As eloquent as it is insightful. Barry Lopez moves us to see and question. A true gift from writer to reader.

Time is a precious commodity, and it is hard to find time to do all that must be done. But, the short time that is needed to read this book will be well worth spending.

Extremely good prose. A poignant testimony to the loss of the Earth's resources in the face of historical and current development. Highly recommend adding this to your book collection if you have any affinity to the natural world.

This autobiographical novel set in Europe in the 1940s is dominated by youthful exuberance, friendship, loyalties, love, and survival. The book was first published in French, just a few years after World War II. Rejto describes with realism and light-hearted humor the dark war-time adventures thrust upon him and his friends: school and family life in pre-war Budapest abruptly replaced by forced labor camps, deportation, escape, resistance, the extermination of family and friends. There is no bitterness here, nor desire for revenge. Rather, it is the timeless story of recognizing and dealing with horribly tragic situations, and struggling to rebuild new and productive lives. The story will stay in your mind for a long time.

This is a remarkable story of growing up in prewar Europe and survival told with humor and humility.

This terrifying war-time tale is told though the eyes of a narrator too young and full of life to be terrified. The Reluctant Adventurer is a story of love, friendship, and adventure; it is warm and humorous and informative and just a bit magical....not unlike the work of Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I was very impressed.

There are two and a half sets of lovers in Thomas Hardy's "The Return of the Native," which, if your math is correct and your idea of the number of lovers in a set concurs with mine, makes five people. Romance, deceit, misunderstanding, and misfortune affect their destinies, and those to whom the novel is cruelest come to tragic ends because they refuse to forgive themselves or others for mistakes.

The central tragic figure is Eustacia Vye, a young woman who has come to live on Egdon Heath with her cantankerous grandfather. Despising the dreariness of the heath and generally secluding herself from the local populace, she is somewhat of an outsider and not well liked by some in the community. She was in love with Damon Wildeve, a former engineer who now owns an inn and is not too happy about it; but their affair has since cooled and Wildeve has turned his attention to a girl named Thomasin Yeobright. Wildeve and Thomasin's wedding is aborted when the marriage license turns out to be invalid, and Thomasin, running home to her aunt in shame and anger, is caught on the rebound by Diggory Venn, her long-time admirer. A word about Venn's profession is in order: He is a "reddleman," who, not unlike the ice cream man in the summertime, rides around the heath in a van selling a strange product that shades its vendor most memorably.

Completing the quintet is Thomasin's cousin Clym Yeobright, an Egdon Heath native who is returning permanently after living for some time in Paris as a diamond merchant. Destiny eventually unites Clym and Eustacia in love, but Clym's mother does not approve of the union; she doesn't like Eustacia, and she fears their being married would prevent or discourage Clym from returning to his lucrative career in Paris. They get married anyway, as do Wildeve and Thomasin on a second try, leaving Venn as the fifth wheel but still not out of the running.

The catalyst for the tragedy of the novel involves an attempted reconciliation between Clym's mother and Eustacia, which results in the kind of ugly situation that could be cleared up by simple explanations and apologies but instead is exacerbated by normal circumstances. On top of this, Wildeve realizes he still loves Eustacia and is willing to help her in any course of action, no matter how lacking in judgment, that she thinks is an appropriate response to her plight.

This novel swells with Hardy's typical narrative genius, but no less impressive than the plot, the characters, the dialogue, and the prose, is the barren but hauntingly beautiful setting of Egdon Heath. Like the famous Casterbridge of his later novel, it is a world unto itself, defined by its own peculiar topography and populated by denizens who, with their own special jargon, customs, and folklore, act as a sort of Greek chorus towards the drama of the principal characters, commenting on events with humor and gravity. The heathmen and women don't much mind the hardships of life; they're the kind of people that will joyfully dance around their bonfires on the barrows even without musical accompaniment.

I didn't pay attention to much in high school but this book, and the tools by which to grasp it, has stayed with me through a lifetime. The heath and the people who were more of it than of the world, has remained vivid and powerfully romantic to keep me coming back to Hardy and other English authors of the 19th and early 20th centuries. The result has been part of the greatest joys in a life of reading.

Eustacia Vye is a magnificent heroine, and her power, ardor and ultimate destiny as perhaps in excess of the more common neighbors is intense and pagan and unforgettable. The heath is a pre-christian place, remote not only from civilization but from all that is ordinary. In a small country, with massive social rules, the heath is alive and in posession of a soul. They keep the ancient traditions of festivals and bonfires, the people even speak their own language. The book has enhanced battles with the elements that seem to be offended and punishing ill-fated love. No one who reads this book will forget the red man, seeming to be a favorite of those pagan gods.
This is a romance that is eternal. Read it again, or read it with an inner openness and it will repay your time and soul.

Egdon Heath is the wild and hostile environment in which Hardy's tale of love and loss takes place. The setting of the novel is inescapable and its influence so strong that the heath is almost a character in itself. The action of the novel focusses around three men and three women; Clym Yeobright, Diggory Venn and Damon Wildeve and Mrs Yeobright (Clym's mother), her niece Thomasin whom she has adopted and Eustacia Vye. The other charcters in the novel are the heath people who form a greek chorus to the novel and are occasionally used as instigators of the action. The main theme of the novel is doomed love and the way in which the characters are unable to escape their destiny. It is also interesting to note that the ending to the novel was not the one Hardy inteneded, he had intended to end it after the scene by Shadwater weir. However, his publishers demanded a more positive ending and one which I feel slightly undermines the power of the novel. Most editions have a footnote at the point where Hardy had intended to finish, allowing readers to choose which ever ending they prefer.
Hardy's characterisation is highly realistic in that the boundaries between 'good' and 'bad' characters are somewhat fluid. He also explores the idea of the 'fatal flaw' and how people inevitably destroy themselves and those they hold most dear. If you're looking for a 'feel-good' novel this is not the one to go for but if you enjoy enjoy novels like Wuthering Heights and Tess of the Durbervilles then place your order now...

Very well thought out information. I find sometimes, alternative medcial practitioners have an "axe" to grind or an anti establishment bias. I found none of that in this book. This was based on logic, studies, and experience. I have suffered from a "root canal gone bad" for over a year before I discovered this information. All the doctors and dentists just shook their collective heads while I was being poisoned by an infected root canal tooth. Even after I had it removed, the problem continued. It had tranferred to my jaw and other areas of my jaw. Without this info, I do not know where I would be at this point. I am seeking the proper care and expect a great improvement.

Drs. Kulacz and Levy paint a vivid, disheartening picture of medicine and dentistry today. They write in terms easy enough for any layperson to understand, but their technical abilities shine through. Drs. Kulacz and Levy are saving lives through the spread of information and their work. Everyone should read this book.

This book boldly explores the dangers of common dental procedures such as root canals that leave lingering infection in the jawbone and may cause a host of serious medical diseases. Clear explanation of the process as well as numerous old and new scientific references support the authors articulate description of this subject. The best book that I have read on dentistry. A must read for anyone that has had or is having dental work done!

Mr. Durham's book gives an excellent look at some of the beliefs of the Lakota, without being overly romantic. His love for both the Buffalo and Sundance are evident as he shows how walking a sacred path is a full time job, not for the weekend warriors. I have already recomended this books several times, and read my copy twice so far.

I have read this book and found it wonderful. It is very spiritual and gives insight into the Native American spirit and ways. We could all take a lesson from this book. I also had the privilage of seeing the Sacred Buffalo Skeleton in person. Very inspiring!!.

This book is an amazing journey about what went into the creation of a sacred object. It takes you through the mechanics of how it was done, as well as what the people involved put into it spiritually and emotionally. Their dedication to this project was very inspiring. Having been lucky enough to actually see this beautiful piece of art, I felt the book further enhanced that experience.

This book is a valuable reference for adults trying to explain to a child, what happens during the calling hours and funeral ritual. It also is a good book for a child who has lost a grandparent to read as well. It hits many aspects of loss, to include the phases of grief as well as the some common funeral rituals. The trip to and from grandpa's home allowed reflection and reminiscing by the family. In doing that the child was able to learn more about grandma and to share her own times with her grandmother. . The story also shows, well , the different phases of grief among family members, ie the tears of the grandfather and the mother. There were tender moments. One such moment took place with the child and her grandfather when he spoke of his wife's love of fishing. The child was a comfort to her grandfather. The child at one point was given the choice to attend the funeral and her decision to attend was honored. This inclusion in the decision makes the funeral less scary for a child. The child was a part of the process and was able to experience the feelings of loss, as well as the ritual, the ability to reminisce and to celebrate the life of the person who passed. This book was written very simply and in a matter of fact manner. The illustrations were soft and non threatening. I have added this book to our Hospice library and feel that it will be a good resource for our community.

The day that grandma died we drove all night and all afternoon. On the way mom told stories about how grandma traped a ratcoon in the garbage can. She bought a new garbage can with a lid and fead that rascull scraps of food every day after supper.

This is a story of a little girl whose grandmother has died and she has to travel with her family for the funeral. It takes her through the stages of wondering what it is like to go to the funeral home and to see her parents and grandfather going through some of the grief. It is a very realistic approach to way Americans approach the process of grief. This includes the funeral home, the cemetery, and even a consolation breakfast.

This book allows the child to see death as a real part of life and allows for the discussion of death with children. They will see how even when people are sad they can still laugh, remember, and talk about the person who died. It helps the healing process.

Excellent book for young children.

More than just a "coffee table" book, this is a fascinating journey into the world of "extreme science". The photography is outstanding and the commentary articulate, educational and approachable. A great "maiden voyage" from Peter Lane Taylor. I can't wait to see what he comes up with next!

Taylor has done a superb job with his first book. Each chapter is captivating and full of new information. Instead of glossing over the sometimes difficult technical material which is discussed in this book, Taylor writes in a way that shares the depth and rigor of the research that is the subject of 'Science at the Extreme'. Both the writing and the photography in this book are engaging and instructional; and in each chapter, the reader's appetite for 'extreme science' grows stronger.

It is encouraging to see a book that does such an exceptional job of bringing together the popular culture ingredients common in National Geographic and the Discovery Channel, with the rigorous components of scientific research that exist at the National Science Foundation and in academia-at-large. 'Science at the Extreme' is just the kind of work that is needed to reinvigorate student interest in science in America, although it certainly does not appear to be the objective of the book. I have no doubt that high-schools and colleges will have to start offering 'Science at the Extreme' classes after students get a hold of this book.

I'm already looking forward to Taylor's next offering, although he has a tough act to follow since the bar has been set so high with 'Science at the Extreme'.

The only thing missing in 'Science at the Extreme' is an order form for buying large-size prints of Taylor's inspiring photographs...

I was very much impressed with the chapter on cave diving and the excellent leadership of the WKPP. These guys and gals are a very select few diving to depths of 300ft with total dive time of 15 plus hours. The research of florida caves is extensive and the surface has only been scraped. The dedication and team development of the WKPP is beyond anything on the planet.

This is an excellent book! It is a fun way for children to learn about science with activities involving the sense of smell.

I am a 6th grade teacher and I read an experiment from this book to my class one day to give them an idea with their science fair projects. The class was fascinated! They beg me to read from the book 20 minutes a day, and they are always telling me about the experiments they do at home after hearing about the experiments in class. They are always talking about experiments of odors in and out of the classroom. Parents call and tell me how much fun they have learning from their children about the science of odors and the sense of smell. I would recommend this book to anyone, even if they were not doing a science fair project!

My child was never interested in science until I bought him this book. Now I can't get him to stop doing experiments! This brilliant book by the Rybolts has been educational and sparked a new love for learning in my son. Its also been fun for me to learn along with him. This book is one of a kind!

This book is exceptional in all respects. Parisi is a wonderful character. The dialogue is hard with nothing wasted.

The characters are the kind you respect. Parisi is worth bringing back again and again. Very well written.

Another outstanding ms by this new author. The author holds your interest from beginning to end. The cross-over between the father and son is well done. Sometimes when you go from one timeframe to another,you get lost and have to re-read to keep up. NOt in this case. The father-son relationship is, even after the father's death, is very emotional. A recommended read. Looking forward to more.

As the title says you might not want to read this book at night. Not because it is scary though, but because you'll lose great amounts of sleep doing so. The characters in this book are very well written and you can relate to them so well that while in the process of reading the book, it is hard to put the book down because you want to know how certain characters will deal with certain situations or if they will be alright. The storyline is amazing. I don't usually like to read books twice in a row but this book was so good that I have already started reading it again. I didn't read Cutter but as soon as I can find a copy of it, I'll read that one too. This book is simply amazing and it's one of the best books I've read in a long time.

Anne Knoll's The Secret Life Of Thomas Bradford is an imaginative and entertaining novel for young adults about an odd-eyed white cat who considers himself to be a king, and a self-centered young man with a similar illusion. Neither cat nor man will let anyone or anything stop him on his quest for glory! Humorous and sometimes poignant, The Secret Life Of Thomas Bradford will especially resonate for anyone who shares their household with a furry feline king or queen. Entertaining and especially recommended for young cat lovers and feline fanciers!

I try to read my children's books as often as I can although doing so is not always what you would call a literary adventure. This was not the case in "The Secret Life of Thomas Bradford." Not only was this one of the best children's books I've read, it was one of the best BOOKS I've read in a long time (including some of the so-called bestsellers). "TB" was imaginative and adventurous, so much so I felt compelled to write a review. I plan to buy extra copies to give as gifts and to donate to the school library. I see Ms. Knoll writes gothic romances (just like Marcy). I hope she writes another children's book, she has a true gift. Also, wouldn't this make a lovely full-length cartoon? Quick! Somebody call Disney and Nickelodeon!

Storyline is the adventures of Thomas (the cat) who runs away from an unhappy home. I liked it because Thomas told the story which made me laugh, cry and be happy at the end.