During the winter of 1957 I was attacked by the measles and confined to the house for two weeks. My Aunt Mary dropped off a book she thought would interest me. She never new just how much it would.I was transfixed for hours.The descriptions of the indvidual seamans jobs,the day to day art of survival on board ship,how to behave,pack your clothes etc.held me spell bound.It also sealed my fate.Yes,I became a sailor.I never found De Hartogs descriptions over drawn,or over romanticized.Just lyrical. And factual,which is not an easy combination to put together. Much later De hartog would inflence me in other ways,but this the first and most important one.De Hartog writes in the tradition of Conrad.With English as his second language he shapes his sentances with a spareness and ecconomy that more authors should use.

A Sailor's Life is a masterpiece. It is simply wonderful. It leaves the reader ready to run away to sea, for those who have never heard the call of the sea, this book may be the closest they maybe able to come to it...

I am almost embarrassed to give this book stars. I think it is too good for my praise.

I first read this book on the recommendation of a friend in the navy. If he never did me any other favour, I still would be in his debt. For one thing the book is a marvellous read. It is by turns intriguing, blasphemous, enchanting, interesting, intimate, penetrating, romantic, a fine historical series of observations, an unpretentious self-help book, and almost everywhere it is funny. The laughter varies from sympathetic smiles, through cynical chuckles, to hysterical gasping while the tears drip off your chin.

The book suffers from two shortcomings: Its title, while accurate, is uninspiring, and its headings to its topics (about one page each) are down to earth. Who wants to read about hygiene or the ship's carpenter, or pilots, for instance? Trust me, YOU do, even if you do not realise it yet.

It came as a shock to see how poorly known this book is. It is so good and is such good reading, and even so unpretentiously useful, that it should be required reading for anyone with an interest in the sea, or contemporary history, or the human state in a range of enterprises as vast as those that involve the sea.

And if my shouting in your face to read the book does not attract you, then just ignore me and go off somewhere by yourself and do yourself a favour: dip into it and read a page here and a topic there. That is all it should take to hook you.

This is, without a doubt, the scariest book for young adults. The stories are told with a creepy voice, and the pictures add to the mood. I highly recommend it!

Scary Stories Reader is an awesome book about the world's most scary stories,from "Urban Legend Thrillers" to the jump ending stories.Each story has its own chill.Great selections will scare you to death.Read it to find the real scares and chills!You will really love this 5 star book.

The Scary Storie Reader was great. Almost all of my classmates checked it out of the library. I was lucky because the library only has 1 copy and I managed to get a hold on it. After I started to read a few stories, I could see why everyone wanted it. It had terrifying stories! I gave this book 5 stars because it really deserves it for its thrilling horror stories and its well written chapters. I recommend you buy this book or at least check it out of the library if you haven't already. It was truly a good book.

Notes from the road by author Jan Godown: Since age 13 I have criss-crossed Florida with my family, who never saw a rural route they didn't want to explore. Today I bring my own family to the places where Rawlings and Audubon fished and hunted, and where Muir camped on his 1,000 mile trek to the sea. This guide is informed by my background as a past director of the Florida Folklore Society and Florida Historical Society. It is for shunpikers. It takes you to places where you can renew your spirit. Visit along these routes, write in your journal about a Florida worth protecting, and go forth to teach about it.

This book offers all that you need to have a memorable vacation in Florida. There is no chance of getting lost and losing precious time as you drive through the Sunshine State. When I get my drivers license back, I will be able to use this book to the fullest

There are so many instant books about Florida churned out by writers who have merely zipped through the state en route to their next publication date that it is a pleasure to read one by someone actually familiar with the area. Jan Godown is a veteran Tallahassee journalist who has traveled these roads many times, and the reader--whether Floridian or tourist--is the beneficiary. She knows the charms, the history, and the things that threaten these places--not just how many miles they are from the plastic worlds of Central Florida. This book is a keeper on my library shelf--when it's not traveling in the front seat of my car!

I personally know children ranging from 5 to 12 who thoroughly enjoyed this book. Both boys and girls became involved in the story and look forward to the resolution. They shared the story with their friends and it was successful in stimulating their own creativity. The story reinforces their nature to follow their own heart and believe in their individual value.

"Songs of the Orcas" is a wonderful tale for anyone, child or adult, who has ever felt different. If you have ever had a time when you wanted to be someone or something else you will enjoy this tale of a young North Pacific Native girl's longing to escape the mold others are trying to force her into.

This book is an easy read and very enjoyable for adults as well. Jan Grokett did a great job at drawing the reader into the story and making you wish you could be in Taahiasu's place. The illustrations are fantastically detailed and really add to the story.

This is a great book for children and adults alike. The author expertly blends myth, legend and imagination to tell her story and her expert knowledge of the subject matter is very evident. The reader is given a fascinating glimpse into the main character's culture and the many fine details make the story both visual and real. I would highly recommend this book to everyone. It is one to be read and reread many times!

Speeding Bullet rates as an excellent book on the life and death of actor George Reeves. True, he will forever be known to millions of generations of fans as the one and only true Superman, but he did have a very fascinating life that most people never even knew about. Most TV news stations and newspapers always dwell on his tragic (and maybe mysterious) death, but the author of Speeding Bullet, Jan Alan Henderson, did some excellent research on George Reeves which rates as a very entertaining read through out. It never loses its touch at all. I was just thrilled with the amount of information that there was on Reeves from his childhood to his acting career to being TV's Superman and up to the night of his death in 1959.

An excellent book which I recommend to every fan of TV's "Adventures of Superman" and George Reeves. It will not disapoint you at all. This book also features a foreword written by actor Jack Larson, TV's Jimmy Olsen himself!

Growing up as a child, reruns of the George Reeves "Superman" series were always high on the list of shows to watch. Trying to gather information about the death of Reeves, I originally read most of this text in a magazine supplement, then found "Hollywood Kryptonite." The latter struck me as very sensational, in the tabloid sense. It is very clear the Mr. Henderson has very carefully and lovingly researched this subject, and he has presented the book in a manner that informs as well as entertains. The credibility of "Hollywood Kryptonite" suffers as the reader finds out about the false sources, misquotes and misinformation contained therein. Mr. Henderson delivers a solid presentation, and anyone interested in the life and death of George Reeves should start right here, and leave "Hollywood Kryptonite" right on the shelf - right next to the Enquirer. Fans of George Reeves won't be disappointed.

Jan Henderson's 'Speeding Bullett' is a an absorbing, fascinating, first-rate murder mystery about the life and strange death of the actor George Reeves, star of 'THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN'. Fans of the classic television series and afficionados of true-life mysteries will not want to miss this page-turner.!

In a fast reading 75 pages I got to know a man as I followed him through two days of his life. He starts off by letting us know his inner thoughts as he is working as a substance abuse counselor in an in-patient detoxification unit in a hospital. His writing is colorful, frank and poignant. I would love to read more books by Jan Haklik. His battle with his health problems and his courage to overcome them are inspiring. The last part about making peace with his parents made me cry and want to do the same. The ones we love in our family, never truly leave. Their spirits and ours are always in touch. Bravo Mr. Haklik!

The author brings you along on 2 simultaneous journeys through the past and the present, which intertwine memories and realities into a spiritual awakening that truly captures the essence of the holidays. While facing demons of the past and present, the resolution of painful issues reaffirms your belief that good does prevail. While I somewhat skeptically read this book based on the suggestion of a friend, I finished it [1] glad that I read it, [2] convinced to tell others about it, and [3] feeling somehow spiritually cleansed. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK----IT WOULD MAKE A GREAT GIFT TO THOSE YOU CARE ABOUT!

A magical story of closure and redemption.
A recovering drug addict, now a drug counselor, is stranded in a snowstorm away from his family during the holidays. Through the course of the night he experiences several flashbacks of his life, back to simpler times with his family and friends, revisiting times of warmth and companionship and bringing closure to his many regrets in life. By seeing a glimpse of what his life could have been, it is clear that the love of his family and friends is how he found redemption.

A little boy had a set of tin soldiers that were made from a melted spoon. One soldier was missing a leg because there was not enough metal left over from the melted spoon.

Tossed aside by the boy, the one-legged soldier sees a paper cut out figure of a ballerina. She is poised on one leg and he feels an instant bond. He has found another one-legged toy and believes this to be love.

The steadfast tin soldier has a series of mishaps. He falls off the window sill into a stream. From there, he is transported to a rat infested sewer. He is swallowed by a fish and through an unlikely stroke of luck, winds up back in the boy's playroom with the other toys and the ballerina.

The ending is what gets to me every single time. A gust of wind lifts the paper ballerina up and she flutters into the fire place, winding up a charred heap of ashes. Devastated, the tin soldier joins her. The remaining metal that was once the tin soldier is a charred piece of heart shaped metal.

I still think this is a very sad story. The photographs really emphasize the feeling this story evokes.

I taught 1st grade for 4 years and all of the teachers in my grade passed this book around at Christmas to read to our class. I cried everytime I read it. It has a wonderful message and my kids in my classroom always loved it! I have now (finally) purchased my own copy of this book to read to my little girl. It is a classic and I know she will love it as much as I do. Every home should have this book to read at Christmastime.

This is a really good book. It has all the characteristic's that made the original a cherished and remembered fairy tale. It is a great gift for any young child, and can be enjoyed by adults too. It maintains the feel of the original tale, but is more like a poem. The art work on each page is beautiful, and the pictures are totally devine. I would recomend buying this for a different and fully enjoyable version of the original.

This book belongs on everybody's short list of Polish and East European history. Jan Karski was a truly heroic man and is story is told in plain, straightforward langauge as the story of one man who took enormous risks to tell the story of the Holocaust. A necessary corrective to much of the polemic on the complex issue of Poles and the Nazi occupation. Not to be missed. This is the second anniversary of his death here in Washington.

This book was assigned for a graduate course I took in Eastern European history; I couldn't believe that any required reading could be so exciting. It is the true story of Jan Karski's experience as a messenger for the Polish underground, and it doesn't include a dull page. Karski completed several missions, was captured by the Germans, and escaped. The leaders of Poland's Jewish community, knowing that Karski was going to the West, arranged for him to disguise himself as a guard in a death camp so that he could witness the atrocities. He not only went and included his horrifying experiences in this book, he personally reported what he saw to president Roosevelt and other prominent Americans. Karski knew that the West was betraying Poland and, as a last ditch effort to influence Western policy, he wrote and published this book in 1944. It was a best seller and, I believe, a Book-of-the-month club selection. So much for not knowing about what Hitler was doing to the Jews! Do read this amazing story and, to get the full background, read the book "Karksi, How One Man Tried to Stop the Holocaust," by E. Thomas Wood.

"Story of A Secrete State" is the tale of the Polish resistance movement to the Nazi occupation of Poland (1939-1945) told by Jan Karski, a member of the "Underground". Jan Karski, a true patriot of Poland, gives you an "insider" view of what life was like for Poles during this period of time and the variety of methods used by the Polish Underground to resist the Nazis. Karski is an EXCELLENT writer and vividly details the travails of Poland from the initial invasion by the Nazis in 1939 through the Warsaw Uprising. It is a must read for anyone whom is interested in WWII, Poland, or how the Nazis operated in the nations they occupied. As a special bonus it gives detailed information on how to set up a resistance movement, a secrete newspaper, urban warfare, and intelligence gathering, should the need arise in your life. TWO THUMBS UP!!

Jan is an angel. If her personal life contains even 1/10th of the positivity that permeates her books for children, you would wish her to babysit your dearest, most protected children. Nice alter-egos of Jan's books are attractive to adults, including an amazing illustrative storytelling skil and, perhaps, easy status as conversation pieces for their lack of words.

My daughter loves these books. I love reading them to her. Every day, I wonder why great authors like Jan aren't in print for easy access by today's children.

This is a first-rate book. Won the Children's book Council Children's Picture Book of the Year Award in 1982.

Ormerod's textless illustrations of a family's early morning activities is superb. The little girl,creeps into mum and dad's bed in the morning (the alarm closck tells us it is 7.20, kisses dad, and then helps him prepare breakfast (the toast burns as he reads the paper). They take breakfast into mum, still in bed. mum goes back to sleep, and dad gets lost in the paper. Our heroine gets herself dressed and toileted. It's now 8.25, and a rush ensues as Mum and dad leap out of bed to get going.

Absolutely delightful. Lots of fodder for children's imagination, and sequencing skills - some of the pics are in strip cartoon format.

There is a sequel, moonlight, about activities at the other end of the day, which is just as delightful.

A timeless classic; thoroughly recommended. It was a firm bedtime favourite in our house from about age 2 1/2 on.

A simple view of everyday life that has a certain magic in its simplicity. Children are free to put their own connotation to the illistrations. A favorite, prized member of our childrens library.

We are given a fascinating glimpse back into the early 1900s, when women were opening their own restaurants, and where ladies now could enjoy luncheons and teatime without being escorted by men.

Another major change was occurring due to the automobile, making countryside excursions popular. This was the perfect time to open roadside restaurants. Whether country places or city tea rooms, the proprietors took pride in serving the kind of food they would prepare in their own homes. It is a contrast from the monotony of today's chain restaurants.

The author's extensive research into this era will interest anyone curious about an early example of social changes that ultimately combined with others to result in the emancipation of women in the 20th century.

This beautiful book is enriched with delightful old photos, postcards, advertisements, and color illustrations that bring the period alive.

This book takes a new and enthusiastic look at the women's movement of the early 20th Century - the social side! Women getting out, driving cars away from their homes and routines to get together and figure it all out.

There's nothing delicate or dainty about this tell-it-like-it-was study. Jan Whitaker presents in lay person's terms - what was a new horizon for women, where the woman's touch began to infiltrate the hospitality industry, and a whole lot more.

A thoroughly researched subject, a beautifully designed book and a great collection of pictures. "Tea at the Blue Lantern Inn" is tops!

With all the books on tea that have come out lately, it's amazing it took this long for anyone to do a book on the tea room, but it was worth the wait. Tea at the Blue Lantern Inn is a beautiful, witty and informative book. The illustrations are especially fine, with lots of rare advertising ephemera, great images from menus and signs, and historical photos.

The anecdotes from the heyday of the tea room are delightful -- and often very funny. Combined with the illustrations and the wealth of detail woven into the "history" aspects of the book, these give a vivid portrait of the character of tea rooms and their proprietors. The number of prominent people in 20th century America who used to hang out in tea rooms is amazing.

The book is ambitious in giving an overview of all kinds of tea rooms throughout the U.S., and it succeeds in convincing me that many things we now think of as normal in a good restaurant were innovations of tea rooms of the past.