Robert Vivian has taken the personal essay to new heights, expanding poetic language into a deeply inspirational journey into the human experience. If ever you believed the essay genre to be dull and pedantic, Vivian will change your mind forever with his gorgeous language and important insights. The essay is boring no longer

buy this book. it's brilliant. brilliant. hear me? brilliant!

This is the best book that i have. It is a must read for all who can read and all Special Forces. It put life on hold as you read it.

The most moving is "self pity"

I never saw a wild thing sorry for itself. A small bird will drop frozen dead from a bough without ever having felt sorry for itself. --D. H. Lawrence

This book of poems shares the top spot in my bookcase with Whitman's "Leaves of Grass". They are accessible, highly perceptive, pertinent and intensely personal. My favorites are:

"FIDELITY" - "...The wonderful slow flow of the sapphire..."

"GOD IS BORN" - "...And so we see, God is not until he is born. And also we see there is no end to the birth of God."

"SHIP OF DEATH" (Appendix III version) - "...Pulling the long oars of a lifetime's courage, ...and eating the brave bread of a wholesome knowledge..."

"GRIEF" - "...How am I clotted together Out of this soft matrix... The air, the flowing sunshine and bright dust..."

"WEDLOCK" - "...How sure the future is within me. I am like a seed with a perfect flower enclosed..."

Finally, as a scientist I marvel at his intuitive grasp of relativity in "SPACE" and "RELATIVITY" - ..."As if the atom were an impulsive thing always changing its mind."

I would be delighted to share my enthusiasm with other readers.

This book is great. Aside from the fact that there's a cute little dog in every page, the book teaches a very important moral. If you sit down just for five minutes with this book, you'll never put it down until you're finished with it! Wishbone is great!

After reading, Vivian Gussin Paley's book, the boy who would be a helicopter, I found it to be a very interesting account of her experiences in teaching young children. In particular, I was really impressed by the way she engaged the children in telling their stories through acting them out, since this not only allowed the children to learn, but also Paley had the chance to learn more about the children through their stories. Of all the children, Paley was primarily focused on a boy named Jason because he was so different than the rest of her children. For example, Jason refused to play with the other children and when Paley tried to get him to join the group his typical response was his helicopter is broken at which point he would rush off to "supposedly' fix it.

What amazed me throughout the book was how Paley continued to encourage Jason to join them in their storytelling and refused to give up on him. In addition, despite Jason's differences Paley never labeled him. Quite honestly, I know teachers who would have labeled or viewed Jason as being a special needs child and wanted him out of their classroom. Yet, Paley was driven to help Jason and he eventually does make tremendous progress in her classroom. Of course, Jason's level of progress would not have occurred without Paley's patience and determination along with a positive learning environment, which sends an important message to teachers. Even at the end of the book, Paley never reveals what Jason's problem is or whether she feels he is in need of some special services. To me, I definitely recommend this book to any educator especially those who work with young children, since I think Paley has a real unique way of working with children and teachers could greatly benefit from reading about her classroom experiences.

Jeff Wagner

December 18, 2002

Book Review of the boy who would be a helicopter

After reading, Vivian Gussin Paley's book, the boy who would be a helicopter, I found it to be a very interesting account of her experiences in teaching young children. In particular, I was really impressed by the way she engaged the children in telling their stories through acting them out, since this not only allowed the children to learn, but also Paley had the chance to learn more about the children through their stories. Of all the children, Paley was primarily focused on a boy named Jason because he was so different than the rest of her children. For example, Jason refused to play with the other children and when Paley tried to get him to join the group his typical response was his helicopter is broken at which point he would rush off to "supposedly' fix it.

What amazed me throughout the book was how Paley continued to encourage Jason to join them in their storytelling and refused to give up on him. In addition, despite Jason's differences Paley never labeled him. Quite honestly, I know teachers who would have labeled or viewed Jason as being a special needs child and wanted him out of their classroom. Yet, Paley was driven to help Jason and he eventually does make tremendous progress in her classroom. Of course, Jason's level of progress would not have occurred without Paley's patience and determination along with a positive learning environment, which sends an important message to teachers. Even at the end of the book, Paley never reveals what Jason's problem is or whether she feels he is in need of some special services. To me, I definitely recommend this book to any educator especially those who work with young children, since I think Paley has a real unique way of working with children and teachers could greatly benefit from reading about her classroom experiences.

Jeff Wagner

December 18, 2002

Love her story-telling and its relationship to teaching - I use it in my ESL classes. Is Vivian related to the short story writer - Grace Paley?

Both authors admit they are not "writers," and this shows in the competent but sometimes awkward text. That having been said, Castelluccio and Walker did an ace job of research and--for first-timers--an admirable job of writing, as well. Who doesn't love Vivian Vance? It's about time something was written on her, and the authors have produced a definitive look at both her career and private life. She emerges as a complicated woman and dedicated actress. Photos--though too few--are well chosen. If you've ever enjoyed I Love Lucy--and who hasn't?--grab this as a tribute not to Ethel Mertz but the actress who created her.

The Other Side Of Ethel Mertz is a fascinating, heart warming bio of Vivian Vance. Her ups and downs, triumphs and failures, from stage to screen to I Love Lucy and all in between. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a great biography!

As a true lover of Lucy--I was so looking forward to reading about the life of Vivian Vance-since she was such a big part in the success of I Love Lucy. It was very interesting learn of her childhood, and the road that led her to TV stardom. This book was a genuine page turner and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved her sassy side-never afraid to speak her mind or to go after what she wanted. It was also interesting to learn of her later years after the show and how she perceived herself.

After reading the book you will find yourself studying the character of Ethel Mertz closer, and realize the fine actress and comedic talent that was Vivian Vance.... I really loved this book...

If you're trying to find the origin of various religious practices and differences this is not the book. Green assumes that reader knows what various terms are and often I did not (and I'm studying to be a Baptist Preacher). Why does the Catholic Bible have extra books from the protestant? Couldn't find it in here. How did the Baptists rise to dominance in the U.S.? Who knows? It's not here. The text is dry and unenlightening. I believe there are many better books for the uninitiated and even the fairly well initiated.