It's very seldom that a book both takes hold of your heart *and* guides you through metaphors to notice something about reality that had previously escaped you. 'Momo' is such a book. Set in a fantasy world that parallels what we would consider ideal, 'Momo' is the story of a special girl observeing and trying to cope with/battle against the slow and unnoticed appearance of an army of grey men -- intent on stealing the free time from all the people in her world. The effects of this time theft is clever and in a way haunting; the world begins to become modernized, looking more and more like our own. To give away any more then that would be to give away the plot; trust me, it's a wonderfull, wonderfull read for adults and kids alike. I rank it up there with C.S. Lewis's "The Chronicals of Narnia".

Have you ever think of finding a book that capture you from the first page until the end. Beautiful story like fairy tale with supurb narrative style that you want to re-read it many times. Moreover, the book that contains a wonderful idea about life. If yes, try to read this book. Story of a little girl and her friends seemed to be a simple plot. But it isn't like that when it is in Michale Ende's hands. It's about people, friendship and time. Please read this book to your children and you will enjoy this beautiful story as well. If you still don't believe me, Let go through other's people comment for this book. The best way is to find out by yourself. In Thailand, this book is reprinted so many times and I am so glad that I can own this precious book. Another "Gem" from Michale Ende is "The Never Ending Story" both are equally supurb.. I guarantee.

Momo has a talent, she can listen. This book tells the story of a little girl, that all of a sudden appears in an old amphitheatre - nobody knows how she got there - but something bad happ[ens, the friends that had time for her now don't come to see her anymore, don't come to talk to her - she finds out why - this is the story about momo, her friends and the grey man that steal the time - and Momo's try to rescue them. This book should be read by all those that never take a minute for themself

When George Orwell wrote 1984 in 1949 the free world had just destroyed two totalitarian regimes and still faced another. The idea of Big Brother was all too real, even though the technology that Orwell described was not. Michael Freeny, an American psychologist, has written a novel somewhat like 1984, but this time the technology is all too real, and the threat comes not from a political regime but from the marketplace. The reality of modern information technology makes this book terrifying.

Michael Freeny, a Florida writer and chotherapist, provides a riveting insider's view of America's largest service industry - market driven health care. His is a chilling account of cybercare gone mad. Freeny notes at the beginning of his book that the technology described in the novel is currently available. Thus this book could also serve both doctors and the general public as a primer in the intricacies of the deceptive practices of managed care. Indeed, a note at the end of his book notes that 'Healthcare professionals may be eligible to earn continuing education credit for reading this book.'

On several levels, this book has real appeal. As a mental health professional I was vaguely aware of some of the potentials associated with healthcare information technology. Michael Freeny has alerted me to the depth of those potentials . . . both the good and evil. I must admit, I doubt I would have ever wadded through a technical description of this technology had it not been woven into a story that captured my attention. It was a great way for me to get some needed updating.

As a novel to read on an airplane or at the beach, Terminal Consent is thoroughly enjoyable. It is a good read! The plot and the characters are unique and engaging. I particularly enjoyed seeing the world through the eyes of a caring and thoughtful mental health professional; and thankfully, there was not a young lawyer, ready to do battle with a corrupt system, anywhere in sight!

This series of books about Trixie Belden (the young girl detective) was very exciting for me growing up. I grew up on a farm like Trixie and identified with her character much more than Nancy Drew (the other option at the time). Trixie is a tomboy and manages to get herself into all types of scrapes that are both exciting and inventive. A must read for anyone with a girl age 8-15!

Like most of the other reviewers, I started reading them when I was young, got hooked and have continued reading them. I packed them up when we moved about 10 years ago and recently was thrilled to discover my box with 34 titles in it, so thrilled in fact I had to re-read them all, in sequence. Then I had to pack them up again but now, at long last, they are in a place of honor in my new bookcase (which, by the way has a shelf of exactly the right height for Trixie Belden books). The local library recently removed from circulation an almost complete set (1-34,36,39) if you can believe it. Unfortunately I got there too late to get the two I was missing and only managed to get a duplicate of #1 which was extremely tattered. I went back a few days later and someone had cleaned them out of the rest of the set. The Trixie Belden series actually furthered my education more than once. Want to know about Arizona? the Hudson River Valley? Williamsburg? More than once I've been sent to my encyclopedias (doesn't that date me?) to look up something I read in my Trixies. I raise my voice with the rest of you--REPRINT NOW!

I first read Trixie Belden: The Secret of the Mansion when I was eight years old. I fell in love with the Trixie Belden series immediately. I'm almost 22 now, and I own through Book 20 with a few more from the more recent books. I would dearly love to find copies of the remaining books (up to 39). Not only do I still like to read these books, but I plan to pass my collection down to my own children.

Just a note, Trixie Belden: The Secret of the Mansion was written by Julie Campbell, not Kathryn Kenny. Julie Campbell is the author of the first six Trixie Belden books. Kathryn Kenny picked up the Trixie Belden series with Book 7, Trixie Belden and the Mysterious Code.

I laughed out loud at a lot of the commentary in this book. One really funny example is the recipe on page 110 "Hotter Than Hell Sabbath Dip" (From a drag queen in New Orleans who claims to be the original Creole Lady Marmalade) Very campy, very southern, other recipes make reference to Tennessee William's "A Streetcar Named Desire" and there are so many with that distinctly New Orleans flair. This book shows the city and its cuisine from a new, refreshing angle and not the same old boring "BAM!"

Fat City,Mardi Gras Metropolis, The Big Easy... New Orleans has many names and is famous for great Cajun & Creole food. Where the hurricanes flow & the bars never close; if you've been down Bourbon Street in the historical French Quarter you know why New Orleans is unique & this book is a tribute to the fine food and the endless parade of things that make it such a memorable place!

It just doesn't get any better than this, here's a wonderful book that captures the French Quarter and the Big Easy at its absolute best. If you think cookbooks are old news & that it's all been said & done before, dare to be proven wrong by this fantastic book, it is well written by a very knowledgeable chef! Emeril look out, Todd St. Pierre (A native of South Louisiana and a real Cajun) is a talent to be reckoned with!!!

In preparing our list of Christmas books to share with others, we had to search far and wide on amazon to find this particular book, a paperback edition of the classic Night Before Christmas.

This is the book I've used for years when reading this story to my own children, passing on Tasha Tudor and other illustrators. Why?

Although we can find the same poem and pay a lot more, with award winning illustrators, the illustrations provided by Douglas Gorsline are surely the best. They are quite colorful, and offer details little children love looking into...cats lie sleepily on the window sill, we see an overview of the town, the presents spilling from the open sack are intriguing and plentiful, and Jolly St. Nick is -- well, quite Jolly (as you can see by looking at the cover!)

The story is an "abridged version" - I'm not sure about other parents, but we read this on Christmas Eve, and we only have so much time and energy. Everything we remember from the classic poem by Clement Clarke Moore is in this version.

(From "'Twas the Night Before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse" to "He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle. But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,"HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD-NIGHT!" In between we have everything, from the names of the eight tiny reindeer, to a belly that shakes like a bowl full of jelly, including dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, when they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky".

In other words, don't be scared off by 'abridged'!)

Perhaps a hardcover edition might be more appropriate if you're giving a gift (unless you're giving to more than one child), but this book is one of the best offers we've found!

A classic done simply and inexpensively!

I discovered this book 31 years ago, for my daughter and it is still loved by all the family. The illustrations are wonderful, warm, charming and delightful and bring a special meaning to the story. We still read it to all the young children on Christmas Eve and for adults we read the story and pass a grab bag gift every time the word THE is mentioned. It would not be Christmas without this book. It is magical.

We have an inexpensive paperback version (see our reviews) of this classic poem, and we said that's enough for us. That was before we looked through this beautifully illustrated (by Bruce Whatley) edition of The Night Before Christmas.

The lyrics are the same, from book to book, but the fanciful illustrations in this one are enough to engage adults and children as they read this book together.

The perfect gift for any family whose Christmas tradition includes reading this classic!

I will not repeat what other reviewers have said about this classic learner's dictionary. It has been a valuable reference for ESL students for many decades. I own several learner's dictionaries published recently (Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 4th Edition, Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary, and Collins Cobuild 3rd edition) and some of them have features this one does not have. But I still use this dictionary a lot and will continue to use it. I hope a new edition of it will come out soon.

No other book on my bookshelf is more worn out. I use it all the time. When I started to study English I used to use an English / Portuguese (my first language) dictionary but I could only actually improve my English when I started using the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

The dictionary has lots of pictures (over 1700) for words that can be explained but for which a picture is much more effective like "hinge". The words have a pronunciation guide with a mark (') showing the main stress. There are many useful appendixes like irregular verbs conjugation, usage of numbers, punctuation, family relationships and a few colorful maps.

Over 220 usage notes clarify the subtle differences among words such as dealer trader and merchant. Although it's mainly a British English dictionary the differences in spelling, use or pronunciation between American English and British English are stressed.

By far the most interesting feature is the extremely reduced defining vocabulary constituted of 3500 words. The great majority of definitions are written using that reduced defining vocabulary. This simplifies the definitions and it's a great starting vocabulary for the beginners. The use of such a small defining vocabulary rules out the use of this dictionary as a thesaurus but the advantages compensate this drawback.

My copy is a paper back that has been reinforced with adhesive tape. This makes the dictionary lighter and handy. I used to put it on my back pack and take it to all my classes when I started college in USA.

The drawbacks are the need of an additional thesaurus and the fact that the entries are not syllabified. Nevertheless I would give it 10 stars if I could.

Leonardo Alves - December 2000

I have recently bought the millenium edition (hardbound) of this book. In my scientific studies (I study Scientology which uses a precise study technology that demands a good dictionary to look up misunderstood words) a good dictionary is vital.
This one has been very helpful to me as it gives precise yet comprehensible definitions. This is maybe the most important point of all.
I found it very easy to look up a word i did not understand and gain a conceptual understanding of that word after a short period of time. The definitions just make sense and are not too complicated and confusing.
It also includes example sentences and idioms and information for the further usage of a particular word.
It also has a section with colored pictures (maps, categories such as clothing, food, animals etc.) that provide a picture of the real thing that the word represents - a quite useful tool for foreigners and non native speakers like me.

If you are currently studying english, reading english texts (but have a limited vocabulary) or just don't want to run into too many complexities when using a dictionary and don't want to be too confused but you just want to know the meaning of a word and understand it, then this is the right dictionary for you.

As it is a dictionary for "learners" it does not include things like etymology and syllables (the only negative points), technical definitions (although it includes some where their appearance is reasonable) etc.

But it includes phonetic symbols at the bottom of each page and has, as all dictionaries, a section wich explains each symbol and abbreviation that can appear in an entry.
If there would appear some symbol or abbreviation in the entry that you wouldn't understand, you would find it easy to find its meaning as everything in this dictionary is exactly where you would consider it to be.
So you don't fool around loosing time and getting frustrated. I think the editors of some dictionaries assume that you already know all these symbols but include their definitions anyway in a very complicated way.

Not with this one.
I highly recommend this dictionary. You can buy it without reservations.
But...you should have a second one with etymologies at hand.

In the sequel to Shiloh, Shiloh Season, the award-winning author, Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, once again beautifully portrays the rural life of West Virginia and the love a young boy, Marty, has for an abused dog named Shiloh.

In this sequel, Marty is faced with the conflict of losing Shiloh to the dog's original owner Judd Travers. Judd is known throughout the small community of Friendly, West Virgina for not only being a drunk but also for abusing his dogs.

I would recommend reading the first Shiloh before reading Shiloh Season. However, Naylor gives background information in chapter 1 to refresh the reader's memory from what happened in the first of the 3 novels. Therefore, if you choose not to read the first Shiloh then you will not be totally lost when picking up with Shiloh Season.

Marty worked for Judd in the first Shiloh in order to earn the right to own the abused beagle Shiloh as his very own. However, in Shiloh Season, Judd continuously taunts Marty in wanting Shiloh back as his dog again. What could possibly make this situation worse? Judd is drinking heavier now than ever before and backing up his threats of taking Shiloh with gunshots at Marty!

Marty learns many important lessons throughout the course of the story. He not only learns the different responsibilities that accompanies raising a dog but he also learns that truth and honesty are always the best policy even if it means losing something that you love. Marty also learns that forgiving someone is sometimes very hard but a very crucial lesson when growing up.

As a teacher, I would definitely recommend this book for 10 year old students and older to read independently or for teachers and parents to read aloud to their children of the same age level. I can't wait to read Naylor's Saving Shiloh which is the third book of the Shiloh trilogy. I also hope to see future books about Shiloh to continue the series.

It all first started when Shiloh was being abused by his owner Judd Travers. So Marty tried to take him away but after an attack from a German Shepherd, Shiloh was hidden no more. His parents found out ing and worse Judd Travers Shiloh Season was a book about a boy named Marty and a dog named Shioh,and a man that Marty despises named Judd Travers. In this book Marty feels like he did not get Shioloh fair and square. He thinks that the only reason that he got Shiloh was because he saw Judd do something that he was not allowed to do. Because of this Marty keeps on getting the feeling that Judd wants Shiloh back. But Marty loves Shiloh and doesn't want to give him up. There is a lot of conflict going around with Judd and Marty. Since Marty had taken away Shiloh from Judd he has been drinking and drinking ever since. Marty is worried that since he drinks and is violent he might come after Marty or even worse come after Shiloh and kill him. Marty fears for his life. He has to look over his shoulder every second of his life.

Have you ever had a man accuse you of stealing his dog or having him try to kill you? Well in the book Shiloh Season by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, a boy named Marty has this problem. He worked for Judd Travers` for two whole weeks and kept secrets just to keep his beat up dog named Shiloh. Judd says Marty did not even earn that dog and it still belongs to himself. So Judd starts to drink more and more beer. Then all of the sudden one night he got so drunk he got in an accident. One night Marty and Shiloh were taking a jog down to Dr. Murphy's and he was not home, but Judd was around. They took a rest on a log and right in the middle of Marty and Shiloh a bullet comes flying. Judd! That is all that came to Marty's mind. Was it Marty or Shiloh he was trying to kill? Well if you want to know read this book! It's a great adventure story. I think you'll love it!
I like this book a lot, but I did not like it when Judd killed animals and tried to shoot at people.
I think the book was pretty neat though. When Marty had his mind full of secrets it made me think about what he might do with them. He might tell someone or he might not tell anyone. Then I was thinking of what might happen if he spilled out a secret. What might that lead to? This book kept me in a lot of suspense throughout the whole time I read it. The book has many cliffhangers in it so it makes me want to keep reading. I really enjoyed the book, but that Judd Travers made the book have some horrible scenes that were hard to understand and was uncomfortable to read. That's how I feel about this book.
The main character in the book I read is Marty. Everything is based on him and his life. He is a 10 year old boy who lives in Friendly, West Virginia. Marty has blond hair and two bratty sisters. Their names are Dara Lynn and Becky. He also has a friend named David. They go to school together and are in the same class. Marty has many traits throughout the book. One is he is a very curious boy who always needs to know things. He is also a very courageous kid. He is always spying on Judd, making sure he doesn't do bad things. Marty is a very caring kid. When his dad thought Judd was hunting in their woods, Marty was worried about Dara Lynn and Becky, but most of all Shiloh. Marty has many strengths. One is he is very good in school. His teacher feels that he wrote a great report but he must use his "family" language at home and good grammar in school. He also is a very good spy. He goes to Judd's house with his friend David. They were being very underhanded. Marty also has weaknesses. He just barely leaves Shiloh to get on the school bus. Rarely does Marty ever go to friends house for a long time. Those are some of his strengths and weaknesses.
I think Marty does all the right things! I think Marty loves Shiloh so much that whenever he is not with him he anticipates being with him. To me Marty resents Judd Travers. Everything in Marty's life seems to be very bewildering. During the book everything seems to change my mind. One minute I like the book, the next minute I do not like the book. Marty, a young 10 year old, seems to do quite a lot for his age. He is a very brave young boy to me. I like this book a lot because it makes you feel like you go right inside and the book comes alive. This was a spectacular book! I hope you will read it.
I thought this book was wonderful because it made me think about how hard life could be and that I do have a good life so I should be proud.

The term "calling" is rather misleading: it implies something unequivocal and unmistakable, like Moses hearing a voice from the burning bush or Paul being knocked off his horse. But, more often, it's a whisper you have to strain to hear, or a series of little signs you'll overlook if you aren't paying attention. Levoy's book is less a how-to guide than a meditation on the nature of callings and how to listen for them. He uses many examples from his own life, but, to his credit, he doesn't take himself too seriously or pretend that he has The Answer to anyone's questions about the meaning of life -- even his own. And his subjective insights are balanced by plentiful examples from the experiences of others. His anecdotal style, his heavy use of quotations, and the circular structure of many chapters might frustrate a reader looking for direct guidance, but I found the book thought-provoking and intuition-stimulating. It's the sort of book you can pick up at any time, flip through, and find a paragraph or a chapter that sets off new sparks in your mind. My one complaint is that he often isn't specific enough about the source of a quotation -- e.g., "Goethe wrote ..." is NO help at all with the author of such bagatelles as Faust, Parts I and II! Otherwise, I thought his reference section offered excellent suggestions for further reading: you can pick a quotation that resonates with you, and follow it up with more of that author's writings. Finally, his writing is a great pleasure to read -- it's fluid without becoming monotonous, and well expresses the twists and eddies of his or his subject's thoughts. I enjoyed the book thoroughly, and plan to reread it.

Gregg Levoy's book literally fell into my hands at my public library. Since then I have purchased it as my own. It is a deeply spiritual and invigorating piece of work which has made me become more aware of the messages around me.. A powerful related experience is when I happened to be talking to an acquaintence who was expressing her frustration with her life in general. I said I was reading a book that might help her. She said she had begun reading a book, too. She had been to a large book store in a metro area and turned to come face-to-face with a book. When I asked her the name of it, I gasped when she said, "Callings." Read this book and open your ears, mind, and soul.

This book is geared for anyone who is doing what life tells them to do..and still doesn't feel right. It reminds us to not ignore that subtle voice that will not leave us when we are not doing what the universe wants us to be doing. It reminds us that our intuition is there to help us find our path in life and that if we ignore the messages we will have a significant price to pay. Having been in the wrong career for 11 years, this book has inspired me to not only quit my job, but to follow that intuitive voice that has been hounding me for years. This book is perfect for anyone who "knows" that something needs to change in their life. I also will be throwing out a multitude of similar books that can't even touch the level of material in this book. Don't even hesitate to buy this one!! And no, I don't know the author and have never written a book review before.

When I'd finished reading "A Place called Wiregrass" and looked again at the editorial reviews on the cover I was surprised that no-one had commented on the strong message of faith portrayed in the story. Erma Lee Jacob's journey from the depths of despair to following God's call came slowly, honestly, sincerely and lovingly throughout the book. It
showed how much easier it was to live God's plan and not the world's plan for a happier life. It wasn't a sudden decision, but a long thought-provoking one and I enjoyed travelling along this spiritual path with Erma Lee.

Well done Michael Morris. You deserve recognition for this first novel beautifully written. I believe this book is so powerful that it can appeal to anyone -- regardless of individual spiritual beliefs.

A Place Called Wiregrass kept me captivated from cover to cover. It's rare to find a book you really can't put down. I was drawn into the life of Erma Lee by the strong story line, vivid imagery, and powerful language. Her journey from a destitute life to one of independence was very uplifting. The relationships she formed along the way were inspirational. I felt like I knew Erma Lee, Gerald, Cher, and Miss Claudia. I will definitely look for Michael Morris' next book.

I just finished reading the novel "A Place Called Wiregrass" by
Michael Morris and was captivated by the story and content. I
do hope the executives in Hollywood receive a copy for review and
attempt to make a movie. I would love to see the characters and
setting come to life on screen. It is hard to believe that a male
could write in the first person about an abused female and understand
the trials, obstacles, and feelings of that individual. I am
astonished and would be most interested in reading future novels
by this author. It is clearly a masterpiece and rare find.