No comments about The Summer of a Dormouse.

2 comments about A Picture Book of Thomas Jefferson (Live Oak Readalongs).

1. Adler does a superb job in the "A Picture book of..." series. The book has lots of biographical information but presented in such a manner that young students will not be bored. Great illustrations on each page give little ones lots to look at while listening. The book concludes with a timeline of important dates. Good resource material for grades K-3 as an initial introduction to key people in US history.



2. This Book explains the life of Thomas Jefferson. It starts out explaining how his father died when he was very young, leaving him the man of the house and with a lot of responsibilities. The book also explains how Jefferson always loved reading and decided that it would be good to go to college for law. He was the person who wrote the declaration of independence and was the secretary of state for George Washington. He also served two years as president himself and established the University of Virginia. The book also tells how upset Jefferson was when he lost his wife and daughter.
   I liked this book because it told about Jefferson's life in a way that wouldn't bore children. It was really colorful and it was fairly easy to read. It is a book that children could pick up and really get into where as other biographies might just be boring and something children would only read when they had too.
   I think that the message this author is trying to send out is just what an important person Jefferson was. It seems that he really wants children to be able to get into books with biographical context and not find the subject to be dull and boring. The book also has the pictures that really jump out at you which children really love.

No comments about Evelyn.

5 comments about Out of the Depths: Library Edition.

1. While the mention of the name John Newton (1725-1807) will probably elicit a blank stare from most people, there are very few people who are unfamiliar with Newton's most famous composition - the hymn "Amazing Grace." Those familiar with the hymn most likely do not know that - prior to becoming a minister and a composer of hymns - Newton was a slave trader, a scoundrel, a ruffian, etc.

   This book is Netwon's autobiography. I recently read it in one sitting and must say that I was incredibly humbled by Newton's account of his life. (This book broke scabs off of my heart that I thought were petrified!) There is no way that one can read this book and thereafter not have an added appreciation for Newton's lyrics (e.g., "amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me").

   Newton's story puts flesh on the verse: "[God] determined the times set for [man] and the exact places where [man] should live. God did this so that men would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though he is not far from each one of us." (Acts 17:26-27)




2. Reading stories of how a sinner's life can be changed when he turns the leading of his life over to God renews my faith.



3. John Newton's story is totally absorbing and in some ways shocking for the times in which he lived! He was quite the wild man and yet, in his sin, God saved him. After reading this book it brought the true meaning of Newton's words in Amazing Grace to life. Truly, how sweet is the sound of grace to a sinner so depraved and so destined for hell. Hallelujah for such an 'amazing' book! Christians need more of these kinds of biographies to inspire and strengthen us in our faith. Read this book and rejoice!



4. After seeing the movie "Amazing Grace" I wanted to know more about John Newton and his experiences. There are some spiritual gems in this book but, even though this autobiography was updated to 21st century language, I found Newton to be overly pious--even feeling worthless.
   
   I was hoping for more details on his years as a slave trader but the sensitivities of the time probably prevented details that modern readers expect.
   
   Although I was disappointed in some ways, I didn't expect many of the moving spiritual thoughts Newton expressed. Maybe some of his experiences not described were so sinful and embarrassing that was the reason he didn't go into detail.



5. The story of John Newton's life is remarkable and fascinating and I was eager to read this book. I cannot complain about the facts presented in the book, only in the way they were presented. The story was told in almost sterile and unemotional language. This may be because John Newton recounted his history in a series of letters and it can't be expected that he would make it read like a novel. I still feel like I don't know the man John Newton, I just know about him.

2 comments about The Life of Oscar Wilde (Classic Fiction).

1. This is the book that helped resurrect the reputation of one of the most tragic figures in English literature. When this book was originally published, Wilde was nowhere near the iconic figure he is now accepted as. Dying in poverty and disgrace in 1900 in Paris, (where all "bad" Englishmen went in the 19th century!) Wilde was still anathema to the "Establishment" for close to a half century afterward. Today, a bust stands in Westminster Abbey, and Hesketh Pearson's biography can claim a good measure of the credit for it. Comprehensive, detailed and sympathetic without being hagiographic, this book is essential to understanding the enigmatic genius of Oscar Wilde.



2. This book was given as a gift to me and although being not the only biography of Mr Wilde that I own it is definately one of the most comprehensive. It has an easily structured layout and a highly detailed reconstruction of the great writer's life; this is recommended to any fan of Oscar Wilde who doesn't know all that there is but wishes to learn it from a totally different point of view. It can at times be slightly prejudiced and the reader must remember the time in which it was written. However this does not detract from the book and should be enjoyed by any fan, giving in its outdated view an insight into the changes undergone in the last 100 years to the appreciation of his life and work. Enjoy Reading.

5 comments about Steve Martin: The Magic Years.

1. You will believe that Morris Walker was best buddies with Steve Martin for six years in school a long time ago. You will also agree that while Mr. Martin has made some very smart career decisions and been quite lucky, Mr. Walker has had the opposite experience. This is, at essence, an extremely honest and open book about two show business careers with wildly differing trajectories.

   The world is better that this book was written. The author is a gifted storyteller with a couple of dozen good tales to tell. His loving outlook on life will charm many people. It made me nostalgic for my own high school days, about 12 years after these two.

   Ultimately, however, I felt more uncomfortable than charmed, because Steve Martin has so clearly moved on from his high school days and comes across as patient and tolerant of his old friend's two-decade obsession with writing this book. I don't need to know about the author's sister's hookup with Steve. Too much sharing for my taste.




2. "DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK."

   These are the words I wish someone would have said to me.

   As a Steve Martin fan, I feel duped. No doubt, Steve feels used.

   So, the only thing I have in common with Steve Martin is that we were both taken advantage of and abused by this ridiculous failure of words on a page by a neverwas that was his childhood friend. Pathetic.

   Sincerely, save your money and valuable seconds of your life.




3. The quality of this book can best be descibed as follows: a literary argument for book burning.



4. I've never seen such a perfect example of a childhood friend trying to exploit someone's success.

   Note to the author: you sir are a leech.

   This book is not funny. It lacks even basic structure. It is just sad.

   How could Amazon even agree to sell this rubbish?

   As a celebrity myself, I've actually given this to my famous friends as a guide and life lesson on choosing friends and the way it could haunt you later in life.




5. I loved this book, thank you!

5 comments about Ringo Starr (Beatles).

1. Its like this, until there is a better book on Ringo, (the most well known Drummer in the 1960s, and probably R&R) this is the one. And Clayson does it with lots of quotes from Ringo and people who worked with him and knew him. Because Ringo really doesnt want a book written about him, with him getting totaly involved that is. So, if someone wants to write a book about him, I guess he says, "Go ahead, But no interviews" So some of it is Clayson's research, and lot's of quotes as I mentioned.You will learn about Ringo, you'll see a side of him that you may have never read. Is it a great book? not in the true sense, "great", is it a pretty good book? yes. Why not great? well, one reason, because there's no pictures. It makes up for that with things I never knew or heard in other Beatle books.This book is actually more like 3-4 stars, but it does get your attention at times, so I gave it 4. Is this all about the Beatles and Beatlemania? yes and no, its mainly about Ringo. That is after all what your looking for, and you hear his side of the Beatles through quotes, and quotes from some other people, too numerous to mention, put it this way, lots and lots of people. e.g. His ex-wife, other drummers sometimes, George Martin, the other Beatles of course, and many more.Sometimes the book drifts, but not too far. He talks about Pete Best, and Jimmy Nicol, but not too much, just enough probably. And mentions some things about them that you may not have heard.In this book Clayson gives us some quotes picked from various interviews (mainly from 60s-70s) so you can get Ringo's candid opinion's about his Drums, and other Drums, and Ringo's opinion's about a famous drummer or two, Such as Buddy Rich.
   Also we find out what Ringo usually did after tours,
   opinions about his children, his money, the Beatles, how he drank in the early days, and how he stopped, and much more.Is it a fun book with lists, etc.? sort of, at times, but no lists perse. Does it have some info you probably never knew? (sure you've heard some of it before) yes.The index is pretty good too, most Beatle books need an index.Learn some stuff not read often about The worlds famous Rock Drummer.Buy it and Enjoy.



2. As an inveterate Beatles fan, I was naturally drawn to this book. Clayson does an admirable job of following Ringo from his early days in the rough Dingle section of Liverpool to his years as a Beatle and beyond.

   Clayson's use of quoted interviews with people who knew and worked with Ringo is what makes this book so effective. I like the way he portrays Ringo as approachable, as somewhat humble about his stellar success as one quarter of the world's number one band. This is definitely worth reading.




3. This book was much harder to read than I expected. The author is British and expects that his readers are all British. Unless you have an intimate knowledge of England, its television shows, its local celebrities and its slang, it is easy to get lost. As an American, I found myself unable to follow a good deal of the book. I understood enough to get the gist, but feel I missed an awful lot of the information because it may as well have been written in a foreign language.



4. It seems this book was written for the author to show off how many big (and useless) words are in his vocabulary. Although it is filled with some good and valuable information you can't read more than a few pages at a sitting because of the writing style. If you took all of the useless words out the book would be about 75 pages.



5. Reading this was like running down to the cellar to change a fuse in your bare feet during a thunder and lightening storm, with the floor covered in broken glass and thumbtacks.
   
   If you buy this book, buy a dictionary along with it. This author took a simple and easy read subject and turned it into pain-filled bother. The information, I think, is there. You'll need to crawl up sharp rocks on the hottest day of the year with no water, to get to it though.

No comments about Ricky Martin.

2 comments about Elsie's Motherhood: Library Edition.

1. I love all of the Elsie Dinsmore books, but this is one of my favorites. Elsie Dinsmore Travilla makes a wonderful Christian parent along with her husband Edward. Their children are not perfect, just like all of mankind, and yet they train their children in a godly way. As always, one can see how Elsie puts her faith in God, especially when the Ku Klux Klan attacks their house in the intent to harm her husband, and when her eldest child, Elsie, becomes very sick. Also, she learns to grieve for herself and for others, yet rejoice for those who are Christians and have only gone before to that wonderful place called heaven. I recommend this book to girls and ladies of all ages, mothers, married, and single.



2. "Elsie's Motherhood" is one of my favorite Elsie books. Elsie is a good mother to her children, and her children are very virtuous and obedient. I think Elsie handles her children's problems very well. I enjoyed reading this book, and it is very well-written for girls of all ages.

No comments about Rise & Fall Of Michael Eisner: The Man Behind the Mouse (New Millennium Audio).