First, let me say that the illustrations in this book are exquisit. The oil paintings are absolutely fabulous. However, they are a little dark and my niece seems to have a hard time relating to them at times.

The story is good, but not excellent. The relationship between the main character and her grandmother is very well drawn. However, the book wavers between real life and the dream world. At the end of the book when the whales call the main character's name, we had to answer questions about whether the girl was going to live with the whales forever because they had called her.

This is not a bad book, but a bit too disquieting to become a favorite for us.

As a homeschooling parent I read this book with my children as we were doing a unit study on sound.

Whales have a the ability to make a much higher pitched sound than the human ear can hear. It is their song, or communicating which facinates us.

This book offers magnificent and realistic paintings which will delight your eyes as well as your heart.

The grandmother tells of the whales, is it real or fantasy? All the while a great uncle so blatently informs the little girl what whales were used for in the past.

As we know, whales have much larger brains then ours- who is to say they would not sing for a kind gesture from a loving stranger?

This book has found a special place in our home library, I hope it will for you or someone you love as well.

When we first read this book, we played the sound of the whales for our 7 year old son Constantin, so he could relate to the story and its magic. The illustrations are beautiful and very powerful. This book also presents a lovely relationship between a little girl and her grandmother, both of them dreamers and believers who disregard whoever makes fun of them and their ideas. We read this book in Spanish and liked it so much that ordered it in English.

This was a very popular novel of 1896, and is considered by many to be a literary classic. Theron Ware enters the scene as a small town Methodist Minister. He and his wife seem to be humble folk and settle into a small house near his church. Soon he meets a Catholic priest, an atheist physician, and a beautiful Irish lass. They make quite an impression on him. They are sophisticated, well educated, and quite worldly. Alas, they are such a strong influence on him that he starts playing the worldly role, and begins to look down on his job and his religion. He also finds himself strongly attracted to the lovely Celia Madden. I should mention that in those days the Irish were assigned to the caste of untouchables.

Theron acts as if he is now a man of the world, although he knows nothing of the literature, music, and philosophy discussed by others. He becomes a boring, mean minded buffoon. The book continues with his steady degradation, a preacher who has become a victim of that secular humanism that our current day fundamentalists complain so much about.

The novel provides an interesting view of religion and culture of the late 1800s. It was somewhat difficult for me to understand how such a seemingly pious man could turn into such a churlish fellow. Perhaps his upbringing was quite religiously strict, and he developed a strong reaction formation to it all.

I found this book on my father's bookshelf and brought it home to read. I'm not sure why I picked it--nothing about the title or description excited me too much, so it sat on my own bookshelf forgotten for several months. Finally, hurriedly getting ready for a vacation I needed a book to read and found Theron Ware. I loved it so much that I went right out and bought my own copy. I recommended it to my 21 year old son and he loved it too. One caution though, do NOT read the introduction first--it gives the entire plot away. Save it for after when you can savor the analysis.

IMHO, this novel can and should be included with the other American novels that we cram down the throats of high-schoolers: Moby Dick, Scarlet Letter, Huckleberry Finn, etc. This is the almost painfully realistic story of a preacher who discovers that there is another world outside his previously sheltered existence. For many of us, this sort of discovery is a happy and broadening experience. But in Ware's case, his new discoveries cause him to reject all the good things about his old life, and to build fantasy castles in the air of his imagination. In his increasingly desperate attempt to escape into a fantasy life, he leaves behind many of his values and ethical standards - not least his responsibilities to those he loves.

This book will hit a nerve for many readers - it did for me. It is easy for the reader to identify with Ware and realize only too late, as Ware did, that he is embarking on an illusory and self-destructive quest. Frederick constructed both the plot and the character of Ware perfectly, and this novel is worth everyone's time to read. You will keep thinking about it long after you have closed the book for the last time.

This book took me through all three NT exams. As other reviewers note, there is no need to buy three books that contain overlapping information. The descriptions are clear, there are plenty of screen shots, and a number of labs. It also is laid out to let you know what areas are usefull for which exams. My compliments to Mr. Carter for a fine book.

Just came out from the exam room, scored 1000. This is the only book I read, I tried Exam Cram which was really good for workstation, but seemed no good on server (just a repeat of the workstation book).I must say that Alan Carter is one of the best guys out there when you look at the vast number of MCSE books on the market. This book is real easy to read and understand, has real good labs on performing NT Server task and everything is explained in plain English also it covers every topic you need to know for the exam. If you are looking to pass the Server exam my advice is get a copy of this book, install server as the labs instruct and get your hands on transcenders, with this combination NT Server is like going to the Mall with an American Express Gold Card.

I was pleased with the detail that this book went into. It discusses the A-Z's of the NT server test which I passed with an 866 the first time I took it. I would highley recomend this book to anyone who wants to pass the 70-067 exam

This book was very appealing to me. This is not like any other mystery, action, or adventure book. The writer makes it very interesting and has a different personality about writing books. I'm sure that any other of his books would be just as fantistic as this one. Although, this is definatly a teen book and not a children's book.

Hello my name is D. Panzera the book I'm reviewing is Between a rock and a hard place. I thought it was a very good book. I would recomend it to all ages except the smaller peoples.

The book between a rock and a hard place is the best book I've ever read. It is a great adventure story about two kids getting lost and having to live off the land by hunting and fishing. Two young men named Mark and his cousin Randy go out on a camping trip to prove their man hood. Things start off a little rocky and the boys thought it could only got better. They were wrong. Learn what the kids had to do to survive in the wilderness. You probably want to know what happens next but...I'll let you find out if you read the book, Between a Rock And A Hard PSlace. I liked this book because it always had something going on. I could not put it down. By far this is the best book I've ever read. I'd recommend it to all you readers who want to read a great adventure story.

I can see Doug Carter is a fan. He has all the LPs. The problem is he's not a writer. A small book to begin with, Carter jumps from item to item without the least development, often repeating himself, never clarifying.
He doesn't delve into the music at all; he doesn't shed light on anything that has made Jackie such an enchanting mystery to this day. "Inteviews" with people who knew Jackie all sound monosyllabically the same.
I'm from Detroit, yet I saw Jackie only once. He means an awful lot to me. "Lonely Teardrops" is out of print so, despite the title (I find nothing in common between Jackie and Elvis), I thought I'd try Carter's book.
Now I've gone back and found "Teardrops" has just "limited availability." I'm trying to get it now...

This book is about 2 of my favorite artists - Jackie Wilson and Elvis Presley.As much as Jackie Wilson could be referred to as "The black Elvis",the reverse is also true.Both of these men loved and respected each other and really,were influenced by each other.The book is great.If you are a Jackie Wilson and/or Elvis fan,you will love it.

Author Doug Carter throws everything but the kitchen sink at you in this detailed account of the late, great Jackie Wilson. Carter navigates the reader through Jackie's youth
activities - ranging from street corner singing to Gold Gloves boxing champion - his first contract (with Billy Ward and The
Dominoes), his solo career with Brunswick and Nat Tarnopol, the failed marriages and endless affairs. Of the latter, one affair led to a shooting incident which nearly killed Jackie, while another led to the killing of Jackie's lady friend.

The author carefully recounts the story of a man who mixed too much play with work, too much escapism with his sorrow and too much naivete with trust. It was Wilson's naivete which led to his split with Barry Gordy. His trust in Nat Tarnopol would lead to eventual professional and personal decline.

Wilson is too frequently associated with the tragic onstage heart attack which ultimately left him comatose for 81/2 years. Likewise, his musical legacy should exceed the endless renditions of "Higher And Higher" and "Lonely Teardrops".

Wilson should be remembered for being one of music's true pioneers, the likes of which are a dying breed. Musicians like Aretha, Elvis, Van Morrison, Smokey,
Marvin Gaye, Springsteen, Pendergrass, and LaBelle have Jackie to thank for his stage presence, soaring vocal gymnastics, and crowd integration. Thanks to an author like
Doug Carter, Jackie's musical contribution is introduced (and reiterated) to legions of music fans everywhere. Must Read material!!

I gained a respect for Jimmy Carter that until now was only a fair assessment of the man. I know he wrote this with the intention of being a once a week reading, but I have just about finished it in just under two weeks with intentions to reread it many many more times. His style of writing has left me with the desire to read many more of his works. One cannot help but to find ones faith taken to a higher level after reading his Bible Teachings.

Jimmy Carter has the unique ability to quote Scripture and explain how those words still apply to our every day life today. I'm not the best student of the Bible, but this work is filled with "easy to apply inspiration" that I can take to heart and recreate in my own life. Makes an excellent gift.

Jimmy Carter's Sources of Strength is a beautifully written book of simple life lessons. By simple, I do not indicate that these passages are lightweight. In fact, there is great depth to these Biblical teachings.

There are three specific aspects I admire about this book:

First, Carter's skill is clarity. He approaches the Scripture with a humble respect, sharing clear explanations and interpretations.

Second, I admire the fact that Carter selected some less familiar passages to extraplicate his lessons. And even when selecting the more familiar passages, Carter often looked at the lesson from a different angle. Yes, these are lessons that many Christians have heard throughout their lives, but Carter's unique perspective provides added insight.

Third, this is a comforting and inspiring book. Carter's approach to Christian teachings brings the focus back on restoring faith, but also turns attention toward how our actions can help one another. In other words, the book has both internal and external effects.

Some of the chapters were a little short, and some taught me more than others. But as a whole, this is a well-written book of helpful, often inspiring Christian teachings.

This is one of a series of books about "bugs" by David Carter. Carter's "bugs" are imaginative and fanciful. If you are looking for a book to teach your child about different types of bugs, this is not it. The bugs in this book are not "real" bugs, they are cartoon caricatures of bugs (sometimes barely recognizable as "bugs") showing a number of different feelings and states (happy, sad, hungry, busy, crazy, cold, etc). With that in mind, I highly recommend this book. My 14 month old daughter loves the bright colorful pictures, and the big eyes on all the bugs capture her attention. This is a favorite in our house, and it's fun for Mom and Dad to read to her because it's humorous (check out why one of the bugs is not hungry). The words are minimal but rhythmic and work well for those who have kids who want to turn the pages themselves, because there's not a big storyline to miss if they turn several pages at once - each page stands alone.

Overall a fun, colorful, attractive book.

This is my one year old's favorite book. It's silly, has wonderful, easy-to-see illustrations, and is sturdy.

It's more about emotions (sad, mad, happy) than insects, which makes it a great tool for teaching about feelings.

we have this in the car and he enjoys it very much

This is enjoyed by my 18 month old as well as my 4 1/2 year old. They get a kick out of the surprises from flipping the flaps to pulling the tabs. Keeps them busy for at least 20 minutes and easy enough to read for my 4 1/2. Try the Feely Bugs Book, just as enjoyable and entertaining to kids.

My daughter uses this book to make bedtime drag on forever! There are tons of things to pull, push and open. Leave it in the reading room...kinds can stretch this into a 20 minute bedtime ritual!

My 18-month old daughter loves this book. The interactive elements are inventive and thoughtful. I also appreciate the quality of the rhyming text (sometimes the pop ups are cute, but the text is a mere boring afterthought), and there are a variety of different types of activities. Sometimes things pop up, other times there is a lift the flap. There is a bug ornament that you take out of the envelope and hang on the tree (which she loves to do again and again...I get so tired of that page!)

If you are looking for a Christmas book that is interactive and a little bit different, this fits the bill.

My only complaint is that the battery for the star on the last page has worn out, and it's not replacable! They should make it replacable like with so many other battery powered books.

This is the worst book in the world. After just finishing Jimmy's last book An Hour Before Daylight i could say that he needs to learn how to write, this book was so un iteresting that i almost burnt it while reading it. I suggest that if you own this book then burn it before finishing this report.

"The Virtues of Aging," by former United States President Jimmy Carter, is a down-to-earth nonfiction book about growing old gracefully. Carter mixes interesting statistics with autobiographical information and practical advice.

Carter discusses his work and experiences with a number of organizations, such as Habitat for Humanity. He also discusses the lives of people who made extraordinary accomplishments in their senior years. Carter doesn't shy away from sensitive topics, such as senior sexuality or preparing for one's own death.

One admirable characteristic of Carter's writing is that while it is informed by his own Christian faith, he is also respectful of other belief traditions. Overall, he writes like an unpretentious friend who is sharing his life experience and perspective. Throughout the book, his wife Rosalynn is a constant presence; you get a real sense of the solidity of that relationship.

Jimmy Carter writes as if he were having one of his presidential fireside chats. His writing is clear, friendly, and very readable, as always. He gives the reader a look into his world with his poignant writing style.

In his book "The Virtues of Aging", Jimmy Carter takes the reader through the maze of events that transpire as men and women go through the transition from aging adults to senior citizens. Carter writes of his own transition from president of the United States to a (not so) private citizen. How he felt at his sudden unemployment:

"I was just fifty-six years old when I was involuntarily retired from my position in the White House. What made losing the job even worse was that it was a highly publicized event, with maybe half of the people in the world knowing about my embarrassing defeat ".

Carter writes honestly and openly of his rude awakening into the ranks of senior citizenship, his close encounter with bankruptcy, the fear of losing the family business and property that has been in his family for generations, and ultimately his fortunate financial recovery. Carter describes the importance of an open mind for success in role transition and steps to take to prevent an identity crisis from occurring, such as the importance of family, friends, goals and hobbies in creating successful identity continuity. He discusses the absolute significance of health care for the elderly and the lack of such care for the impoverished elderly in the United States.

Jimmy Carter gives the reader suggestions on how to prepare for retirement and aging- the economics, emotions, and physical aspects (health wise) of aging. He also understands that most young adults do not think about their later years until they are there. He covers the emotional support he received and continues to receive and give to his wife Rosalyn Carter during the difficult periods he went through before and at the end of his presidency and right into senior citizenship. Carter describes the feelings of wanting to get closer to his adult children, grandchildren and Rosalyn. Jimmy Carter covers some important facts and statistics that directly or indirectly concern the elderly and retired.

The clear message in this book is that entering the ranks of senior citizenship need not be a harrowing experience, but a virtuous new stage of life. "The Virtues of Aging" should be read by the young as well as those aging individuals who are planning or who have not begun to plan for retirement and/or their senior years.

Very informative, well written, witty and interesting. A good read for a reference book. Lack of an index keeps it from being a great book.

Carter's book is not dated for me, but timeless. He has a droll and elliptical way of deflating the fatuous inclinations of book dealers. Yes, there is no index, and it is tough to find exact terminology sometimes. But this book is not a mere reference book, it is meant to be read and enjoyed and instruct you in the "what", but also the "why" and "how". Carter, in his manner and wit, shows a *way* of approaching rare books which I think is very healthy. His skewering of the term "mint condition" and his hilarious description of "issue mongers" have me revisiting this book for momentary pleasure again and again. I started in used books in a store about 8 years ago and when I was hired, my boss put this book in my hands. I have always appreciated that gesture. Any collector should find both pleasure and knowledge in this tome.

One of the earlier reviewers -- a history grad student -- noted that this book is "outdated and unorganized." Both of those claims are inaccurate. I'm a manuscripts curator by profession, and this text is certainly not outdated. Book knowledge, and the subtleties of collecting and discriminating among important texts, are the highest priorities of John Carter's book, and he imparts those things with great skill. Several reviewers also criticize the lack of an index or table of contents. Folks, it's an encyclopedia; each term has its own heading, in alphabetical order! The book IS the table of contents and the index. This book was required reading for the "Introduction to Descriptive Bibliography" calss when I first attended Rare Book School in Charlottesville, Virginia in 1998; I'm sure it still is.

It's important for historians (grad student or no) to familiarize themselves with this terminology. "All the terms and abbreviation in the book can be found on the Internet," notes the aforementioned grad student. Whoa! The great hulking trash barge that is the Internet does indeed pull up search terms for all of Carter's entries, but I don't trust them to be accurate. Many book-collecting terms are highly subjective ("first edition," for instance) and I'd never rely on an unvetted digital source for an accurate description if I knew nothing of the subject. You can trust John Carter's book. It should be handy on the bookshelf of every bibliophile. You'll find yourself reaching for it a lot. -Dan Lewis, Ph.D., Curator of the History of Science, the Huntington Library.