Clubs Books

I don't really feel it is necessary to add my humble opinion about Neruda, his poetry, or this particular collection of poems. If you are even considering purchasing this book, then you are on the right track. I would, however, like to add a few comments about this particular edition.

I was somewhat confused because one reviewer stated the book was only in English, although the book claims to be a bilingual edition. I purchased it anyway due to the difficutly in general of finding some Spanish language literature in this country, and even on this site, with the intention to return it if it was only in English. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find it was indeed a bilingual edition. The cover art is quite different on the copy I received - just an observation.

If you are buying this book for the original Spanish version, then I can highly recommend this book. However, I must agree with several other reviewers as to the quality of the English translation. Honestly, and I hate to say it, but it is terrible. I realize that translating great poetry is a formidable task, and that certain license may need to be taken, but I have many other bilingual poetry editions (in several other languages as well) where the English versions are faithful to the original and yet beautiful in their own right, and where I have even felt occasionally that a reading of the English version can actually enhance the overall experience of the poem. This is definitely not the case with this translation. After reading the Spanish, I would find myself peeking over at the English, and thinking to myself, "What on earth was Tarn thinking?" Some of the liberties Tarn has taken... At one point, I seriously felt like taking a Sharpie to the English versions to obliterate them entirely. Realizing that this was probably a little extreme, and would certainly destroy the Spanish poetry on the other side of the paper, I have settled on making copies of the Spanish versions and putting them in a notebook so as to avoid the English versions entirely. I realize this may sound extreme, but only if you have not read the translations. Even if your Spanish is intermediate, you would probably be better off with this book (or a Spanish only version if you can find one) and a good dictionary.

All of that having been said, the introduction is adequate. And, of course, Neruda is remarkable.

Every review here mentions the spectacular nature of Neruda's captivating poem. As he said himself, he follows the philosophy of Rimbaud and arms himself with a "burning patience" that allows him to "enter splendid cities." However, the translation falls short of the quality of Neruda's words. Tarn inserts his own interpretations/images in his word choice which result in the creation of a new poem--ocassionally distant or discordant with the original. (quick example: in Canto XII, Neruda twice uses the word "río" in one of many instances of repetition in the poem. Tarn replaces the first use with "torrent" and the second with "Amazon." He effectively removed Neruda's use of repetition and inserted a proper noun which carries with it connotations perhaps not intended by Neruda. This is merely one of many instances where Tarn's translation subtly, but importantly changes the poem's meaning). However, if you are a lover of Neruda poems and have a reasonable grasp of Spanish, this is an essential for your collection.

6 stars for the poem, 2 for the translation = overall score of 4 stars

Neruda is easily one of the 20th centuries greatest poets. The Heights of Macchu Picchu is an excellent poem (Tarn's translation is a good one). It weakens a bit towards the end, but the first 2/3 of the poems is wonderful stuff. And Robert Pring-Mill prefaces this edition with a great essay that really takes you into the meaning of Neruda's poem.

I printed this book in 1986 in Bandon, Oregon using a Vandercook Universal #3 Press, Lutetia type from Harold Berliner's Typefoundry on Arches laid paper.

There are several inaccurate assumptions in the reviews here. Most importantly, this is not a Tarn translation. It is by the poet David Young, editor of Field Magazine at Oberlin College. His translations of Rilke are equally stunning.

This is an English only edition: Farrar, Straus & Giroux owns ALL English versions of Neruda published in English (or did so at that time) and the Neruda Estate owned the Spanish. It took 18 months to receive permission for 155 editions of the English and the Spanish permissions were far more daunting.

The binding was done by Greg Campbell at Campbell-Logan Bindery in St. Paul, Minn. I used green Roma paper over boards with red cloth 1/4 bound spine.

The full page line drawing of the condor was done by Jack Schroeder, a well known artist from the Eastern Shore of Maryland. I asked him to draw the condor as if embracing the sense of "sloping height", and "Incan priest." I think he accomplished it well.

I hope this helps and falls within Amazon's guidelines

Pablo Neruda, born in Chile 1904, is one of the greatest Latin American Poets to have livedwas one of Latin Americaýs greatest poets.

The Heights of Macchu Picchu (considered by some to be his finest poem) was inspired by his journey to this famed ruined Peruvian Inca city. These poems take on a progressive journey within both the past of Latin America and the roots of the poet himself.

Lovers and devoted students of poetry will be caught up in Neruda's poetic power, hopefully capturing the quintessence of this great poets mind. Others, like myself, who are occasional readers of poetry, may need to reread his words, but, through the rereading, Neruda's own spirit will descend into you mind.

Pablo Neruda speaks to the heart and struggle of us all, as he writes, "How many times in wintry streets, or in a bus, a boat a dusk,.... in the very lair of human pleasure, have I wanted to pause and look for the eternal, unfathomable truth's filament I'd fingered once in stone, or in the flash of a kiss released." Highly Recommended.

Anyone who grew up in the 60's-70's should read this book ... it is very inspiring!

One need not be African-American to love this book. It is a deep insight into a tough time. She talks of things usual life
does not include, as the powerlessness of women doing full nude strip dancing when one or a few refused to have customers give them money in a particularly intrusive way--what awaited such women and what choices did they really have. Neitzsche called Evil, "All that which proceeds out of weakness." He could have had this book in mind. Yet Ethel Water's life has more than defeat.

If you are not moved by this book, you must have a large problem.

Whew, what an upbringing, what a life. Waters goes into great detail about her rearing in the slums of Philadelphia, her life as vaudevillian Sweet Mama Stringbean and finally the Ethel Waters of stage, screen, and records. I didn't really know much about Miss Waters other than her role in the movie Pinky, so this book provided great insight into her life. Pretty good. The conversational tone makes it easy to read.

I've had the hardback 1951 copy of this book for some time, just picked it up to read last week. It is an astounding story of faith, determination, and strength;It is also an excellent insight into Black History pre-Martin Luther King. I hope the paperback version of this is being read. (and I wish Nikki Giovanni would read it as well).
Highly recommended.

When I was a kid, I knew Ethel Waters as that gray haired old lady that sang at the Billy Graham events on TV... In reading this autobiography I discovered the incredible legacy of her recordings and films.

"His Eye Is On the Sparrow" reads just like you're sitting in the room talking with this remarkable woman... The book not only shares the details of her fascinating career, but it is also an absorbing historical record of early 20th century show business and American society. Absolutely fascinating, warm, funny and poignant.

Title: Holes
Author: Louis Sachar
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Date: 1998
Number of Pages: 233 (hardcover book)
Genre: Adventure
Reading Level: Mid 4th Grade
Recommended Interest Level: All age levels!

The Yelnats family has long since believed their family was cursed. Stanley Yelnats was convicted of a crime he did not commit. Instead of going to jail, Stanley and his parents opted for a juvenile correctional facility named Camp Green Lake. Camp Green Lake is located in a Texas dessert. There is nothing green about Camp Green Lake, and the lake has long been dry. Stanley struggles to make friends at Camp Green Lake and also struggles to understand why he is forced to dig a five-foot wide by five-foot deep hole every day in the dried up lake. He quickly realizes that there is more to hole digging than "building character." Eventually, Stanley finds a true friend in another kid at Camp Green Lake named Zero. Together, Stanley and Zero embark on a wild adventure to escape from Camp Green Lake. Along the way, they discover the importance of friendship, perseverance and destiny.

I purchased this book to determine whether or not all the hype is true. I quickly discovered that it is! Holes is definitely worthy of all the praise and awards it has received. Holes is great for a book report or a book project because it is truly fun to read and contains many lessons that can be analyzed. The connection between the four brilliantly interwoven stories within this book is revealed at the end. The chapters are short and suspenseful, making it difficult to put this book down! It is a quick read and I recommend it for all age groups. This book is perfect for children and parents, students and teachers, and everyone else! If you have not read Holes yet, you need to make it your top priority!!!

This has to be one of the best books I've ever read. It has everything: Mystery, action, adventure, historical fiction, and above all a wonderful plot line that really makes you think. It gets better and better with every chapter, and you'll be sad when it ends.

Try this book and I promise you that you won't be able to put it down!

Louis Sachar, the great author of Holes, was probably so into this book while he was writting it. He had to have been thinking about something or someone when he was writing it and I would like to ask him if it is true. the whole book in a brief message would be, Stanley Yelnatz got in trouble, went to camp, and good things happened after that. It was really inspirational and thats why I gave it a 4. I would have gaven it a five if he added a little more excitement. I think a person who would enjoy a nice non fiction book would read it and they wouldn't be able to stop after 10 pages because you get really into it. In my opinion if you read this book once you will read it again.

Holes, by Louis Sachar, 5/5. It was really good; I loved it. Stanley Yelnats is falsely accused of stealing a pair of sneakers and set to Camp Green Lake, for criminal boys. To build character, the boys get up at 4:30 every morning and dig holes--big holes. If they find anything unusual, they are supposed to report it. But the warden isn't looking for fossils or pretty rocks. Something is going on other than character building, and Stanley wonders what they are looking for. The story is at once whimsical and dark, horrifying and funny, heartrending and heart-warming. There are rattlesnakes (one boy was been bitten and rushed to the hospital. He never comes back.) and many highly poisonous eleven-spotted yellow lizards with red eyes, black teeth and white tongues. We also learn about Stanley's no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing great grandfather and the curse put on his family by the gypsy woman who was missing one pig, his grandfather who found refuge on God's thumb after being robbed by Kissing Kate Barlow, Kissing Kate herself and her handyman, Sam the onion man and how history does and doesn't affect the lives of living people. This many generational multiple story-lines slowly merge in unpredictable but delightful ways. We, the readers, meet a famous basketball player and an inventor and, of course, learn that bad boys are human, just like the rest of us, and sometimes even better than those not so confined. And we encounter inspiring courage fortitude and strength. 2/4/08

I bought this as an accident -- probably drunk online -- not realizing that it's actually a kids book. But what a pleasant error to have made.

A great story that is designed to be appealing to young boys, but is a good story in its own right and well written enough to keep you turning pages as an adult -- particularly if you were a bit of a naughty kid growing up.

The boys in the camp have to dig holes ostensibly to build character, but in reality it is to help the warden find something hidden years ago. All is revealed in flashbacks to relationships that connect the characters and actions all the way through to the very enjoyable ending. Makes me want to start reading kids books exclusively!

I absolutely love this story. It was perfect for my son who at the time was a challenge at bedtime. I stillsometimes read this to him (now 5) but almost nightly to my daughter who is now 3.
The story is captivating enough to keep the little ones interestwith just the right number of words per page so that you are turning pages frequently. It is also educational in that kids learn number ordinance, and different animals. This book is a great find. It is a book you will definately read for years to come, my copy is already five years old !

This is a great bedtime book! I read it often to the kids, ages 3-10, at the daycare where I work when we are putting them to bed at night. In fact I've read it so often that I have it nearly memorized. The repeatizeness is comforting and the story is somthing they can identify with! I whole heartedly recommend it!

I don't want to go to bed is a great example of a perfect children's story. It has all the elements that are required for a children's story. These are, funny characters, good illistrations, the ability to relate to kids, and teaches them a lesson. It also has some much needed humor. It has all the elements and it isnt long and drug out and boring like many other children's storys. In conclusion, it is a great book and I would recomend it to any kids.

I have two young sons who are 3 & 4 years old. Everynight before bedtime, they get to pick out six books for us to read before they get tucked in, and everynight, this book is one they want to hear!

We've gotten into the habit of me pointing at them when it's time and they get to say, "I don't want to go to bed!"

Wonderful book! I highly recommend it to all children! Not only is it a great message, but it allows the youngsters to become involved in the story.

This book was a easy reading and totally enjoyable. All young readers having a bad time going to bed should read this book. This book is also really great for babysitters to read to thier children, whom they put kids to bed and which this is a really great bed time story book. I personally like this book because of it's beautiful pictures and kids get a kick out of this book.

I bought this book for myself after I lost my father to leukemia last year. This year at school, I was in charge of doing a fundraiser for the Leukemia Society. To help my first graders understand what leukemia was, I read this book to them. I do admit that I ad libbed a bit, especially when they talked about breast cancer. But my little ones really got it. They understood what being that ill meant. I shared how the leukemia society helped my family out when my dad was in the hospital. The next day, I had students bring in the contents of their piggy banks and give up their snack money to contribute instead. The story is beautifully written, of course, and it was a welcome addition to my classroom library.

There are very few books by Polacco that aren't listed amongst my favorites...she writes with such feeling that most of her work tugs at my heartstrings. This book is no exception. She deals with a difficult subject with such a gentle, yet powerful way that you can't help but fall completely in love with her characters. You'll laugh when they do and cry right along with them. Another beautiful piece of writing not to be missed.

This is the first children's book that ever made me cry. The next night it had my husband tearing up. It is a great story -- and even more amazing because it is a true story. My 7 year old is fascinated by it -- in part perhaps because of the strong reaction of her parents to it. And, of course, it prompts discussion of friends (adults and children) we know who are fighting cancer.

My daughter and I read this book cover to cover. She and I discussed many of our friends and family members who have had cancer and how this book relates. It was a wonderful story with a great ending. I have recommended this book to many people.

Thanks for giving us a wonderful story to share with our children!!

My daugher and I LOVE Patricia Polacco. This was another great book. We love the way she incorporates her own family members or friends into almost every one of her books. This book is a touching story about two best friends and how they deal with a devastating illness. It also describes a special bond the girls form with their teacher, who also is suffering with her own illness. My daughter and I went through several tissues reading this book. The ending was beautiful and I would strongly recommend this book to children (and their parents).

This book is amazing. It has helped me realize what this world would be like without the catholic church, the inherent dangers of secularism, and the path to rectify the evil of modernism. By doing this, it has helped bring me back to the catholic church. This author is on par with Aldous Huxley and George Orwell in both his ability to visualize alternate worlds with precise understanding and his ability to write in a eloquent yet succinct manner. It is a short book and I highly recommend it.

R.H. Benson wrote two mystical visions of the future. _The Dawn of All_ is an extremely romantic and improbable 1911 parable of a 1971 world mostly Catholic and at peace, ready for the Second Coming. _The Lord of the World_ came first, in 1907, and was a darker vision. A world of flying craft, major scientific advances, and comfort has become a place of materialist despair. Euthanasia is routine, for the desperately ill and the terminally bored. Oliver and Mabel Brand, a rising young couple, are the golden ones -- Oliver becomes a major political figure, but Mabel chooses the cool despairing end of legal euthanasia. Father Percy Franklin is one of the last Catholic priests in a world hostile to freedom, church, university, and history. Eventually elected the last Pope, he is restricted to the dusty forgotten village of Nazareth. Julian Felsenburgh is a charismatic American adventurer who means to and does become Lord of the World, anti-Christ. Details are less important than the very modern mood. Believing in progress as the only good, people are swept into any movement that promises it. The past is ruthlessly exterminated. The quest for one world government that begins with Esperanto ends with one world dictatorship.

Robert Hugh Benson grew up at the end of the nineteenth century, when it looked like Socialism would sweep over the world and make religious worship outmoded. His father was Archbishop of Canterbury; and he joined the Church of England but later converted to Catholicism. In his introduction to this book he wrote that he took the idea of Man (not the Son of Man) becoming the ideal and 'took it where it would go'.

Knowing that this book was written in 1904, before the Great War and the dissolution of the European Empires, and the nascent beginning of flight, it is interesting to read his views of what the world would look like in 100 years (or about now). He saw the end of poverty and hunger, and the raising of HUMANITY to the paramount position. His views on woman are arcane, as one of his characters dismissed his wife as 'just a woman', and that they make no strides of independence. He talks about inter-city flight at the amazing speed of 150mph, one year after Kitty Hawk.

The stories bottom line is that once Man begins to worship himself (in the guise of Julian Felsenburg), he not only has no need for idealized religion, but that the persecution of anyone who disagrees will become an act of Sedition and punishable by death. Religion is represented in this story by Roman Catholicism (all others having given in and disbanded, except for a few 'elderly jews wandering in Palestine) which fights a peaceable rear guard action against the forces of HUMANITY.

The language is a little difficult and flowery, while the ideas are interesting but sometimes the catholicism is hard to comprehend, but all in all it's worth reading.

Robert Hugh Benson (born November 18, 1871; died October 19, 1914) was the youngest son of Edward White Benson, Archbishop of Canterbury, and younger brother of Edward Frederic Benson. Benson studied Classics and Theology at Trinity College, Cambridge, from 1890 to 1893. In 1895, he was ordained a priest in the Church of England by his father.

His father died suddenly in 1896, and Benson was sent on a trip to the Middle East to recover his own health. While there, he began to question the status of the Church of England and to consider the claims of the Roman Catholic Church. His own piety began to tend toward the High Church variety, and he started exploring religious life in various Anglican communities, eventually obtaining permission to join the Community of the Resurrection.

Benson made his profession as a member of the community in 1901, at which time he had no thoughts of leaving the Church of England. But as he continued his studies and began writing, he became more and more uneasy with his own doctrinal position, and on September 11, 1903, he was received into the Roman Catholic Church.

He was ordained a Catholic priest in 1904 and sent to Cambridge. He continued his writing career along with the usual elements of priestly ministry. He was named a monsignor in 1911.

Lord of the World is one of his more exemplary works and well worth reading.

"A Century before Left Behind there was Lord of the World," reads the cover blurb in the striking Wildside Press edition. But while both books deal with end times, that's where the similarities end. In Benson's vision, Catholics are the last remaining Christians. The Left Behind books, named for a line in Larry Norman's song, "I Wish We'd All Been Ready," on the other hand, follow the idea of the rapture popularized in Hal Lindsey's bestselling book, The Late Great Planet Earth.

I ordered this book from Amazon after reading Gwen Watkins' essay in Charles Williams: A Celebration (also available from Amazon) comparing Benson and Williams as writers. Williams being my favorite author, I was very excited to come upon a similarly gifted novelist. Benson wrote Lord of the World in 1907; it takes place in a future about a century later (around now). That's also around the time that Chesterton wrote his novels. Both he and Benson write so colorfully that it's sometimes hard to know what's going on. Whether people were more imaginative then or that was the style at the turn of the century I don't know. But having read GKC helps one read Benson, and vice versa.

Williams is often held to be obscure for his descriptions of supernatural and occultic ritual. Benson's obscurity lies in his pre-Vatican II Catholic vocabulary and bits of the Latin Mass, which will not be familiar to many readers. That aside, this is an absolutely gripping story. Having once started, I couldn't put the book down. Uncannily, in this 1907 novel, Benson prophesied a dark future that became reality, first in Germany and then in the USSR. Writing in the then new genre of science fiction, he envisioned a technologically advanced world nevertheless rushing headlong to destruction. It's amazing how contemporary he sounds as he looks forward in time to our present and his future.

This book is incredibly entertaining and full of great adventure, unique settings, and interesting personalities. As a newcomer to sci-fi reading, I went into it not knowing what to expect. I loved that I never knew what was coming and that I could not predict where the story was going next. It is certainly the type of book that is hard to put down. I regularly read books with humor, adventure, or mystery/suspense, and this story had all of those elements. If all sci-fi books are like this, I may become a regular reader!

Scott Wells develops an impressive style in his first book. Light-toned science fiction rarely has such depth of plot and characterization, but The Merxyn Experiment manages to keep a sense of humor without sacrificing any plot. There are quite a few plot twists, right up to the very end. There are also quite a few references in there, from computer science to pop culture to the author's own personal experiences. I can't recommend this book enough.

Scott Wells does a masterful job of taking a complex plot with surprise twists, adding in a sense of humor not unlike Douglas Adams, and tossing in a bit of unique elements such as a Psychic as a main character to turn The Merxyn Experiment into one of the best reads I've had in awhile. The interplay of various characters, and some individuals from a strange location is simply a delight. While his style is not unlike some of the greats, he has enough of himself in the story to make it entirely unique. The best compliment one can give to Past masters is to learn from them, not copy from them. I -highly- recommend this book to any and all Science Fiction fans, and I suggest you go to the buy it now button at ONCE! That's an order!

The Merxyn Experiment is a wonderful book, expecially considering the fact that it is the first of what will hopefully be a long line of books written by Mr. Wells. In the tradition of the wonderful Sci-Fi spoof books 'Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy', this book combines pop culture spoofs and references, interesting characters, humor, and a very original take on Science Fiction, Aliens, and space travel itself. Definitly a must buy for anyone who likes to read.

The Merxyn Experiment is a humorous nod to science-fiction and fantasy stories of the past, but the admirable thing is that it avoids being derivative of what has gone before. It never becomes so tongue-in-cheek that it loses track of the plot, which is quite complex. It's rare to see so much creativity when it comes to setting and characters, but Wells generally seems to succeed in his ambitious efforts. My main complaint is that the action ends a little abruptly at the end, leaving you wanting to know more about what happens to these characters - but I suppose that's actually a good thing! Trying to catch all of the references to its sci-fi/fantasy forerunners adds to the fun. It's an entertaining and absorbing read.

This book is so good that I finished it in one sitting. There is not one wasted word and I was in for a thrilling ride once I started. The mystery is taut, intense and captivating, the entangled romance sensitive and touching. The hero, Kyle, with a weak heart, is immensely likable and well potrayed. It is a rarity that a character could stand up so well in short mystery novel but Kyle does. Kyle finally accepting the loss of his father and the revelation of a half brother he would never have a chance to acknowledge gives a touch of melancholy to the story. Definitely one of my favourites.

Colin Dunne cleverly blends a painting's subject with the story of some gay friends and the story of a missing artist (and his missing painting). The resulting tale always intrigues, with a focus on strong dialogue and character development. You don't have to be gay to enjoy this book. Nor do you have to like mystery novels. Just the characters and conflicts that start the novel would have kept my attention, but the added dimension of the murder and the painting made me read quickly to the surprising twists of the novel's closing chapters.

I found this book to be immensely well-written, with plausible characters (if implausible names), a plausible story-line, and thoroughly enjoyable. I'm a great fan of murder mysteries and this book is as good as the best of its type. It isn't a 'police procedural' however, like so many recent muder novels. It's more a delving into the minds of a very closed community, an examination of motives, desires, and personas.

It is, in fact, very "Agatha Christie".

Well worth reading.

This story fascinated me from beginning to end. Colin Dunne's elegant, lyrical yet dialogue-driven style -- no word wasted -- fits the subject...so do the setting and the choice of 'gay protagonists.' Using the 'first person' voice is a classic method of suspense writing...Dunne makes it look easy. The mystery puzzles, the romantic element heightens the excitement, and the cast entertains. Well done!

This book is a very interesting book, I usually don't read mystery, but I found myself reading through it, unable to put it down for long. The plot is appropriatly suspensful, not letting you know what was really going on until near the end. The romantic subplot going on through out the story was not over done to the point where you forgot that the story was a mystery and not a romance.

If this writer were to write more books I would probably not hesitate to buy them, despite not being a fan of the genre.

Nice to Come Home To is based on Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility, but it's easy to forget that the story is a retelling as Pru (Prudence) navigates her way through the realities of family trials and dating past thirty. Pru is always the voice of reason and when her sister Patsy (Patience) visits DC with her quirky, disorganized personality that is the polar opposite of Pru's, she knows she must continue to be the strong one for Patsy. Unfortunately for Pru, family visits are never orderly or predictable. Readers will laugh and their hearts will ache with Pru as she tries too hard to keep her feelings about men and her family bottled up inside.

Peopled with colorful Characters and set in the neighborhood of Adams Morgan in Washington, DC, a setting that Rebecca Flowers seems to know inside and out, Nice to Come Home to is an exceptional read. This funny, witty novel will likely keep readers up past midnight to see if Pru will ever be able to let go of taking care of everyone else and finally let someone else walk beside her.

I absolutely loved your book. It was a truly fun read. I love your detail, wit, compassion and the characters. The scene with the pet psychiatrist had me laughing out loud. What a vivid moment. I felt like I was right there in the room, and that cat definitely is alive and well far beyond the pages. The suspense of who would stay in love, fall in love, end up happy etc. kept me turning the pages. As a matter of fact, I read much of it while flying to Florida for a week of performances, and finished it en route home. In all my years of flying as frequently as I do, a trip has never gone so fast because time was suspended as I was absorbed by Pru and her crew of unique family and friends. Great Read! From Judy Gail Krasnow, author of the memoir, "Rudolph, Frosty, And Captain Kangaroo."

This wonderful novel kept me engaged from the first line and drew me in throughout. The characters come to life with all the comedic lumps, twisted flaws and sincere beauty we find in our own lives. Rebecca Flowers' unique voice as a storyteller, her clever, witty phrasing and insights left me very satisfied as a reader. You know you have read a great book when you don't want the story to end because you will dearly miss the characters. Might we hear more from these characters in the future? I hope so. I will definitely follow this author and I anxiously await her next novel. I recommend Nice to Come Home To to anyone looking to read a thoughtful, intelligent novel from an aspiring new author. A great read!

This is a delightful novel about two sisters and the twists and turns that love can take. It's set in a funky urban neighborhood and populated with quirky, interesting characters. It's full of smart conversation and surprising plot twists. Ms. Flowers has a voice that's funny and incisive (there are some lines that are absolute classics) and then, when you least expect it, extremely moving. Once I had read the first chapter, I was hooked. I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes Jane Austen, anyone with a sense of humor, anyone who likes clothes, culture or cats and, basically, anyone who wants a great read. You'll love it.

When I read a book, I'm looking for a lot--a great sense of place, characters that I actually care about, and a story that feels like it's going somewhere. I like to feel that these characters mean something to me, going about their lives in an interesting place, doing interesting things, and that stuff is going on.

Pru and her sister seem real, seem like women I've known, have hopes and desperation and humor the likes of which I know, and their lives don't seem like programmed steps in a novel-writing formula of what-should-happen-next, but instead unfold with the real, gentle grace of real life ... only a bit wittier, a bit snappier, and with a bit more style. The writing is really smart, funny, and has such a great voice--if you don't know exactly what that means, read this book--you'll start to see and hear the world through Pru (and Flowers's) gimlet eye--sharp, whip smart, and with a tangy wit.

And the story goes on in two fully realized places, both DC and the beach ... I've read a lot of fiction with a great sense of place--from Marcus Sakey's Chicago to Elmore Leonard's Detroit and Miami, Lehane's Boston, and Pelecanos's DC ... and while Flowers isn't hard boiled like those guys, she creates a DC that is real and lived in and immediate, just like Pelecanos and the rest ... a really lovely, meaningful, and intelligent book, that stayed with me long after I put it down. Good stuff.

A very interesting book that will rattle the chains of any self respecting "Baby Boomer" with rock n roll memories from the 50's and 60's! Being in the middle of this target group: (Class of "67"/BEHS), I enjoyed this book immensely! Warning: do not give these quizes to anyone born after : 1960! They will give you a blank stare! :-)

This is a "fun" book to read. filled with lots of information that even a casual rock & roll fan might be expected to know . It's a book of quiz's and i have to admit i was REALLY surprised at how much i just didn't know or remember. But, a word of warning,don't write your answers in the book if you intend to let a friend (or 2) take the quiz's after you, use a scratch pad instead. The Oldies Music Aptitude Test is very reasonably price and certainly fun to read.....dale

My Boomer friends and I had a ball with this book - and then the kids wanted to 'play', too. Now my kids (30-somethings) grew up with my music for their lullabies and their lives in general. Imagine my chagrin to discover that these former 'Sesame Street residents' actually did better than we Boomers, in some cases! It was no consolation that they had learned it from me. As my son put it, "A test is a test, so stop crying and lose like an adult". It could have been worse - he COULD have called me a 'grown-up'. Sigh. Bring the generations together with these questions about the greatest era in music. Just check your ego at the door. Thanks, Barb, for a wonderful trip down memory lane. And next time we 'adults' play, we'll be sure to keep the kids locked out of the house!

There had to be something to all the praise over at Oldiesmusic.com about this book. So I bought it and now I understand. This is one truly different and fun trivia book. You know all those "multiple-guess" (yawn!) trivia books? Thankfully, this isn't like those at all! This one has funny categories and it's actually humorous! There are clever cartoons too that oldies lovers will really appreciate. Just take a look at the cover art, hahaha!

Spread the word, this is a super fun book and why it's not available in "real" bookstores is beyond comprehension. My college reunion is coming up and I'll bring this along with my lava lamp and Desiderata poster to set the mood. ;->

Best $... I ever spent on a trivia book, I must say!

Hohoho

I consider myself to be a bit of a trivia buff, from history to TV to music. At least I did before I got this book. Barb Jastrab has assembled a set of "tests" within the book to help you determine whether you are a "player" or a "pretender" in the world of trivia. Once you begin, you can't stop! It's funny, it's enlightening, it's humbling, and it's full of "DUH I should have known that" moments. Challenging and fun, well balanced.

I do have one complaint, Ms. Jastrab. You are responsible for eight hangovers this past weekend.

Your book and an eggtimer became the fodder for a drinking game of sorts after an otherwise civilized dinner party. Yes, I know better, but it seemed like a good idea at the time. Anyway, at my age, I suffer a bit more than I did in my youth after such foolishness.

We have all agreed that next time we do this, we'll play for orange juice. But play again we must! Thanks for a great book and a fun challenge.