MR

Brought to us by the good folks at Ace Hardware this is a must have for any home owner. Mr. Fix-it is, indeed, the man to go to with any home related question. Here in this book you will find the answers to all your home needs. Lou Manfredini tells you how to fix that leaky faucet, how to put in that new over head track lighting, what to do if your walls need some touch up, what kind of caulk to use in that crack along the outside wall and how to take care of just about every other project you may consider. There is even a chapter on how to find a good contractor for those jobs you just can't do on your own.

The book is separated into chapters concerning interior repairs, exterior repairs, plumbing jobs, electrical jobs, mechanical system maintenance, and choosing a contractor. Each chapter contains commonly asked questions and Lou's answers to those questions. His writing is short and to the point. Each answer is given in easy to understand language and leaves the reader with no doubt as to how to go about solving the problem at hand. Where needed there are easy to follow diagrams but most of the explanations in this book are so clear the no further information is required.

This is, by far, the best do-it-yourself book I've found and I've been working in the hardware and home improvement industry for over ten years. I've read them all and this one stands well above the rest. Simply put, if your questions aren't answered by this book then the task at hand is probably one which you should leave to a professional anyway. Having said that I will still say that 99% of your home related troubles will be solved right between the pages of this book. You wouldn't go sky diving without a parachute and, likewise, you should not own a home without this book.

I was always looking for a book that told me what to do in easy to read language about my home. This is that book. Lou Manfredini has a new book coming out I cannot wait to get that one as well.

I'm a single woman homeowner and my mother got me this book for all the questions I have around my house. It's easy to understand, no muss no fuss. It's like having a big brother who's a home builder. You're going to love this book too.

As an adult I love these stories. They are repetitive and have a rhythm. This is what the kids love about the books. My son loves the part where Mr. Putter's knees are cranky. Instead of using the word old, decrepit, or any other word that may be over the heads of kids; they used cranky. Kids can relate to this word! It is a true story of friendship. This is a funny story. Kids will love making their predictions as to how the book ends. This is the type of book to let them practice with predictions. It is easy enough that a beginner to chapter books would have an easy time with this book. The words are simple and so is the storyline. This is why Cynthia Rylant's books are all terrific! I highly recommend this book!

The Mr. Putter and Tabby series are the sort of books that I would have loved to have when I was a beginning reader. I know that I would have read them over and over again to no end, even once they began to fall apart from constant use. That's why I am so glad that Mr. Putter and Tabby are around now while my youngest brother is learning to read. The non-repetitious (words are repeated, but not enough to become explicit), non-rhyming storytelling contained within the books makes them a pleasure to read continually, unlike many other easy-reader books. And in my opinion, the Mr. Putter and Tabby books are a step in front of Ms. Rylant's Henry and Mudge collection, due to the fact that, in their own way, they create an appreciation for the elderly as the reader comes to love Mr. Putter, the aging main character whose only companion is his cat, Tabby.

In Mr. Putter and Tabby Pick the Pears, the fourth book in the series, Mr. Putter attempts to pick the pears from the tree in his backyard. The ailments that come with old age try to keep him from accomplishing his task, but Mr. Putter soon comes up with a witty and humorous solution that will have everyone laughing while they continue turning pages to see how it all ends.

Mr. Howard's cartoon-style illustrations greatly enhance this wonderful story, which is written in such a format to be used as either a 3-chapter book for the beginning reader, or a bedtime story that is longer in length. Either way, the Mr. Putter and Tabby books would be a great find for emerging readers' shelves. Like having a kindly old grandpa next door, they only make life richer!

I wish we lived next door to Mr. Putter! This is such a nice book. The part where Mr. Putter cuts up an old pair of boxer shorts to get elastic to make a slingshot is just silly enough to please a potty-humor-newbie, yet is still tasteful.

My son loved all the descriptions of "juicy things"...apple cider, apple pie, pear jelly, apple turnovers. Every time we read this book, he wants to make a different "juicy thing".

I love the comfortable companionship between Mr. Putter and Tabby, as well as the wonderful drawings. This book makes me want to check out the other Mr. Putter and Tabby books!

Tragic, brutal things happen to the characters in these plays. But none of these people is particularly likeable, so you can't really care. It's all just as well for them, in some ways, and it's all in good fun. The characters manipulate each other, lie to each other, steal from each other, screw each other, kill each other, and deny that they do it. Everyone here has the ethics of a doorknob, and it's all pretty enjoyable.

The last one, "What The Butler Saw", got a little bit too ridiculously farcical for my taste and went on too long, but it has its moments; and otherwise they're all pretty good to read.

I can also recommend the introduction. Joe Orton lived his own life very much like the people in his plays (which makes you wonder how much of his material was supposed to be comedy). Even his death was true to form: his envious lover, actor Kenneth Halliwell, bashed in Orton's brains with a hammer just prior to doing himself in with 22 sleeping tablets.

This collection of (the late) Joe Orton's plays is amazing. Not for those who are easily offended or whose feelings are hurt. Orton, who was described as a "poor Oscar Wilde," lived up to the name. His plays are fast paced assults on everything that the British hold dear. There is no respect for religion, custom, death or social norms.

Satirical and full of quick wit, Orton's plays attack British culture and spit on everything that the "respectable person," would hold dear.

Orton does not hold back anything and could come on a bit strong for a conservative reader, but my suggestion is that any lover of drama and theater should own and read these plays.

Beaten to death by his male lover in 1967, Joe Orton has been rediscovered as an intriguing look into the mind and soul of a man who lived ahead of his times. His plays are fascinating and have so many layers that you can enjoy them repeatedly. He also wrote a screenplay for the Beatles, which was never filmed (according to the dustjacket). Now wouldn't that be interesting!

I am shocked that so much could be in this powerful little book. I am grateful that I got this book. I use a little something from it everyday. It has helped me in marriage. The book is simple, easy to understand and follow.

I recommend it to everyone!

How to be a woman's best friend is a spirit filled book for both men and women. It's for anyone who is looking for real solutions to the crisis facing male-female relationships and family values. I couldn't put it down.

Well thought out and very interesting

The author's clearly had an array of good -- and bad -- dating experiences. The book zeroes in on some universal truths, but her appreciation of men comes through. Let's hope there's a companion book ("Vital Signs: A Man's Guide...") in the works!

I first read "Vital Signs" while doing something that many men spend much time doing...waiting for a woman to get ready, despite the fact that I showed up right on time. I was met with a half-prepared date, who showed me to her TV, gave me the clicker, and expected me to be transfixed for the obligatory half-hour or so of waiting.

However, this Tuesday night there were no good games on, so I picked up "Vital Signs" in order to get an insight into the mind of this woman that entrusted me with her clicker.

My initial reaction was that this would be one of those "Men always let us down, so let's write a book to bond with whom we are, and to bash them for being whom they are". It turned out to be anything but. The author seemed to genuinely like men, for all of our faults, but managed to provide her readers with "age-old" wisdom wrapped in non-preachy witticisms. I decided to get myself a copy the next day.

I found that while I walked dangerously like some of the "trouble" guys mentioned in the book, I admired the writer for telling women like it is in some respects, "if the signs of trouble are there, deal with them head on, and get out if the going looks rocky". I can't tell you how many of my "chick-buddies" I've preached this to, only to have them shut me out, and do what they want anyway. The author avoids my first inclination to preach, and just reminds the reader of the pitfalls of ignoring "vital signs", whether good or bad. I've recommended the book to a number of friends, one of whom immediately left a voicemail to thank me for being so "enlightened".

I don't know what electricity has to do with any of this, but I recommend taking a look at Vital Signs, for a laugh, and friendly advice.

hey wait a minute. i think i know some of those guys! ms. crugnola seems to have her finger on the pulse of the dating world.

this is a look at the hilarious realities of dating and relationships. funny yet not so far fetched...

i laughed til my pulse was racing.

We were acquainted with the Crystal Palace Park dinosaurs from the Walking with Dinosaurs Discovery Channel special (my son watched it dozens of times), so this book piqued our interest immediately. The history of the man behind the models was fascinating, and is told in such a way as to keep even very young readers interested. The marvelous illustrations also keep little eyes riveted. When we traveled to England this year, we made a point of going to the Crystal Palace Park and seeing the dinosaurs first hand. You cannot get as close to the dinosaurs as I expected, but it was still very exciting to see these historic models. We impressed the park guides with our knowledge that was gained from this childrens book. I heartily recommend this book for dinosaur or history lovers, and I recommend a trip to Crystal Palace Park if you are ever in London.

There are very few biographies out there for young children that capture their interest. My 8 year old daughter chose this book for her biography book report, was entranced by it and by the subject -- Bejamin Waterhouse Hawkins.
Surprisingly I was also intigued by the book, found the illustrations magnificent and the story "stranger than fiction". Kudos!

I purchased this as a gift for my four year old Grandson and found myself fasinated with the book. The story, although true, was new to me. I was entranced with not only the narrative but also the great and colorful art work. This is a book for all ages and I predict it will become a classic for those of us who marvel at the number of and various sizes of the different dinosaurs. A perfect gift for that Dinosaur-loving Child in your life.
Beverly J Scott author of Righteous Revenge

This book conveys so many emotions, from all of this one is left almost numb. But having met the man, He LiYi, I can say that this book is a mirror of the man in real life. All that comes out in this book is so exact, in his mannerisms and gentle voice. He is so unassuming and modest, and does not appear to be capable of such strength and determination. This book lets you see that we are all capable of making a difference if only small. I had no knowledge of this book untill I visited his cafe in Dali, I purchased the book directly from him and now pass it to all who are interested. A truly powerful book full of what these people, the Bai, have had to endure at the hands of the ever present "Mr China".

I thoroughly enjoy reading about Chinese life. I learn quite a bit about a life away from home! I prefer these types of books that whisk me to different parts of the world, chronologically, socially, and culturally. The lives that other people experience elsewhere are fascinating, and one can become engulfed in the stories. I feel as if the author sat down and TOLD me all about his life, something I didn't know about. Like I had an interesting friend over for lunch. This was a superb book to the end!

Mr He Liyi has written one of the most moving accounts of life during the cultural revolution in China. From his normal life of a government servant through the indignitiy moving to the countryside to live as a peasant, his reform through labour and his utter determination to learn English. He Liyi's writing style is simple and personal, the book was written by him in English, no small feat for someone living in the middle of China and with little formal English training. I met He Liyi in the small town of Dali where he lives by chance in the post office. Myself and friend spent many hours at his little cafe in Dali enjoying his company and his stories. For someone whom China has done no favours during his life, he is determined to make things better and continue living his life to the full. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

Jack Kirby was to comic books what William Shakespeare was to literature...an undisputed Titan! Not only was the quality of his artwork and visual concepts amazing, but the quantity of art he produced in his career was beyond belief (I can't remember the number of pages he drew in his lifetime offhand...but it was truly staggering) So to say that Mister Miracle was his best creation ever (my opinion of course...other Kirby fans have their own favorites)is saying alot.It was a part of a bigger storyline/universe which through the use of several interrelated and separate comic book titles(The New Gods,Forever People,Mister Miracle)a bigger story unfolded...the "Fourth world" saga.Mister Miracle was the most unique of the bunch and told the story of Scott Free...raised in a very Spartan manner to be a soldier on the dehumanizing world of "Apokolips"...but who escapes to the planet Earth.This comic book had characters and ideas that were not only unique to comics but unique to Kirby
and never really surfaced anywhere else in his prolific career. Big Barda is my favorite character in all of comic history.Never was there a female character like her...Big "Zaftig" and beautiful (Wonder woman was supposed to be an Amazon but was a dried up piece of nothing compared to Barda) powerful and liberated but without ever being the "B" word.There is a really Atypical (For Kirby and for the time period) undercurrent of,well, kink to put it bluntly (see the character of "Lashina" for example)which anyone in the know will notice throughout.It lasted longer than the other titles (New Gods and Forever people) but had a dreadfully undeserved short run.When the other titles collapsed the "Fourth world,New Genesis" aspect was dropped and it became a more routine comic book adventure.This book collects the first ten books of the series.A Noble effort on D.C.s part but...the reason I give it four stars is only because of the black and white format...D.C. should have done what marvel did in reprinting Kirby's classics in graphic novel form...print it affordably in B&W but NEVER substitute the color with hideous tones of grey...it really does Kirby's artwork no justice.If you can't afford (or just dont want to mess up) the original 30 year old magazines...pick this gem up!

This is classic Kirby. No one else creates mythology like he does. His New Gods / Fourth World books were some of the best comics ever done -- a nice blending of world mythologies with the American comic-book mythos. Mr. Miracle is his Heracles, Horace, Heru, etc., and is just as entertaining today as it was when it was first written. The black and white art may put off some potential readers, but Kirby's art sans the color really brings out the weight and depth of his lines.

I am waiting for Mark Evanier and the folk's at DC to realize Jack Kirby's Fourth World isn't complete without the DNA Project, Intergang, Dabney Donovan, the Evil Factory and ... well, the list goes on. Give us Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen! Granted, the 1st half of Kirby's run on the title wasn't the flagship for Kirby's Fourth World. The series really took off with the second half during the '25-cent, Bigger&Better' phase. So, come on DC, complete the reprinting of Kirby's Fourth World and introduce readers to some dynamite storytelling, Kirby style!

To better understand the character of the British Army and officers of the Victorian age, one needs to be fully versed on the Roman Army. Without this background, Farwell's fine book will be nothing more than anecdotal and amusing. This books is a valuable addition to the literary collections of military historians and modern military officers.

A superb book. I had a rather vacant weekend recently and fortunately this book arrived a day before. Superb, highly entertaining stories on the pre-World War I British Army covering subjects as diverse as discipline, officers, enlisted men, religion, women (there were few of them-wives, sweethearts, prostitutes), drink (there was way too much of that), the importance of regimental loyalty,-see chapter titles for a full list. This does for the British army of the later 19th century what Don Rickey's FORTY MILES A DAY ON BEANS AND HAY accomplished for the American frontier army but is far more readable and enjoyable, even though the Indian Wars period is my main area of interest and research.

One drawback to the book--there are no footnotes or bibliography so we are left guessing where Mr. Farwell culled all these wonderful stories, tidbits and insights from. The book is so readable though and I am not a tracking down sources to write something myself, so this is easily forgiven. Enjoy!

This book provides a comprehensive survey of the Victorian army during the height of the Great British Empire. Mr. Farwell is something of an expert on this period and his lucid writing is a joy to read. The book brings out the many varied living conditions that existed in the British army of that time. This is more social history than pure military fare, but don't let that discourage the perspective reader. This is not dry stuff about living conditions in the Victorian army, the book is full of amusing anedotes from actual living Victorian soldiers.

They were a peculiar lot these Soldiers of the Queen, who cherished all their old traditions. The army was extremely conservetive in outlook, from Prviate to General. The regiment was the key element which kept it all together. The British army has always been a regimental army, and this was never more so than in the 19th Century. The army proved extremly adaptive to fighting in all the varied conditions within the Empire, and while this abundance of expereince gave it a unique espirit-de-corps, it did not prepare it well to fight any European conflicts. The British only barely managed to field a few full strength Corps at the beginning of the Great War in 1914. This was in no small way due to the Reforms of Edward Cardwell who created a reserve by linking many of the single battalion regiments together in the 1880s thereby establishing some form of reserve pool of manpower. The system just managed to hold the army together, but created many animosities between time-honored regiments who disliked being linked to each other in adinistractive fashion.

The book goes to great lengths to explain the huge social gulf between officers and enlisted men. The British army was stratified to a degree that no other army of the period entertained. It was an 18th century notion which struggled on into the next century. Farwell brings out these and many other fascinating details as he illustrates the daily life of the Victorian soldier. Those interested in the period of Queen Victoria's Little Wars won't want to put this one down. Its full of fascinating tid-bits of people like Kitchener, Charles Gordon, Wolsley, Frederick Roberts and Churchill, as well as the common soldiers and officers that made up the army. Also, anyone interested in the social anatomy of an army and the society to which it belonged should also find it most rewarding. There are many such Victorian studies out there, but few address the army, which perhaps reflected the age more directly than any other English institution of the time.

Mr Right when you need him is the perfect gift for any woman, single or married. The doll has 4 or 5 phrases that will instantly make this a gift that will be passed around from person to person. However, I must warn you that too much use causes difficulty in squeezing the doll (It was a little too popular with my friends!) The book is light hearted and a fun read. Highly recommend as a gift!!

This is a very nice book and doll package containing 'a sweet-talking man-doll and 64-page owner's manual with helpful tips on use and care.' Author Karen Salmansohn is superb. In part of West Africa, people have carved statuettes of their "spirit spouses" -- here is a good contemporary American version. Highly recommended.

Karen Salmansohn is the best -- I love her books !! What a great combination of humor (comic relief) and penetrating insight into contemporary life. This one is for those times when you'd rather laugh than cry. And don't miss her new one about doing absolutely nothing as a way of changing -- improving your life. She just keeps hitting the target in the right creative key in her wonderful series of books.