The weirdest thing about this book is that the beginning is so true-to-life. The book was written several years ago, but the story is very much in sync with what is going on in the world today. This is my fifth Marcinko book and it's one of his best. It's his second fiction work, a follow up to Rouge Warrior: Red Cell, which is the main reason I didn't give it five stars. The action scenes in Green Team are much more exciting than Red Cell, but the plot just doesn't stand up to the latter. It develops at a break neck speed, but its quality fluctuates right up to the end. First time Marcinko readers will probably get hooked, just like I did with Rogue Warrior: Task Force Blue, only to be more pleased with the discovery of his first and second books. Marcinko's crossing of the thin line between reality and fiction might annoy some readers who are not used to his style, but I think it's a very original welcomed breather from the "2+2=4" formulas of other action books. Marcinko is not the writer Tom Clancy is, but then again, Tom Clancy is not the warrior Marcinko is.

I'll admit to this guilty pleasure: I love the Rogue Warrior books. Not because they're great literature, but because they're just plain fun. I'm a Marine combat vet, so I can usually detect the (very) fuzzy line between military fact and fiction, but with Marcinko's books I throw up my hands in the amphibious salute and just go with it. Demo Dick's literary swagger is intoxicating, and his larger than life character is THE male archetype. All of us guys want to pump iron at Rogue Manor, throw down the double Bombays, and go shooting and looting with the SEALs' best.

It's not "the best book I've ever read," nor is it the SPECWAR primer that Rogue Warrior is. But for some unadulterated macho fun, Green Team (like the others in the series) can't be beat.

Marcinko lives large and plays hard. This book, along with the rest of the Rogue Warrior Series, is hard hitting and action packed. This dude does it all, says it all, and doesn't take crap from no one. Execellent reading for someone whose tired of the slow moving far fetched action of most fiction books out there. I read Red Cell just three months ago, and I've read almost all his books to date. It's KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid) read the book and get hooked!!! Anyone for a Bombay?

My friend told me of these books after a book signing that occured in town and now; I am sorry to have missed meeting Jan Karon! I have read all 5 books in less than a couple of months! I absolutely loved each and every one of them. Everyday I would transport myself to the town of Mitford and the interesting people in it. It was so wonderful to read something pleasurable and wholesome. I found them quite humerous at times. Father Tim is such a wonderful example of a good friend and just a giving person. Cynthia becomes a strong aspect of his life, revealing another side of him. Her love for life just grabs you! Dooley transforms into a wonderful new person because of all the unconditional love and support that Father Tim and all the people in Mitford give him. It broke my heart to finish the last book, yet I am glad to have "known" the people of Mitford. I so impatiently wait for Jan Karon's next masterpiece and that is what led me to her children's books "Miss Fannie's Hat" and "Jeremy." I have read these with my children time and time again. We look forward to more Jan Karon books!

I was encouraged to read these books by a few people. Normally a British police procedural mystery reader, I found myself to be hooked with the first book. I very much enjoyed the characterization employed by Jan Karon as I had clear pictures in my mind of all the people and animals. Also, the town of Mitford is charming and I think it exists in each of our 50 states. While we all might aspire to be citizens of Mitford, certainly many events occurred which probably wouldn't in the "real" realm of things. But I very much enjoyed Father Tim's unfettered faith in God; something I am exploring myself these days. I am not Episcopalian nor do I know much about it but Karon provided enough information for me to understand the basics and kind of wish maybe I was one. The town residents ranging from Miss Sadie to Louella to Coot to Percy to Esther, etc were all clearly presented and there was a great deal of humor involved with their antics. There was also alot of emotion involved in this series...but not all cries are bad ones, some of them are refreshing. Pick up the first book in the series, you will be hooked.

I have read the first 4 books of the Mitford series. I am in the middle of the 5th. They are very fun and easy to read. You get caught up in the every day lives of the Mitford residents. I really enjoyed reading how Father Tim's life changed from the minute Barabus "adopted" him. I have laughed out loud and cried while reading. I feel as if I know all the chacters in the books personally. I think all us would like to live a small town such as this one, where people watch out for each other and really care for one another. I would recommend these books to anyone.

I have to start with a confession - I don't like this book! Sandra Boynton writes such great books that this one was a disappointment - I just don't find it very creative, or interesting. So why did I give it 4 stars? My two-year old LOVES IT! He laughs and laughs everytime we read it, and loves pointing out the different color pants, shirt, hat or whatever is on a given page. It's one of his favorites.

My 3-year old daughter loves this book. So much, in fact, that this is the first book she's able to read out loud herself. It's simple enough for little ones to remember the words to, and it's also fun for them to read because at each 'Oops!' they giggle with delight! My daughter loves reading this book over and over to me and is well on the way to learning how to read at an early age because of it.

Buy this book!

I bought this book on a whim with a few other Boynton books, but it's one of my favorite. My son could "read" it before he was 2! I will read it in the dark to my son and he knows exactly where to supply the "Oops". I'm even going to send it to my friend's child in France, because it's so easy to match the words and pictures that I'm sure he'll enjoy it.

It's a sweet story of a 'simple' stuffed rabbit amidst the more 'complex' modern toys in a boy's "toy collection". The rabbit starts to believe that in order to get the love of the boy, he needs to appear 'real', or be able to zoom about like the motorized toys...
(And I'm not going to tell you the end hahahahaha!!!)
It was great having that read to me, while I was hugging my stuffed animals in bed.
But -- in a way, at first glance it looks like a simple story, but it is actually a surprisingly complex story. Leave it on your child's bookshelf as he/she grows up and he/she will reread it again and again as he/she questions issues such as "who am I?", "what does it mean to be 'real'"?, "what is my role in this world?", and even "what is death"?

I make sure I use this book with each class I teach--3rd and4th graders. They always get it--that love makes us real, too. Theymake the connection between the Skin Horse becoming shabby and people getting old. I always bring in my stuffed velveteen rabbit I bought years ago and it starts making the rounds and popping up on different children's laps. It is a pleasure to see them become attached to the rabbit instead of "mechanical toys that were very superior, and looked down upon everyone else." They also relate to the lessons the Velveteen Rabbit learns from the Skin Horse about how becoming real is a painful process sometimes and can take a long time.

This book is a simple work of art. Its beauty in itself is virtually indescribable. When I was little, it was my favorite book. In fact, I've had it ever since I was born. It is about a boy who owns a stuffed rabbit, and longs for it to be real. Eventually, because he loved the rabbit so much, his wish was granted. The book is so well written that it brings tears to my eyes almost every time I read it. It is definitely one of my all-time favorites.

I love alll of the Anne of Green Gables series. They are so vividly written you find yourself wishing that you were born as Anne a hundered years ago on PE Island. I would have happily endured all her hardships for all the wonderful moments in her life, and the fact she married Gilbert Blythe! It's so well written that you actually feel that you know Gilbert and I actually found my self falling in love with him! I've read the series 2 times. The first time I couldn't stop thinking about Anne. I read Anne, I tried to live like Anne and I dreamt Anne. Anyway, although I love all 8 books almost equally Anne of the Island is just a little better. And although it's romantic it's definitely not just a romance. Anne of the island includes wit and humour that makes it an all-round perfect book. If you're an Anne fan you havvvvvve to read this. I could not describe how wonderful it is in 1000 words. Anne of the Island is truly a book you CANNOT put down. After reading this I recommend you read all the rest of the Anne of Green Gables series (there are 5 more book,) although you'll probably be rushing to buy them anyway.

Anne Of The Island is a great book. It is about a girl with dark strawberry-blonde hair. She goes off to college with her friends: Charlie, Gilbert, and Diana. She makes some new friends and one of them, Priscila which is Pris for short, they meet in the graveyard across from the college. She meets many men she thinks she is in love with, including Gilbert, but when the propose to her she finds out she really doesn't love them that much. She even turns down the man of her dreams. So, it is partially a love story. She was adopted when she was young by Marilla. Now they have taken in twins when their mother died and their only relative can't take care of them. The younger one is Davy, who is always asking questions and getting in to mischief. He especially likes to bother his twin sister, Dora. She is always quiet and quite lady-like. They all live on Prince Edward Island in Canada. If you want to know the rest, you can read the book for yourself. Happy reading!

If you like the Anne of Green Gables series this is the best one in the whole thing! Anne of the Island has something for everyone! Anne Shirley leaves the small town of Avonlea to attend Redmond collage.. There the novel introduces you to a character who is extremely funny named Pricella! (Hope I spelled her name right). In this novel Anne falls in love with a fellow school mate, while her long time friend Gilbert Blythe finds a love interest as well! Do they end up together at last? Read the book and find out! This book is definatly for people who liked the movie "Anne of Avonlea". They are without a doubt slightly similar, but the book is definatly better!

I started the Anne of Greene Gables series when I was 10 or so and could not stop reading it. This book is one of the best classics and one of my all time childhood favorites (Ramona Quimby being the other)! I read all the series that followed as well and they were equally excellent. Lucy Montgomery has created characters that are so endearing and heartwarming that you feel as if they are real and that you can identify with them. The story is a beautiful story with so much imagination, depth, and heart, and even subtle sweet romance...stories that are very rare to come by these days. It truly touched my heart and has continued to warm my heart even to this day at the age of 24 when I am down or just need some inspiration and good fun reading! Girls and women alike should all read this as this series should never fail to inspire you and make you see the world in a more beautiful and different light. Truly touching, inspiring, romantic, and humorous all at once!

The ANNE OF GREEN GABLES series is one of the most unforgettable, and one of the most enjoyable, series of all children's literature. This series chronicles the life and times of Anne Shirley.

Anne Shirley is the plucky, imaginative, red-haired orphan. Her parents die when she is baby, and so she spends the first 11 years of her life going between homes and orphanages, with no one really wanting to keep or to love her. By a mistake, she is brought to Avonlea--instead of a boy--to be adopted by Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert, a pair of farmers who never thought they would be raising a girl in their old age.

You may want to skip this next part of my review, because I am going to sum up each book briefly. No plot spoilers will be revealed, but some of the contents will, and if you haven't read all the books, then maybe you don't want the content revealed ahead of time.

ANNE OF GREEN GABLES covers a span of Anne's first 5 years in Avonlea. She will age from 11 to 16. Her immortal antics that have made this book so beloved include her rivalry with Gilbert Blythe, dyeing her hair, and falling off of Mrs. Barry's roof...

ANNE OF AVONLEA spans two years. Anne is 18 at the novel's finish. She has become a teacher. Marilla adopts twins. Also, Anne has some more humorous and immortal moments.

ANNE OF THE ISLAND spans 4 years--Anne college years at Redmond. She will be 22 at the end of the novel. Anne discovers the real meaning of romance and love and courtship in this novel.

ANNE OF WINDY POPLARS also known as ANNE OF WINDY WILLOWS covers the 3 years of Anne's engagement to Gilbert. She is a Principle at Summerside High School where she has to deal with the Pringle clan, Katherine Brooke, and plenty of other interesting folks.

ANNE'S HOUSE OF DREAMS covers the first two years of Anne's married life. She and Gilbert now live in Four Winds Point, 60 miles east of Avonlea. Gilbert is making a living as a doctor, and the Blythes have new and interesting neighbors. **My favorite book of the series.**

Note: there is about a 6 year break between AHoD and AoI.

ANNE OF INGLESIDE covers about 6 years. Anne and Gilbert have moved to Glen St. Mary, near Four Winds Point, and now have children. This novel covers the birth of Rilla to the 15th wedding anniversary of Anne and Gilbert. More about Anne's children's adventures than Anne herself.

RAINBOW VALLEY takes place in 1 year. It is about Anne's children, and more specifically their neighbors, the Merediths--Faith, Una, Jerry, and Carl--and Mary Vance, but Anne does come in at important points within the novel. Faith is reminiscent in many ways of the young Anne.

Note: there is about a 9 year break between RV and RoI.

RILLA OF INGLESIDE is a heroine in her right. She ages from 15 to 19 during World War 1, the setting of this novel's time period. Anne is by now in her 50s and is a background character, but Rilla is a delightful and outgoing heroine with or without her mother.

This series was meant to be loved and reread and reread. Read the books in chronological order, or read them out-of-order but you'll still find them as fresh and enjoyable and as humorous as the first time you read them.

***Montgomery wrote some books about Anne's neighbors in Avonlea (CHRONICLES OF AVONLEA, FURTHER CHRONICLES OF AVONELEA) and in Glen St. Mary (THE ROAD TO YESTERDAY). And so if you enjoy the Anne books you might enjoy those books as well---although any Montgomery book is a reccommended read.***

I first loved the "Anne-girl" books at 12 or 13. Since then, whenever I am feeling glum, I re-read the detail-filled tales of an orphan girl from PEI with a vivid imagination and an enviable, wholly positive outlook on life. I recently realized that I skipped volumes #5 and 6 so it was a real treat to go back to read them (I could relate better at 25 and a newlywed to "Anne's House of Dreams.") It's hard not to see the beauty and romance in these books. Lucy Maud Montgomery wrote charming tales--I imagine it's the sort of thing that Anne wrote during her B.A. days at Redmond.

I'm back online to buy the boxed set for my sister, age 10. I hope she learns to love Anne, Diana, Gilbert and the host of other kindred spirits Lucy Maud Montgomery created as much as I do.

Anne of Green Gables is about a skinny red haired girl who has both a short temper and a very colorful imagination. She really loves the little farmhouse but the Cuthberts might send her back to the orphanage because Matthew needed a boy about 11 or 12 to help him on the farm.

Sometimes her imagination gets her in trouble. For instance when Marilla asks her to get a pattern from Mrs. Barry she doesn't want to because she imagined the woods between the houses were haunted! The book tells about her life growing up in the 1930's. As she grows, she learns many lessons and meets many friends who help her to become Anne of Green Gables.

This book is wonderful. It is a great book for girls to read. I loved it because the character was funny, spunky, and could talk forever. She reminded me of my sister. Anne never gave up trying to reach her goals. She will keep you interested throughout the whole book!

This is one of the best books ever written and the credit goes to spirited Anne (make sure it's spelled with an "e"!) Shirley. It's not often you find such a charming heroine as Anne. ANNE OF GREEN GABLES is the first of a series on this lovable orphan, and it begins with Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert, a respectable brother and sister, living at Green Gables. They are both growing old and need a boy to help out on the farm. But they got a talkative redhead girl instead. Before they can send her back to the orphanage, Anne has managed to win the hearts of Prince Edward Island with her wit and imagination. She seems to affect everyone around her - from busybody Mrs. Rachel Lynde to handsome Gilbert Blythe. And now, Green Gables will never be the same! . . .

It's not often you find such a spirited and lovable heroine as Anne. Captivating and captivatED, Anne is full of enthusiasm and fun, which gets her into all sorts of scrapes. This book is one that you are guaranteed to laugh over, cry over, and never want to put down! It is an ideal novel that you won't want to pass up! (Even if you don't read the rest of the Anne books, read this!)

A few weeks ago, I got really sick of today's children's literature. I had read enough mysteries and trashy books about romance to last me a lifetime. So I wanted something else to read, something well-written with a good plot and lifelike characters. I had to look no further than the first book I picked up- Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery.

Anne of Green Gables is the first book in the Anne of Green Gables series. It takes place, as most of L. M. Montgomery's books do, on Prince Edward Island in Canada. This particular story takes place in the town of Avonlea. It follows young Anne Shirley, an orphan brought to Green Gables to help Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert on their farm. Much to Anne's dismay, Marilla tells her that they wanted a boy to help around the farm, not a girl. However, Marilla changes her mind and decides to keep the dynamic young girl who would become Anne of Green Gables.

This novel is incredibly written, with well-developed characters and an intricate plot. I absolutely loved it. I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a great example of children's literature at its height.

As I read this book, the thing that kept running through my mind was how much research the author had to do. That is the difference between this book and other biographies, especially when you think that the two best sources of information - Vince and wife Marie - have long since passed away. I commend him for his efforts as not just a writer, but as a researcher. I will say this though, there are volumes and volumes of information about the Packers and Lombardi, making the writer's job not easier, but less time-consuming because of the availability of all the information out there.

As for the writing, I loved the way he blended Lombardi's day-to-day life with the football seasons. Just when you thought he was going to give you some boring play-by-play, he took you in another direction, describing Lombardi's relationship with a player, an assistant coach, a business leader, even his secretary, and he did so in a thorough and fascinating manner. He then took you back on the field for the play-by-play, and as a reader you felt like you never left.

You don't have to be a sports lover to love this book, because to me it's not really a sport book. Instead, it is a journey into the psyche of a man who was driven to succeed in everything he did. Chapters on his personal appearances, business ventures and other interests were nearly as interesting as the tales of his obsession with football. Lombardi was truly driven to be the best at everything he did.

The title of this book says volumes because to Lombardi pride did matter. Everything he did - except perhaps his relationship with his immediate family - he did with the intent of showing others that quality mattered to him.

I loved the book and despite his many shortcomings, I love Lombardi.

I too started the book as a football fan, and ended the book as a fan of the man and his principles. From childhood, through minimal success on the field, then to enormous success as a leader in America in the 1960s. You get a sense of the true values and character of not just Vince Lombardi, but America during a time of national change. I was only 10 years old when he died, but the stories of the Lombardi Packers are still cherished in the midwest today. But that misses the point. How a man can lead every team he touched to the top is studied and presented and you can almost see into his mind. It was sad to see the family suffer through years of anguish, mixed with with pride, love, and loyalty. The author's style and storytelling were excellent.

The historical underpinings from the immigrant Italian family living in Brooklyn, cutting through WWII, stopping at West Point and continuing to Green Bay, Wisconsin is nothing short of a historical education of America in the 20th Century. Vince Lombardi's range of experiences through his involvement in the sport of football constructs a timeline of how rapidly the world has changed in the last 100 years. Maraniss delves into the life of Lombardi to discover what made him the legend he is in the society of sports people. Lombardi's strength of character sprang from his upbringing. Maraniss does such a fine job of detailing Lombardi's childhood that you can see where the strong influences of church and family guided his sense of duty and passion in life. The reader will be providing herself or himself an outstanding education of a facet of society that covers more than just the renaissance man named Vince Lombardi. Anyone who enjoys biographies MUST read When Pride Still Mattered.

Troon McAllister rocks! Okay, so you need to suspend your grip on reality to flow with a plot that sees a nobody picked for the Ryder Cup team, but it's worth the effort. Eddie Caminetti is a perfect nobody for the Ryder Cup and the Ryder Cup is the perfect setting for Eddie to unleash his talent for golf and off-beat psychology on an unsuspecting golf audience.

This book is all about Caminetti. It's also all about golf, hustling, and human nature. Along the way there's ample suspense and more humor than has any right to be in it's 300 pages. Most golf novels (and most sports novels for that matter) follow a familiar plot but this book takes us to new, and very original, ground.

Truly funny and the first real competitor to "Missing Links" by Rick Reilly, this is a gripping read. You just never know what's around the corner . . . but you know it's going to be hilarious.

I had thought Dan Jenkin's book, Dead Solid Perfect, was probably the most realistic and believeable novel about the professional game. That was until I read Troon McAllister's book,The Green. Even non-golfers would probably enjoy it as it is about more than golf. Great characters in believeable situations all handled superbly by the author. Eddie Caminetti is much more than a golf hustler with the game of a tour veteran. He has a mind like a steel trap and the nerves of a tight rope walker. How he becomes a Captain's pick for the US Ryder Cup team and how he handles the assignment are a treat. There is much to learn from this immensely entertaining book...about golf...it's rules...human nature and life itself. You will not want to put this book down. It is that good!!

The Green is extremely entertaining on a number of levels. It gives the reader the vicarious pleasure of believing that many of those guys out on the tour have 'feet of clay' with their own foibles. Even though they get to play and get paid 5 or 6 days a week, the author would have you believe that most have some personality defect that the common guy doesn't.

On another level, Eddie, the lead character, is everything we wish we could be, in or out of golf. A hustler yes, but dig below the crust, a complex, honest, and talented person, unwilling to put up with the BS of the profession. He's an iconoclast, supremely confident of his own abilities, ready to thumb his nose at traditional concepts.

If you don't love this book and this guy, you don't like good fiction and the game of golf.

Can you imagine what happens when butterflies kiss? It has to be simply beautiful and mesmerizing to witness one of God's most delicate creatures take time to experience the intricacies of love and passion. As Dante shares his experiences and observations, we also see what we too often miss when we rush into things. We miss the beauty around us as well as the beauty within us.

This unique collaboration is creatively written, giving readers a sensual, passionate glimpse of the magic of butterflies kissing. As each writer tells their story of Dante's journey through love, you will sense the delicate flutters as the words begin to gently touch your heart and soul. "When Butterflies Kiss" is a piece of art which is best savored and not read too hurriedly.

Enjoy this read and allow the gentle kisses to awaken and refresh your soul.

When Butterflies Kiss is one man's story of growth, dreams, fear and love.
Dante, the main character of the story, is a young African American male that
is a social worker and aspiring writer. Dante is a complex and interesting
character. As the story progress we get a glimpse of his past, the
complexities of his current life and his goals and aspirations for the future.
His greatest weakness seems to be his relationship with women. He has buried
his sensitive side in order to protect his heart and is involved with any
number of meaningless sexual relationships. Most important however, is Dante's
desire to have more for his life. This journey for more meaning in his life,
career and relationships eventually leads him to some life changing decisions.

The other characters in the book are like a supporting cast; these characters
are not as thoroughly developed. Although the reader only knows these
characters in terms of Dante, each character plays a critical role in the plot
and in the growth that he eventually achieves. I would have liked to have read
a bit more about what made the female characters tick.

When Butterflies Kiss is a unique tale written by a team of authors. Ten
writers, each responsible for his or her own chapter, write the book. Each
author has their own style, but they do an excellent job of portraying the
characters and the plot consistently and the chapters flow beautifully. As I
began this book, I was curious about what reading a novel by several different
authors would be like but I was quite pleased with this collaborative effort.
I would have liked to have seen more detailed character development for the
female characters and there were a couple of aspects of the plot that I felt
were left hanging. Still, overall I thought this was a great effort and I look
forward to future works by each of the individual authors as well as future
collaborations...

Have you ever watched a Butterfly? They move gracefully through transitions, keeping their momentum, landing in what appears an effortless fashion. When Butterflies Kiss, is no different. A perfect blend of imagery and realism, the opening chapter had me hooked. I read through the night entranced by Dante. The poetic verse of his journey pulled me into his world. His revelations became mine. Worried that with multiple writers I would be jolted from one style to another, the collaboration proved themselves capable of seamless dialogue. Page after page, this story progressed naturally. I recognize Dante in several of my friends and I saw myself in some of his encounters. This book is filled with rich, poignant prose. My only complaint is that it had to end. Praises to the Authors. I look forward to the sequel. I'm off to read it for a third time.