Ignoring the typo's and the reminders of dad's knee replacements, this is a fun way to explore some of Europe and learn about WWII from an aging veteran as he passes his legacy on to his talented, albeit delightfully juvenile, sons. One can relate to many of the author's memories of his youthful pranks and escapades, appreciate the beautiful sketches and oil paintings included by his famous brother, Thomas Kinkade, and appreciate and admire his father's service to his country. The misadventures of these 3 on their trek through Europe had me laughing out loud while also encouraging me to "go off the beaten path" that tourists normally take, appreciate the stories of the locals, and experience what's down the alley and over the wall.

I read MANY books in a year and so many of those miss the mark of giving me exactly what I want from a story. This book simply and sweetly went straight to my heart! It was a pure joy to read and was made so much better in that it was REAL! I not only envy the Kinkades for the depth of talent that runs in that family (Patrick is an exceptional writer!) but their closeness and love as a family is very inspiring. Everyone should read this book!

A mini, armchair vacation by Thomas Kinkade, the painter and sketch artist,and his brother Patrick, the writer and professor, recounting the travels with their father through the England, Ireland, France, Belgium, and Germany. This literary trip traces many of the sites their father saw during his World War II tour of duty. Each chapter is short and perfect for a brief, relaxing, and often humerous escape to another part of the world. This is one of those rare books that one will want to keep in his library for future re-readings.

This was a great book. All Farrell devotees should read it. As for one of the other comments. Dorothy B. Farrell, James' wife is still very much alive, trust me.

This fine book is remarkable for many reasons. It presents an excellent portrait of Farrell just as he was getting underway as a soon-to-be prominent novelist. Additionally, it offers an unusual and refreshing look at literary Paris in the early 1930s-recreating the scene as the Farrells (still in their 20s) saw and experienced it. Previously neglected writers such as expatriate Bob Brown (and his wonderfully zany Roving Eye Press) are given their due here. The amount of day-by-day detail in this book is amazing; what's more, it is both scholarly and loving. As always, Edgar Branch has done wonderful field work too (in both Chicago and Paris) with his trusty camera. This book is a must for JTF devotees. Further, it ought to be read by anyone with an interest in the intense American/Parisian literary and publishing scene of the late 20s and early 30s; or the making of American literature, period. It reads like something of a novel itself.Dorothy Farrell, who is still very much alive, must have been amazed by it. You will be to when you buy the book.

James and Dorothy Farrell are dead. They are not co-authors of this book. They are the subject of the book. Someone was either asleep or smoking funny cigarettes when they prepared this entry, which needs to be fixed. The only author is Edgar Marquess Branch. After you get this fixed, you might also note that the book is a finalist in this year's Society of Midland Authors Awards for biography. Thank you.

A wonderful book and a delightful read. Not to be missed.

If you are interested in Canadian History and Children's Literature, then read this book. A truly charming and delightful read

This book was so helpful in finding great places to eat in Paris. We'd find ourselves in a different area of town either for lunch or dinner each day. Simply pull out the Out to Eat book and find the food or restaurant we wanted to visit. Fair warning on dress code or reservations. We didn't NEED this book, but it made the trip easier...

We recently visited Paris. We armed ourselves with this book as well as a few others for cross-referencing. The LP book was dead-on for each restaurant. Although we consider ourselves very picky and privileged eaters, we were 100% satisfied with our choices. The book was invaluable not only for food but for neighborhood and bar information.

I find this book the definitive source of information about the personal views of Olivier Messiaen. Claude Samuel seems to be well aquainted with Messiaens music and poses interesting and thought-provoking questions to the maestro. The book contains passages about bird-song and greek poetry wich are quite fascinating for a layman. Also quite curious are some of Messiaens personal opinions on some of the most important composers in history. There is enough facts about Messiaens music to satisfy even those who are allready familiar with his works. The book is written in an understandable manner, yet deep enough for musicians and scholars to get a lot out of it.

This book is the definitive source of information about Messiaens personal views and opinions. Claude Samuel, the interwiever, is apparently quite familiar with Messiaens works and sets intelligent and thought-provoking questions to the maestro. Messiaen talks about his compositional techniques in an understandable manner, yet deep enough to satisfy the need of professional musicians as well. Delightful information is also given about Messiaens pupils and peers: Boulez, Xenakis and Stockhausen. Also somewhat surprising are his (often quite cruel) personal opinions about some composers who normally are considered to be some of the most influential in history. Also for a non-ornithologer there is a fascinating passage about bird-song and its influence and application to Messiaens music. I deeply recommend this book to everyone even remotely interested in one of the most important musical figures of the 20th century.

Thanks to these volumes I was able obtain a great of information on my French-Canadian ancestors corroborating material I had found before and filling some missing blanks.

"Our French-Canadian Ancestors" by Thomas J. Laforest is an excellent resource on the early French Canadian history. It includes genealogical information of the early settlers and a little about the lifestyle of about 20 different families. It's got a great historical reference about the King's Daughters. I was fortunate enough to find many connecting links to a family tree of my ancestors. Excellent resource to begin a collection of French Canadian information.

Just got back from five days in Paris; this is the guidebook we referred to again and again. The walking tour approach to getting to know neighborhoods is great to read in advance, and great for choosing a hotel (Cheap Sleeps in Paris for that task). The book is small in size so easy to carry. The best of the lot.

Elizabeth Morris's Travel Guide to Paris, written under the auspices of Thomas Cook, is a wonderful and clear guide to the neighborhoods, museums, churches and monuments of Paris. It includes several day excursions out of the city as well. I would like to see it restocked because I don't believe I have seen a clearer depiction of what Paris has to offer anywhere else. Ms. Morris's walking tours are superb and informative. It's just a really good resource.

For children, this is a superb read. Rest assured, though, it gets better with age. As my all-time favorite book, I even bought a special-edition hardcover to pass on to my own little girl. 'The Secret Garden' is a delightful story that can be interpreted on a variety of levels, from a beautiful little story to an intensely moving classic, and each time it is read a new Truth can be derived. I highly recommend 'The Secret Garden' to both children and adults, preferably read from childhood into adulthood.
As an aside, unfortunately the movie version of 'The Secret Garden' is no match for the book. It presents a trite and overacted children's piece that isn't suitable for idiots. I wouldn't subject my child to it.

It's amazing for me to read a book in tree days and want to read it again.I'm a Chinese,but I just can't resist the story line printed on the cover,and I bought a English version.I thought I can read it slowly and prectice my English,but I finished in only three days. Three person who can't love and got together in a great house.Mary,Collin,and Mr.Craven was teached what love is and how to love others by theyselves and by a magical natual-love boy,Dickon.And finally the great house bathed in terror came bake to the arm of the love. I can't write too much about this book.The ending will make you laugh with happiness and make you cry moved by the ending. You really should not only read it,but also own one.

If you love Paris and it has been awhile since you have been there then, read this book. The author is knowledgeable, and his drwaings are as charming as your memories, It was handy to use as a reference, except there is no reference mechanism, you have to remember where you read the part you are interested in. Read it before you go to set yourself for the trip or after, again and again, to relive, the charm and beauty of that great city

"In The Shadows Of War" by Thomas Childers. Sub-titled: "An American Pilot's Odyssey Through Occupied France And The Camps Of Nazi Germany". Henry Holt and Company, New York, 2002.

This book is so well written that it reads like a novel, with suspense building up as you turn each page.
Will the B-17 pilot, Roy Allen, escape from his badly damaged aircraft? Will he be captured by the Germans? Or be rescued by the French Resistance? The French get to him first and he is assigned to a hiding place in a small village. The young teacher, Colette Florin, hides him as they all await liberation by the Allied Armies coming from the Normandy Beaches. But the Allies are delayed by fierce fighting that Summer of 1944, and Roy Allen decides to leave the relative safety of Colette Florin's rooms above the girls' school. He wants to travel to occupied Paris to reach the Resistance pipeline to get him out of France. It was here that the "novel" aspects began to overwhelm me. I said to myself that I would not write it that way; it would be more realistic if the American flyer stayed with the French teacher in the so-called "Golden Cage" and wait for the Allied Armies. Then I saw the photo section (between pages 240 & 241), and I was reminded that Roy Allen actually existed! He was NOT a fictional character. Nor was Colette. They, along with Pierre Muslant, lived and struggled in wartime France. Pierre Muslant was a member of the French Resistance who was to help Roy escape via Paris. Along with Roy, Muslant was captured and died in Buchenwald, so there is only a sketch of him, not a photograph.

The excellent writing along with the actual story of this adventure made it almost impossible to put this book down. Just remember, as you read the book, it is fact, not fiction.

"In the Shadows of War" is a triumph on numerous levels. First it's one helluva story. The true adventures of Roy Allen, the US pilot shot down over France in June 1944, are remarkable. Moreover, Childers is a skilled writer. The reader will feel transported to France and Germany in 1944-45. The experience of being an Allied pilot, of hiding from the enemy, fearing for one's life, suffering horrible depravations and barbarity are vividly presented. The bravery of the French resistantce fighters is inspiring as the cruelty of the SS and Gestapo is frightening. Concentration camps are not so much described as guided through. The forced march during a snowstorm from one POW camp to the next is similarly endured.
The central character, Roy Allen, is cast as a heroic figure, with an indominable will to survive, all the while doing the right thing. (How Childers tells Allen's story apparently without ever having met him is also a noteworthy acheivement). But it is also evident that there were many Roy Allens who served the Allies in WWII.
"In the Shadows of War " also has a strong supporting cast. Most especially, Colette Florin the school teacher who risked her life to hide Allen in her apartment. Childers wisely takes the time to fully introduces and present Florin and the rest of the "cast."
This book will not just have appeal to World War II buffs. Anyone who likes a cracking good story and appreciates good writing will be drawn into the "Shadows of War."

I'd give this book 6 stars if the software permitted! Childers has created a searing account of an American airman's life on the run in occupied France, in the hands of the Gestapo, and in the stinking hell of Buchenwald concentration camp. As others have pointed out, the identity of the French resistants can be confusing, as their code names change with different missions, but all you need bear in mind are Colette the schoolteacher, Pierre the secret agent, and Roy Allen the American pilot--their are the "three lives" of the Amazon.com sub-title. Note that the sub-title of the published book is different, as is the photo of the Lysander on the dust jacket. -- Dan Ford