A beautiful and important book
348698
A dark and forgotten piece of history brought to light and depth by a sophisticated writer. The Darkening Sky is an important book. Its grown-up fiction at its best. Even though the story is sad and difficult, I loved this book.
3839823
An important and beautiful book whose flawed and courageous characters become a measure of our own humanity and willingness to see and act and love.  You will not be able to put it down. The best book I have read in years!
685355
A beautiful book with such an important message to introduce to childrenequality and respect for all!
157588
Although a Protestant (Presbyterian), I study Orthodox Christian iconography with one of the Prosopon School's master Iconographers.  This book, illustrated with many, many colorful images by the hand of the founder of the Prosopon School, is absolutely beautiful in every respect.  After seeing it for the first time, I had to have one.  Now that I have one in my own home, I want to share it with . . . everybody!  So, I will be acquiring additional copies as gifts for my church library, for my young grandchildren, other family members, and cherished friends.  The illustrations are not strictly iconographic (being painted before the founding of the Prosopon School) and some have a charming almost Celtic (more likely Russian) folk art flavor.  Because of this, the book will appeal to all who appreciate beautiful art, especially Christian oriented art, even children and young people.  It is NOT necessary to be familiar with Orthodox iconography to enjoy this book.  Words escape me when I attempt to describe the beauty of this book.
1075486
This book is beautiful and brings so many issues to the surface that we all need to be informed about.  This book really touched my heart and my life.
2244206
Beautifully written and illustrated....a book that is written with sensitivity and thought . Beautiful illustrations accompany the
sensitive writing. An important book.
3415838
This is a very important and timely book. As someone who has written about the Tuatha D Danann, the ancient gods of Ireland, I have no doubt that the current re-establishment of folk tradition and the resurgent interest in Ireland's ancient myths and monuments is an important step for a modern people who have become somewhat deserted from a wonderful, rich heritage. But further to this is the universal appeal of the Tuatha D - they are said to be immortal, and this is true of the spirit of any people who hold to their dearest and most ancient traditions. That spirit refuses to die. It lives on, like the Tuatha D in the Land of the Ever-Living Ones, in the sure hope of a wonderful reawakening. But what should we reawaken to? We should cast off the Feth Fiada, the cloak of invisibility, and re-emerge from the darkness of the womb-mounds as a people reborn to the possibility of a glorious heritage, an honourable and rewarding life, and the sovereignty, both of our sacred land and of our hearts, that we each desire and deserve as a people who have so often been denied those possibilities in the past.

Landscape, nature, cosmos, community and natural order sing from the pages of Judith Nilan's book. It will be an important guide for people who wish to re-establish a sacred connection with the sdhe, and for those of us who are already on that path, this is a wonderful affirmation, brimming with love and positivity, a real antidote for the enfolding drudgery and depression of our times . . . an ode to joy for a wayward people, cut off from their true D Danann heritage. A light of hope.
3702340
Virginia Chase Sutton's "Of A Transient Nature" is an important book.

Embedded into the collection of poems is the painful story of a young girl who was preyed upon, by the very people whose job it was to protect her. Enduring her father's molesting and her mother's indifference, plus repeated bullying at school, it is remarkable that this little girl survived at all.

What emerges is a triumph of the human spirit, not only to survive, but to still see the beauty elsewhere in the world. Perhaps it was the knowledge that there was beauty beyond the present moment that made it possible to endure such a horrific childhood, and soar to a different life. A life with the courage to trust, to marry, to have a child, to travel out into the world. The title suggests that somehow she knew the abuse would not last forever; that there was a life beyond the horror.

What is remarkable about this book is that the author is still able to focus on the feelings of others and not be swallowed up by self-pity. One of my favorite poems in the book is about a long-ago, beautiful Valentine card that was sent to someone beloved, who discarded it, and now that card has ended up in a thrift shop display. A poignant moment, considered generations after both the sender and recipient have passed away.

This book is filled with raw, searing emotion that needs to be read, to validate the stories of other little children who have been so violated. Here we have the words of one who survived, and we can celebrate the transcendent spirit of a woman brave enough to let herself be happy.

Review by Aurora Dawning, author of "Moon Music"
4249776
What a beautiful book!!!!!! I bought it for both of my granddaughters 2 yrs and 4 months. The photography was beautiful...depicting such important words I feel are important for the girls to learn and recognize...Love, Family, Smile, Peace, Beauty! NOT the usual "First Words" book! I am so very glad that I discovered this treasure!
952650
This is a beautiful book - photos included. I highly recommend it
1711395
This is an important, harrowing and beautiful book.  Important, because it takes an historical event that has been abstracted by ideologues - the Great Famine - and restores its humanity.  Harrowing because of the descriptions of this disaster, not of its social or political importance, but the way it effected families and destroyed the land, creating a tangible atmosphere of death.  It is (perversely?) beautiful because, like all McCabe works, it is alive to the harsh beauty of nature, and also because the four speakers of these monologues try to order the horrors by telling stories, full of excuses, self-delusion and bitter hatred, but also nostalgia, revelation and epiphany.  The book works by taking stock figures from the Famine - the Orphan, the Landlord, etc. - and making them compellingly human and complex, not bogeymen.
1490506
I have been a fan of Tim Palmer's work for many years, and this book is truly one of a kind. Perhaps I am biased because I am so fascinated by glaciers and so intimate with some of the wild places in California, but California Glaciers stands out in my mind as historically important, aesthetically beautiful, and uniquely resonant. It is a rare piece of nature journalism; the landscapes Tim documents are going away rapidly. This book will prove to be an important record of what was. The photography is beautiful, and the narrative Tim writes of these disappearing gems makes me want to pack up, head out there, and see more of these special places myself. This book will be an important item on the shelves of anyone who loves and appreciates wild places.
2138457
What a moving book, both the story it tells and the story behind it. The illustrations are unique and beautiful, the words carefully chosen. Although ostensibly a children's book, I was deeply touched as an adult. It would be a great starting point for discussion in schools or youth groups and I will recommend it to my librarian and teacher friends.
2354531
Picking up a book about religion is always hard, as you never know if you will agree with the spiritual point of view of the author, if you will find it offensive, too deep in religion or too cheesy. I had seen books by Max Lucado and have found them to be ok - practical but not groundbreaking. "His name is Jesus" is a very beautiful book and one that I would recommend to any catholic.

When I grabbed the book the first time I was immediately impressed by the beauty of the book itself - the quality of the packaging, the materials and the very beautiful illustrations, photographs and deign. The message in the words of this book is even more beautiful.

You could think about this book as a summarized version of the New Testament told in a series of short stories that make every situation much livelier by providing additional context and describing the situation from multiple point of view. The message is stronger when you understand in more detail the perspective of every character.

One unique aspect of this book is that it provides a perspective into one of the most intriguing aspects of Jesus: his nature as a Man-God who enjoys all the power of God while suffering, feeling and being tempted like any man.

Two months ago I lost my dad. I am sending a copy of this book to my mom. I am sure she will enjoy it and it will help nurture her soul. You probably will enjoy it as well.
4126572
The power in this book lies not only in its beautiful, oversized illustrations which fill out the entirety of its pages (11.25 x 9.53), but also in its well chosen words which describe God in terms that are understandable by children.  This book is worthy of highest honors for its illustrations and the author provides a text which paints pictures with words which are ample accompaniment.  It is important for parents of young children to begin the discussion of God and this compelling book provides a guide to admiring the beauty of His creation in a form that can be held in one's hands. It is non-sectarian. This book deserves many more than 5 stars.  It has not received the attention it deserves.
1136045
A very beautiful book, for biology, photographers and nature lovers.
1292271
This is a beautiful book, physically and emotionally.  The technical quality of the book itself is unusually nice with the doubled pages.  The photography was technically beautiful and emotionally stunning ... literally stunning.  We are endlessly offended and surprised by loss and death -- the Hesse poem and the transition of the tulips reminds us that we are trying to hide from the truth that birth is the start of death -- this book is a reminder that we are all dying at every moment, that it is natural and to be expected -- and when we really understand that reality in ourselves and in the people around us, we can only become more compassionate and more mindful of how we spend our time.  Our time is our life.