I Love You the Purplest is a wonderful read-aloud for everyone! The main theme of mothers and their sons is an important one, but the wonderful words Barbara Joosse uses in describing the mothers love for each of her boys should be experienced by all children. The children love discovering where the color purple comes in the story! Every mom and teacher should own this book.

Two little boys competing for their mother's affection learn that their mother can love them both differently and jointly to make a love yet stronger and more beautiful. This book would be a wonderful shower gift for a mother having a second child. The clever answers of this loving mom offer inspiration for the questions our children ask us, "Who do you love best, Mom?"

I finally found a book about a mother with two boys! I mentioned to my sister-in-law how competitive my boys are for my praise and love. She suggested I buy this book. I bought it from Amazon and think it is wonderful. To be honest, I really bought the book for myself, as a reminder and example of how to bring out the best in each of my children. I have already thought of which of my boys will be "blue" and which will be "red"! They think the book is a great read, but I can't wait to save it for them for when they get older and can appreciate the meaning even more!

Every poem in this book is a gem, and the collection made me want to read her complete works. While this is definitely not "religious poetry" of the greeting card variety, it is an expression of a deep spiritual awareness. Oliver's poems often reveal an amazement and wonder at being alive. Poetic skill and heightened awareness are so well-integrated, those who are looking for well-crafted poetry will certainly find it, and those who are looking for an awakening of consciousness may also find that.

Although Oliver's environment, her field of play, is nature, I wouldn't reduce her to a "naturalist poet." Nature is always interpreted and absorbed by her vision. Nature reveals its secrets to her, but they are the secrets of her own soul. In her poetry, nature is the oracle that reveals the human psyche.

But I should include Oliver's own words, because no prose critique can do justice to the intoxicating natural imagery of her poems. In the poem "Peonies", the richness and fertility of nature mirror the same qualities of the imagination:

This morning the green fists of the peonies are getting ready to break my heart

as the sun rises,

as the sun strokes them with his old, buttery fingers

and they open- pools of lace,

white and pink- and all day the black ants climb over them,

boring their deep and mysterious holes into the curls,

craving the sweet sap,...

The poem ends with a challenge that reverberates through the book. In spite of the sense of death looming sometimes on the edge of the poem (and our lives), sometimes at the center, are we willing to fully experience life?

Do you love this world?

Do you cherish your humble and silky life?

Do you adore the green grass, with its terror beneath?

Do you also hurry, half-dressed and barefoot, into the garden,

and softly,

and exclaiming of their dearness,

fill your arms with the white and pink flowers,

with their honeyed heaviness, their lush trembling,

their eagerness

to be wild and perfect for a moment, before they are

nothing forever?

With a Pulitzer and a National Book Award, Mary Oliver's poems will catch one's attention. But besides the kudos, this is plainly incredible writing. Her poetry comes closer to the sensibility, depth, and power of Emily Dickinson's writing than anyone in history. Yet Oliver is not a copycat version of the lady in white. Oliver's Nature has its very own stylistic plumes and claws. In a world of mainstream and so-what poetry, Oliver's insights continually cause me to catch my breath and say, Oh, yes. If you love poetry, if you occasionally collect a special volume, or if you're a novice poetry reader who doesn't want to get lost in the "wherefor's" and wails of pompous or confessional poetry, this is a book to own and love again and again

In a recent interview, poet Jane Hirshfield said: "As a flint holds the spark, each good poem holds a hidden bit of life--knowledge that its reading releases in us and we in it. Poetry returns me to the sense of the infinite possibility that dwells in each particular thing, and also returns me to the flavor and scent and textures of the particular, where the infinite must reside. But Blake put this much better: 'To see a world in a grain of sand/ And a heaven in a wildflower.' Each good poem reopens that gate, reminds us how such seeing is done" ("The Bloomsbury Review," July/August 2001). Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, Mary Oliver, has the gift of writing such poetry, and it is no surprise that this collection of verse won the National Book Award.

I revisited this 1992 collection of NEW AND SELECTED POEMS after reading Oliver's equally stunning THE LEAF AND THE CLOUD. "The dream of my life/ Is to lie down by a slow river/ And stare at the light in the trees," she writes in "Entering the Kingdom;" "To learn something by being nothing/ A little while but the rich/ Lens of attention" (p. 190). In her poetry, Oliver reveals her ability to pay attention to life in a deep way. "I don't know exactly what a prayer is," she writes in "The Summer Day." "I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down/ into the grass, how to kneel in the grass,/ how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,/ which is what I have been doing all day./ Tell me, what else should I have done?/ Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?/ Tell me, what is it you plan to do/ with your one wild and precious life?" (p. 94). In her poetry, Oliver experiences life at the edge of her senses. In "Landscape," she says, "Every morning I walk like this around/ the pond, thinking: if the doors of my heart/ ever close, I am as good as dead" (p. 129).

Much of Oliver's poetry is drawn from nature, where we find God speaking to her of "so many wise and delectable things" through dirt, in "his dog voice/ crow voice,/ frog voice" (pp. 120-21). In "Spring Azures," Oliver writes "In spring the blue azures bow down/ at the edges of shallow puddles/ to drink the black rain water" (p. 8). In "Peonies," she writes, "This morning the green fists of the peonies are getting ready/ to break my heart/ as the sun rises,/ as the sun strokes them with his old, buttery fingers" (p. 21). In "The Moths," Oliver observes "The wings of the moths catch the sunlight/ and burn/ so brightly" (p. 133). For her, the "Trick of living" is finding Walden "where you are" (p. 239). "Do you love this world," she asks. "Do you cherish your humble and silky life?/ Do you adore the green grass, with its terror beneath?" (p. 22).

I could go on all day praising this book. Mary Oliver is one of my favorite poets, and this collection is one of my favorite books of poetry. It offers a radiant introduction to Oliver's verse, and it will also provide a good introduction to the pleasures of reading really good poetry.

G. Merritt

Ordinarily, I hate books of the "Novel in Stories" variety. I usually find them to be a confused jumble of pieces without any elastic to hold them together. I admit that I had low expectations of this work when I started it due to this prejudice. What a pleasant surprise!

Other reviewers have mentioned the beauty of the prose, so I will skip a description of it. Suffice to say that it is not only beautiful, but clever. If you happen to be a writer, you will find yourself WISHING that you could condense the essence of being into phrases like Cronin's. The weaving of the stories is extraordinary: how many times have you read about a character and wondered what his/her parents were like, or what his wife was like before she entered the plot at their first meeting? Here you get that depth of information, not only through the strength of the writing but also through the structure and selection of the moments Cronin chooses to reveal. I'm not sure when the last time a book moved me to tears was, but this was one that did.

This is the Cronin's debut, but it feels like a classic from the first page. Readers meet the title couple, Mary and O'Neil, in a series of stories which chronicle episodes from their lives, and can be read as a novel or as a collection of short pieces. The real satisfaction is Cronin's exquisite prose: his stories find their power in the subtle revelations of the characters' emotional lives. There are passages on almost every page that had me in awe of this man's talent, and I was most pleasantly surprised by the overwhelming sense of discovery I felt with this book--remember the first time you found an author who immediately became a favorite, whose writing you savored, and whom you couldn't wait to share with all your friends? As I read Mary and O'Neil, I was reminded of the feeling I had when I first found the works of J.D. Salinger, and later, Anne Tyler and John Updike...think back to discovering your own favorites and that excitement that you felt as you turned every page, knowing that you'd found something important, not just to you, but in the larger scheme of things. If Mary and O'Neil is any indication, Justin Cronin is destined for greatness. This first collection/novel is among the most promising debuts I've seen in years.

While I have known Justin personally for several years [disclaimer], this is actually the first time I have experienced his writing in depth. I also tend to gravitate more toward escapist writing and don't seek out "realistic" fiction dealing with contemporary characters and situations, so I wasn't sure how I'd react to this book. I have to say that I found myself thoroughly immersed in the book. The characters are drawn in such a way that they seem vivid and familiar throughout the stories. The stories are told with a graceful and casual ease--as though they were being related to us through conversations with the characters (though the book is all in third person). As important as the characters themselves are the webs of relationships--primarily familial--in which they are enmeshed. I think this aspect of the book is its greatest success, revealing that the title characters, while seeming adrift, are held up (and sometimes back) by these webs of relationships. This book is an excellent collection of stories about loss, love and family. The prose sparkles throughout. Read and enjoy!

This book provides concrete tools into getting out of and staying out of debt. Two years after purchasing this book and implementing the steps, I am not only out of debt completely but my financial base is more secure than I ever thought it would be. Now if Mary would only write a book on weight control...

Having experienced a consumer-debt nightmare of my own, the author's story of overcoming $100,000 in personal debt was inspiring! I wish I'd found this resource before our family wound up deeply in debt. The burden of financial problems can cause havoc with even the best of marriages--financial problems can adversely effect nearly every area of your life. If you're struggling to stay ahead of the collection agencies and their not-so-nice phone calls; if you're becoming an expert at juggling past-due bills; and if your family relationships are starting to suffer from the stress and strain of your financial situation..... PLEASE READ THIS BOOK! It not only can save your financial future, but it can also restore your peace-of-mind and possibly heal your marriage, as well...

Mary Hunt teaches us, with the wisdom of her personal experience, how to turn our financial nightmare into financial ease.Her writing style is concise, educational and entertaining. She teaches how to save, give, plan and rapidly repay debt. And even after we're done with the book and on the path to fiancial ease, she helps us stay there through her monthly newsletter (on-line or in print).This book brought me peace of mind, which positively affected every single area of my life! Thanks, Mary!

Suza Francina, author, The New Yoga for People Over 50, Mayor Pro-Tem from Ojai, California, writes:

"I have been teaching yoga to people of all ages for over 25 years. One of the most common reasons people begin a yoga class is to get rid of their aches and pains. I can say with complete confidence that of all the books I've read on therapeutic exercise for back and neck pain relief, Dr. Schatz book offers by far the most effective, individualized approach to a healthy back.

Back Care Basics goes beyond generic exercises and takes into account each person's special circumstances. It is a lifesaver for people caught in the viscious cycle of pain and fear. I have referred to it countless times creating yoga based exercise programs for people in chronic pain. In fact, almost my entire copy is highlighted or underlined!

If you or someone you love is suffering from back or neck pain, I encourage you to educate yourself by reading this book. I also hope that other health professionals working with people with back problems--chiropractors, massage and physical therapists, acupuncturists,etc., will read this book and leave it in their waiting room. Chiropractors tell me that patients who are practicing yoga rarely have acute back pain and their adjustments hold longer. People with back and neck problems benefit more from other therapies if they practice the gentle yoga program taught in Back Care Basics.

I purchased this book when it was first published, and I still use it today. My first copy was so well used, I recently purchased a new copy (it would be great to have a spiral bound). I've experienced back pain for over 15 years. Doctors suggested surgery, which I declined. I've seen over a dozen chiropractors over the past decade, some seemed to help, some did not. As I do not expect any doctor to "cure" my backpain, neither do I expect this or any book to "cure" it. What I have learned from this book has helped me to help myself. I have improved my posture, greatly reduced my backpain, and have begun taking yoga classes. I'd like to thank the author for writing this very helpful book, and I look forward to any new titles that may be released by Mary Pullig Schatz in the future.

I had heard lots of wonderful things about this book for the last few years. Then I bought a copy. The results have been nothing short of amazing. Dr. Schatz has compiled a book which is a must for anyone with back pain or neck pain.

Her diagnostic tests allow you to immediately identify your problem areas. The recommended exercises are clearly illustrated. You get exercises that are custom-made for your body.

Of course, the magic happens when you actually do the exercises. I saw remarkable results in my posture the very first day I started doing the exercises. The neck and shoulder tightness has also improved.

Dr. Schatz is an expert in this area, and this is not designed as "quick fix." This is a sound program to be followed over time. However, I must admit I was astounded at the speed at which I saw improvement.

If you have any back or neck pain, or poor posture, you absolutely must get this book. It will improve your health dramatically. Thank you, Dr. Schatz for this magnificent book.

In this novella the author offers an intimate and close-up portrait of a musician with genuine dreams and a desire to find meaning in his life. As Michael McCain struggles with problems associated with divorce and parenting, he is trying to build a career that will not only enable him to make a living but will also jive with his artistic spark--not an easy task in the often rancorous music industry.

Enter Mary. In a style reminiscent of writing by Nicholas Sparks and Richard Paul Evans, the author's lyrical handling of this simple character's impact on the world sets everything in balance for Michael. With Mary as his center, the truly important things become clear. At the same time, she brings an unexpected twist into his life which creates a heart-thumping race Michael must win in order to keep from losing her forever.

What I want to see next is the movie version of this book . . . and more stories like this one from an author who is destined, most certainly, to create them.

In this novella the author offers an intimate and close-up portrait of a musician with genuine dreams and a desire to find meaning in his life. As Michael McCain struggles with problems associated with divorce and parenting, he is trying to build a career that will not only enable him to make a living but will also jive with his artistic spark--not an easy task in the often rancorous music industry.

Enter Mary. In a style reminiscent of writing by Nicholas Sparks and Richard Paul Evans, the author's lyrical handling of this simple character's impact on the world sets everything in balance for Michael. With Mary as his center, the truly important things become clear. At the same time, she brings an unexpected twist into his life which creates a heart-thumping race Michael must win in order to keep from losing her forever.

What I want to see next is the movie version of this book . . . and more stories like this one from an author who is destined, most certainly, to create them.

"Life doesn't just happen to us. There is one spectacular moment when it happens for us. It happens to change us somehow, to pick us up just when we're heading in the wrong direction..." And therein lies the magic of THE LAST SLOW DANCE by Mary Gauden Hughes. This talented author captures that searing magical moment on which all of one's destiny hinges, drawing it into every moment of the novel in a lovely musical harmony.

When Mary Livingston enters Michael's life, everything changes. His house becomes a home, his girls happily sharing their days at the supper table. Mary claims she's only passing through, a writer gathering stories, searching for that one special story to tell.

As Mary loves writing, so does Michael McCain loves his music, dreaming of breaking into the big time. When he at last reaches his dream, as successful star Abby Rhodes invites him along to open her shows, Michael must reevaluate his life, his priorities, and his dreams.

THE LAST SLOW DANCE flows with a poetic grace, the language's lyricism mesmerizing the reader. THE LAST SLOW DANCE moves like a great river with hidden currents of meaning below the reflective surface. If you enjoyed James Waller's BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY, you'll love THE LAST SLOW DANCE with its positive ending and inspirational message. Very highly recommended.

The words "compelling" and "accounting" are seldom used in tandem, but there is no other way to describe this call to arms written by former Harvard Business School professor and three accountants at PricewaterhouseCoopers. The book, which is framed as a manifesto for change in the world of corporate reporting, is written in un-accountant-like language bordering on the subversive. It's main message: Traditional corporate reporting practices are inadequate and downright dangerous in the New Economy. They are inadequate because they don't capture the non-financial measures and intangible assets that now drive value. They are dangerous because they force investors to rely too heavily on short-term financial results, thereby contributing to unprecedented volatility in global equity markets. The authors' remedy? Disclosure of more and better information. This new model is presented in such detail that executives could use it as a blueprint in building new corporate reporting regimens. But you needn't be a corporate leader to appreciate the far-reaching implications of this book, which we at getAbstract.com recommend to all professionals as a - yes - compelling analysis of the current practice and evolving future of corporate reporting and its standards, pivotal benchmarks in the global economy.

The ValueReporting Revolution is one of the best, if not THE best, financial book that I have read in the last few years. Thought provoking and compelling, this book provides a sharp analysis of how and why current corporate reporting systems need to evolve. A must read for both the investing community, who need to understand a company's true value, and the financial community, who report on and create a company's value.

The Value Reporting Revolution offers a much needed attack on the status quo of financial reporting and, even more importantly, suggests some remedies. Weaving cases and data from original research, academic papers, and the business press, Eccles et al. have written an accessible guide with minimal accounting jargon and even touches of humor.

After thorough analysis of the shortcomings of today's "earnings game," the authors map out a comprehensive approach to determining and sharing key financial and nonfinancial data that will help all business stakeholders assess a company's value. By using internal performance measurement tools such as the Balanced Scorecard for external reporting, companies can focus more clearly on creating value rather than face a quarterly scramble to burnish their earnings picture. Nonfinancial disclosure would also improve decision making for investors by providing a more complete picture of company operations and strategy.

In addition to promoting a commitment to improved ongoing communications, the authors note that the Internet and recent financial disclosure regulation have enabled new entrants to develop and distribute a range of economic information and services that compete directly with traditional Big-5 and Wall Street firms. This could signify the end of the "double-secret, uber-whisper" the earnings rumors that reach (and reward) only a subset of a subset of people in the know.

As an organizational consultant, this book was very helpful in clarifying the network of relationships among companies, analysts, regulators, accountants, and investors - and showing how they misestimate value and often move markets based on limited, asymmetric information. ValueReporting suggests an alternative way for companies to account for themselves that is aligned with sound management and sound investing.

I found this book absolutely fascinating. Short well written essays filled in details on the history and cultural setting of a wide variety of items from the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse to the 7 kinds of plane triangles.The topics chosen varied widely over many centuries and many different cultures. While I was familiar slightly with perhaps half of the topics, the essays enriched my understanding of even those about which I thought I was most knowledgeable and informed me on many topics which were previously unknown to me. I could pick up the book and open it to any page and enjoy myself whether I had time for just a single essay or could indulge myself for an hour. Everyone should have fun reading this book.

This fun book contains a hundred and one lists organized by number. For example, the chapter known as "Four" includes the following: What are the four voyages of Lemuel Gulliver? What are the four conic sections? What are the four sections of a symphony orchestra? etc.

Chapters are: Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen, Fourteen, Fifteen, Eighteen, Twenty and Twenty-Four. What makes the book more than just a quiz generator is the lengthy explanatory text, anywhere from three to eighteen pages. These pithy essays entertain and inform, and add greatly to the volume's enjoyment. Some questions are really obscure -- what were the five rivers of the classical underworld, anyway? -- but even the easier ones can leave you scratching your head and cursing your memory. Didn't I used to know allthis stuff? Then, after you knock yourself on the head and shout "Of course!", you will have the pleasure of reading a well-written essay by a co-author or one of a small number of contributors. There is also a fourteen page suggested reading list, organized by subject, that includes music and URLs. Rounded out with a good index, this is very nicely done and lots of fun.

I just finished reading it cover to cover and found it a truly enlightening and FUN read. I have loved these type of books since my first purchase of "An Incomplete Education" many years ago, as well as Charles Panati's books. The format of "What are the Seven Wonders of the World?" lends itself nicely to reading it on short breaks. I was amazed at how much I could learn in so little time. At last, I finally understand the intricate history (and relationships) of all of the Kings and Queens of England - and it was absolutely painless. There's too much good stuff in the book to mention it all here. If you love trivia, or wish to expand your horizons in order to becomes a modern day Leonardo (Da Vinci), this book is for you. I can't wait for the next volume.

Now, please excuse me -I have to keep my audition appointments for "Win Ben Stein's Money" and "Jeopardy"!

This well-written book is a fine, worthy follow up to the very useful Raising Your Spirited Child. The author uses the work of Daniel Goleman on Emotional Intelligence to help parents learn to avoid power struggles with their children. The author advocates the need for parents to both ddevelop their own emotional intelligence and to help their children develop this qualities.

Part one gives a good, if not detailed enough, overview of what emotional intelligence is and why it's important. She could've referenced a bit more research here; it does exist. Parts Two and Four look at how parents can connect with their children to be "emotion coaches" for them. Part Two is about building a better relationship with your child. Part Four is is focused on life skills. I really enjoyed these sections of the book, although they, too, could've been more detailed. That said Kurcinka is gearing this book to a general audience and probably didn't want to get bogged down in alot of theory and research. That's actually a good thing - the book is not at all dry. It's readable and I think parents will be able to relate to the examples she uses. She uses alot of real life case examples from her own practice.

I didn't find Part 3 to be as useful as the rest of the book, because it was all about temperment. This material was covered in detail in her previous book, which I've read. Everything about it was pretty much a carbon copy of the original book "Raising Your Strong Willed Child." For those who haven't read that book, the information is very useful, and I think necessary, but for me it was repetitive. She could've shortened or deleted this section of the book and given more exercises, activities, and overall detail in the other three parts.

Overall, this is a very useful book for anyone who wants to learn to lessen conflict and power struggles with children. It's geared more toward children under 12, but the materials can also be applied to teens. Highly reccommended.

Based on Daniel Goleman's book, Emotional Intelligence, and the author's own research in her practice, this book's basic premise is that conflicts in families can be resolved by understanding, recongnizing, and dealing with emotions effectively. Since these are skills wanting in many of us, the author suggests we teach our children and ourselves at the same time. Good advice.

Carefully, patiently, she leads us through the basics: empathy, self calming, recongnizing feelings, listening, recognizing different temperaments and personality styles. Then she gives us the tools for coaching our children to become more effective in handling their feelings: to recognize them, name them, express them and seek a satisfactory resolution without being destructive to others.

Nothing here is so revolutionary, but the approach of thinking about your child's difficult behavior as a cry for help in dealing with underlying emotions is incredibly helpful. Once you have tuned into this idea, it short-circuits your tendency to react to such behavior with knee-jerk, authoritarian stuff you are reading these books to avoid. You end up working with your child, not against him, and isn't that the point?

Different parenting books work for different people. This might be the one for you. One caveat: the paper on this not inexpensive hardcover edition is cheap, cheap, and the type small and gray. You'd expect more from HarperCollins.

This book is brilliant! It teaches you to empathize rather than chastize your children, and in doing so, they learn to respect you more. I'm not big on self-help books, but this is one that I can whole-heartedly recommend. A friend told me about it and I read it so I wouldn't insult her. And I am so glad I did. I passed it on to my husband, and he really learned a lot from it too. In fact, we learned a lot about each other in the book. I have already ordered The Spirited Child, Mary Kurcinka's other book, and am looking forward to reading it.

I hate to be a spoil sport since so many comments about Dunnett have been so effusive- however, I have to be honest and admit that I just don't get it. The plot lines are very confusing and the characters are not well enough developed to identify with. In Game of Kings Lymond communicates solely by spouting erudite witticisms in various languages. Every uttered sentence is either joking, tongue in cheek or nebulous in some way. I never felt for one moment that I understood this character. In fact, there is almost a comical aspect of the larger-than-life adventures that undermines the historical accuracy. Another problem is that Dunnett uses a lexicon that is so archaic and erudite that it becomes annoying after a while. I never thought that I would ever feel this way about a book since I love a good challenging read. This is over the top! I started reading this series in the sincere hope that I would discover something as wonderful and entrancing as the Patric O'Brian novels, I have been sorely disappointed. To tell the truth, I had to stop reading Queen's Play after the first few chapters.

QUEEN'S PLAY was the first Lymond book I read--stumbled across it at the public library about 20 years ago. I then had to ransack the rest of Washington,DC's branch libraries to get my hands on the other books in the series, and ever since, Dorothy Dunnett has been my favorite historical fiction writer. She is not for the faint-hearted: you must be literate (in several languages if possible)and well read in history of the period if you are to appreciate the books to the fullest. Or, if you come "cold" to the book, the kind of person for whom a novel opens a door through which you begin to learn about the real contemporary history. Her characters are so well-educated and well-bred that I have no problem picturing them at the various European courts where Mrs. Dunnett places them. Modern politics seem very dull indeed in comparison (Tony Blair vs. Mary Tudor!) Mrs. Dunnett writes a beautiful, lush English--one of my major fantasies is inviting her to tea in ! order to find out if she's anything like one of her creations.

I love Dunnett books because the characters are so well developed, and the plot so intricate yet discernable, I read in awed admiration. I have been fooled by the plot twists so many times, I have now come to expect it, and just smile when I see that I had been totally wrong yet agian. Dunnett has such a profound understanding of history and the human nature of both her characters and readers, that the story lives in my mind stronger than any movie that I have ever seen. I recommend this series to everyone, even if you don't speak French and Latin. It's worth the effort.