No comments about Frommer's Boston 2008 (Frommer's Complete).

5 comments about Family Tree.

1. What a total waste of a very interesting premise...the only characters I felt were "real" and likeable were Hugh and Crystal. Dana is supposed to be the protagonist, yet all I wanted to do was smack some sense into her. The only real part in the book is where she opens up to her real father and says, "Could I be the selfish one?"....Duh!!! Ms. Delinksy does make a few good statements in this book, however, and I hope an author who can really write picks up on them and properly develops a good piece of literature.



2. Have read several of this author's books, always enjoy them. This particular story made me happy, sad and angry at times. Would hope there could be a sequel.



3. Read it at the beach and leave it there for the next chickadee who's had too many mojitos.
   
   It's thin (to be kind), predictable, feel good and been done.
   
   When the half African American child chose two dolls for herself, one dark skinned and the other light skinned I wondered if I wasn't reading a book meant for my 9 year old daughter.
   
   Ugh. Chick lit.
   
   And not even the good kind.



4. When I had read a book review on Barbara Delinsky's new release, "Family Tree," I was already sold. The plot of the story impressed me as did the writer's courage in telling it. A topic involving a baby's color being perceived as "wrong" by his own parents is one not often discussed, let alone expounded on.
   
   Not three chapters into the book the vapid quality of the story's characters begin to come into focus. The result is similar to looking at a piece of mediocre impressionist art that is rendered in grays and blacks. The images and their hues blur together, unmemorably. That description could also apply to the leaves on the branches of this "Family Tree."
   
   It seems implausible that any new parents faced with such a question as significant as their child's natural heritage, would restrict their search to hearsay. But collaborative tales from the knitting circle and other loose threads form the basis for piecing together Baby Lizzie's genetic profile. All the while, the characters feature in the book much like shadows across a snowy landscape. You can vaguely make them out, but it is impossible to "feel" anything about them.
   
   In summary, I found myself wondering why Delinsky didn't make it easier on herself and just pay a genealogist to write the story. It would have been considerably more believable and definitely more interesting.



5. I loved this book. Once I started I couldn't stop. I was immediately drawn into the story line and thought that the story and characters developed in an even pace. I have already recommended it to several of my family & friends!

5 comments about The Old Farmer's Almanac 2008 (Old Farmer's Almanac).

1. I HAVE BOUGHT THIS FOR MANY MANY YEARS AND IT ALWAYS AMAZES ME AT HOW ACCURITE IT'S PRODICTIONS ARE PLUS ALL THE ARTICLES ARE GREAT!! I WILL KEEP BUYING FOR YEARS TO COME.



2. Plenty of good advice for the farm or the vegetable garden, and the weeds of advertising really proliferate in the 2008 issue. An older issue I had either had no advertising or very little advertising. The biggest advertising spread in the classifieds is for astrology. And I am told on page 228 not to sign contracts when mercury is retrograde. I'll try not to do that, but I can plant radishes,I hope.



3. I bought this Farmer's Almanac for my dad and he absolutely loved it. Even though he's not a farmer, he is having a great time learning fun and curious facts and even experimenting with pot planting.



4. There's so much fun and useful information in these little books. It's fun to look up dates for lunar/solar eclipses, etc. There are also tables to show when precipitation is misting, sprinkles, light rain, etc. Just lots and lots on interesting information.



5. It's a classic. Great for killing some time, reading on the train or plane, learning something new, and of course, on the "Throne."

5 comments about A Year by the Sea: Thoughts of an Unfinished Woman.

1. Although Joan Anderson is a good and insightful writer at times, I have to side with the negative reviews of "A Year by the Sea." Her journey to renewed midlife identity isn't just narcissistic, it is as trite as they come. Looking to the natural world is hardly a new idea for metaphorical meaning. "To everything there is a season" has been around since Moses rode in baskets. The "stale marriage at midlife" is a big cliche as well. Then there is Joan Erickson, the old woman who appears in a fog and fills Joan Anderson with perspective. I mean, really? Why are elderly people always so insightful? There are plenty of old people who have no wisdom whatsoever.
   
   There is also the problem of the unreliable narrator. At one point, Anderson mentions that she is permanently estranged from her brother. She mostly blames his wife for this. Later in the text, Joan talks about strained relations she has with her two adult sons. The culprit? You guessed it, their wives. My conclusion is that Joan Anderson is a difficult woman herself. To not get along with so many in-laws is telling. She offers little insight into this in her self appraisals, though. I have a feeling the writer and the woman are two very different people. This is supposed to be a book about identity, but Anderson doesn't seem to know herself very well.
   
   This book reminded me a bit of "Drinking the Rain" by Alix Kates Schulman, which I liked a great deal more. I'm not opposed to "the sea is bringing me home to myself" concepts, but Joan Anderson's approach is flat and unoriginal.



2. Very interesting journey and the following books written by Joan Anderson expand on her experiences.



3. This is a easy, great book to read. Great things come in small packages. Joan was able to take a usually negative situation and turn it into something very beneficial. It's all in your perspective. The best thing I got out of this book was "Don't force things, let them happen". You can let go of a lot of anxiety by doing this. Joan did this in her year by the sea. She was able to slow down and appreciate things in a new light. She discovered new ways to enjoy life and skills that she never imagined she would have. She recreated herself for the better and it was very inspiring to go along with her in her journey. She took a break from her life, rebuilt herself and provided her family and friends with a much stronger, vibrant person. This is a good, uplifting book that will help any woman feel empowered.



4. It was the year 2000, I'd been married almost 20 years -- the kids were pretty much grown and I stood at the edge of my marriage - terrified that I'd jump off and terrified that I wouldn't. Okay, maybe terrified is a dramatic term, but that is how I felt. I truly did not know WHAT to do with my "self" even after many years of intentional inner growth, happiness and many blessings. I didn't know if I needed to be REALLY alone or how to be the ME emerging AND be married. There was no other man - no big outer change I sought...I just felt trapped. Thankfully, a friend told me about this book and I devoured it with gratitude. Joan Anderson is a ballsy, brave wayshower -- she's HONEST about the details I wondered about and I can't begin to say how grateful this wasn't a story about another man. Eight years later, I am HAPPY in me--my life and my marriage AND I am still learning - still growing. And now, Joan has THE SECOND JOURNEY out -- her story about the 10 years after writing her first book. Again, she helps so many as she helps her own life. For those who have found A YEAR BY THE SEA inspirational and helpful, please write to Meryl Streep (or her agent/publicist) or your favorite strong 50's actress to consider pushing this story to be made into a movie. This book has helped so many women, men and their marriages! Thank you Joan Anderson!!



5. This was a well written book with many ideas that resonated within me. I especially liked how she started each chapter with a quote, a poem, some bit of writing from another author. I feel this book can help any woman looking to "find herself". While I've learned there is no treasure map that leads us to the "X marks myself", there are several good books that are guideposts, and this one could be counted as one of them.

5 comments about The Faithful Departed: The Collapse of Boston's Catholic Culture.

1. I suspect that all thinking Catholics, at least in the New England area are well aware of the scandal(s). Mr. Lawler reviews the facts and points a few fingers but doesn't offer any real direction or solutions. Too many of the people and issues still exist. Unworthy Bishops are still in power or protected. The Bishop from Western Mass creeped away in the middle of the night and is living well outside the state. If her were to return to the stated he's be subject to arrest. Why is this allowed? A gay culture continues to thrive within some rectories and at St. John's Seminary. Too many people are still winking at the problem and looking the other way. What can we do?



2. Very excellent. One of the best unbiased books on this subject. I rate this as a mature educated "cradle Catholic."



3. I almost hesitate to recommend this book, since reading it was like tearing open a psychic scab. Still, I think that anyone who cares about the Catholic Church should acquire and read this, what I can only characterize as a masterpiece.
   
   It is not simply a re-encapsulation of the scandal that broke in 2002-2003. Rather, it is an incisive history and analysis of the culture American Catholic Church entire, focused on the Arch Diocese of Boston as an archetypal case study.
   
   Lawler's essential thesis is that the pedophilia scandals that are now scourging the Church are only symptoms of a deeper malaise, one that is rooted in the "suburbanization" of Catholic culture, and it's loss of focus. Instead of of hewing to her ancient prophetic charism, her essential mission of evangelizing and sanctifying, the Church has lost its way. And this didn't happen suddenly in 1968 or 2002. The tepidity and mediocrity began seeping in long ago, back when the Irish, Italian, French and German immigrants first began arriving here, and began attempting to fit into the American milieu.
   
   It's now reached the point that most American Catholics - to include most of our bishops and priests - now conceive of the Church as primarily a political and civic association, rather than a mystical entity with radical and essential moral & spiritual claims on us all. There is a distinct lack of urgency, and a tendency to relativize and abdicate all accountability when it comes to any difficult aspect of the Faith. Most notoriously, that of course means any teachings involving sexuality or gender, but even issues related to violence and economics are fudged away. It's all go along to get along, and what many refer to as "cafeteria Catholicism" is now firmly ensconced as the order of the day.
   
   The recent scandals only rip the lid off the sepulcher. They only reveal who we, who our shepherds, have become. How compromised we all are. For even if only two thirds of our bishops have colluded to protect the 2 or 3% priests proven guilty of gross criminal sexual malfeasance (to the point of often engaging in what amounts to criminal conspiracy) they are only representative of most of the rest of us. Creatures of our culture of materialistic excess and sexual decadence.
   
   So the bishops cannot hold themselves accountable. But neither, apparently, can we.
   
   Re-reading Cardinal Law's correspondence with serial rapists such as Fathers Geoghan and Shanley is heart wrenching and soul numbing stuff. But nevertheless, I think it is salutary.
   
   The bishops may have indeed "gotten away with it." Many of the most derelict ones (such as Roger Cardinal Mahoney) still hold their positions. Despite their irresponsibility. Despite all the scandal and bankruptcy, moral and otherwise. Most of them have kept their jobs, while holding the vast majority of innocent priests and engaged laity "accountable" with all their invasive background checks and sex ed programs.
   
   With this book, Phil Lawler has given us a difficult, even brutal, yet profoundly needed self- examen. I say that if you care about the Church, you should buy and read this book.
   
   And wonder if we do not have the bishops we deserve.



4. I have read many publications attempting to highlight the cause(s) of the wide-spread sexual abuse of children and teens by the Catholic clergy, but this book is particularly interesting in that it is a long-range examination of this using the Boston Archdiocese as the epicenter. This book proposes there were numerous "fault lines" that gradually led to conditions that permitted this horror to continue and grow. It also dissects the reponse of the American Bishops to the scandal. I highly recommend this to all, but particularly to Bostonians, Bishops and Catholic clergy.



5. I was not familiar with the political flavor of Boston Catholicism described in this book, but now I understand the development of underlying culture of deceit that enabled the attitude of "keeping quiet." Americans for the most part are law abiding members of society, and what really disgusts me is that this trait of "protection of the bishop" is pandemic across the US in many Catholic diocese's.
   
   The most telling sentence of the book is on the back cover where a conservative bishop tells "the road to hell is paved with the skulls of bishops." That told by St. John of the Cross who had his own problems with bishops in his native Spain nearly a thousand years ago.
   
   In my own case, I grew up with a priest who was elevated to the episcopacy and now retired but is embroiled in a abuse case back in his home town. I personally don't think he did it, but then one has to ask, how many priests are guilty of abuse and are not fingered...and, how many are not-guilty of anything but are being charged anyway.
   
   Mr. Lawler doesn't make a distinction between guilty or not, but he does write a compelling expose' of the catholic church in the US. The real problem is that he thinks the problem is still among us with the bishops not learning from Cardinal Law's mistakes. In fact, he tells tales of other "princes of the church" who are still part of the problem. I believe that pressure has to come from the "pew Catholic" in this matter, according to the book, the Vatican is neither unable to or impotent in this problem. I suspect, the Vatican is afraid of loosing its most financial prosperous givers to the till.
   
   A great read and I wish more expose's would come forth.

5 comments about New England Soup Factory Cookbook: More Than 100 Recipes from the Nation's Best Purveyor of Fine Soup.

1. Great book with luscious photos. I can't wait to make these great looking soups! There's something for everyone in this compact well-wriiten book.



2. I love the recipes in this book...The clam chowder is fantistic with a different flavor of tarragon. I would recommend this book to anyone.



3. This was a great book, not for the waistline, but certainly for the tastebuds.



4. I haven't tried many of the recipes in the book yet, but so far so good! I picked the book based on all the other positive reviews, and from what I have seen so far they are very accurate. Almost all the recipes in the book look very appealing and I suspect the ones that don't appeal to me probably would to someone else (we all have our favorite or less then favorite ingredients!) The ones I have tried are delicious and I have a long list of other ones to try. I just finished making the spinach, feta cheese, and toasted pine nut soup. I was actually making it to have around the house for lunches this week but I tasted a bit when I finished and I'm just going to have to have it for dinner now! Yum! So far I have found everything very easy to make and the ingredients are easy to find with out a hassle at the grocery store. Its also been easy to make small changes to the recipes to make a few of them a little healthier. (I'm trying to do the Mediterranean diet thing, whole grains, lots of veggies, light on the meat, heavy creams, etc.) For example the soup I just made called for cream. I ended up just leaving it out because it was already a great texture and very tasty already. But I think the recipe would have been great with the cream or with half or whatever. Anyhow, if you like soup this one is worth buying!



5. Great reading and even better cooking. If you are an afcianado of cold soup's this is your cookbook. Interesting and inventive.

5 comments about Little Women (Signet Classics).

1. The book reads like a children's novel and is an extremely pleasant reading experience. Really lovely!!!!



2. After reading Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre, both written in the 1800s and which I loved, I thought I'd try another classic, Little Women. What a disappointment. I couldn't even read the whole thing. I only read the first 176 pages out of 470, so if the last half is better than the first half, I wouldn't know. Thank you to other Amazon reviewers for giving me the major plot points. I skimmed a few of these and that was enough for me. I didn't want to spend any more of my time reading what I felt was a boring book. I liked three characters, Jo, Laurie and Beth, but again not enough to want to read the rest of the book. It was too syrupy sweet with the mother teaching her girls values such as helping those less fortunate than yourself, control your temper, work hard, be polite etc. These are nice values, and this might be more desirable for a parent to read to young daughters a little bit every night. Although the parent should be aware that there are a couple of deaths of main characters. For me, this book was not good enough. I want entertainment, creativity, surprise, unexpected events and interesting characters. I prefer books like Twilight and Harry Potter for young adults and myself. Sexual language: none. Number of sex scenes: none. Setting: 1860s the North during the civil war. Genre: fiction for young girls.



3. "Little Women"expressed to me, is that you should always be happy with what you have. I remember getting the same thing for Hanukah each year from an uncle, although my mom would always say," it's the thought that counts, not what you get, and that one should try to be happy with what one gets even if you don't like it that much, it's still something. Louisa's book describes how the 4 girls enter womanhood and they should except whatever they get. Meg, the oldest, has trouble not wanting more than what she has, for she envied her classmates with their shiny boots and beautiful dresses. Meg only realizes that other things, besides what she has she didn't want at all when her sister gets sick. The last thing on her mind is things, she realizes what a great family she has, and she didn't need things other than her family. Being grateful for what one already has is the key to happiness.-L.B.



4. This was a very good transaction. The product was shipped on time and was in good condition.



5. Little Women is a story about four sisters who live with their mother. I thought it was a great story because it is really easy to figure out what they are doing in a jiff. The best part of this book is that it shows the characters have feelings and emotions that are throughtout the whole story. The story explains to me what it was like to live back in the older days. Yet to me this book seems new. If I could say who represents me most,it is Jo. Jo is a great reader and it comes in handy when she meets a boy named Laurie. Laurie is a rich kid who ends up being like family to these sisters. This story really reminds of how life is sometimes. Will you find out what happens to these sisters? Read Little Women and get into the story. I think the best rating for this book is four and a half stars. It needed a little more happiness towards the end. But still take the risk and read Little Women.

5 comments about Rebel Angels (The Gemma Doyle Trilogy).

1. Rich with imagery, plots, dread, hunger, passion, secrets and magic. I loved it. I don't think there are many series in this genre with the same level of depth, detail, characters or plot. A MUST READ.



2. Was an awesome end to the Gemma Doyle Trilogy. I couldn't put it down. Would recomend for anyone who loves a little make believe.



3. I think this book was extremely good as well as the rest of the series. I would definately recommend this book to teens, young adults, pre-teens and even adults. Especially if you like fantasy and young adult books!



4. I believe I liked this one better than A Great and Terrible Beauty. The writing was better with longer sentences and more variety in length and language. There was more story; with a thicker and deeper plot that was somehow very alluring like the Harry Potter but written with a superior skill to J.K. Rowling. Simply put, it was spellbinding.



5. It's rare that I like a second book in a series more than the first but that's the case this time around. Rebel Angels is a fantastic follow up to A Great and Terrible Beauty (which I also loved). The plot is more complex, we see much more of the realms, and the characters come to life with even greater clarity.
   
   As a fan of traditional gothic terror/suspense along the lines of Frankenstein and The Mysteries of Udolpho, I wasn't disappointed by what other reviewers may feel are cliched or overused plot devices. I love the gothic-style, Victorian setting (gargoyles on the school building, burned out sections of the school, foggy/misty woods); old, musty books that reveal dark, ancient secrets; asylums; heroines walking around in the dead of night. That's my kind of story.
   
   I've become a huge fan of Libba Bray's writing style as well. I love her prose and narration, the flow of dialog and descriptions of settings. I can't say enough good things! I loved this book and can't wait to get started on the next. My only gripe is that there's only one more book in the series to read. I can't imagine anyone who enjoyed A Great and Terrible Beauty not also loving this. Highly recommended.

5 comments about A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail.

1. This book for the most part had me in stitches. It was when Bill Bryson traveled the Appalachian Trail alone for a bit that the book got kind of slow going. Other than that, it is hysterical. A great read when you need to laugh hard at life.



2. This is quite a humurous book, I was often laughing out loud at the dialogue between Katz and Bryson. Couldn't have been a better unmatched pair to hike parts of the AT. Informative and provided some information about the hx of the trail and the places it goes through. I would have given it five stars, but he chose to plug some rants in the book that we could have done without. Things like how he feels about the environment, mining, hunting and so forth that took away from the book, but only a little. If you enjoy outdoors and all the hilarity in even the worse conditions then this book is for you.



3. I can't say much about this book which hasn't already been shouted in praise. Bill Bryson is an incredible writer - he writes in an interesting tone, using layman's terms, but the book never feels childish; moreover, there is true sincerity when he writes, and it's clear that his feelings about the AT are genuine; for example, there is palpable anguish when he discusses some of the horrible things which have happened or will happen to the AT and the forests it crosses.
   
   The book is several things. First and foremost, it's a story about his and his hiking partner's (Katz) attempt at thru-hiking the AT; there are moments of sadness, gloriousness, utter frustration and, most of all, laugh-out-loud humor, and this is the main appeal of the book. Second, it has a fair account of history of the AT - there is history of the AT itself, the states it crosses, the people behind it, and some of the more popular cities and towns along the way - but it's never enough to become boring or to dissuade from reading (not that Bryson's writing style would allow that, in any case). Third, the book is about the people of the AT; there are several mentions of famous hikers, record-breakers, and interesting characters all-together, as well as words of praise for certain people who provided helping hands along the way - there are also accounts of some of the more unpleasant aspects of humanity which you might encounter.
   
   What the book lacked the most was a detailed account of the preparations and costs of the voyage. As a prospective thru-hiker, this is information I was hoping to collect, but there was little of it. Not to imply that there weren't any lessons to be learned - Bryson did touch on these subjects in some detail, but they are the least represented in the book. I understand it is meant as an interesting story, but I would have liked some more detailed information - but that's just me.
   
   The book is a fast read - I'm not a fast reader by any means, and I found, with much sadness, that after only the 3rd sitting (~1-3 hours each) I was 3/4ths the way through the book, despite it being ~400 pages. This is probably because of Bryson's elegant fluidity and use of common language, as well as the can't-put-it-down factor which keeps you interested and reading chapters at a time.
   
   I can't recommend this book enough. Regardless of whether you're a recreational hiker, certified mountain man, ambitious future-thru-hiker, or merely looking for a fun, interesting and humorous story, you'll enjoy this book immensely.



4. Bill Bryson could probably produce a best seller if he did a detailed analysis of paint-drying and grass-growing, so it was certainly no surprise that this was a good read. While it doesn't contain the constant hyperbolic hilarity of some of his other works, it is highly entertaining as well as being historically and geographically educational. Although Bryson's creative genius is evident throughout, the second half of the book is somewhat more methodical than the first. A warning for parents: The language in some passages is PG-13 - at best. In the end, it's an enjoyable adventure that teaches many lessons about HUMAN nature as well as nature in general.



5. Don't read this book while you're trying to eat. Or where people might look at you funny if you start to laugh out loud. Because this is a very funny book. Bryson has an understated humor that will only make you chuckle at first, and just when you think it's safe to take another bite, you'll read a bit more, and start laughing out loud! He has a keen eye for description of both his surroundings and his company and conveys both wonderfully well.
   
   This book hits a bit of a sour note, though, the numerous times that Bryson castigates the National Park Service for general incompetence. I won't presume to say that he's entirely wrong in his criticisms, but I do think that he takes it a bit too far, and that an organization with tries to do so much good with so few resources deserves a bit more respect.

5 comments about The King James Bible (with book and chapter navigation).

1. This Kindle edition of the King James Bible was created to offer the user a bible with easy book and chapter navigation.
   
   The "Table of Contents", on page two of the edition, lists all 66 books of the bible, and also has quick links to both the New and Old Testaments. Just select the book title you want to go directly to it. Once you are at the top of the book page, you can select the chapter you want in two clicks. You are there! Navigation links at the beginning of each book allow you to select any chapter you want, back up or forward to the previous or next book, respectively, or return "Home" to the "Table of Contents".
   
   Until a free sample is available for this edition, as the developer, I will be happy to e-mail you a sample ebook with four each of the Old and New Testament books. Decide if you like the book before you buy! The sample includes the books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Just e-mail me at diana.mecum@gmail.com for your free sample, and happy reading. Diana M.



2. I am not a tech savvy individual and I get frustrated having to scroll through many pages to get to the chapter and verse I want to read. Time is a precious commodity, and this kindle version of the King James Bible has just given me more bible reading time! No more endless back and forth scrolling, the navigation is easy-to-use and takes me where I want to go in just a few clicks.



3. This was one of the easiest books to navigate through that I have ever seen because it emulates the hardcopy. In fact, it's better because I don't have to keep paging and paging to get to where I want to read. Instead, each chapter or individual book is just a click away. This decreases my frustration which increases my enjoyment. Thank you, it's fantastic.



4. When I first used my Kindle, I inadvertently downloaded the wrong KJV. It had no table of contents and to get to the New Testament I had to turn every single page. I wasn't through the first chapter in Genesis when I realized the futility of my task. I began a more thorough search for a Bible that was more "user friendly." This one caught my attention because Diana Mecom, the lady who formatted this version, offered to send a sample of it. I requested it and was pleasantly surprised to receive a personal note from Ms. Mecum which instructed me in how to transfer it from my computer to my Kindle. The sample was ample. It gave me Old and New Testament books to experiment with. I bought it and am delighted with it. I was extremely impressed with Ms. Mecom's kindness and follow-up on this transaction. I highly recommend this version of the greatest story ever told. STLemos



5. This was the 3rd or 4th purchase I made when I received my Kindle. I was pretty hesitant that the Kindle version of the Holy Bible would be as good of quality as an original paper copy. I took a few minutes to see if I could navigate through the books and chapters with ease. I am pretty critical when it comes to a Bible in terms of what I want and expect. But after a few short minutes of searching through the text, I had forgotten that I was actually reading the Kindle version. It is very impressive. I am enjoying having the Holy Bible at my fingertips. I have given this 4 stars...for the simple reason that I notice nothing different between my Kindle version and my favorite hard copy of the Holy Bible. A perfect addition to my newly expanding Kindle Library.