This is the story of an immigrant family in the early 1900s. Many times were hard but the family's faith in God brought them through. This is a very easy to read book with stories that put the reader in the setting. The stories, although enlightening about living in that time period, also serve the purpose of building one's faith by seeing how Mama believed God's promises and helped all her children to believe them too. This book is a pleasure to read & the reader will feel better after having read it.

I was surprised by how attractive biblical marriage is portrayed within the pages of this encouraging little book. This is not about how to have a happy marriage/family life when both partners are 'wonderful'. This is the life-story of a woman who applied God's truths to her life and trusted in the Lord for the outcome. Her husband didn't suddenly turn into the romantic white knight she may have dreamed about in her youth, but she loved and respected him, even regarding his differences. She walked the walk, sacrificing many things to the Lord, and found that the secret to a happy life was a thankful heart. There just aren't very many Christian books out there that unabashedly take God's word as it is written. So many water it down with situational ethics...this one does not, but what an encouraging and riveting biography for us to follow.

This is an excellent book to read. I have this book and I have passed it around to my friends. It is a very heart warming story. I hope you like it.

In this novel, the struggle for power continues between Maigrey, Derek Sagan, and Dion Starfire. However, a new, deadly opponent comes to the surface. The new opponent is going to try to tear apart the Guardians and Dion. However, Maigrey and Sagan have a few tricks up their sleeves! This novel continues right where the first one ended. It is fast paced and highly enjoyable.

This was the best book I have ever read!!I'm currently looking for the 5th book, but I can't find it!What I really want to do is buy the whole series together.I need to know: how many books are in the whole series, if she's written them all, and where could I but them?If you know, email me at LanenKae@a0l.com

The characters are what make this story one of the best I have ever read. Maigrey, Tusk, and Sagan are some of the most powerful characters I have ever found. Weis excells in constructing an immediate sense of the situations in King's Test. The politician Robes is a villian everyone loves to hate. Especially fascinating is the history of the galaxy that precedes the story. Unusually, Weis seems to have three or four main characters, instead of one. Dion Starfire would qualify as the central figure, but the others are so powerfully written that they almost seem to take over the book. References to Milton, Plato, Dickens enrich an already thought-provoking work. After Lost King, I couldn't sleep until I had read the other three books. I would suggest this book to anyone with an interest in futuristics, or for anyone just looking for a great read.

If you're a die hard fan of this classic film then you'll want to read this well-researched "making of" tome. The book is filled with all sorts of wonderful trivia tidbits but most of all it gives an insightful review of those behind the camera in a way I've yet to find in other "OZ" related books. The one and only shortcoming of this book is to be found in the number of pictures, in my opinion there could have been more, otherwise it's a behind the scenes look that most OZ fans won't be disappointed with.

It doesn't matter unduly if you didn't grow up watching MGM's 1939 color movie "The Wizard of Oz" in re-release or on TV. You might think that a "Munchkin" is what used to be called a "doughnut hole." You may think of Judy Garland only as Liza Minnelli's mother, and avoid prewar movies like the plague. Maybe you didn't feel that shock of recognition that "Cora the Coffee Lady" in Maxwell House TV commercials was none other than Margaret Hamilton, the green-faced Wicked Witch of the West.

Of course, if you love "The Wizard of Oz" you've love THE MAKING OF THE WIZARD OF OZ all the more. I just read this book for the second time (the first upon its initial publication), and was astonished and pleased by how well it has held up. Author Aljean Harmetz has crafted a book relevant not only in terms of one particular "prestige" movie off the Hollywood assembly line; but indeed her insight, research and friendly presentation make the book stand as a metaphor of all Hollywood filmmaking during the height of the Studio Era, ca. 1940. Perhaps the late Irving Thalberg was one of the few Hollywood insiders who could "keep the whole equation of pictures inside his head," but Ms. Harmetz opens up this world for us, and shows us both its realism and its wonder.

We return to an era in which studio moguls were as eccentric and powerful as today's software barons, when studio hands were nonunionized yet intensely loyal to their studios, when no movie studio even thought about a future containing broadcast TV, when movie stars were better known than Presidents or Kings, and when Technicolor would give you any color except the one you wanted. Nonetheless, solving the creative problems inherent in bringing L. Frank Baum's novel "The Wizard of Oz" to the screen was seen as an invigorating set of challenges to be met and conquered.

Back then, MGM had a real "can-do" attitude. So no one had
ever created a moving tornado for a film? After two tries the MGM tech people got it right, and the depiction of that horrendous twister so set the tintype for what a tornado ought to look like that it persists in our collective consciousness today, despite today's ubiquitous video cameras.

There were no tape recorders. How, then, to raise or lower voices artificially for dubbing? This book tells how. What happened when Buddy Ebsen almost died from an allergy to aluminum dust he had worn as the (originally intended) Tin Man? Why was Margaret Hamilton burned severely and ignored, yet Billie Burke turned an ankle and was whisked off the set in a white ambulance? Why did the film need four directors and half a dozen screenwriters, yet was fondly recalled as a labor of love by practically everyone except a prematurely embittered Judy Garland? Was the film the great commercial and critical success you might think it would be? And, by the way, what about those Munchkins' alleged sexual proclivities? Excellent answers provided by excellent research present a fully-formed world view, warts and all.

THE MAKING OF THE WIZARD OF OZ would be a wonderful companion to the new restored DVD version of the film, which is so crisp you can count the gingham checkers on Dorothy's blue dress (which was actually violet, to fool the Technicolor process). How were the ruby slippers made? What about that poppy field? Read on. Some critics have said that Harmetz's later work is not as excruciatingly well researched as THE MAKING OF THE WIZARD OF OZ, but I don't care. This book and the movie are not only as much fun as ever, but a great education in the good old/bad old days of the Hollywood "Dream Factory." Don't miss it!

"The Making of the Wizard of Oz: Movie Magic and Studio Power in the Prime of MGM--And the Miracle of Production No 1060" is just downright enthralling. It is an expose' that breaks down the machinery and the machinations of what it took to get a major movie made in the days of the autocratic studio heads. The book offers an entertaining and totally engrossing look at the legendary film. Judy, Ray, Jack, Bert, Margaret, and Toto, too, are all analyzed in this brilliant work. The songwriters, the respective directors, the many other craftsmen, as well as the "little people," in more than the figurative sense, are all here. Vividly embellished with stills from the production, the book's text is just as captivating. The familiar as well as the unfamiliar stories about the production make for a most satisfying read for any "Oz" fan. It is also a good primer for anyone with an interest in pursuing film as a career.

Cooper is a splendid and delightful character. Uncommon sense is a fairytale meets reality kind of novel that draws you in page by page. I am very enthusiastic about this author and her ability to write in a real life, easy to relate to manor. I just could not stop reading it. Each scene was well laid out, hinting at more to come, with romance, suspense, and true to life friendship/work/family situations that we all know and understand. Job well done...and I recommend it to anyone who loves a book they just don't want to put down.

The best feature of this book are the three dimensional characters that run around inside it. The author really seems to breathe life into her characters, and thus makes them totally believable and likable.

The storyline is also intriguing, and the story moves along at a good pace. Intend on losing some sleep when reading this one, because there isn't anyplace in the story where you want to put the book down.

I recommend this book wholeheartedly.

I was an enthusiastic reader of the rough draft of this novel. I do not tend to be charitable about reading the unpublished efforts of others...but this time I was won over on page one! I am so lucky to be an early fan. The hallmark of this author's writing has to be her zinger opening scenes - wild but somehow utterly plausible.

As for the rest of the story - the pace never flags. You immediately like Alec for his well-meaning ineptitude and Cooper for her realistic response to her new condition. Their relationship holds your attention, as do the other relationships in the story. Thrills! Chills! Spills! Plus it's fun to see spot-on evocations of life in San Diego. One other thing I love about this novel: the author's goodness and delightful sense of humor just shine through.

The best thing you can say of any novel is that it ends too soon. That is true of this whimsical, fun "read." So that's reason #1 for my recommendation. Reason #2: Her enthusiastic fans are already reading her second and third still-unpublished novels, which share many of the best qualities of this first, though wildly different in theme and setting. What you are witnessing here, in other words, is a new star on the literary horizon! Enjoy this first book, and you will be able to say, "I was reading her Way Back When." I am already saving my autographed copy for eBay. :)

A beautifully produced book. If you are a beginner or if you are intimidated by other yoga books, this is a wonderful place to start.

There are eight programs that get progressively more challenging but, not never to the point where you can't do them. I love doing these exercises and even on those exhausting days I can still do program one. Highly recommended.

I wanted a book that would show me how to do the yoga postures. One that would focus mainly on the postures and less on the meditative aspects of yoga. I found both in this book. It has easy to follow step-by-step instructions which give you alternate forms of the posture if you are unable to achieve the posture at your range or level. The book gives you weekly workouts to let you know how long to try things before moving on to the more difficult postures. I have recommended this book to friends and family alike. A Great Book.

"Yoga is the most powerful system of stress management, but it is also more than that: it is a system for transforming our awareness and quieting down our mind and body to experience inner sources of peace, joy, and well-being. I highly recommend YOGA FOR YOUR LIFE as a practical and clear guide to getting started in yoga."

I was born with the name of Raistlin.. naturally i would want to see the character i was named after. This book provided me with the start to my passion with Dragon Lance.
It goes into detail and explains everything (how the dragon riders stay on the dragons etc.).
I have one copy and so does my Dad, but mine has pages missing from when he used them as posters. I want another copy but it depends how much i am willing to pay on e bay.
This book is worth getting for a price such as £50.

Enjoy.

This book is worth every penny I paid to get it. It includes a short story about how the Dragonlance epic came to be, the four original color roughs (by Larry Elmore), sketches of the dragonlance and saddle and how to use it, sketches and pictures of the many types of draconians, armor and weapons, beautiful oil and acrylic pictures, a little history and pictures of the Heroes of the Lance, pictures and history of minor characters such as Lord Lorac, the elven king, and much, much more! This book is a must-have for any Dragonlance collector. You won't be disappointed!

This gorgeous book is one of the finest compendiums of TSR artwork ever created - it is loaded full of hundreds of illustrations, free of print, on glossy paper; included are every piece of full-color artwork ever created for Dragonlance (up through 1987), supplemented with rich text and many, many concept sketches that appear nowhere else! For Dragonlance afficionados, or those who appreciated classic art by Easley, Caldwell, Parkinson, Elmore, and more, this is the ideal collection.

Would anyone in her right mind choose a crazy bag lady as a protagonist in a mystery? Of course she would, if she was Margaret Moseley, a writer with a prodigious stock of good sense, and a seemingly endless supply of eccentric characters. She has given us a delightful crackpot of a heroine in her latest novel, Milicent Le Sueur,the most recent work in a line of novels featuring appealing and resilient women lead characters.

Milicent LeSueur is crazy all right, but crazy like a fox, and Moseley uses Milicent's ability to be invisible to put her on the inside track to solving a murder. You know no one pays much attention to the homeless; in fact, people go out of their way to avoid those outsiders who mutter to themselves as they push bag-laden shopping carts through the streets of our cities and towns. Moseley makes the most of Milicent's membership in the homeless invisibles in her plotting.

Making your heroine a bag lady requires a certain delicacy, a gentleness with language, and a boundless respect for humanity, so as to avoid seeming opportunistic or voyeuristic or judgmental. Milicent is a homeless bag lady, but her situation is one she has chosen, her independence is her sustenance, and her voice and character are indelible.

The only other writer I have encountered who treats the homeless community with such affection in fiction is Samuel Delany. He exhibits a gentle acceptance of all sorts of human failings, and manages to embrace them and imbue them with a real strength and love. Moseley does the same with Milicent.

Our intrepid bag-lady heroine has all the traits of obsessive compulsive behavior -- she counts phone rings, chair squeaks, imitates sounds of car doors shutting, and has a full quota of neuroses and psychoses that intrude into her internal and external dialogues with a startling regularity.

Milicent explains her situation early in the book: "Now here is why I am called Milicent Le Sueur. I really am a Milicent, although I think it's spelled different, but it doesn't matter about that. What matters is that I am every woman's worst nightmare come to life."

While she is putting out the garbage in the alleyway behind her house in her old life, an elderly homeless man asks for some food. Milicent feeds him a huge meal, and he goes on his way to Portsmith ("Hear tell they have good alleys to eat from") thanking her and calling her Mrs. Le Sueur because she fed him some sweet peas.

Shortly thereafter she finds herself in the grocery store with 3 carts filled with cans of Le Sueur peas, signing a check with the name Milicent Le Sueur. "There were those who wanted to have me tested, so I just up and moved to Portsmith," Milicent explains, and adds matter-of-factly that her first name had been spelled differently in her old life, but it is Milicent now because that's the way it appeared on her first police report.

It is this matter-of-factness that gives Moseley's book its deep sense of truth. Nothing that Milicent does -- whether it be rooting in garbage cans for food, sleeping in cardboard boxes, bathing in a fast-food restaurant bathroom, obsessively counting leaves or squeaks or building blocks or sounds,acting in a play, solving a mystery or screaming at passersby -- is colored by any judgment. The descriptions are all couched in practicality ... Milicent's actions are simply what a person has to do to survive when that person has chosen to depart from regular society.

That said, Milicent is not your ordinary bag lady. She lives in a smallish town where, being the only bag lady, she has become a tolerated, if not totally beloved, eccentric part of the local scenery. She manages to hold a regular (well, irregularly regular) job, cleaning the toilet in the local KFC in exchange for a meal. She has made a friend of the chief of police and a few respected citizens who protect her in many ways.

At the opening of the book Milicent is a witness to the death of a young woman hit by a car. At least, that's what everyone thinks. But some of the townsfolk wonder whether Milicent herself could be a prime suspect in the slaying, so her pal Wade Tate the police chief puts her in a holding cell to protect her. He also wants as much information as he can get about the circumstances surrounding the accident, which happened near Milicent's sleeping spot, and Milicent is his only source of clues. But getting answers out of this delightfully befogged woman is a chore that would stymie Sherlock Holmes. Wade Tate is no ordinary police chief, though, and he knows how to speak Milicent's language.

Taking the investigation into her own hands, Milicent goes underground to root around and find out who killed this "angel" and why the killer is determined to pin the crime on the town's only bag lady.

Her journey not only solves the mystery of the killing, but it also goes a long way to solving the mystery of Milicent Le Sueur herself. Moseley has given us one more of her delightfully eccentric, strong women; Milicent is a character who will return again and again to the mind of anyone who encounters her.

Margaret Moseley (of BONITA FAYE fame) manages once again to get inside the head of an eccentric female protagonist and make her readers believe every bizarre twist on the wild ride. From the get-go, Moseley's Milicent Le Sueur captured my curiosity and lured me deeper into a tale of murder and deceit, inviting me to revel in the quirks of the schizophrenic bag lady as the only witness to the killing of a young girl.

You'll find yourself counting along with her as she obsessively accounts for all of her shopping bags, the steps into the police station, and which cell she'll sleep in at the station. She's comedic and tragic, and she'll steal your heart. Don't plan to accomplish anything constructive once you start reading--MILICENT LE SUEUR is a reading-at-stoplights-on-the-way-home kind of book!

I seldom pop out laughing when I am reading a book...especially a mystery. As Milicent's character develops and my affection for her increases, I am touched by the plight of all the people she represents. The humor she distributes does not dilute the suspense. Moseley is a natural humorist and Milicent is a most refreshing read. Could there be a sequel?

In my opinion, this is the best mystery in the Sister Frevisse series of mysteries. Why is this so? Well, firstly, there are several deaths, with the finger of suspicion pointing several ways. The identity of the guilty party is not certain until the end. [If you knew who it was without peeking, don't tell!].

Secondly, there are several sub-plots each with their own mysteries. There is the uncertain fate of the nunnery's steward who has been accused of being a serf and thus stands to lose his freedom - and that of his children. We do not know who accused him, and why. There is also the mystery about a certain very prosperous man in the village and his wife and family. What are his intents, and those of his wife? Was she really guilty of all that the village gossip alleged?

There are other puzzles to follow - such as who will get a certain piece of land, what will happen to the harvest, and so forth. The depiction of village life, which includes several scenes of cases being decided by the elders, is alone worth reading this novel for. It is rare that mystery novels set in the medieval era focus in such detail on the life of ordinary villeins (the proper term) and free peasants.

I look forward to reading more of Sister Frevisse's adventures. The series will not appeal to all, including those who are more knowledgeable about the period and/or tired of medieval mysteries using nuns or monks as sleuths. To enjoy this book, you must like medieval mysteries and enjoy reading about the nitty-gritty details of convent life (some of which can be less than pleasant).

This is one series that really deserves the comparison with Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael series. Fortunately, I don't believe in hierarchies, because I'd be hard-pressed to choose between the two. Frazer is a very gifted writer and these work both as historical novels and as mysteries. Since Frevisse, like Cadfael is a Benedictine, it is interesting to see glimpses of how the order had changed over the centuries.

This is typical of Frazer: the characterizations are excellent and often complex, the background is well drawn and the story is gripping. Frevisse, having more experience in dealing with the outside world than most of her sisters is sent to serve as temporary representative for lands that her convent co-owns. This is a complex job; she must manage to work and share authority with people whose interests are opposed to the convent's. Frazer gives us a vivid account of the machinations that underly the struggle to control land and wealth, even among the peasantry.

This is the first book of this author that i read. I picked up the book purely because it was set in the 15th century England and wanted some idea about a typical English village of that time. And I was not disappointed. Very well written and good characterisation. The story starts slowly but I think this is required for a sound understanding of the settings, the characters, their relationships and their respective roles in the village. In addition to the intriguing mystery, the descriptions of the local governemnt and the role of church in those times is a good learning. In particular, the judicial process of those times has been described well. The dialogue is sharp and at times, witty as well. But dont look for a murder from the first chapter. Be fascinated by the judicial process in the beginning and then get into the nystery as it starts to develop and soon couple of corpses appear. The finger of suspicion does point several ways. Also, there are several sub plots as well. A very engrossing book. Worth reading for the description of the village life, the court and judicial process,and the lifes of the ordinary people. You will not be disappointed in reading this.

King's Sacrafice takes us back to the galaxy with Dion, Sagan and Maigrey. This novel picks up right where the prequel lets off......it is high paced, and leaves you on the edge of your seat. Scenes with Abdiel are very intense, and entertaining. I loved this novel due to the influx of new intriguing characters. See who will finally control the galaxy! Will it be Dion? Or Sagan? Or Maigrey? Or a combination of all three?

Moi qui n'aime pas la science fiction, me voila plongé dans un univers prénant ou chaque personnage doté d'une psychologie differente vous fait vibrer. Tout s'y retrouve dans un savoureux cocktail: action, suspense, aventure, amour et sacrifice! Un grand livre qui m'a arraché autant de rires que de larmes... A deguster sans modèration!

I am not a usual fantasy or sci-fi reader, but a friend convinced me to read The Star of the Guardians series. In fact, the only fantasy I had read before this were The Lord of the Rings. I became addicted to The Star of the Guardians as soon as I picked them up! King's Sacrifice stuck out in my mind as the best one in the series though (I cried more than I did in Gone With the Wind and The Man in the Iron Mask(the book) combined). The best part about this book was the inexorable destinies of Lady Maigrey and Lord Sagan, and their romantic interactions with one another. Now don't get me wrong! It isn't all mush, it is very quick-paced! The mush just got to me the most. The only thing about this book is that the writing is good, but not excellent like Ray Bradbury or Margaret Atwood...in other words, it's not what you might call a contemporary classic. From a well read person, I think you would like it.

I cataloged this book for a university library's curriculum lab, loved it, and bought it for my 21/2 yr. old daughter in 1973. My daughter adored it, but, unfortunately, years later she loaned her copy to a friend who never returned it. She's been looking for another copy since she reached adulthood. This is the first children's book that I know of that shows a female in the classic heroic role, typically assigned to males, and the first that ends with the the female and the male as equal partners. The ending has a delightful twist and the story will be appreciated by either gender.

A classic fairy tale setting is turned inside out in this story of strong-willed princess Petronella, brought back into print after more than 20 years by startup children's publisher Moon Mountain Publishing.

In the kingdom of Skyclear Mountain, three princes are always born to the king and queen--until the day when the youngest prince turns out to be a girl, Petronella. When the time comes for her elder brothers to go off to seek their fortunes, everyone expects Petronella to stay home and wait for a prince to turn up and marry her. But Petronella has other plans. She sets off on her own quest, which brings her to the house of Albion, a sinister enchanter. There she finds a prince, Ferdinand of Firebright, apparently in need of rescue. Ferdinand isn't exactly what Petronella expected--in fact, he's a bit of a boob--but she sets out to save him anyway, with results that delightfully confound the reader's expectations.

Jay Williams, author of more than 80 books for children and adults, didn't set out to write a feminist fairy tale. According to his daughter, he was simply responding to a request from his children to think up a story where the princess, for once, took an active role. But Petronella, first published in 1973, came at just the right moment to be embraced by the women's movement. Its portrayal of an assertive female protagonist and reversal of gender stereotypes--relatively rare in children's fiction at the time--won it wide attention, and it was much-reviewed and extensively anthologized before falling of print (and out of fashion) in the late 1970's.

These days, strong heroines and gender reversals are commonplace, in children's fiction as elsewhere, and Williams' scenario no longer seems radical or even particularly surprising. Far from diminishing Petronella's appeal, however, this shedding of political baggage makes it possible to see just how charming the book really is, with its engaging characters, amusing dialogue, clever situations, and flowing, supple prose. The lavishly colorful illustrations by fantasy artist Margaret Organ-Kean perfectly capture the story's momentum and the sparkling wonder of its enchantments, and give vivid form to the personalities of its characters, from fiery Petronella to sinister Albion to lumpish Ferdinand.

It's an altogether lovely new edition of a book that very much deserves its return to print.

Strong-willed and resourceful Princess Petronella goes on a quest to rescue a very odd prince from a mysterious enchanter. Overcoming perilous challenges with courage, kindness and talent, Petronella makes a daring escape with the prince -- but has she rescued the right man? The enchanting watercolor artwork of Margaret Organ-Kean is a perfect visual showcase for Jay Williams gender bending, highly recommended fairytale for young readers ages 8 to 12.