Book Description
To fifty thousand readers, Catherine Newman is the beloved author of “Bringing Up Ben & Birdy,” a weekly column on babycenter.com. Now in the delightfully candid, outlandishly funny Waiting for Birdy, Newman charts the year she anticipated the birth of her second child while also coping with the realities of raising a toddler. As she navigates life with her existentially curious and heartbreakingly sweet three-year-old, and her doozy of a pregnancy, she lends her irresistibly unique voice to the secret thoughts and fears of parents everywhere. Filled with quirky warmth and razor-sharp wit, Waiting for Birdy captures the universal wonder, terror, humor, and tenderness of raising a family.
Customer Reviews:
A needed dose of perspective and humor.......2007-10-10
Waiting for Birdy has become one of my favorite books, and one I always pass along to new and expecting moms of second children. Her self-deprecating humor, love for her family and friends, and constant work to seek balance in her life are funny and life-affirming. Sometimes we feel like we are all alone when we have ambivalent or conflicting feelings about motherhood--Catherine feels like a warm, witty, wacky friend that shares those feelings with you.
Read this book like you eat a bar of Valrhona chocolate.......2007-10-05
Read this book like you eat a bar of Valrhona chocolate . . . a tiny bit a day, so you can savor the complex flavors of each bit more fully -- and make it last longer.
This book has humor and insight, but more than that, it reminds me of what is really important about parenting; reminds me to be mindful of the wonderfulness of it all, and not to let the worries and frustrations of the immediacy of parenting obscure the deep love and joy (and humor) of the body- and soul-changing job of being a parent. Like Catherine's columns, nearly every section in this book makes me laugh *and* cry and need to go kiss my little boy one more time before I go to sleep. One warning: it's tough to read if you're expecting; I'm not kidding about laughing AND crying, when you're already all hormonal and your husband already thinks you're crazy . . . (just make him read it too; he'll see!)
Made me a better mom.......2007-10-01
I was inspired to add to the many five star reviews when I read one that said, "This book won't make you a better parent, but it might help you to relax about being the parent you are." While I am sure this was intended to be a positive comment, I have to respectful disagree.
Reading Catherine's book and columns for years HAS made me a better parent. Specifically, she has a way of describing slowing down and paying attention to kids that really affected me. If my son wants to play Candyland, but by his own set of made up rules, why not? If he, well after the age that "the experts" think he should be independent, wants me to lay down with him for a few minutes while he falls asleep, I soak it up, because I know that the days that he will ask for me to cuddle are so limited.
Like Catherine, I do not advocate spoiling children, but I think that we need to pick our battles, say yes as much as possible, and ask ourselves if we are saying no for a good reason or just because OUR parents did not let us build forts with the living room couch cushions. Why not let them make the fort (better yet make it with them) and then teach them to clean up after themselves?
I love her book and her columns. She has made me a better, more patient, more creative, and more thoughtful parent.
If you don't like this book, you simply have no soul.......2007-09-29
This book is so great and funny, true-to-life and wonderfully written. No, it is not a directory on how to prepare your life for a second child, it is one woman gracefully sharing with us how she prepared her heart for her second child, and has helped SOOOOO many women know they are not alone in feeling scared, neurotic, weird, overcome with love, ready to pull their hair out, etc. I think it's very sad if you are unable to relate to the wonderful dance of parenting chronichled in "Waiting for Birdy."
Definitely a Top 5.......2007-09-28
I love this book! I loved Catherine's Babycenter columns, and was so delighted when there was so much laughter, honesty, and hysterical "I can totally relate to that" stories inside one book. We refer to Ben and Birdy in our house as if they live next door! Catherine keeps me sane by reminding me what's really important about motherhood.
As for the negative comments of a couple of readers--I feel sorry for people who don't get this kind of humor. Neurotic comes with the package when you give birth, and I always appreciate anyone who can admit it. Too many mamas spend too much energy trying to pretend that "everything is fine, life is perfect" when it feels much better just to embrace the craziness!
Book Description
Acclaimed for its deft blending of fantasy, psychology, and archetype, The Wild Mother is a brilliant depiction of the Wild Woman and those who would enslave her out of fear. Its protagonist is Lilith, predecessor of Eve who fled Eden for the woman-inhabited wilderness called the Empty Land. While returning to our own world to claim the 10-year-old daughter she was forced to abandon, Lilith is taken prisoner by Adam Underwood, the child's father. Her liberation by two others Adam has enslaved -- his blindly devoted colleague, Eva, and his still spirited mother -- forms the crux of this powerful reinterpretation of the myth of female destiny.
Customer Reviews:
A little lackluster at times..........2005-09-13
While the overall setting and plot of the book are interesting, and I would KILL to have a society wherein the local professor of Alchemy is the most popular instructor at the school, the writing of Ms. Cunningham just isn't up to the standards I expect of authors I enjoy. She seems a bit of a misandrist, personally. While her male characters do gain redemption by the end of the book, I found the resolution to be trite and unbelievable. I checked out another of her books at the library, but will send it back unread. There wasn't much I can say I learned from this book, or even much that I was moved by this book. These ideas, to me, are what makes a book memorable. This one, unfortunately, really wasn't.
Don't Pass this book up!!.......2005-02-19
You really have to search for Elizabeth Cunningham's books which is a shame as they should probably be required reading for all women young and old. Wonderful twists on Architypes. Engaging writing. I can't get enough of her books!! Write more please!!
Please Read This Book.......2003-04-04
I could not put down this book. Cunningham has a most magical way of making the veil between the story and characters of her tale and the huge archetype--in this case the 1st woman, Lilith--absolutely transparant. But she does this without turning her characters or their struggles into cartoons. Everything here is real, and larger than life simultaneously. Especially if you are a woman, and you wish to re-member your wild, pre-patriarcal roots, Elizabeth Cunningham will, I hope be as great a powerhouse experience for you, as she has been for me.
Wild Mother.......2002-04-11
I could not put this book down. Usually I only read on the bus to and fro work, but I found myself reading this at dinner and staying up to read before bed.
The imagery was beautiful and the character development honest and believable...I want to read everything by this author now!
A must read for all!.......2001-04-09
Originally, I had taken A Wild Mother out of the library. Read it in 2 days. Then I bought the book so I could read it again. Elizabeth Cunningham is wonderful. Read & bought her other book - Return of the Goddess as well. Her books speaks to that wildness in all women and makes them feel free.
Average customer rating:
- WONDERFUL BED-TIME STORY - A WELL DONE LITTLE BOOK.
- precious story about how there's no one like Mama
- If you have a little one that loves their Mama
- Adorable story
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Piglet and Mama
Margaret Wild
Manufacturer: Harry N. Abrams
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 Fiction
| Farm Animals
| Animals
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Fiction
| Pigs
| Animals
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Fiction
| Parents
| Family Life
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Fiction
| Emotions & Feelings
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Picture Books
| Ages 4-8
| Children's Books
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General
| Ages 4-8
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General
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General
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Similar Items:
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Piglet and Papa
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Wolf's Coming! (Carolrhoda Picture Books)
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Cornelius P. Mud, Are You Ready for Bed?
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Hooray for Fish!
ASIN: 0810958694 |
Book Description
In the tradition of the children's classic Are You My Mother? , a heart warming story by a breakout team
Speaking to every child who has ever been lost, this warmly illustrated book is perfect for bedtime and story hour. Poor Piglet has lost her mama! All the other mother animals offer help-the duck with a cuddle, the sheep with a daisy chain, the dog with a roll in the mud-but nothing will do for Piglet but to find her mama. "OIIIIIINK!" she cries finally in despair, and "OIIIIIINK! There you are!" cries her mama. Reunited, they cuddle, make a daisy chain, roll in the mud-all the things the other mothers offered, but now, with her mama, Piglet laughs and joins in. AUTHOR BIO: Margaret Wild's books have received many awards in Australia over the years. She has been shortlisted and commended by the Children's Book Council of Australia many times for such well-loved picture books as , and Thank You Santa. Stephen Michael King's books have received wide acclaim in Australia. A number of them have been published internationally and he has been nominated several times for Children's Book Council of Australia awards.
Customer Reviews:
WONDERFUL BED-TIME STORY - A WELL DONE LITTLE BOOK........2007-09-15
Piglet has lost her mom and starts her search. This is a wonderful little bed-time or read along story for the little ones. The art work by Stephen King is great and the text by Margaret Wild is easy to follow. Piglet, in her quest for her "lost" mom encounters various barnyard critters such as a duck, dog, horse, can and several others. All these friendly animals try to make piglet feel better in offering her different activities such as the horse who asks her to dance in the daffodils. Piglet of course just wants her mom. The story is cute, kids seem to like it and it is fun to read to the little ones. With the well done pictures, great text and nice story, what more could you want. Recommend this one highly.
precious story about how there's no one like Mama.......2007-04-26
While you shouldn't be tricked into buying a book by the cover, this one did for me! The illustration on the front of the two cute pigs was just too adorable to pass up. The story is about a Piglet looking for her Mama and while she finds other animal Mamas on her search, they just aren't HER Mama. Heartwarming bedtime tale.
If you have a little one that loves their Mama.......2007-01-11
This book is so adorable and is a must if you have a little one that just LOVES their Mama so much.
Adorable story.......2006-03-07
This book is about a little piglet that has lost his mother. He goes around looking for her, encountering other animals along the way that invite the piglet to join them in some sort of activity. The piglet only wants her mama. When she finds her mama, they enjoy all of the activities together ending up taking a nap snuggled up together. This is an adorable book to read with your child. My 20 month old daughter, snuggles up beside me before bed while I read it to her.
Average customer rating:
- Not for the neatnik or perfectionist
- Lovely book!!!!
- Happy ending but tedious and too tidy
- WILD DESIGNS
- Quick and Delightful to Read
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Wild Designs: A Novel By The Author of Stately Pursuits
Katie Fforde
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Griffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
British
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
| 18th Century
| 19th Century
| 20th Century
| Classics
| Contemporary
| General
| Historical
| Humor
| Letters & Correspondence
| Middle
| Old
| Poetry
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| Shakespeare
| Short Stories
Contemporary
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Domestic Life
| Women's Fiction
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Second Thyme Around
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Stately Pursuits
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ASIN: 0312190328 |
Book Description
Althea Farraday is a thirty-eight-year-old divorced mother of three who's got a teenage son who's a Buddhist, a hypercritical sister who knows how to push all her buttons, a job on the endangered species list, and a love life to match. Just as she's settling in to a comfortable level of chaos, a near-perfect man enters her life. Equipped to steal her heart and help turn her passion for designing gardens into a new career, Patrick Donahugh may be too good to be true. Amid wild roses, California poppies, scarlet flax, sweet rocket, love-in-mist, and, of course, plenty of dirt, Wild Designs is a refreshingly honest and funny read that celebrates the almost-ready-to-bloom aspect of all our lives.
Customer Reviews:
Not for the neatnik or perfectionist.......2007-09-12
I really like Katie Fforde. I think her writing style is great, but this book just did not capture me as far as some of the characters. Althea was not the type of character that would endear me to her because I found her very as one reviewer on Amazon has said "frumpy." This is probably because I am a perfectionist somewhat like Althea's sister. I do realize that people are like Althea in real life, and I have good friends that are somewhat like Althea. Althea just never endeared me to her because of her some what no care attitude toward her apperance and her house. I could not understand why Patrick was attracted to her. I thought she had no redeeming qualities to draw her to the reader. She seemed like a good mother and obviously a great gardner, but somehow these two things in my mind could not make up for her being so "frumpy." I could not recommend this book to readers who tend to be neatniks or perfectionist. Althea might make these type of readers want to go and dust her house or perform a maker over. LOL!
Books set in England are a very enjoyable read for me, especially the area Althea lived. So I could definitely recommend this to any Anglophile.
Having said all of this, if you have read this book, and do not find it enjoyable do not give up on Katie Fforde. She has written several books, and I am sure you will find more that you will like.
Lovely book!!!!.......2004-05-16
excellent holiday read, it can be read in a single day! I've read it three times so far, it's one of those books that you don't want to end! If you're a woman; read this book!
Happy ending but tedious and too tidy.......2002-07-15
It started off interesting enough - but it seemed a bit unrealistic: Althena pushing off an attractive and honest suitor for the upteenth time, Althena being such a matron/martyr that she comes off frumpy but has extremely attractive men pursue her, Althena's kids that seem so good-natured about everything, and finally Althena getting the guy (as you know she would from the beginning) and it all being much too pat and perfect. I lost patience with it mid-way, and then I realized that I would have preferred a re-read of Pride and Prejudice instead.
WILD DESIGNS.......2001-12-15
INSPIRING. I LOOKED FORWARD TO DRIVING IN MY CAR SO THAT I COULD LISTEN TO THIS AWESOME STORY. IT MADE ME SAD AND HAPPY AT THE SAME TIME. I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT TO ANYONE THAT IS ABLE TO SPEND SOME TIME LISTENING TO THEIR AUDIOBOOKS BECAUSE YOU WON'T WANT TO STOP LISTENING.
Quick and Delightful to Read.......2001-08-30
I finished this book in a day. It was entertaining and amusing, not requiring a lot of deep thought. I thought Fforde did a fairly good job of character development even if the plot was a tad predictable
I liked the way the family was presented with all of its faults: the disagreements, the messiness, the lack of planned meals. This was very realistic. I also liked the way Althea met her financial problems head-on and made the best of things.
The only false note was the way Althea treated Patrick....there were too many times when she decided to let him go and pushed him out of her life.
But overall, this was an enjoyable way to spend a day of reading.
Average customer rating:
- fabulous
- Accurate dysfunction
- An Atypical Child and his family
- compelling narrative...
- Excellent book on dealing with autism
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A Wild Ride Up the Cupboards: A Novel
Ann Bauer
Manufacturer: Scribner
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Contemporary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Literary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| United States
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Psychological & Suspense
| Thrillers
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ASIN: 0743269497 |
Book Description
Edward is nearly four years old when he begins his slow, painful withdrawal from the world. For those who love him -- his father, Jack, and mother, Rachel, pregnant with their third child -- the transformation of their happy, intelligent firstborn into a sleepless, feral stranger is a devastating blow, one that brings enormous ramifications not just for Edward and his parents, but also for their younger son, Matt, and soon-to-be-born daughter.
A Wild Ride Up the Cupboards follows this nuclear family as Rachel and Jack try to come to terms with their son's descent into autism (or something like it) and struggle to sustain their marriage under this unanticipated strain. Threaded through the novel, too, is the story of Rachel's deceased uncle Mickey, who may have suffered from a similar disorder at a time when parenting, pediatrics, and ideas about child psychology were entirely different from today's. As Rachel delves into her own family history in search of answers, flashbacks to Mickey's life afford moving insight into the nature of childhood disorders and the coping mechanisms of different families.
A spellbinding, brilliantly nuanced portrait of a marriage and a family, this compelling drama also poses provocative, real-life questions: How much should a mother sacrifice for her children? How much intervention is too much? When do parents' ambitions for their offspring become counterproductive, even destructive? Who should decide what is best for the child? Is it ever worth sacrificing a marriage for a child?
A Wild Ride Up the Cupboards is a carefully crafted, compulsively readable, emotional page-turner that reveals a remarkable gift for language and storytelling and enormous insight into the complexities and dilemmas of domestic life and parenthood. It is a striking exploration of love, faith, and sacrifice that will resonate with readers everywhere.
Download Description
"Edward is nearly four years old when he begins his slow, painful withdrawal from the world. For those who love him -- his father, Jack, and mother, Rachel, pregnant with their third child -- the transformation of their happy, intelligent firstborn into a sleepless, feral stranger is a devastating blow, one that brings enormous ramifications not just for Edward and his parents, but also for their younger son, Matt, and soon-to-be-born daughter. A Wild Ride Up the Cupboards follows this nuclear family as Rachel and Jack try to come to terms with their son's descent into autism (or something like it) and struggle to sustain their marriage under this unanticipated strain. Threaded through the novel, too, is the story of Rachel's deceased uncle Mickey, who may have suffered from a similar disorder at a time when parenting, pediatrics, and ideas about child psychology were entirely different from today's. As Rachel delves into her own family history in search of answers, flashbacks to Mickey's life afford moving insight into the nature of childhood disorders and the coping mechanisms of different families. A spellbinding, brilliantly nuanced portrait of a marriage and a family, this compelling drama also poses provocative, real-life questions: How much should a mother sacrifice for her children? How much intervention is too much? When do parents' ambitions for their offspring become counterproductive, even destructive? Who should decide what is best for the child? Is it ever worth sacrificing a marriage for a child? A Wild Ride Up the Cupboards is a carefully crafted, compulsively readable, emotional page-turner that reveals a remarkable gift for language and storytelling and enormous insight into the complexities and dilemmas of domestic life and parenthood. It is a striking exploration of love, faith, and sacrifice that will resonate with readers everywhere. "
Customer Reviews:
fabulous.......2007-06-08
This book is fabulous! Anyone that has a child that struggles with learning, development, etc... should read this.
Accurate dysfunction.......2006-12-09
I read this book and "Curious Incident of the Dog In the Nightime" to fulfill a requirement for a diversity class I'm taking. I was the only person in the class who liked "Wild Ride" better than "Curious Dog." As a special educator, I watch and listen as families wade through their lives with a disabled child. It can be messy, complicated, and exhausting, as well as vibrant and rich. For me, this book tapped into all of those things. As I listened to the rest pick apart this book and learned how disappointed they were with the mother, it became apparent to me that, what the group DIDN'T like, was the emotion it sparked within them. I found "Curious Dog," to be somewhat informative for the reader who doesn't know much about autism, but I found "Wild Ride" to be much more 3-dimensional. In all, both were very good books, but with very different perspectives.
An Atypical Child and his family.......2006-09-04
Though a lot of reviewers have called Edward, the central character in WILD RIDE, autistic he is better described as an atypical child with some autistic characteristics. Bauer does a great job describing the impact a child who is very different from others has on his whole family and particularly his parents. WILD RIDE is especially interesting because Edward's mother (Rachel, the narrator of the book) includes researching family history in an attempt to help Edward. The story of her maternal uncle Micky's difficult life in the mid 50's is a compelling story in itself. Rachel also looks in to her adopted husband, Jack's, birth family. Jack, himself, displays some unusual characteristics as he has an uncanny ability to heal, problems with employment and authority and just an unconventional outlook on life. While this is a generally well written book there are spots where time shifts are handled in a confusing manner but a bit of rereading makes all clear.
compelling narrative..........2006-01-18
i don't know anything about autism but i know a lot about the depths of marital love between a man and woman -- and how the demands of their children can force them apart...the story is compelling and very well written -- a pleasure to find a book unpeppered with four-letter words and steamy sex...but, i will always wish there had been a happier ending...
Excellent book on dealing with autism.......2006-01-02
This book is brilliant in that it deals with everything a parent goes through in dealing with a child with autism - dealing with denial, trying odds way to remedy the situation, coping with their own depression and panic, going to doctors and more doctors, hurting other people in the process
and
finally giving in to acceptance.
It was a wonderful book and the writing exceptional. I got a small glimpse into the world of autism and how people on all sides react to it.
I recommend it highly.
Book Description
This translation by Leonard Nathan and Clinton Seely is considered a classic by both scholars of Indian poetry and lovers of the Great Mother. Their words capture the divine vitality and earthy quality of Ramprasad's uncompromising quest for spiritual liberation and his excruciating joy in devotion. From wild despair to exhilarating joy and resonant peace, the passion of Bengali poet Ramprasad Sen's work burns as hot as it did in the 18th century. Ramprasad Sen defied the Brahman-dominated Hindu orthodoxy of the time to create devotional poems, or bhakti, to Kali and Tara, the dark goddesses who are the guardians of the cycles of birth and death. Poets wrote bhakti to achieve a direct, passionate relationship with a particular deity. Lyrical and poignant, the poems are as relevant today-to readers of all faiths and cultures-as they were two hundred years ago:
Customer Reviews:
Bhakti poetry with a touch on tantra.......2000-06-11
If you are unfamiliar with the ecstatic religious poetry tradition - Rumi, Mirabai, ... this is not the volume to start on; read Mirabai's For Love of the Dark One first. However, if you have some familarity with the tradition, you'll find this book fascinating - this is more recent (18th century) and closer to the tribal origins of the worship of Kali/Uma/Pavarti/Gauri/Tara. These poems are popular in the sense that they have been kept alive through oral transmission rather than written manuscripts. One poem with a surprising rural flavor stands out: ".../My body is Tara's field/ in which the God of Gods/ like a good farmer / sows his seed with a great mantra. / Around this body, faith / is set like a fence / with patience for posts ..."
Book Description
Wild Child, Waiting Mom is the story of a mother and daughter as they travel through 10 years of bad choices made by the daughter and heartache felt by the mother. Mother (Karilee) writes her perspective of each stage, telling about her spiritual journey, questions, prayers, and searching. She describes how God brought her the gift of hope, even when she thought her daughter was lost. Daughter (Wendi) writes what she was feeling and choosing, and why. Through jolting and intensely personal descriptions, Wendi chronicles her emotional life from the time she separated from God until the day she realized her helplessness and need to regain the faith of her childhood.
Customer Reviews:
A Reality Check.......2007-08-12
I was just at a Christian Camp called Fort Wilderness where much of this story takes place in McNaughton Wisconsin. I bought the book from the mother who wrote the book with her daughter. Her husband was the speaker this week. I had met this family over 20 years ago. This book has been such an encouragement to me of God's amazing Grace, especially because I can see these truths applied in more than just the mother & daughter relationships. Never give up because God has not. I applaud Karilee and Wendi for sharing this brutally honest story with us.
Love, Understanding & Hope through faith in God.......2007-05-23
This book was chosen as the book of the quarter by the board of directors for Parents Helping Parents, Inc. in Edmond, Oklahoma
Both mother and daughter share their story of fear, frustration and disappointment in a very honest and open way that helps the reader feel deeply involved and captivated. Karilee struggles with questions for God like, "Does God even hear my prayers?" The book answers these questions and many more while giving testimony to His sovereign nature and the plan He has for every life. Wendi's return to faith is a powerful experience that will give hope to all that it is possible to be forgiven and restored regardless of the depth of one's addiction.
One of the most rewarding and unique aspects of this book is the question and answer portion at the end in which both mother and daughter answer the most frequently asked questions when they do public speaking. This was a real insight into what hurts and what helps.
Warren Pat Nichols
Help Amidst the Hurt.......2007-02-01
From the first page, I realized that I finally found another mom who could identify with my heartbreak over a wayward child. But this book is so much more than that. It's a true story of how God changes lives in HIS time; not only the prodigal daughter's, but the hurting waiting mom's as well. I highly recommend this book to anyone who struggles with their adult child's choices. Through her own experience, Mrs Hayden has helped this waiting mom more than she can imagine. Although we are currently embedded in the midst of our journey I now have renewed hope and peace.
GREAT BOOK FOR ANY STRUGGLING PARENT!.......2006-11-20
I am a single mother with adult children, one of whom is much like the wild child in this book. I found the book VERY encouraging as I read all of the struggles that this family went through and yet how they never gave up praying for her!! The daughter's choices and resulting consequences were extreme, putting her parents through true torture! I would highly recommend this book to anyone with heartbreak over a teen's or adult child's choices. It will encourage you to stay close to the Lord and KEEP PRAYING!
Amazon.com
Although not as renowned as Buffalo Bill Cody, Joseph Miller and his brothers were in many ways as impressive as impresarios. Their Wild West shows, which competed with Cody's show and the Ringling Brothers' circuses, featured talent like Will Rogers and Tom Mix and significantly influenced American mass entertainment. In The Real Wild West, Michael Wallis makes a case that the Millers didn't just invent the romantic West but lived it as well.
Like Cody before them, the Millers took their cues from the frontier, largely because they played a significant part in its conquest. The family's rambunctious Kentuckian patriarch, George Washington Miller, abandoned the bluegrass of his home state to raise cattle on the greener pastures of the plains. His sons followed suit, but in 1905, a rodeo at the 101, their 100,000-acre-plus Oklahoma ranch, for the National Editorial Association led to a new career in popular entertainment. Within a decade, film producer Thomas Ince had set up shop nearby, utilizing talent from the 101 for his westerns. (It was Ince's mysterious death, combined with revelations of financial chicanery, that ultimately destroyed the enterprise in the 1920s.)
Wallis doesn't sugarcoat accusations of murder and illegal financial maneuverings on the part of the Millers, instead making interesting parallels between their ruthlessness and business acumen and the romantic vision of the West they presented to early-20th-century audiences. His account is also notable for its numerous biographies of 101 performers--people like Princess Wenona, the Native American rival to Annie Oakley, and Bill Pickett, an African American cowhand who founded most of the events on the professional rodeo circuit--and conveys the enthusiasm many must have felt during the Wild West shows' heyday. --John M. Anderson
Book Description
Founded in 1893, the 101 Ranch was famous across the country for its touring Wild West shows, which featured countless cowboys and cowgirls, including Buffalo Bill, Geronimo, and Bill Picket. Playing to packed arenas from coast to coast, and even in Europe, the 101 Ranch show came to embody the spirit of the frontier for the entire nation. The Miller brothers, who owned the ranch, also found themselves involved in the formation of Hollywood and western movies, and the ranch produced many of the earliest western film stars, including Tom Mix and Buck Jones.
Ten years in the making, this epic story of the 101 Ranch is nothing less than a sweeping history of the West of myth and reality. Indeed, the history of the ranch begins in Kentucky in the early 1840s and continues through most of the first half of the twentieth century. Describing the legendary cattle drives from San Antonio along the fabled Chisholm Trail, as well as the hardscrabble life of cattlemen, Michael Wallis paints an indelible portrait of the frontier as it expanded westward in the middle of the nineteenth century.
Colonel George Washington Miller, the founder of the 101, participated in these cattle drives, and Wallis follows Miller from Kentucky through Missouri and Kansas and into the Cherokee Outlet in northern Oklahoma, where he founded the 101 Ranch on the banks of the Salt Fork of the Arkansas River.
Although the 101 was an enormous, viable ranch that produced huge profits for the Millers, the family became best known for its touring shows, in which ranch hands showed off the kind of bronc-busting activities they performed on the ranch. Their re-creation of life in the West captured the imaginations of Americans across the country who longed to preserve the frontier, even as it began to disappear.
The massive popular interest in the West, evidenced by the crowds at the 101 Ranch shows, also sparked a growth in western movies, and the Miller brothers were there to participate. Dozens of Hollywood's earliest films were shot on location at the ranch, and man of the 101 Ranch cowboys starred in these motion pictures.
Following the Miller brothers through their barnstorming years, Wallis also portrays the origins of the mass entertainment industry that flourishes today, and shows how this industry helped to undo the West of reality and preserve it as a popular mythology. Full of incredible characters and unbelievable stories, this is an evocative reflection of the story of America itself, in all its grandeur and all its foibles.
Customer Reviews:
Fact and Fiction of the Wild West.......2003-12-18
This book goes a long way in explaining why there was so much written about the Wild West and why so much embellishment took place.Throughout history there has been all kinds of spins put on the people involved and what really occurred.Why would anyone expect anything different during the expansion of the West,particularly after the Civil War? In dramatic times of history,be it the Wild West,WW2,Crime in Chicago etc.people are craving for an understanding of events as well entertainment,and that is what we are given by the writers and the media.
Personally,I enjoy both the factual as well as the fictional
aspect of these times.
One character who often appears in books is Ned Buntline.He was a real person by the name of Edward Zane Carroll Judson,and this book does a pretty good job of telling us who he was and some of the things he did.Somebody must have written a book on him;it would be a good read.
Terrific.......2001-05-23
One terrific book -- a majestic recreation of the figures that helped define the old west and western entertainment.
Real, - maybe, Wild - certainly!.......2001-02-23
Readers lacking a sense of irony may be dismayed to discover that the Real Wild West was only loosely hitched to reality. Spurred by the imaginations of Charles Miller and his three sons, our perception of what is the west sports the distinct brand of the 101. Take heart, though, because on the Miller Brothers' 101, the west was most certainly wild.
Possibly outlaws and certainly mavericks, the Millers rounded up some legendary talent to work their ranch and perform in their touring shows. The 101 herd of entertainers included Geronimo, Will Rogers, champion cowgirl Lucille Mulhall, Annie Oakley rival Princess Wenona, and such film legends as Tom Mix, Buck Jones, Ken Maynard, Yakima Canutt and Hoot Gibson. Black cowboy, Bill Pickett, famed for inventing the rodeo event steer wrestling spent a long career at the 101, and Buffalo Bill Cody spent his final year with the outfit.
While tooling a longstanding image of the west with their Wild West productions, the Millers also saddled up to motion pictures, oil production and an outstanding crop and livestock operation. Their story is a rodeo itself, made all the more interesting by the hints that white hats did not cover the heads of all of the 101 cowboys and cowgirls.
When the last little doggie was wrangled on the 101, the Miller Brothers' legacy did not ride off into the sunset, but continues to stampede through the dreams of would-be cowpokes everywhere. I'm not a regular patron of movie theatres, but I cannot wait until this saga makes it to the big screen!
Great Western & Family History.......2000-05-25
This book was a welcome source of information on the Carson & Miller families whose genealogy I have been researching. Michael Wallace did an excellent job of getting his historical facts straight and offered some additional resources for my search for family history.
The easy style presented an engrossing story of a family moving through history from the 1850's to the 1930's and adjusting (not always easily) to the changing moores of society.
My father was a cousin of the Miller Bros. and told us children stories of his childhood in Oklahoma and attending the shows at the 101. My sister & I recently visited the old 101 ranch site and were sad to see that little is left. The Miller house in Winfield, Kansas is still standing in beautiful condition and is a private residence.
Michael Wallace is an excellent storyteller. The book gave life to my genealogy and made me feel in touch with the characters and the times. Anyone with an interest in western history would enjoy this story of a dynamic family who helped shape our images of the old west.
A great book, highly recommended........1999-06-03
If you like history and the stories of the old west, buy this book. I really enjoyed it.
Average customer rating:
- Love it!!
- Great book for toddlers!
- Absolute Favorite
- A great book to read together
- Highly recommend
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Kiss Kiss!
Margaret Wild
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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I Love My Mama
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ASIN: 0689862792 |
Book Description
One day when Baby Hippo woke up, he was in such a rush to go and play that he forgot to give his mama a kiss...
As Baby Hippo wanders through the jungle, he hears "Kiss, kiss!" from all the other animal parents and babies. Finally he realizes what it is he forgot to do....
This adorable, loving book will be cherished on Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, or on any day a child wants a kiss from Mama.
Customer Reviews:
Love it!!.......2006-11-03
My daughter loves this book! She wants me to read this 2,3, sometimes 5 times in one night! A must have. You can't go wrong with buying this book for your child.
Great book for toddlers!.......2006-06-05
My 17 month old granddaughter loves this book, and I love reading it to her. She likes to make the sounds of each animal. The pictures are great, and it is easy to read with expression. We read it several times a day and every night before going to bed. I highly recommend this book.
Absolute Favorite.......2005-12-28
My 18 month old daughter will not put this book down. I borrowed it from the library and renewed it twice. I have to return the book today so I'm going to buy a copy. It is definitely a cute book for young children.
A great book to read together.......2005-08-19
My 2 year old daughter loves this book! We read it together almost every night just before she goes to sleep. It has very simple, repetitive text that is easy for kids to follow and 'fill in' as you read. There are several other animals in the pictures on each page, and my daughter loves to point them out when we read. I would highly recommend this book!
Highly recommend.......2005-06-21
This book is a gorgeous story for kids. It's excellent for very young kids through to early school age. The pictures are gorgeous and the story is really sweet. And it's got lots of animals in it, so it's full of interest
Customer Reviews:
A Future Vet's Review.......2003-12-05
Time to Fly
By Laurie Halse Anderson
This book is about a girl named Zoe. She lives in Ambler, Pennsylvania with her grandma who is a veterinarian. Her mom is an actor that lives in New York. She and her friends Brenna, David, Maggie, and Sunita are vet volunteers at Wild at Heart. They do everything they can to save animals.
Zoe is now trying to help a parrot that has gone loose. She names him E.T. At the same time she is battling with her mom about moving to New York. She doesn't know what to do. Should she stay in Ambler? What will happen to E.T.?
I liked this book because I love animals and want to be a veterinarian. It was also a very heart warming story about saving an animal's life. I hope you will like it too!
Another good Wild At Heart book!!.......2002-06-10
I really liked this book. It is #10 in the series. I have all the Wild At Heart books and this one is one of my favorites. I don't know why it only has 3 stars because Laurie Halse Anderson has a way of writing that keeps you reading until the very last page. And this book is no exeption.
But... In this book thousands of parrots are being brought to North America to be sold on the Black Market. When one of the smugglers van wrecks, the birds fly loose in Zoe's town. Most of the birds die but Zoe and Dr. Mac save some. Then Zoe's mom shows up to take her "home". A must read for Wild At Heart Fans.
Time to Fly- a review.......2002-05-14
Time To Fly is number 10 in the series Wild at Heart. Its main character is a girl named Zoe. In the book there are Parrots being smuggled from South America to the Untied States for money. A truck full of birds tips over and releces hundreds into Zoe's little hometown(unfortunatly a large portion of the birds die). But thankfully Zoe is on the case!! Then Zoe's mom shows up with some great news or is it not really so great after all?
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- Watching Wildlife: Australia
- Wild at Heart: Discovering the Secret of a Man's Soul
- Wild Minds: What Animals Really Think
- Wildlife of the Galapagos (Princeton Illustrated Checklists)
- Yellow Eyes (Posleen War Series #8)
- A Different Kind of Country
- A Field Guide to the Atlantic Seashore: From the Bay of Fundy to Cape Hatteras (Peterson Field Guides(R))
- A Guide to Night Sounds: The Nighttime Sounds of 60 Mammals, Birds, Amphibians, and Insects
- A Hunter's Wanderings in Africa: Being a Narrative of Nine Years Spent Amongst the Game of the Far Interior of South Africa (Resnick Library of African Adventure, No. 6.)
- Amphibian Medicine and Captive Husbandry
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