This book is clearly written, beautifully illustrated, and it provides for very enjoyable reading for adults as well as children.

The illustrations are a combination of watercolor artwork as well as sketches. The book is written in verse and makes a marvelous reading for young readers. I read it to my first grade class and they loved it.

Louise Borden's "A. Lincoln and Me" has the great good luck of being illustrated by Ted Lewin. Author and painter work quiet miracles herein, with Borden's young boy reflecting on Lincoln and the similarities they share (not the least of which includes the same birthday).

Lewin makes a powerful impression here with his pencil sketches of Lincoln shadowing the boy throughout the book. This deft use of pencil, juxtaposed with watercolor paintings of the boy, draw a subtle line between history and modernity, while the size differential (the boy is always smaller than is Lincoln) underscores Lincoln's importance, both in history and to the boy personally.

Really very highly recommended for any child, especially those who have an interest in either Lincoln or the Civil War.

This a wonderful children's book for early elementary teachers. It has so many possible uses. Some of these include: individual differences, historical fiction to interest children in history, and the introduction to money. Plus, the illustrations are simply fabulous. I just love this book!

I am one of those who became entranced by Louise Brooks after seeing her in "Pandora's Box". She appeared to be highly sexual, intelligent, and to be marching to the sound of a drummer that she alone heard within herself. It turns out that she was all of this. This is an excellent biography and a lesson about what happens to those who despise the opportunities that life presents to us and to those whose lives are driven by sex rather than common sense. Louise Brooks was a very modern woman despite having been a star of the silent screen. She made only a few films but her performances in those films stand up with the great performances of today and their naturalism makes the acting of most silent screen starlets seem idiotic. While other actresses were concerned with nothing but their looks, Brooks was reading Shaw and Proust. While others did all they could to ingratiate themselves with the movie studios, Brooks had nothing but indifference for them. She turned her back on fame, fortune, and power. She could have had a brilliant career but always sabotaged her chances. She had beauty and incredible sex appeal. She had Chaplin as a lover. She wrote. She lives on today as an image of a woman ahead of her time and also as a tragic waste. Her own difficult personality drove everyone away. Her lack of discipline was childish. She fascinates. This is the best biography we will ever get of her. Recommended.

This Bio does not look upon Louise Brooks as sympathetically as other's Bio's do. Here we feel that we are being told the truth - as not everything in her life was perfect, or admirable, or even sympathetic. Louise Brooks was still a person who did things her way. And this books tells us what her was. A wonderful look at a wonderful Actress, Dancer and Writer.

An all-emcompassing book for fans of Louise Brooks. It has interesting stories and beautiful photos.

For years, I was fascinated by the image of Louise Brooks as a cultural icon, so what an experience it finally was to absorb both Pandora's Box and this biography at the same time. I have to admit that my early impressions of Brooks were shattered upon reading this, as I did not end up feeling sympathetic towards her. For an actress of such few movies, she was quite the snob in assessing the "worth" of everyone around her -- all because her deep knowledge of literature made her feel a great sense of superiority (talk about frivolous and delusional), and she carried that attitude to the grave. She even had the audacity to tell George Gershwin that most of his compositions were tripe. My, if only dear Louise had possessed a fraction of the talent that George had in his pinkie. And that's a major point that needs to be made about Brooks -- she was more about an amazing look and on-screen aura then she was about measured talent. Which is not to say that she couldn't have developed her skills, with a longer career, but we'll obviously never know for sure. On the one hand, you admire Brooks for her fire, independence and take-no-crap attitude; on the other hand, you're left feeling that her fate was largely self-induced, due to her unwavering impulsiveness. And I guess I'm in the minority who's not impressed with her comeback as an "expert" Hollywood historian. No doubt, she could write, but her opinions lack the immediacy of someone who was *there* when events happened. At least Bette Davis had many years of acting and firsthand work experiences behind her to make her viewpoints more intimate and colorful.

Overall, though, I'm glad I read this book. It's very well-written, entertaining to read, and full of enlightening anecdotes about the flapper age and Hollywood's internal politics. Brooks' complexity was well worth exploring -- even to those like myself who feel that Paris pays her more honor than she truly deserved.

Extremely detailed and slow biography of one of the most sexually attractive actresses of the silent movie, based on her diaries.
Her life can be summarized by 'sex and gin'.
Abused child; having an orgy of two months with Charles Chaplin; kicked out of Hollywood because of her unrestrained life style; her successes in Europe as Lulu; her life as an escort girl. Even this career was not to last, because she was unable to feign sexual pleasure. Her later days on the brink of suicide.
The author relates it with compassion and love.
He also gives an incisive picture of Hollywood in the twenties and thirties: amoral and corrupt.
A bright actress, but what a sad life behind the curtain.
A model biography.

Louise Brooks was a remarkable woman in many ways and this excellent biography depicts her entire story in a way that lets us truly get to know this fascinating and original individual. Louise was far more than just a pretty face. She had talent oozing from literally every pore of her body. I have caught the bug and am now a devoted Brooks fan for life, and finding this book by fellow Pittsburgher Barry Paris has enriched my knowledge of Louise for which I will be forever grateful. Thank you Barry, this is wonderful research you've done for us here, and all fans of Louise Brooks owe you a standing ovation!

There aren't many biographies on Louise that I could find outside of this book and Louise's own autobiography of sorts, titled "Lulu in Hollywood", but there isn't room for many more as this thorough study covers everything one would wish to know about Louise Brooks and her fascinating life onscreen and off.

Tired of the typical spoiled starlet of yesteryear? Think all old-time actors were all the same? Boy are you wrong, and this book will prove it to you! This is one woman who breaks down all conventions and shatters all illusions. Louise Brooks was a true original in every sense of the word!

Have a look and you too will fall in love with Louise Brooks.

I so loved this book. I'm a big fan of what I guess you could term supernatural romances and this is one of the best I have ever read.This book shows that true love never dies, not even after death.It lives on. The book is fiction, but I was still so deeply touched by it.It could have been real. Pick this book up. You will love it.

Rosey In The Present Tense was an awesome book! This bookteaches you about how to cope with death, but not only that, but abouta a boy that won't let go of his girlfriend's death. Franklin just can't imagine life without Rosey in it, and he thinks he sees her...but is this a dream, or is it reality? Read the book to find out what happens next! This was an awesome book, and I encourage you all to read it! It makes you laugh, it makes you cry....all around, its a GREAT BOOK for young adults!

This book is a very great book. It was rosey who is this beautiful girl who has long black hair and she is very nice. There's this guy who had fell in love with her. He sleeps thinking of her, when he is a wake he just yhinks of her evry day and night.oh, and how great it felt to be with her, how deliget to hold her. It was like a dream had come true. He found rosey and automatical just fall in love. Rosey had felt the exact same way as her boyfriend. The sad thing is that they didn't really spend their life together for a long time. Rosey went and left him behind. She went up to heaven, but david always think that she is there still with him. David new that she was gone, but he just doesn't want to think that she had left him about two years ago. Rosey and david is very much in love, but their love is not close as it use to be. Yet still they still got each others in the heart.

WOW! what a heck of a read! I found Somebody's Someone to be a page-turner from beginning to end--I simply couldn't put it down. It is about time that someone tells this story about the foster care system in a young girl's voice. I've read Dave Pelzers stories and this book is just as triumphant! If this is the first in a two-part series, I can't wait to read the next installment.

I loved this book!! Regina Louise shares her story with honesty, grace and humility. Her struggles highlight the injustices of our "child welfare" system as well as the resiliency of children in the worst of circumstances. Regina is a survivor in every sense of the word and is an inspiration to all oppressed peoples. Thanks for writing this book.

I will add Regina Louise to my list of favorite authors. I fell in with her character from the very first page. It's a difficult read only in that Regina Louise has the ability to pull me into her story and each dissapointment she felt, I felt along with her. My biggest wish is for this book to be a movie. It reads like an Oscar performance to me! BUY THIS BOOK! You won't be dissapointed.

This is a wonderful book to read with your children. My daughter, age 2 3/4 loves this book, even though she has never seen snow. It evokes happy memories of snowy days from my childhood. The watercolor pictures are beautiful with just enough playful detail to keep interesting when reading again and again. This book is well written and well illustrated. Stella is fun, with lots of energy, like Olivia (Ian Falconer).

stella, with her red hair and similar fiesty personality, is the PERFECT guide for both summer and winter fun. both my boys love her wacky, child-like and TRUE explanations of seahorses, snowbanks and fun to be had, either in a bathing suit or snowsuit. the illustrations are lovely, the text is true and the attraction for all is evident. this book should not be missed.

Stella certainly is the Queen of her Domain, which is the world inhabited by her brother and herself. With her flaming red hair (a visual highlight of the book), she rules the roost when Sam sees snow for the first time. Stella's explanations to Sam of how the world functions are occasionally accurate but more often creative, alternative, and imaginary. They provide for some great laughs for children old enough to know the truth (bears don't really eat snowflakes for breakfast, do they. . . ?). Their anonymous and silent dog follows their adventures through building a snowman, building a snow fort for a snowball fight, sledding, and making snow angels. The dialogue is very child-like, without being childish and condescending. It gives kids a voice to which they can probably relate, whether it's the supremely confident Stella or the more cautious Sam.

The book's watercolors are very cool! Gay captures the orange-red of Stella's hair, the "safe" green of Sam's snowsuit, and the traditional brown of their dog. She captures amazing detail without being overwhelming: leaves and birds on the tree branches, the other kids in the snowball fight, the trip up and then down the hill on the sleds, and the making of snow angels (the final picture of the dog is priceless!!). The complexity of the pictures matches the level of the dialogue---somewhere between the intense complexity of a Grame Base, for example, and the beautiful simplicity of Eric Carle. Gay is right on the money.

Bottom line: This is a great book for kids and their parents! Parents will enjoy reading of Stella's parallel universe, and kids who are old enough to do so will enjoy correcting her errors. It's a fun day with Stella and Sam. It's almost worth getting the book for two pictures: Sam standing on a pile of snow, with his pot belly, firmly-secured hat, and green snow suit; and the dog doing the snow angel at the end. If you don't love Stella's hair and attitude, then you need to adjust your sense of humor.

This is a quirky, memorable story - the author is a brilliant writer. Many people have enjoyed this book, so why is it out of print? That really bugs me about the publishing world - how can they allow such great work to fall between the cracks, when real crap - and I mean crap - gets published. This book is a classic. It needs to be available in bookstores everywhere.

Why did no reviewer mention one of the most shocking, pivotal moments in this book? That in 1966, a 17-year-old English girl named Lubetkin, while visiting a friend in Bavaria, was treated by a German doctor for an accident to her hand - and because he suspected that she was a Jew, he chose to inject the tetanus shot into both her nipples (which later abcessed and broke open)! In 1966! Aside from the story of her father's madness (grief-driven insanity is certainly what his behavior seemed to be), looms another question - how could this sort of sadistic torture have been allowed to pass unmentioned by any other observer and to go unpunished in 1966? And in 2000?

The incident with the Nazi doctor and her parents seeming indifference to it finally lead the teenaged Ms. Kehoe to the realization that she had worth as a person and gave her the strength to break away from her father's "dark house". Unearthing the truth of her father's past buried in literally mountains of lies that comprised the deliberate, sly "shell game" Berthold Lubetkin inflicted on his wife and children is a testimony to the driving force of a tortured child's search for understanding to regain sanity from madness.

These afternoon not quite four years after Dad's death, I appeared before a rabbinical court in Boston and, having satisfied the three presiding rabbis that I knew exactly what I was letting myself in for, was formally pronounced a Jew."

Louise Kehoe takes the reader through a harrowing and difficult journey with no artifice. She manages to stay honest throughout which is what makes this story so moving. I would highly recommend this book over "After Long Silence" which is in the same genre but lacks the sincerity of this book.

I really would've given Infanta four and one half stars, I figure it will average out with the other reviewers. Infanta took awhile to get going, and while it was interesting, it wasn't the most captivating intro Louise Cooper has written. The initial slowness, and the constantly looking for someone to aid her in her quest are the reasons for the rating. I felt that Indigo was given this quest, she was told she can't die, so why such conservatism? Any problems that her rashness would've inflicted on the people, would easily out weigh the danger of having a demon in their midst. Objectively, though, I feel that her hesitancy might've been necessary to round out the story. Because of the nature of this book I will stray from any details, so as not to ruin any of the surprises. An overall view on this book then: In Infanta the demon is far more complex an entity than Charchad of Inferno, and Indigo is forced to rise to that level. Mystery is all around Indigo, but there never seems to be a plausible source to turn to for answers. No Jasker this time. At every turn Indigo is thwarted, making her goal appear less and less likely to succeed. I found myself really raking my mind to guess as to how her situation would be resolved. Infanta once it picks up speed really grabs a hold of you. It is, however, only one small piece in the puzzle of Indigo. Get all eight books.

'Infanta' is probably the most original book of the Indigo series. The plot is concerned with Indigo destroying the second demon she released from the Tower of Regrets. This book has a timespan of several years, a lot more than any of the other Indigo books.
The setting of the novel, and the way the mystery was unraveled made it very captivating, making the reader feel like a part of a world that becomes very real through the vivid descriptions. Although it has been a few months since I read this, I can still remember how I pictured each place or building in the story because of the detail the author has gone in to.
'Infanta' did not focus on Indigo's character as much as the other books, but she is still portrayed like a real person who makes mistakes, unlike many of the 'perfect' heroes of other fantasy novels. There were other characters in the story too, such as the Infanta, Grimya and Macce, who each had distinct personalities.
The quest to find the second demon is balanced with the appearance of the Nemesis and the bringing up of the Infanta. The events of this novel, and the form of the demon contrasts a lot with the preceding and following books in the series.
There were some things which I did not particularly like, such as the way the demon was destroyed, and events seeming to happen too suddenly with little warning. I found that the pace of the book seemed too slow or too fast a lot of the time.
But, all the aspects of the plot come together quite well, and I think overall this is a great novel.

This is the third book in the Indigo series, and although not one of the more fast paced, one of the best, in my opinion. The stone takes Indigo to Simhara, the Jewel of the East; in a time of turmoil, for the city has been taken by a conqueror. But the omens are ambigous, and as she takes care of the infanta, to be among the happenings, time passes. But she never forgets the words of the fortune teller: Beware the serpent eater...

Indigo is obviously doomed to encounter the second demon she released from the tower of regrets, but hers is a work of patience, and the only soul she can trust is Grimya, her devoted, talker wolf friend.

I am a great fan of Sylvia Louise Engdahl's novels Enchantress From the Stars and the Far Side of Evil. I was pleased to find this book, which I'd never heard of, in my public library.

I read it in one sitting, absorbed by Melinda's struggles, by her friend Alex, and by the philosophical themes that underlie Ms. Engdahl's work.

Though it was an interesting story well told, I did feel compelled to dock it a star. The author has a definite bias in favor of space colonization, and all of the conflicts in the novel are weighted towards that.

Poor Janet, the space-phobic biologist, is the novel's strawman (or woman): all of her objections to colonization are so extreme, they are set up only to be knocked down. I felt the same about Melinda's flaws: To arrive at a faraway place without much idea of how people actually live, (particularly when you've never wanted to visit!) isn't provincial, just human.

Another reason for docking it a star is the novel's adaptation of the concept of Manifest Destiny, glossing over the more brutal flaws of that inspiration to expansion.

Ms Engdahl believes that expansion and exploration are a challenge humanity needs to rid it of war (explored more thoroughly in The Far Side of Evil.) However, America's own history proves this is not so; sadly, we bring our problems with us, rather than leave them behind. New territory alone does not solve them.

That is not say there is no value to the idea of space exploration and colonization. It is true, after all, that humanity needs challenges to grow. I also believe, as she does, that a society with too much material comfort, and too little challenge, can become corrupt, even decadent.

I don't agree, though, that space exploration is the only answer. Though the idea is raised only to be dismissed, there is value to the idea of solving our problems before we export them to new worlds. Certainly there are challenges enough here to demand our creatively, commitment, intelligence and courage for generations to come. Perhaps we shouldn't wait to solve *all* of our problems before venturing to other worlds, but we should at least learn how not to exploit an environment simply for what it offers us.

Now back to the story: Unlike so much science fiction, the conflicts and situations are rooted in what is human and believable, rather than some "futuristic" idea of how people should behave. This is what makes the story so gripping. Melinda meets challenges and grows, without coming across as unusually perfect or good. Alex slowly becomes her friend and guide. It would have been easy for his character to come across as two dimensional or insufferable. Instead he is intelligent and fairly wise, but not flawless.

I did feel a little uneasy with the issue of Melinda's longing for Earth, and how that is resolved--or rather, never fully resolved. One thing is clear: changing planets isn't like changing continents; it is going to an environment entirely hostile to humans. Longing for air, water, plants, animals, Earth landscapes, weather, is more than homesickness. It is longing for the very stuff we are made of, and that makes us. I also had trouble believing that her choice must be a one-time all-for-nothing one, since Melinda is something of an heiress, and could therefore afford more than one trip. There was a little too much sacrifice in the resolution of that conflict for me.

In spite of my misgivings, I was moved, left unexpectedly happy and hopeful, by the ending, especially the final paragraph.

Bottom line: If the book is in your public library, get it! (along with her others.) You won't regret it, especially if you know a girl or young woman who loves new worlds and loves to read.

I'm a lucky owner of this young adult novel. My poor copy is a beaten, bruised thing with a twisted spine and stained pages; I adore it.

Anyone familar with Engdahl's work understands that she lays a foundation of philosophy and bases story atop this sometimes shaky ground. Her ideals, however, are refreshing. Not hard sci-fi, not entirely romantic, and certainly not pushy, but full of hope and whimsy and thought-provocation. Considering that this was published in 1970, the scientific reasoning (surrounding the journey to Mars and Mars itself) is left open-ended and ambiguous, which I actually appreciate. It gives the novel a sense of timelessness and doesn't outdate recent scientific knowledge. What's left is a charming, charming tale.

We the reader even get our happy ending.

By the way, this was the first novel Engdahl wrote. She had difficulties locating a willing publisher and, while still searching, wrote Enchantress from the Stars. It was this second novel that got quickly swallowed by the Atheneum publishing house who then agreed to also print the much beloved Journey Between Worlds.

So, if this book presents itself, I highly recommend it! It's a fast and fetching read, Absolutely charming.

This is a wonderful book, and one of my favorites in the whole world. The reader can really connect to the characters. It's a shame that it isn't in print. In my opinion, Engdahl's novels should be included with other popular young adult science fiction/fantasy classics like The Giver, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Wizard of Oz, etc.

Don't pass up a chance to read this book.

P.S. They should make this book into a movie!

Yes, Baudelaire, himself told to his friend Troubat:"These are The flowers of evil again, but with more freedom,much more detailes, and much more mockery". Noone before Baudelaire has ever concepted the poem in prose which would express so many special, original and protesting sensations. This urban, very personal poetry is a product of the metropolitan noisy atmosphere, and as it is surrounded with fog of overpopulated, but yet unexplored areas.This poetry expresses more than the actual meaning of the words is telling.Spleen is created of prose and pure poetry, of the reflection of the analytical spirit and intuitive introspection.The apostle of pain and depression,Baudelaire is the one who analyzes his own and other people's sins, expresses himself as a moralist in this book as well.

Charles Baudelaire's Paris Spleen is a wonderfully original work, one happily outside the framework of American literature and its broad range of sensibilities. Most notably, these 51 short prose poems illustrate how truth, and the most accurate perceptions of life possible, can be reached purely by honing the senses and then melding them with the more passive facilities of the mind; logic and rational thinking, as demonstrated here, are for the vulgar, those in denial, those simply unable to accept the very rich, very broad, self-evident smorgasbord of life. Baudelaire, both a tragic and a comedic clown, also effortlessly illustrates how melancholy and joy are by no means mutually exclusive categories of human feeling and experience.

Set largely against specifically autumnal landscapes, our wandering poet indulges in "the mysterious and aristocratic pleasure of watching" whenever he is not a direct participant in the events these visionary pieces describe. Solitary, 'fluent in outrage,' cranky, self-tormented, lovelorn, misanthropic, and pedagogical by turns, these pieces find the poet stalking bereaved widows, peering unseen through the candle-lit windows of neighbor's homes, asking philosophical questions of "enigmatical" strangers, shunning crowds, luxuriating in midnight solitude, greeting the twilight with a bow, reading the time of day in a cat's eyes, "suffering before Beauty" in all its forms, futilely but vocally castigating inflexible Dame Nature, advising the world on the varieties of glorious drunkenness, dreaming of tempting devils, beating the poor, pitying aged, poverty-stricken circus performers, rebelling against infinity, arguing with mistresses, and listening, eavesdropping, and relentlessly observing wherever he goes.

Not surprisingly, the poet's vision of urban Paris lies somewhere between the multiple canvases of Degas and Toulouse-Lautrec; garishly colored, slightly grotesque, heavily populated with heavy, heaving women and friable grande dames, Baudelaire's city is a fluid and respiring stage for life's pantomime, open to and allowing for all combinations and possibilities. By contrast, his autumnal countryside is a place of relative purity, where the poet wanders alone under piercing blue skies and roaming, shadow-casting clouds.

In one of the more hallucinatory episodes, the poet, "under a vast gray sky, on a vast and dusty plain" comes upon a short procession of men with "worn and serious faces," each of whom carries a very large, monstrous chimera on his back, the muscles, tendons and limbs of the beasts wrapped tightly around them. None the wiser after his inevitable questions, the poet observes that "under the depressing dome of the sky" the men moved past and beyond him, each "with the resigned look of men who are condemned to hope forever."

Paris Spleen is a wise, serious, and occasionally dour work. But if its only sometimes-tragic underpinnings and conclusions are embraced by the reader, then its vibrant, bawdy, colorful, and transcendent aspect will reveal itself shamelessly in turn. Baudelaire is so confident, unselfconscious, and plain-spoken that his perceptions are remarkably easy to visualize, his emotions as expressed easy to share and make one's own. It's a rare book that is as multi-prismed as this.

Baudelaire implies that if man could accept mortality, reasonably subdue his ego, and curb his more flagrant dreams, life would fall into the glittering, far from perfect, but certainly tolerable and potentially enjoyable miracle it really is. The poet seems to reach the same conclusion about life that Isak Dinsen does at the end of Out Of Africa: man must accept, without exclusion, every facet, aspect, element, and component of existence before existence-before life--will give anything back to man.

In no way a despairing book, Paris Spleen is a sheer pleasure to read, contemplate, discuss, laugh over, and digest. Readers will carry their copy in their back pocket until it falls into tatters, and force copies on friends, family, and strangers. Beautifully translated by Louise Varese. Highly recommended, especially to the non-creative who would like to see, however briefly, as a poet sees.

The book that helped me overcome my prejudice against poetry--I carried "Paris Spleen" around with me for a couple of weeks after I first read it, and kept turning back to certain poems as I went about my daily errands. Even though it's nearly 150 years old it seems as timely and contemporary as it must have seemed when it was first published--absolutely top-notch.