I came across this book 25 years ago when I was in the third grade. I have been searching for a copy to own for myself ever since. I plan on sharing this with all three of my nieces and hope that it has as a profound an impact on their lives as it did on mine! An all-around fabulous book for a young girl and I HIGHLY recommend it! How wonderful to be able to lose myself in this magical book once more!

I also have very fond memories of reading this book over 30 years ago. I began searching for it a few weeks back so my 8 year old daughter could read it. I'm sad that it is out of print and would love to see it revived. I still remember how I couldn't wait to have the free time to read it. A wonderful book!

As I read the reviews, I was amazed to see the same reactions that I had as a child. It was second grade when I went back to the Library after lunch because I had finished all of my books. Mrs. DeForrest was finally convinced I could go to the upper grade shelves, and I chose The Golden Name Day. I read it that once 33 years ago, and yet I remember it as if it were yesterday. The story of the old and new worlds mixing felt like my family's story. It also spoke of growing up to me and I still recommend it today. Parents and children are so disappointed when it can't be found.

If you like adventurous books I recommend this one to you!!! Usually I am not the most excited fan over Star Wars but I read the Courtship of Princess Leia and thought that book was nicely written and couldn't put it down till I was finished!

Gallen O'Day is a seasoned fighter, a guide, and a guard. He longs for adventure and for excitement. He has a widely known reputation for being a very efficient guard, robbers know his name and fear him.

Maggie Flynn works in an alehouse and thinks Gallen is handsome and the best guard/guide around. She and Gallen have an odd sort of relationship. They have an attraction to each other but Gallen doesn't make any of the moves, thinking Maggie is too young.

The adventure for Gallen starts when two strangers come to the alehouse. A man who wears two swords, walks and looks like he knows how to fight and it appears he's the bodyguard of the second stranger.

The second stranger is young, beautiful, petite, and ... perfect. And to top it all off the stranger is female. Immediately Gallen feels the urge to protect her and thinks he's fallen in love. But what are two strangers who obviously are different doing here? The strangers reveal that they want to travel to the ancient arch called Geata na Chruinne. They need someone to take them there and it can't be a boy, it has to be a soldier, or someone who knows how to fight.

Gallen is the only one who knows the way and who can fight. So they make a deal that they would travel there later. That night Gallen has another job to deal with. He guides and guards a man but unfortunately they meet robbers on the road. Gallen is awestruck when a sidhe helps him but is puzzled when the sidhe tells him that he will hold Gallen accountable for any oaths he makes this day. When Gallen finally returns he finds himself making an oath that he will help whoever his heart is hot to aid. And his heart is hot to aid ... the strangers.

A creature, a monster that no one has ever seen the likes of before comes into town and is killed. But the strangers have seen that kind of monster before, they aren't shocked as the townspeople are. Orick knows (Gallen's bear friend) because he saw their faces and he decided to follow the two strangers and take Maggie with him.

When Gallen goes to take the strangers (he finds the woman's name is Everynne and the bodyguard is Veriasse) to the arch he discovers that they have the monsters following them. When the arch appears Everynne takes a key and disappears along with Veriasse. The monsters have a key too and are about to follow them when Gallen pops out of hiding and takes the key ... going through the arch taking Maggie and Orick along. They find that they have been transported to a different world.

When they manage to find Maggie and Veriasse again things become more clear. Everynne is going to challenge the Golden Queen for her position. She is the last person of a certain race called Tharrins and if she suceeds she will be the Golden Queen. The present Queen will have to step down ... Everynne hopes to save the worlds that are being destroyed by the Queen's people (vanquishers).

But the one who does the fighting is her companion, guard, and friend Veriasse. He has to battle the Lord Protector and the Lord Protector is not human but something else that can easily cut a person in half.

Who will win in the end and what about Gallen? Gallen is a seasoned fighter ... is it possible that he could learn to defeat the monster before it's too late? Or will they all die and more worlds will be destroyed?

What about Maggie and Gallen? Gallen and Maggie have something special ... all they have to do is respond to their inner hearts before their feelings of love turn into feelings of hate ...

This book is great!!! It's full of adventure and around every corner lurks danger and death ... flashes of romance spark, and this book interwines different ways of thinking and ways of power (both good and bad) as well as showing peoples good sides as well as their bad sides ... A fantastic book and the pages seem to magically fit the story together. A book to read again and again.

This is my favorite book of all times. It skips around a lot but it is very good at keeping you in suspence

I read this book and Totally Love it. It's amazing, DaveWolverton really knows how to get your attention and keep it till thevery end. I read the book 2 years ago and Loved it, but Last week I desided to read it again during my train ride, and it's even better the second time around. Before I knew it, I was no longer just reading it on the train, I couldn't put it down when I was at home as well. It's captivating, sorta a blend of Star wars, star gate, the neverending story, back to the future, the princess bride and more. I can't wait to read the sequels.

I had the golden opportunity to hear Rabbi Dosick, give a lecture several years ago at Temple Bet Breira in Miami for their annual "Scholars in Residence" Week. Rabbi Dosick touched upon several things as it relates to this informative book about parenting. Golden Rules is not a preachy, rigid stance but a personal, yet provocative approach that parents can take to show their children how they are an important part of the world society and how their contribution can provide a means to help the less fortunate. One walks away from this book with a somber sense that our respect of God is determined by how much we're devoted to service.

I bought one after renewed twice from the local library. It's the book that I read it repeatly and learned something new each time. Great stories that children love.

This is an amazing book for children of all ages! We all need to be reminded of these ethical values and Rabbi Dosick gives hundreds of parables which come to mind each day as we do our daily duties. Along with the parables, each chapter ends with a story to read with your children and age appropriate questions for discussion. My children love listening to the parables and my six year old son remembers them and talks to me about them when he see's their application in his little life. I highly recommend this book!

Airwaves is O'Shaughnessy at hist best! From Mario Cuomo to Nelson Rockefeller, Airwaves gives a unique insight into some of the most fascinating figures of the Empire State and beyond. The candid conversations shed new light on the personal aspects of these rich characters who have helped shaped the state. O'Shaughnessy puts his guests at ease with a flair born from years of interviews and radio editorials that made the legendary broadcaster who he is today.

William O'Shaughnessy is everything we love about the Irish. He's irreverent, colorful, warm, and kind. This collection of radio editorials would be worth far more than its price if you were to receive only pages 61-64 for your money. (Think of the other 387 excellent pages as coming "at no extra charge.")

I was conducting a seminar in Manhattan for the great Joe Riley when I was introduced to Bill. I gave him a copy of my latest book and he gave me a copy of his, this (just released) Airwaves. I wasn't expecting much... but then I'm an idiot.

William O'Shaughnessy beggared America by limiting his radio commentary to Westchester County, New York. He should have been a network anchor.

Even though the book has a somewhat regional "New York" flavor, (I'm from Texas,) I liked it.

Bill! Write us another one!

return we us now to those days of yesteryear..

This is our favorite baby book for reading with our baby/young child. Each of our children, from ages 9 months to three years, has loved this book. We buy this as a gift for all new babies.

My 3 1/2 year old received this book when she was an infant and it quickly became one of our daily reads. Word for word, my oldest daughter now "reads" (from memory) this book to her 18 month old sister.....and they both LOVE every minute of it. "Animal Sounds" is a true classic in our home.

My daughter loved this book from the moment grandma bought it for her! Unfortunately, something was spilled on the book and it sat for a while so many of the pages stuck together - that has not stopped her! She will still pick up this book first before any of the others.

This novel can not be described in any other way than stated. It transcended time and placed me in the action. I was exhausted and saddened to leave the characters. Hopefully a follow up in the future. Great job!

Geoff Wong's novel is not just a good story: it is several tightly threaded stories. The imagery, plot, and character development reflects a perceptive sensitivity and insight into the realities, human values and social issues at UC Berkeley (and the Midwest) in the early 1960s. Based upon the author's profound knowledge of that weird and colorful setting, the truth of that background now seems stranger than the fiction woven around it.

Couldn't put it down. Had to know what happened next The war between the dormies and the frats was superbly done. Interweaving the songs of the 60's into the storyline worked well. Berkeley has certainly changed since that innocent time.

Very interesting plot, and a pleasure to see the Scooby Gang (Buffy, Xander, Willow and Tara) and Spike working with the Fang Gang (Angel, Cordelia, Wesley, Gunn, Fred and Lorne) in Los Angeles, while Giles, Anya and Dawn give their contribution in Sunnydale. Even my favorite crocodile hunter, Australian Steve Irwin, is cited - not by name, but I suppose it's him Buffy wishes that was around to kill some croc-like demons...

Set on season 6 - after "Life Serial" and before "Smashed" - "Monster Island" begins with depressed Buffy who has just been ripped off Heaven, and is very angry at the world. As she cannot take her "anger and frustration and despair" on her beloved friends (the ones responsible for her resurrection, by the way), she takes it on the demons she stumbles across on patrol (no, not on Spike, yet - that will come later on the show), until something very nasty comes up and distracts the Slayer from her pain for a while: Axtius, Doyle's father, a big, bigoted Brachen demon who wants to exterminate all demons that don't have pure blood, has gathered an army. When the good guys find out about this evil plan, it's almost too late. Besides, Axtius has a personal vendetta against Angel, because he thinks the vampire is responsible for Doyle's death - a half-breed from whom Axtius intended to purge completely of his human part.

The Scooby Gang and the Fang Gang get along well - Fred and Tara seems to have a lot in common (nothing that jeopardizes Willow and Tara's love, which is strongly reassured), we get to know someone very important in Angel's life (a new character, Elijah, who will have an important part in the end), all bunch of demons (villains and good guys) are appealing, and there is a human who once was rich and handsome, and now cursed, wants Angel to do something for him... very funny!

As a Spike fan, I bought "Monster Island" mainly because I knew he was on the book. The treatment of my favorite vampire follows the same pattern of all novels - that is, teaches us that when Spike was evil, he wasn't so evil as the Scourge of Europe Angelus; and when he tries to be good, he isn't so good as Angel or the Scoobies - you know, it doesn't matter much what he does, he was/is always beneath them, and almost everybody wants him dead. Besides, the Spike on the book is more the one we saw on season five (when he was proud to be a demon) than the one from season 6 (when he was already seeing himself more like a man, and less like a monster).

The soulless vampire is in love with Buffy, of course, but they haven't started their "thing" yet; Angel senses a connection between the vampire and the Slayer, and when he thinks of the possibility of Spike having his way to Buffy (because he *thinks* of the possibility...), he gets disgusted (or jealous?). By the way, Spike's love for Buffy seems to be the one that cannot be spoken, and is always described without mentioning Buffy's name:

"His passionate interest was being spent elsewhere these days."

"She was not the one he wanted, but she was breathtaking, heartbreakingly beautiful. If the one he wanted wouldn't have him, he was more than happy to make due."

However, in fairness to Thomas Sniegosky and Christopher Gold (who LOVES *evil* Spike, according to himself), the soulless vampire has his BIG moment of glory, performing an heroic act, in a very powerful scene, as well as we have Buffy wondering that, maybe, the chip in his brain can result in something very good, eventually. Angel and Spike together rule - the rivalry between the two vampires is cool, true to the characters - and in the final battle Buffy even worries about Spike being severely hurt, while Angel is far away fighting some demon.

Although I would have liked a bigger part for Cordy - who doesn't have much interesting things to do, in contrast to Gunn and his annoying protégé Calvin - overall, "Monster Island" is a very enjoyable reading for Buffy's, Angel's and Spike's fans.

I just bough Monster Island this week. I couldn't put it down. The main reason why I bought this book was because of the crossover (plus I really like to read Buffy books by Christopher Golden). I have always been curious what it would have been like to have Buffy's friends mingle with Angel's friends. It was certainly an interesting read.

I wish Dawn and Giles had more roles but neverless I enjoyed them.

I felt the authors captured the apporipate feelings of the characters and how they'd respond to each other. It was very descriptive and I was able to form a vivid picture in my mind.

I enjoyed the interaction between Spike/Angel and Buffy. There were many comments shared between the gang that I felt I could imagine them saying and such.

I look forward to more books like these. I heard there is gonna be one with Riley, Sam (his wife) and Angel. I look forward to that one.

Because of Monster Island, I picked up the Unseen Triology. I look forward to it!

this book starts out with someone killing half-breed demons in sunnydale. when buffy and the scooby gang investigate, they find out that a pure bred demon plans to get rid of all half breeds and his next stop is los angeles. while buffy and crew get ready to track the demons to l, angel is visited by none other than the leader who has a death wish for angel. this book brings together the crew of both television shows and does a beautiful job of it. it also shows diffrent sides of the beloved characters that we have grown to love over the past 7 years and i think that any buffy and angel fan should run to the bookstore and pick this one up. it does drag in a couple of spots but it is definitely worth the money.

This book is very well illustrated and written. It is the story of a spoiled cat that runs away because its owners bring a new puppy in to the house... We read a lot of children's books,and while this may never become a classic; it is well priced and well presented, which is more than I can say for many of the childrens books we now own.

I LOVE this book! I read it a couple of times in stores and laughed every time. I picked it up because of the cute Golden Retriever on the cover. (I have a dog like that) But it was the hilarious story telling from a cat's point of view that really made me laugh. I finally gave in and bought my very own copy to read to My Big Dog.

I use this book with my middle school students to show VOICE in writing(from Six Traits Writing). It's a great model for personification also. The kids love the book, even though it's not for the reading age.

This is the book to read if you want to taste medieval Chinese culture: Salty love poetry, sweet wickedness, sour decadence, bitter philosophy, oily sex, all rolled up in a ginger and garlic spiced, fleshy bun. Roy lets you savor all the ingredients and, with a healthy sprinkling of notes, let's you peruse the cornucopia that inspired the recipes. Bon apetit for this first course of five.

David Tod Roy has done Chinese literature proud by producing a scrupulously exact translation of this classic in Chinese erotica. Like what a previous reviewer says, it is "clear and precise", bringing out the naturalistic details of the novel fully to the reader; yet, for all its accuracy, it reads exceptionally well. For introduction, Roy has written a well-argued essay on why Jin-Ping Mei should be read as didactic literature, not as mere erotica, as it has for centuries. Jin-Ping-Mei's checkered history in Chinese literature doesn't disguise the fact that it is a very well written (and detailed) account of the rise and fall of an extended household, made obvious by corruption and its list of licentious dealings (both in Ximen Qing and his harem).

David Tod Roy's translation of the classic 16th century Chin P'ing Mei is awesome and right on the money. The story leaps off the pages - this is how this famous vernacular Chinese novel was meant to be read! Every element of the story is clear and concise in Roy's translation, allowing the reader to enjoy the plot and the fascinating characters.

To briefly discuss the storyline, Chin P'ing Mei is a "spin off" from the classic Chinese novel Outlaws of the Marsh, and focuses on the trials and tribulations of the conniving seductress Pan Chin-lien and the new life she leads after murdering her husband. Some scholars of Chinese traditional literature will not like this allusion, but the story reads like a modern-day soap opera. The characters are lusty and scheming, and the general climate is electric. The general plot follows the intricate daily triumphs and frustrations of Hsi-Men Ching and his 'harem" of six wives and concubines (among them Pan Chin-lien). The story is rife with inter-household competition, infidelity, corruption, domestic abuse and eroticism. Characters are well developed, and the scenery is vivid. It provides a fascinating glimpse into the lives of the merchant class in 16th century China. It is easy to see how this novel has captured audiences for 400 years - and David Tod Roy's excellent translation will no doubt help it to endure for many more years to come.

I like Christopher Golden's pace and style. His characters (except for the professor and her roommate)are solid and his descriptions are realistic. There are some weaknesses to the plot of this thriller,though. One is his treatment of the laitmotif. Although Golden did research on cults and rituals,he mixes them up and his confusion is noticeable. His concept of transmigration of the soul is too superficial. Explanations of the killer's motifs are very sketchy,caricaturesque at best. Then it's the unexpected twist he gives to the end. Not too convincing. It leaves you hanging, less surprised than annoyed at the mediocre resolution. I still recommend the book for aspiring writers to keep a open eye on what works and what doesn't in literature.

Another set of weird murders have hit Somerset. In each of the crime scenes, the killer leaves obvious markings that have to do with ancient rituals. M.E. assistant Jenna Blake helps police solve this new puzzle. Can she piece together clues and imformation from her research in time to identify and find the killer before the killer finds another victim?
There are many twist and turns thourghout this book, but it all eventually comes together and the ending makes sense. The discriptions are clear and vivid and they bring us back to the reality of murders. It starts with a bang and leaves you hanging at the end of every chapter. I've always liked how Chistopher Golden depicts his charaters and their thoughts and opinions. At the moment I can't think of anything bad about the book. I enjoyed reading this book. It is a nice edition to the "A Body of Evidence" series. I recomand it to anyone who has enjoyed any of the previous books in this series and anyone who just likes a good mystery.

A series of weird murders have accured in Somerset. All of which involved ancient rituals. Just what does this killer have in mind? M.E. asistant Jenna Blake helps police again with this new puzzle. Through her reasearch she must piece together clues and find the killer in time before he or she finds another victim.
The book was very intriguing and suspenseful. It has nice descriptions that bring you back to the reality of murders. The ending is unexpected, but it all fits together and makes sense. The charaters and their thoughts are portrayed nicely.There isn't anything I can think of that I didn't like in the book. This book is a nice edition to the Body of Evidence series. For anyone who has enjoyed the previous Body of Evidence books or just enjoys mysteries, this would be a good book to read.