A lot of the people at my church read the Bible funny. The think everything is true and that if you don't believe it all then you're not a Christian. I don't believe them. I bought this book to help me understand the book of Esther in the Bible. It has helped me teach those people in my church about an important woman in the Bible because they only like Jesus and not women.

A neglected comic masterpiece that deserves to be rediscovered, "Esther" features an inspired premise as its plot: a young, free-thinking socialite falls desperately in love with an Episcopal minister. The result is a free-for-all clash of intellects, a confrontation between faith and reason, and the inevitable battle of the sexes.

The marvels of Adams's novel are his remarkably nuanced and fully realized characters. Esther, the free-thinker, wants to share her lover's faith and "is trying to get it by reason"--but doesn't initially understand that a person "can never reason yourself into it." Mr. Hazard, the minister, is confident that he will "succeed in drawing her into the fold, because his lifelong faith, that all human energies belonged to the church, was on trial, and, if it broke down in a test so supreme as that of marriage, the blow would go far to prostrate him forever." Esther's principles of independence and self-education collide with Hazard's desire to steer her into submission as his wife and fellow believer.

But my favorite character is relegated to a supporting role: Catherine, a recent transplant from the frontiers of Colorado, befriends Esther and dazzles New York society with her innocence, naivete, and sincerity. It's never really quite clear, however, whether her simplicity is the genuine article or just a show mocking the pretensions of her admirers. As one of the intellectuals who lightheartedly teases her wonders, there was "a little doubt whether she was making fun of him or he of her, and she never left him in perfect security on this point."

The novel sparkles with banter and quarrels, jokes and ripostes, but any attempt to reproduce the humor in a short review would fall flat: Adams's witticisms are dependent upon context and character. Still, I caught myself laughing out loud often at the book's cleverness and hilarity.

The John Knox Press INTERPETATION COMMENTARY series provides thoughtful but highly readable insights into the various books of the Bible. I haven't picked up a volume yet which disappointed me. But Carol Bechtel's commentary on ESTHER really goes the extra mile. It's chock full of fresh perspectives well stated. (Although she borrows many of these insights from the recently published commentaries of Adele Berlin and Jon Levenson, she is quick to credit her sources. And she is very selective about what she restates.)

The commentary is directed primarily to Christians, and to Protestants specifically. She raises an interesting point that Christians who "get their Scripture" solely from the lessons that are read aloud as part of Sunday services, are only exposed to a reading from Esther once every three years: Esther 7:1-6,9-10; 9:20-22. This clearly is not the best way to experience a book of the Bible that is a cleverly constructed "novella" with exciting characters, court intrigues, and dizzying plot reversals. She encourages Christians to imitate Jews by reading the book repeatedly, aloud, and in its entirety. As Bechtel points out, "It is a book, after all, about the struggle to be faithful in the midst of an increasingly unfaithful culture. It is a story of courage, faith, and deliverance. It is the story of men and women working together with a God who is not always obvious, but who is always gracious."

To use this commentary most effectively, you need to have a copy of the New Revised Standard Version Bible (preferrably with the Apocrypal/Deuterocanonical books) since the biblical text is not printed in the commentary. You do not need any knowledge of Hebrew (or Greek), however. Where an understanding of the Hebrew is essential, Bechtel provides clear explanations. One example, her explanation of how the Hebrew words for "enslavement" and "destruction" are homophones, serves as a very plausible explanation of why the King could have been so easily duped into signing a death warrant for the Jewish people.

Although Bechtel presents the shorter, Hebrew version of Esther as the "best text," she does examine the Additions to Esther (those passages that are found only in the Greek and Latin versions of the text) in a brief Appendix.

Don't let the title fool you. This book is not just for women. It's for anyone who wants to make a God-ordained difference in the people that God brings them into contact with. As the author writes, the Esther Effect is "the impact you have when God places you in a situation in which you can encourage or influence others or change the course of events." I've been in this situation many times, and I've often looked to the book of Esther for the courage I needed to go forward. This book will help you. It highlights all of Esther's important traits that helped her go forward--self-confidence in God, courage, character, etc. The book is easy to read and well-organized (I got through half of it while waiting in the doctor's office) and will keep your attention. A jewel of a book.

George Moore was an Irish landowner who received his indoctrination into the world of art and literature in France. His encounter there with the realist movement led to the first three truly realistic (defined as against the prevailing moralism and/or melodrama of Victorian fiction) novels in English literature proper: A Modern Lover, A Mummer's Wife and Esther Waters.

Of the three, Esther Waters is the most fully developed and it is certainly the most engaging for a modern reader. In it, a woman has a child out of wedlock, and not only survives (through a variety of trials that are dispassionately but unflinchingly depicted) but in a manner of speaking prospers (Compare this for example with Elizabeth Gaskell's *Ruth*, written some 40+ years earlier).

A great read. An important milestone in the transition from moralism to realism in English fiction. An Irish writer who played an important role in the Irish literary renaissance in the early years of the 19th century.

Well worth the read.

Story of Esther the elephant's visit to the doctor. Told in rhyme, this tale will entertain and amuse early readers. The illustrations are bright, bold and energetic.

Esther felt just like a chump. "My trunk," she sobbed, " has lost its trump!"

Fun, fun book......

For young readers this is a wonderful depiction of a historical saga put in language that is uncomplicated and exciting! I would recommend it for Sunday School classes and reader's clubs!

This book provides a superb introduction to the Celtic Christian vision. I particularly enjoy the trinitarian aspects of Celtic prayer. The vision and picture presented in the book reveals a Chritian faith that does not divide the sacred from the secular or the mind and the body and soul. But rather, it presents a picture of faith affecting every area of life.

For young aspiring photographs who wish to see how light and motion can make a photograph sing with life; for photography lovers; for fashion and advertising professionals; and for anyone who shares love and admiration for women, life and beauty. A beautiful book of capturing images.

In addition to On The Edge of The World and Towards A Simpler Way of Life, this is a great book to have if you are looking for biographies of California architects. The book also features some nice close-up photos of architectural details.