Away

I bought this book because there was a point in my life after 4 kids and a divorce that I felt "blue" most everyday. This book was very helpful with tips and insight, After a second marriage where the blended family thing was a problem, I read this book a lot. It has been was a very hekpful book for me to read to understand depression and the different causes and types.

An interesting book. The plot follows a boy and his father as they make a life for themselves, living in an airport in 1991. The boy draws hope from their situation by seeing a bird escape the airport itself and take wing. The book's stark realism has many similarities to the more recent picture book, "Visiting Day", in which a little girl goes to visit her father in prison. I don't know if this specific genre of book has a name. Picture realism, perhaps. "Fly Away Home" has often been attacked as "depressing" and not appropriate for children. And admittedly, I do wonder how popular it is with the kiddies. I don't see little children fighting to be the first one to be read this one before bedtime. But this isn't to say it's a bad book. Quite the contrary. The writing and pictures are well done and the plot is informative. In my opinion, kids who've suffered homelessness themselves will connect with the narrator of the story. Those kids who haven't, may find the idea of living in an airport fun. The book really serves, however, as a way to teach our children about homelessness and how those people who suffer from it shouldn't be shunned from society itself. Should you chose to show this book to your kids, you may wish to tell them how this story could never be written today (what with our heightened airport security). A fine well-written book.

This book carries a very powerful message about homelessness. The bird found in the airport, wanting to be free, is a wonderful use of symbolism. Homelessness is a reality in America and this book is a good introduction to that reality for children. Most children do not even realize that this type of counterculture even exists. There is an overwhelming theme of hope, and strength. The illustrations are done in mute watercolor and occur on every page.

I really like this book, even though the topic is homelessness. It certainly seems that the author really looked into the subject --her details are really interesting (for example, the child and his father wear blue because people don't notice blue and the more inconspicuous they are, the better). "Fly Away Home" creates a mood--and if you're interested in letting your children feel a tiny bit of the despair that less fortunate children feel, go for it. After all, you can hug your kids and discuss this book as you go along!

I do feel that some of the other reviewers here are unaware that there are two age categories for children's picture books--4 to 8, and 8 to 12. I would say that this book falls in the latter category. Yes, a very bright six year old could sit through the brief text and come away with the message (homelessness=scary+sad), but they probably don't have the capabilities to really use the information and feelings yet. I would say this is a book to read aloud to say, a fourth grade class, when children really need to start considering social issues and things beyond their little world.

If you're one of these people who only wants books about happy bunnies, this is NOT for you. If you feel that your children can't take the "mixed messages" given by the image of airport security being scary to this homeless child, and you just can't take the time to explain to him/her that law enforcement is not a bad thing, then don't pick this book up. If you don't want your child to feel any compassion for people because you just don't want to make him/her "sad," then for goodness sakes, skip this and every other meaningful book in the bookstore.

How does this author get away with re-writing the same [stuff] over and again, and just changing the title.

Enough with the quasi-self help. Instead learn how to hold a job, sustain a relationship, make and keep commitments, take responsibility. Very immature and unrealistic. Its obvious that this book is simply the author's attempt to justify an empty and unproductive life.

I agree with the previous review that this book is a must NOT read.

This is a ridiculous book and the title reflects it. Poorly written, elementary and yet another attempt by an incompetent author to write.

A must NOT read. Other than perhaps being theraputic to the author this book offers little.

As circuses are becoming a thing of the past, so should this book, the author should just give it up. Her previous book was a big waste and so is this one. It says nothing but the obvious. Written for clowns

Don't waste your time or money on this one.

Its an embarassment--the Run Away and Circus collection--what a joke. AKA the clown collection

Pardon me while I trip over my big shoes... Run, the tiger just got loose!

Ok, I'm sorry. I'm pretty lousy at circus metaphors. Heck, I'm not the metaphoric type, which is why I'm gathing I didn't find this book to be of much use to me. Or maybe it's because I really am looking for a major change in my life and some real PRACTICAL advice on how to switch careers.

I'm also looking to work in the public or non-profit/NGO sector, which is possibly another reason why this book wasn't particularly useful. Much of the text consists of seeing how you, your personality, and your "being" fits into a corporate organization. To this end, the book is filled with mumbo-jumbo corporatespeak combined with crazy circus metaphors (Jumbo the Chief Elephant Officer). Basically, you have a crash course in crazy organizational behavior theories combined with advice on how you should know how to apply greasepaint. And it's practically incomprehensible-- Smye's background as a management consultant is especially evident here.

I love a good metaphor, actually. When used properly, a metaphor can uplift your understanding to a higher plane, illuminate like a 500 watt halogen torchiere, or like the brilliant light of divine inspiration. Sadly, the metaphors in this book, like my oh-so-lugubrious use of metaphors above, just weigh what small amount of "search advice" there is in the book down like a set of cement overshoes (hey, simile here!). So far (100 pages in), "Zen and the Art of Making a Living," is far more effective at using this literary device (phew!!!)-- it's actually inspiring, instead of heavy and annoying.

What's even more fun is when the interviewees the author quotes sink into metaphor as well: one, for example, spent her entire page and a half comparing her business to the gangs she was a member of in high school. The point was lost in the "gang" silliness. I probably wouldn't have noticed it so much had it not been the only explanation Smye used to make that particular point... I'd tell you what the point was, but honestly, I have no clue.

I thought about doing the exercises in the back of the book to try and clarify what I want out of life a little more, but honestly, they weren't very practical either. I know where I want to go (public policy and teaching political science at the community college level), but what I really need is a little advice on how to get there. Smye didn't assist me with that at all.

One extra star for being a mildly entertaining read...

Like most readers, I was attracted by the nightmare of a mother dealing with a stolen child. Several improbable plot devices (ESP and and the sperm donor dying of AIDS) made even this potentially gripping plot weak. But, what irritated me was the fragile mother who could not seem to be critical of her grossly philandering husband who has sex with her sister in the kitchen many times while she is upstairs. The mother does not even ask her sister to move out and barely reacts when she walks in on her husband and sister. She does say something to her husaband--his reply is that he is a "horny prick." Oh, well! Everyone in the book knows her husband and sister are having sex and when one character asks her why she sticks with him her answer is that marriage includes even the tough times. The husband never makes any effort to reform, shows her no respect and it is left unresolved. I'd prefer a stronger heroine.

The primary plot of Steal Away is compelling enough; the frantic and suspenseful search for a missing child practically turns the pages by itself. The real gem of this story, though, is Katherine Clark's use of powerful sub-plots. The characterization and relationships in this book are so dynamic and plentiful: Rachel's somewhat telepathic connection with her missing son; the adulterous liaison between Rachel's husband and sister; the underscored spark between Rachel and Detective Gallagher; The uninvited bond between Rachel and the biological father of her son...they go on and on. Obviously, the primary plot line demands resolution and gets it. Unfortunately, the sub plots are what really drive this book and hold the reader's focus - and demand resolution just as fervently, something Clark fails to deliver. I inhaled this book from the first page and had the impression at the end that my copy must be missing the last 15 or so pages! How can Clarke justify introducing such intricate relationships and parallel story lines, and then just leave the reader hanging on everything but the main plot - ironically, the one thread where the reader is likely to guess the outcome anyway!

This book sure garnished mixed reviews! Some loved it while others hated it. I thought it was pretty well done. Not all of us are heros or heroines. Many women and some men are only forced to act on their lives only when confronted with situations out of their ability to control, such as one that arises in this book. A child is snatched by strangers, and the ability of those strangers to take that child is given by those who love that child the most. In WWI America they had these advertisements saying "Loose lips sink ships." The carelessness of an aunt, the lack of observation by parents at sports and dance situations, the lack of concern most people show for their neighbors and often their friends help lead to a child disappearing.

It is absolutely imperative that people understand that most children who are kidnapped are kidnapped by family or acquaintances. Stranger abductions like this are rare, but they still frighten parents and grandparents.

It is easy to judge the mother, Rachel, for being weak and bowing too much to her husband's whims. I've met women like this, but when confronted by problems, they often shine. They also learn things about themselves and about their families, their husbands that they chose to ignore. Rachel persists. She badgers, she shucks her life of all the unimportant societal standards in order to find her son.

My big problem with this book was not with the characterization. We are all different, and the author was portraying someone who had chosen to ignore the things that were wrong about her family and about her life. For the most part the plot was strong, but I thought the ending was curt. It left too much up in the air.

Karen Sadler

I PURCHASED THIS BOOK WITH THE HOPE OF GETTING SOME INSIGHT ON THE WORLD OF E-COMMERCE. BIG DISSAPOINTMENT.

The authors should be congratulated for their talents of oversimplification. They've manage to dumb-down the concepts
and are only worthy of inspiring a few Dilbert comic strips, but
not any serious reader.

They've authored a book that seems best targeted for those with the frat-boy mentality that is evident page in and out (see pages 57 thru 59 for the "It's All Porn" section !).

Other Revelations:

ISP's are like Kevin Costners scuba gear in Waterworld !(pg 49)
"Intellectual Property" is like Al Capone and booze ! (pg 121)

I could go on, and on, but please, please, let me stop.

I've read other Drapkin books in the past and they have been clear, concise, and well thought out. I can only guess that
his 'co-authors' have brought this book down to what can only
be called ... Advice from the STENCHES of eCommerce.

Save your money.

After reading Michael Drapkin's book, I learned how to apply his expertise to create a start-up online business. I learned how to locate and hire talented IT professionals, how to create funding for a new online business, and how to successfully launch a new web business. I especially found pages 57-59 and page 131 humorous and intriguing. Thus, if you want to learn how to create a successful start-up online business, I recommend purchasing his book.

It is a great read to learn how to start, survive, and profit an online business.

Before you create your business plan and before you launch your website, READ THIS BOOK! I highly recommend it.

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This book provides a good historical perspective of different techniques and strategies that have made firms (large and small) succeed using the Internet. All the chapters are pertinent... each provide Tips or Know-How that any Corporate Manager should learn.

I especially like the way the book was written-- funny, using Real-World examples, and most of all poignant.

Not as technical as the book Net.Gain-- but gives the same impact.

We've read this book in class and talked a lot about it and wrote a reading journal.
This book is about a 13-year-old boy who lost his family in a bombing of the IRA and is forced to leave Northern Ireland to stay with his only relatives in Vancouver, Cananda. He is a very headstrong and stubborn boy and tries to escape serval times even from Canada. But in time he begins to like his "new" family and decides at the end to stay with his uncle his aunt and their adopted children in Canada...

We've liked reading this book because it's easy to understand and the story is exciting. Also because we like happy ends. :)

Representation of real political problems or just English shoddy?

The book „Torn Away" deals with a boy, called Declan who is an Irish Catholic and lives in Falls Road/Belfast. His mother and sister died in a bomb attack which was organised by the Brits. Left alone and filled with wrath and anger, Declan joins the terror group "Holy Terrors". There youngsters learn to build bombs and plan attacks against the British army. However, he shell be brought to his uncle who lives in Canada. Declan tries to refuse because he thinks his uncle Matthew is a coward and a traitor of the country because of immigrating to British Columbia. After a lot of attempts to escape, police manages to take him into his uncle's custody.
Although, his aunt, uncle and the both adopted kids Ana and Thomas are very friendly and caring, Declan still has the wish to return. First a bargain makes him remain: If he stays until after Christmas and joins school, Matthew won't stop Declan leaving and pays his journey home.
But whilst time passes, Declan starts to accept Ana and Thomas as a real brother and sister. He is departed between the family feelings and the so-called "fixer's world", as he calls his new home.
The book "Torn Away" has its focus on the Northern Irish conflicts between Protestants and Catholics. The main reasons of fighting with each other are shown very clearly in this book. It recovers the means which the IRA uses to damage or kill their enemies, the Brits. I like the representation of the strong will-power which is in the Catholic and Protestant mind in order to get through their aim for their country. However, the realisation of the difficult topic about the young terrorist Declan isn't so convincing. At the beginning of the story, the rough reality is shown clearly. But the more Declan is "caught" by the family's generosity and kindness, the more the ending is absolutely clear. To put it in a nutshell: The character of the almost innocent family is too unrealistic and invisible to regard the story as a realistic happening within a Catholic boy's life.
So, thank you James Heneghan, but the moral of "Torn Away" is clear: Violence is never a solution!

The novel "Torn Away" written by James Heneghan is focused on the life of a thirteen year old boy who lost his family during a terrorist attack and is deported to his only relative left, his uncle Matthew in Canada.
Being involved in a youngsters terrorist group in Belfast, fighting against the Prods(Protestants,the British and the authorities he is forced to leave Ireland, starting a new live in Canada. After his arrival he acts in a very rude, reserved and aggressive way against all attempts to include him in the family. Although he still insists on his opinion, that he wants to leave Canada as soon as possible to take a revenge his family he starts to notice, that he will miss his new family.

We had to read the book in our English-class and so at the beginnig we were not very pleased. But after reading the first chapter which made a strong impact on us, our interest was caught and we enjoyed the novel more and more.

Look Away!: A History of the Confederate States of America written by William C. Davis is a book on political history of the Southern State during the time of the Civil War.

Davis concentrates on the political, social, and economic subjects of the Civil War era. This is an excellently, well-written book and a revealing, preceptive work giving the reader a fuller, more complete reference to the life and times of the people durning the Civil War.

While previous histories have focused on familiar commanders such as Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson... this book focuses on a broader scope. We get to read about such characters as Robert Barnwell Rhett and William L. Yancey, who pushed for secession long before the public supported it; to Dr. Samuel Cartwright, who persuaded many Southerners of the natural inferiority of their slaves; to the woman of Richmond, who rioted over bread shortages in 1863.

Reading this book gives you, the reader, a more complete picture of what life was like... not the moonlight and magnolia as portrayed in other books... but down to earth portrails. You can see through the references that Davis spent a lot of time on his research... primary research has ranged across the 800 odd newspapers being printed durning this timeframe.

You get a vivid, full society view of the political and economic conflits beneath it more loudly publicized military battles. Marauders who preyed on their fellow Confederates, to near anarchy as the steady breakdown of the law became more commonplace.

This is an overall realistic book bringing into focas an aspect of real life... this is an excellent book for your Civil War library... a fascinating read.

Any fan of the History Channel's Civil War documentaries will be familiar with Dr. Davis' commentary abilities on the military aspects of the Civil War. In this book, he turns his attention to the political aspects of the Confederate movement. While he is not the classic storyteller in the style of Shelby Foote, Davis' writing style is nonetheless engaging and dead on for the topic covered.

This is the first book I have read on the Civil War that accurately pegs the cause of the war. It was not slavery, most northerners did not care about it one way or the other, and it wasn't state's rights, most southerners didn't care either way. It was about the belief that one group has the inherent right to rule another group by virtue of their circumstances. What I found most interesting about the book was the parallels that we see between the confederate oligarchs of the nineteenth century and the protagonists of many movements we see in the twenty-first century. The Rhett's, Yancey's, and Toombs' of the 1860's had nothing on the Kerry's, the Kennedy's, and the Clinton's of today. They all believe that they are obligated and entitled, by birth or circumstance, to control the lives of others.

Look Away serves as a cautionary tale for those who seek radical change. In it, the trap of every radical movement lies exposed wherein in order to attain and maintain their power, they must sacrifice their ideals. Like modern "progressives", they only saw the immediate satisfaction of their desires and never saw the long term or unintended affects of their actions. It is amazing that a people who took the radical step of severing their ties to the Union in order to maintain their rights, almost immediately saw those rights infringed or abolished by the government they had formed. Today a group who speaks loftily of freedom of choice seeks at every turn to restrict that freedom, be it of speech or property rights, for the "public good".

This book should be required reading in every high school government class.

This book is a rebuke to all those who erroneously believe that the Civil War occurred only the battlefield. Davis goes into the history of the government of the Confederate States; a daring plot for an historian best known for moving accounts of battlefield valor. He does a commendable job in the arena of political history, which is never as clear-cut as out and out military history. Other reviewers have criticized his dwelling on the issue of slavery. I wonder what on earth they think he should have dwelt on while writing a history of the Confederate States? I don't believe his aim was to badmouth the Southern states (as has been accused), but to give insight on how the Confederates (and ruling elite Southerners in general) imagined the "perfect government". This is not meant to be just some rabble-rousing, flag-waving tribute to the Confederacy. Rather, it's an intriguing look at Victorian Era political science.

I haven't read this book but I have read some of the author's previous work, "Some Great Reward," which documented Depeche Mode. That book is completely inaccurate. My favorite error is when it says Dave Gahan (lead singer of Depeche Mode) never did any drugs. I suppose the book was written before drug charges were filed against him and before he tried to slit his wrists. Gahan's drug problems were huge.

Instead try "Heavier than Heaven." This book is filled wth quotes from Kurt Cobain's family, friends and business associates. It seems to be a fairly accurate portrait.

The story behind Kurt Cobain is extremely interesting, and I for one kept wanting to know more as I read. I would not say that the book is very well-written, though. I would definitely recommend something about Cobain for someone looking for an interesting biography, but not necesarily this particular book.

This book displays only the main points of the history of Kurt Cobain and Nirvana. I feel that it was a good book to read, if you have the time, but "Cobain" or "Come As You Are" would be wiser choices.

I've read and loved all of David Wiltse's Becker novels, so I would have probably loved this one no matter how bad it was. Luckily, there was enough action and dialogue to keep me entertained throughout the book. The only problem I have with his later novels is that Wiltse has been making Becker too witty and light, forgetting how tormented he usually is when on the hunt. The humor's always a nice counterpoint to the psychos though, so the light tone works effectively in this book.

Since this book is several years old, I won't bother with a precis of the plot, that having been done by others. But I do want to say how happily I was struck by the author's use of character. That's an ingredient missing all too often in crime fiction. Sure, the plot is twisting and involving and there is plenty of tension, etc, but, almost uniquely, it is all performed by some very real, very complicated characters. I found it quite exceptional.

I've just discovered John Becker and David Wiltse (where have I been?)and what a fortuitous discovery it is! If John Becker is not the most fascinating, complicated, sexy, clever, dangerous--and most interestingly of all--oddly virtuous character in this whole genre, I don't know of any other contenders that even come close. His villains may be be even better. Evil enough even for Dubya's list, but tantalizingly human as well. Most exciting of all for me as a reader is the author's command of the language. The words, the words! This is a genuine writer, not just a potboiler. If Blown Away is any example, I'm going to have a wonderful time with the rest of Mr. Wiltse's work.

I was happy to find a Dragon Tales book this simple because all of the other ones I've seen have way too much text for my not-yet-two-year-old. This was perfect for his interest level. My son reads a lot, but I still wouldn't recommend the other Dragon Tales books for any younger than upper preschool age kids. The copy we received, however, had flaps that stuck to the book so some ripped, which was annoying. Overall, a good choice for the very youngest of the Dragon Tales fans.

Our 1 year old son likes Dragon Tales, and Likes "Flap" books. This is a bright, colorful book, with an easy to follow story. Some of the flaps are pretty tiny for small hands, but overall it's a good book.

Hi, I have a daughter who is turning four and a son who just turned two. I have bought plenty of Dragon Tales books because my kids love watching the show and love having my husband and I read them the Dragon Tales stories in books. I enjoy watching Dragon Tales and is a show that parents nor kids get bored with. They need to make more Dragon Tales stories! Rani