Having been an outreach worker for roughly six years, I found this book to be surprisingly well written. Too often, books tackling this subject present mere caracatures of the people it talks about, vieweing the subjects more as data or political process than real human beings.

This book presents many different points of views and differing types of outreach workers and the people they seek to help. The homeless are not condescended to nor are the outreach workers glamorized. It is quite factual and quite objective.

I saw myself in some of the types and picked up excellent little reminders about the whole homeless issue and those whose lives it affects. If you are looking for a bit more of the 'human' connection of those who are on the front lines (as opposed to the theorists, the politicians, the directors and others removed from the field), this is a great book toward that end.

"Rowe provides a rich picture not only of a particular group of homeless people, but also of the complicated interactions between the marginalized and those who try to help them." -MDSQ Book News

The preceding reviews and comments were presented to the author with permission from: 1. Deirdre Oakley, Psychiatric Services and 2. Cynthia Karlton, Journal of Addiction and Mental Health.

Jimmy Dolan was thirty years old when he returned to his Connecticut hometown in search of the driver who killed his father in a hit-and-run accident. There he also finds himself confronted with dark secrets from his own past and is caught up in a web of guilt, betrayal and revenge. The Road To The Island is a complex and enthusiastically recommended novel showcasing a human drama that is superbly crafted and absolutely riveting. Author Tom Hazuka demonstrates a genuine talent capable of evoking strong emotional responses in the mind of his reader. Also highly recommended is Tom Hazuka's novel, In The City Of The Disappeared (1882593316, ...).

Tom Hazuka shows his readers that contemporary writing hasn't become a wasteland for words and self-absorbed babbling. As far as unreliable narrators go, Jimmy Dolan is the best. One of my favorite things about the book is that it has a John Irving-esque way of connecting seemingly unrelated events. Dr. Tom Hazuka is an excellent writer. If you don't purchase this book, you are making a terrible mistake. Read review of this book in the Chestnut Hill Local newspaper, November 26, 1998.

This novel was excellent reading. It captivated me as a female reader. To see that a man can be so sensitive and is able to view family dynamics in such a sensitive manner is commendable. The author's work is as well imaginative. The fictional characters' personalities have great depth. The author's introspection into all of the personalities is powerful. It is a must-read novel.

A selection of recommended inns, delightful restaurants, resorts, festivals, the best places to stroll together under the stars or have a secluded champagne picnic - the most romantic places. This book visits special spots in in Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Vermont. Each place has been carefully selected, making sure that it offers something special - in-room fireplaces, four-poster beds, Jacuzzis, enchanting gardens, five-star cuisine.

"... a great pleasure to read, even if you're not looking for a place to stay. You can feel the authors were bent on romance... not just filling up the book. Accommodations are described in charming detail, also meals, with the occasional recipe. If you contemplate a getaway in new England, this is the book to take along." Travel Writer Marketletter

"[The] captivating prose invokes the spirit and visual appeal of the places described. [The book] provides perfect fodder for couples [and is] an indispensable planning assistant." About.com

I first became acquainted with the work of essayist Willem Lange through his appearances on the Vermont Public Television program "RFD," which normally ends its weekly broadcast with a piece by this wordsmith. The essays in this charming little book are culled from other writings and are perfect examples of Mr. Lange's style. With a minimum of very well chosen words, Mr. Lange paints a detailed picture of people, places, and events and wraps us in his love for all. There are some very heart-felt expressions here: A Letter to a newborn grandchild; A sudden understanding of his wife's life-long torment; An appreciation of past leadership provided by a mentor. In all, there are 18 tiny gems here, none longer than four pages, but the scope of their sentiment is unending. This is a book to treasure and read over and over again. If only it were longer.

Mr. Lange's stories of life in New England awake memories of the reader's own experiences that transcend any geographical boundaries. In this collection of essays, Willem Lange celebrates the experiences of everyday life in New England with humor and honesty that connects with readers in every corner of the land.

This thin book delivers powerful images of how New England was and strives to remain. Short essays cover typical events and personalities, most often humorous, always interesting. A great way to discover why we think there's no other place to live.

I read a review of "The Nearly Departed" in the Ridgefield Press, which I still have delivered to my new address in another state. The review had me laughing so hard, I decided that I simply had to get this book. Having spent 23 years in Ridgefield, CT was a plus as I could picture so many scenes as described and these are NOT things one would see in Ridgefield! Perhaps one would see people going down a Main Street in pink foam curlers elsewhere, but certainly not there. Now that that is in perspective, Brenda Cullerton has a wit that will get you laughing out loud, but the book is so much deeper than one might first think. I realize that the average family is dysfunctional to a degree. Unfortunately for Brenda, her family seemed to encompass every dysfunctional element known to man! Hopefully in writing this book, she was able to come to terms with issues in her life; I know that in reading it, she helped me to both understand and come to terms with some things in mine. Thank you Brenda, for both a terrific laugh and a learning experience.

Uh-uh. Brenda Cullerton's family makes everyone else's look like The Cleavers in the 50s. Always strange, eccentric, and downright dippy, the eclectic blend of people she calls 'family' descends to purely outrageous behavior as they age. Cullerton, who escaped the craziness early on to try to build her own life, finds it necessary to return to help care for them as they dwindle in death's inevitable direction. What she finds defies belief and has the neighborhood association in full battle stance.
Both hilarious and heartbreaking (sometimes we're not sure if we're laughing AT her or WITH her), Nearly Departed is an offering of love and a measure of belated understanding to her parents, however strange they may be.

Make sure you pick up this book when you are able to cut a large swath of time from your busy day, because once you start to read Ms. Cullerton's tome, good luck putting it down. Her incisive revelations of her family in specific and familial relationships in general will make you both howl with laughter and send you back into therapy.Yikes, talk about your double-edged sword. Well, how does the saying go: Nobody will ever love you like your mother; thank God. So, go, buy it, enjoy. I'll just sit here in the dark.

Other than being tall, dark and handsome, Matt was not typical hero one would find in a romance book. He is handsome but limping and scarred, comfortable but not rich as his household had no servants and they all had to work in the fields, widowed and with 2 sons, not very chivalous or gentlemanly. Caroline was beautiful and brave, but she was also a cook, housekeeper and nurse to the household of 6 hostile and distrustful males, doing almost a maid would do and more. Matt was Caroline's brother-in-law and her sister, Elizabeth, had caused enough damage to the family for them to trust anyone related to her. Both had a past that hurt them and not entirely healed from it.

These were unusual background to develop a romantic story. It was refreshing from those rich and powerful hero, smart and brave but helpless heroine. This was no fairytale. But the author managed to weave a story with strong character development. It was more than a love story, more a family story.

Sometime I found the story a tart too slow but the unfolding events were necessary to develop the story and characters: Matt's injury and subsequent recovery under Caroline's care helped to dispell distrust, ignite passions and reveal secrets; Daniel's kiss awakened the feelings, Caroline's kidnap and rescue provided the much needed solitude and privacy for them; and the rescue of Caroline from the fire. Almost all characters emerged stronger and closer from these events.

You will want to read this one over and over again. Why has no one brought to light the wonderful characters in this book -- Are there follow-ups?

First we meet the brother Daniel [are these really Puritans?] and then through the entanglement of Millicent and Raleigh [cat and dog would you believe]and the threatening presence of Jacob [the bull] Ephraim "Matt" Mathiason, his two sons John and David and the nasty dominie. His brothers Thomas, Robert and James and his wife Mary and daughter Hope.

[Listen to this description of Matt] ** He was a tall man, taller even than Daniel, with broad shoulders and a wide chest that tapered down to narrow hips and long, powerful legs. ** He was hatless, and his hair was so black that it glinted blue in the bright sunlight. * * He limped, his left leg, apparently unable to bend at the knee, swung ackwardly as he moved. **
His features could have graced a classical statue; his jaw and cheekbones had been chiseled by a master hand.** His eyes were deep set beneath straight, thick black brows. The irises were a brilliant celestial blue, their lightness almost shocking against the sun-weathered swarthiness of his skin. The only note of disharmony was the scar, white and jagged, that sliced across his left cheek. ****
Caroline's description is just as tantalizing. Both have been scarred by life and must make a strong emotional journey to each other to complete their family.
Caroline being Matt's sister-in-law and Matt being soured on marriage cause many problems as Matt tries to control his growing lust for her. [His one besetting sin]

We fell in love with his family and his interaction with his sons, appreciating his deep love for his brothers and his healing brought about by the sass and impishness of Caroline.
And his handling of the villians of the community with tact? and strength of character.

Highly Recommended and rates a rare 5 plus for excellence and is definitely a keeper for our library.

favorite scene with caroline-
the burning of the witch. frightening.

favorite scene with matt-
the whole scene with hannah, the apple pie and the bed.

favorite scene with caroline and matt together-
the whole love cave scene. pretty hot. :)

OKay, I admit it. I have a problem.
The real reason I read books like this one is that I am constantly searching for something that will bring to life my old crush on an Economics teacher of mine. I have come to consider myself a connoisseur of the teacher-student love story.

The prognosis of Flanders Point?
It is the BEST teacher-student love story I have ever had the pleasure of reading. The breakdown in the tension does take a long time in coming, but when it does... ah. It's worth it. Brian is well likable. We identify with Charlotte. And Gordon handles each side of the story with grace and reason in a sometimes dark and unreasonable cliche of a storyline.

Simply put, I loved it. I've read other teacher-student stories like it, "Innocents" by Cathy Coote, "A Kiss Remembered" by Sandra Brown, "Treacherous Love" by Beatrice Sparks, "Pure" by Rebecca Ray. But they just don't create the same emotional attachment to the characters that Gordon has accomplished with Flanders Point.
Check it out, Buy it, Just get your hands on it!!!

From the very beginning, I couldn't put this book down. When I wasn't reading it, I just seemed to keep thinking about the characters and the story. Jacquie Gordon paints a glorious picture of a forbidden relationship. This is a definite must-read if you're in the mood for a sentimentle, beautiful love story!

Jacquie Gordon has drawn an exquisitely detailed and joyful portrait of the relationship between a precocious teenager and her young teacher. The growing tension between them, set against a backdrop of life in a 1950s private school, will keep you glued to its pages way past your bedtime. I adored Ms. Gordon's sensitive biography, Give Me One Wish, of her daughter Christine and am delighted to find this wonderful fictional debut is just as fascinating.

Dr Bentivegna has written an at-times hilarious and topical, but also frightening and compelling page-turner about greed, political shenanigans, medical malfeasance and the class system in "Lords of Greenwich." The book propels you into the byzantine political realities of Connecticut state politics, the gaming (jai-alai) industry, a fall from grace, and the consequences of greed, from the angle of a physician. A remarkable cast of characters are fleshed out, and at the same time, clever thoughts and ideas are scattered throughout the book to keep you laughing and guessing at how a down-on-his luck mechanic could win at gambling on games of jai-alai. The only thing that made this book not reach five stars was a less than credible resolution to the whole story, which required a fair amount of medical legerdemain to explicate to the non-subspecialist in corneal surgery the unbelievable (but almost possible) way the scam worked. Notwithstanding that, it was still a real good read.

The Lords of Greenwich is one of the best books that I have read in many years. It is an exciting, fast-paced novel that delves into the dark connections among the worlds of sports, politics, and medicine. Extremely well written, alternately gripping and hilarious. Do yourself a favor and read this book!

The Lords of Greenwich is a twofer - both a delightful political novel and a fascinating mystery. Despite the fact that the book is presented as a mystery, I found the political novel to be every bit as compelling as the mystery storyline.

Dr. Bentivegna's insider knowledge of electoral politics gives a realistic edge to his accounts of the behind-the-scenes machinations of campaign managers. (Warning for those who think politics is a noble endeavor: This novel is bound to depress you.) The tale of a gubernatorial election in its last weeks is compelling. The on-the-money characterizations of the people who interact within a campaign framework are by turns humorous and caustic, giving one the sense that they spring from reality.

Parallel to the political novel is a well-crafted mystery. How did the gambling scam work? Who killed the ring-leader, and how did he die? When would the world of politics intersect with the world of thuggery? All these questions keep the reader turning pages until the very end of an eminently satisfying first novel. Do it again, Doc!

Tom's adventures were exciting because he does a lot of things he shouldn't do. For instance, he gets lost in a cave with his girlfriend Becky and risks his life for her. He tricks his Aunt Polly into forgiving him and so he ends up not getting the punishment he deserves. Tom witnesses a terrible murder with one of his best friends, Huckleberry Finn. I think this book is one of the most frightening, mysterious and exciting books I've ever read.

The four stories combined here are, if not Mark Twain's best work, then certainly his most well known and celebrated. The first two, "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer", and "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" have been engrained into popular American culture, and there aren't too many people who haven't read of, or heard of, these characters. "The Prince and the Pauper", and "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" also have been celebrated, though not as widely as the first two, and certainly not immortalized like Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn.

"The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" is based on Twain's own childhood experiences living in Hannibal, MO., a small town along the Mississippi River. Much of What Twain wrote about centered around his own life; and in "Tom Sawyer" Twain uses real life experiences and people he was familiar with. Tom Sawyer is based on himself, and several of his freinds; Huck Finn is based on Tom Blankenship, son of Hannibal's town drunk; Becky Thatcher is based on Laura Hawkins, Twain's childhood sweetheart; Aunt Polly is based on Twain's mother; sid is based on his younger brother Henry; and Injun Joe is based on a man, half indian, who lived in Hannibal.
"Tom Sawyer" is Twain's way of reliving a time in his life he so enjoyed, and an era he was painfully aware was fastly disappearing. Interestingly enough, when "Tom Sawyer" was first published in 1874, it was something of a failure, and initially did not catch on with American readers. It's hard to believe that now, knowing of it's emense popularity; and the countless Tom Sawyer movies that have been made, although none really come close to matching the story itself.

"The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" has been praised as much as it has been condemned. The story of a white boy escaping the vindictiveness of his father and the smothering of "civilization", who inadvertantly must also confront the brutality of slavery at the same time.
Twain originally began this story merely as another adventure, similar to "Tom sawyer". However, he soon realized it would not be written in the same innocent style. Indeed, the story begins that way; yet when Huck and Jim pass Cairo, IL., the city along the Mississippi River famous for being connected with the underground railroad, Twain puts down the manuscript for several years, and has thoughts of even burning it.
It took ten years, and many exasperating rewrites, and many looming, internal questions and struggles, but in 1886 "Huck Finn was finally published. It was not initially well received. Twain went on a tour to promote his book; that, and the calls to ban "Huck finn" helped to generate interest, and sales began to pick up. Over one hundred years later, "Huck Finn" still has its detractors; however, it has survived and become one of America's true classics, taught and studied in schools, and fiercely debated in auditoriums.

"The Prince and the Pauper" was one of Twain's personal favorites; his daughters Susy and Clara's as well, which they begged him to read over and over again. The girls loved it so much Twain converted it into a play, which his daughters, and a friend acted out in the Twain household in Hartford, CT. for the residents, quite successfully. What the reader did not know until later was that "The Prince and the Pauper" was a subtle satire of England and english custom, which Twain loved to criticize.
This story takes place in early 16th century England, and recounts, as alleged by the author, "a tale as it was told to me by one who had it of his father, who latter had it of his father ... and so on".
Tom Canty is the pauper, born on the same day as the prince, Edward Tudor. Quite coincidentally, they both look alike. Tom was born to very poor parents; his father and grandmother loathed him, and as he grew older used him to pickpocket and steal for them.
Years go by and Tom grows into a young, intellectual boy who loves learning and studying. Still, one thing lacks; he wishes he could be royalty. The Prince has also grown, and soon will be crowned King of England. A title he despises. He hates the way he is being treated, and wishes he could be a commoner. As fate would have it, the two eventually meet and switch places. Both are very happy at first, until Edward realizes just how badly commoners are treated, and how badly Tom's father treats him. Meanwhile, the king is on his deathbed, and Tom is a nervous wreck, knowing he must find the real prince before he is crowned the new king. Suddenly the need to switch back is crucial, but neither boy can find each other to make the switch.
A long succession of events follows, much of which is written in Twain's own humorous style. And although the scenes in this story are similar to those in "Tom Sawyer", and often reflect early nineteenth century America, Twain still captures the flavor, however bitterly so, of english life under the rule of the Tudor family.

"A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" was written in an age when new mechanical inventions were sweeping the nation, and Twain used this new age in the story, combining it with his own fascination with the King Arthur legend.
The narrator, himself, is a gunsmith, and blacksmith, and very good at working with and creating mechanical wonders; it isn't until the end we learn his name.
An accident causes him to fall unconscious. When he awakes, he discovers he is no longer in Connecticut, but in sixth century England. He is taken prisoner and brought before King Arthur himself. Condemned to die, he uses his knowledge of mechanics to trick Arthur and the people into believing he is a magician. Merlin, jealous of the man and his power, sets out to disprove him. In the meanwhile, the yankee is busy at work by putting his knowledge of machines to good use, or so he attempts; though things do not go as well as hoped.
"A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" is another one of Twain's satires against England, and english customs; perhaps more bitterly written than "Prince and the Pauper".

As an author with my debut novel in its initial release, I recommend this collection of Mark Twain's works highly. Singularly, each of these books is a landmark in American literature. Collectively, they form the comprehensive "must-read" collection of one of the giants of American writing. If you could own just one book by Mark Twain, this one would be it.

Having spent a lot of time looking for information on imaginative & fun (and sometimes luxury) travel with kids, I can tell you that this is a really unique book. It is comprehensive, carefully researched and well written with loads of practical tips. Some 'travel with kids' books might as well just be bland advertising copy, this one really provides good editorial content, with positive and critical comments. It is a pleasure to read and we will use it for a long time. Fodor's should publish more of these for other parts of the US/world.

I loved this book and would recommend it to any family wanting to travel in the northeastern United States. The writers offer tips and reviews on places of interest, resorts, and campgrounds in a wide range of prices. In fact, we have visited some of those places and found a brand new vacation prospect in Lake George which we will be trying out this summer! Definitely one of the most informative travel books on the market today -- entertaining even if you do not go to these places.

I've been searching for a book like this for several years and haven't found one that fit the bill until now! I had a great time reading it - so well written - and got more useful information than I'll ever be able to use in one lifetime! Thanks so much to the writers and publishers!