Maybe it is because I am from Revere, maybe it is because I am an Italian American, maybe it is because I am a sensitive woman, surely it is because Roland Merullo is an exceptional writer!

I felt like I was reading my history, and the history of my family as I was reading this story. The characters are all people I grew up with, the same insecurities, the same hopes and dreams, the same tragedies, and Mr. Merullo captured the heart and soul of life in a small town in America perfectly!

I absolutely love this story, these characters and I am so Proud that I am a Revere person.

I beg you to read this story and not laugh out loud and cry with your soul!

I don't know how to thank Mr. Merullo enough for his insight, his humor; his soul must know my soul and I am forever in his debt.

Enjoy,
Debbi :)

"Revere Beach, In Those Days" is the beautiful story of young Anthony Benedetto's spiritual journey that confirms his love for his Italian-American family even as he must cut many ties with the place and people of his childhood. It is the kind of rare book that made me want to reread it immediately. It would be a great choice for a book club; there are so many levels to it to be discussed, pondered. Anthony's unforgettable Grandfather has an idea for his grandson that helps him find his way in life. Merullo's idea for America is to rediscover the spiritual realm and to temper its hunger for the material one. How appropriate that Merullo is a Massachusetts writer. His story is told so elegantly that he makes masterful writing feel easy. One can only hope that he will write more books like this one. Encore!

Never pay attention to the dust jacket, but on the back of the book, Anita Shreve says "I was moved to tears," and she probably wasn't lying. When Peter takes Anthony to Exeter, when Lydia says goodbye, when Peter sings, it is hard to stop the tears from welling. Although the book is Anthony's coming of age story, it is mostly a portrait of Peter Benedetto, Anthony's tough, ex-boxer uncle. We see him in such intricate detail, from his fractured family life, to his not-quite-successful boxing career, to his life on the fringe, to his own sense of failure even though it is hard to imagine anyone more beloved by his family and community, that it is easy to forget that the story is Anthony's. Watching Anthony grow up in the background, the reader is right to focus on Uncle Peter. Merullo has written a wonderful book.

Need a fast gift for the baby shower or just a fast introduction to patchwork? Eleanor Burns is there for you, with great illustrations, easy to understand instructions, and delicious photos of finished projects. An added bonus: detailed info on fabric quantities for various sizes of finished quilt (wall hanging, crib, twin, etc.) You don't have to struggle with the math! In fact, your only real challenge will be picking colors. She classifies "Log Cabin" as an "easy" project. Don't be misled; the finished projects can dazzle, despite the relatively simple construction methods. You can probably turn out that baby shower quilt in about 2 evenings. A king-size quilt obviously takes longer, but that's because of the time you'll spend wrestling with the greater amount of finished piecework in the machine quilting stage. Although you'll find the basic instructions for log cabin blocks in any number of quilting books, "Log Cabin Patterns" rates a place on any quilter's bookshelf.

Thank you Eleanor! I knew next to nothing about quilting before purchasing this book. As a beginner, I needed something quick & easy to give me confidence and get me started. This book is superbly written for the beginner; simple, clear, & precise directions with color photos. From the shopping list to the 1,2,3 directions, this book a beginners must have. Even though I don't think a beginner can make this quilt in a day, I made my very first quilt (Lap Robe size) in two days.

The log cabin pattern is a fairly easy pattern to work with, and Eleanor Burns' book makes it foolproof. Detailed color photos and diagrams make the directions easy to follow, even for a beginner. A perfect book for a first-time quilter.

"A Real American Breakfast" is also a Real cookbook. The recipes are delightfully varied, drawing from our country's diverse heritage, and are also geared for busy cooks. They are quick and uncomplicated, as breakfast cooking should be, using easily obtainable ingredients. A quick thumb through the cookbook inspires one to get up a little earlier and fire up the stove with delicious results all but guaranteed. An excellent, fresh approach to America's forgotten meal by two of the best cookbook writers today.

The Jamison's have done it again. They have another hit book about food. Notice I didn't call it a cookbook. It surely is a cookbook but it is so much more. This book is a blend of great recipes, nostalgia, and beautiful pictures. This brings you back to a time in our lives when we ate breakfast as a family instead of a fast food drive through. Those smells that you used to wake up too seem to resonate from the pages. The recipes have been good for me to get my family together for those week end breakfasts once again. Also, we have week end guests quiet often and it is so nice to have such a variety of recipes to choose from vs the usual breakfast stand bys. In this time when we all seem to be sreaching for comfort foods, this is the best cookbook I have found.

This cookbook has recipes from across America. It has recipes that are the old traditional such as pancakes and runs the gamut to recipes from various parts of the country.

The recipes do not generally call for any out of the ordinary ingredients, they are easy to follow and the end results of every recipe I have tried turns out great.

The pictures are lovely. The pages are uncluttered and easy to read. However, I particularly like that there are sidebars with interesting facts, menus from eating establishments say from the 1940's, etc. It makes for an interesting read as well as a nice cookbook.

This is the cookbook I regularly turn to when picking out what I'm going to make for breakfast. It is well worth the money.

Enjoy.

Ever wonder what the difference is between an LCI, LCM, LCVP, or LST? All these mysteries and a host of others are clearly explained with charts, maps color graphics, etc. Equipment and D-Day organization of all amphibious elements including Naval Beach battalions, Amphibious Engineers, Rangers and Infantry are depicted along with their equipment and objectives. Suffice it to say I learned more in one hour of perusing this book than in four decades of reading other books on D-Day. Although the author chose not to write about the Airborne landings, I even found obscure details pertaining to the 101st (thrown in as incidentals by the author) which I didn't know about-and Airborne is my specialty. Don't miss this valuable book-it's every bit as important as The Longest Day. From Mark Bando, author of The 101st Airborne at Normandy and Breakout At Normandy.

I just bought this book the other day and I must say that it's an amazing book filled with info and plenty of great photos. I haven't even seen a lot of the material in this book ever before and I have done a fair amount of research on D-Day. Bottom line this is a great book!

didn't buy this book earlier!!! Absolutely top notch history of the special sea-bourne American units at Normandy. Maps & photos and narrative all combine into an informative and captivating tale. Even if you are a D-Day buff with a large reference library, you will learn much from this excellent edition. It seems pricey, but it is worth all of it & more. You will not regret getting this one!
I hope this sets a pattern for books about the British & Canadian units and their efforts and successes that day. When you realise the scope of just the American beach landings, you will see the huge, multi-volume collection that would be needed to address *all* the units involved. Buy it and and spend some time with it.

Great Book! I totally enjoyed reading it. I have a small collection of books on money management. None have moved me to action such as this one. It was so easy to read. Everything was explained very well. What I also loved about this book was the endless resource Ms. Stephens gave. Her example of everyday people whom did well investing small amounts of money encouraged me tremendously. I founded myself running back to my budget trying to find more money to invest. She removed all my fears and doubt. I hated keeping a budget at first. I hated seeing in printed how much money I did not have. Now I love keeping my financial records. I gladly count my pennies because I know it is my beginning of a bright financial future! Thank you Brooke Stephens.

We can all benefit from this very informative book! Whether we are 25 or 45, we need to take control of our finances and build a financial future that we can all be comfortable with! No more excuses for why we do not have enough money to start with; look at the examples of Anne Scheiber, Oseola McCarty and Gladys Holm, Donald Othmer, little known people who started with little and built a fortune, leaving it to help others.

Read this book and use the tools! Be frugal and reap the benefits!

Brooke Stephens has written a book which is a presentfromheaven. I bought this book... some time ago; what asteal. Anyhow, I thought it was like the Suzie Orman's book, but once I started to read this book, I notice there was something different here. It was a simple day to day plan for personal growth as well as personal finance. The financial guide is not a get rich book but the book is for those of us who truly do not understand finance. BS book could also help the knowlegeable finance manager out there. I must tell you this, I have read only 100 pages and I already must say it is worth 10 stars. This book has drove me to pencil in notes in the margins. The booksellers have not given this book a top spot in their stores, and I must say, I wonder WHY. Good people, please, do not pass up this book if you are interested in making your finances better. Wow, enough said here, but do not forget to come back and check out my next review.

Personal Finance Books are no sure thing for riches, but this BOOK is not just good, but VERY GOOD !

I have three young boys and a large picture book collection. Every night we sit close and spend quality time reading and discussing stories. It was by chance, in a Children's Lit course, that I came across this book. What a rare find! A Day, a Dog tells the story of an abandoned dog and his... search for home. The story is completely wordless and "told" in charcoal sketches. What makes this such a great book is not the emotional impact it will have on you, but the following discussion that it demands. Responsibility, caring, friendship, commitment, and loyalty are just a few of the character traits that are easily discussed and follow naturally from the story. It is my belief that the story ultimately has a positive conclusion. See for yourself, you will not be disappointed. Furthermore, I believe that one day this book will go out of print and you will be fortunate to own such a treasure. Buy it, "read" it, and discuss it. Enjoy...

I'm not nearly as eloquent as other reviewers. I've been collecting children's picture books for over 25 years because I enjoy the power of the illustration to tell the story. This title is one of the most simple, yet powerful I've come across. I've already added it to my personal list of 25 favorite picture books...it's even in the top ten. You don't comprehend this book, you "feel" it. No words are needed to understand what's happening, no words are needed to sense the fear and desloation of abandonment and no words are needed to marvel at the power of an out stretched hand. Only Peter Spier's "Noah's Ark" has had a similar affect on me simply through the power of illustration and art. That title won a Caldecott Award in the the mid-70's. While I don't believe "a day, a dog" qualifies for this award since it was first published outside of the United States, it ought to be acknowledged in some way for it's impact and contribution to the field of "picture" books. Buy it and share it with someone.

A book with only 4 words from start to finish, yet it's as thought provoking and as powerful as a novel. I recommend this book to any person of any age. Children will enjoy the drawings and just may get more of the direct message than adults that have learned to put life into neat little categories. A harsh, natural story of an abandoned dog that must make do. Beautiful artwork, clever pacing, just enough wonderful gesture drawing to convey exactly what this artist wants. A perfect work of art. This book has a high level of draftsmanship and the ability to evoke potent empathy. A rare and unique find that you could hand to anyone in any culture and the positive message will grab them. This form of picture book causes the reader to use their own hearts and minds between every beautiful drawing. Many thanks to the artist for such an honest book, I applaud you, please create more.

Yesterday I was having one of those "I need to have an attitude adjustment sort of days". My parents are both deceased, my mother having been buried the week of Christmas in 1988. I get sort of melancholy this time of year, and without meaning to, can slide into a "funk". Anyway, it was that kind of a day. I was looking for something in the bottom, deep drawer of my desk when I came upon Tim Richardson's book, JUMP STARTS. I had actually forgotten I had it. I read the table of contents and knew IMMEDIATELY the place I was to begin reading: Part Seven: Life Teaches Us Lessons in Attitude Adjustment! Yesterday I read "The Sun". This morning I read "Music in the Morning". Thank you, Tim, for the gift of your book. Thank you for writing it for people like me. And I thank God, who always in His timing, knows who or what to put in my path. It was no coincidence that I came across your book yesterday.

Jump Starts is a very inspiring book. It's fun to read and leaves you with the motvation to live each day to it's fullest.

Jump Starts is a rare book that combines modern-day parables and makes them easily digestible. The author is able to see the simplest of events and put thought provoking meaning to them.

Jump Starts is a must read for people who strive to stand above the negativity of the everyday world.

NATE THE GREAT is the first book in a wonderful series that introduces young readers to the world of mysteries, clues, and pancakes that is Nate the Great. Shortly after a big breakfast of pancakes, Nate is contacted by his friend Annie. She has a mystery for him. The picture, painted in yellow, she did of her dog Fang is missing. She wants Nate to find the picture for her. Nate leaves a note for his mother and is in hot pursuit of the clues that will let him know where the missing picture is. During the course of his investigation, Nate meets Rosamond and her four cats-Super Hex, Big Hex, Little Hex, and Plain Hex, and Annie's little brother Harry. One of them holds the secret of where the missing picture is.

Marjorie Weinman Sharmat is the author of over twenty Nate the Great adventures, including NATE THE GREAT STALKS STUPIDWEED, NATE THE GREAT AND THE BORING BEACH BAG, NATE THE GREAT AND THE HALLOWEEN HUNT, and NATE THE GREAT AND THE MUSHY VALENTINE. She has written dozens of books for young readers. She named Nate the Great after her father. Her books have been named as Children's Choice books and Junior Literary Guild selections, and been picked as Books of the Year by the Library of Congress. Nate the Great was named after the author's father.

As in every Nate the Great book she writes, Marjorie Sharmat plays fairly with young readers (ages 4-8) regarding the mystery and the clues. Her prose is tight, clean, and concise. Reading aloud to younger readers is an absolute hoot, and if the reader can manage the tough-guy private eye voice of a Mickey Spillane novel, the effect on young readers is even more mesmerizing. The illustrations by Marc Simont-the long-time artist of the Nate the Great series-complements the story very well, lending humor, clues, and vibrant color for young eyes. NATE THE GREAT is the perfect place to join the series because this book sets up all of Nate's world, from the frantic call by friends that have lost something, to the note Nate always leaves his mom on the refrigerator explaining his whereabouts, to the regulars that make up Nate's world.

The entire Nate the Great series is recommended to younger readers and parents who love reading to their children that might have tired of (or memorized!) all of the rhyming Dr. Seuss books. This series makes a great transition to leap from to Nancy Drew or the Hardy Boys later.

"Nate the Great" is, in a word, great. In Nate the Great, Marjorie W. Sharmat has created a hero for young boys. He acts very independently, walking around the neighborhood by himself, making his own pancakes, etc. but he wears his rubbers, and he *always* leaves a note for his mother. Marc Simont really comes through in his laid-back illustrations (some shaded, some in color) that reveal important points of the case, but do not force things down the readers' throats. Also, like the writer, Simont manages humor without going overboard.

As in the best children's books, the writing style is simple yet powerful, like a haiku. Although the "Nate the Great" series is written in full sentences, Sharmat has slyly created a wonderful introduction to poetry-that-doesn't-rhyme with his carefully placed line breaks and page breaks. Here is the first page of text: "My name is Nate the Great. / I am a detective. / I work alone. / Let me tell you about my last case: / I had just eaten breakfast. / It was a good breakfast."

The first book in the Nate the Great series is by far the best, because the funniest parts are in the character development that, of course, takes a back seat in later volumes. The establishing shots of and paragraphs talking about Nate, Annie, Fang, and Rosamond are absolutely hilarious. Continuity watchdogs will note Fang's slightly more menacing nature (and color change) and Annie's lost fascination for yellow in later books. Of course, kids won't notice or care.

The official reviews don't make it clear which books in the series are actually in this volume. The cover is definitely not the original cover of book 1. You might want to look into that before buying.

This series is great fun for little kids and whoever is lucky enough to be reading to them. Get all the Nate you can find!

I've just come back to order the rest of the series on Amazon (We have Nate the Great, Crunchy Christmas and Fishy Prize). Nate the Great stories have great characters, plots and turns that work well for the 6-10 age group. The illustrations are hilarious and we scan them into posters and hang them in my son's room. Although my son reads them for humor, they are the quintessential bedtime stories. However, parents must read the text with a "Joe Friday" (Dragnet) deadpan voice. Younger parents should rent Dragnet TV show videos in order to practice before reading them at bedtime. These books are guaranteed to put your child in stitches. Amazon and the publisher should put them in a single volume or offer as a set.

Forget Tara, forget Falconhurst... this was the real deal. Based on the results of a U.S. Government project in the 1930's to capture the memories of living former slaves on tape, this awesome book is the history of slavery in the United States by those most qualified to tell it -- the blacks who actually lived it. And by telling their stories, we live through it with them; we feel what it must have been like to have your family members sold away from you, to be forced into cohabitation with a fellow slave you despised for the sole purpose of breeding new slaves, to be treated like a beast of burden, and the crushing indignity of being a piece of property to be treated however your master's whim takes him. The former slaves remembered it all, and their reminiscences aren't pretty: "For miles around you could hear those dreadful whuppins. They were a turrible part of livin'." We hear their voices through the dark years of Reconstruction, which for many former slaves was escaping out of one hell and landing into the next, and we hear the stark statement of one old man who sums up the results of all his labor, paid and unpaid, over the decades: "Ain't got nothin, ain't got nothin, ain't got nothin." And finally, we can only wonder at the strength and resilience of so many who claimed their humanity after so many years of being treated as something less than human, and who managed to not only survive, but to keep on keepin' on.

You wouldn't believe my excitement upon discovering this book at the local library. These are the voices of real slaves, their histories recorded in the 1930's through a government project to collect this data. What a true American gem. All the voices are transcribed in the "native" language - Black English as spoken by ex-slaves, many of them at the time of their stories being recorded nearly a hundred years old. The accounts are fascinating, and non-biased. Some slaves speak frankly of wishing once again for slavery, and they recount the generosity and attention of the "Old Marse". Others tell horrific and moving stories of truly brutal and savage masters and wouldn't want to return to "slave times" under any circumstance. Most of the stories include first-hand accounts of their experiences through the Civil War and Reconstruction, although the primary goal was to record their experiences while slaves. Reconstruction of this country had enormous impact, and what the slaves did to build the nation during it's early years has been such a neglected historical topic. This is by far one of the most important books in my collection. As a white 31-year old middle-class woman, this is a must-read for anyone who might call themselves an American, regardless of race.

FOR SO LONG, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT SLAVERY WAS LIKE. I'VE READ ABOUT IT IN BOOKS BUT THERE REALLY WAS NO DETAILED INFORMATION ON THE ACTUAL SLAVES. THIS BOOK REALLY HELPED ME TO FEEL THE DEVASTATION AND HUMILIATION OF THE AFRICAN SLAVE. IT HAS ALSO GIVEN ME A DIFFERENT OUTLOOK ON WHO I AM AND WHERE MY PEOPLE HAVE COME FROM. LONG BEFORE THIS BOOK I HAD DOUBTS ABOUT BEING AFRICAN. I DON'T MEAN AFRICAN AMERICAN. AFRICAN! FROM THE TRAUMATIC STRUGGLE MY PEOPLE HAVE ENDURED HAS MADE ME REALIZE THAT I WOULD BE SO IGNORANT TO CHANGE WHAT THEY HAVE GIVEN ME. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE AUTHOR OF THIS BOOK FOR NOT CHANGING EVEN THE DIALECT OF THE EX-SLAVES. IT REMINDS ME HOW FAR WE HAVE COME AND HOW FAR WE HAVEN'T. THERE IS SO MUCH HEALING THAT HAS TO COME TO THE SO CALLED AFRICAN AMERICANS. READING THIS BOOK, I REALIZE THAT I HAVE FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ARE STILL IN THE SAME STATE OF MIND. -MENTALLY ENSLAVED-

Truth is stranger than fiction, for these stories are totally absorbing. The Day I Met God causes the reader to re-evaluate his own life. In my case, it made a profound impression upon me. I hadn't yet finished it, when I realized that it was time for me to follow the examples in this book. It's about time--I am 81 years old.

THE DAY I MET GOD is filled with inspiring and amazing stories of people who had an encounter with God....even the most unlikely of individuals. There's a story for everyone in this book. It will reach anyone and soften the hardest heart! If you have a friend who is need of God's healing power or truth, this is the book for them. These stories will lead them to God! I particularly was moved by the story of the young man was robbing a man who agreed to give him his money, but told the burglar that he needed to give his heart to the Lord. There's is no doubt in mind that this victim must have prayed for the man who robbed him, because he was later led to the Lord. The criminal was really haunted by the man's words until he gave his life to the Lord. I won't spoil the surprise of how he turned his life around! A great evangelical tool, this is a book that Christians can give to their non-Christian friends without fear of offending them. This book''s gentle stories speak loudly of everyone's need for God and also it shows how we are all individuals and how God meets us not just where we are but in such a special way that it validates how well he knows his children.

Bought the book last week and we are passing it around the house-everyone wants to read The Day I Met God, we have nearly worn it out! Theis collection of stories will touch your heart and move you as you see God's faithfulness. Get an extra copy for a friend!