Revelation often has a waterfront address. Think of Thoreau, pen in hand, on the banks of Walden Pond...Leonardo da Vinci, pondering the subtle science of the River Arno...or Jesus, sharing the keys to the kingdom of God at the edge of the Sea of Galilee.
There's something ancient and elemental about being on the water, something that sets our own inner tides moving with a slow, irresistible pull. Shifted by that current, profound truth can rise from the depths of a human soul to bob up suddenly above the surface, visible to us all.
Three summers ago, nine-year-old Christopher Dugan sat in a hammock beside his father, watching afternoon come to the Maine lake where their family was vacationing.
"I'm going to die," the boy announced. "So are you."
With a touching faith and a seriousness beyond his tender years, Christopher asked his father some hard questions: What is it like when we die? Where do we go? What if there really isn't a heaven? What if it's all a lie? And, he continued, if there is nothing more after death, what's the point of anything we do here? "You're a minister," Christopher said, "so you know about these things."
Fortunately for young Christopher, and for us all, Dugan knows a great deal indeed - and he shares his insight in this remarkable first book. He chronicles a summer-long series of father-and-son conversations that allowed the pair to think and talk openly about life and death, their mutual understanding deepening as the dialogue progressed. The reader, privileged to listen in, will find wisdom and comfort here, gently interwoven with glimpses of the ever-changing lake shore.
Jeffrey Dugan is the rector of a middle-sized church in Farmington, Conn. Challenged to explain some of the toughest concepts within the ken of humankind, however, he does not preach. He concedes that intellectual knowledge of theology "does litttle or nothing for a frightened little nine-year-old asking his father for help in overcoming the fear and foreboding that everything we value most in life comes to an abrupt and empty termination with death." Instead, Dugan draws from his own well of remarkable experiences and the conclusions that resulted. In the face of Christopher's fears, this loving father offers "responses that come from the heart; person-to-person, soul-to-soul."
This is a simple book, an entertaining book, but don't let that deceive you. Its message is artfully packaged, but very powerful, and its author crafts a first-person story with the deft touch of a master.
The introduction, a 17-page account of Dugan's own path to understanding, points to the distinct likelihood that young Christopher may have inherited his tendency for truth-seeking. During his years at Dartmouth College, majoring in physical anthropology, the author was dedicated to the pursuit of scientific fact. His goal was to become a physician-astronaut specializing in space medicine.
That goal changed in the space of five minutes, on a snowy night in 1973, when Dugan glimpsed a reality that science could not explain. He refocused his keen curiosity on matters of spirituality, and set off on a new path that eventually led him back to the Christian traditions of his childhood, and to the writing of this book.
There is a special gift within these pages for those who struggle with loss and grief. Because of that, and because of the tragedies that have shaken our nation in recent weeks, it seems that Dugan's words have appeared just when they are needed most. An unexpected chain of events, including an editor who left the forgotten manuscript on his office windowsill for more than a year, resulted in the book's Oct. 1 release date.
"Christopher's Summer" has appeared just as many Americans begin to look for the deeper meaning that underlies our day-by-day existence, pondering some of the same questions that a young boy posed to his father one summer afternoon, beside a lake.

This book is about a high school student name Talli McAlister who recently destroy the vampires who are about to try and take over the high school and the town. Talli is a survivor. She almost died when her boyfriend, Alex, who about to kill her and made her a vampire. Luckily, she realize it before it too late. Then she about to turn into a vampire herself, after all the vampire she killed. Then the coach came along. He want to made her into a real kill, blood-sucker vampire. Would Talli really going to become a vampire? Will there be anyone who could save her from that?

Tracy Barrett's writing skills are brought to the fore in this can't-put-it-down story in which 12-year-old Ariadne, displaced from her cherished hometown and best friend to a new town, is forced to break old molds and dear habits to get in touch with her new world. Much of this is thanks to a girl named May, who though old-fashioned serves as catalyst to spur Ariadne into young womanhood. It is endearing to read about this character, Ariadne, part of a real, vibrant 21st-century world, and feel her open her mind to the past, and to mystery, and to fear. Readers will recognize little brothers, parents, and the lure of solitary thought. Everyone will find something to enjoy.

Since Amazon didn't post an editorial review, here's the description from the back of the book to help you decide if this book is for you: "Nature had gone awry ... when caro Hardin returned to the isolated north country as she'd vowed she never would, the friend she'd come to rescue had vanished. All that remained was an uncannily cool July -- and the object of a school-days crush on whom Caro hoped to rely. Under usual circumstances, Mike Schaeffer wanted nothing more than to reestablish romantic ties with Caro, but now a murderer was in their midst ... and Caro could possibly provide the psychological profile, the much-needed map of the deranged madman's mental terrain ..."

When I first received this dictionary I immediately began to look up several words my grandmother had told me. I was able to locate them easily even though the Comanche spelling scheme uses several peculiar characters (e.g. my grandmothers spelling of "posa tibo" was found under "po?sa taiboo?"). Since then I have used this book as a reference on a daily basis. It is an invaluable resource and a "must have" for any serious student of the language.

This Dictionary is based on the research of the late Elliot Canonge, who is well known to Comanches for his work during the fifties and sixties. That work resulted in Comanche Texts (1958), several beginning Comanche readers, and a collection of Comanche hymns. Canonge's research for this dictionary was checked in consultation with fluent speakers of Comanche and is probably the most comprehensive source available today.

The grammar section at the back of the book is difficult to follow and apparently intended for the professional linguist. I believe a much simpler explanation of Comanche syntax to be possible, but that is really a minor criticism.

I got to see Tim and Barbara Sykes at an event in Houston a couple years ago. I was impressed with their knowledge - not only of wild edibles but also of the history and mythology about many of their favorite "weeds". I opted for the ebook rather than the printed version because of the price ... but the color photographs made it a real bargain.

The book does a good job a teaching what these objects are, by using a precise and yet simple vocabulary. The text covers a lot of related subjects, including impact with earth, but never goes into catastrophism and sensationalism.

THIS EXCELLENT BRITISH BOOK LISTS OLD-FASHIONED ANNUALS FROM A TO Z. IT OFFERS THE READER INTERESTING HISTORICAL INFORMATION ON EACH PLANT AND DISCUSSES GROWTH HABITS AND PLANTING SUGGESTIONS. THE BOOK SERVES AS A GREAT PLANTING GUIDE AND A MARVELOUS PICTORIAL REFERENCE. I KNOW OF NO OTHER BOOK OF ITS KIND.

Jewett's relatively unacknowledged novel "The Country of the Pointed Firs" is a masterpiece. Tightly constructed, beautifully written, thematically rich; top-of-the-line in every category. It's slow going at first, but grows on you once you see what Jewett is examining -- the interconnectedness of all people, even those who live far apart and have seemingly nothing in common. The bookshelf of any bona fide literature fan -- esp. fans of American lit. -- should not be without this little masterpiece.

It is a real pleasure to have simple crafts for children with most materials on hand, and wonderful instructions and illustrations! I have enjoyed doing crafts with my sunday school class and the neighborhood children for many years,and Kathy Ross's books are amazing! Thank you Kathy! I wont stop until I own them all!