My one-year old reaches for this book again and again. She appears to enjoy the rhyming verse and the pictures, intently studying them each time and smiling! Hey, she's never used a bottle either (i.e., "these are the things a baby needs: bottle, blanket, rattle, beads), but what's the harm in learning a new word? This is a sweet book.

My 14 month old son has loved this book since he was three months old. Almost every night at story time he picks it out of the pile for us to read to him! He especially likes the pictures of the other babies and the Mommy and the Daddy. My husband has even memorized it!

My 1 year old loves this book (and all the books in the Harper Learning Tree series). He claps everytime we read the page, "these are the things a baby hears...." The illustrations are simple and I think he relates to all the things he does during the day. Another good one for this age in the same series is "First STeps"...easy rhyming verse and cute illustrations. He reaches for both of these books all the time and snuggles in my lap to look at the pictures.

Chet is nowhere near Jake's standard. In Jake, I was led to believe that the oncoming books in the series would be just as good, if not, even better. Chet wasn't a page turner...I felt that Ms Greenwood could have exploited Melody's anger towards Chet's stubborn refusal to accept her...or further elaborated on the estrangement that existed between Chet and his brother, Luke. This could have lend the story with a bit more depth than just the superficial issues that were focused upon in Chet.

Ms Greenwood seems to have lost her touch after Jake. By far, Jake is still the greatest amongst the series.

The characters seemed to have fallen in love too easily. There is no challenge, no suspense, no excitement. The only highlight of the entire book was when Melody joined in with Chety's scheme to frighten of her enemy.

I would rather wait for Luke.

I've read all Greenwood's Seven Brides books as they came out and waited for this series, "The Cowboys", to appear. I live in Texas and do NOT find stories including dirt and heat appealling. 102 degrees is never romantic if you have lived through it a few times. Yet, Greenwood overcame my adversion and JAKE was great. . . compelling people and enough about the boys to make me really want to know how they will grow up and find their lifemates (the purpose of romance novels, you know). And that is the best part of BUCK. There is alot of character development for many of the boys. However, Buck's story was no page turner and his lady was just too ordinary. Still, a good read and I'm waiting for the next one...

I have read the Seven Brides series and just finished the 3rd in the Cowboy series, Buck. I thought Buck and Hannah's story was riveting. In fact, I read the last 100 pages or so without putting the book down! Ms. Greenwood has a way of making the characters so real, with real feelings and emotions, such as Buck's struggle with feeling the Maxwells were not his "family" because they weren't blood, and his longing to find his "real" family. All 10 books I have read by this author have been thoroughly enjoying and I am ready to start the next one. I have enjoyed all 3 Cowboy books I have read and even though Jake and Buck were fabulous, I think Ward has been the best so far.

This book did a good job of explaining the sales office process, but skipped over the really scary things, like buying the lot, lot upgrades, working with contractors, water, sewer, septic, etc...If Mr. Burnsides wanted to be really thorough, he would have given us better statistics, like the Consumer Guide info he refers to, but does not elaborate on nearly enough. A manufacturer list or customer service survey of manufacturers would be nice too. Last but not least, the author's credibility was not helped by all the mis-spellings and errors. Didn't anyone edit this book for him?

Kevin Burnside does a good job of covering the comprehensive subject of "Manufactured Housing"; what we used to call mobile homes. He reveals the secrets of the dealers and arms the buyer with the tools needed to make a good deal and avoid the scams of high pressure salesmen. The author also details the best options and features to order along with those features to decline. He reveals the type of construction that is desired and the type of contruction that is not desired. He includes real life dollar figures to guide the prospective buyer and provides the needed help particularily for first time home buyers who lack the knowledge and experience to distinguish between a good price and a bad price. This book is long overdue and brings the author's expertise to the table. There has been much written on car values and how to get a good deal on a new car. This book is one of the few written for mobile home/manufactured home buyers. I recommend this book to anyone looking to buy a new factory built home. I would have liked to seen the "Consumer Reports" article reprinted in the book instead of merely mentioned; and I would have liked some attention to used or older homes not just new homes. Perhaps that will be Mr. Burnside's next book?

Aloha,If you are in the market for a manufactured home you *must* get this book. He tells all the ins and outs of the manufactured home buying process written from the perspective of a guy who is simply trying to tell you the truth. He is sincere and *very* knowledgeable and will save you significant money and hassle.As one reviewer noted, this is not the best editing job. There are a number of grammatical errors, careless things like a missing pro-noun or mispelled words. But you don't buy a book like this looking for pulitzer prize level literature. You buy it to arm yourself with information. Mr. Burnside does a very good job of doing just that, arming you, and does so in an easy to read/understand fashion. I read the whole thing in about 4 hours.He gives tips on all aspects of buying a manufactured home and setting it up on your property. But the primary focus is how to handle the home dealers and how to get the best deal with the right options. In that light it would be wise to have this book as but one book in your home buying collection. A great book that covers other important areas like finding and buying land (etc) in a more comprehensive way than Mr. Burnside's book is "Finding and Buying Your Place in the Country" by Scher & Scher (husband wife team). This is also a *must* have book. Do not as much as set foot inside a manufactured home dealer without reading this book.Good Luck! It is a best seller for a reason.

With deer season only a week away, Game Warden John Marlin has his hands full trying to ride heard on poachers who just can't wait to start hunting. The last thing he needs is someone shot in a field. Especially someone wearing a deer suit. While investigating, he finds a buck that is acting just plain loopy. Meanwhile, a body is found in a nearby dam. As Deputy Bobby Garza begins to investigate this mysterious death, other strange things start to happen. Can the two law men piece the puzzle together?

I was amazed at the plotting in this book. The author is able to keep several balls in the air at the same time and bring everything together for a nice conclusion at the end. The characters were interesting as well, and it was easy to root for the good guys. Characterization is also where a problem lies. The author spends a little too much time on needless character history, sometimes stopping the story to do it. Also, while billed as a humorous story, I didn't find myself laughing. I was certainly engaged and anxious to keep reading, however.

On a personal level, I didn't enjoy a few of the characters and situations. Then again, I generally stick with "cozies" and I knew this wasn't one before I started reading.

Readers who enjoy a "caper" storyline will enjoy this book. It's a well plotted first effort that will win the author many well deserved fans. I'm glad I gave it a try, but I think I'll head back to my normal selections now.

See book description above.

YeeeeHawwww! This was a fun one.
The writing was fast and furious. The story line original and outrageous. As a first novel, Ben Rehder has started out on the right foot. Keep up the good work.
If you're looking for something fun, yet not to serious, to read, be sure you give Rehder a shot.

Recommended.

A drug ring disguised as a game farm? What a great plot!
I couldn't put it down once started. The multiple sub-plots
all come together in a well crafted ending. Each character
was developed so completely that I could identify with their
motives (no matter how evil). The author pokes a little fun at the commercial game farms now replacing traditional open range deer hunting in some regions.

Why is Buck O'Neil bucking the truth. This only makes him look very foolish. Why would he give this young ladies book his blessings and turn around and say to the public that some of the things in the book a not true? he would be better off saying to the public/press he has no comment! rather than trying to make her look like a liar. It's almost as though he apprently still can not own up to the truth!! are he is trying to hide something? this young lady wrote her story and continued to have respect for Buck O'Neil by even allowing him to read her manuscript after all he subjected her two, before it was published. I beleave her story, and wish her much success and for her to remember that the TRUTH always prevails. She wrote the book to bring closure of him and all she went through in their time together and he does not even have the decency to give closure to her. Buck O'Neil really needs to come out of denial. his presnt behavoir really holds a familiar similarity upon which she had already described in her book of him (DOUBLE MINDED).

Denise, I happen to be a writer and I read your book, and I thought it was special. I was in a relationship much like yours, so I can identify with some of the issues you had to deal with. People are much like computer viruses, a piece of computer language written in the same language as all the other codes but with harmful intent. Once the code is introduced it gets everything all mixed up and the computer stops producing good results. When situations seem so personal, even if others insult you directly, It has nothing to do with you. People are going to have their own opinion according to their belief system, so nothing they think or say is really about you, but it is about themselves. Their opinion is nothing but a point of view. As children we gossip and intentionally spread rumours to make a person feel bad and we did it quite thoughtlessly, but as grown-ups we become much more calculated in our efforts to bring other people down. Never mind your first review, only the truth will set you free. Good luck on your future material, I will be looking for it. I am leaving you with my e-mail so you can read my novel.

I salute her. An dependent woman with her own, who cared for another twice her age. She faced much adversity simply because this man was a well know Icon in the history of black sports. I think there is a message that she was trying to deliver. You can love and live without being a "gold digger". Her first book, not bad. I am a black woman, "I feel her" My salute to the lady. I am loking forward to reading her next book.

I hoped that I would enjoy Mr. Veron's follow-up to the Greatest Player that Never Was, but his story was so improbable that it could never quite reach the treshhold of plausibility. Mr. Veron is a decent writer and I like his characters, but both of these elements ultimately fail if the story itself isn't compelling.

From the time that I received this book (it was a gift from a fellow hack), I was skeptical as to whether or not Vernon could actually pull of a book entitled, "The Greatest Golf Course that Never Was" in a convincing fashion. To my satisfaction, Vernon succeeded in surprising me. Vernon tells a story that is enjoyable and, given the title and subject matter, not entirely implausible (despite being a work of fiction).

Vernon writes to the reader, providing him with set-ups, without entirely giving the story away during the first half of the book. One of Vernon's strengths, in my opinion, is that he writes to his audience-golfers-well. I particularly enjoyed his periodic references to Tour professionals and history, both of the current and the not-so-current variety, such as a golfer nearly pulling a "Van de Velde." During the read I felt that Vernon might have overplayed the mystic element of the course for my taste, but found that the resolution of the book even softened that minor critique.

I have recommended this book, as well as Vernon's "The Greatest Player Who Never Lived," to all of my golf buddies.

Michael, may you find success in your quest to find a cure for the yips. I know many who suffer!

I found Veron's second work to be equally as captivating, entertaining and believable as the first.

Taking right off where the previous novel left off, a young attorney now working within Bobby Jones' law firm receives mysterious communications from one who eventually identifies himself as Moonlight.

Turns out this is a connection to Augusta and Jones and Roberts and Pebble Beach and Stedman, and even W.C. Fields.

I have no problems as others with a hidden course being a possibility. It fits perfectly with Jones' desire for privacy and Roberts' power. Perfect place, on a military base, on ocean frontage. Easily could be preserved by the games' best as their own private refuge.

The author's style is very comfortable, yet classy. No foul language which litters much of the other golf fiction and leaves a foul taste in my mouth even for well written golf plots otherwise.

Besides a great read, there is I believe very good golf philosophy handed out, e.g. "Ya' see, lad, it's not 'bout how ya' swing, but whre ya' put the ball. That's what made Mr. Jones so great. Ya' never heard anyone say that a particular course favored Mr. Jones or was well-suited for his game. He studied every course he played to figure out the best way to play each hole. Mr. Hogan was the same way."

The antics of "Dark Horse" candidate Shakespeare McCann and the drug and alcohol addiction of Mitch Dutton own wife, turn what appears to be a sure bet into a cliff hanger in this Texas election for the a seat in the House of Representatives.

The unbelievable situations which continually disrupt the campaign strategies of Dutton and continually narrow the gap between the two candidates, are presented in such a manner as to create an aura of fear and concern for the reader!

I look forward to more from Doug Richardson.

One of the surest election outcomes is that of the reelection of Hurricane Hammond back to the Congress. There is no reason to believe that his Democratic opponent, reformer Mitch Dutton, has even the slightest of chance to pull off the upset of the century. However, everything suddenly changes when Hurricane, running unopposed to gain the Republican nod, dies in a hunting accident on Primary Day. The Republicans have no one to run against Mitch, who has abruptly become the front runner. Through a quirk in the election rules, a total unknown, Shakespeare McCann, steals the nomination. Mitch plans to run a high campaign, discussing the relevant issues. What he and his campaign brain thrust do not understand is that their opponent will do anything, including murder, to become the next Congressman from Texas. Shakes attacks everyone related in any manner to Mitch. He uses every dirty trick known to politicians and several known to gangsters. By the time Mitch realizes that he faces a colossal evil, it may be to late as Shakes is closing in on stealing the election. DARK HORSE is a fascinating, very refreshing political thriller that will excite fans of the genre. The story line is fast paced, and the villain is one the vilest and sneakiest characters to come along in a long time (or at least since the last election). In spite of the fact that Mitch seems like a lightweight, leaving readers rooting for Shakes to steal the election, Doug Richardson scribes an interesting tale. Harriet Klausner

This book was an easy read and highly entertaining. Unfortunately there is no credibility. The antics that take place here could never happen, the press would go crazy over a candidate with no past, the people seem too gullible, McCann never says anything of substance, and the death of Hammond...well, a reviewer below said it, there is no way he would have been out riding a horse instead of at campaign headquarters. It gets to be too much, but it still was highly entertaining.

Pearl S. Buck, The Mother (Pocket, 1934)

It is hard to know what to make of this early novel (her fourth) by Pearl S. Buck, who had won the Pulitzer Prize the year before for The Good Earth (her second) and would, in a few years, be a Nobel laureate. Hard because it is difficult to reconcile such a widely-acclaimed author with a novel such as this.

In her autobiography, Buck mentions that she almost destroyed the manuscript of The Mother, fearing it wasn't as good as her previously published novels. In this, she was correct. The Mother is not so much a novel as it as a combination of character study and morality play. Other reviewers have commented on the Biblical nature of the events herein, which is likely as apt a description as one is likely to find. The story revolves around, of course, a mother. She is never named, nor are any other members of her family (her husband's last name is mentioned once in the book's two hundred pages, but in such a way as to make it as forgettable as possible). One assumes this is an attempt to give the characters an "everyman" quality. The mother and her family have a hard life, and the mother's life gets harder as time goes on. The crux of the story happens about halfway through the novel, when she is forced to make a decision she ends up regretting for the rest of her life; she blames her hardships from there on out on that decision, forgetting that the hardships that came before put her in that position. (In other words, this is not a criticism of the novel so much as of the character; it is entirely possible Buck meant the character to be erroneous in her judgments, but that doesn't make it any less annoying.) In essence, the novel becomes the chronicles of the hardships of one person, a relentless, depressing catalog of failures unleavened by any successes whatsoever.

Other reviewers have also commented on the universality of the character. I pity them, and anyone else who overidentifies with the mother here. Anyone who has truly suffered this much hardship without the slightest glimmer of joy has been dealt the worst of lots in life, and need all the escapism they can get. It is probable, however, that the majority of readers do, at least, have a few moments of happiness, or at least contentment, now and again. They are rather more likely to question the tunnelvision of the character, and perhaps that of the author as well. Rightly so. * ½

For any woman who's feeling a bit put-upon, a bit hard done by, "The Woman" would soon shake her back into perspective.I know that this has ever been the lot of women in poor farming communities in third world countries, but it's frightening to realise just how little things have changed since these long past times of the beginning of the beginning of communism in China.We never learn the mothers name as she is simply that--the mother of the children of a poor farmer, a co-worker in the fields and the carer of his elderly mother. It's a hand to mouth existence with only the hope of enough food to sustain them on a daily basis and enough money from the crops that they can spare to be sold, to pay the rent of their fields. When her husband runs off in search of a more exciting life, the mother is left with the care of the family and is forced to work like a beast of burden in order to exist. Only her indomitable spirit sustains them ,even though her life is shattered by a series of events that would break a lesser woman.

In Pearl Buck's autobiography, "My Several Worlds," she reveals that she almost destroyed the manuscript of "The Mother", feeling that it was not worthy of publication. Had this happened, literature would have suffered a great loss. The characters that Ms. Buck created here - the tragically blind daughter, the grandmother who wears her own shroud in anticipation of death, and especially the mother - are exquisitely drawn and memorable. The suffering of the mother, whose life after the strange disappearance of her husband seems an endless series of heartbreaks, is almost unbearable for the reader. But ultimately the mother is comforted, as is every mother, by the birth of children and grandchildren. This is the story of a seemingly insignificant woman, worlds away from me, whose dreams and longings and difficulties are not so very different from my own. This book is definitely and very enthusiastically recommended.

This third book in The Good Earth series was somewhat a slower read the the previous two. However, the story was wonderful, and despite the ending, which some might find unrealistic, I enjoyed it. I was so pleased that Yuan found happiness, acceptance and love.

I found the themes of the book relevant today in that our culture, ideas, lifestyles, and the influence and relationships with our children, effect their lives and influence future choices.

Yaun was deeply loved by the Tiger, however, was not free to grow into an individual. This somewhat stunted Yuan emotionally, and he found himself in constant conflict over the ideas of his father and the new China. His time in America began to mature Yuan. It allowed him to return home to begin his journey into manhood and make choices about his future. However, although he now had choices, he was still duty bound to his family by a debt incurred by the Tiger.

The book was wonderful and I am sorry to see the Good Earth series end.

I would have ranked this book five-star, if the ending had not been so abrupt and unrealistic.

A House Divided is a novel with many good contrasts in its themes. Certainly, in almost all Pearl's novels, there is the contrast of the East and the West. Then there comes the comparison of the different generations. In addition, the conflict of the old and the new ideas is also successfully portrayed. People from different class have very difficult behaviours. Throughout the story, the book focuses more on "The rich have the rich's things to worry," a sentence in the first Volume of the Good Earth.

Characters are three-dimensional. Their behaviours are most of the time Chinese-like, though we have to accept the fact that Pearl has been influenced greatly by western romancism love tremendously, being an American herself. I would like to praise the part of the story in which Yuan goes to America to study. I think it is very faithfully written. Perhaps one of the reasons why I prefer this book to its first volume "The Good Earth" is because A House Divided is closer to my life ---- I am a teenager who is studying in a foreign country alone. That is what Literature is all about ---- our life. I truly have reflected upon all the difficulties Yuan has faced during his American studying, and it matches my situation well.

If you are a reader who is very interested in Chinese culture, this book is definitely a good choice for you. It has helped me to understand my home country -- China better too. I indeed am surprised by the good work of Pearl Buck. She has indeed shown the West the East well.

The story ends in the near-death time of Yuan's father, the Tiger who has treated Yuan extremely well despite his bad temper. However, Pearl ended by writing that Yuan tried to kiss Meiling, the girl who he loved. I do not think this is appropriate in a situation where a person, especialy the father is to die. What filial piety does this Chinese son have? Well, I shall the chance is so slim that it is almost zero percent.

Give it a try. I like this last volume the most among the three Good Earth Volumes.

I would say that this book could certainly stand alone simply because there was so much happening in this turbulent setting of the revolution. In many ways "A House Divided" was my favorite of the "House of Earth" trilogy, (still, The Good Earth was beautiful!) because it was an adventure that spanned the globe. Yet there was no lack in telling how the main character evolved emotionally and intellectually from the first page to the last.

Many times throughout the book, Pearl Buck successfully showed how Yuan's world was filled with black and white; no grey. For example, a person was expected to be 100% revolutionary, or a 100% traditionalist. Or one had to be 100% Chinese, or 100% foreign. Yuan was a very conflicted man from the start and struggled with these issues pretty much until the end. To me that was the most intriguing part.

I was fascinated with Yuan's six-year stay in America. He experienced racism first-hand, the confusion of living in another country, trying to assimilate, seeing and appreciating the beauty of the country and the friendliness and openness of some of its people, the freedom to pursue one's happiness and potential, but clearly his own traditions and culture prevented him from fully accepting the foreigners into his heart.

I think the author gave some real insight into the minds of people living during the revolution. Many people, like Yuan's cousin, Meng, were fevently passionate about it. It was clear that it took a certain kind of person, with a linear, unwavering focus in order to hasten a violent change. In this case, that meant one had to be filled with anger and hatred.

Also through Yuan, we were exposed to the hypocrisy of the revolution as well. While the ideology spoke for the common people, the revolutionists were frustrated and repulsed by the common people's ways of life, such as they were for centuries. Eventually, many gave up on the older generation, and focused on the youth of the poor, because they were more easily influenced. Of course, it touched on the fact that no one was permitted to question this new state. Those who followed the cause were expected to accept it blindly.

In keeping with his torn mental state, Yuan's hesitation to decide where he stood in terms of the cause was understandable. His experience gave him first-hand knowledge of how frustrating it was to live under the old filial rules, yet he'd also witnessed the softer moments with his father, and others who represented the old world. He at least was mature enough to realize that people were deeply complicated, which made it impossible for him to truly believe that "rich people are evil, poor people are good." At the same time, as much as he loved the land, and found peace of mind working among the common people, he was at times, disgusted by their surroundings, their "odor" permeating his space no matter where he went.

Pearl Buck eloquently described the same black and white issues of the heart in Yuan. Time and time again, he wished to be emotionally open, yet didn't dare. Yuan was repulsed by the display of free behavior of the new generation of China and the young Americans. Again, his reaction to the American women who danced with his cousin Sheng was an interesting glimpse into his perception of himself. Although Yuan hated the white women who ignored or rejected Sheng because he was Chinese, he had no respect for the white women who did dance with Sheng. And he felt ashamed for Sheng for "lowering his standards" to such women.

Yes, perhaps the end was unrealistic, but as a hopeless romantic American, I can appreciate it. However, one can see the huge circle this book fills out with the trilogy. Yuan is ultimately the one who understands and respects his grandfather's efforts with the land, back in the first novel. Yuan is the one who finally repairs the ties to his father and ends the cycle of broken relationships. The trilogy ends as his father, the Tiger, spends his final days in the earthen house where he was born.

When I read certain books, I sometimes imagine what they would be like on film, and I think it would be fantastic to see it done with the entire "House of Earth" trilogy. But then again, is it even possible to make a film that would do this epic justice?

Rinker Buck has captured all the excitement, innocence, pluck, and wide-eyed enthusiasm in "First Job." I can't imagine anyone coming of age in the early 1970s who couldn't relate to his story. His ability in describing the lushness of the Berkshires is on a level with James Michener. Without the self-congratulatory sexual conquests, this could have been a near-perfect read. How much sexier the story could have been with just a hint of the romantic entanglements. Seems like an awful lot of explaining to do to the women in his family! That said, I'd still recommend this as a truly fun read. Way to go, Rinky!

I've read Rinker Buck's articles in the newspaper and was interested in this book because of the setting which is my neck of the woods. I had been alerted about the sex scenes.

Wonderful descriptions of the landscape and the people around here, but the details of his affairs spoiled it. Do we really need to read about these? I skipped past them.

The best part may be the interview with John Wayne in Stockbridge. Description of the Red Lion Inn is on the mark, too. Have been to the bar in the basement and it was an interesting place.

Don't skim this book. Enjoy the story while you appreciate how carefully the author choses his words.