Robin Patchen is truly the
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greatest contemporary writer I have read in a long time.  This book is not the first of her books I have read but it may be the most intriguing, exciting, suspenseful, gratifying, spellbinding book that you cannot absolutely put down.  The ending is totally unexpected and suspenseful while being quite gratifying.  Robin writes with a God felt theme which is not overwhelming but blends in perfectly with her characters.  Once again I would give it more than 5 stars if I could.  This book is a must read!!  Monica
3880201
Once again I am left breathless by a book.  The emotional ups and downs of what I know will be a very short visit with dear friends is bittersweet.  Robin Hobb is the most skilled author I have ever read. I know for the next week I'll feel lost to not have fresh stories at my fingertips. Thank you Robin Hobb for these characters.
4897997
This is a fantastic gem of a read! Robin Askwith maybe the naughty lad from the 1970's, Confessions films, but his biography of his life and how the whole film series happened it just down right, damn good fun!
The narrative is such a joy, because anyone who knows the film or Robin himself, is instantly treated to the fact, that the book reads like a personal conversation with him. If you know his voice cadence you will love the book that much more.
I first learned of him in the ultra low budget film, "Horror Hospital" which I watched at 3am one time and thought this film is SO BAD, I love it, I can't stop watching it. Little did I know it was edited to bits, and the good bits were gone...mostly being of the lovely Vanessa Shaw. No not that one, Vanessa Shaw 1973.

This is a book I can read over and over and never get bored. It's a great bathroom read, on an airplane, late night in bed, and you can drop in the book anywhere and still find yourself smiling!
Thank you Mr. Askwith for taking the time to write this book! It is one of my most all time favorite books EVER!

Cheers!

Thomas Amo
Author of "An Apple For Zoe"
[...]
680189
Robin Hobb is one of that rare kind of authors that does not just show you a pretty story, but gives you a second life (melodramatic, i know, but it's the truth).  All the characters are so vivid and you understand and know them on such a fundamental level, that it's difficult to admit that it is, after all, just a made-up story, just a book.
The Fareer Trilogy is a coming-of-age story, a growing story. Assassin's Apprentice starts out with Fitz, the main character, being 6 years old. But AT NOT POINT does any of what he does or think seem trivial or light - far from it. Fitz's life isn't easy, but the book flows beautifully. It's not a difficult read, only very very emotional.  As one of the other reviewers said, it does "grab your guts" and "ring you out".  But what I think is the best thing about Hobb's writing is that you get completely immersed in each page. The writing is beautiful and you would no more rush it than you would rush your own life (unlike Jordanesque books that are page-turners because there's little content on any given page and you want to get to the point of it all already).
Besides, this book has everything - great, rare loves; great, rare friendships; questions of loyalty, right and wrong, and the pervasive question of whether someone has a right to ask another to sacrifice their life's happiness to a worthy cause or is that too high price to pay.
Read it. You won't be sorry and you'll never forget it. It's a journey.  And the Tawny Man trilogy (continuation of the same story) is wonderful, as well (as is Liveship Traders, though that has a different feel to it).
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I saw this show live with my dad in November and couldn't wait to get the discs to watch and listen to it again.  I ordered two to give one to my dad for his birthday last week also (perfect timing!).  Robin's raw wit and energy are as fast and furious as they've always been, and he covers a broad range of current topics.  The language and subject matter are a little cruder than his HBO-sponsored tour 7-8 years ago, but as long as you are not offended by his brand of humor you will not have any issues.

I can't believe he's pushing 60 and still going this strong on stage, especially after coming off of open hear surgery.  I hope he's still going strong for several more tours!
3922752
A few years ago, I heard Robin give a talk about her book & immediately knew that I had to read it right away. I couldn't put it down!
This is a delicious adventure tale that will take you into the wild beauty of the rain forest, where you can feel and share the tender connection and heart openings that Robin experienced with animals and nature. She was changed by her time there and you will be changed by reading her story.
Since that time I have come to know & love Robin as a dear friend. The awakenings she experienced enrich everyone she meets & make the world  a better place as she freely shares her love & light.
2853811
Loved this book. I don't usually read books written in diary format but this was wonderful. I liked Robin a lot, probably because I identified with her age, loyalty to family, nurturing (get everyone fed!), a little selfish (aren't we all), and she hasn't always finished her projects.  I only wish they had at least burned one meal or it didn't taste great. I liked all of the characters. This is the second time I have read this book in the last couple of years. I highly recommend it.
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One thing I do love about K.M. Shea is her ability to turn many a familiar story into a laugh riot. While some of the characters could be downright stupid at times, it never hurt my enjoyment of the story. After recently reading a terrible Robin Hood book from another author, I picked this one up in hopes that my love of the story would be rekindled, and hopefully not butchered again. While this book isn't your ordinary Robin Hood tale, I absolutely loved it. Between this book and the movie playing in the same room at the time I was reading, I laughed so hard I cried.
Robyn has a wonderfully sarcastic voice, and you can't help but love her and her boys, silliness, stupidity and all. If you haven't read a K.M. Shea book yet, do yourself a favor and pick one up. You won't regret it.
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Obviously Robin Hobb is a genius and she has a way with telling stories. Her books and stories are not for everyone, but this is absolutely the story I wanted to know after reading many of  Hobb's other works. You absolutely need  to start with her first works to understand this story.
1410808
Wonderful. Classic buddy adventure set in a fantasy world that's all too believable.  A love story. Robin Hood like con artists. Pirates! Loads of pirates in a world where the best Captains are women.  A place where the patriarch of the high seas doesn't exist and it is simply profoundly unlucky to sail without a woman on board, along with cats.  The complex plot unfolds slowly like a heavy freight train gathering speed  towards a dynamic gripping conclusion.  But the high point are the characters. Not just the obvious protagonists, but the side characters, who bring you all the emotions you can ever desire to feel in a story.  And it leaves you wanting more.
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The character of Robin Hood is very intriguing.  Ever since I first saw Errol Flynn don tights and Olivia DeHavilland  wow movie goers (on Golden Cloud-Trigger) many years ago, I have missed few Hood films.

Kevin Costners' Robin Hood was okay, but this presentation is stunning.  From authentic looking sets to period dramatic flairs, this one has you hooked.  Russell Crowe is Loxley, aka Robin Hood pre-Prince John, and while other versions deal with Robin after his outlaw years, this is a prequel.  For that reason, it is able to touch new ground and break any pre-conceptions.  It succeeds.

We have Robin, Maid Marian, Little John, Prince John (pre-tyrant), and Friar Tuck.  Each of the characters gets their chance to breathe, and develop.  For instance, while we think Prince John is going to go along with the treaty he helped establish, he rejects it and sets up Robin to be an outlaw...we know the rest of the story from there.  It is entirely possible this sets up a sequel, at this point, we are not sure.

Cast chemistry, set dressing, location scouting, and stunt choreography/set up is top notch.  Where Rome and Spartacus set standards for TV accuracy, this Robin Hood sets the bar high.

Five arrows!
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Reading Robin's books is a reminder of the *why* behind my belief that an herbal lifestyle is a empowering and powerful way to live.  Robin Rose Bennett writes as if we are stilling around the kitchen table, sharing her stories and drawing the reader into her experiences.  Every time I take this book off the shelf, I feel as though I am saying hello to a good friend and trusted companion.  Robin gives the reader the gift of trust, to listen to their hearts and use their minds to make wise decisions on safe, effective, gentle use of herbs in all areas of our lives.  To live the Green Witch way is to feel deeply connected to the world at a cellular level, to truly *know* the next step on the path before us.  Robin is one of those rare authors who leave you feeling that she is the dear friend that you have never met, and upon closing the book you feel as though you have just spent the afternoon with your bestie.  Whether you have time for a long, deep chamomile type read, or only time to pick it up for a quick pepperminty refresh of spirit, Robin's words are waiting there for you, like the spark of joy in a friend's eyes when you greet each other.
4659543
I heard Robin speak about her mom and this book on television.  I immediately downloaded it and read it in just over a day.  It was absolutely captivating and had me singing old hymns of the faith throughout.
Robin also closes each chapter - telling about her mom.
May that faith that they share sustain Robin through her current health struggle.
780741
I have read Robin Rose Bennett's "Healing Magic" over ten years ago, and I still use it as a frame of reference. It is a very inspiring and informative book. "The Gift of Healing Herbs", her latest book, for whatever reason took me by surprise. Because I have read so many books over the years, and truly believed that I was well versed on the subject of herbs, now that I have this book in my possession, I feel reborn on this topic. This book is truly magic. Robin has really put her heart and total being, into presenting, "Plant Medicines and Home Remedies for a Vibrantly Healthy Life". Although the book is over 500 pages, and is quite heavy, I still carry it wherever I go. This book has become for me, my daily herb bible. She makes the information so simple yet so profound, that even a baby can understand it, and still avoids watering down the message that she conveys. Robin, you have truly done the work. If there is another book in store for us, I pray that I would be around to love and enjoy it, as much as I have enjoyed both books. I highly recommend this book folks! Do not wait to purchase it.

Much love and Blessings,

Sistah Cuchy
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I love how Robin weaves real life Christianity into the characters lives that she writes about. It never seems to fail that I have a mini devotional time bad use I am at or just been at a similar place one of the characters are or have been! God is good ALL the time!
3137448
Robin McKinley is, perhaps, one of the best writers I have ever read, especially her books Outlaws of Sherwood and Beauty.  In Outlaws of Sherwood, McKinley uses her clear and descriptive style to add a little reality to the Robin Hood legends.  Instead of showing her readers a Robin who looks debonair and dashing while joking with his merry men, McKinley gives us a Robin who lives in the forest, is poor, sometimes afraid, and not constantly merry.  This Robin even has trouble shooting a straight arrow!  He is faulty, yet he is likable and compelling because the reader may see him/herself in his life and his decisions.  The other characters in the book are also convincing, showing us a suprisingly different view of our Lady Marian along with a wonderful portrayel of Friar Tuck. McKinley uses the reality factor of life to spin a tale in which people really might have lived, yet she still captures all the fantastic elements of the Medieval times and pagentry, along with the humor, that the original legend possesses.  Perhaps one of the best scenes in the entire novel is toward the end, when Guy of Gisbourne attacks the theives outside of Friar Tucks little church and hovel.  The excitement of battle is mixed with such a concern for the characters that the reader really feels present among them, dodging blows from swords and the feathered shafts of arrows!
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An absolutely wonderful story filled with adventure, relationships, intrigue and, of course, love. The story is exceptionally well told and written especially the descriptions of the forest and the seasonal changes. Once I started reading I was unable to stop. I have seen and read countless movies, TV shows and books about Robin Hood but this has to be my all time favorite.