I thought it easily captured the emotions of Melanie Braderman average girl and Justin Hart teen heart throb.It was entertaining and fast moving. If you love teen romance & I do you"ll love this book

I think this is an excillent book because it talks about teenage love an I like to read about teenage love. This is about a 14 year old girl named Melanie Braderman and she meets this boy, on Fire Island, named, Justin Hart, and she meets him by her brother hitting him on accident and when she sees him she falls in love. Mel spys on him and watches almost every move she makes. They finally meet and go out. Justin only wants to have a summer romace. When the summer is over and they move back to where they live Mel finds out that Justin was keeping a seceret from her that he was starring in a show called "It's No Joke" and he is the star of the show. When everyone finds out that Mel and Justin dated over the summer she gets so hummiliated at school in front of every one. Mel finally gets his phone number and then they spend a day together in New York city alone. If you like to read teenage romance then you will like to read this one. I think this the best book that Ann M. Martin has written and I wish there was a movie on it

This book was awesome. I never thought that Justin was a tv star. I was just as suprised as Melanie when I read the part about him being a star. It has all the things I'm looking for in a book. It has romance, twists, and it keeps you wanting to know more about their new found romance. I just wished it would have gave you a better picture of how their relationship worked out in the future. It needs a sequal.

I was an avid reader myself as a child (still am)and would have loved to have had Skinny Girl Stew to read then, as well as to have read it to my children. As it is, my 20-year-old daughter and I both have read it and enjoyed it thoroughly...I appreciate the use of the extensive vocabulary for a young reader, broadening the horizons and peaking a thrist for more. The characters are full and engaging, especially the carpet's sense of fun. All youngsters can relate to Skinny Girl and her flight of fancy...am looking forward to the next! Keep up the Good work!

WOW!! This book is something every young girl should own! I love her amazing adventures and views on the world! My absolute favorite charater was Skiiny Gril herself! I can't wait to read more of Skinny Girl's adventures!!

"Skinny Girl Stew" entertains and satisfies the 'believing-child' in readers of all ages. This book is well written with characters that snag at your heart and keep you reading, page after page, to the end. My Grandson is eagerly awaiting his turn. I recommend this book to all those who are young or 'young-at-heart' looking for a captivating modern fairy tale.
Congratulations to a fellow PA author....

For historical and fantasy fiction lovers, "The Merlin of St. Gilles' Well" is right on target. And Ann Chamerlin begins a promising Joan of Arc series!

It is the early 15th century and is the story of Jean Le Drapier, who is a crippled man with his own "magical powers" (ala Merlin) and a French nobleman Gilles de Rais. Gilles is "destined" one day to fight alongside the Maid of Orleans herself; he will also become the progenitor of the Bluebeard legends! As in the actual story, this novel examines the internal political, social, and religious struggles among the people of France and does so in a most appealing manner!

As the story begins, Guy de Rais, who is poaching on illegal grounds, accidentally shoots in the hand a young peasant boy, Yann, who, naturally (or "unnaturally") becomes infected; the wound cripples him and he begins to have fits and see visions--he sees the salvation of France through Joan of Arc, among other "sights." There is the traditional hermit, who insists that de Rais become resonsible for the child's upbringing. (De Rais has a son named Gilles, who grows up with Yann.) And while this may be reminiscent of Mary Stewart's Merlin/Arthur trilogy ("The Crystal Cave," etc.), Chamberlin's story stands on its own.

As the story progresses Yann and Gilles explore--and embrace--the Old Religion and during ritual ceremonies, Gilles tatoos himself (chin: blue--hence, "Bluebeard"). Guy de Rais attacks these rituals (he is not an advocate of the Old Religion) and mortally wounds the hermit. Yann issues a curse (they all die soon after!) and inherits the shrine. The beauty of fiction is that the author is permitted to take liberties and Chamberlin does with the historical accounts; but no matter. This is fiction--and fantasy fiction at that--and as such the author has created an exciting, compelling work. We can only encourage her to publish the next episode. (Billyjhobbs@tyler.net)

Merlin of St. Gilles' Well blends Arthurian legend with the story of Joan of Arc's rise. History, fantasy and action blends in this opening book which represents the first of a focus on Joan of Arc. Here a boy's vision of a Maid and her powers slowly evolves to reality against a backdrop of change and discovery.

It's not an easy feat to write a fantasy novel that will stand out from others, but that is exactly what Ann Chamberlain has done. She has adeptly managed to seamlessly blend truth, fiction and myth in a story that transports readers to another time and place. Although there are instances where the names and places were a bit confusing, it was easy to overlook that and focus on how skillfully the story was told. It read more like history than fantasy and at times I had to remind myself that the spells of magic in the book were fictional...or weren't they? That's what Ms.Chamberlain makes you think and feel. At some points in the book I felt the influence of pagan rites (for lack of a better term) and realized that she had successfully woven it into her story and managed to show it in a better light than others have previously done. In this story the heretical and heathenish behavior unfavored by the Catholic church was shown to the reader to have origins of good intentions--something that I'd never seen before in a book. Ms. Chamberlain's storytelling also was successful in creating characters that were extremely likeable and/or despicable. I pitied Jean Le Drapier and also liked and disliked Gilles, his milk-brother. I have yet to make a determination about his character until the next book, which unfortunately won't be out for several months. For me, this book is exceptionally good and I'll be sure to put it right next to my other favorite trilogy: The Memory, Sorrow and Thorn series by Tad Williams.

Beverly Nichols, author of MERRY HALL says the love of gardening involves the love of art, the love of love, and the love of death. Following his experiences in WWII, Nichols retired to the English countryside to restore himself mentally, physically, and spiritually. He doesn't inform the reader directly of his background (I know this from having read some biographical material from other sources), but he had another life before he bought the house and grounds describes in his trilogy beginning with MERRY HALL. He was a journalist and writer, and during WWII he spent some time abroad in His Majesty's Service.

To the unknowing, Nichols narrative may seem a bit too cheerful, frivolous, or shallow, but his book is intended to entertain the reader--this is gardening mind you not the aftermath of war. To the extent he able to do so, Nichols kept the events in the DAILY MAIL out of his gardening books. As a result, some readers today can mistakenly think him an English prig who had no concern for life outside his own back yard.

MERRY HALL begins one afternoon when Nichols and his 'man' Gaskin stumble across a derelict Georgian manor house and it's grounds. Nichols is overcome with a desire to restore the house and rebuild the grounds. He has been living in London and until that fateful day was more or less settled, but now he wants to "move beyond the Tudor world" and into the world of the Georgian Manor House. He buys Merry Hall and thus begins his adventure.

MERRY HALL was written about six years into the project. By that time Nichols had undertaken the restoration of the foul smelling pond just off the music room and won the support of the able Oldfield, the gardener who came with the house and grounds. The book is an interesting mixture of personal anectdote, observations about the various neighbors who have their own opinions of what Nichols ought to restore the house and grounds, insights into elements of garden design, practical advice about various bulbs, shrubs, garden ornaments such as urns and benches, and observations about greenhouses and cats.

I grabbed this one from the New Books Shelf at the library pretty much because I liked the cover and the dustjacket said something about gardening. Beverley was an English gentleman who wrote popular fiction during the 40's. This one is the first in a series of books he wrote about living in Merry Hall, a run-down Georgian mansion that he bought after the war. I loved this little book, and now I'm going to read the whole trilogy. You should, too! At times you might find him irritating, but isn't that to be expected from an egotistical Englishman writing about himself? Besides, he's very funny in that droll way Englishmen have, and he even has two cats named "One" and "Four." How can you not love that? Here's a bit from it: After breakfast I went along to the music-room, to spend half an hour on the waterfalls. By spending half an hour on the waterfalls, I mean practising the double descending cadenzas in Chopin's Third Scherzo. It is perhaps the most superbly 'pianistic' piece of music ever written; to be able to play it properly must give to any pianist a sense of almost god-like power... a feeling of floating on wings over a sea of roses. I do not feel at all like that when I play it; I feel as if I were stumbling, with bare feet and with considerable pain, over the sharpest pebbles of Brighton beach. So, no doubt, do my listeners. But I have been practising it for nearly ten years, and I shall go on practising it, flat by flat and sharp by sharp and natural by natural, with an increasing hatred of the fourth finger of my left hand, which has Communist tendencies.

Merry Hall by Beverly Nichols is a delightful book that should appeal to gardeners as well as others. The author's wit and humor are great. He is the Peter Mayle of gardening. The book tells of his purchase and renovation of an old English manor house, but he focuses on the garden instead of on food.

I picked up this book because a friend recommended it. The Beats had never much interested me except as a movement. I didn't much like the the literature or the adulation that surrounded them. But this is primarily a book about Joyce Johnson and her experience with the Beats. She has a real talent for evoking a specific time and place and giving readers a sense of what it was like to be part of this mileu. She makes going for a cup of coffee in Greenwich Village seem incredibly exciting. This is not the story of a Beat groupie yearning to hang out or sleep with famous men but rather Ms. Johnson's coming of age. The Beats are an important part of that story but not the whole story.

Wow. This book did more for me than I expected it to. I picked it up for the same reason many others probalby did - because of my interest in Kerouac. But Johnson is not telling his story, she is telling hers. And, despite obvious difficulties and social aspects that let us know it is the fifties, it is really a timeless story, something that can be identified with today. She has put into words what every female person who feels like they don't quite belong in the society in which they grew up has difficulties articulating. I found myself talking to the book - "Yes, that's IT! Exactly." I read this book twice this month.

Her unique and fresh writing style should not be overlooked either. She wrote this book at a good time in her life as well, it is reflective and filled with the insight and intelligence of years and experience.

As a long-time reader of Beat literature, and as a man, I must say that Joyce Johnson's take on those heady, wine soaked days of poetry and madness is absolutely as good and as necessary as anything Kerouac or Ginsberg or any of the more famous (male) crew ever wrote. For my money it's right up there with On the Road.

I guess I've read this book three or four times now and it never gets old.

I also recommend Ms. Johnson's novel, In the Night Cafe, another skillful invocation of the Beat period.

Does this book live up to its promise to present a simplified method of Fair Isle knitting? And is there something for either the new knitter or the experienced? The answer is YES to all these questions. Here's why.

1. This book focuses on the development of the Philosopher's Wool yarns and is written by the owners of that company. It provides wonderful photographs of their distinctive designs and very excellent instructions for re-creating the attractive sweaters.

2. In addition to patterns, there are lavish illustrations, clearly drawn, showing the tubular knitting technique, whereby sweaters are knit seamlessly in the round and then cut to create open jacket fronts and button-down vests. This is similar to the Norwegian method of knitting, and well described with excellent hints.

3. The yarns (admittedly all Philosopher's Wool products) are appealingly presented to show colorways. If you aren't going to knit one of their projects, or if you don't succumb to the temptation to buy their wool, you can use these colorways with any other yarns. The photographs of yarns and model sweaters are really excellent. The book format is large, so the photos are detailed and beautifully rendered.

4. The concept of random yarn changes to create a complicated colorwork background, which is used by such top designers as Kaffe Fassett, is well described and charted. In particular, the Trillium sweater shows how to change yarns on a foreground flower and background stripe to achieve a sophisticated look that belies the relative simplicity of the technique.

The story of how this Ontario couple started their successful business is inspiring to read. Even though this book is geared to their own wool and designs, anyone who likes to do colorwork knitting can use the techniques and examples given in this book to branch out on their own ideas. In summary, a book of useful techniques for colorwork knitting that can be applied to other types of yarns, if you choose.

This is a well ilustrated book on multiple color knitting for the novice as well as skilled knitter. The approach used in their video tape "The Original Philospher's Two-Handed Fair Isle and Other Stories is shown here in sequential steps which should make it very easy for someone to learn to weave and carry one color in each hand. Photographs demonstrate how their eleven color families can be used in various designs to completely change the appearance of a sweater. Simple instructions are presented for knitting in the round and steeking to make the tubular construction into cardigans.Patterns are not just limited to the traditional Fair Isle but extend into geometric shapes and color shifting forms seen in the Fin and Feather design. This is one of the best books to come on the market in reference to technique and color.

This book is well worth the investment, no question! I never thought I could knit a fair isle sweater------never!! Guess what, I mastered their technique of weaving rather than stranding and I am now on my second sleeve of the "Garden Patch" pattern done in pastels. I found the book so informative and the story about how Ann and Eugene started out was so much fun to read.
I recently had the pleasure of meeting both of them at a yarn show, and they are truly wonderful people, always ready to give a helpful hand in any way they can. Their book is chock full of info, to say nothing of the many pictures and patterns that are incuded. Five stars aren't enough for this one!

As a breeder and exhibitor of shih tzu for over 12 years, I found this book to be the best of its kind on the breed. It is absolutely full of great color photos, and it has a very comprehensive collection of information from many knowledgeable sources. This book will be helpful to both the new shih tzu owner and the experienced breeder/exhibitor. It is the first book to include the new American Shih Tzu Club illustrated standard. There is also an extensive illustrated chapter on both pet and show grooming. The general care information and history chapters are also excellent.

This is a book that would be enjoyed and appreciated by any one that owns, shows or breeds a Shih Tzu. It would also be excellent for someone who does not know the breed and wants to learn more about it. The illustrations are beautiful and you know that this book has been written by someone who is very well informed about the Shih Tzu breed and also loves them very much.

Jo Ann White's "Offical Book of the Shih Tzu" should accompany every Shih Tzu puppy to its new home. Even veteran Shih Tzu lovers will have the time of their lives pouring through this expansive guide, enhanced by page after page of delightful photos. Author Jo Ann White is the "Dr. Spock" of the Shih Tzu set. Any question you ever had about raising and caring for and loving this breed is answered here. I wish I had had this book when I brought home my first Shih Tzu. If, like me, you can never get enough of these happy, hairy gremlins, this remarkable book will be your constant companion.

The staircase was an excellent book. I was reading this for a children's literature class and I am glad I picked this book. I love the character of Lizzy. She goes through so much in this book and you can't help but be on her side when Elinora tries to get her in trouble. Lizzy does not care how others thing of her she just wants to get out of the all girls' school. This is an excellent book for children to read. The plot was very interesting and exciting. The characters are likeable and true to life, Rinaldi's writing is very descriptive. This story is about friendship, families, and lessons of life. This book would be an excellent read aloud. It introduces friendships and how to learn to be on your own.

I read my first Ann Rinaldi book when I was 12 years old. I give her credit for my love of history. I continue to read her books, because I know I will get a good story and "Staircase" is no exception. Lizzy Enders is on her way West with her family and their charge, Elinora. When Lizzy's mother dies, life, as she has known it, is over. Elinora is to be taken to a Catholic convent school where her uncle is Bishop. Lizzy expects to leave with her father, but is left behind. There, she learns some hard lessons in life and how to take the good with the bad, with a little help from friends.

Rinaldi, in her classic style has taken an event in history and built a wonderful, captivating story around it. No matter how old I get, as long as she keeps writing, I will be reading. I highly suggest you do the same. If you are have never read her books before, this is a great place to start.

Lizzy Enders feels abandoned in Santa Fe when her father and the remainder of their wagon train to Colorado leave in the middle of the night. Though not exactly alone in the convent school, Lizzy is certainly an outsider, the only Methodist and labeled as a heretic by Mother Magdalene. Add to that the fact that her own mother has just died on the Trail and left without a proper burial. Consider also the fact that she is outcast by the other girls in the convent, including her nemesis, Elinora who has traveled the Trail with her from Independence. The Staircase is more than a story about one girl's acceptance and perseverance in a life that is less than charmed, though. It is a story of hoping for miracles, but more importantly of realizing miracles, even when they do not come in the packaging one expected to find them. Heart-warming and based on the story of the Chapel of Loretto's fabled staircase from the late 1870's, another exceptional offering by Rinaldi.

I've been wanting to paint with watercolor but all the books out there does not even describe how difficult the medium is. I'd follow the instruction only to find a dissapointing result that my painting looks nothing like the illustration. More over, many of the equipments (such as paper, brushes, paints) are all way too expensive to allow me for a 'mistake'.

Following the instruction in this book, there is no wrong way or result. In fact, it brings the fun back to the art, the main reason why I picked it up in the first place! There's plenty of time and exercises for experimentation and developing a feeling of how the watercolor works, rather than heavy logical technique of mixing colors, brushing strokes, etc. Best of all, this book only require minimum equipment with only 3 brushes and 4 tubes of paints!

I highly recommed this book for someone who is a beginner and sensitive about their art, like me. I'd recommend this also for children or adult who have been having a bad experience in painting/drawing in the past. It has surely encouraged me to paint some more, without guilt. A truly enjoyable book!

I am a newcomer to painting and I found Ann K. Lindsay's Watercolor: A New Beginning to be extremely helpful! The book is full of information, presented in a way that those of us who don't have experience or education in art can understand. I found her teaching exercises to be both fun and useful. Linsay has a talent for encouraging the reader to tap into their own creativity, using water color as the means. I highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to explore the art of watercolor painting.

Ann K. Lindsay's book is a revelation! The title on the front cover reads "Watercolor - A New Beginning." And that's exactly what I experienced - a new beginning. After years of formal art training, this Advertising Art Director is learning a whole new way of seeing via Ann Lindsay's holistic approach. I've always loved and admired watercolor and never thought I'd be proficient enough at it. Ann's fresh teaching approach has totally turned around that negative thinking. This book is a 144 page one-on-one Ann Lindsay watercolor workshop! I recommend it highly.

I loved this book. I have read all of her books and this is by far my favorite book. In fact it is the only book of hers that I would recommend reading.. I moved away from hawaii in 1996 and am still regretting it. Not only did this book bring back lots of fun memories of mine from living there, it captures aspects of hawaiian culture beautifully. I read this book a couple times a year (thats more than I go to church) each time I have reread this book, I am amazed at the beauty, warmth, humor and pain that yamanaka captures through her words. In their own way, I think we can all relate to the characters in her book.. for anyone who has a soft spot in their heart for hawaii... I highly recommend this book!!!

I read a lot...and when I read Wild Meat and the Bully Burgers, I was opened to a whole new kind of fiction. never before have I read any fiction on my life time where I actually understood the actions of many of the characters. The dress, the traits, the dialogue...everything...were things I actually could relate to. Perhaps it's because I'm from a Pacific Island...but it wasn't just the dialogue...it was also how the story was written. Rather than go by the basic past to present type of fiction...it was like I was reading parts of the speaker's diary. It was almost as if she was jotting down stuff as if they came to her mind just then.Very few writers have the ability to make the reader empathize with the characters. Lois-Ann Yamanaka did a wonderful job of making me more aware of my culture

Yamanaka's book was one of the truest books I've read in a long time. She was able to catch the true islander personality. Although I am not from Hawaii, I was able to relate to a lot of the reactions and actions of the characters. She was funny, sad, angry...alarming...she was everything! I suggest you take a read of this book. I'm sure you'll enjoy it as much as I did! I look forward to her next book