Newman just kepts improving with age. How she manages to come up with all these new settings, people, and situations is beyond me. Each book can stand on it's own, but I'm happy to have read them all in order to allow me to see how each character in the story has changed and matured.
I hope this series never ends!

I couldn't wait for this latest installment of Sharan Newman's series featuring the clever and clumsy Catherine and her stalwart spouse Edgar, set in the 1140's, this time back in Paris. Just as with her previous novels, I was more than satisfied. I discovered Catherine and Edgar in "Cursed in the Blood" just after our return from Scotland and the north of England this summer, visiting castles of our ancestors dating from the 11th and 12th centuries, primarily. Newman has such a thorough grounding in the history of the time and yet she has the ability to bring her characters to life. I raced through all of her previous novels in the series, except for the next to last one--on order!--just prior to this one, "To Wear the White Cloak". In this latest story, Catherine and Edgar were shocked upon their return from what seems to have been a dangerous and difficult journey to Germany to find a very dead (and moldy!) Knight of the Temple locked inside her father's home. The well-educated twosome have to counter the suspicion that quickly falls on their family, as before, by solving the murder themselves. This is accomplished while they deal with the everyday issues of raising their family in health and safety, establishing themselves financially, and even struggling with moral issue of birth control. You will do yourself a favor if you begin reading Newman's books--go back and read the others--if you have an appreciation for this time period and for an excellent mystery. (Note to fans of Ellis Peters: finally, someone to (almost) fill her shoes)

Paris in 1147 is pure mayhem. Men leaving for the holy land have converged on the city, bringing with them vagabonds and conmen smelling opportunities to gull and steal. There is also evidence that the doomsday cult, the eonisits, has arrived. Starvation seems to be rampant, and a group of ruffians is attacking the Jews. All in all not the homecoming that Catherine had hoped for!

Catherine, Edgar and family have finally made it home from Germany. However upon entering their house, they find the dead and festering body of a man garbed as one of the Templars. Catherine and Edgar naturally report this finding to the Marshall of the Knight Templars; and so it is with great outrage that they discover that they are somehow under suspicion for either knowing who committed the murder, or else witholding some vital clue of the crime. Catherine resolves to solve the mystery. However other matters keep getting in the way. She has to deal with the unsettling relationship that seems to be growing between her Jewish cousin Solomon, and Edgar's sister, Margaret; someone keeps trying to break into their house; and to cap it all, Jehan, that somewhat mad and vengeful knight from previous novels, has returned and is causing all kinds of problems by spreading rumours about Catherine and her family's involvement with witchcraft and lapsed Judaism. Too many things are getting in the way of solving the mystery of the dead Templar!

This series keeps getting better and better. The historical detail is wonderful, and the plot, while a seemingly simple one is padded with enough sub-plots to keep the reader's interest. A truly enjoyable read!

This book is a five star winner. A love affair, a witchy mother-in-law, a marriage headed for disaster and a sympathetic 'other woman' put Catherine Spencer's latest book a cut above the rest. This writer knows how to deliver a story packed with emotion, passion and originality. I highly recommend it.

Catherine Spencer does it again! Deft characterization and a plot which revolves around every bride and groom's worst nightmare make this latest book a fabulous and entertaining read. The author has perfected the art of wringing emotion out of her audience. Definitely a five star read!

Veteran author Catherine Spencer has penned a marvelous emotionally charged book that will make you laugh and cry. If you're looking for a refreshing new plot handled with flair, then this is the book for you. A thoroughly enjoyable story with fabulous realistic characters combined with yummy, hot love scenes - a book doesn't get much better than this one!

Start your day right...sounds like an adage from a cereal commerical doesn't it? While why not start your day with the right nutrition for the soul. This powerful devotional can give you the spiritual vitamins you need to jump start your morning. It contains the collection of really insightful and inspired readings from the great preachers, saints, writers from the past and present. You gather all the wisdom filled with hope and advice from Billy Graham, Corrie Ten Boom, Catherine Marshall, C. S. Lewis, Charles Swindoll, Dwight L. Moody, Calvin Miller and many more. If you want a meditative reading, a quick inspiration or a scripture reminder to grow in God's grace you'll find it in this beautifully laid out devotional. This is a refreshing, spirit-lifter you don't want to be without it.

These daily devotionals not only are encouragement to any person, but powerful challenges to fully trust God and live for him. They are profound and in depth; obviously, Judith Couchman spent a lot of time putting together some of the most powerful messages from some of our greatest teachers and theologins. It's a must for any Christian seeking to know God and the power of His love more.

Buy this devotional! It is a rare jewel. Unlike the vast majority of devotionals today, this one will get under your skin and let the Lord speak to you in profound ways. Yet is is easy and pleasant to read. Obviously, Ms. Couchman deserves tremendous credit for her labor of love in gleaning these passages from books that so few of us will ever have time to read for ourselves. Cudos to Judith Couchman!

This book touches my heart. It is so typical of the many children who are lost through the cracks by our educational system. It shows real courage on the mother's part for never giving up on her son even in his darkest moments. The family was drawn into Brian's World as victims of circumstance.
So many children and their families suffer because their child has learning disabilities and most educational systems seem to turn a blind eye as our precious children turn to drugs and suicide to escape the torment and torture that awaits them inside our schools and at the hands of peers and authorities alike.
Brian was a bright young man who learned to cope the best way he knew how as he drifted through the cruel world in which he lived. I laughed at his antics and cried with his mother as she struggled to save her precious son.
I believe this is a book for all to read from 12 to 99 and especially for educators. I think Brian's short life has a message we need to hear before it is too late for yet another of our young people.
A must read to add to your summer list of reading materials you won't be able to put it down until you finsih. ...

"Brian's World" by far is one of the best written true stories I have ever read. Throughout the entire reading I felt the author was sitting beside me and telling me her story. She writes as though she was talking directly to me and you can feel it comes right from her heart with total honesty. Throughout reading "Brian's World" I found myself not being able to lay it down for any length of time; when I did lay it down I was right back with it in my hand and reading, just wanting to know more about this fine young troubled youth whose mother loved him unconditionally from the beginning of his life to the end. I recommend "Brian's World" to all parents around the world.

Catherine Roberts writes courageously about her struggle to protect, support and encourage her son from illness in infancy through learning disabilities to drug and alcohol addiction. Catherine faced the many challenging situations in raising a learning-disabled child with grace and dignity and ALWAYS with her son's best interests at heart. She shares with us hers and Brian's tale, honestly, truthfully and frankly. The book is chock-full of emotion and interspersed with pain and humour.

Gaines captures Louisiana culture to a 'T'. As someone who spends a lot of tiem their the Carmiers, Jackson, Charlotte and Mary Louise ring true. HIs descriptions and elegant choice of words are just plain gorgeous. Wonderful classic.

I throughly enjoyed this novel by Mr. Gaines. It was vivid, realistic, and delighful.This is an easy read.Read it and discover who Catherine really is.

The reviews thus far tell little of what this story is about. Although I read it several years ago, as I remember this book, or at least a part of it, centered on the intra-racial divide between those of African descent. The Creoles of color, particularly in the region of the book, have long maintained a somewhat separate status from blacks based on a caste system determined by mixed blood and lineage. The "forgotten people" have maintained they have black blood, but emphasize their heritage also include French, Spanish, and most times Native American blood. Although a great many Creoles eventually assimilated into the black community, during the time of this story, (the 60s, I think) most of them kept a separate status from blacks, thought they were subject to the most part to the same Jim Crow laws and racism as blacks (unless of course, they chose to pass for white- a whole other subject). When Jackson encounters Catherine, they act upon an attraction they had from their school-age days. The unwillingness of both families to accept is at the heart of the story. That a group of people by virtual of the fact they have mixed blood (for that matter, how many blacks are not mixed- whole other book)descended from French planters deem themselves better or superior to others of more distinct African blood and all the ignorance that prevails because of this belief is what this is all about. The reviews talk about Cajuns and indeed this is Cajun country and the different cultures interact, but it is the Creoles of Color that this book is about. Mr. Gaines handles this with his first-hand knowledge of growing up in Louisiana and all of its idiosyncracies regarding race and class. Though the book left me saddened, I enjoyed the subject matter.

Imagine yourself as a young girl, writing to a stranger, pouring out all your dreams and fears. Imagine growing up all the while, and falling in love, learning about life, and feeling the pain that can come with growing up, all the while still writing to that person you have only met in letters. Imagine finding out that who you love isn't who you thought he was.
This book is wonderful, fascinating and has a surprise ending that is worth the reading.

Corrie is the youth in all of us, Guy, the enigmatic man she loves, is a stranger to her, and Harlequin, her secret pen pal, is her rock of support. These three people come together in a wonderful love story. I truly wish the author had written more books, this one only made me want more of her writing style, made me remember what it felt like to be young and so full of life. The author so captures that youthful time when you feel evertything so much more passionately. Great read, wonderfully done!

This book is amazing in its music. The music of Pagliacci is really beautifully lived and described, Cory's voice is shatteringly breathtaking, and all this from a printed pages! Even the light of the sun, the taste of chocolate, and the color of white are vividly interpreted, deeply impressing a new meaning on my mind. The years of yearning and moonlit preparation for Cory to emerge into the sunlight as the world's greatest singer, and her unfolding love in Paris while rebelling against her "Pluto" is truly beautiful. The passion that drives her, frees her, and gives her the strength to stand up against tyranny, wealth, and those who would keep her down is truly tear-jerking. I first read this book when I was fourteen, and at twenty-three, I still consider it one of my favorites. I only wish that the ending were a little bit longer.

I loved this book! Mine too is getting dog-earred (luckily I have two copies). It was classy, romantic, and the characters found their way into my heart immediately. I wish that Catherine Nicholson would write more of these gems -- wonder what happened to this writer?

My wife and I purchased this book after our friends had us over for dinner and made 2 recipes from the book (Chicken Cutlets in Mushroom & Wine Sauce, and Cannoli's for dessert).

We were so impressed we ordered the book from Amazon.com the next day. We've had Cooking For My Family for about 6 months now and can't say enough about it, it's become one of the most used cookbooks in our kitchen library. We also enjoyed the memories and tribute to the author's mother.

A wonderful blend of delicious favorites packed with tradition and family. This is a delightful cookbook, made with the best ingredient - love. Packed full of memories and family favorites, Loretta has brought you into her home to eat with her lovely family. You will enjoy her childhood memories as well as some fantastic recipes from this classic Italian (Hoboken) kitchen.

This book - Cooking for My Family - is a treasure to have in your collection!

A book not only filled with wonderful recipes, but wonderful memories too. Cooking for My Family is a book about a very special woman who loved cooking for her family, and who shared her warmth and love with everyone she touched. The recipes are simple to follow and the stories will touch your heart. I recommend this book to anyone who loves to eat!

There are strong marks of the German philosophical tradition in this text, which was originally published in 1910 and revised a number of times until its last version in 1922. Steiner's approach to what he calls "Theosophy" is less baroque than that of either Blavatsky or Besant, although his general conceptual structures have strong family resemblances to their work. His basic model of the human being is triadic with the physical body (emerging out of the ancient mineral domains) being the lowest, the soul body being the middle and mutually connecting dimension, and the spirit body being the eternal and post-personal dimension. He stresses a kind of epistemological or experiential model in which the whole triadic self moves through reincarnations to gain as much knowledge of the real non-subjective world as is possible. Throughout, the concern is with helping the physical self find its way past the delusions of incomplete sense experience into those forms of sense awareness that are open to the occult world. The soul is personal in nature and has the difficult task of bringing consciousness into the body while simultaneously allowing the spirit into both its own consciousness and into its vehicle the body. The soul gives human beings the possibility of finding the depth-sensations behind things (not in a supernatural realm but right here and now). This soul is the center of our experience of the "I" and moves with us after the death of the body. However, the soul is not ultimate and can be defined as the locus where the spiritual world manifests itself in individuals. When we develop the "spiritual eye" we are in a position to go beyond our subjective perceptual distortions and the maya producing desires that twist the real into unreal shapes. There is a strong sense of realism and of German-style vitalism in the book, as well as a theory of knowledge that is deeply Kantian, namely, that our finite categories shape just how we experience things in "this" world." Unlike Kant, however, we have access to things as they really are but only through a kind of seeing that must correspond to the nature of what is seen. Steiner laces the book with helpful, if rather stock, analogies that help the reader to envision the spiritual journey into the increasingly real and eternal laws of the world. This book is a little dense-pack at the beginning, especially where he deals with the causal relations among body, soul, and spirit, but overall it is more readable than much of the literature that usually comes out under the name "Theosophy." Steiner's writing has an almost earthy tone when compared to the air-like quality of, say, Blavatsky. One feels more grounded in, and appreciative of, the world of sensation and pain and pleasure. Above all, this book is deeply commited to the ideal of spiritual growth and is far less elitist than many tomes of its kind. Steiner clearly believed that most people could access the spiritual realm by acquiring the right kind of discipline in the task of thinking. This book is very well worth reading as an overview that also contains some very well argued positions, in particular, concerning the various dimensions of the archetypes.

This work by Steiner covers the fundamentals of spirituality and mankind's place in the cosmos. Chapter One deals with the essential nature of the human being as body, soul and spirit, beginning with the physical bodily nature and concluding with the higher spiritual aspects of our being. The picture that emerges is one of the human being in an evolving process of becoming, where the agent of transformation is the "I". Chapter Two covers destiny and the reincarnation of the human spirit, while Chapter Three discusses other dimensions of consciousness like the soul world, the spirit world and their connection with the physical world and includes with a section on thought forms and the human aura. These worlds are not to be considered spatially, but are states of consciousness, qualitative spaces of inner relationship. Chapter Four discusses the individual's spiritual path and encourages the acquisition of spiritual knowledge with the emphasis on thinking and proving truth for oneself. Steiner sees the first step in this path of knowledge as the assimilation of scientific spiritual concepts. He asks the reader not to "believe" what he says, but to "think" it. It is not a question of belief but of experience. Here his thoughts correspond with those of Jung as explained in Stephan Hoeller's great book The Gnostic Jung And The Seven Sermons To The Dead - that mankind has a need of religious experience, not of belief. Unlike a major portion of Eastern thought which believes in the dissolution of individuality, Steiner's view is that spiritual growth does not take place at the expense of individuality, but through its enhancement. A similar idea can be found in Thomas Troward's beautiful book The Creative Process In The Individual. I would also like to recommend the following works for those interested in spirituality: Cosmic Consciousness by R M Bucke and The Varieties Of Religious Experience by William James. Theosophy is a thought-provoking book that ought to be studied rather than read. The book concludes with a thorough index and a short biography and photograph of Rudolf Steiner. It has stimulated my interest to investigate his other works.

This book accomplishes admirably a view of the world that is not only "new age" but lucid and coherent. He gets around some of the knottier problems of the theology of the soul in very intersting ways. This book is so close to what I have been slowly discovering, that it helped me remove some of the blocks I had concerning spiritual principles. As always verify the truth of this stuff for yourself. But, if you are a beginning occult student who is looking for someone who is trying to help you, this book is a great place to start.

I am a great admirer of Catherine Stock's work. These angels are just wonderful and can make even the most "art-challenged" adult look good. It does take some serious investment of time to color and cut out all 12 angels, but you'll like the results. A little too advanced for my 3 year old, but I can see us decorating the angels together in a few years. Overall, well worth the price and effort.

Wonderful! We have had this book since the early '80s. My daugthers (then aged 5 and 8) colored these beautiful angels with water color pencils and added glitter. We hang them around the creche every year. Beautifully drawn. A wonderful project and a very special keepsake. I am ordering a book for each girl to save until they have thier own children. I hope it never goes out of print.

My six year old and I did all the angels using either colored markers or inks and brushes. They are beautiful. I'm back to order more books because my daughter wants to do the angels I "got" to do.

This is a great project book if you have several ages to entertain. Even teenagers!

I read Mary Catherine Bateson's book COMPOSING A LIFE when it was first issued some years ago. I had read her mother's biography BLACKBERRY WINTER, and I wanted to know more about the child raised by the woman who wrote COMING OF AGE IN SAMOA. Bateson's mother was married three times -- twice to anthropologists, including Gregory Bateson, Mary Catherine's father and Margaret Mead's third husband.

I was pleasantly surprised by Mary Catherine's strong individual personality and the inspirational tone of her book. Bateson definitely escaped her parents shadow. Having famous parents who study other people's children doesn't mean your life will be perfect or easy. Mary Catherine had to find her own way and compose her own life. Finding her way meant "stepping outside the box" or realizing that she could make choices at any point. She did not have to conform to society's notion of the phases of life (maybe her mother's study of "coming of age" had some effect on her novel thinking?).

Bateson's book helped me to think about my own life differently. I found the courage to go back to school at age 28 (I was a high school dropout with three small children), earn a B.A., M.A. and complete all the coursework for a PhD. Today, I am a a subject matter expert for one of the Federal Government's leading statistical agencies. At age 28, I had no idea how far I could go, or that I even wanted to go there. Mary Catherine Bateson was one of those pioneering women who helped me realize it is possible to change your life.

I was quite pleased to have accidentally stumbled onto this book in a search to find materials focused on the concept of "corporate anthopology". Like Ayn Rand's ability to model her concepts of epistemology in her fictional novels, Mary Catherine exemplifies the work of a cultural anthropologist by sharing her personal observations of her own life and the lives of others. I was so sparked by the "personal jewels" I was unable to uncover for my own use that I can't wait to follow on to read her next book, which I've just ordered online...

"Composing a Life" is a critically reflecting book on the lives of five women and the challenges they are faced with during their life roles.

Mary Catherine Bateson has woven together several cross-functional areas of study including psychology, anthropology,multi-national studies, and behavioral sciences to explain the societal, ethnic, and economical pressures that women feel in the varying (and ambiguous) roles in their life.

This is not a male-bashing book yet one that carefully explains the external and internal forces of women as they wear several hats as professionals, mothers, girlfriends, wives, lovers, and friends. Just as music can rapidly change in tempo or keys, so can the lives of women and the expectation of immediate adjustment and acclamation.

A five-star book. Easy to read and great to reflect upon and journal your thoughts as they springboard from this introspective book.