There are poems here to warm your heart, and others to chill your blood. The 1957 poem "Sow" is a fulsome celebration of the muddiness and bloodiness of thriving, procreating life, redolent of the optimistic romanticism of Wordsworth or Robert Graves. When we get to the later recordings, on side two, the poet's nerve ends are raw-exposed. "Daddy", with its dark and terrible imagery - "Every woman adores a fascist, the boot in the face..." - makes you wonder exactly how her father, who died when she was a child, behaved toward her. That and "Lady Lazarus" are about as dark as poetry can get. Not every poet is the best reader of their work, but Plath conveys her agony in these recordings in a way that surely no one else could do. If you are prepared to probe the very centres of poetic pain, get this tape.

This cassette is an amazing recording. Hearing Plath read her poems "Lady Lazarus" and "Ariel" is an experience beyond compare. Hearing the intonation of her voice leads one closer to discovering another dimension to the poetry beyond that written on the page. Her poems are works of art that are brought to a new plateau when she infuses her voice. They begin to stand in a new space, replicating the motion that her poem "Ariel" describes.

This tape is amazing. From the moment I first read Plath's poetry, I longed to hear her read it herself. Her poetry is so extremely personal. The sound of her voice makes the poetry all the more powerful. This tape also allows the listener to hear the beauty of the words and the rhythm of Plath's works.

Dr. Rimm's book applies to all kinds of children -- above average, below average, and "just plain normal" kids -- and, while it's targeted towards parents and teachers of children who are currently underacheiving, it can actually be helpful to teachers and parents even if you don't see any major problems with your children.

I was in the administration at a private school for bright and highly motivated students, and I can't tell you how many times I turned the page in this book, jerked to attention, and said, "Exactly! It's the fourth grade boy whose mom..." or "That's the certified teacher whose M.A. in education and 18 years' classroom experience doesn't stop her from telling her own girls..." or even "That explains why I hated the 'fun' Gifted and Talented program in sixth grade!"

I found Dr. Rimm's approach straightforward and practical; no suggestion in the book is controversial or tending to the dramatic.

The book is organized by personality type and age so you can customize the approach to your own situation. She has clear suggestions for enrolling staff assistance and dealing with divorced/blended family issues.

Her writing is credibly reinforced by research and her own clinical practice.

I was particularly impressed with her sections on "Yes-No parenting" and ADD/ADHD kids. If your child is a "late-developing" or "borderline" ADD student (or if you just want to keep him or her off Ritalin), then you need to read this book for the simplest, clearest explanataion of what you can do right now.

However, my professional experience has taught me that a few parents (and teachers) are emotionally attached to their own, occasionally extreme "philosophy" about children, so let me add a few words for them:

In my own office, I have seen well-educated, loving parents choose their "philosophy" over time-tested, research-supported, developmentally appropriate methods of dealing with children. Usually, these people are parenting out of their own emotional wounds. In my experience, their children are much more likely to develop severe emotional and attention problems.

This is for these parents: The basic reality of life is that YOUR actions affect the outcome. If YOU want a DIFFERENT outcome, then YOU need to try DIFFERENT actions.

If your children are underacheiving, defiant, needy, controlling, or attention-dependent, you MAY have to make a choice between keeping your philosophy and having confident, productive children.

This may be a hard decision to make, especially if your philosophy is driven by still-raw wounds from your own childhood or recent traumas. And there are substantial consequences for your decision.

If you're committed to your philosophy, or if you are parenting out of your emotional wounds, then you probably won't LIKE this book until you resolve your own emotional trauma.

But when you're ready to try something that works, get this book -- it can help you develop a stable, happy, confident, effective child.

My daughter's first semester in high school was torture for her and for us (her parents) until I discovered this book. There is so much a well-meaning parent can do wrong without knowing it, and this book really helped. Dr. Rimm helps you to first make the correct diagnosis, then suggests steps to change the unhealthy behaviors. I recommend this book to any one of my friends who says, "My son/daughter just isn't getting the grades I know he/she is capable of".

Sylvia gives you concrete strategies for the different types of underachievers.

Tanner Burnett hadn't been home in a long time, and he wasn't planning on a trip now. But when an innocent young woman is shot during a holdup he was involved in, Tanner feels responsible for getting her to her destination as soon as she is able to travel again. The young outlaw didn't plan on having his heart captured by his beautiful victim. But he knew a life such as the one he lead had no room for love, after all he had been on the run for years. But Tanner is an honorable man, even if he is an outlaw, so he fufills his promise to see her safely to Fort Worth, and right into the bosom of his long-lost family. Seems the lady was to be married to his brother Travis, the sheriff!

Elizabeth Anderson is on the run herself from an unsavory past. Putting herself up as a mail-order bride, she has been corresponding with Mr. Burnett of Fort Worth, Texas and has agreed to become his bride. But when she is waylaid by the hold-up and forced to spend her recuperation time in the company of the handsome and sexy Tanner, she finds she regrets her decision to marry the unknown Mr. Burnett. While she has fallen in love with Tanner, Elizabeth is determined to make a new life for herself, and sacrifices her chance at love for honor. She insists on Tanner taking her on to Fort Worth, where she will keep her promise to become Mrs. Burnett. Imagine her surprise when she discovers Tanner is also a Burnett!

Sylvia McDaniel brings us another intriguing story of love in the Old West with her second installment of The Burnett Brides series. The Outlaw Takes A Wife is a tale filled with sensual romance, heartwrenching drama, and a wonderful happy-ever-after ending. Everything a great romance needs! McDaniel has also done her historical research of the period, and includes the fascinating tale of the legendary outlaw Sam Bass within this story. Look for the final installment of the Burnett brothers' story in The Marshall Takes A Wife, due out in July, 2001.

Sharon Galligar Chance, Times Record News

Beth Anderson is forced to leave behind her childhood home at the end of the Civil War and all its accompanying tradegies. Shamed and alone, she accepts an offer from Texas to become a mail order bride, knowing nothing of Eugenia Burnett and her matchmaking ways. Since Eugenia had success in pairing up her oldest son and his new wife, Rose, the crafty woman decides she'll try to find a good woman for her wayward son Tucker. Eugenia has never given up on her middle son, Tanner who ran off to join the war, even though the Army belives him dead. But no one has seen or heard from Tanner in a decade. But Eugenia is right, Tanner is alive and running with outlaws. He's a dangerous man who figures he's got nothing left to lose. But when a stage robbery attempt goes bad, Tanner does his best to save the stage driver from being shot. Instead, Beth takes the bullet. No matter how hardened Tanner believes his heart is, he can't leave Beth alone to die. So he takes her to San Antonio and cares for her himself. But he does not count on being so drawn to the woman of quiet courage or how deeply her sad past will affect him. Beth is drawn to the man she sees underneath the fast guns and grim eyes. Though they try to resist each other, love is inevitable. It becomes equally complicated when Tanner runs into his youngest brother, Tucker, and discovers Beth is intended for him. The sparks fly and the dialogue is both humorous and poignant in this story of redemption and homecoming. Well worth reading.

Sylvia McDaniel is now one of my favorite authors. Her books, especially "Outlaw," are fresh and natural. Her people are fun and likeable. This story of a man returning to his family home after a terrible experience with war is poignent and heart-warming.

This book contains a lot of interesting dialgoues together with grammar notes, exercises and a glossary. After completing this course you will have the vocabulary needed as a tourist in Italy and you will also have learnt a lot of grammar. With this book you make progress very fast since the author makes a great effort to explain how the language works.

I took Colloquial Italian with me to Italy last year, where I was to stay for one year as an exchange student. This language course was fundamental in teaching me the basics ( not just touristy questions like a lot of other courses!).
It was so good that I lent it out to other students who were dispairing over the language, and all had similar success with it.
Un ottimo introduzione alla lingua italiana, per chi voule imparare facilmente.

I spent hours looking through the numerous language titles. This one impressed me in it's style. By the time I got through the first chapter, I was over the moon!

If you are considering getting the book only, DON'T!

I have bought many Italian resources (books, software) and if I could only have one, this would be it.

The price is impressive as well.

This is an amazing book, looking at crochet more as form than function. This is for the crocheter who wants to try something a bit different but needs a little guidance or perhaps a little inspiration. This is not a typical project book (make this doily, try this afghan) but something that treats crochet as an art form.

Don't miss this addition to the crochet library! This book adds adventure and creativity to a usuually conservative art form. If yu are looking for a new aspect of crocheting and need some "old time" comfort and creativity don't pass it up. Give expression to that inner child and let your creativity take new direction!

This is a must-have for those who want to explore freeform design in crochet, and by extension, in other textile disciplines. Sylvia Cosh's presentation of building on form and developing structures opens the field for your own directions. It is one of my major resources in teaching freeform crochet.

Any theatre buff will think he or she has died and gone to hog heaven. It is virtually impossible to put this gorgeous book down. Put together by the archivists who work for the Shubert Organization, this book covers Broadway with the Shuberts for the past 100 years. Currently the Organization owns 17 Broadway houses. A history of each theatre and what has played there is covered on these pages. The photography and beautiful design make this one of the best coffee table size books I have ever seen. And I have quite a collection. You won't regret your purchase!

An amazing book that I couldn't put down. The Shuberts have compiled a great tribute to Broadway theater. It's worth the money if you are a theater history buff!

A letter is missing from the subtitle of this book: it should have been "100 Years of Great American Theaters." Yes, this gorgeously designed and printed volume offers numerous historic production stills, but Chach et al. reserved the real glamour for interior shots of Schubert-owned houses. They include no views of backstage areas, nor do they mention the true history of the Schuberts and their attempts to replace and repeat the syndicate's dominance over American theater. Readers will find reproductions of rare items from the Schubert Archive interesting, and the price is certainly a good value. Libraries with extensive theater collections may wish to acquire it, but the volume is a coffee-table book best suited for theater buffs.

In the novel "The inconsequential Politician", the author portrayed the character of a village man Ahmed Ali Mirza, starting from his birth to death. The author's minute detail of the village tradition in Bangladesh as expressed in the book is flawless, simply splendid. I would recommend to any non-Bengali people to read this book to learn about the typical village tradition in Bangladesh.

Ahmed Ali Mirza's lack of respect and rude behavior towards his wife reflects how badly their husbands treat the women of Bangladesh. This novel will be an excellent movie on cinema screen.

Another sub-character of the novel is a British daughter-in-law of Ahmed Ali Mirza, although depicted briefly, stand out as a sweet tolerant lady. I wished to read more about her. I would request the author to write a novel on her life experience in Bangladesh as a main role character.

Ms. Mortoza presents a captivating, detailed, unique in-sider's look into the rural life and culture of Bangladesh. Mr. Ahmed Ali Mirza's life story and struggle with the political issues of the day makes for fascinating reading. It also provides an excellent glimpse of the struggle of the people throughout the regime of the British and Pakistani rule. She explores the domination and strife suffered by the common people throughout the 1900's. The issues of traditional rural life, behaviour towards women and religion are also thoroughtly explored.

Mortoza very capabily presents a realistic view of Bangladesh partly as a result of living in Bangladesh for most of her adult life. Her efforts are to be commended. Bangladeshis' and non-Bangladeshis' alike would find this book outstanding. I look forward to reading more from Mortoza.

The book gives a clear insight on the status of women in Bangladesh specially during the early part of the 20th century.
The author has depicted rural life and the aspirations of the rural elite.

Mr. Ahmad Ali is a typical upper-middle class rural man caught up in the freedom struggle from the British Raj and later from the Pakistani regime.

The author has written objectively as she was born and educated in Britian and came to live in Bangladesh when she was an adult.

The book still describes rural Bangladesh in the social context.

Alejandro is lonley living in the desert. By accident, he learns that if he plants a garden, animals come for the water and shade and Alejandro's lonliness is lessened.

But later, Alejandro learns that gifts given (the garden) makes the gifts received (the company) all the more sweeter.

"Alejandro's Gift" is a quiet book - no need for funny voices or wild antics. It makes a great bed time story or a great "snuggle with your kids on a rainy day" book.

This can also provide a nice way to discuss nature and preservation with your children.

There are lots of interesting things to look at in the illustrations. I read this to a group of school agers and they all enjoyed looking at the pictures and trying to identify all the different animals. We live far away from any desert, so many of these animals were unfamiliar to us.

This is a good book and I definitly recommend it.

Having lived on the west mesa outside of Albuquerque, New Mexico I am certainly familiar with the flora and fauna of the southwest. In "Alejandro's Gift" we meet an an old man who lives in a small abode house besides a lonely desert road. Alejandro has a well, with a windmill to pump the water, and his only real companion is a burro. With visitors a rare treat, Alejandro busies himself by planting a garden to keep him self occupied. But as the days go bye and his garden starts to blossom, Alejandro finds a ground squirrel has come to visit him. The lonely man hopes that squirrel will come again and indeed it does, bringing other small friends of the desert. Enjoying his little visitors, Alejandro thinks of why they have come to visit him and what he can do to make his new friends more comfortable. The idea that forms in his mind becomes the gift of the book's title.

Author Richard E. Albert wrote pulp Westerns in his younger days and wrote "Alejandro's Gift," his first book for children, when he was eighty-three years old. What he has written is a book that is as much about living in harmony with nature as it is about the importance of friendship. The detailed illustrations by Sylvia Long show an understanding of both animals and the great outdoors. The back of this book contains an illustrated list of the over two-dozen animals who enjoy "Alejandro's Gift." Since most of them are not identified during the telling of the story, this will allow young readers to go back and identify everything from the Arizona Pocket Mouse to the White-Throated Wood Rat. However, be warned: if your children live anywhere near nature, where animals are frequent visitors to your backyard, then do not be surprised if they suddenly want to do something special after reading this book.

"Alejandro's Gift" combines a story by Richard E. Albert with illustrations by Sylvia Long. Together they tell the story of Alejandro, a man who lives in an adobe house beside a lonely desert road. His only companion is a burro.

When Alejandro plants a vegetable garden, his home is soon visited by small animals who drink from his irrigation furrows. Delighted by the appearance of these creatures, Alejandro conceives a project on a slightly larger scale.

The realistic illustrations of this book are full of life. The animals and plants, as well as Alejandro himself, are captured beautifully. Alejandro's gentleness, thoughtful nature, and hard-working spirit are wonderfully brought to life. The pictures and text together offer a good message about respect for nature.

The book ends with a short "mini-encyclopedia" that names and illustrates animals and plants of the southwestern United States: mesquite, saguaro cactus, the sage sparrow, the collared peccary, and more. An educational and heartwarming book.

My daughter's name is Veronica Anne, and I ran into the Project Gutenberg edition of this text on a routine websearch. I'm halfway through the book, and loving it! I hope my Veronica grows up to be as independent and spirited as Ann Veronica. :)

Firstly, even though the author is H.G. Wells you should not harbor any notion that this is a work of science fiction.

It is however a rather interesting story of the dual coming of age of a woman and a society in a time of dramatic social change. This book provides the missing link between Jane Austen's era where the notion of an independent woman encompassed little more than a woman who did not automatically marry the first man of means who proposed to her and our modern era where we fully accept the notion of a "man-equal" female character like Heinlein's Friday. And the transformation is a most interesting, exciting, and at times enlightening one. As Ann Veronica wanders through the political and social landscape of Victorian England we are exposed to the rather startling sentiments of the time and the rather harrowing and bold adventures she undertakes in her journey to freedom, as well as to a panoply of interesting characters (like the man hating Mrs. Miniver and the absolute cad Mr. Ramage).

This book is not for everyone, but it is a very worthwhile and entertaining read if you can get into it.

This is the best book I ever read. I own 2 copies of it, one so I always have it in the house if I want to reread it (which I have many times) and another so I can let friends borrow it! "Ann Veronica" is a woman after my own heart, she lives life in her own way and doesn't listen to what anyone else wants her to do. She follows her dreams and her ambitions and lives a wonderful life. Every woman should read this book!

Maud and Amelia are total opposites, except that they are both very old and cooped up together in a boring house, each on the end of an enormously long bed. Suddenly, they have a great idea: to embroider their huge white bedspread to add a little interest to their lives. Finally agreeing to sew their childhood house, they set to work, each in her own way. Amelia is prim and proper, remembering to make use of all the fancy needlework she learned years ago. Maud has forgotten exactly how to sew, but makes do creatively with old buttons, brass loops, and odds and ends of fabric. Maud's house turns into an enchanting jungle, with the ice cream man and the peacocks roosting on the roof, and plenty of crooked balconies and smoke-billowing chimneys. Amelia's is undoubtedly beautifully-stitched and wonderful to look at. In the end, the two switch sides to look at the other's work and are astounded at how differently they remembered and re-created their childhoods. I can certainly empathize with both sisters through this well-told, funny, warm-and-fuzzy story and beautiful illustrations.

I just recieved this book as a present from my parents for my graduation. This had been my favorite book as a child; every time I went to the library, I would search to find it, then ask my mom to read it to me. I identified with Maud as a four-year-old, and I still see the character in myself fourteen years later. I think this book instigated my desire to see both points of view to every circumstance and to see how people interpret the same situations. This book holds the most amazing story and illustrations.

This is a great book to use with Learning Styles and/or Left/Right brain. The two sisters embroider a bedspread with the same ideas but the results are totally different.