This book was one of my absolute favorites as a child. The rhyming verse makes it very fun to read aloud. The story is just fascinating to young children. I'll have to buy a new copy to replace the tattered one from my childhood! I was very relieved to find that it was still in print, it really is a wonderful children's book.

My mother recently saw this book at a yard sale and remembered it was one of my favorites. Now at 29 I read it to my stepson , who is 2 1/2, everytime he visits, and he loves it as well. Each time I get to "And they had a feast for a hundred weeks" it fills me with a sense of well being. The illustrations are wonderful - each page is like a story of its own, with new things for children to discover each time the book is opened.

This is an excellent bedtime story to read to your children. The art work is fascinating and each time the book is read a new facet can be discovered. The townspeople in the story band together to rid the town of stinging insects. A delightful solution is found. My children begged for this story to be read to them again and again. Guaranteed to become a family favorite.

This book is too good to be true! It is impossible to put down once you've began reading it. It's totally sick, twisted, morbid, and just plain gross. Yet, at the same time, it's mesmerizing. You'll be drawn in and will never be the same again. This book will haunt you. If you only want the best in gory horror, read this book!

This one of the only books I have read that actually scared me. The only other book was Golden Eyes, also by John Gideon. I love how he incorporates real places in the northwest into his books. Being from the northwest, it is good to read books about it, especially horror ones. I am currently reading his latest and greatest books, Kindred. So far it is just as good as the others. I think one of the greatest things about his vampire stories is that they are so original. He doesn't have Bela Lagosi type vampires, he creates his own breed of Vampire. This is the best way to write about vamires I believe.

I absolutely love horror and read everything I can get my hands on in the genre. GREELY'S COVE stands out as one of the most gruesome and harrowing horror novels I've read. A young boy is miraculously "cured" of his autism by a strange psychiatrist in the small town of Greely's Cove. Things are not as they seem, however, and bizarre things begin to happen in the town. People vanish, the dead come back to visit the living, and something unbelievably grotesque and evil tries to break through from the Otherside with the help of an evil warlock. Gideon really pushes the envelope in this book. There are scenes that will have you gasping out loud while you read, they are so vile. If you have a strong stomach, love your horror bloody and gorey and creepy as hell, seek this book out. But don't say I didn't warn you!

Wow! I really enjoyed this book. The character of Jubal Sackett was very well developed and set in a historically correct period. I found myself walking in his footsteps as he went further and further west. The story arouses the explorer instinct in all of us. I intend to read more of the Sackett sagas.

I have yet to read many of his books, but I must say that all of Lamour's books are great. Jubal Sackett is a special character. I appreciate that Lamour spent more time on this book (or at least made it longer than usual) in order to give us a full scope of Jubal's transcending years in his migration to the west. The Sacketts are successful because they are well learned in many a trade and they don't take things for granted. They nurture their friendships when they can and comfront their enemies just as readily. You feel this story, you root for the characters and you feel as though you are among them. I guess this is more of a mountain man book than a western, but it still sets the setting for the Sackett's pushing west. A great book.

This by far is the best audio book Ive listened to.

The guy reading the story has an accent that fits the story perfectly. While this is a lengthy book it is never boring
The pacing is perfect and the story itself is riviting.
Do yourself a favor and get this on audio. You will not be dissappionted

The Esperanto Teach Yourself Book is a very valuable book. It presents all the grammar very clearly. A person doesn't have to know any previous knowledge of the language to utilize this book to the best of their ability. There are clear dialogues that are said on the tape. I recommend getting the tape because you can hear the spoken language and acquire a better knowledge of the tape. Also vocabulary is presented but it's better getting a dictionary either from online or the concise Esperanto Dictionary Teach Yourself.

Esperanto itself is a small language. But many books on Esperanto over-simplifies Esperanto and in result many books mistake by not giving enough examples or comparative explanations. It's hard to find a good and small Esperanto guidebook. The size is important because you will have to take the guide book with you when you travel overseas. This book is small enough and provides good enough linguistic material (examples, explanations, comparisons). I always travel overseas, with this book in my hands.

I'm not going to go into a lot of description, but I think this book is wonderful. I have only been studying Esperanto for a few months, and I can already hold conversations. The grammar only takes a few weeks to master, but I am still lacking in my knowledge of vocabulary, which is why I am still studying. I recommend this book to anyone interested in The International Language.

When I was a kid in the late 60's and early 70's, I read all eight books in the J.R. Tunis series in his Dodgers series. Anyone who gets into the series MUST start with this one. Roy Tucker is an integral part in nearly all the books ("Young Razzle" being the exception), and "The Kid From Tomkinsville" introduces him along with the other characters. While some of the dialogue is of the "gee whiz" variety, the book and series are excellent. I'm so glad they were re-released, and I now have all of them. Now, I want to get a Dodgers replica jersey with the name "Tucker" above the number 34. Any kid between 9 and 90 who reads this book will know why.

I read this book the first time back in the mid-80's in high school. I had a burgeoning love of baseball and fell deeply in love with Tunis' works. The point I got from this story is that there is always another door to get to your dream.

I first read this book when I was 7 years old in the 1970s. I still love it to this day. The characters jump off the page and take you back to the 1940s, a different time and world.

He knows he can never live up to the memory of her dead husband. Is there a chance their marriage could grow into something more than two people brought together out of necessity? Cheryl St. John stories come from the heart, and they never cease to move me. Joe's Wife is no exception. Tye and Meg's story of growth and love showcased the kind of work St. John does best - stories of people, of hope, of love.

warming you and teaching you the true meaning of love. Tye Hatcher knew he could never fill Joe Telford's shoes, but accepted Joe's widow Meg's offer of a partnership. He might be Meg's husband on paper, but he feared he'd never be a husband of her heart. St. John takes us on Tye and Meg's journey of personal growth, and of love. Her ability to reach within her characters and truly bring the to life is a gift St. John displays with every story she writes - it's a gift that continues to grow and refine. It's a gift she freely shares with her readers. Joe's Wife is a beautiful portrayal of St. John's talent. Tye and Meg's story has me once again argueing with myself over which of Cheryl St. John's books is my favorite.

"Intense, passionate and romantic, JOE'S WIFE brings to the genre all that is noble and good. Cheryl St.John rises to superstardom with this book. Her masterful writing places her in the lofty atmosphere of stellar constellations. JOE'S WIFE introduces Tye Hatcher, a hero to die for, a man of distinction, a lover of renown, and a dream to last a lifetime. Ms. St.John looks into his soul, affording us a glimpse of anguish, and into his heart to see the depth of a love so deep and pure, it humbles. When his lips touch Meg's for the first time, it curls the toes as a tears slides down our cheeks."

This is a good read about a fascinating individual. John Marshall is clearly one of the most underrated shapers of our country and this book goes a long way in providing the texture and context of his life. The author does a good job of balancing history with legal scholarship and I believe that this is worthwhile for both the "lay-man" and the "law-man". I did believe that the author abridged the content a bit too much at times(for example, he did not cover Marshall's point of view on the Declaration of Independence or Articles of Confederation, and he covered the last 12 years of Marshall's life as Chief Justice in less than 50 pages), but overall, it was a solid investment of my time.

This is an outstanding biography of a great American who not only gave the United States a solid foundation for its judicial system, but also shaped the judiciary as one of the major branches of the Government. The biography is a marvellous and beautiful piece of work by Jean Edward Smith. The focus is on John Marshall and the law. This exquisite literary work reveals a great mind and a great man! The author, by often quoting John Marshall's letters and legal opinions, portraits a creative mind with a capacity for splendid expression. I would recommend this book for anyone interested in American history and Government. I will also recommend this for all students and practioners of law.

John Marshall defined American law, politics and power. This book paints a vivid picture of who Marshall was, and why he is still important today. The author does an excellent job stating the facts and letting the reader decide for her/himself whether or not Marshall did the right or wrong in the very important decisions he made. This book is enlightening and well written. Marshall's life is wonderfully told through the authors use of clear and concise writing. This book is excellent. It clarifies many misconceptions of this great man who came out of a generation that claims many great men. Marshall may be the least understood of them all, but he certainly is no less important than any of his contemporaries in forming and defining the United States of America.

As a student of martial arts and Japanese history, I found this story, which is little known outside of Japan to be a most impressive example of the ideals of the elite warrior class of Japan known as Samurai. It probably ranks as one of my favorite books about history ( and i have read many). Unlike other historical situations where men were faced with death, these men had a choice between life and death and they chose death with honor. It also provides fascinating insight into the feudal Japanese society under the Tokugawa shogunate and the influences of Confucianism and Buddhism on Japanese society. While it may be fictionalized or embellished in places, the book is based on a true incident which occured in 1701. The loyal retainers of Lord Asano were given the choice of a free life with the loss of reputation suffered when their lord was wrongly forced to commit seppuku. Instead, the men chose to seek vengeance and restore honor to their clan. Loss of face was more than they could endure. The men sought their revenge after a two year facade of drunkeness, unruly behavior and poverty. Ultimately, the corrupt court official responsible for Lord Asano's death was beheaded by the loyal retainers and they paid their respects at Lord Asano's grave before turning themselves in for court martial. All forty-seven men were given the privilege of commiting seppuku, for which they were grateful since imprisonment or execution is considered disgraceful. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in Japanese culture, history or martial arts. It is one of the most impressive examples of men who refuse to compromise their honor or integrity at any cost..

bodhiman@hotmail.com from California, USA , 03/04/98, rating=10: Please accept my revised review which I have edited for errors. As a student of martial arts and Japanese history, I found this story, which is little known outside of Japan to be a most impressive example of the ideals of the elite warrior class of Japan known as Samurai. In Japanese, it is entitled "Chushingura" which translates as "Vengeance" The Forty-Seven Ronin Story probably ranks as one of my favorite books about history ( and I have read many). Unlike other historical situations where men were faced with death, these men had a choice between life and death and they chose death with honor. The warriors were driven by allegiance to their code of chivalry known as "Bushido" which emphasizes a fanatical loyalty to their lord, tempered by the serenity and wisdom of Confucianism and Buddhism. The book provides fascinating insight into the feudal system known as "bakufu" under the Tokugawa shogunate and the influences of Confucianism and Buddhism on Japanese society. While it may be fictionalized or embellished in places, the book is based on a true incident which occurred in 1701. The loyal retainers of Lord Asano were given the choice of a free life with a loss of reputation suffered when their lord was wrongly forced to commit seppuku. Instead, the men chose to seek vengeance and restore honor to their clan. The loss of face caused by the death of their lord was more than they could endure and the men sought revenge after a two year facade of drunkeness, unruly behavior and poverty. Ultimately, the corrupt court official responsible for Lord Asano's death was beheaded by the loyal retainers and the men dutifully paid their respects at Lord Asano's grave before turning themselves in for court martial. All forty-seven men were given the privilege of committing seppuku, for which they were grateful since imprisonment or execution was considered disgraceful. The loyal retainers were buried with their lord at a temple called Sengaku-ji which is located just outside of the city of Tokyo. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in Japanese culture, history or martial arts. It is one of the most impressive examples of men who refuse to compromise their honor or integrity at any cost..

This is a perfect example of bravery, honor, and patience. A must read!!

Presuming that prospective buyers of this book probably saw the movie, this book will not disappoint you. The movie was epic in scope, and although some historical inaccuracies existed, they did not detract at all from the movie, nor the performances of Russell Crowe, Connie Nielsen, Joachim Phoenix, and Richard Harris.

If you like to know the 'nuts and bolts' behind the making of a movie such as this, this is your book. If you are curious how they managed to 'reconstruct' the Coliseum complete with gladiator 'fans', this is your book.

A great gift for Gladiator and Russell Crowe fans alike.

Commodus was in fact Marcus Aurelius' son and the downfall of Rome, while already in progress, hastened when Commodus was made Caesar.

Enjoy! And watch the movie again.

This book is a good complement to one of the greatest movies ever made; although I agree with one reviewer that it's too Russell-oriented (but I don't mind... : ) ). I have one disappointment, though: Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard, the score composers, were not mentioned except in the credit. How could they overlook this? Music is a vital element in movies. And I believe anyone who have seen "Gladiator" would not disagree with me that Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard played very significant roles in this masterpiece. Their music is unbelievably beautiful!

Back to the book, buy it! You won't regret it. Reading this book make you realize the zealous effort they put into making "Gladiator", maybe not unlike how the Romans were 2000 years ago. Like the movie, you would want to see it again, and again, and again! Roma Victa!

Okay, I admit it, I really like the film Gladiator. However, that does not mean I just buy anything related to the film. This book made the list, though.

First of all, the photos are great and plentiful, and the overall production quality is very good. The real treat, though, is in the concept drawings, storyboards, and reference material (the overleaf, 2-page spread, of Pollice Verso, or "Thumbs Down", by Jean-Leon Gerome has always been one of my favorites). I really enjoyed seeing these film-making treasures.

Secondly, the amount of supporting text is awesome. Insightful, informative, and entertaining, the content really lives up to its title: The Making of the Ridley Scott Epic. I was interested in not only learning how some of the visual tricks were done, but also appreciated the information on each of the primary actors, and loved the inclusion of excerpts from the screenplay (although it would have been a huge bonus to have the whole thing included).

Finally, I appreciated the overall value of the book. True, the DVD provides similar insight into many of the "making of" aspects, but there is a lot of information in this book, and the decision to release it in paperback format makes it a pretty good value. Besides, it "travels" better than the DVD, and provides things the DVD doesn't.

Overall, I'm happy with my decision to buy this book! You get a real inside view of the planning and execution of this great film.

I don't want to be a spoiler after reading all the other glowing reviews on the the Great Brain books, and for the most part I won't be. Any kid with a taste for adventure and a tiny bit of rebellion in his soul will enjoy the whole series, especially the "Great Brain at the Academy." My only, minor, complaint is the essentially superflouous religious indoctrination that J.D. throws in regarding the Catholic priesthood. J.D., those of you who have read "Papa Married a Mormon" may recall, decided to become a Catholic, while T.D. became a Mormon. It seems like J.D. is attempting to cram in a little ideology, or at least Catholic history, into the book. But that complaint is really very minor. I still recommend it for anyone with kids 5-15 years old (and I confess to re-reading them myself every now and then).

It's funny, heartwarming and really involving. All these feelings I felt when I read it when I was 9 yrs. old. It's so amazing how one can be so enterprising and witty at such a young age! Tom definitely had an impact on me then and always will! I grew up wishing to be like him...and I think I got my wish. EVERYONE: Grab this book, in fact, the whole GREAT BRAIN series as soon as you can. The little ones will love you for this great gift! On a personal note: I lost all my GREAT BRAIN books to kids who borrowed from me and never returned. Now that I'm 22 I'm very happy to get a second chance to collect THE GREAT BRAIN SERIES! Victoria Miranda

John Dennis Fitzgerald intended to chronicle his youth in Utah for adults, not children. His publisher thought otherwise and the result are these gems. I don't even call them children's lit gems because I find them just as enjoyable as an adult. Before I go on, you should know that Fitzgerald wrote one book about his youth that is for adults, called "Papa Married a Mormon". It is one of the most amazing books on the American west that I have ever read. Sadly, it is out of print, and you may, like me, have to pay an exorbitant sum to get a copy. Trust me, save up and do it. Now back to this book. Every single Great Brain book in the series is pure gold, and the entire set can be had cheaply, so I say buy them all at once. I "put my money where my mouth is" as Tom the Great Brain would say, and bought the lot.