All our old elusive friends from English Class -- Psychological Depth, Moral Complexity, Wit (sparkling of course), Astute Observation, Lucidity and Grace -- are evident in these fine tales of women sliding into nuances of awareness they never sought and perhaps wouldn't have welcomed. Reminiscent of Cheever, yes; but also Chekhov and (at their very best) Ann Beattie and Alice Munro. Rather impressive stuff.

Like E. Annie Proulx, Charlotte Bacon's writing is fresh and compelling, sprinkled liberally with incandescent imagery. Like Cheever, seemingly small events, like a weekend in the country, a troubling discovery made by a daughter in her father's apartment, or a whale-watching trip, all mark tidal points in the lives of her characters. With nary a false note, this young writer carries us through the lives of men and women facing the end of marriage, the beginning of a pregnancy, the repercussions of the loss of a job on a wealthy family. Such grace and assured prose is rare in young writers, and I'm already waiting for her next. An excellent collection of stories (and prize-winning, too, if you check the book jacket).

Project-Based Learning with Young Children is obviously written by good teachers for good teachers. The book is well-organized and easy to read. It suggests ways of working with children that are very respectful of children and the learning process. The best parts of this book are the true-to-life stories of real children doing real work. Diffily and Sassman weave their own experiences working on projects with young children, as well as bringing in "voices" of other project-based learning teachers. I strongly recommend Project-Based Learning with Young Children to any K-1-2 teacher who is looking for authentic ways of teaching young children.

[...] Unbelievably, Diffily and Sassman have written the most concise and straight forward book for teachers who want a clear understanding of project based learning. This honest educational guide is written from real life classrooms. From the first day the children walk in your door, Project-Based Learning with Young Children lays the foundations for successful learning. The authors encourage teachers to start using projects a little at a time, building gradually to the long term experience. It's a rare nuts-and-bolts type of education book, with room for individual teacher innovation. Diffily and Sassman's love for children, teaching, and projects comes through every page. Skills, critical thinking, and assessment are all here. Project-Based Learning with Young Children is the most encouraging educational book I have read in years. My copy has pencil marks, sticky tabs, and notes written on every page. I have already begun integrating it into my school day with the small successes that make me want to continue to see how the children will continue to dazzle me. Treat your children, as well as yourself, to the rare learning pleasure with projects.

This book presents an interesting tale and lesson for those who do not adhere to the concept of "to thine own self be true." The novel is set in late Victorian-era (1890s) Ireland, alternating between Dublin and the countryside. The main characters are Anglo-Irish, ruling class, aristocracy and gentry, and the novel focuses upon their relationships to eachother, both real and perceived. The title character, Charlotte, is an unmarried, middle-aged woman who behaves differently with each person with whom she interacts. She is romantically interested in Mr Lambert, an old (and married) friend, and does much for him, including lending him money. She behaves another way with Sir and Lady Dysart, and with their son and heir Christopher (respectful, accommodating). She has far less patience and love for young, beautiful Francie Fitzpatrick, a distant relative who is sent to live with her when Francie's family falls upon hard times financially. She (quite rightly) perceives Francie as a threat, and treats her poorly from the moment Francie arrives at Charlotte's home. Charlotte is outright mean and cruel to servants, Lambert's wife (who is supposed to be a good friend), tenants, and anyone she ranks as below her socially.
Charlotte is not the only one who hides her true nature. Mr. Lambert married for the income his wife brought to the marriage, but pays no attention to her, obviously does not love her, and openly courts Francie and displays jealousy and anger when he notices the mutual attraction between Francie and a young British army officer. He acts respectful to Christopher Dysart's face, but privately despises him and talks about him behind his back. He uses Charlotte--borrowing money from her, being friendly with her (which Charlotte interprets to mean something more than mere friendship), yet privately acknowledges to himself and others that he is not attracted to Charlotte. He also embezzles money from his employer's estate to pay for his horses, drinking, and gifts to Francie, without so much as a single thought that what he is doing is not only morally wrong but is a crime!
Francie is perhaps the most honest of all of the characters in this Irish tragedy, but even she is not entirely honest, not to others nor to herself. I find it easier to excuse her because she is a teenager in a difficult situation, has extremely limited options, and acts accordingly. She is honest about her growing feelings of love for Gerald Hawkins, the British officer, but he does not reciprocate that honesty--he is engaged to another woman (who will bring money to the marriage) but does not tell Francie. When she learns about his fiancee and realizes that the love between them is not enough, she breaks off her relationship with Gerald. Francie also receives the attentions of the socially-challenged (shy) Christopher Dysart, but she turns down his marriage proposal. A huge fight with Charlotte ensues, and she returns to her family in Dublin.

After Lambert's wife (conveniently) dies, Lambert follows Francie to Dublin, and makes an offer for her (in marriage), even though she has no money. He is physically attracted to her youth and beauty, and she, seeking to escape the hopeless poverty she faced with her family in Dublin, marries him even though she does not love him. It is this marriage, which set Charlotte over the edge, and she seeks her revenge upon him in a manner true to the saying "hell hath no fury like a woman scorned."
This Irish tragedy could have been averted had all of the characters displayed greater moral turpitude and honesty with both themselves and with others in their lives. The novel presents an interesting glimpse into a society which places a value upon people relative to the class into which they are born, and illustrates how unhappy people are when they marry for money instead of love. The characters are dishonest because the society in which they live values and rewards dishonest behavior and superficial values. Physical appearance (beauty) is valued above integrity, love, kindness, etc. One of the reasons Lambert is so taken with Francie is because she is young and beautiful, even though they are not a good match. Francie receives most, if not all, of the male attention because of her physical appearance, and has a greater chance of marriage than Charlotte, who is not physically attractive.
The novel is well-written, the characters well-developed, and, even though I found none of them to have any redeeming characteristics, the story was compelling to the end. Highly recommended.

everything you hope for in a classic. complex characters, interesting plot, the story pulls you along and it makes you think. when you are finished you feel you have gained something.

I have alsways enjoyed spoofs obout Christmas, and this one had me laughing so hard that I cried. Prof. Peter Shandy did what I always wanted to do about December 23rd, when the pressures of this "giving season" are really getting to me. It is also a really good mystery with a plot, cleverly drawn characters and a satisfactor ending. I recommend it highly (especially in the third week of December).

If you like eccentric, crazy characters, and good mystery, this is a great book!

If you get you're hands on this one, as I did as a 13 year old at a thrift store for 10 cents, you'll never let go. Now 20 years later, the entries by these women mean many different things to me. I didn't understand Anais Nin, I do now. I understood Anne Frank, or I thought I did. Then there were all these other wonderfully written pieces by who, I didn't know....Sand, Dostoevsky, Carr, Wordsworth, Sand. I still draw off these women and their love, work, and power as the book is broken into those three parts. I still believe in the next twenty years I'll find something new, and the twenty years after that. I believe my 10 cents went a long way, and whatever monetary value it is worth to you, this is their words for us to keep forever.

I highly recommend Moffat and Painter's selection of diary and journal entries by a wide variety of women. They organize the excerpts according to themes related to love, work, and power. Well-known diarists one would expect to be here are, such as Virginia Woolf, Anne Frank, and Anaïs Nin. But some of the most striking are by women that are not well known, at least in America. Hannah Senesh, who did spying work for the early state of Israel; Carolina Maria de Jesus, a Brazilian who grew up in abject poverty; Martha Martin, who survived the ordeal of being stranded in Alaska and having to give birth by herself--these are a few of the extraordinary women in this book. Reading it is like sitting down with strangers who quickly end up friends--and since so many of them are writing because no one around them could listen, they pour out everything in their hearts and minds. The coeditors have a knack for selecting just the right sequence of entries, making the book more than the sum of its parts. Finally, Painter's afterward, titled "Psychic Bisexuality," caps the book with a thoughtful consideration of the significance of diary writing. Anyone who can appreciate self-expressive writing will profit by reading this book. Vintage is to be thanked for keeping it in print for so long.

Fred Ward is the author of the classic series on gems published in National Geographic magazine and this book displays similar quality. Meticulously researched, wonderfully photographed, it is a marvelous introduction to the subject.

Fred Ward has a clear and concise writing style. This book is comprehensive, despite it's slender size. It is stunningly illustrated, with fabulous photos of well-known, and ordinary, gemstones and objets d'art. A must for the fan of jewels and gemstones. I'm collecting all his books now.

This colorful busy book is a favorite with my 3-year-olds. Each page is a loosely-formed maze, where the children have to "start at the pink and orange coral," go "around the place where starfish dance," and so on until a toy is found at the end of each page. Every direction is accompanied by a picture (coral, starfish, etc.) - my 3-yr-old, who can't read a word, actually reads the book to me, making me follow the directions. He feels so proud telling everyone that he can read the book.

The book successfully combines reading and activity to keep children entertained over and over. They love whispering their way past the scary monsters in the last page to finally save Brave Ted. And if they get bored with just following the mazes, there are plenty of fun things to find in each page.

This book is a definite keeper, and I'm now looking for more by the same author!

CP books are real treasures-- wonderful, witty illustrations (by a variety of talented artists), funny, smart, never condescending. Each book involves the child on a number of levels, with puzzles (matching, mazes, searches, etc) that might even stump a parent or two... for awhile.

Kids go back to them again and again, so do yourself and your children--or someone else's children, a big favor and give all of CP 's books a try (though 'Save Brave Ted' is an absolute favorite of one adorable rugrat of my aquaintance, and then there's 'Captain Blood', and Clarence the Cat and those crazy spacemen from the planet ...)

Seducing the boss? Bianca Milne looks the part of the ambitious female executive, with her sleek, touch me not looks and her cool, controlled manner. But there's another Bianca underneath she never lets the business world see. Until she's assigned to buy out Matt Hearne's company.

Matt has heard rumors about Bianca, so how far will she go to clinch this deal? When he's called home to look after his little daughter, Bianca impulsively offers him her help, not anticipating that the enforced proximity will only ignite the smoldering physical attraction between them..

from back cover of book

This is a great romantic story and it felt like it was so real and true , I would recommend this to everyone, man or women and I could not put the book down!

The 1983 edition of this simple, attractive book--by one of the most respected authors of books for young children--is illustrated by Karen Gundersheimer. Her multi-colored drawings are reminiscent of those by the renowned illustrator, Maurice Sendak.

The idea that mother and child go together is reinforced several times throughout with phrases like: "Leaves with tree and you with me," or "Sand and sea and you with me," and concluding with, "Sky with blue AND ME WITH YOU!"

The small size of "Some Things Go Together," make it perfect for mother and child reading together, especially with preschool or kindergarten aged children.

In "Some Things Go Together" Ashley Wolff has taken a charming 30 year old story and added wonderful, colorful illustrations. The simple rhymns are wimsically pictured by Wolff - such as a mother sitting with her child reading or her colorful parade of clowns, dancing dogs and prancing horses! A book you will love to read to your child and your child will love to read!