Peter Allen takes three of the most compelling aspects of human history--sex, disease, and religion--and weaves them together in a fascinating exposition of how religious authorities in the West have viewed disease since the late Middle Ages. His book discusses the histories of lovesickness, leprosy, syphilis, plague, masturbation, and of course AIDS. For each disease (and yes, masturbation was considered a serious disease well into the 20th Century!), he discusses how sex, and the sins associated with it, figured into the religious and popular views of illness. Allen's book is meticulously researched (he read texts in the original French, Latin, German, and Italian) and elegantly written. It is a far easier read than most academic works. Most importantly, it offers insight into how religious and sexual intolerance can hamper the fight against disease, even in today's world.

What a terrific book! Extremely well researched, written in lively fashion (by an open-hearted author) and frank in exploring past mis-steps from which we can, and certainly should, learn. We have been waiting for this one for a long time.

This gripping book raises far-reaching questions about what Roman Catholic teach. It fits nicely with two other books this year -- John Portmann's When Bad Things Happen to Other People and Garry Wills's Papal Sins. All three make us wonder about the state of Catholicism today and how it will it respond to such powerful criticism.

Portmann examines Bernard Haring's account of illness. Haring is the most important Catholic moral theologian of the twentieth century; the Catholic culture Lewis fleshes out culminates in Haring, whose thinking about illness was remarkably sophisticated. Even someone as modern as Haring allows a link between illness and sin. Haring gives permission to celebrate the suffering of others who have broken God's law. Both Lewis and Portmann seem to think of Judaism as generally more compassionate than Catholicism. This point could be debated.

Wills turns to the question of whether Rome has responded compassionately to gay and lesbian people. You can guess what Wills thinks, just on the basis of the title of his penetrating book. Lewis looks much more closely at sexuality and sexual sins than Wills does. Who doesn't find the topic of sexual sins worthwhile?

The three books have just come to light. Like others that have preceded them, they make us wonder how Rome will respond to serious analyses of Catholic compassion.

The Wages of Sin is part philosophy, part religious studies, part cultural studies. It is interesting through and through.

Lewis Carroll is a great author for kids and he represents a completely new phase in children's literature. Children are children and they only have grown-up age in front of them as a limited world and a perspective, the latter of which they may change when they are grown up by remembering what childhood was for them and the tales they entertained when they were children in order to tell them to a new generation of children. Lewis Carroll leads Alice into a world where everyday objects and animals, but also strange objects and animals, mix. Everything is right and wrong at the same time. Too small or too big. Everything speaks and tells stories or sings songs that remind Alice of songs she knows but that come out strange and distorted. This whole world of wonderland is a suddenly animated pack of cards in a doll's house and doll's garden. But at the same time Lewis Carroll invests the fears and the fantasms of the child into this world. We then can have and see a father figure and a mother figure that loom high in this world and represent a completely aborted sense of justice. Alice, the child, becomes the one who puts things together and back to straightness by just dreaming this disrupted world awake. She only nostalgically remembers the fascination that was hers and the strangeness that was that world's. Waking up brings her back to normality and clears this wonderland of the menaces it contained. Lewis Carroll is a genius when he thus depicts a world of fear and frustration and shows how this world can become marvellous in real life because it is the antipodes of everyday regular society.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU

Do you remember the first time you saw a painting by Marc Chagall? His fantastic creatures wearing hats and trousers, people kissing while floating in mid air, layers of events happening at once, and conversations between animals and flowers? If Chagall was alive and asked to illustrate Alice's Adventures, it may have looked very similar to this.

Only this is better.

Simple and yet very rich illustrations bounce you from page to page. They are vibrant but not overwhelming, you are curious about where the images will take you next, it makes you hungry for more. And you get more! There is a printed illustration on almost every other page of the book! There seem to be as many small images, lending themselves as nuances to Carroll's text, as there are full-page illustrations. In a word, it's fantastic.

I disagree with the editorial review of the School Library Journal. While I see this book as sophisticated, I also see very young children relating to the artwork. The dream is at times spooky and frustrating like the real world can be, just as at other moments it can be a playful party. Although Alice in Wonderland may not have been originally intended for child as young as three or four years old to read, they will be enticed into trying. A child as young as four will relate to this Alice, she is a small girl with flowing hair and dresses in an easy style. Deloss McGraw has illustrated a modern and truly dreamlike interpretation of Carroll's classic. Finally we have a total departure from the formal British and more grown up Alice that John Tenniel portrayed all those years ago and has been an influence upon artists attempting it since.

Albeit a short, but important side note: the size 14 - 16 font is very readable for both old and young eyes, and comes in very handy for those readers-out-loud at late bedtimes in a dimly lit room.

Of all the illustrated versions there are of this classic story, this will be the version your child would first pick up from the shelf.

This book has blown my mind...incrediable....the most colorful illustrations ever...and it's a book for all ages

I've been buying this calendar for several years now and it's the perfect floral calendar for my taste. The arrangements fill the page with beautiful color. I especially enjoy that most of the flowers are the types that have lots of layers of petals to make them look extra lush and rich.

I buy this calendar every year for both myself and my mom. I love having the feel of "fresh" flowers in my house every day. This calendar has absolutely exquiste bouquets of flowers unlike most of the other flower calendars out there!!

Buy this now! You won't be disappointed!

I love these calendars. I've been collecting them for about ten years now, and I have trouble bringing myself to throw them away! I hit upon a solution a couple of years ago, and covered a bare expanse of wall in our newly-decorated home with a collection of prints. Anyone passing never fails to comment with delight.

These calendars are also an excellent resource for the family. The squares for the days are big enough to accommodate all family reminders. I also appreciate knowing the national and religious holidays of other countries (UK, US, Canada). This is very handy for me as I live in England and many of my family and friends live in the US.

Bouquets is like an old friend, always coming around at the same time to herald the beginning of a new year. Enjoy!

At first I cringed when I saw the $ for this book. It turns out that the book was worth about $1500 to me. AWESOME! Anybody who has a garage sale after reading these review is a moron.

I have heard independent approval of this book as well. A local radio guy who has a mutual fund investment show has mentioned it several times.

Used this easy guide for 1999 taxes- Did not realize some mileage for charity can be deducted. This workbook assists with the estimate of non cash donations-how to determine condition and value. There are tips for cash donation deductions. My tax accountant was impressed with this book.

This book is great! You make more money by giving it away than you do having a garage sale! If you go long form, you have to have this book! I just finished our taxes this year and we're actually going to get money back!

I just finished reading "Catch a Falling Star" and I really liked it. I am a senior citizen and have always liked Beverly Lewis' books, but this is the first one I've read that was about young people. I write stories, plays, etc. for young people and am a teacher in Sunday School and Children's Church so I like books for younger people. Now I have a lot more Beverly Lewis books to read.
Love,
Dorothy Miller

This book is AWESOME!!!!!!!!! I reccommend it Christians and non-Christians alike. It is very good and you will learn a lot about the Amish.

Amazing! so like me! i am in the eighth grade and i like two guys. It also helped me realize that i can't let my friends rule me! i recomend to read the next book in the series, night of the fireflies. it continues on 1 month later.

First off, contrary to earlier reviewers, this book has NOTHING to do with the Lewis and Clark expedition. Out of the 350 pages in the book, they might be mentioned a half dozen times and one might want to get Lavender's "The Way to the Western Sea," if interested on Meriweather and William's trip.
Instead, "Let me Be Free," is on the Nez Perce tribe which lived in Oregon's Wallowa Valley until it was forced from the land in the 1860's. This is a great book if the reader is interested in a century's worth of history about the tribe but I'd suggest something else if the intent on reading this is solely learning about Chief Joseph's tragic flight from the US military in 1877.
I originally got into Lavender's works after reading his fantastic book, "Bents' Fort" which is about the trading family of William Bent in SE Colorado. I had no interest in the subject but was recommended the book and I fell fully immersed into it because of Lavender's detailed writing-style and ability to create real identities to the historical characters instead of just giving names and dates. He has the same writing style in "Let Me Be Free," and will never shy from a unimportant but lighthearted side story. The writing is anything but dry.
The first half of LMBF is on how the tribe lived and existed, its neighbors, and its relations with the first whites to reach Oregon. Lavender has a contentious understanding of the western Native American tribes and writes in a fair and unbiased reader-friendly style and includes the correct names and terms the Nez Perce (Nimipu) used.
The last 100 pages cover Chief Joseph's (Hin-mah-too-yah-lat-kehht's) flight and includes a fantastic map in the front for the reader to follow the tribe along on its failed march to freedom.
The book fails to get five stars from me because I was most interested in the Nez Perce march and it just took too long to finally reach that subject in the book. It reminded me of "Undaunted Courage," (Ambrose's book on Meriweather Lewis) where there is no much buildup to the expedition that once the reader finally reaches it in the book, it falls a bit flat. However, if anyone is interested on the Nez Perce tribe itself, you won't find a better book. Any Western Oregon historians would also immensely enjoy this work.

David Lavender just may have written the definitive history of the Lewis and Clark expedition. It is a wonderfully wrought narrative, capturing the full width and breadth of this incredible journey. Lavender's sardonic tongue deflates many of the myths surrounding the "voyage of discovery," noting that for the most part this was a well-trodden path. The only actual "discovery" was that of linking the Missouri to the Columbia. However, this makes it no less an adventure.

He downplays the significance of Sacagewea. For the most part she was little used on this voyage. Her one major contribution was helping to secure horses for the great fording of the Bitteroot Mountains. Still, Lavender lavishes much attention on her and her son, which it seems that William Clark did as well. Her presence seemed to secure safe passage during their final leg down the Columbia River, as it made the expedition team seem less war-like.

Lavender also provides the background for the voyage, detailing President Jefferson's dream to establish an American Northwest Passage, linking one ocean to another. Lavender probes the seemingly paternal relationship between Jefferson and Lewis, and how Jefferson was able to win Congress over to a third attempt to cross the continent, despite questions regarding Lewis' qualifications. Jefferson personally trained Lewis for the expedition and provided added tutelage in the form of the leading lights of American science. Like a devoted son, Lewis made every effort to carry out the mission, which Jefferson sponsored, even when it seemed foolhardy to do so.

For those who haven't travelled this route before, you will be in good hands with David Lavender. For those who have, I think you will marvel at how masterful a job Lavender does in recording the events, giving the best rounded version of the "voyage of discovery" that I have read.

Originally subtitled "the U.S. Army's War Against Seven Hundred Nez Perce Men,Women, and Children," this moving history documents the brutal persecution of a small Northwestern tribe. Western historian David lavender never hides his sympathy in this powerful chronicle of Chief Joseph's "flight toward freedom" in 1877 to avoid reservation life. This is a really sad story filled with overlooked possibilities for compromise, understanding, and tolerance. Lavender considers the Nex Perce War the final betrayal of a long and once-promising relationship between white explorers, fur trappers, Christian missionairies, and the tribe. Chief Old Joseph, father of the more famous Chief Joseph, even converted to Christianity for both spiritual and practical reasons. Peaceful coexistence and friendship with the new settlers was his policy. Greed, cultural intolerance, and racial hatred eventually doomed those possibilities for Nez Perce. Although Chief Joseph developed a reputation as an Indian Napeleon for his brilliant fighting tactics, Lavender emphasizes that Chief Joseph continually sought to avoid war. Chief Joseph's simple hope was to have a reservation that would allow his people to live in their traditional land and stay close to his father's grave in Wallowa Valley, Oregon. The United States military commanders of that time, however, demanded the tribe move. This compelling account of the Nez Perce's failed 1700 mile exodus to join Sitting Bull in Canada captures the cruelty, mindlessness, and viciousness of 19th century America's expansionist policies. Chief Joseph's eloquent words, especially when surrending after a blizzard just a few miles south of the Canadian border, accents the pain and injustice.

I keep this by my side at all times, even after years of working in astrology, there are times you need a reference made or verified. This encyclopedia is the perfect reference book for beginners or advanced.

If you were limited to only one astrological reference, this should be it. It is thorough, interestingly written and concise. You can sit down and actually read this like a text. Wonderfully annotated articles so that you can reference better detailed sources if the thorough but concise treatment of a topic is not enough. The paperback version gives you great "bang for the buck". Some articles are well illustrated or diagramed and the text is pleasantly set with judicious use of bolded text to get critical names or concepts through in a hurry. Wonderful coverage of all asteroids and hypothetical planets. An excellent addition to any astrological or occult library.

This book was very informational and it helped me to find the answers to a lot my questions. It brought me more into astrology and made me what to learn more about it. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about astrology.

Basha was one of the greatest books i have ever read. For someone who is looking for a fascinating thriller and finds the events of the middle east riveting this is a must read......

This espionage mystery is a thrill a minute.A real page-turner set in the explosive Middle East.Spy on spy in the fast paced world of professional tennis.The charachters were deadly and attractive and the action was riveting.Once I picked it up,I coudn't put it down!

BASHA hooked me from the first sentence on. When I finished reading the last word, I closed the book and whispered "Wow." This is the best thriller I've ever read.
An avid reader.

Lucy, Peter, Susan, and Edmund have viseted narnia before, and they will visit it again. Narnia is a country that you can only get into if you believe. If you enter it in one place, you can not enter though that place again, once you come out. The four kids end up in Narnia and they are on a mission. Prince Caspians father, Miraz is trying to kill him. The kids have to stop him with the help of Aslan, the lion, and Trumpkin the dwarf. Also many other mystical animals.

I'm doing a report on the book Prince Caspian.The author is C.S.Lewis, who also wrote the novels The Magicians Nephew,The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,and four other fabulous books. Of a scale of one to ten I would give it a nine.The book Prince Caspian was published in 1956.The main characters are Peter, Lucy, Susan, Edmund, and Prince Caspian. Prince Caspian isn't exactly a prince because he does not come from the same family as the king. Peter, Edmund, Lucy, and Susan are kings and queens of Narnia. The book Prince Caspian is the fourth of the seven novels of Narnia.The world of Narnia is a magical world with fauns, other stuff like giants. The main characters want to defeat the evil king Miraz,and put Caspian on the throne. The characters Edmund and Miraz have a duel and eventually King Edmund wins and mirazes army surrenders and they put the new King Caspian on the throne. I think that the moral of this story is "have faith".The characters learn to trust their little sister Lucy,although she is allot younger. I also think that all of the characters become more adventurous. I really loved reading this book, and suggest it to everyone from 6 to 13. I think that it is better to read it themselves, but it doesn't matter about that. It is still a very good book.

I am about to talk to you about a book I read in class. These books are fabulous, only if you like adventure. If you read these books you would know what I mean,check them out.

This book shows Angelenos and the world that there is much diversity to celebrate and enjoy in Los Angeles and it does it in a fun, colorful way. The illustrations are delightful and the text informative. Even long-time residents will learn something new. Fun for adults as well as kids. We bought them as gifts for everyone on our holiday list.

As residents of Los Angeles we are thrilled to have a book which highlights our city, its diversity and its vivacity. Each page is a jeweled mosaic. We will enjoy introducing our grandchildren to their city in picture and word.

This book is one of those rare children's books that teaches the adult as well as the child. I can only hope that the authors and the illustrator work on capturing the magic of other cities, just like they did with Los Angeles!