No comments about Autobiographical Reflections.

No comments about Country Bouquet (Reminiscence).

No comments about The Autobiography of Santa Claus, Its Better to Give.

4 comments about Beethoven Lives Upstairs: A Tale of Childhood and Genius (Classical Kids).

1. my children are 6 and 7. they love this touching story of beethoven. we have taken many a long car ride and this cd is always our companion. it would be a good idea to also get a background book of beethoven for your children as they may become so intested, as mine did, that they simply had to know more about him. i bought the teachers notes that go with this. i would have done better to get a more thorough book, but it has served us well. this cd is highly recommended



2. Beethoven Lives Upstairs CD is an intriguing imaginary story told by a child who lives in the apartment below the elderly, deaf Beethoven, whom the child believes to be a mad man. The story of Beethoven's life and his greatness as a musician, even after becoming deaf, is woven through a series of letters the child writes to a relative who teaches the appreciation of Beethoven and his music. It is a beautifully written story of the great and tragic composer's life, interwoven with marvelous renditions of his most beloved music. This is one of the Symphony of Stories for all ages collection of Classical Kids CD's from Children's Group. You and your children will want to own all of them and listen to them again and again!



3. Excellent story for the entire family to enjoy. Music and information is blended together to make the audio version of this story enjoyable for a wide range of ages. Great way to introduce kids to famous composers in a format that is interesting and fun. And, the listeners don't Have to sit still while the story is being read.



4. I started buying this series for my 6 year old one year ago. She received "Mr Bach comes to Call" for her seventh birthday. She has spent hours listening to it and then to other Bach CDs. The music is well selected and the historical content is described quite well. Her imagination has really been excited. As we live in Germany for the moment she has expressed a wish to visit Liepzig to see Bach's grave. We have four in this series now and think they are brilliant. All of us enjoy listening especially on long car journeys. Great entertainment with educational value.

No comments about William Shakespeare, Life of Drama (Biography) 1 Audio Cassette Tape (A&E Audio Books).

5 comments about Raising the Hunley: The Remarkable History and Recovery of the Lost Confederate Submarine.

1. What an exciting and informative book! Part history, part research, part archealogy, but all joined and very readable. The incredible dedication and bravery of the crews who parished aboard the "fish-boat" deserve the highest honor. These men of the past never gave up, just as the modern day team who had to move natural and govermental mountains to raise her from her watery grave. Since the research is on going and the mysteries haven't been all solved this book does not have the definative answers, I try to log unto the hunley.org site periodically to check for new developments. It's well worth reading by anyone interested in Civil War history, early submarine warfare or archealogy.



2. An absolutely fascinating book. In depth and accurate historical research
   gives this book its feeling that the authors where there as it happened. A
   work of non-fiction that can be as exciting as a work of fiction, but it is all true !!



3. If your interests run to one of the most ingenious achievements in naval history, the gritty determination of desperate men, or simply a good, old-fashioned mystery, this book should captivate you as much as it did me. The authors have sifted through rarified documents and firsthand accounts to present a very intriguing story as only investigative writers in Charleston might. The real merit of this book is its careful, reader friendly presentation of what could otherwise have been an abstruse topic. Here are basic charts, drawings, photos, expert insights, interviews, and personal backgrounds all introduced in historical context. Throughout the book appropriate facts are cleverly recalled and embroidered in the story of the evolving discoveries. When you finally put this book down, you will wish it could have been twice as long and had provided answers to the Hunley's remaining mysteries.



4. I first ran across the story of the Hunley in a popular journal on archaeology and was fascinated by the tale of courage, desperation, and originality. Subsequently I saw parts of a film on the subject, and I was hooked. I found the book by Brian Hicks, Schuyler Kropf in Amazon.com's menu and decided to pursue more information on the subject.

   The authors are journalists rather than professional historians or archaeologists, but they do have a talent for writing and a sense of the character of the South and Civil War history that gives the book a more readable quality. They also seem to have researched their topic well. The final pages of the book recount their efforts to follow the "fish boat's" story from first inception to final successful strike against the USS Housatonic, a Union ship participating in the blockade of the Charleston harbor. Considering that the Hunley was a secret weapon and a stealth weapon at that, its paper trail would be expected to be a difficult one to follow. The authors made a remarkable success of it, giving life to their subject.

   Interesting too was the narrative of the Hunley's resurrection and restoration. The serendipitous survival of the boat in a nearly intact condition is itself an amazing story. The great care with which it was removed from the water and painstakingly preserved is a credit to underwater archaeology. Certainly it could easily have been a disaster. What the preserved remains had to say about the vessel itself: its construction, its advanced styling, the likelihood of it's having continued to be water free for long enough to allow small stalactites to form, etc. made it an even more entertaining study. It's definitely on par with the Titanic for human interest.




5. To a Civil War buff, the story of the Hunley is irresistable. The book begins with the conception and execution of the "fish boat" in Mobile and continues with its introduction into service in Charleston. The book then interweaves the distant past with the very recent past, telling the tale of the boat's crews (3 crews, none who answered to 'Lucky') and the tale of the multiple personalities involved in raising her some 135 years later. The writing is only adequate; the story of the boat and her design is more interesting reading than that of her crew and her salvagers. Nonetheless, this is an enjoyable book that can easily be read in one (pleasant) day.

No comments about A Man of Contradictions: A life of A. L. Rowse.

5 comments about A Fine White Dust.

1. This book presents a young 13 year old boy from North Carolina, and the hard lessons he learns about trusting a stranger - even a "Preacher Man". The characters are rich, and the setting is very quaint, but I take a different lesson from the book than it tries to give the reader.
   I saw the "Preacher Man" as a young zealous man who was totally committed to God, but was still like other men and succumbed to temptation. We don't know what eventually happens to the young preacher, since the book wants the focus on how easily a young boy can be duped by a powerful speaker into believing he has the call of God on his life. We can only hope the itinerant preacher repented, regained his focus, and went on to accomplish more for the Kingdom of God.
   The boy on the other hand, turns back to his atheist friend, steps away from his obsession with the local church, embraces his non-religious family, and never looks back to consider the call God may have eventually wanted for him.
   I would have preferred a more positive message about the church. This book may bolster negative opinions about Christianity for some.
   If you are looking for Christian Fiction for Young Adults, you might try the Vicki Silver Mystery Series
   Vicki Silver: The Stolen Gem
   Vicki Silver: Cruise Control



2. A young boy named Pete is struggling with his faith and the faith of his best friend, Rufus. An itinterant revival preacher comes to town and creates problems for 13 - year - old Pete and his family. When Pete discovers the truth about the preacher, the problem is resolved.
   
   I did enjoy this book. It definitely captured the importance of friendship and the vulnerablity of children. The author reaches emotional levels that involve family, religion, and friendship.



3. I recently read this book for a ELAN class @ UGA. I thought it was terrible and pointless. The characters lack depth and the theme of the book is not developmentally appropriate for 7th or 8th graders. The book was around 100 pages and leaves the reader wishing he had done something better with his time. My professor scolded me for not wanting to read this book to my future classes. She claimed I was scared to read books to my kids. (I guess she is refering to the religious implications in the book) She is absolutely right. I am terrified to read bad books to my students.



4. This book is about a boy named peter that is very interested in god but his parents are not really into that. One day this boy is going out of town and he saw a hitchhicker. when he drove by the hitchhiker he felt as if he is god in a disquise. While Peter is in church one day a precher takes the stand and to his surprise the man is the hitchhiker he saw when he was leaving town. Peter got into church and god alot while the preacher is there for 3 days. On the second day peter is in church the preacher gets him on stage and does somthing that maked him and many other people pass out. The next day peter is in his room and his friend Rufus was over and all peter was talking about was how he got saved last night Rufus was very confused with what he was talking about and Peter got very mad with him and kicked him out but they made up the same day. also on the last day the preacher got Peter up on the stage and asked him to go with him and Peter said what so the both went walking and the preacher stoped and looked at somthing Peter could not see. Peter said what are you doing and the preacher said will u come with me and peter wanted to say no but he said yes. So that night Peter wrote a note to his parents that explained why he left. The next day he went to where he was spossed to meet the preacher. They were spossed to meet at 11 but he did not show up so peter stayed till 1 and he still did not show up. But all the time Rufus Peters friend was waiting in the bushes. When peter was about to head back Rufus popped out and walked him home. They got home and they got him to bed. The next day Rufus came over and Peter and him got in a fight about the preaher bacause Rufus told him what happened he said that the preacher left with a girl. The next 3 weeks for peter were very dark. All of a sudden the girl the preacher left with came back to town but still this day she isnt talking. Peter still goes to church but not like he used two.



5. A Fine White Dust is about a boy named Pete who is afraid to going into hell.He meets this guy whom he thinks is a crimnal but it turns out that he is a preacher.The Preacher found out that Pete is very religious, so he helps him through his fear. The Preacher invites Pete to come along with him.Now he has to choose his parents or the Preacher...
   I think that Cynthia Rylant wrote this book to teach us that you have to make choices.I also think she wrote this book because in our life we have to give up somethng to gain another.
   I liked the book because the author describes it so well.I also like the suspense.I kept reading until I finished it.

2 comments about Princess Diana (Biography (Books on Tape).).

1. I liked this book a lot.Diana had a very busy life and a lot to do but she always found time for other people.It is sad that she died but I think she did a lot of good things in her life.This book tells the story of a beautiful person.I give it a A+ !!!!!



2. My daughter read this book for a school report. I picked it up to look at it, & then couldn't put it down. I was impressed and touched by this well-told story.

4 comments about Officially Osbourne: Opening the doors to the land of Oz.

1. This is interesting and fast moving. But any Audio listener it's only one CD. Wish Amazon would list how many cd's in each audio book description.



2. The Osbournes have gained fame not just for pioneering the reality TV show (and succeeding in it the way pretty much nobody else has), but for letting the masses in on their family life. It's weird, it's wacky, and when you pare it down it's pretty close to anyone else's family life. And that includes dogs peeing on the furniture, music, thongs, the arrogance of big sisters, getting tattoos, and much more.

   "Officially Osbourne" is an episode guide (first season) interspersed with biographies, interviews, and information. Each of the bios includes favorite music, birth date, video games, personal philosophies, what their family members say about them, and then an interview. Each episode has a basic summary (about two or three paragraphs) and a slew of pictures. Also there are best lines ("Bubbles? Oh come on, Sharon! I'm the Prince of #$&*in' Darkness!"), and highlights (a fire in the kitchen -- "the first one in the new house").

   There are chapters on other topics too: On Melinda Verga, a lower-key employee, on home decor (black, antiques, and crucifixes), the different rooms in the house, and on the pets (dogs and cats, most memorably Lola). One chapter is devoted to Ozzy and Sharon's parenting methods, and what their kids think of those methods. And most tantalizing of all is the chapter where they talk about what never made it onto your TV screen...

   This book captures some of the spirit that infuses the Osbourne TV show. The coverage and interviews with Ozzy, smart wife Sharon and kids Jack and Kelly (Aimee declined to be in the show). Their attitudes are refreshingly honest and open -- in a celebrity subculture where people say prescripted, inoffensive lines, the Osbournes will tell the world what they do and don't like (Kelly hates pop singers, for example).

   The pages are likably colorful, not just black text on white paper. The pictures are a slightly more mixed bag -- there are a lot of them on almost every page in the book, of everyone: The house, the furnishings, the dogs... unfortunately, many are too small to look at easily, and some are blurred. Many are quite good, clear and well-lit.

   "We're not the #$&*ing Partridge Family" -- Sharon said it best. And "Officially Osbourne" takes some of the best elements from the TV show and commits them to paper. Definitely recommended for people who watch the show.




3. Officially Osbourne is an excellent guide to the Osbournes. It shares details of the episodes, profiles of the family members, untold stories, interviews, parents' advice from Sharon and Ozzy, and more. The pictures in this book are mostly animated, and while regular photos would have been great, it does add a more fun approach to the book. This is a must have for fans. You'll learn so much more about the Osbournes.



4. For any Osbourne fan, this is the book to get. It has every detail you ever wanted to know about the show. Great pictures and interviews, as well as info you didn't know!