MMME

I first found this enchanting tale when I was 9. I checked it out from my school library, and tucking it under my arm, happily trotted back to class. Being an avid reader, and it being such a good book, within a week of reading times and before-bed installments, I had it done, much to my horror. It had ended. The beautiful book was over. There was no more story left for me. A week later, I again checked it out and re-read it. That library card was FILLED with my name, save for three spaces.

After I graduated from grade school, the worn copy was lost to me, though the tale remained burried deep within my mind.

That was very fortunate. A few months into my frehsman year, I was babysitting and couldn't get the little girl to sleep. So I sat down on the edge of her bed, looked at her and said "Would you like to hear a fairy tale?" She nodded happily and I began telling her the story of the Ordinary Princess, and all of Amy's adventures. After half of it was over, I realized to my dismay, the little girl was asleep, a smile on her face.

Now, after several years, the stoy has been re-introduced to me, after humming Amy's lullaby for so long, I remembered where it was from and found the book. This is a classic tale that is far from ordinary, yet utterly enchanting and delightful.

The Ordinary Princess is a delightfully humorous response to the typical handsome-prince-marries-beautiful-princess fairy tale. The princess in the story receives the gift of ordinariness at her christening. She then, in contrast to her beautiful princess sisters, grows into quite the normal little girl: brown hair, freckles, love of adventure, and a sometimes not-so-nice temper. Her horrified royal parents try to ammend the situation by marrying her off to some unsuspecting prince or duke, but no one will have her. So the King devises a desperate plan which leads Amy on the adventure of her life. This book is funny, innocent, and refreshing as it looks on the true worth of a person apart from her outward appearance.

This was one of my very favorite books as a child, and I was crushed when it went out of print and I lost my own copy. When I learned a few years ago that it was being re-printed, I was overjoyed.

"The Ordinary Princess" is a delightful fairy tale with a bit of a twist -- the herione is NOT the mind-bogglingly gorgeous fairy tale princess we have come to expect. At birth, she is cursed by an ornery fairy..."You shall be ORDINARY!" Much to the embarrassment of the royal family, the curse immediately begins to manifest itself, and continues to do so throughout the course of the princess's life. She is overlooked in favor of her six extremely beautiful and perfectly-princessy older sisters. No matter what the royal court tries, Princess Amy remains as normal as any peasant.

"The Ordinary Princess" follows the quest of Princess Amy to make something of an ordinary life for herself, to go along with her very ordinary appearance. During which time, she meets -- and falls in love with -- a young "man-of-all-work" named Peregrine.

I shall not reveal to you how splendidly it ends, but it is absolutely charming. There are very few perfect books in this world, but this just happens to be one of them. It is clever and witty in its writing, charming in its story (as all fairy tales SHOULD be) and simple and sweet in its execution. It is every little girl's dream to be a princess, and this is an excellent princess story. Delightful from start to finish.

I admit to not being overly fond of the reprint's cover -- I preferred the original cover art -- but at least all of the orginial illustrations are included in this. M.M. Kaye not only wrote this book, she also illustrated it herself, and the drawings only augment the tale, making it even better than it already is.

I would recommend this book to anyone who asked me, and have, in fact, hooked quite a few of my friends on it. You don't even have to be a little girl to love it, my college buddies have adored it just as much as I always have.

Read it. You won't regret it.

The author invites you into her own hell and you easily relate to her journey.

This is a book that should be required reading for all who have elder parents or those nearing that age.

Comprehensive index of sources that could help pave the way.

As a student of Gerontology I was anxious to read this book. I laughed (Jackie is a wonderful writer) and cried as I read about Jake and Mariel Marcell. I found this book to be very insightful and agree that it is a must read for anyone who is dealing with the elderly or even studying the subject. Jacqueline Marcell writes in such a way that the reader cannot help but get caught up in what is happening and feel as though you are experiencing everything she is going through first hand. I applaud her for her strength in dealing with her parents (especially her father!), the many caregivers she had to screen and a system that needs a real overhaul when it comes to dealing with the elderly and what is really needed.

She has gone through a lot and thankfully she is sharing what she has learned with the rest of us by writing this book, creating a website ..., and doing speaking engagements.

I have just finished reading "Elder Rage" and I must tell you what a wonderful book it is! She intersperses her experiences as a caregiver for her elderly parents with considerable humor, so it is an enjoyable easy-read about a most difficult subject. Anyone who has unwittingly become a sole caregiver of parents (despite having siblings) can identify with her trials and tribulations. I also became exasperated with my search for an assistant as I realized my mom's physical and emotional problems were too much for me to face without help. I, too, sought medication for my mother when I realized she had become too difficult to control. If only I'd had this book then! Adult day care and the behavior modification techniques she describes are invaluable tools. This book demonstrates that you are not alone and that help is available if you know where to turn. Jacqueline is one who has truly "been there - done that." The story is riveting, and the self-help section is extensive and so helpful. If you have lived with this situation or think it is coming your way, this book can save your life. Jacqueline's website is filled with valuable resources too.

Amy lives on a farm where her mother helps abused and "problem" horses using join-up and alternative therapies. Amy plans to follow in her footsteps and learns more each day. However, she has some problems, such as her sister Lou refusing to visit, even for Amy's birthday. That all changes on a stormy night. Amy and her mom go to rescue a stolen & starved horse and end up, for Amy, in the hospital, and for her mom, in the grave. Now Amy must deal with the guilty feeling of killing her mother, her sister's new ideas, arguments, and the burden of carrying on with her mom's work. Will everything turn out for the best or will Heartland close down?

A Book for Horse Lovers
By Jennifer Jobe

The book Coming Home by Lauren Brooke contains many feelings. This is the first book in the series Heartland Healing horses, healing hearts. Amy lives at a place where her Mom helps horses that have been hurt emotionally, mentally and physically. Amy has the same ability to listen and understand what horses need as her Mom but everything changes after a dreadful accident.
Coming Home is a great book that keeps you reading and not putting it down. If you like horses and action, then you will like this book. Coming Home will keep you on the edge of your seat and keep you reading. The emotions are unbelievable including excitement, sorrow, trust, wonder, anger, hopelessness, feeling scared, worried, and many, many others.
Some book reviews tell what authors have done well. With my own experience with horses, I know that Lauren Brooke either works with horses and knows a lot about horses or she did a lot of research. The words that Ms. Brooke uses paint a great picture in my mind so I can see the places described clearly.
I would recommend this book to horse lovers and someone looking for an easy read. Coming Home is short- only 140 pages and is at the fifth grade reading level. The book does rush trough the story a little but over all, the story is great.

"Comming Home" is the first book to a wonderful series, Heartland. This book is by Lauren Brooke, it's about a gril named Amy. When something happens to her mother, she feels she has lost everything and no one feels the pain she is going through. She has to conquer fear and move on. It's her struggle with death and pain. Grief and regret. It will have you crying and feeling her long for her mother. Athough (...) and these books are very easy for me, or anyone at this age, you just can't stop reading these wonderful books. That Lauren puts this pasion into, that makes you feel as if Heartland is a real place. That you could just reach out and touch. I recommend "Comming Home" for about any ages. It's a must read, and you'll be touched. After you read this this one you'll feel as if you HAVE to read the next great books in this extraordinary series!

I'm a Senior in college and I still tell everyone that this is the best book that I have ever read. I remember the first time that I found out about this book. I was in fourth grade and my reading teacher, Ms. Reed, read this story to the whole class. I got lost in the book and couldn't wait until the next day for reading class to find out what happened to Mandy next. I told my mom about the book and she went out and bought it for me. I had finished the book before Ms. Reed finished reading it to us, but I still enjoyed listening to the story. I know that this book sparked my desire to learn and read and to this day I remember that teacher and wish I could thank her for choosing such a wonderful story to get us involved in literature. I love this book!!

As a child, this was a book that I read over and over again. Now that I have a daughter of my own, I want to share this with her. Julie Edwards ( Andrews) is not only a fabulous actress and singer, she is also a terrific author. This is a story about a young orphan girl trying desperately to find her place in the world. She lives in a large girls school but she is very lonely and wants more than anything to have a family of her own. In her daily wanderings, she discovers a little cottage that she decides to make her own. This story is charming and heartwarming in every respect as we travel with Mandy on heradventure to find a place, and a family of her own

From the minute I picked Mandy by Julie Andrews Edwards I kew it would be a great book! How many times did I read it, 5 times. This is my favorite book of all times!
I would definatly recomed this book to everyone I know!

I almost never read books of this genre - they're usually way too sappy for me. I'm more of a historical novel kind of person - I like a lot of real characters and angst and war and to learn a little something while I'm reading. But for some reason, this series really started to grab me, especially after the second book. True, the characters don't seem to have any real problems and they all care for each other equally and live in an impossibly idyllic little village. But then again, maybe that's WHY I like this series so much. It's a vacation from my typical reading list - if I want to take a breather and read something that makes me happy and calm and transported to a fantasy-land that almost crosses over to reality, I take a trip to Mitford.

As a Catholic, the whole "we're all happy Protestants in this town" can get to be a little wearing after a while, but it's also a nice reminder that there are still people of faith and moral uprightness out there. That might be another reason this series appeals to me - I live a basically religion-free existence, thanks to popular American culture, and that's okay for the most part. But at the end of the day, I often find myself longing to reassociate with religion in a non-invasive way, and these books do that for me with their gentle spirituality.

If people are expecting to read books with depth and underlying tensions and hidden hatreds, you're not going to find that here. I consider these books "vacation" from everyday life, and the heavier fare that I typically read. They are sweet and simple and take you to a place that you just might be able to create for yourself someday.

I have read the first 4 books of the Mitford series. I am in the middle of the 5th. They are very fun and easy to read. You get caught up in the every day lives of the Mitford residents. I really enjoyed reading how Father Tim's life changed from the minute Barabus "adopted" him. I have laughed out loud and cried while reading. I feel as if I know all the chacters in the books personally. I think all us would like to live a small town such as this one, where people watch out for each other and really care for one another. I would recommend these books to anyone.

Three cheers for the Mitford series! There are not enough superlatives in the dictionary to praise Jan Karon's writing enough!
If you're the type of reader who enjoys reading about good old time church stories about preachers and his congregation and life, then you'll be sure to fall in love with this series of books.
Basically Father Tim is the main character, and it begins with him as a good old preacher who has been a bachelor all of his life. The first book introduces you to his life as it was then, about his congregation, the cranky old Emma Newland, his church secretary,and his new dog whom he takes in as stray, Barnaba. There are many events and happenings through the story as you'll find reading along.

Once you start this series, you'll read nothing but for awhile, it is hard to put down. I would HIGHLY recommend it even for teenagers and older.

In March of 2001, I "just happened" to be listening to a radio station to which I normally do not listen at that time of day. I heard Ellie Kay being interviewed about how she saves money on groceries. My ears perked up, because up to that time, I had been struggling to stay within my food budget. I am a mother of six children (ages ranging from 2-20). After hearing Ellie on the radio, I purchased Shop, Save, and Share. This book has been very instrumental in helping me save money on my grocery bill. Since I have been using Ellie's suggested methods of saving, I have had enough to occasionally share with two single moms, as well as sending a variety of items to a children's home. I am very thankful for being led to hear about Shop, Save, and Share.

We are a family who has always had hard times financially. My husband barely makes enough to keep us fed and some weeks we panicked because we didn't have enough money for food. Then I heard this seminar and read the book called "Shop, Save and Share." Ellie showed my, step by step, how to cut my food bill and save money in other areas, too. Within the first two months, I cut my food bill in half and have a ton of extra food! Now I can afford health insurance for the first time in many years. I have a medical condition that we couldn't afford to get medication and tests to treat. We didn't feel that morally we could go on government assistance. But now, we have health insurance and can pay our own way thanks to Ellie Kay. She is really a God send. Last week, we had no money for food (again) but we didn't panic. because of this book, I had extra groceries in my stock. God used this book to improve our lives, get me the medical help I need and maybe even save my life. Thank you, Ellie Kaye.

When you're facing financial difficulty, the last thing you should be doing is buying consumer products like books, right? Except maybe this one and one by Mary Hunt on managing money. I remember my mom cutting coupons but I never exactly studied the science of it. Ellie Kay breaks it all down for you. you get taught about ways to save money I had no idea existed. It's a quick, easy read that you can gain skills from and immediately apply. It is the kind of lesson where you can use the tools you gain slowly then apply on a larger scale after you master some steps. It is definitely worth owning, reviewing, and referring to. I actually was directed to this book by another of Ellie's books I received upon becoming engaged--The New Bride Guide. That was a surprisingly refreshing, honest, and useful book--and believe me I read dozens of them! That one was not cliche either. Anyways, definitely pick up Shop,Save,and Share. It is worth your money and time--I promise whether you plan on cutting brand buying out of your habits or not. The beauty of learning the actual science is that you can apply it to your lifestyle at a level of stringency that is comfortable for you and your family.

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.

The book Good Night Mr. Tom by Michelle Magorian, was a book I extremely enjoyed reading. When I first looked at the title, I wasn't too attracted to reading the book but once I caught the basic idea on what it was about on the inside, I was eager to read it. I'm glad I did, because this book is one of the most heartbreaking stories I have read. The story starts out very nicely, introducing the main character, William aka Willie aka Will. Unlike some books, the beginning of the story catches your attention and does throughout the whole book. The sad part is, Will is an evacuee and constantly gets seriously abused by his mother. With no father to help him out and his mother not willing to take him during a war, Will is sent house after house with other children to be accepted somewhere else. Will's mother is a religious type but takes everything to another dangerous and extreme level that hurts herself as well as her son. Will is very lucky and ends up in a small town named Little Weirwold with Thomas Oakley, or whom Will learned to call, Mister Tom. Hardened by the loss of his son and wife, he gradually starts to accept Will and in a way, takes him in as his own son. After making friends, discovering talents, creating memories and going on wild adventures, he slowly regains the childhood that he missed. Learning that his before life was not suppose to be, Will is reluctant to return to his mother because she is "sick." The rest of the story is something you need to find out yourself. Even I cannot express the joy and sorrows with reading this heart touching story. Only the readers can feel this by encountering it for themselves. The reason this book received the rating it did is because it was so nicely put together, it makes the reader see the innocence of Will when it's such a heart break just to see him learning new things that are common to us. Michelle Magorian also brought out the infinite patience and love of Mister Tom. This made the story even more special because of the hero role he plays to Will. Another reason is because she makes the conclusion and ending worthwhile the read. It was as if the only reason I was reading the book was to get to the end. The final important reason was because the whole book was exciting. I cannot remember one moment in the book where I wanted to stop. The experiences little William became a part of me and I wanted to encourage this character as he went struggling through his rough life. Overall, this book was very satisfying. I hope to read more books like this in the future... a true heartache. (Very special book)

In Michelle Magorian's novel Good Night, Mr. Tom, she brilliantly illustrates the hardships of a young child growing up post World War II after having being abused and abandoned by his mother, the one person who was truly supposed to love him. After being shipped from London to the English countryside to live with Mr. Tom, Willie has to adjust to living in a world he never knew existed. A world in which love, affection and friendships flourish. Magorian uses what she knows to set the plot, being that she was born and raised mostly in England. Her parents met each other during the World War II and perhaps she was reflecting on her own issues because as a child she lived a couple of years in Singapore and Australia. She eventually came back to England when she was 9 years old, but had already been moved around a lot, as did the main character in the book. The New Yorker called Magorian's novel "An engrossing and poignant story, with much sunlight to balance the darkness." Jim Trelease from The Read-Aloud Handbook said it was "powerful." And that, it is.

This book has the power to make you laugh, cry, and want to sing. It is a story of a young boy learning how to live life with joy and without fear, and an old man remembering how to live life. This book is like a dear friend to me. When every I am unhappy I come and read this story, and I feel that my passion for life is renewed. An excellent book for people of all ages.

I think this book tops what i would consider other contenders for this type of all-in-one cookbook (joy of cooking and fannie farmer) I love that this book has pictures...missing from the other two books I mentioned. It's a nice LARGE general, basic cook book.

A perfect gift for a person setting up an apartment for the first time, learning how to cook, going off to college (altho sometimes cooking options in college are limited).

I love the extra help sections...how to do things... techniques... examples etc. All around books tend to be at a disadvantage when they try to be all things to all people. While I dont think there is any substitute for regional and specific food type/cooking method/ ethnic cuisine cook books, I also think there is an important place in everyones home for a general all purpose cook book. ( For times when you want to know the *basics*...how long to cook something, for example.)

I have been dissapointed with the fannie farmer cookbook and the joy of cooking... this book would be my number 1 choice for a favorite general cook book for everyones kitchen

If I had to cut my extensive (over fifty) cookbook collection back to just one book this would be the "keeper!" When my beloved twelve-year old copy of this cookbook finally fell apart I purchased the 11th edition thinking I would mostly be replacing what I already had and knew well.

There was so much new and useful information included in the eleventh edition I wished I'd let go of my old copy earlier. I am especially fond of the nutrition analysis included with each recipe and the tips for making recipes lower in fat. The prep-times included with each recipe were also a new, and very useful, feature to me. Plus the editors upgraded the book to reflect the wider availability of formerly "exotic" fruits and vegetables now in the everyday market.

The fledgling cook will find everything needed to confidently accomplish any task from hard-boiling an egg to properly setting the table for a family meal or a buffet-style party. Pesky, but common, cooking terms like "al dente" and "crisp-tender" are explained in a straight forward manner in the cooking basics section where you will also find great tips for stocking a pantry or purchasing the basic cooking equipment you might need when just starting out.

Useful features for all levels of cook are scattered throughout the text. For example, there is a full-page photograph of different pastas with the name under each (finally! I now know the difference between Gemelli and Fusilli!). Also very useful are the extensive illustrative photos of retail cuts of meat cross-referenced to the wholesale cut and listing the best way to cook each cut.

One of my favorite things about the hardcover cookbook is the three-ring binder format. This makes it possible to lay the book flat on the counter or prop it up nearby with, or without, a cookbook stand. It also makes it easier to add your own notes right alongside your favorite recipes.

I love to give this cookbook as a gift to a young person just starting out -- inside a big crockpot or tied together with some fun kitchen tools.

Regarding the recipes, this is the one cookbook that contains recipes that many people ask me for. They are that good! The Chicken Marsala, Roasted Corn and Crab Soup and Coq au vin are restaurant quality and easy to make. Unlike other cookbooks where you hope to find a few dishes the family will like, *every* dish in BH&G is a hit. I have no hesitation trying new recipes now ~ I just jump right in! :o)

I tried it, but the book is rather convoluted, I find myself confused about the instructions. And I ended up having a sprained shoulder. Dangerous.

Phenomenal and most of all do-able. This Pilates book has the best explanations and illustrations of all the ones out there. I know, I was in the mall and I checked them out.

I bought this book over 6 months ago, as I felt I needed more than just a regular workout on an elliptical machine. I wrote a review on it shortly after I started and I wanted to update that as a number of people have emailed me for more information.

Some background. I'm 43, female and 25% overweight, not exactly your svelte exerciser, so I knew I needed a routine that wouldn't hurt but would would get results. I work in an office and nothing is worse than sitting at your desk all day aching from the previous day's exercises.

I started as recommended with Modified beginner exercises, the seven basic exercises and did this for about 3 weeks. No pain but some tightness I could feel in my abdomen. As I became confident, I moved onto the regular beginner exercises. Basically, I used my ability to do the "hundred" as a measure of when I was able to move on. I could see my progress from day to day. It was really neat. I did the exercises at least 5 days/week.

As time went on I added more exercises from the full program. One or two each week depending on if they were similar or really hard to do. Some were, some weren't. Still no pain. I am now doing almost all (over 95%) of all, but the advanced exercises at least 5 days/week along with my elliptical machine routine and some weight lifting for my arms. I don't have time, I make time. In my opinion, this is as important as paying my bills. In someways, this is just what I'm doing.

One question, I have been asked is am I seeing muscle definition. The answer is definitely yes. I am still overweight. I'm working on that too (I've lost 25 pounds through just exercising), so I'm not seeing a washboard stomach, as the fat above the muscles are still obscuring them, but I can see definition of my ribs and hips, along with distinct muscles in between. This is nothing I've ever seen before, even in my skinny high school days.

One interesting measure of how far I've gone is watching my teenage children trying to mock me doing the exercises. Both are slim and in good shape, but neither can dive in and do the intermediate exercises that I'm doing with the same ease I am. In fact they are shocked they can't do more than a couple repetitions. Not because it hurts so much, but because they have not build up the strength.

That is another thing that I mentioned in my previous review, these exercises provide the feedback you need to continue on. You see it in each day in each exercise as they become easier. Also you see it in your day to day tasks.

For me, it was an excellent investment.

This book is fabulous. (well, perhaps it won't change your body ... only you will... but it will help!) Brooke includes alot of interesting helpful info about the history of Pilates and its techniques. I like the fact that she emphasizes visual imagery as being part of Pilates. The book is definitely one you can grow with as the exercises range from beginner to intermediate to advanced. She also includes "Advanced Extra" exercises, toning exercises, with and without weights and a Cool down. Each two pages are devoted to one exercise so you can easily place the book open next to your mat and refer to it as you exercise.

What does Pilates do for your body? It makes you feel wonderful to start. it works your lower abs like nothing you've ever tried before. I've worked out for years, doing hanging leg raises and reverse crunches, ball work but Pilates seems to work your abs the best. When you have the correct form, you seem to work your muscles deep within your body; rather than just building the exterior ab muscles. Similarly, the side leg exercises - they seem pretty basic but if you are doing them correctly, you are working your "powerhouse", your arms and your legs. All this week, I've felt like I've been at the gym doing heavy weight work on my legs but actually, all for my legs, all I've done is Pilates! I've lost 3lbs in the last month but people think I've lost "a lot" of weight. Some people think this is a waste of time (if you're not sweating like crazy, you're not working out). But Pilates has so many benefits - it will actually increase your athletic performance! Pilates also improves your flexibility and this flexibility is helping me with my other activities like kickboxing and running. Another thing I like about this book and Pilates is you are only required to do a few reps of each exercise so it's easy to motivate yourself. Finally, this book is just so easy to use and portable - you only really need it, a mat, a bit of space. And, you can throw in your favourite CD to make things more fun! This book by Brooke Siler is graphically attractive and visually easy to use (as compared to some other Pilates books). Try it out!