Back on Blossom Street (The Knitting Books #3)

Customer Reviews:

disappointing.......2007-09-16

If you're looking for a little escapism with a guaranteed "happily ever after" this is a okay book for that.

I was greatly disppointed in the production quality of the audio, though. Major direction shifts (which character is now narrator) were separated by nothing. It felt like the producers sped up the speed of the narration overall, the read was quite fast & the indistinguishability of character changes made it less than appealing.

It was also very predictable for me. I foresaw the scenarios of Colette's former boss, the wedding twist, even Colette's resolution at end. It was all very much just like a fairy tale. Maybe the original book was, too, but this one was transparent to me.

Great Story.......2007-08-14

I love the Blossom book series of stories. Once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. I love the different stories going on in one book.

Love Blossom #3.......2007-08-07

I've read all of Debbie's knitting books and love each of them. Debbie draws you in and takes you through the Blossom Street area with her writing. I feel like I am part of the Blossom Street knitting community and look forward to the next project as well as what is taking place in the lives of Lydia, Susannah, Alix and the rest of my new "knitting friends."

back on blossom street.......2007-08-04

cant get enough of her books on blossom street, she captures your interest from page one....strongly recommend whole series

Six stars for Debbie Macomber.......2007-07-27

Debbie Macomber has written another wonderfully glorious book about the knitting friends. She has such a welcoming way of writing that the reader feels like an active participant in the group - that these women are her best friends too! I find myself laughing, crying and anguishing right along with them.

The Cat in the Hat Comes Back (Beginner Books(R))

Average customer rating:

Graphic SF Reader
"The Cat in the Hat Comes Back" is the best!
Dr. Seuss's "The Cat in the Hat Comes Back"
As Good as when I was five
the second funny cat in the hat

The Cat in the Hat Comes Back (Beginner Books(R))
Dr. Seuss , and Theodor Seuss Geisel
Manufacturer: Random House Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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The Cat in the Hat
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ASIN: 0394800028
Release Date: 1958-09-12

Amazon.com

That behatted and bow-tied cat from Dr. Seuss's The Cat in the Hat is back, and, not surprisingly, is up to all sorts of mischief. This time, Sally and her brother are stuck shoveling snow: "This was no time for play./ This was no time for fun./ This was no time for games./ There was work to be done." But--you guessed it--the laughing Hat Cat has other ideas, as he lets himself in to eat cake in their tub. He leaves behind "a big long pink cat ring," which he then handily cleans with "MOTHER'S WHITE DRESS!" The dress then loses its pink stain to the wall, then Dad's shoes, then the rug in the hall, until finally the Cat must call in some assistance: from inside his hat comes Little Cat A, then Littler Cats B, C, D, E, and so on, nested like dolls in ever tinier hats. With this pack of felines, Sally and her brother may get rid of those stains, but they'll likely never be rid of that rascally cat. As should be expected from the good doctor, The Cat in the Hat Comes Back provides an excellent reader (and alphabet primer) for those just learning, not to mention ample laughs for everyone else. (Ages 4 to 8) --Paul Hughes

Book Description

Illus. in color. The mischievous cat returns on a snowy day when there is work to be done.

Customer Reviews:

Graphic SF Reader.......2007-09-03

The feline in the big long red and white striped top hat is back again, with his subversive, mischievous ways.

The two kids are bored and doing the crappy yardwork thiing, and with the parental units away, the cat wants to play. Crazy snow stunts, games and fights and dodgy bathroom antics are more fun than works.

"The Cat in the Hat Comes Back" is the best!.......2007-03-18

This book deserves 5 stars.It is the best Dr.Seuss book I have ever read!It has lots of odd and fun things and uses lots of ryhming.It takes you beyond imagination.I really recomend this book to you.

Dr. Seuss's "The Cat in the Hat Comes Back".......2006-12-18

This book gets a wonderful four stars. As the Cat in the Hat returns doing his mischievous, Dr. Seuss continues with the great story of a bad day turning worse. The cat continues to make a hard day harder, but in the end, fixing everything. This is a great book for young children just starting to read.

As Good as when I was five.......2006-11-02

Thing is, there are guns in this book - pop-guns, but it still runs so counter to our politically correct culture. How can the cats use guns in a children's book, I kept thinking, almost against my will as I was reading it to my three-year-old daughter. Can't this scar her somehow or make her violent. Then I realized how silly that thought is. I read it when I was five and somehow grew to be an adult without killing anyone. This book is great fun and manages to teach the alphabet while it's at it.

Of course, Dr. Seuss doesn't need my help to sell books.

the second funny cat in the hat.......2006-06-26

this dr.Seuss book is a funnyer book then the first one.the Cat in the hat is not as funny as the second one. the second one is classical it is very very very funny. i loved the book so you should relly read it.why i mostly liked it because of little cats abc,def,ghi,jkl,mno,pqr,stu,vwx,y and z. i am seven years old.

Average customer rating:

FINALLY THE END
enjoy
Crazy Ashlee
gale's review
LOVE HER BOOKS

When Somebody Loves You Back
Mary Morrison
Manufacturer: Kensington
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0758207301

Customer Reviews:

FINALLY THE END.......2007-10-09

I MUST SAY THAT BY TIME I GOT TO THIS BOOK. I WAS SO SICK OF READING ABOUT THIS FAMILY. DARIUS IS WHO I WAS SICK OF. I DIDNT LIKE THAT MARY B MORRISON DIDNT GIVE HIS CHARACTER SOME GROWTH. I KNOW HE WAS YOUNG. BUT MAN CAN A GUY BE A IDIOT FOR THIS LONG? YEA I KNOW THEY CAN BUT STILL. OTHER WISE I ENJOYED THE 5 BOOK SERIES OF THIS FAMILY. BUT I MUST BE HONEST IM GLAD ITS OVER. TO MUCH DRAMA. BUT STILL WORTH THE READ.

enjoy.......2007-09-21

(first off, excuse tha way i write, i write how i speak, [young reader]) :) ok, well..i really enjoy mary b's work, and this novel is addicting, because there's drama, and we all know that er'body enjoys readin bout somebody else's drama. :) i mean, it has like a "soap opera" feel almost, a black soap!! just cuz ur taken back n forth thru tha book. but, i would reccomend this novel to anyone who wants to read it, cuz theres a chic in this book thas CRAZY and this guy's mother is nuts too!! so, i say read it, with tha rest of tha line. (this one is tha last episode of this story line)

Crazy Ashlee.......2007-09-16

This was a good book, I will not spoiled it for anyone, but I have to say Ashlee and Darius is something else. Fancy need to get herself a better man and leave Darius alone. Ashlee need to be locked away in a crazy house.

gale's review.......2007-08-04

THIS WAS AS GOOD AS I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE,AND CAN NOT WAIT UNTIL BOOK SEVEN COMES OUT,DARIUS WILL HOPEFULLY GROW UP AN START TO BE THE MAN THAT HIS MOTHER TRIED TO RAISE.FANCY I HOPE SHE GETS THE HELP THAT SHE NEEDS TO BECOME A GOOD WIFE AND MOTHER.

LOVE HER BOOKS.......2007-06-27

THIS BOOK IS OFF THE HOOK LOVE HER BOOKS I HAVE READ ALL HER BOOKS KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK

Average customer rating:

Great short stories!
Mixed bag of stories, mystery element disappointing
Very entertaining!
Very entertaining!
Regency love stories

Lady Whistledown Strikes Back
Julia Quinn , Karen Hawkins , Suzanne Enoch , and Mia Ryan
Manufacturer: Avon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

United States | Short Stories | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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The Further Observations of Lady Whistledown
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Accessories:

philosophy hope in a jar daily moisturizer

ASIN: 0060577487
Release Date: 2004-04-27

Book Description

Who Stole Lady Neeley's Bracelet?

Was it the fortune hunter, the gambler, the servant, or the rogue? All of London is abuzz with speculation, but it is clear that one of four couples is connected to the crime.

Lady Whistledown's Society Papers, May 1816

Julia Quinn enchants: A dashing fortune hunter is captivated by the Season's most desired debutante . . . and must prove he is out to steal the lady's heart, not her dowry.

Suzanne Enoch tantalizes: An innocent miss who has spent her life scrupulously avoiding scandal is suddenly—and secretly—courted by London's most notorious rogue.

Karen Hawkins seduces: A roving viscount comes home to rekindle the passionate fires of his marriage . . . only to discover that his beautiful, headstrong bride will not be so easily won.

Mia Ryan delights: A lovely, free-spirited servant is dazzled by the romantic attentions of a charming earl . . . sparking a scandalous affair that could ruin them both.

You'll hear it first from Lady Whistledown

Download Description

Who Stole Lady Neeley's Bracelet?

Was it the fortune hunter, the gambler, the servant, or the rogue? All of London is abuzz with speculation, but it is clear that one of four couples is connected to the crime.

Lady Whistledown's Society Papers, May 1816

Julia Quinn enchants: A dashing fortune hunter is captivated by the Season's most desired debutante...and must prove he is out to steal the lady's heart, not her dowry.

Suzanne Enoch tantalizes: An innocent miss who has spent her life scrupulously avoiding scandal is suddenly -- and secretly -- courted by London's most notorious rogue.

Karen Hawkins seduces: A roving viscount comes home to rekindle the passionate fires of his marriage...only to discover that his beautiful, headstrong bride will not be so easily won.

Mia Ryan delights: A lovely, free-spirited servant is dazzled by the romantic attentions of a charming earl...sparking a scandalous affair that could ruin them both.

You'll hear it first from Lady Whistledown

Customer Reviews:

Great short stories!.......2006-04-15

I absolutely loved this book and its sister! Lately I've had a short attention span and the quick happy endings of the short stories are just what I've been in the mood for. (I think I'm addicted to the happy emotional buzz at the end of each story!) A great read, I highly recommend it to lovers of historical romances!

Mixed bag of stories, mystery element disappointing.......2006-01-10

I am busy reading my way through the later Bridgerton books and the anthologies. The stories in this anthology center around a mystery (of sorts), which I thought would be interesting. Unfortunately, the mystery did not pan out well.

Of the stories, I liked Julia Quinn's story about Tilly (Lady Mathilda) and her impecunious suitor the best, although the story from Mia Ryan about the party-organizing companion and her suitor was charming in its own way. However, the two later stories - from Suzanne Enoch about, and Karen Hawkins about the estranged couple were less satisfactory, for different reasons.

Quinn's story was a rehash of an old idea (wealthy debutante falling for deceased brother's comrade-in-arms), but was decent. Although I did not feel emotionally involved with either character (and in fact was far more interested in the heroine's parents), it was an acceptable read if entirely forgettable within hours. Grade B-

Mia Ryan's story was rather different. The heroine Isabella Martin reminded me of Loretta Chase's first heroine Isabella, down to the delicious laugh and the position of dependence. I rather liked her unusual abilities, but had to wonder about her social position (was her father really a cobbler? I must have misunderstood this). The interesting heroine and the idea of a Regency-era party planner merit a B. Almost as forgettable as Quinn's story, but rather more original.

Suzanne Enoch's story is both a variation on an old theme (lovers kept apart by relatives) and an unusual idea (the parents are scandal-wary, and want a "safe" i.e. boring match). Since I like unusual plotlines, the idea of parents who oppose an otherwise eligible match was an interesting one. I wanted to read more about the hero and heroine. A full book-length treatment or a longer novella might have allowed the author to explain why these scandal-averse parents allowed the elder daughter (supposedly betrothed since early childhood) to have come out in society before she was married off; the start and the end of the story give very different impressions. I felt as if I was left hanging at several other points. Enoch story - Grade C+

Hawkin's story was the most disappointing. I had to nitpick on historical details. For example, an annulment would hardly have been possible for the couple, unless they were closely related or had been married by force. Thus, talk of an annulment made little sense. Furthermore, the whole story reminded me of Heyer's The Black Moth without the scene-stealing villain. The reasons for concealing the real cheat's identity were not given (apart from family pride, I suppose). And, prior to major changes in the late Victorian era, a husband had considerable rights over his wife's person and fortune (limited only by fear of "what people might say"). This story barely hung together thanks to obsessive lusting. Hawkins story - Grade D-.

The real problem with this anthology was in the overall premise of the story, that the hostess's bracelet had been stolen or mislaid at a dinner party. What was unbelievable to me were the subsequent developments. A society hostess accusing her guests of stealing jewelry was not likely to find herself popular. If she went around saying that a specific guest may have stolen the item in question, she was laying herself open to a charge of slander - if the character had cared enough. (In fact, more than one character points this out). Finally, the resolution of the mystery made very little sense to me, even though I had correctly identified the thief. I had hoped that the resolution would have played a bigger role in the plots of all four stories.

In short, this anthology was based on an interesting idea, but it was not carried through. I haven't read enough of Quinn's short stories to be able to judge her skills in that department, and I certainly have not read enough of the other authors. This anthology may satisfy many readers, but as someone who reads mysteries as well as romances, I found it sadly wanting. A pity, really.

Overall grade - C (downgraded by unlikely premise in last story, as well as weak mystery).
Written 9 Jan 2006 by "bookjunkiereviews"

Very entertaining!.......2004-10-14

Someone gave me this foo foo book. I never read Regency stories but needed a change after a really serious read. I found it delightful. 4 different authors; 4 stories intertwined and nicely done. My very favorite was the last, where Sophia's husband returns after 12 years. A bit of a stretch, but it could happen. It was a light and delightful read! Everyone lived happily ever after!!!!!! Mission accomplished. :D

Very entertaining! .......2004-09-12

While I am not usually an anthology reader, I confess that I am addicted to Lady Whistledown, and thus had to read this book. And I was not disappointed, though it seems other reviewers were.

Each story in the anthology centers around a couple that were present at Lady Neely's dinner, at which her ruby bracelet went missing. Each couple is different, as our their love stories circumstances, but all are the sort you want to know more about. What I found most enjoyable was how the different authors wove their stories together. The same scenes are in different stories, from different characters' viewpoints. I found this to make the whole book work as a whole, as it truly became one novel-length story, but about several different couples.

For me, I especially enjoyed the stories by Julia Quinn and Mia Ryan, though I had fun reading all of them. Those two just stuck out a bit to me.

If you are a Regency fan, and enjoy peeks into the world of the era's ton, you should enjoy this rollicking romance anthology!

Regency love stories.......2004-08-25

This is a competent collection of 4 novellas with the romantic historical setting, innocent heroines and the rogues that captivate them and win their hearts. I prefer my love scenes on the more spicy and sizzling side, but this should still please many readers of this genre.

Average customer rating:

Hippy Hi-jinks, Hep to the Hey-Day
My first Robert Parker
Enough, Already
Lite, fun reading
Sensually Satiric Flashbacks: Cool Electronic Clicks Fade to Steaming Sauna Jungles & Smoke Oozing Hippie Pads

Back Story (Spenser)
Robert B. Parker
Manufacturer: Berkley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Hugger Mugger

ASIN: 0425194795
Release Date: 2004-03-02

Amazon.com

In this 30th entry in one of mystery fiction's longest-running and best-loved series, Spenser--the tough yet sensitive Boston private eye with no first name--takes on an unsolved murder nearly three decades old. The client, an actress, is a friend of Paul Giacomin, Spenser's surrogate son (who first appeared in 1981's Early Autumn). Her mother was slain by leftist radicals at a bank holdup in 1974, and now she wants to know who fired the shot. As Spenser digs into the past, he soon learns that powerful people on both sides of the law want the case left alone--badly enough to kill.

These death threats provide a fine excuse for Hawk, Spenser's extremely scary (yet sensitive) bad-guy pal, to tag along in nearly every scene as bodyguard. The interaction of the two friends is one of this series's familiar pleasures, as is the presence of Susan Silverman, Spenser's longtime love interest. Another pleasure is Parker's stripped-down prose, a marvel of craftsmanship as smooth as 18-year-old Scotch. (Plus we get the first meeting between Spenser and Jesse Stone, hero of another Parker series.) Alas, the whole enterprise feels a little tired. The plot never generates much sustained suspense, and the author's adoration for his central characters renders them at times almost cartoonesque. Still, Back Story is excellently prepared comfort food, even if it isn't five-star cuisine. --Nicholas H. Allison

Book Description

In Robert B. Parker's most popular series, an unsolved thirty-year-old-murder draws the victim's daughter out of the shadows for overdue justice--and lures Spenser into his own past, old crimes, and dangerous lives.

Download Description

"In 1974, a revolutionary group calling itself The Dread Scott Brigade held up the Old Shawmut Bank in Boston's Audubon Circle. Money was stolen. And a woman named Emily Gordon, a visitor in town cashing traveler's checks, was shot and killed. No one saw who shot her. Despite security-camera photos and a letter from the group claiming responsibility, the perpetrators have remained at large for nearly three decades. Enter Paul Giacomin, the closest thing to a son Spenser has. Twice before, Spenser's come to the young man's assistance; and now Paul is thirty-seven, his troubled past behind him. When Paul's friend Daryl Gordon-daughter of the long-gone Emily-decides she needs closure regarding her mother's death, it's Spenser she turns to. The lack of clues and a missing FBI intelligence report force Spenser to reach out in every direction-to Daryl's estranged, hippie father, to Vinnie Morris and the mob, to the mysterious Ives-testing his resourcefulness and his courage. Taut, tense, and expertly crafted, this is Robert B. Parker at his storytelling best."

Customer Reviews:

Hippy Hi-jinks, Hep to the Hey-Day .......2007-08-19

Paul Giacomin brings one of his friends to Spenser, a young woman named Daryl. Her mother was killed in a bank robbery 28 years ago - blame was accepted by a revolutionary group calling themselves the Dread Scott Brigade, although no one ever discovered who it was that pulled the trigger and killed Emily Gordan. When Spenser begins to dig, he finds some puzzling inconsistencies in the police file - and almost immediately receives a threat from two dark-suited men claiming to be from the government, acting in the interests of national security. The deeper Spenser digs, the weirder things become.

I enjoyed this book a great deal. Jesse Stone makes a brief appearance. Vinnie, Ty-Bop and even Junior show up to help with guard duties, which I found immensely amusing. I'm not certain how surprising other people will find the twists in the book - I never saw them coming, but I can be kind of stupid about things like that. Willful suspension of belief and all that, I suppose. Not to be missed by the Spenser fan!

My first Robert Parker.......2007-06-30

This is the first Robert Parker that I've tried and I have to admit I am kicking myself for not trying the Spencer series sooner. I was avoiding this books for years (despite many recommendations) because of the old TV series which featured Robert Urich. I just couldn't picture that actor playing what I knew of Parker's alter ego Spencer. It just didn't mesh in my mind.

The dialog is crisp and funny, the story moves and the book reads quickly. It took me a little over two hours to finish it (yes I read quickly) and was amused throughout.

This is by no mean the best book of the century, it doesn't pretend to be. But for what it is, the descendent of pulp mysteries designed to entertain, it is wonderful.

My one thought, and maybe by reading more of the series this will be less obvious, but every character seems to have the same speech pattern. (and no I don't mean a Boston accent) Everyone from Spencer to Susan to every cop or sherrif, all speak in the same clipped and sardonic fashion. Don't get me wrong, the sarcasm was witty, but everyone the same? It almost as if they are all shades of Spencer the central wiseass.

Bottom line: I'm going to try more of this series and would recommend this one for others to try.

Enough, Already.......2007-01-04

Parker came upon a unique and clever idea when he befan writing the Spenser series. The characters were of interest and the plots well tailored. Although this series would never be confused with great, or even good literature, it was always good for a fast and harmless read. It seems as if the writer is going to the well far too often. The story is more miss than mysyery and the story becomes tedious at times. The story is rather predictable and this entry lacks the snappy writing style that was so evident in the earlier books of this series. The characters are like oft-used stereotypes andthere is little development of them. It was a good run yet appears to be time to give this character a rest.

Lite, fun reading.......2006-07-05

I recently discovered Robert B. Parker and have quickly turned into a fan. His novels are a pleasure to read. I am an avid mystery reader and particularly enjoy those that contain humor. Parker fits the mold for me. "Back Story" was a pleasure to read. I enjoyed the interaction between Spenser and Hawk, and enjoyed the banter once I got over the stereotypical African-American language Parker employed for Hawk. If yo enjoy novels with decent plotting and amusing style, you will enjoy "Back Story".

Sensually Satiric Flashbacks: Cool Electronic Clicks Fade to Steaming Sauna Jungles & Smoke Oozing Hippie Pads.......2005-12-30

Flipping through pages in BACK STORY feels more like dancing than reading, feels like traveling in foot-tapping-syncopation through smooth-jazz dialogue. Like, COOL, man!

Through the first 100 pages, the detecting process flowed from one interview to the next, in each case going to the geography of the lead and doing the talking heads thing as only Parker can pull off with painless rivets attached. I liked the fact that the leads were given one-at-a-time, with the culmination of data applied to memory having been collected in a slow, natural rhythm:

-- Get name and address of someone who might know something about the crime.

-- Go there.

-- Talk to this guy/gal with observation antennae up to the zenith.

-- Follow the next lead, given by that person.

-- Or, go home first, get a hit and a refueling re-hash visit w/Susan. (Spenser's reverence of her provides a welcome, vulnerable warmth, for my reading tastes.)

-- Then go visit the next candidate for input.

Somehow that process worked perfectly, gradually seating me into the story through the natural flow of Parker's dialogue and economy of description of settings of each lead-following interview.

Not only that, this is how investigations are carried out. (Like, in real life?) So, the realism builds and the reader gets to saunter around in a legitimate detective's shoes, with the full ambiance of the gum. (Love the way Parker includes at least one scene of a detective folding a stick of gum onto his tongue.) In BACK STORY the guns come later, after the talking-heads detecting has set up the show.

What CONFIDENCE, when an author does the cerebral deal for a full 100 pages before even CONSIDERING, let alone attempting, a ball seizing, action surge. Please don't get me wrong, though, I'm not meaning to bash action-packed thriller tomes. They have their place, and required taste-bud-uptake-inhibitors, for those for whom cerebral extensions alone, or starting up-front-scene-one (and continuing on through two, three, four, and five) just don't ring the visceral alarm clock. For action-addicts, the Yawn rules until someone literally kicks ass. I understand, even warm to, this personality type and I certainly don't criticize it. I just don't live there. What with my pillow-plush, cushy easy chair taking up such a large part of my life.

Even the active danger and shoot-em-up scenes in BACK STORY are engagingly cerebral (in addition to being physically intense). What is strategy. Spenser.

This is my second read in Parker's Spenser series, and I not only love his style, I'm truly surprised by it. My stereotype of the hard-guy P.I. is blown. Spenser doesn't get his nose broken every third page; doesn't get his guts sliced out and returned at the end of every chapter, doesn't get a finger pounded to a tenderized crush or hacked off. So, is that stereotype filled by Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer, or what?

Maybe I've been too long recalling WALKING TALL, the movie which came out in the 70's. After about the first ten minutes of dry-swallowing and squirming, of head observing knees, then up one-eyed, then down re-checking knees, then more dry-swallowing and squirming; I walked out into the lobby of the cold, old, vintage theater in Northeast Portland, Oregon, and sat on a tautly-pillowed bench, leaning my upper back and head of long-brown-hair against a swirled concrete wall until the movie signed off and my husband the deputy sheriff and our friends walked out of the curved-cushy-chaired, dark arena facing the cinema screen, after the heavy-velvet curtain had descended on the torturous, blood-spewing, calculated violence. I wonder how drawn and white my face had appeared to the buttered-popcorn people behind the Coke & candy counter. I hadn't happily snapped coins onto the counter for a movie house treat, tiny-round-tokens which have now clipped in cash value to require a fat collection of paper money instead of a few coins with almost no precious metal left in them.

WALKING TALL was a very well done, realistic movie which exposed certain types of police "procedure" which was, in some cases, carried out religiously in small Southern towns seething in swampland miasma. And, yes, the sub-culturally-sanctioned, bacterial-behavior vividly exposed in WALKING TALL has thrived in the most teeming urban sprawls as well as in small communities.

No geographic X is immune to the essence of cruelty.

I was glad to be married to one of the good guys, who had every right to be walking tall, and who willingly put himself through the torture of watching a movie like that, to make sure he wouldn't ever slip even a Quantum Particle into that type of behavior. He didn't. After working 15 years as a deputy, unformed, and undercover for the DEA for a few years, he retired from the police force and became a commodities broker (he had majored in economics in college). He's still a good guy. I can say that with respect. Even though we're divorced, we've remained friends.

What a contrast to Spenser that WALKING TALL exposure of the dark side of police-force-mystique was.

Sometimes I wonder how our varieties of lifestyles can exist within the forces-of-gravity of the same planet, though I don't wonder how most of these have been collected between the covers of books, within the celluloid of film (whose messages are now sold through the cell structures of a wide variety of alternate mediums).

Thank you, Parker, for giving us 30 books of Spenser! I understand how your work has survived and thrived. Humanity has a good side and emotional health exists (having made its debut well before the birth of Prozac).

How did the human race live before pills?

I laughed out loud at least 5 times while reading BACK STORY, and was intrigued by Spenser's descriptive passages playing on contrasts between the 70's and now. The altered ambiance of the office space of various police agencies was crisply exposed by Parker's pen, having evolved in a circular path from the chaotic clang of gray metal edges buried in soft piles of mish-mashed paper ... to the pristine prime of Architectural Digest paradigms. The FBI structure and interior was particularly dramatic in decorative temperature changes.

Then, of course, there were Parker's cultural commentaries (spoken in singes through Spenser's observations) of the limp-noodle-hand-shake contrast between reefer madness and military diligence, dramatized through the face-slack, lackluster auras of Daryl's half-assed-dad-and-gang; Vs the bet-your-life-on-it backup of Spencer's Hawk-and-criminal-element-cohorts.

So, is Parker deifying or hero-ifying a white-collar, silk-T-shirt, orange-jumpsuit gang of Right Wing, literary red necks who spend their surveillance-time reading science tomes on evolution?

Is this fascinating author making a point about our species not having evolved much (basing from the 70's) beyond the Chimpanzee/Ape stage? The chimps would be swinging off Liberal limb-edges; the apes would be thundering hairy feet through Conservative mud jungles.

Yet, Spenser fits no stereotype. As soon as a slot slithers up to his ankles, he sidesteps the swamp without losing the shine on his shoe. He's a (somewhat) macho, ex-prize-fighter, renaissance man with platinum keys to literary echelon bidet abodes, who grows gourmet taste buds on his tongue and cooks for his psychiatrist significant other. And, he's funny to boot!

Parker entered the "Cultural Conversation" well before the term had been coined.

He did it with a sensual maverick slant which he has retained and continually refreshed with subtle, smooth syntax and an ambient attitude, through 3 decades.

In BACK STORY Parker successfully weaves the 70's flower-power, sauna climate into the present cool presence of electronic clicks.

Clicking off, looking forward to my next Parker detective drama, which in any Age is a steal on steel,

Linda G. Shelnutt

"Stand Back," Said the Elephant, "I'm Going to Sneeze!"

Average customer rating:

Perfect Preschool Purchase!
Very Engaging Book
childhood favorite
One of the best books to read aloud to children!
My kids and I loved this book!

"Stand Back," Said the Elephant, "I'm Going to Sneeze!"
Patricia Thomas
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Picture Books | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

The Giant Jam Sandwich (Sandpiper Book)
Animals Should Definitely Not Wear Clothing
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
The Ant and the Elephant
I Love My Mama

ASIN: 0688093388

Book Description

The last time the elephant sneezed, he blew monkeys out of the trees, stripes off the zebra, and spots off the leopard. This rollicking new edition of the favorite nonsense verse again shows the panic that follows the elephant's dreaded announcement.

Customer Reviews:

Perfect Preschool Purchase!.......2007-08-02

This was a childhood favorite that I was lucky enough to read forward to my two kiddos. It was read to me at the laundromat on Saturdays as that's where the only copy I knew of was. Later I purchased as a young adult for when the time came to read it to my own. Alos, this book is a must have for any Pre-K classroom or child of the same age. Wonderful artwork...clever dialogue...and a surprise ending! My preschool class LOVED it when I read this one.

Very Engaging Book.......2007-04-27

I bought this book for my 4 1/2 year old son, and he begged me to read it just after he opened it. It's a very engaging book and held his attention pretty well. The only gripe I would have is that it is very repetitious. Over and over again it describes the animals reasons for the elephant not to sneeze. But he still enjoyed it, and he would say the last line of just about every page, "Please Don't Sneeze". I would not recommend this book for children much younger than him, due to the chance of them getting board by the repetition. But I would definately recommend that any child 4 or over read this book. The illustrations are very bright and lively, and quite silly on some.

childhood favorite.......2007-03-08

this is a childhood favorite of mine that is also my daughter's favorite!!

One of the best books to read aloud to children!.......2007-01-10

This purchase is a second one for my younger son's children. His older brother will not part with the original one bought back in the 80's! For years, until younger's eighth birthday, the reading of this book was a featured event at every party attended by young children. It was even requested for parties outside the family.

Your child will love the language, the drama and the humor of this story. There are many voices to act out in the reading. By using animal puppets and toys, the story can be dramatized by the child while listening to the reader read. My children and grandchildren have gotten many wonderful hours of enjoyment from this great book. Folkmanis even sells a set of puppets to go with this book.

My kids and I loved this book!.......2006-11-04

This is a book that is fun for all ages. It has great rhythmn and movement in the verses. It is wonderfully illustrated. I took this book into each of my kids Kindergarten classes and the kids wanted me to bring it again the next time I visited. They paid attention and laughed just as hard the second time.

Parables from the Back Side: Bible Stories With a Twist (Behind the Pages)

Average customer rating:

A "must have" book
Creative sermon spark-ers
An easy read and study
A Different Look at the Parables
Wonderful guide for 12 week series of adult lessons

Parables from the Back Side: Bible Stories With a Twist (Behind the Pages)
J. Ellsworth Kalas
Manufacturer: Abingdon Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

More Parables From The Backside
Christmas from the Back Side
New Testament Stories from the Back Side
The Ten Commandments from the Back Side
Old Testament Stories from the Back Side: A Video Study Featuring J. Ellsworth Kalas (Behind the Pages)

ASIN: 0687056977

Customer Reviews:

A "must have" book.......2007-01-09

My favorite Ellsworth Kalas book!! I loaned my first copy to several friends over the years until the last one did not return it. Because reading the "backside" of these parables gave me present-day insight to people, personalities and predicaments, I had to purchase a new copy. Needless to say, this one is not for loan. I direct friends to Amazon where they can purchase a copy of their own.

The "Backside" books give a different persepctive from the one we have always learned. They exemplify that there are two sides to every story; and, I have learned from Ellsworth Kalas to try to see all participants in a parable and consider their feelings. This has also been helpful in my own life.

I recommend all the "Backside" books.

Creative sermon spark-ers.......2006-04-24

Because the parables are stories with the kind of twist that can completely undo our usual ways of living our lives, I appreciated Pastor Kalas' attempt to tell us the story of these stories from a fresh angle. The 12 chapters in this volume are basically sermons. This, in fact, is the value of the book. If you are a pastor who has gotten a little too predictable in the way you create messages, this book will help you climb outside the 3 alliterated points box in a thoughtful, application-focused way.

Though I didn't find it especially helpful when I was writing my own books on the parables (Parablelife: Living the stories Jesus told in real time - FaithWalk, 2005 and Uprooted: Growing a Parablelife from the Inside Out, scheduled for release in late 2006) in terms of information, I did find inspiration in Kalas' pastoral approach and welcoming tone.

An easy read and study.......2004-11-12

This book offers an easy read and a great study. The book allows you to think of other perspectives, and is great at breaking the uniformite so many were raised to follow.

A Different Look at the Parables.......2001-09-25

With so many different books written about the parables, Kalas takes the reader on a lesser travelled route. Have you ever wondered what we can learn from the victim in the story of the Good Samaritan? Have you ever realized how many times the parables end with a joyous celebration? Have you ever asked what if God threw a party and no one came? If you have never considered any of thse questions, but find them to be intriquing, then definitly pick up this book and prepare yourself for a strong, thought-provoking set of studies. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a refreshing take on learning new insights into the parables.

Wonderful guide for 12 week series of adult lessons.......1999-08-10

Mr. Kalas has the class yearning for more. Open your eyes to a different angle without losing the original or main message of your favoriate parables.

Average customer rating:

Fun, but not as good as the previous ones
Closure for a great series.
Good, but not great
So-so entry into the Great Brain series...
Great Book, but read the others first

The Great Brain Is Back
John D. Fitzgerald
Manufacturer: Dial
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Action & Adventure | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Humorous | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Me and My Little Brain (Great Brain)
More Adventures of the Great Brain
Great Brain,The (Great Brain)
The Great Brain Reforms (Great Brain)
The Great Brain at the Academy (Great Brain)

ASIN: 0803713460

Customer Reviews:

Fun, but not as good as the previous ones.......2007-01-25

I've read all the great brain, and this is my least favorite. It is written by someone else after the author died, and it's obvious. It is entertaining, but does not qualify as a great brain book to me.

Closure for a great series........2006-07-25

My first introduction to this wonderful "young readers" series was in elementary school. Our class had a weekly period where the teacher read to us. It so happened that the Great Brain was one of those books. I was immediately hooked.
I had the other 7 books since my teenage years, but I had no idea that an 8th posthumous book had been released.
I finally had the chance to purchase it, and I must say that it was a very nostalgic experience to read new tales of these familiar character.
I highly recommend fans of the series to get this book to complete the collection. New readers should start with the 1st book, "The Great Brain".

Good, but not great.......2006-06-08

Honestly, I liked the original last book better than this posthumously published one, but I'm not going to complain about another book being added to the series. In this book T.D. catches some criminals and pulls a few minor swindle's, but the final conclusion of the series seems to be that swindling doesn't pay. The very last chapter is called "The Swindler gets Swindled," and Tom tries to pull a swindle and it backfires completely and he ends up losing some money. On that note the series ends, the author's point being made. Lots of humor along the way, as well as fascinating adventures in the old west. Definitely a series I'll be re-reading again in the future.

Overall grade: A-

So-so entry into the Great Brain series..........2005-02-03

I would only give this 2.5 stars out of 5. As someone who grew up with the Great Brain series in the '70s I was quite pleased to hear about this "lost" book surfacing a few years ago. These were my favorite books when I was a kid and I kept them for many years afterwards. Imagine my disappointment when I read the introduction by the "editor." If one were to believe what she writes here, she is the one who should be commended for the "Great Brain" series, not Fitzgerald.

Oh, please.

Her insulting forward aside, readers should know that this book was assembled (after his death) from Fitzgerald's notes and we will never know for sure if he intended for it to be published or not. It's a fair book, but it doesn't have nearly the spark of the original works, all of which I would highly recommend over this, any day of the week.

Great Book, but read the others first.......2005-01-03

First, I loved the Great Brain series. My 11 year old son just got done reading the first seven. We agree that the first was the weakest, and the rest were amazing. His favorite is Me and My Little Brain, while mine is The Great Brain at the Academy.

I read the books in the 70's. I looked on Amazon.com for the books for my son and found this one. I bought, read it, and loved it. It was like meeting a best friend that you haven't seen for years, and starting right where you left off.

With that said, this book is not as good as the rest. It's a bit like saying Eric Clapton is not as good as Jimi Hendrix. Clapton is still better than 99.9% of the rest of the guitarist. And that's how you should look at this book. It's not quite as good as the original seven, but it's still great.

If you're thinking of buying this, read the rest of the series first. Then buy this one and enjoy it. If you read the series when you where young, then buy this book. You will love it.

The Night Before First Grade (Reading Railroad Books)

Average customer rating:

Great book
The Night Before First Grade
Cute Story
Great book to help with anxieties
A great introduction to the first grade world!

The Night Before First Grade (Reading Railroad Books)
Natasha Wing
Manufacturer: Grosset & Dunlap
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Humorous | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

First Day of School | Issues | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

School | Issues | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

First Day Jitters
First Grade, Here I Come
How I Spent My Summer Vacation (Dragonfly Books)
First Grade Friends: Recess Mess (Hello Reader, Level 1) (Hello Reader)
First Grade Stinks!

ASIN: 0448437473

Book Description

It's the night before the Big Day—first grade. Penny is excited to start the year with her best friend right beside her in the same classroom. This humorous take on Clement C. Moore's classic tale has a perfect twist ending that will surprise readers—as well as the "heroine" of the story—and help all about-to-be first-graders through their own backto- school jitters.

Customer Reviews:

Great book.......2007-09-29

I gave all of my kindergarten students this book on the last day of school. In September when they arrived as first graders, they were all telling me how much they loved the book over the summer. One parent e-mailed me and told me how helpful she found the book to be over the summer while they were preparing for first grade. I would recommend this book highly!

The Night Before First Grade.......2007-08-01

Excellent! I was a little skeptical at first, but this book is wonderful. My 6 year old has read the book on her own and the illustrations were very helpful to assist her in identifying some new words on the page.

She has enjoyed the book so much that she has decided to include the book in her summer book report reading list. It is just the correct length for a child entering first grade. My daughter's school only has 1 of each grade, but it has helped her realize to give things a chance. She realizes there will be new children and she may not be seated right next to her friends but there are many other things for her to explore.

First grade can be scary. It's entering what my daughter's school calls 'the upper grades'.

Overall, the book is one that both children and parents will enjoy with it's great ending.

Cute Story.......2006-11-03

Good story with plenty of play on words!
Kids will enjoy this, and makes for a goos converstaion starter about preparing for going back to school!

Great book to help with anxieties.......2006-11-02

This was funny and inspiring book to read the night before school. It helped my daughter get over her anxieties about a new teacher and a new grade.

A great introduction to the first grade world!.......2006-01-19

It's hard to write a book about first grade jitters. Many of the books out there make the first day seem just perfect, when it often isn't. What I like about The Night Before First Grade is the way in which the author recognizes the potentially frightening aspects of the first day of school and resolves them in a realistic manner.

For example, when the protagonist arrives at school, she learns that there are two sections of first grade and that her best friend will be in the other section. Bravely waving goodbye to her friend, she discovers new interests in her classroom. The lunchroom is busy and a bit scary, but she weathers it nicely.

The text is in a rhythmic prose style, patterned after "The Night Before Christmas." I was a bit skeptical at first, but it works, and young readers will appreciate the consistent beat of the narrative. Deborah Zemke's illustrations are upbeat and slightly funky - just like first grade!

Touchdown Alexander: My Story of Faith, Football, and Pursuing the Dream

Average customer rating:

Lame
POWERFUL AND POSITIVE BOOK FOR YOUTH
MVP Shaun ALexander
Awesome Player is an Awesome Guy!
Inspiring for All

Touchdown Alexander: My Story of Faith, Football, and Pursuing the Dream
Shaun Alexander
Manufacturer: Harvest House Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Religious | Leaders & Notable People | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Memoirs | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Football | Biographies | Sports | Subjects | Books

General | Biographies | Sports | Subjects | Books

General | Football (American) | Sports | Subjects | Books

General | Sports | Subjects | Books

All Deals | Blowout Books | Stores | Books

Biographies & Memoirs | Blowout Books | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

The Missing Ring: How Bear Bryant and the 1966 Alabama Crimson Tide Were Denied College Football's Most Elusive Prize
Alexander the Great
T.O.
NFL - Seattle Seahawks 2005 NFC Champions
One Yard Short: Turning Your Defeats into Victories

ASIN: 0736919376

Book Description

The NFL’s Most Valuable Player for the 2005 season, Seattle Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander has gained a reputation that’s one for the record books. And now in his inspiring autobiography, Shaun shares his amazing journey to success both on and off the field.

Written with award–winning author Cecil Murphey, Shaun recounts how God first gave him the dream for the achievements that have made him a household name among football fans everywhere. He also shares his passion for helping other young men through his Shaun Alexander Foundation, focusing on improving the lives of fatherless young men through education, athletics, character programs, and leadership training, inspiring them to reach their God–given potential.

Customer Reviews:

Lame.......2007-05-07

Disappointing. I wanted to know more about Alexander's football life, not his religious life.

POWERFUL AND POSITIVE BOOK FOR YOUTH.......2007-03-07

Although I'm not much of a pro football fan, I was completely captivated by this book. I heard about it from Cecil Murphey, who helped Shaun Alexander tell his story.

As running back for the Seattle Seahawks, Shaun was named NFL's Most Valuable Player of 2005. The next year he scored a record-breaking 28 touchdowns in a single season. Though he's under 30 years old, this visionary athlete has a story worth telling.

In a journal entry, Alexander once wrote, "My successes and values haven't come from anguished trials. My success and values have come from God, and I must honor God--not the trial." He shares that one of his purposes for writing the book is to be an inspiration to young people, to help them "realize that God is the key to success."

A quick, enjoyable read, I learned what an impact a mother's strong values can have on a son--and the story of how he and his wife Valerie first kissed on their wedding day makes Alexander a worthy role model for today's youth.

This is definitely a book I want my children to read someday. I learned so much about the importance of finding wise mentors to disciple teenagers. During his teen years, Shaun Alexander grew strong in his faith and remained pure. He also became active in FCA during college and found ways to mentor high school athletes.

I highly recommend Touchdown Alexander to any youth leaders who are looking for materials to encourage teens and athletes. Why waste these years? Get busy living for God -- and be a positive role model like Shaun!!

--Christian Women Online Book Buzz

MVP Shaun ALexander.......2007-02-02

Touchdown Alexander
By: Shaun Alexander and Cecil Murphey

The book Touchdown Alexander by Cecil Murphey and Shaun Alexander is a very good book. The publisher is Harvest House Publishers, Eugene Oregon. The book has 217 pages plus some pictures and statistics of Shaun's Career. The book talks about how Shaun Alexander grew up and talks about how he got to the NFL through his college career. The book is an autobiography / biography.
Shaun Alexander was born in Florence Alabama where he also grew up. His parents divorced when he was young. He lived then with his mom. His best friend is his older brother Durran. His mom and his family always had an open house for Shaun's friends; they could always come over. Even at Christmas his grandma would buy extra presents for some of Shaun's friends who were less fortunate. Every body loved his mom and his grandma. Shaun was a high school superstar; he broke almost every rushing record at his High school. He was recruited by Alabama. There he became a starter during the middle of his sophomore year. He also broke a lot of records for the Alabama Crimson Tide. He also got to be the captain of the team when he was a senior. Once he knew he was going to play in the NFL he started his Shaun Alexander Foundation. He put his brother as the president of the foundation. He was expected to go in the top 10 of the draft. He got drafted 19th though by the Seattle Seahawks. Shaun really liked the organization. In Seattle he also met his wife Valerie. He became the starter after two years. In the year 2005/2006 he even led the Seahawks to the Super bowl. In that season he also was the MVP of the league. He broke the record for rushing touchdowns with 28. Once he got more and more money his foundation got bigger and bigger. He was also involved in a couple Christian Sports Camps.
I really enjoyed the book. I like how he talked about his relationship with God and how he felt God talking through him through his dreams. I also liked that he told about what he did off the field. For example, he told how he found his church in Seattle and how he met his wife. He also talked about how he felt over certain things. I liked that he was really honest about what he felt.
In conclusion I think the book Touchdown Alexander is a great read. I would suggest it for people who really like football and for those who like biographies. It is a wonderful book to read.

Awesome Player is an Awesome Guy!.......2007-01-17

It was really good and inspiring. I didn't know he was a Christian. I was just excited to read about one of my favorite players. It made me think more about Jesus and the Holy Spirit. I thought it was funny how a friend told him that he should meet this girl and then several years later he did and ended up marrying her. I liked reading about his years with Alabama and beating the Gators for the championship. I had never heard of a life verse. It made think about finding one for myself when I'm older. You always think of Shaun Alexander as a star running back, so I liked his stories about when he was third string or second string instead of the star. Makes me realize that you don't just start out as a star, you've got to work your way up and be ready when you have an opportunity. I hope I get to meet him someday! Sorry the Seahawks didn't beat the Bears in the playoffs. We'll get'em next year...Go Seahawks!!! 1/16/07 HR 9yrs old

Inspiring for All.......2007-01-09

This is a great sports book that will be appreciated by everyone even if you are not a sports fan. Very inspiring and well written.

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