I read this book and I realy learnd a lot! Now I know more about how to help children like Nicole. The book was written in a funny way at the same time that it learn me something. I realy like your books Judy!

First I have to say that I adore Mrs. Sarah Fountain and I knew before I opened this book that I would love it. Mrs Fountain is an Arkansas treasure. This book is a wonderful gift for anyone that is interested in Southern history and geneaolgy. The letters paint a picture of the past in a way that nothing else can. The people were alive for me, their sorrows were mine, and I really admired the bravery of those women. Thank you Mrs Sarah! Jamie Sanders Peacock UCA 1977

Everyone will acknowledge that to adapt a novel for the screen always amounts to a difficult - and in many cases a downright impossible - undertaking. This is not any different with "Snow Falling on Cedars", a novel that is remarkable for its use of different time levels as well as an array of characters complex enough to scare off most scriptwriters. Given the difficulties Ron Bass and Scott Hicks must have faced while adapting the novel, I am all the more pleased with the result of their work. All in all it is fair to say that they have succeeded in writing a script that never runs the risk of cutting the novel's central thread and that pays attention to a great many of the book's intricate details. One drop of bitterness, however, is exactly the use of the aforementioned time levels - or "time frames", as Hicks calls them in his commentary that closes the script - as their complex arrangement both threatens the smooth evolving of the story and tends to confuse those readers not familiar with the novel. But then this may have to do more with the general problems associated with bringing a novel to the screen than with Bass' and Hicks' qualities as scriptwriters, and I would still recommend this script to anyone interested in getting to know more about the filming of "Snow Falling on Cedars" and about adapting a novel for the screen in general.

This is a good book by a great author. It handles relationships and problems if you are irresponsible. It is a book for people who are mature and can handle problems like teenage pregnancy and children. I suggest it as a good book for 12 and up and I am a teenager

It's me, D. Green once again. I read this book, or in this case, this e-book, out of sheer curiosity; which is probably why youre looking at this review. This non-fiction book was like nothing I have read before...

It was written by a real girl who lived in Austria, pre-World War One Austria. As mentioned above, this diary is presented by the great Sigmund Freud. The diary starts off with a preface written by Freud in which he explains the reason why this particular diary is given to us; to follow the girl's personal development from a young girl into a young woman . That reason may sound a little strange, but keep in mind that not too long ago a lot of people thought that what Freud did was also a little strange.

Originally written in German, the translators did a good job of keeping the girl's writing style and syntax pretty close to the way it might have been . As I said, her story, Gretel's story, takes place in pre-World War One Austria, where there is still an Emperor, when America was still minding her own business, and hints of anti-Semitism where there and blatant at times but still under the old man's top hat. Besides all of those potential dormant volcano-like problems, the diary provided an interesting look into the Austrian culture of the early 1900s. As I was reading it, I could almost here the joyfully jolly like quartets and symphonies of J. Haydn playing in the background.

As I said before. the translators, I felt, did a good job of keeping the girl's writing style close to what the original probably was; which was pretty good and very engaging. The diary, written over four years, does what every diary does, in telling the reader what the writer feels and experiences. And boy does Gretel go through a lot of things and feel a lot of emotions. This description here may sound cut and dry, but that is where her diary excels to the point of excellence.

For her age she is a very good writer. From the beginning, where her story starts on the first year when she is ten, it is clear that she is quite handy with the pen; expressive and fluid, much more so then a lot of us were when we were ten. And us she gets older by the year, her descriptions become that much more expressive. Because of this, I really felt that I was apart of her conscience and one of her friends. If not that, then like an angel watching over her as she hang out with her best friend, Hella, as she and her family went an vacations in the Austrian countryside, and as she dealt with her feelings for the young men that she idolized- through the bad times and the good.

Though it was originally presented by Freud as a specimen to analyze and observe the development of a young female during the important years of personal growth, from a liberal arts perspective it is a work of art printed by the hand of a young artist.

Since this diary was written by a young girl, parents should give this book a look. Because this diary was written by a young girl from pre-World War One, students of culture and history should give this book a reading. On account of the fact that this diary was written by a young girl, who goes through the trials of life, students of life should take notice to this book. Heck, anyone whom has the opportunity to look at it, should do so...

On a quick note this book can be downloaded for no exchange of money (free) at the Project Gutenberg E-text website. I would like to give the website address but this one won't let me, so please highlight and use Yahoo.

Gretel's story is a very good one, rich in expression and emotionally moving, especially the ending. GOOD READING

I don't know what the author intended, but this book is of little value to anyone. It is not useful as a guidebook (the few bits of practical information are written in a way that would be more appropriate in a magazine) and the rest rambles on about the author's personal experience. Much of the book has a superior and sanctimonious tone. Even more irritating is the author's use of shorthand words or non-words, such as "vue" instead of view, or "thru" rather than through. Worst of all is a chapter called "Thots", which I guess was supposed to be Thoughts. Please don't insult readers this way. There is nothing inherently uncool about clarity and good spelling.
Bottom line: Don't buy this book. I can't see it being of any value to someone contemplating a visit to Cedar Mesa. There are two other books sold by Amazon about Cedar Mesa, both of which I found far more useful or enlightening.

First of all, the reader has to understand that this book was self-published and contains many idiosycracies of the author. Second, this book serves as a companion to Jim's website: www.anasazis.com. For whatever reason, the author chooses to spell according to his own vernacular. However, the words still read clearly and the meaning remains intact. While sometimes annoying, one has to respect the right of an author to use his language in whatever way he sees fit.

This book is useful to those experienced in hiking the wonderful canyon country of Cedar Mesa. Many routes discussed can not be found anywhere else (book or Blog type of website). Furthermore, interesting sites can be gleaned out of the readings with enough previous knowledge and insight.

Very few people have hiked Cedar Mesa as thoroughly as Jim Beard, and intrepid hikers looking to get off the standard Grand Gulch, Fish/Owl, McLoyd and Road canyon routes will appreciate the author's information.

When not detailing nearly every hiking route into a myraid of canyons, the author offers his thoughts about the country and hiking (and his dogs..). This desert rat's mind is sharp and his ramblings interesting. But, only if you love this county and avoid the crowds.

A hiking guide book for Cedar Mesa, SE Utah. Also contains essays about hiking, Anasazi, and some imaginary concepts.

This book needs a major overhaul. Information and photos are out-of-date. Very superficial information for anyone on the verge of buying and building. Printing quality is very poor -- some of the photos are so dark they are indistinguishable - copier quality in fact. For the first time ever -- I sent a book back for a refund.

This book is the best overall guide to understanding and working with log and timber frame manufacturers and building with their kits. It includes a very complete directory of manufacturers, sources of building and maintenance supplies and 28 home plans.

I started reading this book with a preconceived notion that this story would be exactly like Bridges of Madison County (I almost was not let down); I was sure of another tear jerking unhappy ending, so I was happily surprised when I got to the end of this story. I rated this book with three stars. I would have rated it two and a half; you can only rate by whole stars, because I liked it as much as I did not like it. I wasn't sure if I would like this story when I first started reading it but who doesn't love a good love affair, especially if it involves infidelity and a few good sex scenes? If you can overlook the infidelity, you can tell that the author seems like a hopeless romantic and that this story comes from his heart. How refreshing to know that someone from the male gender can be such a romantic! It was a little difficult to really get into reading this book at first, so thank God! it wasn't too long. After getting farther into the story, the more interesting it became. The duck rescue was a very touching. I really enjoyed how Michael went to India to prove his love for Jellie, and how his elderly mother encouraged him to chase after his love (that part also touched my heart somewhat). I also liked how the author tried to make this story seem real to the reader. He used good foreshadowing. I liked how the scenery was always changing. The accident was good because the plot kept you guessing. I had a few tears at this point. One thing I really wish was that if Jellie's name was pronounced Jah'lay, then that should have been how it was spelled. I wonder what the author was thinking when he came up with that name.

While this book does not bring forth the strong, charismatic emotion as "The Bridges of Madison County," it does contain the same gentle flowing writing style and vivid drama. From Iowa to spectatular India, the author weaves a tale of love and loss with a blend of strong down-to-Earth characters and a sense of mystic wonder. "Slow Waltz in Cedar Bend" is not a deep, intense read, but it is still enjoyable and can easily be read in an evening. I have been hoping it would eventually become a movie, but to date, I do not believe that has happened. The setting would make for some breath-taking photography, particularly those scenes shot on location in India. Waller's writing style is somewhat similar to that of Nicholas Sparks; however, Waller writes with more passion, realism and conviction.

I liked the book from the very beginning, reading it in one "shot". It is an excellent love story, very sensitive, with beautiful descriptions of the characters and events. The campus-life descriptions bring many memories, and the love scenarios are touching. The two parallel lives of Jellie Braden are beautifuly described, and Mikel is a real "character" (maybe like the author...?, definitely like his "budy"/"prototype" Robert Kincaid). I liked the flow of events, the jump between present and past, the description of life in a small campus-town, the life in India, and especially the love-related events. I liked the description of the "ever increasing" relationships between the two main souls - Jellie and Mikel, especially the "swans in the pool" scenario and the follow-up....where the "slow waltz" is becoming a real love.

But, I felt that the author went "one bridge too far", with the end of the book. It could have as well been finished one chapter "earlier", after Jellie and Mikel were re-united in India.

I enjoyed reading the book, and definitely rate it as one of the good ones I ever read.

This book provides an apt description of small-town living in Iowa. It tells the story of a town/county that is both a farming community and a commuter community, caught between the past and the future. The most interesting part of the book for me was the story of Ruby Wingert's "ghost". I grew up in Tipton, the county seat, and as a child I had to walk past her home to get to my best friend's house. I was always terrified of the place -- a creepy, run-down Victorian -- as were most of the other children I knew. As an adult I took a tour of the home, after it had been beautifully restored, and found myself wishing I could live there. Now I'm even more fascinated by the place, wondering if it is, indeed, haunted by Ruby.

If you are interested in this book you might also enjoy "Bird, Kansas" -- a book that's been on my shelf for years, so I'm not sure if it's even published anymore.

I am writing a final paper on this book at the moment. Chestnutt is an important writer, but not one of the best of the period. I don't think he ever got the chance to fully mature as a writer. This book leaves me with a lot of what-ifs and whys. For example, he introduces a nephew to the heroine who appears as though he will be important, but simply drops out of the picture. The book leaves me wondering what he meant to do, and didn't have time for. It is a good read, but rather frustrating.

If you only have time to read one African American classic, I would turn you instead to Zora Neale Hurston's "Their Eyes Are Watching God" which is truly amazing!