I saw Leah Kamaiko interviewed on last Sunday's Today Show. We were also treated to footage of Leah and Adele walking and talking together. True soulmates. Seeing them reminded me of how moved I was when I read "Am I Old Yet?" the book Leah wrote so that all of us could share what these two wonderful women have learned from each other. There is only one age, alive, and that life is best lived in connection to ourselves and each other. Leah's willingness to face her fears of aging and learn from them gives gentle space for the rest of us to explore this taboo subject. For years in my psychotherapy practice I have worked with many people facing aging and mortality issues for themselves and their loved ones. "Am I Old Yet?" is poignant and wise. It illuminates while it confronts and comforts. I highly recommend this book. It is a valuable resource for our continuing collective journey.

I loved this book! It speaks to friendship, our fear and loathing of aging/"Old People" and still maintains a dry sarcasm that had me laughing out loud. I'm gonna buy 15 copies and give them as gifts. Anyone who has a parent, a child or a dear friend needs to read this.

Komaiko's done it again. Being the father of three little girls my kids have read all her books and I was happy to see there is finally one for us "adults." As a man I still found it fascinating to read this delightful, humorous and thought provoking book written about women. Move over "Tuesdays with Morrie." Komaiko's book is the lightening and thunder that was missing there. A must read.

I'm only 15 yeras-old but I really enjoy reading. I've read some great books (like The Mist of Avalon; or one of Agatha Chritie's mistery) but this one really caught my attention. It was recommended by mother and I truly liked it. Not only this one, but the entire series of Angelique. It has a great story and it's well written. What a great life this Angelique had!! Really exciting! So, I strongly recommend for you to read, not only this one but entire series. Believe me, it's worth it!

Wow! Angelique books are totally brill! I remember I fell in love with the cover of the original Pan edition of Angelique in Revolt, but didn't buy it when my mum said it was only part of a series. Now I buy Angelique books whenever I see them, and I have thirteen copies of that book alone; since it's important to read it in all the different languages to pick up on the subtle nuances that might be lost in different translations. Isn't it cool in the first book when she's handed the poisoned drink?! Anyway - The Road to Versailles is quite gruelling going, cause it's the one where she has to live rough on the streets of Paris. I totally agree that "romance" is an absurd word to describe a book such as this, since the quality of subterfuge and all the business with her joining the Thieves cult at the Court of Miracles had more in common with a spy thriller or something. The only problem is that sometimes they're really badly written. Angelique and the Sultan was a bit of a pile of pants by comparison with the others - that is, with regard to psychology and poetry in the narrative. Especially in the Danish version. Anyway. Cool.

The first Angelique book, Marquise of the Angels, left fiction's most intrepid heroine penniless, without a name or a friend, and with two small children, one a new-born.

This gripping book details her humiliation and surrender to the degradation of the Paris underworld, her search for revenge on those who killed her beloved husband, and her determined and relentless climb out of the gutter. Determined to find a better life for her children, Angelique uses every weapon in her armoury to survive, then to escape poverty and hopelessness to find a new place in the dangerous, unjust and ruthless streets on 17th century Paris.

Undoubtedly the greatest series of books ever written

The Truth of Racism Speaks Out Billy, by Albert French Racism is seen everyday and is avoided. Not many people take action in racism. If most people heard a racism comment, they would ignore it like nothing happen. Albert French goes straight to the point and tackles the problem in the great novel Billy. French joins the elite writers and stabs racism in the back with Billy. French draws up a masterpiece in Billy with his plot, characters and setting. This book shows the reality of racism, and it is a book that everyone should read and learn about the tragedies of the past. No one will walk away after reading this book and not be disturbed. That's how powerful this novel is. "May be the best novel by a black author since Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye." For the price of $9.95, it is a true steal. Billy takes place in Banes County, Mississippi, in 1937. Billy, who is 10, and Gumpy, who is 12, are the main characters and live in the shacks of a small town. Racism is a common occurrence in this town. The blacks live in small shacks and are separated from the whites. One day, Billy and Gumpy pass the forsaken line, that splits the blacks from the whites. No black person is suppose to pass this line. Billy and Gumpy are looking for turtles in the nearby pond. Two angry white girls come and beat and chase the boys off. Billy takes out a knife and stabs one of the girls, and the girl shortly dies later from the stab wound. The whole town hears about this and "all hell brakes lose". The newspaper hits the town, with articles saying, "Two Niger boys killed a young innocent white girl". Billy and Gumpy get caught by the local Sheriff and are placed in jail for later trial. This outrageous event affects the entire community. The white townspeople burn Gumpy's house. The white people just increased their racism ways. It's amazing how this event changes the whole town. Billy is found guilty of first- degree murder and is sentenced to death by the electric chair, but Gumpy is place in an all boys camp until he is an adult. It's amazing how much trouble, two boys get for just using self-defense. It is real disturbing. French picks the perfect setting for this story. It's hard to find a place with more racism than deep in the South, in a state like Mississippi. French chooses a small town located in the central Mississippi. The United States has a lot of racism in 1937 and has not yet healed this problem. It is a perfect setting for a great disturbing racism novel. The characters are just well written. Billy, a ten year old, is a young innocent black child living in a white's world, who looks and acts too innocent to do anything wrong. Billy never realizes what he has done or what he is going to get until the very end. Billy keeps on thinking that he is going home during the whole time he is held in jail, "Mama when do we gits to go home. I wanna to go home, Mama". Gumpy, is a perfect angel that never does anything wrong. He is always paranoid that he will get in trouble, "Come on Billy lets go home, I don't want to git in any trouble." Gumpy mixes in with Billy, which is the wrong crowd for him. Gumpy never takes any blame for any of his actions, because he never admits he did anything wrong and blames the whole thing on Billy. "Billy, I never did the killen, you did the whole thing, I'm a good boy". The plot is just well written and keeps you in the edge of your chair for the entire story. It is a definite "page turner". "Billy's strength is not strictly as a novel; it lives as theater. It is a folk opera that moves with unfaltering pace to its shattering climax". The writing style fits the story perfectly like a true masterpiece. Albert French uses the South accents in dialog during his novel. Even though during the middle of the story it tends to drag on a little bit, French's novel truly over comes this problem with great writing style. In conclusion, French wrote a masterpiece. "Although you only know Billy Lee Turner for an all too brief 214 pages, you will mourn his death for the rest of your life. That's how powerfully and dramatically written this book is". This book is a definite buy and is a crime if you do not. It teaches the truth and sadness of racism of the early 1900's. "A work of art, Billy never lets up, not for a minute. The images rush straight to your brain". Billy is relentless, powerful, and should not be missed. This author deserves congratulations for this masterpiece.

Billy is a must read! It tells a heart tugging story about a young boy on death row. This book is well written and will leave you thinking about Billy long after the last page is turned. I highly recommend this book. This would be a great choice as a book club selection.

I felt every breath of emotion that Albert French's characters experienced. Mr. French has crafted an incredibly powerful story with a precision of language and structure. Every scene builds on the one before it. Characters and their situations evolve into a heart wrenching crescendo of emotional devastation. The screams of Billy's mother still resonate -- echo in my mind and spirit... three years after initially reading this story. Also, Mr. French brings the ignorance and prejudice of the time period alive. He masterfully bludgeons us with the brutality of it through desciption and dialogue. The reader must grapple with his/her own perspective of racism and its history. There is no easy way out. I highly recommend reading this book aloud. Many of my high school students from years past, still talk about this one book, read aloud to them in class. Like Toni Morrison's Beloved, Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God, and Ernest Gaines The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, Albert French's Billy becomes a part of the way you view the world.

This story is the MOST intriguing romance that I have ever read. It is by far my favorite book. I love how Victoria Holt was able to write a truly spellbinding tale without putting in detailed love scenes. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes romances. Victoria Holt's books are suitable for all ages. If you've never read one of her books, it is time to start.

I have been in love with Victoria Holt's novels since my mother introduced me to her. I have read all of her books under her all of her pseudonyms,and and find her a thoroughly wonderful author. I feel that anyone who wants to read a good book, that will keep them interested beyond the first page should read all of her books. I have read each of her books at least three times and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys to read, 13 year old from Galesburg Illinois

I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THIS BOOK IS WONDERFUL. SO WONDERFUL THAT I REMEMBERED IT FROM READING IT SEVEN YEARS AGO. I MOVED AND THE LIBRARY NEAR ME DID NOT HAVE IT. I AM SO HAPPY TO FIND IT AGAIN. I WOULD STRONGLY RECOMMEND IT FOR YOUNG WOMEN/TEENAGERS TO READ IF THEY LIKE ROMANCE AND MYSTERY WITHOUT THE PROFANITY AND DETAILED LOVE SCENES SO PREVALENT TODAY.

This is just a terrific book, filled with humor, wisdom, pathos and adventure. The author poignantly describes his childhood descent into blindness, his efforts to ignore it, his initial rebelliousness, and his gradual coming to terms with his handicap. Before long, the reader, like Erik, no longer sees blindness as a handicap, but as one of many hurdles life tosses in our way. It is certainly less of a burden to him than was the sudden, tragic death of his mother, which he movingly addresses and comes to terms with. He finds purpose to his life, he finds love, and he finds friendship and adventure on the mountains that he climbs. Buy this book and give it to any friend who has an inclination toward self-pity, and it may change their life. Read it and be inspired by the resiliency and strength of the human spirit.

Ok, that's not true. But Erik Weihenmayer has gone where no blind man has gone before and very few men and women with 20/20 vision will be able to follow his footsteps.
This is more than a mountaineering book: it's the life story about a child who had to grow up with a visual handicap that put him more and more in the dark. First unwilling to accept this fact, but later unwilling to accept society's view of blind people.

Being a good climber he just didn't quit because of his blindness, but found new ways of reaching the top, culminating in climbing the top of the world, Mt Everest and becoming one of the few people who have climbed the "7 summits".

This is an amazing story about courage, and vision in more meanings of the word. Erik has climbed Denali, Aconcagua, El Capitan and Everest amongst others. But he also moved to a new state whilst being completely blind, trained his dog, fell in love, got married on the top of a continent, led a fellow climber through the dark woods and many other things you might not expect from a blind man.

Although a close relative of mine has a blinding eye disease as well, this book inspired myself personally to just go out and do it, whatever 'it' is for me. Great inspiration and entertainingly written.

This new edition contains a new part about the Everest climb which was not included in the older editions.

This is a must-read for crowds of all types. Touching, humorous, moving, the story of Erik will inspire many. Being blind myself, I can totally relate to situations Erik describes such as the "shaking" vision, wanting to be accepted among peer groups of any age, and the comical remarks that must be made to lighten up a situation. I especially enjoyed the adventures in dating and picking up women. Blind people too want to know what a person looks like and it was great to hear someone else echo the embarressment of mistaking a voice for a "sexy" woman only to find out it's a "girly" man. Those mistakes are made and have to be laughed off. It's just a feature of life, just like blindness is only a feature of a person, NOT THE WHOLE person. I strongly suggest this book to anyone looking for information or coping on blindness. Read it and you'll never be the same.

Back in high school, I made a vow to myself that I would eventually read all of the Pulitzer Prize winning novels. A Bell for Adano was one of the first that I read. Now, a few years later, I have read around 30 of those novels, and while many have been wonderful, few have matched the experience of reading A Bell for Adano, and I continue to return to it.

The splendid novel is set during World War II, though it isn't really a war novel. The novel is about how very different people can, and should treat one another, especially when in a difficult situation. A Bell for Adano primarily concerns Major Joppolo. He is an American officer placed in charge of the city of Adano after the invasion. Joppolo is a wonderful, though flawed man. He's always practical but remains sentimental. He sets out to make the lives of the people of Adano the best he possibly can. He does so by not treating them as the enemy but as People. The "bell" of Adano refers his attempt to restore an historic bell to the city that it had lost during the war.

I can never do justice to my favorite novels when I review them, and this is one of them. I can't say enough good about it. The characterizations are strong and the interactions between the characters are touching and thought-provoking. Joppolo's relationship to the city's people is truly remarkable. It makes one think about America's relationship with foreign countries. The story is heart-tugging and humorous. There are few novels written this century that can touch a reader as much as this one does, and this one can make you think a little, too. A Bell for Adano certainly deserved its prize, and it definitely deserves to not be forgotten.

I loved this book. I will admit that I'm a fan of the 1940s, both movies and books. However, this Pulitzer Prize-winning novel transcends all that -- it's simply a fine story. Even though the theme is World War II, this is not a story of battle. Instead, it's about a compassionate major and his attempts to bring humanity to a war-torn town in Italy. The books is funny, charming and moving. It's a quick read and a worthwhile one. I highly recommend it.

An enchanting saga about how a variety of characters react to a difficult time.

An engaging view of a clash of cultures. The vigorous American culture versus the age-old Italian culture.

An endearing cast of characters that will linger in your memory. From peasant buffoons to wise old men. From selfish to magnanimous. From simple to sophisticated. From despicable to saintly. An amazing portait of humanity.

An enthralling quest of one Major Joloppo. His attempt to return civility to an incivil world.

And it is all couched in a warm, humorous story line which will keep you interested to the last word. Not a "page-turner" or thriller, but you will want to know what happens to the Major on his quest and how all of the characters either help or hinder him along the way.

I was very glad I followed the advice of the other reviewers and read this book.

Although generally regarded as typifying the cozy murder mystery writer in whose books there is either a murder in a locked room or a murder at a family reunion in a country house, Agatha Christie rarely tried her hand at either of these murder mystery genres. In "Hercule Poirot's Christmas", however, she combines both.

The family is the dysfunctional Lee family, summoned to pass Christmas together in the house of old Simeon Lee, the patriarch. During this stressful reunion, a commotion followed by a blood-curdling scream is heard from the room on the first floor occupied by old Simeon. When the locked door is forced open, the furniture is found upended, the safe rifled, and Simeon is found lying dead with his throat cut. The door key is in place, on the inside of the door.

Having depicted how the family members despise, hate, or resent each other up to this point, Agatha Christie next allows the investigations and theories to develop. Poirot is on hand, but she cleverly allows other police inspectors and investigators to do most of the work and make most of the mistakes.

The solution is one you will never forget, but also one that you will probably never arrive at before Poirot reveals all. Agatha Christie is wonderfully clever at laying out all the clues in an arrangement that directs the reader away from the vital ones.

Apart from a few lines of description, almost everything in the text is dialogue. To anyone in the world who has not yet read this 1940 mystery nothing more need be said. To those who are re-reading it, I suggest they notice how cleverly it is plotted and planned.

I'll have to agree with the first reviewer of this novel. The title is a bit misleading. However, I do believe that Agatha meant it to be that way. I have studied literature for a while and know that the everything that is in the novel is meant for something. To all the people wanting to read this novel, here's a tip: Everything that is stated in the book, diaglogue, details, etc. are all key to solving the mystery. To all of us Agatha fans, it proves to be true. The characters are very well developed, much better than any other Agatha novel I've read to date. The plot is priceless, the identities confusing (deliciously so!), and the conclusion is a shocking. Agatha knows how to lead her readers on, and proves so with this tale of murder and mayhem around Christmas time. At the beginning of the conclusion, who think it's Suspect A, but then you lean towards Suspect B, and at the end, Poirot reveals in all grandness the killer, and you're sitting there kicking yourself saying, "Why didn't I think of that!" The pacing of the book is good and I read it in two days. The suspense builds and the storytelling is at it's finest. For those of you waiting for a plot summary, read the synopsis above. I won't reveal anything for it'll ruin the surprise of the novel. Though not one of her famous books, it's one her best, this one definitely deserves your money!

This book has one of the best conclusions of all the Agatha Christie novels I have read. I very highly recommend it to anyone who likes mystery novels, even to people who haven't read an Agatha Christie book before.

Simeon Lee is one of the richest men in England. He is estranged from most of his family, but one Christmas, he invites them to come to his mansion to spend the holiday with him. He is found brutally murdered in a pool of blood in his bedroom, which was locked from the inside. Each of his relatives has a motive, but it is up to Hercule Poirot to figure out which one of them is the murderer--before he or she strikes again.

I was recently asked by someone who had read some of my reviews which study Bible I recommended. Such a hard question, since there are many excellent ones available! My answer to him compared the NIV Life Application Bible and the NIV Study Bible. Here are my thoughts on these two, plus comments on the Quest Study Bible as well.

The Large-Print Edition of the NIV Study Bible doesn't have HUGE print - just a bit bigger than most Bibles. I still use that Bible a LOT and it's just comfortable reading. It is a bit bigger and heavier than my LAB, but not by a lot. I really like the larger type. You can get REALLY large print, but that's not what this is.

The Quest Study Bible doesn't go as deep. I think it's perfect for someone who is just beginning to study the Bible and has lots of questions like those that are answered in the Quest Study Bible. However, that's not to say that I already know all the answers to those questions! ;-o It just doesn't go much deeper than those questions.

I have in front of me the NIV Study Bible and the Life Application Bible NIV. They are both excellent - either one would go deeper into the Word than the Quest Study Bible.

The obvious differences to me are as follows:

Text The Life Application Bible (LAB) has the text straight across the page - the NIV Study Bible has the two-column layout. I think I prefer the two-columns. It is easier to get through some of those Old Testament books such as 1/2 Chronicles! ;-o However, this is very much a matter of personal preference.

Notes The notes, while excellent in both Bibles, are different in tone. The NIV Study Bible notes are very objective and purely informational. One of the downsides to the LAB, for me anyway, is that sometimes the notes in the LAB get rather preachy and sometimes go far afield of the text. I'm not saying asking personal applications is a bad thing, but if you're doing a lot of reading in that Bible, it might get to be a bit much. The tone of the notes is is the reason I gave the Life Application Bible 4 stars instead of 5! A note might ask "Do you believe that God can help you? Do you really want his help?" (note for Matt 9:27-30).

The clear, informative and objectively stated notes in this NIV Study Bible earned it 5 stars in my book!! I would, however, have appreciated lengthier personality profiles. But no study Bible has everything!

Other helps In the back of the LAB, there is an "Index to Notes" which includes the maps, charts, personality profiles, and the notes. It really isn't a concordance, but it is helpful.

The NIV Study Bible has an Index to Maps separately, an Index to Subjects, and a Concordance. The Concordance isn't exhaustive, of course, but it is much better than the one in the LAB.

The LAB wins the contest in the "Personality Profiles" category. They have quite a detailed description of all the key people you'll meet in the Bible - they often cover about 2/3 of a page!! In the NIV Study Bible, these personality notes are relegated to just a few lines in the Notes section! The LAB definitely is the winner in this category.

Both Bibles contain a Harmony of the Gospels, something I find really helpful. The LAB, however, numbers each event in the Gospels, and before the section in the text, it gives this number and then gives the passages in the other gospels that tell the same story. I found the number to be really helpful. The NIV Study Bible doesn't have such numbers.

I could go on and on, but you get the idea! Those are the main differences, I think!! Both Bibles are excellent. I haven't found any others that are better. I also have the NIV Living Insights Study Bible that has Chuck Swindolls notes, but the notes aren't as complete. Also, the "Word in Life Study Bible" is chockfull of different kinds of sidebars and articles and is just wonderful as well.

I had purchased the Large-Print Edition of the NIV Study Bible because of some temporary vision problems. I hope this is helpful! Please check out my other reviews of Bibles and other Christians books and contemporary Christian music!

The NIV Study Bible has been an excellent source of information and interpretive help in studying scripture, for my husband and myself.

The charts, timelines, maps and chapter overviews and outlines provide rich groundwork for the reading and study of the Word.

It is my first choice when re-reading and researching a passage that is not clear.

The NIV Study Bible is a must for the library of any student of the Bible, and every believer.

I have had an NIV study Bible for several years. I originally purchased one to enhance my own study time. During discussions with friends or family, however, I saw a need to share the information contained within the Study Bible. Therefore, I always keep one here to study with, but I never put my name in it. I keep it "unassigned" until someone I know needs one, then I give them mine (but, of course, I still have my regular NIV and KJV, too). Invariably, this kind of "opportune giving", that is, giving the Study Bible after a frank discussion of its contents, leads to eager reading. I gave one to my sister-in-law recently, who forgot to bring her KJV Bible while visiting. I lent my NIV Study Bible, and her eyes were opened to a whole new understanding. She was so enthusiastic about "not having to translate" what she had read (as she was used to doing with her KJV), that I offered her the Study Bible to take home. When she protested, I explained that I always kept one for expressly that purpose. It has become her study Bible of choice. Anything that brings a clearer understanding of God's word is worth having and sharing.

As a professional who works and plays with people who are blind and deaf, I was curious to read this book. It is truly amazing from the perspective of writing that is at once powerful and lyrical, exquisitely beautiful and touching.

In addition the process that the author has gone through is at first tragic and then uplifting, not so much because he found his dog guide, but much more so because the author found himself as a blind man.

I grieve for his parents who could never say the word 'blind'. I have seen this so often. Mr. K's message is strong and clear. "coming out" is better and empowering and in his case enobling as well.

A beautifully written and powerful book.

Being visually impaired myself, I found this book to be a very striking and accurate discription of what life is like for those who cannot see.

Mr Kuusisto wrote this from the heart, thus making this book a very touching and personal work of art. His encounters, from inner coping to inter-personal relationships, parallel many lives of the visually impaired community. He draws the reader quickly and effectively into his world, and never allows the reader to leave it. The book will make an impact on the reader for the rest of his/her life.

I highly recommend this "must read" book for any person, not only to learn about the blind world, but to experience it. Also, this book would be a valued gift to those who are blind to learn that they are not alone in this world.

I was reccommended to read Planet of The Blind due to my interest in writing stories about people who had disabilities and about by own disablility for I'm visually impaired myself and I have an interest in writing. So I read Steven Kuusisto's book Planet of the Blind and found it very facinating and inspiring! I highly reccomend it! I'd love to know what is he doing now and is he still writing and speaking of the book?

The Cross Country Quilters is the first book by Jennifer Chiaverini I have read. I also know nothing about quilting. Quilting knowledge is not a prerequisit to reading and enjoying this book. Much like Julia, the newest quilter at Elm Creek Quilt Camp, I was slowly drawn into the world of material,color, and design. During a summer session of quilt camp a unlikely grouping of friends takes root, and they promise to continue their friendship through designing and completing their own block of a challange quilt. They plan to meet the following summer to piece the blocks together. The five women, Julia, Vinnie, Megan, Grace and Donna return home not only to face the challanges of the quilt blocks. They also must face the continuing challanges of their busy lives with work, family, careers, and illness. At times it seems that each woman has too much to deal with, without worrying about the planned meeting the following summer. Just as quilting combines materials which don't seem to have much in common, Jennifer Chiaverini, using the theme of quilting and friendship, intertwines these women's varied lives with warmth and believability. I look forward to reading the other books by this author.

This is the third of the Jennifer Chiaverini Elm Creek Quilters' book I have read. The first one I bought on a visit to my sister who was working at State College in Pennsylvania. The next book I ordered through Amazon and now I have just bought the Cross Country Quilters and finished reading it 2 days after it arrived. I am looking forward to reading the Runaway Quilt. Being a quilter I love reading about the making of the quilts but also about the friendships that quilting brings. Jennifer's books are warm, fuzzy and hard to put down. They also give me a view of life in America. I love the Elm Creek Manor and would love to read more about life there. In this book people who had never quilted before were drawn into it and by doing so it changed their life. I look forward to the next book with wild anticipation.

Everyone familiar with the hobby respects the famous quilting retreat at Elm Creak Manor in Waterford, Pennsylvania. Strangers come there to camp and life long friendships have formed such as the accidental meeting of the Cross-Country Quilters who vow to return next year.

The group consists of people from a wide variety of lifestyles. Long time attendee octogenarian Vinnie has been at Elm Creek every year since it opened. Julia the actress needs to learn the art for a part. Award winning Grace suffers from a nasty medical diagnosis that has left her with a quilter's mental block. Megan earned a week at the camp as a prize from a quilting magazine and is accompanied by her cyber-friend Donna, escaping from a daughter that is worrying her to death. Even after the camp ends, the participants stay in contact encouraging, boosting, and cheering each one's triumphs.

Jennifer Chiaverini has written a special book that demonstrates the resiliency and courage of an extraordinary group of determined women. Although Elm Creek manor is not the star of the story line, it serves as they catalyst that generates the development of subplots into a cohesive tale. THE CROSS COUNTRY Quilters is a powerful women's mainstream fiction at its literary best.

Harriet Klausner