Product Description
Have fun, get fit, and stay healthy with Fantastic Water Workouts.

With more than 130 exercises that use the natural resistance of water, you will improve your body's composition and tone, strengthen muscles, increase aerobic and muscular endurance, and improve flexibility, coordination, and agility--all with minimal stress on your body.

In addition to the unique and creative individual exercises, Fantastic Water Workouts includes 14 step-by-step programs that can be tailored to your personal needs, interests, and fitness goals.

Whether you're seeking general programs for overall fitness, cross-training, and improved performance or more specific routines for pregnancy, physical rehabilitation, cardiac recovery, or older adults, it's all here. You can even add variety to your program by trying the tai chi, Pilates, yoga, kickboxing, country line dancing, street dancing, and noodle workouts.

Jump into Fantastic Water Workouts and discover the complete water workout guide. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Good idea but..
This is a great idea but when you are in the pool trying to remember everything that you just read it would be nice to have the book nearby but alas it would become a soggy mess. Good instructions and pictures.

prefect workout book
looked at alot of books didn't know if this would be best.Really loved it easy to follow great workout plans great workout ideas

Water Workouts
Great Book!I am swimming once per week at an Aquatic Therapy pool.
I have added some of the exercises in this book to my usual routine.

Very detailed...
this book is well organized and very detailed.If I were going to teach aquatic exercise, I would definitely use this as my guide.In fact, I wish someone in my area would do this so I wouldn't have to read and digest it myself...you'd think there would be a huge market for "personal trainers" for this type of workout.If the author had a video, I would buy it in a heartbeat.

Great book!
As a new water aerobics instructor, this book provided me with a great variety of exercises.It is well written with comprehensive photos. ... Read more

Product Description
In Walking On Water, Madeleine L'Engle addresses the questions, What makes art Christian? What does it mean to be a Christian artist? What is the relationship between faith and art? Through L'Engle's beautiful and insightful essay, readers will find themselves called to what the author views as the prime tasks of an artist: to listen, to remain aware, and to respond to creation through one's own art.
Amazon.com Review
For years, beloved author Madeline L'Engle has commingled her writing with her faith in such titles as A Wrinkle in Time and A Swiftly Tilting Planet. In Walking on Water, L'Engle takes a fresh look at what it means to be a Christian artist and what separates Christian art from that which is supposedly secular. This first-person account draws the reader into L'Engle's mind frame and sphere of reference--uncloaking her frustrations with bad art (from poetry to painting) that claims to be religious--and explains how the true artist can only serve the world by imitating the ultimate Creator, the Lord Himself. When asked to describe where faith stops and art begins, L'Engle explains that there is no separating the two--"it means attempting to share the meaning of my life, what gives it, for me, its tragedy and its glory." Words of wisdom seep from these pages in a practical, faith-filled manner by encouraging the reader to slow down amidst the business of life, to listen to the spirit, and to be more fully devoted to God by seeking to be more truthfully artistic. "Unless we are creators, we are not fully alive," L'Engle writes, hoping readers are inspired to turn the "chaos of life" into the "cosmos of art." --Jill Heatherly ... Read more

Customer Reviews (27)

My first read of L'Engle's nonfiction
I really enjoyed this book. For me, it is not something that ought to be read in large chunks at a time, but rather I read each section at a time, and often reflected on it afterwards. While it is geared toward artists, writers, etc., I think it can also be good for anyone who wants to expand the way they perceive faith and art in general. I didn't agree with quite everything that the author said, but then again, it is nice to see other's views. I'll be keeping this on my shelf to re-read.

Good thoughts
This is a good read for artists.I don't know if I agree whole-heartedly with everything she says, but caused some good conversations, and encouraged me to think outside of my box.

Hodge-Podge of False Doctrine
I picked up her book Walking on Water, which discusses Christianity and the arts, hoping to gain some insight on the sometimes confusing topic of the christian artist.

Its an interesting book, though not very well written in itself, being somewhat of a quilt or hodge-podge of thoughts on christianity and writing. Red flags went up for me in the second chapter, pages 44 - 45, where L'Engle writes:

If we fall into Satan's trap of assuming that other people are not Christians because they do not belong to our own particular brand of Christianity, no wonder we become incapable of understanding the works of art produced by so-called nonchristians, whether they be atheists, Jews, Buddhists, or anything else outside a frame of reference we have made into a closed rather than an open door....We also approach God in rather different ways, but it is the same God we are seeking...

This universalism, believing that every religion is just a different way to get to the same place, is clearly against the bible, which teaches that salvation through Jesus Christ is the only way. After reading this book, I did further research on L'Engle, finding an interview where she states in response to a question about being a Christian Author, "No. I am a writer. That's it. No adjectives. The first thing is writing. Christianity is secondary."

If writing is more important to you than your faith, then what are you worshipping truly? What saddens me is that she can say these things so openly, and yet still sell thousands of books Specifically to a Christian market, through stores like Lifeway.

I'm not saying Don't read these types of books, the important thing is to recognize when the author is writing false doctrine. Many young believers or nonbelievers could be misled by such books, its important for Christians to know their theology, and to know what books to endorse and what books to warn about.

Please remember to read everything with a discerning eye. Every book besides the Bible is a fallible work created by a fallible author.

An Inspiration to the Artist Within
Walking on Water puts into beautiful language the ebb and flow of the artist within all of us, the tension between our deepest beliefs and the way that we express them.Madeline L'Engle has a perspective on faith and art that brings out the best in both, that the Christian artist must first be a true artist and that their faith should only serve to enhance the beauty and truth of their creation. She destoys the boundaries we put between the two, and completely rethinks the way that we come to define God and our faith. Those who do not share her faith will still be able to appreciate and grow from the truths she expresses about the human spirit and experience in creating. This book is a definite re-read as there are so many thoughts and reflections to take in, especially for a person who is just beginning to revisit their own artist within.We are challenged to remember our childlike faith and wonder, to see the world anew, to open our souls and once again communicate and ponder both the simple and the surreal experiences of life.

A Must Read and Re-Read
Madeleine L'Engle's Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith and Art is truly a thought provoking and inspiring work, which will stand the test of time.This is a must read and re-read for artists in the fine and performing arts as well as for enthusiasts of the arts.I found and continue to find new insights into creative freedom and spirituality each time I pick up this book.

Douglas Mann
The Art of Helping Others
[...]
Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith and Art (Wheaton Literary Series) ... Read more

Product Description

In Many Waters, Madeleine L'Engle continues the Murry familysaga, which includes AWrinkle in Time; A Wind in the Door;and A Swiftly TiltingPlanet, which won the American Book Award. L'Engle's mysticalmix of science fiction and fantasy, time and space travel, history,morals, religion, and culture once again urges her many adoringreaders to stretch their minds and hearts to understand why the worldis the way it is. (Ages 9 and older) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Customer Reviews (109)

one of my favorites
In the books that focused on Meg I never really like the twins but I loved them in this series.Also, as a atheist you would think I would not enjoy a book so religiously based but I always found this book to be intriguing and the characters very endearing.

Many Waters by Madeleine L'Engle
Great book. Very good service from the vender.This is part of the "Wrinkle in Time" group of books.The book centres around the twins as they meet Noah and his family as he learns that he is to build an ark.

an incredible story delving into our history as human beings
I simply loved the story. It is a basic mixture of history, science fiction and fantasy. It also points to a spiritual side of humanity which far too many people have forgotten or which, in a light way, allow us to see a somewhat different perspective on history and life. Are we all just pieces of meat or could spiritual beings exist? If we are spirit, then the likelihood of this story being real is more that what its naysayers might propose. 5 stars for sure.

Disappointing
I adored the Wrinkle in Time series, but I wasn't even aware of this one until recently so when I learned of its existence I was very excited to read it. Unfortunately, it's very disappointing compared to the others.

In contrast to the rest of the series, here the Murray kids' journey through time occurs simply by accident rather than for a particular purpose. There's nothing necessarily wrong with that, but it does make the whole thing seem a bit...pointless.

The story is interesting enough, but the writing often seems strained. The dialogue in particular is absolutely cringeworthy at times. To some degree this could be excused in a kids' book; I certainly don't expect the same quality of writing as I would in a book aimed at adults. But in how many kids' books is a character described as a "slut" and an "easy lay"? Some of the sexual themes in this book seem to raise the target age significantly above what I would have expected from the rest of the series and from the quality of the writing. I'm not offended by it personally (though I've no doubt some readers - or at least their parents - would be), but it just doesn't really seem appropriate.

If you're a Wrinkle in Time fanatic you'll read this book whatever the reviews say, and you'll probably get some enjoyment out of it. But in my opinion it is not up to the standards set by the original book and A Swiftly Tilting Planet in particular.

Ha ha ha funny, this book sucks!
Were doi start. We had to read this for school and th 8th grade and My parents read it to me sometimes when we had reading time. Sometimes my mom put the boo down and was horrified with the amount of sexual relationships. The two twins in loin cloths getting in the nude and coming close to actually going to home base. The story concept was slow and horrifying. Do not recommend this book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ... Read more

Product Description
Harriet Sherwood has always adored her grandmother. But when Harriet decides to follow in her footsteps to fight for social justice, she certainly never expected her efforts to land her in jail. Nor did she expect her childhood enemy and notorious school bully, Tommy O'Reilly, to be the arresting officer.

Languishing in a jail cell, Harriet has plenty of time to sift through the memories of the three generations of women who have preceded her. As each story emerges, the strength of her family--and their deep faith in the God of justice and righteousness--brings Harriet to the discovery of her own goals and motives for pursuing them. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (40)

It just didn't grab me...
This novel just didn't grab me like I thought it would. The story of women's suffrage and the Prohibition was really interesting, and Austin does a wonderful job of putting the reader into the history, with many rich details.

My issue with the novel is that, while the main character is Harriet, we get more of her grandmother's story than hers. I do like flashbacks and stories that span generations, but I didn't connect with Bebe (the grandmother), like I did with Harriet. Bebe's portion of the story is told in 3rd person, which could have something to do with it. Harriet's was in 1st person, and it was so much better. The novel was okay, but I was disappointed with that because I have heard that Austin's novel are very good. I'm willing to give another of her's a try, but I'm passing this one along to a friend.

Unique
One girl's story intertwined with her grandmother's life story.This truly is a unique story of courage and trusting God with our lives.There is quite a bit of history in the book that I was able to glean.I found myself hoping and wishing for good to happen from Bebe as her life was so hard..It was easy to follow a long, although I did find it a bit long and hard to get into in the beginning.

Excellent As Always
Though Waters Roar is another win for Lynn Austin! It's clear why her novels win so many awards, and I wouldn't be surprised at all if this one garners a few of it's own.

It's no secret at all that Lynn Austin is one of my absolute favorite authors, but I have to admit that I struggled a little bit initially to get interested in this story.One of Lynn's trademarks is merging a present-day story with some history of another person within a family unit.This book had that same feature (which I love), but it was harder for me to follow for the first few chapters.Usually, her books are divided into parts with each part being about one person's story.This one was not set up that way at all, and there were times that I was so thoroughly confused trying to keep the characters straight, and where they belonged in the overall timeline.But....don't let that deter you from considering this book for your next read.Just keep in mind that it make take you awhile to fully immerse yourself in the story.

I loved the historical elements that were featured, too.This story focused on the era of women struggling to have a voice, particularly with voting.Another large chunk of the story featured alcoholism, and the resulting Prohibition movement.And yet another portion dealth with slavery.Each major character had a hand in each one of these parts of history, and it was so thoroughly fascinating to read about all of that in one book.

While it's probably won't ever be my favorite book ever by Lynn Austin, I have to give it 5 stars simply because the story was truly extraordinary.And as always, I can't wait to read her next book.:o)

Full of imagery and great story
Harriet never thought she would find herself in a jail cell, but there she was. To keep herself from agonizing over how disappointed her family will be, especially Grandma Bebe, Harriet recalls her history and where she came from. Harriet's memories create a spider web effect traveling back to her Great Grandmother and through three generations of amazing women and American history. From Hannah's involvement in the underground railroad, Bebe's struggles during the Civil War and Great Depression, and Lucy's experience with the women's suffrage movement. Aside from the Midwest, small town perspective of some of America's most historical moments, lies a story of faith and love. From Bebe's joy in finding the man of her dreams and just a quickly finding he was not the man she thought he was, to Lucy's struggles with her upbringing and the things that wealth and status can't fix, and Harriet's obvious capability and the dying ways of how women are seen that still hold her back.
It is hard to pin point a plot in the novel, but in this case that is not a bad thing. The overall plot is all at once simple and complex. Moving in a nonlinear fashion the novel is more of a group of stories strung together keeping it interesting and engaging without feeling epic and overwhelming. With a particular emphasis on women's suffrage, it shows the lives of women before they were seen as viable citizens. From Hannah's bravery in the face of slave hunters, to Bebe's strength to run the family business and more to walk away from what she really loved, the women in the novel show strength in a way that never feels forced. The author works to draw distinctions between heroism, what truly makes someone a hero. The novel effectively shows that there are many ways to make changes and mistakes. It also gives a new perspective of the prohibition movement and what drew so women so such extremes. Austin has filled the novel with imagery that aids in bringing each different woman together as the family they are, making for an imaginative, interesting, and overall well written novel. I was disappointed with how Harriet's part of the story was handled. The characters and story were so well written up until her story, which ultimately felt rushed, as though the author was running out of time or inspiration and simply finished the book (not the story).
Overall, Though Waters Roar is definitely worth reading. The story is interesting and exciting and the historical perspective gave me a new way to look at the events that aided in the country's story. Most of the characters are strong, rounded, and inspiring for women or men.
*Book provided to the reviewer by Bethany House Publishing

4 Generations of lessons and soul searching!
An interesting book to be sure!This book by Lynn Austin is really the stories of four generations of remarkable ladies.We begin the story with Harriet, who is in jail.For what, the reader will have to be patient to find out!As she is in jail, Harriet has lots of time to think.She takes us back in time as far as the civil war when her Great-Grandma Hannah becomes involved in the Underground Railroad.Her Grandma Bebe and her praying at the saloons and marching for prohibition is another part of Harriet's musings.Harriet is desperate not to become like her mother and sister, ladylike and helpless.We get to see how the lives of these lady relations shape her life as she struggles to do something meaningful and special.I hope you as the reader will find as much enjoyment out of this book as I did.

There are eleven discussion questions that follow the story that would be ideal for book groups.

I would like to thank Bethany House Publishing for the opportunity to review their books and for the free copy that I received.
... Read more

Product Description
From the author of the self-published sensation Your Body's Many Cries for Water comes an all new book expanding on the healing powers of water. Asthma, allergies, arthritis, hypertension, depression, head-aches, diabetes, obesity, and MS. These are just some of the conditions and diseases that are caused by persistent dehydration. But there is a miracle solution that is readily available, all natural, and free: water. In WATER: FOR HEALTH, FOR HEALING, FOR LIFE, Dr. F. Batmanghelidj reveals how easy it is to obtain optimum health by drinking more water and supports his claims with over 20 years of clinical and scientific research. Thirsty readers will discover what they never knew, that water can actually: ï Prevent and reverse aging ï Cure asthma in a few days, naturally and forever ï Eliminate pains, including heartburn, back pain, and migraine headaches ï And much, much more. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (57)

Water. You're not sick you're thirsty
This is a fantastic book why don't the doctors tell us about water, take a pill it's better. I DONT THINK SO !!!!
Every one should read this book.

WONDERFUL WATER.........
I loved the book.Stay healthy and drink lots of water.This book was very informative and an easy read.

Easy to understand
This book has great information on why you should drink more water. It explains how the body uses water at the cellular level that is easy to understand and a benefit to those who want to lead a healthier life. I just wish I had this information in my 20's not my 50's.

Excellent Book
I'm into the health food movement like a lot of people nowdays. Unfortunately most books and programs don't cover all of the many ways to get and stay healthy. Although the above book listed is an excellent resource. It's like most authors and programs are trying to be too pc (politically correct). To correct myself a little, most health advice, programs, books and supplements usually offer pretty good advice these days.You know:
1. Don't alcohol
2. Don't abuse drugs
3. Don't smoke (cigaretts and the like)
4. Eat move live fresh fruits and vegetables.
5. Eat less process foods and meats.
Now all of this is good advice, although there is a right way and wrong way to do anything. I saw an excellent book with a good 8 step plan. Search Amazon for: The Magic Of Mother Nature's Healing Foods. I liked it.

Water
Astonishing, that's the right word to this book! I recommend it for all people who deserves a better quality of living. ... Read more

Product Description
On the night their mother drowns, sisters Marnie and Diana Maitland discover there is more than one kind of death. There is the death of innocence, of love, and of hope. Each sister harbors a secret about that night-secrets that will erode their lives as they grow into adulthood.

After ten years of silence between the sisters, Marnie is called back to the South Carolina Lowcountry by Diana's ex-husband, Quinn. His young son has returned from a sailing trip with his emotionally unstable mother, and he is refusing to speak. In order to help the traumatized boy, Marnie must reopen old wounds and bring the darkest memories of their past to the surface. And she must confront Diana, before they all go under. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (37)

Takes a While to Get to the Point
I've really begun to love Karen White's works and have been trying to get my hands on each one.The Memory of Water sounded quite interesting to me but it has moments where it really seemed to drag along.

Diana and Marnie both have issues with the night their mother dragged them into a storm.That night their mother drowned and it has turned the two sisters against each other.Marnie returns to the home of her grandfather due to an accident involving her sister and the nephew she's never met.That part sounded pretty good to me.

However getting to the truth of what happened that night is implied heavily throughout the book.Getting to that truth is another story entirely.It takes the final pages to really show what happened that night.Even from Marnie's flashbacks I couldn't tell what was going on or what caused Diana to have such an attitude from her sister, other than her being bipolar.

Like the other Karen White books I've read, I really loved several of the characters.Quinn and Gil especially.Quinn came off as a gentle soul to me, haunted by the death of his brother but willing to help anyone he can.Gil was smart beyond his years and I wondered what caused this child to go quiet.

Marnie and Diana I could not make my opinions of.Sometimes I hated one or the other.Sometimes I loved them both.Seeing Marnie transform back into the Marnie that Diana knew was one of the things I truly loved about the book.The twist at the end was pretty amazing, but not something that has driven me to tears like Karen's other books.I guess I just couldn't get as emotionally attached to this one as I did her others.

great start - slow end
I enjoyed this story but thought it fell apart in the last 50 pages.The plot really took a turn that was out of character for all.Otherwise an interesting read - especially about the effects of a mother's mental illness on all of family.

Great plot!
LOVED this book! Definitely agree w/ other reviews that it's a little slow at times, as well as repetitive, but I found the characters to be very unique. The scenery is described beautifully, and I found the ending satisfying.

Slow...
This book was too slow. I read it to completion and I liked the ending, but I felt that it took WAY too long to reach that point, and almost nothing happened for the first 250 pages.Yes, Marnie is unsure what happened on that evening when her sister and mother went out on a boat, and while that is interesting, it is stretched out to the extreme.The characters were okay, nothing to write home about.Overall, a forgettable read.

Ho-Hum
I'm on page 83, and I keep reading, hoping something will happen.So far the book has been slow and repetitious.Diana is the same self-indulgent, flaky artist; Marnie is the same obsequious art teacher.We know how all four characters feel after their first short autobiographies; then they repeat and repeat themselves.White insists on having each of these four characters take a speaking part in each mini-chapter, a technique that interrupts the reader's focus.And there are some grammar problems like "revert back" that are disappointing.A good editor with a red pencil would have enhanced this book.Unfortunately, our book club is reading this book for next month's selection.I think I'll take another reviewer's suggestion and give up! ... Read more

Product Description
Moving back through the 1940s, through air raids, blacked-out streets, illicit partying, and sexual adventure, to end with its beginning in 1941, The Night Watch tells the story of fourLondoners-three women and a young man with a past-whose lives, and those of their friends and lovers, connect in tragedy, stunning surprise and exquisite turns, only to change irreversibly in the shadow of a grand historical event. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (90)

It was depressing
I absolutely love Sarah Waters novels. I just found this one to be sooo depressing. There is no doubt that she is a wonderful novelist, but I have to agree, that I really did not like the characters. Maybe Duncan, but otherwise,I did not feel much compassion for the other characters. It is hard for me to like a book very much if I do not find redeeming qualities in the characters in a novel. The War Time historical part of the novel was very well done. The idea of meeting civilians in wartime London was also quite fascinating. But I have to give the overall review at only 3 stars. At one point during the book, I was ready for the whole lot of them to just jump off the London bridge.

a story uncovered
I read the blurb on the back of the cover of this book and found myself intrigued by the idea that it might end with its beginning. My only reason for not reading earlier was that the book is long and I'm in a lets-read-short-books phase. But the story is actually split into three parts, so I fooled myself into treating each part as a short book, and then I couldn't put it down. I found I really did want to find out what a story told backwards would feel like. And I like the result.

The setting was certainly of interest to me--1940s London. I've heard of the air-raids from family members, of shelters, the sounds of bombs, the darkened streets. And there's quite a cast of fascinating characters, all nicely delineated. Occasionally I'd wonder, now where did I meet her, but only in the same sense as I might out on the street, soon realizing who it was and eager to learn what happened next--or what happened in the past. There were mysteries neatly set up in the earliest part, relationships with pasts half-told and the promise of learning more.

It's actually quite an interesting way to uncover a story, retreating through time and wondering. After all, we usually get to know who people are before we learn who they were. What intrigued me most was how complete the story felt when the mysteries were told, though the future stayed unknown. Like life, but in a good way.

In fact, the whole novel feels very complete despite the uncertain future. The characters have settled in my mind. I know them, more than I ever would in real life. I like them for all that they're not like me, and it's not just time and war that separates. I'm glad the world has changed and I hope it changes more, and I want the best for those who inherit their dreams.

[...] says the novel "chronicles love, sex, and obsession." It chronicles much more, and it invites the reader to know and understand in a way few novels can, by adding the danger of war and that aspect of change that unsettles enough to leave the mind half-open. I can smell the broken buildings, the ash and the dust, and see the gifts of childhood lost and torn. And I love this book.

Moving Backward in Time Through London
Sarah Waters starts in 1947 with several diverse characters, already immersed in their own problems and consequences, and then moves backward to show us how they arrived at their various destinations.In this way, The Night Watch yields its layers like an onion.

Duncan, Viv, Kay, Helen, Julia and others, have secrets, memories and tragedies.The character I most related to, which probably explains my liking her the most, was Viv.Her storyine was certainly a dramatic one, and I thought it was the best written of the ones included in the novel.As a resident of London, it was very interesting for me to read of the runs through the streets during raids and rescues and note to myself what buildings still exist and which ones are now gone.I did feel as if I was a part of the experience, especially during the claustrophobic darkness of the blackout.

Much may have been made of the lesbian characters who live and work in Sarah Waters' London.To me, the book didn't ring out as a "lesbian" novel, but rather as one about people living, working and loving in London, some of whom happened to be lesbians.The love story present in the middle third of the book could exist in any story with heterosexual characters - just change the names.This is actually a compliment on my part - there's a great deal of talk about the "other"-ness and "difference" of gay people and lesbians from straight people.Sarah Waters' take seems to dispel that.

Would The Night Watch have been as interesting to me if it had been written in traditional, linear sequence?I'm not sure.As it is, however, it is an impressive undertaking.

Loving The People We Ought To is the Hardest Thing...
Written in three sections in reverse chronology, the story traces four individuals (three women and a man) whose lives are as much shaped by the ravages of WWII as well as their intertwined personal histories and shared desire for intimacy.

Waters's backwards narrative and reticence as a narrator are quite risky techniques to employ, whetting the reader's appetite for more insight into each character in their backstory, but also threatening to frustrate less patient readers.By starting at the end in 1947, and ending at the beginning in 1941, the reader wonders at the awkwardness of the characters when they confront each other and the underlying trauma they display in the first section.The characters' dialogues also draw a blank as the reader struggles to piece together the significance of what they say.

Waters' strength is in painting a vivid picture of time and place. Wartime London and it survivors are realistically portrayed and never superfluous to the plot.There is also subtlety and much tenderness when she deals with the tricky subject of romance between women.The frustrations of love and its trappings are examined convincingly, and best summed up by one of its key characters, "But isn't it funny - we never seem to love the people we ought to, I can't think why...'.

A big book with great characters and lots of ideas - but an unnecessarily complicated structure
At the April 2008 meeting of the NYC LGBT Center Book Discussion group, we had a nice sized group to discuss "The Night Watch" by Sarah Waters.

The readers who like historical fiction thought this was a great book, very exciting with fully drawn characters. The readers who aren't so fond of historical fiction thought that it took a little while for the book to really get started, and the unusual structure (1947 at the end of the war, 1944 during the war, and finally 1941 at the start of the war) didn't really help the story much.

Everyone agreed that it depicted a bombed country better than any other novel we'd read, and that some of the details of war torn London seemed execeptionally well drawn. In a change from many novels, the women in "The Night Watch" all seemed strong and self directed (ambulance drivers, jealous lovers, successful writers), while the men were weak and manipulative (fragile gay men, closeted Christian Science followers, rich men with unclear motivations, two-timing cads). It was interesting to see regular every-day people during war: office workers, men in prison, and women who have stepped up to work with the shortage of men.

Everyone liked the book, but some liked it much more than others. Sarah Waters was able to handle the epic plot and multiple characters very well, as well as add details to make it interesting. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (1)

Anatomy of a Disaster
The disaster of the Gulf oil spill was a perfect storm of lax government regulation, a corner-cutting global energy titan, and an unthinking energy policy by the United States. This book by Peter Lehner and Bob Deans of the Natural Resources Defense Council skillfully and lucidly weaves together these strains to produce a compelling "first draft of history" that reads like a combination of investigative journalism and Greek tragedy. The book makes clear that many misguided decisions led inevitably to the worst environmental disaster in American history. Filled with telling detail and hard facts, this book is a must-read for anyone who wants to know the causes and the consequences of the blowout at BP's Deepwater Horizon rig in the Gulf of Mexico, America's richest aquatic ecosystem. It includes compelling human stories of the fishermen, shrimpers and other watermen whose deeply ingrained way of life has been devastated by forces far beyond their control. Most importantly, the authors offer important prescriptions to avoid another Gulf disaster. ... Read more

Product Description
Dubbed the Sex and the City of the Hood! Sasha, Tatum, Neli, and Kim are four gorgeous girlfriends hailing from the infamous Brick City Newark, NJ. Trying hard to survive the struggle but making sure they look good and have fun doing it, they are all caught up in the game in their own way. However the bond that they share seems to prove strong enough to conquer almost anything. That is until secrets are revealed, temptation is tested, and pride, envy, and vanity play at the core of their relationships. With drugs, money, and murder as their surroundings, and beauty and brains as their only weapons, we are taken on a journey through one hot summer in the hood that is sure to be unforgettable. With good times, and bad times, fun times, and sad times, there is only question left to be answered in the end about their friendship. Can it stand the tests of loyalty, and although it is not quite blood, is it Thicker Than Water? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (22)

Pretty Good Read!!!
The book moved a little too fast at times, but other than that it was an interesting and unpredictable read.

Cons: The pictures of the females in the book looked nothing like the characters described in the book. I was perplexed as to why the author wasted pages on the pictures?
Editing issues as well, but nothing major.

I highly recommend read.

Overall rating: 4.5

made to be read
i had no clue who this author was but this book was recommended to me. I am so glad that i read it.... these chicks were grimy,dishonest, hood but this made the book even better...she did that..

A MUST READ.......
THICKER THAN WATER WAS A REALLY GOOD I ENJOY IT, IT ALMOST MAKES YOU THINK TWICE ABOUT WHO ARE YOUR FRIENDS LOOKING FORWARD TO PART TWO WILL BE READING IT....

Addictive!
Once I began this book I did not put it down... it was captivating, suspenseful, enticing, seductive.I cannot wait for the sequel!

Respect just a little bit !!!!!!!!!!!!!
This book was so good never a dull moment, My favorite scenerio was the one with Ree and Tatum,but the whole book is hot. Between Ree and Tatum, The Sasha,Chauncey and Neli triangle, And Kim and her drama you will not want to put it down!!!! Love,Sex,Murder,Lies all of this and more lies inside of Tekerra Allen's Thicker Than Water. ... Read more

Product Description
For twenty-five years, Alice Waters and her friends at Chez Panisse in Berkeley, California have dedicated themselves to the ideal of serving the finest, freshest foods with simplicity and style. From tender baby asparagus in early spring, to the colorful spectrum of peppers at the height of summer; crisp, leafy chicories in autumn, to sweet butternut squash in the dark of winter, much of the inspiration about what to put on the menu comes from the high quality produce Waters and her chefs seek out year-round.

Using the treasures from the earth, Chez Panisse Vegetables offers endless possibilities for any occasion. Try Grilled Radicchio Risotto with Balsamic Vinegar at your next dinner party, or Pizza with Red and Yellow Peppers for a summer evening at home. Why not forgo green-leaf lettuce, and opt for Artichoke and Grapefruit Salad drizzled with extra-virgin olive oil? Or serve Corn Cakes with fresh berries for breakfast instead of cereal?

Throughout Vegetables, Waters shares her energy and enthusiasm for what she describes as "living foods." When she first began in the restaurant business, the selection of good-quality vegetables was so limited that she found herself searching out farmers with whom she might do business. Luckily, today's explosion of markets and organic farms across the country ensures that any home cook can find freshly harvested produce to put on the table. And with the increased popularity of home gardening, more and more people are taking their vegetables straight from the earth and into the kitchen.

Cooks, gardeners, vegetarians and everyone who appreciates good food will find Chez Panisse Vegetables to be not only a cookbook, but a valuable resource for selecting and serving fine produce. From popular vegetables like corn, tomatoes and carrots, to more unusual selections like chard, amaranth greens and sorrel, Vegetables offers detailed information about the seasonal availability, proper look, flavor and preparation of each selection. Arranged alphabetically by vegetable, and filled with colorful linocut images, Chez Panisse Vegetables makes it easy for a cook to find a tempting recipe for whatever he or she has brought home from the market.Amazon.com Review
By now just about everybody whose interest in eating runs deeper thanfast food knows about Alice Waters. The creator of Chez Panisse, thelegendary restaurant in Berkeley, California, that helped create a modernAmerican cuisine based on fresh ingredients, she is also equally well-knownas a teacher and cookbook author. Chez Panisse Vegetables is one ofthe best new cookbooks of the season; it's as useful for its information aboutvegetables and how to use and handle them as it is for its irresistiblerecipes, which lead to complex and interesting dishes built from simpleingredients and simple techniques. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (34)

I'm making one recipe a day from this and her "Fruits" book
If you want to overcome your fear of cooking, this is an excellent book. I'm writing a blog for my friends to inspire them and help motivate me; it'sbeen 31 days now and I'm learning so much even though each day I'm terrified.

I just love this country.....
I have to say that I have great respect for Alice Waters because she has people thinking and cooking.But, this is how most of us over forty grew up.Not all of us are city dwellers, who unless they attended a culinary school, can't boil water.

It amazes me that the young people in America can't do anything unless they have an authority giving some impramatur to validate?... their choices.They're afraid of cooking, raising children, reading the wrong book, dressing themselves, voting for the right candidate, and now they're being told to know vegetables intimately.

It's now in fashion to be a farmer.Growing up, who knew? But most people had a garden of some sort all over America in years past and it probably wasn't a business.

I lived in one amall city where garden land was rented and became a daily ritual to pick fresh products and weeds. Don't get me wrong, I love big city living where you can pick and choose the best eateries daily as well.But I am nonplussed by young people telling me how important it is to subscribe to sustainable farming, farm to table food prep.I mean geez, these poor things didn't know this already?

And that's the point, don't live like sheep, you didn't discover eating, cooking and picking food.Also don't be smug and live this movement with a vengence, you'll be missing a lot.Remember the people who came before, they were probably healthier than you.Use your imagination and don't be so lazy, find out for yourself.You don't know it all and neither does Alice or Oprah!

Chez Panisse Vegetables
Ordered this for my daughter-in-law off her wish list and she was very happy with it.

You can't go wrong with Alice Waters.
It's true. You really can't go wrong with Alice. Her appreciation for the freshest, finest ingredients grown and prepared with care never fails to shine through in her books. This book is organized beautifully (alphabetically by vegetable, recipes listed from simplest to most complex), and she provides a clear and inspired introduction to each vegetable at the start of every chapter, including notes about seasonality, caring for it in your garden, and preparation tips. A must for any lover of food!

Lots of fun - wish it had a little more
This is a fun book. Very personal. Sort of like walking through a farmer's market with Alice Waters as your tour guide. If you are a fan you will probably love this book.
Each vegetable covered gets its own chapter, with a discussion of varieties, seasonality, some anecdotes maybe and some recipes. The recipes are often just loose sketches - "grab a handful of the freshest something, toss it with some superb olive oil and a pinch of some other fresh thing" - a style which, at its best, provides a refreshingly laid-back and ingredient-centric launchpad for your own experiments but at times can be a little frustrating. Alice Waters has probably forgotten more about vegetables than I'll ever know and I can't help wishing that she had taken a more exhaustive approach here.

... Read more

Product Description
• Shows beginning cooks how to do just what the title implies—and a lot more—without a hint of intimidations.

• Features classic comfort foods such as no-flip fried eggs and soul-soothing grilled cheese for one and bolder, ethnic recipes like Tacos Picadillo and Southeast Asian Beef Salad.

• Exquisite photography and Food Network recipes, both inspire and build the confidence needed to make every dish a success.

• Hundreds of must-know hints, tips and short-cuts for those new to the kitchen. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (46)

perfect cookbook for beginners
I have given this book as a gift to several friends.Everyone loves it.The receipies are simple but delicious.
When I have had a question about how to do something, this book will tell me. It has everything from the best way to prepare fruits and veggies to how to use spices.It is the one cookbook I always go back to.

Nice recipies, not much for technique
The vegetable prep section was quite nice, but outside of that, there was almost nothing re: technique... I can get a lot of these recipies online!

Step by Steps instruction with life in the kitchen...
I learned so much from this book. This really does help people whom are not skilled in the kitchen. LOVE the book. I'm making a 2nd purchase and sending this to my bestfriend. She'll love it as much as I do!

Definitely for the novice.
If you watch cooking shows, know how to make risotto, or make simple sauces from the bits left after grilling meat, then this book is NOT for you. I would get this book for a teenager or a person used to microwaving most of their meals.

There is nothing in this book you can't read online.

If you want a good beginner's book, get "101 Things I Learned in Culinary School."
101 Things I Learned (TM) in Culinary School

great gift for beginner cooks
I saw the book in a bookstore and liked it very much for a gift for a young bride who "can't boil water". The price online was much less. The seller, bookbrothers1, had very good customer service. I don't know the condition the book arrived in, because the book was purchased as a gift and shipped directly to recipient. ... Read more

Product Description
We are all intertwined in one another's story. We are all part of each other's communities despite our seeming differences. If you want to learn how to pray, go to Africa. Prayer thrives in the squatters corner, in the orphanage filled with malaria-stricken infants, around murky disease-infested ponds - the only water source for entire villages. How can we in the privileged developed countries become less dependent on such a divine gift as a regular dialogue with our creator? How can we teach our hearts the hope-filled prayer Rouse found in Africa that keeps track of miracles instead of pains? That considers prayer as essential to life as breath and water? Follow Rouse on her pilgrimage of discovery as she journeys through several African countries, recording the prayers and realities of the people. She and her companions met ""people with swollen hearts, not just swollen bellies; ... people caring for their communities, not holding out hands for help."" As one reviewer says, ""This story is not only a challenge of our conceptions and apathy but a testament to the unbounded power of prayer."" Filled with beautiful poignant photographs, Like Breath and Water will make you fall more deeply in love with prayer. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Making Africa Real
I confess here at the beginning that Ciona Rouse is a friend. Certainly, when I picked up the book at a recent event, it was as much due to our friendship as any interest in the topic,and given my past tendencies, it would have been likely that this book would end up on shelf, unread until I could find the time. However, late one night after seeing a companion movie produced in conjunction with the release of this book (go to www.praywithafrica.com) I was compelled to take the book off the shelf and was quickly hooked.

Like many of us, Ciona traveled to Africa with all sorts of generalizations and stereotypes about what she would find there. She and her friends Cary and Austin were prepared for the suffering and poverty they would experience, and it continues to be present in major ways throughout the continent. What they didn't expect were the stories of Africans who weren't weighted down by their oppression, but rather were bearing it with grace and dignity, as well as working together to overcome it. The Africans they experienced weren't looking for handouts. No, they were looking for relationships, prayer partners, and those who would share in their story. Most of all, Ciona, Cary, and Austin experienced prayer in a way that was radically different from their prayer experiences in the privileged yet distant U.S.

She writes:
"The people I encountered has an enormous amount of patience with God; when it came to trusting God's promises, my new friends waited faithfully for God to deliver. Without hurry or worry, they simply prayed and followed God's timing day by day."

This is a book about Africa, but it is ultimately a book about prayer. It isn't especially deep, in fact the storytelling style almost has a child like quality to it, but it is in the simplicity that we experience God in Ciona's story. It's also a beautifully produced book, filled with photographs from Africa that can be the source of many day's meditations.

For me, Ciona's story takes a view of Africa that is far too often defined by movies and television and transforms it into a real place. It's a place that is compelling, and a place in which God seems to be at work. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Spongey fun
This is a fun book for kids to paint with water.I bought this because I rarely find paint with water books anymore.But the paint brush is WAY too big for this book.You will end up with water all over the place.Instead I used smaller brushes that I had bought for other paint with water books.The colors are not very vibrant, you end up with mostly blue and green all over the place, but no one's really going to complain because they are having fun.Overall, good product.

These are hard to find in stores, price online is the same as in store! Great deal. Happy with product.
Great for small kids. Especially small ones that have not yet gained the dexterity to use crayons for regular coloring books. It doesn't matter where they put the brush, it still makes wonderful colors on the page. No mess, easy to use. Good quality painting pages. Purchased for a 3 year old that loves them.

Great fun for toddlers
Just add water and paint! What can be easier than that. My 3 year old loves Sponge Bob and she loves to paint with water, too.

Paint with Water, Why are these so hard to find these days??
My two year old loves this. I remember using paint with water as a kid too.

Poor excuse for water color book.
I don't know whathappened to the great water color books of the past but this was a sorry excuse for a water color book.The colors were barely there. My daughter lost interest. ... Read more

Product Description

Hailed as the most masterful story ever told of the American civil rights movement, Parting the Waters is destined to endure for generations.

Moving from the fiery political baptism of Martin Luther King, Jr., to the corridors of Camelot where the Kennedy brothers weighed demands for justice against the deceptions of J. Edgar Hoover, here is a vivid tapestry of America, torn and finally transformed by a revolutionary struggle unequaled since the Civil War.

Taylor Branch provides an unsurpassed portrait of King's rise to greatness and illuminates the stunning courage and private conflict, the deals, maneuvers, betrayals, and rivalries that determined history behind closed doors, at boycotts and sit-ins, on bloody freedom rides, and through siege and murder.

Epic in scope and impact, Branch's chronicle definitively captures one of the nation's most crucial passages.Amazon.com Review
The first book of a formidable three-volume social history, Parting the Waters is more than just a biography of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. during the decade preceding his emergence as a national figure. Branch's thousand-page effort, which won the Pulitzer Prize as well as the National Book Critics Circle Award for General Nonfiction, profiles the key players and events that helped shape the American social landscape following World War II but before the civil-rights movement of the 1960s reached its climax. The author then goes a step further, endeavoring to explain how the struggles evolved as they did by probing the influences of the main actors while discussing the manner in which events conspired to create fertile ground for change.

Timeline of a Trilogy

Taylor Branch's America in the King Years series is both a biography of Martin Luther King and a history of his age. No timeline can do justice to its wide cast of characters and its intricate web of incident, but here are some of the highlights, which might be useful as a scorecard to the trilogy's nearly 3,000 pages.

	King The King Years
Parting the Waters: America in the King Years, 1954-63	May: At age 25, King gives his first sermon as pastor-designate of Montgomery's Dexter Avenue Baptist Church. 1954 May: French surrender to Viet Minh at Dien Bien Phu. Unanimous Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board outlaws segregated public education. December: Rosa Parks is arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a public bus, leading to the Montgomery bus boycott, which King is drafted to lead. 1955 October: King spends his first night in jail, following his participation in an Atlanta sit-in. 1960 February: Four students attempting to integrate a Greensboro, North Carolina, lunch counter spark a national sit-in movement. April: The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee is founded. November: Election of President John F. Kennedy May: The Freedom Rides begin, drawing violent responses as they challenge segregation throughout the South. King supports the riders during an overnight siege in Montgomery. 1961 July: SNCC worker Bob Moses arrives for his first summer of voter registration in rural Mississippi. August: East German soldiers seal off West Berlin behind the Berlin Wall. March: J. Edgar Hoover authorizes the bugging of Stanley Levinson, King's closest white advisor. 1962 September: James Meredith integrates the University of Mississippi under massive federal protection. April: King, imprisoned for demonstrating in Birmingham, writes the "Letter from Birmingham Jail." May: Images of police violence against marching children in Birmingham rivet the country. August: King delivers his "I Have a Dream" speech before hundreds of thousands at the March on Washington. September: The Ku Klux Klan bombing of Birmingham's 16th Street Baptist Church kills four young girls. 1963 June: Mississippi NAACP leader Medgar Evers assassinated. November: President Kennedy assassinated.
Pillar of Fire: America in the King Years, 1963-65	November: Lyndon Johnson, in his first speech before Congress as president, promises to push through Kennedy's proposed civil rights bill. March: King meets Malcolm X for the only time during Senate filibuster of civil rights legislation. June: King joins St. Augustine, Florida, movement after months of protests and Klan violence. October: King awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and campaigns for Johnson's reelection. November: Hoover calls King "the most notorious liar in the country" and the FBI sends King an anonymous "suicide package" containing scandalous surveillance tapes. 1964 January: Johnson announces his "War on Poverty." March: Malcolm X leaves the Nation of Islam following conflict with its leader, Elijah Muhammad. June: Hundreds of volunteers arrive in the South for SNCC's Freedom Summer, three of whom are soon murdered in Philadelphia, Mississippi. July: Johnson signs Civil Rights Act outlawing discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. August: Congress passes Gulf of Tonkin resolution authorizing military force in Vietnam. Democratic National Convention rebuffs the request by the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party to be seated in favor of all-white state delegation. November: Johnson wins a landslide reelection. January: King's first visit to Selma, Alabama, where mass meetings and demonstrations will build through the winter. 1965 February: Malcolm X speaks in Selma in support of movement, three weeks before his assassination in New York by Nation of Islam members.
At Canaan's Edge: America in the King Years, 1965-68	March: Voting rights movement in Selma peaks with "Bloody Sunday" police attacks and, two weeks later, a successful march of thousands to Montgomery. August: King rebuffed by Los Angeles officials when he attempts to advocate reforms after the Watts riots. March: First U.S. combat troops arrive in South Vietnam. Johnson's "We Shall Overcome" speech makes his most direct embrace of the civil rights movement. May: Vietnam "teach-in" protest in Berkeley attracts 30,000. June: Influential federal Moynihan Report describes the "pathologies" of black family structure. August: Johnson signs the Voting Rights Act. Five days later, the Watts riots begin in Los Angeles. January: King moves his family into a Chicago slum apartment to mark his first sustained movement in a Northern city. June: King and Stokely Carmichael continue James Meredith's March Against Fear after Meredith is shot and wounded. Carmichael gives his first "black power" speech. July: King's marches for fair housing in Chicago face bombs, bricks, and "white power" shouts. 1966 February: Operation Rolling Thunder, massive U.S. bombing of North Vietnam, begins. May: Stokely Carmichael wins the presidency of SNCC and quickly turns the organization away from nonviolence. October: National Organization for Women founded, modeled after black civil rights groups. April: King's speech against the Vietnam War at New York's Riverside Church raises a storm of criticism December: King announces plans for major campaign against poverty in Washington, D.C., for 1968. 1967 May: Huey Newton leads Black Panthers in armed demonstration in California state assembly. June: Johnson nominates former NAACP lawyer Thurgood Marshall to the Supreme Court. July: Riots in Newark and Detroit. October: Massive mobilization against the Vietnam War in Washington, D.C. March: King joins strike of Memphis sanitation workers. April: King gives his "Mountaintop" speech in Memphis. A day later, he is assassinated at the Lorraine Motel. 1968 January: In Tet Offensive, Communist guerillas stage a surprise coordinated attack across South Vietnam. March: Johnson cites divisions in the country over the war for his decision not to seek reelection in 1968.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (40)

MUCH USEFUL INFORMATION BUT A DISGRACE
Iknow what I have to say will be contentious. First let me say this book is beautifully written and contains a great deal of useful information. Having said that I find it in places poorly researched but mainly vexing. First Paul Robeson gets one mention; second Ben Davis is damned with "pity"--more importantly this book focuses on the elites and frankly as SNCC understood so well elites do not make the movement. Dr. King did not make the movement, the movement made Dr. King. I grant Branch's exploration of the conflicts in Dr. King's character are insightful--but his focus is distorted. Mrs. Fannie Lou Hamer--if we are to talk about individuals--perhaps the greatest American who ever lived gets about three pages. You cannotIMAGINEhow angry that makes me!The book is dedicated to a true hero Septima Clarke--but though she is mentiooned throughout she is not ever really explored--her story is not heard. Bob Moses comes off as some kind of mystic--that is just stupid. Mr. Moses was quiet and shunned publicity. Nowhere is there any real sense that Black People had been struggling mightily well before 1954. It would be too much to ask Branch to talk about Ned Cobb or Ralph Gray; they come well before the movement "officially" began. But Branch does not really understand the difference between a movement and a crusade. Crusades are charismatic and look to iconic leadership. Movements are democratic and look to ordinary people. I don't care about Brown V Board and I sure don't care what Kennedy or any of those Washington Pols did or did not do. Great history rescues the unknown people without whose dedication success is impossible. Branch does not get it. In " All God's Dangers"Ned Cobb one of the "unlettered"--a black communistsharecropper says "I tell the world: all I wants is protection. I ain't stepped back nary a foot since I joined that union and furthermore ...you better mind how you walk up on me today. I stand now where I stood then" Mrs. Hamer a devoutly religious woman put it another way"I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired". THESE are the voices great history should bring us, not the machinations of a sexually incontinent president. Hell, I'd be more interested in hearing the voices of the white strudents who viciously abused James Merideth--what were they like? J. Anthony Lukas (who praises Branch) made it a point to listen to those voices in Common Ground.
Branch calls his trilogy "The King years" They were not. I think Dr. King would agree.They were the years in which ordinary people long abused began as SNCC put it "to make the decisons that affected their own lives" That does not happen often and Branch for all his research nowhere, NOWHERE aknowledges that. In a way this kind of top down history yearns for another Dr. King (or I suspect an Obama) to rescue us Black and White. It don't work like that.

Parting the waters
This book was so hard to get through. If you are looking for history about King and 1954-1963, this is the book for you. It does open your eyes to the awful truths about race and how white society handled losing control. A lot of people today would like to forget that period in time. While this book was chock full of history it does not pace the events slow enough for the reader to absorb what they are reading. It seems like Mr. Branch was so occupied with getting the facts out that he leaves the reader overwhelmed. Still in all, I think its a book that everyone should read because learning history is not always pretty but it is necessary.

The best book I've ever read.
What more can I say? It's big and intimidating, and most people don't seem to get through it on the first go-round. It doesn't start you off with I Have a Dream, it starts you off with this nutty old preacher you've probably never heard of (Vernon Johns). My advice: stick with it. It might just change your life.

Undiscovered Country
This book is even better than the glowing reviews suggested.It's simply a masterpiece of intelligent writing.The author respects the reader's intelligence, and has an amazing ability to mix detail and the big picture.I love the way the author combines a highly readable style with both arresting action, minute detail, and yet keeps his balance.He is able to get you excited about the events in Albany, GA as though they are happening now, then backs off to show how the whole campaign kind of died.He has remarkable energy and writing talent, and a wonderful ability to shift gears, weave threads together.

Amazingly Woven Detail
As you begin to read chapter one, this book will become a page-turner.The amazingly woven detail gives life to this story of over fifty years ago.Author Taylor Branch documents how M. L. King, Jr. walked into the storm of what was to become the Civil Rights Movement, and was then sucked into its vortex. As a "boomer" I was alive during parts of this, growing up in the Midwest.I remember some headlines and TV scenes, but reading the minutiae of what was behind those headlines was like unto discovering a mother's diary.I thoroughly enjoyed it. ... Read more

Product Description
Travel with author-illustrator Thomas Locker and follow our planet's most precious resource--water--on its daily journey through our world.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Amazon purchase "Water Dance"
This was a perfect book to add poetry and beauty to a science unit on land and water for fifth graders.The pictures were gorgeous and the wording took information and made it into poetry.There was also additional scientific information at the end of the book.The book itself was in very good condition even though used.It made a very beautiful and economical addition to the classroom library, and arrived quickly after ordered.

Poetry and science at once
It can be hard to write an educational picture book. You don't have any plot (or you DO and it feels tacked on and weird), and it may be a subject - like the water cycle - that seems to go best with dry, flat, boring diagrams with arrows on them.

The author has completely eschewed the normal approach to go with beautiful, evocative paintings and poetry.

It's not as informative, maybe, as an early science reader approach, but for an introduction to the subject or a younger child - or just for having around the house! - I think this is the better option. So get one standard, run of the mill book on the water cycle, but be SURE to get this one as well. You won't regret it.

Beautiful Pictures!!!
This book has absolutely gorgeous pictures.I bought this book as an aid while teaching the water cycle to my classes.This book is perfect for helping children to understand the water cycle!

WHAT A DELIGHTFUL WAY TO TEACH AND LEARN.
This is probably one of the most useful books I have come across in recent years.It is a delight to the ear and the eye.The author teaches us the story of water, or more specifically, the water cycle.He does this with simple, lyrical prose and combines this with some wonderful, original art.The paintings in this book are breath taking.This is a wonderful way to teach children about rain, water, streams, lakes and nature.It can be read to the class and then discussed page by page (it is amazing to hear the comments of the children)and at the same time each painting can be admired and discussed.I have watched our art teachers use this one in class as well as the reading teachers.But just as importantly, I have observed quite a number of children just setting along, reading and carefully studying the pictures. (I must admit to picking up this one my self, quite often, and just gazing at the wonderful art). This is a pretty good indorsement for any children's book. This is certainly one that should be added to any children's library, either at home or at school.Highly recommend this one.

Artistic, Poetic and Educational?
Wonderful read for the whole family.This is a book we look forward to reading to our little one, over and over.The art work is fantastic, the words are entertaining and has a section at the end of the book to educate about all the cycles of water.Do not hesitate to add this to your library! ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (37)

For everyone interested in the field of development
I would highly recommend this book to everyone interested in the field of international development especially students who would learn the impact of some of the misguided development policies of the last sixty years. The book also highlights the wisdom of our forefathers who used their limited resources in a sustainable manner. I wish this book becomes a required reading for all university students especially those in the developing world where most of the water problems are likely to arise in coming years.

fluff material
If you accept the fact that there is an emerging water crisis, then WtRRD had very little more to offer. This is a superficial survey of examples of how fresh water is running short. Now, if this fact is news to you, then the book might be worth readiong. If you already know, then spend your money on something else. I had the impression that this book would be more about what will happen as the crisis continues to grow. WtRRD is long on sensationalism and short on science. I guess that's what happens when you read a book written by a journalist...

Not recommended.

Humanity's future hangs in the balance....
Any one, world wide, who cares at all about Humanity's future must read this book. Our failure to heed the author's words about the critical condition of the earth's fresh water supply will lead, inevitably, to the disappearance of the human race from the Earth.

alarming and worthy of further investigation
A quick read with a multitude of facts centering on bringing awareness to a remarkably important topic.I highly recommend this book, but did not rate it 5 stars bc the facts could have been organized a little bit better.The facts are provided in different areas but never summarized well enough to understand the magnitude and gravity of the problems.You are likely to find yourself reading additoinal material/books to dig further into many of the subjects brought up in the book.

When the Rivers Run Dry
I bought this book so i could finish it. Started reading it on a vacation cruise,and did not finish it because i had to return it when we left the ship.

Everyone should read this book, the facts in it are something everyone should be aware of. ... Read more

Product Description
Water The Bamboo is a metaphor for individual and team success. When giant timber bamboo grows, it will rocket up an astonishing 90 feet in only 60 days, but not until at least three years of watering. In 21 steps, this timely book helps individuals and teams refocus on their core values and mission to achieve long-term success. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Destined to be a classic
Greg Bell's book, Water the Bamboo, certainly echoes the history our company has experience in our efforts to bring an emerging fitness paradigm to the attention of all the many people who can benefit.At AquaJogger®, the driving force behind our business is a vision of the how water exercise impacts the future of fitness. As Greg emphasized in his book, it is important that your vision be visible, vivid and viable before you start watering.Greg does a masterful job of speaking to this process in his book.Every member of our team has found Greg's book to provide inspiration and to resonate with our quest.I see Water the Bamboo as one of those must read books that is destined to become a classic.

Just Okay
This book was marginal. While it was very clear and easy to read, the content was very "run of the mill" and somewhat superficial. For people who haven't ever spent time thinking about self improvement, goal setting, and self discipline it would be a great starter book, but I think and talk about these things on a daily basis. I was looking for something a little more profound.

I saw Mr. Bell.....
I saw Mr. Bell and is interaction with people around him, his wife and his daughter, while waiting in an airport for our flight back to Portland.I was impressed with him before I knew who he was!Thank you Greg for your conversation about my "Kindle".What a great lead in to our discussion about your book! (Thanks again for the autographed book and wrist bands. I was blessed this day!)

As a Sales Director with Mary Kay Cosmetics, my job is to motivate, inspire and train women. I've used your book for training on my daily hotline.Everyone loves the book and it's message. I especially appreciate the "Bamboo Rules" and assignments. Your book as been a great attribute to our mission of enriching lives!

Great job on a book well received. The world needs to have more people as open and giving as you and yours. We'll be waiting for another book!

A top pick and very much recommended read for any patient business leader
When improvement comes, it can come in massive amount. "Water the Bamboo: Unleashing the Potential of Teams and Individuals" is a guide to finding the patience and determination to nurture teams and individuals to become the best they can be. Author Greg Bell gives advice to get the best out of one's employees and preparing the business for a brighter future. "Water the Bamboo" is a top pick and very much recommended read for any patient business leader.

Water the Bamboo
At Burke and Assoicates, my partner's practice emphasis is specific to organizational performance; how that is accomplished by key contributors, and how performance bars must be raised to accomplish goals.Pat's practice is about business execution, and those who are given the charge to commit and recommit to the organizations objective.Water the Bamboo, by Greg Bell is an exceptional read!It is practical; it is designed to give the reader replicable methods to utilize, specificly encompassing deliberate and intentional success. Those in leadership who want to refresh their vision, mission and help align their workforce, should read this book! As someone who coaches nationally and internationally on Performance Management - Pat believes Greg's book is a must! Success isn't achieved by a "status quo"; it is earned anew daily, monthly, quarterly and annually. Greg's book presents an exceptional, easily replicable framework. Contact Pat Burke, Executive Vice President, Burke and [...] ... Read more

Product Description

A collection of Scripture-based readings that offer encouragement to individuals dealing with illness, loss, or other personal problems.

Customer Reviews (9)

2nd Best Book ever!!!
This is my 2nd favorite book of all time (Bible being the first)Such a comfort for today's society.I've given many away to people who comment how worried they are or how stressed they are these days.They all love it.Some then ask where I got it as they want more for friends etc.Reading just one little page at night will give you comfort for a good night's sleep.:-))

Beside Still Waters Words of Comfort for the Soul
We were given this book during one of the lowest points of our life. Both my wife and I have been encouraged and comforted by this resource.In turn we have given this book to more than a dozen friends as they have encountered difficulties.All who read it seem to be strengthened and encouraged.
G. Bennett, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

Keep at your bedside....
This is a very encouraging book for whatever you face in life.I keep it at my bedside and have ordered many extra copies to give as gifts.You really cant go wrong with Spurgeon.This book is a blessing and conveys basic tenets of the Christian faith arranged in biblical order with lots of wisdom and insight.Rest for the weary.An uplifting and soothing balm for the soul.Thanks be to God for Spurgeon and the writings he left us!We are truly "more than conquerors" as "all things work to the good according to His purpose."Romans 8

From the Heart to the Heart
Besides the Bible, it makes a thoughtful & timeless gift to those in need of comfort and encouragement whether for someone who is ill, or going through difficult times, for the loss of a loved one, or for everyday reassurance that the Lord is with us always.Spurgeon eloquently puts scripture together with the emotions one may experience in their lives.I have made it part of my Church Library and Home Library.

Great Gift Idea
I bought this book in 2003 and my mother loved it. It was a good gift and it was a welcomed edition to the books she re-reads often. ... Read more

Product Description
This stunning and steamy debut chronicles the adventures of Nan King, a small-town girl at the turn of the century whose life takes a wild turn of its own when she follows a local music hall star to London...

"Glorious...a sexy, sinewy sojourn of a young woman in turn-of-the-century England."--The Boston Globe

"Erotic and absorbing...If lesbian fiction is to reach a wider readership, Waters is the person to carry the banner."--The New York Times Book Review

"Wonderful...a sensual experience that leaves the reader marveling at the author's craftsmanship, idiosyncrasy and sheer effort."--The San Francisco Chronicle

"Amazing....This is the lesbian novel we've all been waiting for."--Salon.com

"Compelling...Readers of all sexes and orientations should identify with this gutsy hero as she learns who she is and how to love."--Newsday

"Echoes of Tom Jones, Great Expectations...Waters's debut offers terrific entertainment: pulsating with highly charged (and explicitly presented) erotic heat."--Kirkus Reviews (starred review)Amazon.com Review
The heroine of Sarah Waters's audacious first novel knows her destiny, andseems content with it. Her place is in her father's seaside restaurant,shucking shellfish and stirring soup, singing all the while. "Although Ididn't long believe the story told to me by Mother--that they had found me as ababy in an oyster-shell, and a greedy customer had almost eaten me forlunch--for eighteen years I never doubted my own oysterish sympathies, neverlooked far beyond my father's kitchen for occupation, or for love." At nightNancy Astley often ventures to the nearby music hall, not that she hasillusions of being more than an audience member. But the moment she spies anew male impersonator--still something of a curiosity in England circa1888--her years of innocence come to an end and a life of transformationsbegins.

Tipping the Velvet, all 472 pages of it, is as saucy, astantalizing, and as touching as the narrator's first encounter with theseductive but shame-ridden Miss Kitty Butler. And at first even Nancy'sfamily is thrilled with her gender-bending pal, all but her sister, bestfriend, and bedmate, Alice, "her eyes shining cold and dull, with starlightand suspicion." Not to worry. Soon Nancy and Kitty are off to London, theirrelationship close though (alas for our heroine) sisterly. We know thatbliss will come, and it does, in an exceptionally charged moment. A lesserauthor would have been content to stop her story there, but Waters has muchmore in mind for her buttonholing heroine, and for us. In brief, herEverywoman with a sexual difference goes from success onstage to heartbreakto a stint as a male prostitute (necessity truly is the mother ofinvention) to keeping house for a brother and sister in the Labourmovement. And did I mention her long stint as a plaything in the pleasurepalace of a rich Sapphist extraordinaire? Diana Lethaby is as cruel as sheis carnal, and even the well-concealed Cavendish Ladies' Club isn'toutré enough for her. Kitting Nancy out in full, elegant drag, shedares the front desk to turn them away. "We are here," she mocks, "for thesake of the irregular."

Only after some seven years of hard twists and sensual turns does Nancyconclude that a life of sensation is not enough. Still, Tipping theVelvet is so entertaining that readers will wish her sentimental--andhedonistic--education had taken twice as long. --Kerry Fried ... Read more

Customer Reviews (176)

Well, I definitely have never read anything like thisbefore
I dare you to read this book's synopsis and not get curious at least a little bit. The moment I set my eyes on a short description of Tipping the Velveton the 1001 Must Read Before You Die Books list, I knew I had to read it. Cross-dressing lesbians, kept women, music hall singers, renter "boys" - I mean, what's not to like?

First and foremost, this is a book about lesbians (my first!) and written by one at that, so as far as the relationships in this novel are concerned, they are authentic in my mind. (I don't know about you, but I just hate it when straight authors write "gay books," particularly erotica. What can they possibly know?) I found myself quite ignorant of how such relationships work. Lesbian relationships, contrary to my uneducated beliefs, can be as abusive and destructive as the heterosexual ones. And, of course, there is lesbian sex. A few fairly explicit scenes (with "equipment"!), but the book doesn't turn into overly gratuitous trashfest.

Second, in spite of its scandalous premise, the book is historically accurate. It comes as a shock to find out that there was a whole strata of women exploring their (homo)sexuality so freely in 1890s. After reading Edith Wharton's novels where women are too afraid to even get a divorce, it is a revelation to know that there were society women who kept female lovers and organized orgies. This, however, doesn't mean that in this book women go around doing whatever they please. Waters accompanies Nan's erotic adventures with a solid social context - same-sex relationships have to be secret, women known as "toms" are stigmatized, there is a legal punishment even.

I personally found this book very interesting. An imperfect, but strong debut. It is erotic without being vulgar, well researched but entertaining, well written without being boring. The only negative thing I have to say about it is that it takes a while for the story to pick up steam. The first 130 pages are a little dull, but after that the novel is impossible to put down. Needless to say, Tipping the Velvet won't be my last Sarah Waters novel.

P.S. Due to the naked women on the cover this edition is a little challenging to read in public.

You'll become emotionally attached!
This book is one of the best pieces of writing I have ever read. I've read this book multiple times, and it never gets old. It is too easy to get lost in the amazing story Waters writes about, and it is easier still, to fall in love with Nan and want to cry and smile over a fictional girls struggles and blessings. I would recommend this book over and over, and to readers both gay and straight.

Love it!
I finished the book in one sleepless night. I simply couldn't put it down. I'm so jealous that Sarah got to write this as her dissertation :) If you like this type of read but in a more modern setting you might wanna check out My Name Is Anna.

ALRIGHT READ
After taking into consideration the amount of 4 star reveiws, I decided to order the book and give Sarah Waters a try. The book starts off with alot of detail description, which is wonderful.It actually pulls you into the story as if your were actually standing in the room with the characters. As I continue to and as of this date I am currently on page 275 and cannot seem to get back into the book.I guess so to speak this is the book down time.

This is the first book I have read by this author and from all the reveiws I totally agree with the 2 & 3 stars.I guess I will start to read again.

WONDERFUL!!!
Loved it loved it loved it! If you don't read this, you will be missing out! A great, CLASSIC lesbian love story! Don't watch the movie (it was horrible and did not do the book any justice!) ... Read more

Product Description
Water is our best defense against disease of every kind. Sixty percent or more of all chronic disease would be significantly reduced if people would simply keep themselves properly hydrated. To ionize means to gain or lose an electron. Essentially, the ionization process robs an electron from one molecule and donates, or transfers, it to another molecule. Both Alkaline and Acid Ionized Water have extraordinary properties and benefits, however, their respective uses could not be more different. We consume Alkaline Ionized Water and use the Acid Ionized Water on the outside of our bodies for acne, cuts, scrapes and rashes of all kinds. It kills bacteria on contact and encourages plant growth. The centerpiece of Alkaline Ionized Water are its antioxidant properties. It is miraculous that normal tap water can be instantly transformed into a strong antioxidant. Alkaline Ionized Water has two antioxidant qualities, its negative charge and the presence of hydroxyl ions which are free radical scavengers. The body is starved for electrons and Alkaline Ionized Water contains an abundance of them, which nullify free radicals in the body. One can thrive on half the normal intake of food as long as we consume high electron-rich nutrients. Alkaline Ionized Water is an extremely effective antioxidant because it is a liquid that has a small grouping of water molecule clusters and thus is more easily absorbed into the body where it can be of immediate use. Drinking Alkaline Ionized Water gives you energy through better hydration and alkalization of the body and by providing the body with oxygen. Because of the predominance of hydroxyl ions in Alkaline Ionized Water, the water becomes alkaline, meaning it has a high pH. The pH level can be adjusted with a water ionizer between 7.5 and 9.9, which is the highest pH that it should be consumed. All disease thrives in an acid environment in the body and will not flourish and thrive in an alkaline environment. If we acidify ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

excellent book
Very informative.Would buy again.Its a an excellent alternative to drinking green juices.Much cheaper using water than buying produce.

from Hungary
Great book about the best type of water in the world! Believe me, I am speaking from experience! If you care about your natural health, you have to read this book! It's a must!

Liquid of Life
Among other books I have read on water, Mr. McCauley's book is one of the more passionate about what form of water we should be drinking. That form by his reckoning is ionized water, which is not a natural process but a process imposed upon water. Readers believing that only the natural states of consumables present the highest energy levels for consumption will certainly want to raise inquiry to this premise.

I am still on the fence about distilled versus structured versus ionized water even with all the considerations for ionization that the author presents. I believe that Bob McCauley believes that ionized water is the preferred form but I remain yet to be convinced through no fault of the author.

Research could have been more qualitative but not everyone is interested in lab statistics and rankings.

"Purified Water and its Dangers" should be read by all. Water, just because it is bottled, does not necessarily equate to it being any more benefical to your health than your kitchen sink tap variety.

His position that we should always be drinking alkaline water is definitely debatable but his stance was clearly stated.

For readers intent on deciding which form of water is most beneficial to their health, this book should be included among the other "water books" before they make their conclusions.

The question can be raised if Mr McCauley believes fully in the ionization of water as the best complement to full health or is he more interested in his sales of water ionizers. That perspective rests upon each reader.

I walked away convinced of his passion that ionized water is the ultimate health choice and that he doesn't mind selling some filters as well.

An easy content read as far as context with occasional tedious testimonials and supportive dialogue.

a must read
Everyone needs to read this book, its very informative and taught me things I never knew about simple water. I thought all water was the same until now! It is amazing information that is affecting every persons health in an easy to understand format. A must read!

Excellent buy
Excellent information; to the point and in a way that is easily understood. Terrific info in the chemistry side.
I am very happy that I have bought it & even have gotten some more for friends.
Not all machines are alike. Would like to see all ionizer machines use medical grade one for their titanium & platnum as the lesser grades can be unhealthy. Medical grade one is much more expensive currently at $1500 an ounce. But well worth it. ... Read more