I think the title conveys my feelings on this book. I didn't particularly think it was the best book I have ever read, but it was not the worst. I thought the book was good, but that it just dragged on and on. I am not sure if it was the writing or what...... It is o.k.,if you have a lot of time to spend reading, but not for a quick read. It is emotional, but not overly so.

No one writes romance like Cheryl St. John. Her talent is incomparable. She never fails to make me love her characters, they're always sympathetic, always human, always real. Caleb Chaney ought to have won a KISS award from Romantic Times. Men don't come any more heroic than this. I was hooked on page one and couldn't put it down until it was finished. I sobbed like a baby, and when it was over, I felt as if I'd won a prize, it was so thrilling to see Ellie get the life she deserved. I can't wait for Cheryl's next book.

Cheryl St John has once again proven to her readers that it doesn't take a super hero or heroine to link us with our deepest emotions. In Caleb and Ellie's story, we are drawn into their lives, including their pain, sorrow, and dawning love. Be ready to settle back into your comfy chair, grab a box of tissues and spend the afternoon in sheer pleasure as Cheryl unfolds the tragedy of Ellie's young life, and how she overcomes issues that face many women yet today. I'm positive that you'll feel the same as I do! I want to meet Caleb and Ellie just to tell them both how much I care.

As the Alternative Health guru at Lifetips.com, I am constantly looking for books and products to share with visitors to my site that can help take the mystery or confusion out of alternative/natural healing. This is definitely one of those items.

If you're looking for an easy-to-understand and well-researched book on a natural approach to dealing with depression, then this is the book for you. Dr. Cass shares case histories many might identify with and she has done her homework in deftly explaining the important factors one must understand to deal effectively with depression. She also provides great tips on nutritional steps and lifestyle changes that must go hand-in-hand if one is serious about defeating depression. This wonderful book CAN offer help to those struggling to get a handle on dealing with depression naturally.

I have found this common sense guide to using & understanding St. John's Wort invaluable. This ancient herbal remedy for lifting mood without the high cost of prescription drugs & their often debilitating side effects is the best treatment available for those who will follow Dr. Cass's guidelines. I have shared this book with friends & family. I can't think of a better gift for loved ones who needlessly suffer from Depression!

I bought this book (and a bottle full of St. John's Wort!) after two deaths in my immediate family pushed me over the edge of depression. It talks about the different forms of depression, how St. John's Wort helps with the symtoms and who should or shouldn't try the herb. It gives a lot of study cases of people Dr. Cass worked with and also offers some statistical information on research. All of it is put in a very readable and enjoyable form and I finished the book in a couple of bedtime reading sessions (definitely important when you're reading about something that you hope and pray will help you with your current state of depression!) I highly recommend both the book and the herb to anyone thinking they may suffer from depression.

In general, it's a book worth having because it includes his Sayings of Light and Love and his letters as well as his poetry and his major works: Ascent of Mt. Carmel, The Dark Night, the Spiritual Canticle and The Living Flame of Love.

My complaint has to do with the very prosaic nature of the translations. The abovementioned major works in this edition are written in academic American English. Even the layout screams "textbook." I first came upon John's major works online, on a site called "Ethereal Library." I read The Dark Night and Ascent .. in translations that captured a much greater sense of John's poetry and mysticism, as well as a sense of his own time and place in slightly (but not overwhelmingly) archaic language, where even the layout suggested more a long prose-poem than academic text. That other version was flavorful, glowing and delicious and, after reading it, I fell in love with St. John of the Cross.

Had I read this rather dry, textbook-style version first, I probably would have dismissed St. John as boring and difficult. For someone already familiar with St. John of the Cross, however, this book definitely offers examples of his thought and writing not normally available.

"The Collected Works of St. John of the Cross" consists of the writings of this 16th century Spanish Mystic and Doctor of the Church. St. John was a Carmelite friar and friend of St. Theresa of Avila. A valued spiritual counselor, many of his works were written as instruction to religious who sought his guidance.

The book consists of four major works and many minor works. The major works are "The Ascent of Mount Carmel", "The Dark Night", "The Spiritual Canticle" and "The Living Flame of Love". Each of the major works consists of a poem, written by St. John, and an extensive, word by word, explanation. In the explanation, St. John reveals his own theology, supported by verses from Scripture.

The minor works consist of letters written to his contemporaries as well as a collection of St. John's poetry.

This is definitely not light reading. The reader must concentrate on his the text in order to appreciate what he is reading. I am glad that I read it from two perspectives. From an historical perspective, it provides the reader with a good introduction into the world of mystical writing. More importantly, from a spiritual perspective, this book gives the reader an insight into God's call to all Christians to draw themselves more closely to Himself. The spirit of this book is difficult to explain. It is a classical book which is better experienced than described.

I was almost dissuaded from buying this by Ms Ramirez' review but having all of John's works in one book was too much to resist, and I'm very glad I went ahead and bought it. Concerning the "old" English translation so admired by Ms Ramirez, it certainly sounds very beautiful but it is also very difficult to understand whereas this translation by Kavanaugh and Rodriguez is extremely easy to read and grasp. Sound and rhythm have their attraction, but I'll take understanding any day. Who among you honestly gathers more insight from the King James version of the bible as opposed to the NIV? The same principle applies here. The Collected Works does NOT read like a "text book", the layout is wonderful and the value of having all of John's works in hand is inestimable. Buy it, treasure it - it holds the full depth of true Christianity within it's covers. Indeed, it is a map of the landscape leading to heaven by one who knows the Way, and in simple terms understandable to all.

I could not put down this book. Watching beautiful but somewhat emotionally immature Julie ruin, and ultimatelly lose, her life, is heartbreaking, but strangely fascinating. Glatt does a great job of setting up the murder by profiling the victim's parents, and her difficult childhood. The background information makes it easier to understand how such a beautiful woman who seemingly had everything [handsome successful husband; lovely home; adorable baby] would chuck it all for a not too attractive and impoverised Greek cruise line worker. Well, not 100% easy to understand.

While reading, I felt like screaming at the victim: don't go with him. What, are you crazy? But, of course, if you read the book description, you know exactly how the story will end. Knowing does not make the read any less gripping, which is the sign of a good writer.

Blind Passion by John Glatt is fun to read. This book is about Julie, but it starts out with the life of Julia, her mother. By the time you get to Julie, you can see what makes her tick and why she would run off for a romantic adventure in a foreign country. She leaves behind a life with a husband who worked his way up, and a 3 year old daughter. I agree with the boyfriend's mother in Greece, who voices the traditional Greek idea that a mother who abandons her child to live with a man is beneath contempt. On the other hand, what happens to the victim here is even more beneath contempt! This is an interesting book about a crime committed in January of 1999.

This was a really good book short and to the point... It was really sad what happened to Julie but at some point you would have to think that she had lost her mind doing what she did giving her life up in the states most of all leaving her child...I think Julie was living in a total fantasy world and when she realized the reality of what she did she wanted to go home and than This mental case lost his mind...George was definetly in it for the fantasy of love and most definetly for her money but I do believe that he did think that if he couldnt have her no one could syndrome...We shouldnt say he was a loser yet ( although he sure is now)because he was only 23 years old but i think he just got to accustomed to having julie take care of him and the thought of her leaving put him over the edge...Must read book, Very sad...

I read this book and for me was a disgrace to hear from a saint of the ortodox church such arguments or elements arguments of the coredemption of Mary. I dont know where this person or monk found such answer of the coredemption but the think is, this person is out of his mind or he didnt found the real answer.First of all the Catolic Church has never put Mary in the same level of Jesus the church with the dogma of the inmaculate Conception had just says what the angel says in the holy bible, Rejoice full of Grace, this are words from God our Father in the words of the angel.The church has never invented such thing,is God who has call Mary full of grace. It is incredible to hear from the Ortodox Church their arguments againts the Catolic Roman Church and at the same time trying to say that they love Mary.This is a real contradiction because Mary have Jesus is because the only way to have Jesus my ortodox friends is without sin, no one with sin can ever have God Jesus in the womb if that person is not without sin. That is why her cousin full of the holly spirit call her too, bless among all womans and bless the womb of Jesus. Because her womb was without sin.Why we call her Coredemptrix because she like the old Eve have a participation or co-participation in the plan of God like the old Eve with the old Adam and because was by Eve a Woman because sin come to the world in the same manner is from Mary other woman without sin that salvation came to the world, and this salvation came through Mary with the participation of Mary and because for God their is nothing imposible exept for those ortodoxs that are confuse.Mary apear in France and confirm what the church was believing by centuries with hundreds of miracles confirm by all scientifics all over the world as true an authentic.

St. John Maximovitch was a truly special figure in the 20th century Orthodox Church. He bore his sufferings with love and patience. To this day his memory and relics are venerated. Father Seraphim Rose was a man of great intellect and passion whose works continue to challenge and engage. These men were powerful and unapologetic advocates of Orthodoxy . The combined effort of these two holy men merits, and perhaps even demands, one's time and careful consideration.

Understanding of all phenomena, natural or supernatural is based on a synthesis of observable instances including empirical and intuitive, logical assumptions, and deductive analysis. In Christianity this understanding is called dogma, or what it is we beleive. There are many places where doctrinal error can be introduced into dogma, so great precision, and time must be allowed for all the ramifications of neologisms to be assessed before it is accepted as dogma. This is not to say that all neologisms are in error, but rather to say great care must be taken with them.

St. Augustine was a great theologian, and he understood the care needed to maintain the dogma very much. But some of his speculations about the nature of sin, and the nature of the Holy Spirit have come to be accepted without proper care in the Occidental Churches, which have been rejected by the Eastern Orthodox Christian faith. One of St. Augustine's neologisms is treated in this book very carefully by St. John Maximovitch--the neologism of original sin, or that mankind is liable for the guilt of Adam and Eve.

The neologism of original sin, adopted by the Roman Catholic Church, created a logical problem, that of our Lord Savior's birth as a descendant of Adam and Eve. Surely our Lord Christ did not inherit the guilt of Adam and Eve. If he did, then his death on the Cross was meaningless. In order to address this, the Roman Catholic Church, instead of recognizing the error of adopting Augustine's speculation, introduced yet another error, that of the Immaculate Conception.

St. John Maximovitch addresses this error eloquently, demonstrating how the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception does not glorify the Theotokos, but indeed, denies her of her rightful honor. St. John Maximovitch is careful to never malign the purity of the All-Holy (Panagia) Theotokos (God-Bearer).

St. John Maximovitch also addresses the modern error of the Protestant rejection of Mary as someone worthy of veneration and honor in the Church. This error is nothing more than a childish reaction to the error of the Roman Catholic Church. The Protestants, recognized that the dogma of Mary had been compromised by the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception. But instead of examing the doctrinal elements of Marian dogma, preserving what it true, and rejecting that which is false, have rejected it in its entirety. In fact, much of Protestant dogma is simply a negative uncalculated response to the errors of the Roman Catholic Church. What they fail to realize is that in their rejection of Sacred Tradition, they have made themselves vulnerable to any and all neologistic speculations.

This is a wonderful book, explaining much of the Orthodox Christian Faith in the context of Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture. I highly recommend this book to anyone and all who wish to understand the special place the Theotokos has in the Church, and how to venerate her properly without confusion.

This is a truly special book, written by no less than a modern Saint, living in a modern America. It will change the Way you see the Theotokos, and the Way you see the Church.

Oh, God, please... Spare me the romance, the cop banter, the pros and cons of legalization. Who needs this? This is about as far from real writing as you can get. Purple prose, easy answers, conspiracies, romance, all topped off with an easy, tied up with a bow ending: this is so sophomoric it isn't even funny ( it's not, by the way).

Save your money and your time.

This book is more than fluff. It's bare sinew and blood. It's absolutely spare. It's a vision.

It's nothing like most of the pablum that NY churns out. Every word rings true.

Few novels are actually about anything these days. This one is. If you appreciate truth in what you read, put this one on your list.

I guess I'm being picky. Okay I know Sunday is really the first day of the week but for those of us tracking miles by week (especially important for building your bases so you don't over do it) you usually can't break the weekend apart. Sometimes due to your time schedule you can train long on Saturday and sometimes you have to do it on Sunday. Let's say your building for a marathon. You do 5 - five milers during the week and a 15 mile run on Sunday. Next week you do the same but have to do the 15 on Saturday. According to the book you did 25 miles one week and 55 miles the next. How's that for tracking weekly miles? The better training log's leave the days of the week blank so you can fill it in. And yes I know you could always cross out the days of the week in this log and rewrite it but why should you have to?

I started running about 4 months before I bought this Training Diary - and now I wish that I'd started keeping the diary as soon as I started running.

I find it a useful motivational tool - if I've set myself a goal for the week and don't feel like running one day, I look at my goal and know how disappointed I'll be at the end of the week if I don't achieve my goal. Therefore I go for a run!

I buy one of these for my husband every year. It's one of his favorite Christmas presents because it lasts all year long. I'll continue to buy him one each year until he quits running, which I'm sure he'll never do.

Not much can be said about the book that hasn't been said in the other reviews you will find here. The insight into this fascinating man's life is invaluable. His struggles and his triumphs make the everyday things we face seem small. And the boy can flat out write a song, too! But...and there is always a but...I think the publisher of this book must have had a copyeditor's strike. While it did not detract from the effect of the book, the glaring errors and typos did distract this reader. Twice, not once but two times, the author refers to the rock band Tesla as Tessler. Does the publisher not have anyone available to research and proofread a detail like this? There were other mistakes, that with a careful copyeditor, would have been caught. The rambling "And then this happened...and then this happened" style was appropriate to the rambling life of Steve Earle. My high school English teacher, however, would have given this manuscript back to Ms. St. John and her publisher and reminded them that their audience pays a lot of money to read well-edited books.

I know I am nit-picking...otherwise, I buzzed through this book in two nights. Great read, highly recommended.

Steve Earle chose to dive into the fires of hell at a young age. Before the age of 30 he had tried just about every drug under the sun and was a hardcore heroin addict. What's amazing is that Steve managed to do all this, still write amazing albums and perform and tick off everyone who cared for him in the process. Such is the life of a drug addict.

St. John's often unflattering biography (written with Earle's co-operation and input from friends, family members and former friends and business associates)captures this dynamo in action; he knew from the start what type of songs he wanted to write and record. It was always a matter of finding someone that would let him do it. The same thing goes for his drug abuse. He managed to go down for the third time and still save himself. He also managed to alienate just about anyone that cared for him without any insight into his immoral and reckless behavior.

Luckily, the same insight that allows him to inhabit the characters of his often heartbreaking songs, eventually allowed him to see himself for what he was; a junkie wielding his needle like a bulldozer and rolling everyone and everything he cared about. He still disagrees with some of his former associates, lovers, wives (he's been married 4 times and had two children out of wedlock)but he's just as apt to turn that critical eye on himself and attack his own behavior in the past.

He's still an amazing writer and performer. Unlike his mentor Townes Van Zant, Earle managed to recapture his life before his self destructive behavior took too much of a physical toll (the best quote from Earle--"If I thought I'd live this long I would have taken better care of myself" applies to him as much as to Van Zant). He just managed to finally capture the demons driving him, bottle them up and put them on the shelf for display in his songs. They'll always threaten to break out but at least he has a place to put them where they'll do less harm to him and others.

He could be (and sometime still is) an awful person to those he loves. Fortunately, he recognizes the addictive behavior that drove him for so long and drove those around him away. Hardcore Troubador is a harrowing but irrestible read--just like the very drugs that almost destroyed Earle.

He's had a hell of a life and he hasn't always been a hell of a guy...but he remains one of the most prolific, talented, and dogged songwriters around. I haven't stopped listening to Steve Earle since I've finished reading this book and his book of short stories.

He's worked hard to maintain his unique voice and his activism. This biography gets underneath all his songs - placing his music in the context of his life. I highly recommend this book, and his music.

The use of the word 'interesting' seems to be inappropriate for this book. For me as a Catholic the life of monasticism is still full of secret. Actually this book is a mere description of the rule of St Benedict as the title suggests and sometimes they are too strict and outdated. It requires a very high obedience standard from the monks and some of them are unreasonable for this era. Probably from historic viewpoint these rules make sense, but definitely not now. This book is still recommended, however, to those who are interested in sixth century's monasticism history and development.

This edition starts with a helpful introduction of Lectio Divina reading (read, meditate, rest in God, govern one's actions) by the editors. Thomas Moore (Care for the Soul) then presents the "rule" not as an edict but as a measure for spiritual progress. He states monks have a sense of humor, but his Franciscan past is probably more open than Benedict's "only a fool raises his voice in laughter". According to the "rule" a lot depends upon the abbot, and the monk must accept the abbot's ruling, fair or not, as an exercise in obedience and prayer.

I think the rule has relevance even to a modern, non-monastic Christian life, by offering a model of rhythm and simplicity. In this time of shaken confidence, the twelve steps of humility is a refreshing thought. The rule presents a challenge to the modern to "Renounce yourself in order to follow Christ".

This book has great value, not just as an historical artifact, but as a way to live one's life, both inside and outside the Cloister. I don't thing there is a single monastery today that follows all of the Rule "religiously". They all adapt the Rule to local circumstances, just as Benedict suggested, and just as Benedict himself did with existing Rules. This includes dietary and disciplinary regulations.

It is, however, helpful to have a guidebook such as Chittister's or de Wall's, in order to understand how the Rule is applied, and what wisdome people have found in it who have actually lived under its strictures for years and even decades. That will help the reader understand what value there is in the Rule.

John Robinson was a businessman, Eagle Scout and Man of the Year. Very few people knew the real John Robinson. Three quarters of the book deals with the prior crimes committed by John. He was always setting up new businesses and trying to get people to invest. Each time the police caught him, he would start up another business.
While only a quarter of the book dealt with his new found internet lifestyle. The book was well written except for the ending, when the reader is left wonder what actually happened.

This story blew my mind. I had just finished the book when I stopped for fuel at the NM/AZ state line on I-40. There was a state police computer printout hanging on the door, warning women against chatting with men on the internet because of the "internet slavemaster." The state police (NM) were asking for any information in connection to this internet entity. I couldn't believe it.

Then, when I arrived in Holbrook, AZ, I ran into four highway patrolmen at a truckstop diner and asked them about the notice. We engaged in an hour-long conversation about how a predator like this can disguise himself as an upstanding member of the community and keep everybody fooled. We had the book out and several people seemed mesmerized by our discussion of this story. It has that effect! It is just so unbelievable that people are astounded.

If you have not read this book, get it! This man was the first to harness the internet for serial killing. Boy, it will drive home the fact that there is no safe ground anymore. If you have children, you will be concerned about what they are doing online. It will make you look at your computer in a whole new light. It will also make you start wondering about all those upstanding citizens that you know so well ... or do you really know them at all?

There is a flip side to this story - the world of S&M and the women that were surfing for a "master." This man could not have lured them if they had not been presenting themselves as victims. That is where the game is so dangerous - you just never know when it is going to get out of hand. I would think that it is not something you would readily trust to a stranger. I think that is the part of this story that astounds people the most. Why would a woman readily place herself into the role of slave to a complete stranger?

The author has done a fabulous job of presenting the facts in a flowing narrative that keeps you reading. I couldn't put the book down until I finished it. I can't imagine what he could have done to improve it. It was outstanding!

Living in the Kansas City area I was particularly interested in the John Robinson case and followed it avidly. Glattt has done an excellent job in recounting the case and his research is first class. He also goes further and breaks new facts on the case which have never come to light before. I was very impressed by his writing style and attanetion to detail. I would recommend this to all true crime fans and have done so. This one is way up there with In Cold Blood.