5 comments about Lilly's Big Day.

1. I love the Lilly books, as do my granddaughters. She's cute and sassy, and one of my favorite Henkes characters. Enjoy!



2. 
   An instant classic!
   
   Henke does it again, great book. Henke creates very real characters who grapple with emotions about as intense as I've seen for this format. In Lilly's perfect day, her teacher, Mr. Slinger, in an act of naked nepotism, elevates his own niece to the role of flower girl. This despite the inordinate amount of energy Lilly has put towards practicing for the event, the proficiency with which she has rehearsed every precocious countenance, the inestimable classroom bragging rights with which she fixates her anticipation. This mouse is due her fate, and only the venal world of adult institutions could deny her.
   
   No one can quite bring themselves to be direct her Lilly. "Do you understand what we are trying to tell you?" they ask. How can a child honestly answer that question? How can a parent honestly interpret a child's answer to that question. My stomach was in a knot for Lilly. I knew this was a Henke book, I knew it had to have a happy ending. But how could Lilly's youthful, brittle narcissism possibly absorb the onslaught of such a sleight? I wouldn't dream of ruining the ending here, but I will provide a little hint by saying that a baby mouse dose of propanolol would have gone a long way. But even the villainous niece's feelings are spared, as Henke ties up all the strands as only he can. Thumbs up for Henkes! And go Bears!



3. Children's Book
   
   Lilly's Big Day is not only a wonderful book but also a god-send for a little girl about to be a flower girl. I bought it for my granddaughter when we learned she was to be in a big wedding as a flower girl. At the time she was just 3. She loved the book and understood the story and understood the importance of being a good flower girl and practiced every day and when the time came she enjoyed the wedding hugely and helped another little girl who did not quite know what was expected. She has been in three weddings since the first and we call her the "professional". I send the book to anyone who is about to be a flower girl.



4. My daughter loves this book and Lilly's purple purse. However I did buy the collection last year and was much cheaper than what they are charging now. It is definitely a must have.



5. Another great story about Lilly! This book tells about her wish to be the flower girl in her teacher's wedding and how Lilly must be satisfied to be the flower girl's ASSISTANT. That is until the "real" flower girl freezes and is unable to walk down the aisle.

3 comments about My Family's Changing (A First Look At Series).

1. This book provides a wonderful explanation of how a family changes through divorce, especially for a very young child. It is one of the few books that does not discuss step families, which was not an issue at the time of our split, and supports the idea of a child spending significant time with both parents. Best of all, it's a pleasant read. More than a year after our move, my child still pulls this book off the shelf occassionally.



2. I bought this book for my 4 yr old nephew in the midst of his parents' divorce, and found it exceptionally helpful. It is sensitively written, yet direct and powerful. The illustrations are rich and expressive, and evoked a very strong response in my nephew, enabling him to express himself in ways he might otherwise not have. Due to his age, I read the book ahead of time and chose which sentences to focus on in order to account for his attention span. But as he grows and develops, we'll be able to read the entire book together. I agree with the other reviewer and also like that this book focuses entirely on the immediate changes, without focusing on step-families. I hope to find a book as good as this one about step families when that becomes a need. I highly recommend this book! Note: the cover shows a boy, and the boy is the primary character, however, many illustrations also include a girl/sister.



3. Children need books they can relate to particularly in stressful times and this is one of them. Children need more than one book, as the books are explaining different aspects. Adults, parents, G'parents, etc. should also read a good number of books to help the child and themselves.

5 comments about The Truth About Children and Divorce: Dealing with the Emotions So You and Your Children Can Thrive.

1. I used this book and several others in a talk given to grandparents of children who are coping with "Divorce". This book was helpful not only in helping the children, but, it was helpful to the parents and grandparents.



2. This is a somewhat positive outlook on divorce through the eyes of a professional who considers the children first. He offers practical, helpful advice for setting up things like visition based on the particular aspects of a divorce.



3. I needed some words to use to tell my teen-aged daughter and pre-teen son about our divorce. Dr. Emery wrote it is important to tell children in this age who initiated the divorce, and I used a his words, almost to the letter. So far, that has backfired with my daughter, who is very, very angry with me. I still believe the book will be a good reference, but I am ambivalent about taking his advice quite so literally.



4. I would recommend this book for anyone that is even thinking of getting a separation or divorce. Some of it seems like common sense, but when you are going through the trials of a divorce or separation, common sense can go out the window.



5. This was helpful and provided direction. It provided very straight forward advice during a shaky time. Recommend it.

5 comments about C.S. Lewis: The Signature Classics Audio Collection: The Problem of Pain, The Screwtape Letters, The Great Divorce, Mere Christianity.

1. There are few books that make you stop and take an accounting of who you are, what you're about and how you fit into time and the universe more than Mere Christianity. While it was originally a radio series (BBC) broadcast during WWII, it's approach is as applicable now as it was then or at any point in time.
   
   If you have any doubts, concerns or interests regarding the existance of God and/or how we relate to Him; if you're searching for Truth (with a capital "T") you will find some of your answers here.
   
   The approach is non-denominational and non- doctrinal. CS Lewis speaks of basic easy to grasp universal concepts rather than lofty dogma. Mere Christianity is and has been a modern classic that can be read and re-read with passion not only for they who search but also for they who have found answers to basic questions we all pose while here on earth



2. The reading of each book was complete and well done. I had started 2 of these as books, "Mere Christianity" and "The Great Divorce", but I never seemed to find time to read them. I can listen to the CDs working around the house or in the car. "The Screwtape Letters" were great. A real reminder how clever satan is at making you think that the issue is solely yourself or others. He is called the deceiver for a very good reason. "Mere Christianity" is a very thoughtful book and one worth discussing with others (Book Club, Book study etc.) "The Great Divorce" has nothing to do with marriage, but our divorce from God and how he wants the best for us and we settle for so much less. After listening to this book you will make decisions differently. "The Problem with Pain" is intense. C.S. Lewis is indeed a critical thinker. Pain is the result of the fall from grace and about how grace restores you (much different from curing you). Each time you listen to one of these CDs you will learn more about yourself, God and your relationship with Him. If you are not certain of who God is and is satan is real these CDs will be very helpful.



3. Just as the Bible, these books apply to past, present and future humanity! A very interesting incite to what we already know and need to be reminded of regularly. I will read (listen) to all of them again, as once is just not enough to grab it all! C.S.Lewis is a Master writer!



4. I love Lewis, so of course I love these CD's. Anytime I take a roadtrip, these help me pass the time. They also sharpen my logic and my spiritual outlook. If you're even the slightest bit interested, I highly encourage this as an investment in a higher degree of listening. The voices perform the work well and clearly. It may not be good for workout music, but for what it is, it is amazing.



5. PROS:
   -great for the intellectual on a road trip
   
   CONS:
   -none
   
   Would I BUY IT AGAIN:
   -yes
   
   Would I give it as a GIFT:
   -yes

5 comments about Crazy Aunt Purl's Drunk, Divorced, and Covered in Cat Hair: The True-Life Misadventures of a 30-Something Who Learned to Knit After He Split.

1. I picked up this book based on the title alone. I had once been drunk, divorced and covered in cat hair and trying desperately to make myself whole again. Now, many years later I find myself knitting furiously to fill the empty next. Not quite the same as being dumped by one's husband, but a similar feeling of loss and loneliness. In addition to knitting and latch hook and crocheting, I've started reading voraciously so I took myself to the bookstore to find a book to fill the void.
   
   I knew, instantly, from the title of this book, I had to read it and I was not disappointed. Any woman who has found herself clinging to an empty marriage, unwilling to accept that it's over only to be unceremoniously dumped will be able to relate to the sad but funny antics of the author. She takes you on her journey from shock and despair, to total depression to re-entry into the world as a whole person equipped with knitting needles. You'll both laugh and cry and remember your own journey to becoming whole as you read.
   
   The chapters are all very short, some only one or two pages long and cover a particular point in her journey - like the hair emergency a few days before divorce court or "cooking ADD". Her style of writing is very similar to Erma Bombeck who could also make you laugh at the irony of life. Whether you were dumped when "he" decided he was losing his creativity or you lost your spouse through death or you find yourself alone after the children have left the nest, this book is for you.



2. I thought this book was great. It's a quick read because you want to keep reading it. She is so open and honest about her life and quirks that you want to be friends with her. And she's funny. In addition to being a funny book, it is really good for someone to read if they are contemplating divorce but are on the fence about it. She gives very good coverage of the pros and cons as per her own experience.



3. I don't know how she did it but she channeled my life! So many of the same things happened. I can't write as houmrously, though. This lady is a stitch (pun intended)! Easily enjoyabe and quick read. My co-workers love to hear it on rides in the truck!



4. Strap yourself in and be prepared for a compelling true story ride that goes up and down, side to side, spirals this way and that and leaves you smiling in the end.
   The Crazy Aunt Purl thing in the title is misleading to the unitiated (me), that's just the name of Laurie Perry's blog/website (add a dot com), and obsessive knitters who've read Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's books shouldn't expect the knitting to be the star here, because it's not: it only makes an appearance around chapter 7 and is mentioned only a few times thereafter. Yes, there are knitting patterns (14), written in the same vein in the rest of the book-which makes a nice change if you're used to only normally written knitting patterns: These are in the back followed by a gallery-you have to see the picture of the cat wearing the hood of the devil baby blanket! There are scarves(5), hats(2), bags(3) and one each of a cat tunnel, pom-pom, flower, aforementioned blanket and shawl. My glitch with these is that they mostly come with a wine recommendation but not always gauge or yardage-extra homework for those who wish to substitute yarns.
   The knitting comes across more as a crutch, but this might be a good thing: one could give this book to non-knitters also going through a divorce or break-up, because that's what this book is really about, and how she, Laurie, survived the dark days of divorce and created a wonderful, sparkly new life (and with luck, the recipient of this book will be encouraged to knit too! So diabolical, it's brilliant! Get 'em when they're vulnerable-because knitting is, of course, healing and did I mention useful?)
   Although this is by a woman and probably marketed to women, there's no reason a man shouldn't look into it.
   The 44 chapters are bite-size, for that sense of accomplishment, and it feels like reading someone's really well-written diary or pages of a nice long letter, flashbacks to childhood and those real, often uncomfortable feelings we're too polite to say out loud, included.
   It's funny in places, smile-free in others and unwittingly kind of self-helping, mostly the third act.
   4 stars because I like it but don't swooningly love it (needs a pinch more knitting for my taste) but I'm happy to have it in my knitting book collection.
   Definitely worth a read if you're in the mood for comfy, cozy, light and ultimately feelgood (and/or are on a diabolical mission to convert the non-knitting...)



5. Cute, funny, and A silky smooth ride.
   In the beginning, Charlie, her beloved husband, gave a single reason (his "creativity") and said he was leaving the marriage. And then, he did.
   So a thirty-something young professional finds herself alone, dumped, and devastated in Los Angelos. She goes crazy. After a while she learns to knit. She makes knitting into a hobby. And that's it.
   Of course the story isn't really about knitting - though it claims to be. And we find that our heroine is a survivor, after all. I won't steal - by quoting - the hilarious one liners and funny story episodes. Author Laurie Perry is quite comfortable with character development and, in matter of fact, manages her subtle story progress quite handily.
   I guarantee you will like this fast, short, and very funny read.

5 comments about Was It the Chocolate Pudding?: A Story For Little Kids About Divorce.

1. I found this book to be directed towards a divorce situation where
   the kids primarily spend time with the father. This would be a perfect
   book for that custody agreement. I was surprised that the mother was
   only mentioned toward the end of the book, and a slight attempt to show
   the mother is in the childrens life daily. I returned it and ended up
   losing money due to shipping.



2. I found this book to be just too wordy. The concept was good, children do blame themselves for divorce and look for reasons why they caused divorce but this book is more for adults to understand how children come to those conclusions rather than something that would help a child understand. I felt that it was condescending and not at all believable in terms of what a child would say.



3. This is an excellent book for young kids on divorce. My daughter is 5 years old and she enjoyed it very much. It also gets the message across that kids are not to blame for divorce. I would recommend it for kids under 6. I believe it would be too simplistic for older kids.



4. When my ex and I were going through a divorce I tried looking through many books to help our kids cope. I found almost all of them to be heavily biased towards either the mother or the father, portraying one as dysfunctional or unavailable.
   
   Since my kids had both a mother and a father who cared about then, I wanted to avoid causing more emotional damage to them by giving them a book which might make them worry that one or the other of us was going to abandon them or start drinking heavily. This book is designed to help kids understand that divorce is not their fault, that they didn't cause it and can't prevent it. It helps them to understand that the situation is not ideal, but that it will work out. I think it helps them to feel more "normal." And it doesn't portray one side as being substantially better parent than the other.
   
   It does have the kids spending more time during the week with the father than the mother. But the time that the kids are with their mother they are happy to be there and doing fun activities, and she offers them important parental advice. I really don't believe that there is a bias one way or the other in this book.
   
   Did the kids enjoy it? Now that our kids have pretty well adjusted to the divorce, two years later they still ask to have it read to them from time to time. I highly recommend this book along with Claire Masurel's "Two Homes" for any parents who desire above all to help their children cope with the anxiety of a divorce.



5. My daughter asks me to read this book every day. It helps her to cope and understand divorce. I would highly recommend this book to anyone.

5 comments about Joint Custody with a Jerk: Raising a with an Uncooperative Ex, A Hands on, practical guide to coping with custody issues that arise with an uncooperative ex-spouse.

1. Each piece of advice worked the first time. I think it was because I was breaking the old patterns when I responded and she was caught off guard. By the next time we communicated she had a new way to shut me down. I stuck to the plan for a month, then gave it up. I would have needed to go to counseling after every confrontation. She has the ability to mutate faster than a super virus. I was amused but not helped by Joint Custody With a Jerk.



2. Once I saw this book at my x-wife's apartment it became clear she was working a new program. I bought and read it and understood what she was trying to accomplish. What I found amusing was that, I always felt she was the jerk. It would have been easier on both of us if she had just been straight with me. This book would be valid if both parents had a copy. So it should only be sold in sets so both parents are headed in the same direction. Aggravating information on lying, blocking and refusing to be flexible should be removed from the text. A professional mediator could correct the problems with this book and make it really helpful. For now, it does not rate much consideration. Not recommended.



3. This book will help you learn to deal effectively with difficult spouses or any other antagonistic people in your life.
   
   If you are going through a divorce, I highly recomend this book



4. They attempted to put a positive spin on the book by being cute. It did not work. It starts in the right direction but sometimes becomes more game playing. Take the good parts and ignore the rest.



5. This book is terrible. They bend so far over backwards not to insult men that they insult women. It tells you basically, yes he is a jerk but YOU must bend over backwards to accomodate his jerkiness. It adds to the current family court system that says that you can do whatever you want and the person pooped on must be the one to give in to the selfish one, the one who is morally wrong. That is right. We live in the west. Morals are relative.
   
   Don't buy this book unless you want more frustration.

4 comments about God, Marriage, and Family: Rebuilding the Biblical Foundation.

1. At a time of crisis in marriages and in family relationships, this refreshing and thought provoking book is one of very few that examines and tackles what the Bible has to say about marriage, family and other related subjects. There are ethical discussions on reproductive health and rights, and a discussion on the role of women in society. It may change your views on birth control and reproduction as Dr. Köstenberger addresses "how to think GOD'S way." It honestly discusses Jesus' teachings on homosexuality, the gift of singleness, celibacy, parenting, and divorce and remarriage. The ideas are not only for married men and women, but for all of us! They offer practical advice on the issue of purity, even for those who consider themselves anything but pure!
   At a time of crisis in relationships, this Scripture based book shares examples of restoration of God's ideals for marriage and family, reminding men and women to take proper care of their relationships to ensure themselves the happiness they yearn for in marriage. It was helpful as Dr. Köstenberger addressed gender roles, men submitting to Christ, and the husband's authority over women with the husband being the ultimate authority over family. It presents the woman's role, discussing the Proverbs 31 wife, giving everyday advice on how to be a "suitable helper," presenting children, and providing her husband with companionship. He spends a chapter on sex and communication that I found helpful because he spoke from both the perspective of the wife and the husband, and addresses key issues for each.
   There is a fascinating chapter devoted to biblical teachings about child rearing, obedience, proper discipline, and introducing children to a personal relationship with "God in Christ." While the child's responsibility toward their own parents changes after they have established a new family, Köstenberger emphasizes that children are mandated to honor parents, and that rebellion against parents is tantamount to disrespect toward God himself, putting it "on the same level as treason and idol worship."
   I highly recommend this book. It is practical and down-to-earth, inspiring us to persevere in marriage as a sacred covenant entered into before God. Dr. Köstenberger writes on how to have a great marriage by keeping God at the center of our relationships, and to bear and raise children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. He addressed spiritual warfare and proper use of spiritual weapons.
   His examples were great for supporting a case to defend marriage as well as a case against homosexual unions. I found the insight on divorce to be helpful. The end of the book contains a helpful personal and group study guide.
   I would recommend this book to Christian as well as non-Christian couples. "Marriage and family are good gifts from a great God." I have already applied some principles of this in my life, and it DOES make a difference.



2. I had one of these authors for two classes in seminary and he was always informative and provoking. This book is an exhaustive, for the average person, biblical treatment of the subjects of marriage and family. Anyone who works with families and children should have this book, and will use it time and time again. I have worked it into parenting classes, and while it may be a little on the thick side for a new Christian it lends itself nicely to borrowing ideas and material to give a more shallow curriculum some meat. Get a few copies to give away during counseling and classes.



3. This is a helpful book for people wanting a biblical overview of marriage and family. It is vital for Christians to know what God says about the family in this day and age. Instead of the author sharing his view alone, he presents multiple scholarly thoughts and presents clear explanations of biblical passages, not just his own thoughts on the subject. The book is written at a higher educational level but is not difficult reading. I am used to reading theology books and this book follows that typical style and presentation, but simpler. It would be deemed conservative by social standards and is clear on the teachings of the Bible.



4. This is one of the best books that I have read concerning God's intent for the marriage relationship. It covers the difficult issues of divorce, abortion, homosexuality, and others that many are afraid to address. The authors return the reader to Adam and Eve and Old Testament principles, progressing to Jesus' teachings and New Testament principles on each issue. A special section concerning spiritual warfare is provided depicting not only the "what" but the "how to" of spiritual warfare. I recommend this to anyone who desires a thorough understanding of God's desire for the marriage and family relationship.

5 comments about Should I Stay Or Go? : How Controlled Separation (CS) Can Save Your Marriage.

1. Excellent book and innovative concept. Very good case studies; one or two that will likely apply to the reader's own situation. The title misleads just a bit in that I thought the book was going to help me then-and-there as to whether I should stay or go. It deals more with the task of separating and the rules that go along with it, so that you CAN decide whether to stay or go. I found that this book was excellent as a second-read, behind "Too Good to Leave, Too Bad to Stay." Would absolutely recommend both books for that delicate situation of being in a shaky, unresolved marriage.



2. I really liked the book. It was easy to read and had a lot of useful information. I liked the different relationship examples. Although not one of them were exactly us...there were a few similarities in many of the relationships we could relate to. We did use the contract format, made our own revisions and agreements (although we decided we didn't need a formal signed agreement, we at least covered the points we needed and included a small blurb about the finances as well).
   A great way to help make decisions in a rational way!



3. In the heat of a break up, this book gives practical advice on how to discern what is the best route to take. It was recommended on a chat sight for divorcing couples and I would highly recommend it to people who are still within a disfunctional relationship.



4. Thid wonderful book helps one recognize and intergrate emotional, intellectual and financial consideraions and to rationally consider options.



5. I found this book to be an excellent resource for dealing with my own personal seperation. It gives excellent advice that has already help settle down all the turbulent emotions and is allowing for calmer minds on both sides. Very well written, easy to follow and very real world advice.

5 comments about Confessions of a Contractor.

1. A light frolic that's enjoyable without being too taxing on the brain, Richard Murphy's contractor 'tell all" feels a bit like, 'whatever happened to Aiden after Carrie dumped him?" Henry Sullvan, contractor extraordinaire says early on that you should never get involved with a client. He promptly does with two, starting a chain reaction of events that while have some major repercussions, never colors the tone of the book so much that it becomes a downer of a read. I'm not exactly sure the wide appeal of the book, but among women it should find a captive audience.



2. Descriptive Delight, Sadly Sex Light
   A review of Richard Murphy's "Confessions of a Contractor"
   By Michael DeMeritt
   
   Richard Murphy has a visual impact in his writing that clarifies as it muddies, like a painter's brush smashing a collision of carefully chosen colors onto a canvas that, viewed too closely, seems meaningless and chaotic until you let the painter finish and take a step back to see an almost picture quality pristine effort. It is his gift to write visually, probably due his screenwriting background, to set moods in the context, and describe the esoteric senses of a moment with great quality, like smell, feel and flavor.
   
   The story found in "Confessions of a Contractor" is not the one shown in the cover photo, or the one advertised on flap: "A sexy, page-turning novel about the combustible mix that results when you blend desire, jealousy, and home renovation". Way to go marketers set up expectations that are never met and miss out on getting this book in the hands of those who would appreciate it. Someone like me. My initial reaction to the cover, the pitch, the title was - great, another sex romp of a romance novel with a bunch of things I've read before and will never believe. This is not a book I would have ever bought.
   
   Instead of heaving chests and thirty ways to describe an orgasm, Murphy delivers a complex set of characters with just inside the believability line circumstances all delivered in a pretty damn good description of Los Angeles, where I happen to live. He hits the highs and lows of it, explores the lives of undocumented workers, enters the domain of failed and fostered friendships, and delves deep into the sea of regrets that his protagonist, Henry Sullivan, has unknowingly sailed into. Sprinkled in the complex story are two tricks the author reaches for repeatedly with success.
   
   He loves to foreshadow a flashback, meaning he will explain a feeling or development that is to come, chronologically, and turns back the clock to tell us how it got there. This is a common when an author talks about the way back things, a father's death or the past relationship with Gia in Confessions, but Murphy uses the trick within chapters, speaking of events only a few hours old. He does not overuse this, but pulls it out at the right moments when he needs to keep you on the page but has a lot of explaining to do. If he told it straight linear, it would be a long path, but by setting up the emotional state before explaining what had recently happened to get there, he manages to keep you in the life of Henry. Henry's life borders into the BS fantasy realm, is anyone that wanted? But it skates into it, leaving one foot on the believability side of the ice sheet, and never slips and falls into the "this moment better turn out to be a dream because it is too stupid to be perceived as realistic" area of similar works about everyday people in not-so-everyday situations.
   
   The other, neater trick, the author uses is a change of voice to someone actually explaining the complex issues of dealing with a contractor in your home during a huge renovation. Suddenly the book is a guide, an advisory. It would be easy to confuse the voice, who's talking, Henry or Richard Murphy? But somehow either one is acceptable, and the transitions are so smooth that it does not remotely detract from the story - in fact it accentuates it. Like a screenwriter choosing a moment when a character addresses the viewing audience. Think Magnum PI or Ferris Beuler's Day Off. In most fiction this would simply suck, but Murphy pulls it off. Further, makes the story better with it.
   
   Where Confessions of a Contractor falls on its face, ironically in my opinion, is in the woeful lack of flavor or description when these long budding flirtations reach a point of actual sexual union. It is very much a tease, a promise of a scene that never comes, and in those moments very disappointing. There is a warning of this in the first paragraph of the book when Henry describes his paramour's naked form as "taunt, confident, beautifully hers". This is about as descriptive as nudity gets in the book. This is a set up, an actual dream, so I thought little of it, it is meant to be a tease, but when he actually gets the girl, Sally, who we know a lot about, even the sent of her hair, the way she treats people, her walk, her methods good and bad, the actual sex becomes a rather truncated, almost frat-boy like description - I did her there, and there and there too. Oh if this bed could talk, it would tell you some things. Like what? Well, you know, hmmm, we did it there. Things.
   
   I wish he would have told us the things the bed would have told us. I like sexy scenes when you accept the character's situation for being there is true (to the character, not true to me). Here we get a very true motivation and discovery and desire with absolutely no payoff. Richard Murphy, you are a big tease. But, more importantly, we get a nice story, Confessions of a Contractor is not a romance so much as a soap opera. It would be an interesting art film (though the sex would need to be better) if you had the right cast.



3. In this unique novel, the contractor is renovated, the homeowners are renovated and ultimately, the expensive status-seeking home is renovated. During one summer, Henry Sullivan, a creative, skilled contractor works on two home simultaneously and he breaks his own rules when he becomes romantically involved with the two female owners. Their stories are intertwined but the gist of this novel is the unconventional contractor's talent and exploits.
   
   I enjoyed the story line but the remodelings were far more interesting. Richard Murphy, the author, takes the reader through the initial walk-through and then the step by step planning and construction of someone else's dreamhouse. Murphy has renovated homes and apartments and his knowledge of every facet of construction and materials is fascinating. The timing of a job takes a genius and I imagine that Murphy was a brilliant contractor - I expect much of this story is autobiographical.
   
   The respect he has for other craftsman and a working crew is quite apparent. It is easy for the reader to like the contractor and his workers much more than the homeowners. By the end of this novel, I was convinced that the contractor "everyone must have" in these tony villages, can get whatever he wants at any time. It is quite simple to break the rules but a good contractor will never compromise on his project - his workmanship is his essence.



4. Confessions of a Contractor is sexy fun chick-lit book that entertains while learning the insights of working with a contractor. It's written in first person narrative that follows along like a Dexter episode (just not as dark). Confessions about a contractor (written by a former contractor Richard Murphy) who tells a lot of little stories about the idiosyncrasies of contracting and dealing with people while also weaving a main story about the lives of two women...both of which the book's character, Henry Sullivan, is doing home renovation projects for.
   
   My husband has worked in the new home construction and renovation field and would come home with some crazy stories about the job, co-workers, and customer's behaviors. Stories ranged from benign to insane. This is what attracted me to this book. Confessions of a Contractor gives you many of the same crazy experiences while also telling a fictional story of a contractor falling in love with two different women. The stories gets even crazier when you add the ex-girlfriend, two illegal aliens, a germ loving friend, and an old cat.
   
   Then there's the other 101 stories shared within this tale, including:
   - The irate neighbor who hates the loud construction noises next door
   - The never ending renovation projects people involve themselves with
   - The projects that broke up marriages
   - The projects where the husband disputes with the choices the wife makes
   - The illegal deep sea fishing trip
   - and more!
   
   I chuckled on more than one occasion reading this book, mostly with the customer experiences that Henry Sullivan, the contractor, shares. They seem to be all too real for being just made up fiction. And the cat...the cat just about steals the story at one point.
   
   Overall a fun chick-lit, how-to-treat-your-contractor book. A bit soft in the ending, but leaves it open to possibly more stories and adventures with Henry Sullivan.



5. Set in the sun-bleached plains of Los Angeles, a city whose light has captured the eyes of poets, and painters and architects since the city was founded, Henry Sullivan works to renovate the big houses of wealthy Brentwood residents. Where light that can make a bad break look like a blessing and an empty promise like something to keep, Henry has spent his career caulking and painting and plastering, but his personal life is just as fragile as the mortar that he mixes for all of the walls he constructs. It is Henry's involvement with two complex women, both looking to change something but no longer willing to wait, that forms the core of this unique and sharply acerbic story.
   
   With their husbands that are rarely around, both Sally Stein and Rebecca Paulson are naturally attracted to Henry's acts of generosity and his kindly ways. Once the women where so close they could have been sisters; one is now unhappily married with a disconsolate husband and the other is a wealthy philanthropist who, at the beginning of the story, invites Henry to a dark dinner party. It is the beautiful Sally Stein with "her thick brown hair, bound tightly in a ponytail, and a scent that practically renders Henry and his crew powerless, that jumpstarts Henry's first mistake in a trilogy that involves Rebecca's husband Derrick and "the twisted little thrill of infidelity."
   
   Sally "a tornado of kindness" is also sexually aggressive and contributes to Henry's dinner party orgasm, but perhaps it is the tender Rebecca who offers something more complex and the panacea to Henry's romantic needs. The poor and vulnerable Rebecca has probably found the man of her dreams, but under impossible circumstances. When she employs Henry to remodel her home, the attraction between them is predictable, it's just a pity that Derrick is always on the scene constantly being belligerent while also trying to convince Henry of his expertise along with the suggestion that he has failed miserably at what ever he was doing prior to his ventures into real estate.
   
   While juggling his two jobs throughout this hot and sweaty Los Angeles summer, organizing his construction crews and dealing with all of the ensuring onsite dramas, Henry is driven to find out what had caused the rift between Sally and Rebecca. Perhaps Bridget Campanelli who resides in a downtown loft can provide some of the links to Sally and Rebecca's past, but Henry doesn't see coming the strange and twisted machinations of Derrick Paulson who plays Henry for a fool, artfully maneuvering him into a place of his own design. Testing Derrick's motive requires a tactful response, yet Henry is surprised when he discovers that Derrick's fanatical and never-ending quest for a perfect home is the only way he thinks he can bring home true happiness for both him and his wife.
   
   Yet amidst all of this demolished drywall, splintered molding, insulation, carpet, and tack-boards, Rebecca's temptations lead to more changes, more urges to upgrade, and more stress on her already troubled marriage. Meanwhile, Henry finds himself having to save Hector and Miguel Bautista, the two hardworking and highly skilled lead men in his crew from the immigration authorities, while also tackling his attraction to the two beautiful girls: "If Rebecca was the foundation of my demise, Sally Stein was the substructure - an equally important component in any house of cards."
   
   Filled with beautiful hipsters and late-blooming Breakfast Club wannabes, young guns and harried Hispanic construction workers, this novel is essentially about loneliness and the nature of trust and vulnerability. In the end, Henry finds himself lost within the landscape of a contractors Los Angeles and the measurements of an entertainment center he has no time to build. Throughout, Richard Murphy peppers his novel with a large cast of colorful and eccentric characters, all forced to question their most basic belief systems and their allegiances to each other. The novel contains a smorgasbord of tips on house-remodeling, the author's own experiences as a contractor complementing the chaotic mix of designers and architects, landscape artists and painters, plumbers and electricians. Although Murphy seduces the reader with a tale that is as sexy as it is entertaining, it is his themes of house renovation and how it strangely epitomizes the American dream that are most fascinating. It comes as no surprise then that throughout the story the charming and affable Henry is content to remain a renter, determined to rise above the fray and push his romantic entanglements into the background and out of sight, even to the point where he doesn't even recognize them anymore. Mike Leonard 2008.