In today's rather self-absorbed world where our focus very often tends to be on things far removed from our hearts, this book offers an encouraging perspective on how deeply human we are and where true happiness and fulfillment really dwell. The author has given us a thrilling story that touches upon the eternal struggle between the attributes of modern technology and the ethical considerations that will continually need to be addressed as well. 'Sacred Ashes' will open your heart, refresh your soul, and quite possibly, renew your faith in mankind and all that we are meant to be. I promise that you will be pondering the events disclosed in this novel long after you have finished the book!

You know you've read an excellent book when the only difficulty in writing a review is keeping yourself from revealing major plot points. Limiting myself to very general terms, however, I can only agree with the previous reviews in saying that this book is fascinating; the concept alone provokes discussion. The author deals deftly and delicately with the religious implications of cloning (see? giving away plot points already, but I promise I'll stop there) while managing to avoid the temptation to adopt a preachy tone. She keeps ethical considerations and dramatic development in a balance that engages the reader until the end. Too much modern fiction strives for style as opposed to substance; usually, it achieves neither. "Sacred Ashes" is a rare exception.

Sacred Ashes places on the American literary landscape a new author. Elizabeth Griffin Dost does a commendable job of putting forth a novel that combines fiction, spirituality, and utter thrill in a beautifully woven web. Her novel grabs the attention of the reader from the very first page, and she does a magnificent job of holding you captive until the very end. With each page turn the reader becomes more and more involved in the lives and journey of these fantastic characters. A definite summer read that I highly recommend!

This book is a perfect college graduation gift, or for a friend just moving into her first apartment or house, and/or your mom. It's one of those books that should be left out for frequent browsing. The writing is fun, the topics are useful. Ladies who've read this book will seem to be more clever than their friends, which is always fun.

This book is a must, especially for women! The information is practical and the writers have a witty style that keeps your attention and makes you want more! I learned so much about the things most people my age are afraid to ask or are too embarrassed to say they don't know by now. Hats off to you, Elizabeth and Elizabeth!

This book is a must, especially for women! The information is practical and the writers have a witty style that keeps your attention and makes you want more! I learned so much about the things most people my age are afraid to ask or are too embarrassed to say they don't know by now. Hats off to you, Elizabeth and Elizabeth!

Jacques' experience as a blind person living through, and participating in, the French resistance was amazing to follow with him through his autobiography; I find no fault in what he presented. I did, however, feel that something was missing from it. There was a painful depth that I knew had to exist within Jacques somewhere that I did not see. What he did do is tell us how beautific the experience was (generally) of being blind for him; he went to great lenght in the first half of the book to let you know that he did not really suffer from his loss; that it was not really a loss to him but actually a lovely thing. I do not doubt that this was true for Jacques but it seemed a bit too sweet for me. Perhaps this is because of my own experiences with loss in my life I wanted to be with someone that expressed more psychological dimension.

Again, no fault to this story; it was well presented and I am glad that I read it; the man was remarkable. It's just something to keep in mind about reading someone's life experience and if you are looking for how someone dealt with the pain of their loss, their struggles with daily life, this book does not go very far toward giving you much of a picture because he did not express much about it at all related to his blindness.

Harper Collins just came out with their list of the 100 best spiritual books of the 20th Century. Yes, another list, but this one intrigued me enough to want to sample the books on the list. And that is how Icame across this remarkable book. Jacques Lusseyran was blinded in an accident at the age of 8, yet was a major force in the French Resistance during World War II, was betrayed and spent time in a Concentration Camp.This is NOT anotherholocaust memoir. Insteadit is an odd, inspiring, beautifully and simply written story, detailinghow one man lived a full spiritual life despite blindness and the presence of great evil. Blindness was not a "handicap" to Lusseyran, instead he reacted to the world in amazing ways. It was a mysticism born out ofcircumstances, not theology. Few books can overwhelm the cynic in me.For a time, this one did.I have sent this book to friends and relatives, who were as surprised and moved as I was. And There Is Light may change you.

This is one of the most incredible books I have ever read! Lusseyran describes and reflects everything inside myself that I never thought I could find in anyone else. He is brilliant! If I could meet anyone who ever walked this planet, Lusseyran would definately be who I'd meet. He has become a role model.

As a child I checked this book out because it was part of an collection of 3 Elizabeth Enright books(in one very large book now out of print) that was thick enough to put me first on our class reading chart (you moved up a level for every 100pgs). After 3 years and more than two dozen readings I returned it to the library. This book takes a child and thier imagination out to play with the Melendy kids and help them explore thier new house with all its secrets and adventures. Along the way it gives understanding of what it was like for American children in the WWII Era. For me this book inspired a lifelong interest in the real lives of people behind the statistics of our history. I have been looking for this book off and on for 20 years. Now I have found it and even better, my kids are old enough to go on Mona, Rush, Randy, and Oliver Melendy's adventures too. The Melendy's lives continue in the book Then There Were Five. Don't let the reasonable price fool you both books are treasures for a childs mind.

Elizabeth Enright(what a great name for an author!)wrote quite a few wonderful books which have been mostly out of print until recently-so if you're looking for great, real, imaginative stories, I'd suggest buying all of them. "The Four Story Mistake", as other reviewers have noted, is just a wonderful slice of life, with the Melendy children growing up, adjusting to life in "the country". When I read it 30 years ago, it made me desperate to live in a ramshackle victorian house(great escapism for urban kids)! Although the story is set almost 50 years ago, it really doesn't "date" at all. Read it and see!

This is a book about the Melendy children-Mona, Rush, Randy and Oliver-who have lived in the city all their lives. Now they must move to an old mansion in the countryside, "The Four-Story Mistake." The house got its name because when built it was meant to be four stories, but was only built three stories high. The owners of the house built a cupola on top to make up for the missing fourth story. The house is full of places to hide and more adventures than anyone could imagine. I found the Melendy children very entertaining and their adventures quite humorous. I enjoyed this book a lot, and think it would be a very good book for other fifth-grade girls.

Mary Elizabeth Anderson's LINK ACROSS AMERICA is an informative and entertaining way for young and old alike to learn about the Lincoln Highway. The book combines facts, photos and entertaining Burma Shave jingle signs to help keep children interested in the topic while they read.

The history reflected makes you appreciate the roads we travel, instead of just taking them for granted. I must admit that I attended Seedling Mile School in Grand Island, Nebraska for 3 years and only recently learned why it was called such when I read Ms. Anderson's book. I had no idea the struggles made by so many to put together this road that I travel so often.

I highly recommend LINK ACROSS AMERICA to anyone with an interest in American history.

I thought the book LINK ACROSS AMERICA by Mary Elizabeth Anderson was excellent. I have lived by the Lincoln Highway most of my life but I was never aware of the histroy behind it. It is a fun book for children to read, and also learn at the same time. The book makes us appreciate what we have and also recognize the efforts of the people who gave us the first coast to coast highway.

A friend of mine recommended "Link Across America", and I thourghly enjoyed reading it. I had no idea that the Lincoln Highway even existed, since I grew up here in Michigan. I was also not a fan of history as a kid, but this book is so interesting and easy to read. Children will love it. It is a great part of history that children should not miss out on. I also love all of the colorful pictures.

I loved the book! As a parent raising three teenage children in this very competitive world, this book was a dose of reality. Sometimes you find yourself caught up in how things "look" rather than what's right for your children. This book made me take a closer look at my children and what their individual strengths and interests are, and how I can nurture them to become happy and successful adults. I especially liked the Strategies chapter, which offers some hands on tips for situations that are familiar to many parents. The book was an easy read, with a friendly tone and a sense of humor that made you feel good about your children and what you can do to help them in a positive way when you were finished reading it.

Kathy Matthews offers no-nonsense advice with a sense of humor. This how-to-parent-and-feel-good-about-yourself book is a must read. . .and, along with Jim Trelease's book on reading aloud to your children, will certainly become a standard baby shower gift from me in the coming years. Matthews speaks with the authority of a mother comfortable in her own skin--and with her own children. Brava, Ms. Matthews!

In "The Trouble with Perfect" Dr. Guthrie offers a unique and much needed perspective on raising children in this modern age of competition to always be the best and have the best. Not only is this important book enlightening and refreshing in its content and message to parents, it is enjoyable, easy to read and funny while exploring serious and difficult topics. This book is a "must read" not only for parents, but for all adults who spend time and interact with today's children.

Okay, there's not many days left until Xmas but let me assure you that this Garfield book makes an excellent last-minute gift. Everyone I know loves Garfield and would be thrilled at getting a book like this.

It's rather thick and taller than usual. Plus it's in full color. As long as I can remember I've loved reading Garfield, even when I was a little kid reading the black and white pocket books. So kids will appreciate this too. Trust me.

It opens with 'Garfield's code of Nevers', such as 'Never Eat the Mystery Meat. And ends with 'Garfield's Top Ten Suggestions for New Athletic Events, such as 'The Fridge Lift' and 'Eat till you Explode'. Crammed inbetween are hundreds of hilarious comic strips. Plus there is information on the last page on how to join the Garfield fan club. And why not?

I was so used to the old format in the Garfield series, black & white and the book being vertical. Nevertheless I enjoyed Garfield and his constant abusings of Jon and Odie. Reading Garfield in this new format of color and in a taller book form was a pleasant surprise. I can never tire of Garfield and all his antics, especially when he is swatting spiders. I may be inching towards 30 but I will never stop buying Garfield books. As long as he keeps me laughing I'll keep buying.

I still can't believe after all these years he's still going strong! The first book i ever remember reading was "Garfield Takes The Cake" i learned to read on these things! However, i must admit that Jim Davis is starting to run out of ideas. Lately all of his books are about how mentally challenged Jon is, or redo the same lines over and over. The spark is stll there, but its somewhat dimished. This book is still great, but if you look back at the earlier ones you see Garfield coming up w/ better ideas to pass the time (like "Ameoba Man" and "The Sludge Monster" or who could pass up all of Garfields vacations?). Also some of the ideas have changed. In the beginning Jon was a cartoonist, Lyman lived with Jon, Odie was Lyman's pet, and Nermal also used to belong to Jon's parents, those are just a few differences. The book itself has changed too,i like the new color format and all but i kind of miss the black & white version. All in All Garfield is STILL the greatest comic strip ever created, its a must read and he keeps you laughing.

Believe me, after reading a few chapters of this first book, you will not want to stop until you've got all the rest in your grubby little hands. You'll also be wishing that someone would come along and make you the fourth Spy Girl. Come on: designer clothes, awesome gadgets, cool disguises-- what's not to love? Well, maybe the extreme danger..... These books are so unrealistic it's funny, but you'll be too addicted to care.

When I first saw "License to Thrill" out in bookstores I thought it looked SO STUPID. The cover has a bunch of girls dressed in leather pants looking very suspicious so I thought it would be a very stupid book. Then a couple of months later I was out of stuff to read so I decided to buy it-just for the heck of it- and I found out it was REALLY GOOD. I really love the characters (I can identify with Caylin the most) because there exaggerated versions of today's teens and I thought that was funny. I also like how they get all this cool first class stuff like: limos, cool little gadgets (the lipstick cam), expensive clothes, and they got to stay at The Ritz hotel which had jacuzzis and more nifty things like that. The story is also very interesting, I loved how they all got undercover jobs and how the ending was not what I was suspecting. This is a awesome book though the title and the cover might throw you off, so BUY IT.

When i first read the back of the book i thought, boy this is totally a write off of Charlie's Angel's. But i was wrong this book was sooooo much cooler. Plus the girls were younger so yyou could relate to them more. All in all this book was great!!!!!!!!
I definatally (pardon my spelling) recomend this book to anyone.

This is beautiful poetic recounting is told in a pastiche of dreams, poems, sunlight and shadows, facts and feelings. It has all the information a Brautigan fan could wish for--he never drove a car, fell all over himself laughing at Young Frankenstein, burned all his telephones--and yet I should think it would be helpful for any survivor of parental suicide. Her struggle to get at the why of it is really poignant and universal. I could have done without the morbid details, however, and felt myself getting depressed as I read, but you can't fault her for being totally honest. I am so grateful to Ianthe (now I know why this is the perfect name for a poet's daughter) for writing this book, and believe she will find she has others to write. The big disappointment of this book is the photographs which are mostly of poor quality and not relevant.

Although I began reading You Can't Catch Death with the expectation that it would be about her father, Ianthe Brautigan quickly set me straight; this book is about her. Reading the book provides a fascinating look at her turbulent childhood with a talented, but troubled father. A father who clearly loved his daughter but, just as clearly, didn't quite know what to do with her.

Brautigan the younger is a skilled wordsmith whose first book displays a polish and readability usually associated with more 'seasoned' authors. Whether or not you appreciate Richard Brautigan, after reading this book you will appreciate his daughter.

This is a must read for any fan of Brautigan. Ianthe has put together a book that sheds a very revealing light on her life with her father, her willingnes to cope, his alcoholism, use of his talent and fishing. I enjoyed her comments and insight into the fishing stories, the observations of the scenery, the wilderness and feeling the life of her father's past. Her trip to Eugene, OR is a spiritually challenging and moving portion of the book. Literally following his footsteps, in more ways than one, this book is on a shelf in my library with all of her daddy's first editions. I am proud and thrilled, I'm sure he would be too!

I have read every word of BRADYMANIA, and I'm very grateful to Elizabeth Moran for writing an amazingly and fully researched and accurate book on the Brady's. If you are a true Brady Bunch fan then this is the book you need in your collection. As webmaster of The I Love Maureen McCormick Website I give this book two thumbs up!

Elizabeth Moran did her homework. The famous TV show which first aired October 3, 1969 accumulated a lot of trivia, and Moran found most of it,

It is as if she read every Brady Bunch fan site and spoke at length with every Brady contact.

I'm not a Brady collector, and found "Bradymania!: Everything You Always Wanted to Know" to be an entertaining book about a show I grew up with.

Learn about every episode, the careers before and since the show (including Oliver and Sam, and even 'Tiger the Dog' and 'Fluffy the Cat'). Incidentally, there were as many as 36 cats (all named Rhubarb) that may have played Fluffy.

There are sections on how the actors became Brady kids, how they were schooled on the set, how they relaxed, and why the show was eventually canceled.

Anthony Trendl

Recently, I devloped an obsession with the Brady Bunch and I picked this book up on a whim. Now it has a special place on my desk! This book is very informative, including a complete episode guide, and informative tidbits about the actors. Mike Lookinland has seen the Grateful Dead over 100 times! Who knew!?!?