I was very disappointed in this book. I expected much more information regarding daily life . I was annoyed by the author's interruptions and her naive statements such as "there were no antibiotics in l864. Well, of course not! The intelligent reader know when antibiotics were inroduced. This book read like a term paper, and that annoyed me.

An Antebellum Plantation Household is a unique opportunity to view life on a plantation in the 1800's. Emily Wharton Sinkler was raised in Philadelphia and moved to South Carolina as the 19 year old bride of Charles Sinkler. She lived on a plantation which was one of several that belonged to her husband's family. This book contains letters Emily wrote to her family describing her daily life, and the society she moved in. She describes the land, the family life, the discussions of war between the north and south, sewing projects, the slaves her husband owned, religious life, and much more. The letters that have survived give a glimpse into the life of a plantation wife. The second half of the book is "reciepts" or receipes for food, home health remedies and cleaning potions. I actually tried Potatoes a La Lyonnaise and got rave reviews. It is interesting to see how evertday cleaning supplies were made and the mixture for hair dye. This is a rare glimpse into life in the 1800's.

There is always something intriquing about finding a personal notebook written by our ancestors and this is no exception.

Emily Wharton Sinkler, a Philadelphia society lady marries and becomes a southern belle. The author has done a superb job of blending Emily's letters home, her "household notes" and family lore into a compelling retelling of life before the civil war. Anna Sinkler Whaley LeClercq has given us a unique and warm look at a lost way of life.

I thought that the book was alright. It wasn't the best that i have ever read though. I thought that it was hard to read because it's something like chapters within chapters. Another reason i didn't like it is because it wasn't the most exciting book to read. There wasn't much suspense in it. I also didnt't like the book because I didn't know much about the characters, or the coming of the characters.

I thought the worst part of the book was when Meg was arguing with her father. She said that when she was outside she saw a comet. Her father didn't believe her and he said that she was lying. I think that the reason her father was mad is because his wife died a year ago, and something with her saying that had to relate with her mother.

The story element that i found most vivid was the climax of the book. In the climax, Meg is writing her first book. The two vivid images that I would see would be the smell of the ink and her hand moving as she writes. The reason I would say this is because she was really into writing her book. This represents her writing as she thinks and dipping the pen in the ink.

Meg is the only child of a bookseller in Restoration London. She enjoys her current life and looks forward to a future of being her father's sole heir. As her father's only heir Meg has the luxury of being able to 1) enter the bookselling trade (which she loves) and 2) choose her own husband. Things change however, when her father decides to remarry. Instead of looking forward to the future Meg begins to dread the possibility of her new mother having a child. What if it was a boy? Meg would no longer be her father's heir and the future she covets would be gone. When Meg's worse fear eventually becomes a reality, she struggles to figure out a new future for herself. For me this was an interesting look at a time period that I was not familiar with. While I found the book to be an enjoyable read, I do not think your average teen reader would. I would only recommend it to teens that are already fans of historical novels.

As the only child of a widowed bookseller in 17th century London, twelve-year-old Meg Moore stands to inheirit her father's entire estate. Because she is an heiress, Meg will be able to take part in the bookselling trade - her greatest wish - and will be able to chose her own husband. But Meg's entire future is changed when her father decides to remarry. Meg dislikes her new stepmother, Susannah, even though Susannah tries to be kind to her. She fears that Susannah will provide her father with a son that will take Meg's place as his heir, and that she will be reduced to marrying any man that will take her, or even worse, working as a maid. But over a year of change, Meg realizes that accepting Susannah can only bring good, and that there are ways that she can help influence her future, even if she is not an heiress. This was a fascinating glimpse into a time period that is not often written about in young adult fiction. Highly reccomend to teen fans of historical novels.

Heartwarming book from the perspective of a preschooler classifying [a budding librarian!] the creatures in her house, two cats and three people.

"Two who lick each other. Five who kiss each other."
"One who sings loud at night." (one of the cats)
"One who sings loud in the morning." (Dad)

All of her cat-egories (sorry) are just exactly the categories a preschooler would come up with:

"Four who like to eat fish...two who like to eat mice. Only one who likes to eat beets."

And the pictures...perspectively-challenged, muddy pastel-ie montages from Bogacki...are perfect. If you haven't discovered his solo work, seek it out. This would make a great game starter for a family OR a storytime OR a classroom.

The most notable aspect of this charming picture book is the picture design, with old- world appeal vying with playful humor to create a perfect background for the whimsical text. Five family members are presented, with three humans and two cats sharing certain qualities and just as often showing their differences. The text is presented as part of the page design and draws the reader into the illustrations.
One who sings loud late at night
And one who sings in the morning.
The illustration on the left shows the male cat (with grey hair) yowling on the windowsill and the male human (with grey hair) singing into the mirror as he shaves. The story is told from the viewpoint of the one child in the story, one of three with orange hair.

I can't believe that so far this book has only received 2-star customer reviews--perhaps these folks just don't get the charm of this book and are unusually critical. In fact, this title has received glowing reviews from many publications, including three *starred* reviews: Horn Book, School Library Journal, and Booklist. I plan to add it to my library collection.

I really enjoyed this novel, but I have to admit I enjoyed "The Gazebo" much more. I agree Ms. Grayson has a rare talent for touching the soul, and she did continue with this book. I definitely would recommend this one, (and have to many of my friends), but if you haven't read her first---you need to.

Emily Grayson exploits the entangling bond of a love versus hate relationship between the Mallory twins. Liz was forced to confront her sister, Harper, after the accidental death of Harper's daughter, Doe. Years of separation had torn them apart because of jealousy, hurt, and deceit built up over the years. Liz sees Harper as the wealthy, famous painter in New York who has always been successful and loved by the boys. On the other hand, Liz is portrayed as an innocent librarian with a dull life and far from a beauty queen. Unexpected love is struck between Liz and David Fields, a former boyfriend of her sister's, who is an amateur astronomer. The times of pain create a bond between them all, which could never falter.
The theme deals with how we need to explore love and seek for the best in everyone. We shouldn't let ourselves hold back from something that can be so beautiful all because of past mistakes or disagreements. Love is not jealous and envious or prideful, but it should be equally waded. Most of the characters are believable because of the author's formulaic approach. The story line is told in the normal "boy meets girl" setting. David is a static character and is therefore limited in his role as the astronomer and boyfriend. However, the Mallory twins and Harper's son, Nick, are round, dynamic characters who we learn more about throughout the novel. Each of them seek for answers and grow while dealing with the pains of life.
The author deals with each character and their problem in a positive manor when opposition occurs. The novel keeps one's attention by its delightful and heart-wrenching love story. Grayson wrote a realistic plot, which helps us to examine our own lives and put it into a realistic perspective.

The Observatory by Emily Grayson is a novel about two twin sisters who never got along during childhood, and a story of unexpected love. Grayson takes her readers through new and different experiences that Liz Mallory encounters.
Liz and Harper Mallory are twin sisters. While Liz excelled in school, Harper was the more wild, popular, and noticeable twin. Liz grew up to be her hometown librarian, and Harper grew up to be a rich famous painter living in the exclusive Stone Point, New York. As the Mallory sisters grow older, they also grow apart. However, a tragedy happens. Harper's daughter dies in a sledding accident. To recuperate, Harper skips town to be by herself, leaving Liz the responsibility of taking care of her nephew, Nick.
While Liz gets to know Nick for the first time, she also gets to know his and his surroundings, friends, and teachers. Being the second favorite child, Nick eventually opens up to his Aunt Liz, allowing her to understand him. Liz shares the same things Nicks likes. Sharing the love for astronomy with Nick, Liz encounters his teacher, David, with whom she ultimately falls in love. However, David hides the fact that he used to date Harper, making it a major issue in their relationship. Throughout the novel, Liz becomes close to her sister, nephew and also David. She begins to trust others, especially men, and Liz also learns more about her sister's lifestyle.
Grayson does a wonderful job illustrating the colorful scenes, and characterizing each person's personality. The Observatory was a well-written novel; however, Grayson tended to rush through the book towards the end. Grayson illustrates her characters as both round, realistic, and stereotypical. The commercial plot of the book is not necessarily original, but indeed different. The theme of the book is also well developed.

This book is completely out of date - but perhaps my oil the creative gears - no modern essayquestion addressed - the content on Essayedge.com is free & far better.. Author Ivy League lawyer doing things besides practicing law ..

This book has good and bad qualities. It segments various "types" of essays such that you will likely see examples of the type of essay you would like to write. This is helpful if you want to write, say, a "why I got bad grades" type of essay. Also, the authors give good tips about what to hit on, and what not to touch. So, in this regard, it's a helpful guide. However, I am an older student and I found the content of most essays to be very naive and difficult to relate to. It's hard to imagine many of these being considered "good" samples by admissions departments, especially by today's standards (some of the essays are from the 1980's). The tips are disappointing too. For example, they offer feedback from admissions officers, but it's very thin stuff; there's no depth on perceptions and perspectives of these individuals. For example, in "Law School Confidential" by Robert Miller, he conducted a candid interview with a Director of Admissions. This level of depth is missing in this book. You get the surfacy stuff that can spawn ideas for your own essays, but not a lot of perspective. So, it was helpful to me but it lacked the depth I hoped for.

This book was great!! While applying for law school, I found that there was very little information regarding essays (tons of stuff about the LSAT, but what about the essay??). These examples were extremely helpful. I enjoyed reading how successful students had approached the task of presenting themselves in a few short pages. After reading this book I felt that basically anything goes in terms of law school application essays. I was finally ready to tackle writing my own essay(yikes!).

While I generally think it unfair to review a book when I haven't finished it, I could not bring myself to read past the second chapter. Life is too short, and this book appeared too trite to spend any more time on it. I don't like books where the characters are two-dimensional and their actions appear to depend on the author's need to move the plot along rather than on psychological honesty. When the hero clearly falls in love with the heroine the first time he sees her and she isn't even awake, I know it is time to put the book down and read something else.

I really can't rate the entire novel, because I couldn't get past the first few pages. The entire first chapter was so unrealistic, the hero's reaction to a girl he'd never seen and knew nothing about so contrived, that I couldn't bear to proceed. It was as if I knew the entire, predictable story. I'm an avid reader of romance, and I've read 'em all. I won't waste my time if the story doesn't grab me right away and make me care about the characters and their situations.

Miss Hendrickson always writes a well plotted and carefully researched tale. Enjoyable as always.

The worst killing regarding this book is the time it took to read it. As a previous reviewer wrote, this is a good "airplane book." No great shakes as literature, but then, it doesn't purport to be. The denouement was pretty obvious in this murder mystery and no grand clues were laid at the feet of the reader, but if you're just looking for a book that will help you kill some time, this will work.

This is a mildly amusing book (fine for an airplane read), but for anybody expecting a realistic picture of the opera world and opera singers: warning - this ain't it! Although the author has obviously researched CARMEN itself (words/music are quoted accurately and staging is realistic), he doesn't have a clue about what goes on behind the scenes. If that kind of thing doesn't bother you - read no further. For anyone curious to know how the book diverges from reality, read on (murderer/motivation will not be revealed!):

Operas aren't musicals and CARMEN isn't RENT. It's highly unlikely that an opera produced by a shoestring local California opera company, no matter how innovative and no matter how well-reviewed by a major paper, would capture national attention and run nightly for months on end. Much more likely: the company would give 2 or 3 performances locally. With great opening night reviews, nearby big-city opera cognoscenti would want to check out the show and probably attend the company's next production - and that's about it!

It's also virtually unthinkable that any opera singer would smoke or drink before/during a performance. And as for a leading lady going out to dinner before her opening night performance - no way! She'd be in her dressing room drinking gallons of water or hot tea, nervously vocalizing or babying her voice, and praying that she'd have a huge success. Nor would an up-and-coming singer complain about having to sing in a major city like Chicago because she wanted a vacation - she'd be thrilled! And while I'm at it - she wouldn't be able to afford to hire a fulltime personal assistant (more likely, she'd be up to her eyeballs in debt from her very expensive voice lessons) - and if she was as unpleasant and temperamental as this one is, she would have been thrown out of the show long before opening night!

Finally - these days, singers don't worry about not being taken seriously because they're from from (gasp) Texas! And for the record - there's a big (huge, gaping!) difference in the accents of a a true Spaniard (Castilian) and a native Texan, no matter how fluent (Mexican-flavored)!

If you don't mind any of this, have fun with the book. And if you're interested in knowing more about the real backstage opera scene, check out Manuela Hoelterhoff's "Cinderella & Company" - a highly readable non-fiction book packed with amusing gossip.

Ransom at the Opera is a really enjoyable read that takes every cliche about the opera and gives it a little tweak on the nose. A young upstart opera company makes a bid for publicity by hiring a musical-comedy director to direct their opening production of Carmen. The gambit works, and they become the talk of the town (and the country) due to the popularity with the public, and the disdain of opera afficionados. The popularity brings the production to Chicago, where internal problems and jealousies lead to murder, which is then investigated by series regulars, Det. Jeremy Ransom and his friend and adoptive grandmother, Emily Charters.

The book is filled with spirit and fun, gently lampooning the conventions of the opera and theater folk in general -- BTW, about the issue of opera singers smoking and drinking--apparently some people believe the stereotypes about divas being chemically pure women perpetually spritzing their throats with atomizers. I used to do makeup at the Lyric, and believe me, some of these people smoke like chimneys (yes, backstage!) and drink like fish.

This book is a lot of fun.

I am a sex therapist with over 20 years of experience in the field. This is a book that I was eagerly awaiting and am using on a daily basis as an adjunct to my work with couples. It is clear, repetitive enough to "make the point," and gives couples clear steps that they can read and evaluate on their own, as well as in the therapy sessions. I fell very positive about recommending this book.

What a surprise to see that the reader from Kalamazoo was disappointed with this book .... Au contraire, I thought the authors did an excellent job of laying out reasons for lack of marital bliss between the sheets, and then presenting great step-by-step strategies and techniques for effecting change.
There were many eye openers:
* Good sex in a marriage contributes 15-20% of marital vitality. Bad sex contributes 50-70% of marital malaise.
* Romantic love is inherently unstable usually ending before marriage or seldom lasting past the first year.
* Sexual desire is based on emotional and sexual intimacy NOT on romantic love or passionate sex.
* YOU are responsible for yourself as a sexual partner. It is NOT the job of the spouse to make you desirous or turn you on.
* Good intentions are not enough. You need a PLAN to enhance your sexual relationship. The most successful strategy is a gradual step-by-step process.
* The most powerful aphrodisiac is NOT an esoteric technique; it is an involved, aroused spouse......
The McCarthys did a fine job of differentiating "media hype" sex,(spontaneous,intense,nonverbal,passionate,perfect)from "real marital sex", (less than half of the time there is equal desire,arousal, orgasm and satisfaction).
I also enjoyed learning about the poisons for sexual desire. It was a jolt to discover that sexual desire is SO easy to kill.
I could go on about the merits of this book.... Suffice it to say; it was a great and informative read. I highly recommend it for all couples, but especially for those grappling with sexual concerns.

Barry and Emily McCarthy have written THE book for couples who are mired in a sea of sexual avoidiance. If you still love your partner, but you somehow just can't make the sexual connection, read this book. It is a treasure trove of practical, realistic
strategies to revive your love.

Here, finally, is the comprehensive, thoughtful, down to earlth, un-gimicky guide and roadmap I needed to have to give to the many, varied low and no sex couples who I see for sex therapy. There is no simplistic, woman's-magazine advice to be found in the pages of Rekindling Desire. I can't think of anything I wish the authors had said that they omitted. The discussions and the cases have depth, and as a reader struggling with the problem of a low sex relationship, you will find yourself in its pages. As the reader, you can hear the authors' seasoned clinical voices cheering you on, giving you sage advice. A major strength of this book: you get concrete, healing suggestions for rethinking, reframing, and constructively talking to eachother about this important, joint problem.

You also get the chance to give up some long-held myths that are ruining your chances to reawaken love. I admire the McCarthys' discussion of normal sexuality and their counseling on realistic sexual expectations. Just reading through Rekindling Desire will be educational for all couples. Low and no sex relationships are complicated. Rekindling Desire does't promise instant cures, it doesn't hype the "latest advances." To make deep changes, readers will need to be committed to change, to grab hold of the techniques provided. But by adopting the "intimate team" approach, a loving couple who each intend to reclaim their due share of physical and emotional connection and sexual desire will surely succeed.

While Habegger does provide some original insight into Edward Dickinson, the majority of this book does not present new evidence or new interpretation. The documentation of sources is done terribly (it barely exists), which is not excusable in someone who is a scholar. I realize this book is not written for a scholarly audience, but with the recent problems Stephen Ambrose and Doris Kearns Goodwin have had, Habegger should have been much more careful. For the reader new to ED and wanting to know about her, this book will provide all the usual information. What is troubling is that there is a fair amount of speculative commentary provided that isn't well backed up, especially when it comes to ED's relationships with her sister-in-law and her parents. Quite a few assertions are stated as fact but don't have the evidence to back them up. This is the problem with a lot of Dickinson biographies--biographers (most of them scholars) don't seem to feel that it's necessary to explain that a lot of what they say is speculation and not fact; most casual readers won't know this and take everything that's said as not only fact, but fact provided by someone who really knows what they're talking about. Habegger knows more than many, but his material is not presented in a way that is acceptable scholarship because it's mostly his opinion with some quotations taken out of context.

There are also several factual errors, but I'm told these are being corrected for the paperback edition which is due out next month.

I began this book with trepidation, for I find myself slightly suspicious of literary biographies finding them to be either too sensationalized or reductive or too academic to be interesting to the average reader. This is a well-researched volume that does not read like a doctoral thesis. But Alfred Habegger manages to discover a delightful balance between scholarly research and public readability.

I adore Dickinson and was impressed with the manner in which Habegger handled his subject. He presents her with the complexity and intellectual approach toward she deserves. Emily Dickinson appears as neither the bizarre recluse nor a misunderstood sexual being of some of her previous biographies. If, as some readers have found, the poet appears a bit unresolved and incomplete, it is only because Mr. Habegger wisely chose NOT to sensationalize his book with unsubstantiated presumptions as to her personal life. I enjoyed the author's scholarly, non-sensationalist approach to Ms. Dickinson and found that it did not prevent me from "knowing her" as a person or subject.

One of Alfred Hebeggar's greatest strengths is his realization that no artist exists in a vacuum. He presents to his readers the complex outer world that inspired the poets rich inner world allowing us to draw many of our own conclusions. Meticulously researched and gently paced, the book is a journey not merely a chronicle of a single life. Instead, it is an insightful look at the entire Dickinsonian world of family, academics, and petty town politics. Habegger introduces the reader to the poet's entire extended family and the emotional movement within it. He allows the reader to truly see the social and political environment in which the poet lived. And that is fascinating in its own right.

Overall, I enjoyed the book very much and appreciate Alfred Hebeggar's unique ability to strike a balance scholarship and authorship. He is never condescending, yet he explains thoroughly. He treats the reader as an intelligent person with a mind eager for historical details and biographical accuracy and he treats his subject with respect and intellectual dignity. His book is academically valid without sacrificing the art of solid writing.

Beginning with Habegger's inspired choice of the title, from one of Dickinson's poems, this book is a comprehensive, respectful look at an enigmatic woman. Habegger fleshes out well the cast of characters in her self-limited sphere, so that we feel we know well her family members and friends of that Victorian era so different from our own. The poet herself remains somewhat elusive, but I thank Habegger for refusing to reduce her to psychological cliches. His book is refreshingly free of five-cent analyses, however tempting Dickinson's character might be for such dismissive summaries.

There is no doubt that Dickinson ranks as one of the greatest American poets, due to her concise, spare, whimsical, and cerebral approach. Personally, I have never warmed to her poetry as I sense something lacking. She elevates feeling above all, as do all the poets of the romantic period. Unlike her Puritan ancestors, for whom the greatest love was the love of God, her energies and attachments all flow both from, and toward, her own feelings. Like a moonstruck adolescent, she prefers her dreams of love to the actual presence of the loved one. From her decision to withdraw from the necessary order and balance of the outside world, comes this outpouring of intense feeling expressed in the large body of her work.

As a Lay Carmelite whose spiritual life has also been informed by Puritan ancestors, I praise the beauty of Dickinson's poems, but I cannot deny what seems to me their essential, self-referring shallowness. I know many will disagree with me and I do not disallow her position in the American canon.