Heart-Shaped Box: A Novel

Amazon.com

Do you sleep with the light on? Are you in the habit of checking your doors and windows before you go to bed? Maybe even checking under your bed? If you are about to crack open Joe Hill's chilling thriller Heart-Shaped Box, you might want to rethink your nighttime habits--Hill's story about an aging rock star (with a penchant for macabre artifacts) who buys a haunted suit online will scare you silly. But don't take our word for it. We asked bestselling authors (and masters of dark terror tales themselves) Scott Smith, and Harlan Coben to read Heart-Shaped Box and give us their take. Check out their reviews below, and you might want to pick up a nightlight while you're at it. --Daphne Durham

Guest Reviewer: Scott Smith

In 1993, Scott Smith wowed readers with his stunning debut thriller, A Simple Plan. Thirteen years later, he spooked us again with The Ruins, a horror-thriller about four Americans traveling in Mexico who stumble across a nightmare in the jungle.

The set-up for Joe Hill's novel, Heart-Shaped Box, is appealingly simple. Jude Coyne, an aging rock star, buys himself a dead man's suit. He acquires it online, lured by the promise that the dead man's ghost will be included in his purchase. Jude thinks this is a joke, of course. He also assumes the seller is a stranger. We soon discover that he's wrong on both counts, however, and from this point on the story moves with an exhilarating urgency. Jude wants the ghost gone; the ghost wants Jude dead. We watch, chapter-by-chapter, as they battle for survival. "Watch" is the appropriate word, too, because this is an extremely visual book. Hill's prose is lean and precise, and he renders Jude's world with impressive confidence. It feels solid, every detail both correct and fresh. And this physicality provides a firm platform for the book's otherworldly happenings, which seem all the more frightening for being so securely grounded.

Hill has a flawless sense of pacing. His narrative never flags, nor does it ever move so quickly as to outrun itself. And one can sense his literary ambition pushing at the margins of the genre. There are times when his writing, for all its spare efficiency, seems to jump away from him, stopping one small step short of poetry. An e-mail to Jude from the ghost (trust me, it's not as absurd as it sounds) could even pass for something ee cummings might've written, in an especially morbid mood. And toward the end of the book, when Hill describes a trip down death's "night road" in a '65 Mustang, the passage has a startlingly lyrical beauty.

The story's horror ultimately has as much to do with Jude Coyne's past--his mistakes, abandonments and betrayals--as with anything supernatural. Jude has caused a lot of pain over the years, moving through life with a carelessness that verges on the callous. His battle with the ghost brings this behavior into sharp relief, forcing him to reflect upon his own capacity for cruelty. This dawning self-awareness leavens the book's bleakness and gore (and it is delightfully gory in places) with an unexpected sweetness. Despite our initial impression, Jude is gradually revealed--both to himself and the reader--as an essentially decent, even kind man. It's this kindness, this fledgling ability to love and be loved, that will ultimately be of crucial consequence in his death struggle with the ghost. And it's what makes Hill's debut not only well-written and terrifying, but also--as it draws to its close--surprisingly moving. So go ahead, take a chance, and open his Heart-Shaped Box. I think you'll be happy you did. --Scott Smith

Guest Reviewer: Harlan Coben

Harlan Coben is the author of the beloved Myron Bolitar series about a wisecracking sports agent, as well as stunning stand-alone novels like The Innocent and his breakout thriller Tell No One. His new novel The Woods releases on April 17, 2007.

You, dear reader, are obviously somewhat versed in making online purchases, so today, immediately after you click on the yellow "Add to Shopping Cart" on the top right hand corner of this page, why not do an online search and buy something totally unique?

Like, say, a vengeful ghost.

That is what rock-star Judas Coyne does, thinking it will be a laugh, fun for his "sick-o" collection of such things. It seems a random buy, but Judas soon learns that it is anything but. This particular ghost is one Craddock McDermott, step-father to recent suicide victim and boy, is he cranky. He demands revenge for his step-daughter's death, which he blames on Judas's shabby treatment of her.

Or is he after something else?

There are Amazon readers who will give you a better plot summary. Don't read them too closely because Joe Hill provides plenty of fun surprises. Heart-Shaped Box is a true spine-tingler. I don't use that hyphenated word much anymore. We have seen and read it all, haven't we? But right away, in the first chapter, there was a subtle line that made the hairs on the back of my neck go up in a way I haven't experienced since I first discovered great horror as a teenager.

Hill writes with a sure hand. The prose is compelling. Like most memorable tales of horror, this book is more about redemption than scary moments--though Heart-Shaped Box has plenty of scares. They are visceral, shocking and very well done. The characters are flawed and real. The father-son relationship adds texture and surprising poignancy.

So here's the thing. My guess is, you won't find a ghost to buy online, but if you read the Heart-Shaped Box, you will be getting something that will haunt you and startle you and stay with you and yes, visit you in your dreams.

Sleep well, dear reader. --Harlan Coben

Book Description

Judas Coyne is a collector of the macabre: a cookbook for cannibals . . . a used hangman's noose . . . a snuff film. An aging death-metal rock god, his taste for the unnatural is as widely known to his legions of fans as the notorious excesses of his youth. But nothing he possesses is as unlikely or as dreadful as his latest discovery, an item for sale on the Internet, a thing so terribly strange, Jude can't help but reach for his wallet.

I will "sell" my stepfather's ghost to the highest bidder. . . .

For a thousand dollars, Jude will become the proud owner of a dead man's suit, said to be haunted by a restless spirit. He isn't afraid. He has spent a lifetime coping with ghosts—of an abusive father, of the lovers he callously abandoned, of the bandmates he betrayed. What's one more?

But what UPS delivers to his door in a black heart-shaped box is no imaginary or metaphorical ghost, no benign conversation piece. It's the real thing.

And suddenly the suit's previous owner is everywhere: behind the bedroom door . . . seated in Jude's restored vintage Mustang . . . standing outside his window . . . staring out from his widescreen TV. Waiting—with a gleaming razor blade on a chain dangling from one bony hand. . . .

A multiple-award winner for his short fiction, author Joe Hill immediately vaults into the top echelon of dark fantasists with a blood-chilling roller-coaster ride of a novel, a masterwork brimming with relentless thrills and acid terror.

Customer Reviews:

shocker in more ways than one.......2007-09-26

i found this book by reading recommendations months ago. Picked it up out of my "to read" pile of books for plane trip. finished in 2 days.
i thought WHAT A GREAT STORY! i am always intrigued about the author pic.
i kept thinking...gee...who does he look like???
i hand it to my husband and say, "read the first chapter and you will be hooked". he was and finished...last night...i said...wasn't that such a "visual" book...so gooood. he agrees...goes online and looks at me and says....
"you know who the author is don't you?"...i said...no who? he says..
welllllll.....its stephen king's son. my mouth fell open, i got teary eyed for a minute, and said...WOW! genetics!

so read this book and if you get a little ferklempt that stephen king's son is gonna be successful too then all is right in the world.
the bookreader

Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill.......2007-09-19

One thing I admire greatly about Joe Hill King, son of famous bestselling author Stephen King, is that he didn't get a leg up from his father like our President did. While I'm sure he's had plenty of help and advice, Joe Hill has earned his own success through his own writing. Having won a Bram Stoker Award for Best Fiction Collection with his first book 20th Century Ghosts, he now returns with his first novel, Heart-Shaped Box, which was naturally making a tremendous amount of buzz before the book even came out. And the congratulatory quote on the back of the book from Neil Gaiman just made it that more popular.

Our main character, Judas Coyne, is a famous guitarist of a band that was once up there with Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden, but after the sudden deaths of two band members, the guitarist is now a successful solo artist whose eccentricities range into the banal, naturally. His favorite is to collect items and trinkets of the most unusual - the weirder the better! So when Jude sees a ghost for sale on an auction site, he immediately jumps on it, chooses the buy it now option and soon has the package on its way. The single mother is very happy to get rid of the ghost of her grandfather who has been haunting her and her son for so long, and Jude now has his very own ghost.

The package arrives in a large black heart-shaped box and inside he finds an ancient but impeccable suit. Judas is impressed by it, closes the box and soon forgets about it. Then the haunting begins: strange noises and soon they see the ghost, walking around. Then things take a turn for the worse, as the ghost comes after Judas and his friends.

Sadly, when it is revealed where this ghost has come from the story kind of goes downhill. It turns out the ghost is the deceased grandfather of the sister of a former girlfriend of Jude's who killed herself after he dumped her. While the supernatural element of the ghost remains, and it is on their tail trying to catch them, the reasoning behind it is weak and destroys the foundation of the plot. Nevertheless there is a darkness and depth within this novel that reveals a talented writer with a bold future ahead of him. Like Carrie, this is not the best first novel, but with the talent in Hill's genes, we know there will be many more stories for him to tell that will be great and terrifying.

For more book reviews, and other writings, go to www.alexctelander.com

Couldn't put this book down!!.......2007-09-18

I havn't picked up a book in years. This one jumped into my hands at the bookstore. I love a good ghost story, so I said why not. This was the best book I have ever read!! I could not put it down. Two of my friends borrowed the book when I was done, they felt the same way (finished it in 2 days each). The only bad thing is going to be trying to find another great book like it!! Can't wait for the new Joe Hill book to be released!!
I havn't found another book that could captivate me like this one did.
THIS BOOK IS A MUST READ!!
Still not convinced? Check out the web site at www.joehillfiction.com

Don't Start or You Won't Be Able to Stop.......2007-09-17

I just finished this book - I read it in 1 1/2 days, because it was such a fast, exciting read. I thought the idea of buying a ghost on the Internet was novel, although the rest of the book was pretty predictable. Still, it had me hooked. The characters weren't all that likable, but Jude gets more so. I think my favorite characters were Jude's dogs. Anyway...it's also got a lot of profanity and some crude stuff. Basically, it's Stephen King without all the finesse.

Boring.......2007-09-14

This book which was so highly publicized and got me all ready to read a truly great book and I got a book which is boring, tedious, you figured out what was going to happen before you got to it this book was so predictable, save your money.

The Heart of Change: Real-Life Stories of How People Change Their Organizations

Average customer rating:

Not as useful as "Leading Change" by Kotter
Addresses an Often Forgotten Part of Management Studies---People!
Just what we needed!
Fundamentals for helping an organization undergo change successfully
Best Change Management Book I've Read to Date

The Heart of Change: Real-Life Stories of How People Change Their Organizations
John P. Kotter , and Dan S. Cohen
Manufacturer: Harvard Business School Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1578512549

Amazon.com

The Heart of Change is the follow-up to John Kotter's enormously popular book Leading Change, in which he outlines a framework for implementing change that sidesteps many of the pitfalls common to organizations looking to turn themselves around. The essence of Kotter's message is this: the reason so many change initiatives fail is that they rely too much on "data gathering, analysis, report writing, and presentations" instead of a more creative approach aimed at grabbing the "feelings that motivate useful action." In The Heart of Change, Kotter, with the help of Dan Cohen, a partner at Deloitte Consulting, shows how his eight-step approach has worked at over 100 organizations. In just about every case, change happened because the players were led to "see" and "feel" the change. In one example, a sales representative underscores a sense of urgency to change a manufacturing process by showing a videotaped interview with an unhappy customer; in another, a purchasing manager makes his point to senior management about corporate waste by displaying on the company's boardroom table the 424 different kinds of gloves that the company had procured through different vendors at vastly different prices. Well written and loaded with real-life examples and practical advice, The Heart of Change towers over other change-management titles. Managers and employees at organizations both big and small will find much to draw from. Highly recommended. --Harry C. Edwards

Book Description

John Kotter's international bestseller Leading Change struck a powerful chord with legions of managers everywhere. It acknowledged the cynicism, pain, and fear they faced in implementing large-scale change-but also armed them with an eight-step plan of action for leaping boldly forward in a turbulent world.

Now, Kotter and coauthor Dan S. Cohen delve deeper into the subject of change to get to the heart of how change actually happens. Through compelling, real-life stories from people in the trenches, in all kinds of organizations, the authors attack the fundamental problem that underlies every major transformation: How do you go beyond simply getting your message across to truly changing people's behavior?

Based on interviews within over 100 organizations in the midst of large-scale change, The Heart of Change delivers the simple yet provocative answer to this question, forever altering the way organizations and individuals approach change. While most companies believe change happens by making people think differently, Kotter and Cohen say the key lies in making them feel differently. They introduce a new dynamic-"see-feel-change"-that fuels action by showing people potent reasons for change that spark their emotions.

Organized around the revolutionary eight-step change process introduced in Leading Change, this story-driven book shows how the best change leaders use not just reports or analysis, but gloves, video cameras, airplanes, office design, and other concrete elements to impel people toward positive action. The authors reveal how this appeal to the heart-over the mind-motivates people to overcome even daunting obstacles to change and produce breathtaking results.

For individuals in every walk of life and companies in every stage of change, this compact, no-nonsense book captures the heart-and the how-of successful change.

John P. Kotter, world-renowned expert on leadership at the Harvard Business School, is the author of many books, including the award-winning, best-selling Leading Change. Dan S. Cohen is a Principal with Deloitte Consulting LLC.

Customer Reviews:

Not as useful as "Leading Change" by Kotter.......2007-06-28

Full of anecdotes about how the principles in "Leading Change" were implemented, I found this less helpful than that book in implementing a culture change. None of the scenarios were close enough to our organization to make a meaningful impact on the management team. A good read though, illustrating Kotter's excellent roadmap to change.

Addresses an Often Forgotten Part of Management Studies---People!.......2007-05-07

In this age of data, management is still about people. This book hits that aspect square on the head. It provides a realistic 8 step process for managing change filled with examples that bring the steps to life. The book is primarily written for managers of change, but the concepts can be useful to anyone at any level of an organization that's in a state of change. (And what organizations aren't?) It can be a bit dry at times, but the stories spice it up and make it bearable. Overall excellent content.

Just what we needed!.......2006-07-15

This book hits the "heart" of what many managers miss in planning change initiatives. This helps us remember that change isn't all number and business decisions. It's the people. I was able to immediately apply some of the ideas and resteered a change initiative successfully. Now all of my supervisors are reading and learning.

Fundamentals for helping an organization undergo change successfully.......2006-04-03

This book is the textbook for how an organization can successfully lead with change. I have used the 8-step method with various organizations and successfully 'seen-felt-changed' for the better.

Best Change Management Book I've Read to Date.......2006-02-28

I'm now in a "Change Management" role with my work, and decided to read some texts on the subject to further my understanding of the topic. Of those books that I've read, this one has clearly been the most helpful. Kotter articulates the steps of change in a way that connected with me, and made it real with a number of relevant examples. It's not onerous to read ( <200 pages) but equally isn't "lightweight." While I would never recommend reading only a single book on the topic, I would definitely recommend that this be one of the books you read!

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream

Average customer rating:

I know, I know...
A must read for anyone
Good stuff, but less important than his other work
Buy the ticket...take the ride
A wild and extraordinary ride down a lost highway ...

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream
Hunter S. Thompson
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0679785892
Release Date: 1998-05-12

Amazon.com Reviews

Heralded as the "best book on the dope decade" by the New York Times Book Review, Hunter S. Thompson's documented drug orgy through Las Vegas would no doubt leave Nancy Reagan blushing and D.A.R.E. founders rethinking their motto. Under the pseudonym of Raoul Duke, Thompson travels with his Samoan attorney, Dr. Gonzo, in a souped-up convertible dubbed the "Great Red Shark." In its trunk, they stow "two bags of grass, seventy-five pellets of mescaline, five sheets of high-powered blotter acid, a salt shaker half-full of cocaine and a whole galaxy of multicolored uppers, downers, screamers, laughers.... A quart of tequila, a quart of rum, a case of Budweiser, a pint of raw ether and two dozen amyls," which they manage to consume during their short tour.

On assignment from a sports magazine to cover "the fabulous Mint 400"--a free-for-all biker's race in the heart of the Nevada desert--the drug-a-delic duo stumbles through Vegas in hallucinatory hopes of finding the American dream (two truck-stop waitresses tell them it's nearby, but can't remember if it's on the right or the left). They of course never get the story, but they do commit the only sins in Vegas: "burning the locals, abusing the tourists, terrifying the help." For Thompson to remember and pen his experiences with such clarity and wit is nothing short of a miracle; an impressive feat no matter how one feels about the subject matter. A first-rate sensibility twinger, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is a pop-culture classic, an icon of an era past, and a nugget of pure comedic genius. --Rebekah Warren

Book Description

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is the best chronicle of drug-soaked, addle-brained, rollicking good times ever committed to the printed page. It is also the tale of a long weekend road trip that has gone down in the annals of American pop culture as one of the strangest journeys ever undertaken.

Now this cult classic of gonzo journalism is a major motion picture from Universal, directed by Terry Gilliam and starring Johnny Depp and Benicio del Toro. Opens everywhere on May 22, 1998.

Customer Reviews:

I know, I know..........2007-09-30

I know, it's THE Hunter S. Thompson book. It would be like having the gall to write a review for the Grapes of Wrath or Slaughterhouse Five and think you'd be doing anything other than blabbing just to see your own words on a computer screen.

That said, read this book this instant. Whatever good anyone's ever said about this book, it's twenty times better. I read it in two sittings and only stopped myself from reading it again because it was a library book and had to be returned.

The late HST's gift for gonzo, that strange mix of fiction and nonfiction, is ultimately realized in this book. Reality is seamlessly mixed with a bizarre fantasy world of sentient reptiles and split personality through the medium of hard drugs that serve to clarify (and sometimes amplify) a violent and twisted town in a strange time.

This book will have you laughing hysterically at parts, so don't read it around other people unless you're okay with passing it to them. This book will have you cringing at the brutality of human nature at points, so have your wits about you.

I really can't say anything else, other than that this book must be purchased and read this very instant if you haven't already done so.

A must read for anyone.......2007-09-21

Thompson's book helps create a vivid picture of the drug fueled 60's and early 70's a way no one else has before.

Good stuff, but less important than his other work.......2007-09-14

¨Fear and Loathing¨ is a great ride for sure. A drug-addled, hilarious, disturbing romp through Las Vegas in search of the American Dream. Thompson is definitely a skilled writer and an outlaw and this stuff comes through in this book. I don't want to shrug this work off by any means, but I definately prefer his other work, such as ¨The Great Shark Hunt,¨ because it truly brings out Thompson's outlook on the world, his hatred of wealth, power and greed, etc. This book is fun, but Thompson is definitely capable of more depth and thought. While this work might be what gave him his big break, he definitely went on to better things.

Buy the ticket...take the ride.......2007-08-23

A bizzare journey to the heart of the American Dream, funny, witty and full of memorable episodes. The illustrations by Ralph Steadman are also superb. Raul Duke says it clearly : "buy the ticket...take the ride"

A wild and extraordinary ride down a lost highway ..........2007-08-20

The lost highway of the American Dream.

I wasn't old enough to remember much from the late 60's early 70's let alone the political aspects of Nixon's presidency or the drug culture of the time, so this review won't have any profound social or political commentary, except that comparisons can well be made to the drug culture of today, and it is glaringly apparent that not much has changed.

Considering the climate of the time: Nixon's presidency, the war in Vietnam, and the country's young men succumbing to the draft, it was no wonder that an entire generation wanted something more, for this was not the American Dream they had been sold. And for some, the only way to drown out the hypocrisy gnawing at your brain is to give your brain an escape. Expand your mind, as that might be the only part of you that is truly free. Whatever it takes to get you directly out of your head -- the higher the better. This story chronicles a journey utterly devoid of restraint and reason as these two men, Raoul Duke and Dr. Gonzo, and their trunk full of felonies set themselves loose upon Las Vegas -- the last vestige of the American Dream. However, their idea of the American Dream is not how most of us would understand it, but somehow, through the fog of hallucinatory metaphor, we can actually see and feel what the main characters are searching for so desperately.

All that aside, even if the 60's culture is beyond your age group, Thompson's writing is worth the read -- Brilliant, sarcastic, and frighteningly funny: Bars seething with has-been lounge lizards, tearing the patrons to shreds, blood soaked tacky hotel rooms, police car chases, kidnapping, gambling, excess, and debauchery ... not to mention the Narcotics Convention. The dialog is brilliant. Harrowing experiences abound; it is amazing that the two main characters make it out of Vegas alive.

Definitely a wild ride for all.

The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter (Oprah's Book Club)

Average customer rating:

The Quiet Man.
Character study, not a story
No thrilling page-turner, but a deep, honest look into the heart of man!
The Meaning of Life
doesnt stand up over time

The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter (Oprah's Book Club)
Carson McCullers
Manufacturer: Mariner
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0618526412
Release Date: 2004-04-21

Book Description

With the publication of her first novel, THE HEART IS A LONELY HUNTER, Carson McCullers, all of twenty-three, became a literary sensation. With its profound sense of moral isolation and its compassionate glimpses into its characters' inner lives, the novel is considered McCullers' finest work, an enduring masterpiece first published by Houghton Mifflin in 1940. At its center is the deaf-mute John Singer, who becomes the confidant for various types of misfits in a Georgia mill town during the 1930s. Each one yearns for escape from small town life. When Singer's mute companion goes insane, Singer moves into the Kelly house, where Mick Kelly, the book's heroine (and loosely based on McCullers), finds solace in her music. Wonderfully attuned to the spiritual isolation that underlies the human condition, and with a deft sense for racial tensions in the South, McCullers spins a haunting, unforgettable story that gives voice to the rejected, the forgotten, and the mistreated -- and, through Mick Kelly, gives voice to the quiet, intensely personal search for beauty. Richard Wright praised Carson McCullers for her ability "to rise above the pressures of her environment and embrace white and black humanity in one sweep of apprehension and tenderness." She writes "with a sweep and certainty that are overwhelming," said the NEW YORK TIMES. McCullers became an overnight literary sensation, but her novel has endured, just as timely and powerful today as when it was first published. THE HEART IS A LONELY HUNTER is Carson McCullers at her most compassionate, endearing best.

Customer Reviews:

The Quiet Man. .......2007-09-27

An outstanding and realistic examination of the human condition. It's an indirect examination ("thoughts that wound from behind" as the great philosopher/storyteller Soren Kierkegaard put it) and that's what makes it so effective.
Everyone is so caught up in their own problems and acting out their desires that nobody notices the quiet suffering of the saintly central character. When he exits his void is felt yet no one can fathom the reasons for his disappearances. Maybe Jean Calvin was/is right about that thorough-corruption doctrine.
Carson McCullers sounds Kierkegaardian in showing the limits of organized religion and social action. The men of purposeful action (street preacher Simms, vagabond Jake Blount, and house-calling Doctor Copeland end up estranged, embittered, and feeling a lack of accomplishment. Meanwhile, the non-formalists (John Singer, Mick Kelly, and Biff Brannon) are better-adjusted and seem to have done more for the world. McCullers doesn't forget the "middle path" either by giving us Portia Copeland, a decent and generous church-goer who talks a little too much.
Our author echoes the sentiments of fellow Southerner William Faulkner on the civil rights issue. Both McCullers and Faulkner despaired at the suffering of blacks under Jim Crow but were wise enough to know the situation could not be legislated away (after all Jim Crow was a creation of government too.) Racism is a human failing to see The Other as a fellow child of G-d. It's an animalistic impulse, as Rabbi Daniel Lapin (a teacher of mine) rightly points out. Trying to speed the undoing of this impulse through legislation and protest marches, while not completely unhelpful, risks bloodshed. Having the faith/attributes of Biff (who runs a restaurant/hospitality center in the spirit of Biblical patriarch Abraham, the father of faith), Mick and Singer makes peaceful change possible in time.
Doctor Copeland and Jake Blount foreshadow the professional protestors of our era. Their enjoyment in physical confrontations tells us a good bit about the psyche of poverty pimps and union thugs.
Singer's life shows the truth of what another of my teachers (the saintly Rabbi Avigdor Miller ZT"L) once said -- "It is the quiet man that is respected." The public activist hero portrayed in Hollywood and TV news misleads many into thinking that they must pour forth a constant stream of verbiage to make an impact and promote "understanding." Rabbi Miller and other sages know better -- Most talking is counterproductive.
McCullers (who was 23 at the time "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" was published) proves herself the Great American Prophetess of the Great American Loneliness. Widespread ambivalence and inarticulateness amid the Information Age and cell-phone-driven communications "revolution" wouldn't have surprised Carson McCullers.
To close, here's a gem -- "He (Biff) had known his loves and they were over. Alice, Madeline, and Gyp. Finished. Leaving him either better or worse. Which? However you looked at it."

Character study, not a story.......2007-09-13

I read tons of "pulp" novels and I've started adding some classics to my wish list--largely to see if the books I abhored in high school would be more enjoyable if they were not assigned reading. The Heart is a Lonely Hunter was no better now.
As a character study it is superb; the main characters are deep, believable, and unique. I understood the characters, or at least why they didn't understand themselves. Each chapter with Mr. Singer made me smile with anticipation while I waited for something magical to happen to make the characters happy.
That was the problem with the book. Each chapter barely moves the story forward, and in the end nothing happens. There is so much potential for characters to talk and understand and change, but it never happens and the potential hangs over the entire book like a cloud. The book simply ends. No character is better off than they were in the beginning, no character's life path is appreciably changed from those of their next door neighbors. In short, with the exception of Mr. Singer, there was no reason to write about these characters in terms of their participation in events that are worth writing about.
The book was not a labor to get through, but I was largely unsatisfied with the resolution. I don't need a happy ending, but atleast give me a sense that the previous 200 pages somewhat affected that ending.

No thrilling page-turner, but a deep, honest look into the heart of man!.......2007-09-09

It's no fast-paced thriller, nor is it a gripping page-turner, it is however, an incredibly deep look into the heart and soul of man. Not until you finish the very last page and reflect on what you have read, can you truly begin to understand the simple truth behind the title, `The heart is a lonely hunter.'

The heart of man is lonely, always seeking, always needing something... elusive. We all share the need to feel connected, to be part of a whole. To know truth, and be at peace. We are so many disjointed voices that few of us are ever really heard.

Set in the deep South, Carson tells of a deaf mute named John Singer and a group of frustrated individuals that gravitate towards his serene and kindly nature--a young girl, desperate to follow her dreams; a drunkard, willing to impart his wisdom on the uninformed; a black doctor, eager to lift his people to equality; and a café owner, stuck in the routines of life.

Each seek Singer's company and tell of their woes with a deep believe that he, and only he, truly understands their ply. In him, each sees a kindred spirit. But what, exactly, does Singer see in them?

The Meaning of Life.......2007-08-29

"Seek and ye shall find," Jesus is quoted as saying in the Bible. All of us, no matter what our religious affiliation--or lack thereof--are seeking out a dream, a little piece of happiness. Sometimes this process is conscious and sometimes a subconscious imperative drives us forward towards that piece of happiness.

The five main characters of "The Heart is A Lonely Hunter" are all seeking their dreams in an unnamed mill town in the South in the late 1930s. For teenaged Mick Kelly, the dream is a career in classical music that her impoverished family can't afford to provide. For the relentless black Doctor Copeland, the dream is freedom and equality for his people. For restaurateur Biff Brannon the dream is having children. For vertically-challenged drifter Jake Blount the dream is a Marxist revolution to level the playing field for all people. And last, but most important, the dream for deaf-mute John Singer is to be reunited with his long time partner Anatopolous, who was committed to an institution.

Singer becomes the prime focus for the other four. One by one they inadvertently seek him out and spill their wishes and desires to him, although he often doesn't understand them. To Mick he is a secret friend who understands her. To Copeland he is a wise man who understands the struggles of the black minority. To Blount he is a comrade in arms for the revolution. And to Biff he is a kindred spirit, a fellow observer of humanity.

Yet for as much as he represents to them, they mean relatively little to Singer. His thoughts are consumed by his love--platonic, we assume--for Anatopolous, the one he thinks understands him. But much as Singer is a false idol to the other four, Anatopolous is a false idol for him, a lazy, selfish, slovenly person incapable of appreciating Singer's love. In the end these troubled souls are left to pick up the pieces after the false idols shatter, as they inevitably do. This leads each of them to make a decision and to enter a new phase of life.

What makes this book so wonderful to read is the profound understanding of humanity shown here. All of us at one time or another have felt the pent-up ambition Mick feels at wanting something that remains just out of reach. We've felt the righteous anger to right a terrible injustice like Doctor Copeland. We've felt the isolation of being the outsider like Blount. We've all felt the confusion after a loss like Biff. And those of us fortunate enough--or perhaps unfortunate enough--have felt the heartache of an unrequited love like Singer.

These people all seem real because their hopes and desires are those hopes and desires we all have. Their dreams aren't altogether different than those each of us seek, whether we're aware of it or not. We know their longing and desperation to find someone who understands them, even if that someone is a deaf-mute who can only nod along.

Because of that, the book touches something deep in our consciousness, something primal within all of us--the need to seek out for something greater. The most astounding thing about "The Heart is A Lonely Hunter" is that the author was only twenty-three years old when she published this. At a time when most of us are just getting out into the "real world" and discovering ourselves, McCullers already had it figured out.

This is truly a literary achievement that you should seek out at your local bookseller or library at once, those who haven't already done so based on Oprah's recommendation.

That is all.

doesnt stand up over time.......2007-08-13

Lula Carson Smith was my favorite author for a long time. However i must have outgrown her, because i found a recent re-reading of 'the heart...' to be a little tiresome. i agree with another reviewer who noted it was easy to tell the characters were developed by a 23 y/o.

Chicken Soup for the Military Wife's Soul: Stories to Touch the Heart and Rekindle the Spirit (Chicken Soup for the Soul)

Average customer rating:

Perfect for any Military Wive
Wonderful as always!
Biased Military Wife
Love it!
Military Spouses-One's of God's greatest creations:)

Chicken Soup for the Military Wife's Soul: Stories to Touch the Heart and Rekindle the Spirit (Chicken Soup for the Soul)
Jack Canfield , Mark Victor Hansen , Charles Preston , and Cindy Pedersen
Manufacturer: HCI
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Women | Specific Groups | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0757302653

Book Description

A soldier swears an oath to uphold the constitution and protect our country, while a soldier's spouse takes the unwritten oath to a life of constant moves, lengthy separations and endless anxieties. Their commitment requires a unique blend of patriotism, dedication, hard work and, most of all, flexibility. The stories in Chicken Soup for the Military Wife's Soul, written by soldier's wives and the courageous women who themselves serve in the military, speak directly to those who live the life, understand the jargon and thrive on the joys and challenges of military life. These stories celebrate the spirit of women who unite with kindred spirits and strangers to raise families, maintain homes and uphold the most positive attitudes when facing the fears of losing a loved one. This book is a tribute to all the women who daily uphold the written and unwritten oaths of service and of marriage. Key Features Unlike other books about military lifestyle that are guides to coping, this book offers comfort and support to women. In these stories spouses pour out their hearts with examples of how they overcome fear and anxiety while concerned for the safety of their loved ones who are far from home, protecting our freedom. Chapters include: I Miss You So, Raising Military Brats, Honey, We've Got Orders, An Officer At The Door, Holidays: Military Style, Red, White and Blue. Inspiring stories celebrate the lives of military wives and spouses and the special bond that unites them while supporting each other as they share similar experiences.

Customer Reviews:

Perfect for any Military Wive.......2007-08-28

This book is touching, compassionate and reinforces why our country is so great! Have a box of tissues near by this one is a tear jerker!

Wonderful as always!.......2007-08-16

Once again a chicken soup book is great! As a wife of a deployed soldier, this book helps me keep a positive and uplifted spirit. I would reccomend this book to any military wife.

Biased Military Wife.......2007-06-26

It's probably because my husband is in the military and he's not with me right now, but I enjoyed each of these stories, even if some of them plucked at my heart strings a bit too close to home. I read this book on a plane, which I do not recommend! I had to hide every sniffle. Of course, these stories are sometimes a bit cheesy and "feel good," but it's called Chicken Soup for the Soul for a reason.

Love it!.......2007-06-13

I HATE to read. Typically it bores me and puts me to sleep. With that said, I somehow ran across this book on-line. I read the Amazon reviews and decided to give it a try. I got the book and in one sitting read half of the book straight through. I was addicted to it! I honestly could not put it down. Even the section on "Raising Military Brats" I read although I do not have any children. My husband has 13 months left of his tour in Iraq and it was somewhat comforting to read about WWI or WWII wives who, in their husband's two year deployment, maybe received one letter, if at all. It made me appreciate what I have, even though what I want is thousands of miles away. I definitely recommend it for any military wife.

Military Spouses-One's of God's greatest creations:).......2007-06-01

I bought this book knowing that it would be filled with heart felt stories by military spouses, like myself. I have to say that there were many times I found myself in a daze from some of the stories and by the time I realized it, I would have a tear running down my cheek. Not just anyone can relate to these stories, it takes a special person to completely understand and appreciate what a military spouse does. These stories have helped me to cope with my husband's deployements and they give me the strength to survive during those times. I would recommend this book to all, especially those who have no affiliation with the military. It will give you just a small look into the priceless, but chaotic days we call our lives.

Chicken Soup for the Prisoner's Soul: 101 Stories to Open the Heart and Rekindle the Spirit of Hope, Healing and Forgiveness (Chicken Soup for the Soul)

Average customer rating:

Giving Peace to My Loved One
prisoners soul
Another Winner!
Extremely Pleased and Thankful!
BEST BOOK I EVER READ

Chicken Soup for the Prisoner's Soul: 101 Stories to Open the Heart and Rekindle the Spirit of Hope, Healing and Forgiveness (Chicken Soup for the Soul)
Jack Canfield , Mark Victor Hansen , and Tom Lagana
Manufacturer: HCI
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1558748369

Book Description

Previously available only through free distribution to prisons, this life-changing book is the result of charitable donations from sales of Chicken Soup for the Christian Family Soul and gifts from thousands of individuals. In the spring of 2000, over 100,000 copies of Chicken Soup for the Prisoner's Soul were distributed to prisoners, prison libraries and prison ministries throughout the United States. The hope was that this collection of stories would touch the hearts of prisoners and offer them hope and encouragement, as well as inspire them to transcend the limiting thinking and behaviors of their past. The book was so successful that the co-authors soon found themselves flooded with requests for the book from family members, correctional officers, prison volunteers and others. Because of this huge demand, the decision was made to also release the book to the general public.

Customer Reviews:

Giving Peace to My Loved One.......2007-05-14

This book has really touched my loved one who is incarcerated. He has really enjoyed it and stated that the stories really give the extra step he needs sometimes.

prisoners soul.......2007-01-30

I sent this book to my son who is incarcerated. He has read over half the book so far. He said the book is great. That it really gives him something to think about. He says the book should be manatory reading for everybody who is in a jail. He thinks the officers in charge of the prisoners should read it also, then maybe the harassment would stop.

Another Winner! .......2007-01-09

Great recreational read! I sent it to my husband! I cried through some stories and smiled through others, just as I have with any other Chicken Soup book!

Extremely Pleased and Thankful!.......2005-10-27

I personally did not read this book, however, I sent it to my 27 year old son who at the time was incarcerated as a result of a mix up with stolen identity (his ID having been stolen and used for criminal activities). It was an extremely difficult & spiritually frustrating time for him! This book made a tremendous difference and impact on his decision to rededicate his life to the Lord and allowing Him (Jesus Christ and God our Father) to "help" my son. My son derived much strength from the life stories of others, such as Chuck Colson, as well as all those that contributed their personal stories, in knowing that God is still on the thrown and has not forgotten those in the judicial prision/jail systems and that they are loved as much as those on the outside. My son said I could not have sent him a greater gift at the time. He also has shared it with many of the inmates who were interested in knowing how much the Lord loves them REGARDLESS of their circumstances, what we have done in life, as well as what we have not done in life to please the Lord. It helped many men and I am very grateful for the book and how quickly it was shipped!! That was a very important aspect as well since my son was in such a state of depression and needed some inspiration, hope, guidance and just plain down to earth stories about life in this difficult world. It helped him to keep on keeping on and having faith that God has a purpose for everything. Life catches us by surprise most of the time, however, it never catches the Lord by surprise. My son needed to know that it rains on the just and the unjust in this world, and it shines on the just and the unjust in this world (taken from the Bible). God is no respector of persons and this book clearly reveals that, but, he is a God of LOVE and he loves all his creations, including those that don't necessarily need a "hand out" but a "hand up" which are usually those incarcerated. Not all in the prison system want a get out of jail free. They just want justice done and this book allowed them, through the stories of those individual lives to know there is a "just God" in this world. Thanks for allowing me this opportunity to share my opinion/review and I hope it will benefit anyone interested in possibly purchasing this book!

BEST BOOK I EVER READ.......2005-05-25

I FOUND THIS BOOK ON AMAZON AFTER JUST BROWSING AROUND. MY SON IS IN PRISON IN UPSTATE NEW YORK AND I SENT HIM A COPY. HE TOLD ME HE GOT THE BOOK BUT NEVER MENTIONED ANYTHING ELSE. WELL THE OTHER DAY HE CALLED AND SAID "OH BY THE WAY YOU KNOW THAT BOOK THAT YOU SENT ME A FEW MONTHS AGO CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE PRISONERS SOUL WELL ITS THE BEST BOOK I EVER EVER READ". IT IS SO INSPIRATIONAL AND HE SAID IT HELPS HIM THROUGH SOME DEPRESSING TIMES. HE HAS PASSED IT AROUND HIS PRISION DORM AND EVERY ONE TELLS HIM HOW THEY LOVED THE BOOK. HE EVEN GOT INSPIRED TO WRITE POEMS AND SEND IT IN TO THE AUTHOR WHO TAKES POEMS AND STORIES FROM PRISIONERS AROUND THE COUNTRY. HE AS WELL AS I HAVE READ THE SAME STORIES OVER AND OVER AND NEVER GET TIRED OF READING THEM.

Average customer rating:

Ties that Bind
"Ties That Bind" will turn up the heat to scorching!
Could have been 5 stars
Erotic short stories...
Very Entertaining

Ties That Bind (Bound Hearts, Book 1)
Jaid Black , and Lora Leigh
Manufacturer: Ellora's Cave Publishing, Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Adult Fiction | Erotica | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1843606194

Book Description

...Sins of the Father by Jaid Black Candy Morgan has always felt badly about the fact that her father duped and then fired his former protégée, James Douglas Mahoney III. Worse yet, she knows that JD has always believed her to be a part of the conspiracy to get rid of him. When JD comes to power during a hostile takeover of Morgan Chemicals, Candy realizes he will want revenge against her family so she prepares herself to be ousted from the company. But much to her surprise, JD doesn't oust her. Instead, he wants his vendetta against the Morgans settled in an entirely different fashion, in a way Candy never could have imagined in her wildest, most wicked dream... Surrender by Lora Leigh Cole has wanted Tess for years. And he's warned her of this several times. He's also warned her HOW he wants her. Tied down in his bed, under his domination, surrendering to his desires...

Customer Reviews:

Ties that Bind.......2007-06-17

Wow! I read this book in one sitting. I think both stories are real hot reads. I likes Lora Leigh's story the best. I've read alot of her books and she didn't dissapoint. It was well worth the price.

"Ties That Bind" will turn up the heat to scorching!.......2005-08-08

It kicks off with "Sins of the Father", one of my first stories by the legendary Queen of Steam, Jaid Black. Candy Morgan's family company was in trouble. Her father no longer alive to run things, Candy has been in charge, unaware that her father's former protege has been waiting in the wings, ready to take over at the first sign of weakness. James Douglas Mahoney III is ready to take out his revenge, and taking over Morgan Chemicals is just a small part of his plan. His real goal is to take over Candy, the prize that had been dangled before him years ago. This time he's not wearing rose-colored glasses - he knows exactly what he wants and he plans to get it. Unaware of Candy's innocence to his firing, or of her longtime crush on him, JD has specific ideas of Candy's new role in the company, and they involve fulfilling every fantasy he's ever had about her. Very exciting and erotic, "Sins" touches on some forbidden fantasies many women may have about being kidnapped or submission. I think the story focuses more on a woman's pleasure and not about humiliation as JD always is gentle and caring in his treatment of Candy. Definitely a must-read for fans of Jaid Black.

"Surrender" by Lora Leigh kicks off her Bound Hearts series, and was my first by her. Cole has always made Tess nervous, but she can't deny how much she wants him. But rumors of his lifestyle have kept her away from him. Now her father wants her home, so she comes back for a visit, aware that Cole will be there, but is convinced she can resist temptation. But Cole is not taking "no" for an answer this time. He wants her badly, and will have her no matter what it takes. Cole believes there is a certain special bond that exists between him and Tess, one that includes bringing another man into their bedroom to bring her the ultimate fulfillment. Not just any man - his best friend Jesse. Cole loves Tess and only wants to make her happy, to give her more pleasure than she ever dreamed. But Tess feels her desires are wrong, dirty. With Cole's love, she learns that as long as they share in this pleasure together, her fantasies are something special between them, and not anything she should be ashamed of. Instead she finds her soul mate, the man who makes her feel alive and happy.

Both stories have very strong sexual fantasies which are not for everyone. But for those who enjoy these types of fantasies, "Ties That Bind" will not disappoint. It's a book I highly recommend.

Could have been 5 stars.......2004-10-31

Okay, these two stories were absolutely erotic and the sex scenes sizzling, BUT....bondage stories can be written without the humiliation aspect. Tittilation without humilating the women would be preferable. I kept thinking that if a guy tried pulling that attitude on me, he would have gotten a knee in the groin, no matter how good the sex was afterward.

Erotic short stories... .......2004-08-25

Jaid Black's Sins of the Father - Candy & James begin by making a bargain. She marries him (many stipulations in the marriage contract - including absolute obedience) and he doesn't destroy her family's finaces in a business take over. This didn't exactly come out of nowhere. He used to work for her father - deceased - until her father had fired him years ago - for no apparent reason. She agrees mostly because she's wanted him since she was a kid and she figures she'll get out of it eventually - An erotic tale that lets the characters develop.

Lora Leigh's Surrender is the story of Tess and Cole. Tess has been avoiding Cole for awhile after he made a hard pass at one of her father's parties. She was interested but put him off. She is somewhat repressed - living with her very controlling and unhappy mother. She goes to visit her father and ends up spending the week with Cole who is more then willing to fulfill her every desire (including a threesome - which seems to be LLeigh's thing).

Both stories were good. JBlack has a better understanding of how to write short stories but LLiegh's story was also good - though her characters didn't develop as much.
The book all together with both stories is still pretty short and in both stories I wished there was more to them - but enjoyable.

Very Entertaining.......2004-05-01

I enjoyed reading both stories, the authors are two of my favorites. You will love this book if you are into some bondage and two guys and one girl thing. If not, than this book is not for you. Although both stories are about sex the characters seem to be able to form a relationship, which somehow turns in to love. Both authors make their characters work for what they want, so that when you are getting toward the end of each story you don't want it to end.

Courageous Souls: Do We Plan Our Life Challenges Before Birth?

Average customer rating:

not credible
An Empowering Way to Reframe Painful Challenges in Our Lives
Some of life's challenges explained.
Why Human Challenges Exist!
Book Review

Courageous Souls: Do We Plan Our Life Challenges Before Birth?
Robert Schwartz
Manufacturer: Whispering Winds Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Spiritual | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0977679454
Release Date: 2006-12-16

Book Description

Courageous Souls explores the premise that we are all eternal souls who plan our lives, including our greatest challenges, prior to birth for purposes of spiritual growth. The book contains ten true stories of people who planned physical illness, having handicapped children, deafness, blindness, drug addiction, alcoholism, losing a loved one, and severe accidents. Because very different life challenges are often planned for similar reasons, readers who have not faced these specific challenges will nevertheless see themselves - and their motivations as a soul - in these stories. As readers come to realize that they themselves planned their lives, suffering that once seemed purposeless becomes imbued with deep meaning. Wisdom may be acquired in a more conscious manner; feelings of anger, guilt, blame, and victimization are replaced by acceptance, forgiveness, peace, and gratitude.

Customer Reviews:

not credible.......2007-09-30

I got to p. 300 and started reading another book. I found this book painstakingly slow to read, the information provided by the mediums: farfetched, and the conclusions drawn by the author, hard to swallow. Often, when mediums are tired, their accuracy rate diminishes. I never heard of any of the mediums used in this book. Robert Schwartz makes everything so complicated when the subject matter is really quite easy to understand. The book just doesn't flow easily and it's not a page turner in my opinion. I'm a believer, but this book really is a waste of time and money. Read Journey of the Soul by Michael Newton, PhD. Instead of using mediums, he enters the superconsciousness of his clients and elicits information from them directly about their experiences on The Other Side.

An Empowering Way to Reframe Painful Challenges in Our Lives.......2007-09-17

It has been said that asking oneself the question, "Who was I before I was born?" can teach us the most about our true spiritual identity -- yet few of us have been so enlightened as to have heard the full reply. COURAGEOUS SOULS takes this starting point one step further by exploring just how we may have crafted our entire life around all of our life circumstances -- both the high and the low points.

What sets Robert Schwartz's book apart from other books about spirituality, reincarnation and the afterlife is his organized use of intuitive readings as companion pieces to accompany the various life stories he includes. These intuitive sessions provide a deep sense of interconnectedness and unconditional love shared in our lifetimes which we sometimes lose sight of, as well as insights into how we continue learning life lessons from one life to the next. The stories include descriptions of people who have experienced tremendous suffering who are greatly inspired and relieved to see an underlying sense of purpose and meaning to all they have gone through.

COURAGEOUS SOULS is an exceptional book for anyone interested in exploring the true nature of their spiritual identity, who is willing to keep an open mind regarding the value of some of the most painful challenges we humans face in our lives on Earth; this is highly recommended reading for anyone seeking to reframe and find deeper meaning from the painful challenges, setbacks or hardships in their lives.

Some of life's challenges explained........2007-09-06

.
Before I even finished reading this book, I ordered more and had them sent to my friends. This book is amazing.

Told through many soul journies, Robert Schwartz brought in the talents of true mediums who were able to discover decisions that these people made before they were born - again. He did not use just one medium, but several, and they are listed in the back of the book. The individuals who shared their stories are also listed with email addresses -- and if they are able and have the time they will answer your questions.

This book came to me at a time I really needed to be reminded of my own experiences through many lives and the time between our next life. The stories are beautiful because they are able to explain why certain tragedies happen to a person.

I highly recommend this book, especially to those with open and searching minds.

Why Human Challenges Exist!.......2007-08-28

Courageous Souls is highly recommended to anyone trying to understand the suffering, tragedy or loss that has caused them to question life, death and/or God. And who among us is not inflicted by such challenges and questions in our lifetime? In my eight years researching life after death, spirituality and life purpose, I have discovered no better explanation of why human challenges exist than what is so eloquently written in Robert Schwartz's book.

Bob Olson, [...]

Book Review.......2007-08-24

"Courageous Souls: Do We Plan Our Life Challenges Before Birth?" by Robert Schwartz is probably one of the most important books of our time, if not the most important. Here Robert explores the spiritual mysteries of why life paths sometimes seem difficult, challenging and perhaps even impossible. He explores and answers that deeply troubling and ever-present question of, "Why do bad things happen to good people?" Through the service of mediums, clairvoyants, trance channels, i.e., those we have come to term in general, as "psychics," who can connect with guides, angels, and the higher selves of those who have courageously stepped forward to be included in this fascinating subject matter, we discover many surprising truths. These truths can then, in turn, be applied to our own lives and experiences. This book has the potential to be life-altering for so many and comes forth at a time when everyone questions the real meaning of their existence here. The information contained in this book is beyond valuable. In addition, the author's innate compassion and his thorough approach of getting to the heart of the answers of the great mysteries of life, shines thorough like a guiding beacon for all. This is a must read for any who consider themselves on the spiritual path and also to those who are still searching for the path. - Dyan Garris - Author, Psychic, New Age Recording Artist.

A Merry Heart (Brides of Lancaster County #1)

Average customer rating:

Very Light Summer Beach Book
A peek inside the Amish life
Best Medicine
A Merry Heart
somewhat expanded reprint of a fine Amish tale

A Merry Heart (Brides of Lancaster County #1)
Wanda E. Brunstetter
Manufacturer: Barbour Publishing, Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Romance | Fiction | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 159789298X

Product Description

Miriam Stoltzfus is a young Pennsylvania Amish woman once filled with dreams for a future with a man. . .who jilted her. Now she is known as the old maid schoolteacher with a heart of stone. Could a forbidden romantic friendship with an English newspaper reporter stir the embers of her heart? Or, will she follow the traditional path and settle for a marriage of convenience born out of the sake of a child? Either way, she must find the key to letting go of the bitterness that binds her ability to love.

Customer Reviews:

Very Light Summer Beach Book.......2007-06-03

I was looking for the Daughters of Lancaster County for my granddaughter who lives in Lancaster County and picked this one up by mistake. It was not relevant to an 11 year old so I read it. It is easy reading and I finished it in a few hours. Rather like a simple Bronte sisters romance. I was hoping to get a better understanding of the Amish faith through this book. Most of the information I already knew but there were some interesting aspects of their lives because of the setting. Who knew the Amish eat bologna sandwiches for lunch!

A peek inside the Amish life.......2007-05-18

I really enjoyed this book. I have read other books by the author and this book ties into another book she wrote. I would not call it just a romance novel as it is more than just a romance, giving the reader an idea of how the Amish live and their thoughts and feelings about life and their traditions, like courtship, etc.

Best Medicine.......2007-03-20

Reviewed by Leslie Granier for Reader Views (2/07)

Miriam Stoltzfus is a twenty-six year old Amish lady who is considered to be an "old maid schoolteacher" since she has not yet married. She believes her family is trying to push her into a marriage she does not want. The stress from this is causing her to have constant migraines. There are three men who are currently influencing her life - William, Amos and Nick. William jilted Miriam a few years ago to marry someone else. Consequently, Miriam cannot let go of her bitterness and is not open to finding happiness. Amos has loved Miriam since they were children but has never admitted it to her. She believes Amos is trying to court her because he wants her to be his housekeeper and a mother to his young daughter. Miriam keeps running into Nick, both literally and figuratively. He is not Amish and does not respect her people's ways. However, Nick is easy for her to talk to and comforts her during the unexpected and unpleasant events that occur in her life. After a terrible accident for which she blames herself, Miriam feels alone and must adjust her life to accommodate the ensuing changes.

Brunstetter has targeted this book toward adult females. She effectively explores the difficulties of being true to both your heart and your faith. She stresses the importance of letting go of the past and any bitterness you hold so your heart can be happy. Only then can you make sound decisions about people and their intentions. I was, however, a little disappointed that Miriam made the rash decision of marrying a man she did not love. She is portrayed as a strong and independent woman so I would have liked her to find peace with her past before she took this step.

I enjoyed learning about the simple, yet difficult, lifestyle of the Amish people in "A Merry Heart." They seem much happier and better able to handle difficulties than many who live in a technologically advanced society. Including the recipe for the chunky chocolate peanut butter cookies was a cute idea. I think I'll make some for a party I'm having next weekend.

Having a merry heart truly is the best medicine for whatever ails you. It is only then that people can make the proper decisions and lead happy and fulfilling lives. Hold on to faith because God is always with you, even when your prayers are not answered in the way you want them to be answered.

A Merry Heart.......2007-02-21

Wanda,you have once again managed to keep me wanting to read another book.

somewhat expanded reprint of a fine Amish tale.......2007-01-14

At one time Miriam Stolfus believed that her true love William Graber would come back for her when he left for Ohio. Instead he never returned to their Amish community, ending her dreams with a Dear Miriam letter in which he informed her he has fallen in love and will marry Lydia Stutzman. In spite of her mom constantly quoting Proverbs 17.22, Miriam has a troubled spirit and heavy heart that even her students notice. She is a twenty-six years old spinster who is often a cross teacher with a short fuse,

Widower Amos Hilty has loved Miriam since they were children, but she had eyes only for William. He married but his wife passed away. Amos raises their six years old daughter Mary Ellen mostly by himself though the community is there for him. Though her beloved momma insists Amos would make a good husband, Miriam believes he only wants her as a mother to Mary Ellen. He has competition with English reporter Nick, but Miriam's bitter heart refuses to let go of William's betrayal. However, she begins to reconsider her values when her niece Rebekiah is severely injured in an accident.

This is a somewhat expanded reprint of the first Lancaster Brides' tale though this reviewer does not know how much differs from the ten years old original. Miriam is the star as she stereotypes all men as betrayers in spite of the males in her extended family like papa proving otherwise. The interesting story line provides insight into the Amish community through the lead protagonist's perspectives and relationships. The support cast adds to the overall discerning glimpse at a "bah humbug" female who begins to understand God's messages of A MERRY HEART after precocious young niece became wheelchair bound.

Harriet Klausner

Chicken Soup for the Teacher's Soul: Stories to Open the Hearts and Rekindle the Spirit of Educators

Average customer rating:

Really good for the soul
Valuable reading for educators
Super book for the teacher in your life!
Chicken Soup for the Teacher's Soul
Something for the Heart.

Chicken Soup for the Teacher's Soul: Stories to Open the Hearts and Rekindle the Spirit of Educators
Jack Canfield , and Mark Victor Hansen
Manufacturer: HCI
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1558749780

Amazon.com

It's no secret that teachers are underpaid, overworked, and undervalued, and bestselling authors Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen have compiled Chicken Soup for the Teacher's Soul as both a tribute and encouragement to those who make a difference in the lives of their students. It's inspiration in bite-sized, manageable chunks. Under 11 different topical headings such as "A Day in the Life" and "Overcoming Obstacles," readers will discover motivating quotes ("Love first, teach second"), hilarious cartoons, and touching stories that combine to make this book a testimonial of thanks, sure to revitalize weary educators. Teachers, coaches, childcare professionals, and educators--from preschool to college, Sunday school to public school--will find in these pages a renewed passion for changing lives, and fresh vision to go the extra mile with every student. The essays are by turns entertaining, motivating, and funny, and most are deeply touching. Keep the Kleenex handy. --Cindy Crosby

Book Description

Most people recall a teacher or two who had a significant impact on their future. In fact, outside the family unit, teachers have more influence on our lives than anyone else. Good teachers help students believe in themselves with a glimpse of what they might become. They go the extra mile to make learning fun and meaningful, and they inspire students to dream and broaden their horizons. Teachers have the power to change lives. Written by a wide range of teachers, counselors, administrators, educational consultants and former students, the stories in Chicken Soup for the Teacher's Soul will convince teachers that they're needed now more than ever. Chicken Soup for the Teacher's Soul is required reading for every teacher, student and former student. Readers will learn treasured lessons on the importance of encouragement, the power of love, the value of taking a risk in the classroom, and the need for mentors and allies. Teachers will recognize themselves and their students in these stories of hope and love. They will see their growing challenges as newfound opportunities to transform lives.

Customer Reviews:

Really good for the soul.......2007-04-01

This book is a must or all teachers. The stories are an inspiration to all teachers who might think that their contribution is not having an impact. Very inspirational.

Valuable reading for educators.......2007-01-23

Lots of very emotional stories from the college teachers all the way down to the kindergarten level. Some of the stories really make you think about the children and their lives at home. A must read for all teachers of adults and children.

Super book for the teacher in your life!.......2006-07-13

This book arrived shrink wrapped and boxed. It is full of stories that really touch the heart. A great purchase for sweet short stories!

Chicken Soup for the Teacher's Soul.......2005-09-21

This book is a delight for those of us who teach or have taught the children of America...I was fortunate to have a story published in this edition and am proud to be a retired educator who served 39 years in the classroom and am still tutoring two days a week!

Something for the Heart........2004-08-12

I purchased this book after I felt led to go back to school to get my teaching certification. I was struggling with my decision and was looking for something to provide some hope and perhaps a little inspiration. CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE TEACHER'S SOUL gave me a little of that. The book is filled with all kinds of stories and ancedotes all having to do with teaching and education. Some are humorous and some are uplifting and a few are both. Since purchasing this book, I have learned that teaching is indeed a noble profession. However, it's nice to have this book around to help remind me of that every now and again when things get rough. Carpe diem.

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