My girlfriend and I had the good fortune of meeting Mr. Faber at a recent book signing. Seconds after introducing himself, he is ready to pull up his shirt sleeve to show you a grim reminder of his past. His arm still bears the numbers, forcibly tattooed on him by the Nazi regime. He then pulls open his book, lovingly pointing to his mother and sisters. With a soft break in his voice, he then describes the moment he found them lifeless, piled on top of one another. We bought several copies... and have come back to purchase more.

The book does not disappoint, written in a narrative format that is easy to follow and gripping to read. His work leads you down the path of brutal history, following his family as they are forced into slave labor, rounded up into Ghettos, and then ritualistically hunted by the Nazis. He makes a pact with his mother to survive the horrors, and through it all, he somehow does. Reading the book, you realize that he had a higher purpose in life, educating future generations about the atrocities that no man or woman should have to endure.

After meeting the man and understanding his past, one can only thank God Mr. Faber lived to tell his story. It will change you forever.

I have a had the privilege of not only reading Mr. Faber's book, "Because of Romek", I also had the great privilege of meeting him in person and discussing his heart wrenching experiences. Once you start reading his book you won't want to put in down! On several occasions, I had to stop and remind myself THIS IS A TRUE story! To read what it was like first hand from Mr. Faber, a Holocaust survivor, was to say at the very least, enlightning! It is so very hard to believe that another human being could treat another human in such a horrible way.

As a police officer, I have experienced some terrible things in my 20+ years, but I don't believe any of them could come close to comparison with Mr. Faber's experiences. My deepest respect and admiration go to you, Mr. Faber!

I thank you for sharing these very personal thoughts and experiences with us! You have definately given me a new perspective on life and how fragile life can be!

Young David Faber survived the horrors of the Holocaust because of Romek and because of a vow he made. Romek was his older brother, a Resister whom David watched tortured and murdered by the Nazis. That was at the beginning of the persecution of the Jews. The vow David made to his mother was simply that he would live. The true experiences related in this memoir left this reader first breathless, then chilled, then nearly numb. To say more would lessen the impact for the next reader. Just order it and read it now! The story of David's survival in the Ghetto, in flight and in hiding, in the Partisan band, and in the concentration camp is simply-written but powerful. These days Mr. Faber is a sought-after speaker at San Diego middle-schools and high-schools. Students rarely fail to be moved by the courage and endurance of a 15-year-old child of the Holocaust. This book really should be required reading, alongside Anne Frank's "Diary of a Young Girl" and Inna Konstantinova's journal in "Defending Leningrad".

I'm a CNE since Version 3.X. I have took a lot of test reading only the White book and practice. The results: I had to take test twice even three times before passing it. For the NW5 Update, I took the course and read the white book twice, but I also bought this book. The results: Passed the first time!! It's incredible how this books wraps all you need to know in order to pass the test. It is easy to read and give you clues of what to pay special attention. If you are studing for the update test, this is the only book you will have to read (you will need hands-on, as well).

I originally got my CNE back in 1994 - the 3.11 days. That was the last time Novell came out with a CCR (Continuing Certification Requirement) - the update to 4.11. That was the only test I flunked the first time and squeaked by the second time. Now I'm working in an NT environment and haven't even touched a Novell server in over a year. Needless to say, the latest CCR had me worried. I wanted to keep my CNE, but didn't want to spend thousands of dollars learning a NOS I'd probably never use. I decided to get Clarke Notes only and sink or swim. I'm happy to say I passed the test on the first try after two days reading and studying this book. Thanks, David! Now if we could only talk him in to developing a Windows 2000 curriculum.

The book is very easy to read and the author has even put in material to make it fun to read. If you want your professional reading to be as dry as a bone, that feature may jolt you. The book is a good general reference for NW 5 and not just for test-takers. However, the prospective test-taker should look at Appendix B. It provides the Novell test objectives and give the reference to the pages in the book where each objective is covered. If you've gone over the official text so many times that you're about blind, this explains the same things (plus more) in a very clear manner.

Being a native Oregonian and having a husband who is a baseball fanatic, I suppose it was only a matter of time until I found my way to THE BROTHERS K. It is without doubt, the most entertaining and fulfilling novel I have ever read. The 700 pages went too fast! I grew to love the Chance family as I laughed and cried with them through the pages of Duncan's opus, and I postponed reading the last pages as long as I could, simply because I did not want it to end. Duncan provides an unbelievably complex, yet brilliantly clear portrait of a family as it comes of age, careening through the turmoil of adolescence, religion, war, sickness and love. THIS BOOK IS AN ABSOLUTE MUST-HAVE IN ANYONE'S HOME LIBRARY!

Jesus of Nazareth Himself could drop to one knee and propose, but if he hasn't read this book, I'm going to have to give Him the Heisman. I've made every man I'm close to read this book and no one has ever been disappointed. Which is NOT to say it's just for men. It's for anyone who appreciates any one or more of my favorite things: family, religion, baseball, literature and/or history. As cliche as it sounds, this book truly changed my life. Every so often I find myself thinking about the characters and missing them as if they were members of my own family!!! It is, without question, my all time favorite novel. DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND READ THIS BOOK ASAP.

David James Duncan's brilliant work is the story of a family living in the Northwest through the 1960s. The family Chance makes it through four boys, two twin girls, Hugh's (the father) life in baseball and at the mill, a fanatically religious mother, college, draft dodging, Buddhist enlightenment, and comes out as one of the most intriguing and genuinely special families I have ever known. I must say that the Brothers K is my favorite book. Duncan's prose [draws] you in and won't let you out. His writing is witty, eye opening, hilarious, and wonderful. I would recommend this book for just about anyone, even if you know nothing about...especially if you know nothing about baseball, Eastern religions, Vietnam, the 60s, or living in a large family and making it through all that life throws your way.

Having read many True Crime novels over the years, I must hail this piece of work by author James Dalessandro and contributor David Mehnert as being one of the finest yet. The story of Jane Alexander was both awe inspiring and admirable. I am also a family victim of a brutal homicide crime. The convictions of the two murderers in my case came from a trial of circumstantial evidence. Knowing all to well the frustrations of our justice system and lack of victim's rights, I praise and wish to thank Mrs. Alexander for her strength of resolve along with her success in creating an easier and more pro-active path for fellow victims as ourselves. Unlike so many other True Crime novels, this book was written with the same "mirrored passion" that so obviously drove the dedicated individuals forth for so many years to see that justice was served. The book's author James Dalessandro, truly honored Mrs. Alexander's efforts by his attentive, thought provoking and accurate depiction of her difficult and painful journey. A wonderful and tenderly written tale... Purely brilliant!

Brilliantly deliverd by author James Dalessandro and contributor David Mehnert. A book written with passion, mystery, truth and justice was done. "Citizen Jane" is a book that you just keep reading - can't put it down, so I went online looking for other books by James Dalessandro. Bought,"Bohemian Heart". It will be delivered in a few days. Can't wait to read it!

"1906, the San Francisco Earthquake" saga will be in the stores soon. Watch for a movie by this great author.

Mary L. Bates

Having read many True Crime novels over the years, I must hail this piece of work by author James Dalessandro and contributor David Mehnert as being one of the finest yet.

The story of Jane Alexander was both awe inspiring and admirable. I am also a family victim of a brutal homicide crime. The convictions of the two murderers in my case came from a trial of circumstantial evidence. Knowing all to well the frustrations of our justice system and lack of victim's rights, I praise and wish to thank Mrs. Alexander for her strength of resolve along with her success in creating an easier and more pro-active path for fellow victims as ourselves.

Unlike so many other True Crime novels, this book was written with the same "mirrored passion" that so obviously drove the dedicated individuals forth for so many years to see that justice was served. The book's author James Dalessandro, truly honored Mrs. Alexander's efforts by his attentive, thought provoking and accurate depiction of her difficult and painful journey.

A wonderful and tenderly written tale... Purely brilliant!

I was very pleasantly surprised by this collection. It was far better than I expected. I am following James Robinsons' Starman trades as they come out and I like them, but I'm not crazy about them. I expected JSA to be as good or maybe a little worse because it just doesn't get the same critical acclaim as Starman. When I read it, I found it to be a lot better and even better than JLA. The characters are all interesting although Sand is probably my least favourite. Its got the best of new and old, some icons and some obscure characters. It has a similar link with the past that Starman has, which is always good because it takes advantage of DC's rich history, which is too often ignored. I have to admit that I was a bit disappointed when they revealed who the new Dr Fate was, but given time he may grow on me. And anyway, at least the helmet and medalion are back! I liked reading about the fate of the original Sandman and this comic is also making me like Wonder Woman (Hipolyta) more! The bad guy is a little [ineffectual], but the plot makes up for it. I also think that it offered a plausible excuse for JSA to reform.

JSA is one of the best comic titles in print today. This volume collects the first issues of the series. DC has taken its classic hero team introduced during the 40s and modernized it with extraordinary flair.

While steeped in history, Goyer has written this story arc so the reader isn't required to be versed in 60 years of comic adventures. References to the past are made where necessary or flashbacks are cleverly used and well integrated into the story. The story itself is spectacular as these retired heroes, attending the funeral of an old friend, decide to reform the world's first super team to search for the next Dr. Fate.

Sadowski's art is simply breathtaking. There is astounding attention to detail that brings the illustrations alive. He also gives a realistic picture of these aging super beings. They have been around for decades and a paunch here and a wrinkle thrown in there are in sharp contrast to the typical pysically perfect, six pack abs hero that never seems to age.

Not only would I highly recommend this book, but its follow up trade paperbacks and the series itself. This dip into history is time well spent.

The Justice Society of America was the premiere superhero group of the 1940s. Now, Wesley Dodds--once known as the crime-fighter the Sandman--falls victim to an old foe who is looking for the Fate-Child, the baby that will grow up to inheirit the mystical garb of Dr. Fate. The elder statesmen of the superhero world gather at Dodds' gravesite. Jay Garrick, the Flash. Ted Grant, Wildcat. Wonder Woman. Hourman, who carries within his synthetic makeup the remnants of Rex "Tick-Tock" Tyler. Alan Scott, the original Green Lantern who now goes by the name Sentinel. Dinah Lance, daughter of the original Black Canary. While attending the funeral of their old friend and comrade-in-arms, the surviving members of the JSA as well as young heroes witness the death of Fate, the man who currently carries the weapons of Dr. Fate. They are attacked by undead warriors Sentinel names as the Sons of Anubis who strive to take the weapons from the dead man. That murder and attack, following so closely on the heels of the death of Wesley Dodds, unites these warriors old and new and brings them face-to-face with a villain that has lived for ages.

David Goyer has become an author of repute. He wrote the screenplay for BLADE and BLADE 2, starring Wesley Snipes, in the movie adaptation of the Marvel Comics hero. He's also written NICK FURY, AGENT OF S.H.I.E.L.D., DARK CITY, and THE PUPPET MASTERS. James Robinson, the co-author of this graphic novel, has written THE GOLDEN AGE, LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT: BLADES, TERMINATOR, STARMAN, VIGILANTE, and LEAVE IT TO CHANCE . Artists for the first graphic novel gathering the first five issues of the on-going series are Scott Benefiel, Stephen Sadowski, and Derec Aucoin, with inks by Mark Propst and Michael Bair.

A combination of nostalgia and stunning story-telling enhanced by some of the best comics artwork in the business, JSA: JUSTICE BE DONE succeeds as a treat for the eyes and the heart of the long-time comics follower as well as newbies who take an interest in these legends. Goyer and Robinson's character interplay and dialogue works together to bring a depth to the story as well as a richness to their imagined world. The narrative on the panels is taut and driving, voice-overs for the action that explodes from the pages. The full page splashes of heroes like Hawkgirl and Dr. Fate are absolute treasures. Long-time fans of the JSA will enjoy the way the new authors pay homage to Gardner F. Fox, the first of the writers for the series back in the 1940s, when they split the group into teams to send to missions in different parts of the world. That was very much a Gardner Fox plot device. And they play fairly with Roy Thomas, the scribe for INFINITY, INC., who created the character of the Silver Scarab, Hector Hall.

JSA is one of the best books currently being done in the market. Goyer, because of his training in the film world, possess a cameraman's eye for shots, and Robinson's skills lead him into deep and rich characterizations. They compliment each other, but standing apart on different projects shows that each writer is nearly equally as skilled. Readers will note that the writers obviously have a good time playing off of each other. This graphic novel compliation of the first five issues states the JSA's purpose, to thoroughly entertain the reader and dazzle him or her with gorgeous artwork. Comics lovers who haven't yet tuned into the JSA will find this volume is the perfect place to start.

The River Why has become a family favorite ever since the winter I read it aloud to our precocious kids.... who are still fond, 3 years later, of saying things like "got him!" or "witlesses" or "twinkies catch big ones!" They will even occasionally quote Isaak Walton as they hawker into the fire...

My thesis is that any book about a solitary young man's learning to see the entire world as a metaphor for fishing, only to be hooked himself by the power of love, while being funny, profound, serious, uproarious, symbolic, cathartic, and a love story about the world and the Fisher of Souls must be packing a wallop... and this one is.

The River Why was published by the Sierra Club, either in one-dimensional reflex, or in a sudden access of Light to an editor.... and it is a book about living in harmony with nature. But more than that, it's about aligning one's soul with what has been said, thought, felt, and done over the past few hundred years.

This is a book that has made me guffaw, cry, and, always, think. I re-read it every couple of years with joy... and wish that to every reader who ventures on the trout-laden waters of the River Why.

I read this book at the insistence of my boyfriend, an avid flyfisher and owner/operator of a fly fishing shop. Not being a fisherman, I approached the book with some hesitation as to whether I'd enjoy it. I found the story of the piscatorial and philosophical pursuits of a guy named Gus to be endearing, enlightening and entertaining. A knowledge or love of fishing is not required to enjoy the adventures of Gus nor the clever prose and talented use of language by David James Duncan. I believe just about anyone would like this book, whether they are a worm-dunker, dry fly purist or non-fisher. I plan on purchasing a copy for my father, a dreaded worm -dunker according to my boyfriend

I bought this book for my husband because he likes to fish. I grew up along the banks of the Red River in Louisiana and enjoy fishing, too...so I was a bit curious about this little tome myself. Hubby and I decided to read this book aloud to each other every night before bed, taking turns with chapters. I have to tell you that I have never, ever laughed so hard in my entire life. Reading this book was a blast...a total blast! The story of how his parents met was worth the price of the book, not to mention the story of how his mother shot the dr's dog. Truth IS stranger than fiction. Mr. Duncan's family is one-of-a-kind and about as eccentric as they get in a very readable way. This book is in my 'I'd take with me if I were stranded on a desert island' collection. I highly recommend it.

Judy Valentine always hid from life behind her drums. It was always her dream to be part of a rock band, as well as her older brother's dying wish for her. Three years after her brother's suicide, Judy finds her band, Wedding Night. Opening for Nick Praetorious, the hottest act in the country, brings the band national attention and forces Judy at sixteen years old to deal with success, attention, and being idolized while still developing her own identity.

Chinese Handcuffs by Chris Crutcher tells the similar story of a teenage boy named Dillon who also loses his older brother to suicide. Dillon escapes his pain through triathalons, an extreme contrast to Judy's music writing and playing. Crutcher tends to write novels centered around sports because more young people can relate to sports analagies than they can to introspecitve song lyrics. For me, it was nice to read a young adult novel with a storyline that I could relate to rather than merely understand.

"You can give her all your money, till you're totally broke./ You can christen her with diamonds, You can sprinkle her with coke./ But you'll never have her and you'll never know her/ 'cause she's the girl, she's the girl inside the girl."(Pg. 36) Judy "wrote" this song,"The Girl Inside the Girl". Many other full song lyrics are included throughout the book so that one can truly hear the sounds of a Wedding Night concert as well as visualize it. One even begins to understand the rock and roll lifestlye through a teenager's eyes. Once seen from behind closed doors, a rock star's life loses it's luster and glamourous image. Yet, the passion never dies for the music, not for Judy Valentine.

This book was written for "young adults", so it might be a little below an older teen's reading level. However, the storyline is just so unique, I would still recommend it to any music lover.

A magnificient book, although tad childish and naive. The author weaves a beautiful tale of the protagonist Judy, a drummer who recovering fromt eh death ofher brother, is yearning to discover herself through her 'band'. SHe finds this band when she answers mysterious want ad. and meets Strobe, together they assemble this band...Irwin. Maddox and Mark the Music. The descirpitions that the author uses when describing music being made is painfully beautiful. His descriptions of Mark the Music playing the guitar are exceptionally beautiful....leads you to believe the author is a guitarist...The story is very tight and Judy's voyage of discovery, in the company of 'Wedding Night', the band, is told very well. The ending is beautiful...ANyone with music in their hearts will fall in love with this book.

This is one of the most wonderful books from my early adolescence I ever read...it can to me at just the time I needed it and that I will never forget. I felt just like the heroine of the book the whole time... her against the world in a desperate desire to simply make music and find out who she is. Read it...and give it to your teens...

Maybe my expectations were too high. I've never heard Etta James sing a song I didn't love. Not only does she have one of the most breathtaking voices in popular music, but she uses it brilliantly. She sings every song from the depths of her soul, and at the same time she's a very intelligent singer, obviously very much aware of, and in control of, her craft. I was hoping she'd bring the same kind of feeling and intelligence to telling the story of her life.

And it's a great story. Abandoned by her father and growing up in poverty with a difficult mother, Etta James became a juvenile delinquent, and over the course of her life faced down just about every form of addiction you can think of, from food to heroin. She was saved by a gift for music, which other people, thank god, recognized almost as soon as she opened her mouth.

So I began reading, knowing I was digging into a great story written by an intelligent and sensitive woman. But as I read, I found myself growing more and more disappointed. The book has some wonderful anecdotes about the nastiness of the music business and the foibles of a lot of famous people. They're entertaining and sometimes even enlightening - and they're the reason I wouldn't rate this book any lower than three stars.

But something goes wrong when she writes about herself. A lot of reviewers have praised her "honesty" in accepting responsiblity for her mistakes and addictions.That's certainly an admirable quality, but it doesn't necessarily make for interesting writing. Again and again, James tells you the sordid details of her mistakes, says it was her own fault, and then goes on to something else. And every time she does so, I felt cheated of any insight into what led her down the paths she took. She sounds like someone who hasn't really come to terms with her problems, and therefore most of the book seems rather superficial.

The story is inherently interesting and it would probably make a great movie, but its unwillingness to probe below the surface kept it from being a great book.

I didn't remember Etta James from my childhood. I heard of her story by reading the Amaon Web comments and then decided to purchase a copy of her autobiography. I can say that now I do remember hearing her sing "At Last" and that I am a true Etta James fan. She has written the most direct and gritty autobiography I have ever read. I thought Tina Turner and Billy Holiday was revealing in discussing their lives, but they have nothing on Etta. I'm still numb from the thoughts of her sad childhood and hard core adult life. Because of the interest I now have in Ms. James as an entertainer I will purchase a couple of her albums (CD'S)to get to get a better understanding of her music. She is a true legend.

I dont remember when was the last time I read such a honest autobiography - while others would be tempted to describe themselves in the best light,Etta James achieved to be likeable BECAUSE she is honest person.Everything she went through,happy times,bad times,brutal,funny and sad,she tells with such a original style that her talking voice almost leaps out from the pages.I read this book in 2 days without a break,what a original character,never afraid to say it as it is,even if occasionally her story may sound down-right depressing,then she makes it clear that she still have that life-saving sense of humour.Besides making me laugh and cry,Etta also describes music legends from different perspective - Chuck Berry,Jackie Wilson,Sam Cooke,James Brown,Ike & Tina,Aretha,Keith Richards,Mick Jagger,Bo Didley,Ray Charles,Jesse Belvin,Esther Phillips... Etta knew them all and paint the picture as we may never knew it,from the backstage.While Tina Turner's autobiography curiously lacks any personal comments,Etta James book is all about its subject,this is the woman who is not afraid to say what she thinks and what a story she have to tell!

Peter Pan is a good adventure/fantasy that kids and adults can enjoy alike. With much exaggeration, it is something kids can enjoy and read into. It's a page-turning book that once you started you can't stop.

Wow! What a great story this is! I picked it up on a whim years ago having enjoyed the Disney cartoon, and when I finally got around to reading it, I couldn't put the darn thing down. This is really exciting stuff! Peter is ten times as irrascible as he is in the toon. One line has always stuck in my head - its where Peter is faced with certain death (I forget exactly what). He thinks to himself that its quite possible he could die, and thinks `That would be the greatest adventure of all!' That line sums of the feel of this book. Imagine being a kid who can never grow up who has the power to fly through a world woven of dreams and fairytales....I learned later that this was probably the sincere wish of the author, James Barrie, who was afflicted with a disease which made it impossible for him to grow. Though an adult in mind, he was the stature and semblance of a child. The warmth of this story has a deep heartfelt resonance in the heart of any boy who has grown up having adventures in his mind. It can't really be described -it has to be read and appreciated. If you love fantasies in the vein of The Never Ending Story and The Wizard of Oz, you will love this book.

Driving with young children in the car quickly convinced me that it was unsafe to not give them something to listen to. After ten years I have collected a large (30+) bag of books-on-tape. I have also loaned them to others and asked for opinions. Peter Pan (read by Wendy Craig) is not only my favorite, but also the favorite of my wife and most of my friends. It is excellent for all ages (4 to 80) and even most hardened teenagers. Humour, presentation, ... a prefect 10.

I saw the movie & was blown away by it. I wouldn't recommend this book to people who haven't seen the movie or read SPR: THE NOVEL. This book isn't good for people who can't stand seeing gory pictures. Seeing them really brings back memories from the film. The horrors of war can be found in this book, the film, & novel. It also has some of the actor's feelings about the film & what they went through with the making of Saving Private Ryan. GET IT!

The book and movie are so real that you'd believe they are real live. How Spielberg made it? Tracers flashed on the breach, bullets shot into sea water,........., the scenes are just so true! If you experienced any real gun combat, you know what I mean. I won't use the word "beautiful" to describe the book and the move, war isn't beautiful, killing or being killed is not fun. But the book and move are wonderful! I did not feel comfortable when I stepped out from cinema but I like the book so much that it can remind me how good the movie was.

Saving Private Ryan and The Triumph and the Glory have sparked an interest in me about WWII. The novel isn't quite as good as the movie but anyway this book is a great behind the scenes look at the making of a terrific movie.