Tanpola Articles Directory

“What was I like as a baby?”

All moms know how their kids’ eyes light up when they hear stories about themselves as babies and young children.

All moms also know that when a mother takes the time to record these precious stories in written form, she preserves a mystery and a magic that is impossible to recapture any other way.

Still, even the most well-intentioned of us (myself included) have a hard time following through when we have something we wish to write down, particularly those everyday details that make up our lives. Sometimes we are swept away by the daily tasks of motherhood and sometimes we are simply too deep in the enjoyment of the experience itself to take the time out to write about it just then. Sometimes it all seems too much to do, but more often it is a gentle ebbing away of the time.

In Love, Mommy: Writing Love Letters to Your Baby, Judy Siblin-Librach leads us on a journey that helps us capture the major milestones (the birth story, the first day at school) as well as those that may not immediately come to mind (the first time your child caught a baseball, the way her hugs felt, the first time she went through a car wash).

Siblin-Librach’s writing style is elegant, perfectly capturing the depth of emotion that all mothers feel at one point or another. We are in good hands with a natural-born poet and mother who will lead us into creating and recording the lyrics of our own lives.

Part of the beauty of this book is the way Siblin-Librach makes it simple to write these life stories, whether or not you have ever enjoyed the process of writing in the past. The book is equally helpful in bringing back memories you may have thought were gone, just in case your baby has grown.

Siblin-Librach opens each chapter with incisive questions to prompt your writing, followed by sample letters from her own family. These examples can really help you to get an idea of all the different ways you can take a particular letter. The author includes notes to parents about how to write the letter, as well as tips and ideas to keep you inspired in this grand task. This book helps us to record the specific stories and memories, as well as the deeper story: the wisdom, the life lessons and the wishes you have for your child.

Judy Siblin-Librach has written a beautiful and heartfelt book that simplifies the process and that reminds us that it need not be a big deal to record these memories and to give ourselves and our children the greatest gift. In doing so, she has given a gift to all mothers and all those who will be mothers.

Susie Cortright is the founder of several popular websites, including http://www.susies-coupons.com , http://www.bestselfhelp.com and http://www.momscape.com where you can register to win gift cards from top online merchants.

Audio books are sometimes the better way to “read” books. For people with a busy life style it is the only way they can take in books. They will listen to these audio books while driving and while doing household chores, and some people listen to audio books while working out.

When audio books were first created they were not created as a way for busy people to read. They were created to help blind people that could not read print. This occurred in the year 1931. There were audio books that were created for a project called “Books for the Adult Blind Project”.

The American foundation for the blind first created audio books in 1932. In the year 1932 the first machine that allowed mass production was created and from that point on there were plenty of audio books created.

In 1935 the United States government approved a program for blind adults to be mailed free audio books and this was called the Blind Project.

Later on in the years with the popularity of the cassette tapes and recorders, the popularity of audio books also grew. They were made more readily available for people to get.

In the year 1970 the Books on Tape program started to rent audio books to people. This started a craze of audio books and by the mid 1980’s there were many audio book publishers. The business grew huge and now there are awards for audio books and a very big ceremony for it.

With the invention of CDs and MP3s the popularity of audio books has once again risen. People can download audio books off the internet for a few dollars and put it on their iPods and mp3 players. This enables them to listen to the audio books at any time it is convenient for them. Audio books are no longer only for the blind of the world.

Audio books not only come in the traditional books but also there are many top best sellers of the day. Self help tapes and CDs are also a very popular branch of the audio book world. People will listen to these items while on a long commute to and from work to help pass the time and make the most of their precious little time.

With all of the things that people must do each day from cook dinner to walking the dog and everything in between it is no wonder that the popularity of audio books has grown. We have become a society of people on the go. What better way for someone to read a book then to listen to it being read or told to them while they are going for a peaceful jog or a while waiting for the little ones practice to be over and on the way home.

Audio books are an industry that has seriously grown over the years. From people that are very young who cannot read yet to people who are elderly and have trouble seeing, audio books can be a blessing to them and that is why they are so popular.

Whether you are someone who once loved to read many books and because of failing eye sight you can no longer read a book without seriously straining your eyes or maybe not even being able to see the words at all or someone who has not learned to read yet an audio book will be helpful to you.

Audio books have many different types of people who use them and for many different reasons. Although they started out to help blind people read books and to this day are still used for the same reason, they also allow other people with needs to read books.

In need of broadening your horizon? Check out the popular titles that are on sales each month http://www.rightaudiobooks.com/specialOffers.aspx

Instead of searching book store after book store to find the right audio book that you are looking for you should try to download mp3 audio books online.

By using the internet and certain web sites you can download mp3 audio books at your convenience and you can find almost anything you are looking for.

When you are searching for a specific title of audio books or just looking for something that is new for you to listen to, looking online for a downloadable mp3 audio book will help you to find what you need.

There are many different web sites that you can go to and look for audio books. Downloadable Audiobooks are very popular now and many people use them every day.

By downloading audio books you will be able to use the audiobooks on many different devices. You can listen on your personal computer as well as on your mp3 player.

So if you are going to do household chore or go for a jog you can listen to your audio book while you are doing errands on an mp3 player.

People these days really just do not have the time to sit and read a book and if you do have the time to do so you should consider yourself lucky.

Many people use audio books instead of reading a book because you can listen to the story while you are doing other things. You can listen to an audio book while you are driving to and from work or running errands or even taking a long road trip or a drive.

You cannot however do any of those things while you reading a book, driving while reading would not be a very smart thing to do.

Downloadable audio books make finding the right audio book very easy. With the simple process of finding the right web site that you can download audio books you can then listen to your new audio books anywhere you go.

The plus side of downloading audio books from an online store is this “the title that you wanted will ALWAYS be in stock”. The store simply can’t and won’t run out of the specific audiobooks, unlike in the physical store.

By downloading mp3 audio books you can enable yourself to learn new things and even enjoy a good book like you have not been able to in a long time. Not everyone has the time to read a book anymore but they do not have to lose out on a good story. Downloadable audio books will allow everyone to once again enjoy good books.

You can find over 10,000 titles of popular books just like in your local bookstore at http://www.RightAudioBooks.com

Sinclair Lewis was well known for a wide array of fantastic novles that not only affected, but even changed, American society. “Mantrap” is barely remembered, as it was not one of Lewis’s major works, but it is a pleasant read and one of his early novels.

“Mantrap” is a 1925 novel of Ralph Prescott, a New York lawyer who goes into the wilderness where he finds himself competing with an experienced woodsman for the attentions of his (the woodsman’s) beautiful, but bored, wife.

This book, while not as directly political as many of Sinclair Lewis’s other works, does display the conflicting roles of men and women in the 1920’s. Ralph Prescott, a 40 year old bachelor is persuaded by E. Wesson Woodbury to join him for several weeks roughing it during the summer in northern Canada.

The plan is for them to travel through northern Canada while fishing, hunting, and meeting Indians and fur trappers and live the “simple,” rugged life of the great outdoors as a way of getting away for the summer.

Prescott decides to make the trip because he was working long hours and stressing himself out. He agrees to go, only to find out on the trail that he hates the bullying, self-important Wes Woodbury.

At one of their camping spots a Canadian fur trader named Joe Easter shows up. Joe owns a store at Mantrap Landing, and Ralph comes to regard Joe as a true friend, and then begs him to take him away from Wes Woodbury.

Joe agrees, and as their canoe heads toward Mantrap Landing, Joe tells Ralph about a visit he took to Minneapolis the year before, which was where he met and married his wife, Alverna, whom he brought back to live with him in the wild.

Alverna is bored and a flirt, and it doesn’t take long before Ralph is heads over heels in love with her. To break away from temptation Ralph decides to take off in a canoe with only a single guide to find his original host, Woodbury.

Alverna runs away from Joe and persuades Ralph to take her with him back to civilization. The two become lovers, and their guide steals their canoe and abandons them right before an understandably furious Joe Easter catches up with them, right before massive forest fires almost engulf all three.

The three survive, and each chooses their own path at the end, leading to a relatively light ending for a Sinclair Lewis novel, and a pretty easy read. This novel was written a year after Lewis himself spent some time in Canada, though his brother stayed their far longer.

This is an enjoyable read of Sinclair Lewis that works as good summer reading, and if you’ve ever wanted to see great north, the description in this book is worthy of any modern travel classic.

If you want to know more about Sinclair Lewis, please feel free to visit my website at http://www.squidoo.com/sinclairlewis, or for more on Mantrap, http://www.squidoo.com/man-trap-sinclair-lewis

Thanks for reading!

Shane Dayton

There are many different types of audio books around these days, literally something for everybody. Whether you prefer to be engrossed in a spooky tale, a romantic love story, a side-splitting comedy or a gritty crime story, there are thousands of audio books that you can choose from.

There is a lot of difference between reading and listening. Listening makes you feel that you are there and you can enjoy the story more. Perhaps, listening to audio books can bring out the best in books compare to watching films that based on the same books. You can relate to stories in books better using your imagination, something that cannot transfer from books to films (acting, directing, and mostly censoring of films make films somewhat distort from their original books.) If you have never tried an audio book, you really should give it a try!

In some ways, audio books are even better than traditional books. If you want to buy a particular book, you have to traipse around the shops trying to find it or order it on the phone or online and then sit at home awaiting the postman. With an audio book, you can download it immediately. You can decide what book you want to listen to and be listening to it within minutes. You can relax, shut your eyes (something else you can’t do with a conventional book!) and be absorbed in the story. Many audio books feature sound effects so you feel like you are really there.

You can play audio books over and over again and it does not get scruffy like a conventional paper book. An audio book can tell a story much better than a printed book. Imagine hearing a book being read by its author who is reading his words like they were meant to be heard. The characters really come to life in an audio book. If you lend someone a book, you might not get it back. To lend someone an audio book, you just need to copy it onto CDs or a DVD.

You could enjoy the biography of your favorite actress whilst walking the dog or washing the floor. You could listen to a gritty crime drama while driving home from work or in your house. You can relax wherever you are and enjoy your audio book and you can listen in total privacy on your headphones.

There are many other types of audio books apart from fiction. You can learn a foreign language, for example, using an audio book. A conventional book does not explain properly how a word is supposed to be pronounced. You could brush up on some Greek phrases for your vacation this year or learn some handy French or Spanish. Listening to a native speaker pronounce those words and phrases is a million times better than reading them in a book and guessing the right pronunciation.

If you fancy giving up smoking, losing weight or increasing your willpower, there are hypnosis audio books available and they have been scientifically proven to work. You might want to consider audio books for your children so you can either listen to the story together or have lights out early and let them drift off to sleep while listening to their favorite fairy story or exciting adventure.

When you have finished downloading your book, you can play it on your computer speakers, transfer it to your mp3 player or burn it on to a CD for yourself or as a great gift for someone you love. That is how versatile download audio books are.

Mike Chudej owns a No String Attached downloadable audio book store, http://www.RightAudioBooks.com. There are over 10,000 titles for you to choose from, No Subscription.

At last, the mystery of how to pronounce Sanskrit terms properly has been revealed. Have you been looking for an English / Sanskrit cross reference? Are the exact pronunciations of Sanskrit terms still a mystery? Would you like to learn a lot more about Sanskrit as it pertains to Yoga?

You don’t have to search anymore. “The Language of Yoga” is an interactive book and double CD set written by Nicolai Bachman. This interactive “course” includes more than 200 asanas with illustrated yoga postures and 300 Sanskrit definitions.

In between teaching Yoga classes and writing, I have some time to read, and I was happy that I took the time to read Nicolai Bachman’s 139 page cross reference book for converting Sanskrit terms to English.

The two CD’s that accompany the book make this work “come to life.” The first CD covers chants for Yoga practice, Yoga Sutras, and Yoga terms. The second CD covers Ashtanga sequences, names of asanas, and much more. In the course of studying this interactive book, you will learn the basic guidelines of pronunciation for many more words.

The author, Nicolai Bachman, guides you through correct pronunciations with the exact rhythm and tone. This book is a masterpiece and a priceless reference tool for any serious student, or teacher, of Yoga. For Yoga book collectors, this book will be remembered with your personal favorites.

At this time, there is no other book on the market that provides this much in-depth study of the Sanskrit Yoga words and cross references it with English. Words are grouped together by subject, such as numbers, Chakras, Bandhas, Mudras, Yamas, and Niyamas. Many of the words that you might hear in the average Yoga class are no longer a mystery to pronounce for English speaking Yoga students.

Nicolai Bachman, has been a teacher of Sanskrit, and
related subjects, since 1994. He has studied extensively at the VagYoga Institute in Varanasi, India, the American Sanskrit Institute, the American Institute of Vedic Studies, the Vedic Chant Center, the Ayurvedic Institute, and received his M.A. in Eastern Philosophy from St. John’s College.

Nicolai is a 500-hour level Registered Yoga Teacher. He teaches Sanskrit, Ayurveda, and Yoga Philosophy; Nicolai currently teaches in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

This book will be released later this month, at which time we will have them in supply. Don’t stay in the dark about speaking Sanskrit, especially if you are teaching Yoga classes. Now, you can be confident that your pronunciation is correct.

I enjoyed the book so much that I ordered a shipment for our staff, on-site interns, and Yoga teachers, we network with worldwide. If you are interested in getting a copy, feel free to contact Aura Wellness Center.

Book Review: “YOU: The Smart Patient: An Insider’s Handbook for Getting the Best Treatment,” by Michael F. Roizen and Mehmet C. Oz

I picked up the book “YOU: The Smart Patient: An Insider’s Handbook for Getting the Best Treatment,” by Michael F. Roizen and Mehmet C. Oz up a few years ago, not knowing that soon “Dr. Oz” and his cheery advice, even when discussing the most personal of issues, would become the next “hot topic” on Oprah. Seeing his likable personality has only made the book more enjoyable.

And that’s why my review of this book is so complimentary. How can a book on medical jargon, resources, surgery preparation and worse case medical scenarios be enjoyable?

To begin with, the book is jam-packed full of information that we all need, but don’t want to curl up with and read. So this information is given to the reader in small doses with imaginative layouts. Amusing clipart and cartoons, tip boxes, a resource portion and the offbeat humor throughout all the content actually entertains the reader.

It’s obvious that the book was well thought out and intentionally written for the average person to be able to use as a real tool in caring for his health. A reader may feel that it’s the feeling of their favorite consumer magazine, rather than a typical doctor’s dry medical journal.

The value of the book isn’t about the entertaining pages, however, but the content which is truly superb. The authors of “YOU: The Smart Patient” tell you to become your own “medical detective” in ways such as looking more closely at your family tree and keeping track of your medical information in a journal at the back of the book.

The book is written in conjunction with The Joint Commission, which accredits and certifies more than 15,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States, so there the reader doesn’t have to worry about author bias in their advice.

“YOU: The Smart Patient” is also packed with great checklists for you or whoever who may accompany you on medical visits or hospital stays. It provides clear-cut reminders, like how to confirm with your surgeon which body part is being treated, what medications you have an allergy to, and how to verify that your prescription drugs are the accurate, since so many medications sound alike.

It goes on to advise one on how to find the right doctor, hospital, and insurance company, how to work with specialists, be your nurse’s favorite patient, choose alternative medicine and pain management. It even explains a doctor’s typical schedule and why they may seem so tired at times.

“YOU: The Smart Patient” is a five-star book and the best $15 you will ever spend in managing our health, especially if you have a chronic illness!

Free download of 200 Ways to Encourage a Chronically Ill Friend from “Beyond Casseroles” by Lisa Copen, when you subscribe to HopeNotes illness ezine at Rest Ministries - http://www.restministries.org/res-ezine_ill.htm . Lisa founded Invisible Illness Awareness Week http://www.invisibleillness.com

Friends and parents and teachers some time or other will tell you the names of some books that you must read before you die.

You may ask what is in a book. What is in a classic novel? Well! Particularization of the specifics of a book, current or classic may be hard but one thing is sure that when a serious book reader enjoys reading a good book, he/she, for sure derives a typical pleasure from recommending the same to friends, students and prodigies

Although The Holy Bible remains the most read book of all times, some works of fiction and non fiction do deserve a mention here for those who have not already read these all time greats.

Best of the Best Books by Title

1984 (Nineteen Eighty-Four), by George Orwell
Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley
The Catcher in the Rye, by J. D. Salinger
Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury
The French Lieutenants Woman, by John Fowles
Gone with the Wind, by Margaret Mitchell
The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald
The Handmaids Tale, by Margaret Atwood
The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, by Douglas Adams
Lolita, by Vladimir Nabokov
Lord of the Flies, by William Golding
Native Son, by Richard Wright
On the Road, by Jack Kerouac
Seize the Day, by Saul Bellow
Stranger in a Strange Land, by Robert Heinlein
To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
Bridge on the River Kwai by Pierre Boulle
Of Human Bondage by Somerset Maugham

Best of the Best Books by Author

James Joyce Try something simpler and start with The Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. first and then move on to Ulysses or Finnegans Wake

Toni Morrison Read everything, especially being sure to cover The Bluest Eye, Sula, Tar Baby, and Song of Solomon.

Ayn Rand An intelligent and philosophical author wrote thought provoking fiction on altruism. Atlas Shrugged, The Fountainhead, and Night of January 16th give superb reading pleasure to those of philosophic frame. Ayn Rand remains unparallel by any other author save perhaps by Camus and Jean Paul Satre.

Ernest (Papa) Hemingway He wrote in realistic and to the point style. All his books are worth reading especially Old Man and the Sea, The Sun Also Rises and A Moveable Feast, as well as the early stories collected in our time. If you prefer Hemingways more popular themes of war, for example, read A Farewell to Arms, for starters.

Thomas Hardy if you find old world tragic plots charming. Tess of the Dubervilles, Mayor of Casterbridge and The Return of the Native will take you back in the time.

Jane Austen for great readings in 19th century romantic stories, Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Emma and Persuasion depict romance woven in excellent plots.

Virginia Woolf Woolfs writing is primarily stream-of-consciousness, and speaks to a time and a mindset (, at that), so definitely check out Mrs. Dalloway or To the Lighthouse.

John Irving A most accessible and engaging writer, Irving brings us such poignant works as Hotel New Hampshire and the World According to Garp and such provocative novels as A Prayer for Owen Meany.

John Updike for a contemporary but full writing style, Updike will delight you with his brilliance and accessibility to his brilliance. Read about the ex-basketball star, following him through the decades of his life in the series of Rabbit titles, or get steamy with Couples, or have a tryst with mysticism in The Centaur.

James Mitchner for in depth analysis on the topics he write about. The Source, Chesapeake and The Covenant make excellent reading about Jews, Chesapeake Bay and South Africa respectively.

This should be enough to keep you reading into the November of your life by which time you too may find at least a few titles for your own best of the best list to pass on to your students, friends, or loved ones.
Here is one wishing you happy reading.

To find more information on some great best selling books visit http://advice-books.com

Meet Mercy Thompson, a stubborn, shape-shifting female mechanic that wears her heart on her sleeve. Mercy is a “walker”, a supernatural being that can shape shift into the form of a coyote. Although she’s not linked to the werewolf race or the cycles of the moon she’s much stronger and faster than most humans.

In Iron Kissed, Book 3 in the popular contemporary fantasy series by Patricia Briggs, Mercy becomes involved in a local fae problem. It seems that a mass-murderer is on the loose and Mercy’s talents are needed to catch the killer. Although Mercy is reluctant to assist because of the cunning nature of the fae she eventually agrees to help when asked by friend. What follows is an engaging adventure of intrigue and suspense.

The Story:

Mercy’s former boss and mentor Zee, himself a member of the fae community, requests that Mercy accompany him to the fae reservation to investigate a recent string of mysterious murders. Because Mercy possesses an enhanced sense of smell while in the form of a coyote, Zee is hoping she can sniff out the identity of the person (or being) responsible for the murders. Mercy is forewarned not to ask questions about what she might see during the visit because although the fae announced themselves to the human race several years ago they try to maintain a low profile. The facade presented to humans is that of a kindly, jolly race; think elves and fairies. Their true nature is more deadly and they’re known to use any means necessary to preserve the illusion.

Mercy’s trip to the fae reservation proves to be productive: she’s able to identify the killer. However a series of circumstances lands Zee in jail for murder. Because he’s a friend Mercy attempts to prove his innocence but this exposes her too many of the fae’s well kept secrets. Unfortunately Mercy’s curiosity about their culture gets the best of her and she finds herself on a fairy hit list.

On top of that Mercy is forced to come to terms with her feelings for Adam and Samuel. Iron Kissed provides more back story on the two werewolves vying for Mercy’s affections. Patricia Briggs does a brilliant job of delving into the psyche of the werewolf culture by highlighting their humanity while preserving the traditional mythology surrounding their violent and aggressive nature. The precarious and delicate mentality of two werewolves in particular is explored, providing insight into their motivations without emasculating them in any way.

An important arc occurs near the end of the book that represents a life changing event for Mercy. Loyal fans may be shocked by the tragedy but the event further humanizes the main characters. Briggs must be commended for her courage in introducing this development. It significantly strengthens the storyline.

With Iron Kissed Patricia Briggs has written another entertaining and believable fantasy adventure. As with the other books in the series the storyline is nicely balanced with action, humor, and a little romance. Reading Moon Called and Blood Bound, the first and second books in the series respectively, is recommended but not required. Patricia Briggs has a talent for providing just enough back story for new readers while maintaining the interest of return readers. Read the first books because they’re just as enjoyable and captivating as this one.

Overall, Iron Kissed represents a solid winner for Briggs. It will undoubtedly score entries on several Must Read lists for 2008.

Scarlett Moore writes reviews of urban and contemporary fantasy books written by award winning authors like
Kelley Armstrong and Chris Marie Green. Come explore your darker side at http://bestfantasystories.com.

Writing a book report sounds fairly simple till the time you are actually expected to do one at school by your teacher. The start is fairly simple read the book which needs to be reviewed. But after that what is one supposed to do? Confusion, bewilderment and inertia sets in and you start to wonder whether you will ever be able to accomplish this task which you set out to do. Rather than grounded yourself to a halt or raving in desperation at the impending deadline for your submission look for templates and examples.

Ask other people who have done book reports as to how they had proceeded after reading the book. You could ask your teacher or mentor, your parents or elder siblings or a friend. You could probably ask the librarian since she is sure to have done a book report at some time in her life.

There are numerous books which explain in detail about how book reports should be tackled and approached. One such book that you might want to refer to is How to write Terrific Book Reports by Elizabeth James. This Student Survival Guide explains what a book report is and the main definitions and descriptions required. It also includes lessons on how to choose a book for reviewing, how to use the library and also how to read the book and what to notice while doing so. It also provides sample book reports as a test case.

Another such book is How to Write Book Reports by Dawn B. Sova and Harry Teitelbaum. This book is similar to that by James but also includes the difference between reports and reviews and how to take notes for writing a book report.

Though the Internet is an excellent platform for all information, to write your report learn from the gurus and choose the site from which you judiciously. Only refer to sites which are likely to be genuine and effective. It is important to do so since there may be many sites which may be a sham and provide fake information. Some of the sites which you might find useful are TeensPoint.org, TeenInk.com (which has more than 600 book reviews), and NancyMatson.com (which along with reviews offers a recommended book of the month).

You may choose any or all of the sources to refer to for your book review but the fun is in writing your own report and verbalizing your options and perceptions rather than copying it from someone else.

To find more information about books and book reports visit http://advice-books.com