I have spent many times a day and night reading this book to my little brother Jordan. (he is 6) We both enjoy as the plot unravels and smiles are brought to our faces throughout the entire book! I recommend this book for all ages actually. Parents will it enjoy it as much as their children!

This is not a new book but it has stood the test of time. I have been using it for over 20 years a reference. It's very readable as well as informative.
In fact, I used it to find a name for our daughter!

The Witcher is a funny,intresting book.It kept me reading,on and on.It had suspence,action and mystery,It made what the character thought so real,I ignored small details.Good,all in all.

As a result of hard schlorship on the part of Smith and Nelson we have a unvarnished and well researched story of what goes on behind the Norman Rockwell postcard towns here in Vermont. It is a bitter lesson that we had all better head and it is one that regional differences is repeated throughout Rural America. With the hindsight of Seattle eariler this month Smith and Nelson might have written an even more forcful tomb. However this is one book that I highly reccomend to every public policy person and citizen when considering development and what it's true costs are. Read it and weep.

This book is very useful for giving adult students with very little English knowledge opportunity for in-class talking time with other students. Seems to go slowly, but even the more advanced students enjoy it, as there are opportunities to challenge them, as well. Gives students a chance to teach each other the English, in situations where I used to spend a half an hour talking to them as they dozed off. It has revolutionized my ESL classes--they are more enjoyable for both the students and myself.

This book is the bedtime favorite of my husband and daughter. The story is clever and entertaining to children and adults. The illustrations are soft and finely detailed. My husband finds many children's books "silly" or "boring," but he loves this one because the plot takes twists and the language is vibrant.

Christina Crawford tells a story that has gone on for years in this country. Child abuse can happen to any family. Unfortunately some narrow minded folks seem to think this only happens in poor or uneducated families. It can and does happen to anyone. Thousands of children are abused and/or killed in this country each year. We hardly hear enough stories about it to scratch the surface. It's a sin and a shame on this whole country that rich people can buy anything, even children. Some have called Christina a "cry baby". Is that perhaps because you feel that since she seemingly lived in a wonderful mansion and had every little frill a child could dream of? You can live in the most marvelous of mansions and have everything your little heart desires. It would still be a living hell if you had to share it with an abusive and/or mentally ill person who controlled your every move.

Someone who has never seen the movie or read the book called it, "Sickening and an abomination" that she would do this to her "foster" mother. I'd like to remind you that she was SUPPOSED to be a little more than her "foster" mother. She legally adopted these children which means she was supposed to love and protect them as any mother would. If she was unfit mentally then she shouldn't have used them to make a publicity splash or at least realized that she wasn't giving them the love they deserved. The only thing sickening and an abomination was that there were people around who witnessed all this and chose to turn their heads and a deaf ear because she was "Joan Crawford. Hollywood Glamour Star."

I too was abused but I don't have the courage that Christina has because most people don't want to "get involved" or they simply don't want to believe that someone could act so nice in public and be so different behind closed doors. So the victims go on in silence. Ms. Crawford spent 60 years developing her film career? Well, good for her. I'm so glad she was so narcissistic that she chose to spend all her time on her selfish vain needs and "bought" these poor children to live in misery for her own selfish vain need to be looked upon with respect. It only took Hitler 14 years to rise to dictator of Germany and only a few years to kill 6 million Jews and 5 million other people he considered to be mentally deficient or political enemies. So what? It doesn't take hard work to be vain.

Sickening and abominable? Yes that this country will turn it's head and let these things happen because we are so enamored with the rich and famous. I will go on in silence working behind the scenes at abuse shelters and charities. I can sleep at night. Good for you Christina. God bless you. I hope you too can sleep at night now, without fear of a drunken crazed woman coming in to wake you up with her latest torture. God bless America, and thank you for trying to open some of our eyes to the facts of child abuse and to this horrible habit of worshiping people with money and fame.

Wow is all I can say! This controversy is as bad as the Thomas Jefferson - Sally Hemings debates! Who's telling the truth?

I must admit, I found out about Joan Crawford when I saw Faye's performance of her in the movie about this book. I was 10. I asked my mother some questions about her, and that was about it. A few years later, I became an old film junkie, and became a huge fan of Joan's works. She gave me the impression of a professional actress, who worked for everything that she got. Now I'm 18, and I read this book over the summer. It gave me a grim look into Joan's life through the eyes of her adopted daughter. But then you have Joan's other adopted daughters, denying any abuse from Joan. Who do you believe? Should Joan's reputation be damaged by this book? Or should we open our eyes into the rich and famous, and see they are flesh and blood just like us, and they have their faults? The only thing I didn't like about this book was that Christina portrayed Joan as having an extremely sad life. I know this can't be true, there must be some high points in Joan's career and life. She made so many people happy through her movies, including me. I do feel really bad for Christina for going through the child abuse, but I'm glad to see she can share her story with millions. Not only did she helping other victims, she helped herself.

Whoever worried about grammar errors and said "get over it" or didn't read it and anything that discredited Ms. Crawford's work should be ashamed of themselves. I saw the movie for the second time on cable today (they rarely play it) and have read the book. I think that Ms. Crawford is very brave for comming out and telling the world about what Joan Crawford did. It's a shame what Joan did because of the problems that she had with Hollywood, her relationships, and flaws in her character. I know people and friends that have been abused and have been neglected as foster children, and to survive that is amazing and if people want to discredit something that people weren't ready to tell at that era, that is a shame because all that glitters is not gold. As a movie buff, Joan Crawford had great success, but in the dark, she must have had a hard time to deal with the let downs of Hollywood, and Hollywood made her crazy. Not all people have both a successful career and a wonderful home life, as Christina Crawford tells. I think that this book (and the movie) was to make people more aware of abuse and that it has always been here, no matter if its one child of a household that speaks up, or none.

Although I'm a big fan of Hawthorne's short stories, this is my first venture into his novel writing. His short stories, by their very nature, move from conflict to climax without much ado. They are preachy, pedantic, and allegorical--and I love them. "...Seven Gables" moves along at a much slower pace, developing symbolism and characters with greater subtlety and depth. The plot itself is not much deeper than one of his short stories. We watch humbled, yet strong Hepzibah struggle for a living from a one room shop in the house. Along the way, she meets a variety of characters and becomes host and confidant to a long-lost relative, gentle Phoebe. Phoebe is sunlight, poking into the shadows of the gabled house, bringing vivacity to its occupants, Hepzibah, Clifford, and Holgrave. Yes, Hawthorne hints at sinister things in the past and present of the old house, but only with the arrival of Judge Pyncheon do we begin to suspect trouble brewing.

The conclusion of the book involves death and hidden riches and suspicions and redemption. The symbols throughout--the house, the chimney, the elm tree, the chickens, etc.--manage to reveal their purposes in due time. In a satisfactory manner, Hawthorne contrasts the insidious nature of religious hypocrisy with the virtues of honesty and gentle love. The horrors of the Pyncheons' past fade away in the light of Phoebe's commitment and care. Her time in the house brings life to all within...all except one.

Hawthorne could've encapsulated this tale in one of his short stories. He could've sliced away words with meticulous demand. Instead, he allows us to know and care for the people in his story. Some readers, granted, will find it difficult to care and will call it a waste of their time; sure, it takes a little effort. But, just as Phoebe and Hepzibah display sacrificial love, a reader who's willing to give the time might find worthwhile rewards by the book's end.

If you're already a fan, you'll enjoy it. I certainly did. If it seems too long, try some of his short works and work up your appetite for these heartier courses. This is rich stuff.

The story of "The House of Seven Gables" begins in the midst of Puritan New England (which Hawthorne paints characteristically, and forgiveably, quite bleak) with the fantastic tale of a severe dispute between stern Colonel Pyncheon and alleged wizard Matthew Maule over a piece of land. Maule is conveniently executed (while cursing Pyncheon) for his "crimes", and Pyncheon builds Seven Gables on the aforesaid land. Several years later, the colonel dies suddenly, supposedly the mark of Maule's curse, which is to forever haunt the Pyncheon mansion.

Several generations of Pyncheons come and go, and the family decays and whithers until it can boast only four remaining members, two of which are old and frail. But one, a Judge Pyncheon, rotten under his trim exterior, is up to unsurfaced mischief.

The story tends to move slowly (much of the meat of the plot is not encountered until nearly half-way through!), but every word bears weight. Hawthorne weaves his story in such a way that every moment spent getting to know the characters is crucial. Neither is the slow development boring: far from it! Relax, enjoy the pace, and allow yourself to feast on Hawthorne's brilliant prose. As Henry James once stated, "The House of Seven Gables" is "the closest approach we are likely to have to the Great American Novel."

This book is really good. Very deep mystery about a dying witch's curse. It's not a fast-moving thriller, by a slow and methodical one. Every word is chosen so carefully by Hawthorne, that it is fun to read and a challenge for the mind to find the hidden meaning. The novel starts with a discription of the house- the house with human attributes and ends with a lone cat watching the fulfillment of a witch's curse. Really excellent. There's plenty of characterization, hints of incest, and omenious surrounding to keep the reader entertained. Love love loved it, read it in a college American literature class.

I read the original version of this book and was shocked. I have always known about the things that go on in Gymnastics, however I believe too much attention is being paid to gymnastics in the USA. I used to do gymnastics, which I enjoyed, but then a chinese coach (I'm not racist- several of my dearest friends are chinese) came into my life. He was convinced that he was going to turn our little class into a bunch of elites. he would yell at me for not being able to do certain skills and I could tell he thought I weighed too much. I chose not to listen to him, and quit. And this year while watching the gymnastics competion at sydney I saw I shocking piece on how gymnasts are treated in China ans other foreign countries. also I'd like to say that I now play soccer and am 5' 5" and 145, and for the most part happy. I love my chosen sport and I'm not going to let people push me around. So don't let that happen to you either- if you're in an uncomfortable situation, leave. A Note To Parents: Please don't push your kids real hard, cuz they're tryin' their best.

The title is a little misleading as probably 90% of Ryan's text is concerned with gymnastics. The new edition includes a few new photographs of figure skaters Michelle Kwan and Tara Lipinski, but there isn't anything new about these skaters in the text. The book isn't particularly well written; Ryan cites the same examples over and over, and there's some awkward prose here that an editor might have tidied up, especially for a second edition. Ryan discusses gymnasts who were seriously injured, suffered from severe eating disorders or became suicidal-- and because she doesn't give much space to gymnasts who have not been destroyed by the sport, it's easy to dismiss this as a sensational, tabloid-style account. For instance, Ryan mentions that Mary Lou Retton could "laugh off" comments about her weight while other girls were devastated and driven to eating disorders-- but she didn't interview Retton or anyone else who was satisfied with her experiences (with the possible exception of Betty Okino). Allowing both sides to express their views could have made for a more balanced, interesting and credible book.

I started taking gymnastics at the young age of five because I liked the sport; I think my mom, however, enrolled me so I would quit flipping off of and jumping on the furniture at home! Even as a kid in those classes, I noticed there were two groups: those who did it for fun (like me), and those kids (and parents) who had visions for Olympic gold medals dancing before their eyes. Ryan's book focuses on the latter, the darker sides of professional gymnastics and figure skating, along with the image these sports push on society: the image of perfectly thin, little, beautiful young girls.

This book is a interesting, if harrowing read. Ryan documents the terrible accident that resulted in up-and-coming Julissa Gomez' death and spends a good portion of the book devoted to Christy Heinrich and eating disorders, along with other gymnast's bouts with this terrible disease. In addition, she reports about abusive coaches (those who sexually molested or verbally abused gymnasts), along with stories about the famous gymnastics coach Bela Karolyi. There's even a report about a coach who killed a gymnast by bashing her head into the balance beam! Ryan devotes a chapter to those parents who push their children into these sports and then try to live through the child's victories and Olympic hopes. While figure skating doesn't get much time devoted to in the book, it does give in detail the Tonya Harding/Nancy Kerrigan saga, along with Nancy's strive to improve her "marketability" by having her teeth capped. Such interesting stories that we, as the American society, have never heard of, but need to.

I really don't think that Joan Ryan was trying to cash in on the Olympics by releasing the book again. I think as a seasoned journalist who knows her stuff, she's concered about the future of these two sports, along with the effects of American sociey's expectations on little girls. It's sad to say, despite this great read, that the truth behind the magic and victory isn't always pretty.

I have read the previous works of Anna Quindlen and have enjoyed them quite a bit. I wish I could say the same thing for "Blessings", I just could not get past the incrediably unlikely premise that this story is based on. We have Skip, a twentysomething single guy, down on his luck, and needing a break after taking the fall for a robbery attempt and spending some time in jail. He goes to work for Lydia Blessing an elderly, wealthy, widow with more than her share of personal and family secrets. Now enter baby "Faith". Skip finds a newborn foundling left on his doorstep (he lives over the garage at Lydia's estate), and what does our petty criminal with a heart of gold decide; I'll keep this baby as my own, yes, that won't cause any concerns with my parole officer. Honestly what do you think the chances of a 20 year old guy with a whole heap of issues, taking on the dauting responsibilities of caring for a newborn not his own are? After I suspended all disbelief, I began to think, well it is possible. Then I remembered what a newborn is all about and thought no way, no how. In any event, the story moves on with Lydia finding out about the baby and the two forming an odd friendship based on their growing and mutual adoration of the infant. There was likely no way to end this story "happily", but this ending felt rushed and forced to me, not at all satisfying. I actually found the side story about Lydia Blessings early life, her secrets and family far more interesting than the Skip and the baby route. The author could easily have written a far more compelling novel, by focusing just on this storyline. As it stands this one comes off about as bland as baby formula.

I read an excerpt from this book in Reader's Digest adn then noticed a lot of good reviews on here and the book kept getting recommended to me. So thought to myself I might as well and read it. I am glad I did. I have never read anything by this author before but I enjoyed her wrting, her style and her characters.
This story is about mainly an old woman, a young man and a baby that changes there lives.
Skip gets a job for ms. Blessings to be her handyman and after a month he finds a cardbox in the garage. Inside is a newborn baby. He decides to keep her even though he is scared to death. After a while Ms. Blessings discovers her. As the story goes on from there secerts are revealed from all around past and present. The baby brings out the best in everybody that comes near her in Skip's life.
I couldn't put this book down and I would recommend it to anyone.

In this book Anna Quindlen delivers a lovely story of strength, support, and love.

Late one night, a teenaged couple abandons their newborn baby at the garage door of "Blessings", an estate inhabited by the elderly Lydia Blessing and her young handyman, Skip Cuddy.....and thus set off a chain of events that will propel both of these characters on a journey of discovery.

Skip, who lives over the garage and finds the foundling, will discover unexpected depths of feelings for this little one, whom he names Faith. He also discovers the nurture of which he is capable--and what the tribulations of fatherhood can be. This baby gives Skip's life a structure and purpose that it never had before. Lydia discovers that perhaps doing what is expected is not always the "good" thing to do....and questions what the "right" thing to do really is. She has lived in the past for so long, thinking about her family's many secrets, but this baby brings her into the present with a welcome jolt.

Despite trying to keep Faith's presence a secret, Lydia finds out that Skip has taken on the role of "father" to this baby, and the three of them become an unlikely sort of family. Quindlen shows us how a family is not necessarily comprised of those related by blood, but can be a unit made up of people who need, support, and care for each other. Together, Skip and Lydia find unexpected joy in Faith and find resources within themselves of which they were unaware. These two characters, of such different backgrounds and ages, also allow the author to tell the same story in two very different ways.

Quindlen has written a richly descriptive and moving novel, one of redemption and personal growth, and about doing the right thing. Her observational skills, so evident in the columns she has written over the years, make us understand and care about these characters, their pasts, and how their lives affect others.

I loved the double meaning of the title,"Blessings"...for not only was it the name of a house, but blessings were what these characters bestowed on each other.

A wonderful reading experience that this reader will remember with great pleasure.