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As the year 2001 approaches the men who fought in the Great War have all but faded away, and only the memory of their sacrifice will be preserved. Between 1914 and 1918 soldiers from all over the world converged on the trenches of Belgium and Northern France: from Australia and New Zealand, Canada, England, India, Ireland, Scotland, South Africa, Wales and the far reaches of the British Empire they came to fight alongside the Belgians and the French. Vale Valhalla traces the lives of a group of Australians through the years prior to, and during, the First World War, and reveals how they were forever altered by their sufferings in that singular and relentless conflict. ... Read more

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In the grandest wedding the small western plains town ofBathurst has ever seen, Eve Herman, without position or money, is marrying John Stuart Wakeman, one of the richest, most influential men in the land. Before their wedding day is overAustralia's most wanted man, the bushranger Alan Fletcher, will have held up their coach and altered all their lives! Alan Fletcher: aristocrat and Royal Naval Captain, wrongly convicted of murder and transported toNew South Wales for life. Eve Herman: American orphan, abandoned inSydney town and left to survive by her wits and courage. John Stuart Wakeman: the owner of fabledMayfield,Australia's largest and most prosperous cattle property. Mayfield is their story: from the streets of Southampton to the vast bush country of New South Wales and across the world to the city of old Boston, USA. ... Read more

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Eve Herman came to Australia from America with her father, but when he died she was left penniless. Then John Stuart Wakeman, owner of a vast estate ,sought her for his bride, and all was glory, until their loving marriage turned into a tragedy. As Eve sought the comforts of another, a convict who had become one of the notorious bushrangers--bands of "wilde colonial boys" who lived off the land, and robbed the rich to survive--she was forced to run from he law through the wild territory of the outback. Torn between her love for two men, Eve would follow her destiny--and the sweet calling of her heart's desire....
... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

So sweet
I cried so much near the end. At first I wanted Eve to stay with John Stuart but when I read about her relationship with Alan, it was like 'no, no, stay with him!' But seriously, this is a book that will make you cry.

wonderful
why,ohwhy, doesn't Joy C. write another book? I love novels about early Australia and this is a super read.Cute things happen between Joy and her lover, but I loved it.Try it, you'll like it. ... Read more

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Did you know that you need to look at your will, living will and powers of attorney at least every couple of years to make sure that they still reflect your current wishes and the current state of the law?Luckily, most people truly only need these three documents to ensure that their affairs are in order. And for most Americans, the simpler these documents are, the better. The Easy Will and Living Will Kit examines these three essential documents and provides forms everyone can use.

Classifying an individual into one of six categories based on whether he or she is married or not and whether he or she has adult children, minor children, or no children, this guide creates a plan based on an individual’s needs. No additional legalese is added and no unnecessary trusts are created. The plan contains each of the three documents along with sample, completed forms and instructions for completing your own. All blank forms are available on the Mac/PC compatible CD-ROM. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

The Easy Will and Living Will Kit
We have always wanted to have papers ready for any kind of mishaps in life.This book clarifies a lot of the question we had and is easy to use.
Unfortunetly, I purchased a used book and the video was missing.Now we have to copy the pages.But we still like the book.
TX

Easy will kit
Not worth ten cents, don't but it. Get a peice of paper and a pencil out and write out your will by hand, it will be the same as if you buy this book.

As simple and painless as it gets--
Sooner or later, most of us realize that we need to put our financial houses in order. This manual makes writing a will and working out end-of-life health,legal, and financial issues easier than you might expect--all the essential forms and instructions are in one place, with forms on an accompanying CD-ROM.Moving the process along are the real-life examples that demystify the processes of preparing a valid will, completing a legally sound health care advance directive, and putting a financial power of attorney in place.The manual's Q&As are particularly helpful, as is a running "conversation with your attorney" that offers insight into what a typical first visit to a lawyer might involve.Similar references are long on legal documents, short on simple English, and just plain dull.I highly recommend this manual to get you off your duff and planning to avoid the many pitfalls that await those who don't make their wishes known about these critical issues. ... Read more

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International institutions and the consequences of their interplay are emerging as a major agenda item for research and policy. As governments enter into an ever-increasing number of international agreements, questions arise about the overlap of issues, jurisdiction and membership. Of particular interest to practitioners and analysts is how this mélange of institutions at the international level intersects and interrelates to influence and affect the content, operation, performance and effectiveness of a specific institution, as well as the functioning of the overall global governance context. Biosafety, which is an issue that is relevant to numerous institutions, offers an excellent case study for exploring and applying interplay in practical terms. ... Read more

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In a society that puts so much emphasis on perfection, Veronica Chambers mischievously casts aside the guilt-inducing litany of “shoulda, coulda, woulda” that seems to define modern-day life and replaces it with a resounding call to live with “foolish bravery.” Refreshingly open about the personal failures and limitations that once weighed her down with shame, Chambers describes how she turned her less-than-perfect qualities into sources of delight and satisfaction. From belting out off-key renditions of torch songs while washing the dishes to seeing even the most unlikely career opportunity as a chance to spread one’s wings, Chambers shows that a willingness to fall flat on one’s face heightens the joys of everyday life and opens a new, wonderfully liberating perspective on work, motherhood, aging, friendship, failure, and success.

With a winning combination of lighthearted anecdotes and heartfelt musings, Chambers encourages readers to follow her example and do the things that tickle their fancies and fire their imaginations—no matter what other people (and that little voice inside) may say. Like Chambers herself, they’ll discover that “what we consider our failures have a surprising ability to charm . . . we are loved for our imperfections—for our funny faces and walks and dances and songs.”

Customer Reviews (10)

Inspired me to write a book
I was instantly sold on the title of this book before I even held it in my hands. It was everything I expected and more. There were so many things that I related to that I couldn't put it down. I read it in one sitting. The one thing that I took from this book is the confidence to not be good at something...and doing that something for the simple joy of doing it. The day after I read this book, I went out and bought a new journal (I had been going through some serious turmoil) and began writing. And writing and writing. I wrote the entire first draft of my memoir by hand in nine days. This started on April 9, 2006 and my memoir (Swimming With Wild Cats) went into print March 1, 2007. That's serious inspiration. She teaches you that it's okay to be quirky, clumsy, and bad at things that you love doing.

Something for everyone
Perhaps the dramatic difference in these reviews is due to "expectations".

I expected to feel better about giving up on becoming perfect, and I do.

I enjoyed the references to things being BETTER and more memorable, BECAUSE of their flaws.


I didn't expect to have so much FUN reading this book, but I smiled, laughed outloud and heard myself saying,
"Why not?" and "I WILL do that!"

Veronica points out she has chosen a career path that INVITES
rejection and she has not only lived to tell about it,she continues to invite it; not from a martyred perspective but as one accepting it.

I found this inspirational. Not everything challenging has to be avoided at all cost; just play through, I learned from her, there is good stuff everywhere.
Especially in the JOY of going for it, reached or not.

No Substance or Humor
I bought this book for vacation reading, expecting something light and humorous.Instead, I found vignettes from the author's life that offered no insight and never got a laugh out of me.Even though it was a quick read, I couldn't even bring myself to finish it.

The Joy of Being Yourself

Veronica Chamber's second nonfiction book, The Joy of Doing Things Badly, is essentially about acceptance and living one's life on your own terms. Most of us go through life beating ourselves up for our frailties and faults instead of allowing ourselves to learn from our mistakes gracefully. Chambers presents lessons about love, friendships, relationships and career but most importantly she chronicles the joys and sorrows of coming to a place of her own peace and acceptance of herself.

Chambers did not have a happy childhood; however she went to a private college at age sixteen, majored in journalism and has worked for several publications including Glamour and New York Times Magazine. Her career has been a series of ups and downs; an editor once told her she was a bad writer and threw back every idea she pitched. What could have been career suicide for most writers only made her stronger and more determined to do what she needed to overcome that obstacle. It is okay to fall flat on your face, just get up and run faster.

How to be happy in one's own skin, when to let go of toxic relationships and learning from financial mishaps read like a road map to personal success. It was fun to read about Chambers extensive travels; how it has enriched her life and how essential it is to keeping her sanity. She paints a picture of content in traveling abroad alone and her positive experience living briefly in Japan

There are a lot of wise saying and thus wisdom dispensed. "There is no shortage of people who will tell you what you can't do, but these same people don't always have a lot of encouraging advice about what you should be doing....pg. 5.and "Too often, we hear compliments about another person, by the same fashion, we do not hear compliments about ourselves at all." pg. 116.

Most impressive was how the author, when in her twenties, constructed a book by cutting out pictures of women she admired who were in their 30s and older and writing captions ofwhat she admired most about these women. It was something she could look at occasionally and visualize herself as she worked toward her goals. Most women might find much of the advice ordinary common sense and just living and learning but this is an excellent treatise for younger women in high school, college and those in their twenties to read as they negotiate their journey through life. There is even a Joy newsletter you can obtain by writing to joyofdoingthingsbadly@yahoo.com.

Dera R. Williams
APOOO BookClub
www.apooo.org

How very disappointing
I believe that the title of this book is misleading and the content does not live up to expectations at all. If I could, I would demand my money back.

What I expected in light of the title and other reviews was a light-hearted, witty and clever, perhaps sometimes self-deprecating and mostly amusing look at women's lifes and how we often stand in our own way with our sense of ueber-perfectionism.

What I got was a tedious read, and if I were in a nasty mood, I would even go as far as to say it was badly written. Veronica Chambers is trying too hard to be funny, and trust me, it doesn't work. Both, her style and the content did nothing to even remotely endear her to me and most of the time I was simply bored.

Maybe it is my fault and I had the wrong expectations, but even bearing that possibility in mind, it still doesn't deliver on the promise in the title.

Maybe it wouldn't have been as bad had she given it a title that reflected more of what the book really is: a diary of a woman who doesn't really have an awfult lot to say.

Which in itself wouldn't even be that bad, seeing as I have read numerous accounts of women who didn't really have much to say either - but they did so in such a charming, clever, witty and sometimes ironic way that made it possible to connect, or at least be entertained.

This book unfortunately does neither. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Characters mildly engaging but no substance to novel
The characters were interesting in this book but the reader is not really drawn into their lives. They seemed rather superficial in their dealings to others. Even the villain did not seem particularly villainous until he made his move to kidnap Claudia in the end.

Claudia, a rather pretty self-sacrificing woman cannot bear the animosity of her sister-in-law anymore. Finding it difficult to live in her brother's house and not rich enough to be independent by any means, she begins in vain to search for a position as nursemaid/governess. Not mature and much too attractive, she is not chosen by any ladies. Claudia rather lucks into the position as companion to the dowager Lady Rexford. Lady Rexford has married well above her station and is looking for a woman to assist her in facing her nephew John (the current Lord Rexford) and the family retainers at Rexford Park in Yorkshire.

Miss Chambers "takes charge" of the situation convincing the rather trusting and sweet (but very respectable) Lady Rexford to appear bolder, demanding and high-handed. Lady Rexford does this by dressing in black, tapping a gold handled cane and gazing at people through a quizzing glass. Lady Rexford also allows Claudia and her trusted servant Hettie to speak for her in situations when she feels vulnerable. So off to Yorkshire they go meeting the formidable Lord Rexford and various others who set out to make life a little uncomfortable. Claudia first meets with John, throwing him a little off balance by reading him the riot act for showing up too early, too disheveled and too arrogant to even meet with Lady Rexford. This beginning portion of the book is the most enjoyable. After that, you meet Barbara Brock who all but considers herself engaged to Lord Rexford and Sir Lucas an aging dandy. Each has a role to play in making Claudia miserable. As Claudia begins to fall in love with John, she thinks he is playing her false since Barbara has told her they are engaged but it has not been announced. There is some intrigue involving a Rembrandt and a little chase involved when both the Rembrandt and Claudia are absconded with!

Some of the things that did not make sense were that Lady Rexford was easily accepted into the country society and Lord Rexford became such a champion of hers so rapidly. Although he was wrong to think her ill-bred, I just don't think he or the others would have come around so easily. The whole Rembrandt/kidnapping story was just ridiculous. It was worth reading the book for the beginning when Claudia helps Lady Rexford gain confidence. But... all in all, only slightly entertaining and not a keeper.

Almost unreadable
Actually, it was unreadable.One of the worst regencies I have ever read.Claudia and Rexford were the main love interest.Rexford is homely and boring, and Claudia is just plain dull.It also does not make sense thatthe estate would have been left divided between the two parties.Entailedproperty can't be divided.And as Rexford had other places to live, whywas he living there under such circumstances and living in the gate house? Illogical.I could barely get through the book.

Miss Chambers Takes Charge
Claudia Chambers needs to leave her brother's household, as her sister-in-law's resentment of her makes life difficult. So Miss Chambers looks for a position and finds one as companion to the widowed LadyRexford.Sweet, gentle Lady Rexford is a housekeeper who married heremployer and is much resented by her nephew, the new Lord Rexford. LadyRexford is apprehensive about dealing with her nephew. Miss Chambers beginsher duties by making Lady Rexford over into a more formidable woman withsometimes hilarious results. Her own social life is less easily resolved,however. She has several suitors, one of which is Lord Rexford himself. Charming secondary characters, such as Lady Rexford, really make this oneshine. ... Read more

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on film music composers and news of the film industry ... Read more