My daughter (age 3) loves this book! She enjoys looking forher favorite hat each time we read it. Having read the Mitford series,I was glad to see that Jan Karon had written children's books aswell. The illustrations in the book are great, nice and vivid. It's a very cute and fun book to read. It's a loving story not just about the hat, but the relationship that Miss Fannie has with her daughter. That is a story of it's own. It's a great book to give as a gift to anyone, adult or child. Jan Karon is a superb writer and I look forward to purchasing more books written by her for myself, as well as for my children. Another great book written by her that we have purchased is "Jeremy". Enjoy!

Having read the Mitford series by Jan Karon, I was thrilled to discover she also has written children's books. I know a lady just like Miss Fannie at my church. It's a wonderful story for old and young alike. My women's group had everyone wear hats to their May meeting and shared this book with all the gals. They loved it. And the surprise at the back of the book is really enjoyed by my granddaughters.

Jan Karon's Miss Fannie's Hat is a picture book for young Christian readers, about a little old lady who loves her hats - yet when her church needs help, she gives up her favorite hat of all for their auction. Playful color illustrations by Toni Goffe mark this whimsical and highly recommended story about the joy of sharing. A cheerfully narrated audio CD accompanies this special edition Christian storybook.

Coming Home to Ourselves should be required reading for any woman who is in crisis. It provides an excellent sense of well-being and is the first step to recovery.

The book offers 168 pages of nurturing and insight. It provides more healing than a warm bath,a manicure and a call to your best friend.

Coming Home to Ourselves is a must read for any woman.

For those in search of a way out of the old self-deprecating belief system, Jan's book, "Coming Home to Ourselves" is an excellent door to the first step towards freedom. Our personal gates are locked from inside and this book offers a first key.

Jan Forrest's recent book, Coming Home to Ourselves: A Woman's Journey to Wholeness has helped me to begin again with a journey I began twenty years ago. No matter where a woman is on her own "spiritual journey," this book can help to remotivate and reinspire setting out again on the path that WILL lead to wholeness. Jan Forrest speaks with the authority of someone who's learned from past experiences and wants to share what she's learned with others walking a similar path. Her voice has integrity and purpose as well as calm assurance that all IS well within, we just need to be quiet enough to connect with ourselves, our authentic selves. I would recommend Coming Home to Ourselves: A Woman's Journey to Wholeness, to any woman who wants to do just that, reclaim the pieces of her life and use them to create a beautiful collage of who she is as a "whole person" and what she hopes for in the depth of her heart and soul.

Jan Forrest's latest book, Awakening the Spirit Within is a keepsake treasure that can also be called a lifetime companion. This is because her wisdom and spiritual insights are timeless and universal. Her gentle suggestions for connecting with Spirit through everyday life are empowering to all who feel the tug of Spirit but don't know how to respond. Read it from front to back in one sitting or page by page as the mood strikes. Either way, Jan's words are soothing and comforting, inspiring and affirming. The index in the back is especially helpful for specific needs. If you think you are too busy to take time for spiritual sustenance, this book is for you. One minute is all it takes to read one page and be blessed by a shift in perception about some important aspect of your spiritual nature. Ahhhhh!

Awakening the Spirit Within really "spoke" to me! I was looking to purchase another book, when I saw Awakening the Spirit Within. I know of Jan from her previous books and articles and always receive some positive outlook I can apply to my life. This book does the same! It came to me at a much needed time in my life. Each page really speaks out to the spiritual process I am going through and offers wonderful insight to meditate on. I would highly recommend it to anyone. It would make a great gift! The wonderful thing about this book is that you can read the pages out of order, looking for whatever section applies to your life that day. Jan is truly one of the modern-day guru's in spirtual healing.

Jan Forrest's new book, "Awakening the Spirit Within," is an experience of small but exquisite epiphanies of one's self. Every page will help you unravel your own mysery and guide you to a more balanced spiritual self.

I discovered "The Mitford Years" when the series was given to my mother, who has cancer. As she was too sick to read, I picked up the first book, "At Home In Mitford" looking for a small escape. I was immediately hooked, and finished the four books in under three weeks. I couldn't put them down.

Karon has created a place where it feels safe to be. It's a small town where the residents are characters complete with warts and conflicts, but they all seem to hang in there and work to make their world a better place. Karon's sense of humor shines through as she portrays people we recognize as ourselves, our neighbors, our friends and our enemies. Their predicaments remind me of the adventures of the folks at Garrison Keillor's Lake Woebegone.

I enjoyed her books immensely, and wish there were a dozen more. I've bought the first book for my mother-in law, who is 73, my daughter, who is 15, my husband and his two sisters. Thanks to Jan Karon for a great gift: Mitford.

I didn't think it was possible however, the second installment of the Mitford Series was just as warm, wonderful and cozy as the first! At last, it is such a pleasure to read a series of books dedicated to mature love with decency and something left to one's imagaination. I cannot thank Ms. Karon enough for bravely showing the timeliness and gentleness of what the gift of patience brings to those whose choose to wait on God and to wait for the other person to learn about themselves so that they may into share that knowledge in learning to love someone to include them in their life in marriage!

The literary world has been in need of such a refreshing style and gentleness of touch. That you again, Ms. Karon for giving us back love, respect and commitment.

God's blessings on this and all your future endeavors!

Not to long ago, I finished reading all of the Joshua series by Fr. Grizone and thought to myself, "there's got to be more good Christian reading". A friend mentioned the Mitford series. Well, needless to say, I stayed up many a night til midnight reading the wonderful adventures of Mitford! I have told many a friend about this series. I bought a copy of the first book for my twin sister for our birthday the other day... Jan, you are a breath of fresh air in this polluted world we live in. Thanks for giving us hope that towns can take care of its own people, hmmm maybe even a whole country? Let's hope so! God Bless you for giving us the gift of Mitford. Also thank you from all the ministers in this world who can laugh with Fr. Tim. He and Cynthia are great gems. I too am single and looking for the right "Cynthia". Everyone else, if you haven't read the Mitford... Why not? Run don't walk to your nearest bookstore and pick up a copy!

Jan Karon certainly made me want to live in Mitford. Since I can't do that her books have been the closest thing to being there.I'm on the third book in the series and look forward to spending time with Father Tim and Cynthia and the wonderful and real cast of characters who inhabit Mitford. I first read about Mitford and Jan Karon when I picked up a copy of TEA magazine and read a review of her new book A New Song and an interview with Jan Karon. I grew up in a small New England town much like Mitford. It is a delight to escape there everytime I read about miss Rose, uncle Billy, Emma and Dooley not to mention the Main Street Grille. Each book includes a certain amount of mystery too. Will Tim and Cynthia get married? Will Dooley become a gentleman? Will Barnabas return?These questions keep me coming back for more and more. Ms.Karon please keep writing and providing me with a great escape.

I've read the first three books in the Mitford series; and I regret there is only one left. Jan Karon's writing style is as good and true as her characters are. I loved sharing each day with the folks in Mitford, especially Father Tim. I now have a goal to find my Mitford and go live there in peace and harmony for the rest of my days. Wish me luck!

Three cheers for the Mitford series! There are not enough superlatives in the dictionary to praise Jan Karon's writing enough!
If you're the type of reader who enjoys reading about good old time church stories about preachers and his congregation and life, then you'll be sure to fall in love with this series of books.
Basically Father Tim is the main character, and it begins with him as a good old preacher who has been a bachelor all of his life. The first book introduces you to his life as it was then, about his congregation, the cranky old Emma Newland, his church secretary,and his new dog whom he takes in as stray, Barnaba. There are many events and happenings through the story as you'll find reading along.

Once you start this series, you'll read nothing but for awhile, it is hard to put down. I would HIGHLY recommend it even for teenagers and older.

In preparing our list of Christmas books to share with others, we had to search far and wide on amazon to find this particular book, a paperback edition of the classic Night Before Christmas.

This is the book I've used for years when reading this story to my own children, passing on Tasha Tudor and other illustrators. Why?

Although we can find the same poem and pay a lot more, with award winning illustrators, the illustrations provided by Douglas Gorsline are surely the best. They are quite colorful, and offer details little children love looking into...cats lie sleepily on the window sill, we see an overview of the town, the presents spilling from the open sack are intriguing and plentiful, and Jolly St. Nick is -- well, quite Jolly (as you can see by looking at the cover!)

The story is an "abridged version" - I'm not sure about other parents, but we read this on Christmas Eve, and we only have so much time and energy. Everything we remember from the classic poem by Clement Clarke Moore is in this version.

(From "'Twas the Night Before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse" to "He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle. But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,"HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD-NIGHT!" In between we have everything, from the names of the eight tiny reindeer, to a belly that shakes like a bowl full of jelly, including dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, when they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky".

In other words, don't be scared off by 'abridged'!)

Perhaps a hardcover edition might be more appropriate if you're giving a gift (unless you're giving to more than one child), but this book is one of the best offers we've found!

A classic done simply and inexpensively!

I discovered this book 31 years ago, for my daughter and it is still loved by all the family. The illustrations are wonderful, warm, charming and delightful and bring a special meaning to the story. We still read it to all the young children on Christmas Eve and for adults we read the story and pass a grab bag gift every time the word THE is mentioned. It would not be Christmas without this book. It is magical.

We have an inexpensive paperback version (see our reviews) of this classic poem, and we said that's enough for us. That was before we looked through this beautifully illustrated (by Bruce Whatley) edition of The Night Before Christmas.

The lyrics are the same, from book to book, but the fanciful illustrations in this one are enough to engage adults and children as they read this book together.

The perfect gift for any family whose Christmas tradition includes reading this classic!

I love The Mitford series, this one in particular. Ms. Karon brings life into the day to day activities of Father Tim and the people in the village of Mitford. Don't miss this continuation of the wonderful southern small town story. I sincerely hope that Ms. Karon will continue this delightful series as Father Tim and Cynthia enter retirement.

After a long,cold winter of reading alot of Oprah's suggested books, I found such a nice change of pace in Mitford.. I'm suggesting my husband and my daughter read them . Anyone who is tired of the foul language and depressing violence found in most bestsellers, should read all four of Jan Karon's books. I am anxiously awaiting for her fifth book .

this book was the last of a series of books that was so uplifting. So many things I read were so relevant to my life in my community. How I wish I could be in Mitford and know all the characters that lived there. What a beautiful place to be and the church sounded like a great one to be a part of too. I recommend this to anyone who loves life and other people. It is a positive outlook when so much we read is negative. I enjoyed the Christian outlook. What a witness the father is!

This is a good learning guide and I think it will be all I need to get my first Ham Radio license. In addition, it has a lot of technical info that is useful in setting up a ham radio station.

My only criticism is that the book has too much information (often repeated) on the social and hobby aspects of ham radio. Not that I don't appreciate this trivia and fun info, it's just that it is mixed in with the technical data that you need to pass the FCC test. As a result, I think you need to study and retain a lot more information.

This book is exactly right for someone who wants to become a ham radio operator. This book does two things. It is a self study course that will allow you to pass the Technician level FCC test. It is also a general introduction to all of ham radio, covering the highlights of all that can be done in amateur radio. It has just the right level of sophistication to give a good understanding of all facets of amateur radio but does not get into such extreme detail that it is overwhelming. The technical level is just right as well.

I used an earlier version of this text to study for my amateur radio license (KD4TTC). Even though I studied for the Technician license I was able to pass the written portion of the test for the General license class. However, to get to know Morse code, needed for working the frequencies that will get around the whole globe, you will need to find a way to practice receiving Morse code. While this book won't teach you Morse, you will learn from the book how to go about learning it if you want to. (As an aside, I was not interested in international communications back then, so I skipped that aspect of the hobby. I will be learning Morse this year and will upgrade. There is plenty to do with amateur radio without Morse code, so don't let any disinterest or fear of Morse stop you from becomming a Ham. The book explains all this).

I have not yet come across any aspect of ham radio that was not described at least in overview in this book. I may not know details of lots of aspects of all that is ham radio, but I have not come across anything in Ham radio that I was not introduced to in this book.

You can expect that after reading this book you will be able to pass the Technician license exam, you might even be able to pass the General license written portion, you will have learned how to learn Morse, you will be able to decide what equipment you will need and where to find it, you will be able to set up your station and safely operate it, you will know correct and responsible operating procedures, and you will learn about all the different types of communications you can do so you will pick the most enjoyable aspects of the hobby for yourself.

I have given this book to friends so they can become hams. It works well for that purpose. I came here to buy a copy for yet another potential ham and found myself writing this long review. I am not really that avid of an amateur operator, but I am really enthusiastic about this book because it was such a fun and painless way to learn what I needed to know to get into ham radio.

Buy the book.

I first started getting into Ham Radio about a year ago. I picked up this book and started reading. You don't need to read all of the text- I skipped a few chapters and just worked on the test questions and answers. It must work- I whipped through the test packet like it was going out of style and didn't miss any questions- I can't wait to get started with Morse Code(CW) and the General Class License!!!!!!!!!

The Mitford Series is a collection of incredibly simple books about small town life. Told from the point of view of a preacher in a mythical town in the hills of North Carolina. Everybody knows everybody else, and not much happens. These are the perfect books to curl up with for some summer porch or beach reading.

Like life the plots are winding and not necessarily purposeful but by the end of the stories your can think back and realize how things developed to an inevitable conclusion. You basically follow a 60 year old preacher through his travails. Since he is a Christian man there is quite bit of bible quotation, but otherwise the story is not about his church so much as his efforts to keep life in order and cope with being a single man, past his youth yet surrounded by a small town that loves him - sometimes too closely.

One warning..this is very much a "sweet" book. It challenged me to forgo my natural skepticism. I put this in the category of a read that won't tax the reader all but may instead impart a little smile.

Also be aware that a stong Christian message plays throughout much of the dialogue and thinking.

Jan Karon's second tale of Mitford is not quite as good as her first. Her characters don't display as many of those little quirks in their personalities and as much of that homespun philosophy that made me fall in love with the town in her first book ("At Home in Mitford"). And frankly, this entry in the series shows definite signs of belonging on the same shelf as your basic Harlequin romance.

But there was enough of the original charm from the first book to allow me to recommend this one. The spiritual and emotional center of the town is still the local Episcopalian minister, Father Tim Kavanagh (whose last name we finally learn at the end of this book!). His relationship with his next-door neighbor, Cynthia Coppersmith, is still going down the same road as in the first book - although there are a lot of bumps and potholes along the way - and his bond with the boy Dooley is only getting stronger.

Aside from Father Tim's pursuit of Cynthia (and vice-versa), it would be impossible to describe all the little episodes that make up this book. But there are some that stand out. The town's latest widow, Edith Mallory, shows a definite mercenary streak - she's in shameless pursuit of Father Tim and also wants to close down the local diner and replace it with a dress shop that's willing to pay double the current rent. Miss Sadie, the town millionaire, is literally pouring her millions into repairing her home, just so she can give her newfound niece the wedding of her (and Miss Sadie's) dreams. And a redhead comes to Father Tim's door claiming to be his cousin Meg from Sligo, Ireland.

I do wish Ms. Karon had gone more deeply into the "Cousin Meg" sequence, but I can live with what she gave me.

Overall this is a worthy sequel to a fascinating tale of small-town life.

In this second book centering around Father Tim, his congregation, and his neighbors in the small town of Mitford, Jan Karon delivers more of the same uplifting stories, grounded in practical Christian beliefs.

Father Tim is beginning to lose his heart to his next-door neighbor, Cynthia, whose down to earth intelligence, coupled with her sincere enthusiasm, make him feel as if he has come home. The path to love is rocky, though, and planted with obstacles, including the ferocious widow Edith, who is determined to sink her claws permanently into Tim, through such methods as good cooking and deliberate entrapment.

Tim's struggles of the heart are interspersed with his continued adventures as pastor and citizen of Mitford, including the growing pains of his foster son Dooley, and the unexpected arrival and protracted stay of his reclusive Irish cousin.

Throughout the book, Karon sends a hopeful, uplifting message without becoming syrupy. She incorporates a decidedly realistic portrayal of the confusion and uncertainty of new love with a subtle but unmistakable moral message that will do more for Christianity than a hundred sermons.

I am a newcomer to the poetry of Pablo Neruda. "Twenty Poems and a Song of Despair" is simply one of the best volumes of poetry I have ever read. What a vast horizon opened up to me when I picked up this book! Rarely have I encountered a poet that so palpably evokes longing. Few other poets have Neruda's ability to weave images. These poems burrow into the heart.

My Spanish is not what it should be, but I was able to read most of the poetry here in the original. For those who know no Spanish, do not be deterred. This volume is the work of not just one but two masterful poets. Merwin's translations are amazing and wholly recommendable. Striking images and a yearning spirit fill the English translations as well as Neruda's originals.

I was also caught off guard by poem XVI. I was reading along, thinking how I had not read poetry this full of longing and desire since I last read Tagore's "Gitanjali" ..., when lo and behold, Poem XVI is a Spanish paraphrase of a Tagore poem...small world.

Neruda's poems are of filled with a powerful Eros. Yet, to me, they fall a little short in comparison to those of Tagore (whose love is a spiritual longing). However, the comparison is clearly between two giants of the art.

I give "Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair" a strong recommendation.

Buy this book and hesitate to read - all other poetry afterwards will pale in comparison. Then buy a copy of Neruda's autobiography to understand how Neruda can 'write the saddest lines'. I have given Twenty Love Poems and a song of Despair more frequently than any other gift. The perfect Valentine's or anniversary gift.

Other Neruda fans and poetry critics claim that his later works are his best, but I disagree. Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair was Neruda's first published book, done so when he was in his twenties. I think that's what makes this such a great book -- when you couple Neruda's incredible talent with the passion of youth, you get an incredible piece of literature. This is great romantic poetry, full of erotic passion and longing. Neruda knew how to use words to their maximum effect, and his wonderful, innovative use of imagery does what I feel poetry should do: it makes the reader think.