THIS BEAUTIFUL BOOK IS ABOUT A SISTER FROM POLAND WHO RECEIVED DAILY VISITS FROM JESUS. IN MANY OF THESE VISITS HE TAUGHT HER PRAYERS TO RECITE ON REGULAR ROSARY BEADS AND TOLD HER TO SPREAD THIS DEVOTION THROUGHOUT THE WORLD AND LET IT BE KNOWN AS THE CHAPLET OF DEVINE MERCY. JESUS PROMISED THAT ANY SINNER, NO MATTER WHETHER THEIR SOUL HAD SINS AS NUMEROUS AS THE GRAINS OF SAND ON THE BEACHES, WOULD BE FORGIVEN FOR ALL IF THEY WOULD ONLY CALL UPON JESUS AND HIS INFINITE MERCY. HE SAID THAT DURING THIS SHORT TIME ALL SINNERS COULD WALK THROUGH THIS DOOR OF MERCY AND LET THEIR SOULS BE WIPED CLEAN, OTHERWISE THEY WOULD HAVE TO WALK THROUGH THE GATES OF GOD'S JUSTICE.
A PERSON COULD RECITE THIS CHAPLET FOR ANY DYING PERSON AND BE ASSURED THAT THEY WOULD BE USHERED DIRECTLY TO HEAVEN, LIKEWISE, THE PERSON PRAYING THE CHAPLET WOULD HAVE RIGHTS TO THE SAME MERCY UPON HIS OWN DEATH.
SISTER FAUSTINA NOT ONLY TIRELESSLY PRAYED THIS CHAPLET FOR SOULS TO BE SAVED, SHE OFFERED UP HER OWN BODY AND ASKED JESUS TO ALLOW HER TO SUFFER IN PLACE OF ALL DYING SOULS, THAT THEY BE ALLOWED IN HEAVEN. JESUS ACCEPTED HER OFFER, AND SISTER FAUSTINA LIVED A LIFE OF LONG AND HARD SUFFERING. BUT SHE TOOK GREAT JOY IN IT AS JESUS TOLD HER HOW MANY SOULD HAS BEEN SAVED BECAUSE OF HER OFFERING.

Both a valuable collection of medieval Marian lyrics and a scorching commentary on the effects of mass culture on a plague-devastated populace, this collection of Middle English lyrics devoted to the popular "Gilligan's Island" character is an essential tool in our understanding of the chord struck among Medieval Europeans -- themselves moored in a sort of existential Gilligan's Island, all classes shipwrecked together by the growth of the bourgeiosie and the isolation wrought by the Black Plague (a la Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, notice) with only each other and what cold comforts could be salvaged from the era's rudimentary technology for company -- by this popular narrative. Professor Saupe's next work, a study of (de)constructive and (fe)menist-h(e)rmeneutica(l) (like dancin') techniques in the era's miracle and "Party of Five" plays, promises to shock, provoke and entertain as well.

This is possibly one of the best kept secrets on cooking out of your garden. The recipes are delicious and most of the ingredients are already in your kitchen. The seasonal format simplfies finding a recipe (and there is an alphabetical listing included also). The author has included throughout the book priceless pieces of history and wonderful bits of humor. "Mrs. Maendl's Dill Pickles" is a recipe that is "as much fun to read" as the pickles "good to eat"! When people ask me about them, I HAVE to tell them I made them exactly as the recipe states. Read it and you'll understand! Marian Towne has come up with the perfect solutions for all those fresh fruits and veggies we painstakingly grow. I even managed to use up a considerable amount of zucchini without my children noticing! Even if you are not a gardener, you'll want to run to the next Farmer's Market after seeing this book.

Bethany is an orphaned 16 year old, forced to make her way in life alone. She meets trouble along the way, but makes a few lasting friends. It's easy to read this book over and over again!

Frankie thought it was a wonderful excuse not to wed her best friend, Bertie Yarwood (she was in love with, and wished to marry, his brother Evelyn)--she claimed she was to wed Lord Greville Wainwright.
When Lord Greville goes down with his ship, Frankie goes into mourning for him-still secure in the knowledge that she won't have to marry Bertie. Until Lord Greville returns from the dead.
Greville and Frankie have a wonderful dynamic, and Bertie, his brother, and Frankie's relatives are all wonderful too.

THE BOOK CAPTURED THE ATMOSTPHERE OF THE EARLY PART OF THE LAST CENTURY. THE ATTENTION TO DETAIL AND MARIAN'S ABILITY TO CAPTURE THE MOMENT SO PERFECTLY MAKE THIS A REAL TREASURE! THE BOOK WOULD APPEAL TO READERS OF ALL AGES. THE CHARACTERS WILL BE LIVING WITH YOU LONG AFTER YOU FINISH THE BOOK.

After declaring that she will set her cap for their new neighbor, Lord Thorpe, Freddie makes a bet-that she can make him fall in love with her. Following the first disastrous meeting she decides discretion is the better part of valor, and lets herself lose.
When Freddie falls on his Lordship (while in his library getting some books for her grandfather)he can't strangle her-so he kisses her. And when she gets him to repeat the kiss (for the scientific possibilities) she comes to the conclusion that she loves him.
Unfortunately someone catches them in the second kiss, and when Thorpe offers for her, in form, he doesn't mention love at all. So Freddie goes off to London in a snit, and his Lordship soon follows.
Freddie's adventures in London, and the people she meets take up most of the book, but that's fine. It's all fun.

MURDER AT THE CAT SHOW is the ultimate cat mystery. It may not be for everyone, but cat lovers should adore it. This novel caters well to its target audience and anyone who fails to see the fun in it must either hate cats or be humor-challenged.

Douglas Perkins is a public relations official for London's prestigious Cats Through the Ages Exhibition. He is indifferent towards the critters, but has every intention of doing his best for his client, the overbearing Rose Chesne-Malvern. Perkins watches the exhibitors as they set up their booths, including those of a kitty litter marketer, the "court" of a TV commercial cat, and a display of two live adult Sumatran tigers. He notices the different ways they each interact with their animals and other exhibitors. Things run rather smoothly at the show until one of its more valuable exhibits is stolen. He then finds this is one job where his agency is really going to work hard for its public relations fee.

It is absolutely brilliant how well Author Marian Babson renders the personalities of all the different cats in her 1972 novel. Among some of the more illustrious feline characters are Pandora the Endearing, Precious Black Jade the Vicious, and Silver Fur the Stupid. Even the tigers are convincingly portrayed. This is obviously someone who has had a lot of experience around cats and shows incredible talent for distinguishing them in fiction.

The protagonist's character growth is stronger here than demonstrated in many other stories of the genre, which comes out through its love story subplot. After Perkins spends one night with his new lover, he is incredibly protective of her. When he's at a point of losing her, we see a life-changing moment.

Babson's prose is crisp and keeps interest. Her style is "sensuous" and without any waste. If criticism must be made, this reviewer noticed Perkins initiates very little of the action until the climax. He's more of an observer watching the conflicts unravel instead of actively investigating himself. On the other hand, the sequence comes together well and with good humor. If the novel is entertaining regardless, is this really a big deal?

MURDER AT THE CAT SHOW makes no pretensions at being a "serious" mystery genre story, but Babson's crafting is nonetheless superb. Readers who like cats will find this short novel a warm and fuzzy high.

An outstandingly well written account of what it was like to grow up in an extended German family in 1900 in St. Louis.

This was a completely personal and revealing work. If you are a fan of Anderson's voice this book will soon become one of your favourites. I couldn't put it down (I know that statement is cliche-ed but it's the truth). Anderson had an incredible struggle establishing a career as an African American opera singer, but throughout her life she treated everyone she encoountered (despite the cruelty and racism of many) with dignity and grace. Her autobiography is indicative of her supreme modesty and love of music and the human voice as the most divine instrument. If you buy it, you will be enchanted. I particularily recommend it for people studying voice.