I heard about this tradgy on court tv's Forensic Files it broke my heart about the letter and how he murdered her it was a bad storie to hear.only 17 not ever getting to have a kid or ever graduate that was not very kind to murder someone for no reason.

The first time I remember reading about this horrific crime was in a Reader's Digest magazine in 1989. I can still remember the shock I felt when I read how something as innocent as checking the mail in your own driveway could turn into such a tragedy. My heart broke as I turned each page and read Hilda's story about the brutal kidnapping and murder of her beautiful daughter. Her courage and faith is an inspirational to anyone that reads this book. I highly recommend it.

I've never read a book written with such beautiful simplicity about faith -- the horrors that were experienced in this family's life are transformed so that we can all read a very real tragedy without the glamor of the way tragedy is portrayed today. There is so much respect to Shari, Mrs. Smith's family, friends, people that were involved, and to the readers that we are able to walk into a new way to believe in and have faith in the Lord. Mrs. Smith's faith is beautiful -- the way she would pray so that she could sit through a grueling period of time facing such devastation - she'd simply ask God to help her get through it with grace -- and, by Mrs. Smith's portrayal of her own faith - it helped grow mine. Why? Because the Lord is very interested in the details of our lives -- Mrs. Smith & her family's tragedy is an example of the Lord using what satan meant for evil for good. Shari is in heaven - the best place to be -- and, Mrs. Smith and her family's going through the ordeal they went through, coming out of the other side in tact and in faith have undoubtedly increased the Kingdom -- the Smith family has awesome hearts - thank you, Mrs. Smith for your faithfulness to Him and for growing my own faith. I am sorry for the heartaches of your life, but I praise God that He is in control! Thank you.

In a time in our society when the meaning and importance of family is becoming lost, it is powerfully heartwarming to enter into the Leone family through the author's words. It is a close family who makes family a priority. Mr. Leone writes easily and with such a loving and amused perspective. He brings readers into the world of his family where they can picture the events, the people and the surroundings. The poems are poignant, the stories are warm and humorous, and the recipes and photographs remind readers that these are real people.

I just adored this volume. Small in size. Hefty in soul. Like "Rose Street" this follow-up reveals many things: A man's love and admiration for his children through sweet, whimsical verse. Essays that revere the past without disengaging it from the present. While "Rose Street" is an historic novel of sorts, "Rose Street Revisited" is like a chest of memorabilia, newly discovered from its hidden nook in the corner of the attic. Open it and out comes, gloriously in no particular order, butterflies that have been patiently waiting forever to fly. Poems. Essays. Photographs. All that celebrate Leone's Italian-American culture. All that celebrate the joyful mysteries of family life. All that extend a torch for all of us to accept as we celebrate life today and remember today's blessings tomorrow.

Having read both Rose Street and Rose Street Revisted, I can say that both books are a great tribute to the generations that have left us, and on a more personal note, a beautiful way to pass down to the new generation a family's rich past. Great reading! Very heartwarming! I loved them both! -Traci O.

This book really takes you back in time to King Henry VIII. The characters are vivid and strong. I developed a sense of each characters personality and traits. The storyline and occurrences within the book are humorous at times and sensitive at others. I developed a sense of caring for several of the characters within the book, especially Lady Katherine. I am looking forward to a follow up novel from this author. I really enjoyed the time I spent reading this book.

I have recently finished reading A ROSE WITHOUT A THORN by Marilyn Washburn and I am already longing for a sequel to this excellent piece of writing. The author has created a delightful and mesmorizing entrance into the essence of the social conditions and humanistic learning and being that prevailed in England during this facinating period of its history. The author has accomplished a fine story in blending thorough historical research and perspective with characters who are made alive in the details of their thoughts, desires, and actions, particularly in demonstrating dramatic personal relationships as well as weaving in England's relationships with other parts of Europe 500 years ago. Bone structures, dry moats, the kissing of a man's wife, flaws in the character of Henry VIII, the scandal of Christians at war with other Christians allow readers a deep look into the passionate zeal that defined a time that still captivates our minds today.

We can only hope that Marilyn Washburn will share more of her own zeal in other books to come! In the meantime, this is a book to enjoy for its history, its character developments, its pronouncements on humans in place and time. Bravo! This is a powerful book.

Ms. Washburn set the stage very well and made it where I couldn't put the book down!! The plot is well thought out and made it a pleasure to read! A wonderful historical novel!

Mr. Koch will not underestimate children. He will not talk down, dumb down, water down, because a passion for the subject matter animates this book as it must animate his instruction. He carefully documents and shares children's work as if it is as important as the poetry that inspired it.

Like anything truly sublime, the unspoken lesson enlivens this book . If you really share what you love with students, guide them instead of showing them, ask instead of telling, and treat their products with the respect you'd give a visiting artist, they will produce art as amazing as Mr. Koch's students did.

Forget teaching poetry to children- teach poetry instead. Take the concept and apply it to all creative acts. Teach art from great and challenging art. Teach music from powerful, sophisticated music. They can not only take it, they'll take it and keep it.

I used this book to introduce unrhymed poetry to a fourth grade class. They just knew that they were going to HATE poetry, but after they were exposed to these poems and had a chance to write their own, they were upset when the poetry unit was over. They loved the poems written by other children that Koch included.

This book was one with which I was taught in high school twenty years ago, and not only did it help me to connect with a personal style, but it also enhanced my appreciation of Whitman and Ginsburg. It stimulated ALL my other classmates in finding a voice and appreciation.

This is a great book! The only thing wrong with it is that it had to end. My first love in life is plantation homes and this book was like food for my soul. Having lived in Louisiana for all of my life and in south Louisiana for almost 25 years, I was thrilled to find this book. I would love to read more from this author. I will keep this book in my library and will surely read it again!

I really enjoyed this book. It was fast paced and intrigueing, blending historical,mystery,romance and murder.

I love to read a book that grabs you by the hand and won't let go until the end, and then makes you wish there was more to come ! I would love to see this on the "Big Screen"! I usually don't read romance books, however, I love ghosts and mystery books. This one I could easily pick up and read again. I love the place and time of the story. I felt like I was there when I was reading it and find myself thinking about it still, even though I've finished reading it. Just like some of the best movies I've seen, there were times when laughed to myself and times when I had tears in my eyes. I even gasped and said "Oh, My God" out loud a few times. That's when you know it's really good, when you can feel it. I can't wait to read your next book. P.S. I would love to meet Tyce!

This is one of the most moving and sensitive books I've ever read. I couldn't put it down. I shed many tears as I read of the hardships and tragedies Rose, Alex and their families endured. I rejoiced when things went well. The descriptions and the illustrations gave me an insight as to how life was in Szatmar and in Budapest. "Ruchele" is a wonderful tribute to a family and I shall never forget it. I have recommended it to all my friends. I think it is important for students of all ages to read it. This time in history should never be forgotten.

A review originally published in the Los Angeles Jewish Times, June 12-18, 1998.

Ruchele was the youngest daughter in an Orthodox Jewish family of ten children in Szatmar, Romania. Like may of her contemporaries, she saw her childhood cut short by the outbreak of WWII and the Holocaust. In this memoir Ruchele, now named Rose, recounts her difficult girlhood in pre-war Romania and nazi-occupied Hungary. She tells how she survived under a Gentile identity in Budapest, and tells in plain words the price that she and other survivors among her family and friends had to pay. Los Angeles author Rose Farkas gives an eye-witness account of the history that changed Europe-and the World-forever in "Ruchele". (Fithian Press, Santa Barbara)

Excerpted from a letter from Greti Herman, July 1998

I have read the book and found it fascinating and especially enjoyed the details and touching anecdotes about neighbors and family members which bring to life the lost world of orthodox Judaism in Eastern Europe. As an added feature, her book is wonderfully illustrated by "Ruchele's" husband, Alex. The drawings give us the feel of the old country where we grew up.

This e-book is a terrific read from a talented new author. It starts out with a great hook and keeps you interested to the end. Not a good book to start at night if you have to get up early in the morning because you'll want to keep going until you finish it! I'm looking forward to Irene Estep's next romantic suspense.

Joani Brannigan is accused of her husband's murder. Now, only the man she loved as a teenager can save her from not only a murder conviction, but the real killers. Ms. Estep does an awesome job of weaving an intriquing plot interspersed with red hot sexual tension. Read it. You won't regret it.

Ms. Istep delivers! She spins a mesmerizing tale of intrigue from the first page, where the reader wonders if the heroine is guilty of murdering her husband. You'll like the strong chacterization and the sparks that fly between the hero and heroine as the strive to solve the crime. I recommend this engaging tale of suspense and romance.

This book quickly became a favorite in our house, my four girls love to have it read over and over, and they love to read it themselves and look at the pictures. They story is so sweet, and the illustrations are beautiful. I recommend this book for everyone, but especially for adults who have had that one special doll in their past, and for children who have that special doll now.

A truly touching story, brought to life with delightful illustrations from Wendy Anderson Halperin, about the special bond between a child and a treasured toy. As a collector of children's books, this one is a winner and will be treasured for years to come.

My seven year old and I sat down to read this book. It brought back memories of the little dolls that I had loved. The wear and tear on the little doll did not matter to Sophie. No matter what happen to Rose, Sophie loved her. The illustrations were wonderful. My little girl loved to follow the boxes around the edge. Everytime we read it, she discovers something new. I bought this book for her to keep and share with her children someday.

Sandra Angelo has real knowledge and talent for teaching drawing.
I read the book through, and I'm on my 7th exercise drawing.
She knows how to teach the basics, one step at a time.
Drawing is not easy, you will have to work.

I bought this book and have now completed many of the first drawing exercises. The book starts at the basics with what supplies you need and then shows you how to use them. This book was just what I needed!

She shows you how to use grids, how to shade, how to do line drawings, how to add texture and more. But you start out with baby steps so you aren't overwhelmed and work your way up to the harder stuff. THere are many exercises and techniques to practice, she supplies the paper in the book and a sample to look at too.

The only thing about the book is she does really kind of push buying her supplies from her website, which is fine I guess. Especially if you don't know anything about which brands are quality and which are cheap, which I didn't.

I did actually just purchase some of her companion videos but haven't received them yet and I can't wait to get them.

What better review can one give than to say this book delivers what it says. The methods are straight forward and simple and they do help those who can't draw a straight line. Most art books are written for a visual-learning person and a person who learned to draw as a kid--this book isn't! Although I often overanalyze things this books actually got me drawing in a painless way. I may not become a professional artist but I now have an enjoyable new skill.

Stephen King's ascent from free-lance scribe to multi-million-selling-brand-name-writing-industry is a fascinating case. His scintillating first novel, "Carrie", was published in an era where horror novels were quite out of vogue--but it still succeeded. His third effort, "The Stand", was an 800+ page monolith that broke every rule from "How To Become A Best Selling Novelist"--it was long (verrrrry long), multi-layered, and really really dark. But again, King succeeded. By the time the nineties rolled around, King's loyal fan base knew that their man could be relied on to deliver an entertaining, readable, and verrrrry long fright-fest. Through hard work and consistancy, Stephen King had deservedly earned the total trust of his readers. But sometime around 1988, I suspect the prolific scare-meister realized that his fans would, with very little question, follow him anywhere. So the Horror King decided to put it in cruise control. "Stephen King's Latest", a set of three novels from the early nineties, epitomizes the problems of King's more recent work. In "Dolores Clairborne," King's fascination (or obsession) with his homestate of Maine kills an otherwise interesting little mystery. The picayune historical details about the state, combined with the native-Maine dialect that permiates most of the dialogue, turns the book into somewhat of an endurance test. In "Gerald's Game", King semi-overbearing, soapbox-jumping attitude about feminism (he's all for it--what a guy!) overrides the clever, sexually-charged premise. And the creepy (and verrrrry long) "Insomnia"--though closer in tone and spirit to vintage King outings like "The Stand" and "The Dead Zone"--is in dire need of an editor's red pencil. All that said, this troika of books nonetheless demonstrates that even at half-power, Stephen King is a true pop fiction craftsman who will always be able to snare a reader by the cortex, and not let go. "Dolores Clairborne", "Gerald's Game", and "Insomnia" are relatively tasty in their own right, but to experience Steve at full power, stick with the early stuff.

I've been a Stephen King fan since I was in fifth grade (when I first read Misery), and I will be for life. He has never disappointed me. From his epic Dark Tower series (which is great) to his short stories he always writes with great depth. In the three books here: Rose Madder, Insomnia, and Dolores Claiborne he has yet again put together a trilogy of masterpieces. In Rose Madder a young wife finally works up enough strength to leave her abusive husband, who is also a cop. The cop doesn't let her go that easily and follows her cross country and tries to kill her. King throws a twist into the story, however, once the wife can enter a painting and go back and forth through time. A must read. Insomnia is about an old man who at first can't sleep but then begins to see "visions" and people who can cut the thread of life, so he knows who is going to die. His nemisis in the story is the Crimson King who...I don't want to tell to much. This story gets a little long at parts (near the middle), but it is a very long book anyway. Good read. Dolores Claiborne is about a woman who finds out her husband has had sexual experiences with their young daughter. During a solar eclipse she kills him and nobody ever finds out who did it, until... I love how this book ties in with Geralds Game. To find out how read the books. This one is very good (the movie was okay too - but not as good). So, I think everyone should read these books because they are 1)suspensful, 2)entertaining, 3)written by Stephen King, trust me you won't be disappointed. by the way my favorite Stephen King book is "IT"

One of King's best. Going through time by entering a painting. What a concept. The whole story was riveting. You cant put it down, because you want to know, what's going to happen to Rose next??????