These are the fictional memoirs of Ebenezer Le Page, who writes about his life from the time he is a young boy to present, possibly till the day before he died. At a first glance, he led a very uneventful life, in that he never left his island, and was a simple farmer and fisherman. However, this is an example of how human nature is endlessly fascinating: the little and big fights between the members of his family, his observations, in retrospect, about what went wrong with this and that other person, the what ifs, his love life, his mom, his devoted sister, the horrible German occupation of Guernsey, and finally his decision over who would be the heir of his money and land. This is one of the best books i've read this year. There is so much history, insight, wisdom and humor in these pages that makes this one of those must-read-at-all-costs books. I would love to go to Guernsey and visit the sights.

It was like a book that, at first, I'd never heard of, and I was destined to read. I was on a sales trip, visiting the Channel Islands on a whistle stop tour, but still wanted to take my family with me to share the sights of Guernsey. We were waiting to catch the ferry home, having lunch in a pub in the centre of town and for some reason or other, I got talking to a gent who was visiting the Island, simply to put a place to the names described in a book he had just read. The Book of Ebenezer Le Page. He assured me that if I ever came upon this book and read it, I would love it. The following weeks, back on 'the mainland', during other sales trips, covering all other towns, I would just pop into second hand book stores to see (even though I had no idea what the book looked like.) I was in Lyme Regis, again I went into a book store and I felt compelled to ask them if they had a copy of the book. It only turned out that this particular book store specialised in books by John Fowles, The writer of the forword. The particular book was out of print, but YES they had copies. "Hard back or paper back", they offered. Well, needless to say, I have just finished the book and I am now left with a sadness at almost having left a friend behind. At least I had the fortune to share a piece of Ebenezer Le Page's life.

Like Patrick below, I was brought up on Guernsey and now live in the US. And I'd never gotten around to reading Edwards' book, until I came across it in a 2nd hand bookshop a couple of weeks ago on Liberation Day, of all days (the anniversary of the end of the German Occupation of the Channel Islands).

Isn't it great? I'd actually peeked into my mother's copy on several occasions and thought it looked kind of boring, and it took me a while to get into it, but slowly I found myself becoming hooked. Half way through, it's difficult to say why I can't wait to get back to it, because it really is little more than one man's telling of his own not extraordinary life. But stick with it and you will probably understand.

This is the first time in 9 years that I feel homesick!

I completely agree with the other reviewers who have described that feeling that you get with only a few books of *living* inside the book, and the sadness that hangs around for a few days when you finish. I strongly recommend this book!

i recently read this book at the urging of a friend of mine who is a recovering alcoholic. at the time, i was at a crossroads in my life with regards to my 10 year marriage and in my professional career. i felt like it was time for a change in my life and actually envied my friend in a.a. for having a forum to help him find his way.

i started this book with few expectations it would be of any relevance or assistance. after all, how could a story about a "drunk" help me? what i found was a story interesting enough that i have since given a copy of this book to my business partner as well as a few other friends.

the main characters are a yale lawyer and a grizzled old convict who develop a bond that helps them find how really alike they are. in the tale the author uses inspirational literature from a.a. as well as from the ages to develop this idea. some of the quotes he uses to make his points are reminders to me, a "nonalcoholic", that the human condition makes us more alike than different.

for saints or sinners,drunks or normal folk, this book is a must read for anyone who ever thought there may be a better way to live or who just want to read a good book.

What a surprise, a book dealing with recovering one's true identity and direction that is well written, incredibly insightful and has wit and humor to boot!

We all wrestle with problems of dysfunction and despair on some level and this small volume provides us with enlightening questions and answers- also on a number of levels.

Who, pray tell, knew there was so much wisdon in the Bird Sutra (the what? Don't worry, all is made clear as you read)?

You will find THE DARK NIGHT OF RECOVERY easy to read. You will delight in sign posts along the path from such esoteric sources as Kabir and Rumi and Hector the Mendicant to the AA Big Book, Winnie the Pooh, the Velveteen Rabbit, Yoda and Luke Skywalker.

Ignore the dreadful cover and buy this book anyway. Then tell your friends to buy their own. You'll want to re-read this...often.

May The Force and The Great Pumpkin be with you, or, as is said in Alice in Wonderland "...then turn not pale, beloved snail, but come and join the dance."

I read this book because my friend said how great it was, and I was pleasantly suprised! Although you may be tempted to simply dismiss this tiny little book because of it's unsuspecting size, don't be. The story as a whole, is quite unpretentious, yet, I was sincerley charmed throughout the entire book. This man's journey through life, is depicted in such an honest way, that the story unsuspectingly succeeds in conveying the spiritual truths and knowledge of life in many ways. It is a realistic look at our struggles in life with what seems like complicated problems and offers simple spiritual solutions. By using references to Winnie the Pooh and Alice in Wonderland, it makes it easy for anyone to realize that there is always hope in life; the answer is always easier than we might think. All in all I would give this book a "spiritual two thumbs up!"

This is a well-done book providing plenty of information about marine aquarium setup and maintenance. My mother's a librarian so I've read several books on this subject all of which seemed too trivial and uninformative or written for the professional reef tank hobbyist but this book seemed like the perfect fit for me. The author takes the reader step-by-step through the process of identifying and purchasing the necessary equipment to seting up the tank and equipment to choosing and introducing fish to the tank and of course, maintaining the aquarium. The book is very informative and should bolster confidence in a beginner looking to setup a small to midsize tank. The author pariticularly covers filtration methodologies very well focusing primarily on the highly regarded "Berlin" method. A must have for beginners and intermediate fishkeepers looking to setup a marine tank. I would recommend a more detailed book for specifically covering choosing and caring for different types of marine fish, corals, invertebrates, etc., but this is otherwise a great book.

If you are thinking about your first marine aquarium, this is a great book the start with. It was recommended by two stores I went to. It is easy reading with great diagrams and pictures. Everything from sizing to tank to suggestions of what fish and invertabrates to start with.

As with most of these books, it is not a substitute for your local expert. However, they even had advice on picking an expert that steered my away from the "big mall pet stores" to a smaller store where I found a truly knowlegable professional. I know my tank will be a success.

... covers just about everything imaginable, and does so in such a clear & concise way that there is little point in my trying to cover it again.
I am truly impressed. This so-called beginner's book scarcely rates that category; this is the very sort of information that beginners REALLY need but oh-so rarely ever get until it is too late. Moreover, it is presented in a form that beginners can understand and digest with ease. Truly a gem, and destined to be a classic.
The checklists, the explanations which make the complex simple, the techniques, the wonderful illustrations, the tips & tricks, the lists of common mistakes to avoid, ( and which species to avoid ) and the truly useful advice make this book very complete. It's 140+ pages are chocked full of good information without a lot of "fluff"; it's truly "all-meat, no filler!"
If I had to recommend just ONE book for the beginning marine hobbyist, I think that this would be the one. I even recommend it highly to intermediate hobbyists. While it doesn't cover every single aspect of the marine hobby, ( not that any one book, or even any given dozen ever books could ) it aptly covers the most important things, and most importantly, it covers them in a way which will make it the most useful to it's target audience...

It was upon having a conversation at school five years ago, that a friend suggested Robert Frost to help (form the basis) of one of my assignments. When I asked how he knew of him, my friend replied; "oh.., he's often quoted on TV" and I believed him (to this day I've never heard him mentioned). So I've come to guess that my old friend uses Frost as I occasionally do. To relax.

For it was upon going through a rough time that I again borrowed the complete works of Frost and a few other poets to get me through. And so inspired I was that I began trying to write some of my own. But as Frost had initially drawn me in with his simple, eaasily understood verses, he just as quickly lost me out the other side. But why I write this review is because I admired Frost's ability to start writing so descriptively so late in life, about man, life, decisions, the enviroment and even a wall! (ha! ha!).

So if you have never read poetry before, or you just wan't some new material. Buy Frost's complete collection. Oh and buy it from Amazon.com!

I just recently purchased this collection of poems by Robert Frost and I must say it's incredible. This is the complete collection of his poems and for the price it can't be beat. How can you put a price on the joy and the wonderful feeling of reading Frost anyway? It's impossible.

Contained are the poems in a chronological order from Frost's first book of poetry "A Boy's Will" to his last, "In the Clearing". A total of eleven books and more than three hundred and fifty poems.

Also at the end of the book are sixty pages of bibliographical and textual notes as well as an index of first lines and titles. A quick way to find exactly the poem you're looking for.

Pick this collection up and be moved, it's that simple really. Enjoy

It is a true delight to have the full body of Frost's poetry in one volume! Those who have read and liked poems by Frost should seriously consider investing in this little treasurehouse. For those with a deeper interest in Frost's work and techniques, I highly recommend Mark Richardson's "The Ordeal of Robert Frost."

I have for years relied on a bread machine to indulge my desire for home-baked bread. No more. This book is a revelation, a gem.

If you scrupulously follow the introductory instructions for the basic Tassajara bread, you will be able to make any kind of bread from scratch, by hand, guaranteed. Just now I have two gorgeous loaves of millet bread in the oven, and this is just my second time making bread by hand. Thea author, Edward Brown, tells you precisely how the dough should look, how it should feel, and how to know when you are finished kneading. You simply cannot go wrong.

I have the other "bible" of bread making, James Beard's book, and, much as I adore James Beard, I prefer the Tassajara method of bread-making. There is less guesswork, and less seems to go wrong.

And I love the spiritual side, the bliss-out and enjoy-the-moment side to the book, as well. I will never, ever part with this book.

The Washington Post calls this book the bible for bread baking, and they are right on. This book is the best bread baking book I've come across. It gives techniques on actually making and baking a wide variety of breads. If you're looking for a way to make bread that comes out crusty on the outside and chewy on the inside, this book will help you. It's even beyond a bread baking book because it includes 118 recipes-everything from breads and rolls to pastries, muffins, and desserts. The recipes are easy to follow and ingredients are available at grocery stores-perfect for the at-home cook. The whole wheat pancake recipe is one of the many stand outs- absolutely mouth watering. If you're interested in baking breads among many, many other bread related recipes, I highly recommend this book.

My ex-husband has "my" copy of the original 1970 version of *The Tassajara Bread Book*, so a few years ago I just had to run out and get the "Revised & Updated Edition" published in 1986. More than merely a book of recipes, it is a truly bonny bread book with marvelously detailed instructions and diagrams as was the original, but I must say Edward Brown's recipe for Tibetan Barley Bread alone is worth the price of this book.

*The Tassajara Bread Book* is more of a "cooking book" than a "cook book". Janet@netcom.com says *The Tassajara Bread Book* is "a great introduction to baking bread" because "this is a great basic how-to book". As with bread itself, "basic" is simply some flour mixed with enough water to form a dough; anything else we do to it merely makes it "civilized". I do not know how "civilized" Janet's baking is, nor do I know how much time she has just for bre! ad making, but for those of us who lead hectic lives always on the go but still want to minimize the amount of preprocessed and junk foods we eat *The Tassajara Bread Book* is top drawer.

My only dissatisfaction is that Edward Brown's *The Tassajara Cooking Book*, an excellent companion to this one, seems to be out-of-print at this time. Of course, my ex-husband has "my" copy of the original 1970 version.

Alex "Skinnybones" Frankovitch is a memerable character from one of my favorite books as a young adult. Barbra Park delivers a story about a young boy who feels out of place and uses humor as a defense. This book still makes me laugh out loud, and I think children of all ages can relate to Alex because he is the underdog that always see to get himself into some kind of trouble. I am studying to be an elementary teacher and I planning on reading this book to my class because I know I will enjoy it as much as they will!

My 7 yr old son and I started reading this book as a bedtime story and couldn't stop. We went through half the book the first night. Alex Frankovitch is hilarious. We laughed so hard, we cried - especially at the kitty fritters story and just wait until you read the story about the leprechaun. Lucky Charms is our new favorite cereal thanks to this book. We can't see a box without laughing. This is one of those stories you want to keep reading. It's all I can do not to read it without him but I know it will ruin the laughter it brings from both of us.

Skinnybones was a very good book. If you like comedy then you should read this book. When Alex gets challenged to a pitching contest he loses and doesn't like it. Then Alex wins a kitty fritters contest and gets put on t.v. Then the kid he played in the contest gets put in the world record book. Read this book when you get the chance to you'll love it.

Journey with a guy with much testosterone, but a HUGE heart. I was not looking forward to reading this book for my 18th Century British novel class, but upon starting to read I found it to be a pleasurable story. This piqaresque novel has a humor that I have seldom encountered in other narratives. What is ironic is that Fielding wrote this piece during one of the most traumatic periods of his life. His wife just passed away, his daughter was dying, and he was inflicted with the gout. One would never think it from the clever way the book is written. The point of view gives us an in so that we feel as if we ourselves have roles in the storyline. Rooting all the way for Tom despite his flaws, we find out more about human nature along the way. A good read, light a candle and sit down with some wine like they would've and enjoy this classic comical delight.

It was so hard finally putting this book down.

The friends you make!

Tom, Sophia, Allworthy, even Western himself.

But most of all, Henry Fielding.

The humor, the humanity!

What an author and what a man. And to think he
penned his comic masterpiece in his darkest days.

With all that, Tom Jones can be tough going. The
language requires you read fairly slowly. And the
novel is huge. And the plot is intricate.

You may benefit from book notes; I did, especially
during the second half.

If you love Tom Jones, check out Thackeray's
Vanity Fair. And Guerney's translation of Gogol's
Dead Souls.

While you're at it, grab The Brothers Karamazov
and go crazy.

I first picked up Tom Jones because to put it bluntly I am a bibliophile and it was a cheap book. However, I was suprised at how engaging and hilarious the story was despite the claims on the back cover, which are often far off. To tell the truth I did not expect to make it through this extremely lengthy tome, I only wanted to satisfy my curiousity.

Although I am a fan of Jane Austen I was shocked by the freshness and wit that Fielding's writing still retains. Every book in the novel begins with an essay by the author. Do not skip these, they are one of the best features of the book. My favorite is the essay before the ninth book which explains the purpose of these introductory chapters. What a riot!

The story of big hearted and big appetited Tom Jones and his adventures and misadventures is one long satirical gem. Fielding's interpretation of morals, piousness, love, and high society is still as hilarious and relevant as it was in the 18th century. For anyone who appreciates wit and history, this is a must read.

If you've seen and loved My Fair Lady and Gigi, you'll love this book. I read it twice (from the library) and cried each time, returned it, forgot the title/author and now have been searching for months to find it again- This is my lucky day! You feel so close to the characters and journey with them as Sebastian learns to "live" and love, to step out of the cold, emotionless lord and overcome social class barriers. And there's a tender twist where we learn just why Sebastian can't believe in love, that anyone would love him for himself and not for his social standing and wealth (hint: has to do with his parents, specifically his mother). Then with Jewel/Julia, you feel with her the frustration of loving, what you will do or compromise for love, and its heartbreaking price. Above all, the final message is that you don't know how precious that one special love is until you lose that person forever.

This is a beautiful novel. It is about a street waif named Jewel, who gets mixed up into some kind of scheme concocted by a rich dying man to make trouble for his wealthy family. She meets Sebastian, the wealthy relative, and he decides to turn her into a lady to spite his evil mother. Over the course of their relationship, in which Sebastian trys to turn Julia (her new name) into a lady (reminisant of My Fair Lady), he falls in love with the stunning beauty she becomes. There are many entertaining plots that occur throughout, just as there are heartwrenching ones. I throughly enjoyed this book. The characters and plots are extremely well written, Ms. Robards has outdone herself with this one. If you love passionate love stories that will make you laugh and cry, then this one is for you!

I haven't read too many books that actually made me cry or laugh out loud like this one did. Its sweet and passionate and everything you want to read in a romance. The book had all the right twists and turns to keep you interested and fall in love with the characters. A must read!

Renato's Luck, from the first word to the last visual, is the perfect read for anyone seeking a renewed taste for life. Jeff Shapiro has taken the Italian culture and woven a tale of hope, faith, and new-found happiness throughout his characters. Renato, in particular, becomes the small town hero of a delightful Tuscan town. Every character that Renato encounters shares a unique tale, simple yet so very Italian. Amazing for an American expat living in Tuscany. The visuals in this book are so precise that anyone who has visited Siena, Montalcino, or anywhere in Tuscany for that matter will no doubt be transported back to the tranquility of the Italian countryside. I loved the Italian phrases throughout the book, including their incredible translations! Bravo, Jeff Shapiro. Bravo, indeed. A must read for all!

Having returned from a few months in Italy, I have wanted to stay in touch with all the "life" that Italia offers ... this book is a wonderful way to recapture the experience. The way Shapiro builds his characters and their dilemma, he really wraps the reader into Sant'Angelo. Che bello ... bravo Shapiro!

I highly reccommend Renato's Luck to anyone who enjoys a chraacter driven novel full of interesting yet familiar characters. I found Renato and his fellow Tuscan villagers to have sharp insight into the absurdities and joys present in everyday life. Renato confronts the fears and challenges we all face as we get older and begin to question the choices we have made in life. The answers that Renato finds to these questions point to important truths that are present in our own lives.