One sentence on the first page caught my attention - the remainder of the book continued to hold my attention with the same mastery of depicting the complexity of people in simple terms. The sentence? "He could plow and sow, milk cows, cook potato pancakes, find wild boletus mushrooms even out of season, ferry people in his boat during high waters, weave baskets, hunt deer, rescue travelers and half-frozen animals, silence the stupid, and he knew how to laugh." - that is the description of Uncle Prosek who, to the young narrator, knew how to do everything.

It is Uncle Prosek who taught the narrator to fish, who helped the narrator's Jewish father poach a deer ... The independent chapters which make up this novel tell of the family adventures before the war - father becoming the world's best Electrolux salesman for the love of the wife of his boos, falling for a scam on purchasing a carp pond and years later giving the scam artist appropriate revenge. During the war, the two older sons and the father are sent to concentration camps; they survive but grandmother does not. Here the novels tells of the narrator's escapades fishing to survive - encountering mill owners who cheat him and fish wardens who act kindly to him. And finally the book follows his father into life after the war.

Throughout the book, the ability of the author to depict people - an attribute the narrator ascribes both to the narrator's father and to a famous painter known to the father - makes this "simple" memoir into a memorable study of human behavior. This is human behavior of the roguish, flawed but fundamentally kind nature.

Fishermen may enjoy this book but the book is of human nature, portrayed in conjunction with fishing, not a book of fishing. Well worth the short time it takes to read this book.

I fell quickly and completely in love with this book. Unpretentious, disarmingly honest, simple without being simplistic. It's also sneaky -- it purports to be a memoir of a simple, arcadian time and place, then blindsides you with the realization that this was not such a simple time after all. I wish I could give it six stars.

This gentle, unassuming book is one of the most powerful I have ever read. It is the story of a young boy's experiences with life as his days change from idyllic afternoons of fishing to the realities of WWII. Much more than a book about fishing, though it contains many wonderful espisodes about fish and fishing, it is a recounting of the hardships, terrors, and ultimate kindnesses that populate war. As you will learn, fish and fishing became the metaphor for freedom for Ota Pavel.

Mr. McDowell has a way of catching you with the first sentence of his stories like no one else. And he doesn't let go. I bought a copy for myself, and made everyone read it. This variation makes much more sense than the romanticized writings of the Arthur legends one usually finds. Too bad it's out of print, or I'd start buying copies for friends again! Now I just need to finish reading the sequel.

I've read many retellings of the Arthur legend, and I'd started to think that authors were running out of fresh ways to tackle the subject matter. Then I read Mordred's Curse. This book is a look at the life of Mordred, a character who in most Arthurian tales appears suddenly at the end, just in time to spoil the party and bring Camelot to its ruin. In this book, we get the full story. McDowell's Mordred idolizes Arthur as a boy, but his admiration turns sour when Arthur, unable to accept the truth of Mordred's parentage, rejects him. The two develop an uneasy relationship, as Arthur increasingly relies on Mordred, even as he disapproves of him in many ways.

Mordred makes a wonderful narrator. He is perceptive, brutally honest about his own faults as well as those of others, and wickedly funny. The other characters are also well drawn. Arthur is portrayed particularly well as a man struggling with the problems of kingship - he comes across as a flawed but admirable man. And Guinevere, who is all too often a rather lifeless character in the Arthurian retellings, comes across as a woman of real intelligence and spirit.

In short, Mordred's Curse is well-written, has great-characterization, and will turn your picture of King Arthur on its head. Highly recommended.

I've read many Arthurian novels, and quite a few of them were abymsal. That's not the case here: Ian McDowell's novel is excellent! Told from the point of view of Mordred, Arthur's bastard son by his sister Morgawse, this is an inetersting twist on an oft-told tale. The characters really come alive, and Mordred (often relegated to second rate villain status) is fully fleshed out here. The novel is full of emotion, and the characters REALLY come alive. Telling the story from Mordred's point of view makes for some interesting viewpoints (Merlin a pervert?) but it's all smashingly done! I can't wait for the sequel!

Fauset allows the reader to take an in-depth look at passing for white. Unlike the charcater in Danzy Sennas Caucasia, Fauset creates a main character who chooses to pass and lets the reader know every repercussion of that decision. Go out and get it!

I was so impressed with how Ms Fauset wrote Plum Bun, that upon completing the book I have been actively purchasing all of her other books that are in print. Her writing style proves that a good book is timeless. I highly recommend Plum Bun and There Is Confusion, which was so good I could not put it down..literally. I strongly urge all to get this woman's books post haste!! You will have some very satisfying reading hours.

Ms. Fauset was one of the most underrated members of the Harlem Renaissance. Plum Bun is by far the strongest of her novels. I saw more in this story than simply a discussion of color and privilege, I was pleased by the complexity of the relationship between the two sisters in this novel. Ms. Fauset is one of my literary favorites, and a woman that I truly admire. I recommend this book wholeheartedly.

What a beautiful book, I thought. I could see it on my coffee table or as a gift for a friend, but then I read it. Wow! A beautiful book with insightful writing and content. Cindy has provided a book that quilters will love, that will make a wonderful gift for friends, and a keepsake for those who love to read good writing.

This is a wonderful book in which the author creatively weaves stories and quilt patterns into an insightful, hopeful look at life that encourages reflection in the reader's own life and inspires and warms the heart. I found Quilts from Heaven a delightful read! Cindy has a way of splashing light on her world as she writes.

As a quilter I really enjoyed every chapter of this wonderful book. Lucinda has a keen understanding of the things that touch women deeply. A great gift book, beautifully illustrated with photos of quilts.

I own two of the actual revolvers pictured in this book that I acquired from large personal collections, and I eagerly reference my copy every time I acquire one of these rare pieces from the transitional phase of Colt's cartridge revolver development. It is thoroughly researched, and every model is dissected and thoroughly photographed. Not just the guns are featured here, but the leather! There are rare military and civilian holsters pictured here that you may never see in three collector's lifetimes!! N.

As a historical shooter of percussion and western arms I bought a replica of an 1860 Richards Army conversion and then found an absolute dearth of information about it. Mostly all that could be found were references to this type of weapon but little information. McDowell's book fills a longstanding void about this transitional era in firearms between percussion and cartridge. This is a definitive work with substantial documentation that resolves what is an inherently confusing topic. These types of revolvers are being made now with the growth in Cowboy Action Shooting and shooters are always avidly interested in the history of their weapons. This is a plethora of photographs and diagrams which resolves the sequence of development of these types of arms in such a way that the student of these arms can get a full understanding of their circumstances of development. With this book a great void in firearms history is perfectly filled in.

When I opened this book for the first time I thought: "too long an intro. But I was srong anything in it is there for a purpose. It's rare to see such a work. Bravo !

I wrote earlier in the reviews about trying locate Fred Lowery's great music. If you know how to locate them please email me at buffaloebob@aol.com. Thank you I am sorry I had to do it this way because I am completely at a dead end..

I have not read the book, but I am interested in his music. If you knew Fred Lowery, you must know how to get his albums. I have tried alot of places, but no luck. Please help me if you can.

I would recommend this book to anyone who has not read it. Everyone is familiar with this man, Fred Lowrey even if you didn't know you are. He was the original whistler for the theme song on the Andy Griffith Show back in the 1960's. This man was one who could whistle different parts all at one time or whistle a tune and even put bird sounds along with it at the same time. I knew this man personally and he was really an inspiration to many people. I hope you will read the book if you haven't. You will enjoy it!

Ruth McDowell's well-documented journey to develop an extremely personal and artistic quilting 'statement' almost leaves you breathless. She has been able to adapt complex photos and themes into vibrant fabric art, using mostly traditional quilting techniques. However, her innovative use of fabrics (plaids never had it so good), shapes, and design concepts truly rate the title of "Art & Inspirations". A good friend with whom I shared the book got halfway through and said "I'm afraid to turn the pages - they're all so wonderful I can hardly stand it." My sentiments exactly.

What a joyous collection of inspiring images! This amazing teacher creates paintings with fabric. Her wording is clear and uncomplicated for the novice and, I am sure, challenging enough for the seasoned quilter. Buy this book to look at as well as to learn from! I purchased it to use as inspiration for my paintings but Ms. McDowell makes the whole process sound exciting enough to get me peicing too!

What is surprising about this book is that it is not just a text-book showing simple patterns that you can copy, nor is it a picture book of dozens of incredible quilts that you will probably never equal. Instead this is a clear-eyed tour of the history of a wonderful Quilt Artist. Ruth shows some of her first simple, but well chosen and unique quilt patterns. These simple patterns from nature, lead directly to her more complex quilts, where she shows her increased talents in dazzling quilts of landscapes and semi-abstract trees and plants. But if nothing else, this book is well worth the cost for the single quilt using her daughter's outline in translucent black cloth in an amazing picture quilt. This is a book of inspirations for quilters at all levels.

McDowell and Spitz give an incredibly thorough, yet succinct overview of the field of substance abuse. The book is informative, well written, and an interesting read. It will be of great interest to all clinicians who work with substance abuse patients. I personally recommend it to anyone who encounters the problem of addiction, whether it be in a personal or professional realm.

I found this book to be an excellent introduction to the field of substance abuse. It is informative without getting bogged down in too much detail, and makes for interesting reading. The volume is also peppered with fascinating historical tidbits.

Doctors Mc Dowell and Spitz aught to be applauded for their innovative presentation. It should be a permanent fixture in the offices of every therapist as a research guide, and on the bookshelves of patients. It is a wellspring of information for both the layman and the pro. Thank you both.

As a male, I have to admit that I was a little embarrassed walking around with a copy of a book called "The Secret of Loving." Now that I've got that off my chest, I have to say that I enjoyed the book. I always enjoy when a book explicity points out something that common sense tells you is right, but you've just never really thought of before (not seeing the forest through the trees)or gives you new ways of thinking about things. McDowell's book does just that.

I think that when people get into a "funk" and aren't dating or what have you, they begin asking the question, "what's wrong with me?" McDowell refuses to focus on this, pointing out that God loves you, there are good things about you, look at what's right with you. This point and the point that (I'll explian by example) if you are attracted to neat and tidy people, you probably wont attract them if you're appearance is sloppy are two of the points of the book that stick out the most. It's not one of those books that's going to change your life, but it's easy reading and worth your time. Recommended.

I've been through multiple relationships and counseling, this book would have saved me many tears. The best book I have ever read that teaches how to select a forever soul mate, and enjoy that relationship to the fullest!

This book was great. It showed me a lot of things that I needed to let God to change.

This is a really good book, the only one I've read in the Powerlink Chronicles. It has made me want to read a lot of them. I have read it several times, but this last time I read it (I finished it again today), it really helped me with some issues that I've been dealing with. Along with dc Talk's Jesus Freaks, this is my favorite book. I definitely recommend it to anyone. Also, even though you may think that the Inside Story is boring and just want to know what happenes with Brittney and her crew, you should really check out the Inside story.

This book is really good. It gives you different points of view which makes it much easier to understand. I think everybody should read the book or have someone tell them about it. I don't know how to describe it. It helped me out a lot to understand some things in my every day walk with Christ.

It really kept me wanting to know what was going to happen