I came across this volume by accident,never heard of the book nor its authors, never seen a review.Why no reviews? The book is a pearl. It is Roald Dahl, Woody Allen, Edgar Allan Poe and then some... Maupassant perhaps? The most delightful book Ive read in a long time. It contains a series of vignettes, short stories really, about the various and assorted characters, aunts, cousins, grandparents etc. of a large and very expansive family over the last century or so. There are photographs of them all, some of the pictures very amusing to boot. There's uncle Henry, Philippe, Big Mort, Aunt Tilly, Borge and of course Aristide who managed in his lifetime to drink a bottle of red wine from just about every chateau or domaine in France. This story, "Plonk" is about the finest wine story I've ever read. The book straddles a fine line, at times outright hilarious, yet always believable. Now and agin I wondered if this was fact or fiction, at times it difficult to decide, which just makes the whole enterprise that much more delightful. There is also a number of black sheep. Alphonse, who in the early part of the Century escapes his native France and sets up a meat canning factory in Arizona and becomes the "Goulash Baron of All the Americas". The period is very well invoked and the story unfurls with surprising twists and a bittersweet finale. There"s Philippe who gets lost in a labyrinth of his own making. Theres Aunt Tiily who uses her womanly wiles to solve the Cuban Missile Crisis, Uncle Henry, who at the ripe age of 68 enters the Olympics in Berlin in 1936. There's Borge, who manages to fool Luftwaffe Marshall Goering, and in the process save a stash of cigarettes and coffee. A very funny book.

Stanley Elkin had a wonderful gift for colorful language and a breezy style, coupled with a narrative gift that brought the reader inside the heads of his characters. "The Bailbondsman," "The Making of Ashenden," and "The Condominium" are good examples of these gifts. The range of incident, humor, violence and dramatic confrontation shown in these novellas were marks of Elkin's style. I especially recommend "The Bailbondsman," for in addition its odd twists the story has depth and suspense and surprise. The narrator notices everything, even "the roller coaster" of a man's fly when he sits. You have to be ready to be shocked, but you will also find a whimsical streak in the writing that delights. Elkin's final novel, "Mrs. Ted Bliss," might have been a continuation of "The Condominium." Highly recommended for all who appreciate fine writing or who are trying to write on their own.

A SHABBAT READER is certain to become the standard reference work on the theme of the Jewish sabbath. This book is a must.A SHABBAT READER is the latest contribution by the indispensable Jewish anthologist, Rabbi Dov Peretz Elkins. (Elkins, by the way, is co-editing JEWISH CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL, to be published this summer). A SHABBAT READER contains numerous essays by some of the leading voices on the contemporary Jewish scene, from the scholarly to the contemplative, including Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist and Renewal leaders. (Kudos, by the way, are due to the UAHC Press for including opinions by such a diverse group). Also included are many important female voices: don't miss the thoughtful, very special piece--never published before--by Harvard undergraduate Ilana Kurshan.No synagogue or home library should be without this book. It would be of particular value in college classes and for adult education.This is one of the most important Jewish books of the decade. Get it.

I think that this book was the best book that I have ever read and I really don't read that many books.

Soy Smart Health is the best book on soy I've seen so far. Solomon et al have explored areas of soy health benefits I haven't ever considered. Their research is complete and current, with citations as recent as March 2000. This book is definitely one of the best purchases I've made this year. All of my friends have one now.

This book has a CD that comes along with it. My 2 oldest children ask to listen to this CD almost every day. The first half of the CD contains Bible stories. The same stories are in the book so that you can follow along. The second half of the CD contains songs pertaining to the stories. My kids, 2 yrs. and 4 yrs., have learned new songs from the CD, but more importantly, they have learned scriptures and important Bible facts simply from listening to this CD! This is an excellent resource for your children, especially if learning about the Bible is a priority. I plan on purchasing more titles in this same series. This book and CD set is a treasure!

Adolphus P. Elkin, in advance for his times, studied the native medicine of Australian aborigenes, and was very appreciated by them as a great shaman: he really tried to merge the two cultures!

This book is wonderful for christian Parents to explain basic truths to their own children.

ALSO Excellent for a gift to non christians as it clearly presents gospel and is fun reading.

Although currently out of print, it will be re-released on March 16, 2001 under the name "I want to be like Jesus" ISBN 0310701023. I wrote the publisher and was forwarded to Zondervan who currently owns the rights and sent me this information.

I strongly recommend it.

Van Gogh's Room At Arles is a collection of three original novellas by Stanley Elkin. A wheelchair-bound professor is overwhelmed by a student party that catapults to extravagant heights; a commoner suddenly becomes enmeshed in the world of royalty when Prince Larry of Wales falls for her; and a community college professor overshadowed by Van Gogh embarks on a quest for his own identity. The three involving, surprise-filled tales comprising Van Gogh's Room At Arles admirably showcases the work of a true literary master of tragedy and comedy.

A story told in rhythmic language about how we (as animals) react to each other emotionally, presented as an African folktale. This book presents some basic concepts like counting and animal sounds that allow younger children to become involved with the story, while older children will relate to the emotional lessons. I haven't seen this book since I was a child, but I have forgotten neither the artwork nor the story, which reminds us that even the most casual remark or action will have an enduring effect.