía y su complicidad en el sufrimiento de los pobres. A pesar de las paredes que construye el privilegio, nadie puede escapar el envejecimiento, la decepción en el amor, o la pérdida de un niño.

Se necesita algo de paciencia para los largos y detallados monólogos interiores, que se pueden comparar con Proust o con Joyce. La recompensa de esta paciencia es el desarrollo sútil y hábil de los personajes. Otro placer viene del exito de Bryce Echenique en capturar los ricos flavores del lenguaje peruano.

This is by far the most known novel Bryce has written, and there isn't much to comment unfortunately. It's a classic in Peru as far as I read but, as Chinua Achebe's 'Things fall apart', this is one of those folklore books that won't appeal to my Fiction reading hunger. It seems shallow most of the times, the character POV of the kid Julius never works out what's going on around him; no true sequels; Julius' parents are made of one piece of cardboard; the setting is the only thing that might be of interest (very much like Achebe's novel); and Julius barely grows by the end of the novel (at page 350!). For that matter, go check Coetzee's 'Waiting for the barbarians' or Peruvian Vargas Llosa's 'The war of the end of the world', two contemporary masterpieces.

The main thing that this novel does is make you ask what other such excellent novels must lay hidden in foreign languages or used book stores.

This book is nominally about the world of a young boy growing up in Lima, partly the real world in which he lives, partly in the play world where he goes on imaginary adventures in his great-grandfathers ornate, moldering carriage that has been stored in the carriage house.

This book is also about two other worlds, that of the well to do aristocratic family being pressured by changes happening in their world. And about that of the Indian servants who have come down out of the Andes seeking employment.

Like most of the best novels, the story grabs your attention as the characters and location become real, even though you've never been there. It took me back to my own Grandfathers garage, filled with musty relics from his younger years.

This book is absolutely amazing. No words could make justice to its brilliance. I've read it three times. Bryce describes the Limean society and especially the huge social gap between the aristocracy (where he comes from) and the low class (indian inmigrants from the Andes that arrive in Lima to work in domestic jobs), through the eyes of a 6 year old kid in such a way that'll make you both cry and laugh. I've read most of the Latin American authors but this has to be the best, its Bryce masterpiece.

Funnily, Alfredo started writing it as a short story but got so involved in it that he ended up writing more than four hundred pages. He stopped writing the book only because summer arrived and he decided to go on holidays (as many L.A. writers at the time he as living in Paris).

Other master pieces are: 1. "Todos los cuentos": short stories about Lima in the 50's and 60's, in the same line as 'Julius'. This edition includes his first book "Huerto Cerrado" and "La felicidad Ja Ja"

2. "La vida exagerada de Martin Romana" : A Julius, its heavily inspired in his own life. "Martin" could well be a 28 years old Julius trying to be a writer in Paris in the 60s. Truly amazing.

Julius is born in "a palace in Salaverry Avenue", coming from two of the wealthiest and most powerful families in Peru around the late fifties. Julius has it all: pretty family, servants who adore him, a forest-like garden, a pool, toys and cares. He grows up within a bubble of welfare. But one day, a little after his father's death, his beloved older sister Cynthia also dies, devastating him. Sadness and silence loom over the palace. Susan, his mother, a notable beauty of Anglo-Saxon descent, gives herself over to frivolity and nightlife. Julius finds shelter in the world of the numerous servants, since his mother and older brothers take no notice of him. Stability and some cheerfulness return when Susan marries a new man, Juan Lucas. He is another millionaire, the stereotype of the winner.In his early forties, Juan Lucas is handsome, rich, self-assured, a great socialite, a despot with those under his position, a man of the world and the perfect match for the always pretty Susan. The couple and the older boys leave for a time to go to Europe, during which time Julius goes to live in the countryside with the servants, in a beautiful chalet. There, Julius's sentimental education continues, by way of exploring the world of the servants, of poverty, the simplicity of country-side life, and how it is to be beyond Lima's jet-set. Then come the return to Lima, life in school, life with Juan Lucas (who hates Julius in an almost friendly manner), Susan and her husband's life in the fast lane in Lima's upper strata, as well as the move to a new palace and the traumatic arrival of adolescence.

Written with great control of style, with a lot of "stream of consciousness" and with the use of both the language of the beautiful people and the slang of the lower classes, the novel credibly conveys a portrait of the Peruvian high class and the miseries and small joys of the poor. All of this from the point of view of a smart, sensitive and sympathetic boy who basically grows up by himself, since his brothers are mostly absent, Juan Lucas despises him, and mommy is always partying or doing other things. In fact, Juan Lucas and Susan make up for one of the least sympathetic and most frivolous couples of literature and yet they are utterly credible and may very well remind you of people you actually know. I know I do. A great strength of the book, as noticed by another reviewer here, is that it has, thankfully, no political agenda. It is descriptive and avoids moralizing or patronizing about political issues. That's life. And for all of us who grew up in Latin America, especially, the books is a perfect portrait of our societies. Very good (and with a great sense of humor).

What to make of this book? I went into it knowing what the author was trying to do and thinking, "He'll never pull it off." Well, he does. It works because of the time spent building the character of Jimmy Blackburn, a kid growing up abused out in the sticks and trying to make sense of a cruel world. He is so decent he cannot abide the deliberate infliction of pain on helpless victims, be they humans or dogs. So he kills them -- a mean cop, crooked mechanics, a wifebeater, etc.

A masterpiece of black humor, it's also surprisingly touching. Imagine Holden Caulfield as the protagonist of a serial killer novel and you have some idea. This is the ideal novel for the fans of serial killer books, American humor aficinados and dog lovers on your gift list.

BTW, if you are interested in the polar opposite of "Blackburn," check out Shane Stevens "By Reason of Insanity."

...people will wonder what the hell is wrong with you as you literally blurt out roaring, uncontrollable laughter. VERY few other books have ever made me do this, NONE on such a *continuous* basis.
Lest you forget, this is about a serial killer:
"what's so funny?"
(incoherently *try* to quit laughing, regain your composure, and explain why that murder WAS SO FUNNY)...
I read this book a year ago, and it still impacts me as one of the best ever. I read a fair amount, yet most books are so unmemorable to me.
if you want a book that questions the whole polemic issue of "good and evil" i recommend this book. if you want to laugh, ditto.
i'm here searching for it to buy my own copy, because it was that eff-in good (one in a thousand books -- that's how many books i want to re-read, let alone what fraction of that i would buy AFTER I have read it already, if i hadn't bought it in the first place).
I HEART THIS BOOK

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

if he didn't know he had a moral code?
if thoughts could kill, so many of us would be serial murderers.
we'd take out a lot of people having a bad day too

but blackburns victims were all deaths we could root for, especially given our knowledge of Blackburn's inner monologue
poor blackburn, his mission ended too soon.

I read this book in less than eight hours, impossible to put down and hard to forget!

Generally, when a serious book set in modern America features a person who murders twenty people, that person is not the star, you don't find yourself cheering him on, and you aren't sad when the killing spree comes to an end. In Blackburn, Bradley Denton makes all of that happen.

Blackburn follows the life of Jimmy Blackburn, told through a series of nineteen stories spanning his life. The book has an intriguing structure, alternating stories called things like "Victim Number Two" (which is the tantalizing first one) with numbered and named chapters (the second chapter is actually called "One: Blackburn and the Blind Man"). The chapters alternate between "Victim" and "numbered and named" chapters for the rest of the book. I found this structure terribly interesting, especially beginning with "Victim Number Two". For a long time we are left wondering who victim number one was. His father? The bully? Who?

In the book, young Jimmy Blackburn is tormented by his father and various other thugs and shysters. While this formula could be used to make Blackburn into a victim, carrying out his violent deeds because of lingering pain of his childhood, Denton doesn't take it that direction. Instead, the events of Jimmy Blackburn's childhood lead him to an inexorable decision. He will not be a victim, he will be a perpetrator, a righter of wrong, a sticker-up for the downtrodden, an anti-hero. And we are along for the ride, holding on and hoping for the best and knowing it can't end well.

From beginning to end, the book is excellent, compelling, and surprisingly funny. The chapter with the encyclopedia salesman is hilarious, and the chapter with the car repair scam artists is wicked fun. There are lots of dogs along the way. You could make a case that without the dogs there wouldn't have been a story at all. It's hard not to like a guy who likes dogs as much as Blackburn does. Denton even takes some fun shots at himself, inserting an author of a book very much like this one into the narrative. It is, to say the least, interesting when Blackburn confronts him. The most compelling part of the story, though, is when Blackburn runs into another serial killer, only the evil kind. Perhaps it's meaningful that this encounter is the beginning of the end for Blackburn.

Toward the end of the book there is, to me, the most satisfying exchange, so cool that I have to share it here at the risk of spoiling something for someone. It should come as no surprise that Blackburn finds himself in the custody of the police. Here, Blackburn has decided to be forthright with them, but his honesty is not appreciated. There are no good cops in this book. The jerky DPS troopers are escorting him in shackles and handcuffs back to the jail after his preliminary hearing when Blackburn tells them he has killed men, but never a woman. "How many men?" the first trooper asks. "Just so we know how scared we should be," the second says. "Eighteen," Blackburn says. "So far." It helps the excitement of the moment that the exchange takes place in the chapter called "Victim Number Nineteen". Wicked fun.

Blackburn is a great book, funny and exciting and sad. If it doesn't make you cheer for the killer and wail at the unjust world when he doesn't get to kill more people, there's something wrong with you.

Brennan's is a famous New Orleans restaurant started up in the 1940s. The family opened up a sister restaurant in Houston in 1967. The cuisine served in the Houston branch has become well known in its own right, and is affectionately known as "Texas Creole"

When a cookbook comes from a restaurant, its important to know if the restaurant is any good. Brennan's is one of the best restaurants in Houston. The food, ambience, service and live music are all excellent and although there is a dress code and the waiters wear suits, it isn't pretentious or snobby. I liked the food there so much that I bought this cookbook so that I could make some of the dishes at home! By the way, it is not diet cuisine - most of the dishes are rich and well seasoned, with lots of nuts, butter, cream and oil. Totally fattening, extremely filling and very satisfying.

The book has a good number of color photos, mostly of the food but also some of the interior. It also includes some information about the history of the restaurant. Some restaurants keep their signature dishes secret, but not Brennan's - in this cookbook you will find the recipes for many well-known specialities such as Creole Bread Pudding Souffle and Bananas Foster. There are chef's tips included with the recipes, and overall the book is very user friendly.

This book is highly recommended, both for its faithful recreation of the restaurant's dishes, and for the overall excellence and originality of its recipes.

LIST OF CHAPTERS:

Introductions
Best of Beginnings - Lagniappes, Drinks& Appetizers
From the Garden and Beyond - Salads & Soups
Breakfast at Brennan's - Creole Jazz Brunch
Chef Carl Recommends - Meats & Poultry
Brennan's Favorites - Seafood
Accompaniments - Sides, Sauces & Seasonings
Grand FInales - Fantastic Desserts
Our Texas Creole Story
Source Guide & Index

SAMPLE RECIPES to tempt your palate and give you an idea of the style of cuisine:

Salmon & Smoked Corn Salsa
Grilled Yellowfin Tuna with Crabmeant Mango-Papaya Relish
Gulf Seafood Pontchartrain
Texas Bobwhite Quail
Jicama Slaw
Southern Pecan Crusted Catfish
Smoked Salmon Cheesecake
Texas Cornbread Pudding
Cajun Enchiladas with Roasted Tomatillo Salsa
Ancho Pepper and Cumin Sweet Potato Smashers
Spiced Pumpkin Seed Chicken
Bayou Gumbo
Roasted Peanut Soup with Honey-Cajun Shrimp
Risotta Jambalaya
Creole Bread Pudding Souffle (this is to die for!)

Also available in a hardcover edition (0970472986, $24.95), culinary author and chef Carl Walker draws upon his Creole and Texas styles of cooking that made Brennan's of Houston a very successful restaurant. Capitalizing on fresh ingredients, all of the recipes comprising this mouth-watering collection are kitchen-compatible and "user friendly". Enhanced with color photography, the recipes range from Chili-Fried Gulf Oysters; Creole Barbecued Shrimp; and Braised Red Cabbage; to Champagne Fennel Cream; New Orleans-Style Pralines; and Creole Bread Pudding Souffle. A master-piece of its kind, Brennan's Of Houston In Your Kitchen will prove to be an invaluable and popular resource for even the most novice of kitchen cooks seeking to replicate gourmet quality dishes for their family dining table!

Absolutely wonderful southern and creole recipes. I haven't cooked anything from this book that hasn't received rave reviews. You can't go wrong!

This is one of the greatest cookbooks ever produced. Chef Walker's preparation techniques as well as the "Chef's Tip's" throughout the book allow you to make these dishes exactly as they do in the restaurant. Even the recipies that are common in alot of other cookbooks take on a uniqueness in this book that makes it a "must have" book for anyone interest in creating good food. I was fortunate to be able to take a cooking class with Chef Walker called "Breakfast at Brennan's". One of the dishes he prepared was "Eggs Hussard", from page 72 in this book. Wow!The best egg dish I have ever tasted. It even makes the popular Eggs Benedict seem bland with comparison. Using the recipe from this book, I have prepared "Eggs Hussard" for family and friends with the same results and taste as that prepared by Chef Walker. I have also prepared several other recipies from this book with equal success. Chef Carl is truely a gifted chef and he fully shares his recipes, techniques, and tips in this great cookbook.

This beautiful 192-page book is a triumph for Chef Carl Walker. This eclectic and inventive collection of recipes has been carefully accented with full-color photographs and personal anecdotes. It is a wonderful gift for fans of Brennan's, and even for home cooks who have never made their way to Houston.

The book is organized by course: Beginnings (Lagniappes, Drinks, and Appetizers), Garden and Beyond (Salads and Soups), Breakfast, Meats and Poulty, Seafood, Accompaniments (Sides, Sauces and Seasonings), and Fantastic Desserts.

Each recipe features an expected yield, list of ingredients, paragraph-style instructions on how to prepare the ingredients, and a Chef's Tip. The Chef's Tips include technique suggestions, ingredient substitutions, and reminders on how to prepare the raw ingredients.

The desserts section is especially decadent. For example, the Chocolate Praline Cheesecake is a masterpiece by Pastry Chef Melissa Piper Reilly. This luscious dessert uses a chocolate crumb crust filled with caramels, pecans, and chocolate-laced cheesecake filling.

This beautiful cookbook will be a delight for chefs and bakers alike. Enjoy!

This was a great read. The author brought the characters to life and the mystery intriguing.

Dance on His Grave is Sylvia Dickey Smith's first in her Sidra Smart/Third Eye series. This is a mystery with a touch of paranormal, in that the protagonist has a sixth sense about things.

Sidra Smart and the other characters in the book are true to life. This is not to say they aren't larger than life, which they are, but they certainly hold true for east Texas. You could pluck just about any character from Dance on His Grave, set him or her in the real setting and they'd be right at home.

Orange, Texas, is fictional, but Smith creates the town in such detail and with such love that it comes to life - vivid and believable.

The protagonist of Dance on His Grave, Sidra Smart, starts off as a fish out of water, but by the end of the book, she's grown into her role as sleuth and unexpected P.I. If you like character driven mystery with a touch of fantasy, you'll most likely like this book - and will look forward to more in the series.

This is one of my all-time favorite books. Though it's extremely bizarre at times and walks a line of becoming unthinkable, yet it never fully crosses that line. "Dance On His Grave" is suspenseful, engaging and anything but predictable and rekindles your love of why you started reading it in the first place.

As a former native of the area where much of the story takes place, I think the story works because the cast of characters are quite an interesting ensemble. While each new character introduced is appealing enough to catch your eye, Sylvia Dickey Smith doesn't go into too much detail to detract from the main story or main characters.

The descriptions of the place and the people and even the food are detailed enough to give the reader a good feel of the setting and atmosphere. From start to end, it is an interesting tale because the characters are unbelievable (in a good way) and it takes place in an area where anything and everything is know to happen. This area along the Sabine River as it winds its way to the Gulf of Mexico has always intrigued me. From the fantastic architecture, to the culture and people, they are all truly fascinating and Sylvia Dickey Smith paints a picture that is easy to visualize. She has a definitely unique style of writing and I was left wondering how in the world she came up with some of the things that are exposed in "Dance On His Grave." This story totally captures the hot, sultry mood of Orange, Texas, and goes at that pace - any faster and the heat would have caused a melt down. This book is a thrill-ride a minute.

Cliff Johnson
Author, Wrong Side of the River

The Sidra Smart stories carry you right along; they are intriguing and mesmerizing for the reader who likes `real' characters and a puzzle to solve--a good write!

I enjoy getting to know Sid; a very interesting person. I'm very glad to see that she has moved beyond the rules (which are made to be broken) and seen beyond words (which are meant to control). Especially that she had/has the strength (guts) to move/stay out of a relationship that was damaging her and move on to a life that calls to her. All of us are where we need to be at any given time and when the urge to move on comes, it is because we are ready to do just that, even if we don't know what's waiting for us out there.

If studying Zen has done anything for me, it has made me more tolerant of everyone else; allowing me to see that each of us is on our own path and each of us needs different supports and trials at different times and in different ways. It is not for us to judge where a person is but to accept that it is their journey. It only becomes sad when one gets so involved in being `human', they cannot see their way. I know; I've been there.

I don't see either the Zen or Buddhism as a religion, or the worshiping of some mythical creature/person, rather as a way of life--a way to live with the Earth, the Universe and more importantly, with myself.

Thank you for introducing/releasing her.

Sidra Smart is 51 years old and recently divorced from her preacher husband. When her brother dies in a motor vehicle accident, Sid, inherits his investigative firm, The Third Eye, in Orange, Texas. Sidra has no experience as an investigator and initially intends to sell the business but is intrigued by a young woman named Jewell, who claims her father murdered a woman 30 years before. Although Jewell was three when it happened, her memories are so intense, Sid can't help but wonder if they're real. She questions Jewell's sister, Emma, who corroborates much of what Jewell remembers. Emma and Jewell confide in Sid their father's cruelty, and both, along with their mother, are suffering mental and emotional sequelae as a result of his abuse. Sid contacts the sheriff of Orange, Texas with the information Jewell has provided, and shortly thereafter, her life is threatened. This makes Sid more determined than ever to bring justice upon the man who has severely damaged so many lives. But someone is intent on stopping her.

Dance on his Grave is a strong start to the Third Eye series and is sure to develop a large reader base. Sid Smart is a compelling character; a woman who lived a sheltered life until she decided she wanted out of a controlling relationship and is now determined to start her life anew, despite antagonistic actions from members of her husband's parsonage. A female baby-boomer as a private eye is a fresh addition to the mystery genre, even more appealing, one with intelligence and maturity. Sid's Aunt Annie is a likeable, albeit quirky character, and Sid's mentor George Leger lends a colorful Cajun ambience to the story. This well-written mystery falls under the category of page-turner and will keep the reader entertained throughout.