On-the-tape

Artist Julia Warwick falls from a horse, resulting in the loss of her eyesight. Doctors find nothing physically wrong with Julia. They conclude that she suffers from hysterical blindness though no one knows what psychologically caused this. Julia's mother brings her twenty-nine year old daughter home to Ridge's Race, Virginia to heal.

At about the same time, Julia's former lover, wrongly convicted Christian Carve, is released from prison. Reluctantly, he goes home where employment awaits him. Christian wonders who really killed Fidelity, the homicide he was incarcerated for, and why did Julia desert him. He soon wonders who sired her nine-year-old daughter. As Christian and Julia "see" each other for the first time since his trial, the sparks erupt, but too many crisis have befallen them for any hope of a future together.

FOX RIVER is a superb drama that works because the plight of Julia and the anguish of Christian seem so real. The story line is exciting and never slows down even when Julia's mother provides excerpts from the novel she is writing. In fact, those sidebars actually add depth and propel the plot forward. Emilie Richards shows why readers appreciate her works with this powerful tale that focuses on people in crisis.

Harriet Klausner

Ever since I read Richards' Prospect Street, I have been on the hunt for her earlier books. And this is one of them. Once again, she proves to be an author that I really would love to read more of. I don't have an idea why she's labeled in the romance section of the bookstore ~~ she hardly touches on the romance of relationships, she writes more about strong women and their journies in life. This book is just as good as Prospect Street if not better.

Julia finds herself blind after a horseback riding accident ~~ though all the specialists said that there were no physical cause for it. She returns home to Ashbourne with her daughter, intending to make her separation from her husband temporary. With the love and support of her mother, Julia begins to find her way back to life again. Her former lover is released from jail after evidence shows that he did not murder Julia's best friend ~~ and chaos erupted. Julia finds herself on the road to recovery ~~ but had to endure a lot of secrets that had lied dormant for too long.

Also, in this story is a novel that Maisy, Julia's mother, had written ~~ so this makes this book unique ~~ a novel within a novel. I was entranced from the first page to the last ~~ and I loved every moment of it. It's a mystery novel too ~~ and keeps you on your toes throughout the book.

I wish I had discovered Richards sooner ~~ her books are hard to find in the local bookstores ~~ and/or out of print ~~ because I am really enjoying the depth she brings to each woman in her stories. She makes them come alive and real ~~ like you and me. If you like an intriguing story that is full of descriptions and mystery ~~ this book is for you. It's a wonderful addition to anyone's library!

8-25-03

After a fall from her horse, Julia Warwick is diagnosed with hysterical blindness. An embarrassment to her husband, he has her committed to an institution where he tells her she will get well. It only takes days for Julia to realize that the last thing that will happen in the clinic is her getting better. When her mother, Maisy, offers a home to her and her eight year old daughter, Julia accepts. Back at her childhood home, Julia tries to heal so she can hopefully get her sight back. When Christian Carver suddenly returns to her life she knows nothing will ever be the same. For he is the one man she loved with all her heart and the one man she let down.

Christian Carver spent nine years in prison for a murder he didn't commit. When he was released after someone else confessed to the crime, Christian thought he would be able to go on with his life. He didn't expect to feel doubt about the confession, but he knew that until he knew exactly who murdered Fidelity, he would not have closure in his life. Then there is Julia whom he has never forgotten and soon learns to forgive. He just doesn't know if they have a chance for a life together even though he wants nothing more than to be with her and Callie for the rest of their lives.

In her normal fashion for writing, Emilie Richards delivers heartwrenching emotion and characters that will stay with you long after the last chapter has ended. Not only did we have Julia and Christian, but we were also brought Julia's mother, Maisy, who I loved from the first page. I can never put her books down and I look foward to the next one.

This book takes a frank look at anger in both children and parents. Nancy Samalin helps parents to feel less guilty about getting angry and she offers useful techniques to help both parents and children deal with this often troubling emotion. Parents will recognize themselves and their children in the familiar stories she includes. This is an important book that can be a continuing resource throughout the parenting years. I highly recommend it.

I am a father of 3 wonderful children but our relationship has been somewhat rocky at times. Samalin's book has not only helped me deal with my anger and feel less guilty but it has also greatly improved my relationship with all three of my kids. Samalin's book gives tons of practical examples of how to speak to your children in an affirmative rather than negative manner, and get them to do what you want without causing resentment. I've read this book twice and I plan to read it again so that I will continue to apply it's many useful concepts. Once you read this book you will definitely notice that you are more in control, calmer and can communicate with your children in a much more effective manner. This is by far the best book on parenting I have ever read and is an essential parenting resource.

I just finished LOVE AND ANGER and I have to say it is going to save my life! I was acting like a complete ogre with my kids (8 and 11) and was feeling incredibly guilty about screwing them up for life. My joke with friends about the therapy my kids were destined for, "Well there's another hour on the couch for so and so," was not so funny any more. This book was the answer to my prayers. It has given me so many practical tips on how to react to my children in less angry ways. I am already finding myself listening and empathizing more with my kids' feelings. It is a must read for parents.

Max Lucado goes in depth with The Lord's Prayer, taking an angle I have never seen before. He equates it to a home - God's home. A book that will give you goosebumps from cover to cover, and the motivation to search out God and make Him the # 1 priority in your life. Great for those whose walk with God has been put "on the bottom of the pile" in today's busy lifestyles. The Lord really uses Max in this one to convey some incredible messages. A MUST HAVE!

In this book, Lucado leads us through the Lord's Prayer. He has very creatively taken phrases of that prayer that we all learned as children to take on the characteristics of certain rooms in the Great House of God: the home that the Lord has constructed for each of us to share in. While I have studies religions for several years and been a Christian all of my life, I never understood the prayer that I recite every night until I had read this book. Littered with scriptural references, humorous anecdotes and even stories from his own life, Lucado illustrates his descriptions of the various rooms of God's house in a way that every one can understand. This book provides a way for those seeking God to see what He has done for them. and for those who already recognize Him as our Supreme Leader, Lucado gives a way to know him more. There is even a Study Guide in the back to use this book in a small group study, or even on your own. I would recommend this book to anyone who was seeking to know God for the first time, and for those who want to be closer to Him.

Why 5 stars?:
This is a book that deal less with inspiration and more with an understanding of who God is and why he has done what He has for us. Moreover, it does an acceptable job at explaining how we can get closer to God, because He wants us to be. The reader will understand who God is, what He gives us, and how we can show our appreciation.

Each Chapter has its very own message, and each really opened my heart with great understanding to God's love. I plan to purchase this book for my family members as a Christmas gift.

The witty picture book is often considered to be a relatively new phenomenon. In this day and age there's an abundance of sly hip little books like "Olivia" or "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus" everywhere you look. But clever picture books are by no means a new creation. I invite you to take a gander at the 1940s Caldecott winner, "Many Moons". If you don't find it the most sublime little work of art, I daresay I'll eat my hat.

In this story a little princess of ten years (going on eleven) become ill from eating, "a surfeit of raspberry tarts". The only cure she wishes for is for someone to get her the moon. Her father, the king, calls in his cleverest advisors, but no one can think of a way to bring the princess the moon. The court jester comes up with the answer, though by the end of the tale it is the princess who has shown true wisdom.

Author James Thurber is as equally well known for his witty cartoons in the "New Yorker" as he is for his books and articles. In this little gem he has taken his audience down a notch. Recognizing that wit and long words are just as appropriate for a five year old as a person of fifty, the book contains a series of delightful asides and ideas. For example, after listing his brilliant accomplishments to the king, the Royal Wizard points out that he also gave the king a cloak of invisibility.

"It didn't work," said the King. "The cloak of invisibility didn't work."
"Yes, it did," said the Royal Wizard.
"No, it didn't," said the King. "I kept bumping into things, the same as ever."
"The cloak is supposed to make you invisible," said the Royal Wizard. "It is not supposed to keep you from bumping into things."
"All I know is, I kept bumping into thing," said the King.

That's the kind of stuff I'm talking about. It's funny. It's well-thought out. And it's a joy to read. Coupled with a series of splendid illustrations by Louis Slobodkin (whose style is suspiciously reminiscent of Thurber's own) the text is complimented excellently. If you're ready to read words to your children that consist of lines like, "midgets, and mermaids, frankincense, ambergris, and myrrh", then you're in good hands with this author. To be perfectly frank, rather than write this review I'd love to just copy down the entire book word for word and show you myself how good it is. But then you wouldn't see the pretty pictures and this WAS a Caldecott winner, after all. So I'm just going to have to trust that you understand how supremely good this book is and that you'll rush right out this very minute and get it for yourself. Few books are worth such efforts, but this is one of the few.

This book deserves many more than five stars for being the best children's book I have seen in exploring the individuality of perception. James Thurber's marvelous wit is employed in a most Dr. Seuss-like way here to teach a lesson and create a laugh or two in the process.

Princess Lenore (who is 10, soon to be 11) becomes ill when she eats too many raspberry tarts. Gazing out her window, she sees the shining moon. The king, her father, asks what he can do to help her recover. She replies that if he gives her the moon, "I will be well again."

Being a doting father, he sets out to get the moon for her. He calls in each of his wise men, one by one, and they give him lots of reasons why she cannot have the moon. And they also waste lots of time bragging about all of the things they have gotten for the king in the past. In despair, the king doesn't know what to do. He complains to the Court Jester, who makes a most reasonable suggestion. In order to get the moon for the princess, "The thing to do is to find out how big Princess Leonore thinks it is, and how far away."

The answer to the question leads to a temporary solution.

But then, a new problem arises: How to explain when the moon arises the following night. The Princess again helps the Court Jester find the answer.

The story is developed in a most humorous and light hearted way. The satire will be easily understood by even the youngest child. The "wise" men really know nothing, and the "fool" is really wise. But Princess Lenore has the most sense of any of them.

The book is greatly enhanced by loose, free-flowing watercolors in beautiful pastel tones done by illustrator Louis Slobodkin. The book was awarded a Caldecott medal for the excellence of its illustrations, which I felt was well deserved.

This is an excellent book for parents to read to their children, and for parents and children to read aloud together.

After you finish enjoying the book, I suggest that you and your child also consider where else views differ from person to person. How can those differences create harmful misunderstandings? How can those misunderstandings be avoided? In this way, you can help you child learn to listen, ask questions, think carefully, and communicate better. That will be one of the finest lessons you can give . . . after the lesson of exhibiting your unconditional love.

Look at things from the other side!

This book is really sweet, about a princess who is sick and will only get well if someone will give her the moon. Her father the King loves her dearly and so is determined to get the moon for her, but who will help him? There is a subtle lesson about giving people what they really need and not just what they ask for. Also about the vast wisdom we each contain if only we will take some time to care

Like most of the books in this series, Armageddon Axis is a terrific action story. I particularly liked this one since it featured the return of Sindri, the evil dwarf from the first Outlanders I read, Parallax Red. It looks like Sindri is being set up as a recurring adversary for Kane, like Dr. Loveless is with Jim West. The plot in this one is compelling with new insights into the characters. Not only that, but the book ties in with one of the best Deathlands novels of the last few years, Stoneface. So much happens in this book it's best if everybody reads it for themselves. You won't be sorry.

Armageddon Axis is a prime example of why Outlanders is the best adventure series available. This one not only features the return of the nasty dwarf genius, Sindri from an earlier book, but it showcases a severe blow struck by the heros against the barons. As always, Outlanders is fast-moving with sharply detailed characters and lots of interesting plot devices, such as the Aurora spy-plane.

I would just like to say that for about the last 2 years,i have been reading both death lands and also outlanders.when it comes down to it,the last outlanders was the best.if you read the book you know what i am talking about!and as far as deathlands,i would have to say that shadow world really shook me up.because we as a people are on the same path as those who want to invade our world.

I read this book several years ago, and as I read recently Sebastian Unger's book "The Perfect Storm" I kept thinking how much more vivid were Mowat's descriptions of the perils of Atlantic Ocean ship salvage. Mowat knows the sea like a seaman (see his other books), not a blowfish journalist like Unger.

I first discovered "Grey Seas Under" about 15 years ago, appropriately enough as Able Seaman on an Ocean Salvage Tug. I was immediately enthralled. Out of the many books on the sea I have read, this one remains very dear to me (not that you have to be a mariner to enjoy it). Grey Seas Under is the true story of the ocean salvage tug, FOUNDATION FRANKLIN and the brave men who battled the North Atlantic to save hundreds of ships and thousands of lives. Farley Mowat, a master srory-teller, passionately desribes the exploits of FOUNDATION FRANKLIN with geat admiration and humor. Grey Seas Under is a true masterpiece saga of the sea. I've read this book probably 6 times in the last 10 years and I'm sure to re-read it for many years to come. I cannot recommend this book enough. I also highly recommend "The Serpents Coil" also by Farley Mowat, another first-rate tale of the sea.

The ocean-going salvage tug, 'Foundation Franklin' was more than a match for the worst the North Atlantic could throw at her, including Force 10 hurricanes and Nazi U-Boats. Perfect Storm, eat your heart out! Here is the real book about the great-hearted men and their staunch little ships that survived blow after blow from the Atlantic and bobbed up for more.

If the author, Farley Mowat is sometimes guilty of over-the-top prose---well, he lived and worked on the Franklin, and he loved her sturdy lines, her jaunty roll, and every rivet that held her together while she rescued ships that were Goliaths to her chubby, little Baby Huey. No work could have been more dangerous; none required a higher degree of seamanship and courage than dropping a line on a berserk, lunging, steel-hulled freighter, and then towing her through the maw of a mid-December gale, or the shoals and 'sunkers' of the Newfoundland coast---something the Franklin did so many times that her crew lost memory of all but their most freakish or man-killing expeditions.

"Grey Seas Under" will give you an interesting perspective on the true maritime heroes of World War II. Farley Mowat doesn't pull any punches when he describes the tension that existed between the expert seamen on the ocean-going salvage and rescue tugs, and their relatively 'amateur' counterparts on Canadian and American naval warships. Some of the funniest scenes in the book involve convoys of merchant ships under the 'protection' of corvettes and destroyers. Once a U-Boat had been sighted and the merchants steamed for cover, it was up to the Franklin to rescue the ones that ran into each other or shoaled themselves. Usually, the tug had to perform her duties without any cover from the warships.

"The days the salvors (tugboat seamen) spent tethered to fat and crippled merchantmen, crawling along on a straight course at a speed of two or three knots like mechanical targets in a shooting gallery, were the kind of days that would drain the courage from the most heroic man alive...The Germans knew, that for every rescue vessel sunk there would be a score of crippled merchantmen who would never make safe port."

This is a great book about men against the sea, even though the language gets very nautical at times. Read it and you will learn all about Lloyd's Open Form, and the tricks that wrecked merchant masters play to cheat tugs out of their salvage fees. You'll learn to tell the difference between 'Monkey Island' and the poop deck---and the difference between 'brass monkeys' and true seamen. You'll thrill to the dangers of sunkers, beam seas, and Arctic white-outs. You'll bite through your pipe-stem, just like the Franklin's captain did during those tows when his sturdy little tug steamed back into port with barely enough coal in her bunkers to "cook a pot of beans."

Someone ought to make a movie out of "Grey Seas Under." It's got everything---romance (between man and ship, at least); life-and-death adventures; heroism; humor; and the treacherous ice, wind, and sea of what the author respectfully refers to as 'the Great Western Ocean.'

Journey Through Pet Loss is an insightful, creative, and heartfelt odyssey through the loss of a beloved companion animal. As an experienced drama therapist, Deborah Antinori understands the importance of using creativity and imagery to help move grief from the intellectual realm, to the emotional one. Anyone suffering from the loss of a special friend should experience Deborah's unique approach to healing. She provides valuable ideas in a way that feels very personal and meaningful.

In Journey Through Pet Loss, Deborah Antinori address every aspect of losing a beloved family pet including coping with feelings, memorial tributes for animals, burial and cremation issues, grief phases and tasks, complicated mourning, associations to other losses, what to tell children, and other forms of pet loss such as lost pets and pets who must be given away. This two-cassette, three hour, audiobook production is technically flawless and will prove to be an invaluable and much appreciated addition to personal, school, and public library collections.

Sometimes losing a dear animal friend can seem more overwhelming than the loss of a human in our lives. This is one of the many things that complicate the grieving process. The author explains that there are many bounds set by society and our own inner voice that attempt to dictate how long and how much we should mourn a beloved companion's passing. She explains why the loss of an animal can be a much more raw experience than the loss of a family member, friend or relative because of the mixed feelings and complicated relationships that we have with other humans. That simple, loving animal spirit that was so close to you is suddenly gone. There is no buffering element, no memories of a heated exchange that soured your relationship - nothing to blunt the pain. This can bring feelings of confusion and guilt, or painful memories of the loss of a child or spouse, and many other emotions. The author does an excellent job of explaining the reasons for these feelings, and suggests many different ways of working through them. She explains the phases of the grieving process and where to find help if serious emotional states are triggered. She also explains that we frequently project a part of our own psyche onto our pets, which can unleash unexpected effects on their passing.

Despite the fact that I might have made this sound rather technical, it is not. The author puts forth a very gentle and concerned effort to do what the title implies - help you through the journey of pet loss.

This is a great follow up to Blue Heaven, which should be read first since they refer to some scenes in this book. The same cast of zany characters come to life again here, in equally as insane scenarios. Similar character acts comparison: Lucy and Ethel.

Move over, Donald and Ivana, the Chammmmmmmmpions are here! Peter Champion is a low-life who made it big, and he is the epitomy of nouveau riche. His wife, Elsa, who "ovulates Faberge eggs", is a Boston fish-wife dressed in diamonds. But never fear! Our wholesome (sort of) heroes of the "Blue Heaven" fame are here to skewer the Chammmmmmmmmmmmpions for the pleasure (and hysterical laughter) of the audience.

Add to it a Malcolm Forbes charicature, whose exploits range from appearing to date divas to running around like a demented little elf after his under-age houseboys, and you have a rather nice setting for another Joe Keenan farce.

Some words of warning:

(1) You *will* laugh out loud: I saw a distinguished actress (Bea Arthur, no less!) reading this book on the plane, and she was laughing practically non-stop. And you know that laughter carries!... :^)

(2) You will have a hard time putting this book down: after having read it at least 3 times, I still finish it in one "seating".

And (3) if you are homophobic, don't bother: you won't get the humor, and you will only increase your blood pressure. For everyone else who can appreciate a 20s-style romp in the highest of camp styles, this is a great book!

Even better than the first book, Keenan's humorous take on gays and New York is entertainment of the first rank. Anyone who can do analogies to Gershwin, Philip Glass and Charlotte Corday has lots going for him in my book. This time Philip Cavanaugh gets roped in by Gilbert Selwyn into an on-going feud between rival millionaire publishing magnates. Philip knows better than to get involved in another of Gilbert's schemes, but gets trapped by love--the initiator of the plot is this beautiful man named Tommy Parker who Philip falls madly for. Of course, Claire gets involved as well (without knowing Gilbert's involvement or the actual scheme) and the books is an exciting ride to the last page.

My only disappointment is that, as far as I know, Keenan hasn't written any other books. Someone hurry up and give that man a contract!

With a mingling of joy and sorrow, I have completed the gift of Brendan O'Carroll's trilogy of the Agnes Browne family. I wish these books could go on forever, they are that lovely.

"The Granny" is steeped in beautiful sentiment that is this family. The lives of the Browne brood as adults are examined, winding the reader down many streets of promises, with painful detours along the journey. The telling of their tales is vintage O'Carroll, rich with humor, drama, and the fragile aspects of life that makes it honest.

Give yourself a wonderous treat and buy the trilogy. Like me, you will become enthralled with this family, marred by flaws, detoured by mistakes, but enduringly loving. I adored these books, and can only hope Brendan O'Carroll will take pity on his fans and write more sequels!!!

The Granny was great. It wasn't overdone and had just th right mixture to finish off this great trilogy without letting you down.

Brendan O'Carroll did a spectaular job, again. He giave us just the right mixture of laughter and tears. Again you were on the edge of your seat wondering what would be next. There were a few items that he illuded to but you knew the out come of each illusion before he let on and you were ok with that it make you feel smarter and like a member of the family.

As with the other book the ending was perfect, simple, sweet and honest. There are no Hollywood endings here and not everything happens the way you think it should.

Buy all the books at the same time and become a member of the Browne clan. It's worth the trip.

You just can't go wrong reading Brendan O'Carroll. Agnes is great reading material. Couldn't put it down until it was finished and then was sorry it was over.

Don't get me wrong, I love Baxter Black. His poetry is great, and his columns are fun and enjoyable. This book had its moments, too, but is a cluttered, frenetic read that could have used a sterner editor. Pared down, this book could have been a howlingly funny novella, instead of an amusing novel. Call me stuffy and all, but it gets tiring weeding through all of the invented silly names for people peppered throughout. No one in this book has a normal name, and what can be occasionally clever becomes a literary device bordering on tedium. Okay, as a comedy-fantasy this book does work for me, as the scenarios are much too fantastic to even smack of realism, and after awhile I gave up and read it in that light. It works, ignoring the intrusive attempts at cleverness, but for the next one, Baxter, throw in a couple of Jim Bobs and Tammys.

Those who read this first attempt at fiction by Baxter Black purely for the pleasure of it will come away with both an increased appreciation for Mr. Black's razor sharp wit and a newfound respect for rodeo cowboys. Those who read it (Seabeck, WA) while attempting to force it into some category will simply miss the point. This story does not pretend to be anything but pure entertainment, and the word "tedium" simply cannot be applied to a book that the average reader will finish in one or two readings. Trim it down to novella length? It's only 210 pages long! Simply sit back and enjoy yourself without constantly thinking about how you would have written it differently, and your jaw muscles will soon be aching! And when was the last time you laughed out loud while reading?

Any fan of Baxter or rodeo will enjoy this book. Blacks habit of interupting the story adds a whole new level of humor to the story. His down to earth and simplistic approach to life's curve balls is furthered as he takes on a variety of topics. Without a doubt this is worth the read.