I picked this book up on the way to the airport, and ending up laughing out loud the whole flight (much to the annoyance of my fellow passengers, I'm afraid.) A bleak but terribly funny look at human nature... nature red in tooth and claw, in this instance.

Dostoevsky's Last Night is a daring and unexspected ride through rick and redemption by an author who is obviously not afraid to take risks. In this dazzling novel, Jorge, a passionate and eccentric man addicted to gambling seeks help with Lucia, his shrink. But instead of finding the accepting and caring person he was looking for Lucia attempts to cure him with straitforward no nonsence opinions and caustic advice, which causes Jorge to become more fond of her than he exspected. The plot, however, is not the most interesting part of Dostoevsky's Last Night -- the ideas are. Rossi moves through her novel with incredible grace, showing both the beauty and the tyranny of passion. Borrowing from numerous psychological, literary, and popular influences she constructs a book that burns with all the passion of the gambling table but with much more certainty of comming out a winner.

Although I've not read the translation into English, I wanted to set the record straight and indicate that this novel is not "full of hope." It is, however, a completely engrossing story. One finds oneself being seduced by Jorge and pulled into sharing his vision of gambling, the world, and himself, which is an indication of Peri Rossi's virtuosity as a writer, as this pessimistic, superior and world-weary vision is apparently not her own.

With the huge number of additives, preservatives, herbicides, pesticides and other cides present in our foods, it's no wonder we are getting fatter and sicker and not losing weight on yo yo diets. Dr. B's book helped me lose weight and quit asthma medicines and my doctor couldn't/did't help. If you have vague symptoms that don't get better, you might consider food intolerances & read this book.

I found Dr. Braly's Food Allergy & Nutrition Revolution to be both insightful and a benefit to our household. As parents of four (#5 is due in 3 weeks), my wife and I regularly refer to Dr. Braly's book for its in-depth information, research, treatment and protocols for a multitude of health conditions. A few years after reading Dr. Braly's book, I finally met him at a health conference and was fascinated by the wealth of information and experience he has. Recently Dr. Braly informed me he has two new health guides coming out through Keats Publishing and I will definitely be purchasing both of them. Please feel free to contact me regarding my opinion on Dr. Braly, his book or even on how to contact him.

As a medical student, I must read many books on disease states and the therapies for them. The initial event that creates an environment for many disease states is commonly a breakdown of the body's natural ability to maintain health (i.e. immune system deficiencies). Dr. Braly's book offers excellent information that explains how your body should work, why it doesn't, and what you can do to make it work properly just by modifying your diet. I have worked with a physician who has been in practice for thirty years that became interested in Dr. Braly's book after his wife's medical problems had failed to resolve by traditional and expensive medicals treatments. After diet modification, there was drastic improvement in her health and soonafter, her quality of life. This prompted the physician to treat his own patients with Dr. Braly's diet modification plan. Today, the vast majority of his patients are those being successfully treated for food allergies and have spent thousands on traditional medical therapies with previous doctors that have had less than beneficial results. I must highly recommend this book to anyone suffering from fibromyalgia, JRA, chronic headaches, intestinal problems, or other illnesses that have not responded to traditional medicine.

The poetry of "Elements" has all of the functional, singular assets which make poetry the art that it is. It is clear, decisive, dynamic, and above all, strictly inundated with the spirit of the writer. The author, Laura Johnson, gives the reader a sensual, provocative, and pragmatic view of herself through her writing, as well as an enlightening look at the essence of a mind re-defining itself through poetic interpretation of events which surround the author. I recommend the book highly, not only as an example of literary clarity and beauty, but also as an example of a strong personality balanced with the tenderness of love for the craft.

Laura Johnson's work is truly outstanding. At once soft and sensual with a mind provoking kick that leaves you enamored with her style and passion. This book is one of the best I've seen of this genre in years.

Laura Johnson's poetry conjures up exquisite images that linger long after reading the book. Her unique voice captures the essence of beauty, grace and style. Elements is truly a poetic treasure and an asset to any home library.

This book was so well written that it did not hit me until half way through that a man was writing in first person of a teenage girl. The main character is fun loving and going through so much that you hope that everything turns out for her. A shocking twist that you don't want to tell anyone, but demand that they read for themselves.

this is a wonderfully deep and interesting book, that asks a lot of questions about what really matters in life. Laura's search is more about finding out who she really is than finding out who her real parents are. This self-searching renders the book a different read for everyone, as each individual reader fills in the gaps for themselves, in their own way. This is certainly a book I shall return to, and would encourage anybody with a penchant for soul-searching to make their next book.

The story of an adopted girl seeking her real mother is only the beginning. Stanley Gordon West explores what it means to be adopted, and what families are about, in such vivid, tender, emotionally rich prose that this book simply glows.

When you read The Honor of the Ken, you will be enthralled by the powerful and soaring writing! The plot is a fantasy, and occasionally gets a little too-far-fetched, but it will hold your interest and you will enjoy it!

When colonizers from Earth impose their Manifest Destiny upon a distant planet and enslave the inhabitants to exploit a rare mineral, we are reminded again of how almost every country in our world has experienced this horror and that the fight for freedom never ends. Laura Haywood's "The Honor of the Ken" is a powerful story of the slaves' struggle to regain their freedom from their captors who regard them as "animals" and break their promises as often as promises made to Native Americans were broken. This is a book worth owning and reading, again and again, for its absorbing, thought-provoking tale, and its poetically written prose, comparable to that of Nicholas Sparks.

You need not be a sci-fi enthusiast to relish Laura Haywood's new novel. It does not depend on space travel and space wars for its appeal but rather it is a sharp look at freedom, of freedom lost and freedom regained, and the indomitable young womanof mixed Earth and alien parentage who endures and triumphs.

I bought this book for my nephew who is named Hunter!
It's a great story--with a message, but not in a pushy way.
Peer pressure is a difficult subject to address; this book handles it superbly!!

As an educator of young children for over twenty-five years, I find Hunter's Best Friend at School by Laura Elliott to be one of the best books I have ever read, dealing with being true to one's self. All children want to be liked and often do things that they would not otherwise do, just to be accepted. Hunter and Stripe are such friends, yet with the help of his mother and his teacher, Hunter is able to set an example that encourages Stripe to be "his best self." This book is absolutely delightful and entertaining. The words, the illustrations, the message of being true to oneself is certainly needed in today's world. I read it to a Kindergarten class that was spellbound by the second page. The school librarian is going to order one copy for each of the primary classes at our school. My own grandsons, age five and seven, were touched by Hunter's example, with the five-year-old saying, "my eyes are getting wet from hearing that story" and the seven-year-old saying, "I have that problem with my friend." Out of the mouth of babes is a telling review of this wonderful book and I would encourage every parent and grandparent to include it in their children's library as soon as possible.

Ms. Elliot has followed up her acclaimed book for young adults, "Under a War-Torn Sky", with a charming new book for 2-6 year olds. My children love to hear about the little racoon's dilemma about following along with his best pal's naughty antics versus trying to inspire his friend to behave as his "best self." The story is wonderfully entertaining (my son walks around quoting his favorite characters' lines!), the illustrations are adorable, and the book teaches a valuable message for kids of all ages. Hunter has become my children's favorite book -- I highly recommend it!

I would not want to be Thomas Steinbeck. Imagine: you spend half of your time explaining who you are, the other half explaining who you aren't, and wait for the inevitable question, "Do you write, too?" Steinbeck has blazed his own path, acquiring large if quiet success as a photojournalist, cinematographer, and screenwriter. And, yes, he does write, too. And quite well.

The conundrum one encounters when approaching DOWN TO A SOUNDLESS SEA is approaching it on its own terms without using John Steinbeck as a reference and comparison point. Steinbeck could have avoided at least a portion of the dilemma by writing in a specialized genre, such as science fiction or horror and thus rendered intergenerational comparisons moot. He instead meets the problem head on; the short fiction collected in DOWN TO A SOUNDLESS SEA are Steinbeck's literary transcriptions of tales he grew up hearing from his father and from others who dropped by his household. Steinbeck wisely avoids disclosing to his readers who some of these "others" were, but anyone with even a rudimentary knowledge of John Steinbeck's friends and contemporaries can easily guess. The settings for these stories --- Big Sur and the California coast --- were also frequently used by Steinbeck the Father. Thomas Steinbeck, however, has found his own voice, and his own words. He passes, and surpasses the "John Smith" test: if DOWN TO A SOUNDLESS SEA was written by John Smith, it would be worth picking up, and reading.

DOWN TO A SOUNDLESS SEA consists of seven stories; if there is a common thread it is one of men following dreams and remaining true to their internal vision, though not always wisely, not always successfully. Thus, in "The Wool Gatherer," a young John Steinbeck, retained by a rancher as a wrangler for summer work, finds his attention from the job distracted by his sighting of a giant bear, supposedly extinct. His efforts to find the bear, again, result in his wages being docked and his summer effectively wasted. Yet, there is a nobility found in the story that rings true for its time. The ending to this little tale resounds quietly but is writ large, so that it is not so much an entertainment but more a tacit lesson, not sugarcoated but nonetheless easy to swallow.

"Blind Luck," one of the two longer stories in the book, encapsulates the life of Chapel Lodge, whose childhood was so devoid of love and caring that he at one point believed his name to be "Hey you! Boy!" Possessing an innate, canny intelligence, Lodge comes to believe that his luck --- if it is to be had and utilized --- is to be found not on land, but on the sea.

"The Night Guide" is, perhaps, a tale of the supernatural, but more so it is the story of a quiet, but indestructible bond between mother and child, a fable and a history. It does not seem like much, at first, but it echoes with the reader even as the other stories herein are read and digested. The same is true of "An Unbecoming Grace," a deceptively simple little tale involving a traveling physician who plays inadvertently a most important role in the lives of three people, and in the happiness of two of them.

In "The Dark Watcher," meanwhile, an unassuming, untenured college professor sets out to make his academic mark and succeeds in a way that he did not anticipate. "The Blighted Cargo," one of the shortest tales in the book, is also the weakness, though, it is a fine enough entertainment, being a story of an ill-fated venture in the slave trade where the individual involved is, as is said in some parts, caught in his own juices.

The undisputed gem of DOWN TO A SOUNDLESS SEA is, however, "Sing Fat and the Imperial Duchess of Woo," the final story in the book. Almost one hundred pages long, this tale of romance and traditional Chinese engagement between a young widow and a student apothecary is practically worth the price of admission in and of itself. A quick reading of Steinbeck might leave the reader with the feeling that he takes two long to get the point of his stories and then dispenses with it far too quickly. Such an impression misses the point; every building, no matter how beautiful or utilitarian, is no stronger than the foundation upon which it rests. So too, with Steinbeck's short stories, and particularly with this last one, in which we come to know young Sing Fat, and to a lesser extent his erstwhile bride and the Imperial Duchess. It is unfortunate that stories like this or so rarely written in these politically correct, supposedly liberated days; it makes the beauty of this one resonate all the more strongly.

Steinbeck is reportedly working on his first novel. It will be interesting to see what he is able to do when given the room, and the inclination, to stretch his stories out to cover a larger canvas. He will certainly, on the basis of DOWN TO A SOUNDLESS SEA, have an audience ready, and waiting, to greet him on his own terms. Highly recommended.

--- Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub

After all that is why we read. It doesn't get any better than this. I just purchased the book the day before yesterday and only read 4 of the 7 stories. "Blind Luck" was great and "An Unbecoming Grace" had me laughing out loud at the end of the story.

I wish T. Steinbeck had several voulmes like this, looking forward to his 1st novel-

Don

When I put the book down I thought, Thomas Steinbeck uses words like Monet's brush.

This is a book that should be on EVERYONE'S bookshelf because sooner than later we will all need it. My husband and I put off thinking of wills, trusts, and most of all conversations with loved ones and Ms. Larsen's wonderful book got us doing it all. It's easy to read, informative, and filled with human interest stories. I recommend that you buy it, read it through,and remember that it's on your shelf. Buy it for your family and friends too, they will thank you.

An absolute "must read" book for every healthcare professional, care giver, and every person of any age.
As a registered nurse, I wish that every one of my patients and their families would have read this excellent guide book. It would make my caring much easier. Ms. Larsen has a very practical approach to explaining a variety of issues surrounding end-of-life we all need to deal with whether we like it or not.

Larsen's book throws open a window, allowing us a fresh look at the possibility of clarifying, before it's too late, the end of life issues of those we love. It's a thoughtful and calming read that utilizes significant facts, gentle suggestions, and even a bit of poetry to render this often postponed subject far easier to approach. I'm so glad I read it now......

I really loved this book for the most part - it is well written and her recipes are not complicated. She makes french food seem less intimidating. I have made the Salmon Camembert (delicious), Wine Sausages (easy and rich), Beet Stacks (impressive - a burst of different, complex flavors and very gorgeous to look at); as well as the Potato Gratin and The Lemon Tart Of My Dreams. The last two recipes have some minor problems - both were rather runny - especially the tart. The tart had the best flavor of any lemon tart I have ever had, but I was disappointed with the texture. It might either need to be cooked a little longer than the directions, it may need a thickener of some sort - or it may simply need to rest overnight in the refrigerator. I am not sure which is the best way to correct this. I will try it again and try to perfect this thing. The taste alone is worth the effort!

Other than those minor problems, everything in this book is doable and I will certainly be trying more!

The real magic in this great book is that it's approachable and inventive. It's full of things you'll actually make. Things that taste good and look good. But don't let the simplicity fool you--the flavors are fresh and surprising. And Calder's heatnotes are a joy. Encore!

Laura Calder has written a miraculous cookbook. She has taken the mystery and difficulty out of cooking French food at home. The recipes are inventive, clear and easy to make. And taste nothing short of fantastic. Plus, her writing style is engaging, knowledgable and eminently readable. I cannot recommend this book strongly enough for anyone who loves to food and loves to cook.

This book is very well done and "straight from the heart" of the author who obviously has an excellent understanding of children's emotional needs - expressed and unexpressed.

I have used Mac's book extensively as a taking off point in individual therapy sessions with children, teens, and adults. It is a wonderful therapy tool. We can all use a little of Mac's "i am" kind of ordinary magic in our lives. Thank you for such a simple and valuable contribution, Mac! Chelley Rouda, The Resilience Project ...

What a realistic writer! Mac writes from the heart and shows her life and love of G-d in her writing. Thank you for such an insight of ourselves and how we really are, not just how we think others see us!