D-A Books

After reading and reviewing Fire Fell From Heaven by E. Don Harpe, I went back and re-read this great story. Redneck Riviera is absolutely as good, or maybe even a bit better, than any of the redneck humor you will find on the market today.

None of the famous comedians have anything in their acts any better than this story, and I'm surprised that at least a few of them haven't read this and commented on it.

Redneck Riviera is a very funny, very well written story, and I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone.

The idea of a redneck from Tennessee meeting an alien that may be even more of a redneck is something that is new and refreshing, and the twist at the end will have you nodding in agreement, while laughing at how ironic it truly is.

REDNECK RIVIERA shot out of the literary sky with an easy, entertainingly simple style, capturing the reader through JorG's disgust with himself for taking a short-cut home, disgust with his spaceship for being a used rattletrap on its last jig.

After chuckling through the read of REDNECK RIVIERA, I would speculate that this series of 4 Amazon Shorts has earned the gorgeous graphics on the square gem covers, each owning its unique squiggly road/path heading up the right side of the design.

The humor popped percolation with:

>> JorG didn't really like the music, but he'd learned to live with it, especially after he had a few glasses of DromBo. To be honest, the naked part wasn't so bad either. That is, after one had grown accustomed to seeing the NayesBul's rather ugly blimp shaped bodies hopping wildly about in all their eight-legged splendor. <<

JorG's unique perspective of Earth caught my interest:

>> JorG had heard that the people of Gurm 12, or Earth, were an ugly and violent race of huge beings, with hairy skin of a great many colors and great white fangs in their mouths. He might overlook those things, he thought, but he'd also heard that the inhabitants had the irrational idea that they were the only intelligent life in the universe. <<

More low-key, dry humor which I lapped up (Burp!):

>> It was anybody's guess as to whether she was talking (on her cell phone) to her insurance company, her attorney, or just someone she had met on line. Trouble was, she was still sitting in her car, apparently not hurt, but unaware that the car was on fire. <<

A little longer than the other 4 Amazon Shorts (by other authors, see my Listmania) I've reviewed so far, this one began to settle in at the point above, magnetizing my interest with the feel of a real story with a solid plot, a "tall tale" setting out beyond a crisp situational quip in a bare story snip.

(Please do not take the above comment as an implication of lack in Shorts of other styles. As I've attempted to describe in my reviews, each Short has a unique, "clear-and-present" appeal. Be sure to take note of the variety of styles in The Amazon Shorts Collection, which include fiction, nonfiction, serials in sequence of longer works, and more.)

More sudden guffaws continued... These weren't just cucumber laughs; they were cut-up-chuckles and go-along-giggles:

>> At that moment Billy Joe's hand slipped off the wire and he went flying through the air, landing some ten feet away from the ship. He slammed into a tree and his Braves' ball cap turned half way round on his head. <<

More crisp colloquialism fun:

>> "...BillyJoeWhitecomeoverhereandtellmewhatthe...isgoinon." Cindy was very close to being hysterical, and the words came out loud, fast, and angry, like bullets from a machine gun on an old late night gangster movie. <<

Enough samples. Click on REDNECK RIVIERA, # 1 in this series. Get a run of 25 pages of the above type of fun.

Me?

I'm headed to click the 49 cent button on TALLADEGA TWOSTEP, # 2 in the series. Gotta see where these guys go (and do) next!

The flashes of sunshine reflecting from JorG's "tin can" space ship are welcome on my face,

Linda G. Shelnutt

Hilarious and well-written is this clever short story by E. Don Harpe. What an incredible imagination and ingenious play on words that keeps readers looking for more and laughing along the way. I thoroughly enjoyed Redneck Riviera and can't wait to see what other adventures JorG and Billy Joe may go on in the future.

A sidesplitting Amazon Short well worth every read twice or thrice. Already a fan of E. Don Harpe's Stubian green and in love with the Southern drawl, I read Redneck Riviera after Talladega Twostep. What a laugh. JorG's experiences in NayesBul and subsequent DromBo episodes were enough to get me going. When lil' green fella crashes into Gurm12, commonly known as Earth, he surprises Billy Joe, who thinks the concussed alien bears ugliness close enough to brother-in-law Jack's. A story unfolds and, with it, an unlikely alliance. Characters are fleshed rather well here and I am tempted to re-read Talladega Twostep just for the heck of it.
Eugen M. Bacon
Author: The Hybrid/ The Firemaker: A Hybrid Story

5/17/06

I grew up reading Stephen King and have quite an appetite for well written, keep you coming back to the book, fiction.

This is one of those reads that will not only interest you but keeps your interest.

Mr. Harpe's work on the Harpe Brothers is also amazing and a great true story of two of the most infamous brothers in our nation's history but a story not told.......................and there is a reason why it is still whispered.

Both pieces are deservedly worth the read.

Angela T. Taylor
Charlotte, NC

As I read Retirement RX, I learned more about my own strengths and weaknesses in creating the retirement adventure I began 2 and a half years ago. The basic research by Drs. Fritz and Jim gives rich, rock solid evidence of how important the 8 traits to a highly successful retirement are andhow they work to create the life we desire. I enjoyed the "test" and felt pleased with scores that make me know I'm headed in the right direction. Having read and enjoyed the book so much, I intend to use it as a reference and guide to keep my priorities where I want them to be. I strongly recommend reading it for those getting ready to retire and those already on the path. I have given copies to friends to help them enjoy a "happy, rest of their lives." Thanks docs, its a winner.

This is a great primer on retirement, though retirement is truly a misnomer as the authors indicate. This period of life is less about leaving a career behind and more about transitioning to a new phase in life. The two Dr's view retirement as a "second career" and should be viewed as the "business of living well". This period of life demands just as much planning, forethought and implementation as your first career. The 8 Traits of Successful Retirement help articulate the process and enables one to develop their own plan for the golden years. The book is realistic and looks at the 4 phases of retirement. As you age and your health and abilities diminish, your attitude needs not when you have a plan and purpose. I really appreciated the emphasis on engaging your spouse in the process and tackling the future as a team. A great book, well researched, insightful anecdotes and helpful in creating a game plan for the 2nd half of life.

Excellent book. Very wise; filled with excellent advice and opportunties to self-assess preparedness for retirement.

Excellent book. One of the few that focus on the non-financial aspects of retirement. Because the authors base their recommendations on the extensive research they have done, it adds to the credibility of their recommendations. This book is a must read for anyone beginning to plan for retirement, who just retired or have already entered retirement. They include a great tool (retirement quiz) that provides a way to monitor how effectively you are adjusting to and enjoying this phase in your life.

I read this book with new thoughts on looking at our retirement objectives. It gave me new ideas on how we could use our time but more important it was very emotionally supportive to enjoying life. It also reduced my fear of facing our older years especially fear of getting ill. THEN- using our strengths to fight illness and possible disabilities.

This is a wonderful Halloween holiday book and my 4 yr old daughter loves it. She even picked out her costume based on this book. The runaway pumpkin rolls though a farm and through a series of events becomes the jack-o-lantern for the holiday dinner table. I really like the family tone to the book as well.

This is a fun, rhythmic, rhyming story about a big pumpkin on the loose. "'Round and 'round across the ground makin' a thumpin' bumpin' sound came that thumpety, bumpety, thumpin' bumpin' round and roll-y RUNAWAY PUMPKIN!"

My two year olds like it for the rhythm and funny pictures. It's a good book to have them practice predicting what might happen next in the story.

I get a kick out of this tasty Halloween treat. The three Baxter children happen upon a huge pumpkin and the boy Baxters promptly try to remove the pumpkin from its perch.

The pumpkin rolls down a hill and right through town.

Round and 'round across the ground
Makin a thumpin' bumpin' sound
Came that thumpety bumpety thumpin' bumpin'
Round and Rolly Runaway Pumpkin

The pumpkin knocks over Momma Baxter and Grandpa Baxter. It is just about to mow down Poppa Baxter when Dad comes up with an idea to make a pumpkin bed and cleverly catches the pumpkin.

Throughout the story, each Baxter family member has designs on things they would like to do or make with a pumpkin (pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, pumpkin soup). In the end, Grandma Baxter makes all of the family members favorite pumpkin recipe and the centerpiece contains the rest of the huge pumpkin, nicely carved into a jack-o-lantern.

We purchased this book a couple of year ago in paperback. I drag it out every October and read it to my girls. It has been a much loved book, so much that we are replacing the well used paperback with a hardcover and ordered an additional one for our friends two little girls. We hope they enjoy this book as much as we have. We are looking forward to another "thumpin, bumpin" October.

I have an infant son that is now 11 months old and we read to him every day. This is the only book of his that I don't get tired of reading. It has a great flow, wonderful illustrations and he smiles every time we get to the tongue twister "chorus" of the book. I will definitely buy more of this author's books!

If you lost a loved one in Vietnam then you'll understand the poingnancy, intimacy, loss, and anguish of the writers of these letters found throughout the book. It brings out the grim and stark realization that behind every name on the Wall is a story as told by the families who suffered a loss. The most important thing though is the book is about remembering those men and women who served and paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Buy this book and change your outlook on Nam forever. If you ever valued the boy next door, your son , or daughter you will want this book as a bed side companion to re-read again and again. Each story is a man lost, a mother in pain, a comrade who mourns . It paints the picture that we will be reliving for the men of Afganistan/Irag times. The book will be relevent for time immortal. At,6'3 and 320 lbs of old warrior ,
this book took me back and immersed me into the turbulent past times of my life. To damn up my tears , it would have been like holding back a hurricane because of the imagery in this book . This book is well worth the price. I bought it and will continue to buy it again and again until all those I know have a copy. America should emerse itself in the books wisdom about ours soldiers and society. We need to learn to drop the idea that all we are told is the truth and scrutinize our leaders more closely. Thanks Ms Palmer for this great and timely book of truth. Herb, I knew you at Lackland, I hope you have found peace.

Do I dare to give this book a less-than-glowing review? I am inclined to do so not because of the power and dignity of the people and the stories in the book--those speak for themselves. It was Palmer (the author) that bothered me. As I was reading the book, I could not help but feel that she was trying to manipulate me, tugging at heartstrings that needed no tug to be moved by these heartfelt stories. I felt a bit patronized by her. A good book (or movie, or whatever), if it moves me, should not make me feel the push; this one did, and it left me feeling the way people usually feel when they were pushed in a direction that they would have gone anyway--irritated.

Shrapnel In the Heart is a book to be read by everyone no matter what generation they were born in. Shrapnel In The Heart is a book that has letters and rememberances left behind at the Vietnam War Memorial. Some of the letters tell the story about the people behind the letter. The stories are sad, but the courage of the men and women is a true inspiration. The people written about in this book were extrememly young (18, 19, 20) and it seems like they died in vain. But through their letters that were left behind it is easy to see that these young men knew their duty and refused to shirk from it. These men and women are true heroes.

I read this book for a college history course and until now have thought very little about war, military, or world politics. Young people today rarely understand or realize what goes with becoming a soldier. This book gives real images of the devastation war brings from the people who lived through the tragedy of losing their loved ones. It opens our eyes to things we just shouldn't close our eyes on.

The author of this novel, P.D. Ouspensky, was a follower of G.I. Gurdjieff, whose teachings are still upheld by several New Religious Movements. Some believe that the Gurdjieff groups are actually cults. Strictly speaking, Ouspensky's book isn't a "real" novel, but a veiled recruitment pitch to join Gurdjieff and become one of his followers. Indeed, one of the characters of the novel, The Magician, symbolizes Gurdjieff himself.

"Strange Life of Ivan Osokin" revolves around the curious fate of a maladapted, bohemian intellectual, named Ivan Osokin. The plot is set in Russia around the year 1900. Osokin is 26 years old, and belatedly realizes that he has screwed up his entire life by making all the wrong choices. A practical joke got him expelled from high school, his love affairs always led him into trouble, he has been arrested and sent to Central Asia as a common soldier, and in Paris he squandered all his money on gambling. Osokin pleads with The Magician to send him back in time, so he can set things right. The Magician does so, and even lets Osokin keep all his memories of the future, as he is mysteriously transported back in time. Despite his best efforts, however, Osokin repeats the same stupid mistakes all over again, despite knowing all their bad consequences!

Ouspensky was fascinated by Nietzsche's idea of the "eternal return", and blended this with Eastern conceptions of the wheel of reincarnation in which humans are trapped. But why are we trapped in this way? An interesting point made by the novel is that our entrapment isn't really fated, but voluntary. When Osokin is transported back in time, he suddenly realizes *why* he made his stupid mistakes. Mostly, it was out of sheer boredom with life. When this boredom comes back to him, he simply re-enacts the same pranks and love affairs all over again. He chooses his miserable future out of free will. Or almost free will, since Osokin is incapable of really changing his underlying psychological make-up, the ultimate source of all the bad choices.

At the end, The Magician informs him of the solution. Osokin must give 20 years of his life to the guru, and voluntarily sacrifice something he holds dear. Only by sacrifices can humans reach enlightenment and break free from the wheel. And no, success isn't guaranteed. Nor is there necessarily a new chance in a future life, since Gurdjieff apparently believed that humans eventually stop reincarnating, and quite simply disappear. What sacrifices the enlightenment really entails is never spelled out. The point of the book is clearly to wet the readers appetite, and make him interested in "The Work" or "The Fourth Way" as Gurdjieff's philosophy was called by his followers. Judging by the practice of Gurdjieff groups, the path to this elusive enlightenment is a weird combination of menial work tasks, meditative dancing, and philosophical lectures based on Gurdjieff's and Ouspensky's books!

That would be a strange life indeed.

Not really recommended.

Over the years, I've recommended this book to my friends at least twenty times, and I have for sure recommended it to every psychologist, or anyone in any sort of therapy, that I have known. I read it when I was in college, doing the usual recreational drugs, and reading widely. This book amazed and dumbfounded me, probably more than any other book. The author possesses what seemed to me to be a rare quality (conceited and/or foolish as I am), and that is, he knows more about human nature, and the way the world works, than I do, and he can write about it.

The form of the book is a novel; the protagonist is beset by difficulties that he feels somehow responsible for, but, that he cannot understand. Like all of us? As the story unfolds, we see that this novel is unlike any other, as it examines the protagonist's role in the minutest details of events, and shows how these events contribute to the inevitablity of what seem on the surface to be chance or uncontollable outcomes.

One lesson I drew from the book is to try to 'look deeply' at things. There is the reality that our concious mind registers and that changes moment to moment, and there are currents of meaning that are constant and don't change, but that are not recognized for what they are and are not acknowledged by our concious mind. However, our unconcious mind is fully aware of these currents, and their reality is more substantial than the concious reality. Does that make any sense? Probably not. Be assured that 'Osokin' is an interesting tale, not pyschobabble like my attempted explication.

Ouspensky was a follower of Gurjeiff, and there are still Gurjeiff groups that meet to discuss his thoughts. My last boss at a tech firm was a leader of such a group! I found out from him that Gurjeiff-ans think that the movie "Groundhog Day" with Bill Murray is in the spirit of "Osokin". I agree. The setups are the same, a day, or a life, to live over, however, what follows is entirely different.

If you like Kundera, have a fondness for Nietzsche, enjoyed the Bill Murray movie "Groundhog's Day," or sit there mulling over the towering pronouncement from Rilke's "Archaic Torso of Apollo," : 'You must change your life!' then this is the book for you. Even if none of the above apply to you, just take a chance on this slim novel. While I wouldn't recommend the entire mystical theosophist movement that propelled Ouspensky, this work will never quite leave you -- my criterion for a work of great art.

From a music student to a student of Hermetic Science - this book changed my whole life, and way of thinking.

Ouspensky manages to combine real human feeling and longings with fantasy and dreams.

Enjoy!

You seldom come across books which can significantly change your way of thinking or maybe your life for good. This is definitely one such book. I accidently came upon it when I was searching for one of Colin Wilson's books and came upon Strange Life of P.D. Ouspensky which in turn led to this book.

The protagonist, Ivan Osokin, is someone with whom most of us can empathize with. He's someone who would like another chance to live his life again so that he can make use of opportunities he wasted. He is blessed when he finds a magician who can exactly do this - send him back in time with the memories of the "future". He finds himself being a schoolboy again and at a critical path of his life. The strange thing being - now its difficult for him to believe any of it. His memory of "future" starts fading slowly and he finds that the inertia of fate is not easy to get rid of. He's taking the same decisions that he took the last time. His "memory" reduces to a plain deja vu and he's left wondering whether any of it was really true.

Giving away more will destroy the pleasure of reading.

Ouspensky's insights will leave you spellbound till the end. I just wish I had read it a few years earlier.

There is no other way to describe this book. It will leave you wanting more. From the very first chapter you get a sense of Ms. Turner's creative genius. As a Senior Executive I can tell you I have used some of these idea's myself. Don't re-create the world, use what has already been successful. I recomend this book to anyone who wants to Wow their customers and thier employees.

I was initially intrigued to read Tattoo by Rebecca Turner for its cover. As I turned the pages of this well written book, I was pleasantly surprised of an old idea but new way of looking at customer service. I quickly began to think of ways on how to implement some of Tattoo's ideas.

Similar to how Tattoo tells of providing great customer service that they not only tell their friends, but they insist that they try your product or patronize your establishment; I immediately demanded my friends and colleagues to read Tattoo...

It has been over a year since I first picked up Tattoo, and I have found myself on numerous occasions' re-reading some of the highlights and notes that I left on the note pages provided.

Looking forward for Turner's next book.

Tattoo is a quick weekend read and well worth your time. Turner takes us on a deep dive into what inspires a customer/client to recommend your product/service.

Prior to reading this book I had not considered writing a formal customer service policy or a credo that formalizes how I feel about my clients but I now see that these things matter. They matter because how you treat your clients matters every bit as much as the product/service you offer.

Finally, if you are a quote junkie like me you'll REALLY enjoy this book - she has found some ringers that will make your heart soar, for example: "Try not to become a person of success but rather a person of value." Albert Einstein. Awesome!

If you're looking for a book that simplifies the mystique of branding and how to use it to achieve success, read Tattoo. Turner explores success stories from the likes of Starbucks to local retailers and how they achieve loyalty for their customer dollars. Easy to ready and chock full of useful information. You'll want to keep it handy!

As an advocate for customer service and author, I have found Rebecca's insights to be right on the money!

Her thoughts especially those involving the imporance of having a "story" for companies, make the difference between success and failure.

Great work and must read!

We've all had our forehead-slapping moments when we come up with the perfect comeback, the wittiest repartee or the sharpest retort way too long after the moment to matter anymore. Unfortunately, we don't usually have the opportunity to go back and right the wrongs, but if you were by chance a newspaper columnist, you could certainly reflect on your earlier pearls of wisdom, reinforcing or shredding as the need arose.

Telling it like it was, Michele VanOrt Cozzens reflects on a series of her articles, published back in the days when she was the PG-13 Carrie Bradshaw of Oakland.

If you are fortunate enough to have read "I'm Living Your Dream Life", you're already on the inside track for this book, which touches on a range of topics, from home, family and friends through pets, Elvis, telemarketing, home improvement, beauty pageants, boxing, disc golf, and the Grateful Dead, among others.

Running the gamut of emotions, the stories are about real life, and will touch chords of recognition in every reader. Funny, poignant, reflective or sad, it takes you deep down into the soul of the author, and will alternately touch your heart and your funny bone.

Amanda Richards, July 13, 2005

The Things I Wish I'd Said is another winner with me. I could see these stories unfold either because of the imagery that Michele provided or in some cases reflections of my own past experiences. This books makes you think of the good and bad in the world in which we live. I recommend this book to any reader. I also want to thank Michele for another wonderful book.

The Things I Wish I'd Said was an enjoyable, insightful read. The perfect book for the bedside table. Each chapter revisited a theme ten years later. Perspectives change with age. Michele's refreshing candor covered the gamut.

I absolutely loved this collection of stories. It hit home on many levels. The author writes about bad haircuts (Just an Inch off the bottom) and baby showers (Baby Showers on the Brain) and had me laughing out loud. Then she turned a corner and wrote about the loss of her pet (Woman's Best Friend) and then the tragic loss of her niece (Playing God and Losing) and an amazingly poignant story about the death of her mother called The Summer of Old. Easy to read and very relatable.

I enjoyed Michele's direct perspective in her original articles and seeing how years later, she adds a personal view on the things she wishes that she said. This book brings the reader into the mind of a young journalist who has now a seasoned career. Offering personal glimpses into the life of the author with sincerity and emotion. I cried at the loss of her mother and I laughed at her witty portrayel of a simple haircut. I encourage others to read this book and the other novels written by Michele Cozzens, she entertains with style!

The final installment of Proust's grand `a la recherche du temps perdu' is a masterful and eloquent meditation on art, on the loss of love, and on the complex and enigmatic quality of experiencing relationships over the course of a lifetime. This is the period, the final breath of literary genius from the great Marcel Proust, who devoted his life to this great novel.

In `Time Regained,' the reader is permitted an extraordinary prolegomena on the writer's craft, a self-reflexive exposition of the literary form that prefigures post-modernity and the works of Brecht, Breton, Beckett, and all the rest of them. Proust creates a work that is more exacting, more precise and perspicacious than any work of aesthetic philosophy in the western tradition. He discloses that the art of writing is, in its essence, an act or translation.The artistic content is already contained within the mind and soul of the artist and the act of writing is an act of transporting the content to form.

This is a novel about time, and it requires time to read. In this way, Proust the reader develops a relationship with the work within the register of a temporal horizon, which mirrors the register of temporality internal to the characters and unfolding of the fictional universe that Proust has created. It is a joy to read.

Also included in this volume is Kilmartin's guide to Proust, a summation of all the central characters, events, and allusions in a la recherché for readers who (inevitably) get lost in Proust's complex literary web.

A brilliant closing volume to the novel. It brings back the lyricism of the first two volumes. I thought in the volumes in between some of that earlier lyricism was sacrificed to the bitchiness of Proust's tone toward the aristocracy he was doubtless jealous of, and his askew view of love that stemmed from his obvious anxieties about having been homosexual. But the early lyrcism and charm of the first two volumes is largely revived in this final volume. And anyone interested in writing, as anyone who makes it to this final volume doubtless is, Proust's passages on the art of writing make rewarding reading.
The obvious flaws are that some characters who'd earlier "died" show up alive in this volume. Couples who had numerous children in earlier volumes show up in this volume having only one child; Marcel (the narrator) recognizes people and then subsequently, in the same scene, doesn't recognize them. I have NOOO idea why some editor didn't knock out these discrepancies and tighten the text. It really seems silly to me to be SOOO faithful to Proust's final manuscript as to include glaring errors. Proust was rewriting when he died. If he'd lived he would have corrected these errors and I think his intention should have been honored. But I'm still giving it five stars, since overall the experience of reading this last volume is of reading something truly brilliant.

Perhaps the most exciting publishing event of the century so far is the new translation of "In Search of Lost Time," as it is now (and more accurately) called. Finding the last two volumes is a bit of a chore, but search for ISBN 0141180366 or "Prendergast Proust" or "Ian Patterson" on Amazon. I haven't read it, but I am impressed enough by the first two volumes in this new translations that I have ordered the final two from England, where they are available in hardcover. Viking has not yet published them in the U.S. (and may not, in my lifetime) but Amazon sells the paperbacks of the British Penguin edition. They are somewhat misleadingly titled "In Search of Lost Time," which is the series title. This volume is actually titled "Finding Time Again," and the translator is Ian Patterson. (Each book has its own translator, for a total of seven. Vol. 5 contains two books and features two translators.)

I give this Modern Library edition only four stars because I am convinced that the new translation is superior. Indeed, it's not entirely clear to me who the translator is, in this case; evidently not Fred Blossom, who did the original English translation when Scott-Montcrief died before finishing the work.

The melancholy atmosphere that pervaded the close of The Fugitive is carried over into this final part of Proust's huge work. Whereas, in the preceding part, Marcel laments the loss of Albertine and his changed relationship with his long time friend, Saint Loup, the author's concerns are now much greater. France is in the midst of World War I, Paris experiencing night time air raids; and the distinction between the Guermantes' Way and Swann's Way has become even more blurred as both Gilberte, the daughter of a courtesan, and Mme. Verdurin, the insufferable salon hostess, have become members of the mystic Guermantes family. Furthermore, Saint Loup is killed in action and Marcel's hometown is occupied by the Germans. But in spite of the gravity of the events surrounding him, Marcel becomes even more self-absorbed. He still holds onto his drean of becoming a writer, but this desire begins to wane as he becomes convinced that he has neither the temperament, the knowledge nor the fortitude to follow a literary career. Then the pivotal event of the whole novel takes place: he is invited to a matinee at the new home of the Prince de Guermantes.

While waiting in an anteroom for admission to the Guermantes' reception, the author is beset by a series of sensory experiences that bring back several happy memories from his past. These recollections, both powerful and joyous, convince him that he has the ability to undertake a literary career, to be able to communicate those ecstatic moments from the past to readers of the present day. His melancholy lifted, he enters the reception to discover that his recent epiphany is only bolstered by what he finds. All around him are the decaying remnants of a fast fading aristocracy. Many of the characters that have been introduced to the reader throughout the course of the novel are met again, but now in the final years of their lives: the proud Charlus, now an obsequious old man; the Duc de Guermantes, described as a "magnificent ruin"; Gilberte, now confused with her aging mother; even Marcel becomes aware that he, too, is quickly getting old. But now seeing things with an artist's eye, Marcel becomes aware that each of these characters, as well as all those people remembered from his life, are "like giants plunged into the years, [touching] the distant epochs through which they have lived, between which so many days have come to range themeselves - in Time." Marcel's goal is clear. He will spend the rest of his life carefully bringing these giants back to life. In other words, he is ready to embark on the huge task of writing the book that the reader has just finished reading.

This part of the novel was published five years after the author's death and suffers from a lack of editing. There are many ellipses, contradictions, and time and place juxtapostion mistakes, errors that Proust would surely have tidied up if he had lived to see his work published in full. But these are paltry criticisms wthen compared to the brilliance of the total work. Unfortunately, Proust is little read these days, and many of those who attempt to read the novel are motivated by the challenge of a literary marathon more than from an awareness of the intrinsic value of the work (as I was). But regardless of the motivation, the effort (and it is an effort) is totally rewarding as the reader sees in Proust's world reflections of his own. It took me a part of seven years to read the complete novel, a period of time in which Proust's search for lost time and my own reminiscences often became linked together as the author's characters shared my own thoughts regarding things past, the specious present, and the eventual fate that awaits us all.

Kilmartin's A Guide to Proust, which is included in this volume is well worth the price of the book by itself. The guide consists of four distinct inexes to Proust's novel: characters, historical persons, places and themes. The scholarship that went into compliling these indexes is outstanding and makes it possible for the reader to spend several years (if he so wishes) in working his way through the novel without losing track of the hundreds of characters and personages included therein. One reviewer remarked, "buy this volume first"; I would only modify this advice by suggesting that the prospective reader get this volume when he purchases Swann's Way.

"Time Regained" is a dark ending to the "In Search of Lost Time" cycle, as Proust, sickly like his fictional narrator, unknowingly nears the end of his own life but senses its imminence. France, like the most of the rest of the world, is now a very different place. The Dreyfus affair is receding into the past under the shadow of the new war that has descended upon Europe, with Germany having ravaged Belgium and threatening to destroy London and Paris.

Many of the people with whom Marcel has associated throughout his life and whom we came to know so intimately through the pages of his chronicle are now dead, whether by disease, accident, old age, or the war. Those among the living include the Baron de Charlus, who sympathizes with the Germans and frequents a hotel that serves as a male brothel; Bloch, who has de-Judaicized his name and has assumed an English chic; and Odette and her daughter Gilberte, the latter now herself a mother, who have not so gracefully weathered the effects of aging.

Marcel himself is now an adult of at least middle age, and, as far as he is concerned, still no closer to achieving his goal of becoming a writer as he was in his youth. He has, however, started writing articles and comes to realize, as he reflects on the course of his life, that the intricate web of contacts he has made can serve as grist for his literary mill, should he decide in his waning days to take up a pen and make some contribution to letters. And, of course, over the past four thousand pages that is exactly what his author has done. Marcel muses on Time (capitalization intended), memory, and dreams as necessary elements in the creation of art, a product of so much personal pain and suffering that death can seem like a welcome reprieve.

Judging the novel as a whole now that I've finished all six volumes, I affirm that there is nothing like it, or even close to it, in literature; like "Moby Dick" or "Don Quixote" it resides in its own impenetrable legendary world of oneness. In my review of "Swann's Way," I compared Proust to Henry James, but I see now that I was way off the mark. James writes like he's throwing his weight around, imperiously demanding intellectual respect and forcing his reader into submission with his intentionally inscrutable compositions; Proust's prose, conversely, calmly and warmly invites the reader into Marcel's society and caresses him with the most delicate sensations and deepest emotions. Proust is closer to Henry Adams than he is to Henry James, but even this attempted juxtaposition is buffered by a wide margin.

Proust's style is so ornate that it is the most difficult of any writer's to describe, yet paradoxically there is nothing affected about it; he is quite possibly the most unpretentious writer in literature. He never tries to impress the reader with his erudition, even though he evidently has much, or make himself out to be something he's not; one gets the sense that what he writes is exactly what and how he thinks, as incredible as that seems. He uses humor without trying to be a comedian, sorrow without trying to be a tragedian. He is employing language simply to illustrate life and the world, and I think language has no higher calling than that.

Fantastic story. Morris Gleitzman uses wonderful humour that appeals to students and teachers! An amazing read-aloud that includes spectacular vocabulary!

I read this book as a precursor to sending it to my 8 year old granddaughter and I got a huge kick out of it. I'd heard about it from a friend in Australia, who said her son read the entire series (this is the first) and regularly fell off his bed laughing at this story which gives a voice to that much despised critter, the Cane Toad. As the toad tells us, they didn't ask to be imported into Australia!

Kids 8-12, I think, would naturally enjoy this book, but they need to be a tad tough-minded. The Toad of the title is a spunky and sympathetic character, who remains optimistic about finding good in the world, despite the fact that every driver he meets goes out of his way to attempt to squash him. He's on a quest to get humans to be nicer to his kind, a scaley Don Quixote, a creature of strong convictions and high ideals. It's an exciting road trip across Australia for the plucky little guy, and you will root for him and laugh all the way. BTW a glossary of Aussie words will assist US readers and add to the fun of exploring the exciting world of Down Under.

This book is great! So are the other two. My 8 year old read all three in four days - I couldn't pry them out of his hands. Everybody will love Limpy's adventures - he's humanized without being cheesey. Morris Gleitzman is our new favorite author.

this book was very exciteing because it was all about toads not people. if you like toads you will love this book. if you liked toad heaven you will like toad rage. there are also crickets and rats and sloths and many more animals. I liked when george and bob were hanging on the back of a truck and they jumped off and they coudnt breath but they just got the wind knocked out of them. that shows excitement and suspense.I liked this book because of the adventure excitement and suspense.

Toad Rage by Morris Gleitzman
"It's too dangerous, stay here," says Limmpy a Cane toad with a bad leg as he sets out on an adventure to answer his life long question," Why do humans hate us?" Limmpy's leg is bad because it got run over by a truck when he was little and if he runs too fast he goes around in circles.
Toad Rage will take you on an adventure with Limmpy, Goliath, and Charm. It's a good book for all ages and is funny and informational. Charm, Limmpy's younger sister, is sweet and somewhat stubborn. Limmpy's cousin Goliath is big but very stubborn. This book will keep you hooked 'til the very end.
Reading this book will teach you that life isn't always fair, that some things just can't be changed, and above all don't judge a book, human, or animal by its cover.
December, 19, 2006, 12/19/06

D'Maria Scaglione's "A Unique Bunny" is one of Publish America's books of the week. This honor came to her for the week of June 9, 2008. She is humbled and blessed by this Unique Surprise! Thank you to all that has made it happen!

"A Unique Bunny" is the story of a "disabled" bunny named "Beautiful Dreamer" and her journey through the forest - a journey that led her to realize just how special, talented, & loved she really is.

Through this story children (as well as adults) are reminded of the importance of love, friendship, kindness, & forgiveness. We are also reminded that one person really can bring about huge differences in the way their family & society operates. And, because these "big" issues are woven througout the story, it makes it easier for children to comprehend how love, friendship, kindness, & forgiveness interplay with each other in "real life" & how what each person thinks, does, & says impacts the people around them.

I loved this book very much, I really enjoyed reading and waiting to find out what was going to happen next.
Now I am looking for her other two books. This is a Fantastic Author

Review A Unique Bunny by D'Maria Scaglione, PublishAmerica 2005,
ISBN 1-4137-9530-7

D'Maria Scaglione, spins a wonderful tale of courage and kindness when dealing with perceived disabilities and personal differences in her first book, A Unique Bunny. Beautiful Dreamer is the youngest and smallest kit in a large bunny family who not only looks different, but also is different from her siblings. This difference causes more than a little consternation amongst her brothers and sisters, and finally in a willful act of wickedness and spite, Rizzo the oldest brother actually leads poor Beautiful Dreamer far away and abandons her to the dangers of the forest. But for our poor scared little bunny, this is when everything good starts to happen.
Scaglione weaves this yarn in a simple and direct tone much as a grandmother might when telling a story to small loved ones. There are a variety of delightful characters that all are a little different and special in their own unique ways, and the author makes very distinct delineations between right and wrong with very strong moral messages of how one should act and behave.
Despite her feelings of helplessness and hopelessness, Beauty, as our eventual heroine is commonly called, not only learns to stand up and care for herself, but she learns to stand up and care for others as well, all the while struggling to understand and forgive those who are not kind and caring to her. The message is clear, although perhaps a little predictable for those old enough to jump ahead to the conclusion, but for young children there is plenty of drama, excitement and humor to make this all too short little tale a much-loved security blanket.
A Unique Bunny is a charming reminder that we all are a little different and yet, we all are lovable and deserve to be loved. Even when we must face adversity, it's always easier if there are friends and family to support us, and sometimes we just might discover we are capable of far more than we ever dreamed possible. D'Maria Scaglione's A Unique Bunny is a warm hug and a soft comforter for anyone who may be feeling unworthy and unloved. Reviewed by R. deVoll Fisher, author of Caleb's Branch: An Incomplete Tale Of Unfinished Lives for Cheers E-zine

This author has a good touch for what it is like to have abilities ignored because of wrong perceptions. She expresses that in a form that people of all ages and abilities can understand.

If you have disabled people in your family, or just want to read a book written by someone who was not accepted as a "whole person" for whatever reasons, buy this book.