Serenity Of The Lily by Michael R. Woodford is a truly timeless tale that though a work of fiction, is based on actual events. A family is confronted with tragedy, grief and pain threaten to destroy their bond, but through courage, hope, and the fragile yet persevering life of a gentle flower, they are able to regain the power and understanding to heal. Serenity Of The Lily is highly recommended as a deeply rewarding, sensitively written, and profoundly meaningful novel drawn from the tragedy of a child's untimely death.

Lily Campbell presents a very clear view of Shakespeare's tragedies in this study. This book is essential for anyone's personal Shakespeare library, as well as for an understanding and appreciation of the theoligical and philosophical substrata of the works.

A fictional account of the Lincoln County War from the perspective of the Pecos Valley, this book contains more truth than the cold hard facts, with the exception of providing a happy ending for those who deserved it. A chilling tale of revenge and lost romance, its theme is of ultimate forgiveness and peace found in the discipline of daily love. A truly moral tale.

Lily Brett has written a novel that makes you laugh and cry in turns. Things Could Be Worse captures the life of a child of two Holocaust survivors.

The novel explores many themes such as; the impact of the Holocaust not only on survivors, but their children; growing up as a migrant in Melbourne and; the struggle to find identity and happiness. The characters are brilliantly illustrated by David Rankin, an artist and the author's husband.

Every word and picture in the book rings true, and it gives an insight on what, for most of us, would be unimaginable. A truly wonderful book.

This book was purchased for my oldest child who is now 12 years old when he was 3 or 4 years old. It was one of his favorite books. We still have his copy of the book, and I have just ordered a used copy of the book for my second child who is now 4 years old. He loves to hear the book but is disappointed that the book's light & sound button no longer works. I will be reading it to my son's Pre-K class next week and I am sure they will all enjoy it as well. If the Publisher of the book reads the reviews, please put this book back in print. (and if possible with a button that a parent can change the battery in!)

It is a great book! this book portrayed how women were mistreated in the early 20th century in China. In that old days, girls were not allowed to be educated. They only learned how to spin cotton and embroider,, how to be an obedient daughter, and later a dutiful daughter-in-law. The reading materials for them were highly restricted to certain books such as Teach Your Daughter Traditional Rules. The worst thing was that girls had bound feet! However, there were still a few "lucky one" be able to escape from these old customs. Of course, it wasn't easy. This autobiography described an extraordinary woman, Xie Bingying who struggled to free herself from the traaditional Chinese society--received education, freed from an arranged marriage, became a soldier in the National Revolutionary Army, etc. Her experience was extraordinary!! I like this book because it is not only a truth story, it also pertains very rich information about the old Chinese customs.

Few people in the West realize how extraordinary this book is and how much it has influenced generations of young Chinese. I used to own the original (Chinese) version of this book while growing up as a boy in South America in the 60s. I used to read it for guidance and strength in the darkest days of my youth. I must have read and reread it a dozen times before I had to reluctantly part ways with it. This is a true modern classic that is often ignored by contemporary historians of Chinese literature, who prefer the shallowness of the likes of Sanmo. The War Diaries, which were praised by none other than Lin Yutang, are also worth reading; the translators should make them the subject of their next project.
Fine as the edition is, I wish the cover had been different. I have never seen a likeness of Xie xiansheng before and almost overlook the book because I was misled by the photograph of the woman in uniform to think it was a book about the Cultural Revolution. But I am glad the editors have included the photographs contained in the insert. I have always matched the feistiness of the woman soldier with a rather robust physique: I am surprised how fragile and delicate Xie xiansheng actually was.
This book is correctly listed as an autobiography but it reads like a fine novel, with memorable scenes and episodes. Without opening this translation and reading a single line, I can name a half dozen right off the top of my head: the foot-binding, the escapes, the dying brother, the impoverished former army girlfriend, the love triangle, etc. This book is to the Chinese literature what the Ann Frank diaries are to the European; it definitely should not be missed.

I originally read this book for a women studies class at SUNY New Paltz. Here I am two years later, unable to find my original buying it again. It is a helpful book for all women studies courses, and an excellent book for one's own life, using personal essays relating to women's issues.

This is not a WWII novel. It is the story of hope. It is the story of survival even without hope. This is the most self-aware memoir from a person thrust into the lowest denominator of human experience I have ever read. Man vs. man, man vs. nature, man vs. his own emancipated self. "The planes came over again, and I hid my eyes so that I couldn't see. The rhythm was too horrible, and I was only human, not God. I hadn't died on the Cross, and had no right to watch."

I don't read this genre. I'm not a WWII nut. Someone at my office handed it to me while we were talking about the build up leading to Gulf War II. I talked as if I knew something. "Russia means war - of which, as yet, I know nothing."

This book is intense. It is tough to read. Not because of the language, which is excellently written/translated, but because of scene after scene of heart stopping tragedy. The Forgotten Soldier can both cause depression and shame in humanity, and in the next sentence cause a contemplative happiness in the reader. At least for the time being I very much appreciate NOT being a soldier, for not freezing in the wilderness, for not begging for food with a gun, not watching my friends die horrible slow deaths as I placidly watch, not asking them to shoot me. And almost worst of all: surviving all that and then try to believe in "everyday" life. I thank God for all the wonderful things that I take for granted. For instance, writing silly reviews on Amazon.com.

Read this book. One cannot glorify war in ANY way after this. Other war novels by other authors will dim and seem petty. All of my previous assumptions about war and what it means to be human have been blown away.

"I still watched, through my dazed eyes, as these thousands wandered through the heights of tragedy, in a silence which, to my ears, drowned out all the noises of the earth. They had been striped of their human condition, and I watched them in hideous loneliness, weeping internal tears as heavy as mercury."

I have read "The Forgotten Soldier" several times. Few men have endured such experiences and fewer still have even attempted to explain to the rest of us what combat does to a man's soul.

As for those who doubt the authenticity of the book, what do they want? The book has the ring of truth. I had read it twice and then read a book titled "The Tigers Are Burning," written by a Soviet General Officer about the Battle of Kursk. I realized that the two books were about many of the same events and complimented each other.

The detractors of the book apparently failed to read Mr Sajer's own disclaimer in that he did not attempt to write an accurate technical account. He left that "to the disbanded General Staffs." As for details that are inaccurate, how many of us can remember in detail what we did yesterday?

The book is not a justification of war or an apology by Mr Sajer. He tells us his story and we would do well to consider it.

Hands down the best first hand account of World War II. The Forgotten Soldier describes the often over-looked Eastern Front. The story tells the truth of combat, it is not about glory, god, or country. It is about survival. Do not believe any hype that the book is fiction. The author is French and has lived in France since the war. He would have nothing to gain by writing a book about his time fighting for the Germans in World II. The book dispels the myth about superior German leadership. The Germans were just as willing as any to send thousands of their young men into pointless battles that could not be won. Though I was amazed at the German logistic system, which was able to supply its armies for thousands of miles into Russia. While the logistic system eventually collapsed, it lasted longer than any others would have. You will never forget the later half of the book that describes the German retreat across Russia, Ukraine, and Poland. The book is translated from French so you need to overlook a few details lost in translation. Anybody who considers themselves a World War II buff has to add this to their collection.

Patricia Reilly Giff's " lily's Crossing" takes place in 1944 in a summer of World War II. The story is about a young girl named Lily who goes to her summerhouse in Rockaway. Who is ready for the summer of a lifetime? But little did she know that her best friend is moving away far away.

This historical fiction shows that friends consist of love caring and kindness. This really fits the story because her friend moves away to Chicago and her dreams of a summer vacation is only a dream. Then she meets Albert a Hungarian Refugee staying with her neighbors the Orbans. Will her summer turn out ok after all.

Reading this book made me feel as if I were in Lily's place having nothing to do waiting for Poppy to come home then having the only person to do stuff with is Albert. The believable characters seem as if they're right in front of me as if I was watching.

This story is a great historical fiction in which you could see the life of a child in 1944. If you want to find out what happens to lily and Albert you should read the story "lily's crossing".

The author was a reading teacher for 20 years. She has won a Newberry honor award for Lily's Crossing. Lives in Weston, Connecticut.

I just got finished reading this book, and overall, I thought it was excellent!

Lily Mollahan (the main character of the book), her grandmother (also know as Gram), and her father (also know as Poppy) go to their beach house in Rockaway, New York, each summer for a vacation.Well...the year is 1944, and World War 2 is going on. Lily's best friend, Margaret, is leaving Rockaway because her dad and family has to move to Detroit to build airplane parts for the war. So Lily has no one to play with this summer. Poppy comes for a visit, and tells Gram and Lily he will be attending the war. Lily becomes evn more sad. Soon, Lily hears about a boy that is living at the Orban's house (Lily's neighbors)her age named Albert who is a Hungarian refugee. Albert's sister, Ruth, is still stuck in France and has no way to get over to Rockaway. Soon, Lily and Albert become best friends. Lily teaches Albert to swim and teaches and corrects him on his broken English. Albert wants to go back to France to get Ruth, so Lily tells a lie, while Albert has no idea it is not true. Lily has a very big problem with lying. Lily has fun with Albert, but is still sad about Poppy leaving. The book has a very good, happy outcome.

The author really lets the reader become very close to the characters. This is a great piece of historical fiction that is a very fast read.

Also recommended: Number the Stars

As thirteen year old seventh graders we really enjoyed reading this book for English class. Lily's Crossing was a book about friendship and both hard and happy times. Lily made a wonderful new friend, Albert, in Rockaway. This all happened during the summer of 1944, at the height of World War II. Everything occurred after Margaret, Lily's best friend, left Rockaway, Beach because her father was transferred to a new city were they manufactured bombers. Lily also had a difficult time dealing with her Poppy (father) leaving to help win the war. Read and discover the adventures and risks Lily and Albert experienced which built their friendship throughout the summer in Rockaway. Our feelings throughout this story were changing constantly. At different parts we both cried and shared happy and sad emotions with one another. Lily's Crossing is suspenseful, well written, and can be enjoyed by all ages.