Godspeed

Product Description

There is no heaven or hell. There is only the next world, a lawless purgatory called the Presidio. Populated by the dead, the undead, angels, monsters, and immortals, the Presidio is located a heartbeat away from this world for those who know how to get there. Ryder Fell, a kindhearted thief cursed with visions of the future, is contracted to kidnap Polly Lee James, a sweet sixteen-year-old orphan who is not what she seems. Polly is an exile from the Presidio, and her kidnapping will take Ryder on a collision course with the twisted denizens of purgatory. Set alternately in modern day California and the gothic underworld of the Presidio, Godspeed is equal parts dark fantasy and sinister noir, a Paradise Lost for a new generation.

Customer Reviews:

godspeed, err, ryder fell.........2007-04-08

just a friendly note:

this book, though showcasing a release date of a month ago, is not yet available.

if you are thinking of purchasing this item, wait until the fall when it actually releases. im hoping at that time Amazon will erase this "review".. save yourself time and effort, and emails from amazon saying they dont currently have the title available. but some good news:

there are a number of submissions available for viewing on a myspace page where baer set up links for the novel under the name Ryder Fell. here is that link:

[...]

my name is legion for we are many, there are many of us out here that eagerly await this release. dark fantasy epic noir, from a crafter like baer.. man, im having a hard time waiting. godspeed, fall 2007.
the end of summer never looked so inviting

Fear of the Dark (Fearless Jones Novel, No.3)

Average customer rating:

Another Good Mosley Crime Novel
Beware the Evil Eye!
Paris Minton's Fear Makes Him Brave
Courage is in the Eye of the Beholder
Never Fear when Paris is on the Case

Fear of the Dark (Fearless Jones Novel, No.3)
Walter Mosley
Manufacturer: Little, Brown and Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Hard-Boiled | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

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47

ASIN: 0316734586

Book Description

Fearless Jones and Paris Minton, stars of the bestsellersFearless Jones and Fear Itself, return in a fast-paced thriller aboutfamily and revenge.For Paris Minton, a knock on his door is often the first sign of trouble.So when he finds his lowlife cousin, Ulysses S. Grant, or Useless, on theother side of his front door, Paris keeps it firmly closed. With family like Useless, who needs enemies? Yet trouble always finds anopen window, and when Useless's mother, Three Hearts, shows up to look forher son, Paris has no choice but to track down his wayward cousin. Turns out that Useless is involved in some high-stakes blackmailing. Now,he and a briefcase full of money and incriminating photos are missing, andParis is not the only one looking for him. Paris enlists the help of hisinvincible friend Fearless Jones, but mysterious women, desperate blackmailvictims, and cheating business partners are all they encounter--not tomention the dead bodies found along the way.With the sheer-nerve plotting and brilliant characterizations that havemade him one of the great stars of crime fiction, Fear of the Dark ismasterful Mosley.

Customer Reviews:

Another Good Mosley Crime Novel.......2007-07-17

Walter Mosley, the master of mysteries and crime stories, has created another masterpiece with Fear of the Dark. This intriguing novel, set in circa 1950 Los Angeles, is the third in the Fearless Jones and Paris Minton series.

Paris, an unassuming used bookstore owner, unwittingly gets involved in a murder and extortion plot. Paris consults his friend Fearless, a strong, handsome and respected/dreaded, body guard. Together they wade through the morass created by an eclectic cast of characters; one of which is Paris' bungling cousin, Ulysses.

Mosley skillfully places his literary pearls and invites the reader to the scavenger hunt. Discovering who, what, where, when and why with Paris and Fearless was an exciting, comical, and surprising adventure. Mosley continues to capture and keep readers' attention through skillful story telling, vivid language, and short chapters. I had to force myself to stop reading so that I would not miss my stop on the train.

Laughing out loud, shaking my head in disbelief, and raising my eyebrows in astonishment were just a few of my emotional responses while reading this novel. Fear of the Dark is definitely a welcome addition to my library. I'm looking forward to reading Mr. Mosley's next release.

Beware the Evil Eye!.......2007-05-19

Fearless Jones and Paris Minton are back doing another off-the-books investigation that takes them down the dark alleys of 1956 Los Angeles. The city, especially the areas where Fearless and Paris live as well as the darkness their quest takes them through, is violent and filled with civil unrest.

In this book, Paris is haunted by family. His cousin Useless (Ulysses S. Grant IV) shows up at an inopportune moment and things go downhill quickly from there. Not long after Paris turns Useless from his door, Paris gets interrupted by his current girlfriend's current boyfriend. Paris flees for his life (his first rule of operation) and looks up Fearless for backup. But by the time they return to Paris's bookshop, there's a dead man lying there.

No sooner than Fearless and Parish have the body hidden away so no one will take the fall for murdering him than Paris's aunt Three Hearts arrives and begins threatening Paris. Since her evil eye is known to kill, Paris aims to please.

FEAR OF THE DARK felt a lot like the other two books, but that's good. THe investigation proceeds at a nice clip and the characters are always fun.

Mosley also writes the Easy Rawlins mysteries. Of late, those have been set in the early 1960s. Easy is a married man and at least twenty years older than Paris and Fearless. Paris narrates, and his voice is at once young and aged, savvy and naive.

Mosley's pacing in this book will keep readers flipping pages late into the the night. He seems more comfortable at this length than he has in previous novels. There's also more back story and a better view of California at the time in this one. His dialogue seems dead-on and so do his characters.

If you're new to Mosley's work, I'd recommend DEVIL IN A BLUE DRESS first. The FEAR series can be read pretty much in what order you find them.

Paris Minton's Fear Makes Him Brave.......2007-04-20

If you have not yet read Fearless Jones and Fear Itself (the first two books in the Fearless Jones series), I strongly urge you to do so before reading Fear of the Dark. Both of those books are better written and more entertaining than Fear of the Dark. Without the perspective that those books give you on Fearless Jones and Paris Minton, you'll like Fear of the Dark less than you might.

Paris Minton is a most unusual character for Walter Mosley. Paris is the owner of a used bookstore in Watts in the mid-1950s that he has to subsidize with a part-time job. Minton is a largely self-educated black man from Louisiana who came to California to find libraries that were open to all. His store's books are discards from local libraries. He has achieved a fragile kind of peaceful life, living and working in his bookstore (and reading when there are no customers, which is often). His head is full of classic literature (the oldest Greeks are his favorites) and carries a heroic perspective into every situation: They only trouble is, he's no hero. Paris is afraid of everything and almost everyone.

How does Paris cope? He has the equivalent of Dumbo's magic feather in the swashbuckling Fearless Jones, a modern archetype for the knight errant. Whenever trouble looms, Paris calls on Fearless for help. In many cases, Fearless's reputation is enough to solve the problem. But when rough stuff is needed, Fearless is your man. A World War II hero, Fearless met when Minton when Minton spontaneously bought Jones a drink during the post-war celebration. "He appreciated my generosity and gave me a lifetime of friendship for a single shot of scotch." As you can see, Mr. Mosley writes like an angel. Minton, the man of logic, reciprocates by helping Fearless solve problems where his bravery and reputation are not enough.

The two characters remind me of a Star Trek episode where a transporter malfunctions and Captain Kirk is divided into two people, one who is totally dominant and carnal and the other who is caring and weak. Paris and Fearless are similarly opposites, yet totally compatible as though they came from the same source. Obviously, Mr. Mosley is equally fascinated with how the opposite ways of pursuing the masculine life play out.

Since Paris operates in a tough area, he won't open his door for just anyone. He has an elaborate series of mirrors that allow him to see who wants in. When the mirrors show that his cousin Ulysses S. Grant IV (generally referred to as "Useless") is at the front door, Paris turns Useless away. Why? The last time he let Useless in, Paris almost ended in being framed for a robbery that Useless had done. No fool, Paris isn't about to repeat that mistake. "Useless was like monosodium glutamate for problems; he brought out the evil essence and magnified it." Useless leaves a cryptic message for his mother with Paris, "Tell Three Hearts that there's a man named Hector wrote my name on a black slip'a paper. Tell her that I tried to make it work with Angel, but I guess I was mudfoot just like she said."

Three weeks earlier, Paris had found his own way into trouble. He rescued a skinny young white woman named Jessa Brown who was trying to run a con on a small restaurant. The two became lovers . . . which becomes a problem when Jessa's ex-boyfriend Tiny (who is anything but) shows up at the bookstore while they two were engaged with one another on the floor.

Life gets more complicated from there. First, Tiny shows up dead in the bookstore. Then, Aunt Three Hearts shows up looking for Useless, and Paris cannot turn her down. Why? She has a reputation for putting the Evil Eye on those who don't do her wishes. Fearless Jones is tied up protecting Milo Sweet, the bail bondsman, from a dangerous felon, but Fearless does double duty in helping Paris as well.

It soon becomes clear that Useless has gotten himself into some very dangerous waters. Paris and Fearless set out to unravel the mystery and put the pieces back together again.

I found Fear of the Dark to be less interesting than the earlier two books in the series because the secondary characters and their motives are much less inspiring in Fear of the Dark. Why would anyone other than his mother care about Useless? As fine a woman as Three Hearts is, it's not as rewarding as it might be to read about her trying to save her son from himself. You know that Useless will just end up in some new trouble. There's also a lot of sexual innuendo in the book that didn't really advance the story or develop the characters beyond where they were at the end of Fear Itself.

But if you enjoy Paris Minton as a character, I think you'll feel rewarded for reading the book. The best part of the story is how Paris ends up taking on lots of danger so that he can avoid things that he's even more afraid of. Yes, a frightened man can be brave . . . especially when all is required is intellectual courage. Just don't have your highest expectations in place when you begin Fear of the Dark (a good double play on Paris's fear of dark places and society's fear of the African-American male).

Courage is in the Eye of the Beholder.......2007-04-19

Walter Mosley's Fear of the Dark is the third in a series in which we find Paris Minton, the struggling bookstore owner amidst the criminal element of South Central Los Angeles during the 1950s. Once again, trouble comes looking for Paris and although reluctant to plunge head first into a dangerous situation, Paris fails to realize his own courage as he goes about doing what must be done.

To shield his aunt Three Hearts from danger, Paris, and his companion/protector, Fearless Jones, set out to find Three Hearts' wayward son Ulysses S. Grant IV (a.k.a. Useless) and uncover a blackmail scheme that Useless is at the center of. Paris and Fearless quickly learn that they are not the only ones searching for Useless. The criminals seeking Useless do not hesitate to leave a trail of lifeless bodies and at anytime Paris and Fearless could end up amongst the dead.

Fear of the Dark is a light and crisp murder mystery. Mr. Mosley's vivid depiction of Paris' surroundings was amazing. I walked the streets with Paris and entered the same dark and dank places. Fearless was not Paris' only companion, I was there too. Mr. Mosley's ability to effortlessly spin creative and thought-provoking social commentary/messages intrigue me to no end.

Marian E.
APOOO BookClub

Never Fear when Paris is on the Case.......2007-03-15

This is the third in the series, and anyone who has read all three know that Fearless Jones is only a tangential character and that Paris Minton is the true center of these stories. This one begins with a knock on Paris' door by his cousin 'Useless' (Ulysses S Grant IV) who once again brings mayhem and havoc to Paris' life. Useless is one of those people who seem to always bring trouble to himself and everyone around him. On top of that is his mother Three-Hearts (which Mosley never explains) who is known to have the
'evil eye' and is not afraid to use it.

The story itself is interesting for the sociology of 1950s Los Angeles where white men can be blackmailed for their relationships with "negro" woman (of course they are also adulterers and embezzlers, but that's not really here or there). There is a great sequence where two cops (who have been hounding Paris) are cut down and put in their place by a white bank exec that they are trying to help. What is said and left unsaid in the dialogue says so much about 'Eisenhower' America and the relationships between the races at that time.

Even Mosley has problems with writing about African-Americans; Paris is constantly commenting on the shades of brown (chocolate, cafe au lait, high yellow, copper, etc)people are and can't decide what the characters should call each other or themselves (colored, negro, the "N" word are all thrown around). It's interesting to see how a "blackman" who lived through those times, looks back on a culture that is now lost to us all.

The story is interesting, the people too, and the plot moves along nice and steady without any surprises thrown in for shock value; all in all a good effort.

Bedtime for Frances (Trophy Picture Books)

Average customer rating:

Cake and Spankings for Frances at Bedtime?!
Frances Series
Lots of skinny legs in the dark
My Two Year Old Demands This Story Before Bed
Francis is such an adorable character.

Bedtime for Frances (Trophy Picture Books)
Russell Hoban
Manufacturer: HarperTrophy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Bedtime & Dreaming | Baby-3 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0064434516

Amazon.com

It's bedtime for young Frances--an adorable and irrepressible little badger--and everyone is ready but her. At 7:00 p.m. Frances is wide awake and bursting with youthful excitement. She tries every delay tactic she can muster--from demanding extra hugs and kisses to volleying a series of urgent last-minute questions ("May I sleep with my teddy bear?" "May I have my door open?"). She's almost positive there are spiders, giants, and tigers in her room.

Any parent will quickly identify with this phenomenon--how the last minutes of the day suddenly become the most action-packed. Garth Williams's illustrations complement Russell Hoban's sweet story perfectly, capturing the endless energy and overactive imagination of Frances, and the waning patience of her exhausted parents. Bedtime for Frances is the perfect goodnight story to tell your wide-eyed children. And never fear, like Frances, they too will eventually, contentedly, drift off to sleep. (Ages 4 to 8)

Book Description

Famed for her many adventures, Frances made her debut with this title over thirty years ago. In this first Frances book, the little badger adroitly delays her bedtime with requests for kisses and milk, and concerns over tigers and giants and things going bump in the night. Long a favorite for the gentle humor of its familiar going to bed ritual, Bedtime for Frances is at last available with the warmth of full color enriching Garth Williams's original nuanced and touching art. `Here is the coziest, most beguiling bedtime story in many a day.'—Kirkus Reviews (pointer).

Customer Reviews:

Cake and Spankings for Frances at Bedtime?!.......2007-09-28

I wish I had read the reviews before I bought this book! If I had bought it at Borders I would have returned it by now because I'll never read it to my kids again. Are the people who wrote reviews applauding this book actually parents? This story portrays a little badger who can't get to sleep and keeps coming out to see her parents for some reassurance. Did anyone read her a book to help her off to sleep? Apparently not. Did anyone lie with her to help her get to sleep. No. So she gets up because she feels lonely and afraid. She asks for a piece of cake, which she gets, no problem. After bedtime! My son will never forget that one. After a few more times of leaving her bedroom and seeking reassurance from her parents, she is threatened with a spanking, for not being able to get to sleep. And so she returns to her bed alone, while her parents lie snuggled up close in bed together. A moth begins to bump against her window and it frightens her, but the 'whack and smack' of the moth against the window pane remind her of the spanking so she stays in bed and eventually falls asleep. Ahhh, sweet dreams Frances! What an adorable tale, full of good morals. Just the ticket for sending my two little boys off to sleep.....

Frances Series.......2007-09-05

Another great book in Russell Hoban's Frances series. The illustrations and text related to young children and a reluctance to go to bed.

Lots of skinny legs in the dark.......2007-08-24

This book was my favorite Frances, so well illustrated, so quotable. I grew up on these things, and was much like Frances going to bed, and it brings back such fun memories to read it now with my own children. I also like that this book teaches a moral lesson without forcing your mouth open and shoving it down your throat.

It saddens me a bit to think that some children must be protected from the thought of a giant in the room, being afraid of the dark, or even a little loving discipline to encourage the right behavior. When Frances learned to confront her fears, she was the stronger for it, and got a good night's sleep as well. What my kids learned from it was the alphabet song, and they occasionally get to bed before midnight anyway.

My Two Year Old Demands This Story Before Bed.......2007-01-24

My Dad used to read this story to me before bed and it was very special for me. I was thrilled when he dug it out of his basement and mailed it to me to read to my two year old. I laughed out loud when I noticed the spanking and smoking and told my husband (bc you know they would never dare to put that in a book now )and he inquired why I would read that to our daughter. He then read it upon my urging an agreed it is a wonderfully warm story. Yes, the father smokes a pipe and softly threatens a spanking at one point but he also takes the time all night long to address each of Frances'fears and sends her back to bed each time. Since introducing my daughter to this story she has requested it every night and runs to bed to hear it read. She used to tantrum about going to bed. Better yet, she does not get out of bed anymore once she goes in... not because we spank her or because she fears a spanking(we don't spank), but because she realized that the reason Frances might get spanked was because getting out of bed was against the rules. I think this book is great for helping a child to understand that there are rules they must live by and consequences for their actions. I wish more children would learn that lesson early in life. Another great lesson of this book is that the bedroom is a safe place, even if it looks a little scary in the dark.

Francis is such an adorable character........2006-12-11

I was raised on the Francis books and have started gathering as many as I can for my children one day. The imagination of little Francis knows no bounds. Her songs are adorable and her fears, in her mind, are well-founded. I know how exasperating it can be when your child won't go to bed and this book illustrates that. However, so many people and reviews are feeding the "controversy" surrounding this book. Brace yourself.....

Back in the day, people used to spank their kids! Oh my God, someone get the smelling salts. This was before the "time-out" that has been responsible for children running around supermarkets like unruly heathens. But I digress....

Francis is a cute character and I will collect these books and read them to my children. I highly recommend them if you enjoy a cute touch to your children's reading.

Healing Through the Dark Emotions: The Wisdom of Grief, Fear, and Despair

Average customer rating:

Extremely useful for deepening emotional competence - very highly recommended
This booked helped me
Definitely a keeper!
A must read for everyone
ESSENTIAL READING FOR ALL PEOPLE.

Healing Through the Dark Emotions: The Wisdom of Grief, Fear, and Despair
Miriam Greenspan
Manufacturer: Shambhala
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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

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Emotions | Mental Health | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1590301013
Release Date: 2004-05-11

Book Description

We are all touched at some point by the dark emotions of grief, fear, or despair. In an age of global threat, these emotions have become widespread and overwhelming. While conventional wisdom warns us of the harmful effects of "negative" emotions, this revolutionary book offers a more hopeful view: there is a redemptive power in our worst feelings. Seasoned psychotherapist Miriam Greenspan argues that it's the avoidance and denial of the dark emotions that results in the escalating psychological disorders of our time: depression, anxiety, addiction, psychic numbing, and irrational violence. And she shows us how to trust the wisdom of the dark emotions to guide, heal, and transform our lives and our world. Drawing on inspiring stories from her psychotherapy practice and personal life, and including a complete set of emotional exercises, Greenspan teaches the art of emotional alchemy by which grief turns to gratitude, fear opens the door to joy, and despair becomes the ground of a more resilient faith in life.

Customer Reviews:

Extremely useful for deepening emotional competence - very highly recommended.......2007-02-01

A relatively recent book with the simple but profound concept that fear, grief and despair contain the seeds of great wisdom, vitality and balance when they are experienced fully rather than phobically avoided. It demonstrates how our aversion to pain sabotages our search for happiness. I often recommend this book in my psychotherapy practice.

This booked helped me.......2006-04-01

I am a 9/11 survivor and this book really helped me accept my feelings rather than judging myself for having them. I bought this at Amazon.com from an Awesome Deal I found on DailyTool.com.

Definitely a keeper!.......2003-08-28

Greenspan's book deserves wider recognition. I found it by accident online and I wish I had seen it earlier.

What I liked best: Greenspan writes from her own experienced as therapist and bereaved mother, a woman who came to the US as a young child and lost her first child due to unexplained brain defects. She knows the darker emotions first-hand.

Even better, Greenspan is not afraid to confront the received wisdom of the psychiatric establishment. Medication works for some depressed clients, but it is only by going into the emotion that we can transform despair into faith and fear into joy. She picks up on the values embedded in the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria: depression is a "mood disorder," which means that only cheerful, upbeat people are "normal."

I found myself making notes of key points that were unusual and insightful. In particular, her discussion of "boomerang emotions" will be especially valuable to anyone who's ever been frustrated in one area and acted out in another. It is easy to make impulsive, often dysfunctional decisions after stifling feelings for a long time. This section is one of the best in the book.

On the downside, I wish Greenspan had been more rigorous. Although her views seem sensible, some research suggets disagreement. For example, one study found that people recovered from grief as well if they were medicated as if they were allowed the full experience. Other studies have demonstrated that people experience grief differently. Some may not need to go deep into the feeling.

Because Greenspan works with therapy patients, she does not discuss the context of these "dark" emotions. Despair can be experienced by someone like William Styron, whom she discusses, as a person who seems on top of the world. But would there be a different experience of despair for someone who just lost a job, has little chance of finding a new job, anticipates old age and perhaps has family stresses too? Despair rooted in real obstacles seems somehow different from despair that has more existential "why are we here" origins. And biologically based depression seems to be different altogether.

Many New Age and popular authors (such as best-selling author Lynn Grabhorn) make exactly the opposite point: if you force yourself to be upbeat, your life gets better. I wish Greenspan had addressed this point directly, as some people do seem to do better after forced cheerfulness. This topic may not be amenable to scientific research but it would be nice to see some science-based discussion.

Finally, I wish Greenspan had stated her credentials on the book jacket. Is she a PhD? Does she have degrees? Has she published articles in academic or research journals? I was a little disconcerted by the discussion of chakras in a book by a more-or-less mainstream therapist.

Then again, Greenspan seems to be making a statement. She doesn't like the way we treat the darker emotions. And maybe she doesn't like the way therapists are categorized and pigeon-holed either. After all, there's no research (as far as I know) demonstrating that certain training results in better therapeutic outcomes. Definitely worth a read.

A must read for everyone.......2003-04-10

Everyone has losses. Everyone has wounds. This is not the end of joy but the beginning, if only we can learn to live with and find ourselves in our feelings, and embrace the life that waits for us on the other side of our pain. Miriam Greenspan's wise book is a warm and helpful guide to dealing with the dark emotions we all experience. As a writer and therapist myself I know how needed her book is and how valuable what she has to offer is. This is a must read for everyone.

ESSENTIAL READING FOR ALL PEOPLE........2003-04-04

From Phyllis Chesler, author of eleven titles, including "Women and Madness" and "Woman's Inhumanity to Woman":

Greenspan is the gentlest and therefore the wisest of healers. Her book is a poem, a prayer, a guide, a ritual. She herself models what can be done. She is vulnerable, grief-stricken, mindful, supple, connecting, and joyful. She describes enormous grief and terror--her own, that of the world's--and explains what it means to surrender to fear, to face straight into it, to "let it be" as the royal road to sanity, rightful action and rightful non-action, and to exuberance and freedom.

This book is very easy to read--but not simplistic; political but not rhetorical; spiritual but not dogmatic; literary but also practical. It beholds that which is tragic about the human condition but embraces it in a therapeutic and consoling way. It is both Jewish and Buddhist, feminist and humanist, grave but sometimes funny. Greenspan provides an excellent discussion of the "alchemy of fear," and of the Buddhist concept of "tonglen": non-action, action, surrender. She is excellent on violence, trauma, numbing, and the consequences of omnipresent media in our lives. Her discussion of the world post 9/11 is compelling. The tone is grave, measured, supple, vital, enchanting.

Book Description

For the first time, Caillou sleeps through the night with the door closed.

Customer Reviews:

Daughter relates.......2005-01-23

My daughter loves Caillou - she's 3 and she seems to relate to him on her level. Yes, he is whiny and I don't like him much, but hey, if my kid can relate to Caillou's experiences, it's good enough for me!

I think these books are good if your kid has an issue with something. I wouldn't want to introduce being afraid of the dark if my daughter hasn't already experienced this and if we didn't have an issue with bedtime. But, knowing your kid has an issue with something, these books are good for addressing these because they can relate to Caillou. Whining and all!

With this in mind, we really liked Good Night, putting away the toys, and Hurry Up!

caillou is whiny.......2004-12-21

I received a set of 3 Caillou books as a shower gift and my son just LOVES them. I was surprised with how much he likes the books (starting at about 14 months) because each page does have quite a bit of text. I also find the books and the show introducing negative emotions that might not enter a child's mind if it wasn't suggested. It seems as if Caillou and his parents are at odds with each other in the books I've read: Good Night, Careful, and Day Care. In the show, he is often whiny and demanding-not the kind of behavior I want my son modeling. Maybe I'm over-analyzing, after all, it's just a children's book and like I said before, my son can't get enough of Caillou.

If this book introduces "negative" themes..........2004-03-31

then just wait! They're probably too young! And skipping the part about being afraid of the dark is dumb. The character is three, wait until your child is three as well. ALL CHILDREN develop some kind/degree of fear of the dark. Its normal and just means theyhave lively imaginations. The book introduces it becauses it's saying, "Hey kid, you're perfectly fine. Everyone has been afraid of the dark. It's Okay! Now go to bed."

Poorly written book.......2003-10-29

I agree with the last review...this book introduces too many negative behaviors for children. Our 2 1/2 year-old daughter has not had a fear of the dark, so we found ourselves editing the story to fit our needs. But aside from that, I've found this book, as with several in the series to be burdensome to read. They introduce too many ideas/lines of text per page, cramming in lots of events that aren't or can't be represented by one picture alone. Also, it just seems these storylines were cranked out without any thought as to cohesiveness and pleasant wording. The Caillou Play Time book actually expresses that Caillou has feelings of hatred toward his parents. Needless to say, it was a bit over-the-top for our tastes.

Not a great Caillou book.......2002-03-28

First of all, this was my 4th Caillou book purchase and my 2 1/2 year old loves the cartoon series so I am a Caillou fan. Despite this,I must say that this book (and another which I just got "Caillou-Careful"-see that review too)has some examples of unwanted behavior in it that I'd would rather not teach to my son. May be my son is more impressionable than others, but he picked up that Caillou was scared of the dark, didn't want to go to bed and wanted his door open. All this stuff needs addresing if it's an issue in your house, but my son has no fear (yet?) of any of those things. I now edit myself when I read this book to my son because I don't want to teach him that there's a reason to fear bedtime. When he loses interest in it I plan on throwing it out. I almost got the Caillou Potty book but I read a reveiw that said almost the same thing that I just said about this book influencing negative behavior. I would suggest avoiding this book for that reason too.

The Berenstain Bears in the Dark (First Time Books(R))

Average customer rating:

Berenstain Bears in the dark
A very cute, teaching book
The Berenstain Bears In The Dark
Great Book!
A review of The IN THE DARK

The Berenstain Bears in the Dark (First Time Books(R))
Stan Berenstain , and Jan Berenstain
Manufacturer: Random House Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Berenstain Bears and the Bad Dream (First Time Books(R))
The Berenstain Bears and the Truth (First Time Books(R))
The Berenstain Bears Forget Their Manners (First Time Books(R))
The Berenstain Bears Learn About Strangers (First Time Books(R))
The Berenstain Bears and the Messy Room (A First Time Book)

ASIN: 0394854438
Release Date: 1982-08-12

Book Description

After a scary bedtime story, Sister Bear is too frightened of the dark to shut her eyes. "Sound psychological advice and a night light help Sister conquer her fears. Children will empathize with Sister Bear in this well-written story."--School Library Journal.

Customer Reviews:

Berenstain Bears in the dark.......2005-09-24

My kids love berenstain bears they tackle just about every issue a kid would go through and gives them encouragement and useful ways to handle the issue. In the dark is no exception my daughter liked the fact that others get scared too andThey encouraged her to face her fears. It even had a funny ending. Just as good as the Tv show. Good for 1st and 2nd level readers. Great to read to any age.

A very cute, teaching book.......2005-02-28

We got this book as part of a set and it's just great. I have to read this one over and over again but I don't mind because it definitely has a good lesson. When brother bear takes out a mystery book to read from the library, sister gets a little scared when he reads part of it to her. He then wails like the cave in the story once they get in bed just to torment her but receives his just reward when sister can't go to sleep without the light on. So, the whole family is up with sister and quite "sleepy-eyed" in the morning. Papa bear sets up his old nightlight for sister who then gets her chance for revenge when she tells brother she wished the story ended with a spooky monstoer and hangs over the edge of the top bunkbed and makes a scary face at him! Brother has a little trouble sleeping after that and decides that mysteries are exactly his "thing" just then. It's fun to read for adults, all of us who remember hanging over the edge of the top bunk to scare a sibling below. I really laughed when I read that. Pretty funny stuff, especially since I did that too! My little one loves this book and it really does help explain how to not let shadows scare you. Great book, great find.

The Berenstain Bears In The Dark.......2003-10-03

This book is about brother bear and sister bear going to the library to get some books. When they arrived home it was reading time and brother bear scared sister bear reading her his scary book he checked out. That night sister bear couldn't fall asleep because she was scared so papa bear gave her a nightlight. That helped her fall asleep and she wasn't scared of the dark anymore. The lesson this book teaches is to not be afraid of the dark. It's a good book and I recommend it for children ages 3-10.

Great Book!.......2002-12-20

I loved this book, expecially because of the way its wrote. Classic dont be scared its all imaginary book. Besides the Berenstain Bears are completely awesome children stories and Teach little kids a nice lesson while decorating their minds with bright pictures.

A review of The IN THE DARK.......2001-12-16

I think this book is a pretty good book for people that like to read to young children, or just for anytime reading. This book features all of our favorite Berenstain Bears characters. Mama bear, Papa bear, Brother and Sister bear all play important parts in this book. In it, sister is read a scary book by brother and then is afraid of the dark, but will the scarer become the scaree?

Can't You Sleep, Little Bear?: Special Anniversary Printing (Little Bear)

Average customer rating:

Can't you sleep, Little Bear
A parable on a child's need for love & reassurance
A winner....
This book is a family favorite.
great book

Can't You Sleep, Little Bear?: Special Anniversary Printing (Little Bear)
Martin Waddell
Manufacturer: Candlewick
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Let's Go Home, Little Bear
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Sleep Tight, Little Bear with DVD (Little Bear)
Farmer Duck
Owl Babies

ASIN: 0763619299
Release Date: 2002-09-23

Book Description

A beloved bedtime story lights up the dark all around us in this sumptuous new printing of a Candlewick classic.

Ten years ago, when a new Candlewick Press first published Martin Waddell’s and Barbara Firth’s CAN'T YOU SLEEP, LITTLE BEAR?, the quiet, classic picture book met with resounding reviews. "Move over GOODNIGHT MOON," raved PUBLISHERS WEEKLY in a boxed review (Candlewick’s first review ever). "Perfect for bedtime, or anytime," echoed KIRKUS REVIEWS. "Bound to become a beloved bedtime ritual," said SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL.

Now, in honor of that tenth anniversary, the book that became the first of a best-selling series - about a Little Bear who doesn’t like the dark and a sage Big Bear who brings him the moon - gets a well-earned deluxe treatment. This glorious printing boasts a beautiful new jacket embossed with gold, and a free, limited-edition print of the book’s cover, showing Big and Little Bear, the bright, yellow moon, and all the twinkly stars - perfect for framing!

Customer Reviews:

Can't you sleep, Little Bear.......2007-08-01

Purchased this book for 1 of my grandkids. Love the story and the artwork. Great read for going to bed :). I just purchased another one for another of my grandkids and am looking forward to spending some "grandma" time with her.

A parable on a child's need for love & reassurance.......2007-05-30

My daughter received this book as a Christmas gift last year, and she still loves it. Not a week goes by without this book being read. The story is simple enough - Big Bear puts Little Bear to bed, and settles down to a night of reading. Little Bear however, can't seem to get to sleep - the different positions tried by Little Bear is so reminiscent of a child's tossing and turning in bed, and the illustrations made my daughter laugh. It turns out Little Bear is afraid of the dark, and the rest of the story deals with Big Bear's efforts in trying to provide Little Bear with light, when all is really needed is a big hug and reassurances. Its a wonderful tale about the importance of nurturing and reassuring one's child so that they grow up feeling secure in our love for them.

A winner...........2007-01-10

This is a great bedtime story and my daughter loves it. Initially we got the book from the library, but I have since purchased our own copy. Tots will relate well to the little bear character, my daughter even recites some of the words. Its a great addition to our bedtime routine.

This book is a family favorite........2006-11-19

I used to read this book to my boys at bedtime. It was a nightly favorite. Recently we were discussing some of their favorite childhood memories and this came up. I decided to try to find a copy for my son to read to his daughter. This book is charming. Just about every child can relate to "little bear" as every adult can relate to "Big Bear". It's one to buy, keep and pass along.

great book.......2006-06-11

i read this to my toddler, too. he also laughs at the funny positions little bear tries so he could sleep. i think though, that this is more than about the excuses and tricks of a toddler to escape going to sleep. instead, it is about human comfort and physical contact our little ones need in order to make them feel comforted and safe. and about us adults trying to meet those needs and going beyond simply giving them a conducive atmosphere where they could sleep (giving all kinds of 'lamps'). all they really need is the warmth, love and physical presence of a parent or guardian.

Average customer rating:

Fun Bedtime Book
perfect for scared little ones
Great for Overcoming Fear of Monsters
My son loves this book!
Awesome Childrens book

Brave Little Monster
Ken Baker
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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The Listening Walk
My Five Senses (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science 1)
You Can't Smell a Flower with Your Ear! (All Aboard Reading, Level 2 Grades 1-3)
You Can't Taste a Pickle With Your Ear (You Can'tseies)
My Monster Mama Loves Me So

ASIN: 0060286989

Book Description

Albert lies in bed one night. Goose bumps cover his hairy little arms. His fangs chatter with fright. Albert is sure there's a scary little girl lurking in his closet. He's convinced there's a mean little boy hiding under his bed. But when Albert's mom tells him again that little boys and girls don't exist, he's on his own to get rid of them once and for all!

Geoffrey Hayes's delightful illustrations make this the perfect bedtime book for brave little monsters everywhere.

Customer Reviews:

Fun Bedtime Book.......2007-01-19

We checked this book out from our local library on a whim because our daughter loves monster stories. She loved it so much, we got it for her for Christmas. We love the illustrations, the fun spin on "scary things in the night," and the parts of the book that are perfect for shouting together with our daughter as we read. It has definitely earned its place on her "favorites" shelf.

perfect for scared little ones.......2007-01-16

I bought this specifically because my son (35 months) is scared of "things" in his room at night. I believe reading this as well as doing other things has really helped! It is very cute and helps emaphasize that monsters are scared of little boys and girls.

Great for Overcoming Fear of Monsters.......2006-03-30

The pictures are adorable and hilarious. The text is wonderful. This is a great book for kids and is the best I've found in helping to dispel their fear of monsters.

My son loves this book!.......2004-10-05

We read it over and over (and over) again, and my 3 year old gets a kick out of it every time. After reading this, he's not afraid of monsters anymore. I highly recommend this clever and funny book.

Awesome Childrens book.......2002-11-05

Purchased Brave Little Monster recently and my daughter loves it!!! We've read it everyday. This book is great, brings the imaginative idea of monsters to mind without being overly scary. Would love to see more childrens books from this author. Book has awesome illustrations, and is written beautifully. Excellent Book!!!

Average customer rating:

Basic Black: Tales of Appropriate Fear
Terry Dowling
Manufacturer: Cemetery Dance Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Anthologies | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1587671239

Fear Up Harsh: An Army Interrogator's Dark Journey Through Iraq

Average customer rating:

good book and should be read by every American
Just Another Opportunist
This book should be mandatory reading for any American
Torture exposed to a national audience.
An Interrogator Looks Back

Fear Up Harsh: An Army Interrogator's Dark Journey Through Iraq
Tony Lagouranis , and Allen Mikaelian
Manufacturer: NAL Hardcover
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Military & Spies | Professionals & Academics | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0451221125

Book Description

So begins Army interrogator Tony Lagouranis's first briefing at Abu Ghraib. When the U.S. went to war with Iraq, Lagouranis-who joined the Army prior to September 11-was tapped to be an interrogator in places like Abu Ghraib and Fallujah. He believed in his mission, but he soon discovered that pushing the legal limits of interrogation was encouraged. Under orders, he-along with numerous other soldiers-abused and terrorized hundreds of prisoners by adding "enhancements" to "Fear Up Harsh," an official tactic designed to terrify prisoners into revealing information.

This is an unflinching first-hand account of how one man struggled with his own conscience and ultimately broke the silence surrounding interrogation practices. The first Army interrogator to step forward and publicly denounce these tactics, Lagouranis reveals what went on in Iraqi prisons-raising crucial questions about American conduct abroad.

Customer Reviews:

good book and should be read by every American.......2007-07-11

shows the ugly truth of what we are being reduced to by the idiots running this country. Bush lovers beware - this aint for you.

Just Another Opportunist.......2007-06-26

No matter how poignant, timely, or interesting Mr. Lagouranis's story may be, or how sincere and intelligent he comes across in an interview on television, we are at war, ladies and gentleman. Our soldiers' lives are risked every day in Iraq and Afghanistan. Efforts such as Mr. Lagouranis's, written in the safety and shelter of the United States, undermine theirs so far away, and play into directly the hands of our sophisticated enemies. Whether or not it was right to go to Iraq is not the issue. This is about personal integrity in a time of war. Tony is nothing more than another Haliburton, Titan Corp, Bectel, retired General, talking head know it all, etc.; he is a war opportunist, indeed a profiteer. All he has done is cash in on a hot topic while it's still hot with yet another tell all book, without the skill, mind you, like so many of these guys popping up lately, to write it himself. Did you contact your ghost writer or did he contact you, Tony? Shame on you, soldier, and I cringe to call you that. You were barely in the Army long enough to figure out what soldiering really means. Enjoy dinner at the fancy restaurants and your 15 minutes of celebrity. Your buddies are sweating it out overseas in the streets of Baghdad.

SGT Lewis

This book should be mandatory reading for any American.......2007-06-10

This is a searing memoir, the story of one man's struggle to retain his humanity and sanity in the midst of the often irrational circumstances of the US/Iraq War.
Lagouranis, an educated enlistee turned Army interrogator, has a unique take on the US failure to understand the Iraqi population. Lagouranis is no cut-and-run liberal - he's a thoughtful narrator and an informed gide through the quagmire that is Iraq.

Torture exposed to a national audience........2007-06-08

I heard Tony Lagouranis on the Alan Colmes Show last night. He's an incredibly courageous and well-spoken person. I was so impressed, I immediately ordered his book, as did many others judging from the way it shot up on the Amazon ranking overnight.
Obviously, I haven't yet read the book, but from what I gathered during the Colmes interview (which was challenging, yet respectful), this book is a must read. Surprisingly, all the people who called in to speak with Lagouranis thanked him for his effort. Usually, Colmes has an army of those who have been "Hannitized" ready to call in and harangue Alan or other people who dare to question elite corporatism and militarism. They had nothing to say to Tony. Alan himself was so struck by what Tony said, that he was talking about the issue long after his guest had left the studio.
People can also find Lagouranis in the excellent docementary on US torture Ghosts of Abu Ghraib

"Every government explains its existence and justifies all its violence on the ground that if it were not there, things would be worse. Having convinced the people that they are in danger, the governments dominate them. And when peoples are dominated by governments, the latter compel them to attack each other. And in this way, a belief in the governments' assurance of the danger of attacks by other nations is confirmed among the peoples.
Divide and conquer." -Leo Tolstoy, "Christianity and Patriotism"

An Interrogator Looks Back.......2007-06-07

I was lucky enough to have seen Tony when he spoke on June 6th. I had also heard him on the Diane Rehm show the day before.

I know plenty of people will disagree with Tony's perception of what constitutes "torture." But don't be fooled by the usual rhetoric of 'I saw worse fraternity initiations" or "they cut off heads and that is REAL torture." Regarding the Geneva Conventions, there is a difference between "violation" and "grave breach." As an example I saw when I went to see Dr. Gary Solis (a Viet vet and retired colonel), if you slap somebody that is assault; if you punch them in the mouth that is assault too. The difference is severity, which would be reflected in the punishment.

Tony details how he went to the Defense Language Institute in order to learn Arabic, which was all pre-9/11. He was sent to AIT for training as an interrogator. As he stated today, he could not be signals intercept due to the fact he had outstanding student loans and would not qualify for the necessary Top Secret clearance.

His training as an interrogator stressed the Geneva Conventions and what they could and could not do. When he got to Iraq, however, all that went out the window. There were different new rules written for interrogators in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Guantanamo. Putting prisoners in stress positions and inducing hypothermia were deemed illegal during his training, but now they were informed that that did not now consitute "torture," and anything up to organ failure was okay.

Tony details how soldiers acted differently in his different assignments. He stated that at Mosul interrogators got ideas from watching movies, which was all nonsense. When he got to Abu Ghraib, the scandal had already hit and things were changed. His most ghoulish experience was when he was sent to Fallujah, during the battle, in order to evaluate the personal items with the insurgents who were killed. He examined the effects on over 500 bodies, a process that gave him nightmares.

Tony makes the point that all studies, even by the CIA, noted that torture does not provide real and reliable "actional intelligence." They will say anything to make it stop, essentially lie, and may even clam up. Building a "relationship" takes time and a good interrogator--a real pro so to say.

Tony stated at the lecture he would either like to go to law school in order to study human rights, or even just to work with human rights organizations. I think the most important lesson to come away with from this book is that some people know the difference between right and wrong, and some people obviously do not.

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