Flag

"A Heart Divided" is by far the best book I've read all year. With a rare combination of a loveable protagonist, gripping story, enthralling and satisfying young romance and hard-hitting social and moral lessons to be learned, I give this book the highest recommendation possible. I read it all in one sitting, barely even stopping to eat, because it's such a page-turner! The love story is soooo perfect and will melt your heart, while the social issues presented in the book will really make you think. I had "A Heart Divided" on my mind well after finishing the book. If there's one book you have to read this year, it's this one.

When a liberal girl from the north moves to a small town in the south, she falls in love with a wealthy southern boy and becomes embroiled in a Confederate flag controversy at her school. I read this amazing novel when the daughter of a friend gushed about it to me, and it truly is an amazing book. The ease of the read could fool a reader into thinking that the work is less weighty than it actually is. The authors have managed to tackle the sensitive and incendiary issue of the Confederate flag in a fresh and thought-provoking way. That they teen characters, black and white, are actually able to come up with a solution for their school, and that the solution is one that could actually be modeled in real life, is nothing short of genius. The novel also contains a play based on both real and fictitious interviews about the Confederate flag in the style of Anna Devere Smith, and the play is included in the back of the novel (and I noticed it's available for classroom use! -- as a former teacher this delights me!). Girls might initially read this for the romance, but the life lessons will linger with them long after the love plot fades. A must read for all Americans, of all ages.

A Heart Divided is a deceptively readable story about a teen girl playwright from New York City who moves to Tennessee, falls into a passionate teen love affair with a guy from the South, and gets embroiled in a controversy over the Confederate battle flag. So does her boyfriend, who comes from a family and a family history so different from the girl as to be practically from another world. This is the kind of book where you don't even realize the pages flying by as you read it, so accessible is the language and likeable is the girl narrator. The great love story gives it a forward thrust that rockets you right along as you read it. But make no mistake, A Heart Divided is no piece of teen fluff. These are real teens and real families dealing with some of the more heartbreaking parts of our history -- the Civil War, slavery, and the Civil Rights Movement. Teens will come away from this well-balanced novel with a far greater understanding of these difficult issues than when they started. And they'll have an excellent time time getting there, too. This should be an excellent book for librarians to recommend to teen readers of all academic levels. The easy style should make it good for kids who don't normally like to read, but the powerful political and romantic currents should sweep up even the most sophisticated teen reader.

It was very exciting. Once I got started I couldn't put it down. I have started reading all of the Star Fleet Academy Star Trek The Next Generation books. This is a must for any Star Trek fan.

I am now 13 years old, and I still read this book (even though most of the time I read novels). It is an excellent book that any young Trekkie should have in his/her collection. Read it. You'll like it. :-)

This book is very appropriate for the stated reading level. It is very beautifully written and is most probably the best of the series. I enjoyed the intricate use of various phrases and how the plot slowly developed to allow the protagonists to overcome any difficulties that they faced. If you read this book, I would suggest other books by the same author. The style persists.

I thought this an informative book for those interested in the rigging, sailing, and construction of ships during the Revolutionary War. The characters are well founded and the historical feel is good, but there was not much in the way of action. The whole book leads up to a court marshal at the end, but it was very short. Still well worth reading and I will certainly read the rest of the books in the series.

It is very interesting and realistic historical fiction. If you're a fan of Rafael Sabatini's "The Odyssey of Captain Blood", "Sword of Islam" or any other books of the kind, you will love this one. The story takes place in the 1770's, during the Independence War. A British navy leutenant is accused of treason and is a fugitive. Together with fellow fugitives he takes a hold of a snow and escorts cargo ship to the Colonies. The story is full of adventures and of naval lingo, which is plentiful enough to satisfy the fans, but not overwhelming, so it does not confuse the reader who is unfamiliar with it. The book is the 3rd in a series and has references to the prequels, but they aren't overwhelming so it is very well readable as a stand-alone. The story ends with a court martial, which is not very long, but is very informative... Add some humor to the great storyline and what comes out is an incredible book that is almost impossible to put down!

I want more! I predict a long and profitable writing career for Dan Parkinson. He has the gift of the gab, coupled with a keen sense of humor, and a marvelous manner in twisting a plot. Lots of fun. Keep it up!

Ha Jin excels in writing vignettes that are simply refreshing to the non-Chinese reader. There are, however, better choices. I recommend the other collections like Ocean of Words and Bridegroom, which are more original and better written. Skip his novels, they tend to drag with unnecessary descriptions.

I like to leave this lovely book in our bathroom at home, so when Arsenal are playing at home, my girlfriend has something to read. If you've got a wet paint warning, our your house has been left devestated by a jam raid, or maybe tuna town is inaccessbile by skin boat, or the Beetle is up on blocks, this is the book for you and yours. Thoroughly satisflying.

Some of these stories were very disturbing. The writing and structure of the stories is superb, however. Ha Jin creates great tension and excitement. A series of quick, intense stories that left me pondering. Can't wait to read In the Pond and Waiting.

I was kind of disappointed after reading this book...First of all I dont know why this book was connected with the South Bronx...the stuff in the book could've happened an any urban community/ghetto...and his writing style made it hard for me to get into a reading groove. it was a pretty quick read, 1 or 2 sittings, but I found myself getting bored so many times. Sometimes Rodriguez spent so much time describing the area that you never really get a chance to connect with the character. The best stories, I think, were Shortstop and the Lotto...Overall its a good read if you aren't easily distracted

The sordid lives of children growing up too fast in a wasteland.
There is no regeneration or hope of escape available to these kids hardened by the necessity of defending themselves in the ghetto. No parents guide and comfort these children as they introduce each other to sex without love, violence and drugs. In these short stories of growing up in the South Bronx Rodriguez pinpoints the casualties of the worst ghettos. And he does it with a style and voice that transport the reader into these children's lives. After this sojourn the reader will emerge shocked, angry and with a new sympathy for the so-called "at-risk" youth of urban life.

Southern' Runnin' , a name that wouldn't normally get me intrested in a book. From the time I started reading this book to the time I put it down I was captivated by it's amazing themes and settings. This book was constant in it's ability to keep you wanting to know what's coming next. It revealed all information gradually, which kept me and the friends I let borrow it, not able to put it down. Southern' Runnin' gave me an interesting insight to the world of monshine liquor running, and the armed forces. Both of theses things were wrapped up into the plot to make this truly a memorable book. I can't wait for the sequel in this Checkered Flag series.

Southern Runnin' is an excellent book. I would reccamend this book to any-one interested in Cars and Car Racing. It is about truth, trust, and loyalty. It shows that sometimes no matter how hard or bad things get to hold trough. It also shows that what goes around, comes around. I highley reccamend this book.

Eyewitness Handbooks: Flags is an excellent, up-to-date book on the flags of the world. This is actually an updated version of DK Publishers Ultimate Pocket Flags of the World, in a larger page format. The new book matches, page for page, the same text, including the introductory pages and the index. The only changes are the updates: Bosnia & Hercegovina, and the ASEAN flags. There were a few word omissions from the first book that were included in the newer book. The shortcoming of both books are the flags of nations with coats of arms on the state flag. The civilian flags were shown, and several times, the coat of arms only described, never shown. For example, Spain's coat of arms, as intricate as it is, was only described. DK's interest in keeping to one page per flag/country hampered a complete display and description of flags like these. However, the book is worth having for those who appreciate the flags of the world.

While the detailed and thorough content of this book certainly serves as an educational tool for older children and adults, it should not be overlooked for younger children as well. My two-year-old daughter (who is fascinated by flags) was mesmerized by the bright colors and intricate details. We sat for some time flipping through the pages, naming each country and discussing the shapes and colors of the flags. I can see it becoming a wonderful reference book for her as she ages. Not only does it provide country flags, but it also includes state/province flags as well. Like other DK books we've purchased, I found this one to be well worth the money and would recommend it for any age.

I had a real intense read of this book after getting it (thanks to a heads-up from the North American Vexillological Association). There were a couple of small errors I noticed (fault of the illustrator) and a few omissions involving the flag histories of some of the state flags. But despite this, it is pleasing to see that the author has succeeded in putting out a book that endeavours to put the descriptions and histories of the state flags into a format that is easy to follow and enjoyable to read. The few descriptive omissions that I detected are not major ones and his detailed explanation of the new Georgia State flag aptly illustrates the debate between flag simplicity advocates and advocates of political flag symbolism. It is a good book overall.

Randy Howe has written an extremely interesting and compelling book about the flags of the 50 states. It's a great history lesson about the United States and filled with facts that will interest even the most casual history buffs.I couldn't put it down.

This informational book has lots of great photographs of giraffes - eating, running, drinking, and more. The text is easy to read, yet comprehensive. You'll enjoy the baby giraffes and the friendly herds. A giraffe lover's delight!

"By the time a baby giraffe reaches maturity, he stands over fifteen feet tall and has a neck more than six feet long. That's big. Here's your chance to learn about these gentle giants of the African plains and to get to know a particular giraffe - named Easter. With forty full-color photographs."

This book is part of trilogy - Pig Earth, In Europa, Lilac and Flag - depicting the erosion of traditional peasant culture and the incorporation of the children of the peasantry into modern urban life. Taken together, these books comprise a kind of fictionalized sociology of modernization. Each of these books describes a different aspect of this process. The first book, Pig Earth, describes the traditional life of poor French peasants from the Savoy region. Pig Earth is a series of stories and poems showing the seasonal routine of labor, the close relationship of other aspects of peasant life to seasonal labors, and relatively closed nature of these communities. The latter is shown to have both positive and negative aspects, a combination of social solidarity and insularity. The second book, In Europa, is a series of stories showing the penetration of modern industrial civilization into the life of the peasantry and recounts some of the costs, and benefits, of this process. The last book, Lilac and Flag, is set in a mythical city, called Troy, which has aspects of many modern cities. Lilac and Flag describes the life of a young couple, the descendents of poor peasants, who now live a marginal existence in the metropolis of Troy. Overall, this is a successful set of books. Berger is a very talented writer and this set of books gives a vivid sense of the important transition from peasant life on the land to modern industrial civilization. Berger's attempt to depict this important social process is really admirable. The books do vary somewhat in quality. In Europa is probably the best, containing a number of powerful stories, with Pig Earth coming a close second. Lilac and Flag is probably the least effective. The style, presumably a correlate of the urban setting, is distinctly different and the plot has surreal elements. I suspect that Lilac and Flag will strike many readers as relatively familiar and conventional where the contents of Pig Earth and In Europa are relatively novel. If I were to read just one of these books, I would pick In Europa.

It is important to realize that Berger is describing the tail of a process with roots in the Renaissance and that accelerated tremendously in the 19th century. The traditional life described in Pig Earth is actually a life that has been greatly affected by industrial civilization. Many men in the community described by Berger participate in seasonal labor in large cities, there is compulsory primary education, and the local church has a strong influence. Other aspects of the modern world intrude themselves. These include military service, railroads and it is likely that farm products are produced for an international market. In the early or even mid-19th century, a community like this would have been completely geographically isolated, illiterate, and probably would speak a language distinct from French. There are some other fine books devoted to this topic. Eugen Weber's excellent Peasants into Frenchman is a very interesting and readable social history of the impact of the modern world on the French peasantry. A detailed view of French peasant life can be found in Pierre Helias The Horse of Pride, a combined ethnography and memoir about a Breton peasant community written by a scholar who was the son of Breton peasants.

The, "Into Their Labours" trilogy is among the most extraordinary work I have ever read. "Pig Earth" and "Once In Europa", which lead to Mr. Berger's finale of, "Lilac And Flag" were both brilliant, however the concluding volume is a work you will never forget. Every aspect of this final work is on a grand scale, the writer will lift your spirits and then pummel you with the physical and mental burden of a Requiem Mass. He celebrates, he condemns and redeems with equal intensity, and when the work finally ends you will have a new reference point for whatever reading will follow.

The first 2 installments take place in an Alpine Village that, per the Author, could be easily found many times in the same Alps that he describes. It is even suggested the locale is not unlike the Village that the writer calls his home. In this, the final work, he creates a fictional city, one that he controls, one that will not allow any familiarity to distract from his final act of recording the death of the way of life that starts as nearly idyllic, and ends with a form of redemptive enigma, but only after he has destroyed all that existed in the first two books. The decay and darkness are suffocating, the tale that he ends is infinitely displaced from its origins and is only brought back into contact with its predecessors by his final words, which explain everything, and confirm nothing.

I have never been one for creating lists in an attempt to enumerate the best of what I have had the privilege to read. This trilogy has changed that, for taken as one work it would likely occupy the premier spot, and if taken separately would all reside in the top 5. These writings are the result of 15 years of work and there is no way to categorize it in anything less than superlatives.

From a european reader's point of view, this is one of the most interesting desciptions about the size of love in this end of century. Both main characters represents the dificulty of being a lover in the middle of this times of cholera. Lilac and flag are simple workers. They don't know much about books, poetry or culture but they know what means fall in love, what represents to love another human being in its city, which represents all the big european cities. As the author does in "To the weding", "Lilac and Flag" represents simply the love amd its power in this sad days of poverty, destruction and explotiation of weak people. Thanks for your work John and your way to understand the existence. We'll continue reading you.