Florida Books

I must admit that I had never even heard of this series until a month or so ago (I'm nearly 45). I hate that I missed out on these as a kid, but the kid in me is greatly enjoying them now. They are a joy to read.

The only negative that I see is the fact that so much time has passed since these books were written, some of the vocabulary and vernacular present in the books will be unfamiliar or have a much different meaning to kids of today. However, the gentle humor and the life lessons present throughout the Freddy series are ageless, and well worth your money and your children's time. Highly recommended.

Originally published in 1928, this is the first of about a dozen children's books starring Freddy, a clever young pig with a taste for adventure. If you are looking for books for little kids that aren't too scary, too violent or laden with issues such as peer pressure,etc., this is a very good option. The story is a little slow-moving, but it's still clever and engaging, and other than a little bit of sexism (a barnyard rooster in henpecked by his wife) this holds up remarkably well for a story written before the Great Depression. Lots of different animals make up the cast, so if you are reading it aloud, there are good opportunities for doing different voices, etc. And, if you liked this first book, there are plenty more to follow. (Joe Sixpack)

In grammar school,"FREDDY" books were my favorites. I then graduated to Sherlock Holmes. I still love both "detectives"! Lucky you! All the books are available. I used to wait impatiently for each new one!

This is book 1 of the Freddy series (note that it was not originally published with this title, and Freddy is not as much the focus as in later books). These stories of the adventures of the intelligent and sociable animals on the Bean farm are beautifully written, and have some dramatic tension but nothing over the top (no Moms are killed in these stories, unlike Disney's favorite ploy...). The stories introduce some wonderfully adult concepts (like politics, banking, running a business) with well-crafted characters that will broaden a child's understanding of what makes people tick.

In 1955 I was eight, and the eldest of three brothers. My mother couldn't go to the grocery store with all of us so she'd drop me off at the children's room at the West Hartford, CT, public library, and pick me up on the way home. It was there that I discovered Freddy, and that pig spoke my language! It was Freddy, his wonderful compatriots on the Bean farm, and their fabulous adventures, that started me out right. Freddy Goes to Florida is the first of the series, and is where I recommend starting your own adventures with Freddy the Pig. Hats off to Overlook Press for re-publishing these books in their original look.

This is an excellent novel which I greatly enjoyed. It describes, from the viewpoint of a young girl, the experiences of a family in the fight against racism in Florida in the 1950s. The most striking aspect of this is the description of living in a society whose basic assumptions are different to one's own. Most of us have experienced people making off-color/racist/sexist comments in our presence (although nowhere near as overt nor as excessive as those expressed by some of the characters in the book). It is interesting to see how this family copes and compare their reaction with one's own and imagine how one would cope in the same situation.

The book is well written and is easy to read. The characters are well defined and the story beautifully paced.

I would recommend this book to teenage as well as adult readers.

I loved this book. Ms. McCarthy writes simply and beautifully. I was raised in Central Florida and could recall some of the events mentioned in the book. What I loved the most about the book was the relationships, the use of poetry and bible scriptures. I think this book is a 'must read'.

Whether you loved, hated, or somewhat like To Kill a Mockingbird, its guaranteed you'll love this book. I had to read this book for an advanced Engish class and I dreaded reading this book, but after reading a couple of pages, my whole mind changed. If totally recommend this book to everyone, from the mature reader to the less developed reader. Great piece of literature.

Susan Carol McCarthy tells an amazing story of family, friendship and personal strength through the eyes of a young girl, Reesa, living in central Florida in the 1950's.
Two families become entwined when the KKK intimidates, stalks and randomly murders a young man, Marvin Cully, because he is black. The young man's death is a turning point for Reesa McMahon because the ugly world of racism is unveiled before her young eyes. Marvin Cully's family and Reesa's families are friends, and Marvin's death draws them even closer. Reesa's parents must make decisions to do what is right, even at the risk of endangering their own family.
The early Civil Rights movement is explored, with the founder Harry T. Moore joining the McMahon's and the Cully's in trying to expose and bring to justice those responsible for Marvin's murder. This opens the window on the KKK and more violence and terror is unleashed.
This is a story that is both beautiful and heart-wrenching. It is a story about friends, faith and families that make definitive choices to do the right thing. It is also about innocence lost when wrong and right collide, leaving moral courage stamped in fire upon a young girl's soul.
I met the author at a book event in Tampa. She spoke about the historical accuracy of her book and told of her decision to write this book based on her father's actions in that time. Also at this event was Evangeline Moore, the daughter of Harry Moore, and she told of her view of events of the time and of her parents violent murder.
This is an amazing book that is an honest and insightful view into the thoughts and lives of those in the early days of the Civil Rights Movement and a foresight of changes that were to come.

"Lay that Trumpet in Our Hands" has been compared to "To Kill a Mockingbird", and I think the comparison is warranted. With a young, spunky girl as the narrator, troubled racial events taking place, and the relationships between people at its heart, using this book to bridge to the denser classic novel will help kids make the transition. I'm planning to use it with my 8th grade students; I might question using it with younger students.

It isn't only a great book for teaching purposes, though! Pick it up and prepare to connect with the characters and become immersed in the story.

Chaplain George Castillo is my grand-uncle. I think the book is very inspirational. Until I read the book, I didn't know he did such great work in the prisons. He's an inspiration to not only the prisoners and their families, but an inspiration to us all.

George shared from the heart in this wonderful book about ministering to inmates as a chaplain. He also includes some of the politics that go with working within the system, We were so touched by his stories that we included his work in "Chicken Soup for the Prisoner's Soul" and "Serving Time, Serving Others: Acts of Kindness by Inmates, Prison Staff, Victims, and Volunteers."

I would love for the author of this great work to give a talk to my local civic organization. He has profound insight into the criminal justice system, and unique, yet practical, ideas on how to make it better. This book is worthy of being Oprah's Book of the month!

My recommendation of the Rev. George Ramon Castillo's book, My Life between The Cross and the Bars, grows out of a personal acquaintance with the author for nearly forty years as well as several readings of the book. The book is very well written and allows the reader to glimpse a first hand view of the circumstances and events that led George into the Christian ministry and into the Federal Prison chaplaincy. This life service offering reveals the character and integrity of the man, as well as the broader dimension of his professional service.
Of vital importance to George's life story is his account of his early years in British Honduras, now Belize, his early immigration to the United States, and his service in the U.S. Air Force, and his U.S. citizenship (October 26, 1953). Even more important was his marriage in 1957 to Muriel Jermain Seale, who has provided the moral and spiritual support for his successful career.
One does not just become a minister and a chaplain willy-nilly. The story of his religious development and educational experience tells how this came about: the early difficult years, then college and seminary.
I became acquainted with George while he was a student at Bangor Theological Seminary. He and his family eventually joined the congregation I was servicing, the First Congregational Church in Brewer, Maine. He was ordained under my ministry there, one of the high points, actually the highest, of my own ministry. When I left in September of 1967, the church called him to become their Interim Minister. After a year or so, he went on to serve churches in Detroit, Michigan, and in Ohio, and then was accepted as chaplain by the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
All of this is essential to getting the most out of George's career as a Federal Prison Chaplain. The reader will share in the documentation and correspondence that became an important part of George's work within a difficult bureaucratic system. There were also unexpected difficulties with the machinations of opportunistic prisoners as well as with prisoners whose legitimate personal problems were all but insurmountable. If you want insight into an environment and setting that cannot be portrayed in a TV or movie scenario, this is the book for you.
A Federal Prison does not exist in isolation from the rest of society. George spells out the relationship of his work to the "civilian" religious community. This is part of his task in educating the rest of us to the enormity of the problem that confronts American society. Prison populations are growing fast, and the costs are skyrocketing. The solution to this problem, if we take George's perspective seriously, is more in terms of human relationships than in purely punitive or monetary terms.
But this comes only through genuine commitment, in George's case, Christian commitment, in a life of duty and service, with an equally dedicated life companion. There is much to be learned from what otherwise might be considered as one of the darker sides of life. George in his book, and in his life, has shown us the way.

Ray Wilbur

Initially, I was leery about My Life Between the Cross and the Bars for two reasons: I'm generally not a fan of autobiographies, and I don't know anyone who has been to prison. When I was only one-fourth of the way through the book I realized that it contains volumes of material to which I can relate. I highly recommend this book to individuals from all walks of life, as it has monumentous value for everyone. The author is a genuine inspiration to all people of every race and background, and his book is a great read.

I just bought this book the other day and it is amazing. It gives you the facts you need for survival. If I get caught in a situation from the book and I don't know what to do, I will be suprized.

This great book teaches you how to survive. It has so many detailed descriptions with graphs. It is so compact that I even carry it everyday in my backpack. It might be really useful when the war starts or an earthquake takes place.

One of my friends bought the big version that had a little more information in it. I read it and when I saw that you could buy a pocket version I was thrilled! Wisemen gives an informative description of everything you need to survive almost anywhere. I'm confident that if I were in a survival situation I would be able to survive.

I've had this book for a few years now and have read it over and over again. The information is amazing. There's not a topic that Wiseman doesn't cover or at least touch on.
Not only is it small, it's tough too. It's been on every camping trip, hike, deployment and just about every other trip with me for the past three years and it's still in great shape.
Friends of mine that could have cared less about a suvival book have read mine on airplane rides and afterwards went and bought thier own.
You can't go wrong

With store shelves overloaded by "SAS" books it's unfortunate that this little, uh, Gem can be lost in that crowd. The original format was more like a coffee table book, but for practical purposes this chunky, compact edition is not only the most convenient of those available, it is also arguably the best on the market.
The manual itself is comprehensive, clearly written and with clear (if sometimes limited) illustrations, including a useful colour section; and here the colour is used for more than mere decoration as it provides essential additional information in identifying plants and animals. There is no philosophical description here, little room for the romance of the wild or the ethics of surviving. Instead, "Lofty" Wiseman's guide is a direct parcel of solid information aimed solely at keeping you alive in the worst of situations. Campers and outdoorsmen will find some interesting and useful sections here, but it requires a degree of knowledge and experience to sift them from those which simply must not be used outside of an emergency. This is a fascinating book to dip into, and doubtless most purchasers treat it as such, but it is also an exceptionally effective, reliable and well-crafted source of possibly vital information.

Book contains p[lenty of good solid info which is reliable. Print is large enough so that you dont have to stain your eyes to read so therefore it is good for older folks who love gardening and are perhaps retiring to Florida and want info for the area.

Really good information as to what will grow in Central Florida. Good map outlining the hardiness for plants. Describes native plants very well. Tells about the strange lack of rainfall in the Spring. Good for anyone living in Central Florida.

This was for my daughter, a new resident of Florida. She was very excited about the book and is looking forward to trying out many of the suggestions.

This is an excellent book to have on your book shelf. I work out in the landscape and this book is an excellent refrence book to have around. The only one thing that I would of liked to of seen is a little larger pictures with more detail, but this is not enough of a problem to drop a star rating. I am from London, England and the soil there is nothing like the soil here in Florida. I moved from there to Washington DC, the soil there is different too. So moving here was a whole new ball game...sandy soil where nutrients wont hold to well is where you need to know what will grow here and what to do, this book has it.

The book I've been looking for. Living in central Florida poses a challenge to landscaping. This book is informative, current and a major help in deciding how to do what you wanted to do with your property. It has become my guide to planning and planting for beauty and value.
I highly recommend this publication.

It's not only great fun navigating the tangled web of "what if" scenarios along with Frank, but he leaves one contemplating a myriad of other related possibilities in other aspects of life. Frank's background must have been of tremendous help, but he must also have done an enormous amount of research. Frank does a terrific job of combining sci-fi, action/adventure, and romance that makes for a thoroughly enjoyable read. Congratulations, Frank, on your first novel, and keep 'em coming!

This novel is a winner. Mr. Frank grabs you from the beginning and holds you throughout. His narratives and timelines before each chapter help you stay in check with everything going on. I couldn't put it down and I wanted more when I finished. What if? I hope he does another.

Defler really draws you in and I read the book totally amazed at the combination of factual settings, real history, science and physics. His Air Force past shows in the cast of characters and the locations. The idea of changing past events and the consequences are enough to get you involved and wondering if all this might be possible.
A great read.

A great read, fast and furious action with a unique science fiction theme. Derfler shows his knowledge of things both military and scientific. Fun stuff and a cast of characters that manage to pull off a 9/11 coup. Without giving away the details I think I can say that the historical connections from the start of the Vietnam conflict to today's fight for freedom are the keys to the book. The twist is science fiction but could it have happened? You bet, and Derfler gets you to believe his made up science. Good stuff all around. I will await his second novel if he chooses to write one.

"A Glint In Time" grabs your imagination and haunts you with the scenario of what "9-11" and other earth-shaking events could have evolved in to. The Author makes one grateful to be an American citizen and eloquently makes one believe they are part of an exciting story, experiencing the intimacy and immediacy of one shocking situation after another. He cleverly melds air commando missions, with other top-level government organizations into a breath-taking plot which shakes the imagination of the reader. To the Author, I say "well done".

Ted G. Arthurs
Destin, Florida

This story really moves! I found myself drawn into the storyline and discovered I had worked through the book in such quick speed I was disappointed it was going to end. I think the story was too short, if such a thing is possible. The history was very well described and so were the environments and encounters. Mr. Fox successfully merged fantasy and fiction to create a story of great proportions, where characters both real and imagined from history interact. If you like history, you'll love this book. there's something for everyone: love story, history, knights and actions of valor, battles, everything!
This is the sort of story where you learn things without realizing you are learning stuff, and all the while being entertained. If this is his first work, it is a fine debut!

What a crazy cat this Ronald Fox is. His book just picked me up and carried me away. I'm still flying. I enjoyed reading historical fiction that was researched. This guy didn't make things up to cover gaps in fact, it seemed to provide a crucial bridge between factual elements in the story. This book educated me (quite a feat since I am Minoring in Medieval Lit. in University). Too bad it is not a book of scholarship elsewise I would use it as a reference, and that's no lie. If you like Medieval History, you'll dig this book. Shine on, Mr. Fox.
Write on, mr. Fox, Write on!

I received this book as a gift from my boyfriend and I started reading it - Well, I haven't been able to put it down! I didn't know what to think with the title, and when Mike (my boyfriend) gave me the book and told me it was a romance set in the middle ages I figured, 'oh boy, another coming of age swashbuckler.'
It is amazing, and to think - written by a guy. It is so much more. Mr. Fox has this amazing ability to paint an image with words so real I felt I could look up from the book and see castle walls.
Thank you, Mr. Fox, for creating this wonderful tale and sharing it with the world.

It took me a couple of chapters to get into it, but I was hooked. I enjoyed the way the author incorporated a lot of local sights and scenes, and really enjoyed the storyline as a whole. Mr. Fox has an amazing ability to transform ideas into visual images. This is an excellent story and a wonderful book. This is historical fiction at it`s best.

Ronald Fox's book "Oaken Rings" gives the reader a look at medival life from a modern view point.I was surprised at the amount of detail that the author was able to give and still create characters that you could empathize with in the story.After reading the story I had to share the book with other friends and family.All of them have been greatly impressed with the book.I can't wait to see where he takes his hero next.

Rita's book is the best guide book written to date. We found it very informative and the coupons in the back were wonderful! We used most of them. The maps were extremelty helpful! We copied them and handed them out to all our family members. We have been going to WDW twice a year for seven or eight years, and have purchased many books, this book is outstanding!

After being disappointed by other guidebooks, I finally bought Aero's book and was amazed by the wealth of planning insight. This book is nothing short of empowerment for family vacation planning. For the first time we enjoyed a vacation where we all equally loved the hotel, restaurants, and rides. This book is a vacation saver.

We thought this guide book the best of the bunch - it is well laid out and easy to read with great maps of every area in the 'World'. Best of all, buying it enables you to access Rita's great Website, which is chock full of up-to-the-minute, detailed tips and trip reports as well as updates on attractions and happenings at WDW. A great plus!!

Having been to WDW several times, and always purchasing a guidebook before leaving to get recent updates, I came upon Rita Aeros book, Walt Disney World for Adults by accident. I initially purchased the book for the coupon values and was disappointed when discovering they were no longer valid. I intended to return the book after discovering the expiration of the coupons but decided to check out the website before I did. This was the BEST decision I could have made. Not only did I keep the book and read it thoroughly, but I have discovered a wealth of information on her web site. It is truly the most informative, user friendly web site you could possibly find anywhere. I have already saved hundreds of dollars using the information I have gleaned. This book and its accompanying web site are unsurpassed for value. Rita Aero's book has done a marvelous job in breaking down all the different areas of WDW (hotels, transportation, restaurants, theme parks, etc.). with honest evaluations, in an easy to read and comprehensive style.

This is the book that has it all. Resorts, Restaurants, Parks, Attractions, Night Clubs, Sports, Kids, Family, Groups, Discounts, Charts, Ratings, Reviews, Tips, Tricks, Secrets, etc, etc.

The information in this edition is still fresher and more accurate than any 1999 guidebook, and I should know, I visit WDW at least four times per year. Other guidebooks are just repackaged every year with a new cover.

Note: I found the Animal Kingdom chapter in this edition to be a bit weak, but I found marvelous AK information on the book's website.

This is the only book to have ever included useful coupons, but they expired recently. The book's website has lots of good electronic coupons in the Readers' Clubhouse. The clubhouse has excellent information and wonderful community! I saved $768 last trip. NO other guidebook (and I have them all) can match the quality of Rita Aero's work, and no other major guidebook has a website or a supporting author. This one is a MUST HAVE!

Thanks for the magical vacations, Rita!

Loved this book. Having Fibromialgia myself and with the back pain both of us suffer this book is just what we needed to plan for our trip.
We now have both ordered ECV's from one of the offsite rentals as recommended in the book. This is not only saving us money but lots of problems trying to get them from the limited supply at Disney.
Even changed the resort we planned to stay at and took their suggestions regarding room placement and calling ahead.
Also helped us determine which rides we can enjoy.
Highly recommend this book for anyone with physical issues that's planning a trip to Disney World.

This book has lots of good suggestions for visiting Disney World with a disability. I liked that they had good descriptions of the rides so you can judge for yourself if the ride will be appropriate for certain disabilities. We had a great trip and used a lot of the tips in this book.

This book is a Wonderful resource that helped us to plan to go to Disney with my health concerns.

If you have any health concerns and you want to go to Disney, then this is the book for you.

This is a super practical book that really helped me plan our trip down to the very last detail. There was so much that I found really useful. It made planning our trip easy, and it gave me peace of mind because I knew what to expect and how to get whatever we needed. Our trip was wonderful and I can't wait to go again!

I book a lot of Disney World vacations for clients and bought this book as a resource that I figured I would use occasionally. I was pleasantly surprised by the depth and scope of issues addressed within the book. The authors did a really good job of listing every attractions and describing elements that might create an issues for guests with various needs.

For example - you expect a book specializing in disabilities to address wheelchair access and loading proceedures. You don't automatically assume that it will mention that a musty smell might be an issue for someone with respiratory issues or that a strobe light might be an issue for an epileptic or a migrain sufferer.

Instead of using the book from time-to-time, I've found myself flipping through it regularly to help clients address a wide spectrum of issues - both mild and serious - and even to warn parents about frightening componants of various attractions. The book also has a lot of information for guests with food allergies.

This book will be a fantastic resource for the individual traveler but it is also a great ready reference for travel agents who really try to go the extra mile to insure a good experience for their clients.

When my grandmother recently called to say she wanted to visit Disney, I was a bit hesitant. I assumed that we would face too many obstacles to enjoy a visit since she doesn't walk very well and is diabetic. But aiming to please my favorite grandmother, I began researching our options and stumbled upon this excellent book by author Stephen Ashley.

We used the book as a tool when we planned our trip to Disney. The best part about this book is that it is a guide; you do not need to read the entire book in one sitting. It comes packed with all sorts of information, including useful telephone numbers and Web sites. With nearly 200 pages, the book covers things you should know about Magic Kingdom (my favorite!), Epcot, Hollywood Studios (formerly MGM Studios) and Animal Kingdom, and the author even has an accompanying Web site that I found extremely valuable.

We learned where to find wheelchair rentals, and how restaurants and attractions accommodate people with disabilities or limited mobility. The book also gave detailed descriptions about the attractions and what to expect. And with my grandmother's diabetes, I especially found useful tips about special diets and how to deal with insulin shots (You can actually have it refrigerated at the First Aid station, or just bring a small cooler pack). The book also provides information for people who have epilepsy, bladder or stomach problems, allergies and visual impairment, among other things.

The book gave great tips about staying at Disney's resorts. Initially, I planned for my grandmother to stay with me since I live in Central Florida, but after reading this book, I realized the immense value of staying on property. First of all, when you stay at any Disney resort, you are guaranteed admission to the parks even when they reach capacity. The resorts also make sure ALL their room doors are big enough for wheelchairs to pass through, and you can make special room requests when you book your stay. I never knew these things, and I've lived here and have visited Disney almost my entire life!

As a volunteer in the Orlando-area, I deal with children who have physical and developmental disabilities, and I wondered how their parents found accommodations for them throughout the park. I always was curious how they did it all but still made sure their family had an enjoyable time. This book answered that question, and I had an amazing experience with my family when we visited the parks.

I really felt that Ashley wrote with an in-depth knowledge from years of experience. According to the introduction, he spent several years researching and experiencing how to navigate through Disney. He provides easy-to-read information about the best way to experience the parks, despite your sensitivities or disabilities.

I also loved about this guide how frank the author is. He tells you exactly what problems he and his family have run into when they have visited Disney and how they went about solving them.

After reading this guide, I realized something: Disney's magic truly is for everyone. It just takes some planning, and this guide helped my family and I have a wonderful time.

If you couldn't tell already, I highly recommend it!

If you know Suzanne Farrell you will love and respect the lady even more after reading this book. Many artists can relate with her experiences and feelings. I'm sure anyone who was in the arts in college knew of someone who had this type of relationship with their teacher.
Honesty and truth abounds in this volume. Ms. Farrell has an accurate memory of the past. We have proof of that in her restoration project of Balanchine "lost" ballets. She is putting together choreography that she danced in her early twenties.
A remarkable lady!

Farrell had a rather dramatic climb into the spotlight so this is not the book to learn how a young dancer makes her way up through the ranks. It's also a little I-danced-this-then-I-danced-that, which makes it hard to remember important roles early in her career. That being said, she is a brilliant dancer, with an unusual career and the truest sense of Balanchine's choreography. If you're interested in Balanchine, American Ballet or the New York City Ballet, this is a must.

Suzanne Farrell was often regarded as Balanchine's ultimate "muse", although she was neither the first nor really the last. Balanchine in the 1960s became obsessed with this willowy, mysterious dancer, and choreographed many ballets for her. Their personal relationship was much gossiped about. But Balanchine was married (to another "muse", Tanaquiel le Clerg), and Farrell was a staunch Catholic. Eventually, she married another dancer, and left the New York City Ballet. When she returned 5 years later, Balanchine's personal obsession was over. They worked professionally till his death but it seems as if Balanchine never became emotionally invested in her again. Farrell for her part loftily insists that the relationship was consummated through "dance" and not the traditional way. One wonders if it was this remoteness and unattainability that made Balanchine so hurt when Farrell married and left the company.
Farrell's book is a moving personal story, and I'm too young to have seen her dance but surviving videoclips make it easy to understand Balanchine's obsession. She was indeed a beautiful, electrifying dancer. However, like a lot of singer autobiographies, Farrell can't help but sound a bit self-centered. She was isolated at the NYCB due to resentment from the other dancers, but it seems impossible that she'd remain so completely oblivious to the company's other members. Thus, 1960s mainstays of the NYCB like Edward Villela, Patricia McBride, Karin von Arnoldigen, that all figure so prominently in any chronology of the NYCB, are completely absent in Farrells story. From someone reading her book you'd think Balanchine choreographed solely for her, that she was the only important ballerina in his life, and that the company essentially revolved around her. This is not a criticism, but it's something to keep in mind when reading the book. I'd suggest also getting a biography of Balanchine, to keep this in perspective.
To Farrell's credit, she never self-aggrandizes or vilifies anyone. She admits Balanchine could be selfish and smothering, but overall she treats him very sensitively. She is also fair about her mother, a typical stage-mom. Overall, this is one of the best autobiographies of a dacner that I've read. Its candid and personal. However, like most autobiographies I wouldnt read it as an entirely accurate history of ballet either.
As an interesting footnote, Farrell's frequent stage partner and new NYCB dancermaster Peter Martins fired Farrell from teaching at the NYCB after a blowup in the late 1990s. In a preview of the book Farrell mentions the firing.
Farrell's co-writer was Toni Bentley, who's also written a fascinating personal account of being a NYCB dancer.

I stumbled across this book by accident almost a year ago and have been touched by it ever since. I'm not sure that I can explain the specialness of this of this story but it feels like a real life fairy tale. You can feel Ms. Farrell's emotions and passion of what it must have been like for her to work with her teacher, George Balanchine. What a dynamic duo they must have been together. I would recommend this book to everyone, whether you have been exposed to ballet or not, as a special glimpse into a very public but very private life. Truly a lovely story.

i read this book as a young adult, when i was entrenched in the rigours of technique and training and it inspired me in many ways. from farrel's honesty and dedication to her art to the descriptions of balanchine as both a person and an artist. i love this book and i highly recomend it.