MY

An astonshing peice of work that Gertrude has written. One of the greatest books of this era. Very few books have been written about post German war. Many must read this novel to fufill there voidness of the time, a wonderful novel.

This inspiring book leads you through the many trials and hardships of a young girl until she reaches America.
A must read for people who want to understand post W.W.II and life after the war.

Move over Mommie Dearest, My Life in Fear makes that seem like Mother Goose. Compelling reading! This book must be made into a movie -- Jim Carey as the father, Kathy Bates as the grandmother and Glen Close as the mother.

Jimmy does it again! This book deals with his years in the NYPD, and goes right up to the start of his PI career (the first book). As before he delivers the goods retelling his most amazing and dazzling stories of life and crime in New York in a personal and well written way. The book also deals with the person behind the badge, the associates, the friends, the family, and not the least the importance of not letting the job get to you. Starting out in the 60's to the early 90's the way cops work has changed tremendously and Wags takes you on that ride!!! Recommended read.

I picked this book up in of all places an Eckards drugstore and expected something that would keep my interest yet not be very memorable. Instead what i got was one of the finest books I have ever read period. The reason this book works so well is because Wags has no ego. No stories are present in a way to make him a hero and honesty rings throughout the entire book. The other reviewers have already mentioned the layout of the book so I will only say that this book contains stories you will never forget. I work in NYC and it is extremely interesting to read about the City in to 70s and 80s when it was cesspool..it really makes one appreciate Guliani and the miracle he performed. If I had to draw a parallel to this book, I would compare it to the best of Wambaugh. Wags write about so many fascinating characters that each chapter is like a mini book unto itself. Very importantly, Wags finishes each story with an update on the individual and or event, so you are not left wondering what happened. All in all, the finest police writing I have ever read.

James Wagner, nicknamed "Jimmy the Wags" is a retired New York City street cop who, with the help of writer Patrick Picciarelli, also a retired cop, describes his police experiences in the Lower East Side of Manhattan in the 60s, 70s and 80s. It's an authentic voice that rings with the cadence of the city and the job he worked day after day, dealing with the dregs of society and everyday crime, as well as some of the major social issues of the time.

We first meet Jimmy as a nine-year old boy, listening to Dragnet with his police officer father in their Staten Island home. We follow him through the police academy and then out to the streets. We meet his fellow cops and feel the pressures of the job, watching some of them turn into alcoholics or commit suicide. We see how many of the rules are bent to accommodate the reality of what is going on in the street. We're right alongside Jimmy, feeling his anger and despair when he goes to funeral services for fellow cops brutally gunned down. We meet celebrities and junkies and Hell's Angels and other assorted oddball characters. We're surprised at some stories, and we cringe at others and wonder how one man could have experienced so many outrageous things. Then we realize that these are the highlights of a long career, all compressed into a fast paced, action packed narrative with something new on every page. It's a good story, well told. Recommended.

I came across, and read this book donkeys years ago when I first had boxers (early 60s) and remember how moved I was by it. Moved to tears in some places. I gave my copy away to another boxer owner but still remember it with affection. Now my new wife and I are actively looking for a new Boxer, and an old copy of this book.

Well written, interesting to read story in which Frau Stockmann humbly relates the tales of how she saved her Boxer dogs in Germany thru both World Wars, and eventually sent some of her best to America to survive. The breed in this country owes her alot. Highly recommended for Boxer owners, and a good read for all dog lovers.

An in depth collection of essay's on the daily struggle of Frau Stockmann to develop that perfect Boxer. Her life long love and devotion to this wonderful breed will keep you spell bound.

Very nice book. Nice colors, nice pictures.
Very handy to teach little ones about + Action words + shapes and Colors + counting + opposites + feelings.
But what I love the most is the diversity of little people. You can find an asian boy, a black mother, a girl with glasses... Nice game to play: "where is the grand-dad?"

Flaps look strong, but i still want to be with my baby right now so he doesn't tear them all! It's such a nice book...

My 19 month old loves this book, and prefers it over all of his other books. The flaps have won him over. He loves pulling them up and down to see what "opposite" is on the other side. Because it's centered around school, he relates to it easily since he's in daycare. It's the first book he's started "reading" to himself and to his little buddy doll, and he's even started "counting" all the little people in the book. He wants to take the book everywhere we go! I'm going to get the other books in this series, so that he'll have new adventures to pursue once he's "finished" his fascinating bus ride.

My children love Little People and being able to buy books where they can recognise the characters is exciting for them. The lift-the-flaps get my children involved in the story while I read it to them. No matter how many times we read it, it's always a surprise to find out what is under the flap. A lovely book to share with your growing children and one that isn't too babyish when they start to read themselves.

Reading David Collin's My Louise was a very moving experience for me.

Having "lived" through a similar experience, I can relate to much of the content, meaning and feelings described by David. Although my wife was fifty-six when she died of cancer, and I didn't have a two year old daughter to raise alone but four grown sons to be concerned about, I was easily able to relate to David's agony, his great feeling of loss and particularly his loneliness. He took me back to 1989 when I suffered my loss.

I was powerfully moved by David's story, his grief journey and his enduring love for not only Robin but for Louise, as well. His total commitment to give Robin as normal (whatever that is) a childhood and life as possible makes me feel good for Robin. She was so unlucky to lose her Mother at such a young age but so lucky to have such a caring and committed Father.

David's portrayal of Louise and the courage displayed by both Louise and David, which came shining through in this memoir, was most moving.

I thank David for freely sharing so much of himself and his family. It was a privilege to have had the opportunity to be allowed to share such an intimate experience.

At some point or another--and whether we like it or not--we are bound to experience tragedy within the course of our lives. For some, that personal loss may refrain until we've spent innumerable years with our loving spouse, but for others, a tragic blow may be dealt much sooner and with absolutely no remorse. In David Collins' case, he was forced to watch a ravenous cancer steal away his young wife's life, and as if that wasn't enough, he was then left to raise their new daughter on his own. His memoir is an account of experiencing a horrid loss, but also of how to pick up the pieces and move on with life, if only for their daughter's sake. Fortunately for Collins, however, his daughter (Robin) provided one true tangible link to his lost wife. And throughout the struggles of raising a child without his Louise, he hints at the idea that--without Robin--moving on after such defeat may have been impossible.

What Collins has done so efficiently (along with his intense appreciation for aesthetics) was to encompass all the feelings that one might have while losing their spouse, and then vividly depict them throughout the story. At one point, he personified the disease, citing several times how he would have liked nothing better than to pummel the rapacious cancer from his wife's withering body. He was tired of failed treatments and hospitals; he just wanted to get this disease in a ring and duke it out.

Furthermore, Collins aptly described the frailty of life, which most of us tend to forget about until real disaster strikes. Amidst his drowning in a sea of hopelessness, he yearned for powers beyond his reach - anything that could save his young wife, he was ready to do. Yet the harsh reality of this world proved that there was nothing more that could be done. His defiance of the impending loss seemed as obstreperous as his wife's own battle with the unabated cancer, but Collins (appropriately) never delved too far into the details of Louise's personal struggles. He may have stripped his own emotions down to their purest and rawest form; but he managed to give the reader a heartfelt glimpse of Louise's suffering without being superfluous.

These were real emotions that any one of us could feel, and Collins held nothing back when expressing his disgust for Louise's cancer. And while he hints at an ambivalent God during his incessant bouts with frustration, he manages to exert hope that perhaps someone up above took his Louise for a good reason.

From his indelible love for his wife and countless battles with his precocious daughter, to a brief stab at imperialism and questioning of piety, Collins has written a daring work, one which I thoroughly enjoyed. I found that I shared with him many of the same opinions: relationships (and marriage) are not always utopian, but with mutual work, life with your loved one has the potential to be sublime. Moreover, when that fortuitous battle arrives (be it cancer or some other tribulation), it can be vehemently fought as a team, not unilaterally.

We don't ever want to give in or give up, but how do we carry on when that battle has been inexorably lost? As Collins stated, "...a miserable situation can be endured..." but that doesn't mean it's going to be easy. This story of grief seems like it could only be found within the pages of a book, but the fact of the matter is that it did happen; it happens to both good and bad people, and it's going to happen whether we like it or not. The true task is perseverance and subsequently finding the needed strength to carry on. For David Collins, he found his strength each day when he looked at his daughter. He had to carry on, if not for Louise, then quite simply for Robin.

Ever been on a rollarcoaster of emotions~we all have and this book does just that through words and the overwhelming history of love and loss~given to David by fate. I laughed, cried, and truly "felt" the words David Collins used in his book. I picked it up and couldn't put it down because he let the reader feel his pain through the eyes of a husband struggling through his personal rollarcoaster. In the end, you just wanted to love him for who he was and what he has done for himself and his daughter. Powerful. Pick it up and enjoy!

I feel I cannot do justice writing a review on such a high caliber memoir. Emotions run so deep and the characters are made so lifelike that I felt such a kinship with this family. Hillary Johnson is a fantastic writer and a fabulous daughter and caretaker. She deserves five gold stars for the wonderful job she did taking care of her mother through such dramatic medical horrors. I am honored and enriched for having read her book. Her mother was the bravest of women who faced life and illness with the best attitude possible. Her book will be the biggest help to me as my mother's health continues to decline. Thank you to both of you, Hillary and Ruth. Your mother was absolutely right to encourage the writing of this painful, truthful account of her living and dying. I am ordering it now for my sisters.

This "shared memoir" is a gem in every way: from the author's eloquent writing style to her mother's whimsical yet provocative drawings and even the smooth surfaces of the pages. Like the physical feel of the pages and the colors in her mother's artwork, the authors' words are finely wrought and rich. I didn't want to put the book down.

This book is a entrancing autobiography and biography of a woman and her mother and in particular the story of a rekindeling of their connection as adults when the mother is diagnosed with terminal cancer. Unlike the suggestion of the title this is not a depressing story, it is strongly life affirming, funny and an interesting look at two remarkable women. It has helped me greatly in dealing with my own mother's death from cancer. I recomend it highly!

From the time he was a little boy, Norman Vaughan knew he could never be content with a mundane, conventional life. He and a friend constructed their first dog team by tying two mutts to a Flexible Flyer sled. At fifteen, Norman obtained his father's grudging permission to spend a week living off the land on a beach. Upon entering college at Harvard, he found himself bored. He knew it wasn't the life he wanted. So when Norman heard of the upcoming Antarctic exhibition, to be led by Admiral Richard E. Byrd, he lost no time in contacting the admiral. He managed to win himself a spot on the team. From that moment on, Norman Vaughan has lived a life full of excitement. I read my mother's copy of this book, which is signed by the author with his personal motto: "Dream Big and Dare to Fail." For his entire life, Vaughan lived by those words.

Returning from Antarctica, he felt depression creeping back, and he knew he could never live a "normal" life again. He dropped out of Harvard. Vaughan joined the army and spent years doing search-and-rescue operations by dogsled. He became known for his hair-brained schemes, such as dropping dogs by parachute into locations too remote to reach otherwise. But by and large, his schemes always seemed to work. When he left the army, it wasn't the end of his adventures. He returned to Antarctica on several occasions. Vaughan also entered the 1,000+ mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Alaska 13 times. And on 16 December 1994, three days before his 89th birthday, Vaughan climbed the Antarctic mountain that Admiral Byrd had named for him 65 years earlier.

For anyone with an adventurous streak, or even those who simply dream of such a life, this book is a sure winner. Norman Vaughan is one of the most inspirational human beings this world has seen. Most of his ambitious ideas met with much resistance from those around him, but not once did he give up. Sometimes he spent years fighting for what he wanted, and almost invariably he would win out in the end. When he was not invited to participate in the 50th anniversary trip to commemorate Byrd's 1929 expedition to Antarctica, Vaughan called every person he could think of who was involved. Eventually he was offered a place on the team.

I thoroughly enjoyed this amazing autobiography. There are a couple of awkward grammatical and punctuation errors, but they are few and far between. For the most part the book is written in easy-to-read language. What did irritate me was that Vaughan consistently mis-spelled the name of Joe Redington, Sr. (he added an extra "d" every time), the founder of the Iditarod. But this is a very minor quibble, and since most people have probably never heard of Redington to begin with, it doesn't make much difference in the end. The last chapter of the book is actually written by Vaughan's wife, and recalls their climb to the top of Mount Vaughan. Also included is a selection of black-and-white photos of Vaughan on his different adventures throughout his life. On the whole, this is a delightful and inspirational book, and I'd recommend it to anyone.

I had the opportunity to hear Norman Vaughan speak and to meet him as well. After hearing his accounts, reading the stories he has are amazing. This book is well written and easy to follow. I have read it twice, and passed it on to many friends, I would reccomend this book to anybody who loves the outdoors or simply reading about others' travels.

Colonel Vaughan has done things most people only dream or read about. Like many of us, the mundane, everyday life of living did not excite him. He embarked on many adventures, the likes of which have killed many people. He lived through them by using his head and depending on common sense and his innate skill to survive. He helped numerous people and made friends all over the world. He is now in his nineties and still going strong. Young people who can't find anything to do, should look to this volume. Perhaps they could find inspiration in what Norman Vaughan has done in his lifetime.

I read and reviewed this book for my on-line theater magazine -- The new off-Broadway musical about Coward's friendship with Gertrude Lawrence draws much material from this book as well so I found myself referring back to it for my write-up of that show -- both show and book are particularly timely as the Coward centennial celebrations get into full swing.

coward's longtime companion graham payn probably comes as close to coward as anyone ever will. he manages to artfully weave the details of his own life with a plethora of new anecdotes -- and old -- about sir noel. the added bonus is the appendices containing previously unpublished coward works, including a tenth play [!] written for "tonight at 8:30".

well worth your time...

"An engrossing portrait of this world famous and immensely gifted man,chronicled so frankly by his closest friend...A most vivid account of his career after the Second World war" - JOHN GIELGUD"I greatly doubt if anything written about the Master will ever be as fascinating,as perceptive,as amusing or as touching as Graham Payn's loving portrait." - RICHARD ATTENBOROUGH"It's simply terrific !...So funny and so sensitive." - ELAINE STRITCH"Stories I never heard before bringing Noel vividly to life." - LAUREN BACALL"I greatly doubt if anything written about the Master will ever be as fascinating,as perceptive,as amusing or as touching as Graham Payn's loving portrait." - RICHARD ATTENBOROUGH"It's simply terrific !...So funny and so semsitive" - ELAINE STRITCH"Stories I never heard before bring Noel vividly to life." - LAUREN BACALL

This is a marvelous debut by newcomer Johnny Mascari to the world of children's books. "My Light At Night" is great for young and old alike as Mr. Mascari transforms the terrifying bedroom-at-night scenario into a place of wonder and beauty. This book is a beacon of hope in the fear-filled night as it give courage to its young readers! If you are parent this book is a must have!

"My Light @ Night is a timeless inspiration. This simple story encourages the child within us all to face the unknown without fear."

A magical blend of words and illustrations: a heart-warming story for the child in all of us.

This short novella (about 20,000 words, close in size to a few of Cather's longer short stories) is a concentrated study of the decline and fall of a marriage. Cather herself agreed with the assessment offered by one of her contemporary reviewers: "there is the steady rhythm of the fundamental hatred of the sexes one of the other and their irresistible attraction one of the other."

The young and idealistic Nelly Birdseye describes the marriage of Myra Driscoll, her aunt's friend, to Oswald Henshawe. Their elopement incites Myra's uncle to disown her from a considerable inheritance, and the couple alternates between mutual bliss and impoverished misery. The fragility of their relationship is further imperiled by Myra's materialism and jealousy and Oswald's indolence and philandering.

"My Mortal Enemy" is, perhaps, one of Cather's most misunderstood novels, and the author seems to have intended that the title's meaning remain ambiguous. Most readers will assume, quite reasonably, that the "mortal enemy" who inflames Myra's inevitable disillusionment is Myra herself, and the text certainly supports such a reading. Yet in correspondence to friends and other writers, Cather admitted that she "had a premonition . . . most people wouldn't [understand]" that Myra's "mortal enemy" was Oswald, since he could never satisfy the excessiveness of her devotion, both to him and to others.

Although framed by the sparsest detail to be found in Cather's fiction, the story's forlorn perspective and memorable characterizations make this one of her most powerful works.

We come to know the protagonist of this short novel,Myra Henshawe.through the eyes of a younger woman who at first admires her unconditionally and grows to view her and the motivations behind her behavior more realistically as she encounters her again as an older physically suffering woman.

The bitterness which she feels toward her husband ,covered over with friends and laughter, when they were young and successful is more openly expressed as they age and find themselves in economic straits.

The characterizations achieved in this very short novel are extremely memorable. An excellent one evening read.

Too often, popular knowledge of important writers is limited to one or two books which may be neither representative of the author's work as a whole nor the author's best. This is true of Willa Cather. Her early books, such as My Antonia and O Pioneers are widely read and widely praised as is, to a lesser extent a work from her final years, Death Comes to the Archbishop. There is a range of writing from Cather's middle years which may show her at her best, without the sentimintality of the earlier writings. These middle period books are, alas, not well known.

One of these books, My Mortal Enemy, is a short tightly-written tale which can be read in a single sitting or two. But its short length holds great complexity and pathos. The book is difficult to approach because it includes a largely unsympathetic heroine, Myra Henshawe.

Ms. Henshawe left small-town Illinois behind her as a young woman to marry the man she thought she loved. In so doing, she turned her back on a large inheritance. She lives the high life in New York City as the wife of a businessman. She knows writers, artists, but is incorrigibly jealous and has a sharp tounge and a biting wit.

The elderly couple find themselves in hard times and settle in San Francisco. Myra Henshawe, sharp tounged and critical as in her youth, says harsh, irrevokable things about her life and her marriage and modernistic art and culture. She returns for value to the ritualistic elements of the Catholicism of her youth, the religion of her uncle who disinherited her when she eloped.

The story is told by a third party narrator, as is My Antonia, who functions in varied ways throughout the story.

The story is about the well of bitterness, of lost sad lives, the limitations of romantic love and the tarnished heroine's view of religion as a possible source of redemption.