D-A

When I first sat down with the book, I thought that I possibly had accidentally picked up the wrong book. It was a little confusing at first because I thought it was going to be just like the movie. (I had already seen the movie.) But then it got easier once I realized that it wasn't at all like the movie. I mean, the story was the same, but the tone was different and you got a better understanding of The Black in the book than in the movie. You could picture the wild, vicious heart of the stallion. When Alec rode the Black, you got a picture of what is was like to be on top of such a horse and you felt like you were right there riding him beside Alec.

Overall, I loved the book and I hope that someone else will read the book. Horselovers, you should read it too! I highly recommend it!

A most intriguing book, The Black Stallion, always kept me glued to each page. It still does when I flip through the pages of my favorite horse story.
When the Drake goes down on the ocean, Alec and the black horse are the only survivors. They both make it to a uninhabited island and are stranded there to fend for themselves. During that time on the island, Alec slowly begins to gain the wild stallion's trust. A friendship grows between the Black and Alec and when they finally are resuced from the island, the two are inseparable.
That is only the beginning of the story. The rest will take Alec, the Black and all readers on an exciting adventure that one will not soon forget.
The Black Stallion is a book that everyone should read. Do not forget the rest of the series, including the Island Stallion series, which are intricately intertwined with the Black Stallion books.
The Black Stallion is a classic and should not be overlooked. A MUST for all horse lovers! And a MUST for all!

I first read THE BLACK STALLION when I was 9 - and I became hooked and read several of the books that followed in the series. None held up to this first book - but they were consistent and I still have them.

With the book first being published in 1941 - I wonder now how much of this story was influenced by the SeaBiscuit story?

Anyway - this is one of those books that I remember wishing with all my heart and soul I could be Alec, alone on the island in the sun with that horse. Just riding. And having no other thoughts in the world.

And sometimes, after a particularly bad week, this book is one of those that I scoop up to smooth my edges.

I checked this book out of the library dozens of times as a child. The stories and intrigue of the Greek pantheon, combined with the outstanding illustrations, make this book a must-read for any child (or adult) with more than a passing interest in history, or religion or mythology. To this day, not having seen the book in nearly 20 years, I can recall vividly the illustration of Argus with his hundred eyes, standing in Hera's chamber. Or Athena, springing fully formed from Zeus' head. Another thing I like is that the authors didn't sugarcoat any of the Greek myths, which were as red in tooth and claw as Nature herself. To me, that would have destroyed the impact and power of these stories. This book is truly a classic of kids' literature.

When I was in elementary school I found this book at the library. I loved it so much that I did not want to return it. Finally, after several months of renewals, my parents bought the paperback version for me. It was one of my most treasured--and worn out--books that I owned.

What made me fall in love the book was the beautiful, large colorful pictures; the easy introduction of the many Greek gods (to a child with no background in the stories); and, of course, the myths themselves. They were wonderful stories and will pull in readers of all ages.

The book inspired me to read more books on Greek mythology--Edith Hamilton, for instance--and Norse myths (the D'Aularies wrote a book on Norse gods that is unfortunately still out of print) and Asian folktakes when I was still in grade school. In college, however, I learned that the myths in this book had gone through a bit of sanitization, but the book is still terrific. I haven't found another children's book that treats Greek mythology so entertainingly and with such colorful, rich, and engaging pictures.

This book is one that will keep giving even when the child becomes an adult. When I went to college and was assigned other Greek and Roman poems, plays, and literature, I would be reminded the pictures and the myths found in this book. It would bring back wonderful memories, and in turn, made reading ancient literature enjoyable rather than onerous. To this day, I still remember all of the myths and gods that are in this book, and it (oddly) adds warm memories to my academic reading!

My parents recently bought the hardcopy edition of the book for me for Christmas. It was the best gift I have received in years!

It is simply a wonderful book!

A rare gem in the science fiction/fantasy genre, this series has a female heroine, Lyra. We follow Lyra throughout the series as she encounters intense mysteries and drama. Although this is a fantasy book series, it is superbly written and is excellent in making the reader become so engrossed that they nearly forget where they are.

I would use these books with high school, reluctant reader girls, since it's an excellent story about a girl who saves the world. They would learn from this book that girls are also craft, witty, and brilliant. Another group that I would recommend this series to are advanced high school readers as I believe these books have direct references to Paradise Lost and also make general remarks on religion. In fact by the final book, your idea of religion is completely obscured. I think it would be interesting for them to do a compare/contrast with Paradise lost of perhaps how the series develops a theme of religion.

9. D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths by Ingri D'Aulaires and Edgar Parin D'Aulaires
Copyright 1980, Bantam Doubleday Dell
Great book to build a reading unit around
One of the major things that was lacking in my education through college, was any sort of introduction to Greek Mythology. Although we seem to now steer clear of any kind of old literature ("dead white men"), I believe Greek Mythology is an important part of a person's reading repertoire. There have been many situations (not to mention Jeopardy questions) where I'm at a complete loss because I never learned Greek Mythology. My friend recently introduced me to this book, claiming his copy was so worn out from repetitive readings his parents provided him and his brothers. What an excellent find this book is!

I would use this book in the classroom and read these aloud to the students. I believe it would be a great idea to have a Greek Mythology unit where we use this book as our base reading, and have the kids explore other Greek Mythology books. I think children at first will think Greek Mythology is boring, yet they would soon find out that it is all around them. They could have a good time finding things in their neighborhoods that relate like street names, restaurant names, etc. and perhaps write some report on their findings.

-I need to thank him profusely!

I haven't read much Historical Fiction so far, but I've been wanting to for quite a while. I was interested in medieval England primarily, and someone told me to, "Give Sharon Kay Penman a go- She's amazing!" I found the first book really cheap and dove in.

Taking place in the 13th century, we are given the tale of the ruthless King John of England, and his greatest rival, Prince Llewelyn of Wales. To gain a hold over Wales, John marries his favorite daughter, Joanna, to the influential Welsh Prince. Joanna wants nothing less, but as she slowly begins to love her father's greatest enemy, she finds herself torn between the two powerful men. The romantic tale is merely a tiny aspect of this engrossing novel. You will also witness the warfare, politics and what life was like during this brutal period of English and Welsh history. I can think of nothing to compare it too except Braveheart, which is high praise from me. This book has everything in it. It's amazing how some of the best stories in the world actually happened.

From what I've heard, and from the little I've witnessed, historical fiction usually means there will be a compromise in writing and story. Well, from page one, Penman grabbed me and wouldn't let go. After just this one book, she easily earns her place among my favorite authors. Here Be Dragons was simply captivating from beginning to end.

-Lysander

Sharon Kay Penman is a remarkably gifted writer. Her impeccable historical research, attention to detail and superb storytelling ability make her novels consistently excellent. "Here Be Dragons" is one of her best efforts. It is the second book in her Plantagenet series, which include "The Sunne In Splendour," "Falls The Shadow," and "The Reckoning." Each of these wonderful historical novels stands on its own, however, and while it is an extraordinary experience to read each book in order, one does not have to do so to appreciate the history, the characters or the period.

Ruthless, power hungry King John Platagenet ruled 13th century England with an iron fist. He was determined to bring Wales, a country divided, under his thumb and into his power. Charismatic Llewelyn Farr, Prince of Northern Wales fought to unite his country's nobility and provide a strong front against the English. He finally succeeded in securing a tentative truce with England by marrying King John's beloved illegitimate daughter, Joanna. Initially wary of her new husband, her father's enemy, Joanna grew to love Llewelyn passionately over the years, but she was constantly torn between the politics of Wales and England, and her love for her husband and her father.

This is a complex saga of historic characters, politics, intrigues, betrayals, bloody battles and wars, romance, lust, power struggles, princesses held captive, revenge and forgiveness. Yet once begun, this extraordinary epic is almost impossible to put down. Ms. Penman portrays Wales, its people, culture and landscape vividly with glorious detail. It is fascinating to become involved with the characters and realize how linked they are by common ancestry. Not only is Welsh history tied to that of England's, but the royal families, Kings John's and Prince Llewelyn's, are linked by blood as are their descendants. Ms. Penman joins the histories and characters of these two countries to give the reader, not just a superb tale but a look at the bigger historical picture also.

This is truly one of the best historical novels I have ever read, and the four book series by Ms. Penman is absolutely outstanding. She paints an unforgettable picture of medieval England and Wales and the characters who made history. I cannot recommend these books highly enough.
JANA

This was the first "historical" novel that I have ever read. Due to the size of the book (over 700 pages), I figured it would take me weeks to read it. I didn't count on how involved I would get with the story. It has been quite a while since a book grabbed me enough to read until dawn. But this one did. So did the two other books in the series, "Falls the Shadow" and "The Reckoning". All three are highly recommended.

Dr. Orloff displays much courage in opening her heart to share her wisdom. As I began reading her book Intuitive Healing I could feel myself gliding through the pages devouring her knowledge. The image of knitting came into my mind--knitting a foundation into which her readers could shift. Dr. Orloff does a beautiful job in simplifying how to connect with your inner voice so that you may gain insights and discover your own "ah has." Her 5 steps gives guidance, tools and meditations that will help in developing your own intuition. By awakening and listening to your own "small" voice within, Dr. Orloff believes you can heal your body, emotions, sexuality, as well as gain acceptance of the transition from life to death. I highly recommend this book to ANYBODY who is wanting to take charge of their own health...their own life. VERY empowering. A must read. Thank you Dr. Orloff for being courageous enough by going out on a limb to present yourself, your work to help others grow.

A lot of the books written on the subject seem to miss the point with glossy covers that entice you to buy -

"Almost a cigar ", but here, Dr Judith Orloff is smoking Havanas with her book " Intuitive Healing"

It is well written in an easy manner and guides you through a process of feelings, rediscovering your body's signals and what my ancestors knew long ago - trusting your inner voice, your spirit, to guide you through some of life's decisions - a skill we have come to ignore in these busy times. The examples she gives in the book rennosante with me and gave me insight and
brought tears to my eyes as they touched my soul.
I recommend the book to those who need a little guidance in their life and also for those who do not, as this books re- acquaints us with some of the life's skills that were ours once - Brilliantly done "

This book really gives you the tools how to contact your inner voice. And for more it doesn't make intuition to something mystic and strange, instead it shows us that it's in our daily life if we like to. I've had very much use of this book and I try every day in some way to develop my inuitive skills because I've now found out that it's possible and natural.

The silly label next to John D'Agata's name on the cover is dead wrong. There's not a lick of "essay" in here!

But you'll be relieved to read in his biography that this extremely young author was trained as a poet at the Iowa Writers Workshop, because no average writer of "creative nonfiction" could manage what D'Agata does with subjects that range from a story about the brightest light in the world to a sperm bank (where he apparently worked as a donor) to a luscious history of how lists of the wonders of the world are made. His appetite for "stuff" seems unquenchable, and his love of language is obvious.

Really this is a 250 page book of poetry. Read it and you'll change your mind about that old fart genre called the essay. Read it aloud and you'll set the next few days of your life to music!

In the ranks of those young writers who altering the form of other genres--Ben Marcus in fiction, Doug Powell in poetry, Jonathan Safran Foer in the novel, etc.--John D'Agata's HALLS OF FAME has not only altered the way contemporary essays are viewed, but based on a brief review of what's being published today in small literary journals, he's effected the very stuff being written in the genre. Long before most writers are usually said to have a tangible effect on their forms, D'Agata seems to have done it with his first book. It basically changed my life when I first read it, luring me out of a PhD in English, into a writing program where finally, thanks soley to this writer, I have realized that both the artful and the intelectual can sit side by side in essay writing. He does it better than anybody else. Not only better than any other young writer; better than ANYBODY. The first five pages of this first startling book will show you why. The rest of the book, I suspect, will change your life.

Let me preface this by saying I was a classmate of John's at the Iowa Writers' Workshop in the mid-90's. I remember discussing several of the essays included in this collection, and being incredibly impressed with both the work and the author. The time, imagination, detail, obsession, intelligence, honesty and humble nature of both the essays and the essayist should at the very least inspire a more attentive read than several of the other negative reviewers chose to give.

It's time to give the Iowa Workshop a break. Just let it go. I mean, really, whether it's jealousy, or a rejected application, or just some strange anti-MFA vendetta, there seems to be a pervasive, generic attack on all who spent time at the school. People, it's just a school, good or bad. It's not some factory that automatically frankensteins each poetry student into some Jorie Graham/Michael Palmer avant-guardian. We actually have our own minds, styles, and ideas, and some of us even hold onto them well after we graduate. Imagine that.

I can assure you, there are few labels that would accurately portray all Iowa workshop students across the board, especially in the poetry program. You have no idea what it was like there unless you were there, and it varies from year to year. I would be uncomfortable judging people who've just graduated the program on the same standards, attitudes and practices I found during my '95-'97 term.

I'm not saying you have to like it, but review the work itself as it is given to you, not the Workshop or the writer's personal life. Why do people have to dismiss or attack writers and their works simply because they come out of a specific school, or because they are popular, or because the author has some success at an early age? Good writing has come out of Iowa, bad writing has come out of Iowa, just like every other MFA program, publishing house, school of thought, or geographical area.

This is an incredible work. Truly dazzling.

And to the reviewer who slams John for "plagiarizing" Dave Eggers, I can tell you that John had already written several of these essays, and published at least one of them in a journal (the Martha Graham piece)years before "A Heartbreaking Work..." was even published.

John is an exceptionally gifted writer and person, but even with all of his talent and imagination, I don't think he has the ability to steal work that didn't even exist at the time. To that reviewer, do your homework before you use serious words like "plagiarism" - John has clearly done his.

David Schwartz's classic success book "The Magic of Thinking Big" is one of the top ten all time best proactive success books. After you have read it you will begin to refer to the earlier part of your life as "before I read the book." Even before you finish reading it the first time, you will be a changed person - it's that incredible. I say first time because you will want to read it again and again. My copy is well read, well read, and well marked. It has been a treasured part of my library and I've recommended it to others countless times.

I consider David Schwartz to be one of the earliest "proactive thinkers" in the world. If you haven't read this book before, get ready for profound wisdom. Schwartz makes it easy to understand that our thoughts are things and have God given powers, far beyond what is commonly taught by others. I can tell you from my own astonishing situations and experiences that, "your success really is most definitely determined by what and how you think."

Schwartz covers all of the proactive bases: smart thinking, system thinking, futuristic thinking, and positive thinking. If you are truly seeking the kind of success and abundance that makes your life 100% livable - you must read this book. Many of his ideas are found in SUCCESS BOUND, another book built on learning how to live a proactively life that is God centered and fulfilling.

You will find that this exciting book becomes a part of you. Don't hold back - let it happen. In fact, you should spend 10 to 15 minutes every morning focusing your thoughts on the truths of this book, thereby allowing them to seep deep into your subconscious mind. If you do this I guarantee this wisdom will most assuredly bring you the success and abundance you deserve.

Enjoy the book and your new proactive success life!

This book should probably be read every two or three years. It's a wonderful, effective motivational tool. It stresses finding success, happiness and peace of mind at the level you believe that you can achieve. Although THE MAGIC OF THINKING BIG has been deemed a management tool, it could also be a personal development and life skills textbook because it works on the mind, not just the business.

According to the author, the differences between the successful people and others include confidence and positive thinking and reinforcement.

You actually feel empowered and worthy after you've read this. These are powerful concepts. I highly recommend this book

At first I was sceptical when my business associate Arthur Goldstuck gave me this book. After reading the first few chapters I realised this book is very sound in it's advice and very practical at the same time. Like Think and Grow Rich this book contains many practical examples of how to put the ideas into action and how it has worked wonders for others. Written in the 1950's the advice is now needed more then ever to get ahead of the pack.

I totally LOVE this book! This is one of my favorite books in the whole world by my absolute FAVORITE author, L.M. Montgomery. Anne Shirley, the delightful, talkative orphan that Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert adopt, is an extraordinary character. She's so full of life that you just can't help loving her. L.M. Montgomery paints a wonderful picture of the small town of Avonlea, in Prince Edward Island, Canada, where the story is set. As Anne gets older and more mature, she also gets wiser and more loving - and lovable. I've read this book at least three times, and it is still one of my absolute favorites. Even though this is classified as a "children's book," adults will love it too, I know. I read it first when I was 9 or 10 years old, then again when I was about 12, and again, just recently (I'm only 14 now). I also think that it would be a wonderful book for moms and dads to read to their children, no matter how old or young they were.

This is one of the best books ever written and the credit goes to spirited Anne (make sure it's spelled with an "e"!) Shirley. It's not often you find such a charming heroine as Anne. ANNE OF GREEN GABLES is the first of a series on this lovable orphan, and it begins with Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert, a respectable brother and sister, living at Green Gables. They are both growing old and need a boy to help out on the farm. But they got a talkative redhead girl instead. Before they can send her back to the orphanage, Anne has managed to win the hearts of Prince Edward Island with her wit and imagination. She seems to affect everyone around her - from busybody Mrs. Rachel Lynde to handsome Gilbert Blythe. And now, Green Gables will never be the same! . . .

It's not often you find such a spirited and lovable heroine as Anne. Captivating and captivatED, Anne is full of enthusiasm and fun, which gets her into all sorts of scrapes. This book is one that you are guaranteed to laugh over, cry over, and never want to put down! It is an ideal novel that you won't want to pass up! (Even if you don't read the rest of the Anne books, read this!)

'People who haven't red hair don't know what trouble is. Mrs. Thomas told me that God made my hair red on purpose, and I've never cared about Him since.'

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

Upon arriving at the Cuthbert's home on Prince Edward Island, Anne Shirley, a vivacious and imaginative young orphan girl, was devastated to hear that she was a mistake. The Cuthbert's had wanted a boy. Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert, an elderly brother and sister, decide to keep her, and from that moment nothing is the same.
Cracking a slate across a boy's head, getting her best friend drunk (accidentally of course), saving a baby's life, and nearly drowning herself are all part of Anne's daily life. Marilla and the neighbors couldn't help but express their disappointment with the little newcomer'at first. To most she knows, Anne becomes an irreplaceable addition to sleepy Avonlea. Anne is changing too. Gradually she becomes more mature and learns to control her sometimes fiery temper.
Anne of Green Gables is unpredictable and hilarious; you can never tell what Anne will do next! I loved her endless questions about the world, and her passionate love of life. Anne Shirley is one of the most enjoyable characters I have ever read about, therefore, I would recommend this book to anyone.

This Review lead me to Raymond Austin. (It is right it is.)

BOOKLIST AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION Fans of the classic British television series The Avengers and The Saint may recognize the author',s name: as Ray Austin, he directed episodes-of-those serve; as well as many other British and American shows, This is his first novel, and it's ideally suited for the small screen. An armored car is hijacked, seemingly snatched out of thin air, and Virginia's Beauford Sloan, retired-cop-turned-private-detective, is hired to find out whodunit. Sloan, who closely resembles the actor Wilford Brimley, is a remarkably likable character. (The resemblance is no coincidence: Brimley and the author are friends, and Brimley has expressed his desire to play the detective in the anticipated television movie based on the novel. He has also written an introduction to the book.) In fact, everything about the novel is remarkably likable; perhaps because he spent decades in the world of moving pictures, Austin knows how to create detailed characters, dialogue that is both memorable and realistic, and an exciting plot. An excellent debut and a real find.

David Pitt

A great summer read, fast paced, with characters that you care about. I liked Sloan so much, I want to see what else he does. A third book is coming out soon, can't wait! This would make a great movie!!

I was totally captivated right from the start how the incredible "Eagle Heist" went down. You'll have to read to know what I mean! This book was fabulous! Right until the end I could not figure out who masterminded this incredible heist. Raymond Austin does an amazing job of creating a visual masterpiece in his first book. It must be made into a movie! I'm looking forward to the next in his series, "Dead Again."

Ok, first off the first RE expierence I had was with the second game (the subject of this book) and ever since I played that game I've been fasinated, and hooked on the Resident Evil series of all kinds. The games, the comics, the books everything. I have been lookign forward to the release of the 6th instalment of the game series. I thought I have read every online report, every game review, and detailed side story about Resident Evil...until I was told about this series. City of the Dead is the first one I picked up. It is an amazing book. I have beaten RE2, and I found it fasinating how S.D. Perry told the story from the POV (point of view) of all the characters, just not Leon and Claire. You get a inside look on Ada, Sherry, Annete Birkin, and the mysterious Chief Brian Irons. I can't wait to read the whole series and become a dedicated fan to the whole adaptation of the games. I enjoy the games, but I can't get enough out of them, and these books provide a more detailed story to the Resident Evil saga. Their is more to Resident Evil than all the books, games, comics, graphic novels, could ever provide, but this series does a very good job at making you understand the whole concept and story of it all more satisfying. I recomend this to all RE fans, because this truly is an awesome adaptation.

The biggest and best of the series. Resident Evil City of the dead or Resident Evil 2 is the novelisation of the award winning Resident Evil 2. What i have numerous times stated with these books is that they dont just describe the plot in the game but also give you sub plots of what other characthers do ie Chief Irons and Anette Birkin who you dont have a clue what theyt were doing intill this book reveals it. The book follows Leon.S.Kennedy and Claire Redfield as they battle throught the racoon police department and try to escape. For some reason or another actually knowing what will happen (I have compleated the game loads of times) makes the books even better because you want to see how S.D Perry describes the main events of the game. the book is massive 330 pages of it and every single bit of it will get your juices going. Wether you have played the game or not does not matter this is a must buy.

Where to begin. It had a great story. Mrs Perry did a great job putting the RESDIENT EVIL 2 video game into a book. O.K the story begins with Clair looking for her brother Chris in the small town of Raccoon City. On her way she meets a rookie cop by the name of Leon Kennedy. They soon realize that everyone in the city was slowly infected with a virus that turns who ever is in contact with it into flesh eating zombies. This chilling, fun, horror mystery book should be read by teens (12-older) because it has its bloody parts and does have cussing in it ( hey if oyu were in there position what would you sa...lol ). RESIDENT EVIL: CITY OF THE DEAD is a book that all RESIDENT EVIL fans should own. go buy it today! ! ! !

Let me begin by saying that my mate and I are both well at ease with our own and each other's established love language styles. Of course it's difficult to place all the complexities of a person's "relationship style" completely within one of the five love languages cited in this book (quality time, words of affirmation, gifts, acts of service, and physical touch), but, using these five as a general guideline, my dominant love language is "physical touch", while my mate's is "acts of service". Our relationship functions reasonably well on this basis; if my mate starts moving out of her assigned love language style, as she is sometimes prone to do, I'm usually fairly quick to make sure she gets back into it.
However, despite being quite aware and mostly accepting of our respective love language styles, as recommended in this book, I sometimes suspect that this is not the full picture, and there is perhaps still something missing in our relationship in terms of communication. I'm not sure if perhaps there's something missing from my partner's copy of the book, and she's not fully grasping the issues? Her Spanish edition does seem to have fewer pages than my English copy...

How many times have you heard a wife exclaim, "I cook and clean for that man, and he never appreciates all that I do for him. I'm so unhappy" or the husband grouse, "Hey, I bought her those diamond earrings. I even get her flowers just to show her how much I love her, and she just throws them back in my face saying that I am just trying to buy her love. She keeps carping that I never share my feelings. She just doesn't know love when she sees it."

If one partner can speak only Russian and the other only Spanish, is it any wonder that there are communication problems. What is obvious in spoken languages isn't so obvious in love languages. The problem with love language is that the one partner thinks the other is just speaking very poor Russian while the other thinks their partner's Spanish is just terrible. This book is that very important eye opener that every couple should read. It will get them on the road to speaking each others natural language.

And they should read it at the beginning of their relationship rather than as a last ditch effort to save it. I give this book as a wedding present to all my friends that get married. There is no better way to help them get a long and happy marriage started.

With communication being the number one factor in making relationship work, this is a must read for both spouses. Chapman hits the "nail on the head" as he uncovers the five languages of love: Quality Time, Words of Affirmation, Gifts, Acts of Service, and Physical Touch

Chapman clearly explains each language in a five chapters. Along the way, he includes experiences from real-life couples. After uncovering each language, Chapman uses the next couple of chapters to help the reader discover his or her own love language as well as the spouse's.

Whether you are newlyweds or have been married for years, this book is highly recommended above any other book on marriage. More than likely, a reader will discover they have misunderstood a mate because they were using the wrong language! I'm seeing my mate in completely different light now. :)

--- reviewed by Ty for Christian Bookshelf