If they could make a pretty good movie from "Cider House Rules," why not one of Eric Kraft's novels...like this one? His latest makes clear how wonderfully well Kraft composes his "memoirs" on two or three or four levels at once. With "Inflating a Dog", he's perfected his approach such that the book is seamless, a joy to read, and completely absorbing. Never have I wanted to be Peter Leroy more than as he writes him in "Inflating a Dog." The conclusion is quiet and natural, a nice little jazz riff that ends on the perfect note. Luckily for me, I discovered Eric Kraft years ago and by chance read all of his books in order. This is far and away the easiest one to understand and is an ideal first Kraft to sample. When you do, you'll scramble to find the others.

Dear Mr. Kraft-- you have a great editor but either a) a terrible publicist or b) a devotion to anonymity, or c) I can't figure out c-- do I have to?.

Mr. Kraft, I don't mean to connect your works with the Harry Potter series. But, really, I don't understand why adults are not lining up at chainstores at midnight when your latest book is released. I can only believe that your modesty or shyness prevents this.

So, via a review that you will probably never read, I want to say:
Your books have changed my life, and the life of the twenty or more people who have shared my copies of your novels. My grandmother, aunts, uncles, family friends, and new-found friends have all been enriched by the adventures of Peter Leroy, his family, and other relations.

A personal thank you.

There is nothing so beguiling, so mesmerizing, so mind-spinning as Inflating a Dog, at least not since Eric Kraft's last book. This book explores familiar Kraft themes: remembering and reconstructing the past (and for whose or what benefit?); desire and discovery; friendship; success and failure and what constitutes each; the nature of fiction(s). The writing is so elegant, so feather-light that you can read it too quickly, too easily, and feel that you've missed something. You have to -- you want to -- go back and read it again to make sure you've gotten it right.

The book is primarily Peter Leroy's rememberances of his mother and friends but it includes bits of Peter's current adult life. The book has both hilarious and heartbreaking passages, sometimes back to back. And it is always surprising, never predictable or common.

Characters from the earlier books appear and make you want to go back and remember what they were like then. Then you wonder if it goes with what they are like now, and then you wonder about the other earlier characters and what happened or will happen to them, and. . . , and. . ., and. Eric Kraft is a very inflationary writer, and to answer a question from an earlier book, he never stops (thank goodness).

This book is great for young children. The illustrations use bright vivid colors and the typing is large. The words and stories are very simple and somewhat repetitive so it is great for young children. My daughter is about to turn four and she LOVES this book

My 2-year old daugther LOVES this book!! Has had it almost a week and wants it read every nap and nigthtime! "Tell me the Jesus stories" is what she says! Only 5 parables but she doesn't mind the repeating! Now we're looking for a Volume Two...

This is in effect a continuation of the award-winning Read-Aloud series and is if anything the best of the bunch. It has the same size, very similar format, and same superb author and illustrator team. (It was also the last book illustrated by Kent Puckett before he died, so it is his legacy book.) Each of the five parables is introduced as a story Jesus told; like the parables in Scripture, all or most of them suggest the salvation story. The colors are probably a little bit brighter than in the Read-Aloud books but the illustrations are just as good. I have given it to several families with new babies as a gift, and my two-year-old nephew quickly chose it as his favorite book.

This was the textbook used for the second section of American Sign Language that I took.

The video did a wonderful job of making this visual language come to life and to make the signs more, "real" for me as a student.

Having a deaf Professor and using this book that did not write an "English translation" next to the vocabulary words created a total immersion into ASL as a language.

There were some problems caused by this, in that after having a very vocabulary intensive section 1, this was difficult to adapt to.

If a professor requires this text, and teaches well, it is very useful. If someone is trying to learn to sign on their own, outside of a college setting, I would advise against purchasing this, as it will cause a lot of confussion.

This is something that needs to be supervised, and therefore, this would be a totally useless book for someone who was not enrolled in a course that coresponded to the lessons in the book.

This ASL book and video tape is very helpful to those trying to learn ASL. I have found the tape is at a good pace and is not too fast. I have also enjoyed having the tape in order to review what we did in class. I think you should put the vocabulary names of the pitcure a long with the sign. I recomend this book for those learning ASL.

I personally liked how the videotape complemented the workbook. The workbook can help students learn the alphabet, numbers, thousands of signs, location and emphasis of signs, money, and deaf culture (which I think is a step beyond what most American Sign Language or Signed Exact English books will go). The videotape is for the exercises, which helps students to look for and receive various signs such as time, location, dollars, cents, and fingerspelling. Overall, it's an excellent combination.

I highly recommend Deon's novel for those who value quality reading in their literary repertoire. Her writing talent is prodigious to say the least, and her expression of detail is artistically mind-teasing -- psychedelic brilliance. As deemed a Christian novel, Deon finds balance between the sensuous and
spiritual, revealing her own spiritual maturity without a preachy tone, yet maintaining the steam of love. Her story is intricate and beautifully voiced -- tragic and triumphant. I give four stars because much happens in the novel with some of the twists seemingly left without full resolve at the end. However, a sequel could pick up quite easily to continue the drama. Sequel or not, I would look forward to a second book by Deon, followed by blooming success.

A romance genre writer has to go some to keep me sitting bleary eyed 'til long past bedtime devouring every page, but Ms. Lackey managed that. It isn't that I don't like romance genre novels. I have my favorite romance writers, and none of them are famous. This author wormed her way into my top five best writers of romantic fiction before the end of chapter one.

The story begins in London. The year is 1937.
"A light mist from earlier rains swirled hazily in the streets. Street lamps shed filmy haloes of light, while up above a clear sky spread, laden with its own luminance, millions of sharp, bright pinpricks - diamonds on velvet." That sets the mood for a romantic dalliance between the sensually handsome Nick Stouffer and a less than innocent Lady Cynthia Holt. Obviously, they've known each other intimately for quite some time. Only one problem comes to mind with that scenario. Nick is engaged to Marjorie Peyton, and their wedding has been planned for quite some time.

When an unsuspecting Marjorie discovers her fiance' in the arms of Lady Cynthia, she leaves London in disgrace. Embarrassed, humiliated, and enraged, Marjorie gathers what few shreds of pride she can and heads to America to contemplate the situation. She keeps Nick's betrayal secret, even from his family, and walks a fine line between amusement and despair at the wretched turn of events. Amidst the friends, enemies, and social misfits she encounters in Nick's wake, one person shines. Jakin Christoper. Jake doesn't put on airs and lives his headstrong life with no apologies. And he's been burnt by love in far worse ways than Marjorie.

It was Jake and Marjorie's respectful and reluctant dance around the fringes of attraction that kept me reading 'til the small wee hours. And the fascinating way Ms. Lackey tied up each aspect of the story into one neat package was delicious. This is an inspirational story about very human people, told without platitudes or preaching. The characters are richly drawn and fully developed.. At the tender age of 21, Ella Deon Lackey has an impressive voice and presence that I believe will only improve with time and age. She is a winner, as is For Friendship's Sake.

A romance genre writer has to go some to keep me sitting bleary eyed 'til long past bedtime devouring every page, but Ms. Lackey managed that. It isn't that I don't like romance genre novels. I have my favorite romance writers, and none of them are famous. This author wormed her way into my top five best writers of romantic fiction before the end of chapter one.

The story begins in London. The year is 1937.
"A light mist from earlier rains swirled hazily in the streets. Street lamps shed filmy haloes of light, while up above a clear sky spread, laden with its own luminance, millions of sharp, bright pinpricks - diamonds on velvet."
That sets the mood for a romantic dalliance between the sensually handsome Nick Stouffer and a less than innocent Lady Cynthia Holt. Obviously, they've known each other intimately for quite some time. Only one problem comes to mind with that scenario. Nick is engaged to Marjorie Peyton, and their wedding has been planned for quite some time.

When an unsuspecting Marjorie discovers her fiance' in the arms of Lady Cynthia, she leaves London in disgrace. Embarrassed, humiliated, and enraged, Marjorie gathers what few shreds of pride she can and heads to America to contemplate the situation. She keeps Nick's betrayal secret, even from his family, and walks a fine line between amusement and despair at the wretched turn of events. Amidst the friends, enemies, and social misfits she encounters in Nick's wake, one person shines. Jakin Christoper. Jake doesn't put on airs and lives his headstrong life with no apologies. And he's been burnt by love in far worse ways than Marjorie.

It was Jake and Marjorie's respectful and reluctant dance around the fringes of attraction that kept me reading 'til the small wee hours. And the fascinating way Ms. Lackey tied up each aspect of the story into one neat package was delicious. This is an inspirational story about very human people, told without platitudes or preaching. The characters are richly drawn and fully developed.. At the tender age of 21, Ella Deon Lackey has an impressive voice and presence that I believe will only improve with time and age. She is a winner, as is For Friendship's Sake.

I give this book 3 stars because it talks about a person's life style. It's about a little girl and she sees electronic signs. Then she goes to the circus and when she gets home she acted like she was a tight rope walker. I liked the illustrations because they look real. My favorite part is when she looks in the mirrow in her bathing suit. I think you would like this book if you like to experience things.

The paintings look so real because of the light and dark shadows. I think this book is one of a kind. I recommend this book, not only because of what the story is about but the illustrations (they're awesome)!!!!

"Wow" I said in my head as I had just finished the book A SIGN. When I closed the book I thought it was amazing and awesome. Chris Soentpiet used a lot of double spread pictures and was very creative. Also Chris Soentpiet's pictures came to life. The story A SIGN is about a little girl who wants to be all these different things and dresses up as them. You might laugh at some things that the little girl dresses up as. I can't tell you what she dresses up as because I want it to be a mystery for you. You will be surprised to find out what she really will be at the end.It is not any of the things she dresses up as,I can tell you that. Chris Soentpiet did a good job on this book. I give this book 5 stars!

We will definitely be purchasing this one...it was a big hit at our house! Adorable little bunnies rhyming their way through their day.

My three and a half year old and I both love Cowboy Bunnies. The illustrations are charming and the rhymes and daily events hold the attention of our three year old son more than most books. In fact, we're going to center his upcoming birthday around the Cowboy Bunnies and this will be the other children's giveaway.

Cowboy Bunnies is written in a gentle, rocking rhyme with musical accompaniment perfectly suited to the romanticized ideal many children have of western life. This song-story is one of the few I never tired of reading or hearing, even though I tape-recorded it to play four times in a row. My daughter learned about cowboy and cowgirl costumes, frontier life, cowboy slang, and musical instruments. The end of the story puts cowboy bunnies to bed as the music slows from gently romping to a sleepy lullaby. I consider this book a masterpiece for children ages 2 to 6.

This collection of short stories is loved, even revered, by many fledgling short story writers, and with some legitimate reasons. Bobbie Ann Mason constructs a story well, and her characters behave as real people would. She rarely chooses to give the reader much of a sense of the landscapes in which she works, but when she does, she does it beautifully and economically. Frankly, though, I grew weary of the themes in her stories. In the middle of one of the stories, I think I screamed something like, "If I have to read one more story about dysfunctional relationships, I'm going to shoot myself!" I never did go through with it, in part because Mason does give the reader a taste of some likeable male characters in a few of the stories near the end of the book. I myself would never want to write stories which are, ultimately, as bleak as the stories in this collection, but Mason's bitter humor is often endearing, and her characters are interesting (if similarly crafted from story to story). If you want to read about people from rural Kentucky, read Wendell Berry instead; if you're looking for stories about relationships, read Joyce Carol Oates. Save this one for after you're read just about everything else.

This is a wonderful collection of stories. I read it originally as a student about 12 years ago and was happy to recently re-read it. Mason gives us an honest and very un-sensational look at the middle and lower class of the South but does so in a way that neither patronizes nor glorifies her subjects. Having grown up in the culture that Mason describes, I can say that she captures both the mystery and the mundane that is the South. The drama is so understated and she allows her characters a quiet dignity.

I was given this book by a friend about ten years ago. Somewhere in between, it went walkabout. It is such a haunting, beautiful set of stories that the chance to get it back - and in hardback - is not to be missed. Tales about working class life don't get much truer or more real than this. Very gentle, very thoughtful, very moving. Worth going out of your way for a copy.

This book is about a little girl named Lawanda. She starts out trying to sell magazines and earn money for college. It's by selling these magazines that she meets Garland. Garland is an older man who lives in a bus, he is generally known as the town's hermit. He chases all strangers away until Lawanda comes along. As Garland and Lawanda get to know each other better, they each encounter conflicts that will forever change their existence. I found this book to be quality reading, but I really couldn't get into the characters. They had such fictional personalities, that it was hard to identify with some of their feelings. The descriptions are exceptional, and I think that's why the book is a Young Adult Book Award Nominee. Somehow I just don't think that Mr. Lyon did his best though. Perhaps another book would help him to create realistic characters.

With a Hammer for my Heart was one of the greatest novels I've ever read.It was passionate,poetic & just a really lovely book.I gave it five stars because it was so greatly & beautifully written. George Ella Lyon is a literary genius. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel & hated to see it end.I would absolutely recommend this novel to anyone looking for a really great read.The plot is fantastic & I just loved the story.

If you like a good story told straight from the characters' mouths, then you will enjoy this book. As a Kentuckian, I enjoy stories with a decisively Appalachian flavor, and in With A Hammer For My Heart, Ms. George Ella Lyon (yes, the author is a SHE) weaves a deceivingly simple, yet powerful, story about family, friendship, and forgiveness. Told through the voices of its many characters, the story centers around the friendship between a young girl, LaWanda, and a war-ravaged veteran, Amos Garland. Determined to make her way to college, LaWanda charges into Garland's life selling magazines. Although he does not welcome company, Garland finds that he has become (somewhat unwillingly) a friend to LaWanda. However, through a series of tragic events, LaWanda's loyalty to her family and Garland are tested. Yet, in the end, LaWanda's strength and courage brings about powerful changes in the people around her. Ms. Lyon's first attempt at adult fiction is a success and I look forward to reading more of her adult work. She is truly one of Kentucky's treasures!

I am a new reader to this genre. I chose this book because I was looking for a "thriller" with a female heroine. While I did NOT find this book a "thriller," in terms of not being able to put it down, the story did keep moving right along, and I did find it to be a very interesting mystery. While I would recommend this book to readers who are interested in Indian lore and the southwest, I would equally recommend it to readers who aren't particularly interested in this setting, as well. Overall, a very enjoyable book.

I am a new reader to this genre. I chose this book because I was looking for a "thriller" with a female heroine. While I did NOT find this book a "thriller," in terms of not being able to put it down, the story did keep moving right along, and I did find it to be a very interesting mystery. While I would recommend this book to readers who are interested in Indian lore and the southwest, I would equally recommend it to readers who aren't particularly interested in this setting, as well. Overall, a very enjoyable book.

As an avid Tony Hillerman fan, I loved this book. It may even surpass many of his efforts. The story grabs you from the start and makes one want to read it through without stopping. Hopefully, we will now have a more steady flow of Navajo-Rez mysteries and lore with both Hillerman and the Thurlo's churning them out.

The poems of this book are wonderful, as are all of the author's writings. But this particular edition looks as if someone has simply zeroxed a copy of the original edition (and it isn't even a very nice copy). I would suggest buying this one used rather than this version.

Ella Wheeler Wilcox is an amazing poet that allows her readers to feel exactly what she was feeling at the time she wrote this wonderful prose. "Solitude" is an wonderful poem with ideas that will always timeless and true.

Ella Wheeler Willcox is a true poet. Check out The Birth of the Opal for the poem that convinced me right off the bat that she was a master of her craft. Contemporary poets who write in the romantic tradition (and are not afraid to rhyme) will find Willcox to be a great inspiration.