When I made the discovery of Mrs. Adair's poetry by her first
volume Ants on the melon, I quickly turned to her third release Living on fire, only to find the high expectations set by that first installment to be confirmed. Virginia Hamilton Adair provides a wonderful celebration of the joys and tragedies of her life. She reflects on love in its many guises, music, old age, her own blindness, the Mojave, the Mississippi (or Nature in general), the transcience of things and DGA (her late husband Douglass Graybill Adair), once again with the wonderful clarity and directness which characterized Ants on the melon.

It's difficult to pick a favourite. But I certainly loved it how she makes fun of her Victorian fellow-poet Robert Browning and composer Eric Satie (her fine humour is never absent). Especially touching are her poems about love. And I think those about her blindness are heartwrenching, as well as the more darker poems in the DGA section. Though she's wonderfully tender and funny in the joyous poems which celebrate her love for her late husband.

Virginia Hamilton Adair indeed lives on fire and by her poetry she lights fires.

The third book by V. H. Adair is in the style of her first, 'Ants on the Melon'. The solar eclipse on the cover is evocative of the light verse of sheet music of the early 20th century , masking the alternative light and dark verse inside. The reader is drawn into the humorous couplings of guinea pigs, to be left viewing their corpses strewn along the street. The seduction continues in V. H. Adair's verse, and the reader is never disappointed.

cada uno de estos 10 errores...y no sabìa por què era tan desdichada... Ahora lo se, y te recomiendo que, si no te admiras a ti misma, descubras aqui la causa y lo enmiendes..
Un GRAN LIBRO !

that lets her husband beat her, order her around and humilliate her in front of stragers!
I hate that ! And I have beaten my "brother " in law twice!
Useless! Because Anita, my sister, even got mad at me...He had beaten her so badly that she had two broken ribs!
WE MUST PUSH OUR WOMEN TO LEARN SELF RESPECT AND DIGNITY...AND THIS IS THE BOOK !
It is not a book on agression, but on DIGNITY

I've just finished Lose Wheat, Lose Weight, and I found it a very well reasoned approach to weight loss. Once the authors make the reader aware of how much wheat pervades our daily diets, and how wheat is a top allergen, it seems only logical for those suffering from the symptoms of wheat intolerance to give going wheat-free a try. I found the nutritional information section of the book to be one of the best diet approaches I've ever read, and it certainly is a healthy one.
The only drawback of this book, for US readers, was that the recipe section was clearly written with a British audience in mind. The types of fish, which are recommended often throughout the menu suggestions, are those varieties more commonly found in Britain than in the US. However, substitutions can easily be made, and it is not imperative to follow the menus once you understand the concepts of the diet.
I whole heartedly recommend this book, and am planning on giving copies to some of my family members who could benefit from this information.

While the first chapter or two is off to a slow start and were not very elegantly written, the further I got into the book the better it got. The title of the book intrigued me because several people I know have gone wheat-free with great success, including weight loss, but I didn't understand the science behind it. I don't know if I am or am not wheat resistant, but the author pointed out how much wheat is in the average American diet. It's hard to have a balanced diet if we have wheat for breakfast (toast, bagels, pancakes), wheat for lunch (a sandwich or pizza), and wheat for dinner (pasta). In addition to reducing or eliminating wheat in the diet, the author then goes on to include much excellent weight-loss and nutritional advice. Based on the science presented, I'm definitely motivated to try the suggestion of going 4 months wheat-free before reintroducing wheat. There is a lot of helpful information here that I have not found elsewhere, including which highly nutritional foods to eat when feeling depressed rather than sugar-rich junk food. No one book is going to present everything there is to know about nutrition or losing weight successfully -- I also recommend "The 2001 Multi-Diet: Taming the Food Beast" and the "Real Age Diet" -- but this presents additional information I needed that I did not find in other books. It's not so hard to lose weight when one doesn't have food cravings and when one is eating a highly nutritious, satisfying diet!

Ms. Kittredge takes us into a world not often discussed, and brings out amazing discoveries, right before your eyes, in her own words and experiences. Her knowledge and wisdom is simply, yet, poignantly conveyed to the reader. It oft seems as though she is one on one with you. An excellent read, reference, and window into the soul of a loving and physical relationship.

A true standout in a crowded field, I would recommend this book to anyone seeking a safe and fun path to more rewarding sex.

I have always like irony, which probably explains why I like the "Road to Avonlea" series. "May the Best Man Win" is another example of how irony abounds in the town of Avonlea. Jasper Dale and Olivia King have been spending lots of time together, with the "Awkward Man" taking photographs to go with Olivia's newspaper articles. But just when it dawns on the pair that their feelings run much deeper than friendship, who should show up in town but Edwin Clark, who had courted Olivia ten years earlier before he was turned out of town by Hetty King. Edwin married a rich woman who has recently died and returns to Avonlea as a prize prospect. Well, this is what Hetty now thinks, especially since Jasper and Olivia are setting off sparks. Now Edwin Clark looks pretty good to Hetty, while Sara Stanley is absolutely horrified that all her matchmaking plans for her Aunt Olivia and friend Mr. Dale are about to come to naught. The only thing to do is for Sara to get a love potion from Peg Bowen, who warns her that love is a magic more powerful than anything she can cook up. At least Olivia King does not have to worry about being a spinster the rest of her life as she suddenly has not one but two marriage proposals.

The relationship between Olivia and Jasper is one of the best of the original plotlines they came up with for the "Avonlea" series. In "The Golden Road," Lucy Maud Montgomery's sequel to "The Story Girl" Sara's Aunt Olivia marries a doctor. But turning Jasper Dale into Olivia's true love was a masterstroke. There are also two excellent subplots to this story. The first involves Felix King's romantic future becoming mixed with Sara's attempts to save the day, while the second centers on Teddy Armstrong, a young boy who has stopped going to school after his mother died. The proof of the pudding in this sort of story is what catalyst the writer can come up with so that the eyes of the blind can be opened and the course of true love can go merrily on its way. This storybook is written by Gail Hamilton, based upon Grahame Woods original teleplay, and it is obviously to the latter that the credit goes for coming up with a believable and touching denouement.

"May the Best Man Win" is one of a series of Avonlea episodes in which former lovers both real ("Aunt Abigail's Beau" and "Old Quarrels, Old Love") and imaginary ("The Materializing of Duncan McTavish" and "Of Corsets and Secrets and True, True Love") show up in town to bedevil a woman. Hard to believe "Avonlea" was considered a "children's series" when you have the likes of Hetty King and Marilla Cuthbert being the figures of romance.

Edwin Clarke, now rich has the nerve to return to Avonlea and win back Olivia's heart! Unfortuantly, the reclusive Jasper Dale is also trying to win her hand in marriage! When a little boy is trapped at the bottom of a well, Olivia must then decide who to marry based on the men's performance in saving the boy and lazy Edwin Clarke may loose for once! This is based on an episode of the ROAD TO AVONLEA television series that spanned seven years and 91 episodes. These stories are very heartwarming and set at the turn of the century in the town of Avonlea on Prince Edward Island, Canada.

This excellent work, written 70 years ago, is a true story that reads like a novel. It is the account of the author's life in Russia both before and after its two revolutions. As the British Consul in Moscow, the author was acquainted with all of the main historical characters in Russia's great tragedy, from Tsarist ministers, to the men behind both the first and second revolts. He paints a grim picture of the life there after Lenin took power, but he doesn't spare either himself or others when he speaks of shortcomings in polcy. His personal life also comes under scrutiny, and he is honest about his failings. There is fear when he is arrewted by the Cheka, but it all comes out well in the end. One wonders how much more detail there would have been in this book if the author had waited to write it after World War II, or even a bit later. It is a thriller that is true, and well worth reading for its historical insights into the Russia of 1914-1918!

This book was first published in 1932, fifteen years after the Bolsheviks came to power in Russia. It covers, not only the authors, personal experiences in Russia at that time but his earlier times in Malaya on a rubber plantation. The Malaya portion could have easily been ommited since Lockhart wrote a later account of these years in a book published in 1936. What makes this book worth reading is the Author's description of the chaos which abounded in the Soviet Union before and after Lenin seized power. As an official of the British Foreign Office assigned to their offices in St Petersburg and Moscow he gives a first hand account of the total destruction of old views held by most Soviets and the introduction of Marxist values. His description of the absolute incompetance which was rife in the British Foreign Office at that time and their refusal to accept the consequences of the Revolution is reminiscent of Jimmy Carter and the American Governments refusal to take Khommeini seriously in Iran sixty years later. While this book may be dated in some ways it is still worth reading and provides a reminder that we continue to ignore History' teachings.

Before the current resurgence in the love of history, I searched in vain for this book in countless new and old book stores. Every new city we went to, I would look for it. I had heard the American viewpoint on Montgomery, I had read Patton's version, but I wanted to hear Montgomery's version. As a Christmas present, there it was under my tree one year, and I devoured it in several days, even though it is incredibly detailed.
After reading the book, I felt I understood the man, the forces, the secret drives that made the General who he was.
He had a rather cold, lonely childhood, and was an aloof, intelligent loner.
The Battle of Dunkirk was the point at which he could no longer tolerate those he felt inferior to him, regardless of his rank. The absurdities of the waste of manpower of machinery, the inefficiencies of command by family name became clear to him. Here Montgomery rose to his highest success, a man who's destiny and abilities were matched by fortune to the time. He succeeded in defying the befuddled outranking superiors, took control, and performed brilliantly at El-Almein, a battle won almost exclusively by his strategic flanking movements.
El-Almein; however, became the soothsayer to his Achilles heel....his extreme egotism.
After El-Almein, he felt himself invincible and always correct regardless of the consequences for his men or the battle. His main focus after El-Almein was to preserve his legacy and reputation and to take credit for any favorable action by anyone, anywhere.
He was personally responsible for one of the two largest largest European debacles of the war: the Bridge Too Far. (The other being the inexperienced Eisenhower's debacle at the Kasserine Pass.) By sheer force of will, against the advise and counsel of many others, Montgomery forced an ill-conceived plan of the largest paratrooper drop in history with poor supplies, lack of artillary support, and a sheer waste of some of the finest men available. Even when it was evident that his plans were horribly inadequate, he refused to allow a strategic withdrawal, abandoning troops to their fate.
Whether politically correct to say or not, it seemed quite evident from the book that there was a strong presence of homosexuality in Montgomery's inner circle. Whether Montgomery was gay, bi, or neuter is impossible to say, and the fact that he procreated is irrelevant.
What is sad is that with his sycophantic inner circle, he could not be dissuaded from ill-conceived plans. He became the McClellan of World War II, sitting with troops that could have been used elsewhere, squandering supplies that could have been put to use for Patton.
Any other General would have been replaced after the fiasco of Operation Market-Garden. MONTGOMERY would have replaced any general of his that had carried out such an ill-conceived plan, then refused to halt when it was evident it was an abject failure.
Read the accounts of the Paratroopers who had to fight the actual battle, the SNAFU's they encountered, the hostility they received when they reasonably requested to withdraw and you have visions of Montgomery in the far distant rear echelons in his bunker, oblivious to the world. Montgomery went so far as to REFUSE to allow his sleep to be interrupted for important phone calls, reasoning that all he had to do was to plan a battle, but battles are vacillating beasts that require the presence of their commanders. Patton's brilliance in Sicily was his front-line presence, and therefore knowledge of the strategic changes that needed to be made.
With Montgomery's star tarnished by Market-Garden, Patton and Eisenhower were able to forge forward and accomplish what they were able to do at their best.
Argument has been made that Montgomery's bogging down after D-Day, and his Operation Market-Garden fiasco allowed the more Sourthern Patton to consolidate his positions, but then one wonders where was Monty when Bastogne was besieged and when Omaha beach was overwhelmed.
When I finally was able to read his version, instead of the American-written versions, I was dismayed that he was even pettier and self-centered than even the Americans realized.
Post-War, Monty was awarded the position of Chief of Staff, and felt it was due him as a royal coronation. He WAS the hero of El Alamein, but he was a one-note, one-battle, egomaniac hero who cost many lives needlessly.

Most vivid and accurate account of world war II war through the eyes and mminds of a brillliant strategist and a great humanitarian.

Matt Helm may or may not have killed a fellow agent. While the investigation goes on, he is to finish out her mission. The mission-rescue a kidnapped scientist, kill him if you can't. Complications-Helm has the scientist's young daughter tagging along. Posing as a hitman, he runs into various shady characters who cover for him and then try to hire him. The Chesapeake Bay locale is different and put to good use. The climax features a sailboat (with Matt a prisoner on board) on stormy seas out to meet a Russian trawler.

Matt is on a brutal undercover mission. Mac feels he has gone beyond reason by murdering one of his own agents and orders him to be kept under surveillance -- possibly removed from the service. But in spite of everything, Matt Helm manages to survive and handle the bad guys once again. You'll like this book!

I am certainly not an advocate of slavery in any form. Yet how profoundly refreshing it is to unearth the point of view of an actual slave that shows that the "politically correct" viewpoint made popular with "Uncle Tom's Cabin" is not necessarily factual. Mr.Hamilton illustrates quite wonderfully that slaves were not always abused and mistreated as is popularly believed. What an eye opener this book truly is! Everyone should read this book. I feel that today's racial tensions would be somewhat mellowed if the attitudes shown by Mr. Hamiliton were more of the norm. This ex-slave has something to teach us all!

Wow! Think how rare it is to read a book from a slave's point of view (about a famous Texan, that was known world wide, even before his death)!

Don't get me wrong, slavery is terrible, but the point of view is like from another world. It is worth mentioning, the spirit of forgiveness and even loving kindness felt by the former slave, for his master. And how lovingly the ex-slave tells of how he looked up to the great man from Texas! This is a very rare bit of reading material!

I read "One of Fred's Girls" when in elementary school, and it is one of those books that will remain a favorite throughout your life. It tells the tale of a young girl who goes west in search of work, and works in one of Fred Harvey's legendary restaurants, and finds adventure and a husband along the way. It's a refreshing book, honest, and brings back an age of inncocence. If you are a fan of the musical "The Harvey Girls" with Judy Garland, you will love this book. If you haven't seen "The Harvey Girls" I recommend that as well! I have no idea why these books are out of print. If you local library is part of a wider library network, you may try that to obtain a copy.

I am an avid reader, and I especially love Elisabeth Friermood's work. She writes so vividly that I feel as if I am there. Sadly, however, her books are out of print. :( Even so, I whole-heartedly recommend you read her books, if you can find them!