K Books

Buy this - try it out. Ever wanted to make sure that your children know exactly why you feel the way you do about something or someone? This book will show you how to put all of your values on paper - you need this.

I purchased Barry K. Baines, Ethical Wills: Putting Your Values on Paper, at the suggestion of a friend who had read it and been inspired to write an ethical will for her children. It seemed like a good idea to me. We cannot help but relay our values and beliefs to our children--they pick them up by osmosis. I think, though, that we seldom sit down and think through what we would LIKE to convey to our children, including ways in which we have not lived up to our values or would like them to do better than we.

At the same time that I bought Ethical Wills: Putting Your Values on Paper, I also bought Rachael Freed's Women's Lives, Women's Legacies: Passing Your Beliefs & Blessings to Future Generations. I prefered this book. It may be that I prefered the second book because, as a woman, it spoke more to my concerns, but I think not. Dr. Baines focuses on his work with the terminally ill, and the healing power of putting our thoughts on paper. Many of the examples he gives read like old Polonius's hipocritical, "Neither a barrower nor a lender be...," platitudes that most in this culture would accept. Ms. Freed takes us on a journey of discovery--discovery of ourselves. Whether done in a group, as Ms. Freed suggests, or independently, as I would most likely tackle such personal writing, her topics are likely to bring us to a deeper understanding of ourselves and enable us to create a more personal document for our loved ones.

Dr. Barry Baines provides a thoughtful explanation of ethical wills, describing for readers the historical context of the practice and outlining how people today can leave a lasting legacy for their loved ones by putting their values on paper. The guidance he provides in this handbook makes it possible for anyone to write an ethical will, whether they've just learned of the practice or grown up reading ethical legacies of their ancestors. This is an excellent guide.

Ethical Wills is a must read for each and everyone of us! Not only is it fascinating to learn about the history behind such wills, but the workbook he provides the readers with is such an valuable tool.
We all need to be concerned about writing an ethical will while we are still able to communicate our wishes. My late mother had Alzheimer's and it was so very devastating and frightening to see her no longer able to communicate her wishes. Thankfully, we had spoken about what she wanted her last wishes to be long before Alzheimer's destroyed her mind.
I do not know if I, too, will one day suffer her same fate so I am taking all of the necessary steps NOW while I am still able to communicate to make my final wishes known. This book has been an invaluable help to me as well as another wonderful new publication by Renata Marie Vestevich. "Grant Me My Final Wish: A personal journal to simplify life's inevitable journey." This book is a wonderful companion to Dr. Baine's book. While his book is a workbook of sorts, Ms. Vestevich's book is a beautifully bound journal that you can write in whenever you have time. These two books work beautifully together. Ms. Vestevich's book leads you gently through the process of making your final wishes known to your loved ones. She guides you through the process of making that ethical will in a very compassionate manner. There is even a place within the journal for you to place beloved pictures and write down special memories.
None of us likes to dwell upon our eventual death. However, having seen my mother destroyed by Alzheimer's and her being no longer able to communicate even the simplest of wishes, I strongly urge all of you to take steps now to make your last wishes known!
These two superbly written books...each very special in their very own way..will help you do just that.

Ethical Wills: Putting Your Values on Paper provides a terrific introduction to ethical wills, with historical background, specific guidelines for writing an ethical will, and a variety of samples. With its reader-friendly tone and clear suggestions, Ethical Wills makes a useful handbook for anyone interested in creating such a document. I especially appreciated the sample wills to show a range of approaches.
This book was a great help to me when I started writing ethical wills. As a member of the Association of Personal Historians, I help others record their own ethical wills and family stories. I keep this book in my professional library and recommend it often.
My only beef? It's too short! I wanted more samples and more history. Guess I'll have to wait for Dr. Baines' next book.

My good friend, a comic shop owner, gave me his signed collection of "Keef's" first collection. I remember Keith wandering around the San Diego Comic Con wearing a paper mache' head of his comic character which was, of course, himself. He was having a blast. His strip is full of good belly laughs and his poigniant take on contemporary living is bare bones hilarious. He can be considerably less than tactful but then so is life. So, do yourself a favor and buy his books, all of them. So what if he has brown skin. Who cares? Just dump the "race" crap. His life is full of the same triumphs and disappointments as the rest of us "white" folks. That's the key; he's clearly in there with the rest of us just struggling to make his life make sense even when it's obviously, often senseless, to no fault of his own. To have to make that point is pretty obsequious in itself.
You don't have to fully agree with his take on things to get the points he's making.
And....best of all, he's funny!

Knight's second "K Chronicles" collection is as zany as his first. From birthdays to family relations to touring with his band the Marginal Prophets to being subjected to "The Phantom Menace" movie, his cartoons's themes are full of social commentary, neurotic humor, and skewed realism. I think his ones about working at youth hostels and seeing the cultural-centrism of America at work are so perfectly calibrated. He's definitely worth reading, and I certainly wish his comic appeared in my area!

Oh, and his comics inspire me daily to stare at the walls and envision drawings of snowstorms (like page 103).

I have met Keith several times and not only are his comics swell but he is a really great guy. His humor shines. I have bought this for friends as a gift and it has not ever disaappointed.

Listen, just get this book. This is not one of those reviews where I'm going to say funny things, or make up gorgeous metaphors for anyone's catastrophic talent. Just get this book. It's really funny, and you like funny, right? Everyone likes funny!

I'm not African American, or a guy, and I don't live in California, and I'm not an artist, and I don't have a twin, but I can relate to this guy-- OK, we're the same age, and yeah, that helps, but the point is, he's just some guy. He's not married to Jane Pauley, or earning six figures, but really, he's better than them all.

The very best thing about Wednesday is that a new K Chronicles comic is posted to Salon.com! Keef is exceedingly talented and I wish my local newspaper ran his strip daily instead of the mostly boring and awful ones they feature presently. Unfortunately, this will not happen in my lifetime - luckily there are books like this to fill the gap!

Frantastic Voyage is book five in this great series of adventures following one of the most interesting and well written child characters to come along in a very long time. For those who have only read this great book and are wondering which of Benton's former books in the series to buy first, I'd recommend Jim Benton's first three Franny K masterpieces Lunch Walks Among Us, Attack of the 50-Ft. Cupid or The Invisible Fran.

I work as a library assistant and when I have asked kids if they enjoyed this and other books in this series the answer is always yes. That's pretty rare for a series of books but this series is that good! I've checked these books out myself to see what all the fuss is about and these books all can be enjoyed by adults as well as kids, a feat not always done by junior fiction writers, even in the really popular kids books. I didn't read these in order either as there's a long wait for some titles so I'll point out they all have individual storylines so if this is the first book you've come across it can easily be read first.

Franny Stein is an interesting character who doesn't follow the stereotype little girl who plays with dolls, has tea parties with stuffed animals and the like, which many authors seem to want to write about. No Franny is a very intelligent girl more interested in bats, snakes, spiders, monsters and her number one passion, being a mad scientist. Interests that gel with many a real life boy or girl these days and lets be honest, always have. The length of these books are fairly short and take my word for it these books are so good, you'll probably want to get a few of them, if not the whole series. They seem to be a lot cheaper buying as a box set (where you get the first four titles, obviously not including this one) which at the time of this review seems to retail for about the same price as just two Franny K. Stein books.

In her fifth adventure Franny invents a doomsday device, just incase her experiments fall in the wrong hands. Unfortunately this device can also destroy half the planet and unfortunately it has also been eaten by her assistant Igor while transfixed to the TV he swallowed handfuls of grapes. Making the situation worse Igor has inadvertently turned the device on while eating it. It is up to Fran to shrink herself down, and go inside Igor to retrieve the doomsday device and disassemble it before it explodes. Igor's eaten a lot of gross stuff though plus Franny hasn't thought everything through. Will she be successful? You'll have to read this great adventure and see!

My 8 year old daughter loves this series. When she read the first one she loved it so much, I ordered her the whole series. She would read them, and not put them down. She would laugh, and come in and ask me to look at the pictures. She is in second grade, and her most recent grade card went from reading at 3rd grade level, to 6 grade level. I am so proud, and I feel these books made her WANT to read. Thanks Jim Benton!!

Thank goodness for these books! My lovable school hating tom boy of a daughter has now become a reading maniac thans to these laugh out loud books! You can hear her upstairs cracking up! Totally entertaining for my 8 year old. Jim Benton is a GOD! LOL

Franny and Igor take us on hilarious adventure in Frantastic Voyage. Igor is constantly getting in Franny's way as she works in the lab. In order to get Igor to leave her alone she puts him in front of the TV. This turns out to be a terrible mistake. Igor gets hooked on watching commercials and doing whatever they tell him to do. While watching TV Igor swallows Franny's doomsday device which is capable of blowing up 1/2 of the Earth.

Franny will have to use all of her wits to solve this problem. With the help of some Root Beer, corn chips and Bubble gum Franny may just save the world!

This book had all of us laughing our heads off and rolling on the ground every day that we read it together. If you enjoy funny adventure stories like Captain Underpants, Garfield, Captain Fact, or Ricci Riccotta's Mighty Robot you will love this book!

...my 8 year old daughter simply devours all his books -- she practically has them memorized...she sits and reads them to her 6 year old sister who also loves them...maybe the writing doesn't quite rank with Charles Dickens but he sure stimulates an appetite for reading.

Abel Dandy is a normal boy in an abnormal world. Born to "freaks" and living in a sideshow, he's never felt special, until the Siamese twins give him an Egyptian ring and he is suddenly haunted by dreams of a beautiful dancing woman. Abel, accompanied by his friend the "dog-boy" Apollo, decides to leave his comfortable home of protection and acceptance and make his fortune. Abel eventually finds himself in a traveling freak show where the people (including abducted children) are abused, neglected, and bullied. Intriguingly, Abel discovers a mummy in the show that seems to speak to him in dreams. Klause's refreshingly unique and fascinating story is populated by charming and frightening, sympathetic and grotesque and human characters. The magical story concerns all kinds of deformities and abnormalities and the "freak" in everyone. Fantastic and engaging read. Grade: A+

There are moments when you go to the bookstore with a specific purpose in mind, and you come home with the treasure you set out to find. There are other moments when one can wander around the bookstore experiencing myriad temptations, but nothing speaks to you. And then there are times like I had yesterday afternoon. Times in which you wander quite aimlessly to and fro and then a book catches your eye and you feel its pull and you just know that you will have to leave with that book. Yesterday that book was Freaks by Annette Curtis Klause. The full title of the story is Freaks: Alive, on the Inside, but I prefer the simple title and will thus refer to it in that regard for the remainder of this review.

There is no mystery regarding my initial attraction to this book:

It was the James Jean cover that did it! The cover art of James Jean never fails to illicit that response in me. The fact that this book was written by Annette Curtis Klause, whose novel Blood and Chocolate is a New York Times bestseller, sealed my fate.

I was currently in the middle of another book, but true to my nature I arrived home that day with the intention of just taking a taste of this novel before returning to my current read. Dame Fortune had other plans. An introductory quote by Edgar Allan Poe and the line, "When a boy's first romantic interlude is with Phoebe the Dog-Faced Girl, he feels the need to get out into the world and find a new life." was all it took...I was lost.

Freaks is the story of 17 year old Abel Dandy, an oddity amongst oddities, as he is the only non-freak in the freak show. An ever-present sense of not fitting in prompts Abel to leave the only family he has ever known to seek his fortune elsewhere. A parting gift of a scarab ring and words of fate spoken in his ear bring Abel Dandy dreams in which a beautiful and mysterious woman beckons to him with words of passion and pleas for rescue.

Freaks is a teen novel, and as such I was not sure what to expect. Having seen Tod Browning's controversial 1932 film of the same name, I had visions of this novel treading along those same paths. I had no idea, however, of the truth of that film's inspirational influence on this novel and found myself pleasantly surprised with the depth of emotion and the powerful sense of community and family that inhabits these pages.

Annette Curtis Klause has written a thoroughly researched tale of life during the time when freak shows and traveling oddities were a booming business. That research (which she discusses in an afterward) lends such a strong sense of history and realism to the story. Set amidst that backdrop is the story of a young boy coming of age, struggling to find identity during the twilight of adolescence and the dawn of manhood. And if that isn't enough, Klause deftly weaves a mysterious Egyptian reincarnation romance, reminiscent of the subplot in the film The Mummy Returns, into her tale.

Within a few pages, Freaks becomes a page turner. Mystery, suspense, and danger rub shoulders with romance, adventure, and intrigue. Powerful messages about acceptance of those around us lie just at the surface and yet those messages are never preachy or forced. Klause uses her words to provoke such an immediate sense of caring about these characters that you feel their plight and from the very beginning you are rooting for their success.

Annette Curtis Klause deserves praise for writing an adolsecent male character with a voice that feels genuine. The sexual urges of a seventeen year old boy are a very realistic part of the tale and yet the references to that aspect of adolescence are never treated as lurid nor included to shock or titillate. Those aspects are treated with respect as are the urges of teenagers to leave the comfort and protection of their parents behind to make their own way in life. Maybe men just aren't that hard to figure out, but I still give Ms. Klause her props for giving voice to a male protagonist that will resonate with males who read this book.

This is a beautiful little trade paperback book that tells a beautiful story of love and friendship, of the cruelty of the world and of the need to stick together to fight that cruelty. I could not put it down and yet I am very sad now that I have finished it. I miss the characters in this book already and imagine that I will be revisiting them again in the future.

In the author's note Ms. Klause says, "...and I didn't know that I would fall in love with my characters as much as I did". I didn't know that I would either, but I am so glad that I was given the chance. They are wonderfully realized and I already consider them old friends.

I highly recommend this book. It is a fascinating look into a part of our past that no longer exists wrapped up in a wonderful, adventure-filled romance. I look forward to reading more of Annette Curtis Klause's work soon.

This book gripped me from the very first page. I never could quite get into Annette Curtis Klause's previous books, but this one was up my alley. I've always found circus freaks interesting--the way people were marketed just for being different, regarded by the general public with awe, fear, and/or fascination, how they must have lived in this strange combination of fame and admiration and being set apart from the rest of the world. Ms. Klause captures all this and wraps it up in a fascinating story.

There is a large cast of characters, but she handles them all well, creating a memorable, distinct and highly likable group. I especially liked the sweet (and sometimes bittersweet) romances between some of the "freaks" that play out over the course of the book. The book is also a great page-turner, with constant action, but it never seems like page-slogging action like some books...I was always invested in Abel's fate.

If I have one complaint, it's Abel's own romance...although the scenario was intriguing (I won't give away too much), I wish the girl had been better developed as a character, and several flashbacks didn't quite work for me. However, this is a very small nitpick--I enjoyed this book as I have enjoyed few other YAs to come along in recent years.

I have to say that this book had me hooked. I had read some of Annette's other books, and as soon as I saw this one the shelf, grabbed it up for myself. I read it within the first two days of buying it, and I'm still in love.

It's a great book, it could be for people of every age... Well, except for some younger ones. There is some suggestive themes, but I'm glad to say it's not overly graphic.

This is a wonderful book, I recommend it to people all the time, especially when I know that there into the same mythical, historical, strange, and heart trobbing, just as I am. It's a great book with many of different subjects all mixed into one.

Enjoy the book!

"When a boy's first romantic interlude is with Phoebe the Dog-Faced Girl, he feels a need to get out into the world and find a new life. So I thought as I stood in the wings and watched Colonel Kingston introduce the next act. Not that I had anything against Phoebe. She was a sweet girl under all that fur. "Oh, Abel," she whispered prettily whenever I brushed her lips with mine, and perhaps she blushed -- who could tell? -- but I was seventeen and yearned to kiss a mouth sometimes without getting hair up my nose."

Come on...with an opening paragraph like that, who could you not love this book??

Abel Dandy had grown up in the world of "Freaks". His parents were considered human oddities, and he lived amongst them in Fairyland, a compound that was the home of Colonel Kingston's Freak show. But because he was "normal", Abel just didn't fit in. His uncle had taught him to throw knives, but there didn't really seem to be much room for a normal boy in a show of Freaks.

So Abel decided he was going to go off and join the Circus, and make his own way in the world. Armed only with his knives and a mysterious Egyptian ring given to him by Rose and Violet, the Siamese twins, Abel left Fairyland to try to make it on him own.

But nothing seemed to work out like it should. The circus that he joined, wouldn't let him try his hand at knife throwing. It was filled with perfect people that looked down their noses at the ones they considered human oddities. Then it was discovered that Abel was followed, and his young friend Apollo, the dog-faced boy, had stowed away with the circus. Since the Marvel Circus had no use for freaks, both were thrown out.

But when the two were picked up by the sinister Dr. Mink and his Monster show, bad things started happening. Abel had a bad feeling about Dr. Mink. But Abel's need to protect the young Apollo and the other children that were being held by Dr. Mink was strong. And what did all of this have to do with the mysterious dreams he kept having about the beautiful Egyptian dancing woman? The one who was calling him to save her.....

Annette Klause has done a wonderful job of painting the world of freaks. She has a special knack for showing us that there is a little "freak" in all of us. This book isn't so much about oddies as it is about acceptance. Accepting who we are and being able to live with that. And accepting others, not matter what differences are between us.

On top of that, there is a great mystery to be uncovered. This book is filled with action from murder to kidnapping.....and even a bit of a ghost story. Abel Dandy is such a strong character. He feels he is lacking in some way because he ISN'T different. And yet, he has such a strong sense of right and wrong, that he is willing to put his own life on the line to help the people he considers a friend, no matter what the consequence. It's a mesmerizing tale, and one that I highly recommend.

Medium to hard-core music fans will love it. Casual fans will enjoy it. If you are into the music of the FREE, BAD COMPANY, and/or Paul Rodgers - you owe it to yourself to get this book. This is a great read, real life story, with loads of interesting details behind this moderately popular (but outstanding) rock band. This book is NOT a "kiss-up-hero-worshiping-everything-they-did-was-wonderful-critical-review" thing. Just the facts. Some ugly stuff. Some sad. Always interesting. I was amazed to discover how serious & determined these "kids" where to produce the music THEY wanted play. Find out what happened to Andy Fraser (bass). Who/What was SHARK? TOBY? Dates, Names, Places. It even includes a complete sessionography listing obscure unreleased sessions by Paul Rodgers band named PEACE (who?!). Even as a hard-core fan, I was completely unaware of 90% of the information I discovered in this book. Be forewarned that that this book will probably cost you more money down the road - as you scramble to complete your collection of FREE related music. Read the book. Listen to the music. You will not regret it.

this great book at second edition try the reader in a dimension as end '60 never forget and reach light on the hard times of the group.very fine photos but only black and white ,i think perhaps not could be a difficult thing to buyer for this splendid book.
i hope in a third edition with more accurate pages,photos colours and in a book only dedicated to my great guitar player and always inspiration source PAUL KOSSOFF.
peter from italy.

David Clayton has done a great job in assembling the stories of the individual players in the early days, how they came together, early struggles, eventual success etc. The reminicences of those who knew them and extracts from music magazines of the time make for interesting reading.

It is a sobering and sometimes depressing read about a band who should have been much larger, but instead were corrupted by eventual success after years of struggle and poverty.

Young up and coming bands would do well to read about, and try to avoid, the mistakes this band made regarding management, drugs, egos, song selection, and group parasites which all got in the way of the music.

what a great and in depth biography. if you like Free or any of its members, this is a must for your book shelf or coffee table. can't say enough good things about it

Way back in the early eighties, intrigued by the components that made "All Right Now" such a great song, I went on a quest to find any and every recording of the late, great, lamented band, Free. I thought I was the only person on the planet who still listened to them. Thank God I was not. If you dig their music then you will want the book, and you'll love it. If you don't know about the music so well, then this book will definitely wet your appetite for it. They created their own oevre and instantly recognizable sound. The minimalism is addictive. Listen carefully. You will be moved.

I recently purchased this book for a baby shower that had requested in lieu of wrapping paper to buy the baby a book. I used to work as a library reference assistant and came across this book while shelving childrens' books. It is delightful with a good message about tolerance. The illustrations are beautiful! Highly recommended. I will purchase again and again along with The Story of Ping and Make Way for Ducklings.

Thanks for sending out the book so promptly. I got it and love it! Thanks

Three good friends, a rooster, a mouse, and a pig, spend all day together having fun. They sail a boat, pick cherries, and go fishing. At night they try to stay together in each other's homes, but soon discover that each one has a home that is only suited for itself. So the friends realize they have to part for the night after all. But they still dream about each other. The book has no scary bits- -it might be a good place to start when discussing the plusses and minuses of sleepovers with young children. The book has about 500 words.

This is a darling story and you don't know how things will turn out, so its a real page turner for the little child! The drawings are lovely! It was great fun, and a nice book to read over and over.

This absolutely charming tale is told simply, yet carries such a potent message about friendship -- such as thoughtfulness and consideration, teamwork and the art of compromise... and accepting differences. The illustrations are delightful and made my children and I laugh out loud. We can't wait to read "Friends Go Adventuring!" We're going to investigate all of Helme Heine's books.

There has been no shortage in books on the topic for investors in commercial real estate, unfortunately, it does not seem as if many books have been written about the brokerage aspect of the business. I did a little research before I purchased this one, and have even read a couple that focus on the industry in general.
When I saw "The Fundamentals of Listing and Selling Commercial Real Estate' by Loren Keim, I ordered it immediately. I thought, "finally, a comprehensive resource that I can use to develop a base knowledge of the industry while I continue to learn and grow; this is fantastic!" I even read some of the passages online before I even purchased it, and was thoroughly impressed with its level of sophistication.
What sold me were the other reviews that I read before I ordered. They were all great, and the authors even shared some of the same problems that I had with regards to the other commercial real estate books. They had actually established a common ground with me.
Then I received it and began reading immediately. The level of detail is something I appreciated, but emphasizing every single type of retail opeations almost put me in a coma. Also, the quality of writing left much to be desired. I suddenly became suspicious about the rave reviews that I had read on this very website, and lo and behold, they were all written by people from Pennsylvania, the same area that the author is from. Pure coincidence? I doubt it, because all of the reviews were truly exaggerated.
I did provide three stars, just because of the pure limited availability of books on commercial real estate brokerage. So, if anyone is reading this and is an experienced commercial real estate broker with strong writing ability, there is absolutely an opportunity for you to enter this book niche!

I had been looking for a book that explained the technical aspects and the sales techniques of commercial real estate. This book combines them both. There is a lot of meat in this book instead of fluff. I highly recommend it!

Commercial real estate is an extremely complex arena loaded with a minefield of legal, financial and emotional pitfalls investors, buyers, and sellers of commercial property must avoid.

Loren Keim cuts through the fluff in his new book "The Fundamentals of Listing and Selling Commercial Real Estate" to highlight and explain the basics of commercial real estate transactions from how a commercial property should be analyzed and compared with other commercial real estate, how the income of the property should be analyzed and what financing methods are available and how to talk like a pro with all the commercial broker and investor lingo that's thrown around in the real estate industry.

This particular book should be mandatory to read for any real estate agent planning to represent a commercial property or an investor. The explanation of marketing commercial real estate in the Internet age, and the samples and dialogues alone are worth the price of admission.

Whether you're a real estate agent selling commercial and investment property or an investor purchasing and selling commercial real estate, the field of Commercial Real Estate Sales and Investment Property Sales is very complex, with a language all its own.

Challenges in commercial real estate sales include mathematical projections, return calculations, zoning issues, legal issues, contract issues, environmental inspections, tax consequences and the entire minefield lately of commercial mortgages and loans.

In the "Fundamentals of Listing and Selling Commercial Real Estate", Loren Keim, the author, has made the complex understandable with an easy-to-read book. An excellent job, I give it 5 stars!

Excellent book for a career in commercial real estate or investment real estate. Well written, lots of great examples, including explanations of 1031 exchanges, income analysis, site and property analysis, and more. Everything you need to be a success in the field of commercial real estate.

Much fun to be found in this book, along with fascinating pictures and captions. Great work, men!

What a wonderful pictorial history of Georgetown University. As part of The College History Series, "Georgetown University" chronicles the school's evolution into one of the most prestigious universities in the US. The authors provide pictures and documents dating back to the founding days of the "Academy at George Town." As a former resident of the DC area, I never appreciated the colorful history, nor the importance of the institution until this book. I think it would be a treasured gift for any student of Georgetown University -- past, present or future!

This book truly captures the essence of what makes Georgetown such a special place. The images offer a fascinating glimpse of a school that grew with our nation, and the captions are succinct and insightful. Certainly an interesting read for any history buff, but a must-have for anyone with ties to the university.

I gave this book to a friend who graduated from Georgetown and she absolutely loved it! Before wrapping the book, as a Hoya myself, I couldn't help but read it from cover to cover. (If the author reads this, don't worry, I went out and bought my own copy!) The authors have done a thorough job of researching the history of Georgetown and have included amazing/intersting pictures & facts about the university. Any incoming student, alumni, Washingtonian, or person generally interested in college history, will appreciate this book for years to come.

What a wonderful pictorial history of Georgetown University. As part of The College History Series, "Georgetown University" chronicle's the evolution of one of the most prestigious universities in the US. The authors have provided readers with pictures and documents dating back to the founding days of the "Academy at George Town." As a former resident of the DC area, I never fully appreciated the colorful history, nor the significance of this distinguished institution before this book. I think this would be a treasured gift for any Georgetown University student -- past, present, or future!

This is a riveting story about Marine Major John Keith Wells and his Iwo Jima battle experience. More than just a minute-by-minute account of the horrific Pacific battle, Wells takes you into his head as he prepares for, and leads his men into battle. His description of combat is graphic, detailed, and colorful; creating a sensory-based sharing of his experience told with a Marine punch. In light of the recent flury of attention to the Iwo Jima flag raising and this epic battle, I'd recommend Wells' book for a "gut check". Note: The book has a number of excellent photographs that illuminate Wells' narrative.

This is the story of Marines in WWII as told by the Platoon Commander of the Marines that raised the Flag on Mt Suribachi. I met the author in his hometown and we visited often. I have a signed copy of his book. The reason the story is so great is the unassuming nature of the narrative. A great American hero who didn't make the history books because on Iwo "Uncommon Valor was a common virtue"

This was a great book to read, I highly reccomend buying it. From the minute I started reading it I could not put it down. Maj JK Wells and his men were among the bravest to fight for this country. This was an interesting story of his experience in WWII.

I have known the author for over thirty years. He is man of integrity and courage. This book took several years for him to complete due to its personal nature. His dedication to the Corps, his men and his mission are obvious in every chapter. I am proud to have him as a friend. Read this book!!!

"Give me fifty Marines not afraid to die" is a book written from the guts of a modern warrior. Obviously Lt. Wells is not a writer, he is a Soldier. He has been a Soldier and he always will be one, no matter what he do to earn his life.
We are presented with the shocking story of Iwo Jima battle seen with the eyes (the soul I'll better say) of a front line combat Marine. Wells let us share his feelings from the time he is still a college student, how he decide to be a Marine in the aftermath of Pearl Harbor, his life at Boots Camp, Paratroop training, Guadalcanal experience, more training at the States and finally through all the rugged strife of Iwo Jima.
This book is a very straightforward account of a teenager evolving into hardened young soldier ready to give his life for his Country. At the same time gives the reader an inkling of the historical period, its values, ideals and expectations. Also pictures the life style of the Marines Corp, its written and unwritten codes, language, ethics, training, etc.
Every word in this book sounds true and without ornament. A must read for any WWII buff.
Reviewed by Max Yofre.

Susan Howatch may be a woman with training in the law, but she gets inside the mindset of male priests in the Anglican Church (Episcopal Church in the U.S.) better than anyone else. This is a mystery, a suspense novel, a love story and a deeply psychological look at spiritual direction all rolled into one. The book begins with a man having a vision of a small country chantry (chapel). Outside the chapel is a unique suitcase. Is this god telling him to pack his bags and leave the monastary he has known for so many years? After intense spiritual direction, that I found riveting, he decides to leave. He goes on holiday, and while walking down the hall of the inn he is at, he see the suitcase of his vision! He has to meet the owner of the valise. She turns out to be a beautiful woman (much younger than himself). Will love ensue? What is god's will? This book will encourage you to consider the power of prayer and god's direction for your life. It will call you to wrestle with the possibility of healing and evil. This book began my love affair with each of the books in the "Starbridge" series. It could be the start of something special for you, too.

The second in the series of Starbridge books - Glamorous Powers - is the one I liked the best. IN this book we get to know Jon Darrow, who figured in the first volume Glittering Images as Charles Ashworth's spiritual director, more intimately. Whereas in Glamorous powers, seen through Charles Ashworth's eyes, he was the perfect super priest who knew everything, here we actually get under Jon's skin and see him as he sees himself: as a flawed, confused man with many problems, in particular concerning his relationship with women. Jon had spent several years in a monastery as a monk, but now, in his sixties, he receives a calling from God to leave the monastery and fulfil a mission in the world - but he doesn't know what. Nor is he certain if that mission includes marriage.
For anyone with an interest in Gnosticism and mysticism, this is a particularly interesting book - but such an interest is definitely not a pre-condition for reading and enjoying it! I'm not the only Howatch reader to have this as their favourite in the series. (...)

With the 2nd book in Howatch's Anglican trilogy, we explore the story of the monk who was the therapist in book #1. He is also 60 years old, a psychic and a vision from God sends him back into the world and out of the monastery. There is a great deal of counselling and angst in this novel as well. There isn't enough different about this novel to make it the same fascinating read as book #1 though. I've already bought book #3 and I hope we follow a different pattern with that one. He does find a new woman as part of his vision from God as her bag and her estate were specifically seen in it. The Anglicans must spend more time in analysis than Freud himself ever dreamed possible!

This review is for the first Ballantine Books paperback edition, November 1989, a volume of unknown origin found while cleaning out the bookcase. I decided to read it only because Amazon.com customers rated it five stars. Although I was raised as a Roman Catholic, and at age thirteen spent a year in the seminary, I soon became disenchanted with, and largely disinterested in, organized religion. Notwithstanding this bias, I'm glad that I read GLAMOROUS POWERS.

The plot opens in Grand Chester England at a quarter to six on Friday morning, May 17, 1940 in the cell of Jon Darrow, who for the past seventeen years has been a monk in the (fictional) Anglican Fordite Order of Saint Benedict and Saint Bernard. Jon is having a vision. He interprets this vision as God's instruction to leave the order and embark on a new, unspecified calling. Before Jon can leave, however, he must convince the Abbot General, Francis Ingram that his vision was a communication from the Holy Spirit and not an aberration of a disturbed psyche. There follows a fascinating mental dual between Jon and Francis.

This deep and literary exploration of psyches pervades the story. Before each chapter and section, the author liberally quotes from the works of W. R. Inge, particularly MYSTICISM IN RELIGION. Jon has mystical (glamorous) powers, healing powers, which Francis thinks are often nothing more than "parlour tricks." I thought of "Anglo-shamanism."

Although the story evolves within the institutions of religion, it does not tamper with faith or belief, so the reader need not worry about being upset by heresy or theological debate. The author confines polemic disputes between Anglo-Catholics and Roman Catholics, Low Church and High Church, to ritual, and treats these as external conflict rather than internal struggle. This story is not about religion, but about the psyche, with pervasive emphasis on the guilt and anger emanating from parental failures.

Jon Darrow has problems, "dis-ease" he would say. The larger than life character is Francis Ingram who unravels Jon's troubled psyche without revealing his own disturbances. At one point Jon shuns Francis and mires himself into a muck of troubles, and at page 296 I made a note that the story was getting a bit tedious. It revived, I thought, around page 339 with the return of my hero Francis. Indeed, the acerbic and witty letters written by Francis to Jon are splendid examples of writing at its very best.

One only gets small hints in 'Glittering Images' that there is a lot more to Jon Darrow than meets the eye, 'Glamourous Powers' is his story. After leaving his order after seeing a vision, Darrow tries to work out his vocation and in his attempt lets his ego and spiritual arrogance get the better of him which leads to tragedy, but also the offer of spiritual renewal afterwards. An excellent look at how spiritual leaders and mentors have their own failings and the fact that they also need to be helped and disiplined. It is an excellent argument against those who are completeley against charismatic renewal, but also against those who are totally for it without seeing the warning signs and the need to be answerable to someone who you trust but who who you also don't have a cosy relationship with.