Book Description
All over the U.S. and in over twenty countries around the world, Touchpoints has become required reading for anxious parents of babies and small children. T. Berry Brazelton's great empathy for the universal concerns of parenthood, and honesty about the complex feelings it engenders, as well as his uncanny insight into the predictable leaps and regressions of early childhood, have comforted and supported families since its publication in 1992.
In this completely revised edition Dr. Brazelton introduces new information on physical, emotional, and behavioral development. He also addresses the new stresses on families and fears of children, with a fresh focus on the role of fathers and other caregivers. This updated volume also offers new insights on prematurity, sleep patterns, early communication, toilet training, co-sleeping, play and learning, SIDS, cognitive development and signs of developmental delay, childcare, asthma, a child's immune system, and safety. Dr. Sparrow, Brazelton's co-author on several other books, brings a child psychiatrist's insights into the many perennial childhood issues covered in this comprehensive book.
No parent should be without the reassurance and wisdom Touchpoints provides.
Customer Reviews:
The best . . . on best authority.......2007-10-10
My sister, a child psychologist and head of early childhood development at a major hospital, told me this is the best, by far, and recommended I give this book to all my new-parent friends.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR PARENTS!.......2007-09-02
As a pediatrician, I feel this book contains really important information for parents. Dr. Brazelton is an expert in the field of pediatrics. This book can be read in confidence by parents. AVOIDING THE 15 BIGGEST MISTAKES PARENTS MAKE: A PEDIATRICIAN'S PERSPECTIVE
my favorite child development book.......2007-08-27
I go back to this book again and again. It's so reassuring every time my son reaches one of those touchpoints - Brazelton's advice is exactly what we need to help us deal well with each stage.
Not what I was looking for.......2007-08-21
It's a fine book, but I was looking for something that would tell me more about my baby's development and how to meet him at his level and less about how great the author is.
Very helpful.......2007-06-27
A friend suggested reading Terry Brazelton's books. We have a 1 year old and so far this book has answered a lot of questions for us.
Average customer rating:
- Not Free SF Reader
- Fascinating and provocative
- Haunting and horrifying
- Embarrassingly bad
- Great Book
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The Sparrow
Mary Doria Russell
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
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ASIN: 0449912558
Release Date: 1997-09-08 |
Amazon.com
In 2019, humanity finally finds proof of extraterrestrial life when a listening post in Puerto Rico picks up exquisite singing from a planet which will come to be known as Rakhat. While United Nations diplomats endlessly debate a possible first contact mission, the Society of Jesus quietly organizes an eight-person scientific expedition of its own. What the Jesuits find is a world so beyond comprehension that it will lead them to question the meaning of being "human." When the lone survivor of the expedition, Emilio Sandoz, returns to Earth in 2059, he will try to explain what went wrong... Words like "provocative" and "compelling" will come to mind as you read this shocking novel about first contact with a race that creates music akin to both poetry and prayer.
Book Description
ONE OF ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY'S TEN BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR
"A NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT . . . Russell shows herself to be a skillful storyteller who subtly and expertly builds suspense."
--USA Today
"AN EXPERIENCE NOT TO BE MISSED . . . If you have to send a group of people to a newly discovered planet to contact a totally unknown species, whom would you choose? How about four Jesuit priests, a young astronomer, a physician, her engineer husband, and a child prostitute-turned-computer-expert? That's who Mary Doria Russell sends in her new novel, The Sparrow. This motley combination of agnostics, true believers, and misfits becomes the first to explore the Alpha Centuri world of Rakhat with both enlightening and disastrous results. . . . Vivid and engaging . . . An incredible novel."
--Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"POWERFUL . . . Father Emilio Sandoz [is] the only survivor of a Jesuit mission to the planet Rakhat, 'a soul . . . looking for God.' We first meet him in Italy . . . sullen and bitter. . . . But he was not always this way, as we learn through flashbacks that tell the story of the ill-fated trip. . . . The Sparrow tackles a difficult subject with grace and intelligence."
--San Francisco Chronicle
"SMOOTH STORYTELLING AND GORGEOUS CHARACTERIZATION . . . Important novels leave deep cracks in our beliefs, our prejudices, and our blinders. The Sparrow is one of them."
--Entertainment Weekly
SELECTED BY THE BOOK-OF-THE-MONTH CLUB
Customer Reviews:
Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03
A bad book by a mundane religiously focused writer trying to be a science fiction writer, and failing, in general. Obvious, tedious, and worse than mediocre. This sort of thing has been handled many times before to considerably better effect. The religious preaching is so overt it causes you to grit your teeth and groan.
Fascinating and provocative.......2007-08-08
A fascinating and wholly original imagining of first contact with extraterrestrial life. A suspense story that builds patiently, dropping tantalizing crumbs along the way. Most profoundly, a meditation on the hard questions about God's involvement in our daily affairs, and his responsibility for evil in the universe.
I'm surprised to read so much praise for Doria Russel's characters, as they are the only aspect of the novel that keeps me from giving 'The Sparrow' a five-star rating. I found secondary characters like Voelker, Anne and Supaari to be more believable and fully imagined than the protaganist Emilio Sandoz, and his cardboard attraction Sofia. That aside, this is a powerful novel you will not soon forget.
Haunting and horrifying.......2007-08-05
My reaction to this book was much the same as "Reader's." The book is beautifully written, and the author crafted characters about whom a reader can truly care. I was mesmerized by a tale so wonderfully and deeply original, and I could not put the book down. But as the story progressed toward its ending, it changed into something sinister -- filled with shocking images and events. A bright promise and a fantastic read turned into a tale of unimaginable savagery. It was as though two different authors had written the story. Like "Reader, "I could not wait to physically separate myself from this book. My father taught me a deep respect of the written word, but this novel sickened me so much I was actually compelled to throw this book away. My apolgies to the author, but she has the talent to do better than to taint her work with graphic horror and sadism.
Embarrassingly bad.......2007-07-13
A sophomoric concept hamfistedly executed, with a cast of characters you just keep hoping will die already. Not remotely good enough to take itself as seriously as it does.
Great Book.......2007-06-28
I wouldn't hesitate to suggest this to anyone. It's themes are universal and it touches them all well.
Book Description
Discipline: The Brazelton Way shows how the normal growth spurts--physical, emotional, and intellectual--can lead to conflicts and testing behavior. For each problem--defiance, lying, stealing, fighting and biting, and foul language--Drs. Brazelton and Sparrow offer both understanding and practical solutions.
Sleepless nights, wailing babies, defiant toddlers--these are universal issues for new parents. Now beloved pediatrician T. Berry Brazelton and his esteemed colleague the child psychiatrist Joshua Sparrow come to the rescue with these highly effective and affordable guides. Full of empathy, warmth, and wisdom, each book in the Brazelton Way series leads parents step-by-step through these trying struggles. Courtesy of Dr. Brazelton's unparalleled understanding and experience, parents will emerge from the turmoil relieved, empowered, and full of new pleasure in the strength and progress of their individual child.
Customer Reviews:
Great when hitting a discipline rut!.......2004-09-23
I read the book as soon as I got it home. We were having discipline problems with out almost 4 year old and with a new sibling in the mix we didn't want to make drastic changes again in his life. I often read the book when I'm frustrated by my childrens actions and it helps me to understand their way of thinking and how to make the correct discipline choices to fit the exact situation. Thanks Berry Brazelton!
Raising children in an uncivilized world.......2004-07-01
Discipline teaches our children right from wrong and to care about doing right, to think of others before themselves. Too bad we can't raise the current generation of adults all over again. Hopefully today's parents, with the help of this book, will do better.
A gem.......2004-06-24
This is the most useful book on parenting I've ever read. It is clear, straightforward, practical, and respectful of children and parents. Thank you.
Not written for the real world..........2004-04-07
The advice in this book sounds very nice and gentle and compassionate but the problem is that it works only on children who are obedient and fairly submissive by nature. Lots of kids figure out the game after a while. What if your child refuses to stay in "time out"? What happens when you have taken away all the privileges? (and little kids just don't have that many). What about older kids who just laugh at this kind of approach?You'd better go buy another book because Dr. Brazelton doesn't address real discipline problems.
A short book...long on wisdom.......2003-05-15
I was not sure what age span was addressed in this new little book on discipline, but because I am an avid Brazelton fan, I bought it anyway. Although, there is quite a bit of general discipline philosophy and information in the book, I feel the majority of it is geared to parents and teachers of 1-6 year olds. Sometimes the text refers to "older children"; but, from the advice that is given on topics like stealing and lying, I would say older children means ages 7-10. I do think all the information makes good sense and is in keeping with the many other Brazelton books. I particularly like the section of the book that explains a variety of discipline techniques...one by one. The authors include pros and cons on each one-- which I found unique and helpful. The last part of the book gives solutions to some common misbehaviors like biting, tantrums, sibling fights, foul language, and lying. I found this section convenient to quickly look up a particular problem--where the authors offer concise, easy to understand information on the why's and what to do's with a number of troublesome behaviors. If you have a 2, 3, 4, or 5 year old, I would like to also highly recommend another "little book" with a similar philosophy for parents and teachers of preschoolers called "The Pocket Parent" --It's an A-Z quick-read compendium addressing many more hot-button issues (such as morning crazies, the gimmes, "I hate you's", not listening, and interrupting.) This book is a practical "hands-on" companion to "Discipline: The Brazelton Way". Additionally, "The Pocket Parent" offers a good dose of comforting humor as well as helpful, short, real-life anecdotes that clearly demonstrate many of the suggested positive discipline techniques in both books. Both books are reasonably priced and a worthwhile addition to your personal or school reference library...always ready to restore your sanity at a moment's notice--especi! ally whe n you feel you're just about to lose your mind!
Average customer rating:
- Glorious
- Great book, if only it stayed in one piece.
- Amazing!!!
- Great book for a great price
- A Great Book to Own
|
Universe
Robert Dinwiddie ,
Philip Eales ,
David Hughes ,
Ian Nicholson ,
Ian Ridpath ,
Giles Sparrow ,
Pam Spence ,
Carole Stott ,
Kevin Tildsley , and
Martin Rees
Manufacturer: DK ADULT
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ASIN: 0756613647 |
Book Description
Continuing in the bestselling tradition of Animal and Earth, DK brings you Universe - a truly definitive guide that takes you on a tour from the Solar System to the farthest limits of space.
Customer Reviews:
Glorious.......2007-09-11
I could retire just to keep rereading this book and stargazing and following the many enticing breadcrumbs of information scattered around the lovely images. The only possible improvement would be a "hyperlinked" version: For me, someone operating rather far from the natural sciences, some of the paragraphs were a great review, but others opened up more questions than answers. But what glorious questions they are, and how spiritual an experience it has been to journey among atoms and galaxies and across time. Thank you for bringing back the awe that I had forgotten to feel for the last few years!
Great book, if only it stayed in one piece. .......2007-09-06
I bought this book for my son for Christmas. He loved it; it's full of beautiful illustrations and facts. But well before summer vacation, the cover had come off entirely, and the book had become useless remnants of a primordial expansion event. He may not have treated it quite a gently as he should have, but I have to think they ought to make them a bit more entropy-resistant than that.
I'd like to give this book both five stars and one, but this river, as opposed to the one in the sky, does not allow for such astral profligracy.
Amazing!!!.......2007-08-17
A monumental effort. Well worth the cost even if one was forced to pay the full retail price for this book. Everything that can be said has been said by others. I'm just here to add my 5 star to a well deserving book
Great book for a great price.......2007-08-15
I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in Astronomy. Your knowledge level can range from "what is that grey and white ball in the night sky?" to "which super cluster does our galaxy belong to?" Superb and colorful illustrations, breath-taking photos and information on just about everything you could possibly want to know about concerning the universe fill this book. Plus, it is rather easy to comprehend. This is not a college text book by any means but more of a general purpose guide to the heavens. *****
A Great Book to Own.......2007-08-12
I own a lot of books about universe & astronomy & I used to go to library to check out what is new. When I encountered this book, I checked it out & renew twice & finally decided that I have to own this book. The photography is amazing, clean, sharp & colored. After so many nights out using my Dobsonian reflector to watch planets, I realize this book really enhances my experience & increases the joy of a hobbist. The book is very informative. You can actually read every word & enjoy every moment out of it. The section constellations contains interesting ancient story that is very helpful in star watching, since it is hard to forget those stories. The night sky section covers star position up to 2012, it is really handy for star watcher. I consider this book & Dickinson's NightWatch essential to anyone interested in astronomy & star watching.
Customer Reviews:
Gotta love Jack.......2007-06-08
My grandson loves Jack Sparrow, and so for his birthday we got him two books. He was delighted and now has the entire set. It's wonderful when you can see enthusiam about reading with all the electronic distractions that there are.
A blast to read, even as an adult!!!.......2007-05-18
I've read the entire series so far (Vol. 1-7) to my nine year old son. It's something we share-our love for Captain Jack Sparrow and the crew of The Barnacle. The entire series is funny and exciting. It is so easy to picture Jack Sparrow as a teenager. I can't wait for Volume 8!!!
Excellent!.......2007-05-12
We are just starting on this book, the 5th in the series and a start of a new adventure for the young explorers. "Captain (please!)" Jack Sparrow and his crew seek a well-deserved rest after their experience with the Sword of Cortes, only to find themselves in the middle of another mystery and at the heart of the wrath of one of their crewmate's village! This book is another page turner that leaves my son begging for the next chapter and the next book in the series! Perfect for us die-hard POTC fans!
pirates.......2007-01-12
we have all five books now, my son is 12 and he loves the pirates books, now he's waiting on the next 2 to come out. thanks so much penny & danny
Fun read for Pirates of the Caribbean Fans!.......2007-01-03
My boys really enjoy this series about Jack Sparrow as a teenager. Oh, and I do, too! It is great how the author uses references from the movies. These are swashbuckling adventures with interesting characters!
Customer Reviews:
Funny excitement!.......2007-05-18
I've read the entire series of the Jack Sparrow books to my son. I've had a blast reading them! I think I might like them more than he does...and he's nine! I love the humor of Jack-just like the Jack Johnny Depp plays in the movies. The books are funny and exciting, edge-of-my-son's-seat type of excitement. We've shared many laughs while reading them together.
In The City of Gold, Captain Jack and the crew of the Barnacle are in search of their first mate, Arabella. As they search the silver city of New Orleans the encounter the beautiful and dangerous Madame Minuit and her pirate brood! The evil Madame plans to mine the city for her own selfish needs.
Wonderful read and can't wait for Volume 8!
Average customer rating:
- worthless
- Could work I suppose
- Another cry it out to sleep book
- All I needed to know
- This is the one
|
Sleep: The Brazelton Way
T. Berry Brazelton , and
Joshua D. Sparrow
Manufacturer: Perseus Books Group
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Health o Meter HDC100-01 "Grow with Me" Teddy Bear Scale for Babies and Toddlers
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ASIN: 0738207829
Release Date: 2003-01-07 |
Book Description
Sleep: The Brazelton Way covers everything a parent needs to know about sleep, including the first great "touchpoint" of helping the baby sleep through the night, deciding whether to start with, and weaning a child from, a "family bed," sleepwalking, nightmares, and, above all, how to help children learn how to get themselves to sleep.
Sleepless nights, wailing babies, defiant toddlers--these are universal issues for new parents. Now beloved pediatrician T. Berry Brazelton and his esteemed colleague the child psychiatrist Joshua Sparrow come to the rescue with these highly effective and affordable guides. Full of empathy, warmth, and wisdom, each book in the Brazelton Way series leads parents step-by-step through these trying struggles. Courtesy of Dr. Brazelton's unparalleled understanding and experience, parents will emerge from the turmoil relieved, empowered, and full of new pleasure in the strength and progress of their individual child.
Customer Reviews:
worthless.......2006-11-17
I had great hope -- sleep !!!!!!
But it is just yet another book advocating abuse of the child for the ease of the parent.
Yes, I want sleep. NO I will not sacfice my baby's secure attachment to me, and faith in me and the world to get it.
crying it out is abuse pure and simply.
Don't waest your time and money -- if you think this is how to raise a child, do yourfelf and the child a favor and giv the child to someone who will care.
Could work I suppose.......2006-02-25
This book is easy to read & sympathetic but it didn't work for me. Staying with my baby while he was supposed to self-soothe (as recommended) did not help him or reassure him in any way. He cried continually, stopping for no more than 2 mins at a time. It worked better for me to leave him, returning every 10 - 15 mins for very brief periods of reassurance. He still cried but less & less each day. I think there are babies for whom the stay-with-them style could work, but not all, and alas, not mine.
Another cry it out to sleep book.......2005-09-08
I thought I'd find more logical techniques for sleep from Dr Brazelton since I enjoy all his other books, but this book just follows the old-school cry it out method. I did find many non-crying solutions in a newer book called the No Cry Sleep Solution.
All I needed to know.......2004-12-02
This is a great little book - short, easy to use, not overwhelming. Yet I've found all the answers to my questions in it, simply and clearly explained. I especially like the section with all the suggestions on how to handle problems. I'm done with struggling over bedtime with my 3 year old. This book has shown me what to do and given me the confidence to do it.
This is the one.......2004-03-16
There are so many books out there now for parents, especially about sleep. I never would have known which one to pick -who has time for more than one?- if one of my co-workers hadn't told me to check out the Brazelton Way. Well, she was right. This book is only about a hundred pages long, it fits in your pocket, and it's written so clearly you can zip right through it. I love my kids, but I'd rather be with them than spending a lot of time reading about them. I know many parents who feel the same way, especially single parents like me. It's tough raising a child alone, especially for a guy, because everyone is second guessing you and making you feel like you're never going to figure out how to take care of a kid. These little books, though, have really made me feel like I know what I'm doing. I love the way they steer me back to trusting my own gut, and at the same time give me so much useful advice. I bought this sleep book because my four-year-old was waking up with nightmares every night. He was so scared of having another one that he started refusing to go to bed. I couldn't deal with that because I have to get my sleep too. But this book gave me a few simple tips and all I had to do was try them out a few times and my little boy settled down - no more nightmares.
This books is definitely the one. I highly recommend it to any parent who wants to be sure they're doing everything they can do to raise happy, healthy kids.
Average customer rating:
- A Sparrow Falls
- This Trilogy should NEVER go out of print!
- Charlie's Review
- Wilbur Smith: A Sparrow Falls
- Tumultuous adventure in Africa
|
A Sparrow Falls
Wilbur Smith
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Paperbacks
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Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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ASIN: 0312940688
Release Date: 2007-01-02 |
Book Description
Mark Anders grew up on eight thousand acres of African land that bore his family name. Then he fought in Europe’s Great War and, upon returning to his ancestral home, he saw savagery unlike any other….
In Africa, Mark’s family estate has been despoiled. His grandfather has died under mysterious circumstances. And he has inherited a murderous enemy—the rogue scion of the powerful Courtney clan—in an altogether new kind of war.
Now, Mark will make a fateful choice between two women. Journey into the wilderness to uncover his grandfather’s fate. Find his way through battles raging between fathers and sons, generals and politicians, and nature and man. In an age of violent conflict, Mark Anders will live or die for justice—and his fight will echo across a country he always loved….
Customer Reviews:
A Sparrow Falls.......2007-07-23
If you like Wilbur Smith you will like this book it is typical of his africa stories,a little rushed at the end could have been a little better ending.
This Trilogy should NEVER go out of print!.......2007-07-08
In reading the reviews, I was dismayed that some readers experienced trouble obtaining some of these books (Trilogy). How can that be? - this Courtney Trilogy is or should be considered a classic. I read the series when they were first published and I still remember the stories. To the powers that be, please do not stop publishing this trilogy. I gave away my set and will make sure I have another set purchased soon.
Charlie's Review.......2007-03-09
This is another excellent book of Wilbur Smith, I will continue to buy his books as long as he keeps writing
Wilbur Smith: A Sparrow Falls.......2006-03-09
"A sparrow falls" is the third book in the Sean Courtney series. The main character, Mark Anders, returns from the first-world war to discover that his grandfather has been killed and that the farm that is now supposed to belong to Mark is owned by the Ladyburg Farmers' Bank. Mark travels to Ladyburg to find out who could have been responsible
for killing his grandfather and for taking the farm.
He comes to suspect that Dirk Courtney, the son of Sean Courtney, must have killed his grandfather since he needed the farm to expand his business. When Dirk becomes aware of Mark's investigations, he starts sending several of his hit men to hunt Mark down and kill him. Even Mark's employment by the influencial businessman and politician, Sean Courtney, does not prevent Dirk from going after Mark in order to keep the murder of his grandfather and the theft of the farm a secret. The conflict between Mark and Dirk comes to a violent climax on a stormy evening when Mark and Sean learn the truth about Dirks' activities from one of Dirks' own hit men.
"A sparrow falls" is mostly an action/suspense book, but it includes several subplots. One of the subplots is romance, in the form of Mark's relationship with Sean Courtney's daughter, Storm. The book also has a strong focus on nature and nature lovers living in nature. A very good book for those who have read and enjoyed the other Sean Courtney novels. It will make you treasure the familiar characters even more and will answer family questions left hanging in "When a lion feeds" and especially in "sound of thunder". Those unfamiliar with Sean and his family can enjoy it as a standalone action novel. If you're looking for a shorter book organised around one focussed plot, however, then this is probably one to steer clear of.
Tumultuous adventure in Africa.......2002-01-15
A Sparrow Falls is the third of Wilbur Smith's books I've read in the Courtney family series. Each has its own flavor; each one is delightful and hard to put down, but A Sparrow Falls was a real demonstration of a powerful writer taking his readers on a turbulent, tumbling ride on a river of adventure and emotion!
Smith's protagonists draw you in with their magnetic personalities and complicated problems to confront. The antagonists, the crude diabolical bad guys, are truly despicable. In this book, there is a seemingly impossible task in which the "good guys" must preserve a large African land area in its natural state, and to shield the wildlife which has rapidly been disappearing. Sections of the book which deal with the cruel maiming and killing of animals are hard to read, yet you know it has happened and continues today. We witness the bloody mutiny of the Marxist-led strikers, and atrocious deeds committed by greedy, evil people. The ending of the book is rather jarring and sad, and should not be given away in a review, but the ending works, and I closed the book with a "Wow!".
Yet Smith balances these intense scenes with humorous interludes, and equally intense romance and beauty. When he describes the African landscape, the sky, and animals, you are there, standing on a high peak, absorbing a flaming pink sunrise, or squatting down, admiring a tiny and delicate sunbird flitting among the flowers.
The Courtney family books, though written in the '70s and '80s are as appealing as any recently written adventure stories...they are timeless. I am eager to get my hands on any other books written by Wilbur Smith!
Customer Reviews:
Great purchase.......2007-03-09
I bought the entire series for my 11-year old son and he read them all from cover to cover and enjoyed them all. When he saw that this one was available, he begged his father and I to buy it for him. Needless to say, he read it in its entirety as soon as it arrived and enjoyed it immensely.
silverback attacks!.......2007-02-08
This book has been a very thrilling book. The reason is a trick is played on the boat/crew of Captain Laura Smith(Arabella's mother). She has ~kindly~ invited the crew of the Barnacle over to her boat. The crew of the barnacle awaits to see what happens. Silverback. a man who they see has a crystal leg, somehow knows the past, perhaps future, of the Barnacle crew. Meanwhile, Louis misbehaves and is sent to the brigs with Silverback. But then, what happens next? Read the book to find out!
Great Book!.......2007-01-22
My Son is 10 years old. I have been pushing him to read for a long time. He started out reading one, and ask me to buy the rest for him. He reads every night for 1hr. Just the other day I heard him say maybe he will read 2 hrs a night. I was so happy to hear that. I thought I could never break him away from all his Video
Book Description
“There’s a special providence in the fall of a sparrow.” --William Shakespeare,
Hamlet
B fell twenty-five feet from his nest into the life of Chris Chester. The encounter was providential for both of them.
B and Chester spent hours together playing games like bottle-cap fetch or hide-and-seek. They learned “words” in each other’s vocabularies. B developed a fetish for nostrils and a dislike of the color yellow. He grew anxious if Chester came home late from work. At bedtime he would rub his sleepy eyes on Chester’s thumb and settle to sleep in his palm. Chester ended up turning part of his house into an aviary and adjusting his social life to meet B’s demands. This was a small price to pay, though, for the trust and comfort of a twenty-five-gram friend who brought joy and wonder back into his life.
Customer Reviews:
A Love Story.......2007-09-12
I found myself crying several times while reading Providence of a Sparrow, struck by the honesty, humor and insight of Chris's writing. It is not a book about Sparrows; rather what lessons can be learned from nature. A wonderful read for anyone who loves the natural world, has every suffered from depression, or believes that some of the most profound lessons in life can be gleaned from the most unlikely of places.
Tragically, Chris Chester died a horrendous death not too long ago. Although this book is not for everyone it, I can assure you it carries a message that we could all stand to hear.
Book for a Desert Island.......2006-11-11
Here is wisdom, a profound and insightful exposition of the world and its avian and human inhabitants. Chester's depth of spirit, breadth of knowledge, and width of insight are breathtaking. Read this book slowly and lovingly and you will like yourself and your neighbors better.
I'll never forget this book.......2006-10-16
I am so much richer for having read this book. It is lyrical and profound; funny and witty. The intelligence of the writer and of "B" his bird amazed me. I can't look at life the same way I always have, since reading it. Thank you Chris for writing this book.
First Book Review I ever Sent In -- Because this book is special!.......2006-09-04
This is the most interesting book I have ever read (and I belong to 3 Book Clubs), so I read A LOT! I am admittedly a bird lover, but this book struck my heart. I have never written a review to Amazon, but this book is so special that I have to shout READ IT!!!! It will change your life. It blew me away. Amazing! Can't let it go....day after day, it reminds me of what life is all about. Saw Telegraph Hill. Doesn't compare. This is real. Heartrending. Intelligent. This book will keep you spellbound. A sure winner for book clubs, and anyone who wants to read a truly FABULOUS book.
There's something about these birds..........2005-12-20
I came across this book by complete chance- I didn't even know it existed until I found it staring me in the face from an endcap at the local bookstore. I was quite suprised that someone had written a book about raising house sparrows. I found my first house sparrow when I was 12 years old, and then raise 2 more that had been abandoned. My experience with the birds was strikingly similar to Mr. Chester's. He does a wonderful job in illustrating the fact that dogs and cats aren't the only animals that can be intelligent pets with personality. Most people seem to think that anyone who dotes upon a bird is a bit wierd, after all "it's only a bird." "Only", indeed.
Be aware that this book is a memoir, not a textbook. Mr. Chester does talk about himself. A lot. That's what people do in memoirs. But he certainly does include a wealth of information about sparrows in general, and his bird in particular. The reviewers who claim otherwise did not read the book (and admitted this themselves.) The book is about not just a bird and not just a man, but also the relationship between them and how this relationship made the man's life infinitely richer. "Providence of a Sparrow" shows that even "pests" and "junk birds" (as house sparrows are commonly called) have value. I hope that people who have never had a relationship with one of these birds enjoy the book as much as I did.
Books:
- Twist Of Fate
- Unforgotten (Secrets Series #2)
- Vanishing Act
- Veronica: A Novel
- Wake Up, Sir!: A Novel
- When the Bough Breaks (Alex Delaware)
- Where Is Baby's Belly Button?
- Winter's Tale
- America B.C.: Ancient Settlers in the New World
- Among the Thugs
Books Index
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