Sue Silverman's award-winning book is truly a work of art. The language is simple and powerful, like perfect poetry. Her story is personal, but as more and more similar stories of childhood sexual abuse are revealed, this book has a universal tone that is frightening because of its ordinariness. I could only read a few pages as a time, but I literally couldn't put it down and, after devoted the better part of two days to the effort, allowed myself to be moved to tears by the story and by the fine writing.

This is not an easy book to read, and you may often find yourself having to put the book down once in awhile simply to get away from the horror and reality of child abuse. Silverman is more than a survivor, she is an inspiration to victims who have experienced the savage, psychological, and inhuman terrors of child abuse. In Silverman's case, it tears the reader's heart to the very core to read of the abuse suffered at the hands of the one person who should have provided love and protection - her own father. What goes on behind the closed doors of a prominent, respected family will validate that child abuse knows no barriers or limitations when it comes to social standing. Silverman takes the reader through a nightmarish journey which will make the staunchest of characters break down and weap, not only for Silverman but for all the other innocent children whose childhood is being stolen from them at the hands of an abuser. The scars of child abuse remain forever, but through Silverman's story, she shows a light at the end of the tunnel, and an inner personal strength in reaching out to others that can only truly be understood by someone who has walked in her shoes.

This is one book I sincerely wish did not have to be written or published, not because it happened, but because I wish something like this never had to happen. I had not heard of Sue William Silverman before picking up her memoir, and the second I closed the covers together I wished that she did not have to live the life she was forced to live. To have survived years of torment and terror, of which Williamson has her own definitions, is truly a testament to the author's will to maintain a normal life beyond the circle of abuse.

Written to read like a novel, Because I Remember Terror is a gripping history of abuse and power, and of the subsequent healing and forgiveness. People with weak stomachs should be warned that Silverman does not sugar-coat her childhood--her language, though vibrant and flowing, is quite raw. Those fortunate to have never been sexually abused should read this as an account of a terror that needs to be extinguished. Those who have been abused will look to this book as representation of one woman's survival.

Through his discerning eyes Roger's penetrating photographs reveal the richness of nature along the Carmel, Big Sur and Monterey Coasts and opens our eyes to our own backyards. A photographer who shows the soul of rocks, trees, leaves, caves, ocean, sand and sky. Bill's words call the soul of the world, drawing us into a fullness of life's emotions, triggering our own losses and hope and wonder...then reminds us of the gift of each moment through sound, sight and feelings. A poet with the courage to bare his soul and in so doing awakens our. These photographs and poetry bring the universe to our doorsteps. A treasure book.

There is beauty all around us though we so often neglect to observe it. When we do, we find our spirits filled with joy. Roger Moore's magnificent photographs and William Sechrest's moving poetry touch the best in us and therefore fill our spirits with joy. I highly recommend this beautiful book to all those who wish to take a moment for themselves. By purchasing this book you gift yourself or those you choose to share it with, with achingly beautiful images and often thought provoking words.

Roger Moore's photographic style is exquisitely unique, truly a fine-art master, and his choice of subject matter can't be beat. These elements combined along with Sechrest's magical and moving poetry take the reader on a virtual fantasy vacation to one of the world's most beautiful and unforgettable areas. The fusing of the artistry of both the photographer and poet gift the viewer/reader with the stirring of all of the senses and emotions. One feels as if they've stepped into the photograph, smelled the ocean, looked up at the trees, felt the feelings, loved as Moore and Sechrest have loved.

I thought this book was very enjoyable. I am an avid reader of the Chicken Soup for the Souls series and as a new mother I thought this book was perfect. Of course some of the stories are more touching than others, but they all sparked an emotional response from me. The format of short stories makes the book easy to read and hard to put down. I often find myself at night, saying, " Okay, I'll just read one more story" and 45 min later of course I'm still reading. I would recommend this book to all, mothers, children, fathers, grandparents. . ., but its a tear-jerker so remember the tissues!!

This book is GREAT...As a mother of an 10 & 12 yr olds, this book makes me realize how thankful I am to have kids. Any Mom will understand & enjoy these stories. They made me laugh and they made me cry. This is my 1st Chicken Soup book, my daughter has one also, now we have started a " book collection " that our family will enjoy reading together for years to come. Take the time to enjoy a GREAT selection of books.

I had heard about the books from a friend at work, and got three for Christmas (Woman's soul, Woman's soul II, and Mother's soul). I don't normally enjoy reading but could not put the books down, in a matter of a week, I read two of them. They are absolutely wonderful. The Chicken Soup for the Mother's soul, WOW, what a book! It's awesome, and the stories touch the heart. Some of them even bring tears to my eyes. I recommend these books to anyone and am forwarding the Mother's soul book onto my mother.

I remember back in 1984 I had just moved into a new place when I found a copy of Quartzsite Trip on the kitchen counter. Wound up spending the next 14 hours reading the book and never got anything unpacked. Well, 15 years later I found a copy at a book sale and it captitvated me all over again. Captures the angst and fear of the Senior year. The scenes of sexual frustration and experimentation perfectly remind me of What It Was Like. Almost every character in there reminds me of someone in my high school (class of 1979!)....even PJ reminds me of my eccentric English teacher who was this Bohemian middle aged poet that smoked a lot of pot (but was the only one ever that inspired me to read!) The final scenes are almost a perfect ending. Wonderful!

Funniest book I've ever read! Have sent at least 10 copies to friends. Wish it was still in print. Story about 36 high school seniors in 1962, who spend their annual Easter vacation together in the desert with their English teacher. Those who were in high school in the late 50s-early 60s, will be able to easily relate to this hilarious story, which covers such things as clothes, fads, boys, zits, slang, teenage worries, trials and tribulations of the times, cliques, socializing, being laughed at, dating, sex, bad breath, etc. This is by far the funniest book I've ever read; sorry the author hasn't written more books; his style is funny, crisp, fast-moving and entertaining. A thought-provoking, fun read, with poignant messages for all who are lucky enough to discover this book!

Following is the review I wrote over two years ago, and, as a voracious reader, I still say this is the funniest book I've ever read in my whole life, and I'm now 59. I first read this book when it came out 20 years ago and have found no other book, as yet, that equals it in terms of being funny and entertaining, and so true to life! I think all we "Quartzsite Trip" fans ought to write to the publisher (AVON Books, Division of Hearst Corp., 959 Eighth Avenue, New York, NY 10019) and beg and plead with them to reissue this very enjoyable read so not only can we purchase additional copies to share with friends and family, but so that other baby boomers, gen-xers, and dot.comers can have the enjoyment of reading it, too. I now have only one copy left, but am always on the lookout for extra copies whenever I visit a bookstore. When I write to the publisher, I'll also ask if the author, William Hogan, is still alive. Did he also write "The Mongoose?" If so, was "The Mongoose" as funny as "The Quartzsite Trip?" Here's what I said about "The Quartzsite Trip" over two years ago, and it still stands: "Funniest book I've ever read! Have sent at least 10 copies to friends. Wish it was still in print. Story about 36 high school seniors in 1962, who spend their annual Easter vacation together in the desert with their English teacher. Those who were in high school in the late 50s-early 60s, will be able to easily relate to this hilarious story, which covers such things as clothes, fads, boys, zits, slang, teenage worries, trials and tribulations of the times, cliques, socializing, being laughed at, dating, sex, bad breath, etc. This is by far the funniest book I've ever read; sorry the author hasn't written more books; his style is funny, crisp, fast-moving and entertaining. A thought-provoking, fun read, with poignant messages for all who are lucky enough to discover this book!" Laurel Tremaine, SF Bay Area, California. Email: minutiamaven@earthlink.net

The instructions in this book are well-thought out and very precise. I built the steel string neck in two days. It came out great. The step-by-step instructions left nothing to the imagination. Every step is explained in detail. The authors even go so far as to anticipate your trouble areas and go to extra lengths to pinpoint them and give remedy. I am in the process of building the rest of the guitar, and judging from my experience with the book so far, I am sure I will have no problems. I am certainly glad these two artists decided to share their knowledge trough this book.

This is it folks, this is the bible of flattop guitar-making. Nothing is left out. I knew the making of an acoustic guitar would be an involved and complex process, but until reading this, I had no idea. If you think you may want to get into guitar-building, this book will let you know the level of committment it will take. It will weed out the wannabees, and excite the serious.

I had the good fortune to work with William Cumpiano in his shop last year. With Bill's guidance over a 2 week period I built a fabulous acoustic guitar. We used the step by step procedures outlined in this book entirely. I'm now on guitar #3 and the book has a earned a permanent spot on my work bench. I reference it often and can't imagine guitar building without it.

I found this book to be fun and informative from a Guy's point of view. I laughed while reading it and enjoyed it's insights. Most books like this are written from the women's point of view and are to detailed and serious. This one is for us guys and is a fun read.

This is a great read for the first time dad or even anyone
contemplating becoming a father. A plethora of material exists
for moms-- as well there should be. However, no one yet has put forth a practical education for the first time dad. Osterman does a masterful job of describing the role of fatherhood in a no nonsense pragmatic manner that men will appreciate.

This is a great gift for wives to give their husbands. Not only will reading the book remove a great deal of the fear of the unknown, but it will also prepare their man to become a better father and ultimately a better husband!

I have had the absolute pleasure of knowing the author since college. He had a huge FEAR of fatherhood in his early adult years. After he settled down, and met Lisa he began to soften up considerably. Willie has gone from being adamant about not having kids, to be one of the greatest fathers I have known. He confronted his fears, and he tells you how, in this fun, easy to read, inciteful book, directed right to the heart of the American male.

Have no illusions about this book -- Bill Barnett delivers on his promise! We tend to make life more complicated than necessary! Bill strips away all the fluff and gets to the point on what works in the real estate investing business. This book is
truly a manual to get you on the road to wealth.

for this wonderful book. It is written in a light and entertaining way, I didn't want to put it down until I was through. Each chapter contains valuable warnings about pitfalls from the school of hard knocks which are also repeated at the end of each chapter for easy review. There are many great concepts about real estate investing out of which I particularly like the ABC offer strategy and the lockbox idea. To launch your career in this exciting business, the book concludes in a 120 getting started plan with lots of hands-on assignments.

Bill Barnett offers non-stop suggestions throughout the entire book on how to improve your ability to buy, rehab-if-necessary, and market real estate. I've been a real estate investor for over 40 years and I learned an amazing number of new techniques and ideas by simply reading this book. I've also had the pleasure of meeting Bill personally, and he's a great resource to have on your team.

BOB SMITH LOVES Shakespeare, loves words. He observes his mother in the chilly chiaroscuro of the front seat of the family Buick. In snow he stands waiting numb for number 23 cross-town.

Bob traverses New York to deliver his own-styled classes on Shakespeare to groups of seniors, making the bard relevant for them, making his words live and breath as he mines the entire oeuvre with its frequent references to their own life experiences and problems. While seniors nod in recognition, he reads from Henry V, `A good leg will fall, a stringent back will stoop, a black beard will turn white, a fair face will wither.`

While Smith tells of how he found his place in the sun, out of the sun, starting humbly as Hamlet`s dresser in Stratford, Connecticut, he uses quotes so proficiently, they never appear pretentious. He introduces us to his severely challenged younger sister, cleverly quoting the Queen`s speech from Hamlet concerning troubled Ophelia.

Remarkable for a young person, Smith devotes endless hours to his sister`s comfort. Coping with her brings powerful emotions to the beginning third of the book. His mother`s mind wanders too, so he dives into Macbeth: Not so sick, my Lord, as she is troubled with thick-coming fancies.

In this memorable mélange, Smith reveals unusual portraits of theatre greats for whom he worked, including Katharine Hepburn, Bert Lahr, John Houseman, Robert Ryan. However, he returns frequently to etch for us another memorable picture of the elderly sinking into the farrago of old age, looking for and finding safety, acceptance and recognition in Smith`s unique propagations.

A professor friend of mine recommended this book to me. She had read a review in the Washington Post. Normally, I nod politely at such recommendations and go about reading whatever else it is that was already on my wish list. But, for some reason, I went out and bought this book.
I read it on the plane and, to my great embarrassment, found that I had to put the book down in my lap several times and take deep breaths, lest the other passengers see the tears welling in my eyes.
Bob Smith is a man I didn't know of before picking up the book. I didn't expect to care about his memoir. What I found is that I ended up caring very deeply and simply could not put it down until I'd finished it. To say that it is a moving book is an understatement. Somehow, Mr. Smith touches on all of life and love and loss and hope and well --- humanity. Perhaps it is because he weaves into his tale the timeless wisdom found in Shakespeare. And he does so masterfully.
By reading this memoir, you will learn about life, yourself, Shakespeare, and what it means to be human.

This was the most enjoyable book I've read in quite some time. A rare and wonderfully detailed account of one young man's coming of age in Stratford, Connecticut. Not your standard sexual awakening tales. No, this is a story of a spiritual awakening - a discovered kinship with Shakespeare and the Muses of comedy and tragedy. Bob Smith tells his story with compassion, wit and elegance. He doesn't shy away from the troubling memories of dealing with a mentally impaired sibling, nor the profound impact she had on his life and the lives of his parents. What the reader is left with is a sure sense of the authors humanity. His Shakespeare classes for senior citizens - the special relationships and bonds that he has nutured with lovers of The Bard - those famous and those seemingly forgotten about. Bob Smith's story is inspiring on many levels. However, the greatest gift this book gives us is a beautiful articulation of the awe and wonder that can only be found in the thaetre.

Dwight Birdwell and William Nolan have produced a very good personal account of an armored crewman's 16-month tour in Vietnam. In addition to absorbing combat narratives, Birdwell provides a lot of details and context to help readers understand his story. He gives explicit reasons why his unit's morale and performance deteriorated over his tour, and how the Tet Offensive changed the nature of the war. I highly recommend this book to any student of the military or the Vietnam War. U.S. military officers should read it for examples of how good leadership can inspire a unit, and bad leadership can cost lives. Birdwell highlights the role of good, solid NCOs as the beating heart of a military unit.

Having read hundreds of books about Vietnam war combat from the perspective of infantry, Rangers, Special Forces, LRRPs, SEALs, and helicopter gunships, I was pleased to find a rare book dealing with American armor combat. With the help fo veteran Vietnam war book author Keith William Nolan, Dwight Birdwell has produced an action packed, easy to read, page turner on his 16 months in Vietnam with a 25th Division armor unit, protecting the main supply route from Saigon to Tay Ninh near the Cambodian border. Arriving Sept. 1967, pre-Tet Birdwell's service as a M48 Patton tank crewman, began with a well lead unit, high moral, and eager for a fight with the Viet Cong. Tet changed all that when Birdwell's unit was dispatched to Saigon where they ran headlong into an enemy regiment which had broke through the wire at Tan Son Nhut Air Base on January 31, 1968. Birdwell's bravery and initiative under intense enemy RPG and gunfire and panic of some fellow troopers won him a Silver Star and a Purple Heart. The narrative of the searing engagement draws one into the action like you are a witness to the blast of tank cannon and the whine of enemy bullets. Birdwell wins a second Silver Star at An Duc in July, 1968, while describing the steady decline of morale and efficiency as troopers realize Washington had no strategy for winning the war. Despite heavy combat, Birdwell manages to preserve his humanity and a measure of idealism, which motivated him to volunteer for Vietnam service, as a teenager. Upon his return to Oklahoma, Birdwell used his G. I. Bill to get an education and eventually earn a law degree and now practices law in Oklahoma City. Of Cherokee heritage, he served for two years as the Chief Justice of the Cherokee Nation. Birdwell's book provides an excellent map to conveniently track ambush and battle site. Also, there are 16 pages of photographs. His epilogue features a "status report" on many officers and troopers he served with and survived the war, including his squadron commander Glenn K. Otis, who went on to be Commander and Chief, U.S Army Europe. Birdwell's book should be on the must read list of every military officer and NCO who might serve in a ground combat unit or support them.

This Is a story of truth from the men who were In vietnam.Nolan served in the vietnam war.And from reading this book he takes you there.And tells us the american people what we never knew that happened during this war.An amazing truthful book to read.I would give it ten stars."Truth In justice for all of our vets" They are the back bone of this country.The goverment should know. When our vets came home sick and dying from agent orange.Our goverment denied everything.Even the one who gave the orders to drop It. Killed his own son.When his son died he knew it was from agent orange. He later killed himself because of his guilt.Since he was a high ranking officer he was sworn to silence.Like all the other military officers. Our goverment does not care about the men who not only died for this country.Also the ones they killed and never admitted to.The cost to the goverment would be to great.So deny ,deny, at all cost. As the govement has always lied about our vets.When they came home sick from Vietnam also Saudi Arabia.The goverment denied all of this again.Deformed babies,cancer,of all kinds.The goverment again denied our men came in contact with any chemicals to make them sick.When it has been proven that the air they breathed and the contact with tanks were contaminated from Iraq weapons used on our military soldiers.WHY''

If you are like me, you have long known you had an aptitude for writing but been amazed at the range of your experiences as a writer. At times you've been told you write with amazing force and clarity, while at others you've been told your writing is verbose and even "chatty." Why the disparity?

You'll understand why when you read this book. More than any other work I've seen, this book provides insight into how the mind operates during reading and applies this insight to the process of writing. Williams makes explicit the many subtle and not so subtle patterns and principles that govern how the mind comprehends writing. If you've had the experience of writing well--and not so well--but not realized why, this book will help you by revealing the principles of clarity that you've been applying intuitively for years--and those you haven't. This is a demanding but very rewarding book that would be of enormous value not only to writers, but to editors and even casual readers who want to deepen their appreciation of what makes lucid writing what it is. I can't recommend it highly enough.

For people who are serious about improving their writing skills, this is an excellent how-to book. Prof. Williams does not dispense facile advice ("use the active voice") or mindless rules of usage and grammar ("don't split infinitives"). Instead, he teaches you, step by step, how to construct sentences and paragraphs that are clear, concise, coherent, even elegant. He explains in great detail the principles and techniques involved in achieving clarity, grace, and other attributes of good writing. And he illustrates these principles and techniques with many specific, telling examples. "Style" is not a quick read, but it is definitely worth the effort.

This is an excellent book to help the beginning writer improve his prose. Its strength is that it offers clear, explicit advice on how to improve your writing, rather than just generalities like "be concise." I've found it more helpful than Strunk & White's "The Elements of Style", although it too is a fine work. If you've already read "Style", other good books on writing include "The Elements of Style", mentioned above, and "Line by Line" by Claire Kehrwald Cook.