This is an amazing pop-up! It isn't for little fingers though. Lots of tantalizing papers to pull! However, seated on your lap, your child will adore the book. Mr. Sabuda has fabulous books, they are fantastic to look at. I have his butterly book also, and it is just as engaging.
You will love to count cookies with your little one!

This is a wonderful book for children of all ages. The pop-ups are fun and fanciful and will make you ooh and aah. I dare any adult to look at it and not be thrilled. The paper engineering is remarkable and you will stay awake at nights wondering how the artist could make such wonders. This is in full color as opposed to Sabuda's other works mainly done in white. I would make sure small hands are not allowed to get too friendly with this book so as to keep it functional.

Absolutely a stunning feat of paper engineering!

You almost wish you could eat the cookies as they pop off the page into your eyes. A clever little story without words occurs behind the simple rhyme that counts out all the cookies. For those watching the waistline, be glad you can only look at the pictures, and this book will stuff only stockings this holiday season and not tummies!

Once again, Robert Rabbin has managed to define the indefinable....to bring understanding to what seems incomprehensible for many of us. His unique and gifted style of turning words into wisdom brings clarity to the silence within us. Echoes of Silence is truly the meditation guidebook for the new Millennium.

Robert Rabbin drinks from the same well-spring as Rumi. He is a champion like Ali because his words float like a butterfly and sting like a bee. I love Echoes of Silence. I couldn't wait until the next word, the next phrase because they took me to a place I've always wanted to go, but didn't know how to get there. The book is more than words to be read. It is an experience. I was held gently, and I was shaken, but whether resting in comfort or vibrating with what I had just read, I felt closer to the heart of meditation.

Robin Rabbin is a contemporary mystic who has been facilitating Meditative Inquiry retreats for more than fifteen years. In Echoes Of Silence, he draws upon his considerable expertise and experience to instruct the reader in the art of meditation as a method of achieving inner peace and happiness. Rabbin explores the true nature of meditation, revealing what it is -- and is not. Rabbin employs prose poems combined with beautiful duotone images to dispel many of the myths surrounding the authentic meditative experience. Echoes Of Silence is highly original, "reader friendly", a welcome introduction for the novice, and with much to offer even those having prior experience with meditation.

I have suffered from disabling TBI for 4 1/2 years, and it went undiagnosed for over 2 1/2 years. I consulted doctors at several of the most esteemed medical facilities in the country, and they couldn't figure out the cause of my mysterious symptoms. The authors of this book are the first to explain every single bizarre symptom I have, from the hissing in the ears to the dizziness, disoriention, and visual disturbances. I am deeply grateful that these two brilliant women have helped me in a way that top neurologists have been unable (or unwilling) to. Even the doctors who found brain damage in test results could not explain all the symptoms. This book is the most comprehensive source of TBI information I have seen anywhere. It is a must have for patients with TBI, as well as family members, friends, and the doctors who treat these patients.

The book offers suggestions that include not only conventional medicine, but also alternative medicine, and practical, compensatory techniques. The authors emphasize rehabilitation, which is often helpful when drugs fail, and it does not cause the troublsome side effects. Thank you for this wonderful resource!

The bad news is that I didn't find this book till 1 1/2 years after my husband's brain injury. The GOOD news is that I found this book, just 1 1/2 years after my husband's brain injury! I'm insisting that his children and my siblings all read it. Our anger and frustration over the myriad changes in him have nearly ended our 20-year marriage. This book is giving us the information we need to begin asking the right questions and finding some answers. Thank God, we are not alone in this.

If you or someone you care about is dealing with mild traumatic brain injury or concussions this is an excellent book. The technical aspects of brain injury are explained in plain english. The remainder of the book is well written and insightful. The book explains a very inexact ailment in very understandable terms. It discusses "post concussive syndrome" with the its hundreds of different symptoms which appear and disappear. This is one book that will help everything come together in a clear and concise way.

AN EXCELLENT READ ON A TOUGH SUBJECT.

This is a book from the real world that business students should read. I found this book tremendously readable. The lessons that Rick has learned are enjoyable and entertaining--while teaching the reader valuable lessons about business and buyouts.

If you want to finally get behind the curtain of what a management buyout is,how it works, and more importantly how you can profit from it, read BUYOUT. This well researched and well conceived book, written by two of the most credible professionals in the business, will help investment professionals, entrepreneurs, and managers with the financial engineering and operational exigencies that will create shareholder value. A must read!

Rick Rickertsen is an expert at leveraged buyouts. He is also an exceptioanlly nice guy. His rare combination of talent and achievement, combined with a graciousness and good nature have helped Rick build a network of contacts and relationships which are truly exceptional. This book reflects lessons learned not only from Rick's own considerable experience as an LBO sponsor, but also wisdom garnered from almost two decades of working with some of the greatest fiananciers and managers of our time. The style of the book reflect's Rick's personal style: straightforward, and easy to understand. One of Rick's unique gifts is his ability to make powerful financial concepts easy for the average reader to grasp. Another distinguishing feature of the book is the repeated use of real life examples. One could write volumes trying to describe a financial theory, or just convey it quickly with a powerful example. Of course, this is not just a "how to" guide, it is also a compelling series of stories with real life charachters, who are brought to life by Rick's captivating writing. Get this book. It reads like Barbarians at The Gate or Liars Poker- i.e. it is impossible to put down. It also gives a great overview, with sample forms included, of how, when, and why to do an LBO.

In Canis author Robert Amrstrong paints a picture of malevolent crossbred canines, the products of unscrupulous breeders, preying on street people against a background of Houston city politics. The vicious attacks result in the deaths of several homeless unfortunates. The protagonist, Duncan McDonnell, DVM, Chief of the Bureau of Animal Regulations and Care for the City of Houston, finds himself at cross purposes with the powers that be as he pursues his eventually successful investigation resulting in the discovery of the person behind the attacks. Canis builds to an exciting conclusion before we learn who is responsible for the carnage.

It is always a pleasure to read fiction by someone who is a bona fide authority on the subject of his story. Robert Armstrong, professional veterinarian, is that, having served for ten years with the same department as his protagonist. Not only will you be entertained, but you will learn a great deal about the vicissitudes of animal regulation in a major city, most of which are surely never appreciated by the public.

The book Canis, starts out in a puppy mill. You'll read about the atrocities carried out in these places. Animal lover or not you'll be dragged into this story against your will.

Duncan A. MacDonell is the Chief of the Bureau of Animal Regulation and Care. Before that he served twenty years in the military.

None of his prior service in the military, nor his years working for the Health Department, is helping him deal with the political idiots that are running it. You will experience the sheer frustration he deals with every single day, while he tries to get the basic necessities to run his department. Such as skilled workers, dog handlers, and equipment.

When a Homicide Detective, Sam Goodson, calls on MacDonell to help them with a series of gruesome murders around the city, the heat is turned up a notch under MacDonell's hide. It all comes back to Politics.

Robert E. Armstrong has written a sensational book! I found his characters highly interesting and realistic. His main character, MacDonell and his wife Jeannie, I really liked a lot. Of course he put plenty in his book I couldn't stand as well. And that only made the book that much better.

Mr. Armstrong has a truly gifted way with words. I loved his descriptions of the area, the crime scenes, and the characters. Most of all, I chuckled time and time again whenever MacDonell would let go with one of his quirky sayings.

I highly recommend Canis. You will have a truly eye opening experience when you come to understand what our animal bureaus are up against. I for one, can't wait to read another book by Mr. Armstrong.

CANIS is a dark story-- have you ever noticed that nearly all
good vet mysteries are dark? Robert Armstrong's main character, Duncan MacDonell, is the Houston city vet. He works for animal control in a city where the annual euthanasia statistics are given in TONS. He spends a lot of his time trying not to beat the snot out of local politicians who want to look good to the animal-loving public while doing absolutely nothing to help his
department, where morale is understandably low. And then something starts attacking homeless people.

CANIS is a good example of Lawrence Block's comment that people who really know their subject can confidently take you along without telling you every step. Armstrong injects credible information when and where it's needed, and he doesn't overdo it. At the same time, readers are so steeped in the miasma
of the Animal Control department that I had to stop reading several times, because I was getting as depressed as some of the euthanasia techs. A warning to sensitive readers: chapter twenty-four is very hard to read. We're taken along as Mac does his weekly walk-through of the shelter, and in few vivid lines he describes what the workers there deal with every day. There were a few descriptions of animals in the euthanasia ward that haunted
me all weekend, even though they were only a couple of lines long. (Your pets ARE spayed and neutered, right? Right?)

The thing is, by this point in the story, Mac is up to his neck in trying to figure out who and what is responsible for the gruesome deaths of at least four people, and the chapter reinforces our impression of his state of mind. It's atmospherically very effective. And his feelings of anger and
helplessness are channelled into his quest to solve this crime.

Mystery-wise, I suspected everyone. There's at least one unexpected turn of events that converts the story from a thriller to a true mystery, and although I suspected everyone, I completely missed a number of clues and so was honestly surprised by the solution. I also give Mr Armstrong kudos
for making the victims into real people, rather than pieces of a puzzle. This isn't a story for the squeamish, but it features real people and a satisfying mystery.

What we have in this series of books (starting with Conan, and proceding through Conan The Cimmerian, Conan The Wanderer, etc.) is an attempt to put the stories in chronological sequence, filling in the gaps from the late Howard's notes. It's a valiant effort, both respectable and respectful though it's certain that whatever demons possessed Howard and allowed him to write as knowledgably (even "truthfully") about Conan as he did do not possess Carter and de Camp.

It's too easy (and fruitless) to criticize the effort for that. The series gives you a look at Conan as he grows and matures, and presents as cohesive a picture of him as any literary (or even actual) character ever documented. Aspiring fantasists would do well to read this for an idea of how to build a lasting character.

Beyond that, the stories are just plain fun. Violent, of course, with a smattering of non-graphic... (less here than in other books), and lots of good weird stuff. Because these are short stories, you don't get the kind of cliffhangers you get from a "Tarzan" book, but you do get non-stop action from one of the best. And that ain't bad.

Robert E. Howard is truely the master of fantasy. This is the first installment of the conan saga. This book has the first eight short stories of Conans life written by Robert E. Howard and edited by L. Sprague De Camp and Lin Carter. These stories are fantastic well written swords & sorcery by the man who started the craze. The battles in the book are so vivid that you can feel the blood splashing your face as Conan cuts his enemy down. His emotions are so well written that you can feel Conans despair as he faces his greatest fears. Heck by the end of the book you miss the guy. This book has it all fights, drinks, booty, women, and high adventure. Conan was fun and entertaining to read I reccomend it to all swords & sorcery fans. If you like this book or are interested in more swords & sorcery then I reccomend these titles: the whole conan series, Brakk the Barbarian by John Jakes, Flashing Swords edited by Lin Carter(short stories), Swords and Deviltry by Fritz Leiber.

Besides Robert E. Howard's suicide at the age of 30, the greatest tragedy of this brutally talented writer is that his work has not enjoyed the literary praise and societal acceptance that it so clearly deserves. Howard is one of the most overlooked authors of the last century, in part due to academia's refusal to seriously study the Fantasy genre. Conan, Howard's greatest character, lives, prowls, "wenches", boozes, adventures, and cajoles among the paperback pages of this first Conan book, due entirely to Howard's distinct narrative voice.

The reader feels the flexing muscle and sinew, the weathered and tanned skin, the animal reflexes, the very strength in Conan's mercenary grip when they read these short stories - beyond Howard's brilliance at character creation, the very narrative voice is written in the tune of savage ruthlessness. No matter your sex, you can't help but boil with testosterone and reel in the wicked pleasure of cleaving cut-throats with a broadsword, because the simple and powerfully persuasive narrative voice places you in Conan's world. Howard's delicate and meticulous word choice not only provide the uniqueness of his voice - a style rich with texture, details, and cinematic imagery - but it also provides the barbarian lens by which we view his world.

The stories are often dripping with blood, but the imagery is so vivid and artistic it in no way diminishes the quality of the text. The knocked out teeth and the crimson sprays seem natural, because they're natural to Conan. Few authors have ever displayed such a profound ability at placing the reader into a character's blood, brain, and hormones. Conan, after all, is not the stereotypical Hollywood action hero - he is a character designed with his own unique combination of strength and flaws. Flaws found in all humanity. He may be built and wired like a Siberian tiger, but he is plagued with a deeply embedded fear of the supernatural. His temper often gets the better of him. When times are good and the riches spill from his saddlebags, he's a boastful braggart that earns the unforeseen whack at the end of a dark alley. When times are tough, he hits the goblet. He's everything we want to be and one of us when we need him to be.

Howard's voice and style make all of this possible. This first book in the Conan series displays that voice of reluctant role model as good as any other. Finding a copy may be difficult, but for the reader that enjoys Fantasy written at the depth and quality of literary genre fiction, the search and the expenditure will yield a bountiful harvest.

I have been looking for a book about the Mormon culture that would be interesting to non-Mormons. I think that the Mormon culture is fascinating in its idiosyncrasies, and I have been excited for a long time at the prospect of someone writing a book about its idiosyncrasies.

Most Mormon literature that I have read is very preachy in nature. The climaxes have been that the protagonist realizes that the Mormonism is for him or her, and the main struggle has been about whether or not Mormonism is true. While this can be a good subject, it is entirely overused in Mormon fiction.

This book is different. It is a book about the complex relations between Terry-the disturbed mathematics professor, Blake-his gay son, and Terry Sr.-his homophobic ultra-religious father. That is why I say that it defines a new genre, because it is a well-written book about relationships inside of a Mormon culture, not about a book about Mormonism.

He has a very good vocabulary, and is very good for a first time novelist.

The following paragraph of criticisms made a very minor impact for my appreciation of this well-written book:

If you don't like flashbacks in books, then this book is not for you. The book is mostly a series of flashbacks. It contains flashbacks within flashbacks, and contains an every-other-paragraph-is-a-flashback scene. Also, the narrator uses words and phrases that are unique to the Mormon culture such as "beseechingly," "murmurous," and "bear testimony to this truth." The use of these phrases is not extreme, but may make this book a little hard for a non-Mormon to read. And even though the characters in the book that are gay are very complex, the discussion of the nature of homosexuality is relatively simplistic.

Also, if you are offended by swear words or by frank discussions about homosexuality and stories of a sensual nature, then you will be offended by this book.

For a first book, Dancing Naked is excellent. In fact, I'd say it would be excellent for a 2nd, 3rd or 4th too.

This story is about a father's difficultly in accepting his son and his son's differences (whether those are the son's homosexuality or even just his 'sensitivity') and ultimately dealing with the poignant results of that rejection. The father's desire for a ordered world is never found.

I loved this book, to put it simply. As a gay Mormon born outside of Utah but having lived there for 5 years, the characters, who are very well developed, rang true. Only one did not seem particularly "Mormon" to me, Terry's father (the father of the main character). I've met many a homophobic Mormon men in my 20 years as a Mormon, but none seem to fit this character. A small point.

Yet, this book is more than just a book about Mormons and homosexuality, like any good literature it is about something universal, set in a very specific situation, of Mormon Utah. It is about parenthood and the struggle to accept our children when they 'disorder' our world.

I agree with an earlier assessment, it is rough in parts, mainly the flashbacks are a bit heavy at times, but overall the writing is excellent, the story enthralling and the characters well written.

I really hope this book gains a wide readership.

Trey

P.S. As to the one review with a "Brodie" recommendation, seems like the reviewer has an ulterior motive in the review. The book does portray Mormons quite well and relatively balanced (but it can never be a broad portrayal, it was not meant to be at all, the reviewer missed the point of fiction).

"Robert Hodgson Van Wagoner has written the first great Mormon novel," according to Martin Naparsteck in the Salt Lake Tribune. Tracing the life and problems of Terry Walker, a mathematics professor at the University of Utah, Dancing Naked is "about the way love manifests itself and how it can turn on us and be our enemy when we don't understand ourselves. It is also about secrecy and distrust and what they do to relationships," said the author, Van Wagoner. The main character's son dies early in the novel by accidental(?) hanging in the family bathroom, the first instance of "dancing naked" in the book. His son's revealed homosexuality, causes Walker to struggle with the results of his own religious upbringing at the hands of his father, a violently homophobic Mormon. Paul Swenson, in the Salt Lake Observor, declared the book to be a "love story, with moments of peace and hilarity, but ... also dense and painful." The appeal of the book extends beyond those in Utah or with Utah or Mormon ties. Anyone with a gay friend or family member will find resonant chords here. And, as with all fine literature, the wordcraft and the insight into human nature speaks to us all

Will Baggett, the main character, is Raleigh, NC's favorite TV weatherman. But Captain Saturday is not about weather, and it's not about TV (even though you will find insights about TV news that could only be given by someone who's been on the inside). The book is about "being real", knowing one's self, and investing oneself in what is important.

By any popular notion of what it means to be a success, Will Baggett is a great success. And Will is a good person: hardworking, loyal, honest, courteous, polite, devoted to community service. But in reality, he has lost his way and doesn't even know it. Someone once said, "Integrity is making the inside match the outside." That is Will's problem.

Captain Saturday is intense at times, funny and full of surprises. It cost me several hours of sleep since I couldn't put it down. You'll relate to Will's plight and find yourself wanting to join his quest for integrity. Absolutely loved it, except that (as a Southerner would say after a good sermon) "Bob Inman dun quit preachin' an' went to meddlin'". The book hits home.

This is the first Robert Inman book I have read. I heard Mr. Inman on NPR doing a book review with Rebecca Bain, mediator of a program called Fine Print.
I enjoyed his program, so I wanted to get a copy of his book.
How delightful is this book! This is not only a "good southern book", but it is meaningful to all who read it. It reminds us once again, it is our relationships to others (wifes, sons, relatives), that truly brings us happiness.
Each of us has a little "Will Baggett in us". Have we not all built our image carefully, so that others see us one way and our family really knows the true person?
Will Baggett is a survivor. After 9/11, we all need positive affirmations that no matter what happens we are the master of our own fate making mistakes, but also making corrections (along with a good dose of God's mercy).

Read IT..I plan on getting other books by this author, right away.

In the hands of many modern novelists (of the John cheever ilk) this novel of a middle-aged man losing his job, wife and self-respect would be a dreary depiction of life in the "soulness" of their America. But not here.

Will Baggett, formerly lead weatherman at Raleigh's channel 7 is a man who seeks out validation and human connection in malls rather than at home, Baggett is fired when a conglomerate buys out the family-run station and decides to cut costs by hiring a younger, cheaper weather personality. Within short order Will injures himself, his wife gives him the boot, he learns that his soon is failing med school and he goes to jail for possession of marijuana.

Rather than dwelling on the failure of the protagonist, Inman goes back in time to sketch Will's goofily eccentric family and in the process lets the reader figure out the man Will has become. Upon his release from jail, Will begins to remake himself and finally finds out the person he could have been.

Peopled with wonderfully quirky Southern characters and imbued with a generous loving spirit, CAPTAIN SATURDAY is an affirmation of love, family, honor and generosity. A delghtful subplot is the romance between his cousin Wingfoot and a former basketball player now country singer. Read this book for an uplifting, yet honest, portrayal of a good man.

I had previously read all of the Cordina triliogy some years ago when I rented them from the library as part of Nora Robert's Language of Love series. I never bought them though, so I was escatic when they were rereleased in one trilogy. My favorite story is The Playboy Prince. I love the characters of Bennet and Hannah. Command Performance is also a great read. The only story I wasn't so fond of was the rirst one, starring Garbriella and Reeve, Affaire Royale. But, like all of Roberts stories, the characters and plot are wonderful, and she does a good job (in my opinion) of portraying what royal life would really be like. If you are a fan of Nora Roberts you are going to love these stories, and even if you aren't a fan, this trilogy will still amaze you.

These three in one novels featuring the 2 brothers and sister of the Royal Cordina family are examples of Nora Roberts at her romantic best. Unlike many reprints of older works, these books read well for the present and don't seem dated by annoyingly passive and helpless heroines. The characters are interesting and nicely done; the plots have lots of palace intrigue; the romance is fun; and there is the added bonus of enjoying the same lovable characters as they develop in the three stories. A fast and fun read.

I was in a bookstore and happened to pick up "Cordina's Royal Family." I'm really glad I did. My favorite story was "The Playboy Prince." I love Bennett and Hannah. I also liked "Command Performance." The first story, "Affaire Royale," is not the best; each one just gets better. I liked this trilogy so much that I bought "Carolina Moon" by Nora Roberts. However, from page one I saw that "C.M." was waaaaay different from the Cordina trilogy--not that I don't like it so far (I'm in the middle of reading it); it's just different. So I'm going to agree with another reviewer and say that Nora Roberts's early works are the best--more romance, less murder/mystery stuff.

The protagonist David Selig was born with the gift of reading minds, but finds around the age of forty that his gift is fading. This story is pretty much summed up in that one sentence, and from there we have flashbacks to his past when the power was strong broken with interludes in the present.
The problem is, David is never a sympathetic character, past or present. He starts out shallow and finished shallow, never exerting any self control over his gift to better himself, and mourning it pathetically and placidly as it fades. His relationship with his sister was horrible from childhood, where he made it unbearable for her, through his life. It did intrigue me that his sister only seemed interested in his as his power faded, but her motive seemed more to rub it in his face than any actual familial concern.
There are a few really good parts, such as David's interview with the child psychologist, and only being 200 pages it is a very quick read, but don't expect too much insight into David or any of the other characters. Silverberg is a master of SF, but I can only give this three stars for the unique idea and nothing for the actual content.

Along with THE BOOK OF SKULLS and DOWNWARD TO THE EARTH, this is 1 of Silverberg's very best novels, & 1 of the finest science fiction novels of the 70s. An intimate portrait of a telepath losing his powers, the book Dscribes the depression of that loss, as well as the exaltation of David Selig's gift. The brilliant writing U can almost take 4 granted -- it's Silverberg. What's really stunning is the painfully up-close, intimate, personal portrait U'll get of Selig & the people in his life. It's so vivid, indelible -- U'll feel like U've met this person. There's even a happy ending. It makes 4 an amazing, rewarding mind-movie. An all-time classic -- the fact that it didn't win either a Hugo or a Nebula Award (which both went to Isaac Asimov's 2nd-rate THE GODS THEMSELVES) is 1 of the major lapses of R time.

I have read almost all of Silverberg's novels written before 1980, and believe that "Dying Inside" is his best. It is unfortunate that it is out of print, but one can find it with a bit of effort. My daughter found a used copy in a small bookstore in NYC -- I have since re-read the book and found it even more poignant than the first time I read it. Readers not interested in science fiction should take the plunge into the genre with this book, as it explores the psychological aspects of alienation that can result from possessing a rare quality (or affliction). The main character of the story, David Selig, struggles with his relationships with others because of his ability to know exactly what they are thinking, feeling, etc. He learns that even his parents aren't always loving despite what they say. His unique loneliness is heartbreaking. Take the time to find this book. You may conclude that it is one of the most powerful science fiction novels ever written.