Norah Lofts knows how to write a good book. In "Esther" she takes the biblical story of the young Jewess who saved her people from annihilation and turns it into a love story. The King of Persia is looking for a new wife and he sets about doing it in a very unusual way. Esther is one of many girls who are chosen to go to the King's palace and await an audience. The audience will take place every evening, giving each girl a chance to impress the King with her beauty and talents. The King will decide there and then if the girl is to be the next Queen of Persia. Esther eventually wins the heart and mind of the King, and thus becomes his Queen. The King is unaware of her Jewish heritage, as is his favourite Hamen whose secretly plots their demise by manipulating the King into sign their death warrant. It is up to Esther to save her people, and this she does, with wit, charm, wisdom, and a healthy dose of female cunning. "Esther" is an enjoyable read that tells a biblical story from a fictional point of view. A great book to read, and well worth looking out for.

I couldn't put this book down. Norah Lofts did a wonderful job of expanding the Biblical story without changing it. The book is about Esther's ascension to the Persian throne as Artaxerxes queen. It discusses how she was chosen as queen and how she saved her people from death. It is a remarkable story and told exceedingly well.

If you've ever been to Israel, then you'll understand how Esther's love affair with a country(specifically the city of Jerusalem) is possible. The two themes of love between a man and a woman, and the love of place is deftly crafted and a story that keeps you reading. It's refreshing to get pulled into this warm tale and exciting to be taken around the globe from London to Israel and to Lebanon. And, for the female author to pull off the story-telling in a man's voice - this, too is a gift to behold. Read it curled up with some kleenex close by. It's wonderful.

Somehow, Dvora Waysman manages to keep us interested in this story of unrequieted love, without sex, without drugs, without violence! The book is an evening's read - and one you can't put down. The backdrops of London, Jerusalem and Lebanon paint vivid pictures fit for a movie. We feel for both Max and Essie and the author is masterful in telling the story from the male voice. It really works. This is a book you'll want to pass along to your friends. It warms your heart and might even evoke a few sniffles. Enjoy!

This is one of the rare documents that describe a corner of so rich and profound Jews History in Persia (Iran). As much this book is probably one of a kind, and so well written, and the writer(s) efforts, has to be recognized; the planning and ideas which originated from its supporting organization (The Center for Iranian Jewish Oral History) which so far has led to production of this book deserves to be recognized much greater. The Persian (Iranian) Jews have brought a rich history with them to western hemisphere. Publication such as this, not only demonstrates their effort in more than 5000 years to survive, thrive, and contribute to the culture and governing system that they lived in, but also can acts as a permanent document to be passed on to their next generation; a generation which is not or so poorly exposed to their past and the history of their ancestors.

I have only dipped into the first few articles and I can say that the book is worth 100 times the price. Thank you for making this incredible work of history possible. It's contribution to Jewish history and to the history of Iran is invaluable.

Once you pick it up you won't be able to put it down. Only a brillant mind could have came up with a story like this.

This is one of those rare books that I finished in two days. I strongly recommend it to anyone interesting in good literature.

An outstanding piece of work! It surprised me when I first read the contents...a Navajo? Yes, a Native woman writing about her city life and at times, focusing on her roots....the traditional way of life. Yet her words are dramatic and powerful. A great accomplishment!

Browsing the Native American Literature section of my school's bookstore (NAU-Flagstaff), I came upon Esther's book and almost jumped outta my pants! Esther and I are alumni of the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, and I am familiar with her FABULOUS way of "painting with words," and I have always thought highly of her work. Over the years I've always looked for her name among the circle of Native writers because she writes with such passion and human truth as experienced first hand by natives at the dawn of a new millennium. It is easy for me, as an acquiantance of Esther's, to view her work and relate the themes and subjects of her poems directly to her personality. It is so wonderful to read what she has produced in "FROM THE BELLY OF MY BEAUTY." Any avid reader of Native/Indigenous literature is definitely in for a treat, so sit back and get ready to laugh, cry and understand.

I keep one copy in my car and one at home. It has been extremely helpful in locating and reviewing golf courses for where ever I am in New York. A must have.

It's one stop shopping for golf courses in NY. Organized geographically, it provides easy access to a listing of local public and private golf courses.

Knowing that the authors are golfers who have personnally visited all of the courses, assures me of a golfers perspective.

We purchased this book for our teenage son in an airport on a trip to Aruba. By Aruba we all three had read it! It is fast moving, enough plot to keep an adult reader entertained, but most of all it was hillarous. Enjoy

Continuing the story begun in Esther Friesner's _Gnome Man's Land_, _Harpy High_ is another twisted, warped, and thoroughly comic treat for the lover of humorous fantasy. Timothy Desmond is back with a new cast of characters as well as our old favorites, set to battle Baba--pardon, *Bambi*--Yaga for the sake of all humanity. Oh, and to keep her from producing her own line of fitness videos, too.

It's possible to view these books as simple (if delightful) brain candy, but they're really much more than that: _Harpy High_ is educational in the sense that it can introduce the reader to several figures out of myth and literature; sure, Friesner's take on them might be a bit... unusual, but there's something to be said for a story that whets the curiousity. Further, there's a valuable lesson to be learned from every book in this series--and this one is no exception.

In short, Esther Friesner has concocted a bizarre and wonderful mix of comedy, myth, and meaning in this book and its fellow trilogy-members, _Gnome Man's Land_ and _Unicorn U._ All three are most definitely worth reading--and buying--if you can find them.

(...) This book doesn't just list single menu items from restaurants you've never heard of, but lists several menu items from numerous well-known restaurants, such as one of my personal favorites, Acapulco. They even show you how to eat healthy at Jack-In-The-Box, which is home of the Bacon Ultimate Cheeseburger, a.k.a. The Widowmaker.

The coupon section alone is worth buying the book -- if you're skeptical about trying a restaurant or a menu item, you can rest easy knowing that you're not paying full price like the diners around you. And, unlike the diners around you, you know exactly what you're eating!

Healthy food + discount food = A happy, healthy diner.

If you're like me, and you: live in San Diego, love to eat out, and are concerned about eating healthy, do yourself a favor and BUY THIS BOOK!!!

I thought I knew all there was to know about the nutritional values of the foods I eat. After years of being overweight I finally lost my extra pounds three years ago, so I pride myself in choosing the meals I eat in restaurants carefully. Surprise! This book made me aware of reems of information I didn't know. Going to be good and have plain pasta with a marinara sauce? Did you know that many if not most restaurants toss the cooked pasta in oil or butter to keep it from sticking together? These folks not only let you know how restaurants work, but the full page menus from some of the most popular spots in town will allow you to choose your meal before you are faced with dozens of tempting choices. PLUS...the coupons in the back will save you the cost of the book in 2 meals or less. Get it, you may never overindulge eating out again, and your friends will never be the wiser.

The Library of America is one of the best organizations. Here at last are both novels, his interesting autobiography, and Mont St Michel all under one roof.

"Democracy" is one of the best political novels of all time and speaking as a denizen of the nation's capital, very little has changed. Esther is attempt deal with the "woman question." Clearly the inspiration of both books is Mrs. Henry Adams. Known as "Voltaire in petticoats" (Henry James), she later tragically took her own life following a period of depression. The death of his wife led to Henry Adams' retirement from public life. This subject is covered in Ernest Samuels' wonderful biography (which I also recommend).

I suggest a look at his biography since the subject of Marion Clover Adams is avoided entirely in "The Education of Henry Adams." Henry Adams may not discuss his wife, but he does touch on nearly everything else of importance in his autobiography. "Growing up Adams," life in Europe with Garibaldi's forces, life at the British legation in London during the Civil War are all addressed. The best and probably the most key chapter in the book is the one entitled "The Virgin and Dynamo." Adams uses the 1876 cenntenial fair as a departure to meditate of the impact of the industrial revolution. Adams believed with the growth of technology that man would somehow outgrow the simple humanity of the Middle Ages (it would have been interesting if Adams had lived long enough to meet someone like Carl Jung to see what he would have to say on this subject!). One of the foremost historians (the Library of America has also issued the history of Jefferson and Madison's Administrations, which is a classic), Adams became interested in the Middle Ages and his survey of the two great cathedrals of France Chartes and Mont St. Michel is the final book in the volume. I cannot recommend this book too highly, it is a must for all fans of Henry Adams and those who would like to experience him for the first time.

While Adams novels (Democracy and Esther) may be lightweight, the other two works included in this volume are two of the best non-fiction American books ever. Adams has the kind of intellect that seems capable of encompassing everything. Like Joseph Campbell or Harold Bloom, Adams often leaves the reader in awe of how much he knows and how he is able to make the connections that so clearly illuminate everything he touches upon. This is one of my favorite volumes in the Library of America series, and I know that anyone who appreciates intelligence, wit, and charm in a writer will enjoy reading it.

There are at least two kinds of fantasy writing -- one where the author takes the "pritee" and "bedamned" stuff seriously, and the kind where the author is wry and funny. This book is about a demon who slowly realizes humans are pretty cool. Of course, that's not PC demon belief. There's a love story here and wit.

Excellent book...funny and it even makes you think a bit about religion. Good characters...keeps you guessing how the demons will try to corrupt the mortals who rediscovered them. If you can find this book, get it!!!