If you're 50 or about to turn 50 or once were 50, you'll enjoy this book. It's inspirational. Wu collected a remarkable bunch of people to interview. Did these 50 people have great birthdays, or are they just the sort of people who live interesting lives, period? It's interesting to reflect that baby boomers, who have broken all kinds of records, continue to redefine the word "lifestyle." The values of the 60's generation come through clearly in the group Wu has found to interview. The book focuses on the depth of meaning and life philosophy that can come with the word "celebration". These people are celebrating not only a half century of living, but life itself. The intro, by Depak Chopra, is worth the price of the book alone.

Olivia Wu has done a masterful job of pulling together the stories of baby boomers who found creative ways of celebrating their milestone fiftieth birthdays. Her book is also a celebration of the spirit of a remarkable generation.

Tom Brokaw's book, The Greatest Generation, is about people who selflessly did what they had to do to survive a depression, win a world war, and raise a family. By contrast, Turning 50 is about the children of that generation who went their own way and did what they wanted to do. The way each individual or couple in Ms. Wu's book chose to celebrate half a century of being alive was unique and fascinating.

I found the book thoroughly enjoyable and uplifting. It also made me feel proud to be a member of that generation. No matter how old or young you are, reading these stories will be a joyful experience.

Turning 50 is no longer a dreaded milestone that brings us to old age. As the accounts in this book show, it is a celebration of knowing who we are and what we really treasure about our lives. It shows that today people see 50 as the beginning of a great time in their lives. This book will inspire you to create your own unique personal celebration. It's a great birthday gift for someone of any age.

Singular Intimacies is a book of great power and grace, a book written from the heart. Danielle Ofri takes readers inside the world of Bellevue Hospital, but, more important, she invites us into her mind and soul. Written with great compassion, wit, warmth, and grit, this book presents us with the humanity at the center of medicine. Thank heavens for doctors and writers like Danielle Ofri. I can't begin to tell you how deeply this book moved me. I can only invite you to experience it for yourself.

This book is truly a must read. Danielle Ofri is a talented writer and gifted physician. How lucky her patients, to have such a compassionate presence for a doctor. Through her writings I felt the warmth and caring she brings to every interaction. I would hope that this book would be a primer for all doctors-in-training, so that they might be inspired to keep their humanity and be willing to be vulnerable when they become doctors. This book and this woman are an inspiration. I am richer for having read the book and grateful that Danielle Ofri shared in this way.

Singular Intimacies, Danielle Ofri's first non-technical book, is a brilliant addition to the memoirs of physicians and other health care workers. In it, Ofri chronicles her transition from medical student to internist at New York City's Bellevue Hospital. She is humble, funny, smart, sophisticated, vulnerable, and blessed with rare insight. In addition, she has the gift for lucid, direct prose. This book will appeal to physicians, other health care workers, the general public; and especially to those young persons considering a career in medicine. For this latter group and for medical students it is a "must read."
Occasionally, when reading a book I feel like Keats did when he first opened Chapman's "Homer." "Then felt I like some watcher of the skies when a new planet swims into his ken." Singular Intimacies imparted this welcome and always surprising feeling to me. It should enjoy a great success and help to inspire and humanize many future (and some practicing) physicians.

I had heard of homeschooling before, but not of unschooling. Having read the book, and the comments in it from unschooling parents and children, the latter is definitely what I would choose for any children of mine. Tell you what, after reading it I wished I had been 'unschooled'! Unfortunately, I haven't, however, I reckon with my kids, whenever they come along, I can make up for a lot of what I've missed, by learning alongside them. I'm looking forward to that opportunity! The book is excellent in that it not only clearly explains the concept of unschooling, it also gives practical examples of how the children get an interest in learning to read, how mathematics and science are included in every day life, how history and the arts become wonderful day trips to museums, etc. On top of all that it has a chapter on 'coping with doubts and challenges', and each chapter has a long list of reference books where more info can be found. In short, a real gem. The whole world should return to unschooling I think. I highly recommend it.

As a homeschooling mom of two boys, we had heard about the unschooling method but were a little unsure of its effectiveness until we read this book. Mary Griffith does a wonderful job of explaing the concept of unschooling, and the numerous families quoted throughout the book make the concept seem so natural.

There are chapters on math, science, reading and writing, and how to use the world around your children to foster these skills without "doing school". Using the unschooling concept has made the boys' curiosity and wonder of the world around them just explode and has made learning exciting for them. The unschooling philosophy has made learning a 24/7 event at our house, thanks to this wonderful book.

Any family considering homeschooling, or "doing school" at home, or using a curriculum needs to read this unique and fabulous book.

we highly recommend this book. Aside from the information you can get about unschooling at the www.unschooling.com website and message boards, this is the best information in print.

Our family has always unschooled, and it was John Holt that brought us there, along with listening to our hearts and respecting our children's point of view.

If you are interested in homeschooling, read John Holt's books ("Learning All the Time") and visit the message boards at www.unschooling.com. And add this wonderful book to your library, as you will use it over and over again...and you will lend it to friends over and over again!

The Well by Mildred D. Taylor is one of the best examples of juvenile fiction that I have read in the last ten years. (Coming from a teacher, that's a lot of books!) The reader is invited into a world where whites can say and do as they please and blacks are treated to cruelty, deceit and humiliation. Yet the Logan family, the central characters of this book, maintain their strength and dignity through it all. The Logan property sits on the only well that has not run dry in this turn-of-the-century tale of the Deep South. They are generous people and share their sweet water with all their neighbours, even the bigotted Simms clan. David Logan, the narrator, tells us how he and his brother Hammer cope with the abuse and terrors inflicted upon them by the Simms boys and their evil father, Old Man McCallister Simms. This short novel tells us much about the deep seated racism that was so much a part of that time and place. The characters are quickly and clearly brought to life, the setting is vividly drawn and despite the frequent - but historically accurate use of the N word - this book is a great "read aloud."

The Well is a very compelling and resonant book by Mildred D. Taylor, the Newberry Award winner for Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry. You will experience many emotions while reading this book, which are not limited to anger and sadness .The Well is set in the south during the mid 1910's, a time in which deep-rooted racism is practiced and where whites can do and say anything they please with abandon to blacks.
David Logan tells a poignant story of his boyhood in Smallsville, Mississippi when blacks could be hanged for considering themselves as equals to whites. The Logan family, the main characters in the book, are among few black families to own land. During an awful drought, they have the only well of sweet water in the whole town of Smallsville. The author eloquently describes how the Logan's believe that the water is not theirs to hoard but gods gift to share with black and white folks alike. Everyone is grateful to the Logan's except the white Simms family who hate being obliged to blacks. David's family lives by his father's words, 'use your head not your fists' but his insubordinate hotheaded brother Hammer is sick of the constant degrading of Charlie Simses and when Charlie pushes his handicapped brother with bitter rancor to the ground, Hammer reacts and does the unthinkable.
The characters are quickly and clearly brought into life, the setting is vividly drawn despite the frequent but historical use of the N word. The large cast of characters is masterfully individualized with opinions, beliefs, personalities and ways of life. I personally gained tremendous admiration for Mildred D. Taylor as an author for making such a luring plot seem so stupendous in a small book.

I think Mildred D. Taylor is a good writer. She makes her books inspiring to most people. I like her books a lot because it is really interesting and talks about history and has good contrasting in the story. Her book tells you how people lived back in the olden days. Mildred writes a series of religious tales not just one book. Her books sound lifelike and it is easy to picture the story in your head. Her book makes me want to read more of the tales because they are so interesting. This book makes me wonder what it was like back then and WOW I'd like to be there. The charectors have good charectoristics. The story has a great conclusion. I'm inspired to learn more about the history back then. Her book has a sensitive plot that a person can understand.

3)Many things happened in the book Stealing Freedom. The story is about Ann Maria Weems, a slave in Maryland who wants freedom. Ann's father is already free, but the rest of her family is not. Life started out good for her family, but took a turn for the worst when her brothers were sold away to slavery. Then, her entire remaining family, except her, is given freedom. Ann is stuck in the position of taking care of her Master's niece, Sarah. Ann soon realizes the hardships of slavery, and later of love. Alfred is the only man for her. Any hopes of having a life with Alfred are smothered when Mr. Bigelow, the man who bought her family's freedom tells her that they must flee. Ann is thrust into a life of deception when she is taken for a "ride" on the Underground Railroad. Ann must pretend that she is a boy servant for Mr. Bigelow while they are hiding from the police who are searching for Ann because there is a reward from her master. Ann, after a long time of hiding, finally makes it to Canada, but she can't see her family or Alfred. She is with her aunt and uncle who had already escaped to Canada, and starts a whole new life. Her mom had another baby and is expecting yet another one! Ann gets letters regularly from her family, but she misses Alfred. One day, she and her new friend Priscilla are wading in the water, when some men come near the water. Ann turns around and Alfred is there! Alfred and Ann then got married.

This book is wonderful! It is about a girl named Ann Maria Weems who lives as a slave during the Civil War. One day, the unthinkable happens. An abolitionist come to free her family is unable to take her. Will she ever see her family again? Be free? Reccomended to anyone who wants to learn about the Civil War, slavery, or just wants a good read.

P.S.- It's also a Mark Twain Award Nominee

Stealing Freedom is good for all ages. I stayed up extra hours reading it. I felt as though I were Ann and that I was inside the book instead of somebody reading about it. I loved how funny Uncle Abraham was. I like the Master Richard because the author pictured him as both good and bad. He's a character who picks a fight, who always has to win or he makes his older brother Master Charles whip the slaves, but then he will sneak out during the day and catch tadpoles with the Ann and her brothers.

I have read this book eight times and each time something new speaks to me. What truly amazes me is although Vestal has went through so many trials, her faith in God has never faltered. Some experiences of hers will really make you think about your faith and where you are in your walk with Christ. Some of the things you will read about make you think- "Can this really happen?"-but if you will read in the Bible they really were performed by Jesus. A interesting note is that Vestal is VERY careful not to put to many dates in her book so as you will not find out her age. Enjoy and you will not regret buying this book. It is good to read when you are down and depressed and it lets you know God is real and alive!

I highly recommend this book to any gospel music fan. It is truly worth reading and you will find it difficult to put down. After reading this book you will have a better understand of why everyone loves Vestal Goodman and why she has the faith in God that she has. I have read other books by Ken Abraham and as usual he has done a wonderful job on this book as well. Truly this will be a book that all southern music fans will want to add to their collection.

This is an awsome book. IT had great detail and kept your mind on the book. It was like Vestal was your best friend sitting next to you telling you her life story. I read it as a Vestal fan but, it's great forany reader of any age Christian or not this book will show you Vestal's life(much like ours)hasn't been filled with mountian top expierances it will make you look at her in a totally differnt way weather you love Vestal or just love to read you will enjoy this book.Happy Reading!

I just recieved this book today. I opened it and I was amazed by the beauty of the layout. This book is stunning. I could flip through the pages all day long. I was happy to see flyers in the book from Detroit. This book is an inspiration to me, considering I would like to start the design process of the rave flyer. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who appreciates the overall beauty of the rave party. This book truly captivates its visual delite! I wish I had another book so I could tear out the pages and hang them up all over my bedroom walls.

The book reminds you of the posters of the 60's. Remarkable change from the early 90's to the last print dated in 1998. The flyers are even better since then. Hope to see volume 2 soon. Keep your rave and techno posters tucked away in a safe place because they'll be worth alot someday! Buy this book (it's priced right)- a great reference piece.

It's like a completed coloring book for grown-ups. This is the most colorful book I have seen. I am tempted to cut out all of the pages and pin them on my wall as a huge collage. For now, it sits on my coffee table and almost everyone that stops by, picks it up, pages through it, and strikes up a conversation about their fondest rave memories, "Yeah, remember that fresh Japanimation flyer when so and so was spinnin'...that was a super-dope party." It was also cool to see some flyers from Colorado events. Although the graphics are great, one aspect that would have enhanced the overall book is to have had comments and interviews from the promoters, designers, DJs, and ravers about each bass-filled underground gathering. I like the fact that it is well organized and lists the name of the party, the location, the promoter, and the designer. The contact info is a great resource. I'm looking forward to an international edition. It's definitely a worthwhile purchase. Enjoy!

I'm a Star Wars fan, and always wondered what kind of person George Lucas, the creator of Star Wars, was. This book pretty much answered any and all questions I had about the Master Jedi himself.

Pollock's narrative of Lucas's life begins with George's childhood, then proceeds into his rebellious teen years--which was the inspiration for American Graffiti--then straight onto Lucas' student filmmaker years and finally to his highly successful movie career. The latter of which is when Star Wars and its sequels were produced and established Lucas as one of the most influential filmmakers in the history of the medium.

The book offers a balanced, journalistic account of Lucas' life, with very little opinion injected into the book. Some places Pollock seems to praise Lucas too much, but it's nothing too extreme.

The only real problem is that the book was written during the production of Return of the Jedi, when Skywalker Ranch wasn't finished, George was still married to first wife Marcia, and before the flops Willow and Howard the Duck. I read the revised edition which has an intro mentioning these things, but the book's main narrative is about what's happened to Lucas up to 1983.

I'd recommend this book to any fan of Star Wars, and anyone else curious about Lucas himself.

A long time ago in a galaxy far,far away George Lucas revolutionized modern movie making, and captivated a nation with his spectacular movie Star Wars. Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi became one of the worlds most beloved trilogys. After Star Wars, George Lucas contintued to dazzle the public with his unique story-telling by bringing us another wonderful trilogy-The Indiana Jones trilogy. This book is an excellent read on how these and other movies from George Lucas made it to the big screen. With excellent background history on Lucas himself, this book is a must for anyone who admires Mr.Lucas. A well-researched book,it gives a detailed account of how some the most famous movies in cynematic history made it to the big screen. Overall I thought it was great and urge anyone who loves Star Wars, or just wants a good book to read to get this book. :) May the force be with you!

When I Bought this book, I thought it would just tell me about George Lucas's youth and how he made his movies. Very shortly into starting the book did I realize he has a rare story. Must read if you love star wars, lucas, Biographies, Ect. It's Very Moving and addictive, and the reason why it's moving was because it's very happy and can be, at certain parts, very sad. Also a great story about friendship, youth, and mostly the work ethic.

This book received a Caldecott Honor as one of the best illustrated children's books in 1990. The rich, subtle watercolors expand the reader's appreciation of the story, and help keep some of its stronger elements in balance for younger children. The story itself is a cross between several favorite fairy tales, most significantly Cinderella, and represents a retelling of a Creole story from the American South.

A widow has two daughters, and lives with them on a poor farm that "looked like the tail end of bad luck." Rose, who was like her mother, was "cross and mean and didn't know beans from birds' eggs." Her sister, Blanche, was "sweet and kind and sharp as forty crickets."

Unfortunately, their mother liked Rose best because they were so similar, being "bad-tempered, sharp-tongued, and always putting on airs." While the two of them chatted, Blanche did the work.

One day, Blanche was getting water and ran into an older woman who asked for a drink. Blanche helped her. As a result, Blanche was late returning and received much ill-treatment from her mother and sister. Running off, Blanche saw the old woman again, who asked Blanche to join her. She warned Blanche not to laugh and to do as she was told. Soon, they are in a magical place where all kinds of strange things happen. But there is plenty to eat and drink. At the end, Blanche is told to bring back certain talking eggs and throw them over her shoulder. When she does, a nice set of surprises occurs.

Immediately jealous, her mother sends Rose to the old woman to get similar help. But Rose cannot follow directions, and the magic either doesn't work for her or causes her problems.

In each case, justice is done.

The story is told in an imaginative way that makes the reader want to know what will happen next. Unlike many fairy tales where you can pretty much outline the rest of the plot near the beginning, this one has some interesting, unexpected twists.

The writing is witty, and makes good use of the story's inherent charm in praising goodness of character.

If you have a sensitive child, this may not be the right book for you to acquire. The treatment of Blanche can upset some children. The magic involves creatures having two heads, and the old woman being able to take her head on and off again. In one scene, Rose takes the woman's head as a ploy to get some talking eggs, too. You can see how this might be a bit much for a sensitive four year old. Children who are able to suspend their sense of reality will probably have no problems with the story.

I enjoyed the watercolors very much. They provided a richness in their exquisite detail that made me feel good just holding the book. Also, it made the book seem more sophisticated than the typical treatment of fairy and folk tales.

The book deals with many realistic problems that occur in families, like having only one parent, not having enough money, having one child be favored over another, having one child be treated poorly, and children looking for sympathy from nonfamily members. This will provide many opportunities to discuss these issues, and find out what your child thinks.

I also suggest that you talk about whether or not Blanche should have gone off with the old woman. The book seems to suggest that looking for help from strangers is a good idea. That's not an idea that I wanted my children to have, so you will probably want to clarify your feelings on this subject as you read the book.

May all be loved, and treated fairly!

This is a charming little folktale about two sisters Ð one mean and greedy, the other generous and kind Ð and their encounter with a strange, magical old woman. In the end, the good sister is rewarded and the bad one punished. A nice story with a good message.

But this isnÕt just a nice book, it is an extraordinary one. One thing that makes it special is the way the author uses language. Robert San Souci draws on an African American storytelling tradition and a southern rural dialect that just makes the language sing! The book is full of wonderful, poetic lines and great rhythmic language. ItÕs a joy to read aloud. The words feel good in your mouth. And any parent or teacher who reads aloud a lot knows what a rare quality that is. Even when IÕm tired, I feel like I canÕt read this book badly. The words just flow.

And the illustrations are gorgeous. Jerry Pinkney is one of the best illustrators around and this is one of my favorites of all his work. The composition, the subtle colors, the intricate detail Ð you rarely come across art this fine in childrenÕs books.

I bought this book for my daughter a couple of years ago, and weÕre still reading it over and over again. ItÕs so good, I hope in a generation sheÕll still be reading it to my grandchildren.

The Talking Eggs was a great story!The way the author put the story together was wonderful.Blanche had a mean mother and sister.Poor Blanche had to do all the work. But then she got what she deserved when she met an old woman on the road. I would say that this story was great. I would recommend the book to ages 6 and up.

Jean Thompson's Who Do You Love is an incredible collection of short stories featuring lives in various states of repair. Her turn of phrase is absolutely remarkable--I found myself re-reading paragraphs just to savor the stunning expression. The reader cares about every character. This collection is a real work of art--if I worked in a bookstore, I would press this book into the hands of every intelligent customer who loves Alice Hoffman, Elizabeth Berg, Barbara Kingsolver, and Flannery O'Connor. Thank you, Jean Thompson!

It is appalling that a writer of Jean Thompson's talent needs to have her book nominated for the National Book Award before a store like Borders will carry more than one copy of her work. It is appalling as well, that said store will only carry copies of the work that was nominated, not her other two short story collections or two novels. I read her original collection of short stories, "The Gasoline Wars," about ten years ago and was extremely impressed. I wasn't even aware of the three published works in between that and this newest collection.

"Who Do You Love" is a fantastic collection of stories dealing with sad individuals, at difficult times in their lives, reacting to various stages of their latest love interests. The collection takes us through various landscapes, from the northwest rainy Oregon all the way to the grubby southeast states. The individuals vary from young to old; the only constants being the state of sadness, and the fact that the reader cares about them.

It is Thompson's use of language that is most impressive. There are times where she goes above and beyond what you would expect in her character dialogues or descriptions. There is a specific point that you find yourself believing most writers would have stopped, but she goes on and does so successfully. Only a confident writer would go this far. As an observer, she obviously has a tremendous ear. You find yourself re-reading full sections of her work just in appreciation of her art. She is by no means a minimalist but she does not waste a word. The stories have an intelligence to them and while melancholy in nature, there is a stunning use of wit as well.

Search out her work and put it on your shelf next to the Huddle's and Bell's and others who have mastered this craft.

5 stars.

Though Jean Thompson was nominated for the National Book Award last year (and should have won, in my opinion), it is almost bewildering to me that her work is not as well-known as some of her contemporaries. This collection is a masterpiece by a writer whose sensibility blends dark and gritty subject matter with sublime language -- a bit like Alice Munro in tone, though at once both more stylized and more viscerally felt, unlikely as that may seem. The opening piece, "All Shall Love Me and Despair" (which was included in the 1996 Best American Short Stories) is as gorgeous as the Oregon coast that is its setting, as unsettling as its compassionate depiction of the character Scout's battles with heroin addiction, and as heartfelt as the woman, Annie, who tries to love him. Another fine piece is the story "Mercy," a close character portrait of a nightshift police officer and his relationship or lack thereof with a tough, unforgiving woman whose reckless son dies in a car accident. The 15 stories collected in this book date as far back as 1988 and represent a substantial body of work that deserves great acclaim and attention. I can't say enough about Thomspson's stories. They are simply marvelous.