Open Books

I have read many books in search of explanations... I would say that this is the most illustrative of all. Chapters and contents are very well structured in order to introduce you to the psychic being you really are.

I encourage those of you, who have been compiling information and have some scattered concepts about psychic development and awareness, to read this book. From my point of view this book have provide me a solid base for growing on psychic development.

The author, Mr. Henry Reed, mentions in the book that he has used some psychic techniques in order to improve the final result of the book when writting it. And after reading it, I really believe he did it so, because as said, this book is great.

This is a book that gets to the point. It's the "how to" book we're looking for. I started reading it Friday evening - and finished it on Sunday. Worth every penny. Thanks Henry.

This is a very solid read, expounding on the spiritual philosophies of the "sleeping prophet", Edgar Gayce, who may well have been one of the most gifted psychics of his era. The author, Dr. Henry Reed does a nice job of interlapping science and metaphysical properties to help guide us into fairly easy to understand excersizes to expand our psychic awareness and abilities, based on Cayce's teachings. I really enjoyed the descriptions and hypothesis of the soul and collective consciousness, and the section on hypnosis as an induction to opening ESP and intuitive awareness was quite fascinating. Would definitely recommend this one to all pursuing their psychic gifts.

A little bit old hat now. A real primer if you are interested in opening your spirituality. The stories of Edgar Cayce are interesting.

I bought this book a week ago at a local bookstore.
I read it in two days. It is a real delight! In 236 pages, Reed covers the most of ESP, giving credit to hypnosis as a natural channel to connect with our unconscious.
The book is an eye opener (third eye?) on the infinite possibilities that every human being has to connect with his inner mind. It is right there, hidden inside and so easy to reach. With some dicipline and your own audio tape, the teachings of this book can really have an increadible impact on your life.
Buy it, read it and apply it (get a pendulum too!) this is my best recommendation

This is a good book to just sit back and enjoy. It tells a unique story of adult and teenage interaction. Well written. Well worth the cost.

I originally purchased Chestas Way because my daughter is a teen in 4-H. As a mother of teens myself I can identify with the teenage angst and the way this book is written you just get right into it. I figured my daughter would appreciate this book not only because she raises animals for her 4-H project but because of the ages of the girls in the story. She is still reading it (I have finished),my daughter has read books in the past that spring to mind when reading Chestas Way.It has a "Sarah Plain and Tall" quality to it and though it is set in a different time the values remind me of "The Little House" series of books.I believe if Michael Landon were alive today he would be able to do justice to this wonderful story in the form of a mini-series. I hope Disney gets wind of it and makes a movie out of it,I think teens need all the good role models they can get and this book was so good it just left you hoping for a sequel (hint, hint).Please consider writing another book to give us fans of Chestas Way an update.God Bless you Mary Jacobson,and thank you again for a beautifully written story that tugged at these heartstrings.I would highly recommend this book to anyone with teens, anyone who loves animals or anyone who works with teens. Chesta can teach a lot and it really helps you to understand and have compassion for troubled teens.There is a wealth of knowledge in this book.

I sat down to skim Chesta's Way one night, being too tired to really read it. Well, much later, wiping tears from my eyes I was thankful I'd taken the time while my family slept and the phone didn't ring to complete the book. As a Registered Nurse who has often dealt with obnoxious teen patients I was enchanted with Chesta's determination and her approach. It made me reflect on my own sense of compassion ( or occasional lack thereof!). Thanks, Ms. Jacobson.

Chesta's Way is an inspiring and heartwarming true story that captured me from the beginning. Through smiles, tears and intense moments, this is an uplifting account of how one woman's compassion and perserverance helped fill the void in troubled city kids hearts. This book is a "must read" for anyone concerned about kids today, anyone who is called in their "own way" to make a difference in the lives of others, and for animal lovers everywhere who know and cherish the gifts animals bring to us through their need, companionship and love. City Kids and Calves...what a wonderful combination! Chesta's Way is beautifully written and it's story rekindles one's faith in the human spirit. It is the kind of book you will want to share with others. The perfect gift. I have given this book as gifts to others with the greatest of joy. Thank you, Mary, for sharing this story.

The author does a great job of catching the lives of the people in the book. From the troubled youth, the family with it's own internal relationships to the agency people working with the program. I enjoyed the book very much and would recommend it for all ages of readers. Additionally, it gives a perspective of 4-H that many people are not aware exisits. Maybe a screen play next for this story?

Do Not Open This Book is a good addition to the library of books to reinforce the Six Traits of Writing. I plan to use it to show examples of ideas, word choice, organization, and mechanics.

My son received this book as a gift about a year ago and he's six now and still loves it. And then a few days ago, he surprised his mother by opening the book and proceeding to read it to her nearly word for word. He's in kindergarten so we had no idea his reading ability had reached this far. (We read to him nightly). Anyway, this book has achieved its own place in our family history.

I mean REALLY loves it. She took it out of the library and I had to force her to take it back because other kids wanted it. When I ordered it she asked me every day if I thought it would come.

It's a very cute book with lots of vocabulary so I, as a parent, can recommend it very highly.

But just realize it may become an addiction to your young reader.

You've been warned!!!

This was one of the best books I have ever purchased for my four year old grandchild. I brought the book when I came to babysit for the day and can't count how many times I had to read and reread this story. Almost every time I go there I am asked to read this story. I also enjoyed reading and rereading it to her. It wouldn't surprise me if my granddaughter is soon reading this to her younger brother. When you are told not to open this book it grabs your attention and doesn't let go til the very last page. I would like to let you in on some of the funny things in the story, but that would spoil the surprise for you. You'll have to find out for yourself.

My 5 and 4 year olds have been reading this book for a few years and absolutely LOVE it. They scream laughing each time we hunt to track it down at the library. It is a great read aloud book to a group of kids and is silly and fun. We finally are planning to get our own copy for the holiday since we get tired of renewing it or trying to find it at our library.

I bought this book a couple of months ago because I needed a pep-talk and figured this was a fluffy rah-rah type book that would give me one.

Well, the author IS very warm and authoritative, and the book DID give me the pep-talk I needed, but it was also full of very useful information -- not fluff at all!! I found the chapters on organization, record keeping, homeschooling with baby, the good and bad aspects of homeschooling, building lesson plans and turning lesson plans into units, to be VERY helpful.

Well worth the money for any new homeschooler.

PS: In case the author ever updates her outstanding book: The one thing she left out of her chapter about the "bad" aspects of homeschooling (things like, messy house, sometimes your kids won't want to homeschool, etc...) is that, as a new homeschooling parent, YOU might feel a little isolated. It takes time to build comfortable and strong relationships with others, and sometimes homeschooling groups are not open to having new members, especially if they are large. You will have to work harder to maintain friendships with friends from your pre-homeschooling days.

I planned my family's homeschooling journey for an entire year, but I focused my efforts almost entirely on CURRICULUM. It never occurred to me that I SHOULD have also been scouting out homeschooling groups and support groups, etc...

After three months, I have found several groups that I enjoy very much, but I still wish I had been cultivating relationships with other homeschooling families LAST year.

I bought this book when I found that I was faced with the choice of either sending my Montessori schooled 5 year old to public school or taking on the overwhelming task of homeschooling him next year. I found the title amusing, and just what I was looking for. As I read the book, I found that it gave realistic advice (not just statistics on why homeschooling is "good"). It also made me consider the ways in which I wanted to interact with my son in general, and as a result, I have started to have a better relationship with him already while afterschooling, not just in 6 months when I plan to really begin my homeschooling adventure. And the chapters on how to start, and how to convince family members that homeschooling is ok made me laugh.

I've read several intro to homeschooling books, and this is by far the best one. The tone is very down-to-earth and reassuring unlike some other authors who can make homeschooling seem very intimidating. Mrs. Bittner also discusses situations that are common but not often talked about in how-to-HS books such as what to do if your spouse is dubious about the idea of HS and also how to HS only one child without causing jealousy in the traditionally schooled siblings. I also really appreciate how the book treats religion/spirituality as important but doesn't promote any particular faith (unlike other books I've read that are either completely atheistic or written from one particular viewpoint). If you're going to read just one intro to HS book, this is it!

I love Terrie's tone in this book and her helpful information. I am planning on homeschooling (and have been since my first was in utero) so I already knew a lot of the information presented here (from John Holt), yet I was beginning to doubt myself as my daughter became older. Would I REALLY have the guts to keep her home and not enroll in kindergarten? Terrie reminded me of all the reasons that I want to homeschool: 1) the education will be better--lighting a fire rather than pouring information into a bucket, 2) it will strengthen our family, 3) we will be freed from the schedule and politics of the school system.

I have read many resources and none were quite as honest as this one. Not that Terrie is divulging all these deep dark homeschool secrets, but she is honest about the challenges you face in choosing to homeschool.

I especially enjoyed her resource lists. No one book will tell you all that you need to know--she has helped me assemble a library of information that our particular family needs.

The book's tone is great and it is an enjoyable read. I've been taking it into the bathtub to review certain chapters since I keep finding new gems each time I read it.

I have been reading in preparation for homeschooling for two years. I discovered this book about a month before I started. It is just the best! Terrie Bittner gives such detailed information on all that we homeschoolers need to know and do. She offers us great suggestions for record keeping, organizing our materials and teaching our children. This is absolutely the most helpful of all the books I have read.

This is one of the best hunting books I've read. Dwight provides realistic information with good detail. He doesn't oversimplify things. He discusses various hunting situations that will face each hunter sooner or later. I'm now reading his book on early season elk hunting.

This is a very good book for anyone who is a beginning open country deer hunter. It is also a good book if you have hunted open country and want to compare your tactics to someone else. I know next season I will test some tactics found in this book to see if they work better than mine. I am also going to recommend this book to my hunting partners. It was written in the mid 80's so a lot of advice on optics, bows, and other accessories are dated. If you are looking for a system to hunt open country this book may be for you.

There are several very good "how to" books available about mule deer hunting but Dwight Schuh's book deserves a spot at the top. I have hunted mulies for many years and this is the one book that I always recommend to the first time mule deer hunter. What makes "Hunting Open Country Mule Deer" especially good is that it offers solid, practical advice on spotting and hunting deer that anyone from the novice to the seasoned hunter will find useful in pursuing the 'grey ghosts'. Schuh is right when he claims that you will become a successful mule deer hunter if you follow the advice in his book.

This is a good book for bowhunters that like to hunt in the early seasons. Doesnt go much into rifle hunting or rifle hunting seasons in which deer tend to be more in the timber. At least thats what I got out of it because he doesnt actually say so. He doesnt really say anything about the regular gun season. Most of his hunts are late summer. Not a bad book though easy to read and understand, just not what I was looking for.

I found this book very useful. The book is targeted toward bowhunting but the techniques are useful for any other hunting technology you'd care to apply to deer hunting. It does not try to cover all aspects of deer hunting (tracking, weapon choice and ballistics) what it covers is a technique for locating, spotting, stalking, and close approaching big bucks in wide open country. I found the style to be sort of down home but not in an irritating way. And his style does not get in the way of conveying the vital information in this book.

A very thoughtful friend (who is a vegetarian) recommended this book to me. Though a meat-eater for nearly 30 years, I decided to give this book a try. I was pleasantly surprised.

First, Young writes in a cool, level-headed fashion that doesn't come across as angry or accusatory. Unlike other books on the subject, this feels more scholarly and balanced.

Second, Young takes you through the Bible with remarkable insight. It is a deeply Christian work throughout. His arguments mainly depend on understanding the whole story, and what he calls "directional markers." This is a very powerful idea that I think really illuminates many modern ethical issues. To his credit, he does not try to argue that Jesus and the apostles were vegetarians, and that this message was somehow corrupted later on. He brilliantly argues that the situations of modern slaughterhouses did not exist in biblical times, and that the fundamental values of Christianity are in opposition to them. He does point out that human history in the bible is bracketed by vegetarian behavior (cf Genesis 1-2 and the Isaiah description of the "peaceable kingdom"). Why then should we not move toward this goal?

My one cavil with the book is that it is not written for the evangelical Christian (which I am). His view of Scripture would certainly make many evangelicals uncomfortable (for example his understanding of several authors writing the Pentateuch, his sometimes fuzzy statements on the nature of Jesus ministry, etc.). Occassionally I thought he cited verses out of context such that their true meaning was obscured by his intentions. Despite these flaws, I think overall his biblical exegesis is sound (Professor Young is a professor of New Testament, so this is no surprise).

I do appreciate his numerous statements along the lines of "I'm not saying everyone must stopping eating all meat in all circumstances." Instead, he thoughtfully and gently tries to challenge the reader to reconsider their own practices. I know that my own meat consumption has gone way down and am contemplating becoming a vegetarian. He encourages the reader to make slow changes, such as finding one meatless main dish per week to add into your diet. Who cannot do that? I also think much more deeply about the conditions that animals are kept in today and how they should live. Would you eat that piece of chicken or beef if you could see the animal's death? What is gluttony if not eating on more than you need? These and more questions are powerful thoughts that will challenge you throughout the book.

Young's purpose in "Is God a Vegetarian?" is simple: to explore the biblical foundations for Christian vegetarianism. Young chooses to listen to "the entire story" of Scripture to make a case for Christian vegetarianism rather than relying on certain "proof-texts".

The core of Young's argument is that the story of Scripture reveals that God is moving humans and animals towards a "peaceable kingdom" where they live together in harmony. Considering this, Christians should structure their lives and daily practices (including their diet) in such a way that it reflects this ultimate destiny.

As a Christian who is exploring the theological and ethical issues of vegetarianism, I found this book to be extremely helpful and informative. Young manages to be balanced, and not biased; simple, and yet not simplistic.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is searching for more information on the biblical basis for Christian vegetarianism.

The title of this book scared me. I thought it would be one of those fanatic books about how Jesus could possibly be a vegetarian, etc. However once I started reading this book I found myself laughing at the chapter titles: "Was God the First Tanner", "will there be slaughterhouses in heaven."

Young thoroughly answers questions that vegetarians and nonvegetarians alike grapple with in using the Bible as guide for life. While at times I felt he took passages out of context, the overall meaning behind his words seemed to speak the biblical truth. Young concludes that vegetarianism cannot be a universal moral truth, yet it is closer to God's vision. I highly reccomend this book for those questioning how Christians are to respond to todays treatment of animals.

I agree with the author's overarching view of biblical hermeneutics -- searching for "directional markers" that build an internally consistent perspective, rather than (non-contextual) "proof texting," a generally paroxysmal and frivolous approach to scriptural study and application. But it seems unfortunate that, given this broadly impacting issue of meat production and consumption, Young has 'hung his hat' so specifically on the concept of 'cruelty' against animals, and of their 'rights', as these issues are, at best, an aside to the far larger moral/ethical, logical, economic, ecological, health related, theological, and human stewardship considerations attached to flesh-foundering. The real ethical questions cannot be reduced sloppily to 'was Jesus a vegetarian?' or 'did Noah eat meat?' (Young sees this much). The deeper ethical issues of today relate to the 21st century world we live in, and should not be reduced to 'muskrat love', they are larger than that, and ask to be considered with 'the wisdom of serpents' (Matt 10:16).

Many in wealthy western culture, uneducated in the science and ethics of meat, think most easily of vegetarians as being equally soft hearted and soft headed; that vegetarians are teary-eyed cow huggers. But the 'animal rights' approach to the meat market culture is the least relevant and persuasive tack toward dealing with the truer, larger picture. In terms of Christian ethics urging the world toward a proactive "peaceable kingdom" (I have no argument against this), the 'animal rights' focus is rather like 'the tail wagging the dog.' More significant moral/ethical issues, relative to vegetarianism, are:

1.) Environmental degradation concomitant to the modern animal-based diet may be the most significant (and popularly overlooked) global assault on nature; an assault featuring deforestation for the production of commercial livestock, loss of biodiversity (plant and animal, terrestrial and aquatic), unnecessary burning of fossil fuels, air and water pollution, loss of topsoil and arable land, desertification, the list goes on. A single east coast factory hog farm constantly produces more raw sewage than the city of Los Angeles, sewage containing harmful bacteria and disease that is simply introduced to ground water (the related ecological and public health problems were briefly presented on the television news magazine 60 Minutes). Neither laws demanding nicer treatment of little piggies nor regulations on the treatment of pig pee are going to alleviate the problem. The only solution is for Americans to rethink their diet of bacon double cheeseburgers and pork sausage. The ecological issues of modern meat are far too large to discuss adequately here, they stretch from the factory farm to the open ocean to the upper atmosphere.

2.) The moral/ethical problems of meat eating are not only environmental, they are economic. Pandering to the palette of the wealthy beefeater demands [anti-human] misdirection of economic assets. Generally speaking, it takes 16 pounds of vegetable protein to produce 1 pound of animal protein. With that comes much more than 16 times the water and fuel! At the height of the 1984-85 Ethiopian famine, while more than a million people were dying of hunger, European meat producers were buying feed grains from -- Ethiopia! Will humanity's natural, agricultural, and economic assets serve humanity, or will they serve the gluttony of the wealthy? Along these same lines, the respected Christian author Richard J Foster touched very briefly on important aspects of the meat focused diet in his book Freedom of Simplicity (1981): "A million hogs in Indiana have superior housing to a billion humans on this planet." And those "million hogs" are degrading ground water, proliferating disease and ultimately creating cancers and premature human deaths (see below). Lest you think there'd be a net deficit of jobs if we eliminated meat packers and cowboys' livelihoods in favor of a plant based diet, assuredly that is not the case. No industry provides fewer jobs per unit of land used than does cattle ranching; a nation with a vegetable based diet would have the potential to create more net jobs while actually reducing costs for the consumer. That may sound contradictory, but federal meat industry subsidies prop up this meat-mad system. Here's one maddening example of these subsidies: If I go for a hike in nearby Cleveland National Forest, I won't see any of the once native pronghorn antelope, instead I'll probably see cows, ranching long ago extirpated the antelope. And guess who pays for these cattle grazing on public lands. As an American taxpayer, I do! The US government builds access roads, digs wells, pipes water, and provides other products and services for the cattle industry that uses public lands. Ranchers theoretically "lease" these land accesses, but the "leases" are laughable, do not cover the public expenditure that underwrites them, and amount to government giveaways. I may not eat beef, but as a US taxpayer, I pay for wealthy beefeaters to eat beef!

3.) The animal based diet is finally a disease and death centered diet. Billions of Chinese have a long tradition of a vegetable based diet, and they have virtually no incidence of obesity, heart disease, GI tract cancers, osteoporosis, or scores of other meat-related maladies -- UNLESS they move to the west and take up the animal based diet. Several excellent medical studies make the point clearly, meat kills (not just cute little lambs, meat kills people!). The health-related issues of the animal based diet are obviously bound to the economic issues as well (for example, health care asset allocation). Will we feed starving people or spend our financial assets first supplementing and then trying to deal with fat people's self-inflicted meat-based sicknesses? The human health issue looms as large as the ecological and economic issues, and is too great to be treated adequately here. These are all highly moral and ethical Christian stewardship questions. How can Christians turn a blind eye?

There are still other ethical issues tied to the animal based diet, and "animal rights" MAY be one of them. But this is not so clear. Is it rational or meaningful to suggest that because animals sense pain that they have any sense of "cruelty"? That they have any sense of their "rights" being violated or of some "injustice" being imposed on them? These are surly sentient concepts well beyond the ken of the animal mind, whatever it may be. The "animal rights" approach to the question of meat appeals to 'warm fuzzy' ideas but what is needed is a serious, hardheaded treatment (by the way, if we begin to do the right things, for the right reasons, the "animal rights" question will begin to go away!). Excepting perhaps Adventists, most Christians have been sadly silent on the matter of meat-mongering (some have even embarrassed themselves with goofy "proof texting" attempts to define vegetarianism as a biblical heresy!).

Young's thesis aspires to a robust view of biblical hermeneutics, which is a good thing. It aspires to treat an important topic. But the "animal rights" focus is misplaced. An outstanding book on the moral/ethical and health issues surrounding the animal based diet is Howard F. Lyman's 'Mad Cowboy'. Christians should have been publishing books like Lyman's decades ago; being shining beacons of conscience in the material darkness, not hiding in that darkness in blissful ignorance and self-indulgence. It's not too late to start doing the right thing.

I must say that I was initially put off by the title of this book. I assumed from the title that this must be another one of "those" Christian arguments for vegetarianism--you know, the ones that use out of context prooftexts to argue that Jesus really was a vegetarian. However, one of my colleagues did his Ph.D. work with Richard Alan Young, and he told me that Young was not only an excellent scholar, but a person who lived his convictions. So I decided to give the book a try, in spite of the title.

I am so glad I did. Young deals with the major issues and texts which arise when the question of vegetarianism is posed. Each chapter heading is a question which leads the author into a discussion of the relevant texts and historical background. He addresses questions like "Was Jesus a Vegetarian?" "Didn't God Permit Us to Eat Meat?" and "Didn't Paul Condemn Vegetarianism as Heresy?" with honesty and theological integrity. He does not try to force intepretations out of the texts, but lets them speak for themselves, offering a balanced and evenhanded treatment.

Most importantly, Young offers one of the best arguments for Christian vegetarianism I've read to date. He does not resort to prooftexting or spurious arguments based on scant biblical evidence. Instead he builds the case for vegetarianism upon a much broader biblical perspective--the peaceable kingdom. In sum, Genesis 1 and 2 offer the ideal view of human existence: humans and animals are vegetarians, humans are the caregivers of God's creation, the world and all creation are at peace. Unfortunately, all that is shattered in Genesis 3. However, the biblical material looks forward to a reinstatement of that original harmony. Examining the prophets vision of the peaceable kingdom, Young concludes that the role of Christians is to do God's will on earth as it is in heaven. In other words, Jesus' vision of the kingdom of heaven is a here and now concept, not a concept that will occur only in heaven. "The peaceable kingdom encompasses the full range of human moral aspirations, depicts peaceful coexistence between humans and nonhumans, and represents the goal toward which God is guiding history" (150).

Our job as Christians is to envision the peaceable kingdom and work to bring it about. Christ's act on the cross was an act of restoration, not just between humans and God, but between humans and other humans, and humans and all creation. Thus, Christians are to be actively involved in that restorative vision. If the peaceable kingdom is to be established, one fundamental step toward that outcome is refraining from eating meat. There can be no peace between animals and humans if we continue consuming animals.

Additional touches set this book apart as well: each chapter concludes with a wholesome vegetarian recipe; the last chapter offers a basic discussion of how to "go vegetarian;" and Young provides a bibliography for further reading.

Don't be put off by the title of the book--I found out that the publisher insisted upon it to make the book more "provocative." This book is a must read for any Christian who desires to investigate Christianity's relationship to animal rights and vegetarianism. It is well written, thoroughly researched, and easily accessible to anyone interested in the subject.

This wonderful book was a joy to read. Alex definitely has a way with words and it will be no surprise before a major publisher snatches him up. The brother in the book however was a sex fiend *lol* but I loved the poetry and I loved how the character initially found himself.

This book was so good that it kept my attention and entertained me as well. I found myself laughing outloud and softly crying at some emotional parts of this novel. I would recommend this book highly for those who love to read and those who would LIKE to read a good novel, but just haven't found the RIGHT one. Alex Hairston did a marvelous job on this novel and I can't wait to read his next!! Surprisingly many men are finding this book to be good...probably because they see themselves in Eric Brown, Jr.

I consider myself a pretty avid reader. I happened upon this author as i was going to lunch one day. He was out there sell ing his book and talking with people. I thought to myself if he is working this hard to promote his book I can spend the money to buy it. All i can say is that it is not a waste of time or money. He gives you a funny, sexy and often very touching look at a life most people would consider a pretty normal. It is worth the time spent reading it. Once you pick it up you won't be able to put it down.

This book was extremely well written. I could see the characters as I read. The life of the lead character was one to which most of us could relate and was interesting enough to hold ones attention until the very last word. The poetry was powerful and at times erotic. The book was hard to put down and I was sad when I was finished. I kept rereading the last page. I look forward to the second book from Mr. Hairston and some more of that poetry.

Several months ago, I was asked to read this book. Let me be first to say "never judge a book by its cover". I read 100 pages in a few hours. This is a coming of age, love story that takes on a very indept look at the life of Eric Brown. It was funny, true to life and at times over the top (but that does not mean that it could not happen) and romantic.

Alex's writing is clever and to the point. He does not waste a lot of time telling you the story eventhough sometimes I think he give you too much information (I liked the vacation on the island but I did not need that detail explainaion of the room decor). For his first novel, I think that Alex has written a very clever book that is different from a lot of the other stories that we are reading. I thought the poetry was really good. My personal favorite is "BLACK". Once you met Alex, his appeal will no doubt convenience you that the book is worth reading.

And speaking of covers- The illustration was made by his teenage son! That is very impressive.

Congratulations Again Alex!! I look forward to your next novel from BET books.
Peace and Blessings!!

In "Saraceno," Djelloul Marbrook has crafted an entirely new variety of gangster tale. The story of a Mafia hit man and his friend, the grandson of the godfather, as each searches for his own true path, this compact novella is also a glass through which we see its author. "Saraceno" is an unlikely artifact: a Mafia story sculpted with the most refined of sensibilities from the clay of high art and philosophy, and then thoroughly suffused with love. This love is, first, the mysterious affection of a creator for his creations, a compassion for flawed humanity that drives the best fiction and makes its consumption a healthy activity. Second, it is the love of the characters for one another, from which redemption finally comes.

In Marbrook's narrative, "Il Saraceno" is the secret nickname given to the handsome and deadly Billy Salviati by his Mafia master, connoting both menace and respect--the historical view of the Sicilians toward their one-time rulers, the Arabs. Billy's life changes, as do the lives of his few friends, when he meets an elderly Jewish woman and is introduced to a library of the best writing and a rooftop full of roses. In an economical, erudite voice powered by an awesome vocabulary, Marbrook weaves bright strands of alchemy, art, literature, and religion into a dark Hell's Kitchen fabric.

If you're an aficionado of the recent spate of gangster yarns masquerading as psychological explorations while glorifying brutality, "Saraceno" may leave your bloodlust unfulfilled. This is no "Sopranos," no "Goodfellas," no "Godfather Part X." A nasty beating or two are in full view, but the much bloodier doings we know to be the currency of that world stay off-screen. In the same way that Paul Auster used the "detective" persona in his "New York Trilogy" to create works of art that delve into mysteries far deeper than "whodunit," and as a result got slammed by fans of the genre, so "Saraceno" takes higher aim, and may not be appreciated by those who prefer their reading tightly pigeonholed.

Djelloul (Del) Marbrook is the kind of writer I take real pleasure in discovering: a Hudson Valley neighbor and a mature artist whose rich body of work is finally coming to light. Marbrook's poetry collection, "Far From Algiers," is the 2007 winner of the Wick Poetry Prize and will be published in September 2008 by Kent State University Press. Other publications, both fiction and poetry, are forthcoming, and his blog is always insightful. [...].

Reading Saraceno was a little like joining the author in a trip through the eye of a tornado. Issues, consequences and events whirled around the characters and carried me along in the storm. I loved it! The story is compelling, thoughtful, unusual and the prose is delicious. Marbrook's handling of language is that of a skilled sailor working the lines on his boat and bringing it to harbor safely.

I've re-read the book twice and like it better each time.

Djelloul Marbrook quasi-autobiographical novel Saraceno is the story of Billy Salviati, a young and attractive hit-man for the mob and possesses a notable gift for friendship. A fascinating read, Saraceno reveals the origins of Billy's mob nickname, Saraceno, bestowed upon him by the mafia don, John Altobene, and which may be taken as a compliment while retaining unique connotations. Not just another run-of-the-mill mafia novel, Saraceno is very strongly recommended as a remarkable crafted tale that will have a particular appeal for readers who appreciate the unique tale of a Mafia thug's transformation under the influence of an elderly woman who herself was once a slave-assistant to the infamous Josef Mengele in the Auschwitz concentration camp, and survived to mentor her hit-man protege in New York.

I loved the way we get inside Billy's mind only at the very beginning, Later on, and through most of the book, he is sympatheitc in his way and certainly fascinating, but we never know what he is thinking. That worked for me, because, scary as he is, I didn't really want to know what he was thinking, but was more than happy to observe him.
I was also impressed by the fact that I haven't ever met him before in fiction. When you read novel after novel, year after year---and some of the best stuff--this is no mean feat on the part of the author.

First, allow me to say that I do not consider myself a "well-read" person. I think I am of slightly above average when compared to my constituents of equal education, but moreover what attracts people to me and I to them, is mostly my philosophy of "goodwill toward men".

I like books of drama and inter-weaving plots, mostly non-fiction.

As a kid:

Charles Dickens
Mark Twain
Jack London
Jules Verne
Victor Appleton 11
Herman Melville

As an adult:

D. H. Lawrence
Sloan Wilson
Clive Cussler
Tom Clancey
(And now) Djelloul Marbrook

When I read Djelloul Marbrook's book, I had trouble out of the gate. My vocabulary fell short of his and I decided early on that I would plod forward without it and come back later to retrieve the broken parts.

Good thing I did, for if I had not, I would have lost momentum.

Before long, I grew accustomed to his writing style. It became fluid to me and I found that his pictorial descriptions and extraordinary depth of vision made more and more sense. The characters were difficult to keep tract of at first, but that too became easier as I relaxed and "let it happen". By the end of the book, I couldn't put it down (always a good sign to me) and I was sorry but relieved when I caressed the last page.

A friend recently loaned us a copy of "Spirit of the Open Road". This book is an absolute "Must Read" for anyone who has any kind of recreational vehicle or anyone who thinks he may want one. We are reasonably seasoned RVers (we have graduated over a period of 20 years from a pup tent on the back of a motorcycle all the way up to a Class A motorhome), and we don't know how we ever survived without this book. Peggy McDonald has done a masterful and entertaining job of really telling it like it is. "Spirit" is chock full of timely tips and suggestions that have been gleaned from on-the-road experience and is presented in a style that anyone can enjoy. It is particularly appropriate for Canadians who want to be winter snowbirds. I agree with another reviewer who wrote that every RVer should have two copies - one to keep and one to loan out to your friends!

Whether you are new to RVing or have been RVing for years, Spirit of the Open Road is in fact Essential and the only Reference Guide RVers will need. When we started RVing a friend recommended this book and I am sure glad we purchased it. Spirit of the Open Road is always at my finger tips and is full of helpful Facts and tips; everything from saftey to what you should look for when purchasing a new or new to you Rig; budgeting for Full-Time RVers; important information to know when travelling across the border; and, the list goes on. The selling feature for me is the fact that the author, Peggi McDonald, writes about her and her husband John's personal RVing experiences. Thanks for sharing and keep up the good work, Peggi & John!

My wife and I are new Rvers & were looking for a good book or two to help us learn and avoid beginner mistakes. If you are in the same boat, this is the book for you! While the book is subtitled "The Essential Reference for Canadian RVers", it is almost completely irrelevant whether you live in Canada or the USA (as we do). This book is about the RV experience - period. Jam-packed with tips, it teaches you the basics and much, much more. This book, written from years of experience & suggestions from other RVers, is very complete and informative. If you're not a novice, you still just might find some great ideas that you had not occurred to you before.

The book is easily read, fun, and well laid out. You'll find information on maximizing your space, towing/driving, dealing with pets, budgeting for your RV lifestyle, finding a good campground, buying or selling your RV, and much more.

I bought 5 different RV related books, but "Spirit of the Open Road" was far and away the best of the bunch.

At last, practical advice for both before and after you have bought that dream RV. I have read a lot of RV advice and how to's but this is the one I'll take with me. Peggi delivers an organized and extremely helpful book divided into logical sections so you can read the whole thing ( I recommend this approach so you don't miss anything) or just what you need to know when you need it. I have owned an RV for 6 years and I wish I'd had this book when I bought my first one. This is the best book I have seen for novices - strong on how to and practical tips culled from years of experience and chats with RVers all over. This is also a great book for those thinking of beginning in RV's. If you think you know it all read Peggi and you'll learn a lot more! Hope she brings out another one soon.

SPIRIT OF THE OPEN ROAD is subtitled, "The Essential Reference Guide for Canadian RVers," but in fact it holds a wealth of how-to advice for American travelers as well. Most RVing basics are the same everywhere: selecting the type of RV that suits your needs, dealing with limited storage space, safe driving techniques, ways of keeping in touch with family and friends back home, selecting campgrounds from the many types out there, securing your home on wheels from the dangers of burglars, fire, or carbon monoxide poisoning. Peggi McDonald covers all these topics and more, in a clear, easy-to-read style with occasional cartoon drawings and shaded boxes for key points. As an American RVer, I especially appreciated the many practical tips in the book -- including clever fixes for plumbing problems, an entire chapter of hints on "Extending Your Living Space," and "Weighing Your RV," a section that explains the alphabet-soup mysteries of GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) and GCVW (Gross Combined Vehicle Weight). RVing wannabees of any nationality should find this a useful guide to getting started in life on the road.

It's out of print here but it's currently available in its entirety in The Jump at the Sun Treasury. The book contains 7 pictures books.

This is a wonderful story about the curiosity of prayer for children. But, the artwork is what inticed me to buy the book, several of them in fact. Garin Baker brought out beautiful memories of my childhood. I grew up in the house that he painted. What a wonderful way to bring back memories.

This book's wonderful, lyrical text will lull any child into an interested participant. I just read it to my 5 year old daughter who then asked me, "If I'm in bed and get scared, is it okay to go to the window to pray?" When I assured her that she could, she smiled, and said, "I thought so." This book is one of those perfect little reminders of the things you already know, but need to hear again.

I am the librarian at my church. I recently read this book to a group of children during their monthly visit to the library during children's church. They really enjoyed it! It's a book that generates a lot of questions, comments, and thoughts! What I personally like best about it is that it is suitable for all children,whether they go to church or not. It's non-denominational. It's suitable for Protestamts, Catholics, or Jews. The drawings are truly beautiful and realistically portray a young girl. I highly recommend this book for all church libraries, children's Sunday School classes, and homes.

For any parent wanting to introduce their child to God, it's hard to imagine a better way than this exquisitely-illustrated book. And though it may be written with children in mind, Can I Pray's simple, direct message resonates with many adults as well. A joy to read.