This was a wonderful book! I read it a while ago but I clearly remember most of it. It is about a young girl named Mary Ellen Todd, who, with her family, travels west to Oregon in the 1850s. I highly reccomend this touching, sad, and all together wonderful book!

We give Bound for Oregon five stars and two thumbs way up! We thought the book was very interesting. There was always something amazing happening. We recommend it to students, friends, and family all around the world. By Bianca and Ashley

This is a good book. It is about a girl from Arkansas moving to Oregon. It shows you what it might have been like traveling the Oregon Trail by a canvas covered wagon. There was a lot of excitement and drama in this book. Will the Todd family make it to Oregon????? And if they do, will they get good land? Is it worth it?Buy it, read it,and find out... BY:JOSH DAVIDSON (KEANAN), JOEY PIPER (PIPES), JOSEPH ALKATHIRI (M.J., KEL)

I have just completed The Intuitive Businesswoman and was very inspired by the book. It was an easy read and chocked with personalized information. After taking the quiz, I could identify myself and see how I fit with succesful women from my personality type. The book explores the lives of women from the past and also those that are presently living successful business lives. What makes it so interesting is that you get to see the obstacles and hardships that each person had to go through to achieve their success. There is such a range of diverse woman that it is possible to see yourself from many angles and begin to fit or add to the pieces of your own manifestation. I really liked the writing style and the engaging, sometimes humerous and interesting stories. It is a great gift for women starting out in their own careers, especially new college graduates. Or for seasoned women who desire to reenforce their resolve while they are hitting some rough spots. All in all it is a very valuable asset to my library and would be a great book for any person wanting to understand and strengthen their own intuitive knowing and how it works in relation to other personalities. An excellent book that provides great content, learning, enjoyment and fun. I highly recommend it.

This is an outstanding book. It far transcends the woman's side of business in that the lessons offered and principles discussed are appropriate for any business person. The Intuitive Businesswoman is filled with very helpful principles, anecdotes and self-assessment exercises. The writing is easy and the stories of the various people featured are riviting and enjoyable. Rarely does a book offer such a wonderful combination of entertainment, insight and practical help.

If you're like me and you've spent years figuring out what the heck you're supposed do with the skills you've been given, this is a great tool for helping you pull it all together. My artisan/adventurer labels were right on the money---so close, in fact, that I think I should go start a new business right now! If you've got an open mind and a searching heart, The Intuitive Businesswoman can give you some direction.

At last, a readable, information-packed, well-designed book that presents deeply ecological 'gardening' (via Permaculture, an ecological meta-design process) to a broad North American/temperate zone audience. Hemenway carefully structures the book to present ecological observations, elements of ecological designing drawn from natural systems, and then their synthesis in the 'ecological garden', where the whole is always greater than the sum of the parts. Though focusing on 'home-scale' designing, the book invites readers to notice how these observations, design elements and syntheses have implications and applications well beyond home-scale. Besides the conceptual richness, the book offers us illuminating windows into a variety of real-life examples. It also provides annotated plant and animal species lists, with ecologically integrated applications, that are relevant to temperate climates (such as North America). This sort of specific information, especially collected in one place, has been until now quite a chore to find. Although there are of course far more relevant species out there than could possibly be included in one book, Gaia's Garden offers more and better temperate zone information than I've seen in collected anywhere before. The bibliography and resources list are the icing on the cake.

I've been organic gardening since the 1960s and I find GAIA'S GARDEN--A GUIDE TO HOME-SCALE PERMACULTURE contains much useful information for the gardener who wants to work with Mother Nature instead of against her.

In his book, Toby Hemingway says "permaculture is a set of techniques and principles for designing sustainable human settlements." Permaculture uses organic gardening principles to deal with big as well as little problems. Permaculture is involved with the local rose and the ecosystem within which the local rose lives. Most of the ideas Hemenway suggests have been "out there" for some time, but Hemingway combines and organizes this cumulative knowledge into a coherent approach. While I don't agree with everything Hemenway suggests, I think most of his ideas are worth trying.

Hemenway seems to have acquired much of his hands-on experience in semi-arid areas on the West Coast, so some of his "live and let-live" tactics may not work on the more lush East Coast. For example, Hemenway appears to be opposed to fighting certain kinds of invasive plants, some of them exotic (i.e. not native), but to me the whole purpose of my garden is to have something that does not look like the rest of the surrounding area--whatever that is--so, I will never give up the effort to keep certain plants OUT. On the other hand, I have discovered I can tolerate some "wildness" in my patch, and have given over certain parts of the yard to natural vegetation (as long as it does not include, poison ivy, bindweed, prickle vine..you get the picture) which the National Wildlife Federation would approve as bird-friendly.

Hemenway's "plan" is geared to the 1/4 acre lot, so folks in the suburbs with more space than me may be able to accomodate more of his ideas. However, I think some of his ideas can be adapted to a smaller space. One thing I really like about this book is his novel approach to laying out beds. No raised boxes or perennial borders here. He goes for keyholes, spirals, wreaths, and all sorts of novel shapes. And they work. I've laid out beds to fit my space and the result is some oddly designed garden areas that are beautiful (my whole yard is a collection of garden beds, I have NO grass).

I particularly support the building of swales to retain ground moisture, and using leftover woody material to build "Hugelkultur" compost heaps. Whenever we replace fence material, trim bushes or trees, or create other woody waste, we bury it at the back of the garden. I also throw newspapers, paper towels (7th Generation of course), and other biodegradable paper into the compost bin. And speaking of compost, adding it directly to the bed is a good idea. Just slip it under the existing mulch, or grab a shovelful of mulch to toss over it. This way the garden gets the full benefit of the decomposing material, not the area around the compost bin.

This is a wonderful book filled with wonderful ideas that hold the key to saving our world.

Gaia's Garden presents revolutionary gardening ideas and plans for the homescale garden. It has opened my mind to the myriad possibilities of growing with nature rather than against her.
Thank you to Hemenway, Todd, and the many pioneers in this field.

In his book The Hollow, author Todd Hayes exposes the motivating factor of the human mind - FEAR. As you follow the main character, Dr Sidney Thorn in his research of the criminal mind, you begin to question your own thoughts and behaviors.

Hayes explores the horror of murder, the supernatural and man's darkest deeds. Pulled into the intriguing web of characters, and circumstances. I read well into the night - and watched the shadows in my room with growing aprehension.

As the plot develops, author Hayes delves deep into the wealth of evil and horifing icons humans have created. Dr. Thorns's reasearch has gone awry...or has the truth of human nature simply been exposed for us to view?

You'll have to decide for yourself!

If you read no other book this summer, READ THE HOLLOW!! This is a FABULOUS book by first time novelist, Todd Hayes. Great protagonist, Sidney Thorn the biochemist trying to make it big with his research grant. Great science, Thorn trying to figure out the chemical basis of fear. Great serial killers, William Brandy is so suave, you'd gladly give him your head! Because of this book's incredible surprise ending, it is definitely at the top of my recommend list!!

The Hollow is easy reading. This new author, Todd Hayes, has great potential! Dr. Thorn's intrigue with fear and power is ovewhelming. The characters are so real...horrifyingly so! I couldn't put the book down! I can't wait to read his next one!

This author knows how to use words in the way God intended. He paints the pictures from his imagination allowing the reader to just step in to his world. What a bold and scary journey he takes you on. I would recommend this book to anyone but especially to teens who I think might relate to the stories and possibly learn a little about life while enjoying a great book.

For its perfections and its imperfections, One Hour is a great book. The stories in this collection are far different from anything readers will find on the shelves of bookstores in this country today. Combining the real and the unreal, One Hour takes you from late nite raves to ecclectic coffe houses, from Atlanta to New Orleans, from adulthood to childhood. One Hour deals with issues of now, yet it does so in a way that the words of this collection will surely be remembered and discussed for generations to come. A movement of the HOUR is sure to commence.

I just finished reading One Hour by Todd Sullivan. This is the best book of short stories I have ever read. One Hour is definitely a best seller.The book was great. I didn't want to stop reading the stories until I came to the end of each one. Todd Sullivan is a great writer with a successful writing career before him.I especially enjoyed The Great Escape Artist. The first page of the story grabbed my attention. I thought the beginning was great and made me read until I finished the story. When I got to the end of the story, all I thought was WOW!Todd is extremely good at getting you involved with the characters . You don't want to stop reading until you know what happened to Lore.I recommend this book to anyone who want to read interesting new stories with an unexpected twist at the end.He is a gifted writer who can develope stories to make you want to keep reading until you get to the end.I will be looking for his next book.

IN this book jake switches bodies with his sister jessica Jake does this to impress a pen pal from japan. This book asks the intresting question how would you like to be someone else for a day. After reading the book i as a guy want to know how it feels to be a girl for a day

14 year-old Jake Sherman is in major trouble this time! He has his online pen-pal coming with her father to see him all the way from Japan. Through some E-Mail conversation, he has led her to believe that he is a star athlete, when in real life he's awful. He needs to find a way out of his predicament fast, so he switches bodies with his star athlete sister, Jessica. While being "trapped" in 16 year-old Jessica's body, Jake runs into some odd problems and predicaments, including having to go on a date as Jessica. This book is a great read for all ages. Before you read it though, ask yourself this question. (Actually this question applies to all of the books in Strasser's Body Swapping series.) How would YOU like to be someone else for a day?

This was a great book. Jake switches bodies with his sister because he wants his pen pal from Japan to notice him. But something goes wrong and they are not able to switch back to their normal bodies. Will Jake be a girl forever, or just for the weekend? Personally I would choose to stay in Jessicas body for the weekend. If you have not read this bok you should.

I bought this book as a present for my husband who happens to be a major Seinfeld fan. The book was terrific! It has black and white photos of the casts last days on the set with their comments. This book is perfect for all heavy duty Seinfeld fans. Crys

This is a great book... wonderful pictures! From "Hello Newman!" to watching Kramer run into Jerry's apartment, but from KRAMER'S side... These are all execellent pictures and excellent moments. Each of the cast members ideas and thoughts about the serious. Plus, you get pictures of EVERYONE, even Babu, Soup Nazi, Mr. Pit, the Constanzas, the Susan's parents, and many more...

I think if you are going to buy this book or are even considering it, you have to be a very big fan of the show and appreciative of it, because the average fan might not get much out of it. It has awesome photos taken during the final episode with comments by the cast. It's not a story or script or anything like that, it's just one last look at what the actors went through and how they felt. But I have the book and I loved it. A lot of behind-the-scenes pictures were great.

On the first level, this book is about the women who married Joseph Smith. Beyond that, though, this is a book about the early psychology of the Mormon Church, and the power of the prophetic and apostolic paradigm that the Mormon people lived under during those early, charismatic years.

At first blush, the reader is amazed at the number of women Joseph Smith married. Traditional Mormon mythology teaches that J.S., Brigham Young, Heber Kimball, et al, mostly married elderly women and widows who needed to be taken care of in "the kingdom," or that most were sealed to them posthumously. Many Mormans will be surprised to find out that Joseph was polygamous at all, since Emma is the only wife we ever hear about in "authorized" church history. But to learn of the nature of those relationships, including the fact that most were wives in consumated relationships with the prophet while many had "first husbands" is truly a myth buster.

These women, however, were not just starry-eyed groupies of the charismatic prophet. These were remarkable women of great charisma, leadership and personal power that they possessed of their own, not merely borrowed from their husbands. Their lives are tributes to the spirit of early Mormon faith and endurance.

The second layer of this book is a psycho-social study of the early mormon community, particularly from the perspective of the female leadership. These were women who participated in priesthood administrations, healings, speaking in tongues, visions and the administration of temple ordinances. These were women who found a way to create a sisterhood of wives when their husbands were so largely removed from the day-to-day affairs of their enormous families. These were often self-sustaining frontierswomen who played a courageous and unsung role in settling the Great Basin region of the intermountain west.

Lastly, I believe this book provides the necessary insight to understand why polygamy failed: it was too psychologically and physically taxing on its participants. Todd Compton does not make any judgement along these lines...the reader is free to come to this conclusion on their own. But to read of the sadness, the loneliness, and the heartache, such a conclusion is inevitable.

Compton does the world of history a great favor by bringing together this collection of stories and insights about the leading ladies of early Mormondom. It is an essential counter-balance to the traditional patriarchal authorized history, and is often the history that later Church leaders must have deemed "unwelcome" or at least "unimportant," because you won't find this history in "church approved" manuscripts. It will, however, assist the seeker in determining for themselves the spirit, and culture, out of which sprung the church we know today.

It is hard to find a book about early Mormonism that does not focus almost exclusively on Joseph Smith. As founder of the Mormon religion, this may not seem surprising, but it's refreshing just the same to read Todd Compton's book with its almost exclusive focus on Joseph's wives, and comparatively little focus on the Mormon prophet.

Compton's book consists of 30 chapters; each written as a biography of the various women Joseph Smith married, with the conspicuous absence of Emma Smith. This highlights and emphasizes the fact that, though Joseph had many wives, they were all rejected by Emma who vigorously opposed polygamy and the intrusions it brought into her home.

Studying Mormon history has become a mixed blessing. On one hand, historical scholarship of the subject has advanced greatly since Bodie's landmark "No man knows my History." On the other hand, excommunication of prominent historians (such as Quinn and Brodie) by the Mormon Church has resulted in much fear and distrust. For most Mormons, Todd Compton's book probably falls outside the designation of "faith promoting," and may be uncomfortable for many active members of the church.

Growing up in the Mormon Church, I learned several myths about early Mormon polygamy such as: 1. A man's wife had to approve the marriage to plural wives. 2. Most plural wives were older women whose husbands had died, and for whom polygamy represented safe heaven from a brutal world. 3. Most of Joseph's plural wives were sealed to him, but had no sexual relationship with him. 4. Joseph's plural wives never became pregnant from him. 5. There was never any admission or even mention of polyandry.

Through the biographies he has constructed, Compton exposes each of these myths. Chapter 1 discusses Fanny Alger, who married Joseph when she was only sixteen and he was twenty-seven. Emma didn't know about the marriage, and when she learned of it (by seeing Fanny and Joseph together, by one account, and noticing Fanny's pregnancy by another account - see pages 34-35) drove Fanny from their house. Oliver Cowdery (one of the Book-of-Mormon witnesses) described Joseph's relationship with Fanny as a sexual affair, and accused Joseph of adultery - resulting in Oliver's excommunication in 1838 (see pages 38-39).

Compton spends considerable effort reconciling Cowdery's description of Fanny Alger as an affair, and others who clearly describe a marriage relationship (though without the approval or knowledge of Emma). As I read the book I kept expecting Compton to draw the obvious conclusion, that Joseph had an affair with Fanny and then invented polygamy (which he may have been contemplating anyway) to save his presidency and justify his actions. Compton, however, never draws this conclusion, and ends still contemplating the two possible scenarios as mutually exclusive.

I found particular interest in this book because one of Joseph Smith's plural wives, Melissa Lott, was my great, great, great grandmother (see chapter 28). Like many of his other plural wives, Melissa was young (only 19) when she married Joseph Smith. Growing up Mormon, my parents taught me that Melissa had been a "spiritual" wife of Joseph Smith, having been sealed to Joseph only after his death (a common occurrence). During an interview with Joseph Smith's son, and President of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, however, Melissa stated that she had been a wife indeed, with full benefit of a sexual relationship with the prophet. Melissa married Joseph less than a year before he was murdered and later married my great, great, great grandfather. Both lived hard lives, and her second husband died (along with their young son) when the wagon he was driving turned over with its load of firewood and drowned them in a creek. It was a touching chapter for me, the more so because Melissa is my ancestor, and illustrates the central theme of all Joseph's plural wives: sacred loneliness and lives of hard work and toil.

Passionately written through the eyes of those who knew him, loved him, followed him, and counted on him for salvation, Compton's book is a must for anyone interested in Mormon history and the personal lives that launched this twentieth-century American religion. Meticulously researched and well written, I highly recommend it.

Duwayne Anderson

I am sure many people will comment on this book for religious reasons, originally Mormon social history was the reason that I read In Sacred Loneliness, and religion seems to breed ridiculous arguments where no grounds for arguments really exist. I found the book particularly even - at different times in the book I thought he was shamelessly praising the church and other times too harsh, soon though the sway of the characters took over, and the emotional involvement with the lives of such powerful, pitiful and human women really pulls you in.

Regardless of what you think about polygamy, this book gives you an appriciation for the dedication of the integrity of some of these people to follow it, and for some a deep respect for those who chose to leave it. I really had a hard time with this book as some of these character really are heroic, like Patty Sessions, and Zina Huntington. I think that Compton leaves the reader to decide about polygamy, or Mormonism - right or wrong the story of the women involved is needed, useful and inspirational.

For those who want to argue about religion there is alot here to mull over, but I really think that you miss the point.

This book is incredible...... From the very beggining, where you wonder if the old nut really can be Uncle Sam, with his constant flashbacks and presidential quips, to his struggle with the image of what he has become at the end of the story, this book tells a tale that should not be ignored......

However, it is Sam's final struggle with what he has become that touches me the most. The symbol and spirit of freedom in America faces what he has become- a symbol of corporate payola..

Read this book, I urge you. It's far better than most of the junk that DC churn out these days, and better than 'The Dark Knight Returns', their best publication ever.... People might say that you cant really compare the Batman to Uncle Sam, but then you are ignorant to what Uncle Sam is, a superhero in his own right, giving hope and freedom to Americans.........

A disheveled, homeless man, dressed in a torn and stained Uncle Sam costume, is led out of a hospital in New York City and onto the street. He shouts incessantly in the form of soundbites and political quotations. He has flashbacks of a life in various periods of American history, and horrific visions of America today. Is he just another human wreckage living in his own personal nightmare? Or is he the real "Uncle Sam"? The symbol and icon of the Great Republic?

Steve Darnall (writer), Alex Ross (artist) and Todd Klein (letterer) have created a magnificent treatment of the "Uncle Sam" mythos, super-imposing the idealized republic against the bloody history and chaotic present of the USA. Originaly printed as a two issue comic book by DC Comics (the people who brought you that other icon of America, Superman), both issues are collected in one volume. Regardless of your political opinion, be you patriot or revolutionary, this book will make you stop and think about the difference between the ideal and the reality.

Kirkus Reviews wrote it better than I ever could: "More explicitedly radical than anything from DC Comics in recent history...a damning account of American political history that also affirms basic democratic ideals."

Put away of your notions about what you consider a "comic book" to be, and read this!

"Uncle Sam" rightfully takes its place next to "V for Vendetta," "Maus" and "I Saw It." It is a rare achievement in comics, for a major company to put forth a book that has something to say on a subject other than comics.

Speaking with a remarkable eloquence, "Uncle Sam" speaks of symbols and countries, and what it means to be patriotic, and to have faith in a symbol. The message is not an easy one to decipher, which is proper considering the complexity of the issue. There are layers here.

The art is, of course, incredible, as one comes to expect from Alex Ross. He has really outdone himself, and this is obviously a labor of love that goes above and beyond his fanboy's love of comics. He uses a variety of artistic influences and imagery. Like the storyline itself, a deeper knowledge of American art history aids the appreciation.

This book combines everything that is unique and relevant about the medium of comics. Words and pictures together, telling a story in a way impossible to either alone.

There have been a dozen or more "boy's books" lately, most notably the exceptional Raising Cain, by Kindlon and Thompson. Most of them are not worth the bother, and this compendium is at the top of that list.

Dr. William S. Pollack has done a masterful job in constructing a book which allows us to hear boys' testimonies on well over a dozen topics....their accounts tell us about pressures which stare boys straight in the eye every day and demand their responses. In "Real Boys' Voices" we see the flip side of the often uncommunicative teenage boy and Pollack helps us to see how boys regard themselves (and others) when asked to express their thoughts freely and candidly. As a private one-to-one teacher, I agree with, and have acted upon for many years, his main theme....that boys need a shame-free, comfort-free zone in which to open up. The remarkable entries in this book are sometimes very troubling, often warm, and always genuine. I would suggest that one read Pollack's book slowly and carefully. The emotional depth conveyed is well worth the time. The last chapter offers sound advice in content and tone on how to deal with boys, recapping the advice he peppers throughout the book. My hope is that it should be read especially by men who continue to propagate the "Boy Code"....a code that keeps boys' true feelings stifled and their lives wrapped up in straitjackets.

Voices Ring True in these pages. I watched Mr. Pollack on Oprah and his compassion left me puzzled. What many parents had felt but society denied us for years was - it's ok for little boys to show emotion and grow up with a better understanding of life, so why didn't we follow through? It's puzzling in a big part because we just want them to be a "man." Not to cry and run to us with problems............who made this pathetic rule in the first place? It gives me great pleasure to hope this book will change many male voices towards a better and more accepting view of REAL VOICES from boys. Listen and learn something, put it down, pick it up, read it over and over............it's there. Please allow me to suggest another grand book which instills simple, but thoughtful words into parenting, "Mommy-CEO," by Jodie Lynn as she tells us why we need 5 Golden Rules for both girls and boys. Similar to Mr. Pollack - the message is - "Treat Children The Way You Want To Be Treated." Think about this message, and do it as both authors suggest. Do it as much for yourself as your children. Stop the insanity of blowing off the feelings of your sons. Allow them to feel important when they come to us for help and treat them with respect. No problem or conversation should be too small for us to listen to. Maybe we don't have an answer for everything, but to listen is a beginning.