Street

I really enjoyed this book. I had kept this book around with many others in my library for years and finally read it this year. It was enscribed as a gift to my aunt in 1945.

Elizabeth Goudge has captured my heart in her writings of Green Dolphin Street. She offers an interesting story of two sisters in love with the same man and the twist this takes in all three of their lives, as well as an ability to express life philosophies that mirror what I have felt and believed throughout my life. I was so surprised to find these insights into human nature so wonderfully written in a novel, that I found myself marking pages to read again.

This book flowed well and kept my interest. Ms. Goudge's descriptions allowed me to be able to picture and share in the lives of the characters. I would look forward to reading it each evening and not skip to the end as I have done in the past with some books. If you want to experience what I call an opportunity to read a book that offers a depth of talent and character that I don't see today, then I recommend this book for a pleasant experience.

I first read Green Dolphin Street as a teenager after seeing a television replay of the MGM movie version of the book and becoming curious about 19th century New Zealand and the Maori civil wars. Since then, IÕve reread it two or three times and always find myself engrossed in the characters and the wonderful descriptions of the landscapes they inhabit. Goudge is a very lyrical writer whose vivid portrayals of people, places, and things stimulate your imagination and make you feel you are right there living the story with them. A strong thread of spirituality or religion runs through her books, which isnÕt my personal cup of tea, but the author never lets these elements take center stage. Her focus is very much on character and character development, and she creates complex individuals who are multi-dimensional Ð never black and white. They keep you interested and turning the pages to find out whatÕs going to happen next.

The basic plot in Green Dolphin Street follows the life choices of two very different sisters, Marianne and Marguerite, and the man they both love, William Ozanne. All three form a bond as teenagers living on the island of Guernsey in the English Channel during the mid 1800s. The author does a truly marvelous job depicting the charm of the windswept city of St Pierre Ñ its sunny sheltered streets, high-walled gardens, and tall granite houses, all softened by roses, hydrangeas, lavender hedges, and tangled vines. Marianne at age 16 is dark, elfin, and intelligent: ÒThere might have been beauty in her black eyes had they not been so needle sharp under the heavy black brows . . . and so full of a hunger that disturbed one in the eyes of so young a girl . . . and the lips, folded in so mature a repression of her passionate temper, and the brain that was too quick and hard and brilliant for her years and sex.Ó Marguerite, at age 11, is gentle and easy-going: ÒShe had taken to herself her motherÕs fair beauty and as muchÑand no moreÑof her fatherÕs intelligence as it was desirable that a pretty child should have, and to them some good fairy had added something else, the best of all gifts, the power of enjoyment, not just animal enjoyment of good health and good spirits but that authentic love of life that sees good days.Ó

Each sister quickly and secretly determines that William is the love of her life. William, in turn, is immediately drawn to one of the girls, but he is a somewhat absent-minded and indolent lad and when as a young adult, making a living harvesting lumber in New Zealand, he sends for his true love, he writes the wrong name in the letter! The consequences of his mistake and how he and his new wife hammer out their relationship (over the next 40 years) is the focus of most of the book. The changes each of the three main characters goes through during the course of the novel reflect three deep cravings of the self: the restless craving that makes man a wanderer looking for a better country, the craving of the lover searching for the perfect mate, and the inner craving for perfection and spiritual purity.

In contrast to civilized St. Pierre, life in turn of the century New Zealand settlements was rough, crude, and often dangerous. Again, Goudge does a great job evoking the atmosphere of New ZealandÕs primitive forests and WilliamÕs lumber camp. ThereÕs also some great actionÑan earthquake and a frightening attack by rebellious MaorisÑas well as wonderful secondary characters, including the foul-mouthed parrot Old Nick, WilliamÕs mentor Tai Haruru (a former Englishman gone ÒnativeÓ), colorful Captain OÕHara and his glorious clipper ship, and the crippled fiercely loyal first mate Nat. For those who enjoy a complicated romance taking place in exotic historical settings (think Forever Amber and Gone With the Wind), I think youÕll like this book.

I read this book to shreds when I was a teenager. It is quite old-fashioned in its setting, but the strong story and the personalities could never be old-fashioned. The two sisters, Marguerite and Marianne, are very different and represent two different possibilities for a woman's life. Strong-minded Marianne's personality is more stylish according to the standards of today, but gentle Marguerite has a strength and wisdom of her own that one could also learn from. The part where the sisters talk to each other as old ladies is one of my favorite things in all literature. I also love the depiction of the (really clueless) character William that the girls are both in love with and how he grows as a man, even though he is never that bright. If you read this, you won't be sorry. As one reader noted, there is some silly thinking about people from other races in certain parts of the book, but although I am black, I found this only mildly annoying and I think it can be easily skipped over.
And one of the most interesting sections in the book is when Marianne is forced to live as a Maori and learns a great deal of respect for them and their way of life, in spite of herself. The destruction of their culture is presented as a tragedy, in a very thoughtful way.
Goudge was a very intelligent writer and should be better known. You need to read this book with an open mind; the characters don't behave as we are taught to expect to in the late twentieth century, but there is much to think about and much to learn. Certainly it will make you question some of your assumptions about women's lives.

New Orleans, Louisiana--1845

From the moment Simon Fear saw Angelica Pierce at her Mardi Gras party, he knew he had to have her, even if that meant killing her two suitors. However, Angelica has a surprise of her own--she is just as eager to get rid of them as he is. She later reveals to Simon that she, too, is involved in the occult and wishes to manifest her "power through evil". Clearly, these two are a match made in hell, perfect for each other.

Twenty years pass and Simon and Angelica Fear now live in Shadyside Village. They have five children and are extremely wealthy. It seems as though Simon has finally fled his family curse. That is, until one horrible afternoon when two of his daughters are brutally murdered in a twisted turn of events. Thereafter, the Fear couple shut themselves in and refuse to ever leave their mansion.

It's not until 35 years later, in 1900, that the final climax to the Fear-Goode saga occurs when Daniel Fear (the grandson of the above couple) falls in love with Nora Goode, a descendent of the Fear's mortal enemies. Nora is the one responsible for starting this trilogy in the hopes that the centuries-old battle between the Fears and Goodes would finally come to an end. And it does, but not exactly as she had hoped.

"The Burning" is the third and final book in The Fear Street Saga, preceded by "The Betrayal" (#1) and "The Secret" (#2). This is a must-read for those of you who have already read the previous two books. Highly recommended for Fear Street fans.

The Fear Street Saga: The Burning was the best part of the books of all! Especially about Simon Fear how he had escaped the curse for a little while by changing his spelling of his last name. It didn't work when his two daughter were at each other! And then when Daniel came to visit that his Granfather Simon and Grandmother Angelice went out of their minds. I like the romance when Nora and Daniel decided to hook-up. That was awesome. I like that the best, and when they sneak out to get marry, but then what was really sad was that Daniel had plemish with his grandparents in the fire! I hate that!

This book was absoutely great! I suggesty this book to all Fear Street lover who like different combinations of events. Go out and buy or borrow! This book is TIGHT!

Simon thought he could escape his family's curse by changing his last name from Fier to Fear. He was dead wrong. The Fiers and the Goodes have been at each other's throat ever since the fiers had an innocent girl put to death. Her father (a Goode) put a curse on the Fiers so that he could get his revenge on the Fiers.

This is a tragic story. I read this book in less than 4 hours. The plot is gruesome and there's a lot of twists in it. The part when Simon and Angelica drank blood was just disgusting but it goes to show how evil they were! i recommend this book to anyone who loves a good horror story. This is the most intriguing book i ever read. All that's missing is a happy ending.

Imagine if you will a poor, inner city, Caucasian girl living with an elderly, middle class, childless black couple. An aspiring college athlete accepts a basketball scholarship to the University of Maryland too late and there are no dorm rooms available. Through a university program Peggy Margaret Dana is able to bunk at Doris and Martin Ellen's home for the semester. What she and her surrogate parents learn are lessons in humility and unconditional love.

Peggy Dana never knew what it was like to be loved by a parent who set boundaries. The product of a single parent home due to the death of her father, Peggy had it rough growing up. Because her mother worked two jobs, she was expected to be the caretaker to her younger siblings and the children of her mother's boyfriend. Bitter and depressed, Peggy's mother did not encourage her to attend college, was resentful of the fact that she did and was jealous of the relationship that she cultivated with the Ellens. Throughout Peggy's four years and beyond with the Ellens, she learns the true meaning of giving and accepting love.

Told through the voice of Peg some twenty-seven years later, we the reader are able to capture the spirit of Peg, the Ellens and their extend families. The other characters that are sprinkled throughout add a flavor to this wonderful recipe that dabbles in race relations, joy and pain. 22 Friar Street is great coming of age story adequately examining the "Cycle of Life" and the "Ying and the Yang." "It's all a cycle; the ultimate in life is giving, sacrificing for others." 22 Friar Street will touch your soul and stay with you long afterwards.

Imagine being young and talented and having the opportunity to go off to college
and better yourself. Also, imagine a family life that's riddled with poverty,
abuse, and responsibilities beyond what any teenager should have. This is the
life of Peggy Dana, a while teenager who ise offered a basketball scholarship to
play at University of Maryland. Her mother, who initially insists she stay home
and help take care of her siblings, reluctantly lets Peggy Dana go off to college.

Due to the dorms eing filled, it's arranged for Peggy Dana to live with a couple
off-campus during her first semester of college. The couple, who is black, and
Peggy Dana are somewhat shocked to find they don't have race in common, but the
journey that the trio experiences as they live and love together will outmeasure
any differences they have.

DeVincent-Haye's novel, 22 Friar Street, was an excellent read. I was quickly
brought into Peggy Dana's mind and world and felt the conflicts that dwelled inside
her about her family back home and her family with the Ellens. Each character was
vividly drawn, with individual feelings, personalities, strengths, and weaknesses.
I was touched by the gentle way the race issue was dealt withi n this story, though
I did find the "Mister"/"Missus" references by Peggy Dana a bit too much to take at
times. Overall, 22 Friar Street was an extremely fast read for me, that touched me
and moved me and made me care about the characters and the problems they faced.

Reviewed by Shonie Bacon

22 Friar Street is an exquisitely written novel by Nan DeVincent-Hayes about Peggy Dana, a young woman struggling through school and college, and her relationship with an African-American family. 22 Friar Street is highly recommended as a touching, refreshing story revealing the positive side of the human condition, and the balance between the friendships of ordinary people.

This is one of my favourite books. It's absolutely excellent and I couldn't put in down! It is told by Nora Goode and follows her story of the Fear Street family and curse. If you haven't read it yet then I strongly advise you to read it now!

this book is awesomely awesome!! Its truly amazingly written, has so much feeling and not to mention the whole fear family! wow you read every single word as if you're living the story with them, you get sad for them and you get happy when things turn for the best for them. Really, sometimes I feel as if I know all the characters in the story, as if they're really living with me. The three books are all so interconnecting that you'll find yourself remembering what each one did and said even if it was ten years back or something.
The main and most important note to describe it is that this is the BASE story of the fears. It describes how all the hate and revenge started in the first place, you absolutely MUST read this before starting your fear saga collection.
this is such a heaven sent gift :D I love it, its my favorite book so far!! I recommend it more than anything! you're gonna miss half your own life if ya didnt get it ;)

I read this book when I was 13 and became totally enchanted by it. I lost the book, and ended up buying used for $20.00, but when I read it again, I was able to understand and totally wrap myself into it, and read faster than I did before. 19 years old and reading these books, cheap little thrills. I wouldn't reccomend this book to anyone younger than 13 because of the strong violence that occurs. Other than that, if you love the dark-side..read it.

While the underlying purpose of most Christian fiction is to get a positive message to people, few actually allow the reader to walk away having truly been taught something. "The Lights on Tenth Street" is the exception. This book is not only a story, but a teaching/warning to most everyone who has a problem with their thought life. While the focus of this book is primarily the battle in the mind against lust, the message can be applied to any bad thoughts. If you allow something to begin in your mind, it will only grow worse and cause problems.

This book shows the life of two main characters. Doug is a father and husband who finds himself battling with his thought life and losing. Ronnie is a girl whose dreams of college seem impossible...until the opportunity to use her body for money opens the door. Both have people praying for them, and both are pawns in a much bigger scheme.

Shaunti's writing is stark and real, and she pulls no punches with the reality of pain surrounding the battles of the flesh. The most amazing thing is the fact that she can cover such a subject in a novel so thoroughly and yet never stray into making the book explicit in any way. All of the scenes are implied, while the consequences are plain. I haven't seen such truthful writing in a long time. I highly recommend this novel!

This was an amazing read! I picked this book up knowing nothing about this author and after reading it, can't wait to read anything else she writes. The Lights of Tenth Street challenged me to see things through the eyes of others, to see past just the physical happenings of life and to see what God may be doing in the spiritual realm as well. I love the way Shanti researches her subjects and pours her heart into this book. It is exciting and keeps your attention throughout as it seeks to awaken the heart of the reader.
If you read this book your life will be touched... I know mine was!

Ronnie Hanover works on one end of Tenth Street. Doug Turner lives on the other end of Tenth Street. Ronnie works at a "gentlemen's club" while Doug lives in an upscale housing subdivision. Two ends of the same street, yet worlds apart.

When the two ends of Tenth Street collide, Doug and Ronnie will have to fight for their lives. But the fight isn't just against human attackers. Spiritual enemies are out for blood as well, and they have their sights set on spilling Doug's and Ronnie's blood.

Shaunti Feldhahn has done what few authors are able to do: she has written two stories, each of which could have sustained a book on its own, and woven them together into one of the most compelling stories of the year.

The first story is about sexual addiction and how it affects family, friends, and the church. This book may be written by a female, but the addiction point-of-view is from a male. As noted at the end of the book, Shaunti did plenty of research and interviews before attempting to write this part of the story. Chances are many men will see some of Doug in their lives.

The second story is the novel part of the book, which involves Ronnie and her job at the gentlemen's club. Unfortunately the club is just a cover for a terrorist organization. This organization uses a clueless Ronnie, and other stage girls, to help them blackmail top managers and officers of companies (including Doug) into unknowingly preparing for the biggest terrorist attack ever on U.S. soil. When Ronnie finds out that there is more to the club than meets the eye, she will have to run for her life. Her flight will land her on Doug's doorstep. Now they both must stay alive long enough to hand the FBI the evidence needed to stop this terrorist organization.

Many people will probably be turned off by the first half of the book, which methodically follows Doug stumble into pornography and his slow rise back onto God's path. But there is a lot of truth to this tale. And the reward for reading through this truthful fiction is an exciting conclusion that will make it difficult for you to put the book down.

After finishing this wonderful mystery set in early
1800's London, I was delighted to see that the author,
T. J. Banks, was at work on his next Bow Street Runner
book. I absolutely love books set in 19th century London and
New York City, e.g. The Dress Lodger, The Alienist, Laurie
King's Sherlock Holmes tales...Beekeeper's Apprentice, etc.
This definitely rates among the best of this genre. I was
fascinated with the language and oftentimes unfamiliar terms
that cropped up throughout. Not only were historical events
and people (Wellington, Bonaparte, Lord Byron) included, but
the plot of this mystery was well thought out and unpredictable.
Henry Morton is a Bow Street Runner - a constable who is
brought into a murder because of his acquaintance with Arabella Malibrant, a beautiful actress of the time. The investigation takes him to the Otter, a flash house (house of ill repute)
that caters to men who enjoy young girls. The eventual
outcome hinges on the testimony of a most unlikely witness.
Banks has managed to capture this period of London's history, including a dark setting, corrupt police, public hangings,
perverse habitues of the Otter, the rich and the famous, and
a story that cries out for another Bow Street Runner tale.
Hurry, please.

In 1815 London the Bow Street Runners are the nearest entity to a police force that the city has but it is not looked upon favorably by the public. The Bow Street Runners are not paid a salary but earn a commission when a person they arrest is convicted and an even bigger reward if that person is hung.

Henry Morton is a Bow Street constable who is an honorable man. He obeys the laws and doesn't take bribes to look the other way when a crime is committed. After boxing with Lord Byron at Gentleman's Jack, he is called to investigate the death of Halbert Glendinning who died in a coach that was driving him to his friend's house. A doctor who is a guest at the house says that the man choked on his own vomit but Morton believes it was murder. He sets out to investigate the man's death never dreaming that the inquiries will end with him in jail struggling to save his own life.

TF Banks has written a historical mystery that is very atmospheric and captures the ambiance of Regency England. The characters are very well developed and the hero is a man to admire, an individual who rises above the corruption that surrounds him. THE THIEF-TAKER is the first installment in what appears to be a fascinating series.

Harriet Klausner

Good fun historical fiction mystery. An engrossing adventure with great historical detail for added flavor. An excellent plane or beach read.

Dance of Death splits it's story 2 ways - there is the one set later in the century of the 1700's, and one set back a wee while when the characters first come about. This is an excellent idea and is used very well. We get to know the true nature of the characters, their motives and their ideas better. And it is all encapturing in its story, usually with these sorts of books, it's just like there is one great story you wanna keep reading, and the other one is really dragging on and you don't want to read it but you have to so you understand the ending. All the stories in this book are interesting, fun and really intelligent, so you are never bored. R.L. Stine uses descriptive language and good puncuation. If there was one flaw in this book, its that it may kind of leer itself off into the land of the ridiculous occassionally, but not very often. A great Fear Street read!

This story is very interesting as it has a very good line. It explains the history of how Justin Fear became very powerful and those who knew him had tried to destroy him. Until Madeline a young and beautiful woman, had shifted to Shadowbrook met him and fell in love with his unnatural look and was warned by an old woman and a ghost to leave right away before it's too late. The ending was really good...and I loved it. Keep up the good work R.L.Stine....and keep writing.

this was one of the best books i have. this is about a girl name madeline which this story goes during the 1700s fallin in love with a young doctor name justin fier who lives next door to her cousins house which she was sent to live there. but later she is warned by an old woman and a ghost to stay away from him becuase he hides a terrible secret. later in the end she discovers his terrible dark secret. this is really a good book i recommend it 2 any1 who loves these kinds of books.

This unusual, very helpful book is by a no-nonsense guy who presents straightforward talk about the real issues of dating and relationship. I find that his combination of practicality and personal experience is savvy, down-to-earth, and useful. "Useful" is the operative word here. I think of the chapters on reinventing yourself after the loss of a mate, strategies for finding and nurturing a new relationship, identifying women who may be emotional time-bombs, and being realistic about STDs. These -- along with subjects like meeting on the Internet, knowing when you're really serious, confronting money issues, fighting, and even breaking up (if things come to that) -- make this a great overall book on relationships. But I think its most notable accomplishment may be this apparent impossibility: it offers, in effect, a basic, practical course for men on romance. How rare is that?

"Build a Better Spouse Trap" says it's for men who have lost a wife to death or divorce, but it also turns out to be one terrific guide to creating a successful relationship, full of practical understanding for both men and women, whatever their circumstances may be.

Although the title of this book is catchy the implication of "trapping" a spouse comes across as a negative. The book really isn't about trapping a spouse and it is indeed a good book. The subtitle is more appropriate "A Street-Smart Dating Strategy for Men Who Have Lost a Love."

This book is written by a Board Certified Trial Lawyer from Newport Beach along "with" a Beverly Hills based psychologist who specializes in couples counseling.

Being myself recently divorced and having lost a love I found this book to be very realistic in terms of describing what losing a love is like and what the recovery process is like.

The chapters are:

1.) Coping with Loss
2.) How Life Goes On
3.) Getting Serious about a Relationship
4.) Into the Future

I found each of the chapters to be intelligent, realistic and honest. I felt that the author really has felt what I am feeling and has a pretty cutting edge approach to his understanding and to his perspective on solutions. He is frank about depression, about not being able to get out of bed etc.

The guts of the book are about forming a dating strategy to find your next spouse. The apporach is very structured, precise and well defined. Although that type of approach may have appeal to a limited number of personality types I found the chapters on Coping and How Life Goes On to be worth the price of the book.

In a nutshell this is the only book I've found that is sort of like having a 40 or 50 year old uncle or father give you very accurate, useful, practical advice on the most intelligent way to find a spouse and not screw up your life and end up in divorce.

As a man and as a Marriage and Family therapist I feel "Build a Better Spouse Trap" is an important book. To me there are two underlying themes that Mr. Wentworth is conveying to the men he talks to so clearly. First, Think! My office is full of men who didn't think. They reacted. They are now in trouble, and they are sorry.

The second important point the author makes is to encourage the reader to Feel! Or better yet, identify feelings that are already there. Too many men make serious relationship mistakes because they don't know how to feel the feelings they already have. The author makes this point well when he encourages men to "stop living on automatic."

The result of following the advice in the book is to make the relationship process conscious. He says we should actually become conscious in the process of finding our life partner.
Finally, encouraging men to find a good therapist is great advice. I find that with a straightforward approach that is cognitive and logical, men make great progress in therapy and they really enjoy the process.

Beyond that, they learn about themselves, what makes women tick, and in doing so gain enormous confidence.

The book is honest, fun to read, and practical. But the phrase from the subtitle "Street Smart" says it all. The book hands you exactly what you need to have on those dark nights as you are forcing yourself to get out of the car and nervously walk up to her door. One is tempted to take the book along and feverishly flip through the pages for the right advice when she is in the lady's room. It doesn't get any more real than "Build a Better Spouse Trap."

I think "Build a Better Spouse Trap" in a shot in the arm to those of us who otherwise would be lost and depressed hoping the random forces of the universe will finally make us happy.

I liked the book, but I had already guessed the ending even before I picked up the book. Still It kept me up all night. I got to sleep at four in the morning. I read this book while I was staying at my Grandmothers and her guestroom has no television. I stayed up all night sweating bullets, afraid to look in the stupid mirror afraid of seeing the stupid ghost of the angry mother or looking to my left and seeing the evil kid with a knife ready to slice right through me.

This Book was awsome! It scared me to death! great plot and more, one of the best Fear Street Books I have ever Read!...

this was one of the best books i have ever read its about Maggie being accused of killing her father and then she escapes and gets a job watching two young boys and then you'll have to read the rest if you want to know what happens!

Cis Frankel has done a great job of providing dog owners with an easy to read training guide. Urban Dog covers the situations and behaviors that all dog owners must learn about and deal with. Her training style promotes a bond between you and your dog, which is something absent in many other methods. She also stresses the importance of having fun while you train. I started in one of her "puppy kindergarten" classes before I knew about the book; I chose her based on recommendations of dog owners in my neighborhood. It has proved to be an excellent choice, and we have continued to the next training level with her. The book is a great reference tool, whether you have trained with Cis or not. She has a great deal of knowledge and talent with canine behaviour, and it comes through well in the book. I recommend this to every dog owner - particularly if you live in the city!

Cis Frankel has done an exemplary job with her new book Urban Dog! Canine lovers everywhere will benefit from the illustrations and well thought out philospohy provided by the Chicago based dog trainer/behaviorist. As a refresher course for dog owners or as a first glimpse at the sometimes complicated world of introducing your pup to city living Cis offers creative suggestions and methods for keeping your dog safe and healthy. This is a book you and your best friend won't want to put down.........here Max look at this page!!!!!

This, easy to follow, training manual is not just for the Urban Dog and its owner, these training methods are for everyone!

Frankel's training methods are well suited to any environment. Her tips are well researched and supported by experts in their fields. And the section on leash control is invaluable.

I have been active in the world of dogs for many years,but I never had amazingly well trained dogs until I met Cis. I have trained 5 of my own dogs with Cis, before, during and after the publishing of her book. My dogs are well known for their obedience, and manners. I can take them anywhere, be it city, suburb, country or hotel, and never worry about what they might do to embarrass me.