FINALLY! A phenomenon of fiction, that will blow any existing
sci-fi out of the universe! An imaginative and ingenious
foray into the utmost limits of outer space and inner mind.
A visual, visceral and virtual creation, that will engage the reader, and transport them personally to the planets and peoples
that make up this fantastic phantasm. This is the beginning of a cult classic, that will encompass, and surpass anything in existance. Sophisticated and intricate, the writing will weave

you into its realm and never let you go.... you won't want to let go. You are there, A PART OF IT... the universe and you are one...intimate and infinite.

It's a Drac attack
Keep on coming Drac
There's no one else
I'd rather be conquered by than you
Your looks and wit
Your man-boy grit
Just can't get enough
You're gentle and rough

Keep on coming, Drac
Never loved being attacked before
But, you Drac?
Keep on!
Keep on!
Keep on!

Excellant writing, intriguing plot line, enjoyable reading. A can't put it downer.

Before I began to read Speak to Her Kindly, I imagined myself plodding through a flat, boring book, similar to those found in history classes. I was wrong. Instead I found an interesting and exciting story, full of suspense, love, fighting, painful loss, and incredible gain. I encountered passion: the religious fervor of the Anabaptists, the powerful love between a husband and wife, a passion for what is right and true, and a deep love for God.
The book starts out at a running pace; from the first page to the last, interest is never lost. There is always something happening physically, emotionally, or theologically, to keep the reader reading. The situation in Münster crackles with energy and the relationship between the two main characters, Paulus and Marga, also burns with nervous tension. The reader is wonderfully transported throughout various parts of Germany, to places that sparkle with realism and description--description that never drags on too long or hinders the plot.
The theological beliefs present in this book cannot be ignored, either by the religious or non-religious; both can learn from them. The Anabaptist Paulus believes in peace; the Bible tells him not to fight. And so he must choose: a choice between serving God, or forsaking his belief in defense of people he loves. Marga also struggles with the Anabaptist theology, but in different ways. To hold to one's beliefs despite the risk of pain, to hold to what one knows is true, to be faithful both to God and to a spouse. These are central conflicts, which warrant some pondering.
Yet the author does not go so deep as to lose those not well-versed in Christianity. The conflicts and theological ideas presented may be hard for some to resolve, but they are not hard to understand; a large pill not easily swallowed still may be understood to be a pill, fighting a certain disease and containing certain ingredients.
As for the historical aspect of the book, the author presents factual information in an interesting way-through the development of the story. Meeting and getting to know the historical figures in the story, such as Münsterite king Jan Bockelson, prince-bishop Franz von Waldeck, and military commander Wirich von Dhaun hold the reader's interest. These men are not presented merely as names, but are personifed and given life. The author takes us inside their minds, revealing thoughts and emotions, all the while without losing the interest of the reader.
The aim of a good book is to entertain by providing an interesting story, within which are contained views and ideas the author wishes to convey. Speak to Her Kindly succeeds in doing this. The reader is taken on a journey through history, through Germany, through Münster, and through the thoughts and the heart of Paulus. The book entertains, and at the same time encourages the reader to take a step back and reflect on what he or she believes. It contains moments that can inspire tears, and moments of joy; it has somber, serious moments, but also moments of humor.
But like any book, one must read Speak to Her Kindly for himself before forming any opinions about it. A review cannot describe everything about a book, and this one is no exception. I encourage you to read this book for yourself and then form your opinions, not the reverse; you will not be disappointed.

"Speak to Her Kindly" is a book with many layers. There is a lot of historical background and real figures and facts interspersed with the fictional characters, but what I liked best was the way that relationships rang true. Paulus and Marga share a beautiful love story, one worth reading because it echoes every love story. Each must learn to live with the shortcomings of the other. As one character says, "Every man must marry a sinner." Every spouse neds to learn to forgive and to seek forgiveness. Also, the Christians in this book are solid. They are just as confused as people today, but they trust God and his plan. This book seems to raise issues that are hardly considered issues anymore. It shows pacifists willing not only to be evicted, but tortured or killed, rather than fight back. It shows faith battling appearance. It shows a man loving and seeking his wife even after she has abandoned him, and the most people would release him from his vows. And it shows a picture of God's love for his church, even when she tries to run away.

Speak to Her Kindly is a wonderfully crafted, unbelievably "true story" which keeps your interest throughout the book. The way the two separate story lines come together keeps you intruiged and wanting more. I didn't want to stop reading and finished it in two days. The style of this historical fiction presents aspects for all readers: a love story, medieval history, Biblical truth, glory, guts, and gore. It shows the real struggle of early "reformed" Christians but doesn't hide what it was like to live in the 16th century. The true history of this novel seems more fiction than the fictitious parts. After reading this book I find myself "speaking more kindly" to my wife, family and others. Not only is this a great story, it leads and teaches the reader something about what living is all about.

A little boy had a set of tin soldiers that were made from a melted spoon. One soldier was missing a leg because there was not enough metal left over from the melted spoon.

Tossed aside by the boy, the one-legged soldier sees a paper cut out figure of a ballerina. She is poised on one leg and he feels an instant bond. He has found another one-legged toy and believes this to be love.

The steadfast tin soldier has a series of mishaps. He falls off the window sill into a stream. From there, he is transported to a rat infested sewer. He is swallowed by a fish and through an unlikely stroke of luck, winds up back in the boy's playroom with the other toys and the ballerina.

The ending is what gets to me every single time. A gust of wind lifts the paper ballerina up and she flutters into the fire place, winding up a charred heap of ashes. Devastated, the tin soldier joins her. The remaining metal that was once the tin soldier is a charred piece of heart shaped metal.

I still think this is a very sad story. The photographs really emphasize the feeling this story evokes.

I taught 1st grade for 4 years and all of the teachers in my grade passed this book around at Christmas to read to our class. I cried everytime I read it. It has a wonderful message and my kids in my classroom always loved it! I have now (finally) purchased my own copy of this book to read to my little girl. It is a classic and I know she will love it as much as I do. Every home should have this book to read at Christmastime.

This is a really good book. It has all the characteristic's that made the original a cherished and remembered fairy tale. It is a great gift for any young child, and can be enjoyed by adults too. It maintains the feel of the original tale, but is more like a poem. The art work on each page is beautiful, and the pictures are totally devine. I would recomend buying this for a different and fully enjoyable version of the original.

There are two books that should be ordered together, this one, "Tell Me I'm Here" One Family's experience of Schizophrenia, by Anne Deveson and "I am Not Sick I Don't Need Help" by Dr. Xavier Amador. "Tell me... is a story from a mother's perspctive of doing everything possible for a young adult, and her relationship with her son who had a duel diagnosis of both Schizophrenia and drug addiction. This mother did just about everything to bring her son to recovery. "Tell me...: is told with a good writing style and down under mater of fact blatancy. It is easy to follow the events of this woman's life and how the illness affected not only her son but the whole family that loves a person who has schizophrenia. "I am not Sick I Don't need Help" is the clinical method, which might bring a schizophrenic loved one into medicine compliance. The two together can be a powerful ally to both protecting not only the ill person but the caregiver as well. The two books together can give shocked loved ones of an ill person a fighting chance at surviving "the crisis event", and the initial treatment phase which is very emotional for all and exausting. According to one psychiatrist 99.99% of recovery in schizophrenia is medicine compliance. These books do not support stigma and fear, the first two hurdles when the loved one is diagnosed.

New edition published 1998 by Penguin

This book is one of the most heart wrenching stories that I have ever read. The author takes you into the world of schizophrenia. You feel the emotions and the heartache that she felt while seeing her son slip in and out of madness. It is the only book that has ever made me cry while reading it. It is the only book that I have been moved to share with people.I encourage anyone who has the chance to buy it, and don't forget your handkerchief, you'll need it.

Thunder in Paradise is even better than its prequel, The Age of the Antichrist. Mr. Cash writes very well. This book was HARD TO PUT DOWN!!!!!!!! It's just like Pringles, once you pop, you can't stop!

This is the story of one youth named Solomon Action, a youth who struggles with his identity and faith. He wants this flying motorcycle so badly he steals one, and lands in prison, and thus begins a spiritual battle for his soul. This is the end of the 1000-year reign of Christ on earth (if you're premillenialist and take the Millenium literally). The Devil is set free from his prison in Hell, where he has served a 1,000-year sentence. All Hell breaks loose as Satan wages his final rebellion against God, six days before Judgment Day! This gives poor ol' Solomon only six days to repent! Will he repent in time? Read the book and find out!

The chapter on Judgment Day is as interesting as it is sobering. If you're a Christian it makes you really make sure you are one, and if you're not, well, it makes you think! Never before have I read a novel chapter on the Day of Judgment (or Great White Throne Judgment as described here) described in such detail. This could very well be the literary equivalent of Michelangelo's Last Judgment or the famous hymn Dies Irae.

Whether you take the Millenium literally or whether you interpret it allegorically, whatever your religious persuasion, whether or not you are a Christian, I promise you YOU WILL ENJOY THIS BOOK!!!!

This is only the second book, that I am aware of, that endeavors to take the reader into the Millenial Kingdom. That time when Jesus will come back and rule the Earth for 1000 years. A time when Satan has also been chained for those 1000 years. John keeps you completely enthralled with his fast paced action-packed thriller. We don't know all the particulars of this 1000 year reign and what happens after the millenium when Satan is loosed again for "a short time", but Jon Cash makes one feel like he/she is there watching it all unfold.

This book is the sequel to Jon Cash's first book, The Age of the Antichrist, and for those who have read it(Antichrist), this one is even better! The author takes christians on an adventure that takes place at the end of the Millenium of Peace described in the last book of the Bible. The cast of characters from Antichrist has survived the Tribulation and have been enjoying 999 years and 360 days of love, peace, and prosperity. The Thunder refered to in title becomes real as the Devil is released from God's prison and the people of faith have to battle spiritually with his demons and the dragon himself. The action moves very quickly and the book is difficult to put down. The end is riveting, and unquestionably inspired by God. A must read for those who have read the first, and for those who haven't given much thought to the time period after the Tribulation and just proir the Final Battle of the Ages.

While Richard Paul Evans' new tale is lovely to read, the gorgeous illustrations are what truly make this book magical. Jonanthan Linton's illustrations are beautiful, inspiring and breathtaking. His realistic paintings are full of color and light. My favorite is of the old woman as she faces the man...you can see the goodness radiating from her face! I have purchased two other Richard Paul Evans' books solely because the illustrations are so amazing! They are, THE DANCE and THE SPYGLASS...most impressive!!

Jonathan Linton provides the illustrations for this story of a young man who wants to be well-known in his village. He constructs a tower which reaches into the sky so all will look up to him - but finds his position a lonely one until fate intervenes. Good reading skills or parental assistance required.

I really admire Richard Paul Evans writing because this original story feels like you're reading a classic folk tale. The story of a man learning to share with others, and put his vanity behind him has never been more timely. Children and adults should take this story to heart. The art is stunning.

On a recent trip to Arizona -Sedona and Flagstaff, I was lucky to stumble upon a Hopi Marketplace, meet Jonathan Day and a number of the carvers in his book. This book is a wonderful beginning to the understanding the culture of the Hopi and the direction in which the creation of Kachinas is moving--a return to an art form that is based upon the teachings of the Hopi--a truer sense of the meaning of the kachina as a spirit which teaches and guides. Written with sensitivity and humour, Jonathan Day's book imparts the direction and meaning of the kachina, the Hopi culture and the artists behind the work. His commitment to the trust given to him by many of the artists interviewed along with his knowledge of the Hopi culture is invaluable to those of us of wish to understand more with respect and honor. His advice and recommended reading is invaluable.

Author, Jonathan Day has created a feast for the eyes as well as the mind. Day, a second generation Indian trader, shares his love and respect for the Hopi people while introducing the reader to the traditional Hopi katsina (kachina)through a new generation of carvers. Most people are familiar with the "action" dolls, however, traditional katsinas are usually hung on the wall and have an "antique" look to them. As this is my favorite form of katsina I was immediately drawn to this book. JD shares his experiences with the 19 featured carvers and provides a wonderful insight to what guides them in their carving...many of the stories will touch your heart. An essential book to anyone who collects or has dreamed of collecting Hopi katsina dolls.

This book deals with the "new" style of katsina doll carving that is in fact a revival of what is termed "traditional" style, the style found before the advent of "action" katsinas of the 1950's. The author has termed this new/old style "New Traditional", and has devoted this book to the carvers themselves, as well as the dolls they make. These katsinas are identified by their more simplistic style, with emphasis on the faces and body paint and costume, much different than the very elaborately carved and detailed "Modern Contemporary" dolls. Many of the Hopi artists in this book have been carving katsinas for years, but have only recently begun to carve in the old style of their grandfathers. The book describes what the categories of katsinas are, gives a biography of the featured carvers, the locations where their awesome dolls may be purchased, and even has an introduction on how to behave yourself if you are ever privileged enough to visit the Hopi mesas in Arizona (sadly, many of the Hopi ceremonies have been closed to outsiders because of rude, obnoxious behavior of tourists who think that these important religious rites are just shows put on for entertainment). This is a good book for collectors of katsina dolls, and even if this style of katsina carving isn't quite your cup of tea, I recommend this book very highly!

This book is everything it's cracked up to be. One thing anyone considering buying this should note, though is that it's a UK based publication. In discussions about visas and work permits, it assumes EU citizenship. A lot of the advice wouldn't pertain to a U.S. citizen. Most of the directory information only lists U.K. based organizations.

That said, this is a great resource and very inspirational. It's made me think about going to places that I would have never even considered before. That's mostly because it combines engaging narratives by obviously well-travelled writers along with nuts and bolts practical information on the "how to" planning stages, and insightful advice.

It prepares you for the cultural differences you're likely to encounter, and prompts you to think about contingencies due to weather, medical, or political trouble. There are warnings about the hazards and adversity of some travel without trying to scare you away from it. The book manages to be a general purpose travel guide without being generic. It would be an equally good read for adventure travellers as it would for cruise ship enthusiasts.

The reference section alone is well worth the price, giving you fascinating and comprehensive information about every country on the planet. This book approaches you like a good friend who happens to be an experienced travel agent, hoping to help you plan a trip of a lifetime. It is remarkably well written and organized. I can't imagine planning a trip overseas without it.

This is a great book. It is little in size, but huge in content. The editors have covered just about every aspect of world travel. If you want to know about riding a camel, how to survive being kidnapped, or how to avoid hassles in a certain country, this book will have the answer for you. It also includes a lot of emergency contacts, practical global travel tips, and useful website addresses.

What an indispensable guide for the world traveler. This book is cover-to-cover bits in a single volume, weighing the same as a water bottle. This book is literally the planet earth's version of the famed "hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy", with short, informed essays on everything from choosing guides to all forms of travel to finding great rates to finding places to stay to equipping for a trip to what to do when things go wrong (topics for that one include: theft, trouble with the law, surviving a hijack, surviving a kidnap, surviving in jungle/desert/cold, and my favorite: surviving a civil war). Plus it's got 300 pages of directory, like an all-bits almanac....

Previous: Carry On, Jeeves

The third and last short story collection, this volume contains some of the very best Jeeves and Bertie stories, again, stand-alone and unrelated. My favorite in this collection-and my favorite short story overall-is the brilliant Jeeves and the Impending Doom. Not only is the plot wonderfully eccentric, Jeeves manages to get in a very subtle jab at Bertie's intelligence which is particularly well-timed and memorable. Notable also is Jeeves and the Song of Songs, which is outright hilarious. And notable primarily for the irony of the story is The Love that Purifies, in which the kids vow to live upright lives, while the adults go out of their way to corrupt them into bad behavior. Memorable and hilarious stuff!

Next: Thank You, Jeeves

This collection of short stories from the Jeeves and Wooster series was first published in 1930. If the proof of classic status lies in how well a book stands the test of time, then this volume is indeed a classic. All eleven stories herein are excellently written and slyly humorous. Wodehouse once remarked that his stories were the opposite of "real world" stuff and in a way that is true, as his created world of Bertie Wooster and his butler Jeeves is in many ways a delightful fantasy. Having said that however, Wodehouse's comic situations and droll characterizations and observations reveal that he knew a lot about human nature. Like James Thurber his humorous fantasy is both an escape from and simultaneously an insight into human relationships and social situations.

One reviewer once remarked of this book's stories that "everyone was the best," and I'm tempted to agree, as all are worth reading and remembering. Perhaps my own favorite is "Jeeves and the Old School Chum" in which Wooster's former school mate newlywed Bingo Little suffers unmercifully from the ideas foisted on his romance novelist wife Rosie M. Banks' way of thinking regarding the pleasures of the dinner table, due to a visit from her "old school chum" Laura Pyke. Pyke is a "food crank" who (horrors) forces the rest of the household to abstain from cigarettes, alcohol, and most nourishment this side of tofu and bean sprouts for a time. Visiting Bertie suffers along with his buddy Bingo until such time as Jeeves can put things right. Along the way Bertie learns a little about the realities of marriage (the husband is master in his own home, unless the wife has an opposing viewpoint), the proper tactics for a male when intervening in an argument between two ladies (don't!, imitate the opossum and play dead), and how to bargain with a surly homeowner who has just gotten the baby to sleep (you'll have to read the story to find this one out).

A simply worded plot summary such as this can't even begin to come close however to conveying Wodehouse's command of the English language and his gift for humorous understatement. He has to be read to be truly appreciated. My own wish to anyone reading this review is for you to certainly find this volume or another one of the novels or short story collections in the series and give them a try. You won't be disappointed.

Also, if you haven't seen the PBS videos of the series starring Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry then I would strongly suggest checking them out. Several of the first season's episodes were inspired by the stories in this volume, and the series did an excellent job of conveying the warmth and humor of the stories to the screen. Watching them can only add to the pleasure of reading the stories. Still, reading Wodehouse is the best. I highly recommend him.

Any book from the Jeeves-and-Wooster series is a treasure, and this volume from well into the series is no exception. Bertie Wooster's world is one of elegance and pith, of high society and low comedy, of fun and foibles, homicidal swans, leaky water bottles and near death from starvation at the hands of a food faddist. Bertie is--how should one say this?--not the brightest jewel ever to have emerged from the British educational system and he relies on his gentleman's gentleman Jeeves, a butler with more than enough wit and savvy to save Bertie from the many scrapes he gets into. Jeeves usually has a knack for doing the "wrong" thing that turns out to be the right thing.

When these stories were written in the period between World Wars I and II they were social satires; now they are period pieces and must be considered as such. The wit is cracker-dry, especially some of the rejoinders emanating from Jeeves that can be read on two levels, one straight-faced and one slyly derisive of Master Bertie. We don't have the kind of finicky class distinctions outlined in these books (or so we are told), so perhaps the charm of this type of humor lies in the long view. Suffice it to say that Bertie and Jeeves are already staking a claim on immortality, and their books are selling as well as ever. If you like wit, funny situations, or just things British, pick up this book and give it a try.

Wall of Fame gives us hope in the ebbs and flows of education reform. It is about a program that really works, created by a teacher. I found the book well written and would recommmend it to anyone interested in public school education.

This was a great book. Mary Catherine Swanson has a great Avid program. This teacher was really dedicated to help teens into college.

This book is a pleasure to read. I'm working toward becoming a high school teacher and this book really inspired me. The book is about a program called AVID, which is a class in middle school and high school. The program started some 20 years ago and has consistently sent over 90% of its students to college! Good stuff!