lisa carver is a tremendous storyteller. this book is like having every issue of rollerderby inflated to be 300% larger than their normal sizes and put into one lovely book that can't be put down.

Lisa Carver, as a writer, makes it okay for us to embrace every part of ourselves. I think she is a better role model for teen girls that people like Brittney Spears could ever be. She understands herself, her sexuallity, and the world we live in (for the better and the worse). She takes the shame out of being poor, and encourages you to enjoy life. I could only call her inspirational.

I was late coming into touch with Lisa Carver. _Dancing Queen: A Lusty Look at the American Dream_ (Henry Holt) was published five years ago, and I didn't know it. I got to know her writing from her uninhibited diary entries at the fine adult site Nerve.com ('The Community of Thoughtful Hedonists'). So, I was glad to take a look into _Dancing Queen_ in order to understand the past of this peculiar woman. It is a slim volume of her essays on white trash, kissing, other ladies' bodies, and more. It is enormous fun. What's nice is that as different as Lisa is from anybody, she is happy and optimistic. 'I've done lots of stupid things, but I've enjoyed myself. _Dancing Queen_ is about _liking_ stuff. It's about how pleasing it can be to be poked and probed ' by the hairdresser, by the gynecologist, by killer bears, by the thirty-six-year-old ski instructress in _Princess Daisy_.' She is impatient with those who don't have fun; she cannot comprehend 'a whole essay by a woman who was upset that some men hooted at her, for instance. I _like_ to be hooted!' She gives us rants that certainly are self-indulgent, but you cannot expect anything different from someone who indulges herself with such lewdness, shamelessness, and fun.

Not only are her opinions odd, but it is obvious she enjoys getting them into words. In the chapter about her sensual enjoyment of a trip to the gynecologist ('It is the _illicit_ pleasure caused by _necessary_ procedures performed by _removed_ professionals that gets my temperature rising.'), she says that a certain kind of girl likes a visit to the gynecologist as much as Christmas: 'It only happens once a year and she gets lots of things she wants. She skips to the clinic while visions of speculums dance in her head.' She gushes over the ghost-written novels of perfect specimen Fabio ('He's always mentioning condoms in his pirate books') and informs us that 'They contain bold lines like:

1. 'I am a man of the sea.' 2. 'Go hide in the fields, woman.' 3. 'Mayhaps she thinks I am doing something bad.''

It was this sort of literature that fired her pre-adolescent fantasies: 'At twelve, I had as much sex drive as the entire U.S. Army and absolutely no idea what to do with it.' Not to worry; she has since learned. 'They sold me a roadmap to ecstasy covered in highways of trouble, and I couldn't wait to visit every site on the map.'

Lisa is hilarious when discussing just a trip to the hairdresser, or K-Mart, or Olivia Newton John, but the best chapter in the book is entitled 'An Iron Fist in a Polyester Glove: Lawrence Welk.' What is he doing here? Well, when Lisa was little, 'To me, the constant, ultra-close-ups of moist-lipped, moist-eyed, soft-bosomed lady singers lined up side by side in matching outfits like chickens to be plucked were an open call to perversion.' She has since made an extensive study of Lawrence's several autobiographies, where she must have learned that he originally picked up an accordion and set out to conquer the world, as Lawrence Welk & His Hotsy Totsy Boys. While she doesn't gloss over Lawrence's famous temper, she finds, surprisingly, a kindred spirit, someone who had a dream: 'extreme close ups of _nice_ people singing nice songs and dancing anachronistic dances against insanely cheerful backdrops. It's a beautiful dream!'

This isn't for everyone. Lisa is frank, naughty, and lustful. She throws sexual fantasies in even when discussing a sequence of post-Glasnost Russian leaders. If you like smart people who write enthusiastically well, and if you appreciate that to be peculiar is also to be interesting, this is certainly worth a look. Oh, and hot off the Lisa Diaries on Nerve.com: Lisa is trying to get pregnant again. That kid is going to have plenty to think about.

This is an amazing book that will teach your children to have confidence in themselves... and make them laugh at the same time. It also has an underlying message stressing the importance of our environment. I truly believe that every child should have this book.

This book has been a personal favorite ever since I can remember. I make sure to read it to any child that visits my house. My affinity to the material and the subtile presentation of the importance of being an individual was a clear indication of my political orientation from a very early age. I'm so glad that I can now get copies for the next generation to take home and cherish.

I have seen the cartoon,but I haven't seen the book yet

If you are looking for slapstick humor or short "sound-bite" quotations, then perhaps you should look to some of Oscar Wilde's other works--but if you are looking for subtle wit and excellence in exposition, then you have found just the book. These Dover Thrift editions allow one to inexpensively read, annotate and travel with Oscar, when you might be leaving the big collected works at home. Real value for the dollar, and "The Ballad of Reading Goal" is some of the best writing in the English Language.

Oscar Wilde was not a person who was likely to take being put into prison lightly. Those who know the full extent of Wilde's wit ought to see how bitterly it was able to express itself, when getting locked up for enjoying inappropriate pleasures of the mind results in this, the reflection that "every prison that men build is built with bricks of shame." (p. 40) Although it is included in a small book, the poem in the title might seem to go on forever, as it hardly ends when Wilde gets to the last line, "The brave man with a sword !"

This is a must have for any fan of Irish Literature

William Henry Hudson's novel Green Mansions is an exotic romance that takes place in the South American rainforest. The novel is written from the perspective of Abel, a young man who had to leave the city he was living in for political reasons. During his time in the rainforest he meets Rima, who he describes as a bird-like girl, and her grandfather Nuflo. Despite these two, Abel mainly interacts with the Indians with whom he was living before he met Rima and Nuflo. The Indians are mostly referred to as savages.
Green Mansions mainly focuses on the intimation of love and death, and the romanticism of nature versus the disturbing influences of civilization. However, Abel does not see any living creature during his stay in the rainforest as equal to him. He thinks of himself as superior to the Indians, Nuflo, and to Rima as well. He bases his sense of superiority on a better education, a greater intelligence, as well as a better physical condition. This sense of superiority is kept throughout the novel. However, his arrogance is one way to deal with his insecurity about many situations. Abel only seems to feel secure if he sees himself as superior to everybody else. This is the reason why he defines superiority based on the situation. Sometimes superiority is referred to as greater intelligence and in other cases as physical superiority. The way he uses superiority depends on the way it is easier for him to define himself as superior.

I first read this when I was 13 or 14 and never forgot the story. I just reread it 40 years later while vacationing in Central America, the perfect place for a tale of the rain forest. The language is exquisite - not a quick read, for I wanted to absorb the beauty of the descriptions and details. I recommend this to anyone with an interest in nature, for it is not only a wonderful love story, but also a vivid description of the Venezuelan rain forest and its indigenous people.

Those of you who have read Rand Johnson's "Arcadia Falls - A Fable" will find interesting parallels here, albeit in a Victorian idiom, as Hudson presents a moving and mysterious romance against a backdrop of great natural beauty, in this case the South American jungle.

What can I say? It's Benjamin Franklin! One of our beloved American forefathers with so much wisdom, it applies to not only our fellow Americans, but to the worldly human race. This compilation is full of tidbits from his "Poor Richard's Almanac" columns written for the hungry wisdom and logical seeking people back in early America. This is a timeless collection of suggestions and instructions that make perfect SENSE. Buy this and learn about YOUR life and how to make life better for not only yourself, but the others around you.

A wonderful book of sayings that espouse Ben Franklin's views on life. In general, he was an advocate of honesty, hard work, moderation in all indulgences, and being a good person. While these may sound like simple principles, the wittiness and cleverness with which they are presented make them memorable and therefore useful.

Buy two copies of this book -- one for yourself and one for your child when they reach their teenage years. You'll both be better off. My copy is marked up so I can easily find my favorite sayings, and I find myself flipping through it often.

Anyone, whom has any ounce of education, common sense or wit for that matter, should know that Benjamin Franklin should be and is still (even as I write this very moment) considered one of the smartest, wittiest and most cerebral person/scholar/learned man to have live in (or have been born for that matter) in this country. Poor Richards Almanack by Benjamin Franklin is not an exception and is filled with a plethora of witty, funny and educational allegories, poems and short parables, e.g., "Fish and visitors stink after three days". I absolutely loved this book and would definitely recommend it to the aspiring scholar/learned man or philosopher; and I do consider it, i.e., Poor Richards Almanack by Benjamin Franklin to be one of the cornerstones in the intellectual man's library.

Sherwood's ghost and his readers may not like the ugly pullet on the cover, but inside is a collection of wonderful writing and story-telling. If you write fiction, read it and learn.

Read "I'm a Fool" and see if Salinger was really so innovative after all.

Anytime we get a chance to read something by one of Hemingway and Faulkner's mentors, it's bound to be a unique treat, but this book will surprise you if you haven't read Anderson before. His delicate use of pathos and delicious sense of humor feel so contemporary. We Loved "The Egg" especially as it seemed to capture the American entreprenurial spirit and its often discouraging results with an especially humorous irony. Faulkner was right--short stories require more of a writer, as every word must forward the author's intent, and Anderson's success here proves that, like Hemingway, he may have been a better short story writer than novelist.

I love reading short stories, and I think this is the best collection of stories I've ever read. I hope I get these titles right: I think especially notable are A Death In The Woods, The Corn Planting, Brother Death, The Other Woman, and The Masterpiece. There's not a bad story in here, and there are like 30 stories. I find Anderson's simple prose to be enchanting. His characterization is his strongest point; eighty years ago, he wrote characters to whom I can relate and understand today.

As a stained glass artisan for over 15 years and an instructor in the copper foil method for four years, I feel this is one of the best pattern books available for those interested in historically accurate 19th and 20th century stained glass patterns/designs. There is something for everyone, from basic patterns suitable for beginners to very intricate designs for the more advanced artist. Even if you prefer to design your own windows, this is still an excellent reference source. Like all the stained glass pattern books published by Dover, this one offers a lot of wonderful patterns for very little money.

Of all the 300+ stained glass and lead light books in a club library that I manage, this is the most sought after. A very valuable purchase.

As a stained glass enthusiast and renovator of historic homes, I'm putting this book at the top of my favorites list.

Unlike so many stained glass pattern books that modernize patterns, the beautiful and varied patterns in this book are rendered directly from historic homes. The patterns are organized into five sections: Art Nouveau, Victorian Geometric, Victorian Floral, Edwardian and The Twenties.

All patterns were gleaned from homes in a fairly localized area of England, and they are slightly limited in their regionalism -- the Victorian patterns, in particular, are definitely English Victorian, which sometimes varies widely from what I'm used to here in the U.S. Nonetheless, there are patterns for all tastes and all skill levels, most of which lend themselves more properly to lead came than copper foil.

All patterns are for windows, doors, sidelights and the like. There are no craft, lamp or jewelry projects included in the book.

I bought 30 copies of this book several years ago and they are now a regular part of our Christmas holiday. They have carolled around many neighborhoods. Great for groups caroling or just singing around the piano. It has lyrics only (alas), but for the price, this little 64-page book can be indispensable if you're putting a group sing together.

Fits all of my criteria for this type of book. It has the words, it is easy to read, it is cute and easy to hold. Oh, and the most important thing....it is inexpensive! The only thing missing from this little ditty are the musical notes (not that I could read them or hit them).

Shipping is a bit high for such a small and lightweight little gem so be sure to look at that part of your cart when you check out.

I needed a book with popular Christmas songs so that when I had my party for Christmas and pre-Christmas so that everybody (a small gathering) could read and we could sing the carols that we know the tunes too. The problem was either they wouldn't get here by Christmas or they didn't exist so after searching I lost hope but the next time I logged on to Amazon.com I looked at my book reccommndations and there was at number one position a book on sale and it was a Christmas Carol book. I could not belive that such a book was so cheep and could be delivered but I had no other hope so I bout the neccissary copies (VERY CHEEP) and it got here on the 21st I looked in it and there was exactly what I was looking for and it was so cheep.

I definatley reccommend this book to anyone who wants to sing Christmas songs or has get togethers before or during Christmas becuase this definatly was a a very cheep lifesaver and I would have paid more and this bood has every song you could want and more. I give this book five stars out of five.

5/5

Recently I needed a new company logo for my Real Estate firm. After recieving several different logos from various advertising firms I happened to glance thru this book and found just the perfect logo I was looking for. I use it everyday. It was then I made a fatal error and lent it out to someone and they lost it. I called the publisher of the book who in turn led me to Amazon.com. What a life saver! I typed in the book # in the search engine and it immediately popped up. I strongly suggest this book as well as Amazon.com

This inexpensive book and CD-rom does exactly what it says it will do which is produce great decorative letters. You can choose from approximately 25 styles of each letter in the alphabet.The images are easy to reference and are perfect for direct cut-and-paste. I'm not real great at deciphering most cd instructions but this is very simple. I wish more companys would take the hint. Simplicity is good.

I found this fun and easy to use! There is considerable variation in the letters, and I had no trouble finding uses for them, and expect I will find more in the future. It is inexpensive and hassle-free. I would recommend it!

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) was one of the most noteworthy poets of the 19th century United States. "Favorite Poems" brings together selections from about 40 years' worth of his career. While some of the poems seem very dated -- due to their sentimentality and conventional structure -- the best of these poems remain rewarding and enjoyable.

The focus in this collection is on Longfellow's shorter poems. So his long poems "The Song of Hiawatha" and "Evangeline" are not included, and not even excerpted. But the volume does contain many of his most memorable pieces: "The Wreck of the Hesperus," "The Village Blacksmith," etc.

The longest poem in the collection is "The Courtship of Miles Standish," a mini-epic of more than 30 pages. "Courtship" is a fascinating poem about the colonial era Puritans, and offers a fascinating perspective on gender relations, race, religion, and other aspects of Puritan culture. "Courtship" makes for an interesting companion text for both actual Puritan era writings (like Mary Rowlandson's captivity narrative) and later literary works about that era (like Arthur Miller's play "The Crucible").

Another noteworthy poem is "The Slave's Dream," a somewhat romantic, but sympathetic view of an enslaved African-American. Also included is "Paul Revere's Ride," a wonderfully musical poem that, like "The Courtship of Miles Standish," looks back at American history. "Paul Revere's Ride" has a particularly impressive rhyme scheme to complement Longfellow's masterful use of meter. Yes, some of Longfellow's work may not seem very relevant to contemporary audiences. But "Favorite Poems" contains much that remains vital, and deserves a continuing readership both in and out of schools.

"Working in these walls of time,
Some with massive deeds and great,
Some with Ornaments of Rhyme"

These are the lines of the first verse of a powerfully written poem "The Builders" which, to me, seems to be about living a moral, honorable life on which to build a future for all of society. Such powerfull and truthfull words to live by.

On a whim, I recently pulled this book from my bookshelf to read(I have a copy in 'The Classic collectors edition' which I like mostly because it's prety decoration for my bookshelves. As a child I learned "Paul Revere's Ride" in school, but never learned the full depth of Longfellow's works. So refreshing are the realistic moralism of yesteryear, from a time when a persons works and deeds counted for something.

I was captivated by the brutality of "The Saga of king Olaf" as it recounted the brutal nordic kings' religious conquest of Scandanavia. "Hiawatha's Song" swept me up into a tale of beauty of a time lost. The poetry of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is writen with a beauty and elegance and even excitement which conveys thier meaning in stunning clarity. As I read "Paul Revere's Ride" for the first time in over a decade I found myself speaking in the rythm of the hoofbeats of that steed Paul Revere rode.

These historic poems are truly great, and should be read and cherished by all.

This slim paperback book from Dover Thrift Editions is an excellent starting place for those who are not familiar with the poetic works of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. It's inexpensive, a quick read (at only 84 pages), and contains much of Longfellow's most popular poems, plus some selected prose as well as a few more obscure works. Longfellow (1807-1882) was an absolute master of rhyme, meter, and the the actual SOUND of words, and he wrote with a strong sense of morality and ethics (one reason that he is gererally disregarded by modern poetry snobs, but loved by his faithful readers!). All in all, if you want to explore the poetic mind of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow for the first time, you can't go wrong with this book! Check out his masterful choice of words and imagery in poems like "The Christmas Bells", "The Slave's Dream", "Hymn to the Night", "A Psalm of Life", "The Building of the Ship", "The Reaper and the Flowers", "Excelsior", etc., etc., etc. Longfellow enthusiasts looking for a more complete or scholarly volume should check into some of the other Longfellow books offered on Amazon, particularly "The Complete Poetical Works of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow", although I found "Complete's" small print, (in columns, like most modern Bibles) to be a bit rough on the eyes....Either way, explore this excellent master of rhyme!