This Civil War account was a great Christian experience for me and I am one of those people who is not sure of my beliefs. It is wonderfully researched and combines fact with historical fiction. The author puts the reader in the life of a Mennonite family in the Shennandoah Valley, Virginia with their struggle to survive the Civil War while maintaining strength in their faith. I thought it was a great book and couldn't put it down. My eyes went before my desire to stop reading. I recommend this story to anyone who enjoys learning of the Civil War or anyone who needs to be reminded of the value of faith.

I gave this book to my 10 year-old niece Anna Hole, and she adored it. She especially connected to Seneca, the Indian maiden. What a good book. Anna gave it to her mother and father, who loved it too, and then once I read it I was really filled with admiration. Id love to give it to someone in Hollywood, and just tell them to read the first chapter, and I bet theyd be hooked. We need more entertainment like this. I look forward to reading more books in the series. From Sarah

This book is wonderful! It is all about a woman who is not content with the dreary, miserable state of the world, and searches for the truth about life. She takes an unprejudiced look at philosophy, mysticism and religion, and finds the object of her search giving hope to all those that read it.

It is gripping, humorous and stimulating, but above all leaves you with a feeling of real hope for the future of humanity, a warm glow inside.

I had never heard of Francis Grierson's "The Valley of Shadows" until I read Edmund Wilson's enthusiastic praise of it in "Patriotic Gore." Still, I was unprepared for the book's enormous effect. I have never read anything like "The Valley of Shadows." It has some of the most evocative writing I have ever encountered, and, in this edition, ranks as one of the best short novels of 19th century America. (Prof. Bray has wisely excised the latter chapters of Francis Grierson's "memoir," and what remains is a compelling and very memorable work.) Grierson's descriptions of pre-Civil-War-Sangamon County, Illinois, the omens of war and suffering preceding Lincoln's election in 1860, and the religious hysteria of the times are unforgettable. His prose style is, to put it mildly, lyrical, but it is not in the least mannered or fussy. I think this book, more than any other except "Huckleberry Finn," shows what the American Midwest was like in mid-19th century. Like "Huck Finn," "The Valley of Shadows" is told from a child's point of view, and the feeling of wonder and confusion that comes from this choice of narrator is central to the book's charm. Perhaps best of all, the novel's characters, all beautifully differentiated and running a huge range from the comic to the deeply spiritual, are as unforgettable as any characters I have encountered. New readers of "The Valley of Shadows" are in for a big treat.

Excellent book for those who love the stories of the north spiced with thrilling romance that brings tears to once eyes. I read this book about 25 years ago in college in Europe (in my native language). Since I've immigrated to U.S 20 years ago I tried to find this book without any results (even major bookstors didn't know who James Oliver Curwood was). Thanks to Amazon search train i was able to find it. I received this book 2 weeks ago and read it over Christmas and then my wife. I was glad I forgot most of it from the college days and could enjoy it again. My wife was overwhelmed and finished the book with tears in Her eyes.

I read this book years ago and once again more recently. It is hilarious, just flat out funny -- especially so for any woman who survived the uptight politcally correct stages that feminism and lesbian feminism went through. Those happy days when feminists didn't want to associate with lesbians, when lesbians picketed drag queens and every body spent way too much energy criticizing everyone else's lack of activism. Not only does Valley of the Amazons shine a spotlight on the (in hindsight) ludicrous PC wars, it makes room for a tentative romantic entanglement that takes a shy lesbian through all the stages of coming out. The sequel, Who Was That Masked Woman? is worth a read, but not nearly as good as this one.

Dragon's Fire & Wizard's Flame debuts a new "The Valley of the Dragons" series of young adult fantasy books by Michael R. Mennenga. Zac is a young dragon with an unusual disability -- he was born without the ability to blow fire. This makes him an outcast among the other dragons (not to mention causing him to suffer from a very low self-esteem), and compels him to set out on a personal quest to somehow over come his birth defect and find his fire. What Zac doesn't realize is that he possesses something far more valuable than fire, something that wizards and "darkpower" creatures are out to steal from him. Highly recommended for personal, school, and library collections, Dragon's Fire & Wizard's Flame is a deftly written and highly entertaining novel that will appeal to young fantasy fans everywhere.

I have to admit that this is the first Christian book I have ever read, and I am still thinking about it, 7 years after I read it.

The story is very similar to the Left Behind series written several years later, so if you like that series, you should love this book.

However, unstead of starting with The Rapture and following afterwards, this story concentrates on the time right before this event. And the major character is a Christian Sheriff, having to almost hide his faith because of people's mistaken belief that Christians are not tolerant of other's.

Well before it's time, it covers issues of faith, family, political corectness, and forgiveness. And many things parallel Pre-World War 2 Germany. But it is also very believeable. If you can get this book, read it.

I HAVE SEEN VIDEOS AND READ SOME BOOKS ON THIS SUBJECT, BUT I FIND THIS BOOK ESPECIALLY COMPELLING FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS; THE POINT OF VIEW THE BOOK TAKES THE READER, AND THE INFORMATION AND THE INTERPRETATION OF THE SUPPORTING FACTS OF HIS POINT OF VIEW.

My English and my background to understand Larson's humor are not the best but anytime I grab one of his books from my self I crack with the old jokes I have read many times. Each time I find a new sense and a new kind of humor, and all depends on my animus and circunstances. If someday I don't crack with a single one, I'll know my illusion for the common things of life and my youth have come to an end. David