Product Description
Trapped in a town surrounded by madmen, Rick must find a way out or die trying. Meanwhile, back at the prison, the rest of the survivors come to grips with the fact Rick may be dead, and a major turning point in the series is reached. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

Into The Abyss:Torture In The New World Order
When I heard that AMC was going to produce a television series based on the zombie epic "The Walking Dead," I was both concerned and delighted.A bona fide classic in undead lore, "The Walking Dead" graphic novels are brutal and surprising--not really what I would picture for a basic cable TV show (the first season is slated for 6 episodes, we'll see if it goes beyond that).But AMC has produced terrific and prestigious shows like "Mad Men" and "Breaking Bad," so I'm pretty stoked to see what they do with this.Add Frank Darabont of "Shawshank Redemption" fame as the creative force behind the show, and we just might have a winner!In anticipation, I've gone back through the volumes of "The Walking Dead" to discover again the many pleasures that this series has to offer.

"Chapter Six:This Sorrowful Life" picks up with Rick, Glenn and Michonne held captive as the ruthless "Governor" tries to extract the location of their camp.Finding unexpected allies in the doctor, his young assistant, and a perimeter guard Martinez--a plot to escape has been hatched.The escape is exciting, but the real action comes when Michonne seeks retribution against the "Governor."In easily the series most disturbing sequences, let's just say Michonne means business!"The Walking Dead" has continually blurred the lines between "good" and "bad"and amped up the moral question of what makes a hero--and within this installment we see one of our protagonists exact horrifying vengeance!Returning to the prison, the camp has been overrun and our heroes must again face a zombie hoard.But in the midst of this, a very human betrayal is discovered and Rick is once again faced with the choice of murder.An action packed volume!

sorrowful of life
i love the walking dead but this book really had be in and out. took me so time to really get a good read through.

Zombie gorefest!
I am not going to spoil this for anyone but if you are a horror fan and/or you love zombies.....this is the series for you! I find myself getting caught up in the story as I read it and it feels like I'm watching a horror movie. As I said I am not going to ruin this for the readers but it is awesome and full of guts, gore, and graphic.

One of the weaker collections
I actually just read this as well as 7 today.Have been reading them on my visits to the most awesome tattoo shop in LA, Kayden Creations.I thought the first two were sort of "getting going" but the series really hit it's stride in parts 3-5.The series is undeniably entertaining, but wholly unoriginal. There is honestly nothing new in this series, and a lot of times I can identify the exact source for the developments.

I can live with that, and I will say that this book finally gives some female characters decent characterization, but the Woodsboro Governor is just the most cliche character ever.And without any spoilers, the conclusion to book 7 is just retarded.

Continuation of the Clincher
Vol.5 was absolutely amazing and this volume does the same justice to it.We left off at such a climatic point, and it continues with no less suprises.

SPOILERS:When they return to the prison with new companions, it was totally jaw-dropping to see the whole scene overrun by zombies.Robert Kirman's knack for shockers continues to impress me.His introduction of Martinez was very well done, but somewhat predictable.This volume is constructed perfectly as we don't see anything going on at the prison till we get there and then we lightly sob for our characters.The two page illustation alone was enough for me to clench the book a little tighter.

Walking Dead is still walking strong.In fact it has picked up the pace a bit.We have a foreshadowing of events to come, and the author certainly has convinced me to keep reading.I suggest you all do the same. ... Read more

Product Description
Lori's pregnancy has come to term, and the birth is near. After everything they've been through, nothing can prepare Rick and the other survivors for what they are about to experience. A major turning point in the series is reached. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (27)

Its the Walking Dead, it Rocks.nuff said.
Its the Walking Dead, it Rocks.nuff said.If you haven't been reading go back and start with book #1.If you have been reading, like what you've been reading so far and you are ready for this installment, go right ahead and dive in.

The Promise of Hope; The Promise of Peace
When I heard that AMC was going to produce a television series based on the zombie epic "The Walking Dead," I was both concerned and delighted.A bona fide classic in undead lore, "The Walking Dead" graphic novels are brutal and surprising--not really what I would picture for a basic cable TV show (the first season is slated for 6 episodes, we'll see if it goes beyond that).But AMC has produced terrific and prestigious shows like "Mad Men" and "Breaking Bad," so I'm pretty stoked to see what they do with this.Add Frank Darabont of "Shawshank Redemption" fame as the creative force behind the show, and we just might have a winner!In anticipation, I've gone back through the volumes of "The Walking Dead" to discover again the many pleasures that this series has to offer.

"Chapter Seven:The Calm Before" is a relatively peaceful edition of "The Walking Dead" as the name might imply.A small band rounding up supplies faces down more of the "Governor's" men.Then the group, wary of being discovered by their newfound enemy, starts to become complacent when no sign is of attack comes over the next few weeks.We see normalcy start to return as Rick and Lori confront unpleasant aspects of their relationship, Lori gives birth, Maggie and Glenn consider a family, Michonne starts to thaw, the new "doctor" gets comfortable.But in this peace, one of the crew finally goes over the deep end with unpleasant consequences. Sometimes sweet, sometimes sorrowful--this edition sets up real hope and is really great in furthering the character development aspects of the story.This makes it an unexpectedly strong entry in the series!But all is shot with one heck of cliff hanger!

Great zombie series.
This series is a great zombie adventure.I'd recommend it to anyone into the genre.

You can't put it down
Tensions mount inside the prison haven while the survivors deal with a wedding, a birth, an ongoing war with roamers, an imminent war with another surviving tribe, and a few funerals.

This amazing series continues to keep readers wondering what happens next and urges them through each page of the story.The trauma of the undead threat takes a back seat to an internal stew that is coming to a boil.

How long can a handlful of people stay in their barbed-wire oasis, waiting for the inevitable?Can they rebuild society?Does one of the survivors have a plan to overcome the disease that wiped out the planet?Can anyone drive a tank?

Things Start to Calm Down
After all the devastation in the previous books, I think it was natural to rest off the climatic events for a bit.In this volume Kirkman really explores each character with great equality.I learned more about the supporting characters that I wanted to know about.There's not a lot of shock and awe in this book, but leave it to Robert to keep the story going with subtle progression.He did an awesome job, and he is one of the best writers I have seen in comics.

I won't spoil the significant changes throughout the book, but just know that they exist.Stuff does happen, although not as terrifying as the previous comics.What I believe he is doing is giving us time to get a grip on the characters before some of them get taken from us.Sounds like a powerful method to me.I really got lost in this world and I felt happy for the characters who got to calm down a little.Then at the end of the book I took a large gasp at the terror that awaits my characters.I care for these people, however silly that may seem.And after this episode, I am afraid to read the tragedies that will soon unfold. ... Read more

Product Description
The series that created the zombie movement reaches its most pivotal, series-altering arc yet! They thought they were safe in the prison. They were wrong. A force far more deadly than the walking dead is at their door and when the dust settles, their rank will be reduced by more than half. No one is safe! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (35)

The End Of An Era:No One, And I Mean No One, Is Safe
When I heard that AMC was going to produce a television series based on the zombie epic "The Walking Dead," I was both concerned and delighted.A bona fide classic in undead lore, "The Walking Dead" graphic novels are brutal and surprising--not really what I would picture for a basic cable TV show (the first season is slated for 6 episodes, we'll see if it goes beyond that).But AMC has produced terrific and prestigious shows like "Mad Men" and "Breaking Bad," so I'm pretty stoked to see what they do with this.Add Frank Darabont of "Shawshank Redemption" fame as the creative force behind the show, and we just might have a winner!In anticipation, I've gone back through the volumes of "The Walking Dead" to discover again the many pleasures that this series has to offer.

"Chapter Eight:Made To Suffer" reintroduces the "Governor" and what happened in the aftermath of Michonne's visit.The rest of the volume is an all out assault as the "Governor" and his crew try to break into the prison.With some of the protagonists considering departure, it leaves an even smaller band to deal with the onslaught.Non-stop action fuels this story and there are severe casualties.In a brilliant and bold move, all expectations are thwarted in the bloody confrontation."The Walking Dead," which has already established itself as an epic in zombie literature, bravely pushes to the next level!Riveting, heartbreaking, and very surprising--nothing will ever be the same after this battle!My favorite so far--if only for its audacity and "take no prisoners" approach!

There be spoilers
Whoa, what a turn this volume takes in this phenomenal comic series. There may be spoilers ahead. We are first taken back to a badly maimed Governor as he recovers and searches out the prison, and there we see that man, living man, not the undead, is the true evil in the world. Beloved characters die. People are broken, inside and out. Sanctuary is no more. It's good stuff.

Paying the Piper
Sometimes sitting still, even in the best fortifications, can come with the label "forever." This is where we find our ground of characters at, caught between a proverbial rock and a hard place. They have made human contact and are now bracing for the impact of them wanting what they have, and something certainly has to give. Considering that the zombies are not really the bad guys here - they are more like dangerous scenery than anything - thatmakes things all-the-more dangerous. Add in the fact that The Walking Dead is not a predictable entity giving you a detailed map of who lives and who dies and you have something terrible on the horizon.

For a while now, we have seen the impact of community on the survivors as they have turned the jail into something they can call their own. They have a garden, defense, weapons, food, water, power, and other pieces of a life that seemed lost only a few books back. They want to hold on to this, too, but other people want to have it - and understandably so. Blood has been spilled because of this, blood from both sides, and the clash that comes is one that caused my heart to sink. I really do not want to give anything away, but i will say one thing: there will be loses, and they will be painful ones for the group to bear.

When I read this volume, I was surprised by the depths of the loss. I thought that one or two people might die, and those people could be recent arrivals. Still,the writing in this series has been top-notch from the beginning and this is no different. It has twists and turns, attacks that one does not expect, and a little surprise that changes everything. This, along with the teeth walking outside the gates, makes the world seem like a place that nobody can keep on keeping on through.

If you have not checked out the series, go get Volume 1 and start reading. This is one of the best series I have seen in a long time (other than Crossed, which takes things to a horrific level), and it is really addictive. Even people with a disdain for zombies will find this series refreshing, with the bite coming from all directions. I personally recommend all the books, but any readers that have stopped reading NEED to be here.

An absolute masterpiece of storytelling!
If you're into surival horror, this is required reading.No seriously, Romero or any of his clones should take a tip from Kirkman.The last time I was so emotionally invested in a fictional character, Luke was getting his right hand cut off!

It can't be helped.You simply LOVE these characters.So much in fact, that push the GENRE to the back of your mind.Or you tell yourself "well, this character's been around since the beginning, so they HAVE to survive."You know, the usual hollywood cliche.well, THIS STORY IS ANYTHING BUT CLICHE!NOBODY IS SAFE!

My heart litterally broke reading this volume.I'm so frustrated and hurt, but I simply can't put this friggin book down! I really don't know where the story's gonna go from here, since some the characters really don't have much reason to go on.I'm fighting the urge to give a spoiler here, b/c it'd be doing you a disservice.So I'll end my review with: Get into this story.Planned on being tragically surprised.Either way plan on one helluva good read!

The most shocking volume of the series

The title of the volume says it all Made to Suffer The Governor is back crazier than ever recovers leads an army of people of the town armed with weapons and a tank goes to the prison where Rick his family many others are safe and the assault on the prison starts there many scary and very, very shocking scenes bloodshed many of characters dies a big cliffhanger ending.

Kirkman delivers in this volume. ... Read more

Product Description
As the survivors settle into their prison home something has drawn them out into the open... out of the prison... out of their sanctuary. This is a major turning point for the overall story of The Walking Dead, setting the stage for years to come. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (30)

Man Versus Man:A Brutal New Direction
When I heard that AMC was going to produce a television series based on the zombie epic "The Walking Dead," I was both concerned and delighted.A bona fide classic in undead lore, "The Walking Dead" graphic novels are brutal and surprising--not really what I would picture for a basic cable TV show (the first season is slated for 6 episodes, we'll see if it goes beyond that).But AMC has produced terrific and prestigious shows like "Mad Men" and "Breaking Bad," so I'm pretty stoked to see what they do with this.Add Frank Darabont of "Shawshank Redemption" fame as the creative force behind the show, and we just might have a winner!In anticipation, I've gone back through the volumes of "The Walking Dead" to discover again the many pleasures that this series has to offer.

"Chapter Five:The Best Defense" takes things in a new direction.Tracking a downed helicopter, Rick, Glenn and Michonne head off to look for survivors.What they discover instead is another encampment--a whole town fenced off and self sufficient!Perhaps less involving in the initial trek, the chapter picks up with the introduction of the town's "Governor."When our traveling trio discover that their new friend might not be an ally, it's already too late.Most notable for its extreme violence and brutality, both Rick and Glenn suffer severely at the hands of this new madman.Most of the material back at the prison is relatively uninvolving making this a weaker entry in the series.But the danger that Rick in Michonne find themselves in has very real consequences that set up a new storyline for the future.Essential, but somewhat unpleasant.

More gore, more sickness, still the Walking Dead
If you've been following the series, you're gonna read vol. 5 no matter what I say, but I can tell you that the series continues and continues to entertain.

Took Me By a Whole New Kind of Suprise!
This is by far the best yet.I have said this time and time again, but this one is really the best out of the series thus far, to me.About halfway through the book I was concerned that nothing was going to happen, but then IT HAPPENS.The biggest shocker of the series is HERE!I won't reveal too much, but I had to go out and by the next volume immediately.This book really excited me far behind the usual literature.

Thank god Rick is pretty much back to normal, and things seem to be going ok.This turns out to backfire as three main characters are put in severe mortal danger.I feel sorry for those who gave up on the last two books, because they're going to miss out."The Best Defense" is solely meant to bring about an incredible climax.I hope you're ready for it, because as the pages get thinner and thinner, you will get angrier and angrier that there's not more.

Intelligent Zombie Horror
If you're looking for pure 'slash and hack' zombie horror, then this may not be for you. This series is so much more than that. By the time you reach this volume, you are fully invested in the characters and their lives. Although the zombies offer an ever present, and terrifying backdrop, they pale in comparison to the human drama. Apocalyptic events will always open a window of opportunity for the insane and depraved among us to find their own special niche. This is horrifyingly apparent in this volume. Man's greatest enemy is not the zombies, but man himself. This series draws you in from the very first page. I highly recommend it.

The Walking Dead Vol. 5: The Best Defense by Robert Kirkman
The Walking Dead Vol. 5: The Best Defense by Robert Kirkman is a good read. Of course if you've read to vol. 5 you already know that. The sreies just keeps getting better and better. ... Read more

Product Description

The underground population of witches, vampires, werewolves—creatures of dreams and nightmares—has lived beside humans for centuries, hiding their powers. But after a genetically engineered virus wipes out a large part of humanity, many of the "Inderlanders" reveal themselves, changing everything.

Customer Reviews (340)

Fun
This book was a lot of fun, as Kim Harrison's characters don't always take themselves too seriously.I am not fond of books about demons, and this book does feature an ongoing battle w/the main character and a demon, so I couldn't give a five star rating.Otherwise, it was just good reading w/a great sense of the absurd to keep it from becoming too dark.

My thoughts
I like Kim Harrison's writing style.This book was fast paced and an interesting read with an alternative reality that is well done and carried through her other books as well.I found it very enjoyable to read.

Best Urban Fiction after Jim Butcher
I can't tell you how happy I was to find this series after having been spoiled by Jim Butcher's Dresden Files series being my first taste of paranormal urban fantasy. I've tried numerous series since then, and always been terribly disappointed...but not today!!

This one starts a wee slow, but really draws you in. The world Harrison creates is unique and the characters all interesting twists on the familiar supernatural race themes. The dialogue is witty and entertaining, the characters rich and multi-faceted, the atmosphere is gritty and sexy. It's just perfection. :) Having a female hero coming from a female author is also so refreshing!

Also, her books, like Butcher's just get better the further along into the series you get. She takes what works and give you more!

Love it!

A funny, engaging series that I recommend to everyone
Dead Witch Walking - This entire series defines five stars within the Urban Fantasy genre for me and is the stick by which other books are measured.Kim (actually Dawn) is a skillful writer and managed to both capture the "otherness" of the non-human world and keep each race of creatures distinctive.Good world building is 50% of a fantasy novel often authors don't do this well.Her Point of View main character is engaging, funny and instantly likeable and the story lines are great.This is the total package.It is written in a charmingly PG style, even the sex scenes are tame and the world is light.The main character doesn't kill, graphic violence happens off-screen and not to the main character.This does tend to prevent serious arch-villain action but the story is still engaging I recommend this book to everyone is it a classic and a favorite.

My rating scale -
5 stars: (Top 10%) - Will re-read and recommend it to friends even if it's not their genre.
Examples: Kim Harrison's Dead Witch Walking, Lilith SaintCrow's Night Shift
4 stars: (20%) - Will re-read.
Examples: Jim Butcher's Dresden Files, Patricia Brigg's Mercy Series
3 stars: (40%) - Worth reading, won't buy in hard cover or re-read.
Examples:Jenn Black's Demon Series, most books fall into this category.This is a good rating for an Indy book considering that lack of professional editorial support.My own work is probably here, hopefully.
2 stars:(20%) - Regret buying and reading, will avoid author.
Examples: Laurell K. Hamilton's Danse Macabre
1 star: (10%) - No story and very poor writing.
Examples:I don't see this in commercially published work.

Meh
I was given this book as a gift.

The Hollows book #1

First, the back blurb:
"All the creatures of the night gather in 'the Hollows' of Cincinnati, to hide, to prowl, to party...and to feed.

Vampires rule the darkness in a predator-eat-predator world rife with dangers beyond imagining--and it's Rachel Morgan's job to keep that world civilized.

A bounty hunter and witch with serious sex appeal and an attitude, she'll bring 'em back alive, dead...or undead."

It's been a while since I've read a back blurb that said so very little about the book, and by now I should know to be suspicious when that happens. It's taken me three tries to get past page fifty of this book. The opening chapter is killer, as a skank-dressed Rachel Morgan stands outside a bar complaining about how her boss hates her and keeps giving her joke jobs (she works for an organization said to be like the FBI but it comes off a lot more like the IRS) then whining about all the jobs she's messed up lately. She assaults a man for buying her a drink (after mentioning, a lot, how much like a hooker she looks) and later as she uses disguise charms and potions to get around EVERYONE can see through them (so really, what's the point?). Readers should get used it this inconsistent way of storytelling because the book constantly goes back and forth between trying to convince us that Rachel is one of the best at her job, then showing her make loads of really poor decisions.

In fact inconsistent is about the best way to describe the whole book, though halting and frustrating also fits. After bagging the tax-evading leprechaun she's after Rachel decides to shove her job where it belongs, accept a bribe from the criminal she just caught and go freelance. For unconvincing reasons a living vampire, Ivy, and a pixie name Jenks join Rachel. And despite her boss admitting that he'd been trying to force her to quit for years (why he didn't just fire her, I'm not sure) he then proceeds to spend a lot of money hiring people to kill her. Typically they fail due to sheer luck or other people saving Rachel, rather than her own skills. Half the time Rachel herself doesn't even notice death spells or people moving in to attack.

Rachel, in turn, decides the best way to get her now ex-boss off her back is to try to bust a huge drug cartel case that he's working on before he does. There's also a very uncomfortable side plot involving a lesbian attraction between Ivy the vampire and Rachel. It's uncomfortable because Rachel is genuinely scared of Ivy's attraction to her, but Ivy's attraction appears to be built on things completely outside of Rachel's control. Rachel is Ivy's roommate and trying to find a way for their scents to never mingle, to never talk to her about her family or other vampires (although Rachel, super agent that she is, seems to know next to nothing about them when they're around) seems like expecting a woman to maim herself to prevent people on the street from finding her attractive.

As for the world building, a bioengineered tomato launched the supernaturals' takeover and made science illegal, which raises more questions and ends up coming off more silly than serious (especially to readers of SF as well). Humans are almost prisoners to the supes, but still portrayed with derision, totally missing out on an interesting source of conflict (which really sums up the drama of the book, it's all forced, and the natural sources are glanced over and ignored). There's a whole language Rachel uses, but in the end it feels false because of a lack of supporting detail. When there is detail of the greater world of Harrison's world it lacks the lush richness of genre powerhouses like Laurell K. Hamilton and Ann Rice.

Almost everything in the book comes off as stodgy and flat, and a complete inability to connect with or care about the main character makes me more than willing to let my book allowance relax a little by skipping out on the rest of this series. There's just too much crammed into this book with no context, atmosphere or charm, as if there's an attempt to make up for the lack of texture with fight scenes and drama that the main character had to be an idiot to get into in the first place. ... Read more

Product Description
Travelling across Europe and through the Byzantine wonders of Constantinople, the adventurer Kerbouchard encounters the passions and violence of an ancient world. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (95)

Great Historical Fiction
Slipping away from his normal Western genre, L'Amour really hooks you into the story here.You won't be able to put this down, and I have a better appreciation for him as an author - this isn't one of his typical read it in two horus westerns, but will take you a good while to read it. The Kindle version is under $5 (well, it is at the time I am typing this review), and you will get $20 worth of value for that five bucks!

Debbie
In my mind, this is one of the best Lamour novels.I have read it twice and found it equally entertaining each time.Love the history and research that went into The Walking Drum.

Book review
Book was received in a very timely manner and in the condition stated on the screen when purchased.

outstanding
I've always enjoyed historical novels such as Michener and Joyce and Steinbeck, so it was a very pleasant surprise when I picked up "The Walking Drum" by Louis LaMour.
I like LaMour's western novels because of the detail and descriptions of early America and his ability to "weave" fiction and fact.But his "Drum" blew me away with the historical detail of capitalism in its infancy.
I had no idea of circumstances in Europe and Asia in the 11th & 12th centuries and the role muslims played in the orgins of commmerce.Wow!

Probably one of my two favorite L'Amour novels
Louis L'Amour's novel of the twelvth century is fast paced with lots of action.His writing creates vivid pictures of the early merchant caravans and what life was like in those times.I've loved "Down the Long Hills" since I was a kid, but this is probably my other favorite.I wrote to Mr. L'Amour years ago and he very kindly wrote back.In his letter, he mentioned that he was working on a new novel called "The Walking Drum" and I think that might be the main reason that I love it so much.But don't get the idea that it isn't a great story on it's own.Like all of L'Amour's books, the research on it is awesome and the story is interesting at the least and often riveting.He had a great feel for history, and not just of the Old West.I can't say that I enjoy the fight scenes all that much, but he definitely writes a book that is action packed.I've read it several times, though, and I always feel that he intended a sequel that he didn't get to write, and that always make me feel sad. ... Read more

Product Description
Randi Kreger draws on extensive new research to provide advice forsuccessfully navigating life with someone who has borderlinepersonality disorder. Step-by-step suggestions--many from users of theauthor's comprehensive website-- help readers set and enforce personallimits, communicate clearly, cope with put-downs and rage, develop asafety plan, and make realistic decisions. Throughout the text areworksheets, checklists, and exercises that build on one another andenable readers to apply the suggestions to their lives. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (21)

Great for friends & family of BP's but insensitive to BP's people
This book has really helped my boyfriend understand and cope with my bp, however when I read from it, I feel a bit offened.As if we are all grouped together and everything we do is because of our bp- like we aren't allowed normal human emotions.As long as whoever is reading it can recognize the book is a generalization and not every area applies to the bp in their life- I believe it's quite helpful.

Stop Walking on Eggshells Workbook
The workbook compliments the book "Stop Walking on Eggshells."
The book is a must have for anyone who has someone in their life that has Borderline Personality Disorder. It will give you the tools to take your life back! You must take care of yourself first....Best of luck..

Excellent
This is a very good book. This book and its companion, Walking on Eggshells, can bring sanity where you thought none existed.Welcome back to Kansas, Dorothy.

Great to work through with your spouse...if they will let you...
This is the companion workbook to Randi's SWOE book.If you can get your BPD spouse to work through it with you, that would be a big step towards making your lives better.If you're already separated, it will help the non-BPD figure out what went wrong, and that it's not his/her fault.

Life changing
This workbook is life changing. I live with the BP in my life and don't feel "crazy" anymore. The tools are amazing and work! It brought much healing to my life. Thank you. ... Read more

Product Description
A young child goes for a walk and discovers a colorful parade of animals along the way. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (24)

Great book for toddlers
My 15 month daughter loves this book.We first got it from the library as she was learning to walk and she enjoyed reading/talking about walking and seeing the animals so I purchased the book for her to have.She likes to talk about the boy's clothes and shoes he's wearing and make the animal noises.It's a favorite in our house!

Eh.
This book is very similar to Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? Short, simple, very repetitive. Very good for babies and toddlers and preschoolers.

The colors of the animals are more realistic, but the artwork is a little weirder. There's no point in having both books in your library, pick one and leave the other.

not great
The story is short and repetitive, not particularly fun to read aloud. The illustrations are beautiful, but the child is freaky looking and wearing weird clothes. It doesn't bother my child, but I don't like looking at it. We rarely read this one.

All around favorite of toddlers
This book has been a delight to our entire family for years. The brilliant colors and delightful character representations interest every one- adult reader to baby. This beautiful book grows with the child: every page offers much to notice and comment on, while the simple text is soon memorized and repeated by the learning-to-talk crowd. There are things to count, objects and creatures to identify, and the sheer joy of renewing the small adventure of the walk. We have given copies to babies on up to 5 year olds, and out of all the options this one is most often reached for at story time. As with all picture books the illustrations are of prime importance, and these endearing characterizations absolutely steal the show.

good for storytime
I agree with the other positive reviews.I just wanted to add that I used this book with a preschool storytime, and I followed it up with a sort of reader's theater.Each child was assigned one of the animals in the book.I took a walk around the room and said, "I went walking."The children all replied, "What did you see?"I held up a card with a picture of the animal on it.They say, "I saw a _____ (black cat, etc.) looking at me!" and then the children assigned that animal got up and followed me on my walk.We continued on this way until we had all the animals in a line, and then we had quick animal parade around the library, making our animals' noises.It was a hit! ... Read more

Product Description

"The process of gathering these images reminded me of the Bible's effortless ability to reinvent itself for each generation and each new way of searching."
—Bruce Feiler

Feiler, a fifth-generation American Jew from the South, had felt noparticular attachment to the Holy Land. Yet during his journey, Feiler'spreviously abstract faith grew more grounded. ("I began to feel a certainpull from the landscape.... It was a feeling of gravity. A feeling that Iwanted to take off all my clothes and lie facedown in the soil.") Feiler'sattentiveness, intelligence, and adventurousness enliven every page of thisbook. And the lessons he learned about the relationship between place andthe spirit will be useful for readers of every religious tradition that finds its origins in the Bible. --Michael Joseph Gross ... Read more

Customer Reviews (96)

Interesting read
This is an interesting book from the historical perspective. It has something in it for everybody no matter what your interests are.There is a little bit of history, some archaeology, some anthropology, and a bit of politics. This trip through the pages of the book makes the bible come alive. As you experience the land, the people, against the backdrop of today you get a new feel for the bible. The stories are well toldand highlights the importance of each place. I came across this book just before I went to Egypt and Jordan. The volume of the book is at times bit tiring but byand large it was worth reading.For anyone interested in tracing this epic historical journey it is worthwhile reading it before going there.

Ordered for my daughter
I love this book so much! My daughter saw how much I enjoyed it and ... well, stole it! :) Okay, I allowed her to take it. But when it became obvious she wasn't going to give it back, I ordered one for her! :)

I taught Old Testament theology for six years at Life Training Center in Longwood, FL. I have since taught a small home group, focusing primarily on the Old Testament. I have also been to Israel 3 times, twice as a reporter and once for fodder and fotos for an upcoming books (see below). If I were not already in love with both the Scriptures and the Land, Feiler's books would have seen to it.

Eva Marie Everson
Author
Reflections of God's Holy Land: A Personal Journey Through Israel

A Good Journey Although Not Where I Expected it To Go
For a novice in Biblical matters, such as myself, this was a good introduction to the literature of the Bible.The book presented various biblical stories in the chronological order presented in the Bible.For each story covered, the author presented a brief summary of the biblical tale, told in the context of a visit to the place where the story is said to have occurred.By using this format, the book was part historical, part modern travelogue, and part commentary.

When I picked up this book, I imagined that it would be more of an investigation of the truth and accuracy of the Biblical tales.The author (and the reader) quickly comes to learn that either the stories are clearly not factually true or there is no way of substantiating their truth and accuracy.More slowly, the author comes to the conclusion that the factual accuracy of the stories is beside the point.This admission frees the author to discuss (without judgment) the circumstances surrounding each of the stories, which for me was the most interesting part of the book.These circumstances included the historical antecedents of the stories (many were re-tellings of stories that pre-dated the Bible by many years), comparison of the biblical record versus the historical record (such as the lack of any historical record of the Jews as slaves in Egypt), the reasons why particular stories could not be true, and possible explanations of the various stories (such as what the "manna" that the Israelites ate in the desert could possibly have really been).

I also enjoyed the travelogue elements of the book. While some of Feiler's interactions with Bedouins, Jordanians, Palestinian, Turks, Egyptians and Israelis, among others, at times felt very stereotypical, and while many of Feiler's repeated use of junk food analogies grew tiring, I nonetheless enjoyed the descriptions of the various cities, monuments, climates, topographies and peoples that he met on his journey.

While I suspect that Feiler covers very little new ground (no pun intended), again, for a lay novice, this was a fine and interesting introduction to the Biblical literature.

WALKING WITH FEILER
I am an author but I am first and foremost, an avid reader. I don't just read something because it's tucked into two covers. I read because it is a passion. "Walking The Bible" fired that passion and turned the heat on high! If you are looking for an adventure, this is your book. If you are looking for a boost to your spiritual core, this is your book. It is also your book if you're looking for a text that flows flawlessly from the first chapter to the very last where Feiler doesn't just drop you off and flash The End. He ends with a sentence that warmed my heart and caused me to start reading the book once more. In talking about the land Feiler had just walked on and he ends with....."Moses wasn't even looking at the land. He was looking where he should look. He was looking at God."
One of the most fascinating books I've read in years. I think you will agree.

Bible lessons turned into an adventure
The author does not find God after an exhaustive search of the Middle East "... there is no such thing as an accepted notion of God."And he demonstrates with facts literally on the ground that many of the stories in the Bible could not have occur as described. Moses may not have existed.But that does not matter because the Bible is"... a living, breathing entity, undiminished by the passage of time." and "If anything, the Bible has been elevated to that rare status of being indefinitely immediate." and is forever applicable."
On page 413 the Bruce Feiler writes: "...I still wonder, why the Bible is greater than the collected works of Mozart, or Shakespeare, or Greek mythology?" There should have been an explanation of the meaning of "greater" in this context (if you also put Bach on the scale would that make a difference?). Other authors have simply described the Bible as the greatest book in Western Civilization.


... Read more

Product Description
A revolutionary program that blends the health benefits of walking with the core principles of T'ai Chi to deliver maximum physical, mental, and spiritual fitness

The low-impact health benefits of walking have made it one of the most popular forms of daily exercise. Yet few people experience all the benefits that walking can offer.

Customer Reviews (29)

Long Winded Way to Say Nothing
Kept waiting for this book to tell me something useful.What a waste of time.

Good book to learn chi-walking
This is a good book to learn Chi-walking.In my opinion, you need a second person to help you learn.Very hard to do it on your own.He explains it well enough but you need that person to help with the placement of your feet and your posture.

Chi Walking is a recipe for back pain
I persevered with "Chi Walking" techniques long after they caused back pain thinking the pain was caused for some other reason or I just needed to polish the techniques.

In retrospect, there much misinformation in this book, but I think there are four errors of advice that affected me negatively the most.

Firstly, Dryer suggests walking with a "pelvic tilt" (or retroverted pelvis) that leads to back tension. Secondly, Dryer suggests tilting forward to walk
which stresses many muscles and encourages a hard landing on the foot. Thirdly, he suggests not pushing with the toes which fails to use the right muscles for walking. Fourthly, he allows the hands to come forward to the body's center-line which pushes the shoulders too far forward.

Gokhale's 8 Steps to a Pain-Free Back: Natural Posture Solutions for Pain in the Back, Neck, Shoulder, Hip, Knee, and Foot (Remember When It Didn't Hurt) describes "Walking as a series of forward propulsions, not falls", which is basically the opposite of "Chi Walking". Practicing Gokhale's theory and techniques for several weeks has mostly undone the damage and eliminated the pain that "Chi Walking" caused me.

If you try "Chi Walking" and it hurts, don't persevere because you've probably already mastered the techniques all too well.

Chi Walking a great read
I have the Chi Running Book and have even taken the class and I knew I wanted to understand the Chi Walking technique. This method is completely injury free. I have never been a runner or a great walker and this is enabling me to do both with no pain and definite gain. I highly recommend this book and methodology.

A different kind of walking
Who would have thought that by changing the way you have always walked you could alleviate pain, add to your endurance walking and enjoy this very normal form of movement.Simple to follow steps to improving your main mode of transportation.Very enlightening.I want to take the instructors course and teach others this method. ... Read more

Product Description
Todd Hewitt is the only boy in a town of men. Ever since the settlers were infected with the Noise germ, Todd can hear everything the men think, and they hear everything he thinks. Todd is just a month away from becoming a man, but in the midst of the cacophony, he knows that the town is hiding something from him -- something so awful Todd is forced to flee with only his dog, whose simple, loyal voice he hears too. With hostile men from the town in pursuit, the two stumble upon a strange and eerily silent creature: a girl. Who is she? Why wasn't she killed by the germ like all the females on New World? Propelled by Todd's gritty narration, readers are in for a white-knuckle journey in which a boy on the cusp of manhood must unlearn everything he knows in order to figure out who he truly is. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (56)

Unbelievable Premise - Amazing Book!!
Igot this bookbecause it was recommended as a good dystopian novel.After the first sentence (about Manchee the talking dog) I was ready to toss it aside as ridiculous. Several hours later I was forced to stop reading because I'd promised my husband I'd watch Iron Man 2 with him. I spent the entire movie in an anxious stew - dying to get back to Todd, Manchee, and company.

This is a seriously good book .It isn't flawless:there are some plot devices that are a little overused to keep the mysteries from being solved too quickly, and there are some elements that are a little unbelievable (Just to be clear though - I absolutely bought into the most fantastical elements of the story- it was so well written.But I had some problems believing some of the decisions made by most of the men in the novel.) Even with those flaws, however, this is a five star book.The Knife of Never Letting Go had one of the most compelling narrative voices I have ever read and I am a voracious reader.There are parts of this novel - ugly, beautiful, sad, funny -that I'm sure I'll never forget.And the ridiculous talking dog?Todd's relationship with Manchee was the most moving part of the whole novel.

I didn't know this book was a part of a trilogy when I started it so I was a little bummed that I'd have to wait to see how the story ends but luckily it looks like the last book will be released on kindle at the end of the month.

Good original book.I highly recommend it.

The Knife of Never Letting Go
So I've heard a bit of hype surrounding The Knife of Never Letting Go and, finding out that it was dystopian and science fiction, decided to finally read it. I'm really glad I can say the hype wasn't completely misleading, and that aside from a few minor things, I really enjoyed it.

The story takes place in the New World, although we're not told exactly where that is. The settlers came decades ago, and found that there was another species living on the planet, the Spackle. The settlers and the Spackle didn't get along and eventually this led to the war, and the Spackle releasing the Noise germ, which allowed the thoughts of all men to be heard by everyone else around them, and killed all the women. The settlers won the war, and the Spackle became extinct. This was all before Todd was born and later on lead him to believe that the Spackle were the cause of all the problems in the New World. The opening (above) instantly drew me in. The first line definitely sparks curiosity. In no time, we're into the chase. Todd and Viola, the mysterious girl from the swamp and the only girl he's ever seen, running for their lives, making their way across each settlement of the New World with the Prentisstown Army at their heels. The plot was really exciting, and fast-paced, and loaded with adventure that kept me reading.

I loved the way it was written; from Todd's point of view. It's simplistic, but not boring, and you can tell that Patrick Ness really put himself into the character's shoes and made it realistic. I think some readers might get caught up on the way he speaks, and his illiteracy, but it was easy for me to get past that just because the story was so great. Todd was an interesting character. Okay, so I wish he had a little more defiance and fight in him, but granted his situation of having the truth shielded from him all his whole life, his logic was plausible. Throughout the story, Todd deals with his own internal conflict of wanting so badly to go from being a boy to a man, but in Prentisstown that's the equivalent of becoming a killer. Todd and Viola's relationship was strained at first while they were getting used to each other; Todd adjusting to Viola's silence, and Viola adjusting to Todd's noise. But along the way they really learned to rely on and trust each other. And of course, I just have to mention Manchee. I've never been a fan of talking animals before, but he was written so well, and I think he added some playfulness and humor to the otherwise serious book.

Another thing I want to mention is the title. It ties into the book so well. All along their journey Todd had this knife that is essentially his key to becoming a man. It's always right there when he needs it up until the end of the book when he realizes killing does not make you a man. The violence of the men of Prentisstown and their hunger for power is evident. And Todd stands out in contrast because of his ability to rise above them all and their murderous hatred. I have to say, I was a little disappointed with the big twists or "the truth" of Prentisstown and the New World. To me it seemed a little anti-climactic and a tad predictable.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and would recommend it to other fellow science fiction or dystopian fiction lovers. And I'll be adding the next two books in the trilogy (The Ask and the Answer, and Monsters of Men) to my never ending to-be-read shelf. In closing I'd just like to say after reading this, I definitely have a newfound appreciation for the privacy of my thoughts.

Reviewed at: [...].

The point isn't that it's science fiction.
The point is that it's so, so, so utterly human and beautiful at times that I could hardly stand it. The suspense, too, of course-- after I had made it about halfway through the book I couldn't put it down because every single chapter seemed to end on a cliffhanger (not excluding the last chapter, although fortunately all three books are out now so it isn't such a problem).

The protagonist, Todd, misspells things everywhere and although in the beginning it is easy to perceive him as an idiot, he is brilliant. Even though his circumstances are so different from anything I've ever experienced, I found it easy to relate to him because of the way that Ness weaves words together-- it is so raw and so unique and so bare-boned.And so perfect.

The Knife of Never Letting Go is fantastic. Read it.

A Noir Fantasy
This first book of the trilogy sets the pace for one of the darkest fantasy stories I have ever read. Definitely not for the easily depressed.

You'll never let go, either.
The Knife of Never Letting Go is, as protagonist Todd Hewwit might say, ruddy brillant.I think there are four basic reasons for this, and I'll do my best to explain those here without giving away spoilers.

#1) Todd Hewwit himself.It is RARE that I actually favor a lead character over all others; usally they pale compared to, say, the witty best friend or love interest, or even sometimes the clever villian.Todd is diffrent.He's very nearly illiterate, speaks in the country dialect that is all he knows from his life in New World, and makes a few bad, and at times heartbreaking decisions...and for all that, you cannot NOT like him.He is prehaps all the more enduring for those very reasons.

#2) The writing.I can't remember the last book I read in which the narration so perfectly reflected the narrator.I never once thought "A boy his age wouldn't really say or do that."This novel is tight, fast-paced, thoughtful.Here's a small example: "My feet are tired and sore.Hers must be, too.I've got blisters and aches and my heart hurts from all I miss and all thats gone.And hers does, too.But we run.Boy, do we run.Cuz maybe (shut up)--Just maybe (don't think it)--Maybe there really is hope at the end of the road."

#3) The Grit.This book is wonderfully gritty.Basically it's one long chase scene on a planet where (almost) everyone can hear everyone else's thoughts, and at all times trouble is either happening or about to happen. If you're a nail-biter you might want to wear gloves while reading, because the suspense is downright agonizing at certain points.These characters and their situations feel real.You cry for them when their worlds crumble and then cheer them on when they pick themselves up. The story goes to dark places and stays there, but in an endless string of YA fiction where authors are hesitant to even scratch their characters, let alone break a bone or two, this is refreshing and credible.

#4)Bigness.Unlike so, so many teen novels these days, The Knife is about much more than a boy/girl relationship.Yes, much of what Todd does is fueled by his devotion to someone, but the story is bigger than that one connection.Consequences are far reaching, and the choices of one boy end up effecting many.

If none of the above is compelling enough to make you read The Knife, I have a #5 reason for you: Manchee.Who is Manchee?Read the book.And just to warn you, the ending is a huge cliffhanger, so you might want to have the second one, The Ask and the Answer, close at hand. ... Read more

Product Description
On giving advice:
They Don’t Want It.
They Don’t Hear It.
They Resent It.
Don’t Give It.


We raise our children to be independent and lead fulfilling lives, but when they finally do, staying close becomes more complicated than ever. And for every bewildered mother who wonders why her children don’t call, there is a frustrated son or daughter who just wants to be treated like a grownup. Now, renowned editor Jane Isay delivers the perfect gift to both parents and their adult children—real-life wisdom and advice on how to stay together without falling apart.

Using extensive interviews with people from ages twenty-five to seventy, Isay shows that we’re far from alone in our struggles to make this new, adult relationship work. She offers up groundbreaking insights and deeply moving stories that will inspire those in even the toughest situations.Isay’s warmth and wit shine through on every page as she charts an invaluable course through the confusing, and often painful, interactions parents and children can face.Walking on Eggshells is the much-needed road map that will keep you connected to the people you love most.Amazon.com Review
Jane Isay, the editor who discovered Mary Pipher's Reviving Ophelia and commissioned Rachel Simmons' Odd Girl Out, has written an insightful, compelling book about "the delicate lifelong bond between grown kids and their parents." Isay traveled across the country and interviewed nearly 75 people (including dozens of parents and grown children), and Walking on Eggshells shares moving stories that will help parents and grown children build strong new adult relationships with one another. We asked Po Bronson, author of Why Do I Love These People?, to read Isay's book and give us his take. Read his review below. --Daphne Durham

Guest Reviewer: Po Bronson

Po Bronson is the author of the brilliant bestseller What Should I Do with My Life?, the powerful and poignant Why Do I Love These People?, a hilarious novel called The Bombadiers, and The Nudist on the Late Shift, a collection of "true stories" about Silicon Valley.

When we tell family stories, we so often focus on the beginning and the end. The beginning is the two decades of our childhood and adolescence, and it's been the favorite narrative arc ever since Freud. What happens in your childhood does not stay in your childhood--it haunts the rest of your life. In the last decade, we've suddenly heard more stories of the end--narratives constructed around a parent's death, and often the year spent caring for that parent on their deathbed.

Because these are the conventional narratives, they often distract our attention from the many decades in between. We barely even have a terminology for these years--and the terms we employ sound like oxymorons: "Adult Children," "Parents of Adults." There's an old saying: you can choose your friends, but you can't choose your family. In the beginning this is true--we're in the care of our parents, like it or not. And in the ending this is also true--they're in our care, like it or not. But in the long middle, this isn't so true. The middle is a period where both child and parent can keep their distance, if they prefer. And often do, harboring resentment. We too often accept that this is just the way it is. "She's never going to change" is a common, fatalist refrain.

In Walking on Eggshells, Jane Isay shines a much-needed light on these years. With a graceful respect for the families she investigates, she tells their stories--how they lost their love, and how they regained it. Isay covers the many ways families develop resentment, and the many techniques they employed to make peace. She shows that small changes in routine can go a long way to restoring goodwill. But it's not a self-help book; it's more of a literary contemplation, and we learn more by inspiration than by emulation.

Though this book addresses the parents directly, I suspect it will be passed back and forth, between generations, in many a family. --Po Bronson

---

... Read more

Customer Reviews (34)

Great stories to get a parent thinking and acting differently
I am enjoying Walking on Eggshells as I build evolving relationships with my twenty-something children. I found some of the lower-rated reviews interesting, as these reviewers hoped for more psychology-applications for dealing with the rough edges of parent/adult child relationships. I had no such expectations, and would probably have found HOW TO tips to be distracting. What I enjoy about this book are the composite stories (or so I assumed them to be) that allow me to relate or discard situations that are (or are not) applicable to my own life stories with my mother and my children. Ms. Isay is a terrific writer who introduces a topic, describes the family scenario, then summarizes each story in such a way that makes you want to read on and on. I plan to buy enough copies of this little gem to share with close friends so that they can pick and choose what they see in themselves among the many enlightening stories.

Just OK
The book was very light, and while the writer made a few good points, I couldn't help feeling there was no real 'meat' or substance. It was a series of interviews -- the descriptions of the people being interviewed seemed phoney. Overall, I would say the book wasn't really worth the time it took to read it because there were no actual "take aways" to apply to my life.

Personality Disorder: dealing with difficult family members
This is an excellent quick read for people with difficult family members who tantrum, manipulate, bully, flip from personable to attacks, undermine your esteem, use you to elevate their own esteem, feel persecuted while persecuting.It's a 'must read' to salvage your sanity and your family and to understand how people living tortured lives torture others.

Walking on Egg Shells
The book is very helpful to parents who are having a hard time with their relationships with their adult children. They give many different examples of diverse types of relationships and how to heal them.

help for todays parents of adult children
What worked for our parents doesn't seem to work for THIS generation of parents of adult children....Thanks for expressing in WORDS what we and
our adult children have been FEELING, but maybe never expressed....Jane
Isay "normalizes" these experiences and feelings and gives good insights.
This book opened areas of conversation which needed to be opened....well done! (By the way, this is NOT the book, of the same name, Walking on Eggshells, a classic
in the field of borderline personality disorder) ... Read more

Product Description
If it wasn't for dogs, some people would never go for a walk.
--anonymous

Gotham Chopra considers himself a pretty average guy. He devours pizza, lives and dies by his hometown teams, and watches Kung Fu Panda with his son--daily. But his childhood wasn't quite so average. Growing up, Gotham was exposed to the deepest reservoirs of knowledge that his famous father, Deepak, could find; his childhood was part spiritual, part scientific, and totally unique. Now a newly minted father himself, he's contemplating the influences he wants to draw on for his own son. The first was no surprise: his father. The second was unexpected: his dogs.

From Nicholas, the blaze of energy and anarchy who turned the family upside down, to Cleo, a rescue mutt with food issues, the Chopra dogs taught the family about curiosity and wisdom, open-mindedness and passion, not to mention loyalty and pig's ears. But what else, Gotham wondered? And how did these lessons compare to the ones that Deepak himself imparted?

Gotham would soon find out. When his mother took an unexpected trip to India and leaves instructions to look after Papa, father and son have an opportunity for male bonding on a big scale. That this bonding takes place on their daily walks seems almost natural. After all, Gotham also had in his care a nervous dog and an exuberant toddler, both with an insatiable need for exercise and exploration. So Gotham and Deepak walk and talk, discussing the laughs and licks that come with having a dog, along with the contradictions, complexities, and consequences of having children. They soon realize the qualities they observe and admire most in their pets are values we humans would do well to nurture within ourselves. They discover that our best friends have a lot to teach us.

Gotham and Deepak's message may seem simple, but therein lies its brilliance. Heartfelt, endearing, and above all down to earth, Walking Wisdom offers readers both enlightenment and comfort, with a little bit of mayhem thrown in for good measure.

Customer Reviews (2)

I LOVE GOTHAM's HUMOR !I bought this to read (ho-hum) between novels. His writing is hilarious.His message needed.
GOTHAM IS HILLARIOUS !I bought this wisdom book to read between novels. Thought it would be intellectual, ho hum and slow moving. I couldn't put it down.Gotham hooks you with the way he words every sentence and phrase and has a special style that combines excitement, humor, and in between this is what is so much needed today....wisdom and the opportunity for us all (evolved or not) to look at ourselves and our worlds...to know it was (and is) okay to be imperfect but we all can also change. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK. More Gotham Please!Strong emphasis on how to raise a kid in todays world, how to love your family members even if they are different from you. Has the ability to poke fun at God's vice president, Depak Chopra (his father), without offending. GET IT.

Life Lessons and Laughter
I don't have a dog in my life right now, but this book makes me want one!Such sweet stories, father and son conversations, life lessons shared and philosophies considered. It's about the big picture, and the beautiful little details that make up our daily lives.You'll feel like you're one of the family, walking along and eavesdropping on precious moments. We're kindred spirits, people and pets, experiencing, learning from one another, growing together. "Walking Wisdom" is a wonderful gift.Thanks, Gotham! ... Read more

Product Description
"Lively and inspiring!"
--Hartford Courant

"A great feel-good story."
--Philadelphia Examiner

Just one step at a time.

After losing her boyfriend and her job in one fell swoop, Noreen finds it hard to know what the next step is--never mind take it. For the first time in a great many years, Noreen has time to herself. So she puts on a new pair of sneakers and a seriously outdated pair of exercise pants, and walks.

It isn't long before she's joined by neighbors Tess and Rosie, two women as lost as she is. As the Wildwater women walk and talk, and talk and walk, they tally their steps, share their secrets, and begin putting their lives back together. And along the way, they learn what women everywhere are finding out -- time flies, and getting fit is actually fun when you're walking with friends. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (42)

Walking towards a new life
Noreen is a manager at an athletic shoe manufacturer which is undergoing a merger/acquisition. She becomes attracted to and secretly dates one of her counterparts in the other company. They both plan to take a buyout and then start a new company. After she accepts the buyout, Noreen finds that her new man won't return her calls. After dealing with her grief and embarrassment, she begins adjusting to life without work and puts on some walking shoes to start getting in shape. She meets 2 neighbors and they begin the Wildwater Walking Club. Noreen begins to rebuild her identity through group job counseling and by helping her friends. She then has to deal with a surprise visit from her mother who she dreads telling the truth about her job and her boyfriend. The friends decide to use their walking steps to chart a real journey and we also see Noreen's journey towards finding herself. This was a pleasant, light read.

Not What I Thought It Would Be
I was really excited to read this book based on the premise and the author but was shocked after this first few pages at how elementary the writing style was and I felt like I was reading a pre-teen book. It's still an okay read if you want something mindless but I have to admit that I skipped pages here and there to get to the end and I didn't miss anything.

Awesome Book
Sometimes things happen in life that you don't expect.Its not so much our reaction to them at the time of the happening but what we do after the situation has subsided.

"The Wildwater Walking Club" is a story of Noreen, a women who is counseled by her boyfriend to take a buyout only to find that after she is gone her boyfriend, Michael, take the position that she was in previously and them he unceremoniously dumps her.

In this world of hurt and the looming question of what to do next, she buys a few pairs of shoes (she worked for a tennis shoe company) and starts walking.Along the way, she finds therapy, friends, lavender and her own voice.

This book is on the same level as "Eat, Pray & Love" - its about a women finding out how she is and what she wants - and not apologizing for any of it.

Great book - can't wait to hear more from this author.

The bonds of friendship that will make you grab your own walking shoes
While at first glimpse of this fun summary cover and the synopsis above you are probably thinking chick lit.... light and summery, a fun and easy read.AND - you would not totally be mistaken.However, as I flipped through the pages of this smooth book, I found a deeper message that as I closed the final page, actually caused me pause.

While Claire has once again brought together a read of wonderful women friendships, she also sneaks in a message about self-worth - and not finding your worth through a job, or through someone else s eyes - but through creating you... to be who you know you can be.


Laugh if you will," Brick said."But your ability to tell the world who you are is the first step in figuring out what you want your life to be."

page 64 The Wildwater Walking Club


And while the message at the time I read it didn't stick and hold, it did later as I read on and watched how Noreen, as well as her friends grew through the strength of each other.

Another enjoyable read by Claire Cook.My second of hers this summer and there is another one sitting in the Library Sale box that I may just have to pull out yet.

Disappointing
I found this book to be way too unbelievable and too syrupy sweet and silly. I'm glad it was so short. ... 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 1982, Sister Helen Prejean became the spiritual advisor to Patrick Sonnier, the convicted killer of two teenagers who was sentenced to die in the electric chair of Louisiana's Angola State Prison. In the months before Sonnier's death, the Roman Catholic nun came to know a man who was as terrified as he had once been terrifying. At the same time, she came to know the families of the victims and the men whose job it was to execute him--men who often harbored doubts about the rightness of what they were doing.

Out of that dreadful intimacy comes a profoundly moving spiritual journey through our system of capital punishment. Confronting both the plight of the condemned and the rage of the bereaved, the needs of a crime-ridden society and the Christian imperative of love, Dead Man Walking is an unprecedented look at the human consequences of the death penalty, a book that is both enlightening and devastating. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (63)

Fast Service
My son needed this book for high school reading assignment. Delivered ASAP with regular shipping!!!! Book was in great shape!

Spiritually advising death row inmates transforms nun into a champion against the ultimate penalty for prisoners.
In 1982, Sister Helen Prejean had no idea what she was getting herself into when she agreed to correspond with death row inmate Elmo Patrick "Pat" Sonnier. She acted as his spiritual advisor, did everything in her power to try to change his sentence to life in prison without the possibility of parole, and championed the case against the death penalty. In spite her (and others') efforts, authorities executed him 15 months later. Prior to the murder, Pat and his brother Eddie (who, not thought to be the shooter, received life without the possibility of parole) got their kicks tormenting young adults. In November of 1977, one of the two men (each named the other as the trigger man) murdered two teens, (p 15) "The couple had been shot three times at close range in the head with a .22-caliber rifle." The Sonniers also faced "ten counts of aggravated kidnapping and one charge of aggravated rape...[The brothers] posing as security officers, would handcuff the men and molest the women." Prejean spends the first hundred pages recounting her interactions with and on behalf of both brothers, painting Pat as a likeable guy who received an inadequate defense and casting doubt on his role as the killer.

Prejean spends the second half of the book on a less sympathetic individual, a convict named Robert Willi, who, along with another man, murdered an 18-year-old girl. Learning from the major mistakes she made from fumbling with Sonnier's victims' families, she better handles Willi's murderee's parents, and smartly, works on behalf of those infinitely worthier of her efforts; killers' human collateral damage. Still, her primary focus is on behalf of the murderers as she does everything in her power to gain appeals for the two condemned men and champion her case against the death penalty. Prejean provides plenty of data in support of her side: the death penalty has not shown to be a deterrent to crime, is more expensive than life in prison without parole, and involves a disproportionate number of African-Americans. But while I appreciate her consistent view against killing of any kind (best of the book), she didn't influence my opinion, nor do I think she will affect others'. Worst of the book is her just-enough-support-on-behalf-of-victims to not tick readers off too much and sometimes insensitive handling of the murderers' victims' family members. Dead Man Walking contains a woman-of-God's promotion of pro-Catholic, anti-death penalty views, which, sadly, has too little to say about the worthier: persons affected by killers' crimes. On similar subjects: The Executioner's Song by Norman Mailer, In Cold Blood by Truman Capote and A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest Gaines.

book received
Very pleased with the seller;book arrived in extremley timely fashion, also in excellent shape. Thank you!!!!

Touching story
This is a very touching story and for those who saw the film, it will be interesting to know it from Helen Prejean's point of view.

Excellent Textbook for High School Religion Class
This book provoked interesting discussion in my son's 11th grade religion class.Kudos to the teacher for getting kids to think about the death penalty. ... Read more

Product Description
This deluxe hardcover features 24 issues of the hit series, The Walking Dead, along with the covers for the issues all in one massive, oversized slip-cased volume. Perfect for long-time fans, new readers, and anyone needing a heavy object with which to fend off the walking dead! ... Read more

Product Description

Take a journey into the heart of God and discover the comforting intimacy Christians crave in their daily lives. In Walking with God John Eldredge takes you through a year in his life, showing what an intimate relationship with God looks like day to day, teaching you how our deepest longings could all find sufficient fulfillment in God's company. In this companion workbook, John goes even further, engaging you in deeper studies, showing you how to make decisions aligning with God's will and find solutions to the barriers that keep you from the life God intends. Here he provides the weapons for the spiritual battles for your own heart and for others.

Customer Reviews (11)

Great story.
I like real life books about God, and not just philosophical ones. This book is easy to read and helped me with some real life situations. Not too preachy-preachy for you skeptics out there!

I don't know why
but I never could really get into this book. Each time I tried to read it the words just never sunk in and for the life of me I can't tell you what it said.

good
I didn't realize this was a workbook, i thought it was the book in paperback form.
I intended it to be Christmas presents for a few people and that is why I bought 3.
But, one of them i have started to work on and i really enjoy it.
The transaction was efficient and swift, THANK YOU 4 That!

Great for Journaling
This product works very well with the book if you want to journal and never do.It inspires thought! The book is great also.

Ordered wrong item, but what I receved was as described.
As it turned out, I ordered the workbook instead of the text. The workbook arrived in a timely manner and was as described in ad. Good service and prompt. ... Read more

Product Description
Walking Papers is the incredibly inspiring story of a young man who wouldn't give up. Francesco Clark was a twenty-four-year-old with a bright future when he went to Long Island for the weekend--but a nocturnal dive into the pool's shallow end changed everything, forever. Paralyzed from the neck down, Francesco was told by his doctors that he would never move from his bed or even breathe without assistance. But Francesco fought back. Within days, he was breathing on his own. His father, a doctor himself, investigated every opportunity for experimental treatment, and Francesco used every resource available to speed his recovery. To avoid having his lungs painfully suctioned, he sang, loudly, for hours--and that was just the beginning.

Francesco moved back home with his parents and began the long process toward recovery. Many doctors discourage patients with spinal cord injury from pursuing physical therapy beyond very basic movements, but Francesco embarked on a five-hour daily regimen, including the treadmill program that Christopher Reeve had made famous. Soon he astounded the medical establishment with his progress.

Francesco's accident also left him unable to sweat out toxins, leaving his complexion poor. He and his father began to experiment, and the Clark's Botanicals skin-care line was born. Now CB products are sold worldwide in stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue, and the company has won many major fashion awards and is enjoyed by a host of celebrities. The lessons Francesco learned about persistence from his recovery process, and the loving support of his amazing family, have both contributed to his incredible business success.

Seven years after the accident, Francesco continues to improve and to surprise his doctors--for instance, he can now work on a computer. Walking Papers is the inspiring story of how, with individual determination and unconditional family support, Francesco Clark overcame extreme adversity and achieved an extraordinary triumph.

Customer Reviews (14)

A powerful, inspirational autobiography
WALKING PAPERS: THE ACCIDENT THAT CHANGED MY LIFE, AND THE BUSINESS THAT GOT ME BACK ON MY FEET provides the true story of a 24-year-old paralyzed from the neck down by a diving accident. Defying predictions from doctors that he'd never move from his bed, Francesco began a miraculous comeback that involved cutting-edge therapies and much determination. His new career in botanicals evolved from his therapies and led to yet another unexpected - and positive - change in his life in this powerful, inspirational autobiography highly recommended for any general lending library.

Engrossing and Uplifting read
I loved this book.I read it all in one sitting.I couldn't put it down.Francesco inspired me with his attitude towards life.I loved the fact that he didn't let the doctors and nurses discourage him from improving his health.His commitment and perseverance were very moving.

Inspirational
Stories that inspire us to transcend our situation have always been important to me.People who believe in themselves in the darkest hours are usually the ones who end up shininng in every day life.I've tried to live my life by overcoming obstacles and turning them into opportunities rather than dwelling on the negative.

"Walking Papers" inspires me and helps me through even average things in life.I'm currently 12 weeks pregnant and have been through morning sickness that has overturned my life.I've been so constantly sick that I've injured my back and ribs.But when I read about what Francesco has endured and overcome, it seems so small in comparison.It makes me want to do more and be more and give more to others and enjoy every tiny thing that life has to offer.

Also, like Francesco, it's been very hard to ask others for help.Some people might find this to be inconsequential, but if you are an independent person who hates having to ask for help, it is really a struggle to let others help you.After reading this book, I realized that it is okay to let others provide assistance.It's okay to need others and lean on them.

Yes, he had some advantages in having a physician father and having worked at a magazine, but everyone has talents that can be put to use.I think to say that no one else could do what he has done is a cop out.I believe in using every resource you have to combat whatever you face.

A Very Inspiring True Story
Found this book from the library and ended up reading it in two days.A very inspiring story of determination and dealing with a tremendous personal loss. Yes, Mr. Clark did have the benefit of resources and connections that most spinal cord injury patients do not have.He freely acknowledges that throughout the book and also gives much of the credit to his family, who sacrificed a great deal in the journey of his recovery and probably still do.He seems to be more than aware of how fortunate he is in that regard.It is true that others affected by spinal cord injuries do not get telephone calls from Madonna nor do they sit next to Leonardo DiCaprio at concerts.But, you know that Mr. Clark would freely give it all up in a second to be able to have his pre-injury life back.The most disturbing parts of the book to me were all the doctors and therapists who were in denial that he could ever improve and basically encouraged him to give up entirely.As the parent of a child with autism, this was particularly upsetting since autism has also been tossed on the "scrap heap" by the medical community (in my opinion) and anyone with MD behind their name should know better.Mr. Clark makes lemonade out of lemons with every situation, goes through a lot of physical and emotional pain with every new treatment and always refuses to take no for an answer.THAT's the real reason
for the recovery that he enjoys (and does not take for granted) today.

A Test of human perserverance
I enjoyed this book on many levels.I also had a life changing accident in 2007 and I was spared breaking my neck but have RSD a pain disorder in the left leg.I have been reading a lot of books to help me find the positive in my situation and this book was well written, from the heart and his family support touched me deeply. By starting a business that helped him and now can help others is why I couldn't put the book down.Great motivational book. ... Read more

Product Description
For 27 years, George Anderson, widely considered the world's greatest living medium, has listened to those on the other side, gaining a unique awareness of what those souls want his millions of believers to know, to understand, and to accept. Now Anderson shares this wisdom-and offers an incomparable perspective on the questions faced in day-to-day life.Amazon.com Review
Someday we will return to a place of unfathomable beauty, where we live amongst all the beings we have ever loved, promises George Anderson author of Walking in the Garden of Souls. "It is a place we will see again only after our lifetime of struggle, hardship and hurt has earned us the reward of true and final peace." Our task is not to simply muddle through, waiting for our ticket to Eden, cautions Anderson. Rather, we must set out to create "a Garden on earth while we are here," meaning we must cultivate the same life we yearn for in the hereafter. As he did with Lessons from the Light, Anderson conveys messages from the departed to help us tend our garden. The advice ranges from how to plant hope in times of despair to how to water the seeds of compassion (it may start with placing money in a panhandler's palm). Sometimes the garden metaphor seems forced or clichéd. But overall, this is a book with honorable intentions, helping us understand the purpose of life on Earth. --Gail Hudson ... Read more

Customer Reviews (56)

Affirms that our soul continues after the human experience is done
This book is wonderful as the authors, and particularly George, details in very straight forward language that the soul lives on, back to source, and that the soul continues to growth and supports love ones still living on earth.I have been on my spiritual journey for over a decade, after falling off the religious wagon that made more threats and had too many man made rules that became more stifling than provided real growth.There were a lot of wonderful insights that made me think as well as nod with acknowledgement of my own experiences.If you want to start or continue with your spiritual growth and have a lot of questions then read this book.This book differs from other George's book as there are a lot less references to past readings, which was brilliant for this book.Right balance of explanation and references to other readings.Loved it, and the information was provided in an intelligent matter that I found was not condescending at all.

Very enlightening
I am still reading this book and find it different from the others.What this book means to me is information for all.He does include the results of a few sessions to make a point but I am very happy I ignored a negative review and purchased this anyway.I recommend it.

Walking In the Garden of Souls
Reading this book made me feel how incredibly generous George Anderson is to other souls yet he is so hard on himself. However he seems to me a soul full of humility and with great love for his fellow beings, all beings and his experiences touch the heart and make one yearn for more from him. So George, please continue to write, your style of writing is sensitive, witty, full of humanity and I would so love to meet you one day.

Raine, author of "And Rainedrops Fall Down My Cheeks"

comfort for the grieving
Stunning book.This was my second book by George Anderson and I enjoyed it just as much as his book We Don't Die.By the end of the book I felt that the souls were as real to me as they are to George.This book makes sense of the what is the worse time in our life, the death of someone we love.Instead of death being the ending we all expect, George gave me faith that it's really just the beginning for those who leave us.And that death is actually when we take up our real lives again, leaving behind this 'veil of tears' we call Earth.Having lost a son, this book was particularly important to me.I especially found comfort in the way the souls who have left us, find ways to comfort us.In the eight months since our son's death, every time I've been particularly down, something or someone steps in to give me just what I need to keep going and to even find joy.
George Anderson may be out of reach for me, but his book is not and in it I felt the presence of the souls that came through George to comfort others.It helps tremendously to hear stories of the grieving parents who have spoken to their loved ones through George. What a gift George brings to us all.
Robin Landry, author When I Dream

Great book on grief!
Those of us who are grieving have come across some of this information before, but the manner in which it's presented, and by such an accomplished medium, it is truly refreshing and uplifting.It made my grief easier to understand and see the bigger picture for us all.My loss was a spouse, and I can think of other people who have lost children that would greatly benefit from reading this book.I read it within 48 hours, it was so compelling and resonated with my heart.Definitely a book you'd want to share with others! ... Read more