ALS Books

One of the men that was shown in this book is my great uncle on my mother side. My mother told me of the story when I was a senior in high school. My grandpa never talked about it and neither did his dad but my grandpa was told but other relatives about and shown the picture. But what made my grna father tell us the story was when a show touch by angle was on they had an episode about lynching and my grandpa saw his uncle and he called my mom and was very upset about it and told my mom the story about his uncle who was lynch as a teenager in Center,Tx and how the family had left the town when it happened because they knew they could do nothing for him and didn't want to become victims.Lige Daniel is my great uncle I never knew him but to see the picture and know that this person is my blood and that he was just a kid when he died. It stuck with me it scared I was a seventeen when I first learned of this a year older than him its scary and sad to think of the pain and torment he must have went through.

THIS IS THE SECOND COPY FOR ME . SOMEONE STOLE THE FIRST ONE. WHEN I ALLOWED MY STUDENTS TO VIEW THE PICTURES.... A FUNERAL ATMOSPHERE ENTERED THE ROOM COUPLED WITH TEARS AND REQUEST FOR ME TO CLOSE THE BOOK !!! SHOCKING AND EDUCATIONAL... A MUST FOR ANY REAL BLACKMAN AND WOMAN'S HALL OF KNOWLEDGE !!

I haven't read the book yet, but plan to in the future. I went to a website dedicated to it the other day' and it featured those photos and the history behind them. I was saddened and horrified, and am still haunted by what I read and saw. I cannot for the life of me understand how so many of those people, including women and children, could have taken such pleasure in those unspeakable atrocities. I only hope and pray that none of those people involved were in my family.

What I wish they could have added to this book, however, were a few bits on the Native Americans. I'm 1/4 Native American myself and some of my ancestors walked the Trail of Tears. Their people were also persecuted and murdered and treated as non-human---and whites who killed "Injuns" were considered heroes. I imagine some Native Americans were lynched and tortured as well, and likely there were photos.

The pity of it is, I wonder if America has learned from its past? Even now we are tolerating human rights abuses in other countries, and it's only recently that the UN is acknowledging the horrors of Darfur. It's time for America to face its "demons" and really work to change things. If not, God will surely judge this nation for its crimes against humanity. Maybe He has already.

But what I definitely hope people will learn from this book is what hatred and bigotry can do to all of us. Don't hate ANYBODY for their color---black, white, whatever---or for their nationality, religion, etc. If we want to honor the memory of these poor victims, let's rise above the hatred of their murderers and strive to defeat the evil that led to these acts. By learning from history, we can hopefully not repeat it.

As a white man over sixty, growing up in the Northeast, I was sheltered from the realities of racism by my surroundings. "Colored people" were simply not socially acceptable, thats all.
When you go through this book you will cringe and shutter. What reason and why would white people do this. Not only lynch but torture and maim before they allowed the subject to die, and often for no reason - just because it was Saturday night and people needed something to do. Truly a wakeup call for white America to reflect on what we were and really how far have we come.

Buy this book !

Z

This book is the ultimate metaphor for the graphic brutality of Black people in America.
The British poet William Wordsworth once said, "Man know thee thyself, presume God not to scan, the sturdy of mankind is man". How do you begin to understand the nature of evil? The sheer barbarity of these pictures, the nonchalant attitude of the perpetrators and the wicked glee on the faces of the participants (even children) confirms the graphic truth of the institutionalization of racism and evil in our world. Dr. Martin L. King once said that "God will not so much punish the wicked for their evil deed, but for the appalling silence of the good people. For all those lily livered fools in our world, who are quick to parrot that idiotic sentence "slavery was before my time", let me remind you of James Byrd of Texas in 2000. Without a Sanctuary: Lynching photography in America is a profound documentary of unimaginable evil and wickedness. These horrible pictures can only appeal to our conscience as a society to do the right thing. I agree with Dante in his 'Inferno' that the worst place in hell will be reserved for all those who are neutral on the great issues of life. I am profoundly grateful to the authors of this great human document James Allen, John Lewis, Hilton Als and Leon F. Litwack. May the souls of these beings who endured these horrific brutality rest with God forever.

I HAVE NOTICED THAT SOME OF THESE REVIEWS ARE FROM PEOPLE WHO KNEW DARCY. FROM THIS, I AM SURE THAT HER FAMILY AND FRIENDS WILL CHECK UP ON THE REVIEWS ON AMAZON FROM TIME TO TIME. TEN YEARS FROM NOW, WHEN SAMUEL READS THIS HE CAN FEEL PROUD OF HIS MOTHER AND THE LIFE SHE GAVE HIM. THIS BOOK BY DARCY IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PUT DOWN. I HAVE A 1 YEAR OLD AND I AM ALONE THIS WEEKEND TAKING CARE OF HIM AND I MADE TIME TO READ THIS BOOK WHILE HE NAPPED A COUPLE TIMES AND FINISHED THIS BOOK AFTER HIS BEDTIME. AFTER READING THIS BOOK, I WILL ALWAYS REALIZE HOW LUCKY I AM, EVEN THOUGH I HAVE SUFFERED FROM MANY PHYSICAL PROBLEMS THROUGH MY LIFE, NOTHING COMPARES TO WHAT DARCY WENT THROUGH AND IT MAKES ME HAPPY THAT SHE GOT TO MEET HER SON BEFORE SHE WENT ON TO THE NEXT WORLD. ONLY A PARENT COULD UNDERSTAND THAT FEELING.

ALSO, I AM SURE YOU WILL AT TIMES FEEL AN EMPTINESS IN YOUR HEART, SAMUEL, BUT I HAVE A GIFT TO HELP YOU THROUGH YOUR TOUGH TIMES. I'M NOT GOING TO TELL YOU WHY I RECOMMEND THESE GIFTS, BUT ORDER THEM OR CALL ME AND I'LL PURCHASE THEM FOR YOU! I MEAN IT.

ORDER THE BOOKS AND READ THEM IN THIS ORDER.
1.CLOSER TO THE LIGHT BY MELVIN MORSE
2.RETURN FROM TOMORROW BY GEORGE RITCHIE
3.AND IF YOU LIKE THOSE TWO FOR MORE,,,READ THE STARTER, LIFE AFTER LIFE BY MOODY.

I HAVE READ HUNDREDS UPON HUNDREDS OF BOOKS AND I RECOMMEND THESE TO ANYONE AND EVERYONE WHO'S EVER LIVED.



YOUR MOTHER IS AN INSPIRATION TO ANYONE WHO COMES ACROSS HER STORY. GOD BLESS HER.

I was hoping that this book would be an uplifting account of hope to encourage my husband who was recently diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease. It was NOT. Would not recommend it.

This is a book I find myselfing re-reading a couple times a year (and I don't tend to re-read books). Inspiring, truthful, I feel I could really relate and understand the author. Love this book! Truly beautiful. She left a precious gift to her readers. Highly recommend. Please read other reviews to learn about the content of this book.

This book is very easy & quick to read - good for those who don't like to spend a lot of time reading one book.

As I was reading this book, I could easily relate to Darcy's frustration. A few years ago, I had a neurological problem where my muscles were slowly becoming weak, and I could hardly walk or move. It was extremely exhausting just getting out of bed. Thankfully, my problem was resolved, but I remember at the time watching other people go about their normal business, like walking etc, and thinking "They are walking so easily, like they don't have to think about it", yet I had to think about everything I did, just like Darcy.

I felt genuine empathy for Darcy, and I am so happy that she lived her last year with so much happiness, despite her terminal illness.

This book reminds me of another I have read recently by Kim Dalton "The Real Fight". Recommended reading.

In the first half of 2003 Darcy Wakefield, age 33, began to seriously assess her life. A relationship had broken up and while she was happy with her roles as runner, swimmer, writer and college English professor, she longed for more. A child, she realized, was essential to her; a man, important but not essential. She took a bilateral approach to her goals, registering with dating services and investigating sperm banks. Darcy had the magnificent good fortune to meet her soulmate in a Denver doctor named Steve, nearly 2,100 miles from her home in southern Maine.

As her relationship with Steve grew in strength, Darcy's strong runner's legs began to weaken. In October of that year she was diagnosed with motor neuron syndrome -- ALS -- Lou Gehrig's disease. This fatal but unpredictable disease kicked Darcy's life into "fast-forward." Steve moved to Maine to be with her, they began house hunting, and early in 2004 Darcy was pregnant.

This journal-like little book is Darcy's exploration of her new world. The short essays are dated and each is named with a present participle that celebrates her new appreciation of life in the here-and-now -- "Committing;" "Expecting;" "Moving;" "Helping;" "Loving;" and the poignant final section, "Birthing," in which she describes the birth of their son Samuel.

While Darcy hopes for a remission of her disease, her thoughtful writing explores the twin realities of her blessings and her losses. Within a year she loses the ability not just to run, bike and swim, but eventually to walk, write and speak. Along the way are wonderful lessons about how to live life joyfully and understand the meaning of disability. "I hate asking for help," Darcy writes. "I am ... a Mainer by birth and disposition, which is to say that I am an independent, stubborn, do-it-my-way-and-by-myself kind of woman, the sort of person who hates being dependent on others."

When the simple things that Darcy took for granted are lost to her, she finds a way to accommodate the loss. In her former life as a busy athletic woman, for example, she rarely took time for manicures. Now unable to do her own nails, she begins to have them done regularly. She writes, "The real truth of my ALS is that it takes daily acts of courage to get up, live the day fully, be grateful for what I have, and to find the humor and grace and the pleasure, yes, pleasure, in not being able to clip my own nails." And as cooking and even eating become difficult for her, she describes her new way of eating: "Slowly. Mindfully. Thankfully."

There is nothing self-pitying about I Remember Running: The Year I Got Everything I Ever Wanted - and ALS; nor is there a false gaiety or denial about her life with ALS. Darcy Wakefield writes intelligently and with the utmost courage about her daily accommodations to weakness and to getting everything she ever wanted, all in the space of little more than a year. Far from being a sorrowful read, this little book may be the most heart-warming and thought-provoking thing you will read this year. Some of Darcy's essays were produced for Maine Public Radio and she made fund-raising public appearances. When she could no longer read her work, her sister Betsy read to the audience. In her last appearance Darcy sat in her wheelchair while Betsy spoke her words: ''You may very well be one of those people who's sitting on a great story, waiting for the right time to write it. Here's my challenge to you. Write now. Write here. Write your first sentence."

Although it's outside the time scale of this brave little book, readers should know that Darcy Wakefield died in December 2005, three months after this book was released. Her partner, Dr. Steve Stout, lives in Maine with their young son Sam.

If you've ever lost or loved -- and who hasn't? -- Darcy Wakefield's intensely personal story will touch your soul.

Linda Bulger, 2008

I would definitely recommend this booklet for any one who practices or intends to practice ems. Its very detailed and great illustrations and not to big to carry in your pocket.

This is a great reference book for anyone in the ALS field, Easy to read and understand. Lots of helpful info. Would recommend to anyone!!!

This product is excellent for providing a quick reference to different medications. I love that I can turn to the medicine page and find out why the patient is taking that medicine. There are to many available medications to easily remember.

The pediatric reference section - for typical HR, kg and such for a certain age, is also wonderful.

Great reference book to have at 3 a.m. when you're brain may not be functioning at optimum capacity.

I've been using the EMS field guide since I graduated as a Paramedic in 1990...

Important and useful data is presented in a clear and concise format.

The guide is constantly updated to reflect the latest AHA guidelines.

Well designed, rugged and small enough to fit in a shirt pocket - who could ask for more ?

P.S. I live and work in Israel - I am not affiliated in any way with the guys who publish the EMS field guide...

THIS IS A MUST HAVE FOR ANYONE INVOLVED IN EMS OR ALS EMERGENCY CARE!! BUY IT! YOU'LL NEED IT!!

Langenscheidt's Deutsch als Fremdsprache (German as a foreign language) dictionary is an excellent reference for the student of German. I bought mine during my time at the University of Heidelberg and found it immensely helpful, and still do as an aid to keeping my German in tune.

The dictionary has over 66,000 references. The definitions cover not only the basic meaning of the words, but also situational usage, idiomatic expressions, and all the standard dictionary fare of pronunciation and part of speech. Also included are many illustrations, often used to point out differences between kinds--for example, under the entry "Schusswaffen" or "firearms," is an illustration showing the differnce between rifle, revolver, and pistol, with the appropriate German vocabulary. Browsing the entries and illustrations can actually become addictive, as reading one entry will send you to another, expanding and reinforcing your vocabulary.

Not only is this dictionary more precise than even the best dual-language dictionaries, the detailed definitions will help the speaker understand both how and when the various words are best used.

Highly recommended.

This dictionary is the perfect supplement to a bilingual German dictionary. It contains explanatory, easy-to-understand definitions for some 66,000 German words. Each entry contains the part of speech (and gender, for nouns), pronunciation where nonstandard, conjugation (verbs) or declination (nouns), a clear definition, and often examples, related phrases, synonyms, antonyms, and other helpful data. This is extremely useful for those speaking German as a foreign language. A word of warning: this dictionary, of course, should only be used by those with at least intermediate proficiency in German, as the dictionary is monolingual-German.

As other reviewers have said, this is a terrific dictionary for serious students of German. Words are given detailed definitions together with explanations of how to use them and example sentences. Usually this gives much more precise information than would be possible with a translation, and it is also very nice to think entirely in German. This book is one of my most valued possessions. I had to get a new copy because my previous copy was so tattered.

Now I would like to add a couple of points to what other reviewers have said.

First, there is also a very nice software version (unfortunately using Windows). This makes searching a lot faster. In addition, it has a really cool feature called "Pop-Up Search". When this is enabled, if you are reading any German text on your computer, you can right-click on a word, and the dictionary entry will appear in a bubble.

Second, although this dictionary is pretty big, there are many German words which are not in there. (Indeed, German has more or less infinitely many words, since you can keep sticking words and prefixes together to make bigger and bigger compounds...) So as a backup you might also want to have a really big translation dictionary, such as Collins Unabridged --- or if you are advanced enough to use it, a real German dictionary such as Duden.

Conclusion: I recommend using this dictionary as soon as you know enough German to be able to use it. Look words up in here first, and if you can't obtain the information you need, then try a big translation dictionary.

I have found this dictionary to be invaluable to my pursuit of fluency in German. Building a proper vocabulary in German, independent of one's own primary language, is important to being able to fully learn another language. I am now able to read, speak and write German without the labor of translating from English into German and vice versa. I recommend this dictionary coupled with reading simple texts at first such as children's books starting from a young age level up to an adult level with many intermediate levels in-between as one progresses. I lost my first copy that I bought in Germany several years ago and recently I bought a replacement online. I have not looked through a German-English dictionary in the last few years, and I'll never again search through one.

I have found this dictionary to be invaluable to my pursuit of fluency in German. Building a proper vocabulary in German independent of one's own primary language is important to being able to fully learn another language. I am now able to read, speak and write German without the labor of translating from English into German and vice versa. I recommend this dictionary coupled with reading simple texts at first such as children's books starting from a young age level up to an adult level with many intermediate levels in-between as one progresses. I lost my first copy that I bought in Germany several years ago and recently I bought a replacement online. I have not looked through a German-English dictionary in the last few years, and I'll never again search through one.

I was transported back in time and thoroughly entertained along the way. the characters jump off the pages and came to life. Couldn't put it down. Great writing!!

The book is very entertaining and held my attention from start to finish. Mr. Coughlin weaves a mysterious plot line through several time periods involving a colorful cast of characters. His writing style is clear and concise with the talent to grab your attention and the wisdom to keep you wanting more. The account of the pioneer surveyors is especially compelling and sheds light on these largely unknown, and unsung, men of distinguished courage. This is a fun read that keeps you hanging on through the twists and turns of history, love and friendship - with a terrific cliffhanger. First novel or not, it's a thoroughly satisfying book.

If you enjoy a little bit of romance, a bit of comedy, a dash of mystery and a dose of history, you will love this book. I enjoyed it start to finish. Mr. Coughlin has created characters with personalities that jump from the pages. Have you ever read a book that you hate to see come to an end? If you have and you are seeking another to keep you intrigued, I would highly suggest this book. Mr. Coughlin, I can't wait to see more.

What an interesting story! You don't have to be a history buff to appreciate this book. I didn't want to put it down. It is a great book for all audiences whether you like comedy, action, history, fiction, mystery, or romance. It has it all!!! I can't wait to see what Mr. Coughlin comes up with next.

Living the Dream is a great read for anyone who loves small town living with a dab of history and a bit of romance to keep you intrigued. Each character you read about will remind you of someone you have known in your life giving you a feeling that are right in the book with them.

If you knew the author you would know what a feat he has accomplished with the writing of this book and "living his own dream". He is an inspiration to those around him.

I was attracted to Portraits of Our Past in order to expand my knowledge on the true history of the founder of my company, Berlitz. However, half way through the first chapter I had forgotten all about my first motives as I found myself totally absorbed into a world where oppression and second rate citizenship were unable to dampen down the spirituality and ingenuity of German Jews. Portraits of Our Past contains a detailed look at the everyday lives of the writer's own family and friends dating back over the last 3 centuries. A must read for anyone with an interest in history, community, ingenuity, business and spirituality.

This is a moving book! After I turned the first page, I could not put it down until late at night. Beginning with two oil portraits, I journeyed into the past, walked through small Germall villages of centuries ago, and I lived within a rich tapestry of lives and events.

Regardless of personal religion, Christian (this reader), Jew, Muslim or any other faith, this book carries the reader into the common cultural past and heritage of family we all share. The attention to detail is meticulous, but this book is more than a historical dramatization. Reading it is to experience German village life with its wedddings, joys, fears, hopes and excitement. We look forward to a sequel by Ms. Rose which will bring us forward and closer to our own time.

Through first-hand research in the archives of 18th and 19th century Wurttemberg, Germany, Emily Rose has produced an engaging journal of lives of some real Jewish families in the environs of the Black Forest. The lives she traces from the early 1700's in southern Germany to Davenport, Iowa and the near-north-side of Chicago are those of some of her ancestors, a fact that she uses to great advantage by correlating detailed familial knowledge with objective data from government records and publications of the times. The stories are embellished with over 75 unusual illustrations. The 200 year transition of the Jews in the book from despised beggars and peddlers to established merchants and professionals is told in an authoritative voice, supported with statistical data. There are several instances of Jewish leaders gaining a good measure of esteem in the Christian community, despite a generally hostile public. The author describes the formation of Jewish community organizations, sanctioned by the Wurttemberg government, to cope with medieval anti-Semitic feelings extant in the countryside. In this connection, there emerge several accounts of strong disputes between a central Wurttemberg government that seeks to reduce the restrictions on Jews, against various local governments that oppose such relaxation, acting out of anti-Semitism and commercial competitiveness. As the Jews are permitted to progress from peddlers to more acceptable occupations, and as they begin to assimilate into the larger community, one can see the beginnings of Reform Judaism take form in the Wurttemberg countryside. Good biographies and fascinating history.

This is a wonderful, warm, caring book about life and family and problems in the old country and about coming to America to start life anew. The author was inspired to write the book by the two old portraits of ancestors that hung in her childhood home. For five years she researched in the U.S. and Europe about her own ancestors and about the social, political, economic and religious forces that affected them. What she produced is a marvelous book that uses her own ancestors as a sort of everyman to take the reader through the experiences of daily life, social and political struggles, economic disruptions, religious strife, etc. in rural Germany in the 1800s. Anyone with German or German-Jewish ancestry will find this book enlighting, heartwarming, and sobering. The author truly succeeds in the difficult task of making history come alive. Other features of the book include lots of interesting and unusual illustrations, appendices on traditional Jewish life in the villages, guidelines for famly history researchers, and a lengthy bibliography.

My father was born in 1904 in a house next to the synagogue in a small village in southern Germany. As the only child and a male, he was born "with a silver spoon in his mouth" and enjoyed his status by constantly getting into trouble with his friends and cousins. But not only did he describe his childhood pranks in an idyllic way, he also told tales of a small place where all the inhabitants knew each other and where Jews and Gentiles lived in harmony. Since my father's stories were in such contrast to those memoirs written later I often wondered if his wonderful boyhood was only the product of his immediate world or if life in these remote villages was so much better than the anti-Semitism of the cities. As a librarian and a tenacious researcher I began to look for an answer in the literature but could not find anything written in English about the history and society of rural Jews from non-rabbinical families.Just recently I have found a meticulously researched and detailed look at the lost culture of the Jews in rural southern Germany. Portraits of Our Past: Jews of the German Countryside by Emily Rose (Jewish Publication Society, 2001) describes the socioeconomic, political and historical lives of my grandparents and great grandparents and opens a window to a distinctive way of life not previously documented. This discovery is even more ironic since the author is a descendant of a family that settled in Chicago in 1857.From 1994-1999, the author spent two months each summer in Germany discovering her heritage and the lost world of rural German Jews. She eventually located 2,600 documents in Wurttemberg archives, some with only a line or two of relevant information, some with hundreds of pages. She examined 1,600 books in English and German. Materials had to be laboriously translated from Judeo-German, Hebrew and German, and about 30 people helped to translate the materials.The historical material is complemented by an excellent chapter on traditional Jewish life in the villages and small towns providing interesting information and local details of social and religious life. The final chapter, a "Blueprint for Researchers," is important for all researchers of German families. The author's work took years to accomplish, and knowledge of precise research techniques would have saved her "many hours of frustration."A notes chapter and a bibliography complete the book, which offers more than 75 photographs, maps, drawings, and documents. Many additional families are mentioned, a boon for researchers of the area, particularly when one realizes that 54 Jewish communities and 32 religious elementary schools functioned in 1871 in Wurttemberg. Portraits of Our Past is a unique example of how a simple genealogical research project developed into the social history of a lost community and culture.(Jerusalem Post 10-19-01)As a librarian I recommend Portraits of Our Past as an excellent scholarly resource that is accessible to all readers...

since mid 80s i have been a big admirer of Bowery..he was always the most brilliant thing in FACE or ID magazine. This book is everything one needs to know and have about him. Must for disco historians !

Leigh is a genious on several arts. Clothes Designer, make-up artist, hostes, actor, performer, a MIND on the London Scene. This book is a perfect image memorablia, but not enough. Sorry my ridiculous english If someone loves Leigh Bowery too, please drop me a line. Danilo

Special man. Special book. i will forever be inspired by the delicious pages in this picture book that could change your life.

it did mine.

Beautiful job from start to finish. Highlights include the collages of stills from the films of Charles Atlas, the interview with Nicola Bateman, and Leigh's tres sexy postcards. Comprehensive, revealing the many layers of his greatness, and ever-reminding us of our miserable loss.

After the disappointing bio by Sue Tilley, Leigh Bowery can finally wink at us down here at earth. This book gives a great view on his work, throughout the eighties and nineties. Leigh was a chameleon in ideas and appearances. Allthough some of his looks were almost frightening, looking trhough the pages of this book one cannot escape from his originality and creativity. Leigh lived too short to get acknowledged for his ideas. Instead designers like Westwood, Gaultier and van Beirendonck use his ideas. But as Leigh claimed during his life: "Even my ideas filter through. The publics idea of beauty is fed to them." He fed them with something else. Thanx for that.

Bamber Delver, Amsterdam - the Netherlands journalist/writer (1984; Bowery at Farell House) website under construction with Bowery-department a.o. interview, articles, unknown pics

This story is very interesting as we are descendants of Sally Hemings and Thomas Jefferson, whose relationship, the historians attempted to erase from history. The only problem with that is they left 1800+ descendants.

It is a good story that should not be discounted because it was not written about by the so call established historians.

As the Dred Scott papers appeared today on line. Many many stories are stillout there that could intrugue us about our county's past

The genre of African-American fiction began in 1853 with the publication of this historical novel in England. Even though William Wells Brown, a fugitive slave from America, wrote four versions of this story, the first version was not published in the United States until 1969. The reason this novel was not introduced into American society until this time was because of its reference to the relationship Thomas Jefferson had with his slave, Sally Hemmings. The idea that Sally bore him children, which he sold as slaves, was enough to keep this novel out of the American public's eye forever! Still, this novel found its way here and in later versions, Jefferson's connection to Sally vanished all together. This novel centers on three main characters: Currer, a slave who was once Thomas Jefferson's housekeeper and mistress, and their two daughters, Clotel and Althesa.

The separation of Currer and her two daughters in the beginning of the story provides the actual framework of this novel. Through this separation, Brown is able to create three separate story lines united by the institution of slavery.

The first story line involves Currer's life as a concubine of Thomas Jefferson and later a slave to a Reverend John Peck. Through her life, Brown presents the hypocrisy of the slave owner owning another human being as well as some Christians' biblical approval of it. Brown uses the second story line of Clotel and her relationship with Horatio Green, to depict how vulnerable and hopeless life was for black women under slavery. Horatio adores Clotel so much that he provides her with a home of her own to raise their daughter, Mary. But Horatio desperately wants to further his political career and does so by marrying a white woman by the name of Gertrude. Feeling jealous and threatened by Clotel's presence, Gertrude sells Mary into slavery. The final story line involves the fate of Althesa. Like her sister, Althesa is a concubine to her master Henry Morton. But Morton later marries her and is a loving father to their two children. Even though Althesa experiences true love through marriage and was able to raise her children, the actual tragedy of her situation lies in what happens to her children. Through Althesa's story, Brown proves how her free rank in marriage did not grant freedom for her daughters, which continually shows slavery's disruption of the black family unit.

CLOTEL, though considered melodramatic by some, is an exquisite piece of literature. Its importance is not only tied to the fact that it is the first published work of its kind in this genre, but gives readers a glimpse into the English language used by black people at that time. I think this novel was an excellent start for the genre of African American literature.

This is a great tribute to all ALS patients, family and friends. I thought the book was very unique with great stories and encouragement to find a cure.

I originally thought that I would be very depressed and feel awful for the people and families affected by ALS - but I was wrong! This book is filled with personal stories that show the resilience and spirit in everyone that "keeps the hope alive" there will someday be a cure.

How often do we see a book about ALS totally written and edited by persons with ALS (PALS )and their family members ? That is what makes "Journeys With ALS" both a unique and compelling book. Edited by David Feigenbaum, a PALS from Virginia, "Journeys" is a collection of over 30 firsthand accounts of people living with ALS.

Although none of the contributors to "Journeys "is a professional writer this is not an amateurish effort. The writing is straightforward and concise, and the simple power of each individual story is what grabs the reader. Many of the stories are inspirational, several are brutally blunt, but all speak from the heart. They all describe the necessary adjustment process every PALS goes through , both physically and emotionally. But the real beauty of the book lies in the differences of each of the stories. We are reminded again of the many varied progressions and symptoms inherent in ALS . Even more significantly, "Journeys" highlights the individual PALS, each of whom has a unique personality and existence beyond their illness , a fact often overlooked by many.

Successful coping with ALS involves a willingness to learn both new techniques for the body and new attitudes for the soul. "Journeys " is, at its finest, a learning experience . A "veteran "PALS or family member will find much in the book with which they can identify. But, even the most veteran of us also will surely find some new perspectives. For the newly diagnosed, the book offers some insights into what they may expect in the future. More importantly, however, "Journeys" proclaims loudly for all that there is indeed life, much life, after diagnosis.

This is a great book for those patients or families who will have to deal with ALS. Since a close member of my family was diagnosed, this book helped me to anticipate what the future might bring and decisions that may have to be made.

Also good emphasis was placed on keeping hope and life alive.