N Books

This is a truly excellent reference book for anyone interested in the history of Biblical interpretation. Indeed, the book might more accurately be called "How the Bible has been Read," since for any given section, it gives an overview of traditional readings, both Christian and Jewish, followed by recent scholarship and biblical studies. The latter includes advances in linguistic and archeological scholarship. Kugel writes in a clear conversational style, the product, no doubt of years of university teaching.

Though I have only read about a hundred and fifty pages, I have found Kugel's scholarship outstanding and his writing clear and easy. As a catholic priest it has been a wonderful exposure to good Jewish thought and scholarship. I have found the contrast between the ancient inperpreters and modern scholars extremely helpful. I would be more conversant with modern scholars and not so clear on the more traditional. It is a great help to interpret sections of the Hebrew Bible.

Rev. Joseph Madden

This book attempts to integrate both traditional and modern views of the bible. It does this well. It creates layers of meaning that transcend the theological and is well worth reading for those not immersed in a particular theological approach to the meaning of this complex book

Well researched and written book. Understandable by layman as well as biblical scholar. Most enlightening and informative.

Thank you James L. Kugel. I have longed for guidance in understanding the complexities of the Old Testament. Very informative and readable.
Highly recommended.

This is a full-length, 500 page biography of the fourth Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, John Marshall. It is superb. It is very detailed, yet easy to read. Smith follows the conventional chronological format for a biography, starting with Marshall's birth, and then describing his life sequentially from his childhood, his education, his youthful service as a light infantry officer in the Revolution, his work as a lawyer, his early political career, his rise to national fame as an envoy to France during the time when the nation almost went to war with France during the Adams Administration, his service as Secretary of State to John Adams and finally his long service for 35 years as the Chief Justice who established the power and prestige of the Supreme Court.

What I find most admirable about this book is its balance. It gives you everything that you want in a biography. It is very scholarly, and very readable. It gives you a very good sense of John Marshall, the human being, but it also fully explains the significance of the events in which Marshall participated. As an example of the human side of Marshall, Smith gives us a very moving picture of Marshall's lifelong love affair with his wife, Polly, starting with the dramatic courtship by the penniless young officer and ending with the 80 year old Chief Justice walking twice a week to visit her grave. As an example of how Smith explains the significance of what Marshall did, not only did Smith explain the key decisions, but he gives the facts on what impact they had. In the steamship case, for example, Smith both explains the legal and political issues and gives the economic statistics on what effect the decision had on trade.

I highly recommend this book, both for the excellence of its writing and the importance of its subject matter. John Marshall is one of the most important people in American history. He was instrumentals in making real the balance of the Constitution envisioned by Madison and Hamilton in the Federalist Papers. He was critical in creating the pre-conditions needed for America to be a rich and prosperous nation, with great opportunity for the great majority. Marshall was also a wise and a good man, which shines through on every page of this book. The book is worth reading, finally, as a way to come to know such an extraordinary man.

Not all historians are fine, interesting writers. Fortunately, Jean Edward Smith is a superb writer, making Chief Justice Marshall's long life an interesting, even fun, read. Moreover, the writing paralells the substance contained in the Book. I wish all historical biographies were of this quality. Buy the Book.

This was one of those books I knew I SHOULD read, but its heft put me off for months. When I finally did pick it up, I couldn't put it down.

John Marshall doesn't have the cache or enduring fame that George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, or many others have - and it's a shame. He formed the institution of the Supreme Court, and in so doing, shaped many of the ways our country (tenuous at the time, mind you) began its journey, and perhaps why we've endured this long.

The author does a fantastic job of painting a picture of life in the day, John Marshall's life and contributions, and how he and others in his era related to each other and the world at large. The cases that came before the early SCourt were fascinating, if only to illustrate the thorny issues and perils of the time. The extent to which he was able to be brilliant, rationale, and to build consensus focused on the original intent and vision for this country is impressive, and sorely needed today.

Funny story - I finally DID start reading this book on the beach in Mexico. Not quite the fluff one typically carries to the beach. The first day, people remarked as such, and by about day 3 or 4, they are saying "wow, you are really making progress on that!" as the bookmark moved steadily towards the back.

Don't wait for the beach - get started!

.....though we can still debate whether he defined it correctly. John Marshall, fourth Chief Justice of the Supreme Court was, and remains, one of the absolute giants of our history. Washington fought the battles, Jefferson and Madison composed the theories, but it remained for Marshall to elucidate what it all meant. This is, to my mind, the definitive biography of a titan.

John Marshall was born in what is now Northern Virginia in 1755, the child of a fairly well off family. On his mother's side, he was descended from the famous Randolphs; his father was a surveying associate of George Washington. His dad taught him a love of education and good books that continued all his days. Before embarking on a career in Law, Marshall was a soldier of the Revolution, serving with Washington in several major battles. After marriage to young Polly Ambler, he was a law student of the great George Wythe [also the law teacher of Jefferson, and of Spencer Roane] at William & Mary. Successful practice, and politics, soon followed...Marshall served on the Governor's Council, and was the leading advocate for Constitutional ratification in the Virginia convention; his battles with Patrick Henry are the stuff of legend [though they served as co-counsel in several cases]. He was a constant supporter of Washington, served as one of Adams' three ministers to France in the XYZ affair, and was briefly a Congressman and Secretary of State. He it was who said of Washington "First in War...", though he let Light Horse Harry Lee speak the words, and get the credit. In 1801, John Adams made a "midnight appointment" of Marshall to be Chief Justice, preventing the incoming President Jefferson from making his own choice...

For the next 34 years, Marshall solidified Federal power, freely interpreting the interstate commerce clause, and the clause which allows Congress to make enabling legislation. Marbury v. Madison asserted the right of judicial review, and further cases expanded it. He wrote the judicial opinions that remain the basis of Federal centrilization of power to this day. Smith gives great detail of individual cases.

One of Marshall's great strengths, and we shouldn't make light of it, was that he was a nice guy. A sociable host, his friends loved him, but even total strangers could find him thoroughly modest and charming. Quoits, and good Madiera were real passions. Even his enemies [with two profound exceptions] liked him. His basic decency certainly aided his consensus building.....

...the two exceptions were Spencer Roane and Thomas Jefferson. Roane was the son-in-law and political ally of Patrick Henry. A long time neighbor of Marshall, and Chief Justice of the Virginia Supreme Court, Judge Roane believed completely in States Rights and held the US Constitution to be a voluntary compact of free and independent states that could be broken at will. What Spencer Roane proposed, Jeff Davis disposed... Alas, where Marshall was a prince among men, Judge Roane was of such acid, unpleasant, temperment that even his friends and allies couldn't stand him...

....and then there was Mr. Jefferson. The feud between Marshall and Jefferson is one of the absolute central themes of American history. It was multidimensional...personal, familial, political, philosophical...for about 40 years, the conflict was one of cordial, respectful, dislike; after the Aaron Burr treason trial of 1807, it turned into blind, unreasoning hatred. Part of it was rivalry between branches of the Randolph family; part was Jefferson's civilian service during the revolution while Marshall was in the field; part was publication of a letter to Jefferson from his daughter stating "Mrs. Marshall is insane" [sadly, true]. Mostly, the problem was that Marshall and Jefferson had totally different theories of government and visions of America. [They agreed about religion, though Marshall was a founder of, and regular attender at, Monumental Church in Richmond]. In 1807, Aaron Burr was charged with treason, accused of wanting to set up his own empire. He was tried in Richmond, with Marshall sitting as trial judge. Marshall's friend, neighbor, and occasional law partner John Wickham served as defense counsel, along with the drunken genius, Luther Martin. In what is today generally considered a rigged trial, Burr was acquitted. During this trial, an incident occured that is the only evidence of improper conduct on John Marshall's part that I can find; while Burr was out on bail, Wickham threw a grand dinner party for him. Marshall was invited [not improper], went, and stayed the whole evening. You can well imagine the spin that sympathetic Jefferson biographers put on this; Smith doesn't mention it.

John Marshall was a great and brilliant man; he was also a good and decent man. He had his problems; Polly was an invalid with a combination of physical and mental problems for years...one of his sons was essentially worthless. Thru it all, John Marshall was faithful to both his public and private duties. Now, I'll get personal....my copy of this wonderful book was a Christmas present my wife bought me at the John Marshall House in Richmond. Located at 9th. and Marshall, near the Capitol, it is lovingly maintained by a fine staff of really nice people [the Director even helped me with research for a small biography I wrote of Spencer Roane]. The house, and Marshall's grave in Shockhoe Cemetery a few blocks away, are cared for as monuments to greatness, which they are. The house is nice, but not spectacular; Marshall was a modest, unassuming man [John Wickham's house, two blocks away, IS spectacular]. At the John Marshall House [yes, I contribute financially], and at his grave, I feel awe, intellectual interest, and profound respect; at Monticello, I feel reverence. Maybe I think Jefferson was right about the issues, but I can still look up to John Marshall. If you want to understand America, you need to read this book.

This is the best available biography of Marshall, maybe the best ever. If all you want is case histories, read Hobson; if you want a highly technical biography, read Newmyer; if you want to understand the great cases, AND the great man who decided them, start right here. Newmyer and Hobson wrote fine books, but any intelligent person [not just specialists] can read this one.....

I think it can be argued that, next to Washington, Marshall was the most significant of the whole colonial group, and fortunately, this excellent biography rises to the occasion, telling the story of this truly remarkable American. The best proof of my enthusiasm for the book is that I have already purchased four copies for friends with more undoubtedly to come

I didn't know what to expect, and it far surpassed my imagination! My 6 year old autistic Granddaughter LOVES Leonardo!

We've heard this one so often we almost are forgoing getting our own copy :) (I did say almost - I intend to get one of our Very Own as soon as I remember!)

I do agree with a previous poster that the moral of the story seems to be "If you're really bad at scaring people, you should quit your day job and start being nice", but I don't agree that every story should have a moral. This one, therefore, is more like a cute story that ends on a nice note, with no moral needing to be attached.

Your and your children will be so happy the bought this book.
Mo did it again....another great book We love all the books Mo writes .
You should also read Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus and all the other pigeon books by Mo. He is very talented.

Leonardo the Terrible Monster is another wonderful book by Mo Willems. I purhcased this book to help my two year old daughter conquer her fear of Monsters. I recognized the author's name and trusted she would appreciate this book as much as she had the others by Willems, and she did. The book is large, but most of the pages are blank with muted tones of grays and blues. The color pallet creates a calm feeling which is nice considering the subject matter. The illustrations are adorably detailed and offer many opportunities for exploration and interaction between the audience and the characters. The book tells the story of Leonardo, a monster who is terrible at being a monster. All he wants to do is be horrifically terrifiying, but instead he discovers his ability to be a wonderful friend. My daughter loves this book, and without ever directly discussing it, she is no longer afraid of monsters, instead, she believes monsters are our friends. Parents can use this book to help their toddlers overcome the negative connotation of the word "monster" by putting a face, adorable Leondardo, to the word.

I decided to get this book when I saw Julia Roberts reads it to her kids. It is such a cute book. My kids love it too. There's a part where he says "scare the tuna salad out of him" and I just think that's great. It's really cute. Littles ones would love this book.

This book is so wonderful it falls in my top five most favorite books. Dylan pulls the reader in right away at the beginning and cuts right to the chase. The book remains focused throughout. I couldn't put it down because I wanted to know what happened with Gordy and his trial and his big gig. Once I got towards the end (last 3 chapters or so) I couldn't read fast enough to find out what was happening. I found myself constantly laughing out loud and gasping. (Although, during the case I would've handled things slightly differently.) The characters are real, they could be you or me and you get attached to them. Not only can I picture them but I've fallen in love with them. There is absolutely no lag time in the book. Everything that happens occurs for a reason and is important. I never found myself going alright already, can I just make it through this chapter and get back to the story. For all you Barry Manilow fans out there, Dylan really hits the nail on the head in Chapter 20 and I really wish this book had been around when I was doing Speech and Debate (Poetry and Prose) when I was in high school. I would have LOVED using the two pages as my prose piece! Read it and you'll understand!

"For a guy who isn't me, Schaffer can really write."
--Kinky Friedman

I have no idea how you get a better recommendation than that. Not even at gunpoint. One of the back cover blurbs calls it "thrilling, funny and heartrending in turn," which is also true. Schaffer does them all equally well. Real people, too, not cutout characters. Depth. Insight. He happens to be a lawyer, and the best of the bunch are very able communicators, so he brings that to the book as well. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

And, since we're talking about the first book in what I hope will be a long-running series, let me add this. Some authors of series tend to work from a little timeline of what will happen to their main characters. Book one gets this, book two gets that, etc. They stretch it out so thinly that what can carry only a book or two lasts for ten or twenty. Then they fill the silences with two-dimensional stereotypes and weak one-liners. Schaffer doesn't do that. He blasts you will both barrels, empties his mind, and assumes he'll come up with something else next year. He has no idea how much I appreciate that. This is simply excellent. Plus, I have the sequel on my shelf (unread) and you don't, so nanny nanny boo boo.

Finally, I'll probably go to my grave hating Barry Manilow, but I genuinely enjoy watching Schaffer defend the guy. Talk about an unwinnable case...

Gordy Seegerman is definitely an "everyman" we can feel for...especially if you love whodunits - and music (whether or not Barry Manilow is your favorite singer). Dylan Schaffer's writing is wonderfully witty, his characters unique, and his storytelling will have you turning pages eagerly, usually with a smile on your face. The sequel "I Right the Wrongs" follows up and doesn't disappoint!

I'm not a huge fan of legal mysteries, but Schaffer doesn't write your average courtroom potboiler.

First of all, this book is funny as hell. Gordy is a great character, a perfect combination of pathos and humor, and I was rooting for him from the first chapter on.

The lawyer aspects engaged me more than I would have expected---being a lawyer himself, Schaffer takes us through a trial that is both realistic and fascinating. This isn't TV melodrama; this is the real deal, described by a pro in layman's terms with a smattering of sarcastic wit.

But beyond being a funny, compelling book, Misdemeanor Man also has real heart. Gordy's family life and romantic life are just as important to the reader as the against-all-odds case he must win, as is his affinity for Barry Manilow.

It's a testament to Schaffer's writing that I actually revisted some of Manilow's greatets hits after reading the book. Sure, I may have downloaded them from a file-sharing network on Kazaa, but even the fact that I'm giving the guy a shot should be worth something.

The sequel is going on my to-be-read pile, and Schaffer is now on my must-read list.

If you like the Fletch series by Gregory McDonald, or the funny caper novels of Westlake, check this book out.

I picked up this book while browsing in a local book store, and I was hooked from Page 1. The characters are so true-to-life that I felt like I had to say good-bye to co-workers and friends when I finished the last page. This author is equal in every way, and a little better in some ways, than John Grisham. I am very excited to see that Mr. Schaffer has written a sequel to Misdemeanor Man. I have read the excerpt, and once again I am hooked; doomed to not wash a dish or a load of laundry once I start Book #2 until its completion.

I have had a Stedman's and Taber's medical dictionary for years (20+) and they had gotten a bit long in the tooth so I bought this book and Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary as I thought Dorland's looked slightly better than Stedman's. I decided to compare definitions of a word in both books and Mosby's definition was impressive enough to have me make the purchase (amiodarone was the word, a cardiovascular drug). I used it while studying for a recertification examination and found it by my side as I went through several other books.

This book was the single best resource I had after purchasing almost $1k worth of new books!

The quantity of definitions may not exceed Dorlands, but the QUALITY of the definitions is SUPERB. You get not only a skeleton, minimalist definition but a mini-tutorial of each topic. Just the dermatology related definitions alone with pictures kept me from buying a dermatology book. Definition after definition I looked up - and this went well over a thousand words, perhaps 2 or 3k words - resulted in getting an excellent authoritative discussion of a topic, giving the most salient points in a concise and highly readable form. I had in excess of a 99% 'hit rate' of finding highly useful information with each lookup. Doing this with Dorland's gave me the most trivial definitions in comparison, often little more than the pronunciation of the word and a circular reference to another definition. I gave up after about 100 words as an exercise in time wasting.

I put this book right up there with the Merck Manual as absolute must haves for any serious student of medicine - from the senior specialist to the beginning nursing student. I give it the highest accolades.

I have two more words for how this helped me study for my exam - THANK YOU !

I am glad I bought this one to cross reference and for more thorough definition for my med term course; it got lots of vivid pictures which I even like. I highly recommend this book.

I purchased the Mosby's Medical Dictionary and I am extremely pleased with it. It has many color photos throughout the book so you can see examples of diseases, skin disorders, etc. It is a great book, well worth the money, and I would highly recommend it to anyone.

Item came just as described and on time. I would definitely work with them again.

I got this book because it had such awesome reviews. I'm going to be taking a test in the near future, and you're allowed to use a medical dictionary, and I picked this one.

I've been taking practice tests. On the first practice test I took, the first 6 out of 7 medical terms I tried to look up weren't in the book. I was stunned, and several of them were pretty basic words that I just wanted to get a very clear definition of.

I'm not sure it's even going to be worth lugging this book to the test, or even keeping the book. I may just sell it and try another book.

Jane

I had begun this book and put it down--to pick it up again was a very good idea. This author has a very readable style. A great book to read if you want
to know about the Holocaust and beyond--just like the title says--it says it all.

Edith Westerfield Schumer left Germany in 1938 as a twelve-year-old. She left alone. Her parents sent her to America, removing her from the threat of the Nazis in her German homeland. Her Jewish father mistakenly believed that Hitler would acknowledge his service to Germany in World War I. However, most of her family did not survive the persecution or the death camps. Edith never saw her parents again.

She rarely spoke of her childhood. Perhaps so much loss could not be expressed in words. Perhaps she didn't know how to convey to her family what was ripped apart in her past. Her daughter Fern knew little of her heritage.

"Motherland" tells their story through her daughter Fern's perspective. When her mother finally agrees to return to Germany, Fern accompanies her-hoping to learn about her grandparents, hoping to see aspects of her mother's childhood, hoping to better understand how the Holocaust stole her past when it stole her mother's.

Through their journey Fern and Edith learn much more about each other and about the quest to reconcile the past than they expected, significantly deepening their mother-daughter bond. Fern relates with poignancy how moments from her mother's childhood are revealed during their visit. For the first time she realizes that her mother's inability to speak German without an American accent parallels her inability to speak English without German pronunciations creeping in. Her speech identifies her as different from other Americans-and other Germans. Fern learns her mother's favorite German food only to realize that Edith never learned to cook it before she was sent away. For the first time she hears of her mother's insecurities about leaving her home.

They encounter people from Edith's childhood who through their silence aligned themselves with the Nazis. Their lives still echo with hidden guilt. The mother and daughter speak with others who have never overcome their anger at the Nazis and what they suffered when they tried to help and protect the Jews. The women are struck by how people's lives have never returned to normal.

Their story provides insight into mother-daughter relationships and the role of roots in those relationships. The memoir was named a finalist in 2000 in the National Jewish Book Awards by the Jewish Book Council and a number of schools use Motherland to teach about moral choices.

Edith and Fern acknowledge that the Holocaust has now affected three generations of their family. Somehow those who carry on must remember history and honor those cut down by cruelty, yet let go of the past moving ahead with the new generations into healing.

This book covers the return of a Jewess, at 12 years old separated from her parents from the Rheinland on a Kindertransport, to her small hometown, Stockstadt-am-Rhein in 1990. Her daughter, pregnant, goes with her, although unable to speak German, and writes from her younger, American Jewish perspective on this whole process of reclaiming her mother's past, her Heimat (homeland), her Motherland so to speak.

As you can read, most reviewers rave about this book. It is well-written, if a bit too introspective at times (these parts a reader can skip, such as the daughter's thoughts dwelling on herself and her own children). I'd like to make these criticisms for the author, that she may rewrite it perhaps, or if it should be done in a film version, some negative feedback could also perhaps be useful in making a tighter story:

1. The mother's verbatim words should be used in the text, with footnotes underneath for translation into English. Many who read this book know German and do not want to read about the daughter's struggle to make out this or that trival word. Dare I say it, the daughter might have made a better effort to know her mother's language? How else to understand her own roots, her own mother's culture, her longing for her childhood?

2. Don't introduce side issues that remain unresolved. For example, a very intriguing juicy bit is thrown in, that her older sister was sent a year ahead of her to America, adopted by another set of relatives, and now that the two sisters (her mother and her aunt) are now in their late 60's, they still don't get along. This isn't worth delving into, or at least explaining a little bit? WHy leave it hanging? Why bring it up if not to grab the reader's attention? WHy not go and interview the aunt, find out her own bitter memories or reasons for spurning her younger sister an entire lifetime?

2. Why no mention of this author's father? Who was he? How did he influence the family with his own traditions, career or job, attitudes and hobbies, personality? Reading this book, one could think that there was no father in the author's life. If we are to understand her pain as a daughter in not grasping her parents' lives, then surely some mention should be made.

3. Why not explain her mother's cowardice in not giving her own daughter Jewish names? She says she is named Fern (for a relative, Frieda) and Brenda (for another one, Brondl). This is strange to me, for the names "Fern Brenda" certainly don't indicate the great Jewish heritage that the mother wants kept.
Meanwhile, we hear that the German families are naming their kids Joshua and Sara, with no shame or hiding. Strange indeed.

4. Why not look at Germans more as people? Her impression of a silly clerk called the immigrations controller is that of a nasty Nazi, simply because he is German with blue eyes and blonde hair, and stamps their documents with authority. Don't ALL immigration people behave this way in every airport of the world? They're SUPPOSED to be abrupt, to give people unease. Does she call the ones down in Israel with their "brown eyes and dark hair" typical Mossad types? Nasty because they're Jews? I should think not, it's lame stereotyping at best.


Overall, this book needs editting by a non-Jewish, non-German hating professional editor, who can guide Fern into a more balanced presentation of her mother's beloved homeland. Otherwise, the hatred comes through with the stereotypical slights, and weakens the story's validity.

The best angle, if a movie were to be made - hopefully in Germany's Babelsberg and not here in Hollywood, God forbid - the theme of Mini, her childhood friend. Now there's a morality play full of contradictions! Wilhelmine (Mini for short), a child six years older from a dreadfully poor family of seven kids, is sent to be a servant/maid to the well-off Jews, and becomes best friends with the daughter she is meant to serve. Then her friend is sent to America, making Mini 18 and Tiddy 12 when they separate. Mini is so enraged to have lost her adopted sister and family that she spends the rest of her life documenting the Nazis, and whether they're all prosecuted. Her own grown son, nearing 50, feels himself deprived of a proper childhood or mothering because Mini devotes herself to fighting the evils of the past rather than living in the present. She is a living testament to the folly of grudges, which the author's own mother avoiding doing - she purposefully shunned nostalgia for her lost homeland and family, until her 60's.

In many respects, this daughter and her emotions, this author, is the problem in the story. She should rewrite it from the participants' point of view, either her mother's or Mini's, in the third person, and take her own petulant self out of it.

Now THAT would be a mature and interesting novel.

Hey, also, put in some of these pictures that she dwells on!

"Motherland" by Fern Schumer Chapman centers around an intriguing premise, that of a mother and daughter returning to Germany to discover what happened to the family left behind during the war, in an effort to let go of the war that plagues their relationship. The author's mother was sent as a refuge to America a year after her older sister, leaving her grandma and parents to endure the wrath of the Nazis. Feeling abandoned and unloved, the author's mother never returned until the early 1990s, still hesitant to encounter the past.

For Germans, it seems as if WWII and its legacy is always close to the surface; a feeling a guilt pervades their interactions with those from other places due to the constant association with evil they must endure. Mother and daughter certainly encounter that on their journey to the small town where her mother lived her first 12 years of life. The town, while greatly changed, is still home to many former classmates. Escorted around town by a man eager to make amends for his past actions, the two discover that the past is always present, no matter how hard one tries to forget.

Overall, "Motherland" is a quick-paced read, an accounting of the author's attempt to understand her mother. Yet at times the narrative reads as if the author is trying to hard; she was five months pregnant when the journey was made, and perhaps her emotional swings show through too much. The flow is often interrupted by liteary efforts at similes, comparisons which aren't necessary and do not add to the story. However, the story is one that the author needed to discover and one that she needed to tell. It is an interesting look at how someone who wouldn't necessarily qualify as a 'survivor' did survive, but still passed on that legacy of loss and war to her daughter.

I recently purchased your book and happened to glance at the back cover. From that point on I could not put your book down until I had read it from cover to cover. I was memorized! I AM YOUR MOTHER!
I'm a Vietnam combat veteran and used the same ploy as your mother - denial and never talk about it. My wife and three sons bore the brunt of my walled memories. And, unfortunately, in order to bury Vietnam I also buried most of my youth.
I recently retired and the unexpected free time has caused my walls to crumble and my nights are filled with nightmares. Part of my counseling is to write about my trauma. You have inspired me to take these outpourings, organize them and get them published. I intend to "look fear in the face" and share my burden with others who may face the same hardships I do. Like your mom, I want to "be here now."

The book is more than an excellent cook book. Besides good cooking tips it has a lot of gastronomical information concerning Naples.

Gracia mille to Mr. Arthur Schwartz for his most wonderful volume on the cooking of Naples and Campania. It made my mouth water from the first I opened it, even the paper feels good. The first thing I read, quite by chance was the charming ode to Neopolitan food from a book of stories by Giambattista Basile , "My Broccoli" (p.309). I was hooked!! Lucky Mr. Schwartz that he was able to make the opportunity to travel all through the Campania to research the recipes for this book. It is once again an example of Italian food as an uncomplicated, unfussed with cuisine that only requires of you an understanding of the technique and ingredients of impeccable freshness. There are great things in this book for all the seasons. This winter I was greedy for his "Orecheiette con Broccoli di Rapa" (p.168) and the "Pastiera Rustica di Taglioni" (p.188). I've done the Monkfish Mediterranean Style (p231) enough times to not have look at the recipe and it is delicious (rave reviews from guests). One night I had some left over spaghetti and was needing a quick supper so I tried the "Frittata di Spaghetti"(p.222) and find it's wonderful for all kinds of occasions with lots of variations. All of the recipies have a very clear 1.2.3. procedure with Mr.Schwartz being careful to tell you of any pitfalls. There is a lusty quality to the book, just like there is in Naples and the Campania, that makes this book a pleasure to use. I'm really looking forward to his next book. Sicily perhaps? This book? Highly recommended!

Whenever we tend to think Italian, the first things to come to mind are pizza, pasta, (especially spaghetti) and marvelously rich desserts and pastries. Now, in this tell-all compilation by acclaimed cookbook author, restauranteur and "Food Maven" radio talk-show host Arthur Schwartz, these dreams are brought to life. Whether you crave any variation of innumerable pastas with tomato sauce or that other distinctly Neapolitan favorite, the iconic pizza, this book provides the reader/cook with page after page of historic information and culinary tips from perhaps Italy's most bountiful region. This is the "true" Italian cuisine we have all grown up eating and making yet another staple to the American way of living. Aside from all the classic recipes spanning over one hundred years in the American cucina, this book is laced with dozens of contemporary monzu (a corruption of the French monsieur, in Italian refers to any respected gourmand or culinary bureaucrat) classics, including Paccheri alle Cardinale, Pizza alla Campofranco (a more extravagant style of pizza, made with brioche and prosciutto) and timballo, a "drum" of pasta baked with ragu in lavish pastry. Naples is also home to fritto misto, a wide range of tempting fried foods that has rightfully been granted its own distinct caliber within the region's clientele. But perhaps the author's greatest achievement is the equally sinful array of dolce, from classic tiramisu and rich torta caprese to the most-loved of all Neapolitan pastries, Sfogliatelle. Savor the experience and celebrate the wonderful cucina and hospitality that inspired Dean Martin to "That's Amore".

I found this an excellent and challenging cookbook. The recipes are not so much hard in the sense of, say, French Chef recipes requiring a roux or a souffle where timing and proportions are critical. But you do need a feel for the basic ingredients, for these dishes are not "forgiving." If you don't know, say, just when to stop arborio rice or white beans, you can come up with some nasty dishes. And sometimes the recipes are actually missing a bit in terms of seasoning. Think of them as a great rough draft.

Further, these are dishes that really require that you also work with excellent ingredients. If you have, say, a tough piece of veal, don't think you're going to find the sauce to cover it up.

And really, what we've learned in the past ten or twenty years is that--surprise surprise--food is the stuff you eat and not just how you mix it about and fry it up. And yet we can't review THAT here. That is, I can't help you by saying "this rabbit is too old. this kale is too tough." That would be silly because we all have different things "at hand." But because G-d doesn't copyright and market his produce, we can't even review, say, the greatly overrated portabella mushroom, or give rave reviews to the never-let-you-down broccoli rabe or the shallot, the crucial pivot of half of restaurant recipes.

Perhaps that's what AMAZON needs to do--to broaden the scope of reviewing in its most general form. So that we can review an ingredient, a technique (say, broasting)--and why NOT a particular chicken? Or an idea of what to do with that chicken? Or a particular day? A goldfish I once had as a pet? It seems to me that all these could be as useful as my review of this cookbook, recommended strongly but with some qualification. [35]

Arthur Schwartz presents authentic,regional recipes with wit and style. His knowledge of the region, its products and customs makes this as close to cooking with your mother on Sunday afternoon as possible.

The name of the book is the new 8 week cholesterol cure and it is a fabulous book with plenty of informaion and tips on lower choleterol. I would recommend this book to anyone with heart problems as it gives great advice on all things to do with heart disease and how to keep choleterol down.

I bought this book to help reduce my recently diagnosed high cholesterol problem. I'm an RN and found this book very inspiring and informative. I highly recommend it and am using most of his suggestions. The best book I have found on the subject & I have lowered my LDL and raised my HDL. Now I am trying his weight loss ideas that cover one chapter and suggest restricting carbs. I started that today. This book is worth the money and the author also writes a newsletter that you can subscribe to.

Amazing results and pretty easy! Believe me, you can lower that colesterol and still eat well! Following a few suggestions in this book--I wasn't even that strict---oat bran, niacin, more vegatables, avoiding transfats ect, my total colesterol dropped 116 points in SIX WEEKS! My "bad" colesterol went from 177 to 80. The book is easy to read and you will learn tons about how your body works.

I got my total cholesterol down from 275 to 191, Triglycerides down from 221 to 96. LDL down from, 182 to 118 and HDL up from 49 to 54.
This was accomplished in 10 weeks by rigidly sticking to the zero saturated fat recommendation and half heartedly trying the Niacin regimen.
I cut out cheese, milk, whole eggs, etc. and substituted with olive and canola oils.
I have since ramped up the niacin regimen to the complete doses recommended by the book and will see if I can improve on these already impressive numbers.
Try it, it works.
UPDATE - 10 weeks after the review above I had my lipids checked again and my total cholesterol is now 133; that's pretty amazing considering my
total was 275 just five months ago and I have not taken any prescription medications. My LDL is now 75 (down from 182) and my triglyserides are now 71 (down from 221). I am actually concerned my cholesterol may now be too low. Great advice!

This book is an excellent read with practical, easy to follow diet changes. My cholesterol went from 257 to 187 in 3 months time. In addition to reading this book, I used recipes from the American Heart Assoc. cookbook, excersized almost every day, and read the "Cholesterol Down" book. This book has helped me understand how to change my life for the better, giving me the information to understand why I needed various diet adjustments.
In particular, I really enjoy the muffin recipes in the back of the book. And typically eat 2-3/day! Benecol also now makes a chewy caramel that I used to help get my intake of plant stanols/sterols as per the recommendations.

Sent to a friend in distress, she said it helped her through some rough days.

The New International Version is excellent for readability and overall quality. However, because it is only 52% consistent with the original language (Old Testament comparison only) you cannot do serious bible study without using a concordance. The Strongest NIV Exhaustive Concordance (Strongest Strong's)

I love this Bible...unfortunately it's the second one I have now. I loved it so much I wanted to find something similiar but didn't realize I was buying the same Bible with a different cover. Please note that the compact NIV Bible with a pink cover and the number "1" on the front is the EXACT same text. For some reason this one typically sells for less.

This is a wonderful Bible. Full of small interesting stories. Love this Bible.

This Bible has helped me with a lot of things I've been going through. I'm glad I purchased it. It is in excellent condition.

The story begins with Alexis about to marry the man of her dreams in what was suppose to be the fairytale wedding of her dreams but her fiancee Aaron had plans of his own.When it was time for him to say his "I Do", he releases a horrible secret that leaves her brokenhearted and lost. Sidney one of Alexis bestfriends is having her own crisis, the perfect marriage that she has worked so hard to portray is beginning to crumble before her eyes. Simone, Sidney's twin sister and also Alexis other bestfriend has been longing for a relationship and love like her sisters. She finds her self in a situation that changes the lives of everyone around her. Tracy is the last of the best friend circle and is struggling with how to move on with her life. She has been mourning her husband for too long and is afraid to move on because she feels guilty. These four women share a special friendship that has been bonded together since they were babies and passed down from their mothers. All of their mothers are best friends as well. As you read on you will experience so many different issues in each one of their lives and experience alot of their drama.
I enjoyed reading this novel although in the first few pages it seemed a little slow and had me thinking I was reading a fairytale book it picked up. Once it picked up it had me hooked into the drama and issues that these women went through. This book gives you friendships, sex, love, deceit, jealousy, forgiveness, adultery, infidelity, and much more. If you are looking for a good read then you have found it.
Four star reviewed by Mskiki of Real Divas of Literature

I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading other books by this author. It goes to show that you be careful what you wish for. The ending shocked me, I wasn't expecting that. Keep up the good work.

Very good book only took 1day and half to read. Drama, drama, drama from the first page to the last. I won't give away the plot just know that you need to pick up immediately if u like drama and real life reads.

I have to say keep your friends away from your man. Don't tell your friends anything about the sexlife with your friends, cause they might just want to sample his goods. At least thats what the books says. LoL.

Alexis really needed to kick Simones man. She always wants what someone else has. She was really wrong for sleeping with Alexis man.

IF you want to read some hellish drama. then this is the book for you.

Shannon Davis' debut novel, Nothing Like Friends, introduces readers to Alexis, Simone, Sidney and Tracy. These four individuals have been friends for several years. Each of them is searching for true love, but choosing different paths to find it.

Alexis thinks she has found the one she will be with forever. What she does not know is her fiancée has a secret that just may change her future. Will she survive the secret and find the true love she desires?

Simone dates men that are already in relationships. This time she may have crossed the line with the wrong man. Will she find true love and keep her friends?

Sidney has the perfect husband and the perfect kids, so it seems. She reads a letter addressed to her husband that just may change her perfect family. Will she still have that family?

Tracy lost her husband ten years ago in an accident. She cannot seem to let go of what she and her husband had together. She refuses to get into a relationship with anyone. Will she continue to push true love away?

Nothing Like Friends is a very entertaining novel. This book is filled with drama and held my attention to the very end. This read was well-written and very descriptive. Each chapter was told from each of the main characters' point of view. The author made me feel like I knew the characters personally. I enjoyed this book and recommend it to others. Although this is my first time reading Ms. Davis' work, it will definitely not be my last.

Reviewed by Phyllis Ann
APOOO BookClub