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Annie Proulx * John Updike * Calvin Trillin * Caroline Leavitt * Dean Koontz * Zhu Xiao Di * Jonathan Kellerman * Ana Veciana-Suarez * Frederick Dillen * Sandra Benítez * Sylvia Watanabe * Mickey Pearlman * Mary Morris * Jane Bernstein * David Forsmark * Martha Coventry * Jesse Kellerman * Claudia O'Keefe * Rochelle Jewell Shapiro * Jane Praeger * Dawn Raffel

Father

The ties that bind a father to his family -- and vice versa -- have always been a potent source of artistic obsession and literary contemplation, from The Odyssey to King Lear to Death of a Salesman. Now some of today's most talented writers -- award winners and innovative newcomers alike -- come together in a powerful and exhilarating anthology, a dazzling collection of short stories and memoirs that captures the unique and far-reaching spectrum of emotions that only fathers and fatherhood can inspire.

Powerfully affirming her reputation as one of today's premier prose stylists, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Annie Proulx delivers the Faulknerian "Electric Arrows," a stark portrait of modernism's devastating effect on a rural family's patriarch. Through the subtle observations and vivid characterizations of "The Gun Shop," the inimitable John Updike quietly underscores the complex interplay of resentment and adoration attending every father-son relationship. In spare, staccato rhythms, Dawn Raffel renders an unforgettable image of a grown daughter and her aging father in "Somewhere Near Sea Level." And in an achingly beautiful memory piece, Ana Veciana-Suarez recalls her turbulent Miami childhood spent in the shadow of her papi, a strong-willed Caribbean emigrant.

These works, along with a range of other compelling selections, combine for an anthology of extraordinary power and uncommon scope. By turns troubling and comforting, bewildering and revelatory, Father delivers an unprecedentedly rich and eclectic take on this most classic of all literary themes. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

O'Keefe delivers a great read!
I bought this book not because I had heard good things about it, though I had; but because not ever having a father myself, I have always been curious as to what they were really like.I'd expected to skip through thebook, verifying my own thoughts as to what my father might have been likeshould he have opted to stick around, then stuff the book onto a shelf.Wrong! Once begun, I was hooked (and I'm not a fan of anthologies or shortstories).

O'Keefe has pulled together a group of writers who depictalmost every type of father imaginable, some loving, some distant, somegiving and strong, others needy and weak, many in between. I found myselfreading through the night, forgetting about my original reason for pickingup the book.

Some that stood out for me were the pieces by E. AnnieProulx, Jane Praeger, Ana Veciana-Suarez (the scene where her father isshot in a drive-by is riveting, the ending touching) and JonathanKellerman.

What surprised me was that some of the better known names didnot live up to what I'd expected.Dean Koontz came across cold andsomewhat arrogant in his writing, though to be fair, this may just havebeen the particular character he wrote about. Interesting was the story byJonathan Kellerman's son, Jesse. He does show potential, but his writingseemed flat and the characters one-dimensional. It goes to prove thatbecoming a good writer takes time and maturity, and perhaps paying yourdues.

What I find really amazing, though, is that some of the best workin the book was by writers whose names were not familiar to me, and I am aneclectic reader. I have put their names in my mental file to look foragain. Oh yes, Claudia O'Keefe's own essay came closest to what I wassearching for when I bought Father. I would like to spend lunch with her toexchange thoughts on fathers. Her choice of restaurant, I'll buy.As forO'Keefe's editorship, she has managed to change my feelings aboutanthologies. Before reading Father I thought them nothing but literary grabbags. I'm now looking forward to her next one, whatever the subject she maychose.

I don't buy many books....
but I bought this one the moment I saw it. Fathers are a subject of such huge importance to families today, but so rarely discussed in modern literature.I thought Dean Koontz' essay about theatheist father whoactively tried to deny his son any hope of eternal life was brilliant, butvery dark, and a little soft at the end.John Updike's characters weregood, but the story went nowhere. Claudia O'Keefe's portrait of the fathershe never knew until she was an adult and found out she was better off notknowing was memorable as was Caroline Leavit's picture of the familyvacations from Purgatory.Jonathan Kellerman's semi-mystery of the cop whodoesn't want his daughter following in his footsteps was unexpectedlytouching, not to mention suspenseful. But to top them all off, that DavidForsmark, a guy I've never heard of, blew them all away with a somewhattongue-in-cheek tale of the woes of his fundamentalist upbringing whichkept me glued - and grinning - from start to finish. I hope to see morebooks of this type and will definitely keep my eyes peeled for anything byForsmark. ... Read more

Product Description
This book is about Jenny Archer and her struggle to write her autobiography. Fortunately, her imagination comes to the rescue, helping her to invent a fascinating family history. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

book was too well loved
I ordered a book from this seller for my niece.It turned out to be a library book that had a ripped cover and had obviously been read quite thoroughly many times.Not what I expected from the description.All the words were there and my niece enjoyed the book, but I was surprised at its condition. ... Read more

Product Description

The second book in an exciting and inspiring new series from national bestselling author ReShonda Tate Billingsley

They share a precious gift. . . .

Joining Rachel Jackson's church youth group has been a lifesaver for Camille, Alexis, Jasmine, and Angel. The fabulous four share everything from juicy gossip to mentoring school kids. But their loyalty is put to the test when two of the girls get caught up in problems of their own -- and may drag their girlfriends down with them.

Will they forget who their friends are?

Wealthy Alexis seems to have the perfect life -- but no one can see her fear as her parents head for divorce. Meanwhile, Jasmine is tired of being the glue that holds her mother and siblings together, and she escapes by moving in with her father. Both girls are tempted to do something drastic to get the attention they crave, and both need to hear Rachel's hard-won advice on why stealing will only get them more trouble. But when it comes to winning back Camille and Angel's trust, Alexis and Jasmine will have to find the answers in their own hearts. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Blessing's
I loved everything about this story.Jasmine shows us that no matter your age you can still take things to God.This book is a perfect example of the old saying, "everything that glitters ain't gold."This is a must read for young adults and I will be passing this one to my daughter.

Blessings In Disguise (GREAT BOOK)
I thought that this was an awsome book! Since Nothing but Drama was mostly about Camille and Angel, this book was mostly about Jasmine and Alexis. Even though the attention in the book was switched to Jasmine and Alexis, I still think that is was a great book and can't wait to get the next one!!!!

All That Glitters Isn't Gold
In Nothing But Drama (Book 1) Camille, Angel, Alexis and Jasmine became friends after joining the Good Girlz Club, and, although the reader learned a bit about each character, the main focus was on Camille. In Book 2 of ReShonda Tate Billingsley's Christian teen series the author introduced another Good Girlz Club member, Trina, who had a habit that got her and other members into trouble, and she touched on Alexis' issues with her parents, however, the main focus was Jasmine's story:
Jasmine's brothers got on her every nerve, she was responsible for most of the cleaning and cooking at home, and she always seemed to end up in situations that reminded her of the fact that she didn't have money. Jasmine hated her life, and she believed that if she could just find the father she'd never known a relationship with him would make everything much better. Jasmine's mother, Jetola, refused to even speak of this man and became highly upset when her daughter brought him up, so there was no way Jasmine was going to convince her to reveal her father's whereabouts. Still, a determined Jasmine found her father, but she also found out that all that glitters isn't gold. That was cool in the end, though, because a lesson learned brought Jasmine closer to her mother.
With only 166 pages this book was a quick read. I really enjoyed it, and I'm looking forward to the next one.

Blessing Lessons (4.5) Stars
Blessings in Disguise by ReShonda Tate Billingsley picks up six months after her first book in the teen series, Nothing But Drama, ends. In the first book, we were introduced to Camille, Alexis, Angel and Jasmine, who had become a part of a Christian teen group, dubbed The Good Girlz. The first book was told in alternating, character chapters. In Blessings in Disguise, Ms. Billingsley allows the story to be told in one voice, the voice of Jasmine.

Jasmine is a plus-sized, fifteen-year old with many insecurities and a chip on her shoulder. She is plagued by feelings of being unattractive, poor and overworked by her family. She is also consumed with finding the father she has never known. Jasmine's fate changes when she discovers that Donovan a star athlete, new to her school, has genuine feeling for her. Her relationship with Donovan is a bright spot in her life, but there are always other issues.

Jasmine discovers that her friends from the Good Girlz are involved in illegal activities, and though she does not agree, she finds herself going along for the ride. She also has a lead on where her father might be located. She is convinced once she finds him her life will be perfect. What Jasmine discovers is that everything that looks good is not necessarily good for you. Finding herself in trouble will prove to her and her friends that trouble can often be blessings in disguise.

Blessings in Disguise is a fast-paced, enjoyable cautionary tale. This book is recommended for any young person and anyone who remembers being young.

Angelia Menchan
APOOO BookClub

What a Blessing!
I have been a fan of Reshonda Tate Billingsley for only a short while but I can tell you this: This book is a great Christian read - for the young & old! ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (3)

The Kids in Room 3T Have a Great Visit!
This is a very cute book about an Author's Visit.The kids think that the author must be extraordinary due to the stories he writes.The teacher tries to prepare the kids for an ordinary guy.Who come to class is anything but ordinary.What fun!

Hilarious!
Robin Pulver, author of the hilarious "Axel Annie and the Speed Grump",
presents kids with yet another book that will make kids of all ages roll around on the floor, literally laughing their pants off!

Author Day for Room 3T brings us to a class that is very, very excited... they are going to have a chance to meet their favorite author, Harry Bookman! Naturally, since Mr. Bookman writes amazing books, he must be an amazing person. The class really gets into planning for the visit, re-reading all his books, drawing pictures, making up songs, even dressing up as his characters and acting out his stories for the kindergarten class. Even though the librarian, the aptly named Mrs. Storey, tells the class that Mr. Bookman is an "ordinary (person), like you and me", the class doesn't believe it. If all authors are ordinary people, why fuss and bother over them?

When a surprise visitor hops through the window into the library, the kids are certain it's Mr. Bookman. Never mind that he throws his ice cubes everywhere, jumps up and down on furniture, and even swings from the ceiling. The kids are certain that this chimp-like critter is the one, the only, Henry Bookman!

Robin Pulver's fantastic story couples marvelously with Chuck Richards' hilarious illustrations. Every picture is so in-depth, with even the posters on the wall being incredibly detailed. This book will appeal not only to kids, but also those of us that have always viewed authors as being people of near-mythical status. I highly recommend this book as a must for every well-equipped bookshelf.

Many jokes in the text and pictures reward reading and re-reading
Author Day for Room 3T is a picture book for early elementary school kids, written by Robin Pulver and illustrated by Chuck Richards. It's a bright, colorful book in which much of the story is told through the zany, over-the-top pictures. Kids will feel in on a private joke as the pictures accent the relatively restrained text.

The story begins as the kids from Room 3T of Lerner Elementary School prepare for a visit by a very special guest: Harry Bookman, "a real live author". The kids read all of Harry Bookman's books, decorate the library with a big banner, draw pictures from the books, and act out the stories as plays. They have a hard time picturing the author as a regular person, and wonder things like "Do authors get thirsty."

The fantasy sequences (where the kids imagine what the author will be like) are clearly set apart, each a monochrome image of a different base color, in pointillist style. There's one where the kids imagine the author arriving in a space suit, stepping out of a rocket ship. Because "If authors were ordinary, why all the fuss and bother about this one?"

The kids are surprised, but delighted, when the author arrives through the window, jumps up on the tables, and swings from the ceiling. He fulfills their every expectation that authors are NOT ordinary people at all. This is helped by the convenience of the teacher (Mr. Topple) falling, and having to go to the nurse's office before meeting Harry Bookman, and the librarian (Mrs. Storey) losing her glasses, and not being able to see him. But the kids see him for what he is.

There are many little jokes in the text and pictures, to reward reading and re-reading. I love the picture of one girl reading while standing on her head, blond braids strewn across the floor. There's also a place where Mr. Topple is lecturing, and we see one of the kids drawing a caricature of him as a monkey (before the author arrives). And, of course, the names of the school and the characters are all tongue-in-cheek.

The book ends with a page of "Harry Bookman's Tips for Hosting a Successful Author Visit." I can see this book encouraging kids to push for author visits at their own schools (though they are likely to be disappointed when regular people show up, and don't swing from the rooftops). Overall, I think that Author Day for Room 3T is a fun book that will get kids excited about author visits, and make them laugh. I think that authors who have made school visits will also enjoy it.

This book review was originally published on my blog, Jen Robinson's Book Page, on November 28, 2006. ... Read more

Product Description
Mariah Delaney, that enterprising schemer, is back with bigger and better plans. Seeing how excited her classmates become over a popular author's visit to their school, Mariah's Author-of-the-Month Club is born. Now real authors can come on a monthly basis to tell "the stories behind the stories" to Mariah's classmates and friends. The club suffers a slow start, but when Mariah persuades a famous author of a well-loved book to come to a meeting, things really get going...just in time for disaster to strike. ... Read more

Product Description
Written for librarians, teachers, and researchers who deal with children's literature, this volume offers comprehensive coverage of nearly 400 British books for young people published since 1678. Books chosen for inclusion were drawn from those that have won recognized awards for literary merit or have been on lists citing works that should be part of any representative children's book collection. For each, the authors provide concise entries for authors, titles, characters, memorable settings, significant movements, and literary terminology. The result is an unusually complete overview of a broad spectrum of fiction recognized for merit by a wide variety of experts in children's literature. ... Read more

Product Description
Written for librarians, teachers, and researchers who deal with children's literature, this volume offers comprehensive coverage of nearly 400 British books for young people published since 1678. Books chosen for inclusion were drawn from those that have won recognized awards for literary merit or have been on lists citing works that should be part of any representative children's book collection. For each, the authors provide concise entries for authors, titles, characters, memorable settings, significant movements, and literary terminology. The result is an unusually complete overview of a broad spectrum of fiction recognized for merit by a wide variety of experts in children's literature. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

History with grace
With two Cambodian-born children, this book is a treasured addition to our library. Beautifully told and illustrated, its graceful imagery draws children into the story, and with the muliple readings demanded soon has them practicing the hand poses and dreaming of dance.

My kids will be reading this for years, and I now give this as a gift for all new baby girls ... and Khmer boys, as well.

A beautifully presented picturebook story
Little Sap And Monsieur Rodin combines Michelle Lord's engaging text with impressive illustrations by Felicia Hoshino to tell the remarkable story of a young woman who in the year 1906 was a member of the dance troupe from the Royal Palace in Cambodia when they all made a trip to the beautiful city of Paris. Carrying young readers through Little Sap's encounter with the famous French artist, Augustine Rodin, Little Sap And Monsieur Rodin follows the painter and sculptor's interest with the classic beauty of Cambodian dance in general, and the dancing girl Little Sap in particular. A beautifully presented picturebook story, Little Sap And Monsieur Rodin will delight young readers and prove a popular addition to school and/or community library picturebook collections.

A wonderful book on many levels
Young girls especially will be able to identify with Little Sap as she starts her first dance class, all awkward and clumsy compared with the more experienced girls in the room.But as Little Sap grows more comfortable dancing, the reader grows more comfortable in the world of early 20th century Cambodia.And then the reader feels the same thrill Little Sap does when her dance group boards a huge ocean liner -- bringing along costumes, props, and even elephants! -- and sails for France.

The story is like a magical time machine that sends us back to a time when the world was much larger than it is today and foreign cultures were much more exotic. Cambodia of a century ago was a very artistic society, and the illustrations are superb in communicating the details of the clothing, dance, music, and architecture of the period.Together, the words and pictures convey a genuine sense of being there and sharing in the experiences of Little Sap.

A wonderful childrens book that tugs at the heartstrings
A truly delightful childrens book about a young cambodian girl who leaves her family and her village to become a dancer for the princess's royal dance troupe so that her family can have a better life.Along the way, she learns hard work and self worth.I found this to be an inspiring and touching story with a unique cultural angle not normally seen in childrens books.
The bright and colorful drawings bring the story to life.

I highly recommend this book!An exceptional book from a first time author that I hope publishes many more in the years to come.

Shall we dance?
They say not to judge a book by its cover.Obviously this rule is true some of the time.Some of the time, however, the cover is EXACTLY what you need to see in order to judge a book correctly.How many times have you seen a cheaply produced cover on a children's picture book also to find the story inside laughably simplistic?More than once, I'd wager.By and large, however, I do not seek out books based on what their covers look like.Then I took a gander at "Little Sap and Monsieur Rodin" and my little heart went pitter-pat.Oh how pretty.We've all seen those picture books that show a small child getting to know some great artistic figure.There was "Beethoven Lives Upstairs", and "Degas and the Little Dancer" (which bears no small resemblance to this book), and the truly disturbing "Picasso and the Girl With the Ponytail".What drew me to "Little Sap" however was partly its content.I don't know how many Cambodian picture books you can recite off the top of your head, but my count is pretty low.Add to that the fact that the book talks about Rodin (oddly ignored by picture books, by and large) and you've got yourself the makings of something particularly good.

The royal dance troupe of Cambodia is recruiting new members from a number of girls around the country.Little Sap is from a small village, but despite her dirty nails and awkward balance the child wins a place on the court's troupe.That means unceasing practice and training.Over the years she gains confidence and poise and is allowed to go to France with the troupe to perform abroad.While there they attract the attention of the great artist Auguste Rodin.Drawn to the dancers (no pun intended), Rodin spends much of his time in the villa where they stay, sketching their moves.Little Sap in particular gets his attention and by the end of their stay in France he purchases a pair of fancy French shoes and gives her a sketch of herself.The back of the book includes an Author's Note that describes the facts behind the story and what is and isn't true.

Rendered in ink, watercolor, acrylic, and paper collage the illustrations done by first-time picture book artist Felicia Hoshino are quite pleasant.Hoshino's girls wear silk sampot, or pantaloons, which let the girls look as if they're wearing slightly baggy pants all the time.This accurate detail has a dual purpose.On the one hand it means that the book is historically and culturally appropriate.On the other, it means that the girls in this book look particularly familiar to today's jean-shod young lasses.The style Hoshino uses here tends towards odd proportions in characters.Feet tend to be particularly small and heads particularly large.Just the same, this technique never strikes the reader as out of place.It's simply a different style.

Lord is careful to note at the back of her book that Little Sap's story is, for the most part, made up.There are elements to it, however, that were true.One thing I noticed in a photograph displayed of Rodin watching a dancer was that the performer is wearing a costume far more elaborate than any pictured in the book.During the professional dance of Robam Makaw the costumes are made evident, but we never get a scene similar to the one in the photo.One has to wonder why this is.Why, for example, did artist Felicia Hoshino choose to include plenty of scenes where the girls dance for Rodin, but not one where they are dressed up?Still, there was much to enjoy in this book.I was particularly pleased that Lord thought to include some of the hand motions mastered for the purpose of the dance.And though there isn't an official Bibliography at the back, a quick gander at the publication page shows the books, videos, and websites that Lord and Hoshino owe their aid to.

There are plenty of child-influences-great-artist type books out there, but by and large they are of white children with white artists.You'll still have the white artist in this book, but at least there's a bit of multiculturalism going on as well.You may be able to find Cambodian folktales in your local library, but not many will be stories based on real life occurrences involving the Khmer empire.A lovely little book and a nice story to boot. ... Read more

Product Description
Descend to the depths of primal horror with this chilling collection of original stories drawn from H. P. Lovecraft’s shocking, terrifying, and eerily prescient Cthulhu Mythos. In twenty-one dark visions, a host of outstanding contemporary writers tap into our innermost fears, with tales set in a misbegotten new world that could have been spawned only by the master of the macabre himself, H. P. Lovecraft. Inside you’ll find:

DETAILS by China Miéville: A curious boy discovers that within the splinters of cracked wood or the tangle of tree branches, the devil is in the details.

VISITATION by James Robert Smith: When Edgar Allan Poe arrives, a callow man finally gets what he always wanted—and what he may eternally despise.

MEET ME ON THE OTHER SIDE by Yvonne Navarro: A couple in love with terror travels beyond their wildest dreams—and into their nightmares.

A FATAL EXCEPTION HAS OCCURRED AT . . . by Alan Dean Foster: Internet terrorism extends far beyond transmitting threats of evil.

AND SEVENTEEN MORE HARROWING TALES

Amazon.com Review
While H.P. Lovecraft himself encouraged other authors to expand his horrific universe with stories of their own, the Cthulhu mythos has spawned so many slavish imitators that it tends not to seem so scary these days. Editors John Pelan and Benjamin Adams seek to remedy that with The Children of Cthulhu, an anthology of 21 stories by modern macabre masters. Contributors were asked to avoid trotting out old Lovecraftian clichés and instead to write stories that bring the true horror of Cthulhu right into the modern world. The results are mostly terrific. Offerings from Poppy Z. Brite ("Are You Loathsome Tonight?"), Caitlín R. Kiernan ("Nor the Demons Down Under the Sea"), China Miéville ("Details"), and L.H. Maynard and M.P.N. Sims ("A Victorian Pot Dresser") are the best of the bunch. Many of the stories are reminiscent of the Vertigo line of DC Comics, with dark, urban settingsand gross-out violence, so the book is more likely to appeal to readers of contemporary horror than to fans of classic Lovecraft. --Therese Littleton ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

From one of the book's writers
When John asked us to write for the book, he explained that he wanted an anthology that would help bring Lovecraft more into the modern age.There were no rules, except that we could not write stories that were sexually explicit because Del Rey wanted to market the book to young readers.I think that John envisioned the book as the Cthulhu Mythos equivalent of Harlan Ellison's DANGEROUS VISIONS.It is certainly one of the finest modern anthologies of tales inspired by H. P. Lovecraft and I am honored to be within its pages, however lacking and uninspired my own story may be. The book was a huge success and sold well both as hardcover edition and trade paperback.If you want innovative and superbly written tales that explore Lovecraftian ideas and yet are utterly original and decidedly modern, this book is for you.

Doesn't meet its goal, but doesn't fail to entertain either
The aim of this anthology was to take Lovecraft's ideas into new realms (as the introduction puts it, the Mythos aren't something that need fixing, but that doesn't mean you can't play with them). While it's certainly not pastiche & has some clever moments, this collection doesn't quite succeed in taking the Mythos to brand-new places. Many of the stories follow tried-and-true Lovecraft conventions too closely. That's not necessarily a bad thing; they're still entertaining, but not what the book promises. Some others do succeed in escaping the boundaries of Lovecraft while keeping essential Mythos ideas intact. It's too bad they all didn't.

I would certainly recommend giving it a read (I found it at my local library) but don't expect it to be a revolutionary collection.

Lighten up people
After reading these mostly scathing reviews I have only to say...look above. Sure, some of these stories were somewhat trivial (Alan Dean Foster really tanked)but the point is entertainment. As Lovecraft himself often stated "These pieces are for my and friends amusement". "Details" was wonderful, for Lovecraft veterans (35 years in my case) read and enjoy, and move on. By the way, to all the people trashing this book...when was the last time YOU had something published?

smile.

Not Lovecraftian Writing.
H.P. Lovecraft had a very powerful, dignified way of telling a story that appears nowhere in The Children of Cthulhu. Every one of these tales dabbles in Lovecraft's brilliant world, but they completely fail to evoke it. Nothing truly new is contributed, and a bunch of familiar Lovecraft ideas are recycled and bandied about. The style is wrong, the atmosphere is wrong, and the characters are not motivated by what drove Lovecraft's main protagonists - namely wonder, and a powerful preocupation with the bizarre.

Lovecraft wrote like a gentleman of the 17th century, scientific and cold, and most of his main characters are like him. None of the contributers to The Children of Cthulhu create characters this way, most of them being very ordinary, somewhat uninteresting people. Lovecraft felt that if characters in a weird story weren't motivated by extreme aversion to the ordinary world, or a fascination with the unusual, then the story wasn't really weird. None of the stories in this volume feel Lovecraftian in this sense, containing characters of a very ordinary motivation.

Alan Dean Foster's story, for example, is about a man who threatens to print the Necronomicon (Lovecraft's fictional book of elder horrors) over the internet. His motivation? Money. No insanity, no aversion to all normal life, no cosmic fear, just money. Lovecraft himself would be disgusted.

Nothing new is revealed about Lovecraft's universe, and the story doesn't show anything truly different or unusual his ideas. None of the others do, either. We hear alot of Lovecraft references, but seldom see any. The authors mostly seem content just to hint at Lovecraft's monsters without holding any up to the light directly. Too much talking, too much character, not enough weird ideas.

In the introduction, the editors complain that most writers don't understand Lovecraft's Mythos, that most of them miss what Lovecraft was really trying to say. Then they give us a whole book of writers who don't understand it. Even the great Stephen King, who declared himself to be profoundly influenced by Lovecraft, doesn't get it right. King wrote a short story called Crouch End, which, although it doesn't appear in this volume, was set in Lovecraft's universe. Even this story completely fails to capture that sense of the grand, the terrible, that Lovecraft was seeking to create.

Why can't anyone in this volume - or anywhere else - capture the essence of a Lovecraft story? I think it's because modern writing emphasizes character work and plot too much. For Lovecraft, as China Mieville says, character and plot were simply not the point. "The point is the weird." (China Mieville, weirdly enough, contributes the first story to The Children of Cthulhu, and he too completely fails to understand the point of Lovecraft. The story lacks taste and power. Even those who "understand"
Lovecraft's vision don't really understand it.)

Most of the stories in Children of Cthulhu are plot-heavy and character-heavy. But Lovecraft proved many times that it's possible to create narratives with virtually no character work or plot at all, and still create a smashing good story. Why don't other people get this? It's all in the ideas. If your ideas are awesome enough, Lovecraft felt you could create an INCREDIBLE story. People today seem to have no shortage of characters to write about, but they have a remarkable shortage of brilliantly original ideas. Perhaps the only one who could really write like Lovecraft was Lovecraft himself.

not as exciting as the cover would make it appear
Though I have only become acquainted with the Lovecraft universe/Cthulhu Mythos in the past year, and though I was greatly looking forward to delving into this collection when I discovered it, I really feel that this particular collection falls short.Devotees to the mythos that enjoy any story with any mention of the Lovecraftian place-names, characters, or phenomena will no doubt enjoy this volume for trivia-compiling purposes, but I found the stories within to be mediocre at best and occasionally downright laughable.These stories will most likely not be enjoyable to most readers.

The few bright spots (perhaps, less dim spots) include China Mieville's "Details", though even this seems to fall rather far from the mark set by his other work.A large portion of the others are just silly or seem to depend entirely on the final single-line zinger for horrific affect.

I would strongly suggest that those new to Lovecraft, and in search of more of this type of literature, seek out volumes such as "Tales of the Cthulhu Mythos" or any of the fine works by Thomas Ligotti.If you are determined to read this particular collection, please do not pay more than 3 dollars for it in a used bookstore. ... Read more

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When a shaggy mutt saves the life of six-year-old Mark, the Petersons adopt the stray dog. ... Read more

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Describes the life of the author and activist, from her childhood in Georgia to her emergence as a subject of both adulation and controversy. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

FANTASTIC
At last a real book about real life regarding realization for all women out there, that you do not need a man in your life. I repeat:YOU DO NOT NEED A MAN.Current:song "No Scrubs" ("No, I don't wantyour numberNo, I don't want to give you mineAnd no, I don't want tomeet you nowhereAnd no, I don't want none of your time" It's abouttime women got wise to fast-talking, going-little-if-any-where's types thatshow up in sports garb orflaunting-my-only-pinstripe-BillyDee-come-on-with-plenty-of-flash typesthat give themselves away really, in no time, huh?Yeah.Salt 'N Pepasaid it best in their song:"Some A Time Man."(and this iswritten by a Caucasian male in his 40's) Ha ha out there to all youflunkies.

A wonderful book to display the emergence of an abused woman
"The Color Purple" is a good book showing how an abused woman finds her place in life without a man. From a womanist perspective the reader can come into Celie's world and feel her pain, and at times, her glory. ... Read more

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Can Sam change his fate? Meet Sam Willoughby. Out-distanced in the swimming pool and upstaged on the football field, he's had a run of bad luck. Or so he thinks. But when a mysterious stranger claims to be 'the author' who is directing his life, it begins to sound more sinister. Especially when things start to go wrong for him down at the Riverfront Theater in front of a capacity audience. Is there anything Sam can do to change the script? ... Read more

Product Description
B.B. the cuddly, bandanna clad bear travels to both Mom's and Dad's homes and is a constant companion during the changes and challenges brought by divorce. From advice about helping each parent around the house, to sharing feelings, to being a playful friend, B.B. provides comfort and security through this emotional transition. Smile Parent Tips written by Richard S Victor. Check out B.B the companion bear at bbseriescom or edcopublishingcom. Sales benefit The Victor Smile Foundation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Super Find!
This book is beautifully illustrated and is totally relevant to today's society. All too-often, children are neglected during parents' divorces. This book really helps children understand their role in the divorce process, in their own language. What a super find!

Wow!
This is an amazing publication! The book is full of excellent information for parents and children alike. The bear adds a physical presence to support all that is discussed in the book! If you are involved in the unfortunate situation of divorce this package can truely help.

Great for Any Kid going through Divorce
This is a great book for kids around 5-9 going through divorce. I would recommed to any parent to buy it. SMILE tips quite helpful. 5 Star.

BB is such a comfort
BB will be a comfort to any child going through the pain and uncertainty of a parent's divorce.BB can give a voice to what the child is feeling andhelp in starting dialogue between the child and parent in what is happening and how the changes will affect them. The parenting tips are invaluable and will serve as positive daily reminders to mom and dad as they are trying to work through the changes in their own lives. ... Read more

Product Description
From the acclaimed author of Waiting to Surface comes a chilling drama of suspense and passion. In a suburb near Albany, New York, Ted and Ann Waring are waiting for divorce papers. Ted is hoping for reconciliation, but when he returns from a hunting trip with the couple's two adolescent daughters, he loses his temper one last time, shooting and killing Ann in their living room. He claims it was an accident, but his thirteen-year-old daughter, Julia -- the only witness -- is sure it was murder. The younger girl, Ali, doesn't know which way to turn. And when Julia testifies against her father, she sets into motion a struggle that pits family, friends, and townspeople against one another. As the many layers of truth unfold, in the courtroom and in the lives of these compelling characters, Emily Listfield's lean and subtle prose reveals the ways in which the emotions and evasions of the past reverberate uncontrollably into the present. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Somewhat Redeeming, But Not My Favorite
"Acts of Love" opens with a short introduction tothe characters: Julia & Ali (daughters), Ted (husband), Sandy (sister) and Ann (main character).Almost as soon as you've met these people, their world is thrown into upheaval after Ted returns from a weekend trip with his daugthers, gets into a fight with his wife, Ann, and she ends up shot in the head and dead.

Her eldest daughter, Julia, is 13 and is standing between 3 feet to 1.5 feet from Ted when the gun is fired.She claims Ted aimed and shot his wife while Ted claims that Julia jumped on him- to stop their arguing- causing the gun to misfire.

This story is filled with back stories and also present tense court hearings.
We are given a back story about Ann & Sandy's relationship with their parents and thier ideas of what marriage is supposed to feel like.Ann believes it to be about passion and love and the giving of oneself to another.Sandy believes that you should always keep yourself separate from someone else, to keep yourself whole on your own.

We learn how Ann & Ted met, what their relationship is like.We learn about the girls and their feelings toward their parents' separation a year prior to the "accident".We learn about many deep, dark secrets.

I liked the idea of the story.The delivery was a bit... wanting.I didn't care for the characters.Even the ones that I was rooting for in the beginning, I ended up not caring for in the end.Every single person was hiding something.I lost myself within the pages, trying to uncover who was telling the truth.

There isn't much showing of remorse.The only struggle is within Sandy, and it's almost non-related to the entire dramatic event itself.

There were chunks of the book that should have been left out completely.And as stated in a few other reviews, there was no one that I ended up LIKING by the end of the book.It's tough to love a book if you don't like any of the characters.

It was a good effort, and wasn't COMPLETELY bad.If you can struggle through it, it actually has a few redeeming qualities- hence the 3 star review.

A Family in Trouble.
Most of the characters in this book have very few redeeming qualities.They are definitely a family in crisis.Ted Waring is the husband of Ann and the father of two girls, Julia and Ali.They have recently separated but Ted wants to come back to the home and start again with Ann.She, however, is beginning to move on with her life.In the midst of an argument a gun is fired and Ted is accused of murdering his wife, though he says it was an accident.Their daughter, Julia, however disagrees and says that her father did this on purpose.

The case goes to court and throughout the story each member of the family has their own say on how things were in the family and what probably happened.

I have to say that I did not particularly like any of the characters in this book.Everyone seemed to be keeping their own secrets and deceiving others in the process.

Not a great book in my opinion.

Very Depressing
This is book is an easy read butdisturbing and depressing I cannot recommend it.There is only one character in the entire book that I like.The rest of the characters have all done things that are horrible.Almost every character has an emotional or genetic problem.I think that the author would have been better off choosing one or two characters for you to root for.

By the end of Ted's trial, I just didn't care what happened to him, Julia his daughter or Sandy his sister-in law.I found them to be terrible lying characters.Even Ann the character that is shot has done things in her past that were dishonest.

I think that there are better books out there about dysfunctional families. ... Read more

Product Description
"Christmas Classics" is proud to present you a carefully selected range of fiction and prose for the most beautiful time of the year. Besides best-known classics we also offer a huge variety of out-of-print books and titles long forgotten. All volumes have been completely digitally revised, optimized for Kindle and include an interactive table-of-contents, if applicable. Look out for more "Christmas Classics" titles here on Amazon.com. You can spot them easily by the red book cover and the golden bells in the middle.

The best Christmas stories for children in one book.


THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS.
THE NIGHT AFTER CHRISTMAS.
SANTA CLAUS DOES NOT FORGET.
THE FAIRY CHRISTMAS.
THE BALL GAME.
CHRISTMAS DAY.
THE DOLLS' CHRISTMAS PARTY.
GRANDMA'S CHRISTMAS GIFTS.
MAMA'S HAPPY CHRISTMAS.
THE CHRISTMAS CAROL OF THE BIRDS.
A TURKEY FOR ONE.
LITTLE CHRISTMAS CAROLLERS.
WHAT HAPPENED CHRISTMAS EVE.
SUSY'S CHRISTMAS PRESENT.
SANTA CLAUS'S LETTER.
A RAGGED CHRISTMAS FEAST. ... Read more

Product Description
Searching for a missing mystery writer, the McGurk Organization wonders how the author's forthcoming deadline played a part in his disappearance and track down a series of leads stemming from clues that the author has left for them. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Brilliance! Sheer Brilliance!
As a series, I am a huge fan of the McGurk Mysteries. The mystery is intriguing, the dialogue not dummied down (as children's mysteries too often are), and the characters are as diverse and delightful as the NCIS television show.

But this book, this particular book in the series, is sheer brilliance. It should not under any circumstances be the first Hildick book read, as its genius is partly due to the magical intertwining of previous books into this one amazing result. Reading this book without reading the other books first would be like watching "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" without an appreciation of the comedic charachters from the 1940's - 1960's. Still amusing, but the full effect is missing.

Not only does Hildick intertwine previous plots from McGurk mysteries, but he brings in references to other of his works as well as classic Poe.

One of McGurks toughest cases
In this Mcgurk series book a very famous author disappears and its up to McGurk, Joey, Willie, Wanda and Mari to find the missing books that the author hid before he disappeared. McGurk and his officers have to becareful as an old enemy pops up in the middle of this buried treasure hunt.As usual more laughs and good times with McGurk. ... Read more