5 comments about Goodnight, John Boy: A Celebration of an American Family and the Values That Have Sustained Us Through Good Times and Bad.

1. This is an episode by episode guide to each season, with some interesting behind the scenes information. For anyone who is (or was) a fan of the Walton's TV series, you'll thoroughly enjoy this book. The show, of course is a nostalgic reminder of an earlier era, and the TV series was new during a less complicated time in all of our lives.



2. I have re-established my love of The Waltons after watching the reruns on The Hallmark Channel the past few months - so I decided to geek out completely and buy this book and the Spencer's Mountain and The Homecoming novels and movies [in case you're wondering, Earl Hamner wrote those 2 novels, and Spencer's Mountain was made into a film with Peter (?) Fonda and Maureen O'Hara - then a few years later The Homecoming was made into a Christmas TV special movie. It is The Homecoming that directly inspired the TV series - the original cast of kiddos was in it (so little and cute! it was a few years before the series got started) but the parents and grandparents are different (Patricia Neal was the mom).
   
   Anyway, needless to say if you are a big Waltons fan the book is great, meaning better than not reading it, but as other reviews have alluded to, this book COULD have been really great, and it's just ok. There are a couple of typos and mistakes in the episode synopses, which makes it seem thrown together, and there are hardly any 'behind the scenes' photos of the cast, just a few here and there. How about an 'epilogue' saying what the whole cast has been up to the past 25 years - married, kids, writing, any more acting, etc.? And the big mystery as far as why Michael Learned and Ralph Waite were totally MIA the last episodes is never adressed. They each wrote something tiny for the bok so I would assume they didn't leave the series on a bad note - EVERYONE IS WONDERING! Why didn't they tell us? Also the guy who played Jason called the girl who played Toni, his Walton wife, the 'love of his life.' Does that mean they are married now? He even alluded to the fact that he dated a 'Lisa' during the show (Toni's real name) but never comes out and says it was her - why thy mystery? The best behind the scene stuff is from 'Elizabeth' - funny little nothing stories the fans love to hear. And 'Ben', 'Erin' and 'Jason' make a lot of comments, which is nice. Would really have loved to hear a lot more from the cast, though.
   
   The other nice thing is that Earl talks about his real family, what real facts inspired the series, and for hard-core fans there is info. on the Waltons museum in Virginia.
   
   For more Waltons stuff, you can buy the 2 novels like I said in the beginning, and the movies they made them into (I got all on Amazon). I do believe the also have seasons 1-6 on DVD now, if not all 9. Ye-hoo! :)



3. I really think people should read this book. If you are a TRUE Waltons fan like myself; you will enjoy it over and over again. It is what a family did to survive the depression times. I sometimes wish I lived back in that time with the Hamner family because they knew what life was all about and clung to their beliefs as a family. Family is the most important part in life and we shouldn't take them for granted.



4. I didn't realize that the Waltons was "loosely" based on Earl Hamner's young life. I enjoyed reading about his life and how he was able to get jaded Hollywood to see that people liked this kind of family show. I also liked reading about each of the actors and what each tv episode was about. It is an easy and enjoyable read.



5. I have always loved the Walton's. I have been enjoying watching the reruns on the Hallmark channel each morning. I bought the book to go along with the shows I have been watching. It is a great little book for anyone interested in this 70s show. I am 61 now and seem to be getting alot more out of the show than I did 30 years ago. The book helps me get a running idea of the development of the show since the reruns jumped from year one to year 7 in a three week period.

No comments about The Light Within: The Extraordinary Friendship of a Doctor and Patient Brought Together by Cancer.

5 comments about Girl Meets God: A Memoir.

1. For months I'd asked for this book at my local library; the clerk said it was constantly being renewed, or loaned out. The author is held in high regard among the younger intelligentsia in our shared Episcopal Church, so I hear her name checked in conversations with like minded people. Thus my excitement at obtaining the book and the earnestness of my review. The author and I share many traits, not the least of which is high emotional temperature/flair for theatrics, also propinquity of age. And she seemed to be the type of girl who could be my future wife. That helped, a little...
   
   To her credit, the author writes lucid, at times compelling, prose, and knows her way around story arcs and cultural allusions. Her didactic artifice is far less successful. I was less interested in her conversion, from Reform, into, and out of, Orthodox Judaism than trying to understand why she ultimately chose Anglicanism. She just didn't give me a convincing rationale, unfortunately. Disturbingly, in a volume that purports to be about "something" substantial, even trying to find words in our language to describe, for example, "meeting" the God of Israel, the author displays the same sublimated cynicism and detachment from reality common to our generation. Her self-centeredness (when it's not "about" her, it's "about" her reactions to things she learns "about" herself from those around her) will not serve her will in her chosen discipline, religious studies, which requires empathy. Everyone except for her is a stereotype, even the "Sarahs who snubbed her", the Orthodox guys who wouldn't marry her because she's a convert, and even the "some man" she lacks the self-control to avoid having sex with (again? those details are superfluous, honey). She has the capability to be an effective spokesperson for our generation's desperately needed call to renewal, but if she just keeps on using her spiritual winnowing as a resume builder, her future students/readership would so easily be able to tell. We all aren't THAT obtuse!
   
   Pity, I liked her better as a Jew (well she halachically still is, but I digress...). This is because she mirrors my affinity for Judaism (historico-moral significance and imperative, the "religious" aspect, if you will; far less the "cultural"). Reading her story reminds me that just because I lean so far off to left of post-modern Christianity, it doesn't equate that I'd eventually fall off into a life of running around Crown Heights screaming out, "Mazel Tov!".
   
   I could actually still do this while remaining a Christian, but that is another matter entirely.
   
   With her conversion to Christianity, she just lost that "spark", that specialness, I can't explain it. Sometimes when she would talk, it reminded me of my (long ago,as yet undegreed) college days when I was a Judaic Studies major in Boca (of all places). There was this girl who went to a Messianic synagogue in one of my classes and I thought to myself, "finally, a (not unattractive) girl who could talk intelligently about our desire to live as the first Christians (all Orthodox Palestinian Jews, as if we forgot...oh wait, we did) lived and thought." Well, she turned about to be "just" another gentile, like me. How disappointing! I paused several times reading this book, as if to say, "Aha, Lauren Winner seems like she's trying to be something she's not, a gentile". Like ships passing in the night, she and I.
   
   The fact that I have a call to (what I naturally assumed was the Episcopal) ministry complicates my relationship to the ideas expressed in this book. The author, to my chagrin, immediately subsumed some of the WORST traits of our people (clannish behavior, pretense of ecumenism, over-reliance on the Prayer Book - I'll never forget the college professor who, upon hearing an obscure cite on my part, said, "An Episcopalian that KNOWS the BIBLE?") and so on. And I would let the author know that I have suffered much for the Episcopalian cause from other Christians (that I'm "pagan" b/c I read my prayers out of a book, "Every time your church is in the headlines, it's only because of something 'controversial', etc). I would suggest that the author can't just take, take, take, from Anglicanism without, too, defending it.
   
   She seems far too deferential to evangelical Christians, and their "poise" and assurance of ownership. This I found troubling.
   
   Her "Jewess at the foot of the cross" persona I found distasteful.
   
   If I didn't care about her and the subject matter, I might suggest that writing a "memoir" in your twenties is silly, nay, capricious and arbitrary.
   
   A seeming defense of the ultra-evangelical wing of the Episcopal Church (even with all she knows, and don't worry, she'll remind you every two pages) is what finally put the mechitza between us. As someone who is stuck in a diocese that is increasingly tilted towards a reactionary "low church"/conservative evangelical theology and clergy, I can say that it's not all romance and fighting for the "purity" of the faith. In fact, this polarization is the main reason the Episcopal Church and I are on the outs.
   
   Because among other things, the local priest implied I was too liberal...too "Jewish". "You must bring your practice in line with those of the church". That being said, the only way I could see the author outdoing even herself, is to discover she has a call to the priesthood (like her "rescue fantasy" you learn about in the book, she also flirts with this idea, too) and she ends up teaching at the same seminary where I might eventually study for the ministry. No, I think that may actually happen, knowing our affinities.
   
   Pair this up with "A Jew Examines Christianity" by Rachel Zurer (it's scarce, try interlibrary loan) for a more nuanced approach to some of the theological/"parting of the ways" pining the author insists on doing.
   
   I think she is trying not to convince herself, in her words, "This Christianity thing isn't working". Maybe some of the syntax of the book wouldn't seem so hysterical if she proffered to be more stable.
   
   You should read this book. But as for me, I ask, UCC, have you any room at the inn?
   
   Hope you got something out of this.



2. So there I was slogging through a young author's account of her conversion from Judaism to Christianity, complete with a multitude of "foreign" phrases that should have annoyed me, but...fascinated me. The insight Lauren Winner offers into the Jewish experience on her path to accepting Jesus is thought-provoking, such that I don't believe I'll ever read the Old Testament again without a deeper appreciation for the Jewish people and their culture. Okay, so I wasn't slogging...



3. GIRL MEETS GOD tells of Lauren Winner's Jewish upbringing, the Orthodox Judaism of her college years, and then her conversion to Christianity as a young adult. The sections and chapters of this book are organized by and named after both Jewish and Christian holidays. This memoir is partly a love story, with Jesus as the hero. It is partly a story of traditions, both Christian and Judaism. It is partly a story of community, and Lauren's love and respect for the people, both within in Judaism and Christianity, who shaped her spiritually.
   
   I loved reading this. Lauren Winner is a very passionate woman, and when she writes about spirituality, family, friends, love, and books, her enthusiasm is all over the pages. She really brings the reader into her life, showing how her spirituality affects everything from her academic development to her thoughts on sexuality. I felt like she was my new friend, although a friend who is greatly more intelligent and academic than I am. I highly recommend this.



4. It was wintertime and I was speaking at a woman's conference in Charlottesville, VA. At my booktable aside from books I'd written, the church also had a few books they loved including this brand new, first book written by one of their church members who happened to be at this retreat. I bought GIRL MEETS GOD and took it to my hotel room and started reading it that night. I got hungry so I walked in the snow to a cool restaurant/pub and read the book at dinner under the little lamp at my table. I stayed at that table until the restaurant closed at 11pm because I couldn't stop reading, I was so absorbed in the story. I went back to my hotel room and finished the book by 3 in the morning. It was THAT good. I had the privilege of meeting Lauren Winner the next day at the conference. Needless to say I was a bit intimidated because I was such a fan. This was written better than any favorite fiction book I've read. If you want to cuddle up and enjoy a story, read GIRL MEETS GOD.



5. I had never read a memoir until Girl Meets God and what a great way to start! This was like dessert every night and was easy to pick up right where I left off. I loved how she felt that she was being pursued/wooed by Christ - what a wonderful, loving picture and yet she recorded the crazy things most of us think but never say! I felt comforted by her writing and found myself repeating chapters to really capture that feeling.

5 comments about Woman Warrior.

1. I came across this book several years ago and immediately fell under its spell. I liked it so much that I had to re-read it again and again in order to decipher the new layers the book revealed with each occasion. I like the book so much, that I've decided to write a paper on it but unfortunately there are only a few, who offer quality interpretation on this magnificient book that could help me. Thus, if anyone, who has some ideas, would help me out on this would be VERY welcomed...



2. Excellent book -- a must read for Women's Literature students. I bought it using a coupon from UnderTag.com, so it was almost free for me.



3. I guess the book might be good if only Amazon could have sent me the correct edition that they have listed. Amazon tried twice to send me what I ordered, got it wrong twice, and then Amazon gave up. Any correspondence with Amazon to resolve the matter has been met with insipid computerized responses. The 1 star rating is for Amazon.



4. I have a different perspective from many readers who view this book primarily as a work of Women's Literature. As a half-asian male with a emigree mother, I read this book many years ago, in those formless, questioning years of the late 'teens. Even though I could not directly associate with many of the stories that Ms. Kingston wrote, I could associate with some of them, and I could also begin to enunciate my own observations and questions about a my mother's life and culture - a culture and life that I couldn't truly know, yet had much to do with who I was, and am. It gave me a perspective beyond that of a selfish, self-oriented teenager, and helped me better understand things (or at least try to see things) from my mother's point of view. It helped me see my own culture as a blend of the alien and familiar. Truly do I believe this book is one of the most important ones in my own life, as it helped create answers to deep, personal questions - some of which I never knew existed, until I read this book.



5. I feel that Kingston's story was very imformative about the chinese culture and their way of living. Probably not in todays age, but in its history. I really enjoy reading books with ficitonal education, which is exactly what this book is. Kingston mainly focuses on the issue of how women are treated in China and by Chinese-Americans. Kingston mentions the orgins of the tale Fa-Mulan (whom every disney fan is aware of)and how she became a "woman warrior". Fa-Mulan represents who Kingston wishes she could be and eventually does become in her own way, as a woman warrior in a world where Kingston is split between China and America. The main character is conflicted with what she has learned in America compared to her mothers "talk-stories" about China. The main character and her mother also have a very conflicted relationship that twists and turns as the story progresses. The reader learns throughout the story about the relationship between men and women in China and how men are surperior, yet in America, it seemed to men that the Chinese women became surperior in secret. This story is very ironic and informative, with a great theme. Kingston really does a great job in helping America understand the complications women have had and overcame during the cource of history.

5 comments about Escape from Slavery: The True Story of My Ten Years in Captivity and My Journey to Freedom in America.

1. I read this book for one of classes and I must say that while I tend not to be a fan of non-fiction I was completed enamored by this book. Bok wrote a very engaging story about his life and his involvement in making a difference in what is occurring in Sudan. I liked so many things about this book. It was a personal story. Someone really overcoming the odds placed against him. A true underdog story. The story was heart-wrenching in parts, especially when confronted with the truth about slavery in Southern Africa. I couldn't have more respect for Bok, he overcame horrific hardships and continues speaking out. I really reccomend this book!



2. This is a powerful book. It is written in a clear and engaging style. It is important that people know about the human rights abuses going on in Sudan. Mr. Bok's story does this in a meaningful and moving way.



3. Two days ago I began to read "Escape from Slavery". I have hardly wanted to set it down since I picked it up. I have been saddened but incredibly inspired. I am forcefully reminded that freedom is a miracle too easily taken for granted. Until this week, I admit I was completely ignorant of Sudan, let alone the plight of it's people. In fact, I only knew Sudan was another big country "somewhere in Africa". This book is not a history of Sudan, but it does put it on the map for you. It does not try to expound on all of the political issues, but it paints a very human picture of how the government affects the people. This is one young man's compelling account of his early life and journey as a slave in Sudan. It is told in a simple, clear and honest voice. For me, Sudan is now the birthplace of Piol Bol Buk - known today as "Francis Bok". It is the place where Piol laughed and played with his family. He made clay cows with his friends, and dreamed of being like his father. It is the place where Piol was entrusted one day to take his mother's produce to sell at the market...and would never return. Here was a little boy forced to witness unspeakable violence, and who had everything taken away from him. However, no one could take his indomitable spirit. Sudan is a place where innocent lives are crushed every day, and yet it is also the place where Francis Bok was created. Francis humbly and painstakingly details his escape, the agonizing immigration process, and the miraculous turn of events that ensued. Francis has begun to fulfill his father's prophesy that someday he would do "great and important things" and would have the strength of "twelve men". This is a story about slavery, but it is really a story about hope, faith, will-power and determination. It is a miraculous story. Who could have imagined that this young boy with no hope of survival would make such a huge impact for his country already? Truly inspirational! This is a testament that the human spirit can survive unspeakable things - and then can rise from the ashes. When you find a story like this, you just can't wait to share it with the world! Francis Bok lived through such horrific pain, and yet now we have the chance to listen to his story, and to make a difference in the world just like he has. I hope that you will choose to read this story. I know that you will be so grateful!



4. The first portion of the text is hard to put down, an eye-opening first person account of a life torn from his home community. The later narrative of his work with the NGO, testifying, lecturing and the like is a bit stilted and boring, and some of the culture conflicts upon arrival in the USA seem exaggerated for attention or effect. Still, a worthy subject matter and interesting author.



5. This book is a must read!!! I recommend this book...inspiring. as well as sad when Francis and many others have to suffer...I honestly did not know that slavery still exist in sudan and many other countries

5 comments about Driving with the Devil: Southern Moonshine, Detroit Wheels, and the Birth of NASCAR.

1. This is a very well written story about the early days of stock car racing. It's a great story of the rock 'um sock 'um early heroes that you have never heard of before. Even if you never heard of NASCAR, this story is full of great human stories!!



2. But a fan of history and racing in general and this book is in one word - EXCELLENT.



3. I purchased the book for a person who is a NASCAR fan and knows the insides of car engines. He liked the idea of the whole book, but felt it had a slow beginning. He continually noted many inaccuracies in the details of how cars work, how parts were modified and which engines were in which cars. His comments included it was very unprofessional of an experienced author to not check his facts and terminology before publishing. Yes, the book is not too detailed to be fun for a non-mechanic to read, but it seems irresponsible to relay information and details that are not true. Those of us who don't recognize incorrect information will be under the assumption that what they read is correct, and that seems a real disservice to all readers.



4. As a 30+ year fan of NASCAR, I've found very few in-depth resources for the formative rough-and-tumble days of stock car racing. What few I have found have been incomplete, proven to be inaccurate, shallow in coverage, or repeats of someone else's writings. And NASCAR hasn't helped any as they've generally turned a blind eye to the years before the France family took control of the sport. But not this time. Thompson's book is great. Easily among the top 5 books I've read about racing. His research and interviews are well documented. And the stories are relayed with the appropriate drama without going over-the-top. Highly recommended.



5. Sorry but I wouldnt recommend it to anyone!
   
   Rumuors and hearsay, no useful information, for me at least. I got really bored after 100 pages.

5 comments about Crossing Over: One Woman's Escape from Amish Life.

1. This book is about one woman's journey into the "English" world after she decided to leave her strict Amish parents and their Old Order ways. While the writing wasn't stunning or spectacular, I do think it accurately reflected her plain origins and described her emotions and feelings very well. Some criticize her for seemingly publicly attacking her parents and other family members over the incident; I don't think it's so much an attack but her interpretation of the events. She does say several times that this was what she experienced - and might not necessarily reflect the ways of other Amish families or the communities in which they live.
   
   I applaud her for her courage to stand up to the contradictions of her Amish faith and to make a positive change for herself - I'm sure it was not an easy decision. Past reviewers have criticized her for trying to come back to her family for visits, and wondering why she complains about not being served in a grocery store. As far as wanting to come back to see her parents - who can blame her? This is still her family, regardless of what has happened in the past, and those are not easy ties to sever. She says, at the very end, that no matter what, she will still love them unconditionally.
   
   I grew up surrounded, near and far, by Amish communities in Holmes, Ashland, Richland and Knox Counties in Ohio. Growing up in this environment, you see them daily or weekly and give them no more than a passing thought, and they mingle in and out of English society without much more than a glance. But to tourists, and possibly the English at large, they are seen as `perfect,' without sin and that they are pure in thought and actions - which is largely untrue. I think this is why so many people are angry at Garrett's book - because it shatters the picture perfect image that so many people have of the Amish. They are, essentially, just like us - that is to say, humans - except for manner and style of dress. Even they seem to forget this most important part.
   
   There are some basic tenets of the Amish faith that I understand and believe are true: for instance their belief that the English worship Santa Claus at Christmas and not Christ. The overcommercialization of Christmas leads me to believe this is true. The belief that our pastors preach about Heaven rather than Hell is largely true, too, at least in my experience. This is part of a growing trend in Christianity to please everyone and say exactly what they want to hear, something I'm not sure the Amish community has been subjected to. In this sense, yes, they probably do turn passages around (or omit certain ones) to suit their needs; but the Amish do this as well. It seems they are perfectly willing to turn a blind eye to those things that narrowly separate them from the English - they are unwilling to accept their most basic faults.
   
   For further reading, I suggest Tom Shachtman's "Rumspringa", which takes a more academic approach to the subject. Both are excellent and insightful reading to get the true picture of what the Amish are really like.



2. A group of friends and I have been studying the Amish. We have truly fallen in love with their commitment to family, community and God. While theologically we have different beliefs, the more we have learned - the more we admire. However, I felt that perhaps I needed to read something that explored the negative side to make sure I was giving both views a fair opportunity. I was totally disgusted with the book. I did not feel this was a young women who came out of her Amish faith for any reason other than rebellion against her parents. The fact that her husband could have looked upon her as anything but a child led me to be appalled and disgusted by him. She said she found freedom and Christ upon leaving her Amish faith - yet her book was filled with bitterness toward those she claimed to have "unconditional love" (her own words at the end) for. I was left thinking that the book was a mere attempt to justify her own rebellious actions toward God, her family and her faith. While I pity her for being in such bondage of unforgiveness, it was clear her family were left grieving their daughter, sister, community member; and it was them that my heart went out to. I thought - in her acts of rebellion it seems she would have crossed over from any family or faith. It was not a negative presentation of anything in the Amish faith - just a confused soul looking to justify her own self serving & rebellious life.



3. of the effects of living in a rigid, legalistic, narrow society, and the horrific psychological warfare waged by those inside such a cult against one who has freed herself. Her sensitivity and analysis is very good. The book flows well and is a fast, fascinating read. My only wish would be that more insight be given to adjustment to the "English" world once she left. A book that is definitely worthwhile, and definitely does not warrant the narrow, angry review given by Mr. Scheffler. Definitely worth the time to read, and the time to realize that, indeed, the Amish constitute a cult within the Christian framework and definition of a cult.



4. Hmmmmm... not really sure how to feel about this one. While I was into the book enough to keep reading and (at least in the beginning) cared enough about the story to want to know what happened next; my love and luster was sort've lost toward the end of the book...
   
   I wanted to feel the love between the author and her husband (via the pages) but I didn't. I often thought of him as a man who had no respect for the Amish, though he used them. And then he saw a young girl attracted to him and he played on it. I didn't always see the book as a respect for her history rather and often times a disrespect. Perhaps she wanted to free of the Amish way--okay--but there were times when I wondered if she were fighting to not be Amish or simply being a rebel against her father.
   
   Not real sure. I will say that the book is interesting and I am glad that I read it...but when I turned the last page I just wasn't sure what to make of it all. Just my P.O.V. read and review for yourself.



5. This book was terrible, poorly written. Irene was bashing the Amish, but really she was mad at her father more than anything, and he represented anything Amish. I was just disgusted reading this book. I hated it but had to finish it, like when you pass a terrible car wreck you just have to slow down and look. Irene and Ollie are just profiting off the Amish. I am ashamed that I put money in Irene and Ollie's pocket by purchasing this book. And Ollie totally disgusts me. I wish there were pictures of both of them on the cover, though I have my opinion of what they both look like.

5 comments about The One Year Book of Christian History (One Year Books).

1. What a remarkable and inspiring book this is on some of the historic events of Christianity and of Christians, both famous ones and not-so-famous ones! I read this book daily in 2007 and was inspired each and every day to continue to stand for what is good and right in this world. We bought this "textbook" of Christian history for my husband's parents for Christmas, and they are already enjoying it and being blessed by it. I should not be, but I am, amazed every time such evil and unjustice is done to those who call on the Name of Jesus ~ I should not be, because He told us in His Word that we WOULD be persecuted. This book helps me to know I can stand strong just as those others before me did, even those who ended up in martyrdom. It's an amazing "read" ~ be blessed by it.



2. This book offers something you won't get out of just about any other devotional: it gives you glimpses into how God has worked through the lives of ordinary and extraordinary people all throughout history. Most devotionals give you good thoughts or introduce you to some significant people, but this book will give you a broad introduction to scores and scores of Christians throughout the ages and how their lives reflected God's plan. If you ever thought that God wasn't doing much with you, reading the stories in this book will remind you that God's plans often unfold over the long term, and that He uses unexpected people in order to do great things.
   
   The Rustens have an entry for each date, but they don't just give you a little snapshot of an event; they give you an overview of the life and achievements of the person involved - all in two pages! These stories are helpful reminders that the Kingdom of Heaven is worked out little by little through many different people who simply did what the Bible taught them to do and who listened to God. This is far from a "trivia" book. Instead of dry facts, you'll get a great introduction to lots of wonderful Christians whose stories you might not know, and you'll get to see how God worked through even their most painful and discouraging times in order to bring about great blessings and spread the light of Christ to others.
   
   The best part is that the Rustens have put a lot of effort into telling the stories well. Although you will pick up a lot of knowledge about people, places, and events, the entries are interesting to read even for those who don't want to try to remember a bunch of facts. I had trouble keeping myself to one entry a day! But for those who want a source for information, you'll be glad to know that footnotes and sources have been provided.



3. I continue to be inspired and delighted to read the stories of Christian men and women who are part of the multitude of witnesses to the life of faith. The 366 biographical/historical sketches are extremely well written and thought provoking. My wife and I use it as part of our morning devotional time.



4. I received this book as a Christmas gift from my brother. I was so impressed with it that I bought three (from Amazon) for each of my grown children. They now use it as a daily devotional. very interesting and educational. I have learned alot about the origins of my faith.



5. This devotional is worth your money and effort to purchase. It tells each day what happened in church history on the day you are reading.
   
   There is a lesson to be learned from the past. This devotional is not based on Scripture. So, it is not the standard devotional. Make sure you know that before buying.
   
   It is a real jewel for church history buffs!

5 comments about Bard of Avon: The Story of William Shakespeare.

1. Our family has recently discovered the wonderful Peter Vennema/Diane Stanley biographies. They are vivid, engaging, and thorough, yet short enough for younger readers to sit through (my daughters are 4 and 6). Bard of Avon and Good Queen Bess are our favorites so far, and they go very well together since neither Shakespeare nor Queen Elizabeth would have been the same without the other. Unlike other histories or biographies for children, this book makes a destinction between what we know about Shakespeare's life and times and what are only guesses. It is nice for children to see that the study of history is not just memorizing facts and dates, but piecing together clues in the context of what is known about a time period. As a former high school English teacher, I wish that I had had this book when I was teaching Shakespeare plays because it would have been a wonderful introduction.



2. Stanley is a masterful writer/illustrator when it comes to creating longer picturebook biographies (with heavier text). Her bios on da Vinci, Cleopatra and Shakespeare are fabulous. It amazes me that she has not won a Caldecott Honor yet! I can't wait to see her bio about Michelangelo!



3. This author was new to us and we will be looking for her from now on. The pictures are sooo wonderful they transport you. The information is well done and clear, yet not watered done. This is someone that REALLY understands writing books for children that adults can enjoy using as teachers or parents. I recently bought alot of books on Shakespeare, for use in the school room this year and we have found 4 authors that made the grade on this subject! This is a keeper!



4. Stanley does a masterful job of bringing Shakespeare to life in this short biography. Full of wit, the workings of the theater and a few of the details behind some of Shakespeare's more popular works, older children will greatly enjoy this book. A must-have for homeschoolers beginning a study of the Bard of Avon!



5. I feel like I could start any review for a Diane Stanley biography like this: ________ is the perfect introduction for any child interested in learning about ___________! That said...
   
   Bard of Avon is an excellent introduction to the biography of William Shakespeare. It gives you basic facts without getting too involved in theory. My favorite new fact is a list of words Shakespeare invented by writing them into his plays. In addition to "eyeball," which I already knew, he also made up: majestic, countless, hint, hurry, reliance, leapfrog, gust, excellent, and gloomy. Awesome! Diane Stanley hits it out of the park every time, truly. I'm a huge fan.

5 comments about Learning to Be Me: My Twenty-Three-Year Battle with Bulimia.

1. I read this memoir and realized very quickly, that Memoir was an accurate category for this book. It certainly does not belong in self help/recovery.
   Jocelyn's narrative keeps repeating descriptions of her terrible life in a way that makes this tragic disease seem petty. I have endured this dis-ease for 23 plus years and I found Aimee Lu's book "Life after an Eating Disorder" so full of hope and rcovery and revelation about this disease.
   I found this book to be full of triggers and narcissistic thoughts. It is a "Go Ask Alice" for eating disorders.
   ""Sensing the Self" is also fantastic, but a little more clinical. If you are looking for recovery, read about recovery. If you are looking for a description of how tragic and destructive and miserable an addiction can be, read a memoir.



2. I had been looking for a book that would help me understand the thought process behind a bulimic's behavior, in an effort to help a family member. I wanted to get inside the head of a bulimic, I wanted to FEEL what a bulimic does, no other book did this for me - Jocelyn Golden's "Learning to be me" did! I've read many bulimia books in my quest to educate myself, but none gave me the insight I gained by reading Ms. Golden's book. I highly recommend "Learning To Be Me" to any sister, mother or other relative trying to help a loved one. It gave me the courage to confront my relative, one more time, and present her with support and treatment options even though I know it may sever our relationship - I love her that much. I thank Ms. Golden for the difference her talented writing has made in my life and for portraying the facts clearly and with emotion.
   
   I would love to see another book by this author.



3. Learning to Be Me: My Twenty-Three-Year Battle with Bulimia
   Jocelyn Golden did a great job writing this book. It really was one of the best I've read on bulimia. The main character is trapped in a house with people who are supposed to love and comfort her but are incredibly and selfishly indifferent to her yet intolerably critical. Overcoming such odds really is remarkable and stands as an example for others. I highly recommend this book.



4. I was influenced by the overwhelming positive reviews of the book so I decided to see what this book was about myself. After reading the book I disagree with the majority of the reviewers (who may have been swayed by the fact they felt a personal connection to the reader). It must be noted that I personally do not suffer from an eating disorder but I read the book in hopes of helping me to understand what it is like to suffer from one. While the author does her fair share recounting her experience with bulimia it is poorly written (it almost reads like a first-person narrative by a teenager with simple sentences and limited vocabulary) and cumbersome to get through at times. A previous reviewer mentioned that s/he felt like s/he was reading an unedited copy of the book and I echo this sentiment. Golden's story while appropriately deserving of empathy lacks depth and insight and somewhat rambles on in a disorganized fashion. In any event, the book starts to get better at about the middle when she starts to go into detail about her binges and purges and the reality of her behavior sets in. As many others have mentioned she does not go into much detail about the recovery process because the book was written during the time she was recovering. Also, while this is somewhat minor, the titles of her chapters have little relevance to the content of the chapters and come across as being kitschy (e.g., "My Blanket of Shadows", "Home Sweet Hurt", and "From a Whisper to a Silent Scream").



5. Unlike other self-help eating disorder books, this book is an incredibly honest insight, sparing no details on the reality of bulimia. It provides an intimate understanding behind the emotional mental and physical causes of this powerful mind disease. A must read for any young woman, mother or sister!