4 comments about Husband, Lover, Spy.

1. Fritz Stammberger found the perfect wife in Janice Pennington: pretty, not overly smart, unquestioning, and willing to marry a foreigner about whom she knew very little after a courtship of mere weeks...The perfect wife for a spy. Even before Pennington suspected her husband of a secret life there was plenty suspect about Stammberger. The guy liked to go off and climb big mountains solo, san oxygen, and when he couldn't get a climbing permit he'd enter sensitive, dangerous areas of the world illegally, hiking in through rough, unpatrolled country to bag peaks. This alone would (statistics prove) have guaranteed him a life span shorter than the one he actually lived as a captured spy. Pennington's story is poorly written (she's s spokesmodel, what do you expect?) and she doesn't get it that whatever her husband was up to, whether he was a spy or not it was illegal and he WAS NOT a US citizen--being married to one does not count when it comes to risky rescue and investigations. She barely consults her husband's country for help, preferring to spend years (during which Stammberger was apparently still alive) chasing after US intelligence officers who--obviously--couldn't and weren't required to hand over any information about a German national's activities in dicey area of the world. What is surprising is that Pennington gets any resolution at all--really. She reminds me of Gennifer Flowers--tenacious, if a little dim. A weird story that would be much more palatable if Pennington had gotten a ghost author to help her with her 8th grade prose.



2. Whenever we look at celebrities, we think of their looks, their clothes, their wealth. We don't think much of them as people. We don't think they have to take out the garbage, do their own taxes, we don't think of them as having or capable of having the same emotions or going through an ordeal that never leaves us--the loss of a loved one and the struggle to rebuild a life. Janice Pennington not only endured this, but also summoned the courage to face the demons that accompany that searing kind of experience and then went on to smile each day as one of "Barker's Beauties" and find true love again. Those of us who have been through a similar experience can read her book and think of her as a kindred spirit, a beacon of hope as we read of her battle to learn the truth behind the death of her first true love, who later became one with her and with her soul. These are the bonds that death truly cannot conquer, for in her story we can read of her determination and her ultimate indominatability as a human being. It is a lesson of bravery we can learn from.



3. I loved this book. It was so strange I actually read it twice and it was better the second go-round. The most interesting part of the book was the fact that Pennington's Husband was alive long after he left America and no one would really help in the search. Well written...yes but a little too dramatic at times. Don't let this stop you from reading this great book.



4. I read this because I grew up watching the Price Is Right. The story is interesting if true. I've never recommended it to anyone.

5 comments about Big George: Autobiography Of An Angel.

1. Praise be, praise be. This book shows you God's face, his hands, his especially prominent left thumb. Praise be, hallelujah. Oh yes. A beautiful work that will make even the ayatollah into Christian. Praise be.



2. I was given this book by a friend I met in support group. The hospital had given it to her when her 1-yr-old died. I found the book to be very comforting, and it brought tears to my eyes. It is a very religious book, and although I am not a regular attender of church, it made me certain that my son, who died as a preemie after only 27 days, was also an angel. I plan to buy several copies to give to other mothers I meet in support groups. It is a very short book and can be read in less than a couple hours, but has a powerful message to those who are grieving.



3. In the book they say the baby is "Forty-four grams, pound and a half". Well, just so you all know, 44 grams is not even 2 ounces! Approximately 595 grams equal a pound and a half. What a silly mistake...



4. I was given this book by my hospice counselor at some point after my daughter died, almost three years ago. She wasn't a premie in the nursery- she died the same day that she was born. We knew that she was going to die while I was still pregnant. Although the situation was different from that in the story- it still touched me so deeply that I read it twice within 2 days(and bawled both times). It helped me to see beyond my own view point- where I was with my pain and anger because of losing her. I was able to look at the bigger picture- not that I will ever be "glad" that she died, but it helped me to focus on the fact that she had a purpose- she profoundly affected me, my husband, our other daughter and all of those who were around her. I know that in her brief time here on earth she made a difference, and I think it was after reading this book that my attitude and view shifted to see that more. It helped me to remember that her legacy should be one of love and making a difference in others lives while we're here, not being angry for my losses and things that aren't fair(not that I don't even still have my moments). I love this story and will keep my copy to read from time to time whenever I need it- forever! I suggest it for those who have lost and are looking for a different perspective.



5. This small book tells a sweet, sad tale, but that is it. The length leaves little room for indepth character development or story line. If you are looking for a quick read, without much depth, this may be OK. The book was highly recommended to me by a friend, but I was disappointed.

3 comments about Abraham Lincoln: The Great Emancipatorv : Childhood of Famous Americans.

1. This has been one of the more interesting biographys I read. This book focoses in more on his childhood than more on his life in polotics.



2. My mom was always encouraging me to read biograhies. One day, my mom sat me on a chair and forced me to read at least one chapter. I didn't think I would like it, but I loved it! Tons of info on Abe Lincoln! Some conversations were added to make it more interesting, but most of it was true. I am reading tons of bios from the same series (the Childhood of Famous Americans series). I would encouage everyone to read this book and other books of the series!



3. Abraham Lincoln the Great Emancipator is a book written by Augusta Stevenson. It is 192 page biography.
   Abe lived in Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois.
   
   This story begins when Abe was a little boy, in Kentucky.
   
   He learned the ways of the forest, walking without making noise, learned to cover tracks and follow them, learned to hide, learned to crawl through grass without making it move.
   He learned the sounds of the forest and animals.
   
   His family moved to Indiana, this is when Abe was homeschooled, he was 10 years old at the time.
   
   Abe loved to read, write and to learn from books and people.
   He would walk for miles to borrow a book, and walk miles to return it.
   
   Abraham Lincoln was called "honest Abe" because of his integrity. He was also a very hard worker, always polite, funny, a good story teller and cared for others.
   
   No wonder he made a good president of the United States.

No comments about Billy.

4 comments about A Picture Book of Rosa Parks (Picture Book Biography).

1. I really enjoyed this book. It is filled with great illustrations and fun & interesting facts that make it a wonderful book to teach children about Rosa's life. I would highly recommend it for all teachers & parents to share with children.



2. David Adler has done a tremendous job with this biography as with the others in the series. The book is a great introductory biography for young students in grades K-3. Although his biographies have been criticized for being simplistic, I feel this is exactly what makes these books perfect for younger audiences. They were meant to be an INTRODUCTORY biography, not an exhaustive research study. Young listeners will not be bored and will not drown in excessive information. The book is abundantly illustrated with colorful pictures and concludes with a timeline of important dates. My kids, ages 5,8 and 11, love this series.



3. I hope every child gets to read a lest one Black history Book. Even grown men and women.Every person in this world should be able to fell What it was like to be in Black history and this book is prefect to help you.You will feel like you were there right next to Rosa Parks. If you your child or anybody else is interested in Black history I promise this is a book for you.



4. This suberb book helps know what happened during segregation. It really teaches you alot and has amazing pictures. If you need to read a great book to read this exciting book is the book to read! I would recommend this book to all ages because it really is that good!

No comments about A Memoir of Jane Austen (Classic Books on Cassettes Collection) [UNABRIDGED].

No comments about The Life and Works of William Butler Yeats (Naxos Audio).

No comments about Climbing the Stairs.

5 comments about Lee and Grant: A Dual Biography (#84170 - 8 cassettes).

1. There is not a lot new to be said about Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant. They are, undoubtedly, two of the most documented men in History. What is more important, when tackling this subject, is presenting the subject matter in an interesting fashion. In this regard, Gene Smith succeeds.
   
   By alternating chapters, between each of his subjects, the reader follows the lives of two men as they grow and develop. All the while knowing, they are destined to meet in ultimate contest.
   
   Even more than the book's interesting structure, I was impressed with Smith's well formed thoughts. The narrative is never disjointed or piecemeal, and all details are presented in context to the two men's lives, manifesting in a highly readable work.
   
   I laud Mr. Smith for an excellent effort. And I encourage readers, whether new or old to the subject of the Civil War, to read this book.



2. 
   I purchased my first biography by Gene Smith on Woodrow Wilson in 1963 and was suitably impressed to later purchase this book that was published in 1984.
   
   In fact, had anyone but Gene Smith written this one I would not have been interested. Having several biographies of both Grant and Lee on the shelf I would not be too keen on an author attempting to cover these men in one book. But I have to laud Mr. Smith that once again he has written a very readable and interesting biography.
   
   By alternating chapters and concentrating mainly on the Western Theatre in Virgina he has been able to give focus on both these military men. Interestingly enough the humble Grant and the aristocratic Lee both ended up in the same room having a similiar goal in mind: bringing the Union back to peace. I stood in that 'reconstructed' room at the McLean house in Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia, a short time back, and after all the years even the replacement room can still hold a certain historical feeling.
   
   This is a very good, basic biography of these two military leaders and adequate view of the Civil War in Virginia.
   
   Semper Fi.



3. True, documentation on Lee and Grant is extensive, and I enjoyed reading the book - in the beginning. But the minutest details of their lives are told without any kind of passion, making some of the certainly fictionalized mini-events quite boring. Parallelling their lives in alternating chapters would have been much more interesting had more emphasis been placed on the living conditions and philosophy of the time instead of this painstaking effort to details that read worse than the driest of dry history books.



4. The idea of comparing these two iconic figures in a single book seems logical. The author, I think, adds some suspense to the reading by swinging back and forth between the stories of these two men at points of common ground.
   
   Seemingly well researched, the author spends a sizeable amount of time to the pre-Civil War lives of Lee and Grant. This is good, because it is the less known parts of their lives. The post war years also get decent treatment. It's a smart move by the author not to overly reharsh the parts of the story we already know.
   
   If I were to criticize the writing, I would focus on only two points. First, the "early years" information seems overly long without explaining much about how those experiences helped to forge their future personalities. Second, the juxtaposition between Lee as the Scion of the Old South and Grant as the Ideal of the New North should have been driven home earlier. I think those changes might have helped turn this "good" dual biography into something special.
   
   My minor criticisms aside, this is a fine addition to the bookshelf of the Civil War buff in your life. Informative, well structured and not exhaustingly long, it's an enjoyable book.



5. I have been reading about the Civil War for almost 50 years. Despite what most of the other reviews of this biography state, I consider this book the most superficial review of Generals R.E. Lee and U.S. Grant that it has ever been my misfortune to read. However, I do agree with another reviewer that some parts of the book appear to be fictionalized. The book also includes many errors. In fact, the only reason I finished the book was my interest in seeing how many other errors I could pick out.
   
   For example, I seriously doubt that U.S. Grant spent months attempting to take Vicksburg with a northern, overland attack, and several river-borne attacks that were only meant to mislead the Confederates, so that he could finally attack the city by bypassing it and landing further south. I am a great admirer of U.S. Grant, but if he showed up at my house today and told me that the above was true, I would call him a liar. Yet this is exactly what the author suggests Grant did.
   
   Another example, the author claims on one page that a formation of 17,000 Union cavalry was the greatest number of cavalry ever assembled in the *world*. I bet the Mongols would find that amusing.
   
   A third error... The author mentions more than once that 10,000 Union troops died in the attack at Cold Harbor. Meanwhile, every other Civil War historian uses the figure of 7,000. Are they all wrong?
   
   Enough examples, if you want to read good biographies about Lee and Grant then there are a number of them out there, including Grant's own autobiography. A good one-book biography is The Rise of U.S. Grant, and there is an excellent trilogy: Captain Sam Grant, Grant Moves South, and Grant Takes Command

No comments about Memories Of Carl Gustav Jung.