Henni and her neighborhood friends, Zev, Danielle, Frank, andBriquette, are very sad when their neighbor Old Auntie Lilliedies. Old Auntie Lillie's apartment gets "the treatment" and is completely transformed, making Henni and her friends wonder who is moving there anyway. The new neighbors arrive and immediately they decide to call them the Phonies because they aren't who they seem to be. The Phonies complain about EVERY LITTLE THING and it is driving everyone crazy. This is a very funny and interesting book and there is no way you can stop in the middle and forget about it. Everyone should read it.

I am 12 years old and when I first read this excellent book I was 10. I have been re-reading it on and off for two years! Elizabeth Honey's brilliant detective/comedy novel is a wonderful recipe of humour, adventure, neighbourhood struggles and wild airport chases. The book had me laughing from the first page and I couldn't put it down down. The book is chock-full of likeable/evil/funny characters and Henni's narrative style is chatty and easy. The sequel, 'Fiddleback', is also wonderful, and at times it touches your heart.A must for any reader!

Elizabeth Honey is a fantastic writer. I love all of her books but this 45 & 47 Stella Sreet and everything that happened is the best. I just bought the sequel Fiddle-Back and I can't wait to read it. Anyway, 45 & 47 Stella Street is about a girl named Henni. Along with her sister, Danielle, friends Zev and Frank they set out to stop the Phonie's, the new posh and evil people in the street. This book will make you wet your pants with laughter. I think that this book is the best and I say you should read it.

Octavio Paz has since passed through this world leaving behind a beautiful web of words with the tapestry of things seen and unseen. Paz does an ambidextrous job of mixing in elements of surrealism with the bone of natural objects and that which is very real. His, and the translator Eliot Weinberger ... along with the help of other poet translators to include Bishop, Levertov, Tomlinson--all of their words come alive with beautiful language. The translation seems true to the intent.

What is essential about this book is that each poem comes with the bilingual translation in English and accompanied by the original works in Spanish. Two years of high school Spanish, as well as two years in college, has rendered me with a woefully inadequate ineptitude of all words and understanding of that language. But I don't think that the translation can ever capture the sound, the alliteration, the true tongue/la lingua and fluid language that Paz meant in his original Spanish. Even if I don't understand a lick of what's on the left side of the page in Spanish at least it can be read for it's beautiful sound. Listen to this, "Through the conduits of bone I night I water I forest that moves forward I tongue I body I sun-bone Through the conduits of night" and then on the even-numbered page, "Por el arcaduz de hueso yo noche yo agua yo bosque que avanza yo lengua yo cuerpo yo hueso de sol Por el arcaduz de noche."

What are you doing still sitting here reading my crappy writing when you could be reading Ocatavio Paz? Go get the book...you'll see.

Example 1: "Un cuerpo, un cuerpo solo, sólo un cuerpo,/un cuerpo como día derramado/y noche devorada". Example 2: "Lates entre la sombra/blanca y desnuda: río." Octavio Paz is one of the first voices of the xxth century mexican poetry. He is the most important blend between clasicism and the modern trends in poetical expresion. He lived in France and thus, he experienced surrealism and mingled with the likes of Breton, Éluard, et al. In México he estimulated the literary critic and reviews to new standars of excelence. Read O. Paz.

Paz' poetry is sublime, and elegant. The words and ideas simply slip off the page. Its like taking a bath in chocolate.

Paz consistently suprises the reader with new ideas, form, language. Paz creates an atmosphere that is soothing, and enchanting. I would highly recommend this work.

Wow, I love it. This book is straight to the point. Check out the table of contents: Choosing/Changing a major or program, Financial aid/money management, Registering for classes, Dorm life, Textbooks: buying & selling, ID cards, The classroom experience, Study skills, note taking,and test taking, Library services, Computers, The internet and email, Campus/Student organizations, Having a car on campus and car safety, Parents, families, and friends, Physical health, Stress management and mental health, Time management, Internships, Job interviewing, and Returning to college. Wow, this book cuts right to the point. I have purchased other college books, and let me tell you I don't have time to read a 20 page chapter ( I have 60 pages in my biology book to read). You can easily flip to the chapter that you need in no time at all. You can also read the book in less than an hour. This book contains over 300 bullet points of information.This book is more than a coffee-table book. It is really AWESOME!

I thought College 101 was wonderfully straightforward and right to the point. The authors did a fine job of cutting through the red tape and confusion associated with the going to college, and formatted a book that is clever, witty and easy to read. I plan to give this book as a graduation present to all of the high school seniors that I know.

Inspiring! Sensational! An informative adventure that will direct you on the path to a successful college experience."

The talent of some people never ceases to amaze me. It was such fun to read through all these short imaginative tales. I can hardly wait to take this book with me on my next long airplane trip so I can sit and read uninterrupted and let my mind wander into the world "beyond". I especially enjoyed the selection by Sandra Aikman entitled "Pia". Is it a true story? I got the feeling while I was reading Pia, that it was not a make-believe ghost story. Good writing and good reading.

The Best of Ghost Story Weekend is a wonderful collection of short stories. I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the writing from mostly novice authors. After I picked it up, I couldn't put it down. All of the stories were very imaginative and not so far "out there" that they weren't plausible. I got goose bumps more than once. It is a definate must-read for anyone who enjoys spooky stories and tales of the "other side." My favorite story is "Pia."

I found many of the stories had very new approaches to the traditional Ghost Story genre and were immensly gripping. I also loved the flavor of nature and the west in general that permiated each story. My favorite was Banjo Bandolas' "One Last Soul." I didn't want it to end. Please write a sequil Mr. Bandolas if you read this! I highly recommend this book!

Throughout history, children all over the world have loved and cherished dolls. This is a children's story to honor that timeless tradition.

The rhythmic prose and detailed illustrations invite the reader into the quiet world of the "Doll lady."

This wise woman encourages children to not only love their dolls but to respect their unique qualities as well. "Some are very serious, while others are always laughing," the doll lady says. "The beauty is in their differences."

Inspiration for The Doll Lady came from the author's great-aunt Dorothy, who taught her to love and care for her dolls as if they were real children.

One of the most unique children's books to come along in years, The Doll Lady, by Elizabeth Collins-Varni, is a book for everyone who has ever loved a doll. Children and adults will appreciate the simple message behind the Doll Lady's wisdom, "Take very special care of your doll, for dolls are just like people. They need to be well loved, held tenderly and always respected for their uniqueness."

The message and the book are destined to be handed down through generations. The beautiful art of doll-maker/illustrator Judy Kuusisto is a joy to experience, and includes a hard page of paper dolls in the back, to cut out and to add pictures of your own favorite dolls.

A book of the Heartstrings Collection of enchanting children's picture-books, the author and illustrator have also collaborated on To Sleep With the Angels and Planting Memories.

This enchanting story, written for children four to eight years of age, is based on a true happening. The Doll Lady is very old. She has been making dolls her whole life. She takes care to make each doll as an individual. Each one is different from the next; no two are the same. The Doll Lady believes that their true beauty is in their differences.

Most dolls that the Doll Lady makes are given to children. She says to each child to whom she gives a doll, "Take very special care of your doll, for dolls are just like people. They need to be well loved, held tenderly and always respected for their uniqueness." As she takes her daily walks, she tells the parents that she meets to give their children a doll, for if they had one, they would learn to be kind and to express love.

The story makes it obvious that the Doll Lady touched many, many lives; read the book to discover more thoughtful details about her. Younger children especially will likely find this story quite fascinating. Also, you--and they--can enjoy the many detailed pictures that all show bright and happy scenes. Each one has so many different parts to it that you'll want to keep looking back at them. This is a good story with a great lesson.

I decided to go to the store to search for a wedding organizer instead of buying from Amazon because I wanted to actually look through the books to see how useful they might be. This organizer is by far and away the greatest. It has tons of places to write things, lots of pertinent questions to ask when searching for various services, lists of things not to forget, suggestions for ways to word things, etc. And, in the back of the book there is an accordian file which contains pockets for the following categories: ceremony, wedding attire, photography, videography, stationery, reception, music, bakery, flowers, transportation, rental items, miscellaneous, honeymoon. The book is hard bound and they've left extra room to let it expand when you fill it up with papers. Don't pay full price like I did...buy this book from Amazon...it's excellent!

I liked it because it's more than a workbook. It has elements that make it a memory book too. It's not something you would throw away after using it. The according file attached to it is basically why I bought it.
I highly recommend it.

Planning a marriage can be very stressful, expecially when both of us work and many of the guests are from out of the country. You need the best advice and methods for getting things done quickly and right the first time. We returned many other books that were too vague or had obvious self-evident "ideas". This book though was a keeper. I can say now, after the fact, that this book saved us much time and stress. The detailed checklists were particulary useful. Everything was clear and well written. I recommend this for anyone who wants things to go right.

Scarborough's forte lies in creating books with intriguing plots, believable main characters, and lots of humor. This book is no exception. The idea of genetically-stored memory that can be downloaded into someone else's personality is an updated version of an old SF plot device, but the author takes the concept and makes it her own. The main character, Leda Hubbard, a forensic anthropologist and wannabe Egyptologist is a classic Scarborough heroine--an ordinary woman, competent and a little dissatisfied with her life. The other characters range from the delightful (Duke, Leda's macho philandering father) to the repulsive (Mr. Rasmussen, the true villain). Some of the characterizations are a little thin, and the plot could have been fleshed out in spots, but there are enough wonderful moments to make this book a rewarding read. Duke's fate alone is worth the price of the book. As with Scarborough's "Fairy Godmother" books, everyone gets their just desserts at the end, and there is an element of "they all lived happily ever after." Perhaps a bit pat, but that's part of the pleasure.

To tell the truth it was the cover that caught my attention as I was browsing though the new books at the local library. I then sat down to blow through the first few chapters to figure out if the book was worth checking out. Well needless to say, I sat there in the libary till closing time!

Leda Hubbard has been obsessed with being a Egyptologist and joining a dig. The navy being the only way Leda can get her PHD, which she finally gets in forensic anthropology, but still can't find a dig that will take her, Until she recieves a mysterious invatation to work with a man named Chimera. Not one to look the gift horse in the mouth Leda heads of to Egypt.

Our heroine, Leda, is one for always getting in trouble, for the right reasons of course. But in the end, her reward is something beyound anything she ever imagined as a young woman dreaming of Egypt.

This is a book that is definately worth the reading time!!

The cover art really drew me to this book, as I have not read much before by this author. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was a very enjoyable read; a suspenseful science fiction novel filled with espionage and action. The idea of cloning from ancient DNA is not new (Jurassic Park, need I say more) but the idea of "blending" personalities inherent in DNA was a new twist, handled very well. The archaeological aspects in Alexandria were also well described and made for some vibrant settings.

One of the highlights of this novel was the way Scarborough develops her characters into unique individuals that are easy to associate with, both good and evil. The protagonist and antagonist(s) are people that truly act out according to their personal beliefs and values-a very human trait which often gets left behind in science fiction works. I highly recommend this book-entertaining, engaging and full of plot twists that keep your interest.

...I became enchanted by the tale Goudge tells. The setting for the story is a cathedral city in the fens. The city is populated with charmingly depicted characters that ooze quaintness from every pore. The main character is the old Dean, known in the town as a fierce and relentless man due to his hunting down of the city's corruption. And yet, the Dean is a misunderstood man. His love and fidelity are often met with indifference in the town, and this is even more true of his own wife who is deterred by his ugliness and who finds his devotion to her repulsive. Yet help is at hand, for the Dean owns a beautiful watch: a watch that becomes the starting point for a new friendship for the Dean, and new hope.

Goudge's tale is clearly Christian in content. It is a tale of redemption, grace and love in a world of ugliness and pain. It is never, I think crass, and retains a note of ambiguity to the end, which is appropriate to her theme. Readers will find that something of this story can speak to them if they let it, and indeed, I suspect it speaks to Everyman. Yet it is never moralistic, didactic or triumphalist: often the worst sins of the Christian novel.

A lovely tale, with enough depth to grasp sceptical readers like myself.

My favorite by Goudge, by far. She takes you there on a flying carpet of words so that you can see, smell and hear, visiting the homes and lives of the rich and weak, the poor and strong, the bitter, the loving, the young, the old, and helpless. Central to it all is the Dean of the Cathedral, only now in his last year is he being truly changed under God's hand. And his "watch" is a timepiece, but also his alloted time on duty. Interesting things happen during his watch!

There are characters we love, rejoice with, sigh for, and laugh at. We see the joy of a little girl receiving a gift of a parasol (though the Dean's joy in giving it exceeds her joy in receiving). But his wife, who has greater riches, does not rejoice in what she receives.

Though non-Anglicans may need a bit of help with certain terms and concepts, grab the book and enjoy. Then share it with a friend, while you run off to get Goudge's Green Dolphin Street.

and I think perhaps she may be right, with the exception, perhaps, of The Little White Horse. There was a poetic, magical quality about Elizabeth Goudge's writing. I always imagined I could SMELL the English countryside when reading one of her books--which is particularly amazing considering that I don't have much sense of smell to start with!

My sister and I recently discussed how we loved this book as young teens. First read it as a Reader's Digest Condensed book. I loved it so much that I've since purchased many of Ms. Cookson's books. She feeds you some history and flavor of another culture, painlessly wrapped in an emotionally gripping tale. Another favorite from her: Feathers In The Fire.

As a huge fan of Catherine Cookson, I'd have to say The Dwelling Place is the best I have read so far...and I've read many of her books! Don't miss this story of a young girl's struggle to ovecome the odds at keeping her family together. Her selfless strength of character and integrity throughout this story, as well as the satisfying endings to this and all of her stories, are what make Catherine Cookson's books so wonderful and keep the reader coming back for more! Read The Dwelling Place ~ you won't be disappointed!

I have read this book for many years. I bring it out once a year to enjoy it. The courage that Cissy had was so unbelievable. I felt like I was right there in the cave.Catherine Cookson 's books make you feel that you are living a part of history Bravo Catherine Cookson.!

"Eight American Poets," edited by Joel Conarroe, is a fine anthology. The introduction notes that this book was "designed as a companion volume to 'Six American Poets,'" also edited by Conarroe. "Eight" follows the same plan as "Six": rather than anthologize a huge company of poets who are represented by only a few pieces each, each of Conarroe's books focuses on a relatively small group of poets, each of whom is represented by a substantial selection. Conarroe's approach allows the reader to get a fuller feel of each poet in the anthology format.

The poets of "Eight" are Theodore Roethke, Elizabeth Bishop, Robert Lowell, John Berryman, Anne Sexton, Sylvia Plath, Allen Ginsburg, and James Merrill. Each poet's work is prefaced by a substantial individual introduction.

There are many masterpieces in this book. Curiously, I found the most compelling poems to be those that focus on nature: Roethke's "The Meadow Mouse," Bishop's "The Fish," Plath's "Mushrooms," and Merrill's "The Octopus." Poems like these combine skillfully used language with keen insight, and reveal these poets to be true heirs of Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson (two of the featured artists in "Six American Poets").

Overall, I felt that "Eight" was not as strong as its sister volume, "Six." Although there are many poetic masterpieces in "Eight," there is also much material which, in my opinion, hasn't aged well. The so-called "confessional poetry" of some of these writers strikes me as overwrought. Some of the longer poems failed to resonate with me. I was particularly disappointed by Berryman's "Homage to Mistress Bradstreet," especially since I am an admirer of Anne Bradtreet's own work. Admittedly, this criticism may merely reflect my own personal tastes, but I submit it for the reader's consideration.

The fact that so many of these poets either wrote about each other, or pop up in the editor's introductions to each others' work, sometimes gives the book as a whole a creepy, incestuous feel. And the fact that so many of these poets committed suicide, had long-term mental health problems, and/or suffered from addictions further gives the book as a whole a rather morbid feel. On second thought, maybe this group of eight is a bit problematic!

Still, editor Conarroe has assembled an impressive anthology that I would recommend for students and teachers, as well as to a general readership. Although a mixed bag, "Eight American Poets" contains some truly enduring work by an octet whose legacy is secure.

.........the best known and loved poetry of eight well-known twentieth century American poets. Includes well known poems such as Bishop's "The Fish", Roethke's "My Papa's Waltz", Berryman's "Dream Songs", Merrill's "Lost in Translation", Sexton's "Ringing the Bells", and many others.

Like Conarroe's "Six American Poets", the anthology introduces us to each poet with a short biography that is presented before the poet's work. We learn about their lives and come to understand some of the primary forces that have shaped their poetry. I have found that this greatly enriches the experience of reading poetry because I better see the struggles that lead to each individual creation. After each collection, Conarroe offers a list of books and anthologies where each poet has been published so that we, should we wish, can come to know the work of a given poet much better.

This anthology is a wonderful starting place for someone who, like me, desires an introduction to some of the greatest American poetry ever produced. Personally, I feel, after reading this anthology that I have come to truly appreciate the work of Elizabeth Bishop and Theodore Roethke, in particular. I had never known their work well, but suddenly each jumped off the page at me, Bishop for her wonderfully vivid descriptions and Roethke for his intensely moving subjects. Plath and Sexton also really spoke to me, their work so reflecting their lives. Overall, this anthology is superbly worthwhile reading!

Ah, a fine comparison and contrast in studies on the eight best American confessional poets ever. Kudos to the editor on a fine choice of poems, and candid biographies on each poet. Sylvia Plath, Anne Sexton, Allen Ginsberg, John Berryman, Theodore Roethke, Elizabeth Bishop and the other guy, here's to you.