5 comments about Holes.

1. Title: Holes
   Publisher: Dell Yearling
   Date: 1998
   Reading Level: Approximately 6th grade (According to Fry Readability Formula)
   Number of Pages: 233
   Genre: Fiction
   
   Main character Stanley Yelnats was convicted of stealing a pair of valuable baseball shoes meant to be donated to a homeless charity. For his crime, he was sentenced to go to Camp Green Lake in order to rehabilitate himself.
   At Camp Green Lake, all of the boys are required to dig one hole a day that is exactly five feet wide and five feet deep. When they are done digging their hole, they are allowed to do whatever they want for the rest of the day. But their task is not easy. Camp Green Lake is a barren desert with an unrelenting sun. Each day the campmates wake up at 4:30 am to start digging in the hopes that they will be done before the sun reaches its hottest point of the day.
   Three adults run the camp, The Warden, "Mr. Sir", and Mr. Pedanski a.k.a. "Mom". "Mom" stands out as the sympathetic adult, while The Warden and "Mr. Sir" act ruthlessly towards the children of Camp Green Lake.
   While there Stanley earns the nickname "Caveman" from his friends and campmates in group D; "X-Ray", "Armpit", "Zero", "Zigzag", "Magnet", and "Twitch". Stanley and "Zero" develop a deep bond after Stanely teaches Zero how to read and write.
   Along the way Stanley discovers the real reason why the camp members of Camp Green Lake are digging holes. It in fact has nothing to do with building character, but instead a much more sinister plan cooked up by the Warden.
   
   Though I enjoyed the book overall, there are a few minor set backs in the book. First, author Louis Sachar offers no explanation as to why the Government has decided Camp Green Lake would be an appropriate place for criminal youths to rehabilitate themselves. Given that the Warden's plans have nothing to do with helping these troubled youths, there should have been an explanation as to how the Warden positioned Camp Green Lake as an alternative to prison. Without this important explanation, the book loses points for positing outlandish scenarios as realistic.
   Secondly, the book contains a few too many movie friendly cliché scenes. In one example, the members of Group D steal "Mr. Sir's" bag of sunflower seeds. Stanley accidentally drops the bag into his hole. When "Mr. Sir" arrives, he discovers the bag of sunflower seeds and Stanley takes the blame. He is taken to have his first encounter with the Warden in which she tortures Stanley using poison laced fingernail polish. The whole time I was reading this chapter of the book I kept thinking to myself how obvious it was that Stanley was going to get in trouble for taking the sunflower seeds from the very beginning. The chapter was too predictable and made me want to skip over entire paragraphs because I already knew what was going to happen from the very beginning.
   Lastly, author Louis Sachar includes racial commentary in a very superficial way. In only a few chapters Sachar alludes to possible racial tensions at Camp Green Lake, but he does not deal with them in a direct way. In fact, he skips them over entirely. In one chapter Stanley wonders to himself if there will be any racial tension at Camp Green Lake. Sachar could have used this opportunity to open a dialogue on the racial structures in America in general and within the U.S. prison system specifically, but he ignores this opportunity by not interjecting any racial problems between the Black, Latino, and White members of Camp Green Lake. Instead, Stanley discovers that racial identity by and large does not exist at Camp Green Lake. This is a truly missed opportunity to add a deeper level of commentary to Holes.
   With that said, there were aspects of the book that I did enjoy. The culmination of the separate stories of Kissin' Kate Barlow, Stanley's Great Great Grandpa, and the Stanley at the end of Holes made the story a little more complex. Sachar's interweaving of the past and the present in Holes made the plot much more interesting, while not being overly confusing. Additionally, Sachar's twist surprise ending is not entirely predictable, but will have you going back in the book to review the clues that could have led you to guess the ending of the book.



2. "Holes" by Louis Sachar (1998). Random House, Inc: New York. 233 pages. Realistic Fiction. Grade level: 5.30.
   Holes is about a boy whose life is affected by the past. Most notably, Stanley Yelnats, has a family curse from his "no-good-dirty-rotten pig stealing great-great-grandfather" who did not carry out a promise to a magic woman. Stanley's family blames most of their problems on this ancestor. Stanley's father is a poor inventor who works hard but has no luck. He is currently working on trying to invent a spray to remove foot odor. One day, Stanley is walking and a pair of sneakers fall from the sky so he naturally takes them home to his father. It turns out, the sneakers were from a famous basketball player who is donating them to charity. Staney is arrested and sent to Camp Greenlake for his punishment and "rehabilitation." Once he gets to the camp in Texas, Stanley quickly realizes that it is not a camp in the typical sense and there is no lake to be found. He is forced to dig one 5 foot by 5 foot hole each day in the scorching heat and report to the warden if he finds anything interesting. He is accompanied by other juvenile offenders who all fend for themselves and try to survive the grueling work and horrible living conditions. There are no fences, because if they ran away they would die in the desert.
   The story also goes takes the reader on flashbacks to the time when the area actually was a lake in the early settling times. It was a small town that was an oasis in the middle of the desert. The one-room school house was run by Kate Barlow who happily taught the town's children and adults alike. Kate takes to the town onion seller who happens to be black. This is, of course, unacceptable at the time so the town kills him and runs her out of town. From that point on, she changes and becomes "kissin' Kate Barlow" an outlaw who prays on unsuspecting travelers and kisses them before she kills them. The town's luck and lake run dry and it becomes abandoned. Before she dies, she buries all of her treasure on the grounds of the lake. Stanley's great-grandfather was robbed by Kate Barlow, but not killed. He survived by "God's thumb" and miraculously lived although no one knew what that meant.
   Back in present day, Stanley and another boy Zero run away from camp because they are fed up. They know they must go back or they will die. Stanley notices that a mountain nearby looks like a thumb and they decide to see if they can survive there. After days of walking in the desert, with no water and little food, they make it up the mountain. Stanley carries Zero and they discover a spring filled with onions which they eat until they are healthy again. In carrying this boy up the mountain, Stanley reverses his great-great-grandfather's curse. They decide to return to camp to find the buried treasure. When they get there, they find it but are caught. However, it turns out that the treasure is in a case labeled with Stanley's name on it, which was his great-grandfather's. A lawyer comes to get Stanley out of the camp because he is innocent and ends up closing the camp because it is illegal treatment of the boys. Stanley and Zero become rich and Zero finds his mother with his money. In the end, each character gets what they deserved.
   I think this book was amazing. It was elaborately interwoven with past and present. It exposes the realities of fate while at the same time showing the strength and necessity of strong moral character. Stanley and Zero learn to believe in themselves. This book is inspiring and very entertaining. My only concern, is that the author could have discussed the racial issues in the story more. There is the interracial relationship in the past with Kate and also the way the boys at the camp relate to each other based on their races. This was not the focus of the book, which is probably why Sachar did not elaborate on these themes but I think it is a valuable subject to expose. Perhaps, it is merely up to the reader/teacher/parent to discuss the interplay of people of different races in the book. Overall, I was very impressed and would recommend this book to anyone of any age.



3. Holes is set primarily in Texas close to the present day (the late 20th Century), although parts of the book flash back to the same area in Texas in the late 19th Century and to the country of Latvia in the late 19th Century as well. The story is told by an all-knowing narrator who guides the story back and forth between the present day situation of the story and two key plot lines about the past. The bulk of the story centers around the main character and protagonist Stanley Yelnats and his life in a boys' juvenile detention center called Camp Green Lake. Stanley has been falsely convicted of a crime and must work hard all day under the hot Texas sun. The boys in the detention center are forced to dig large holes day after day with no other apparent purpose than to "build character." Stanley's family has been under a curse for generations, which began back in the late 19th Century when Stanley's great-great grandfather Elya broke a promise he made to a gypsy woman named Madame Zeroni. A small part of the story that the narrator tells focuses on how this sub-plot developed in the past and how it still affects Stanley and his family today.
   The other side-plot of the story focuses on the town of Green Lake, Texas in the late 19th Century, before the lake became dried up and the place became a juvenile detention center. This part of the story deals with the issues of racism and prejudice, and helps to build up the plot for the present day section of the story, where Stanley and the others are at a juvenile detention center. Stanley struggles to make friends and to survive the tough conditions at Camp Green Lake, and he is always battling the larger fight against his family's curse. He and a friend at the camp (named Zero) discover that the camp's warden (a relative or descendant of Charles Walker) is actually making the boys dig holes because she is looking for something valuable. Stanley finds out about his family's history and how his great grandfather's suitcase full of money is buried somewhere in Camp Green Lake. When Stanley's friend Zero escapes from the camp, Stanley escapes as well to go and help him. They figure out that Zero is a direct descendant of the gypsy Madame Zeroni, and so the boys sort of heal that old family rift and thus lift the curse off of Stanley's family. When they return to the camp a week later the boys find the suitcase. The warden tries to take it from them but Stanley's lawyer finally shows up, proves his innocence, and allows Stanley and Zero to leave the detention center (with the suitcase full of money!). The story concludes happily with Stanley and Zero receiving a million dollars each for the stocks and jewels in the suitcase, with the detention center closing down so that a girl scout camp can be built, and with Stanley's father finally creating a cure for foot odor which makes him rich.
   There are not many negative aspects to Holes, as it is an excellent read for adults and children alike. One drawback may be that the chapters are very short, spanning two or three pages on average. This makes the story a bit choppy at times as it flips back and forth between the past and the present settings without much warning. Some readers might like the short chapters though, as it keeps the story moving and keeps the reader on his or her toes. I personally think that Holes is a great novel for emerging young readers. It has a rich and complex plot but is not too difficult to read and understand. The author weaves a good mix of humor and fate, and the characters are very realistic and relatable. I like how the characters in the book are diverse and represent different types of kids with different economic and racial backgrounds. Holes is an enjoyable book to read and contains many plot twists and turns that will keep you interested. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in reading it.



4. Great book to read to adolescents. Sensitive and practicle. Good fodder to discuss right and wrong. The movie was good too. Not as good as the book of course, but good as well. Teenage boys told me it was a book to read. Short chapters, lots going on keeps the pages turning.



5. although this is a book recommended for middle schoolers, the author does a great job at switching from past to present while maintaining the interest of the reader.....in my opinion, it is not an easy task for adults to stay on track when authors write in this form, however i am impressed with the coherence that the author was able to accomplish this difficult task.

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 Theories of Modern Art A Source Book by Artists and Critics (California Studies in the History of Art).

1. Even if you are not interested in the arts but simply in thought process- I think you will find this book very interesting. You could say this is the history of modern art without pictures (although there are some pictures)- bringing the reader facinating insights into how different types of artists came to their philosophies of art, and of course, the world. Documented through personal letters, manifestos, and articles, the varity of different thoughts and beliefs catapolts just what art can be. To me it shows that art is a never ending universe of ideas- all connecting but all very individual just the same.



2. How often had I looked at a painting of Van Gough and wondered what exactly was this great man thinking when he conceived and painted such a picture. Now by reading thru this excellent book, I can claw into the mind of artists themselves.



3. Not only educational, but inspiring. I not only learned about each artist and what when on during their time of certain artworks, but I was able to get inside their head. The words of the artist's in their letters were captivating. I was caught up in the reading. I especially enjoyed Matisse and Kandinsky. Kandinsky is very spiritual about his writing and gives a deep explanation of colors. Anyway, it is a great read. It was required for my history course, but I enjoyed it. Not very many in my class could understand what they were reading. I guess you not only need intellect, but sophistication. I liked it!



4. I just wanted to respond to the person before me. It sounds like contemporary art is way over your head. Please do not waist our time with long reviews about things you clearly do not understand.



5. The beauty of this book is that so many letters, reviews, interviews etc. about/by so many artists are conveniently gathered in one place. On the whole, there isn't anything in here that you can't find elsewhere, such as in biographies of the individual artists. For example the letters contained in the opening section on "Post-Impressionism" from both Cezanne and Van Gogh are included in just about every biography on them.
   
   The over-riding reason for buying this book is that so many are collected together. So, even for an artist that you might not like enough to go out and buy their biography, atleast you get an insight in to their thoughts/motives etc. In some cases this may spark your interest in a previously less favoured artist and appreciate their works from a new perspective.
   
   Chipp covers all the main "isms" of modern art from Post-Impressionism (Cezanne) onwards. Each movement opens with a treatise detailing the main theories/artists/concepts/techniques that made it unique. This is followed by a comprehensive selection of articles/letters/interviews etc. concerning the main players i.e. the section of Expressionism includes writings from Nolde, Kandinsky, Kokoschka, Kirchner, Marc, Klee and Beckmann. One of my favourite pieces is by Stuart Davis. He's responding to a critic's recent review..."in your review you speak of your enthusiasm for my work and call me a "swell American painter". This attitude on your part I heartily approve, but you further state that my style is French and that if Picasso had never lived I would have had to think out a style of my own. Now is that nice Mr. McBride?" and off Davis goes in his defence. Superb.
   
   Rather than reading about these various "isms" via the well meaning but often biased views of a expert art historian, here you get the views from the artists themselves.
   
   For any art historians dealing with the modern art period this book has to be essential. And for general appreciators of art, as well as artists themselves, this book contains a wealth of information, and pays dividends to both intense study or just random browsing.
   
   Since it's first publication in 1968 this book has formed the foundation of any respectable art library. I just checked the bibliography of more recent books on art history - this book is referenced extensively. In my opinion, if anyone is looking for an interesting and enjoyable introduction to the world of "Modern Art" they could do a lot worse than start here. And given the way that any one "ism" owes it's existence to the "isms" that came before it*, this almost reads like a novel.
   
   *Regardless of Dali's utterances about Surrealism being a unique movement, unfounded by anything that came before, just go and have a look at the works of Hieronymous Bosch to see that wasn't the case.
   
   Recommended!

5 comments about Blind Alley.

1. I did not like this one as well as the rest in the series. It just did not seem to flow as well.



2. There's a psycho killer on the loose who is targeting women who look like a cop's 17-year old adopted daughter. Adding to the emotional complexity is that the cop's wife lost a young daughter, presumed murdered, several years ago. The wife is a talented sculptor who altered her career to provide forensic reconstructions of murder victims. She has a talent that goes beyond technical skill. She's able to commune with the victim's spirit in some way and provide eerily accurate portrayals.
   
   The couple knows their daughter is in grave danger. The young woman is intelligent and independent. This combination of traits helps save her life, but also endangers it.
   
   A string of victims along the way leads to the inevitable showdown involving the cop, the killer, and the daughter.
   
   I enjoyed that this book was exciting, took unexpected twists, and yet the author didn't have to gross me out with excruciating detail of every brutal and sadistic murder. Blind Alley is one of a series featuring the forensic sculptor, but I didn't feel held back by not having read any of the others. The character of the teenage daughter was engaging and apparently there are future books about her.
   
   This is a great crime novel for the idle hours - take it on a trip with you.



3. My mom let me use her hybrid for awhile and she had the audio book for "Blind Alley" The radio was boring so I decided to listen to it.
   
   I see from the other reviews this is the 5th book in a series involving the forensic sculptor Eve Duncan, Atlanta Police Detective Joe Quinn, and their adopted daughter Jane MacGuire.
   
   Enter the crazed serial killer named Aldo who is bent on killing any woman that remotely looks like somebody named Cira who later turns out to have been a 2000 year old actor/concubine noted for her beauty. His obsession makes him carve off their faces in order to destroy the face from the world. In his travels he notices Jayne who appears to be the living image of Cira. His quest is almost over! He found her at last.
   
   Overall, the plot was ok. I could follow along and I could imagine the settings. Others complain about it but I am coming from not having read the previous books. One thing I will mention is the characters don't fall back on the other books so you don't feel you missed anything.
   
   I liked the character Mark Trevor as he came across as a good Anti-Hero. Yet, I was interested in knowing more about him and his sidekick Bartlet.
   
   I will admit I expected a trite situation where a borrowed skeleton from ancient times used to lure Aldo would turn out to be Cira. All through the book the question is asked did she survive? Eve as part of the trap does a reconstruction with the promise of doing the real reconstruction. after dealing with Also. When she finishes the final work, you are simply left with her exclaiming "my god" and that was it. I suspect that was the intention but the author changed her mind and dropped it.
   
   The ending was ok. But it left me unsatiated. I expected more and it stopped.
   
   Bernadette Dunne does the reading and in the beginning she annoyed me with her attempts to give accents to the characters. Not to mention that Jayne and Eve seemed to whine a great deal. However, I was able to tune it out as the story picked up.
   
   I will probably check out her early works and will look for more if Trevor comes back.



4. I was very satisfied with the purchase of this book. The book was in good condition, the price very reasonable, and I received it in just a matter of days.
   
   Thank you.



5. This was the first book by Iris Johansen that I have read. I bought it due to the enthusiastic reviews on the back cover or on the first pages in the book.
   I do not know how her other books are, because this book was as bad as they rarely come.
   One-dimensional characters, repetitive thoughts/actions (just in case somebody had not got it the first or second time), illogical actions (visitor from Scotland Yard shows up at the private home, not at the police station, and our heroes do not even bother to ask for identification, ......)
   I could not develop any sympathies for the protagonists, and frankly, I do not care if they get murdered or not.
   
   I have no idea if the other books by this author are better, but I do not intend to find out.
   One is more than enough.
   Annoying, irritating, boring.
   Sorry!

4 comments about Martin Luther : Selections From His Writings.

1. What a wonderful introduction to Martin Luther! If you're thirsty for his writings, this is the book you should start with. Searching for books by him usually turns up many expensive volumes, meant for preachers, not laymen. That's why I'm so glad I found this book. It's laid out perfectly, to give you a wonderful idea of who Luther was, the Reformation, and, most importantly, his theology. Every Lutheran should be firmly introduced to Luther (no matter how obvious it seems, it doesn't happen enough), especially those fundamentalists of the Missouri Synod and Lutheran Brethren who have drifted so far from him and the Gospel of Christ. This is a wonderful book. Take it from an ELCA pastor. This book will show you. I'm seriously considering giving a copy to each of my confirmation students every year. Let Grace reign, not legalism and judgement.



2. If you've never read any of Luthers works before, you should read this book. There has never been a stronger writer on the subject of faith, than Martin Luther -excepting maybe for moses or St.Paul.Try this book or "The basic theological writings of ML" -I am not lutherine.



3. Dillenberger presents a selections of treatises, Biblical commentaries, and sermons sensibly arranged with a good introduction. Two missing works were the Small Catechism and his speech at the Diet of Worms ("Here I stand ... I cannot do otherwise"). In three key works from 1520 "An appeal to the ruling class of German Nationality", "The Pagan Servitude of the Church" and "The Freedom of a Christian", Luther develops (re-discovers?) the doctrine of justification by faith and emphasis on Scripture. Luther steers from a legalistic life of a Christian ("Beware lest you make Christ into a Moses"). He vigorously attacks the practice of indulgences, Papal Supremacy and the papal court: "At present there is a crawling mass of reptiles, all claiming to pay allegiance to the Pope, but Babylon never saw the life of these miscreants". At times he practices his own demagoguery; of St. James he does "not hold it to be of apostolic authorship".

   Luther attempts to remove the differences between cleric and public classes by opening the Eucharist to everyone and his German Bible made Scripture available to German peasantry. Luther grants spiritual rights to the individual, and states importance of the Christian community, but he did not extend this politically, and should not be viewed as advocating political democracy. The "Appeal to the ruling class" was popular among the nobility because it provided justification for not sending money to Rome.

   After reading St. Augustine's Confessions, it is interesting to see how this Augustinian monk extends the idea of grace. The works on free will were the most paradoxical for me. He seems to argue both that without grace man is incapable of free will, but also that "God has taken my salvation out of the control of my own will".




4. I think this is just about the best introduction to Luther's writing around. It covers a pretty broad range of his writing, and seems to give a pretty good introduction to his theology and thought. Incidentally, "Freedom of a Christian" is worth the purchase price alone. It is simply the best discussion of faith and works that I have ever read. It is immenseley clarifying. I would recommend this highly, particularly since it is so inexpensive.

5 comments about Luther's Small Catechism, with Explanation.

1. This is an excellent version of Luther's Small Catechism with Explanation, with very good supplemental materials added. This book would be a great resource for Protestants of all denominations, and is required reading for all Lutherans. Essential aspects of Christian doctrine are concisely reviewed with the scriptural basis provided for these beliefs. This book is highly recommended to everyone seeking insights into the foundations of Christian doctrine.



2. I have been a Christian for quite a few years. And I went through two years of confirmation classes as a teen. But over the last few years as I spent more time in God's Word, I found I had a lot of questions. I asked my pastor, but never got satisfactory answers. I recently joined a Lutheran (LCMS) church and read this book and the Book of Concord. I found both to be very helpful, but in particular, I enjoyed how the Small Catechism answered so many of the questions I had previously been unable to answer. All of the points are backed up with quotations from scripture (NIV translation) which I also liked. All in all, I highly recommend this book. I think it is appropriate for all Christians, not just Lutherans.



3. This small catechism, though not a deal clencher on its own, certainly played a vital role in my move from the contemporary American evangelical movement to the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. If you're looking for solid teaching on the Ten Commandments, the Lord's Prayer, The Apostles Creed, the Lord's Supper, baptism, and Confession and Absolution, then the writing in this book will aid you along very nicely. For those who desire a deeper look at the Lutheran Confessions I would recommend purchasing a copy of the Book of Concord, which has a copy of the Small and Large Catechisms. That said, I highly recommend this version of the small catechism as it's nice to have as a resource when questions come up.



4. Beautiful new cover and color. Inside the new page color(cream or tan) makes the print just jump off the page. Very easy to read.
   Everyone should read this book, and find out what Lutherans believe and why.



5. As a former Thelemic briother and now baptized Lutheran, I have to say that Christianity is a lot more gothic and the all around best religion in the world today. This book is for the baptized or church going Lutheran. What's really great in real terms is that this book is used by Lutheran ministers for adult confirmation, which I am currently attending. Anything you give your church is considered a donation. They ask for none of your income whatsoever. Behold the glory of the crucifix.

5 comments about Protein Power: The High-Protein/Low Carbohydrate Way to Lose Weight, Feel Fit, and Boost Your Health-in Just Weeks!.

1. This is an excellent book that has lots of information for the person that wants to cut carbs and go a high protien diet. It has a lot of information inside and I am still refering to it. I will say this, after reading this and the Dr. Atkins books, I realized that for me, I need at least 30 carbs a day or I feel like someone ran over me with a truck. However, that said, I will say that in my opinion, the High Protien diets work as I have lost 12 pounds in 3 weeks and I am just 10 pounds of being at my previously "skinny weight". The best thing I have found in addition to this book is after I reach my goal soon, I will continue this life-style change of eating high protien foods and also adding more green vegetables to my daily foods. So more eating for health as well as watching my weight! And, I do not intend to ever eat any white breads, white flour or white sugar. This book has opened up my eyes to proper eating!



2. 2000 years ago man thought Earth was the center of the universe. 400 years ago the world was flat; some people who questioned this wisdom were even burned at the stake for heresy. Before the beginning of 19th century engineers thought man would "disintegrate" if he exceeded 100 mph, hence train speed was limited on purpose. Just 20 years ago "high-carb" diets were supposed to help people improve their well-being. Well, we know the disastrous epidemic the high-carb diet did to our Nation - 60% overweight! We Americans are so fat that the western hemisphere created a planetary imbalance, skewing the earth's rotation about its axis. So there, forget global warming. The world's climate has drastically changed because we are literally heavy on this side of the globe. How's that for a theory, Al Gore?? All kidding aside, what I'm getting at is that you should approach this book (as well as life in general) with an open mind.
   
   I am a hardcore bodybuilder, and yes, I have been on the high-fat, high protein, low carb diet for a while now. If there is anything that the sedentary general population can learn from us bodybuilders, it is that we are vain, and we love to look at ourselves in the mirror. But more significantly, we are experts at building muscle and losing fat. Many bodybuilders may not have the credentials on paper with those fancy letters, such as a BS, an ABC, an MD or a PhD. But trust me, we know fat loss. And I am here to tell you that "Protein Power" works.
   
   The reason I bought this book is that I wanted to understand the "why's." I already know "low-carb" works; I just wanted to know for myself the scientific reasons behind it. The doctors go in great detail explaining why and how. The science behind the "low-carb" concept is explained in a level that 8th graders can understand. The doctors did an excellent job. In addition to the easy-to-understand format, but well-researched and scientific findings the book outlines, I love the fact that the doctors were kind enough to include a recipe section. Yummy!!
   
   
   Chances are if you are reading this section in Amazon, it is because you wish to lose weight. In closing, I'd like to offer the following:
   
   
   
   There are four pillars to losing weight. They are: a) your mind; b) weight training; c) cardio exercise; and, d) nutrition.
   
   
   
   a) Your mind. You have to believe that you can do it. Whether you think you can or you can't, you're right. There are no magic pills that you can take and melt the fat off when you wake up the next day. YOU HAVE TO WORK HARD!! And don't blame genetics. Take accountability for your own lifestyle. Once you understand and accept this, you are on your way to losing fat.
   
   
   
   b) Weight training. You should consider adding weight training to your regimen. You want to keep and / or add muscles. Muscles burn fat due to increased metabolic rate. You don't want to "lose weight" by losing both fat and muscle. That's another thing. You should focus on "fat loss" and not "weight loss." I'm not saying you should be a bodybuilder, all I am saying is that weight training is an effective fat burner. Get yourself an Accu-Measure caliper (also sold at Amazon for $20) so you can measure fat loss on a weekly basis.
   
   
   
   c) Cardio. You will lose fat if you create a calorie deficit. You can do this in two ways. You can either burn the calories by doing cardio, OR you can consume less calories by eating less food. BUT, and here is a big BUTT (pun intended), the best way to burn fat is eat a little less AND exercise more.
   
   
   
   You can certainly lose weight just by consuming less calories without exercising, but you will be a "skinny fat person." You know, those dudes with a low body weight, but little if any muscle, and the last 15 pounds of stubborn fat is left defiantly clinging to their hips and butt.
   
   
   
   d) Nutrition. Read "Protein Power." This is perhaps the only fat loss book you will ever need.
   
   
   
   I wish you the best of luck in your quest to have a leaner, meaner physique. HOOAH! (It's an Army thing.)
   



3. The Power Protein Plan is an excellent program. The book details every aspect, including cholesterol, triglycerides, heart disease, diabetes...and explains how this protein plan can actually positively affect each.
   My husband is diabetic and is on insulin and oral drugs to maintain his out of control blood sugar. I put him on the protein power plan and his blood sugar dropped enough that he could do away with 3 shots and the oral drug. He never felt better, but his self-destructive nature has caused him to forego sticking to the plan entirely-which is why I give it 4 stars instead of 5: If you cheat on this plan, you will gain weight and probably cause your blood levels to rise.
   All in all, a healthy, easy plan--the included recipes are really quite good-though time-consuming.



4. I am the author of a new book entitled GENOCIDE;HOW YOUR DOCTOR'S DIETARY IGNORANCE WILL KILL YOU. I am a family physician with over ten years experience introducing a low carbohydrate, more fat, more cholesterol, more protein diet into my patient's lives. Through this dietary approach I have cured type 2 diabetics, treated people with high blood pressure with little or no need for meds, seen tons of weight lost and the list goes on and on. Protein Power was the first book I read espousing the virtues of low carb diets.
   
   Unfortunately most physicians will never read this book and if they do they will dismiss it as an opinion, not based in fact. For some reason, the scientific method is not followed in dietary clinical trials. The scientific method should be: I have an idea (theory, supposition, opinion, hypothesis whatever you want to call it), I perform an experiment to either prove or disprove my idea; if I prove my theory-great-look how smart I am. But if the results do not prove my idea, I am supposed to re-evaluate my initial idea, not call the experiment flawed or the results inconclusive.
   The reason the dietary clinical trials appear contradictory is because the researchers in these trials start off with a conclusion--not an idea-- perform an experiment, and when the results of the experiment do not support what the researchers already 'think' they know; they now call the experimental design flawed or the results inconclusive, which is generally not the case.
   
   I have literally treated thousands upon thousands of my patients with low carb diets over the last decade. I love when the labs come back with higher HDLs, lower triglycerides and normal blood sugars. I love teasing my patients and ask if they are eating more fat and cholesterol. When they say yes, I ask them "Well, if you are eating more fat and cholesterol, then why did your fat level drop and why did your HDL rise, and why did you lose weight?" I always get a smile back, because my patients know what I am getting at. And what I'm getting at is the fact--and I mean FACT, that low cholesterol, low fat diets DO NOT WORK to any degree to help people stay off or reduce their medications.
   This book should be required reading in all medical and undergraduate colleges. If physicians actually understood the correct way to tell their patients to eat--many disease processes would become extinct--instead of the human race. I recommend my patients to purchase this book (along with mine of course :-), to help them understand why they must start low carb diets----NOW. By the way, my apologies to Dr. Michael Eades, I mistakenly called you Dan in my book, even though I must have said your name thousands of times to my patients--but I have recommended your book thousands and thousands of times, so I hope you forgive me for that.
   
   Allow me to end my post with the three biggest dietary myths in America;
   MYTH # 1
   Eating fat makes us fat. FALSE. The truth is that eating fat does not make us fat, unless we're eating too many carbohydrates along with that fat.
   MYTH #2
   Eating cholesterol containing foods causes heart disease. FALSE. There has never been any study which has shown, convincingly, that eating cholesterol containing foods causes heart disease.
   MYTH #3
   Probably the biggest dietary myth out there is that the calorie actually means something in human nutrition. FALSE. The calorie means nothing in human nutrition.
   
   Thank you Dr's Eades, for helping save my life and the lives of my patients. It inspired me to write my own account of what I've seen work in my practice over the last decade.Genocide: How Your Doctor's Dietary Ignorance Will Kill You!!!!



5. This book really sells itself short by marketing as a "weight loss" book. It is a fantastic reference for people who don't understand insulin resistance and the medical background to why carb overloaded diets are so unhealthy. It has changed the way I eat and think about everyday food. As an added bonus, my post pregnancy weight is just falling off. I would HIGHLY recommend this book.

5 comments about Blueberry Summers: Growing Up at the Lake.

1. This was a delightful,carefree book to read for summer enjoyment. The insight into Curt's boyhood and his relationship with his parents and their friends was so well done. You just felt like you were on the lake fishing sometime.
   I recommend.



2. Curtiss Anderson has done for the Minnesota Lake Country what Peter Mayle did for Provence and Frances Mayes for Tuscany -- transported me there on winged words and introduced me to the sights, sounds, and scents not to mention characters both comical and crochety. Of course the Lake Country of Anderson's youth ('30s and '40s) is what gives this memoir its particular magic plus the author's own poetic prose:
   
   "Nature would always challenge, threaten, protect, and entertain us with its sweet and sad surprises," Anderson writes. "Things would happen that had never happened before and would never happen again. That is the essence of wilderness and wildlife."
   
   Who can forget Clara Johnson and her famous doughnuts (Anderson shares that recipe on page 27), dear old Great-Aunt Ingaborg who was "Norsk to the bone," or young Sarah Schumacher who in the adolescent Anderson's eyes "was the most exquisitely created human being who ever lived?" Each of them is as unforgettable as the entire cast of characters from Anderson's extended Norwegian family.
   
   Anderson's coming-of-age summers beside a northern Minnesota lake will resonant with everyone who grew up in the age of FDR, rumble seats, and water pumps constantly in need of priming. As for the younger generation, I'd make BLUEBERRY SUMMERS required reading if only to prove that it's possible to have fun deprived of play stations, paintball fights, and virtual TV.



3. In my memory, summer always stretched out like a lazy dog. I read books in a sacred spot under the canopy of a cottonwood tree, rolled in freshly-mown grass, and ran against the chinook wind, spreading my arms wide and hoping to fly. Anderson's book brought back those magic moments. I read it slowly, savoring my own memories as inspired by his.



4. What a pleasure to read an old-fashioned, heart-felt, utterly sentimental memoir with the power and poetry to evoke the innocence, happiness, and yes, disappointments of childhood and growing up in a family that...mattered. Anderson captures the essence of the whole experience in language that flows effortlessly and often lyrically from the first joyous to the final rather sad pages. What ever happened to no-nonsense writing like this?



5. It takes a special type of person to embrace an adopted child as if they were one's own. "Blueberry Summers: Growing up at the Lake" is author Curtiss Anderson's reminiscence of his family life as he grew up in 1940s Minnesota. Focusing on the coming of age stories that riddle all of our lives and turn us into the people that we are today, and serving as a memorial to his adoptive parents, "Blueberry Summers: Growing up at the Lake" is a top pick for those seeking to look back at a childhood much like their own and for community library memoir collections.

5 comments about The First Eagle (Jim Chee Novels).

1. The first editor or agent, I forget which, to read the first novel in Hillerman's long series of best-selling mysteries said to take out all the Navaho elements. How stupid is that? Meanwhile you've heard so much about Hillerman, and you're looking at the library or bookstore, and there's a big pile to choose from. Where do you begin? Chronology is one way, but you know he got better as he progressed, maybe had a slip or two, and whatever else befalls the author of a long-running series. So, where do you start? I recommend right here. If you enjoy this book, you'll know you can spend dozens or hundreds of hours with this author, just enjoying. That's a great feeling.



2. "The First Eagle" was the novel that introduced me to Tony Hillerman, and I will forever be grateful. Superbly written and compelling. Mr. Hillerman's last few novels have been a bit disappointing ("The Shape Shifter" most of all), but "The First Eagle" is first rate. Highly recommended.



3. I've read all of the Leaphorn/Chee books so now I'm enjoying them all over again as audiobooks. Most readers will agree that Hillerman's last 4 or 5 books haven't exactly been duds, but not up to the high standards set by his earlier works. This one may well be the last of the really strong ones.
   
   Leaphorn is now retired. He decides to do a little private detective work and his case leads him into a seperate case being worked by Jim Chee. Without going into too much detail, just know that this one hangs together well, the characters are still growing and changing and Leaphorns thoughts on getting older, being retired and being lonely are heartfelt and real. Jim Chee makes a series of life-changing decisions in this one.



4. Acting Lt Jim Chee is finds a Hopi indian with blood on his hands and a dead policeman, and naturally assumes the Hopi had just killed him. This particular indian even has a motive! But all is not what it seems, as the legendary retired Lt Joe Leaphorn gets involved as a result of being hired to find a missing lady who was hunting for clues about the bubonic plague, fleas and prairie dogs. Leaphorn becomes suspicious that something else is going on, with strange reports of a ghost skinwalker in the area. Is the disappearance of the lady connected to the dead policeman? You will enjoy the cast of characters, political wrangling, red herrings and the ultimate confrontation with the killer.



5. I read this book in college for Cultural Anthropology to study the cultural aspects and customs of Native American reservations and its citizens. The novel provided some insight on social standings and customs but in terms of entertainment it falls quite short, as it is quite predictable and not overly fulfilling.
   
   The writing is simply enough to provide the casual reader to breeze through chapters and the length of the novel is not overwhemling by any means.

5 comments about The Da Vinci Code.

1. Dan Brown is an illusionist. It attracted, like all good writers successful thrillers American audiences. The ingredients are familiar: Action brutal murder in the singular and plural (serial killing), incomprehension, investigation, doubt, lack of knowledge, tenacity (alone against all), happy ending. Passion thrillers (see my listmania), I know the ropes most used to give the maximum chances of a successful sale. On the "thriller", "Da Vinci" is lourdaud.
   
   Dan Brown is a forger doubled a liar. How can one argue that the Bible (and therefore the Old and New Testament) was a work commissioned by the Roman Emperor Constantine in the fourth century? How can you write that the "Priory of Sion is a secret society founded at the end of XI century by Godfrey de Bouillon" who knows the truth about marriage with Mary Magdalene and the descendants of Christ and therefore lies founder the Church? ... then it is a supposed French association under the 1901 law declared in 1956. And how many other pearls ... like the androgyny of Mona Lisa (Mona Lisa) ... I still laugh.
   
   Dan Brown is a man who has faith hatred of the Christianity in general and the Catholic Church in particular. He is a descendant - representing heresies fought with accuracy since its inception by the Church. These are called heresies the arianism, Catharism and Jansenism. They say that God is a pure spiritual being therefore could not have had a Son of a similar nature to him. But Jesus Christ is fully man and fully God. That is what the Church professes, in full transparency, everyone. The profession of faith of the Church is radically opposed to any elitist philosophy - elected on the one hand and esoteric on the other.
   
   Dan Brown has mixed genres: the thriller, the invention sometimes committed to history, sometimes lies, and hatred skillfully distilled the Church.
   
   I invite the reader critical read the excellent book by Jesuit Father Bernard Sesboüé which dismantles this horror: "The Da Vinci Code explained to its readers." (in French)



2. Makes sense to me!! I loved this book! I know it was fiction but somehow I think he speaks a bit of truth in this book! You will love this book!



3. Ok, I have neither bought nor read this 'book', and never will, but I read the excerpt.
   If English is Dan Brown's first language, then he has major problems, unless he is a 10 year old slow learner. Ok, he has made a lot of money from this piece of rubbish, but why not take a quick course in creative writing beforehand to learn the basics of style.
   The Hardy Boys books are advanced literature in comparison!



4. A fast-paced suspense (more than pure mystery) novel about the Holy Grail and the secret societies (apparently a veritable Yellow Pages worth) whose goal is either to protect or expose it.
   
   Good fun, although its statements about the verity of the Bible, the orthodox canon, and other apocryphal works are disturbing. In fact, my distaste for this part of the book, plus its fast-food-like lack of weightiness knocks it down a peg from the "Worth my Time" level.



5. 
   I found this book to be acomplete waste of time,money and it was wrote in such a way to let people think it was true by saying that all art work ,architect, religous acts are fact when not one is and Every thing that stated fact in the book by Dan Brown and the characters is a completely fictional.
   And it was wrote mainly to attack christianity !