A-List #8, The: Heart of Glass: An A-List Novel (A-List)

Book Description

The New York Times bestselling series about the scandalous lives of rich and famous teens in Beverly Hills, California.High school is officially over and that means one thing for the A-List: time to party! But the celebration is cut short when unlikely pair Anna and Cammie find themselves in an even more unlikely situation--caught trespassing on a celeb's beach estate--and are forced to don steel handcuffs along with their Tiffany tennis bracelets.Luckily, the girls are spared a summer stuck in tacky orange jumpsuits when their hotshot lawyer lands them a cushy community service gig: helping plan a fabulous charity fashion show! But while it may seem like a plush job, Anna and Cammie are in for a challenge. Can the girls handle the pressure of the vicious fashion world? Or will they fall to pieces faster than a cheap Louis Vuitton knockoff?

Customer Reviews:

Courtesy of Teens Read Too.......2007-05-31

In the last book in the A-LIST series (American Beauty: An A-List Novel (A-List #7)), the gang had finally graduated while discovering some juicy secrets. Cammie had discovered more information on what really happened to her mother. Sam was finally reunited with Eduardo, and Anna met Caine, who was nothing like her boyfriend, Ben. And Ben's dirty little secret wasn't a secret any longer.

The A-Listers are back again in HEART OF GLASS, and this time with a little twist.

Anna and Cammie have to work together - that's right, together - on a charity fashion show. But they got off easy, since this little community service project was the result of getting caught trespassing on a celebrity's estate. No worries, these two can work together, right?

Anna and Caine are getting a little closer, while Ben doesn't seem to worry so much. While Adam and Cammie are trying to make things work, we're hoping that opposites really do attract. Sam is still trying to adjust to living with Poppy, and maybe trying to get rid of her at the same time, while making sure nothing goes wrong with her and Eduardo. And Dee, well, she's Dee, trying to get back on her feet.

The gang is back and it's going to be one sizzling summer.

Eighth in the series, HEART OF GLASS is still filled with secrets, lies, and plenty of drama. The best thing about this series is that the material is never old and it still keeps you guessing and on the edge of your seat. The cast is still great and you just love Anna more and more after each book. Lets just say that HEART OF GLASS is more appealing than another episode of a certain teen drama on a new network - at least I'm experiencing something I haven't seen before!

Reviewed by: Randstostipher "tallnlankyrn" Nguyen

Gotta have it.......2007-05-24

I am crazy over this series ... i think that this book had to be the most mouth dropping one ... i almost feel like zoey can't write these books fast enough ... i feel like i can identify w/ every character on one level or another ... zoey dean delivers everytime you read one of her books

Pretty Good..........2007-05-17

I've been following the A-List novels since they came out a few years ago. There were tons of these book series floating around--the rich, cliquey girls who seemed to be mean and exclusionary--there were the Gossip Girls, the Clique... you get my drift.

Of all the books of that sort, A-List was the one that caught my eye. I followed it religiously for a while, but I got to one particular book in the series and almost gave up on it. The name-dropping and overall snobbery frustrated me to the point that I almost didn't give a flying ice cream cone about Anna and Ben or Dee's increasing psychosis.

Dean has redeemed herself with this last one, though. The characters are proving to be much more dimensional than first thought, and although they still tend to get themselves into outrageous situations, they are handling them with class and the kind of assertiveness I wish I'd had as a teenager. I really enjoyed this last book and I am looking forward to the "next juicy A-List novel."

Heart of Glass.......2007-05-14

Gabriela R. 5/11/07

Heart of Glass, Zoey Dean, ISBN: 0-316-01096-0

If you like Drama, Fashion, and Love then the Heart of Glass is the book you want to read. The main characters are Anna, Sam, Cammie, and Dee! Anna and Cammie got arrested for trespassing on a beach estate, but since their dad's hired really good lawyers they only got community service. Which is to help plan a charity fashion show. Since Anna started hanging out with Caine. Cammie decides to go and hang out with Ben hers and Anna's ex-boyfriend because Adam is camping and she just wants to have a little fun! Cammie finds out what really happened to her mother.

Sam suspects that Poppy her step-mother is cheating on her father the famous Jackson Sharpe so she gets her friend Parker to flirt with her so she can see if Poppy would really cheat. Anna and Cammie have to work with a girl named Champagne on the fashion show, but everyone says that she is a thief! Anna see Caine at a place call the Firehouse dancing on stage with no shirt on, she figures out that he is just like Ben always keeping secrets from her! But Ben is determined to fight for Anna!!!

Right before the fashion Show a dress is missing, everyone thinks it is Champagne but Cammie is on the case to find the real thief...will Sam find out if Poppy is really cheating on her dad... who will Anna choose Ben or Caine?

I really liked this book it was a page-turner because you want to see what will happen next. I recommend this book to girls 11 and up because this book talks a lot about fashion and girl problems!

Heart of Glass.......2007-05-14

[...]

If you like Drama, Fashion, and Love then the Heart of Glass is the book you want to read. The main characters are Anna, Sam, Cammie, and Dee! Anna and Cammie got arrested for trespassing on a beach estate, but since their dad's hired really good lawyers they only got community service. Which is to help plan a charity fashion show. Since Anna started hanging out with Caine Cammie decides to go and hang out with Ben hers and Anna's ex-boyfriend because Adam is camping and she just wants to have a little fun! Cammie finds out what really happened to her mother.

Sam suspects that Poppy her step-mother is cheating on her father the famous Jackson Sharpe so she gets her friend Parker to flirt with her so she can see if Poppy would really cheat. Anna and Cammie have to work with a girl named Champagne on the fashion show, but everyone says that she is a thief! Anna see Caine at a place call the Firehouse dancing on stage with no shirt on, she figures out that he is just like Ben always keeping secrets from her! But Ben is determined to fight for Anna!!!

Right before the fashion Show a dress is missing, everyone thinks it is Champagne but Cammie is on the case to find the real thief...will Sam find out if Poppy is really cheating on her dad... who will Anna choose Ben or Caine?

I really liked this book it was a page-turner because you want to see what will happen next. I recommend this book to girl 11 and up because this book talks a lot about fashion and girl problems!

Average customer rating:

great story
Refreshing!
Inspirational book
An Inspiring Story
Heather's an Inspiration!

Listening with My Heart
Heather Whitestone
Manufacturer: Galilee Trade
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0385488998
Release Date: 1998-06-15

Book Description

Heather Whitestone. Her name has become synonymous with incredible determination and unprecedented achievement. In Listening with My Heart, Heather tells her own story and the stories of others who have inspired her, proving that with hard work, perseverance, and faith, each of us can move mountains. Profoundly deaf since she was eighteen months old, Heather strove to live a normal life, and refused to listen to the voices of discouragement that many of us so often hear, no matter what problems confront us. She wouldn't listen to the doctor who said she wouldn't develop beyond third-grade abilities, or to those who said she would never dance ballet, or even speak. She did, however, hear the encouraging spirit of her family and followed the guidance of her own heart's dreams. Struggling through her difficulties, she was sustained by every success--no matter how small--and ultimately became Miss America 1995. Though she is disabled, her incredible gifts have inspired many throughout the world, and in Listening with My Heart she at last shares her life-changing wisdom.

Customer Reviews:

great story.......2006-03-13

really good book. only thing not perfect is the quality of the pictures in the softcover version. Otherwise great.

Refreshing!.......2006-01-11

Struggling to come up with title for this review shouldn't have happened, for "refreshing" describes this enjoyable read.

Heather is an honest, open and Christian person. Her humility to share her fears, exasperations, even private darker moments is refreshing!

And then there is her deafness. She is honest and open here as well, lamenting at times the deaf culture, but also showing sensitivity to their plight.

I'm a page-bender, underliner, note-taker kind of reader who continually marks passages in the great reads that I have, and this book has so many of them. I wanted to communicate them in this review, but will choose to just give some salient phrases from them so that you'll read this marvelous book: "going to bed means getting some sleep"; returned autographs which included Scripture quotes; Miss America wearing a clown on her head; dreaming and God's Word.

Haven't read such a refreshing work in quite some time; treasure as a precious Christmas gift that it was.

Inspirational book.......2004-08-31

This was a really good autobiography about Heather Whitestone, former Miss America. She talks about her struggles as a deaf person and her experience as Miss America, and how God has worked in her life.

I really enjoyed her book. I like how she was so open about her struggles with a deaf person. She didn't feel like she fit into the deaf world or the hearing world. Yet, she continues to persevere, and with God's help, she overcomes her obstacles to become Miss America. And she is open with her struggles as Miss America, too. She talks about the need for privacy and her struggles with criticism from the press.

A great, inspirational book.

An Inspiring Story.......2002-10-22

Because I have a grandbaby who was just diagnosed with profound deafness, I have been reading all the books I can about how deafness affects those who are deaf. Heather Whitestone's story was so inspirational and gave me a great deal of insight of how it feels to be deaf and different from the hearing world, and to understand what obstacles might arise, and to take heart knowing that most can be overcome if you have faith and the fortitude to meet the challenge. Her story also gives insight into the debate between the use of sign language, oral education, and cochlear implants, and the prejudice that still exists among some people in the deaf culture. A truly informative and inspiring book.

Heather's an Inspiration!.......2000-08-04

I am inspired by Heather Whitestone when I read this book...she is an inspiration to many deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals like myself. She taught me in this book that no matter the outcome, anyone with a disability can do just about anything in life...even marrying a good, handsome man named John McCallum and being the first deaf Miss America. This Christian autobiography is one of my favorites because it is very interesting to read and there are good pictures of her and her husband, family, even deaf actress Marlee Matlin. I even noticed by reading this book is that Heather and I have things in common with each other such as we both grew up as oral deaf. I love this book and I know you will too...you will enjoy it as much as I did.

The Great Good Place: Cafes, Coffee Shops, Bookstores, Bars, Hair Salons, and Other Hangouts at the Heart of a Community

Average customer rating:

"The survival of the coffeehouse depends upon its ability to meet present day needs..."
Can Great Good Places exist in today's world? (4.2 *s)
Think, eat, drink, act, buy local....
Finding a Great Good Place
Rebuttal to Lance Mertz's Review

The Great Good Place: Cafes, Coffee Shops, Bookstores, Bars, Hair Salons, and Other Hangouts at the Heart of a Community
Ray Oldenburg
Manufacturer: Marlowe & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1569246815

Book Description

The Great Good Place argues that "third places" - where people can gather, put aside the concerns of work and home, and hang out simply for the pleasures of good company and lively conversation - are the heart of a community's social vitality and the grassroots of democracy.

Customer Reviews:

"The survival of the coffeehouse depends upon its ability to meet present day needs...".......2007-04-06

The project of The Great Good Place is to demonstrate why public spaces-- particularly gathering spaces-- are essential to the health of the community. It is an interesting and attractive thesis-- one that will speak clearly to most of his intended audience. Who does not harbor a nostalgia (even if an inherited nostalgia) for the town pub or the "place where everybody knows your name"?

Oldenburg does a good job building his case. He looks at characteristics and benefits of third places and then chooses examples from history and other cultures to illustrate the ideas.

A friend of mine remarked that The Great Good Place was one good idea repeated over and over again for 300 page. Not entirely fair, but there is some truth to it. The book also suffers from being oversold. For instance, the publisher's subtitle implies that hair salons are part of the topics that are covered. In fact, they are barely even mentioned. I suppose that the publicity that this relatively academic text made it nearly irrestistible for the publishing house to try to spice things up for the average reader.

Honestly, three stars might be the most fair rating for the book. In addition to what feels like some occasionally thin material, I feel that the author elides or ignores the potential negatives of his third places. All the same, I ended up rating it four stars because I generally agreed with his ideas. That agreement made me predisposed to enjoy it. So for me, the fourth star is because I found it pleasant to read.

Recommended for people with an interest in the social value of public spaces.

Can Great Good Places exist in today's world? (4.2 *s).......2006-08-09

This book is a heartfelt and nostalgic lament at the loss of vibrant local communities and the disappearance and exclusion of the various shops and places that facilitate the spontaneous, daily neighborhood interactions that are essential for viable communities. As the author notes, American society has undergone tremendous changes since WWII: sprawling suburbanization, an automobile culture, and reliance on home entertainment, mainly television. The isolating tendency of these developments is reinforced by planners and zoning commissions that do not permit neighborhood hangouts like taverns, cafes, and the like to be located near developments of "dream" homes with their sculpted lawns.

He calls community enhancing places "third" places because they fall just behind the home and workplaces in terms of time spent, though in his estimation are no less important. They are a necessary complement to domestic and work lives. He discusses the general nature of "third" places, as well as specific examples, including European pubs, sidewalk cafes, and coffee houses. Several characteristics are generally found in "third" places. The places are inclusive; titles and status are checked at the door. They are usually unpretentious buildings without a lot of distractions that detract from conversation and camaraderie. The same-sex nature of most such places eliminates self-conscious formalities of dress and behavior. According to the author, one could hardly exaggerate the benefits that both individuals and communities derive from gathering in "third" places. The enhancements to a viable democracy are especially noted.

Virtually all "third" places have disappeared from the American scene; they have not been a part of new development since WWII. The German beer gardens and vibrant small town streets long ago vanished. Now taverns, coffee shops, and the like, often located in strip malls, are populated with strangers having arrived via automobile, not to mention the prevalence of loud music and other diversions that further inhibit conversation. A larger social tendency is to simply remain encapsulated at home surrounded by technical gadgetry like HDTVs, DVD players, computers, iPods, CD players, etc. This circumscribed, isolated world must bring smiles of joy to the automotive, oil, real estate, finance, and construction industries as well as the huge consumer goods suppliers. It's difficult to see how broader democratic views necessary for our society will be developed in these restricted, lonely environments with only the simplistic, if not misinforming, patter of the corporate media available.

The notion of close communities is hardly an unequivocal good. The author scarcely acknowledges that communities can be highly coercive, requiring strict adherence to prevailing community practice, and exclusionary to those who differ in some manner. It is doubtful that the open-minded, gregarious men of the author's communities are as ubiquitous as he implies. However, there is no doubt of the severe ramifications to both individuals and the larger society in the near total absence of active communities. Furthermore, the author's forays into the psychology of the sexes and the desirability of separation in relation to his third places seem flawed.

There will be no return to main streets in small towns and urban neighborhoods associated with manufacturing where the residents worked and associated with each other on and off the job. Today's reality is the complete divorce of place of residence from workplace locales, not to mention the 24/7 nature of work with extended hours. Workplaces can and do take on some of the characteristics of the author's "third" places, though his caution concerning power differentials in workplaces is not to be taken lightly. Likewise, voluntary associations, including churches, and the vast array of activities associated with raising children afford opportunities for socialization, though generally falling well short of the open ideal that the author postulates.

The residents of the communities of the past were not wiser than we are today. They did not plan their communities. The communities were a result of population size, and the co-location of homes and work. They had no political power to define their communities, but it was not particularly needed. But that lack of or eschewing of political power is entirely inadequate in this era of vast trans-national corporations dominating nearly every facet of our lives, including those aspects that define communities or the lack thereof. It is a fallacious claim that we do not have a "planned" economy, as though that happens only under socialism - the fact is, we do. The suburbanization of America, the vast highway network, the rise of the gasoline-powered automobile, and dominance of vast media empires supported by gadget manufacturers are due to the private planning of huge corporations. But these private acts have profound public and social consequences, yet citizen input is never requested or in some cases is suppressed by various means. Community enhancing measures will never again just happen. The exercise of political power will be required. But of course that assumes that a sizeable percentage of the citizenry understands what community requires, actually wants community, understands the obstacles, and is willing to back candidates in sufficient numbers and locations to effect change. In today's propagandistic and free-market capitalistic world that is a very high hurdle indeed. More likely, pseudo-communities will continue to be built, drawing upon the language but not the substance of community.

The book is thought-provoking. The author captures well that we are encapsulated in our private worlds with only marginal means to connect with others, unlike the easy sociability that once existed in some places. However, his emphasis on looking longingly at communities of the past will help little without accompanying suggestions about how to turn around our social structure. The author really does little of this. In a democracy, it is through political power that social change driven by citizens can occur. We can all see how change occurs that is dictated by huge private entities; that is the principal reason that "great good places" have essentially disappeared. It is even possible, though again most unlikely, that empowered citizens could create better and broader communities than those described by the author.

Think, eat, drink, act, buy local...........2006-02-06

Drawn by the concept of a "third place" as described by this book and referenced elsewhere, I thought I'd read to find out what this was about. In the end, this was a fascinating and thought provoking book. Mr. Oldenburg posits that much of our societal ills today are resultant from a lack of free association. That is, the places where people congregate / hang-out are disappearing because of urbanization, industrialization, etc. One example, the German beer garden (and its descendant in the US with early German immigrants) as a family affair - as, economically, there didn't seem to be any reason for such an institution in an "American" community, this venue slowly disappeared or devolved into the bars we know today - focused on serving alcohol to the subservient and willing. In fact, Oldenburg points out, the beer served in the beer garden was weaker than what we know today because the point was not the beer - the point was the association and conversation within the community, among families.

As we move towards a "private property society" and focus on "property rights" as we seem to understand them, the ability to be social, without prior planning, is slowly eroding. Simultaneously, the places to "hang out" are disappearing as a consumer driven market seems desirous of generating the most profit for the fewest people (corporations). Because of a desire for inexpensive goods, a local business, owned and operated by nearby residents, is next to impossible - especially in the face of the mass market competition from large corporations.

I think Oldenburg hits the nail squarely on the head. As I drive around (in a car-based economy), it's increasingly difficult to find a place to "hang out" and/or become a regular. (1) Restaurants are driven towards specific time limit for customers in hopes of turning a larger profit by serving more customers; (2) American bars are not conducive because service deteriorates if you choose not to imbibe and those that also serve food follow (1); and (3) the notion of coffee shops not driven by 1 or 2 are few and far between. Even assuming that there are such places of the "third place" variety, it more often than not requires a car to get there (not to mention paying to simply park near a place).

Anyone interested in property rights, humans as a social animal, and the notion of a "community," should read this book.

Finding a Great Good Place.......2005-12-28

I discovered this book after reading Willaim Raspberry (Washington Post Writers Group) commenting on his retirement. He found the newsroom served as the Great Good Place for him and rued that Americans don't have "informal gathering spots where one finds not just escape but camaraderie, conversation, friendly argument and pleasant conversation with regulars."
The civic solidarity and building of community that such a place fosters is sorely needed in America. I think that is one of the reasons for the dedication Rotarians give to their service organization. The weekly lunch meetings are structured, rather than informal, but otherwise fill the need for a Great Good Place.
I'd also suggest to those seeking a such a place, to check out their public library. Particularly in a small town, it can be the place where regulars run into each other and fall into discussion. Finding a spot where one can sit and chat without bothering students and readers depends on each library's layout.

Rebuttal to Lance Mertz's Review.......2004-07-22

I'm fascinated by your review of Ray Oldenburg's book _The Great Good Place_ without have read it. That's rather like a child saying he doesn't like spinach without having tried it.

I first had the pleasure of meeting Ray when I was editor of _The World of Beer_ out of Milan, Italy, when Alan Eames ("The Beer King"), who damned well lived in a small town - 300 - in New Hampshire, recommend the book to me. After reading a copy I made a point to meet Ray upon my next trip back to the United States.

Ray is indeed from small town America. He began his teaching career in Round Rock, Texas, back when the population was about 2,500. Today he makes his home near Pensacola, Florida. And has lived in a succession of small towns.

Ray's premise is that CITIES in America have lost their third places and we're the worse off for it.

Fabulous book, interesting man.....

Joel Jacobs
Commerce, Texas
US Navy, retired

How to Succeed in the Game of Life: 34 Interviews with the World's Greatest Coaches

Average customer rating:

A Great Read
What a great read!
Game of life
Coaching advise from athletic coaches
Overcome Adversity

How to Succeed in the Game of Life: 34 Interviews with the World's Greatest Coaches
Christian Klemash
Manufacturer: Andrews McMeel Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0740760653

Book Description

What would legendary Boston Celtics coach and 16-time NBA champion Red Auerbach say is the most critical quality for a person to be successful? Would his advice differ from 10-time NCAA championship coach John Wooden's? What would each say to a young person just starting out in pursuit of their dreams? What is the best advice they were ever given?

It took author Christian Klemash more than two years of research, persistence, and original interviews, but now he's ready to pass on the best advice you'll ever get. Only the rare individual has had the opportunity to pick the brain of just one legendary sports coach—let alone thirty-four of the best sports coaches of all time. Klemash gives sports fans a once-in-a-lifetime chance to learn valuable life lessons from the most famous, intelligent, and victorious coaches ever. The legends span the sports world, from gold medal-winning gymnastics coach Bela Karolyi and three-time college football championship coach Tom Osborne to four-time World Series-winning baseball manager Joe Torre and hall-of-fame boxing trainer Angelo Dundee.

These coaches know how to teach top athletes about character and winning, how to manage pressure at crunch time, and how to bring out the best in their players when it matters most. How to Succeed in the Game of Life shares their insights into sports, life, and the most vital keys to sustain success.Featuring Exclusive Interviews with:

Red Auerbach, 16-time NBA World Champion

Bobby Bowden, College Football's All-Time Winningest Coach, 2-time National Champion

Scotty Bowman, 9-time Stanley Cup Champion

Bill Cowher, Super Bowl Champion

Tony Dungy, Super Bowl Champion

Dan Gable, 15-time NCCA Champion

April Heinrichs, Gold Medal Winning Coach of the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team

Bela Karolyi, The World’s Greatest Gymnastics Coach

Bill Parcells, 2-time Super Bowl Champion

Emanuel Steward, Boxing Trainer of 30 World Champions

Joe Torre, 4-time World Series Champion

Bill Walsh, 3-time Super Bowl Champion

Lenny Wilkens, NBA’s All-Time Winningest Coach, NBA Champion

John Wooden, 10-time NCAA Champion

And More!

Customer Reviews:

A Great Read.......2007-08-26

Wow!Could not put it down.An extraordinay self help book.Gave it to my kids they loved it.Don't miss this one

What a great read!.......2007-07-25

I took it on vacation with me and I couldn't put it down. A great book for aspiring athletes and coaches as well as your average Joe who works 9-5. The coaches discuss a variety of topics from their childhood to how they motivate their players. Any easy read for all ages.

Game of life.......2007-07-24

I've read through Game of Life and I enjoyed it very much. There are so many things to take from this book, not just into sports, but also some reflections on life. I would recommend this book to everybody.

Coaching advise from athletic coaches.......2007-06-27

A fun read, especially if yoiu're a sports fan. I read it in search of things that would help my own ability as a coach in my company. Much of it is light stuff but the easy read makes it fun nonetheless and there are few golden nuggets laced throughout the book.

Overcome Adversity.......2007-04-12

Anyone looking for inspiration, either for their own life or to share with others, will find a gold mine of quotes here. This book isn't just for sports fans.

Walks Through Lost Paris: A Journey Into the Heart of Historic Paris

Average customer rating:

Paris revisited
Beautiful & Original Book
A wonderful resource for advanced Parisian visitors
Experiencing Paris history by foot.
Fabulous photo essay of Paris then and now--finally in English!

Walks Through Lost Paris: A Journey Into the Heart of Historic Paris
Leonard Pitt
Manufacturer: Shoemaker & Hoard
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1593761031

Book Description

When he discovered that the city he lived in for many years was actually entirely rebuilt during the mid-1800s, Leonard Pitt plunged into Paris's history and began photographing what he learned had changed. Eventually, he led tours and gave lectures on the demolition and reconstruction that changed the city forever. Walks Through Lost Paris chronicles Paris's great periods of urban reconstruction through four walking tours. With a special focus on the work of Georges-Eugene Haussmann, this book provides a history of each site along with the motives behind the urban redesign and the reactions of Parisians who witnessed it. Detailed maps take you through a city whose changes were captured by photographers and artists in each stage. Hundreds of color photos, diagrams, and engravings splendidly survey the massive transformation that resulted in the Paris of today.

Customer Reviews:

Paris revisited.......2007-09-19

If you love Paris (and who doesn't?) you'll appreciate this book. It takes us over well-trod streets, past ancient buildings, and brings them alive by examining their past. Atget documented Paris as it was; this book predates that.

Beautiful & Original Book.......2007-08-28

Beautifully produced book with superb use of 19th century & current photos to show changes in Paris locations pre & post Haussmann. A great read for anyone who loves & knows Paris, and doubles as an "advanced" and specialized walking guide for those lucky enough to be on site.

A wonderful resource for advanced Parisian visitors.......2007-04-14

At last, in English! I got a copy of this years ago in Paris in French, and was hoping it would finally come out in English so I could recommend it to my friends when they visit. The photos allow you to easily follow along while you complete your individual walks - and it really helps expand your understanding of the city, it's people. and its changing social ways. It also lets you look at Paris in a completely different way -- while it points out what has changed and what is gone, it is also a wonderful volume that lets you see through fresh eyes what is still there - albeit often used very differently. One caveat - this is not a guidebook for beginners -- this is a walking tour guidebook for those who already have an extensive knowledge of Paris and its neighborhoods.

Experiencing Paris history by foot........2007-01-31

Leonard Pitt lived in the heart of Paris from 1963 to 1970 while he studied mime with Etienne Decroux. During that time, he fell in love with the beauty of the city. He discovered that between 1853 and 1870, using an army of 60,000 workers, Baron Georges-Eugene Haussmann demolished nearly 20,000 buildings in Paris (replacing them with 45,000 new buildings), leveled Ile de la Cite, and evicted over 100,000 residents, thereby destroying much of the city's rich medieval and Renaissance history. Derived from his own experience leading walking tours through Paris together with his studies of old maps and 19th-century photos, Pitt's guide offers detailed walks (with maps and photos) through Paris's most interesting neighborhoods designed to reveal the city's rich history and redesign: (1) from Saint-Germaine des Pres to Square Viviani; (2) in Ile de la Cite; (3) from Saint-Germain des Pres to the Palais Royal; and (4) in the Marais. Having completed each of these four walks during a recent visit to Paris (where I purchased Pitt's guide upon the recommendation of a local bookstore), I can highly recommend this book. It is not the sort of guide, however, that provides information or recommendations of where to stop and shop, eat, drink, and sightsee along the way.

G. Merritt

Fabulous photo essay of Paris then and now--finally in English!.......2006-07-15

Leonard Pitt's book "Walks Through Lost Paris" is amazing. In it he chronicles changes made to Paris in the interest of modernization during the Haussmann era (mid 19th century) and later. The changes are documented with abundant before and after photos, allowing you to literally see for yourself how Paris has evolved over the past 150 years.

To Leonard, most of the changes he shows were regrettable, particularly those made in the 20th century. As he says, the one saving grace of Haussmann's many alterations to Paris is that he beat later rebuilders to it(!).

This book should appeal to anyone who has an interest in the unique visual appeal of Paris. The walks are very well narrated and thus should be easy for even newcomers to Paris to follow.

However, I think "Walks Through Lost Paris" will have its greatest appeal to readers already familiar with the neighborhoods Pitt describes. To them (here I include myself), it will be possible to recall the context of the modern-day photos and better appreciate the historical photos of what used to be in the same place. For the repeat visitor, Pitt's book offers a wealth of detail to form the basis of ever-deeper explorations into this stunning, historic city.

As a final note, let me add that I spotted the Parigramme book, in French, "Promenades dans le Paris Disparu" a few years ago and ever since have been looking to see if it had been translated into English. Now it has, and for that I am very grateful.

I hope you'll enjoy this book as much as I have. I've already read it twice in the last two weeks!

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A Change of Heart
Wonderful stories of small-town life
Another terrific installment on the folks at Harmony
Great to visit Harmony again!
A delightful book

A Change of Heart: A Harmony Novel
Philip Gulley
Manufacturer: HarperOne
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Fiction | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0060006366
Release Date: 2005-06-28

Book Description

Sam Gardner never dreamed he would be thanking God for Harmony's self-appointed general of the religious Right, Dale Hinshaw. God does indeed work in mysterious ways.

Amanda Hodge, who has been living with her Uncle Ellis and Aunt Miriam since her parents abandoned her years ago, now faces their return and their desire to be a part of her life again. Dale Hinshaw hovers on the brink of death, in dire need of a heart transplant The whole town is abuzz as the beautiful Deena Morrison marries the town's most eligible bachelor, Dr. Pierce. And in the midst of these triumphs and tragedies, Pastor Sam Gardner helps the people of Harmony negotiate the sometimes rocky road of family life, faith, and forgiveness.

Although Harmony's characters develop and grow with each novel, one thing remains constant -- Philip Gulley's ability to capture both the flavor of small-town America and the paradoxical beauty of our own humanity.

Customer Reviews:

A Change of Heart.......2007-06-09

Like all of Philip Gulley's books, this one takes us to Harmony and the people who live in that small town. His characatures of the Friendly Meeting House people are not only humorous, but there are lessons to be learned as we see ourselves in some of them from time to time. We're delighted that Deena and Dr. Pierce are married, even though Dale Henshaw manages to draw that ceremony to a dramatic climax! Dale will never change, even in such a dramatic occurance as a heart transplant. Fun reading with an added life lesson to be learned every now and then.

Wonderful stories of small-town life.......2007-01-01

Sam Gardner and his delightfully dysfunctional Quaker congregation are back again as this series just seems to get better and better. There are lots of humorous moments with special Harmony events such as the Blessing of the Noodles, the Corn and Sausage Days Festival, and the Progressive Nativity Scene. There are also more serious events and a threat to the lives of two of the members of the Harmony Quaker church. There are family squabbles between Ellis and Ralph Hodge and bumpy places in the new marriage of Dr. Pierce and Deena. Again Philip Gulley makes us laugh, makes us cry, and makes us think which is a surefire recipe for a good read.

Another terrific installment on the folks at Harmony.......2006-03-08

Anyone who has stumbled across the writings of Philip Gulley will want to get the next installment in the lives of Harmony. As a person reads these books, he or she forgets that these are all fictional characterizations and a person cannot wait to hear the crazyness continue. A must-read for anyone who wants to have some light-hearted moments!

Great to visit Harmony again!.......2006-01-16

My favorite thing about reading Gulley's books is the feeling of being home. So many of the characters are so familiar!!!

Great read--I highly recommend if you've read the other Harmony books.

A delightful book.......2006-01-03

Someone picking this book up might think it is another one of those sugar coated nostalgic looks at how we like to view ourselves, or rather what America used to be like. But it's not, or not entirely, because Quaker pastor Gulley avoids romanticizing his little town. He as pastor has a sometimes rocky relationship with his congregation. Early in the book, he says that every Sunday he urges his congregation to become a new creation and every week they refuse to do it. There is plenty of bad behavior in this book, but there's also a wonderful sense of community -- of living somewhere where there are no secrets. The community also manages to come together when there are troubles, however.

The theme of this book is forgiveness. Two brothers are at odds, with one brother, Ellis -- the one who stayed home and behaved -- being unwilling to forgive his brother Ralph, an alcoholic who left with his wife 5 years ago, leaving behind their daughter Amanda to be raised by Ellis and his wife. Ralph and his wife have quit drinking and are working hard. But they want to resume their relationship with Amanda, and Ellis doesn't trust them and he can't forgive Ralph.

I love these books. Reading Gulley is a lot like wrapping yourself up in a home-made quilt.

Troubled Waters: A Novel (Hearts of the Children, 2)

Average customer rating:

Uh. . .
Where's the next one?!

Troubled Waters: A Novel (Hearts of the Children, 2)
Dean Hughes
Manufacturer: Bookcraft
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1570088616

Customer Reviews:

Uh. . . .......2005-08-18

I absolutely loved The Children of Promise series by Dean Hughes, but I could not get past Troubled Waters in this series. I got maybe half way through, buy couldn't read anymore because of the way that one certain character is completely fawned over. I'm sorry, but just because someone may be beautiful in outward appearance does not make them a "beautiful" person and it also does mean that every Tom, Dick or Harry on the street is going to fall at their feet. I enjoy other books by Hughes, but I really hesitate at this one.

Where's the next one?!.......2003-01-29

This book is great. I am struggling (still) with finding good books to read, but I finished this one in about 5 days and I even work full time and have stuff going on every night. Great touching story and I can't wait for the next one!!

Kyoto: Seven Paths to The Heart of The City (Origami Classroom)

Average customer rating:

A wonderful book for a beautiful city

Kyoto: Seven Paths to The Heart of The City (Origami Classroom)
Diane Durston
Manufacturer: Kodansha International
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Asia | Travel | Subjects | Books

Guidebooks | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books

General | Travel | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 4770028776

Book Description

What better way to see Kyoto than at dawn, when the back streets and alleys of this 1,200-year-old city are still under the spell of the past? Old folks fuss about with their bonsai and laundry poles, pausing to chat on their way to the neighborhood shrine with flowers and morning prayers.
Knock-kneed white egrets stalk the stream beds for breakfast, and the giant bronze temple bells awaken the former capital of Japan every morning as they have done for centuries.

Through wars, fires, famines, tyrants, and now rapid modernization, the old neighborhoods of Kyoto are the places where the customs and traditions of this fascinating city, with its confusing blend of old and new, have managed to survive.

American writer and former Kyoto resident Diane Durston introduces seven must-see precincts of this ancient capital city, including four Historic Preservation Districts. Among them are the world-famous geisha quarter, the kimono textile neighborhoods, the sake-brewing area of Fushimi, and the
tea-growing region of Uji. Durston weaves together local lore and historical sites to create a panoply of provocative walking tours that take the reader back in time to the elegance of earlier days.

Accompanying each section is a full-color map and the fine photography of Katsuhiko Mizuno, a Kyoto native and one of the city's most famous photographers. Sections highlighting Kyoto crafts, cuisine, festivals, and tourist essentials round out this attractive volume, making it the perfect
introduction -and guide- to one of the world's most evocative cities.

FEATURES
* Photographs by one of Kyoto's most renowned photographers

* Locations of the most important Historic Preservations Districts

* Detailed maps and suggested routes

* Scenic and little-known walking paths

* Completely revised and updated information

Customer Reviews:

A wonderful book for a beautiful city.......2007-09-20

I was privileged to have spent 4 months in Japan, but of all the places I visited, I fell in love with Kyoto. This is a marvelous book for doing all the walking that one needs to do here. Take a city tour first, but then leave several days to revisit all the places that enthralled you, and believe me, there will be many! Get this book and study it well; you won't be disappointed.

The Battle for New York: The City at the Heart of the American Revolution

Average customer rating:

Excellent book on NYC's role
Satisfying read for a NYC history and American Revolution buff
An outstanding history of the American Revolution
City at the Center of the Revolution
Occupied New York

The Battle for New York: The City at the Heart of the American Revolution
Barnet Schecter
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

ASIN: 0142003336
Release Date: 2003-10-28

Book Description

The Battle for New York tells the story of how the city became the pivot on which the American Revolution turned: from the political and religious struggles of the 1760s and early '70s that made the city a hotbed of political action to the campaign of 1776 that turned today's five boroughs and Westchester County into a series of battlefields to the seven years of British occupation and martial law. The struggle for control of New York was by far the largest military venture of the Revolutionary War, involving almost every significant participant on both sides from General William Howe to Nathan Hale, Benedict Arnold to George Washington. Barnet Schecter brilliantly links eighteenth-century events with the city's modern landscape, illuminating the forgotten battlefield that remains in our midst.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent book on NYC's role.......2007-09-09

I found this to be an excellent book about how NY city factored into the war. The text is complemented by a number of good maps. A bonus is that the author provides the current addresses of a number of important occurences so one can visit the sites. I was not aware how intent GW was on recapturing NYC later in the war, nor the city's use as a stratgeic base by the Brits late in the war.

Satisfying read for a NYC history and American Revolution buff.......2006-12-21

The "Battle For New York" is unique among most American Revolution books for obvious reasons -- it ties everything about the war together around New York and how important and strategically vital the city was to both sides of the fight.

There's not much new or revealing about the non-NYC portions of the war -- most are analyzed briefly with quick summaries and much of the same information seen in other books. Even the analysis of the Battle of Brooklyn/Long Island is similar to that of other books like "George Washington's War." But for the first time in a historical account of the War, I had a real sense of the despair in the city, the turmoil, the suffering, and the paranoia of the inhabitants and the British occupants.

Also, as a New Yorker and a big fan of the city's history, I enjoyed Schecter's frequent footnotes relating the present-day geography to the location of many events from the War. His descriptions of Manhattan, Brooklyn and New Jersey provided me with vivid images of what the city and its surroundings looked like at the time, moreso than any book I've read to date. And Schecter goes into excellent detail in showing how the underwater geography of New York Harbor affected the mighty British (and later, French) fleet.

Schecter's "Battle For New York" does not particularly stand out amongst other works on the American Revolution, but it's definitely worth a read if you have any interest in New York and its history and geography.

An outstanding history of the American Revolution.......2006-11-30

This is the first book that really makes sense out of the land battles of the Revolutionary War. By centering the focus on NYC, the author shows how the campaigns and battles have a cohesion and rationale in the minds of all of the leaders, on both sides. His explanations of the British failures at Bennington & Saratoga, and of what happened at Brandywine & Germantown, and of the final march to Yorktown are better than I have read anywhere else. I especially appreciate his comments on the stealthy
Washington-Rochambeau trek, which so many people portray as if it was a massive, stately one-column victory parade down a fixed route all the way from New England to Virginia.

City at the Center of the Revolution.......2006-11-05

Having lived in New York City all my life I am surprised it took so long for someone to write a book on this subject. All through the Bicentennial in 1976 with Rev War re-enactments all around the city there was still nothing done on this subject until many years later. Now there are several books out that cover New York's unique place in the Revolution.

The author does a nice job of linking current locations to where they were then. For those not familier with the city today this might be confusing, but it is interesting none the less. Barnet Schacter has given us a social, political and part military history on the subject. The beginning is slow to get off the mark with the details of pre-Revolutionary politics in the city a bit hard to grasp. The various personalities involved, and their political antics makes for slow reading at first, but the reader is rewarded if he/she is persistent.

The book naturally picks up once the British fleet arrives in New York Harbor. Schacter is good at pointing out the local details of where the British landed and how they marched in Brooklyn. He is weaker on some of his battle details at times. The Battle of Long Island, or Brooklyn as it is often called gets cursory treatment. Of course there is not much to tell as the Americans mostly ran from British bayonets. The one thing that sticks out from this narrative is how the British under Howe allowed the Americans to escape from almost every encounter. From Brooklyn to White Plains Howe's leisurely campaign proceeds at a processional pace, allowing Washington to pick up the pieces each time to make another stand. The British could have easily crushed Washy several times at New York, as the city was virtually impossible to defend with the resources at hand. Why they didn't remains somewhat of a mystery, although the reasons are there. Howe was politically against the war, had no stomach for crushing the Americans whom he basically liked; and he wanted to accomplish his objectives with as little bloodshed as possible. When one considers these aspects his campaign in and around New York becomes easier to understand. Howe wanted to show the Americans the futility of their efforts and was hoping for their reconciliation with Britain. Unfortunately for Howe and co. this was wishful thinking. The British would never again have such a series of opportunities to bag Washy and the main rebel army. Henry Clinton knew this could not be done, and the account provided of his fustrations over Howe's management of the campaign is compelling.

Like most historians on the Revolution, Schacter is more a story teller than a pure military historian. He provides just enough detail to satisfy the general reader, and to frustrate the military reader! One of the points made often in the book on the battles around New York is that British casualties were higher in terms of killed and wounded than rebel. This is true, but the author leaves out the circumstances involved. In alomst all the engagements involved the Americans were fighting on the defense, often with some kind of protective cover, while the British were attacking out in the open. Its easy to see why British losses were higher in this regard. Americans fought well until their line was broken, then they ran or surrendered. This accounts for why most rebel losses were captives. I think Schacter exaggerates the losses sustained by the Britsih at Pells Point, and tends to show his pro-American bias rather blantly at times. This is understandable because most books written on the Revolution are done by American authors who always get carried away with the spirit of '76 syndrome. Where the book is strong is showing how the British capture of New York limited their strategy for the war overall. The harbor's use was limited due to a large sandbar that prevented ships from corssing at low tides.

There can be little doubt that British fixation on New York certainly contributed to their demise. Once Schacter finishes with the immediate action around the city in 1776 he provides an over-view of the war showing how New York influenced the course of the conflict. This in my opinion is one of the main strengths of the book. Readers will like some of the period detail, and the narrative is livened with many first-hand accounts from participants on both sides. The plight of the loyalists in the city makes for interesting reading as their story is often too little told. Details about how corrupt and inefficient the British occupation was provides insights into how garrisoning it was such a drag on their strategy. In the main a good book filled with many interesting details, if slightly weak on the battles in and around the city itself. Worthwhile.

Occupied New York.......2006-05-06

People, including Franklin (father and son), the Howe brothers (William and Black Dick), the DeLanceys, the Livingstons, George Washington and Lord Stirling (a soi-disant Scottish peer AND an American patriot!); and geography, Hell Gate, Sandy Hook, Flatbush and Gravesend are the stars of Barnet Schecter's masterly study of New York in the American Revolution. In this 400+ page impeccably sourced book, we also learn about the first combat submarine (the Turtle) and other fascinating details like the peace conference on Staten Island and the noble death of Nathan Hale. I especially liked the maps which combine historic details with modern landmarks which helped enormously in picturing the action.Schecter is an up and coming historian; I look forward to reading his latest work on the 1863 NYC draft riot during the Civil War.

Average customer rating:

wonderful books

Millie's Faithful Heart, Book 4
Martha Finley
Manufacturer: Zonderkidz
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1928749127

Book Description

Falling in love in 1837 was no different than falling in love today. The standards that Christians must live up to have not changed, either. In Millie’s Faithful Heart, sixteen-year-old Millie Keith faces the greatest challenge of her young life when she falls in love with a man who does not belong to Jesus. Christian girls will be challenged with the message that true love not only waits–it seeks God’s best for the one you love.

Customer Reviews:

wonderful books.......2007-05-20

My eighteen year old daughter asked for this book to complete the set she started in [...]. I think she must be saving them for her own daughters some day. She loves these books and it is the only set she is saving - and she's had many different book sets over the years. What's the draw? I'm not sure, but every now and then I find her re-reading them. They must be wonderful. Someday, when the carousel slows a bit, maybe I'll read them myself.

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