How can I begin to tell you of Victor. I read his book in the late 70's when Victor was still alive. His story was so profoundly moving that when at the end of the book it gave his location in America, I was inspired to try contacting him. I asked the information operater in his city if she had a listing for him. She did. When I dialed the number it was Victor himself that answered the phone. I had a conversation with this incredible human being who had survived an experience that is beyond imagination. Of that conversation, one thing he said has reverberated in my mind ever since. . ."Don't ever think it can't happen here" Years later I called again. He was the kind of man you simply never forget. By this time Galina had come to America and it was her that answered this time. Victor had passed away. I assured her of the pledge that I had made to her husband years before. That was that I would tell his story as often as possible and see that people read his book. I have bought over 20 copies throughout the years to loan to others. It is a book that once you have read it you are compelled to share it. It is no longer in print, but well worth the effort of finding. Victor is no longer with us but his story will speak of his and Galinas' incredible courage for many years to come. . .

Victor Herman is indead a rare individual. Victor excelled at everything he put his hand to and above all he survives. I have read many books by survivors of the Russian Gulags, and although their stories are tragic and touching you know that by definition they are not the ones who really had it bad. Those people are all dead. Victor is the exception to that rule. When he was imprisoned he was in absolute top physical condition and he was a never give up type of guy. Even with those two factors he never should have survived what he went through. It is unbeleivable that he is alive. As if that is not enouph there is his wife Galina. Would you walk hundreds of miles through siberia where it is so cold that the trees explode, while pregnant to live in a hole in the ice (literally) with practically no food just to be with your husband? She did. Victor was and is a survivor, but Galina is a woman of incredible character who is willing to make the utmost sacrifices for what she considers important in her life. If I had only read the first pages of this book I would have to say that Victor is a literary giant even though he is in no means trying to be one. His question on the first line of the book is not a rhetorical question, but truly a stuggle of epic proportions that really defines the whole book. "How can I tell you about my life?" I savor thes first few pages every time I read them and tears come to my eyes. This book never slows and is a testament to what suffering and hardship can do to and for people. What happened in Russia was in every way wrong and tragic but as in all such situations it brought out both the best and the worst in people. I have such deap respect for the people in this book that I named my daughter after Victors wife Galina and hope that she will develope the depth of character that Galina Herman displayed

Mr. Herman's story is everything that the other reviewers say it is. I want to add, however, that his book illustrates why we have something precious and worth protecting in this country. I believe Mr. Herman would not have wanted to preach to us about that, but that he wanted to let us know that freedom is worth fighting for. One does not have to be the super-patriot type to realize that our system, with all its flaws and distortions, offers people more than any other in history. Those of us who automatically assume the worst and always denigrate the U.S. do themselves an enormous disservice. One has only to read about what was done to Mr. Herman, legally in the USSR at that time, to understand this. I have been (and remain) fairly liberal in my political orientation, but this book has changed a fundamental attitude within my being. It's not an easy story to experience, but open yourself to it and you will gain a great deal!

All mothers will enjoy and relate to these beautiful stories. There are also several stories written from Dad's perspective. Expecting moms, be sure to have a box of tissues handy! As I read this book, I am expecting my second child. It was wonderful to think back over when I was PG with my son and to cherish the life growing inside me now as I read.

My mother just purchased this book for me a few days ago. I've already read all of it. I plan to re-read it. The stories, cartoons, poems, etc. are so moving. You will find yourself connecting to these anecdotes in a way that will increase your awareness of yourself as a future parent or a parent-once-more. This book should be a hit with expectant Moms (AND expectant Dads), no matter what their situation. This book offers a variety of points of view and discusses many situations. There were humorous stories about pregnancy and delivery, expectant fathers points of view, the emotions of expecting and facing adversity during pregnancy, the special bonds created when adopting a child, passing the torch from one generation to the next. Cartoons, and other humorous anecdotes are guaranteed to make you laugh. Some stories will make you cry. This book will move you. The emotions and bonds created during pregnancy and adoption will be deepened and you will find your soul stretching!

My husband and I read this book together at night before going to bed when I was pregnant, and really enjoyed it! We found it to be inspiring and a great book to read when we were excited and nervous about becoming parents. Even after we had our baby I found myself still enjoying it. I have since loaned it to a pregnant friend and she has loved it as much as we did. This book would be a great one to give to a friend who is expecting or to buy for yourself.

Les Misarables was the first Victor Hugo book I ever read. It imeadiately became my absolute favorite book, until I read The Hunchback. They are very different. The age of Victor Hugo when he wrote them gives each a particular flavor or feel. Dispite these differences, or rather because of them, I could never dicide which was my favorite. The man who laughs dicided this for me, for it is by far my favorite of any book I have ever read. (Though the Bible is pretty good.) The Man Who Laughs is the ultimate of all that makes Victor Hugo so good. (I have read all the novels he has written that I know of, except Legends of the Centuries, which I can't find in English). I am glad the world knows of the beauty of Les Misarables and Hunchback, but I wonder why very few people have even heard of his other masterpieces, like Toilers of the Sea or Ninety-Three. True, some of the books he wrote when he was about 18 lack some of the emotion that he obviously gained with experience, but why are not all his works celebrated as all of Shakespeares are. I honestly would rather read Victor Hugo than anything else. True his books are long, boring, and he often writes 100 or so pages on something off the subject, but every word is poetry. Nobody gets emotions deaper. The "long boringness" only enhances these emotions. Reading Victor Hugo has spoiled me for the rest of the world. Almost all other books seem lacking in emotion after having read Victor Hugo.

I first read this book ten years ago and marvelled at the powerful writing and timeless themes. This book was my first introduction to Hugo and I could not wait to read his masterpieces: "Hunchback of Notre Dame" and "Les Miserables". Although I acknowledge that these books are wonderful, I still hold that "The Man Who Laughs" is just as good, if not better, and more emotionally gratifying than other Hugo's classics.

I first read this story in Russian and the English translation disappointed me. It was more choppy and rough than the Russian version and lacked the sofistication of the latter. However, it is still a great book nonetheless. The story is rich with complex characters that no one will soon forget. The human weakness of Gynplaine is very appropriate and his demise is almost poetic. Nobody should miss out on reading this incredible story and judge for themselves if it deserves to stay out of print when it is for sure one of the greatest novels ever written.

The only negative aspect of the book that, although it did not bother me, may bother some readers is the preacheness of Gynplaine and Ursus, albeit done very masterfully. The character of Dea is too saintly. Although she needs to be very pure for the story to work, she is virtually a saint which is unsettling and makes the reader treat her at an arm's length instead of getting her into their souls as they undoubtfully do with Gynplaine. The whole milieu is very dark and that may make some people uncomfortable. When I first read it, it took me a long time to want to re-read it although I found it to be one of the best books I have ever read.

These negative points are more than acquited by extremely well-told story with characters and situations that are unique and unforgettable. I though that this "old" story would not give me any new insight but it did. This story's major plus is my favorite character, Josianna: she is extremely complex although I got the feeling that Hugo wanted to make her more one-dementional. Still, her scene when she finds out that Gynplaine is a Lord and is going to be her husband is a brilliant testament to her wild and uncomformist nature.

I urge anyone who has not read it to read it. Even if they do not like it, they will find the experience worth-while. For those readers who love Hugo, this is a not-to-be-missed read. For those readers who do not like Hugo, this is a must.

The literary contents here deserve five stars, however, the Paper Tiger edition of this book was bound more like a $$$ paperback than a $$$hardcover. I'm gentle with books, yet the pages separated from the binding halfway through my reading.

So for nurses, what is better than holiday overtime and that nice young pharmaceutical rep with the glazed donuts? War stories! And a whole group of other nurses to share them with.

Let's face it, we have to edit our stories around lay people, temper the humor, spare them the deep, down visceral core of our feelings---the fact that have to laugh in the face of disaster, and that we cry in linen closets. But around other nurses? Honey, just sit down a minute and prop up those tired feet and let me tell you a tale....

This is what is so absolutely great about Chicken Soup For the Nurse's Soul: it's the nitty gritty on why we love our profession. And why we continue to love it in the midst of our hardest times, our darkest hours and even now when our country is in crisis with a nationwide nursing shortage. It's a book about dedication and caring. And just who it is on the other side of that thermometer.

Every story in this book is aimed right at our hearts---to make us cry, laugh, shake our heads at what we have survived, and to bring us hope and strength. To make us proud of what we do.

Kudos to Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, LeAnn Thieman--a hero in her own right-- and Nancy Mitchell Autio for this gift you have given us: The right to speak out and be proud.

Chicken Soup for the Nurse's Soul pays grateful tribute to nurses - - those exalted and capable servants who selflessly tend the sick, injured, aged, and downhearted with deep compassion and unceasing dedication. Containing more than one hundred true stories of service and sacrifice, this uplifting book tugs on your heart strings and tickles your funny bone while artfully honoring the noble profession of nursing. Anyone who has ever been the recipient or the provider of health care will be challenged, motivated, and enlightened by these inspiring, true-life examples of exceptional courage, commitment and caring.
Dr. Mom, Marianne Neifert, MD

Chicken Soup for the Nurse's Soul is a book long overdue. These stories cannot help but touch the hearts and souls of all who read it, nurses or not. Nurses will recognize their own experiences somewhere in these stories, which affirm the personal nature of nursing and the importance of personal touch involved in the care of others. The authors have done nursing a wonderful service in bringing to light the touching, funny, heartfelt anecdotes shared by those at the bedside.
Sally Russell, M.N, R.N
Educational Director
Academy if Medical Surgical Nurses

I found this book and the ones that followed both charming and delightful. I strongly recommend them to anyone who wants a good story about people like themselves, rather than fantastic ones. Though set early in this century, you're sure to find a character to identify with: weather it's uprooted orphan Christina, trying to make her way in a male-dominated society; sensitive, intelligent William, who's love of the budding airplane industry no one seems to understand; bold brassy Mark, who's every bit his fathers son; strong trusty Dick, struggling against his poor birth and servant status. The "Flambards" series will delight anyone who loves horses, airplanes, or just looking for a good read.

I was first exposed to these books as a yet un-born child. My parents named me after the main character, Christina. Years later, my mother gave me the book and bought the videos. I was enthralled. The story is so well written and just captures the essence of the English countryside. The tale of Christina, William, Mark, and Dick is the most intricate, emotionally taut book I have ever read. The videos are also so well acted. You can't read the book without placing yourself there in the Flambards dining room during one of Uncle Russell's tirades or on the airfield at Elm Park watching William take Christina up in the air in the Bleriot or in the stables at Flambards watching Dick teach Christina to ride. I highly recommend this book and these videos to anyone who wants good, quality writing and acting.

This moving story of the struggling relationships between Mark, Christiana, William and dick will touch the hearts of anyone who reads it. I finished reading the whole series a few days ago and i cannot forget the effect that these books had on me, i admit that i did cry at times. The book tells the story of christiana, an orphan, who is sent to live at the crumbling Flambards. It tells of her life and loves in the old manor. An excellently written story and a must read, especially for a country lass like myself!

Victor Koman writes very good fiction, with "Solomon's Knife" being one of my favorites. In many respects he has done it again with this novel. It has both greatly inspiring and truly horrific scenes, and has certainly changed the way I feel about the space program (with the recent tragic loss of Columbia only underscoring this). He tells a rousing tale, and does it well. Many of the characters are fascinating, and I agree with the other reviewers who have pointed out the similarities of the arch villan to Rand's Ellsworth Toohey. I loved the wide range of competing private space projects, and the group of college students, while I felt were the most implausible builders, did inject a valued dose of humor into the story. I also loved the SSTO space station.
Where I disagree with the author is in his painting of a giant conspiracy by NASA and the United Nations to keep mankind earthbound. I well know the temptation of this, having given in to it myself. Government is incompetent. They can't operate a successful conspiracy to bug the offices of their political opponents! Sure these sad little losers would hate to see humans forever beyond their reach. But they are infighting twerps who cant think beyond the next Federal election. Not grand masterminds of evil with the power and ommiscience of gods. Having said that, this is well worth reading, and I'm very glad I did so.

This is a great book. It's got everything going for it: a great plot, interesting and likable characters, important themes, and a more-than-competent narrative style. It is also a great read -- fast and fun. So why hasn't it won ALL the science fiction awards and become a nationwide bestseller? Maybe because no major book publisher would touch it. Not because it's a bad book, but because it offers up the interesting idea that the main impediment to mankind's entry into space is NASA. And it provides fascinating tidbits of news that never made it into the newspapers about how NASA really works (or doesn't), especially concerning the Challenger disaster. Sort of makes you wonder about the First Amendment, when book publishers are afraid to publish a book that's critical of the government. Anyway, if you can find a copy, GRAB IT! And if you're the kind of reader who only buys one book a year, this would be a good one to pick.

I had the privilege of being the eighth person to buy Kings of the High Frontier when it was first published in electronic form by Pulpless.com. I feel rather as if I were there when Vincent Van Gogh swept the final stroke of pigment onto Starry Night or Ayn Rand scrawled the last word of Atlas Shrugged. This book is that good. It's good on at least two levels. First, and crucially, it's a walloping great adventure story. One friend not only stayed up all night to read it, but told me she leaped to her feet and danced around the room during the book's most magnificent scene. Second, without any lecturing or heavy-handedness, this book is an important philosophical statement about free minds and free lives. Oh yeah, it's also an indictment of NASA so accurate and so fierce it's a wonder that agency hasn't crumbled to dust before Victor's rage. I can think of no book I could recommend more highly, and no recent book that has so filled my heart and my spirit. To freedom! And to space!

I have been using macs for about ten years and had read earlier editions of the mac bible and loved them. But after becoming an old mac hand (ignorance is bliss!) I had stopped feeling the need for newer editions of the mac bible. But last week my mother bought her first ever computer, a really sweet G3 Powerbook, and in preparation for flying across the country to tutor her I went shopping for some reference books to give us a hand. I bought the Mac Bible, the Mac OS 8.5 Black Book, and the Microsoft Office 98 Visual Basic Book. The Mac Bible is far and away the most helpful of the bunch. Easiest to read, most in depth and with valuable opinions, real life applications and a sense of humor. In fact I decided to return the Black Book and buy a Mac Bible for myself to take home.

A great reference and entertaining read for any Mac user, from beginner to advanced. I'm a voracious reader of books about Mac hardware and software, and I still picked up some great tips and insights. Best of all, the book is written in a lively, friendly style. Highly recommended.

Excellent book! Well written and superbly done. This book takes you from the very beginning user all the way through to being able to find problems. The most helpful areas are the ideas and links to products. Great tips and shortcut ideas. Super for both the beginner and the expert. A must have for anyone who plans on using the MAC. Easy to read and follow, this book is not "boring" like so many computer books. I would recommend this to anyone.

Only God could allow Donnie to share his life in such an open manner. This book has the potential to radically change the lives of all who read it. Thank God for the courage to speak openly and to remind us of God's ability to heal the broken hearted and set the captives free.

It is an awesome thought to know that we are not alone in our different struggles in life. I mean we KNOW that we are not the only ones to experience certain things but to actually read about it - and be able to IDENTIFY with what you are reading is truly mind-blowing as well as a deep and personal revival. Donnie McClurkin has done a marvelous job of telling his story and helping others who have gone through and are still going through to transcend from Eternal Victim to Eternal Victor. For a long time the church has been afraid/ashamed to embrace certain issues. Ergo, Donnie's approach to these "Personal Hells" is one that I believe the church has been waiting for. I fully recommend this book to everyone. Whether you have been hurt or not. Whether you are the prey or the predator. The fact is that we all have either been abused in some way or know someone who has experienced/is experiencing hell. For the abused this book will help you to rise above your past and live vicrotiously while letting go of the past. For those not abused this will help you to understand the secret struggles of others and become sensitive to wounds they might have - it also shows you how to be a genuine friend to such a person. Donnie, thank you for writing this book ---- it was way overdue.

I just happened to turn on the TV at the perfect time! Donnie
was speaking about his childhood abuse; I could not change the
channel. During his interview I learned about Eternal Victim/
Eternal Victor.

I ordered it and read it cover to cover right away! The book
expressed the torment I knew the man I love had been feeling
most of his life. We were estranged at the time. I prayed for
the courage to let him know that I knew of his childhood abuse.

I decided to let him know by letter and send him the
book. He called me the same day he received it.

His abuse had been something he had never been able to
tell me and I learned about it only through praying to know
and then having the Holy Spirit awaken me in the night to
tell me.

My deepest thanks to Donnie for his courage to write and to the
good Lord above for guiding Donnie to write and getting the book
in front of me. May God continue to bless and instruct him.

I have decided most of our social problems stem from abuse of
children. We do need churches to be more forthright about these
issues. Donnie McClurkin is blazing trails! Hallelujah!

Our homosexual society at least does deserve the right to know
that they are only living half the life they could and that Jesus
will heal all your hurts. Mainstream media has promoted
homosexuality without knowing, much less giving real options or
bibically based facts.

This book has changed our lives. I fully expect things to only
get better for us and all who will read it. I am a woman who
loves an abused child of yesteryear. I intend to stand with
him as his healing continues and he becomes the husband he never
thought he could be to me.

The Revolutionary Guide to Qbasic is by far the best book out there for programming games in basic. It is filled with chapters on sound and graphics that nearly every other book on the market neglects to include. I make games in my spare time and until now have been picking apart other games and asking more experienced programmers how to write complex sections of code. Well, no more! This book has it all: 3-D scrolling, tile based gaming, creating music, and more. Why buy another book about how to make a loop or print data to the screen? This book it truly the best way to advance your hobby in Basic programming.

Wow! I never knew how much you could do in QBasic. I learned that text games are just fine and now I specialize in them. Once I learned the PLAY commands, I was brought into the world of music programming. I now write rap and all sorts of music. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to know the best BASIC programming.

This book is one of the most useful programming refernces that one could ever hope for. It outlines procedures that I never knew were possible for QBasic such as 3D, advanced data sorts, and sub-operating systems.

Knowing QBasic is an essential part to learning any other Microsoft programming language (e.g. Active Server Pages, which I also have Wrox book for), and what better way to do it than with this book.

A must have for any serious programmer, but not targeted for the newbie programmer. It assumes that you already know a fair amount about QBasic, but will push your programming to new highs.

Victor McGlothin details the history of Dallas through the eyes of a young man and then takes you on a thrilling ride as the main character's life unfolds. It was very interesting to read about Black Dallas in the 60s,70s and 80s. The author's style made the book a pleasure to read.

READING "IN SPITE OF" WAS TOTAL ENJOYMENT. AS A BLACK FEMALE IT WAS WONDERFUL TO RELATE TO THE CHARACTERS AND THE LIFESTYLES PROTRAYED IN THIS FIRST NOVEL BY MR. MCGLOTHIN. I WAS IMPRESSED WITH THE ACTION, DRAMA, HISTORY AND SENSITIVITY EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR.GREAT BOOK! CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEXT ONE! IT IS A MUST READ FOR EVERYONE!

"In Spite Of" is a well-written, passionate story involving high finance, loyalties, murder, drug trafficking, and sweet romance. Victor McGlothin triumphs as an author in this drama centered around the lives of Jonathan Holloway Sr. and Jr., spanning a twenty-five-year period. "In Spite Of" paints the portrait of being Black and male in America. "In Spite Of" his contributions to this society, respect is hard earned and sometimes quickly dispelled. Jonathan Holloway Sr.'s life choices destroyed he and his family. Jonathan Jr., a bank manager, has to contend with an evil foe from the past that he's totally unaware of. A must read, can't put it down book