The book Thor is one of my favorites...assuming there are not two. The synopsis above does not seem to describe at all the book I and the reviewers have read. The book I so enjoyed described a loyal dog's silent, lonely, heroic struggle to protect his family from an enemy within which he had no chance of defeating. It's truly a wonderful book, in some ways in the spirit of Watership Down or Tailchaiser's Song. The book described in the synopsis, however, seems to be the story of a beloved pet in real life. Very confusing...if you find the suspense tale entitled Thor, on which I believe the movie "Bad Moon" (and equally bad movie, but not the author's fault) was based, pick it up. It's a wonderfully engaging one or two night read that will keep you up til dawn. I hope the author gives those of us who enjoyed the book so much another night or two of pleasure...it's a stretch, but if Bruice Willis continues to get into Die Hard situations, why not Thor? Thrilling, heartwrenching read. Poor kitty.

reviewer o.c., ca. certainly never saw or read the book. as a shepherd trainer and owner i would have to describe this a combinatin of poetry and fine art. genuinely touching. a remarkable epitaph to a dog that was loved and is missed.

Thor was one of my favorite books! When the secret of the family's uncle came out was very scary! When a wild animal keeps coming and kills the young cat that thor actually loves he is sent to the pound and the owner crys as he is taken away. It certainly made me cry after a dignified dog was thrown into the pound!

I hear this guy on the radio here in Arizona and I was trying to write down the recipes on my McDonald's bag. Had to laugh. I wasn't sure but I ordered the book on-line and they really are good and QUICK. All the recipes are as advertised. Definately try the Chocolate Souffle but put extra chocolate in it. Worked better and was a little richer.

I'm not much of a cook but this book has helped me out a lot. Like the title says, the recipes are easy; most of them use 5 ingredients or less and yet produce great results. The dishes I make from it always impress others.

They give you recipes that work. Some really neat stuff I would never have thought I could do.

This is the best informative book that I have ever read. I can now care for myself better now that I read this book. I would recomend it for every girl in the United States! :)

This is one of the most informative books I have ever read! It's classy and fun, and has great tips and ideas for everything from how to put on makeup to caring for your hair. I would recommend this book to girls everwhere!!!

Wow, I ordered this book 6 months ago ... , and ever since then i've been following everything it says! I've treid most of the recipes and quizes the weird thing is the quiz about scents told me that a Crisp 'n' Clean scent would suit me and it's true! I love this book! It's made the real me come through naturally! no more bad-hair days! I highly reccomend this book for all girls!

The author of the book, Martin Rooney, helped me to prepare for the 2001 NFL combine in which I posted some of the top results at the offensive lineman position. This book outlines many of the principles that he teaches to all of the professional athletes he works with on a daily basis. I have been after him for years to put a book like this together which is comprehensive for the professional and easily read by the novice as well. I recommend this book for anyone that is serious about understanding the fundamentals upon which all training systems are based.

I'm amazed at the author's ability to simplify so many years of studies and experiences.It helped me understand better different aspects of training in the most positive way. Definetly looking forward to the next edition!

I have been a top level competitor for over 10 years.I have never found a book that truly captured the essence of a life devoted to excelence.This book is a great guide for athletic and personal growth, unlocking your full potential. After reading Train to Win you won't just train, you will live your training.

An excellent source for the complete novice. Martin's work is clear, complete and even humorous. As someone who did not even know the difference between a trap or a snare, I can highly recommend this book as a first step in finding out. The illustrations are flawless. I am someone mildly concerned about the impact of Y2K and this book was a wealth of information on being able to provide meat for yourself in the event of emergencies. Happy reading!

I have read all of Mr. Martin's books and I highly recommend them. Trapper's Bible is excellent as well as Into The Primitive, both of which are available here at Amazon.com (a great book store I also recommend!) I also heartily recommend THE SHOT by Dale Martin which details the most talked about long range sniper shot of the Civil War. It is available at AOL Hometown with keyword "sniper". Great work, Dale !

Not the run of the mill trapping or survival book. Contains unique information I have not seen in other books of this genre'. To the author: Excellent job! Researched in detail!

(My review translated to Spanish; you will see my review in Spanish and then in English);(mis criterios traducidos al Español; veran mis criterios en Español y luego en Ingles).

Este libro esta muy bien escrito; Disfrute mucho de el. Es un libro que se puede leer mas de una vez y sentirse como que se esta leyendo por vez primera pero al leerlo por segunda o tercera vez ect. ect.. se lee con un nuevo espiritu de exhilaracion acerca de las aventuras globales que describe. El libro esta escrito en forma de poesia/ prosa acerca de estas experiencias globales que relatan sobre experiencias de la vida cotidiana. Si alguien esta pensando en viajar, recomendaria altamente este libro y diria que debe ser puesto en la lista de libros de viajes recomendados. El libro trae al lector a un alto nivel de vida; se que me trajo a mi a este nivel. Muchas gracias por la rapida entrega del libro. Cordialmente, Olga Bean

This book is very well written; I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is a book that can be read over and over again and still feel that I am reading it for the first time but with a renewed spirit of exhilaration about the worldly exploits that it depicts. It is an account told in poetry format of travel adventures as they relate to life experiences during these travels. I would further say that if someone is thinking of traveling, this book should be put on the list of recommended travel books. It really brings the reader to a higher plateau; I can say this with all certainty because it brought me to this plateau. Thank you so much for the quick delivery as well. Cordially, Olga Bean

This book is very well written; I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is a book that can be read over and over again and still feel that I am reading it for the first time but with a renewed spirit of exhilaration about the worldly exploits that it depicts. It is an account told in poetry format of travel adventures as they relate to life experiences during these travels. I would further say that if someone is thinking of traveling, this book should be put on the list of recommended travel books. It really brings the reader to a higher plateau; I can say this with all certainty because it brought me to this plateau. Thank you so much for the quick delivery as well. Cordially, Olga Bean

Este libro no solo me dejo tus vivencias sino que con tus consejos me has permitido ver otras cosas quizas olvidadas. No solo es atrapante por tu historia, sino educativo, nos enseñas que todo se puede cuando uno realmente se lo propone. Tuve el gusto de conocerte y aparte de un muy buen escritor sos una excelente persona. Segui escribiendo para poder seguir deleitandonos con tus experiencias. Muchas gracias Carlos!!

Father Martin has written a very good book. The strength of the book lies in the way that the refugee's stories are presented. Father Martin does not parade their hardships and poverty before us in an attempt to provoke our sympathy or guilt. Rather, Father Martin presents us with real people who love and live. We come to know the people in the book as people, no different in their humanity than you or I. On the surface, this is no great insight, but I think we tend to objectify the exiles of the world in order to keep our distance from them. Father Martin does not let us do this. We come to know and care about the people in this book very deeply. Of course, this opens us up, as readers, to a deeper sorrow and (hopefully) a deeper understanding of how too many people live. But it also opens us up to a greater experience of God and how God works in the world. This book is a slim volume and easily read, but the spirutual insights are deep and meaningful. This book should be read by all of the idle and self-involved inhabitants of the "first world." You will never be able to look at a disposable plastic cup in the same way again.

I'm planning on going on a missions trip to Kenya this summer, so I was really searching for a book that would give me insight on the people of that region, not just the normal tourist information. This book blew away all my expectations. Not only did I meet the refugees through James Martins engaging narratives, I also felt like I knew them and could really identify with their hardships. The stories grew depressing at times, but such is life in East Africa, and that fact only made their faith and hope more amazing and inspiring. Martin was often humorous and candid, and I felt myself trying to cheer him along on his journeys as if I was right there with him.
This our Exile is a good read for anyone interested in East Africa and it's people who are often ignored and under represented. 2 giant thumbs up.

In this engaging book, a young Jesuit recounts the trials, tribulations and rewards of his two-year stint among the refugees of East Africa. He describes in vivid detail true-life vignettes of strength and hope in the midst of grinding poverty. But this book is far from somber--rather, it's full of laugh-out-loud humor combined with an evident love of the author's fellow man. A great book!!

First, do NOT be misled by the word Time-Crunch in the title. These are not quickie, one day projects. The 20 projects in this book are traditional blocks, many with features like lots of little triangles in the Bear's Paw block. Nancy provides you with her tips for doing things in the quickest, most time-efficient way. This includes using strips to make bias squares instead of individual half square triangles. She also gives hints on how to make a few blocks do the work of many, such as setting them on point or using wider, more interesting sashing strips. She includes quilting designs for all the projects, which is a really nice substitute for the normal "quilt as desired." The blocks are billed as being "updated, with a fresh new look." I must have missed that part. These are not only completely traditional but often use fabrics that show no contrast between the areas so that your block design all but disappears. If you can look past her fabric choices, there are some interesting layouts and ideas.

I borrowed this book from a woman in our quilting club and didn't want to give it back. :) Just had to have a copy for myself. I've been quilting for nearly 20 years but still love to find books with "shortcuts". These aren't "overnight" quilts...but still "put together" quickly.

I ordered this book before it was available because I saw it advertised on Nancy Martin's page and I'm always looking for quilting shortcuts. Usually a book like this has sidebars on time management rather than actual time saving techniques--so I was totally stunned with the original twist to this book! Also, I don't like to copy exact patterns from books--I like to design my own--but Nancy included so many compelling patterns--that I'm going to make some of them! Sawtooth Mountains is exquisite! My only fear is that every quilter will make this quilt and they will be everywhere! Sew and Sew is wonderful with three pieced sewing machines. I've got to make it for my sewing room! Tea Party, Three Little Pumpkins, and Quilts In the Attic are on my list too! I love the button quilting! And since I'm new to quilting--obvious tips like turn the square on point and add side triangles to make a bigger block--are sweet music to my ears. The directions are clear and the color plates are awesome! Loved the CD--its clear and focused and shows all the time saving tips close up. Thank you Nancy for such a terrific book.

the accidental quilter,

M.Z. Cox

A retracing of some of the journeys (Morocco, Egypt, Syria, Southern Arabia, the Kuria Muria Islands,Turkey and the Crimea)of the fourteenth century traveller, Ibn Battuta.
The author is a British born and educated Yemen resident, fluent in classical and colloquial Arabic and deeply learned in history and music. The book contains quotations in French, German, Russian (in the Cyrillic alphabet), Turkish and Greek. I thought I'd caught him misquoting Pliny, but then realized he was making a Latin joke. Some of his polyglot puns are outrageous. In The Umayyad mosque in Damascus he found Ismailis and Shiites at prayer, but that the orthodox were keeping the Sunni side up.
The long digressions on obscure Arab writers and religious teachers and the intrusive parade of erudition might put some people off. It's a bit like reading Umberto Ecco where some readers, such as myself, get entranced by the writer's flattering assumption that we are as clever as he is.
He travelled rough and travelled alone. He explains at one point that he cannot marry because he is an "ah, orientalist." He shows much interest in, and sympathy with, the Moslem religion but I got the impression that. like his fellow orientalist, TE Lawrence, he likes Arabs best if they are poor and rural, a faintly patronizing attitude.

I was drawn to this book after realizing that, having done my share of low budget travel in Asia, I would comprehend more from a travel narrative about Arabia then the hyperbolie in the Press and the flood of books proclaiming insights into Islam. I was not disappointed, and in fact was pleasantly surprised at how well Mackintosh-Smith tells his story. His premise, to retrace the route of the famous 14th century Morroccan traveler Ibn Battutah, allows the book to easily offer up comparisons of life in the hey day of Islamic civilization versus our own modern day time of war. This is one of its strengths and delights. You can readily see that people in many ways have not changed much.

I found it refreshing to read of MacKintosh-Smith's many encounters with everyday devote Muslims as they visited the tombs of saints and in true hospitality took him under their care. I was also delighted to learn so much about the southern coast of Oman, a place that looks totally deserted on maps of the Arabian Peninsula, but which turns out to be home to (mostly) very friendly people. It reminded me in some ways of travelogues from rural towns and the midwestern United States where life is slower and people pay more attention to travelers. And like the midwest, instead of raving fundamentalist Muslim fanatics, time after time MacKintosh-Smith encounters educated, polite people who try to help him in his quest even if it seems a bit bookish and impractical to them. (Several people try to tell him, " That was 700 years ago, things are different today!")

The book is not perfect of course - it does have it's slow moments. These seem to come chiefly when MacKintosh-Smith gets caught up in describing his own state of mind rather than keeping to his formidable powers of describing the scene around him. There is a certain awkwardness when he tries to reveal some of his own more private encounters but then at the last minute drops it and leaves you hanging. And things can get slow when due to the ravages of time he can find no connection between where he is and what was there in Battutah's day. Lastly, the book does not cover all of Battutah's travels, just the first third. Oh well - small price to pay for what is overall a very pleasurable and informative read. Through MacKintosh-Smiths's eyes I have gained a sense of how an ordinary Muslim citizen in the Middle East lives. I look foward to reading more should MacKintosh-Smith continue the journey and publish another volume.

Those lucky enough to have read Tim Mackintosh-Smith (or "Ahmad Kandash," according to some of his native Arab neighbors) on his adopted land of Yemen (I wish the American press had kept the British subtitle "Travels in Dictionary Land") will find the same strengths in this account. Outside of, say, an Omani snack of dried shark and Scotch or a jeep bounce, the report from the hinterlands is driven more by insight than ignition. In the manner of many such travellers' tales from more leisurely pens and patient eyes, not much happens in the way of thrills; a subtler, refined retelling of IB's adventure through his own retracing gives a filtered, reflective sheen to the book.

I sense throughout an unease with his "masahi," or Christian status--with many he meets understandably amazed at his command of Arabic, Tim's constantly finding himself almost apologetic for his "infidel" status. I wonder if ensuing books (long life to the author so he can tell his journey's sequel--even if he's the same age as me--not that old!) will unfold not only the geographic and personal encounters he tells so well, but his own spiritual struggles. Foreshadowed perhaps in the transcendent dervish dance he witnesses.

Anyone who can gracefully cite the apropos Edward Lear allusion, the culinary reference (some of which escaped me due to my parochial palate), or learned medieval reference and still keep a travelogue dynamic and unassumingly witty while avoiding cliche or pandering is an accomplished scholar and a skilled word-smith. His range of knowledge enters at the right moment, and then recedes; he largely does not show off what he knows. Instead, he sprinkles it into the text to flavor the immediate image or conversation he's narrating to us. Not an easy feat.

But the world he enters can never be entirely plumbed by a Westerner; skilled as he may be, this author knows the power of the unresolved detail. I have no idea how he makes a living, what he does exactly in Yemen, the depth of his Christianity, or his sexual preferences! (Despite his Crimean guide Nina.) This rendering, skillfully, shifts the focus on and off the first-person narrator. Conjuring up the aura of differance, as the French critics opine, endures and makes his encounters memorable. For instance, I wonder if Habibah's "tambul promoting, er, cohabitation" [p. 238] worked? His "research assistant" never seems to have reported back, or else Tim proves once again how mystery trumps the mundane.

Andy Martin wrote a vey nice book, by interviewing all the world tour pros, you get more knowledge of what goes on On the North Shore of Oahu. I was stoked to see there also was a movie about it. Jeroen Mutsaars

I really enjoyed this book, it left me wanting much more. A well researched and descriptive look at the bizare world of big wave surfers. Particularly suited to those who have not and have no intention of surfing big waves themselves, but would like to get inside the head of the people who do. It has a travelogue style, I think it would appeal to readers of Eric Newby or even books like "A year in Provence". His other book "Coming down the Mountain", takes a similar approach, but to World cup Down Hill skiing. Again a good read, but for me not quite so riveting as this one. Give it a try

A great book about surfing, people, travel and polynesian history. It's both laid back and pumping at the same time and any kind of surfer would get a good feeling from reading it.