This is a very touching story of a family grasping to belong, but not quite making it. They try living beyond their means, almost living out a fantasy. Yet, only their surrounds alter. The family and marital difficulties are still there and the financial issues only add to these troubles. In the end true happiness and contentment are still just out of their reac

I read this book after finding it in a used bookstore a couple years ago and absolutely loved it. It was one of those books that I am always in search of--the type that you are still thinking about three days after you have finished it. In fact, I liked it so much that I wrote to the author to let her know how wonderful I thought it was, and received a reply from her thanking me for my note. (She had said how she had a horrible day and then opened my letter and felt at least a little better.) If you want to read an emotionally moving story, then I would certainly recommend that you buy this book!

I could see myself back in my parents' home as they entertained their friends, back then in the fifties. The mood is captured perfectly,and, as seen through the eyes of a little girl who is about the age I was at that time, it really touched me. The plot moves almost dreamily, but very inexorably, and I was drawn into the lives of the family members. It was the kind of book that made me want to sneak away from the day's work to keep on reading. I recommend it.

Despite the title which implies a cast of thousands, this story revolves around the intense relationship betweent two fifth-grade girls, both seeking to be Needed. Black Jennifer is a loner of a character, while white Elizabeth is new to the neighborhood. The author refers to Hecate, the head witch in MACBETH, which may stimulate some discussion of Shakespeare's plays.

On Halloween day Elizabeth is walking through a park, when she spies an old-fashoined shoe dangling from a tree--a shoe on the foot of a self-proclaimed junior witch. Jennifer never smiles or laughts; in fact this curious girl walks with her head skyward--never at the ground. Her abrupt manner lacks social skills, but immediately fascinates the impressionable Elizabeth. Unique and possessive, Jennifer decies to make the girl her Apprentice--without even asking if she'd like this honor! Suddenly Elizabeth must eat certain foods and refrain from eathing others, while leaving food "offerings" for her mentor. Is this a clever scam or a serious attempt to achieve supernatural power; they both start collecting odd ingredients to compound a Flying Ointment. How far will this Game be taken?

Totally dominated by Jennifer's will Elizabeth starts acting strangely both at home and in school. Alas, she learns more than witchcraft when she is promoted to Journeyman witch, but must she sacrifice everything that normal girls enjoy, just to win Jennifer's occult favor? Is it friendship or something more sinister which she seeks? What is the attraction of Power over others? She actually discovers that she enjoys being Different from other girls; that it is exhilarating to behave in a difficult manner, which puzzles concerned adutls. What kind of underground game has their social symbiosis become, if she has to sneak, lie, dissemble and deny her own personality? Elizabeth is convinced that Jennifer's esteem is worth it all. It takes a special toad (as in TUCK EVERLASTING) to teach her an important life lesson: that no joy comes from wishing ill on others. Elementary girls will enjoy this cute BOO! read.

This novel could be described as "Beverly Cleary plus Zilpha Keatley Snyder, with a touch of Carolyn Keene." In other words, it has friendship elements, almost-magical elements, and some mystery elements, all at the same time.

This story is told in first person by Elizabeth, the new girl in town. With the perspicacity of a Ramona Quimby or a Harriet M. Welsch, she makes wonderfully droll observations about people she meets and things she does. (This makes it a little hard to believe that she's just ten years old--but the narration is so nice that this flaw is easily overlooked.) Her cleverness and wry humor fail her, however, when it comes to Jennifer, the first real friend she makes, who is unlike anyone she has ever met before.

On their first meeting, Jennifer cooly reveals that she is a witch and performs a number of seemingly magical feats to prove it. Before long, she starts to train Elizabeth to be a witch, too. Yet despite all the "bonding" they do, as Jennifer prepares rituals, rules, spells and surprises for her willing friend, their relationship remains slightly stiff. I am certain that readers won't mind, at first: Jennifer is too fascinating and her ideas are too imaginative and funny for anyone to complain about any lack of warmth. Besides, anyone is better than Cynthia, who lives one floor up from Elizabeth and is exactly what Angelica Pickles of "Rugrats" will be like in a few years.

Come the end, readers will have read a rollickingly good yarn sprinkled with practical lessons about friendship--so there really is nothing to mind about this novel. I recommend it for young girls who have liked "Harriet the Spy" by Louise Fitzhugh.

This is a great book, about two fifth-grade girls who have the same need. The need for a friend. Elizabeth, the narrator of the story (I, me, myself) doesn't have any friends until Jennifer comes along. Well, actually, Jennifer and Elizabeth aren't really friends---but Elizabeth carries on the job of a witch's apprentice. That's what Jennifer is-a witch! They meet on Halloween, but they only see each other again on Saturdays, when they go to the library and the park to read books on witchcraft. Their goal is to make a flying ointment, but it is here that trouble starts. This book is great, and at the end, there is a great surprise that Elizabeth realizes. This book was a 1968 Newbery Honor Book, a runner-up to From The Mixed-Up Files Of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, also by E.L. Konigsburg

What makes us who we are? Are we simply our physical being, the sum of our actions, or who we wish to be? Elizabeth Evans takes these questions on while delivering an entertaining and suspenseful novel. The tragic consequences of people lying to others, God, and even themselves about who they are drive this story forward as protagonist Jersey must deal with her own identity issues: Is she still her mother's daughter and is her mother still the same person after their horrifying accident. Wanting the best for this amazing young girl as she struggles with the failings of the adults around her kept me intensely interested until the last sentence. This book is also a wonderful illustration of how religion and faith, when misunderstood and misused, can be a weapon of destruction.

"While many novelists emulate Feodor Dostoeski, Elizabeth Evans actually approaches his brilliance in CARTER CLAY, a tense, psychological page-turner that resonates on many levels. --Minneapolis Star Tribune

This was the first book that I've read by Elizabeth Evans, and I must admit, it was a great story. Carter Clay, the burned out Vietnam vet is as complex and spellbinding a character as you'll come across in any book. It's a story of his fight for redemption after he hits the Alitz family, Joe, Katherine, and their daughter Jersey, with his van. But it's not just that. Evans tackles questions about God's "inhumanity to humans" and religion as a whole. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!!!!

As a child I always eagerly awaited our summer vacations at Grandma's cottage in the woods off Lake Michigan. From walks along dusty roads bordered with Queen Anne's Lace- where even the most commonplace item sparked fascinating tidbits of information- to assisting with with her bird banding- so aware of the rapid heartbeat under my fingers as I cradled the small bird so the numbers on its tag could be read- time spent with my Grandma embued me with a sense of wonder for the natural world and the science of its study.

Reading her book these years later bring back that feeling with suprising clarity. The rich visual description in each vignette flows around the drier scientific facts, drawing you in to the world that surrounds that plant, animal or location. Her own love of nature draws you into the details and leaves you with a fascinating snapshot built from history, observations and facts.

Of Woods and Other Things is an ideal book to leave lying around. Though grouped in sections, each vignette stands alone, creating a microcosm of life in a just few pages. I found I actually preferred to just pick it up, randomly flipping through to stumble upon some new find, much as I had on my walks with grandma.

I was extremely disappointed by this book. I expected a book full of ideas about what to do for my artist's date which is described in The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. An example of a sample page in this book is Day 52. 1/3 of the page has a cute picture of a dog doing the hula. 9 lines for a person to write on. The bottom inch of the book says, "Cha Cha." There is also a check box that says morning pages done. The book does have cute cartoons and sayings. I think that if all of the content could fit in 10 typed pages. (except for the cartoons). Don't waste your money on this book.

A great addition to The Artist's Way. This has suggestions for Artist's Dates, inspirational drawings by Julia Cameron's sister, a place to check your morning pages as done and a few lines to comment on whatever, the drawing on the page, what you did on your artist date. This is not meant to take the place of the morning pages but to complement the whole process. Worth the money.

The Artist's Way : A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron has developed a devoted following among people searching for ways to develop, unblock, or discover their art. The keys to the success of this program are the Morning Pages, Artist's Dates, and the creative exercises outlined in the original book. This companion book provides a useful and fun way to monitor your progress and to keep on track.

Elizabeth Cameron Evans (whom I suspect is Julia's daughter) playfully illustrates each page of the book with ideas for Artist Dates as well as a checkbox for the days Morning Pages and room for notes.

As someone who has benefited greatly from Ms. Cameron's work, but has more than once 'fallen off the wagon', I find the Artist's Date Book to be an excellent, fun way to keep on track.

Dave

I found it interesting that one of the editorial reviews for this book contained the following: "Her mother lives in a world bounded by self-delusion, empty rituals, and meaningless cliches." This book is filled with empty rituals and meaningless cliches and was terribly disappointing. I had heard good things about the author, but I fail to see where any of those good things come into play here. This is pretty tedious stuff.

When I first read the back cover of "Rowing In Eden", I thought that it sounded a lot like the film "Inventing the Abbotts." There were many similarities as it turned out, but lots of differences, too.

The book is centered around the Wahl family, especially the three daughters-Rosamund, Martie, and Franny. The novel is told through Franny's eyes, the youngest sister at 13. During the summer of 1965, Franny comes of age at the lakeside resort where she lives.

Her parents seem far too preoccupied with her older sisters to take much notice of her, so Franny spends most of her time writing in her journal, reading poetry, and spending time with her friends. While Rosamund and Martie are entertaining their college friends at a party one night, Franny finds her independance and her first love. From that moment on, she embarks on a journey of self-discovery that her older sisters have yet to learn for themselves.

A beautifully-written and very descriptive novel!

With Franny Wahl, the almost fourteen-year-old heroine of Elizabeth Evans fine third novel, Evans has created a character that is at once endearing and terrifying, as are any and all fourteen-year-old girls. In the summer of 1965, Franny's sexuality blooms right under her distracted parents' noses, even as her middle sister, Martie--the observably wild one--sics their alcohol-fueled father on Franny's college age suitor, Ryan Marvell.

As the story progressed, I took every step with Franny: holding back on answering the phone until at least two rings, gazing at the fence where she once sat talking with her beloved and most importantly, Franny's efforts at discovering how to give and receive love without giving up too much of herself.

By the end of the book, I began to empathize even with Franny's parents, hard-drinking, impecunious Brick and relentlessy busy Peg. They are simply confused and overwhelmed with the ways that their world has changed.

Franny Wahl is a girl I believe as much as I believe my own, long ago, fourteen-year-old self.