I enjoyed reading ANDERSON'S FAIRY TALES by Hans Christian Andersen. My favorite stories in this book were The Mermaid, and the story about the Dustman. I loved the vivid language and the way the stories came alive, seeming to burst like balloons from the pages of the book. I also enjoyed the way common household objects and animals were personified. I found fault with the story that had the better part of its setting in the Garden of Eden. The winds from the ends of the earth were personified well, but one of the winds dispargingly referred to Africa.

'The Snow Queen' is possibly the greatest short story I've ever read. Although its message is essentially Christian, its means of getting there is staggering, Surrealist and far from dogmatic. There is an Alice quality to the heroine's narrative as she seeks her abducted playmate, full of singing flowers, helpful crows and robber barons - the songs of the flowers are full of sexually loaded and enigmatic imagery. But the word-pictures as a whole are haunting, the blazing sheen of the snow, with the suggestive reds dotting it throughout. The final puzzle is worthy of Borges. Wow.

I believe that the path to a well-rounded child is the truth. Too often we sensationalize and sugar-coat the truth when it comes to our kids. This book is a good example of the way things are. My favorite tale from this book would have to be "The Little Mermaid", and it will be the first tale I read my children when they are born. Mr. Anderson was a firm believer in drama mixed with the hard knocks of real life.Here he has just transformed them into a fantastical story that every child needs to be told. The elements of the story are very powerful, from the loss of innocence to the loss of love,and sometimes we need a good dose of something that isn't wholesome. I recommend this book to everyone, children and adults alike.

There are quite a number of great examples in this book. Many of these come from famous poets and writers. However, the author failed to give some of the diffiult ones an explanation. Thus, it seems very difficult to comprehend sometimes. The definition of words is pretty concise. However, if the author had put more effort into introducing this word to the readers, it would make learning a lot more easier. I also suggest that the next edition include a CD Rom because it is very fun to study via multimedia presentation. The exercises in the book are adaquant, but there seems to be a lack of explanation. Sometimes I do find it difficult to understand the answer. I have been n search of good vocabulary books for almost two years. I have not found one yet, but this is certainly one of the good ones that I have.

This book is excellent for anyone who wants to master the rich English language. The "workbook" approach, at first glance, may make you feel a bit awkward, but it's extremely useful and highly effective. What I particularly liked about the book is the wonderful succint information(little stories) on the various origins of common English words. By knowing the origin, a word is better learned and is registered quickly in our memory. This book is really worth its price.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to improve their vocabulary, especially if they are studying for a standardized test (i.e. SAT, PSAT, ACT, etc.). It is filled with words that will possibly show up on these tests, and it is a lot easier (and more interesting) to do the activities in this book than to read a dictionary to learn the words. I used this book in my English class at school and I learned so many new words. Then when I took the SAT, I was thrilled to discover that almost every word on the test had been in this book, and I had only finished half of the book! I'm about to buy this book for myself so that my whole family can use it to help study for any other tests we might take in the future. This book really helped me improve my verbal score, and I definitely think you should try using it, too.

I have read this book several times over the last two decades. And still find it engrossing, both for the glimpses it provides of life in an earlier age and among talented people, and for the model of self-examination it provides. Marcia Davenport comes close to living up to the maxim we all imbibed in school, "An unexamined life is not worth living." Additionally, she was an intelligent, strong, independent woman during an era when that was not usual: her story should be sustaining to young girls who have been labeled by our schools as "gifted" but have few role models.

Marcia Davenport lived among and knew well many people we would now call "celebrities" -- although their contributions to the arts and to freedom go deeper than that. She is well known as the first writer in English to do a biography of Mozart; additionally, she has written several novels. Among her family and friends are included: her mother, the opera singer Alma Gluck; her step-father, the violinist Efrem Zimbalist; her husband, writer & publisher Russell Davenport; the conductor, Arturo Toscanini; the editor Max Perkins; and the Czech politician Jan Masaryk. It is a testament to her strong personality that she does not get "lost" among these luminaries.

Davenport's writing is always more cerebral than emotional. Because of that, I have found her memoirs and biographies more satisfying than her novels. This autobiography is honestly written and totally absorbing.

I first read this book in 1967 when it was published and was enthralled by it then and was equally so when I recently reread it to review for a book club. Odd that one would review such an old book, but it has always been one of my favorites. Davenport's intense relationships with her mother, Alma Gluck, a sensationally popular opera singer; her husband, Russell Davenport; Arturo Toscanini, the famed conductor; her editor, Max Perkins; and especially, Jan Masaryk, the foreign minister of Czechoslovakia, and the great love of her life, are described compellingly and with unusual perception. She writes, also, of some of her novels, such as The Valley of Decision, and Mozart. She was particularly attached to places, such as Czechoslakia, especially Prague, and Italy, and she gives you a real sense of what they were like pre- and post World War II. Like her novels, her autobiography is moving and totally engrossing.

This book, written over many years and published in 1967, is one of my favorite books, read and reread many times. It is a picture of the first part of the 20th century, seen though the eyes of a perceptive writer. Through her eyes we meet her remarkable mother, Alma Gluck, one of the great opera singers of the century; Arturo Toscanini, one of the century's great conductors; Max Perkins, her editor, who was also the editor, for Scribners, of, among others, Hemingway, Wolfe and Rawlings; and Jan Masaryk, one of the political heroes of the Czech people in this century. An amazing book, vividly and honestly written..

Marcia Davenport's "Mozart" is indeed wonderfully written and truly was a labor of love. She has a gift for drawing the reader into the book; her wit (and, on occasion, biases) can be noted throughout the book. Davenport doesn't get you to know ABOUT Mozart; she gets the reader to KNOW him.
The reader will find himself emotionally attached to Mozart. He or she will rejoice when he rejoices and will feel sorrow when the Austrian prodigy felt sorrow (which, sadly, was not uncommon.) I truly enjoyed reading this book...

...which is why I'm sorry to say that it is not the best biography.

The work is contains many myths and legends that were masqueraded (often by musicologists) as facts in the past. The author makes use of a letter ("Letter to Baron B.") that was proven fraudulent. This particular letter, concocted by a Friedrich Rochlitz in the early 19th century, was dubbed a forgery even before Davenport's time. (Mozart's first reliable biographer, Otto Jahn, acknowledged this.)

This is not to discredit Davenport; she researched all she could. Again, many otherwise reliable musicologists of Davenport's day regarded the above, as well as other myths and legends found in the Davenport biography, as bona fide information. Many other biographers fell victim to this: Alfred Einstein and Maynard Solomon included. It wasn't until the 1980's that further research revealed that many so-called facts about Mozart were nothing more than myth, and that musicologists and biographers alike put a stop to myth-propagation.

I recommend the reader study this book alongside a biography written within the last decade or so... or better yet, obtain a copy of "The Mozart Myths: a Critical Reassessment" by William Stafford. It will allow the reader to filter the fiction from the fact in "Mozart".

With all this said, "Mozart" truly is a wonderful book, even though it isn't an excellent biography. If you're willing to study "Mozart" and compare it to more authoritative works as you're reading it, you should definitely purchase it. I think you'll find that, despite its shortcomings, it is a charming work.

"No biographer, no commentator, critic, or interpreter can ever reveal Wolfgang Mozart entirely. Every attempt to know him truly, to relive his life, is incomplete without his own musical revelations."

Although that sentiment could not be more accurate, this biography by Marcia Davenport, simply entitled Mozart, brings us about as close as we can get to knowing and understanding this musical genius solely through a 400-page biographical account. In preparing for the writing of this biography, Davenport retraced every journey Mozart made, saw every dwelling in which he had lived, every theatre in which audiences first heard his works performed, and every library and museum that possessed useful manuscripts. In the foreword, she asserts, "I think I know what he looked like, how he spoke, what he did day by day."

Throughout the book, we too get a sense for Mozart the composer and Mozart the man. His great musical works did not emerge from a vacuum; rather, they are the products of a man deeply affected by a unique combination of experiences spanning from his prodigious childhood days of touring throughout Europe to his last days in which he wrote his great Requiem (K. 626), a piece he knew he was composing for his own death. We worry with him through his difficulties with debt and the constant onslaught of disgruntled creditors, and we delight with him when he glows with amorousness for some new love interest. We rejoice with him at the success in Prague of his great operas Le Nozze di Figaro and Don Giovanni, and we mourn with him as Wolfgang attempts fruitlessly to receive a much-desired court appointment and recognition worthy of his talent. We carouse with him when he lightheartedly indulges in time with good friends; we are spectators at the heart-wrenching deaths of his mother, father, and a number of children who could not survive infancy.

The book is thorough, accurate, and engagingly informative in its narrative of Mozart's life. Though sometimes bland, the language Davenport uses is appropriately simple; quite admirably, she resists the impulse to indulge in the romanticized and flowery rhetoric with which many authors approach Mozart's miraculous genius. Her graceful writing style lets the characters speak for themselves rather than overpowering them with her own bravura.

Davenport also frequently quotes letters written to and from Mozart, thus providing internal proof for her assertions, as well as supplying additional insight into Wolfgang's personality and wit. Davenport quotes from a letter written by Mozart to his wife, Constanze, in which Wolfgang bemoans his ever-growing debt, then adds a post-script: "Tears rained upon the paper as I wrote the foregoing page, but now let us cheer up! Catch!-an astonishing number of kisses are flying about! The devil!-I see a whole crowd of them, too. Ha, ha! I have just grabbed three-they are delicious!" Such blithely clever passages are not uncommon in Mozart's letters, even when he is at his most miserable. Davenport's numerous references to such letters greatly enhance the lucidity of our perception of Mozart.

One weakness in the biography's articulation, however, occurs in Davenport's copious use of foreign words and phrases, for which she offers no translation. Those who are not moderately proficient in German, Italian, and French will miss some of the book's sly humor and more vivid descriptions, although the use of foreign phrases is not significant enough to diminish substantially a reader's understanding of the book.

For those interested in Mozart's life but who have not done much reading on him, this book is a lovely resource filled with such an abundance of information so as to transform such a novice into an expert. For those who are already Mozart aficionados, this book may not offer much new insight, but the depth and detail with which Davenport describes events may give such readers fresh perspective and heightened understanding. For the musician who enjoys Mozart's works, this biography is particularly intriguing, not only for the reasons noted above but also because the book mentions most of Mozart's great compositions while describing the time during which he produced them. For a performer or an analyst, such information as Mozart's present circumstances and frame of mind while composing a specific piece can be extremely helpful in interpreting his music.

This meticulously complete and factual account of Mozart's life is a valuable resource for lovers of Mozart and of his music, whether reading for study or for pleasure.

From an avid reader in general, and of biographies and history in particular, I found this book remarkably hard to put down after the very first page. I agree with Barnes & Nobel when the wrote "The result is a biography of such commanding stature that it has remained unassailable since its publication in 1932." What makes this book so special is that it doesn't tell you about Mozart, it is Mozart. You feel as if you are living your life along side Mozart's. Davenport's writing, woven throughout the scores of quotations from letters written by Mozart and those around him, is so vivid that you can actually see Mozart's life unfold in your imagination from the beginning until the end. And what about the subject of the book - Mozart. In my opinion, Mozart is one of the most spectacular individuals the World has ever known. If you are not a Mozart fan now, you most assuredly will be after reading this book. He seems to have been not only an ungodly genius, but a generous individual with an incredible sense of humor as well. This book should be studied at the high school level. I really believe teenagers would not only comprehend Mozart, but would also find him similar to themselves from a social point of view. I bet it would be real eye-opener to many of these students that such an apparently laid-back, rebellious and "party animal" type of person could create such serious and Ingenious work. This book is a must read for all!

I've read several time management and organizing books, and I started this one thinking I'd just get the same thing in a different form. I was pleasantly surprised! We were not talked down to about how our spiritual energy is being drained or how our psychological well being is being damaged, the author views organizing as practical and necessary for good business. There are several little suggestions in this book I had not heard before or had not thought of myself, and they will be very helpful to me. There's so much to gain from such an inexpensive item. Buy it and use it!

This book gave me the best piece of advice I've ever received about prioritizing at work. The author suggests that you ask yourself: "What will make me the most money?" and prioritize that way. What a tremendous piece of advice! It seems so simple, but it's so easy to spend time on busy work, and avoid doing the work that will bring in the bucks. This book helps you spend much less time on organizing, filing, etc., and clears the way for you to make more money! What a great, great thing. Buy it.

What a terrific surprise to get "Order from Chaos". I read it in one day because I couldn't put it down. What an important book! A treasure of practical help.

It's just what I needed, especially now. I've already organized my office, garage and storage shed, and gave away and threw out lots of "stuff". I feel more in control and less burdened already. And I love my pending file.

I know I'll keep referring and rereading Liz's book to help me learn to prioritize continually--my biggest weakness.

I have read five of the "Prey" novels so far, including these three stories. Obviously, there is something about them that I find attractive, but in retrospect, I cannot honestly say what. The writing style is pleasant, but not taxing, and draws you along. The villains are the most evil people that I have ever read about, and always come to the same end. The number of psychos inhabiting John Sandford's Midwest is truly frightening, yet doesn't seem to surprise the locals. These books are the "sitcom-lites" of literature, but easy and quick to read.

If you want a book that will you can't put down, well then this is the one for you. I have all the Prey novels and to date I can trully say that they have been the best reads ever. Davenport is one hell of a cop, and delivers justice in the best two fisted way I've come to read. The Criminals are dark and sinister, and I know these three stories will keep the reader rivited till the end and still wanting more. I know I did, and can't wait for the next one.

I have read all of the Prey series and am a really big fan. I wasn't always a person who does alot of recreational reading . But once i started the Prey series I can't stop I have read them all and am ready for his next release. I still think my favorite was Rules of Prey.

Beautifully illustrated with nice photos of some important dogs. Biased toward his own dogs in many ways. Good history and care chapters. Bearing in mind this man is a geneticist, not a Breeder, overall a good read.

agree with other reviews in that this book is comprehensive and covers everything from breeding, welping, puppy care, purchase care, showing, qualifications, care and best of all it shows off the beauty and temperment of this rare and wonderful breed.

It then agian doesn't help you. If you want to know more about this breed then I would read the book for more info on the breed.My big sister does not want one, but I do so I read this book and got more info on the breed. Now I am 100% that I want one. I LOVE the back cover it is a picture of 5 cute puppys and 4 lovable puppys that want to be taken home to play with you.

We use this book at nap time. My son loves it. He seems to really enjoy the repetitiveness of this book - as each Teletubby is found and put to bed.

This is one of those books that your child will truly love, but that you will be sort of ambivalent about. :oJ

In it, the Teletubbies repeatedly try to take a nap, only to discover that one Tubby is outside, playing. The errant Tubby comes back in, and all the Tubbies have to be sung to sleep all over again. This is repeated 4 times (once for each Tubby.) I'd recommend it, with the repetition being the only irritating part.

My 18-month-old boy loves this book, and asks to read it frequently. It's already pretty ragged from being read so much, even though we've only had it a few months.

I am a father of a 6 year old daughter and i must say that she is just extatic for this book i read it to her every night before she goes to bed and she seems to love it more and more every time. i reccomend this to all parents. no matter how old the kids are. for one thing i will also mention that i found this book addicting myself.

Originally read as a lecture at the University of Toronto back in 1982, this book is a rich tapestry depicting the strange, wonderful, recondite, unexpected weaving of literature and the time-honored symbolism within the tradition of still-life paintings. But, in exchange for richness and density, we do get an overly wide-roaming array as well as a disarray of topics, not always harmonious in the way they are presented. Many an idea are begun only to be abruptly interrupted by another, equally interesting and equally interrupted later. Among the topics mentioned in the book: Apple and pear as the Fall and the Redemption, respectively; The recurrence of busts in still-lifes; DeChirico's handling of the classic motif; Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher" and its connection to the underworld by way of Orpheus, whose name means 'willow' as does the old french 'ussier', thus 'Usher'; Shelley, Keats, Joyce, Zola, Xenophon, Nietzsche and Turin, etc. Thers is much learning here, as there always is in all of Davenport's essays. However, here, there is a general feeling that one is reading a sketch of an essay, the writer's working notes, rather than a fully formed condensation of ideas. Thus, many of the references seem to float on top of, rather than anchor the ideas the author wishes to convey. In other words, he comes off sounding pedantic, which is something I have never seen him do in his other books. Nonetheless, the fast reading (it's just over 100 pages) is rewarding as an introduction to the tradition -- now being lost -- of informing literature through painting, and vice versa.

This author is extremely atuned to the historical and literary 'trade routes' by which ideas and techniques are conveyed to our time. If you haven't read his "Geography of the Imagination", you have a treat in store. There are at least two sides to Guy Davenport: one is his 'own work' which consists of stories in a completely unique genre, and the other is his 'detective work' or book worm mode which yield astounding ties from one writer to another, or from painter to writer, or culture to culture. This is a work to treasure.

Whatever reason guides our quest for information to discover small treasures, the rewards of finding writing as quiet and yet celebratory as Guy Davenport's OBJECTS ON A TABLE are immeasurable. This small volume of four essays on the intransigence of Still Life paintings and their concommitant relationship to music, philosophy, literature, history, poetry, and simply Life is satisfying on every level. While the art world strains to design the NEW trends/schools/movements that will incite or induce controversy and a step toward the now ubiquitous Warhol 15 minutes of fame, writers and lecturers such as Davenport (and Mark Doty, Norbert Schneider, et al) offer solace in the simplicity of beckoning quietly toward the centuries old yet very much extant art of the painted Still Life. Meditations on the significance of baskets of fruit, on 'memento mori', on non-visual artists who attempt to capture the simplicity inherent in the Still Life spill over the pages of this beautiful little book, and in doing so enhance our vision of the world about us. The writing here is superb, the pleasures of pausing to read solitarily the thoughts of a writer so well informed about so many issues makes this small volume a fine addition to the thinkers' librairies. Beautiful!

We found this an excellent alternative to the Harry Potter books.

The characters are polite, caring, loyal, and have all the qualities children should have. The magic is nothing at all to concern parents, children or pastors. Nothing is offensive nor is it black.

My children and I recommend this book highly. Not only for its
its entertainment factor but also for the genuine fun of it.

My children are 8 and 10 and found it funny and worth reading, the stories are either wonderful read one at a time or all together.

Good book. Funny characters and stories. As good as Harry Potter. I loved tha talking dragons, the wizard and the Giant PRune.

I purchased this book for my 5 year old niece and ended up reading it completely before giving it to her. It is truly amazing for a book of this kind to keep a 52 year old man's interest. I would recommend Once Upon Another Time, Another Place for kids, like me, of all ages.