Book Description
Hempel's now-classic collection of short fiction is peopled by complex characters who have discovered that their safety nets are not dependable and who must now learn to balance on the threads of wit, irony, and spirit.
Customer Reviews:
Thank you Chuck.......2007-07-04
I bought this book because it was recommended by Chuck Palahniuk on his website. Reading it you can definitely see that it influenced him in his writings. The stories are short, but each one is great in there own way. Check it out.
i strike out again!.......2007-02-03
boy, am i in the middle of a reading slump. a whole chain of dull books have fallen into my hands lately, and this is one of them. I recently got a book entitled: "1001 books you must read before you die," and this was one of the 1001 books listed. it is the 4th book i have read based on the recommendations of "1001 books..." and i am now afraid to move on to a 5th suggestion. this little book of stories was about as far from a "must read" book as i can imagine. cookie-cutter writers workshop pieces that are pretentious and absolutely unmemorable. the only thing i liked about this book was that it was short.
Queen of the short story.......2006-12-23
Thank goodness for Amy Hempel, egging on those of us who write short stories by constantly keeping her breathtaking prose to under fifty pages.
I had a writing teacher who warned us against trying to write after reading Amy, because we would feel compelled to try to emulate her. Of course this is almost always true with influence, but Amy Hempel's writing is like a drug. Reading her words makes the idea of writing newly exciting. It's a challenge to keep up with her, to capture the world in such perfectly crafted, concise sentences, to exercise such restraint and hint at such powerful emotions underneath.
I could have written this for any of Amy's work, especially her recently published collected works, but I chose "Reasons to Live" because of "The Man in Bogota" and "Celia is Back," my two personal favorites.
If you're a writer, read on with caution; if not, I promise Amy will make you want to start.
Reasons to weep.......2006-03-03
I first found Amy Hempel in college. A perceptive, smart instructor assigned me "The Cemetery Where Al Jolson is Buried." It was a shock to the system. For the first time in years words on a page made me weep. I was instantly hooked on Amy Hempel.
This is, I believe, her greatest collection. From first page to last it is an extraordinary look into the human condition. The two real standouts are the aforemention "Al Jolson" and a story called "Nashville Gone to Ashes."
Nashville is about the recent widdow of a veterinarian. Saying it that way seems to short it a bit. Like all of Ms Hempel's stories, Nashville is about human suffering, courage, love, despair and being human.
Read these stories and you will weep.
not what i expected.......2006-01-18
This book was nothing i expected it to be. The stories in them are mostly about nothing. When reading these you keep waiting for the story to begin and then its over before it ever does. I would not spend money on this book.
Book Description
Can it really be true that everything happens for a reason? As amazing as it sounds, it is. There is significance in every event of our lives, from the most joyful and empowering to the inexplicable or seemingly unjust. In Everything Happens for a Reason, psychotherapist Mira Kirshenbaum encourages us to discover the meaning in what has happened to us, seeing these experiences as gifts, lessons, or opportunities. Building on more than twenty-five years of clinical research, Kirshenbaum helps us decode the confusing or unfortunate moments in our lives and find solace and strength.
Customer Reviews:
Simplistic.......2007-04-18
This book is an array of simplistic information based on cognitive therapy. Instant revelations of one's point of view and correcting it do not a big change in life make, in my opinion. The writer seems to think so.
I'm also tired of professional writers starting many sentences with "But" when the "but" should be connecting one half of a sentence with another, or the two thoughts should be separate sentences, either of which would work well, rather than repeatedly breaking rules of grammar in this way. Where are the proofreaders and editors?
An easy read, comforting at times.......2007-04-13
I think overall the book offered great guidance and different perspective. I think it is to be used more for a personal analysis. I recommended this book to others who enjoyed it as well.
everything hapens for reason can be not good thought.......2007-03-21
let's get our definitions straight. by 'reason' i mean for a good purpose, k?
imagine this because everythin happens for a reason is a dangerous thought: there's a race going on 4 getting the gift of eternal salvation except the race isn't about who will reach the end first, it's about if you can make it to the end before the time limit ends. imagine a road: when u walk towards the prize, forward, you see the signs that encourage you to keep moving forward (and when you keep going forward, there are goodies that u can pick up off the bushes) =good path.when a person looks at what' behind them and walk the other direction away from the prize of salvation, there r signs saying to go turn around and to head the right direction. if a person keeps walking on that road, he could fall in a big ditch or trip over logs. The signs are like experiences or warnings or encouragements and God puts to urge u to go the right direction. When a person hears the saying 'everything happens for a reason.' they have the tendency to think "really? everything happens for a reason, good and bad? in that case, i'll do something bad on purpose becuase it'll happen for a good reason\ " ppl will walk on the backwards path and not pay attention to the signs because whatever bad things they do will happen for a good reason..or so they think. ppl will fall into ditches and use the saying 'everything happens for a reason' to justify their intentional sin. they will think that they are intentionally sinning so that they could learn how to forgive themselves, or want to learn things the hard way because they think the lessons going to stick to them better, or because they want to procrastinate going to the right path or because they think they'll know how much they have better becaus of the saying you never know how much you have until it's gone.
first of all,well, you wouldn't be able to forgive yourself if you walk into the ditch intentionally because you wouldn't be forgetting about things by moving on, instead, the person would be keeping thoughts of their mistakes, stuch in the ditch. Being in the ditch and having nothing to eat, would make you hungry and there would be a constant hurt in your stomach that u wouldn't be able to forget, so u wouldn't be able to forgive unless you got out of the ditch and went on the forward right path.we already have enough things in our life to forgive. it's better to learn things the easy way because ur just wasting ur time learning things the hard way on purpose, unless, u accidentally learn something the hard way. it's not worth going through all the trouble just to learn things the hard way because you can already learn things the easy way and that means that you could just do things the right way= easy way. if you keep learnigng things the hard way (purposely) then you won't be making things easy for people, and God wants to make things simple as possible. (psalm 116:6) what an excuse. we move better when being on the right path/. u can realize how much u have even if its not gone. :) think about it..u don't have to go to the poor in iraq to learn how much value whatever your possessions are.
there are different reasons though if you don't pass a test for college even though you tried your best. as for things like that, it's a different story. perhaps that field you're trying to be in is not really your skill.
Everything Happens for a Reason.......2007-03-12
The author offers a perspective that will no doubt help many people move beyond the tragic events in their lives. I'm not sure it's for everyone, but I did find great comfort in many of the things she wrote. This is another book that I shared with my mom and several friends.
Okay, but there ARE better books out there..........2006-12-07
What happened to me did not fall under Mira Kirshenbaum's mere 10 explicit reasons that one undergoes traumatic events in life. Thus, this book did not ultimately help me the way I would have liked. I agree wholeheartedly with its Amazon reviews written on December 15, 2005 and May 9, 2006. In other words, I believe that a lot of the negativity that one endures quite frankly does NOT fall under psychotherapist Kirshenbaum's well intentioned reasons. On the other hand, this book was an easy, light read and would not offend an atheist or agnostic person even though religion is mentioned. In regards to the subject of understanding human suffering, I'd say the writings of William O'Malley, Peter Kreeft, and also Harold Kushner (to name but a few) are much more thorough and pertinent; although they have a distinct religious viewpoint.
Book Description
This comprehensive guide shows you how to integrate a variety of production tools for the Mac OS X platform into all stages of audio production so that you can create and produce music. From single applications to complete suites, you’ll discover the software toolsets that are best for you and then discover how to incorporate them into a coherent workflow. Featuring best practices, real-world examples, and interviews with audio professionals, this book pulls together all the programs and tasks you need.
Customer Reviews:
A serious work.......2007-07-04
Recently I've seen some digital tutorial and books that make me thinking on a precipitated release. Sure this is not the case.
Ignacio.
Like a good friend sitting next to you explaining it all. .......2007-04-28
This is a very smart, yet very un-nerdy treatment of otherwise very technical subjects...The author has a wonderful, down-to-earth writing style. And he's funny, too. It's like having a cool friend sitting next to you explaining it all.
It's an exceptional book, I'm learning a lot from it, and I'm not even a Mac guy. And the book is a lot of bang for the buck....it's almost 600 pages, and the text is smallish (but still readable), so it's as much info as most 800 page books, and all golden.
The author does a podcast too, which is weekly (or so) companion the book. [...]
MWD
Covers a lot of stuff.......2007-04-17
I've been using this book for a couple of weeks now and it's totally got me excited about doing music on my computer again. I know a bit about some of the programs covered in the book (Logic, Reason, Garageband) already, but it gave me more of an idea of how to use those programs more effectively. It also gave me the opportunity to learn about other programs I have been wanting to use. Plus there's just a ton of information about the different software and plugins that are available, some really cool stuff (especially the free stuff). There's also sections that provide "real world scenarios" that I found immensely helpful. These sections gave me ideas of how to use the tools in new ways. The DVD that comes with the book has some great stuff too, freeware, loops, plugins, etc. Super cool.
Overall it has a wealth of information that is relevant to beginners as well as people like me who already have some knowledge of Mac music production. The book is laid out really well and the writing is engaging and well thought out. I can't say enough good stuff about it. I'm sure I will go back to it frequently. Good stuff!
Book Description
The real reasons that dogs do the things they do! You'll discover what's behind your dog's everyday actions, with intriguing, practical advice on topics such as: digging....chewing sticks....eating grass....and getting wet. The Secret Lives of Dogs reveals what dogs think, how they feel, and how they see the world and what you can do to make them happier than ever. The Secret Lives of Dogs is part of the Dog Care Companions, a series of books for pet lovers on behavior, health care, training, communication, and more.
Customer Reviews:
A cute book for new dog owners.......2006-01-31
Since I have been a dog owner for over 15 years and since I am an avid reader regarding the behavior of dogs I found this book to be cute but simplistic. The pages are glossy and full of darling pictures to accompany each section. The writing seems to be directed at someone quite a bit younger than I. This actually feels more like a fancy dog magazine BUT if you are new to the subject you will find some inspiration inside and will learn useful information about dog behavior. This would be an excellent book to share with children as a learning aid for their new pet.
Sometimes The Dog Doesn't Even Know Why!.......2000-10-08
This book is so fun! I totally enjoyed reading about the antics of our funny little buddies and some reasoning for their entertaining and sometimes enraging behaviors. Great ideas for positive ways to deal with behaviors that need to be changed and thought provoking ideas about behaviors we may consider okay but just wonder why in the world they do that. This is a very humanistic, uplifting, and optimistic author. I just can't tell you how very much I enjoyed it. My angel even took a sneek peek at what I was reading, and gave both paws up for this one! You'll love it!
The best dog book ever!.......2000-09-14
I have read many books on dogs, but this book really explains some of the mysteries of their behavior with suggestions for how to improve each situation. I highly recommend it and I am buying copies for all my friends that need help with their little troublemakers.
Book Description
What separates
Freeing Your Angry Mind from other anger management programs is that this book doesn't seek to help you "manage" anger at all. Of course it's important for you to recognize and control outbursts of temper, and there are many excellent techniques for doing just that. But these approaches tend to leave a lot of important questions unanswered—even unasked. This book strives to offer you a real cure for anger, one based on deep introspection about the connection you share with other human beings. Drawing on basic principles from Buddhism, this book seeks to supplant anger with compassion, reaction with mindfulness, and self-importance with self-awareness.
Customer Reviews:
Well worth spending your money and time on!.......2006-12-31
Anger is a difficult emotion to handle. It seems to pop up, whenever other people don't behave the way we wish, when things they do or say either hurt us, irritates us, seems stupid... But with mindfulness we might experience, that it's not them, but our reaction, that fuels our anger... Bodily sensations may lead to anger feelings and anger thoughts leading to anger action, but we can indeed (with daily practice and in time) first of all begin to be aware of this and second begin to behave differently. I'll also highly recommend: "ACT on Life not on Anger", by Eifert, McKay & Forsyth.
An Essential Book for Angry Men, Counselors and Caregivers.......2006-12-14
Dr. C. Peter Bankart's "Freeing the Angry Mind: How Men Can Use Mindfulness & Reason to Save Their Lives & Relationships" is a must-read for not just its target audience--angry men--but also those who would seek to offer them counsel, care, support, and love. If you've found your way to investigating this book for whatever reason (maybe you're a man looking to work with his anger or someone looking to know more about the subject), trust me: this is the book you're looking for.
With its foundation in Buddhist philosophy, mindfulness, and cognitive behavioral therapy (C.B.T.), Bankart lays out a series of ideas and techniques and stories designed to support men struggling with anger. That said, this book does not offer quick fixes or easy answers; rather, it is offers a path that requires no small amount of courage, honesty, and hard work on the part of the angry man. As Maurits G.T. Kwee says in one of the blubs, "Freeing the Angry Mind" offers "an original palette of procedures from various other sources...that have the capacity to strengthen...if practiced diligently."
In my view, the meeting of the reader's effort with Bankart's map will almost certainly "save lives and relationships." This is a book that can help. And goodness knows that those kinds of books are oh-so-rare. Again, if you think this might be for you, it is. Pick it up immediately if not sooner.
- Danny Fisher, M.Div.
[...]
Highly recommended.......2006-09-05
For anyone wanting to lower their blood pressure, stop being a jerk, or just get an understanding of why the line at the supermarket angers them more than the fact that the clerk has to deal with customers like them constantly, then this book is for you. It is funny, witty, and deceivingly profound in the way that it examines both the source of anger, and options for overcoming the hold it has over so many lives.
freeing the Buddahist mind.......2006-07-15
So way out of sinc with normality this epistle is propaganda for a mind set of the 14th century.
However, the paper is nice so I gave it a 2
Book Description
Sweeping Western historical romance from the author of To Find You Again.
After the Civil War, a Confederate nurse seeks to comfort the loved ones of the men she watched die. And the father of a dead soldier-a rugged, weary, ex-gunslinger-will give her the sanctuary she so desperately needs.
Customer Reviews:
VERY POIGNANT AND BEUTIFULLY WRITTEN STORY.......2007-09-08
A REASON TO LIVE is the story of a troubled woman that has endured the ravages of war and of a man that goes looking for his injured son and finds that he has died in the war.
Laurel Covey, a confederate nurse, has spent 3 years in army tents, surrounded by the most horrific sights and foul smells imaginable. She has consoled dying soldiers and nursed the few that after healing are thrown back into the fray. Laurel has collected the dying words of soldiers and has written them in a journal. After the war is over, she journeys to deliver the last words of those fallen soldiers to the respective families all over the country. She has lost everything in War - her husband, her possessions and her soul and feels she is loosing her mid as well.
She encounters Creed Forrester. A Texan rancher and retired gunslinger, Creed is looking for Laurel, as he thinks that she is carrying vital information regarding his son's whereabouts. Creed rescues Laurel from renegade soldiers and eventually finds that she was present at this son's death. He struggles with the grief of loosing his son but realizes that the strong woman he has meet is struggling with demons of her own.
Laurel is plagued by horrible nightmares at night and during the day instances make her retreat into the world of cannon fire, dying men with amputated limbs and the stench of death and blood. She carries the terrible burden that she was asked to choose between the dying soldiers, selecting the ones that were not mortally wounded and feels she didn't do enough to save as many as she could have.
The character development is beautiful as Creed and Laurel get to now each, while he accompanies her in her quest to deliver the messages of the dying soldiers. Laurel forms a fragile bond with Creed as she has rejected eveything in life and he helps her heal her wounded spirit and allows her to find her heart.
The story is poignant and beautifully written, not for the faint hearted, as the horrors of war are painstakingly portrayed. It is a story of hope and deliverance - a story of the human spirit, with strong people forced to live in a harsh period in our history. Maureen McKade has vividly re-created the post civil war era, and how the ravages of war have torn the country in two. The misery and despair of the ravaged South Creed and Laurel encounter as they travel is so well portrayed that you feel you are traveling right along with them. The beauty of this story will stay with you for a long time.
The yo-yo swings down........2006-10-09
I honestly don't know what to think of my reactions to books by Maureen McKade. I've read seven of her books. Four I've rated 5 stars, three zero stars. I'm sorry to say that the only reason I gave this one two stars (zero in my personal notation book) is because I have enjoyed other stories from Ms. McKade so very much. I have my notes on other McKade books and am amazed. Evidently I either love her stories or I don't like them at all. Sorry to say, this is a don't like it at all for me.
Widow Laurel Covey is on a mission to visit the families of soldiers who made death bed statements to her while she was a nurse for the Confederate side in the war which ended just six months past. Creede Forrester was searching for her to find out if she knew whether his son had died in battle. His information indicated his son was wounded but now that the war is over, he cannot find his son. Once he finds Laurel and understands what her mission is, his conscience will not allow him to let her make the last visitation trips alone. He goes along with her even though she plainly states that she does not want him. This story does not "resonate with heartfelt emotion" as the cover states, for me it was just plain depressing. Everything turned out well for Laurel and Creede in the ending but it was a struggle for me to wade through all the war recollections and emotional baggage Laurel was carrying. I know, I know. That was the whole point of the story, but uplifting it was not! A little bit of "happy" along the way would have gone a long way toward making this an easier read. So very much seriousness just weighed me down. I didn't WANT to finish reading it but I did. Was the introduction of the starving, orphaned kitten supposed to form some of the "happy" moments which were otherwise sadly lacking? If so, it didn't work out that way for me. How could we be expected to believe that a starving, orphaned kitten could walk fifteen miles from one campsite to the next? If the starving, orphaned kitten could do it, why did the perfectly healthy horses only make it those fifteen miles? See, I'm being picky, picky, picky. But once it starts, everything begins to snag my attention and I loose concentration and the desire to continue to read.
Sorry to be so negative but I just cannot see myself recommending this to anyone without a strong warning first. I have two more Maureen McKade books left to read. If my yo-yo is correct, surely one of them should be a five star read.
Another triumph to Maureen.......2006-09-29
"A Reason to Live" is another triumph to an acclaimed author Maureen Mckade. The story is not a typical historical romance that you would expect from a romance author. It is a heart wrenching saga of two emotionally scared characters that are trying to come to terms with their pasts and ultimately finding a reason to pursue their future. Laurel served as a combat nurse during the Civil War and ultimately witnessed the wreath of the devastating War Between the States. After the war she feels obligated to all those soldiers that died in her care to carry their messages to their loved once. Through her eyes we are witnessing the aftermath of the war and its affect on the people. Creede's son died at the war. He is drown to Laurel as the last link between himself and Austin. Throughout their journey they reopen the wounds of the past and rediscover their future. I enjoyed the book tremendously, following Maureen's work over the years you can definitely see her evolving as an author. I can't wait to read her next novel.
An Emotional Romantic Tale.......2006-09-17
Laurel Covey has lost a lot in a very small period of time. Her husband is killed during the civil war, her family has turned its back on her because she dare to marry a Southerner, and the ghosts of the men she tried to help working as a nurse in the field haunt her dreams. Deciding the best way to put the past behind her is to face the families of the dead soldiers and share with them their loved ones last words and thoughts. Laurel hopes that this will not only give the loved ones peace, but maybe just maybe she will achieve a little peace. Her travels are solitary until one afternoon a man races to her rescue. It's providence that they should meet. Creede Forrester, an ex-gunslinger is looking for Laurel. He hopes that she will tell him that his son really didn't die during the war. He has no one right now and his life has never seemed so empty. But, Laurel is going to change all that and together these two wounded people will put the past to rest and find a happy ending.
I have been a long time fan of Ms. McKade dating back to her first titles she wrote for Avon back in the mid `90's. Her talent has only grown as she has perfected her craft penning her romances. "A Reason to Live" is full of heart and emotion and Laurel and Creede are perfectly matched, each helping the other through their individual pain. The eclectic cast of secondary animal characters and human characters as well are a perfect complement to the story. Ms. McKade has done a fine job bringing the post civil war south to life and the reader will see, feel, and hear all of the elements she has described as we travel along with Creede and his Laurel. If you are only going to read one historical romance this fall, I highly suggest you select this one. One word of caution you better have a box of Kleenex handy as you will need it. This is one read that will tug at your heart. Reviewed for CK2S Kwips and Kritiques.
McKade's written a winner.......2006-09-11
Wow, what a story! McKade is really coming into her own as a solid romance novelist. She has created a heroine who is truly unique, a woman struggling with the bloody horrors trapped in her memory, afraid she's slowly going crazy, and a hero who is also trying to come to grips with his wife's and son's deaths. In the aftermath of the Civil War, Laurel, our heroine, travels the South to bring the victim's final words to their families as she has promised the men she would do. Creede joins her in her quest, and their initial antipathy towards each other turns into respect and then love. But, what is so good here is the vivid descriptions of a South ruined by the War, of people who are much worse off than before. McKade does an excellent job of bringing the reader into the broken, desperate experiences of so many different kinds of people affected by the ravages of the Civil War. Her two main characters are hurting in different ways, but drawn to each other as well. You will see the South through their eyes, but will also enjoy a good, page-turning plot and a satisfying love story. There are at least two more stories that will spin off from this initial novel, and I am thrilled. Can't wait for the next one!
Customer Reviews:
A Reason To Live.......2003-10-17
"A Reason To Live" not only helped save my life, it set in motion several major - albeit, gradual - positive changes. Melody's personal life experiences and insights involving pain, loss and survival gave me some much needed assurance that I was not alone in this world. I admire Melody's strength and courage. I've learned I can actually use pain to become a deeper, more creative, honest and loving person. This book is non-judgemental, insightful, and ultra-practical. Please make more copies available. Thank you!
This book is the only reason I am alive today........1999-02-28
When my boyfriend committed suicide I felt I wasn't worth sticking around for. This book changed that feeling. I was lucky it did. About 6 months after his death I found out it was murder made to look like a suicide.
Book Description
In A Reason To Live, authors Hills and Hudson step out of the bounds of traditional true crime to present the seldom told story of the plight of victims confronting the harsh reality of being victimized once by crime and then repeatedly by the American criminal justice system. A story told with the page turning readability of a novel, A Reason To Live takes readers into the lives of members of a family determined to live again on their own terms following victimization by crime.
In February of 1979, two women from Pawley's Island, South Carolina, had the misfortune to cross paths with two desperate outlaws embarked on a day long, drug induced crime spree that ultimately left five persons dead. Taken at gunpoint from their families during a robbery, the women were raped, shot, and left for dead on a cold and wet dirt road. Miraculously, one of the women survived, although a shotgun blast to her face left a permanent reminder of that fateful night. A Reason To Live is the inspirational story of the survival of Wanda Summers.
Just months after being brutally victimized, as Wanda and her family began the arduous process of learning to live again, Wanda summoned her courage, and, despite suffering from horrific physical and emotional pain, she stood before her assailant in court; her dramatic and heartwrenching testimony helped persuade a jury to sentence Ronald "Rusty" Woomer to death for the murder of her friend.
Confident that due process of law would ultimately render justice, Wanda and her family focused on rebuilding their lives, hopeful to close the tragic chapter opened by Woomer. They had no way to know that the trial was only the beginning of their involvement with the legal system. Following years of countless appeals, and, finally, a last minute stay of execution for Woomer by the U.S. Supreme Court, Wanda faced the prospect of being dragged back into court, ten years after the original crimes, to relive the nightmarish kidnap and assault. The resulting outcry thrust Wanda into the public spotlight and a course of action that would forever change the nation.
Customer Reviews:
My Father, The defense attorney.......2006-07-02
Today is the nniversary of my father's passing, Cleveland Stevens, Atty. at Law. My mother and I helped Mr. Hudson with this book and I feel that he did the entire case justice and wrote extremely well. There are many sides to the story of what his daughter and wife, my mother and I, went through as we watched this case being tried, watched my father agonizing over what he knew would be the inevitable, and watching Rusty Woomer eating his last family meal with his cancer stricken mother and devoted sister. Again, there is another side to this story. The human element of the side of the guilty. The book does a marvelous job displaying Wanda's tenacity and strength. I recommend everyone read this, and if you ever want to know the inside of the other side, you will have to wait for my book! Thanks Dale for capturing such horrific and life changing events in such a great way!
The Best!.......2004-12-15
This is The Best True Crime book and one of the best books I have ever read! I Read alot of books and this one just haunts me..Its a inspirational story of Wanda Summers who survives a Shot gun Blast to the Face.It tells of her struggles,The Case,Its much more than a True Crime Story..Its a Story of a Survivor! I look forward to reading more by these Authors!
Inspiring Story of Courageous Woman.......2002-04-16
Wanda Summers is a courageous woman who fought to live
and survive at the hands of sociopath Rusty Woomer and
Eugene Skarr. The story is so well-written I felt as if
I was right there with her, Louise Sellers, and the
other victims all the time. The authors did a very
credible job of mixing the action and narrative so as
to keep the story moving forward. Most true crime stories
have several sections which are difficult to read, but
not so with this one. Thumbs up for this story and the
authors. I am off to find something else they have written.
A Definite Must-Read!.......2002-03-28
From the intriguing and unusual cover to the contents of the book to the back cover -- this book is one of those books you just can't put down.
Wanda's courage and strength comes shining through due to the incredible writing of Hudson and Hills. This woman defied all odds and should have never lived, much less have the nerve to tell her story to all. But she did.
The story reads easily, like fiction, but you must remind yourself at all times this is REAL. Events really DID HAPPEN. In order for Wanda's suffering to have been worthwhile to share, we have to learn from her.
I implore women especially to read this book and to see that we do have a way to take an extremely bad situation and right it.
Another fascinating part of this book is the way Wanda's husband stood by her, throughout it all. This man has had to suffer his own grief and guilt. Another title could have been "In Hell: A Love Story Emerges."
Wanda is -- tragically -- not just another pretty face, she was a daughter, a mother, a wife, a friend ... a survivor.
Thanks for a story well told.
Inspiration without sentimentality.......2002-03-09
Because the book tells a true story that happened in the community where I live I wanted to read the facts. What I found in this book was much more than facts. The authors have told a story of inspiration without ever becoming preachy or sentimental. This book should be required reading for every adult. How amazing to see someone like the criminals in this story with no regard for the consequences of their acts and to see the amazing resilience of someone like Ms. Summers (whose actions had no reason to cause these circumstances)taking on the responsibility to survive, to grow, to raise her family, to be a contributor to society. How many of us would have her courage, strength, spirit to survive never mind to triumph. Thank you to Ms. Summers for letting her story be told and to the authors for telling a gripping and suspenseful tale while still respecting the victims and never manipulating the reader to feel... the reader feels the love and determination of these survivors thanks to the authors.
Books:
- Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know--And Doesn't
- She Went All the Way (Avon Light Contemporary Romances)
- Sociology of Religion: A Reader
- SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine
- Tales of Power
- The Business of Software: What Every Manager, Programmer, and Entrepreneur Must Know to Thrive and Survive in Good Times and Bad
- The Case for Christ: A Journalist's Personal Investigation of the Evidence for Jesus
- The Christian Theological Tradition (2nd Edition)
- The Cold War: A New History
- The Daily Bible: New International Version: With Devotional Insights to Guide You Through God's Word
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- The Writing Workshop: Working Through the Hard Parts
- Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog
- Dreaming Me: An African-American Woman's Buddhist Journey
- History: Fiction or Science
- Hollywood Remains to Be Seen: A Guide to the Movie Stars' Final Homes
- Strategic Management and Business Policy
- Last Place on Earth
- Evaluating Social Programs at the State and Local Level: The Jtpa Evaluation Design Project
- Develop Work Priorities
- Congressional record dictation,
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Tumble Home: A Novella and Short Stories
The Dog of the Marriage: Stories
The Collected Stories of Amy Hempel
The Contortionist's Handbook
Dermaphoria
