David Lavender's WESTWARD VISION spans the period from the mid-17th century to 1849 as he chronicles the search for a reliable overland route to, and the subsequent settlement of, what would become known as Oregon, principally that area which borders the Willamette River as it flows into the Columbia (at present-day Portland). As the subtitle of the book indicates, this is "the story of the Oregon Trail".

For the sake of summary, I arbitrarily divide this book into five parts: early exploration of the Upper Mississippi River by French-Canadians seeking a route to the "western sea", the Lewis and Clark Expedition and the subsequent unsuccessful efforts to establish an easy route to Oregon via the Missouri River and its headwaters, the influx of "mountain men" into the area and the discovery of a more southerly route (the Oregon Trail), the early settlement in Oregon of Christian missionary groups sent to proselytize the Indians, and the massive immigration of land-seekers in the 1840's which ultimately resulted in the establishment of a U.S. Oregon Territory.

WESTWARD VISION is the result of extensive research on the part of the author. Its wealth of details is both its strong point and its undoing. Probably the most commendably concise chapters (5 and 6), considering the length of the event, deal with the amazing Lewis and Clark Expedition. Perhaps Lavender thought the history of the two-year trek adequately covered elsewhere. In any case, the following chapters on the exploits and travails of the fur-trapping mountain men and the missionaries are so full of minutiae that it would require the reader to take extensive notes in order to keep track of the various groups and individuals endeavoring to cross the Great Divide into Oregon in the 1820s and 30s. (Reading this book for pleasure, I wasn't prepared to expend that much effort.) Only in Chapter 19, which gives an account of the 1843 journey of the first large immigrant train - almost 1000 persons- over the Oregon Trail, does the narrative regain a concise clarity. A major failing of the the volume is the lack of adequate maps to locate the majority of the named and innumerable places and geographical features: rivers, river forks, buttes, mountains, rocks, forts, mountain passes, river fords, trapper rendezvous, and settlements. Perusing contemporary state highway maps didn't help much. And in a work this extensive, I would have expected a large section of illustrations. Except for several very crude drawings, there were none.

What elevates WESTWARD VISION, and compels me to award four stars, is that the author makes his point magnificently, i.e. that it took many tough people with large reserves of true grit to expand the fledgling United States to the Pacific's shores. The crossing was hard:

"At the rainswept crossing of the North Platte, blue with cold, cramped by dysentery and pregnancy pangs, Mary Walker (an 1838 pilgrim) sat down and 'cried to think how comfortable my father's hogs were' (back home). As for Sarah Smith, Mary sniffed, she wept practically the entire distance to Oregon." And even recreation had a sharp edge, as at the 1832 trappers' rendezvous:

"... a few of the boys poured a kettle of alcohol over a friend and set him afire. Somehow he lived through it, and fun's fun."

Finally, Lavender eloquently suggests the reason so many embarked on the Oregon Trail at all:

"What matters is not whether fulfillment was attainable in reality (at the Trail's end), but rather that at long last in the world's sad, torn history an appreciable part of mankind thought it might be. That was both the torment and the freedom - to go and look."

This is an excellent account of the great quest for the Northwest, which eventually culminated in the vast migrations of Americans along the Oregon Trail. From the early exploration efforts of Jacques Cartier (1530's); Jean Nicolet (1630's); Marquette and Joliet (1670's); LaSalle (1680's); Bourgmont (early 1700's); the Verendryes (1730's to 1740's); Jonathan Carver (1760's) and others too numerous to mention, we see how the English, French, Spanish and Americans all had the goal to establish roots in Oregon. When the mountain men came into the picture searching for their beaver pelts in the early 1800's, it was this breed of men that finally opened the routes across the Rocky Mountains which lead the wagon trains through to the Northwest. Lavender then takes us up to the first overland migrations (1840's) of the missionaries and others in search of a better way of life, along with all their sacrifices and perils. This is a great book and very insightful of events leading up to the Oregon Trail.

This is the worst book I have ever read! Absolutely horrible! It should be titled, "Diary of a Obsessed Stalker". I couldn't even remember how many times I read the phrase "scheming to win his love", or how often the author's narrative rambled on about how to win his love, and on and on. By the way, this book is marketed as a guide to twin-souls, but as the inside cover stated- this is a work of fiction, and is to quote exactly- "the product of the author's imagination". Filled with rambling, redundant, repetitive lovesick nonsense, the main character is a woman obsessed with a married man who will step on anyone in her way to be with her supposed "twin soul". If this is based on a true story, thank GOD the man had the good sense to run in the opposite direction!

If anyone reading this is into soulmate stories, true or fictitious, try "Hot Chocolate for the Mystical Lover" by Arielle Ford- one of my personal favorites. Love is about truth, beauty, understanding, and often- fate. Not scheming, manipulative, or obsessive as this author would have you believe.

This book has touched me in a way I can not describe. I cried till I sobbed. It was as though Marion wrote this about my life. She is wonderful. She was able to put into words how I feel and what I have been going through in the past 2 years. I would love to tell her my self how she has helped me and to thank her for sharing. If anyone knows her e-mail address or how I can contact her please let me know it for I must thank her.

I have spent the last 5 years researching the Twin Soul concept because I too, share this very same experience with the author. The book really helped me to see that I was not alone and not crazy for loving as the author does. I truly feel for the author and hope that she will be able to make peace once and for all. I have desperately been searching for someone to talk to who truly can understand the pain and sorrow that this kind of love can bring. If only we can endure, the future holds the rewards and probably not in this lifetime! Best of Luck to the author and God Bless you.

The school at which I work has immersed itself with brain research. This book was suggested to us by an administrator heavily involved with brain-friendly research activities. In her words: "If I could get every parent and every educator to read this book, my job would complete!" I have to say, I strongly agree. Anyone even thinking of having children or currently do have them will benefit immensely from this read. It is well written and easy to understand. Their are numerous ideas to try with your kids that are simple. I guarantee you that you will not be disappointed with Magic Trees.......mike limmer, beresford elementary

As an elementary teacher and future parent, this book is perhaps the most influential work that I have ever read. While participating in a Brain-Research Workshop a few months ago, our facilitator mentioned this as the #1 book (in terms of child development) for parents, teachers, and anyone else who spends time with children. I must say that I am in complete agreement! Dr. Diamond and Janet Hopson not only touch on the scientific aspects of brain research, but provide readers with "real-life" examples and ideas proven to develop the minds of children from conception to adulthood. This is a terrific book that is a must read. I recommend it to the parents, teachers, and administrators in my district. Don't miss out on the potential enrichment of your children.

This book explains in detail the results of numerous brain research studies. The most important part, though, are the implications for parents, in terms of the type of experiences, toys, and caring that we should provide at particular stages of child development. At first, browsing this book in a bookstore, I decided not to buy it because I also thought that it espouses a pressured, pushy kind of parenting. But now that I've read it, I realized I was wrong. In fact, the authors emphasize that a child's intellectual growth is inevitably tied to his or her emotionoal growth, and so an important part of stimulating our children's minds is to provide an emotionally stable home and unconditional love. I disagree with an earlier reviewer who said this book encourages parents to push their children into over-achievement. Instead, the book brings our attention to the fascinating changes and growth that our children's brains and intellect go through, with suggestions for gently nurturing them. In fact, on p. 167 the authors cite books by David Elkind, who "warns parents and educators about the dangers ... in teaching academic subjects to young children." The chapters are divided by age group. Each chapter discusses the particular stage in terms of development in language, math, science, music, etc. Then each chapter ends with a description of an "enrichment program" appropriate to that stage. The end of the book is composed of a resource guide and enrichment tools including books, games and toys, models and puzzles, muscial instruments, art materials, lessons and classes, outins and trips, sports equipment, cds/tapes/records, videos, and computer software. Altogether this book is a valuable resource for parents.

"The Body" starts with a stunning bang -- the premise grabbing you by the collar and pulling you in. Katherine wakes up in Thisby's body, and then has to unravel the mystery of what has happened, and how to deal with it.

It reads a bit like an episode of that old show "Quantum Leap," with Katharine desperately trying to play the part of Thisby without arousing suspicion of the internal switch. Thankfully, Thisby was a drug addict, so Katharine can explain the changes through sobriety.

The portions of the book that are most touching are Katharine's relationship with Thisby's sister Quince, and Katharine's push to put on a gallery showing of Thisby's photography. The idea of a memorial gallery showing for a person that no one else believes is dead is truly haunting. It's exciting to watch Katharine work to turn Thisby's life around.

The book also delves into issues of where memories are really stored...it's clear that Doud thinks some memories (of sexuality, of addiction, of family) are cellular, an idea that resonates with me and made the book fascinating.

Sadly, the last quarter of the book just drops the ball. The excitement and spark of the novel fizzles into a wash of flashbacks, vague explanations, and justifications that Katharine initially trying to turn Thisby's life around was "arrogant." Unfortunately, the author simply doesn't follow through on why or how, and I found myself yearning for the supposed "arrogance" that had colored Katharine's actions in the first half of the novel.

And don't even get me started on the epilogue. What was THAT?! Supposedly this book has be optioned to be made into a movie, and I can only imagine the epilogue as the flash of scenes that will be shown during the credits. In other words, it's useless fluff that doesn't match the rest of the book and doesn't resolve much of anything.

This was a quick entertaining read, but the end left me frustrated. I so desperately wanted Doud to finish with the same fantastic bang she started with.

That is the premise to this unique book that took me completely by surprise; it was a quick read and a brilliant story. A 39 year old woman, and mother of two, screams out "wait" as she is about to check out of the world as she knows it. When she opens her eyes it's a year later and she is in the body of a 22-year-old addict named Thisby, who has just overdosed.

Katherine's journey begins as she tries to sort through her new life. She has a brother and sister who she has yet to meet, as well as a personality like a banshee with a nasty reputation to uphold, or so it is believed. Her new family is intellectual and named after literary figures. The author plays a game with Shakespearian quotes that is simply brilliant.

As her life progresses in this body of Thisby's, she learns more about her real self and what she needs. There are parts of her own childhood that she still needs to face. It is an extraordinary coming of age story written from an entirely different perspective. Once I started it I couldn't put it down. Kelsana 11/14/01

Imagine that you die and find yourself in another person's body and in a different city! Then imagine the horror when you find that this body is the emaciated shell of a 22-year-old woman who is a drug addict and alcoholic! Katherine Ashley (I think that's her last name and I don't have the book to check it) is a middle-aged wife and mother who dies from a heart attack. When she "comes to" a year later, she is inhabiting the body of Thisby who has come close to dying from a drug overdose. From there Katherine must navigate her way around the relations of her new family, including Quince, Thisby's Shakespeare spouting little sister, and at the same time come to terms with her previous family's new life.

I had a difficult time putting this book down, and what kept me from giving it a 10 was the fact that there were a few convenient coincidences that were necessary to keep the plot going.

This was my first Jennifer Roberson novel, and I was disappointed. The plot meanders to an unsatisfying conclusion. Worse, in her efforts to add complexity to the familiar characters of Robin, Marian, the Sheriff and others, she resorts to annoyingly mechanical devices and gestures ... Marian is always fetchingly disheveled, Robin suffers constant flashbacks from the Crusades (including an unsettling Will He or Won't He plot line involving the sexual preferences of Richard the Lionheart), and the Sheriff all but twirls his moustache as he hatches evil plots. I actually started to count the number of times Roberson used the lines "She gathered up her soiled kirtles" and "He arched an eloquent eyebrow," but I lost track. Prize for the Most Annoying Character in the book goes to Much, the miller's son who joins Robin's band. In Roberson's version, the poor boy only speaks in one and two-word snippets. Tiresome! Strangest Physical Trait for Lead Char! acter: Robin has white hair. Definitely not sexy! I envision Ed Begley, Jr., playing Robin in the movie version.

How to explain my feelings about _Lady of the Forest_? A romantic historical novel about Maid Marian and Robin Hood, it was an enjoyable escape and post-work-stress-reliever for a couple of weeks. I did enjoy it. Unfortunately, when I shut the back cover, I realized I had just read a six-hundred page book containing almost no surprises.

Marion Zimmer Bradley, author of the stellar _Mists of Avalon_, gushes about this book in the cover blurb, and so I was hoping for a novel that would make me rethink the Robin Hood legends, just as Mists made me look at the Arthurian corpus differently. Part of what made Mists fascinating was that it took an old tale and reexamined it, humanizing the "bad guys" and telling another side of the story. Mists questioned all of our assumptions about Arthur and Morgan. _Lady of Sherwood_ questions nothing, challenges nothing. The characters are just what we expect them to be... It doesn't rethink the legend any more than does Disney's kids' movie on the same theme. It may be a nice romance, but it's not in the same league as the best historical fiction. If you want a romance, you might like this, but for a haunting tale of mysterious forests and renegade Crusaders, go read _The Black Chalice_ by Marie Jakober.

I was not a fan of Jennifer Roberson before this book came out.
Her Tiger and Del series started well and then became to much of a men vs. women bicker-fest and I never finished the series.
The Chesulyi books drove me crazy with their sloppy characterization and unsympathetic protagonists.
This book however is a rare gem of history, fantsy and strong characters.
Marion is a wonderfully crafted heroine her strength and intelligence is inspiring. Robin and the other male charaters are not the negative stereotypes she has written before. The descriptions of Sherwood are excellent you can truly see the places and people of this story. And this book is missing the negative men vs. women debate that turned me off of the Tiger and Del series.
I enjoyed it from begining to end. This book also has a sequal which I have yet to read but it is on my list of must reads. I hope it is as enjoyable for me as this one was.

George Eliot was truly a writer ahead of her time. she definitely knows how to create characters which have soul and substance. Mill on the floss is much more then a mere tragic story; if the reader looks more carefully she or he can see the various social themes that Eliot tackled in this book. Themes I might add that are still around today. The rich against the poor, eg, Edward Tolliver's struggle against Wickem. Sexism, prejudice against people with disabilities, hypocrisy social judgement and morality. All these issues were raised in this story of family love, duty and trajedy. This book though classifyed as classic literature can still teach us a lot about the human condition. Its underlining messages still very much relevant today. I especially found the scene of maggie and Steven in the Inn very poignant. one could truly feel what Maggie was going through at that moment. Another outstanding scene was the one where Tom confronts Philip in the woods and berates him for having the boldness to court his sister. pointing out his deformaty he usues it as a weapon to drive Philip to the ground despite the fact that class wise philip was above Tom. George Eliot (Mary Anne Evens) must be laughing somewhere seeing how her books are still talked about today. Finally, I have to congradulate Naxos on producing another great audiobook. Sara Kestelman does an excellent job at narrating this lovely story.

This was my first (of four, so far) George Eliot novel. It's also my favorite. Unlike Adam Bede or Silas Marner, I found the characters to be interesting and enjoyable. No, it's not a finely-crafted piece of literature like Middlemarch. And it might be a bit on the melodramatic side. But for some odd reason I found the story to be ultimately quite moving.

Other folks who I gave the book to gave it mixed results. No one disliked it, but most found the "brother-sister" element to be a bit corny. And pardon my sexism, but I thought the book would appeal more to women than men (since the main character is a teenage girl). Not so. This book is definitely "not for women only".

I imagine if you have a sentimental streak through your bones you will probably love this book.

In THE MILL ON THE FLOSS George Eliot provides an insightful and intelligent story depicting rural Victorian society. Set in the parish of St. Ogg's, Maggie and Tom Tulliver endure childhood and young adulthood while experiencing the harsh realities of poverty, devotion, love, and societal reputation. I emphasized greatly with Maggie as I have experienced some of her own lived experiences. I truly loved every chapter of this book and didn't want it to end. It is indeed very rare that I have this type of reaction to a book. Although this book was published during the Victorian era, it's amazing how Eliot's prose flows virtually unobstructed. The reader is given a rare glimpse into rural life during the 19th century and is treated to how strictly structured society was then. I am now a fan of Eliot and look forward to reading her other novels.

Bottom line: THE MILL ON THE FLOSS is an excellent novel. Enjoy!

I naturopath recommended Ayurveda as we looked for a way to heal my acne. I liked making my own products and getting out of the gloss-advertisement world of the beauty industry. But my copy eventually ended up in a used bookstore.

1)It's expensive to start. One bottle of rose essential oil is $... and many mixes call for more than one kind of oil. If the directions in the book work for you, then you're set, since a little goes a long way.
2)Like many others, I had to run all around town to find ingredients.
3)I learned I like skin products with preservatives. Too often I would open my facial cleanser (which had lemon zest in it) to find it moldy and stinky, even though I made small batches and tried leaving it in a cool place or the fridge.
4)The products were really no better or worse than anything else I used. It finally took Accutane to clear my skin.

The silver lining: in the past, if I bought a beauty product that didn't work for me, I gave it to someone else, used it anyway, or threw it out. This time I could the avocado oil to cook with, eat the barley cereal, scent my house with the oils, etc.

Absolute Beauty is a very helpful book for those new to the natural ayurvedic approach to body care. Pratima's suggestions for various ayurvedic skin types are an excellent place to start when first trying to integrate an ayurvedic life style.

I have tried Pratima's Bindi products and found them to be superior to other products that I have used in the past. And yet, like many commercial cosmetics, they are expensive and the essential oils can be irritating to some skins.

I have a pitta-vata constitution. My skin is very sensitive and can get oily in the summer and dry in the winter. I have my brows and eye lashes tinted once a month, so I do not have a need to wear any make-up and don't. The absolute best routine that I have found for my sensitive skin is to wash my face with ground up oatmeal and moisturize it with pure food grade coconut oil. I thought I would pass this along for any one with sensitive skin, as I know how frustrating it can be trying to find products that are an excellent fit for very sensitive skin.

Absolute Beauty is an absolutely beautiful read the first time through, and it continues to be one of the most frequently used books on my reference shelf. It's so wonderful to be able to skip all of the hype associated with women's cosmetics, secure in the knowledge that everything I need to care for myself is in my kitchen. I have saved untold time and money since implementing the self care recommendations of this book -- and my skin has never ever looked better. I credit Pratima Raichur with putting the sparkle back in my eyes!

Perhaps because I have 2 children ages 2 and under, but I truly appreciate my reading leisure time more than I ever did before. That's why I was relieved to discover how much I enjoyed "Lucy Sullivan" (the last book I read was "The Girls Guide to Hunting and Fishing", and it stunk on ice). I also loved "Briget Jones' Diary", and apart from the fact that both characters are British, I fail to see how "Lucy" is trying to be Bridget! Lucy and her 3 co-workers go to a fortuneteller to have their tarot cards read, and Lucy's "prediction" is that she'll get married within one year. Although her realistic sense tells her these readings are "for entertainment purposes only", she can't help but think about them seriously when her co-workers predictions start to come true. From there on, she looks at every man in her life as if he could be "the one", from a bad blind date with an American in the personals ads to her video store clerk. Marian Keyes is hilarious. I love her sense of humor and style of writing. I appreciated the way she allowed Lucy to slowly, and only through learning the hard way, realize her father is an alcoholic, even though everyone, includuing the reader, knows this from the first time he's introduced. At first I was so frustrated with Lucy for putting up with Gus. But, in all fairness, she did warns us at the beginning of the book that she avoids nice safe men. And, she comes to that revelation on her own, but I won't give away the entire plot. My sister-in-law is from England, and she gives me some of the best Brit authors to read. She, of course, handed me "Lucy Sullivan", and I am grateful to find a new favorite author. I can't wait to read "Watermelon" now! If you want a fun, realistic read, pick up a copy.

I had such fun reading this book. The title alone made me laugh and once I opened the book I was not disappointed one bit. This is the first of Marian Keyes books that I have read and I will certainly pick up the rest. She has a wonderful witty style that comes across to the reader in abundance yet she can also write about the hard times in life that we must all go through with a sense of dolefullness and a softness that keeps the reader involved.

Lucy Sullivan is single, desperately so, works at a dull, dead end job and lives with two flatmates - Karen, the egotistical and ruthless one and Charlotte, the sweet and somewhat ditzy other one. The reader can't help but take Lucy's view of these characters.

Her office workers convince her to go to a fortune teller who announces, among other things, that Lucy will be married within the year. Lucy, like the reader, laughs this prediction off but as her officemates' predictions begin to come true one can't help but think that Lucy has a chance.

Through the book we meet her best friend Daniel, who Karen has the hots for, Meridia, her over weight and fabulous co-worker, Gus, the man of Lucy's dreams as well as her parents. Lucy tries to keep her head about her while her flighty boyfriend comes and goes, her job becomes duller and her family begins to fall apart.

But will Lucy find the man of her dreams? Will she be able to hold it all together? Only time will tell (as will readers of this book). While Marian Keyes seems to follow a bit of a pattern in the book, it doesn't seem to hold her back one bit.

I laughed along with Lucy and felt sorrow along with her. With lines like, 'If I had left then, that second, I would have missed the arrival of my anger. But no, I met it me at the door as it staggered in, gasping and panting, worn out from the crosstown journey. "Sorry I am late," it wheezed, cluthing it's chest. "Awful traffic..."' one can't help but totally know what Lucy feels like. Her struggles are very true to life as are the situations she finds herself in. If female readers don't see a bit of themselves in her I'd be surprised.

Anyone that enjoys watch 'Sex in the City' or has read and enjoyed Bridget Jones or Girls Guide to Hunting and fishing will certainly enjoy this book.

We would like to see more press for this pink-cover girl author! She rules, adding just the right writing touch of self-esteem issues! You MAY however,find yourself wanting to SHAKE Lucy already for the ill treatment she takes from men! The book SHOULD put her on a par with Helen Fielding's Bridget Jones' success,and "Trials of Tiffany Trott", as the comedic style is similar... It reads like a journal of your 20-something fun WILD years! A touch of excellent hilarious Irish family humor spiced with innuendo and ambition, the main character will provide the cure for your depression! I laughed on nearly every paragraph, and had to keep stopping to mark pages to read aloud as deterrent to jerky men! (saying "Lucy Sullivan is getting married" kept them guessing). The book is quite bittersweet and more serious than the absolutely HILARIOUS "Watermelon," as it emphasizes Lucy's struggles with her father and its relation to other men in her life. Above all, perhaps, it is the sweet romantic ending that gets you. ADORABLE, in gold-pink letters (As a writer myself, I LOVE the artwork cover). Get out your cupid's steel arrow for a rollicking emotional roller-coaster ride with one of the top female comedic writers of our time! WENDY W cleveland, oh

I was shopping for a light summer read with and found Angels, by Marian Keyes with the phrase "Best Bet" boldly emblazened on it. I read it, but it is pretty lackluster. The outcome seems predetermined at the start. I was hoping for funny characters with an edge. If you enjoy a quirky "sit by the pool" summer novel, find one by Olivia Goldsmith, Carl Hiassen, or Randy White. These are the masters of odd but endearing characters.

Marian Keyes is probably my favorite writer and I looked forward to reading her newest offering, Angels, for sometime. Its not that it was a bad read per se, I just expected more from the woman who gave me such great reads as Rachel's Holiday and Last Chance Saloon. What I got instead was a regurgitation of Watermelon but told about Maggie, the least interesting of the Walsh sisters, set in LA instead of Ireland. The characters had different names, drive different cars and lived in different countries, but to me it was essentially the same story - husband and wife split up, wife runs home to kooky family (then on to friends in this case) to lick her wounds, has a few new adventures, and finds out what she wants from life just as hubby returns for a reunion attempt. The endings differ but the whole premise to me was the same. I had already read this story once and I was looking forward to something new.

The most redeeming aspect of this book was the return to print of the two Walsh sisters who haven't gotten their own books yet, Helen and Anna. I love these two (although Anna was a bit lackluster this go round too) and I hope that we are treated with books dedicated to each of these characters. Mum and Dad Walsh are also a joy to read about and I hope that Keyes continues to add them into her future work.

Again, this wasn't a bad read, it just didn't meet the standards Keyes has set for herself. She can and has done much better in the past. Hopefully she will dazzle us again with her next effort.

ANGELS by Marian Keyes

A young woman finds that her marriage was not all that she thought it was, in ANGELS, a novel by Irish author Marian Keyes. Maggie Walsh (Garvan) was a happily married woman, married to Paul Garvan for many years, when she suddenly realizes that they weren't really as happy as she thought. The opening line explains that she has just left her husband, and in flashbacks she tells the story of her marriage to Paul (or Garv, as she calls him). Told in a somewhat sarcastic/light hearted tone of voice, Maggie goes over the events that led to the ultimate low point of their marriage, and why she finally decided to leave him, at least for now.

Maggie, who is usually conservative by nature, at least compared to her crazy sisters, shocks everyone by announcing she is going to Los Angeles to live there for a month with one of her best friends, Emily. She leaves her husband, family and friends in Ireland, and makes that big trip to California.

Maggie's stay in Southern California is one of the craziest times of her life. She parties, she meets new men, she lies out on the beach, and she slowly forgets about Garv, sort of. In the mean time, she finds out how much fun she can have while being single, but it doesn't last.

In the mean time, Emily is working on that very important movie script, and it's her last chance at a life in Hollywood. The antics and schemes that they go through to get this script bought are almost as hysterical as an "I Love Lucy" show. And when Maggie's family decides to take advantage of the situation and come down to Southern California for an impromptu vacation, things really get funny.

ANGELS is my introduction to the writing of Marian Keyes, and I have heard a lot of positive things about her. Unfortunately, ANGELS is probably not one of her best works, as so many of these same people have told me. My main gripe with the book is that although the story was entertaining and funny, I found that it went on and on, and sometimes i felt it wasn't going anywhere. I think this book could have been cut short a bit, but overall, it was an enjoyable fluff read. I don't recommend ANGELS as an introductory book to the world of Marian Keyes, but it is a fun book nonetheless.

I purchase this book and I found out that it isn't for learning about braiding. It's more of a educational tool about teaching children to love their hair. If you want to learn about braiding and cornrolls, this is NOT the book. If you want to learn or teach your child the basics of taking care of their hair, this will do only that.

I received this book as a gift from my cousin. This was a well thought out gift. The photographs are soooooooooo cute. My daughter enjoys looking at the photograps of the children's natural hair styles. It is a good book to use to enforce positive hair images in African American children. I enjoyed reading outloud the positive words that described each style to my daughter. This book includes instructions on how to do each hair style. A good book to have in your hair library.

This book has some good ideas and wonderful color pictures.
Each time that I do my 5 yr. old's hair she gets the book and picks out a picture of a style then I replicate that style for her hair.
The styles are very simple.