As a Certified Hospice Nurse and Hospice Administrator I have access to many tools to help both staff and loved ones through the grief journey. Where Souls Meet is both compelling and insightful. From introduction to appendix this book provides each reader with guidance and support through the most difficult time most of us will experience - the loss of a loved one. As we anticipate death, like life, we are faced with many challenges and obstacles. This book offers both inspiration and suggestions to help ease the fear. Dillon writes and shares with a level of emotion and realism that will help both caregivers and professionals alike. Share this book with a friend!

This is a most excellant handbook that provides guidance and direction for family and caregivers of terminally ill people. It is the best and most thorough study that I have found on this subject. It clearly defines how to relate to a person who has been diagnosed with such an illness on the spiritual, emotional, and cognitive levels. It should be made a requirement for every hospice and healthcare worker who relates to terminally ill patients on a regular basis. Families with a terminally ill member will find the book most helpful. It will answer many of their questions and allow them to have a better informed understanding of the patient's emotional needs. It should be made available to all families who are caring for a terminally ill person. Besides focusing on our relational and vberbal behavior when relating to the terminally ill, it gives very practical suggestions. For example, appendice C gives suggestions on what to look for when hiring helpers for patient care. Appendice D has ideas and examples of how to make lists and charts for everyday monitoring.

Many times caregivers think only in terms of what they can offer the terminally ill patient. One chapter gives important lessons that the caregivers can learn from the terminally ill patient.

After reading this book, I was faced with the reality that everyone will have to take care of someone who is nearing death at one point in their life. Before I read this book, I researched the author and found that he had been taking care of the elderly for years and had been a care-taker to many people throughout his life. He was walking the walk. I myself have never been in a situation where I would need to guide a loved one into their final days on this earth. It was never a topic of conversation either, until I read this book that a friend recommended to me. After I read this book, I was shocked at what I had never thought about. The book teaches you how to nurture a loved one who might be coming upon their final days. It talks about situations that you would never think of that are very important in the last days of a persons life. I will have this book in my home until the day that it is time for me to pass. It is an invaluable tool that everyone can use and benefit from. I would recommend this to everyone, whether they know someone who is dying or not.

The author does a superb job of bringing the reader all the details of the gruesome murder of Pennsylvania Attorney Marty Dillon.... June 2, 1976 Marty and his friend, Dr. Stephen Scher, went hunting.........according to Dr. Scher, Marty got killed while chasing a porpupine, when he tripped and his gun went off.... Before two years were gone by, the doctor married Marty's widow...the town became a little suspicious, and Marty's parents always believed something was "fishy"......... It took 20 years of battling the system, but at last Marty's body was exhumed .... the autopsy showed that the wounds were not found to be self-inflicted and his death was finally ruled a homicide......... I don't read true-crime novels as I find them too gory, gritty and disturbing..........however, while visiting my Mom, and forgetting to bring the book I was reading, I looked through her large pile..........since she's not a reader of fiction, my selection was limited........] This book was a quick and compelling read...My heart broke for Marty's parents......I suggest you read it yourself and draw your conclusions..........as for mine, I'm so glad that our great legal system still (for the most part) works!

I read this book on a bus trip from Baltimore to (ironically) Montrose, and as a former resident of Montrose, I must say that this book was a joy to read. Although I was not a resident of the town in 1976, I have spoken to enough people that knew about the situation Maria has captured the true feeling of this town and their opinion. Yes, Larry Dillon did pass away in 1998, but he lived to see that justice was served. Although, poor Jo has to live with the fact that Stephen Scher was released from prison in 1999 and is a free man once again. I guess the system CAN forgive and forget!

Without a doubt, this is a gripping story. Maria Eftimiades has written a concise and facinating account of a person who thought he really got away with the perfect crime. It is a relief to see that justice finally prevailed. This is one of the few books to give some idea what it costs for a top defense lawyer. There are no words to accurately describe Pat Dillon Scher's actions. I highly recommend this book!

Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon have created another masterpiece with this sixth collected installment of the Preacher series. The beginning is the one shot back story called "One Man's War" and delves into the past of Herr Star as we learn his secrets and his unyielding motivation to get the job done. This explains quite a bit about Herr Star's intentions and you can almost sympathize with him. From that point on we catch up with Jesse, Tulip, and Cassidey as they wind up in the desert along with Herr Star and the entire army thrown into the mix, and the Saint of Killers not far behind. This is undoubtadly the most action packed of the series and contains all of the blood curdling violence and very dark humor that the series is famous for. Ennis' storytelling is great as always, although some of Dillon's art seems to get a bit scratchy towards the end of the book, War in the Sun is still a great read. All in all, this is possibly the best in the Preacher series, and next to Until the End of the World, is my favorite of the series.

War in the Sun is easily one of the best Preacher stories. From beginning to end, this is also one of the most action packed Preacher story arcs as well. From the battle in the desert between the Saint of Killers with Starr and his men to Jesse falling out of an airplane, this truly is an exciting story, and of course is filled with all the violence and humour the series is known for. This is definately recommended reading for anyone who is either a fan of the series of is juist getting into it as it realy gives a feal of what the series is all about.

After getting my hands on the War in the Sun I couldn't wait to start reading it. A lot of stuff was left unfinished since Dixie Fried and here Ennish solves some plots, but lefts more to be wanted in a good and real way. This is probably the most touching and most action filled preacher compilation ever and there's not much ill things found. The dialogue is excellent and certain transcripts are really thoughtfully planned and drawn. The album also includes the "one man's war" which is a pretty good story about Starr and the person who he is. And Custer's 'word of god' comes into play pretty unexpectedly ;)

This is one of my all time favorite books for children or adults! Each time I read it, I am filled with peace, hope and a yearning for the simple, good life that Wise Child and Juniper share. The book, though not particularly long, is full of wonderfully well developed characters whom you come to care about. It is at once both adventurous and educational (it takes place in a 12th century Scottish village) and conveys a reminder of our inherent connection to each other, to nature and to the cosmos.
Adults and children 10 years and older will love it - guaranteed!

I'm fourteen, and an extremely avid reader, and I read this book when I was eight, I think. To this day it remains one of my favorites. This book is about a young girl in Scotland, nicknamed "Wise Child" by her peers because of her big dark eyes. Her father is away at sea, her mother left when she was very young, and her grandmother dies. With no one who will take care of her, the one person who volunteers is "Juniper", the village doran(witch is a vulgar word). Wise Child is afraid because of the rumors about the young woman, but has no choice. Wise Child learns about herbs, "spells" and becoming part of the world. She also has some trouble with the village priest, Fillan, who believes Juniper is evil, and with her mother, a harmful Doran. I would recommend this to anyone of any age, for it's a classic tale of fantasy and frustrations.

I really regret not being in the age group this book was written for when it first came out. Think of all the extra years of dreams and imaginations it could have inspired! I'm sure _Wise Child_ would have become one of those very few books that I read until the bindings fell apart, then had to buy a fresh copy as an adult. As it was, I didn't run across the book until I was "all grown up", but that didn't stop me from loving it immediately, nor from buying a copy for my best friend. When Wise Child's grandmother dies, she is taken in by Juniper, a very wise and gentle woman who is rumored to be a witch. In truth, Juniper is a *doran*, a person who takes her power from the natural world and works magic only for the good of all. With Juniper, Wise Child learns the ways of such magic, and begins to understand her own inner powers. Then the black sorceress Maeve appears... Magic and adventure is written into _Wise Child_'s every line. But there's a lot of wisdom too. Tolerance for diversity is a big theme, as well as respect for nature. And Juniper is about as good a role model as a young woman can ask for. If you're a parent, buy this book for your child and borrow it when they're not looking-- there's a lot in it; you won't regret it. If you're a kid, trust me, this book really is worth spending your allowance on. (You'll want to make sure your flashlight has extra batteries.) And for everyone else who loves a good fantasy, _Wise Child_ is as good as it gets. I hope you'll give it a try.

Want to understand the "Troubles"? How about delving deep into what it means to hate for hate's sake, to police that hate with little more than detective wits, and to strive to restore order to the seventh circle of Hell. Cops with hands tied and bound, criminals with nothing but blood on their minds, the logic of US Gangster crime fades in comparison to the ancient blood feud that finds no place or meaning today, yet policemen with distractions from politics and low pay and strained home lives push on in hopes of the beucholic Irish fireside of their childhood. Take sides if you want, everyone's a loser when the aim is simply death.

Martin Dillon deserves great credit for writing this informative account of Lenny Murphy and his band of murdering thugs. It details the rise of Murphy as a school bully who`d rob classmates at knifepoint , how the Irish " Troubles " led to Murphy forming The Shankhill Butchers , the atrocities they commited , and The Butchers eventual downfall .

There is nothing to admire about secterian murder in Northern Ireland and reading this book it becomes quite clear that- Unlike consuming large amounts of alcohol- politics and religion did NOT play a big part in The Butchers lives , it was only an excuse to torture , mutilate and murder people who were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Courage also had no place in The Butchers lives , wait till you read about hardman William Moore trying to blame his accomplances for the murders.

My only complaint is that my edition is from 1990 and I`ve no idea if the author is planning to do a revised book. THE SHANKHILL BUTCHERS` possibly needs to be updated : Can the likes of Mr A , Mr B , etc now be named ? What happened to the likes of Moore after their release under the Good Friday agreement ? How are The Butchers regarded by people in Belfast nowadays ? As a footnote Robert " Basher " Bates was executed by the Ulster Freedom Fighters in the Summer of 1997

This is one of those books which one finds hard to put down, but on the other hand many time has to stop and take a deep breath, during the reading!! It is written well with a great understanding of the issues in Belfast and The North. After one is finished it leaves a memory which is hard to erase. This is a must read for anyone on either side who is interested in the Irish/Ulster question.

I read this to my daughter, Rachel, and she really enjoyed it. She smiled throughout the entire book. She loved the animal folktales about Bruh Rabbit, and Bruh Fox. She trembled with delight at the reading of the scary tales. As for her mother, my favorite was the title tale, The People Could Fly. It was magical!

I read this book as a child. The lessons that I learned from it have lasted well into my young adult, I am now 23 years old. The illustrations are first rate. This book should be a literary standard for all children books. Anyone with a child needs to have this in their children's personal library.

Fascinating folktales from an African-American perspective, this work evokes memories of the strength of a people to find magic, wonder, and spirituality in a time when oppression was the norm. Miss Hamilton, along with illustrators Leo and Diane Dillon, has produced a work of timeless importance. One of the few books that I can't keep on the shelves of my classroom, it is an essential for every teacher or person interested in exposing children to a wealth of literature.

Garth nix really knows how to write dark and engrossing novels that are very hard to put down.
Sabriel may live in a seemingly ordinary school but she is really from another land. This place, sealed off from the rest of the world, was once a great and proud country where magic flowed through the air for the benefit of everyone. However it has now been reduced to a wasteland swarming with undead while the remaining inhabitants fear for their lives. Their only hope lies in Abhorsen, a man able to enter the world of the dead and seal the wondering souls. He also happens to be Sabriel's father. There's only one problem, he has vanished leaving Sabriel to embark on a desperate journey to find him. Joining her are the strange cat like being named Mogget and a young man named Touchstone who's past is shrouded in mystery. Together they must fight undead, find the secrets of The Charter, and save Abhorsen before it's too late.
Be warned, this book is very dark and is full of necromancy and the undead but if you don't mind that then Sabriel is one fantasy novel that you will not easily forget.

I took an extended leave from the fantasy genre; yesterday afternoon, I decided to come back to the world of witchcraft and sorcery. Highly recommended by fellow peers, I chose Garth Nix's well-known 'Sabriel'. Frankly, I was so impressed and drawn into the story that I finished it in two days and rushed to write an amazingly complementary review. So - I won't waste any time with summeries and the like, since I believe that has already been covered by other reviewers and the helpful staff of amazon.com.

The plot was fantastic and fast-paced; there wasn't a moment I wasn't on the edge of my seat. Exhausting chapters of worthless garble is a common trait in many 'classic' fantasies. Nix has created an extremely believable and well-versed world, without the fluff. Poetic, dark, and forbidding, the heroine and companions are worthy of the world they are placed in. I could simply close my eyes and fly across the borders of what is called the Old Kingdom, in all its dangerous beauty. We are foreign visitors, as is the daring Sabriel. The plot was clear, consise, yet not overly simplictic. It begins as a search and rescue mission, and ends in a rich battle to save both the old and new aspects of this odd world.

Characters - wonderful. As rich as the world they reside in, Sabriel, Touchstone, and Mogget fully impressed me. They all read amazingly like living people, rather than a work of fantasy. Mogget, especially - his duel personalities clash wickedly, and he is not always what he appears to be; a cat? free magic?

To end this tiring review of a not-so-tiring story, I will add that this work is new, creative, and bold. There is a striking combination of modern technology and medieval swords and bows; a wall devides the two areas of the world. Many embrace magic, and others fear it - rightly so, for the wall does little to hold back the Greater Dead, a fearful object of the Old Kingdom.

Following in her father's footsteps, Sabriel will not fail the reader in a quest for a good read. SABRIEL is a tale of necromancy, fantastical lands, Death, and much more. I have not read a good book in a long time, yet this has broken my stream of bad luck.

In this epic story told not unlike tales in the golden age of fantasy, Garth Nix has successfully joined great names, such as those synonomous with fantasy (J.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis).
This book is not at all related to any other tale, it is an original, pure and simple, using no familiar concepts or ideas to convey the main point of the story.
In the story, a adolescent girl named Sabriel realizes that her father, Abhorsen, has been detained or trapped somewhere in the endless river of death, and as the story progresses, it becomes obvious that the culprit is the Great Dead creature Kerrigor, who had once, over two hundred years in the past, had tried to destroy the Charter, the magical force that binds the world together.
Along the way on the quest for an understanding of her heritage and her father, Sabriel meets the Free Magic being Mogget, chained to the power of the Abhorsens unwillingly, beneath the quiet exterior of his cat-like bady lies a murderous being of tremendous power which Sabriel will have to confront. She also meets the imprisioned prince of the Old Kingdom, who calls himself Touchstone, and is also unwilling to share with Sabriel his tarnished past which Mogget seems to know about.
The story includes magic, love, adventure, and brilliant new ideas by a writer rising in promenince among the literary society. All the components are there for an epic, and Nix brings them all together brilliantly. A classic.

In her novel Enchantress from the Stars, Sylvia Louise Engdahl combines science fiction and fantasy to weave together an intricate plot and tell an entertaining and interesting story. The time in which this story takes place is not clear. When the book begins, it seems as if Engdahl is writing of the future. As the story progresses, it seems as if she is writing of the past. In the end of the book, the two times intertwine so that it seems as if time does not exist at all.

The plot is set on the planet of Andrecia, home to a poverty-stricken, primitive society in which the people live in small rural villages and are governed by a monarchy. In one of the poor Andrecian villages, at the edge of the dreaded Enchanted Forest, lives a woodcutter with his four sons, all of whom dream of better, brighter futures. While the three eldest brothers wish for power, gold, and treasure, the youngest, Georyn, wants only wisdom equal to that of his King. Thus, when word travels to them that the person who slays the dragon inhabiting the Enchanted Forest will receive from the King whatever reward he desires, all four brothers are eager to set out at once. However, the dragon is actually a giant machine, or rockchewer, built by a far more technologically-advanced society, the Imperials. The Imperials, who are planning to take over the planet, have created the rockchewer to clear the land so they can build a colony. As the Andrecians appear one by one to Òslay the dragon,Ó they are paralyzed by the ImperialÕs stun-guns, making them defenseless captives.

Another society of people, even more advanced than the Imperials, is determined to stop them from taking over the planet. Elana and Evrek, two teenagers, and ElanaÕs father journey to Andrecia to help the native Andrecians revolt against the Imperials and scare them off the planet. ElanaÕs people have the unique ability to move objects with their minds and to communicate telepathically. As a result, Georyn and his brothers believe Elana to be an Enchantress. Through many tests and a developing friendship, she teaches Georyn how to control the movement of objects and prepares him for his face-off with the dragon.

"Enchantress From the Stars" is an engrossing book that keeps the reader on their toes from the very first chapter. Weaving together two different genres allows Engdahl to interest readers of all kinds. "Enchantress" is not only a story about dragons and spaceships, it is also about testing the true strength of love. A definite must read!

I have always been an avid reader. When I was a young teenager I discovered an old copy of "Enchantress From the Stars" on a bookshelf in our house and devoured it within a few hours. I have since read it several times and just finished it again last week. I find it one of the finest, most well crafted, intriguing books I have read, and it occupies a place of honor on the shelves that house "my favorite books." I love Science Fiction as well as Fantasy, and this book combines both of them in a fascinating, compelling way that makes the reader not want to put it down till it is done, and come back to it again later like an old friend. Ms. Engdahl intertwined the three viewpoints/cultures of Elana, Georyn, and Jarel in a highly talented, fascinating way that I have never come across in any other book. The plot is very original, exciting, and thought-provoking.

Now that I am married and have a baby of my own, I am very excited to share this book with my own children and husband. I wish I knew why it isn't more widely circulated/well-known, and I think it should still be in print. Hats off to Ms. Engdahl. I hope she has great success with her work and I think it would be wonderful to see another book about Elana (the only other one I know about is "The Far Side of Evil").

What do you do when you get a glowing recommendation for an obscure book by an unprolific author you've never heard of? Well, if you're like me, you react skeptically, yet with fascination. So I jumped at the chance to get "Enchantress from the Stars", knowing it was rare. It's one thing to read a book *knowing* it will be good and it turns out so. It's something more special to go into a book with no expectations and to be totally blown away by it. That was what happened to me when reading this book. The lines of science fiction and fantasy blur here thanks to some very clever storytelling. It all takes place on the planet of Andrecia, the natives of which are analogous to those of Mediaeval Europe. Their planet is being invaded by a scientifically-oriented spacefaring culture. A small number of field agents from a culture further advanced than either of the aforementioned (and posessing psychic and telekinetic powers) arrives with intent to get the invaders to leave the planet to the natives. They go about this by telling a young native man named Georyn and his brother that they are sorcerers and that they will endow them with special powers that will make the invaders leave. The story goes beyond the standard "good vs. evil" plotlines in such stories, and posesses a refreshing sense of humanity that reminds me slightly of Ursula Le Guin. To say this is an excellent book doesn't begin to describe its majesty and emotional power.

This is also the third time I will be buying this book - first two copies have mysteriously disappeared. It is incredibly stupid, but it had me laughing uncontrollably for a very long time. In public. My only regret is that the later printings have used asterisks to cover the swear words - part of the pleasure was seeing these taboo words in cold print in a pseudo-serious context...

This is one of the funniest books I've ever read. I've owned four copies, and they all go 'walkies'.

My girlfriend is sick of me reading this in bed and lauging out loud, but I can't help it.

Do your self a favour, and buy it.

PS: The UK version is better than the US one, as they don't bleep out the swearing.

This is easily the funniest book I ever read. Every page will have at least one part that will leave you rolling in fits of laughter.

If you can find it, BUY IT!

I got this book yesterday and read it straight through. It is one of the most informative and useful books about the Peace Corps that I have ever read. As a former PCV in Cameroon, I can honestly say that Dillon Banerjee has successfully captured "the Peace Corps experience," which is no easy task. He gives very clear answers to some very tough questions. This book is sure to become an instant classic, "The" book to read. I would (and will!) recommend this book to anyone interested in joining the Peace Corps.

My job is to work with college seniors who want to apply to post-graduation service programs like the Peace Corps. My office owns 4 copies of this book, and I constantly pass them out to students who are interested in applying to the Peace Corps. Students consistently say that it answered all of their questions AND all of the questions they didn't think of but wish they had.

One caveat: Banerjee mostly writes from his own perspective as a returned volunteer. The answers to most of the questions in this book are highly variable, depending on your country placement and job. While his answers are truthful, as a returned volunteer who went somewhere very different from Banerjee, I would answer many of the questions differently.

Peace Corps, who've evidently dropped "the" from their name, is a mystery, wrapped in an enigma, wrapped in a tortilla (or flat bread). In this reviewer's opinion, the official info sessions offered by Peace Corps don't tell the whole story about the operation.

Fortunately, Dillon's book does. He answers questions you were too embarrassed to ask during info sessions; questions you need answers to in order to make a fully informed decision.

A tremendous resource for Peace Corps applicants or anyone thinking of becoming a Peace Corps volunteer. We've needed something like this for a long time.

If it had nothing else of interest -- and it has plenty else of interest - Dillon's discussion of the application process, and how to keep it moving along, would be worth the cost of the book alone. The book pays for itself, demystifying the Peace Corps experience, giving you Peace of Mind.

If that's not enough for you, writers will appreciate Dillon's prose; clearly, care was taken in the writing and editing of this book. It's eloquent without being flowery or pompous and is a joy to read. Dillon's either a terrific writer, has a terrific editor, or both. Too frequently, editors have a reverse midas touch -- turning perfectly good prose into dumbed-down dross.

Bravo.