In the book, The Ghosts of Now by Joan Lowery Nixon, Angie, the main character, finds herself home alone on a Friday night when the phone rings. On the other end a stranger whispers, 'Your brother is dead.' She later finds her brother Jeremy is in a coma at the hospital and may never recover. She feels alone and has to suspect that even her new boyfriend, Del, is a suspect. She has courage and bravery in finding out who did this to her brother. Her parents don't support her very well in doing so. Her father is a work-a-holic and her mother is always drinking to forget her problems. She finds that not even her parents seem too concerned about the incident.

I give this book a 3 on a rating of zero to five. It's not horrible and it's not fantastic. The problem with it is that the beginning is extremely boring. There isn't much action at all, and all through the book it's pretty slow moving. Even with the lack of actions it gets very good at some points. Fortunately, the book gets a better pace near the middle of the book.

Another problem was that the author was not too descriptive. She didn't get her descriptions to make the book better. I don't enjoy mysteries all that much unless it's a fantastic book, which this is definitely not. This book was well written, if you don't include the failure of descriptive words and the lack of excitement at times. I feel that Nixon left the most important part of the story, the ending, in the dust. It was just way too sudden and not suspenseful. Also, the author gave away too much information about the characters too early in the story. This book does not have a stead pace and it is hard to understand unless you are really interested and can pay complete attention to it. Compared to other books it is fairly easy to read and comprehend at an 8th grade reading level.

Joan Lowery Nixon is the best mystery writer out there! I don't know how she does it, but every single book that she writes becomes a hit! She mixes terror and fear with love, devotion, and other common emotions to create stories that not only entertain you, but reach out to you! "The Ghosts of Now" was no exception. However, I feel that Nixon left the most important part of the story -- the ending -- in the dust; it was just way too abrupt and not suspenseful. Aside from that, Nixon gives away too much information about the characters too early in the story!

The story is about a girl named Angie. One night, her brother leaves, but fails to tell Angie where. Since their parents aren't home, Jeremy feels as though he doesn't have to explain himself. After he leaves, Angie gets a call from a person who whispers to her that 'Her brother is dead.' Now -- with Jeremy in a coma, after being the victim of a hit-and run -- Angie sets out on a determined journey to find the coward that attempted to murder her brother. But, it's not as easy as it sounds. People around the town are "hush-hush" about what they saw they night, and Angie finds that the majority of them are lying! Who? Why? Angie tries to answer these questions before someone tries to stop her in "The Ghosts of Now."

This book "The Ghosts of Now," was an exciting thriller. It all starts on a stormy Friday night. On that Friday night Angie Dupree gets a phone call, someone says "Your brother is dead." When she goes to the hospital she fines out that her is stuck in coma which he may never recover from. Angie has a hit and run case in her hands. Angie doesn't know what happened last night, but she is determined to find out who did this to her brother. Before her brother was left in coma he said to her, "Angie, don't go in the house on Huckleberry street." Angie starts to wonder why he said that so she goes into his room and starts to look around the desk. She finds something that may be some real use to her in the case. Does Angie solve the mystery?
Joan Lowery Nixon is one of the most greatest mystery writers I know. She has wrote over 100 books for everyone to read. Joan Lowery Nixon has been called the Grande Dame of Young Adult Mysteries. She is also the four-time winner of the Edgar Allan Poe Best Young Adult Mystery Writers of America Award.
I recommend "The Ghost of Now," because it is a real thriller. It kept me in suspense though the whole book. I couldn't put it down. I love this book and all the other books that she has written. If you want some mystery suspense then make sure you pick up a novel by Joan Lowery Nixon.

I personally found the *gritty* style of this book annoying. I knew it was an intimate look at the circumstances surrounding the disasterous Hubbard expedition and the subsequent journey undertaken by his wife Mina, but this account reads more like a 1950s pulp novel or a Louis L'amour western. The prose is choppy and entirely too chatty, sinking at times to a veritable nadir of banality: "George stepped off the Williamstown train, feeling like a fox ready to have his heart pulled." (whatever hell that means), or "...a lot of trappers weren't interested in the idea of foolin' with someone dead" (too folksy). In short it's a slipshod narrative history written in the vein of an adolescent adventure story.

This is a fabulous narrative of a wilderness adventure, like many others filled with the hazards adventurers encounter when they stray far from home. What makes the story unique is not a side-bar intrigue of romance and mystery but a deep underlying question about human motivation, relationships and dreams - as lived through the minds and bodies of the adventurous. The story is told with skill and grace - and is spellbinding.

From two of the men who brought us "The Complete Wilderness Paddler" (a marvelous book in itself), this is a must read, preferably while you yourself are tucked comfortably at camp, or in the tent waiting out the storm, or late at night by the oil lamp. You won't miss with this one.

I am a novice seamstress and found some of these patterns a little challenging, yet I was able to complete others with no problem. I managed to make the doll bathrobe in about an hour and it looks professional! Just like an American Girl Doll store bought version! What I don't like about the book is that you have to have a variety of fabrics on hand to make the clothes. Most of which, are stretch knits which I don't stock pile. You also have to have access to 7 inch doll zippers something that is hard to locate in my rural location. Other than that, there are many outfits to select from, which you can make out of scrap cottons. I don't regret buying it. Erin Pennington, Carmi, IL

This book is great for making quick and simple doll clothes. I have had a lot of fun making a great variety of clothes for my granddaughters AG doll. Let you imagination go and there is no limit to what you can do with these patterns. Some days I think I have more fun than my granddaughter.

I bought this book for the sweater pattern, and I'm extremely pleased with the easy directions, clear photography and stylish patterns.

I made the doll sweater, turtleneck and jeans then adapted a toddlers pullover sweater and made the same sweater for my grandaughter. If Jordan and her AG doll aren't the cutest things in their matching creations. This book was worth the price just for the sweater design.

St. Benedict wrote his rule based upon the spirit of the Gospels and Joan Chittister has captured the true spirit of both. Jesus asked the crowds to examine their motivations and actions and the author continues that skein of query using the Rule of Benedict as a springboard. This is the best spiritual work I have ever read outside of the Bible; it is clear, insightful, and yes, even makes the reader confront the inner self which is what every good spiritual writing should do. Simply wonderful.

I have read several books on the Rule and I think that this one and "Wisdom Distilled from the Daily" by Joan Chittister are some of the most clearly written ones I have read. The down-to-earth language is just what I need to improve my understanding of the subject, since I am just beginning my studies of it. I also appreciate that the entire Rule is divided so that it can be read each day as food for thought in manageable portions.

As a Benedictine of 41 years, this is the first commentary on the Rule of St. Benedict which I have read (and I have ready MANY) that has made the Gospel lifestyle contemporary and relevant. Chittister has taken the experiences of a lifetime and correlated them with the Rule. Not an easy task, but she has achieved it remarkably well. This book is at once homey and scholarly. Common sense pervades this easy to read guide. It is the only commentary which I have read more than twice. It is the only commentary which seems to have captured the essence of St. Benedict's Rule and subsequently, the Gospels.

I got nothing new in this book. When I got my attunements from my teacher, I got all the same info from the accomapnying manual by William Rand. Besides, I felt that the print in the book was like reading a draft on MS word!! The book was over-priced for what it gives the reader (considering you have to take a class anyway to get the attunements). Very disappointing.

This is a wonderful book, obviously written from the heart by a person with a lot of experience with Karuna Reiki. I love all the suggestions for combining the symbols. Working with the meditations and journal have been powerful experiences for me. I learned so much more than I did in my Karuna class. I hope to go Sedona, Arizona one day and repeat the class with the author. Thank you!

While reading this book I felt a strong feeling of peace and happiness. I could feel the presence of the Archangels. I loved all the additional information in this book. Especially the reference to crystals and the meditation to connect to the Angelic Realms. The treatment techniques for specific illnesses are wonderful.

The cover is beautiful and the type is crisp, clear and so easy on the eyes. It was a joy to read, and I will return to it as a reference many times.

Catherine thhe Great, the little teenage Princess who came from germanic heritage, developed into a scheming, pitiless, yet loving ruler. The author takes us through her development with wonderful descriptions of those times. One can compare her reign in Russia with the development of the American Revolution and be astonished at the paths of the two nations. It is well worth reading and helps us understand the Russia of that time and of later times.

This is a book about a woman who wasn't perfect but had great intentions and made the best of her situation. I admire Catherine the Great immensely

The daughter of a minor German prince, it almost easy to imagine Catherine the Great came to the throne by accident. But Catherine had a mission. Almost from the day she was chosen to be the wife of Grand Duke Peter, Catherine set her sights on greater power. She suceeded, some say by murdering her own husband, Tsar Peter III.

Catherine lead the Russians in the battle for the Crimea, eventually winning the region for the empire. The book also goes extensively into the many loves of Catherine. But short of using them to define who the Tsarina was, Troyat treats them as the diversion that Catherine saw them as.

Catherine saw herself as a liberal monarch. In fact, she regularly corresponded with Volraire and Diderot. But in the end, Catherine's main accomplishment was the maintain the power of the monarchy.

There are many books on meditation, and I bought this one and Meditation by Sri Chinmoy. Main reason was that all the reviews were excelent. But Chinmoy's book is superior in every aspect. This book is more a dicitonary on meditation than useful manual.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Meditation, by Joan Budilovsky and Eve Adamson, will answer every question you have about meditation, as well as help you find the kind of meditation that is right for you.

Budilovsky and Adamson have teamed up before with books on yoga and massage, as well as writing independently about holistic health.

They write that "meditation can teach you to live in the now, to know yourself--body, mind, and soul--better, and to find the life you need." They first explain how meditation reduces stress and helps in healing, then discuss how "meditation will lead you to a consideration of life's bigger questions. . ." before getting into the actual techniques for successful meditation.

They emphasize throughout the book that meditation does not conflict with any religious or spiritual beliefs.

Instructions start with how to prepare your mind and body for meditation, then explain the different seated, walking, and moving meditations. The authors discuss how to use mantras, mandalas, and visualization techniques to enhance meditation. They also review the basics of yoga, T'ai Chi, and QiGong as relaxation techniques.

Readers are taught how to adapt religious traditions to "create your own profound meditative exercises." They also learn how to perform "body scans" to determine what their bodies are telling them about their physical health.

Definitions of unfamiliar terms are included with the text, making it easy to understand the information presented. "Mindful Minutes," meditation trivia and anecdotes, are scattered throughout the book.

Budilovsky and Adamson say that with a "few simple techniques, you can harness the awesome power of your own mind-body." In The Complete Idiot's Guide to Meditation, they show you exactly what those techniques are and how to apply them in your own life.

This book is definately not for idiots! It contains nearly everything that beginners would be interested in concerning meditation. There are lessons on different cultures and how they meditate, spiritual meditation practices (to reach for enlightenment) how and where to pick the perfect meditation sanctuary, poses and hand positions, moving meditation, and so much more. This manual is written in a down to earth style that makes you feel as though the author is sitting right there with you. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the broad and ever-expanding world of meditation!

If your life were a TV channel, which one would it be? ESPN, Disney, Lifetime or the Discovery Channel? Or perhaps the Suffering Channel or the Struggle and Stress Channel? That's the question posed by Joan Gattuso at the beginning of her latest work, "A COURSE IN LIFE."

Like her previous work, "A COURSE IN LOVE," one could rightly assume that Joan Gattuso's newest book is heavily based on the popular New Thought seminar series, "A COURSE IN MIRACLES." Since the author is "A COURSE IN MIRACLES" teacher as well as a Unity minister, "A COURSE IN LIFE" dwells on our spiritual nature and accentuates the positive and the sacred aspects of life. Borrowing liberally from Ernest Holmes as well "...we are Spiritual Beings living in a Spiritual Universe governed by Spiritual Law," Gattuso has written an excellent primer for anyone interested in delving into Holmes' voluminous "SCIENCE OF MIND." And for serious students, "A COURSE IN LIFE" serves as a fascinating summary work to both "A COURSE IN MIRACLES" and "SCIENCE OF MIND."

With that said, this work can certainly stand on its own as a handbook for living a joyful, fulfilling life. In fact, it may well be the only self-improvement book you need. A non-fiction page-turner if ever there was one, "A COURSE IN LIFE" uses wonderful analogies and metaphors such as the Discovery Channel or equating faith with tofu to demystify the mystical. Gattuso weaves interesting real-life stories, personal anecdotes, practical exercises, affirmations, visualizations and quotations from varied spiritual and literary sources into a tapestry of artful living. She begins by introducing us to twelve universal truths that open a vista of life-enhancing possibilities. Then she devotes a chapter to each of these truths. Every chapter is self-contained. A reader can pick and choose which principles to focus on. I would suggest reading through the entire work then going back and choosing those principles which seem most meaningful. Spend a week or even a month working on the exercises and affirmations presented in that chapter. If you follow this step-by-step guide faithfully, you will no doubt experience your life switching from the Suffering Channel to the Self-Discovery Channel.

I will read this book over and over again. I have purchased copies for friends and I am purchasing two more today. This book was an incredible gift to my life. I have that found books that make me work on my innerself take longer to read than others, but what a journey. I recommend this book to anyone who chooses a better life for themselves and is willing to take the time and energy to make it happen.

Even if you haven't read A Course in Miracles this book is a wonderful tool to help one discover one's true path in life. It is a book I would take if I were to be stranded on a desert island because each reading gives me deeper insights.

I think you should read. Hill of Fire. It is very good. I like the middle part. My favorite part is when the volcano erupts. I think you should read this book.

I thought this book was really good. If you read my report l think you should read the book. It is about a man and his boy. His father is a farmer and one day the boy comes out and helps his father. Then they hit the top of a volcano. Which is in the ground and it destroys everything. Then they rebuild everything.

Hill of Fire tells the true story of a Mexican farmer who encounters the beginnings of a volcano in his corn field. The vocabulary is very easy, and yet the author captures the mood of the sleepy village that was changed forever by El Monstruo. I recommend this book to teachers of grades 2 and 3 and to children who are just moving away from picture books.

the author of the marvelous, "care of the soul" writes another soulful blockbuster here in "original self". this is a collection of beautiful meditations on self knowledge, the soul, and the natural spirituality that springs forth when the soul is properly nurtured and listened to. ever the master of the subtle insight, mr moore gently shows us where to look and how to listen. i like reading a section upon rising early in the morning. the writing is beautiful, wise, and makes me want to joyfully be a better person. the book is beautifully made and his message is worth reading and contemplating over and over. he seems to see a depth in the reader that is uncanny. what treasures will he help you uncover? check this one out. its a treasure map and more.

Upon leaving Australia to move to the U.S.A., I weapt when I packed away my extensive library into heavy wooden crates,in an attempt to protect their wisdom, until I could return one day. I only had room to stash a few precious books into my suitcases which were to transport me safely until I arrived at a place where I was ready to rebuild a new library in the new homeland. Thomas Moore's books 'Care of the Soul' and 'Re-Enchantment of Everyday Life' were two of the six I packed. I couldn't imagine life without the nurturing I found within the pages of Thomas Moore's words. They are a pathway back to the safety of the soul when everything seems threatening, changing yet enticing.

I have gifted several copies of his work to friends at appropriate times in their lives when they too needed a constant companion. I lived his words and painted my house in rennaissance colours, played wildly romantic Italian operas, purchased a few antiques to gaze upon their craftsmanship and history and immersed my soul with renewed values around family love and passion for everyday simplicities and sanctuaries. I've lived Thomas Moore's work for several years now and it has made my life rich and rewarding.

I believe it was more than a synchronicity occurence when his recent book "Original Self" came into my life, again, coinciding with a trip to a far off place where I was considering another internal shift. It arrived right at a time when I was entertaining the idea (unfortunately, once again) to sell my soul to do a somewhat souless task. His message was simple but profound, return to my own authenticity and "Original Self" or chance loosing my soul. Since that fortunate time, I have been pouring over his words from this recent masterpiece like a child at play with a deep curiosity of how his writings have affected my life, again, in such a deeply mysterious way. Thomas Moore's books are part of my life and now, thanks to his urgings, my soul. Be assured, whatever he writes about is speaking directly to your soul. I can't imagine how anyone living, after reading his work, not knowing that they have just been touched by a master. But I know it happens to an unfortunate few.

Only read this book should you want to be roused by the intervention of divinely tender words or stirred by deep meditations about life. I suggest you buy his book and see it as part of the magical immersion into soul that Thomas Moore wants for you. You may in fact be able to reignite your passion to overcome the sufferings of your neglected soul and start to recognize the bitter ailments of a soul-less society so desperaely in need of nurturing. Or perhaps not, you may just return home to your "Original self".

Thomas Moore broke the mold when he wrote this one!...Moore took me everywhere inside myself, and drove me to the core of my soul. Everything that i had origionally thought about life, was turned inside out, upside down. But it was as if all these ideas were already seeds in me, yet they had been covered in a lot of petty, crappy, useless things. My soul was watered and i am now a child again. Unlearning all that i have been taught and reviewing all that was origionally in me! THis book was hard to understand at times, but after you read it over and over....it hits you like a brick! I recommend this book to anyone, and everyone.