I must have had my dad read these stories a million times at bed time. I remember always bugging him to read one more story. It has been so many years since then and I can't wait to read them to my own children, although i don't think I can do the voices quit so well. The illustrations in the hardcover edition were beautiful and i would spend so much time pretending with my little sister that we lived in rootabaga country. It will be a pleasure to reread all the stories of my childhood. When i would pick rootabaga stories at bedtime even over everybodies all time favorite Winnie-the-pooh.

Carl Sandburg, winner of Pulitzer Prizes both for his biography of Abraham Lincoln and for his COMPLETE POEMS, explores another genre in ROOTABAGA STORIES, fairy tales that he wrote for his daughters. When asked how he wrote the stories, Sandburg replied, "The children asked questions, and I answered them."

The ROOTABAGA STORIES are unconventional in almost every way. Unlike traditional fairy tales, they have no perfect princesses and evil witches. They are American fairy tales with a rural flavor and, in fact, they have no evil characters. The settings, though fanciful, include images that defined America in the 1920s, when the stories were published: the railroad, which "ran across the prairie, to the mountains, to the sea," and the skyscraper.

In Rootabaga Country the railroad tracks go from straight to zigzag, the pigs wear bibs (some checked, some striped, some polka-dotted), and the biggest city is the Village of Liver-and-Onions. Characters in this fanciful world are equally peculiar: Please Gimme, Blixie Blimber, Eeta Peeca Pie, and dozens of others. Children and literary critics alike would be hard-pressed to explain (even symbolically) the events that occur in the stories. Nevertheless, meaning comes through and truth is revealed. For example, in "Three Boys with Jugs of Molasses and Secret Ambitions," ambition is defined as "a little creeper that creeps and creeps in your heart night and day, singing a little song, 'Come and find me, come and find me.'" Who would expect that "The Two Skyscrapers Who Decided to Have a Child" would have an absolutely poignant ending?

Although the events of the stories may not be explainable, the stories are replete with concrete images. Sandburg provides both visual and auditory description with musical, repetitious phrases and novel juxtaposition of words ("a daughter who is a dancing shaft of light on the ax handles of morning"). Occasionally he invents words, such as "pfisty-pfoost," the sound of the train's steam engine, and "bickerjiggers," the buttons on an accordion.

ROOTABAGA STORIES are wonderful for reading aloud. They provide an opportunity for readers and listeners to delight in language and revel in truths revealed in a fanciful world.

Sometimes it is late and you want to read your child something short so you naturally will reach for this book - where most of the stories are 4 pages or less and they are not really connected - the problem is: you can seldom stop at one and if you are not careful you will read the whole book! My 10 year old is just as mesmerized by Sandberg's words as my 8 year old was 2 years ago, mostly because Sandberg's choice of words and fantastic plots and settings are continually unexpected and surprising. I'm mesmerized too, but I won't reveal my age.

This book is an absolute must-read for anyone interested in ancient Egypt, reincarnation, astral travel, transpersonal psychology, or even if you want to read a fascinating, mysterious love story over eons of time!

Dorothy Eady, a 3-year old child in England, suffers a fall on some stairs in her home and is pronounced dead by a doctor. She probably has a near-death experience, though this is not claimed in the book. When she regains consciousness, it is as if her current personality has been merged wih the personality (purportedly) of a previous incarnation she had as a temple virgin in Abydos, Egypt. Bentreshyt, her name in that incarnation, had a short-lived affair with Sety the First (father of the famous Ramses II), and became pregnant at the tender age of fourteen. Forced into a confession by the temple priests, Bentreshyt then committed suicide.

Dorothy, just as the central character in "The Wizard of Oz," becomes fixated in finding her true self, and thus spends the rest of her life obsessed with ancient Egypt. She eventually lives in Cairo for 20 years, working in the Antiquities Depaartment, and then moves to Abydos, where she lives for the rest of her life, working at the same Temple of Sety where she had lived 3,000 years before.

Now called Omm Sety, which simply means "Mother of Sety" (she has a son during a short-lived marriage to an Egyptian), Dorothy makes significant contributions to Egyptology as an expert draftsman, writer, and scholar, as well as healing and aiding the local villagers in her "external life." Yet her "internal" life is one that few if any people could ever match! To put it very briefly, she has many meetings, both on the physical and astral planes, with her soulmate, Sety the First.

I will leave it to anyone who reads this review to get the book for the incredible details. The writing and the telling of the story are excellent from beginning to end. The epilogue is also a very stimulating, mostly psychological discussion of such "occult" issues as reincarnation, the nature of the astral body, astral projection, remote viewing, even Shelldrake's morphogenic fields, and more!

Get this book from your library if it is out of stock, as was shown here when I added this review.

This is, without a doubt or reservation, one of the best books I've ever read. It's got everything a book should have AND MORE. What is amazing is that it's true. I wish I had the words to tell you how wonderful this book is. I have had my copy for years and I still pick it up and read it again. It's probably the only book I have ever loaned out that I have made the effort to track down and get back from friends. If you can find a copy GET IT. I'll personally give you your money back if you don't like it.

A fantastic book. Full of history, archaeological finds, love. It encompasses all levels of spirituality and would be enjoyable to those who are open minded spiritually rather than the cynics!. I have read it 3 times now and will be presented beautifully together.

Back To A Shadow In The Night: Music Writings And Interviews 1968-2001 by music critic Jonathan Cott (who is a contributing editor to "Rolling Stone" magazine), is a selection of compiled interviews, articles, and reflections on and about famous personages of popular music, ranging from the late 1960's to the opening years of the twenty-first century. The unabashed thoughts of such luminaries as John Lennon, Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger, and many others fill the pages of this erudite compendium which is strongly recommended for jazz, classical, and popular music enthusiasts.

Found this book used in a bookstore. Must admit the cover attracted me...but what a treasure it has been.

I am currently researching a British TV documentary about the number 13 and particulary Friday the 13th, I would love to hear from anyone who has had an experience on the 13th or could help me with interesting facts or information on the date