I've read all the stories in this book at least 3 times. Most of the times I skip around, but twice I've read straight through -- the stories are so consistently good, and, though wide ranging, complement each other so well. These are NOT horror stories. Horror (to me, at least) implies not only more explicit violence, but also an attitude that reality is, at core, physically and morally chaotic. "Dark Descent" is a horror anthology -- "Great Tales" is for the most part (although "The Great God Pan" and H.P. Lovecraft's 2 stories provide some exception) more old-fashioned "ghost stories," and what mystery genre critics would categorize as "English cozy": pleasant characters, warm surroundings introduced all the better to scare you with later on. The evil is seen through a hole in the curtain, so to speak, and never engulfs. The first group of stories ("Tale of Terror") are not exactly supernatural, but extremely suspenseful, with wonderful denouements. Poe's "The Facts in the Strange Case of M. Valdemar" is wonderfully horrible - a dying man is hypnotised to keep him alive (it turns out to be a mistake, of course). "Suspicion" by Dorothy Sayers is NOT a murder mystery, but a perfectly built-up tale of suspense. I've read it a dozen times and the pace of the story still catches me. "Home for Christmas," in which a nice doctor kills his bossy wife before leaving on vacation, would make a great Hitchcock movie. "Moonlight Sonata" is the short but shocking story of a man who stays overnight at a friend's house and awakens to an unpleasant visitor (not a ghost, but worse). Despite the emphasis on surprise endings, all of these stories have such great style and atmosphere that they are often, if anything, better the 2nd or 3rd time around. The second group, "Tales of the Supernatural," have all the qualities mentioned above but are more wide ranging in terms of imaginativeness. My Man M.R. James fits right in here, of course, and 2 of his best tales - "Oh, Whistle and I'll Come to You, My Lad" and "Casting the Runes" - are featured. Also Guy de Maupassant ("Was It a Dream?", in which a young lover spends the night mourning the death of his mistress in a cemetery, is fabulous). Also Rudyard Kipling; E.F. Benson; Algernon Blackwood ("Ancient Sorceries" features a mild-mannered Englishman oddly drawn to a small French village with a history of witchcraft); and such great titles as "The Screaming Skull" and "The Haunters and the Haunted or The House and the Brain" which, despite the campy names, will leave you far from laughing. There are stories in this section, also, that would better be categorized as fantasy ("The Celestial Omnibus" and "Adam and Eve and Pinch-me"). I liked them a lot even though I don't usually read fantasy. The majority are SCARY, though, and all are well-written by any standard (Henry James gives us "Sir Edmund Orme" and Ernest Hemingway tells of "The Killers"). If you like a more modern style, more explicit sex and violence, less atmosphere and more cut-to-the-chase, this book probably isn't for you. But if you like good, old-fashioned, solid, subtle, clever writing, with lots of atmosphere as well as great plotting (and you like to be scared), then this is a must-have.

Great Tales of Terror and the Supernatural is just that, a collection of some of the GREATEST tales of terror and the supernatural ever written. This book contains a breath snatching list of both classic tales (Poe's The Black Cat, Faulkner's A Rose for Emily, Lovecraft's The Rats in the Walls and The Dunwich Horror, as well as James's Casting the Runes) with some lesser known jewels, my favorite being H.G. Wells sea monster yarn The Sea Raiders. This collection is an essential in any well rounded library, even if you are not typically a horror or ghost story fan.

Though I agree with the others who have reviewed this book that it does not feature much of the explicit violence that has come to typify late twentieth century horror, I consider this anthology an invaluable addition to the library of anyone interested in the genre's roots. This anthology spans the time period from roughly 1800 to the 1930s--from Poe to Lovecraft, in other words. The chills in these tales tend more toward the atmospheric than toward the gross-out, but chills they are nonetheless. There is not a bad story in the collection, and it provides a fascinating sample of the breadth and diversity of the horror genre. Also, for readers wondering how these stories have aged, I teach several stories from this anthology in a course on horror literature, and I can tell you that they clearly retain their power and effectiveness with an 18-year-old audience. Even better, these stories force them to reconsider modern horror and evaluate authors such as Stephen King within a much deeper tradition.

What does it take for some people to stop their harried pace and take a look at their lives and then, to put a better perspective on what is important and what can wait? In this case it takes a blizzard to force people's lives to a slow crawl and give them the precious gift of time, to clearly see what is taking place in their lives that needs to be re-examined and fine tuned. This is a beautiful, thoughtful tale that encourages you to adjust your priorities to those with real value before something "big" or even tragic has to happen to force you to do so. Phyllis Theroux wisely shows that time is a priceless gift and that to live a fuller, richer life, time should be spent wisely, not nickled and dimed away.

Leaving my cold weather roots with the outside temperature at 70, I never dreamed I'd be able to be deliciously snowed in for the holidays cozying up for a fresh winter storm so vividly brought back to life in "Giovanni's Light". Holed up with me, to my delight, were Ms. Theroux's richly endearing cast of characters who one by one are given the chance to revisit the essence of the holiday spirit. I was at home in Ryland Falls eagerly awaiting each turn of events. A great solo read but just as much a wonderful family read-a-loud. It allowed my sun-bathed clan to experience the magic and wonder of a Christmas where nature's snowy blanket sets the town residents on a new course. A warm glow of a book I have continued to buy more copies to pass on to frenzied, frazzled friends who are all begging to find a way to slow down and experience the true gifts of the holidays. "Giovanni's Light" is just the answer.

When I finished reading this absolute gem of a book, I was astonished to find myself sitting there, feeling my heart chakra open, and on the verge of shedding tears of joy. This is one of those small rare treasures of literature that quietly opens the readerÕs heart and lets in a gentle flood of light and warmth and love. A short story written with a deft touch and without a shred of pretense or saccarine embellishment, GiovianniÕs Light displays the effortless mastery of the craft, evoking Guy DeMaupassantÕs classic explorations of life and the human heart. Take time to savour every word. Phyllis Theroux has truly written one for the ages.

The great thing about this book is that it was written by people with an inside view of "The business". Along with the most complete look at Tinsletown they add anecdotes and little known facts that make just reading the book fun.
And this book covers more that downtown, Hollywood and Beverly Hills. It travels north to Santa Barbara and south to Long Beach and Catalina.
If you're headed for LA this is the book to get. Even as a died-in-the-wool Angeleno, I found this book informative, usefull and fun to read.

Here's a 600-page book that's filled to its movie brim, with tons of offbeat things to see and do; bright and breezy in its writing, you'll find facts and other nifty news here about this incredible place called LA and Hollywood that, even if you've lived here all your life (!), you probably never knew existed.

John Clayton, Travel With a Difference radio show,
KNX 1070AM

As in all Hunter Guides, this hefty paperback is chock full of information - restaurants and hotels, shopping, daytime and nightime activities, even where to see the stars.

Anton Community Newspapers

Reading "Wind Chimes and Promises" has been an honor. To read of the struggles of a family in the deep South, being forced out of their home by racism, touched me deeply.

Phyllis Adair writes with her heart as well as with the voice of her beloved Mother. She reaches back generations and weaves a story filled with the very soul of her family.

From the tenderness of her Grandfather, to the spunkiness of her Grandmother, the tale is one that paints a picture of life as it was in that generation.

Congratulations, Phyllis,on a job well done.

What a wonderful book. I have read, "Wind Chimes and Promises" twice. If any reader of this delightful book has an imagination; they must be able to here Sal's wind chimes. I laughed at the antics of the Knoxes boys. I cried upon the deaths of Papa and Sal. I understood what Pru. went through with her husband. This book delivered a message about a Black family. A Black family moving and adjusting to the life from a small southern city to Indianapolis. Mrs. Adair opened her heart, put pen to paper and shared the courage, endurance, perserverance and most of all love of a large family. Well done Mrs. Phyllis J. Adair.

What a delightful book! I have read this book at least two times, and it keeps getting better. How wonderfully unique Mrs. Adair writes. I not only read, "Wind Chimes and Promises" I went further, and placed myself in the mist of a large, close knit family. What a joy to read of the strengths portraid, and the Prayers of Sal and Pru. It is very obvious this author did excellent research. I cried when "Papa and Sal." died. I loved reading about the events from the dinners at the "Knoxes." Mrs. Adair has placed so much love and patience in this book, and the readers are all the better for it. A Black family movin and adjusting from life in the South to life in Indiana. This book exhibited endurance, perserverance and a lot of love. Well done Phyllis J. Adair.

I read this book after seeing it mentioned in a review and was interested in what life must be like when a spouse whom you have been married to for a long time passes away. This would be a great book to give to someone who is going through the grief of losing a spouse and may provide some comfort in the universality of the experience.

One need not lose a spouse or partner to appreciate the feelings and emotions that run rampant through the pages of this beautiful book. It is all about grieving, losing, coping, planning and making the decision to go on anyway. While the book is apparently aimed at middle-aged women who had long, happy marriages, according to editorial reviews, the book is also invaluable to those who have suffered through a divorce or simply lost someone very special from their life for any reason. Loneliness, emptiness, despair, and fear, know no boundaries.

"It Must Have Been Moonglow" is inspirational, sad, joyful and a whole basket full of mixed emotions. What the author must have felt while writing the book is not much different than anyone who has loved and lost. What sets the author apart from the rest of the world is that she has a unique ability to be able to express herself in words that many others cannot do quite as eloquently. This is a beautifully moving, sensitive book and most deserving of a five-star rating.

...is what Mrs. Greene provided for my mother after we lost my Dad. They had a long and happy marriage and while we had plenty of warning that we would lose Dad, she was understandably inconsolable when he died... ...until she read an article by Bob Greene about his mother's book. I can honestly say, she started to turn the corner while reading this book and has read it many, many times. I am online tonight buying a copy of it for my mother to give to one of her friends who recently lost her husband. I hope Mrs. Greene knows what a profound and generous contribution she has made to many grieving spouses. I personally would like to thank her for helping my mother resume her life and begin to find happiness again.

Buy the book, you won't regret it.

Shiloh Season is a great book for kids and adults. Phyllis Reynolds Naylor does a great job explaining the story and keeping you on track throughout the book. Shiloh is about a boy named Marty Preston who sees something he should not have seen. Judd Travers is a mean guy who abuses his dogs. Judd went hunting, when it was not hunting season, and he saw a deer so he killed it. Marty promised that he would not tell anyone that Judd killed a deer if Judd would give up his dog named Shiloh to Marty. Judd agreed. Now Judd is depressed and he drinks and drives. Marty's dad found a beer can on their property, which had the same brand of beer that Judd drinks. Judd continues to drink and hunt more and more often. Shiloh is a very interesting book because I never wanted to stop reading it and it kept coming with surprises. Shiloh is better than other books because it keeps you interested in finding out what happens next throughout the book. Other books are boring and make you want to go to sleep because they are not interesting.

Shiloh is a great and exciting story. A little boy named Marty found a dog and wanted to keep him, it is Judd's dog and he is keeping him. Marty did a lot of work for Judd, but still didn't get Shiloh.
When I think about this book it makes me feel sad and happy. What makes me sad is when a German Shepard attacks Shiloh.
Readers will find this book to be very exciting and want to read on to find out what happens next in the story.

Shiloh is a very good book about a boy named Marty Preston who finds an abused beagle on the road and names it Shiloh. When he finds out that Shiloh belongs to Judd Travers, a drunk and cruel person. Marty tries everything to make Shiloh his. During the night Marty wonders, "Should I tell Judd I have Shiloh so he could kick or starve him? Or should I fatten him up a little bit and make him healthier so he could glorify God's creation?" He knew the answer to that question. And he figured things were going pretty well for Shiloh. But when Judd and Marty's family find out. Marty unleashes all of Judd's fury on them as well. In the end Marty finds a way to have Shiloh for his very own.

Tammy can bring forth a range of emotions from each one of us. I have given her book as a gift to our 12 year old goddaughter, a college student, a young mother needing advice and a 50 year old going through a divorce. They all loved it!

Tammy is such a strong lady. In the face of adversity she always comes out on top-with a smile and genuine concern for how everyone else will feel. Her book reflects that attitude.

Tammy is one of the most intelligent women I know. She tells her story of growing up and lessons learned along the way with humor. What a story it is!

The essays included in this wonderful book, are stories of the values, instilled in the writers from family members. ... I am sure some of the stories will make you think of your own family life growing up.

Phyllis Harris has done a remarkable job of capturing the love and commitment among family members in this book. While reading From the Soul, at times my eyes welled up with tears of both joy and sadness as I relived each individual's childhood with them. This is one of the best books I have read. I strongly recommend it

This book shares the struggles and triumphs of families from all works of life. It touched my soul and helped me to appreciate the lessons I learned and the love I received from my parents, my brother, my extended family, and my friends. Once I started this book, I could not put it down.

"Down by the marsh, by the sleepy, slimy marsh, one duck gets stuck in the muck, down by the deep green marsh. Help! Help! Who can help? We can! We can!" Maybe two splish, splish fish, three clomp, clomp, moose, four pleep, pleep crickets, or five plop, plop frogs can help that poor old stuck duck. And if they can't get the job done, how about six plunk, plunk skunks, seven sloosh, sloosh snails, eight slosh, slosh possums, nine slink, slink snakes, or ten zing, zing dragonflies? It looks like that duck may be stuck for good until his many friends combine forces and help him out of the muck together..... Phyllis Root's thoroughly entertaining counting book is filled with rhyme, silly wordplay, lots of energy, and wonderful sound effects that make learning numbers and practicing counting a snap for preschoolers, and her engaging, repetitious refrain lets little ones join in and "read along." Jane Chapman's busy, bright, and boldly colorful illustrations are rich in humorous detail and just add to the fun. Together this dynamic duo have authored a marvelous, interactive romp, that's sure to become a classic in the future, and a soon to be favorite in your house right now.

"One Duck Stuck" is a great book with a kind message at the end. Our two-year old son begs us to read it again and again; he chimes in with sounds and finishes the sentences for us. This book makes a great gift.

One Duck Stuck is a darling children's book -- that moms and dads will love, too! We checked this out of the library, and liked it so much we went to amazon.com and bought 3!

It's rhythmic verse is enchanting and the kids recite it like a song. The alliteration is clever, as well.

The illustrations are colorful and alive!

The whole book just draws you in and makes you want to read it over and over again.

It's a feel-good, happy, sing-song little story the whole family will love.

At first glance, one would think, what would I need a book for to hire a nanny. Well, my eyes were opened wide after reading through this book, The ABC's of Hiring a Nanny. It is probably the most comprehensive, yet easy to understand and follow, guide I've ever encountered. It lays out all the things one needs to think about (and some you don't think about) when hiring someone to trust with your children. It brings up many points which need to be looked at before a certain situation arises, and before you are into it with a person that may not be right for your family. The writer has brought together everything you need to know. It also includes a diskette for forms you may want to print, which is a terrific bonus. Certainly worth recommending.

I never realized there was so much to know about hiring a nanny. It is such an important process and the book has everything you need (even the forms). It is written in such an easy to understand manner, with just the right amount of humor for such a serious subject. The computer disk is especially helpful.

The needs assesment and the forms on the companion disk were very helpful in our first search for a nanny. We did not find the consumer information about agencies to be offensive, and in fact felt the author was giving us a choice to hire an agency or do an independent search. We found an agency that met our criteria and the agency found our nanny. We thought the author's experiences as a nanny was the reason the book was written. On the author's web site abcnanny.bizland.com she makes it clear she is not against nanny agencies and is announcing a directory of nanny agencies to be posted on the site in June. The book is a handbook and gets down to business quickly which we appreciate and did not consider a cold approach.