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Pain, Torture, if you like pain and Torture, by all means by This Book!
I have to say that this was, without a doubt, the absolute worst book ever written and rates in the top 5 of worst books I have ever read. His prose is turgid beyond belief, the dialogue invariably devolves into sermons, rants are forced and obnoxious.At least that's what I told my wife if she ever saw me pick up a James Frey book again. What a painful, torturous experience. There have been a lot of comments about the profanity in the dialogue but stupidity would be a larger concern. I have heard more intelligent conversations late at night at the local strip joints than in these hallowed halls of recovery. It took Frey (and us) 400 plus pages to get through a story that someone with talent would have made brilliant in half that space. Frey is like an aging ball player who has hung around too long. Hang it up partner and thanks for the memories.Furthermore, it's tripe. It is also one of the worst books I've ever completed reading. He (or his characters) drone on and on endlessly discussing the same internal questions over and over. Was this book ever reviewed by an editor? I suspect it wasn't. If the fluff could have been removed from this junk it would have been at least 25% shorter. Skip this one. You won't be sorry.Despite the fact that it was instantly clear that this was a simply dreadful book...In an insane fit of sadism I finished the whole thing. I see no need to elaborate and justify my comments, as there are 400 other reviews here, If you scroll through them you will find 9/10 reviews hostile. It is time to put Frey back in the Crypt...It's incredible how some people believe he wrote that way on purpose. Uh-huh! Alright, he's laughing his way to the bank for now, but soon enough we'll be profiting too. There is a class action suit going on, probably the first , but certainly not the last. I wouldn't be surprised if Oprah sues him too, along with the government. Yes- the government! They don't like being LIED too! | 0negative
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Great stories, horrible OCR errors
First of all, the stories here are great. There is a great variety so if you don't like some of the far out Vonnegut novels you will find some normal fiction here. I breezed through the stories and did not find any of them bad.However, this edition is full of many, many, many editing problems. Is his name Mr. Hammer or Mr. Flammer? I don't know! Many free Kindle books have better editing than this one. It is very frustrating. | 0negative
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Editing?
The story itself was wonderful and highly recommended for Anne Rice fans but the editing of the Kindle version was terrible. In addition to spelling mistakes there were also quite a few instances where whole words were replaced with incorrect ones! Examples; several times the word "mat" was used when it should have been "that" and "dunking" instead of "thinking". While I could guess the correct word it detracted from the story. Not sure how the editing process works for Kindle books but someone obviously didn't do their job on this one. Very disappointing. | 0negative
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Anything for a Buck
Anything for a buck. Like one of those "unauthorized biographies" written by some anonymous Enquirer writer, this book uses a hateful slant to paint an ugly portrait of a good man. Not worth the paper it's printed on. | 0negative
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Don't Bother Starting This
My rating for this book actually encompasses the whole series (up through book eleven, the last published so far).Books one through six (Eye of the World through Lord of Chaos) are an entertaining read, and I would give them three to three-and-a-half stars individually or collectively; however, starting at about book seven (A Crown of Swords), the series takes a turn for the worse. The author indulges in numerous irrelevant, lengthy, and tedious digressions that apparently received no attention whatsoever from an editor. The main story line, meanwhile, is given absurdly short shrift. It is actually rather amazing how many pages are filled with nothing happening. Books eight through ten should have been edited down to a single volume, with material added to assist the reader in seeing how most of the content relates to the story.The second half of book eleven (Knife of Dreams) gets back to business somewhat, though unfortunately, not enough to justify the labor of getting through the last three-and-a-half books.If you're looking for an engaging series to dig into, I would say look elsewhere. This one does not reward the effort. | 0negative
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A real bore
I b ought the book because I wanted to read the trilogy. I could barely plow through this one. It's kept me from reading the next one. Maybe they should make a movie. | 0negative
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5 stars? ugh!
I've seen Superman get the living heck beat out of him countless times, but he never seemed to die. Apparently it was different this time. I didn't really see it depicted in the art or writing as different, I just sat there at the end of the story, thinking...."That was it? He's dead now? Did I skip a page? Did I miss something? Did he have a kryptonite tooth?"So, an unexplained made out of thin air bad guy whom nobody has ever heard of before takes out Superman with brute strength. Might have sounded good on the brainstorm chart - sort of mysterious, add another character to the DC universe with a serious back story, but it isn't executed very well mostly because of the poor writing. Also, when we meet Doomsday he is just another Hulk-like character, except he comes with petruding bones coming out of his body...real inventive.I see it as the simplest plot that could have been written for comics (he came, he saw, he kicked butt), done with simple writing for mass market (simpleton?) people. Nothing complicated here.I can understand this can be fun read for some people, but please save the 5 star ratings for the classy intelligent stories like The Sandman, The Dark Knight Returns and the Watchmen.I don't want to pick on the whole death of Superman series, because I thought it got much more interesting after this arc. | 0negative
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Faulty Reprint
This reprint is what appears to be a photocopy from an original. However, for the one I received the process was flawed. In places throughout a word, or parts of sentences, did not copy; the entire last page was missing. | 0negative
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Childish Writing + An Insultingly Stupid Story
I'm not sure how old the author was at the time of writing, but I'd guess around 13 or 14?The plot hinges on major countries committing what are basically acts of war over a metal object in the ice that NO ONE knows the nature of, on the off-chance that it MIGHT turn out to be a UFO!!!There is also a sub-plot revolving around political negotiations taking place at the same time as the main story. This is apparently intended as cynical commentary on modern politics, but merely serves to underscore how utterly stupid the whole story is.Reilly has clearly had fun reading a basic (kids?) book on modern weapons and the special forces of various countries, unfortunately it is far more fun than you will have reading this "novel" which seems to have been written for the sole purpose of being turned into a dumb Hollywood film.It actually makes me feel a little better about wasting my money on this that to date this has not happened. | 0negative
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WASTE OF TIME!
If you want a book that doesn't tell you anything you didn't know already, if you ONLY want a family of four, if you only want to read about other people's experiences or, if you only have negative feelings on having a new baby come along, then this book is for YOU!!!The author is quite narrowed minded and believes that a "real family" is a family of four. Almost like saying 3 is a crowd.... 5 is too many. She makes a huge emphasis on a "family of four" which i think is wrong. Some people might want more children but are just only up to no# 2.Also, there are 101 case studies which i didn't care about. If i wanted to know what other people went thru I would have joined up on a forum. But i didn't. I wanted to know what to do with baby and toddler at the same time - how to entertain them at the same time, who to feed first, who to put to bed first, who to put in the car first etc. This book tells nothing of such thing. To be honest, i learnt NOTHING in this book. i read it in 2 days as i skipped thru most of it (the case studies) and only read a few things.Very disappointed........... need i say more. | 0negative
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Holes And Why It's A Good Book
If your looking for a mysterious book check out Holes by Louis Sachar.Stanley Yelnats is under a curse.A curse that began with his no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather.Stanley is an oversized kid.He gets picked on at school.One day a pair of shoes fly out of the sky and hit him in the head.Stanley is sent to a detention center called Camp Green Lake for stealing a pair of shoes from Clyde Livingston.At the camp your forced to dig holes five feet deep and five feet wide.The warden is looking for something.Find out by reading Holes! | 1positive
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Very Satisfying
At a time when I was questioning how to understand the Christian doctrine of the Trinity and, by extension, the deity of Christ, this little book gave me the answers I was looking for in a simple and non-technical way. The author has made this book accessible to a wide audience, it's short and the arguments are easily understood. I highly recommned this book.As others have stated, now that I understand his basic arguments, I hope for a larger and more comprehensive discussion from this author on this subject. I think he is on to something very important here for Christian theology, Christology, and Christian apologetics. | 1positive
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The Cat That Walks Through Walls
Before you read this book you need the following things: a weekend off work, a comfy chair, more Heinlein books ( read The Moon is a Harsh Mistress at the bare minimum ), and a love of sci-fi. Also, if you like your authors to point out every single conclusion without leaving you to come to some on your own...go watch TV, reading isn't for you.If you are a Heinlein fan, this book is for you. It's an important piece in is Future History and World as Myth books. If you have no background in Heinlein, put this one on the shelf for now and read his earlier works first.My only complain with the book: It was about 1000 pages too short ;-) | 1positive
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BORING
The book is totally boring I got thru the first 4 pages an stopped I have to do a book report for school so can someone do it for me?? | 0negative
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research free zone
This pamphlet suffers from a lack of serious and objective research. There are no footnotes, and besides the conclusion that the Templars became in essence the Swiss bankers, the authors offer nothing that hasn't been printed recently in much more exhaustively researched books. The whole procedure is to make an assumption, no matter how farfetched and unsubstantiated, and on the next page present it as a proven fact beyond dispute. I wonder whether the other reviewers have ever read a serious book on the Templars before. | 0negative
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smart, disturbing..easily the best of the series
This is a top notch thriller.In the latest installment of the stories of Dr. Morgan snow, she is counseling two distinctly different groups who both have the same exact addiction--that of being addicting to internet pornography.One of her patients, a high powered and very private man going by the name of 'Bob' is horribly addicted to watching web cam girls. He hates that he's addicted, hates that he's gotten caught by his wife thus straining his marriage to the breaking point but just cannot stop.The other patient, or should I say patients, is a group of teenage boys who are also addicted to watching the same types of things as Bob: web cam girls. Included in the group are several girls from the school who are friends with the boys because the boys behavior and addictions have affected the girls as well.Sounds like more psychoanalysis drama than thriller at this point no? It would be...if the web cam girls common to both parties didn't start to die on camera in front of their viewing public one by one.This is one of the smarter and tightly plotted 'whodunnits' I've read in a while (yes, I know the book's been out for several years..I'm late to the party as usual!). Just when you think you know who's responsible for the killings Rose pulls the rug out from under you. It is NOT that obvious.What helps to really up the creep factor are a series of letters penned by the villain stating their motivations and showing how pleased they are with their efforts. Rose has crafted a really excellent villain here. Disturbing and self righteous enough to make them really creepy.I think what makes this something really special and even plausible is the examination of Morgan's group of teenage boys and girls. She's really very accurate in writing a story that's a sign of the times, specifically self esteem in teenagers..especially teenage girls. Young adults who's self esteem is so low, who only want to be liked by boys of their own age so much that they're practically willing to do ANYTHING to get that attention. It's topical and it would almost be shocking if it weren't so true. That's what makes it so riveting and disturbing.But no Morgan Snow book would be complete without the excellent cast of characters and all their emotional baggage as well. Dulcie, Morgan, Nina, Mitch and Noah are all around for a third time here. Morgan and Noah are flawed, especially flawed. As I said in my review of the Delilah Complex, it must be especially trying for a therapist, especially a sex therapist, to just 'turn it off' when they get home. Hearing stories of degradation, fantasy, fetish, desire all day long must take its toll and that's what I love about Dr. Snow. She's an excellent therapist but she's human first. She's got her own issues to deal with and her patients get in her head badly and it's reflected in her relationship with her family and Noah Jordain.While there are some steamy passages in this book as I'm sure you'd come to expect, none of them felt forced, unlike The Delilah Complex which seemed to try to force some hot stuff in there from time to time.Tightly plotted, smart, topical mystery with great dialogue and wonderful characters. I don't know if she plans to put another one out but I would buy it in a second. | 1positive
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Lighter than Lord of the Rings
I re-read this recently (after seeing the film) and enjoyed it. It was indeed a bit "lighter" though no less exciting that Lord of the Rings, and though I recall reading this by itself as a young person, I can see now that it serves well as a backgrounder for the epic trilogy. | 1positive
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The truth about Mysteries, Dogmas, Miracles and Prophecies.
I never understood why all Catholic beief deadends are explained simply as Dogmas. As I grew up I realized "Dogma" stands for "Don't ask me". I never understood how God could be cruel, vengefull and would change His mind so easily, as portrayed on the Bible. Thank you, Tom, for sheding light on The LIGHT. | 1positive
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Glad Bronte died before she could write any more trash!
What a waste of time, precious time in my life that I will never be able to get back. The only good part was the end when I tossed the book into the fireplace and watched it burn. | 0negative
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great book
This book is a great book. I think that this is a good book for kids to read because it is about everyday things that could happen any were. It also teaches that you shouldn't always judge people because of how much money they have. S.E.Hinton is a great author. | 1positive
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Reads like a newspaper column
The opinions and views expressed in this book are mostly accurate. But the overall impression is definitely one of looking at Buddhism from the outside. If the reader wants to learn how do Do Buddhism, check out Buddhist Sutras: Lesson Book which includes this text in its bibliography, and is a collection of quotes from other more scholarly texts. | 0negative
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Not a very useful book
This book has used a tricky title to tempt you. Unfortunately, you won't learn UML with it, and even less how to use UML in an iterative development process. I would recommend instead the combination of "UML Distilled" and "Applying UML and Patterns". The use of Visual C++ here has no transcendence, and from my point of view, it is just a way to attract Visual C++ developers (they are many!) that want to learn UML and software development processes. In few words: you always can learn something from any book, but this one is not a good source of knowledge. Think twice before purchasing it. | 0negative
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For the dedicated scholar only
Charles S. Peirce was a mathematical logician, reasonably well-known around the start of the twentieth century. He is not often remembered now, at least not in my circles. This book does much to explain why.Peirce set about creating a visual notation for formal logic. The basic idea sounds familiar to anyone who's seen Venn diagrams. (They came from Euler, actually, as did incredible numbers of other things. The term 'Venn diagram' follows the informal convention of naming the thing for the first researcher after Euler to work on it.) Peirce went the extra steps, beyond AND and NOT to existential and universal quantification.Although his graphical notations - several of them, and contradictory - are of historical interest, I really see no advantage over standard textual notation. The marks lack clear distinctions of order, in the sense that "for all X there exists Y where Z is true" differs from "there exists Y such that for all X, Z is true." The diagrams uses lines, sometimes sprawling and forking across the page, where a simple variable symbol would have sufficed. In fact, a set of letter variables seem clearer in that each has visually distinct shape, unlike the lines. (Lines of different weight and style were already reserved for other purposes.) Worse, the notations were especially ungainly in the day when they were scribbled by hand into a type-set page. Peirce's latest generation of diagrams included colors, metal tones, and more, for expressing possibilities and features of modal logics - decidedly inconvenient, in an age that lacked markers and convenient color printing. He even used the reverse of the sheet on which the graphs were drawn!Anyone devoted to visual representation of formal concepts should be aware of Peirce's work, if only because bad examples can be so instructive. I have to admit, however, that the peculiar notation of 'existential graphs' has little practical purpose.//wiredweird | 0negative
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Remembering Wholeness - Carol Tuttle
What a breath of fresh air...so many clear statements that are easily assimilated in today's stressed-out world. Thank you, Carol, for creating avenues of healing in your book. I especially like Page 26, the second paragraph where you mention "we are remembering by experiencing who we are not"....we are not our lessons....and you go on to say to clients "if the negative beliefs they had about themselves were true, they wouldn't be feeling negative emotions about them." "They would feel satisfied...totally OK...because they tapped into their TRUE IDENTITY." This paragraph has been such a wake up call for my clients...lots of shifts happen when they take this information in. So, thanks for a well written piece and for going the extra mile in giving concrete avenues of healing to break out of the old ruts and patterns. Learning to ask for assistance in our lives is truly self-emPOWERment at it best. | 1positive
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Wonderful Read
I am a holocaust book fanatic and am very skeptical about good holocaust books and this book is really fabulous. | 1positive
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Tara and Gahan
This is the fifth book in Edgar Rice Burroughs "Mars" series. This time around, the stars are John Carter's previously unmentioned daughter, Tara; and her love interest, Gahan. This is probably the best book in the series. Tara and Gahan discover some lost cities of Mars, and fall in love. Fans of early science fiction should enjoy this book. | 1positive
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The trees do sing ...
The book touches hearts. She is honest about a difficult subject, her father's illness, and she tells his story with gentle love. She loves her land, and her trees do sing, as do her words and feelings. Her love for her family, for her piece of the earth, and our pieces of the earth shine through everything she writes in this book. | 1positive
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Flowing wisdom
These books have so much in them. I haven't read them all yet, but I plan to learn from the great C.S. Lewis, and his infinite wisdom. | 1positive
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Excellent Book!!
Without a doubt one of the best books on asp .net for quick learning and clear examples. | 1positive
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Dicken's A Christmas Carol
This is truly a beautiful book. The illustrations are excellent with lots of detailed drawings. It was interesting also to read about Charles Dicken's. Most enjoyable!Elizabeth A. Lovic Monroeville, PA | 1positive
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Her story may be the most promising of all.
In A GIRL'S BEST FRIEND, Kristin Billerbeck continues the spa escapades and relationship foibles of three friends whom readers met in SHE'S ALL THAT. It's a Chick Lit plot all the way, as they try to make sense of life, love and vocation. When the going gets tough, these gals head for a good manicure and facial.In book one, Billerbeck followed Lilly Jacobs, Poppy Clayton and Morgan Malliard's friendship through the eyes of Lilly, a fashion designer whose romantic life had gone to pieces and who was at a dead end at her job. In book two, Billerbeck shifts the focus to Morgan, the poor little rich girl who has everything money can buy but longs for love and her father's attention.Morgan is despondent after an escapade with a man who claimed he was a Christian rock star. He swept her away from a fashion show where she was modeling Lilly's couture wedding gown and her daddy's diamonds, and he seemed to be the Prince Charming of her dreams. But like most Prince Charmings, he seemed too good to be true --- and he was. The paparazzi are having a field day with the story of the "Jilted Jewelry Heiress" and Morgan is ready to lay low for a while."You know, if it was Johnny Depp I was accused of adultery with, well, so be it, gossip away," Morgan tells her two best friends angrily. "But a guy without a job, who was living off his wife in Daly City while I thought he was off in Nashville making his way as a Christian artist? Now that's just humiliating."With her father's money, Morgan can lay low in style. She has the 600-thread Egyptian cotton sheets, unlimited Visa card, a BMW, and pair after pair of Jimmy Choo shoes. But her father's money may be in jeopardy --- and a new wicked stepmother waits in the wings. Then, Morgan is implicated in legal troubles. Should Morgan leave home and try to make it on her own? And what talents does she have besides wearing big expensive diamonds and looking beautiful?When the three girls get in over their heads, they head for...you guessed it right. "Man, I need a spa treatment," Morgan intones. "Not just a measly pedicure or a pink-and-white nail fill. I need the full treatment; an enzyme peel, a moisturizing facial, a cucumber mask for my puffy eyes, a hot-stone massage, and maybe even a diamond treatment."Meanwhile, Morgan and Poppy wonder why Lilly is putting off tying the knot with her own special guy, hotel dynasty heir Max Schwartz. Lilly has a few secrets of her own, and her beloved irascible Nana isn't going to be happy when she finds out what Lilly isn't telling. Poppy, a chiropractor, lends some engaging quirkiness to the storyline, with her oddball mixture of natural healing remedies, Zen-like statements and Christianese: "Self-esteem comes from the Lord, not other people. Why should we care what others think?" She mixes self-help and pop spirituality as easily as she wears her gauzy skirts.Although Morgan isn't as interesting a character as Lilly, fans of the first book will enjoy catching up on the lives of the three women. It's a good bet that Poppy will be the focus of the next installment, and as the most colorful character of the trio, her story may be the most promising of all.--- Reviewed by Cindy Crosby | 1positive
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Short, Sweet, To The Point
A very useful book for those of us who would rather save money and start our plants from seeds. Gives easy to read instructions on how to save, store, and grow seeds and how to care for them after they've sprouted. | 1positive
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Good GEN Chem Book
Nice! Almost new and totally worth it.A go0d General chem covering many things and have details. :D The delivary was good also. :p | 1positive
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4.5 Ms Phillips Just Has a Knack for Great Books
Match Me If You Can -Susan Elizabeth PhillipsIf I don't read an author constantly, I often forget just how good they write and this happened to me with Ms Phillips. However, the other day I decided to re-read this novel and it suddenly comes back to me just what a pleasure reading her books are.You may wonder if you need to read some of these books in a certain order; especially since they do feature secondary and tertiary characters from past novels - I don't believe you do. Ms Phillips doesn't add anything confusing or too personal from the older books when she brings in the other characters for their cameo appearances. I DO strongly suggest that you do go and try some of the earlier books though, since they are all really wonderful.With humor, sometimes it's subtle and sometimes overt, romance and wonderful characters, her books and especially this one will give you hours of pleasure. This book has very realistic and believable characters, ones that you know you would just love if they were in your real life. The main characters of Annabelle and Heath are wonderful in that they are so opposite and are always sparring, but by the end we can appreciate that oft times opposites attract and the relationship is all that much sweeter for it.Annabelle has taken over a matchmaking service that her grandmother had started, and one of her first possible clients is Heath "The Python" Champion who also has a contract with one of Annabelle competitors. Annabelle is good for Heath since she is friends with someone whom he needs to get in good with, so he starts out pretty much using her. Moreover, if I may add, he really, really can be a snake! Sometimes he is so domineering that I wondered just how it could be that I liked him, but like him, I did.I don't think I really need to sum up the story because this is a romance and we know it will follow the prescribed pattern...they don't like each other, they do like each other, they get hot for each other, the guy does something stupid but they end up with their `happily ever after' despite the odds. Ms Phillips just happens to make the ride that is following the rules fun and fresh.There is a secondary story that follows Annabelle's competitor Portia, and Heaths best friend and assistant Bodie which, while it is sexy to the extreme, was a little `out there' for Ms Phillips usual style.This was a fun, light, humorous, sexy piece of fiction that is sure to be a hit with both old-time fans and new ones too. | 1positive
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The most annoying book in the series
It's a bad idea to create a character-driven sci-fi when your characters are this annoying. The majority of Children of the Mind consists of inane dialogue between characters that are impossible to care about. The characters are so one-dimensional and predictable that you already know what they'll say before they say it. Peter says nothing except smart alecky remarks, Val spends the whole book whining loudly about not being a real person, Novinha is as crazy and hard-headed as she's been for the last two books, and Ender spouts off a bunch of trite, up-with-people garbage every chance he gets. Somehow, Card even managed to make Jane more irritating than my ex-girlfriend during PMS. The only decent characters in this book are Miro and Wang Mu, and they aren't nearly enough to save the story.I admit it: I only made it a little over half-way through Children of the Mind. I couldn't take the dialogue anymore. That's not to mention the ridiculous plot, which centers on two children warping around the universe, engaging in philosophical discussions with caricatures of Japanese and Polynesian culture, in an attempt to avert a war between species.If you're that curious to learn how the Ender Quartet concludes, do what I should've done from the beginning: find a plot synopsis somewhere and save yourself the pain of reading this garbage. | 0negative
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It's Okay
I should have listened to whomever wrote the review titled 'SoSo'. I got really excited about this book by reading all the raving reviews and couldn't wait to get it! I thought for sure it was going to have some awesome ideas in it and that it would be the only book of this nature I would need.Well, I hate to say that I was pretty disappointed with the contents. The cover looks so neat and modern, but this is actually a pretty dated book (and no, i'm not saying that's a bad thing, I have lots of older books! Just unexpected on my part). Though there are some interesting ideas in here (making napkin rings, your own napkins, setting a table, etc.) I bought this for the FOLDS! And many of them were very similar. I honestly only found one that I really wanted to try out of all 94. Some of the titles didn't even seem to go with the image of the fold.I am going to keep this book though and will probably reference it a couple times, but I'm still looking for something better and more modern. Guess I should have looked in the bookstore first! But who does that anymore? ;)By the way, I am by no means complaining because I know that without seeing the book in person- well it is always a toss-up. I just know that I take all of your reviews seriously when looking into purchasing something (they really help my decision!) and I wanted to make sure you had another opinion on this book. | 0negative
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the writing blew me away ...
read other reviews for a description of plot but i will add my two cents re the WRITING, stunning, unbelievable. i go to the bookstore and pick up recently written novels and then read this ... apples and oranges, no comparison, how can i ever attempt to write after reading tender is the night? this review a bit dramatic, yes, but as lost as i got in the book there was always a part of me outside marvelling at it as an objective art form. while some parts of the novel are stronger than others (the third part the least strong i think) it is an overall masterpiece, and several passages just took my breath away. | 1positive
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One of the classics
This is one of the classics of sex and eroticism. As a teen, I stole my mother's copy and it inspired many a fantasy. The writing is wonderful and the sex is, well, just hot. I've ready many similar books since then, like right now I am reading Abby Lee's Diary of a Sex Fiend: Girl with a One Track Mind. Reading about sex is always "stimulating" but this classic has lasted generations. | 1positive
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'Panned in Full'
Unwieldy 'Brave New Journalism'.. so where's the beef? Our visit turned up precious little that resembled MIF, and other reviewers report the same. There is a ringing consensus among critics: why can't Mr. Wolfe bring us the story in full? | 0negative
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WOW! What a read!!!
I am a huge fan of Grisham's writings. This book kept me intrigued from beginning to end! I read it in two days flat it was so good! | 1positive
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Good book for basic student knowledge
This is an excellent text for PT students or for the PT with no acute orthopedic experience. It provides basic and fundamental information. I do not recommend it for the therapist with experience; it is too elementary. | 0negative
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Boring
I had to read it for IS AT practice and it was not good at all I chose the rating since it was boring | 0negative
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Scary!
George Orwell's prophetic words are coming to pass right before my eyes; You'd see it too, if you got off the TV and started paying attention to politicians and the laws they're passing.I hope there is a revolution of some sort before this grim forecast is played out to the end. | 1positive
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Great Book!
The book was as described. Great condition and was shipped super fast! Great seller!! | 1positive
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If you like Vonnegut, Breakfast of Champions is a must-read
In sort of a creative release, Vonnegut creates one of the strangest and most unique novels I've read. It takes a bit of knowledge into Vonnegut's style, but if you've liked other works by Vonnegut, don't miss Breakfast of Champions. | 1positive
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the press machine does it again
I have to tread lightly on the following statements I feel need to be made.....yet at the same time want to express exactly the purpose behind this book...First off, as Jessica said , not only in her book, but also in her made for TV movie, she is not a hero.If you check the tactical information sent to the rear elements during the day that the unit was ambushed, you might be surprised to know they actually were lost.Getting lost then having to be saved does not constitute the need to put well train troops into harms way.Did any of the men who rescued Jessica get to end their military contracts, and then again would they? Would a "real soldier" forsake the country that they loved and take an early seperation ...clearly knowing that monies would be flowing in from the folks that are looking for a story to read as they hug their spouses and lite their fall fires...to both warm their homes but in buying the book, warm their hearts. Was this story released and delivered telling exactly what the real heros did?No, if in fact it was, jessica would be but a side bar. The story of the troop who help back and destroyed the enemy that was trying to kill not only him but jessica also would be higher on the hero scale. The troops who woke in the dark of night, wrote their last letter to their wives and children and boarded a plane to go save jessica...those stories would be the ones that should have been mass marketed. Not a simple story of a troop who joined the service hoping to use the GI bill in the future; to eventually become lost in a vast desert to be saved by men who are still answering the call as you read this.As far as those who gave their lives in the past . The men and woman who died in each war where the most glorious medal they ever were award was the Purple Heart. Does she real...and I guess all heads responsible from the Pentagon down to her CO must be asked...deserve the 'star? Was that in keeping of the highest military traditions? And if it was, we better mass produce them, and get one out to each member of the armed forces who ever took a step onto a battlefield.But it's not her fault. In her hometown, sure, she's a hero. For the middle-aged couple serching for something to shed a tear about as they play along with a nightly gameshow, it's good for them too. But for the press and media of this fine country to search out and promote the actions to better the view of the war and the actions we were taking against a hostile and agressive coutry, well, again they made a mistake.The same group that made a terrible mistake in the sixties and seventies by giving a cold shoulder to the proud military return from their work and duties in the drudgery and hell of vietnam are still trying to heal the wounds they inflicted during those years by promoting the sillyest of actions, and in doing so are only throwing more salt into the cuts they imposed long ago. | 0negative
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Pele still Lives!
The Goddess Pele never died, She is stil; alive in Hawaii. This book although written by a non pagan brings Pele to life with his words. His art gives her beauty and power. Many who think her curse is a joke take rocks from her island and then live the curse of Pele if they survive they bring them back to Her island. This book reveals the history of Hawaii and tells how Pele was not a native Hawaiin. It also shows the degeneration of her worship through the conversion to the new religion Christianity. The illustrations are so very beautyful and do remind me so much of the beautyful firey Goddess Pele. Her worship is alive and well. | 1positive
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Good results but bad for you!
Dr. Atkins new book may produce results but there are health risks involved consuming virtually no carbs everyday. If you don't believe ask your doctor or do some pesonal research. | 0negative
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Needed for crossword puzzles
Gave this to my husband as a replacement for an old one that was falling apart. He uses it every day for the puzzle in the newspaper. | 1positive
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The Selfish Texan Heroine and Dumb TexBoston Hero
That is a more appropriate name for this book than A Texan's Honor. The heroine is 1000% selfish and a dummy to boot. The hero isn't any better. I should have known I wouldn't like this book because the font was atrocious. It was all bold looking like Comic Sands and it just hurts the eyes.This book is one merry-go-round of stupid and the same thing. Heroine whines "I love Texas. I hate Boston. Stay in Texas" while the hero whines "I HAVE to stay in Boston to prove my bad family wrong. Boston is where I HAVE to go"Hero nags like a 2 year old and the hero is a cardboard cutout who's stuck on Boston while she's the same yet stuck on Texas.Nothing about this book is interesting. The hero is the best character and that's not saying much. Save your money and WALK AWAY! | 0negative
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Pure adulterated garbage!
This book is a disjointed, drug-induced, self-indulgent pile of garbage. Apparently some feel that novelty (meaning pointlessly crude with filthy language) is equivalent to great writing. It is not. My review has nothing to do with prudishness or agreement with the book being banned at one time. I've read numerous classic novels - some as difficult to follow as this one. But, to say this book is a classic (not to mention one of the 10 most important or best of all time) is downright ridiculous. It is nothing more than random ramblings of someone with food and sex on their mind, sounding like a teenager with raging hormones, rampant appetite and overly indulgent parents (in this case, overly indulgent publisher). The only thing worth praise as classic is the sales job his agent made to get this crappy book published. It might be a good idea to ban it again from libraries, not because of the filth included within, but the absolute lack of talent demonstrated by the author. And he wrote another book, too? Too bad. | 0negative
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Very poor color illustrations and baffling text
The quality of the color printing of the illustrations is poor. Just how the text is Dickens's original version is not explained, nor are the additions to the regular published versions highlighted. This text reads in a tangential,confusing, awkward way that clouds the impact and beauty of the story that I loved reading in my youth. | 0negative
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Frustrating
I was very disappointed with the outcome of this book, as it began with so much promise. It took a few pages, but it drew me in. I could hardly wait to find out who tried to kill Charlotte. Needless to say I was not a happy camper come page 402 and felt like I had wasted some valuable reading time, as I saw this as a whodunnit type read. I know the author wanted to convey a poignant love story, but she lost me there. I never bought the idea of two people madly in love who was willing/able to weather any storm put before them. Their relationship seemed more superficial than anything of substance. Additionally, another frustrating factor was how many items/relationships were left open, unresolved. I didn't care much for the book and wouldn't recommend it to my book club, friend, anyone. | 0negative
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A good book to read on a rainy day
This is not a Flashman book although Flashy does make a couple of showings in the book and leaves a lively imprint. If one however wants to know what it was like to live during the High Noon of Edwardian England for an outsider.Then this is the book to go to. Frankly this book is well worth the money with its good solid writing and interesting historical facts presented!Enjoy! | 1positive
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Be prepared to suspend disbelief in a very big way
Dirty Blonde tells the story of a newly appointed federal judge in Philadelphia who happens to be a sex addict, happens to be hearing a juicy case involving a television series about lawyers, and happens to be the subject of a new series on a sex-addict federal judge. Oh. And she happens to have a best friend with an autistic child, just to show she's human and not a complete tart.The story starts with a bang, and it would be really juicy and compelling if Scottoline had been able to sustain the plot. The characters are well drawn and likeable, just not that believable.In the end, the book stalls. It's as if the author had this interesting premise, but instead of fleshing it out she instead kept adding strange, not-sequitor-type elements, like a father who was a mine poacher, and a romance with a detective.Scottoline is a talented enough writer, and her female main characters are mostly wonderful and intriguing. Dirty Blonde was a let-down. I hope she quickly gets back on track for her next book, and maybe brings us back to some familiar characters from the all-woman law firm. | 0negative
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Utterly and completely worthless
This series of disks is nothing more than Italian words and names spoken ONLY IN ITALIAN. Because there are no English translations, it is almost impossible to learn even the most basic Italian from these disks. | 0negative
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An encouraging book!
Max Lucado has an ability to bring God's comfort and love onto the pages of a book. What a gift he has!I bought this book for my daughter years ago when she was going through a very tough time. She was only 6 at the time, but life had become very painful for her. I wanted her to know that not only do I love her, but God loves her too...no matter what. It quickly became her favorite book and we often curled up together for me to read to her. She memorized each line and knew if I changed a word. The last time I read it to her was when she was 18 years old. This book brought her special encouragement during times of heartache.My daughter was killed at the age of 19 and now this book brings me comfort becauses she never has to wonder again! | 1positive
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Just like Jeopardy, this books gives all the answers FIRST, and then asks the questions.
What a great resource! It is one I keep at my desk all the time. This book separates all the different areas of law into sections and offered me a step-by-step approach to learning the terminology I needed for a new job. Some words have multiple meanings so it was helpful to have them defined in each area of law- where I noted the differences.I just made a pack of cards from the flash cards provided in the back of the book and practice when I could: on the subway, stuck in highway traffic, or with another person at work. It was even fun, especially as I got closer to mastering the pack of cards. It gives you all the answers up front in a dictionary format: the words, pronunications, and definitons! No need worrying about getting up to speed quickly with this. | 1positive
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Very poor quality Puzo Book
I can't believe this is the same author who wrote Godfather. The writing is weak and filled with cliche's. Very implausible, mildy interesting, ridiculous characters. None of the characters in this book seem real, the author did a poor job creating them. Mostly they are super characters able to do everything (the mark of a poor writer) or are just immoral and boring. The women are all [prostitute]..., the men are all tough, blah, blah. This is the kind of work I'd expect from Puzo if he were 14. I think its just an attempt to cash in on his name, rather than a serious attempt at a good story.I'd advise you not to waste your time with it. | 0negative
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This book started my journey into metaphysical research
In 1977, my uncle died. His daughter gave me Dr. Raymond Moody's book, Life After Life. It took me less than two days to finish and set me on a path that would lead to writing a book of my own.Dr. Moody was so intrigued by similarities he found in his patients' Near Death Experiences(NDE's)that he researched and interviewed others who had NDE's. Thus comes the creation of this anecdotal work, the first that I am aware of that addresses--more or less scientifically--NDE's. This first book was met with such a great response of letters from more people who had NDE stories that he wrote a second and then a third book, extending findings based on these letters.Having written a book myself about my experience with a ghost who actually moved something in front of me, I have thought of Dr. Moody often as people respond to Aaron's Crossing with their own ghost stories--stories so intriguing, that my next book will be a compilation of these first-hand experiences, just as Dr. Moody's second and third books were filled with responses to Life After Life.The main message for everyone in these books is the comforting validation that death is not the end. There is something more. Life After Life is a primer for those interested in exploring ideas on the Afterlife. | 1positive
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Laugh out loud funny observations on pop culture.
I liked this book so much that immediately upon finising it I ordered another book by this author. Klosterman has an unique, very funny view of the world around us. | 1positive
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A Man in Full: whatever...
Painful. That's the first word that comes to mind when I think about the time I wasted on this ... thing. I cringed whenever I sensed some more of the so-called "rap" music or prison slang was approaching. The raps were reminiscent of early old school hip-hop from someone you never heard of, rhymes that even Vanilla Ice would have been embarrassed to perform. The slang used in the jailhouse scenes had me imagining Mr. Wolfe watching prison movies from the 70's, and deleting all the "Sucka's!" and "right on's". I felt especially sorry for the Hawaiian guy, Five-o (how clever!). Even a fictional character shouldn't have to recite the, well, goofy dialogue this poor schmuck delivers. Even if there is a variety of pidgin like that, do you really have to translate even the bits that aren't loopy sounding gibberish? At least that would have been a few less words to have to force one's self through. I tried to finish this ... thing, I honestly did, but there comes a time when you have to know when to cut your losses.Trust me, I'm almost fully recovered from my encounter with "The Book That Won't go Away!" Do yourself a favor, take your money you would have spent on this ... thing, throw it in the air and go for a walk. You'll be much better off. | 0negative
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A Good Start, But Not Much Else.
I had such high hopes for this book, based on its description. And in spite of the author's sometimes hard-to-follow writing style - she does love to start in one place and wander quite far from the original subject before finally winding her way back - for the first few chapters I managed to hold on to those hopes.But in the end, I would have to classify this book as 80 percent disappointment.Charlotte is set up to be a very sympathetic character: Married to a man she loves, but trapped in the family home surrounded by a seemingly endless supply of in-laws (also all residents of the family home), none of whom have ever made much of an effort to make her feel a part of the family. Charlotte has been unable to bear a child to term in all the years of the marriage, and her 10 months in a sickbed seem to have put the final distance between her and her husband, Hays.Finally, after an inexplicable recovery (the author never bothers to give any hint of why Charlotte is suddenly well after all this time), Charlotte is off to surprise her husband at the wake for one of his recently deceased uncles. But what she encounters is Hays and a mystery woman, just about to share a kiss.Calling in a favor from the local baker and his wife, Charlotte finds herself at the hotel of the title, facing a chilly reception from Mrs. Petty - the former cook in Charlotte's in-law's house - who had been the one to first tell Charlotte about the hotel. (Though not about the details of what goes on there.)To this point, the book was enjoyable. But once Charlotte lands in the hotel, the book heads into a decline from which it never recovers.The efforts of the hotel's owner, his staff and Charlotte's Aunt Lily - a surprise "regular" at the hotel - to get Charlotte out of the hotel were understandable, if a little tedious. Arthur's attachment to Charlotte is pretty sudden, and regardless of how she feels about Hays' cheating on her, it seems a little odd that she would embark on an affair with Arthur quite so easily.And unless the author is planning a sequel, there were things in this book that just didn't seem to have a reason for being. Charlotte's introduction to the hotel owner's wife and her servant, for example. An interesting enough scene, but to what purpose?The artist who created all the paintings in the hotel - introduced, then killed off.Mrs. Petty and her children - suddenly packed off to another situation, for the good of the children. Sure, we learn who the father of one of the children is, but again - why?Charlotte's parents, who have been conspicuously absent from Charlotte's thoughts for a good portion of the book - there's no purpose to their appearance at the end, nor really to Charlotte's search for them.The ending, as mentioned by another reviewer, is the worst part of the book. Why does Charlotte do what she does when she leaves the hotel? Is it guilt, a desire for reconciliation?Charlotte frustrates me...I don't know what she wants, and most of the time she doesn't seem to know, either. In the end, I didn't care much about this book, except to wonder about the several chapters that seemed to have been lopped off the end. Maybe they would have wrapped things up in a better fashion.I won't read this book again, and I certainly can't recommend it to others. | 0negative
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Poorly edited mess with glimmers of interest
This book may have been revolutionary in 1942 but today it seems to strain to argue points that most Americans readily accept. It also tends to be incredibly choppy, with thoughts coming and going like bad housegeusts. Lastly, it has all the faults one would expect to find in Montagu: he sacrificed his science for politics, and thus there are many times where he wildy exhorts his point of view or uses ad homineim's against his opponents. The reason is the book was not written to explore a phenomena, but to convince people that some things are wrong and other right morally. So his science suffers. However, there are glimmers of intelligent ideas and devastating studies that derode the basis of 'race thinking.' | 0negative
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A Romance Junkie
I don't know which book of Jane Austen, I love more. Sense and Sensibility is just so romantic. Pride and Prejudice is awesome and Emma is just fabulous. To think that Jane Austen wrote those books so long ago just goes to show that women have felt pretty much the same about love for always. | 1positive
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powerful the title, empty the content
I bought the book with a lot of expectations and I was disappointed. The author keeps on sayng trivial statements as if they were his own discovery. Not a very useful book. | 0negative
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I must have read a different book...
After scrolling through the other reviews, I'm almost positive that the book I read--although the title was "Close Encounters" and the author was Sandra Kitt--was not the same one.I have read two of Ms. Kitt's other novels (The Color of Love and Between Friends) and was not impressed. I found the heroines lacking common sense and believability. When I bought "Close Encounters", I hoped that I would not find the same with this one. I cannot say that I did.Of the heroines from the three novels mentioned above, Carol Taggert was almost believable. (I say almost because I didn't understand how she could ignore threats after being shot and what she did after a serious attempt on her life was made continues to boggle my mind.) Carol's relationship with her older brother, Wesley, was good. Her relationship with her ex, Matt, was confusing, which made that realistic as well. The relationship with Lee was off to an interesting start and if the focus hadn't shifted to secondary characters in prime moments that would have been better suited for the main characters, I would have almost believed that Lee and Carol were in love. The chemistry existed between the two, but the relationship could have been developed a lot better. Just because two characters have sex early in their relationship does not automatically make what they have a grand love affair. It takes more than that. Other than the bullet that nearly killed Carol, what drew her and Lee together? This is not given in the pages and although I have an active imagination, I still couldn't "imagine" what the answer was in regards to Carol and Lee.As far as male characters go, Lee was okay. He didn't make me swoon and the pat responses he gave to his teen daughter's agonizing dilemma with her mother, didn't endear him to me either. In his thoughts, he wanted to be a good father, but where was the action? He told her he'd talk to her mother about their problems, but he never did. Sure, he hung out with her a few times, but so what? He should have done more. His lack of attention to his own flesh and blood didn't sit well with me and made it difficult for me to care about him.Finally, graphic violence towards women...is it really necessary? Hollywood has made millions from degrading women on film and TV. Must a female author follow their trend? I won't go into details, but what happens to Barbara (Lee's partner) towards the end of the book was unnecessary and added NOTHING to the story. The ending of the novel could have been the same without the sensationalism. Instead of adding to the story, those scenes lessened it.The novels that I find enjoyable, I tend to read again and again, refusing to part with them for anything. If I decide to keep this one, I may need a few years before I can pick it up again. | 0negative
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Boring and Racist
I read most of Clancy's Jack Ryan series back when I was a teenager and I liked them a lot. Clancy was a mediocre writer at best but I loved the clever plots and character developments. I was eager to read this book but it was a complete train wreak. Clancy used this book mostly to express his personal right wing political views, the plot was slow and so unrealistic that it's in the realm of fantasy. Of course there were the blatant stereotypes and racist slurs throughout the entire book that I will not repeat here. If you want to read a real military novel, read it from someone who had actually served in the military, not from Clancy who got a deferment in Vietnam and never wore a uniform in his life. After I finished the book I gave away my old Clancy collection to the library save for this one, which I promptly threw in the garbage (ok the recycling bin). | 0negative
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Classic historical fiction by R.L. Stevenson
Originally written as a boy's adventure novel, modern readers will probably consider it more a book for adults. My father gave it to me when I was eight, after I'd read _Treasure Island_, and I disliked it then immensely, put off by the lack of plot movement, the Scots dialect, and the total absence of pirates. Re-reading it now on the Kindle, I admit it's a lot more enjoyable, partly because the Kindle's dictionary helps translate some of the Scots dialect, partly because I'm a more mature reader.The plot is fairly straightforward (skip this paragraph if you want to avoid spoilers): Our Hero, David Balfour, is tricked out of his rightful inheritance by an evil uncle, shanghaied, shipwrecked, partnered with a historical figure (one Alan Breck Stewart) and caught up in the events of an unsolved historical mystery (the "Appin Murder"). The body of the novel is a day-by-day description of their flight through the Scottish highlands, on the run from the Redcoat troops searching them out.Overall, the novel succeeds in creating some degree of tension and suspense, especially in the first half or so, with some classic melodrama elements. The latter half of the novel drags a bit, though, and would probably be less appealing to younger readers and more enjoyable for readers more interested in Stevenson's prose style. There is a great deal of Scots dialect, but the most obscure words are footnoted and some (but not all) of the less-obscure words are in the Kindle's dictionary.Overall, I'd recommend this highly to a fan of books like Sir Walter Scott's _Waverly_ or _Rob Roy_, or to anyone who had a particular love of historical fiction set in the 18th-century scottish highlands.There is a sequel, written by Stevenson, with the alternate titles of _David Balfour_ and _Catriona_. Those wishing more information about the "Appin Murder" can find a chapter discussing it in Andrew Lang's "Historical Mysteries" (also available as a free Kindle download). | 1positive
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I Was Amazed!
When I opened the package I was truly amazed to find that this book was in absolutely fabulous condition. It looked like it was brand new! Each page I turned brought more tears, bringing back so many memories of my childhood, when I first owned this book. Thank you for giving me a very sweet trip down memory lane! | 1positive
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A horribly biased edition
The discerning reader is better off with the more recent even-handed translation called "The Anabasis of Cyrus" by Wayne Ambler.I can't speak to the quality of the translation itself, but I would still bet that Amblers is better.As to the introduction and the footnotes, they are a blatant smear job against Xenophon with very little basis in reality. The text itself defies Caldwell and Warner's constant heavyhanded assault. Almost every footnote is a laughable insult. They laud Ctesias as some kind of model of objective history and where his account differs from Xenophon's, Xenophon is a liar. They have a deep and abiding love for the Persian empire and its system of government, and seem to think of Xenophon as a destroyer of all that is good and right.In Caldwell and Warner's version of history, the murder of the Greek mercenary generals by Tissaphernes (along with a couple hundred hoplites) was a noble act of Persian justice. And Menon a hero. They mock Xenophon's hateful eulogy to Menon, claiming that Plato didn't see Menon that way. But Plato's dialogue is just that - a dialogue. It's a much more oblique form of characterization than Xenophon's. And many of the nasty traits Xenophon mentions are clearly evident in Plato's Menon, which is certainly no ode to the man. His disgrace and death following Tissaphernes' treachery are proof enough that the other Greeks shared Xenophon's view. | 0negative
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Awed and amazed...
Ok, wow...Before I write a review for a book, I like to check out what the other reviewers have written, to avoid repeating issues, and maybe answer some questions that they've had.I also like to check out the reviews of people who have the opposite opinion than I do. But, after reading three quarters of the one and two star reviews, I could take no more.On thing that I noticed about the one and two star reviews, was that they all seemed to be written by people over eighteen. That's fine, but they seem to have forgotten one imortant thing; this wasn't meant to be a classic adult's book, basking in the glory of 'Peter Pan'. This is a children's book, and it's written so that it stands alone.I was appaled to find people complaining about the fact that 'Peter and the Starcatchers' had a plot of its own, and didn't simply mooch off of 'Peter Pan'. That, in my opinion, is what made it a great book. It was capable of standing alone, and still managed to bring back the magic of Peter Pan.I've always been a fan of 'Peter Pan'. In fact, 'fan' is a bit of an understatement. From the ages of about two to six, I thought that Peter Pan created the universe. I would tell people detailed stories, beginning with 'Peter Pan created the moon and the stars, and then he turned to the earth...' So I was a bit obsessed.As I got older, I still loved the story, because I believe that it's timeless. I was worried that Peter and the Starcatchers wouldn't live up to the original, but would make a mockery of it.I was happily proved wrong. I loved this book. I don't think it was shamed by the original, and I felt that the story made sense, in relation to Peter Pan.Oh, yes, and to the person who wrote the review saying that all the people who wrote five star reviews must have been bought off by the writers or publishers, I assure you that I have not been bought off by anyone.In short, I felt that this book was one of the best I have ever read, and is a fitting companion to Peter Pan. The one and two star reviewers are entitled to their opinions, however. | 1positive
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My go-to dictionary every time.
I've not even owned this dictionary for a month, but it already is so constantly out of the book shelf that I don't bother putting it back again after use. It is so helpful to me as a student. I of course use it for looking up unfamiliar terms, but there are also extensive charts listing reference ranges from heart rate and body temperature to chemistry panel results and CBCs, for a wide variety of species. It IS big though; some other reviews have said it's easy to carry because of its small size. I have not found that to be true. It's thick and it's heavy, despite its soft cover, but it IS a dictionary - and a medical one at that - so what do you expect? In all honesty, its large size attests to how thorough its information is. I love this dictionary and I know I will be using it for the rest of my life. | 1positive
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A real disappointment.
The CD that came with the book started with pronouncing the ABCs then went right into conversations as if the reader knew how to speak Spanish. I had to LOL. The sentences that the reader is to repeat are long and difficult to comprehend, especially since there was not a visual to follow, to try and pronounce the words correctly.It seems there should of been a chapter or chapters that worked collectively with the CD. | 0negative
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Formatting
Formatting is a key consideration to writing and reading poetry. This edition has no line breaks, and the formatting is very poor. But the text is intact, and how can you argue with free? | 0negative
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Beware of what's popular!
The only thing this bartender's guide has going for it is its hard, oversized cover. Otherwise its only conceivable use is to feed a waning fire. I have been a bartender for over seven years, and I have read a dozen or so reference books. The Bartenders Bible is my least favorite of all. Its organizational system is ponderous and ultimately useless to a bartender in a pinch. It is polluted with obscurely named concoctions that make an experienced bartender wonder if the editors didn't just make them up to fill space. On top of that it is sloppy. If anyone can tell the difference between the "cosmos" pg96 and a daiquiri pg97, be my guest.I don't know what Mr. Regan was thinking with this book? I have also read his "New Classic Cocktails" and found it to be a much better read. Whatever the cause, beware of this book. Just because it called a "Bible" doesn't mean it's a Good Book. | 0negative
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Made a difference in my life!
I gave this as a gift to my daughter because of the difference it made in my life. As she and her new husband begin their journey together, the maturity of finding your worth in God, not in the things you do or have, can have a tremendous impact on how they relate to one another. | 1positive
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feast for the eyes
This book illustrated to us that as we are in tne new millenia, functionalism is no longer adequate to fulfill the purpose of architecture. Rather, art plays a pivotal role to complete the whole picture. There are ample of illustrations & pictures to justify such an argument. Many examples are to be seen in the excess of the 80s. Even though extravagant pieces are rarer these days, there are still odd ones that manage to stand out from the crowd, notably, the Guggenheim Museum in Spain, Groninger Museum in the Netherlands, La Flamme in Japan. The author also does much justice to the much overlooked Asian architecture with emphasis on Japan with discussions on Tadao Ando, Isamu Noguchi, Issey Miyake, Arata Isozaki. There are also discussions of certain architects who transcend the boundary from art,interior design, product & textile design into architecture, & vice versa. Some that are worth mentioning are Frank Stella, Philippe Starck (voila~), Alessandro Mendini, etc. What an exemplary book to feast & I have no hesitation recommending this book to architecture lover worldwide~ | 1positive
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Bore-maker
I am giving this book 2 stars only because it kept me mildly entertained today while I was sitting in the hospital waiting room. Otherwise, this book is terrible. If you really want to read a book by Alice Blanchard, get "Darkness Peering" it is excellent. I don't think the same Alice Blanchard wrote "Breathtaker." | 0negative
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Hearty laughter from cover to cover
Seldom does one find a character as grossly unhygienic and obese, yet highly alluring as Ignatius J. Reilly. He wears the same clothes day in and day out, feeds mainly on cake and Dr. Nut, and can hardly keep his job as a hot-dog vendor. Yet, he captivates readers' attentions as a vacuum sucks up dust. I believe the secret to John Kennedy Toole's success in A Confederacy of Dunces lies in his ability to meticulously embody Henri Bergson's comic theory in his characters.According to Bergson, what one finds humorous is often linked with what one finds mechanical, rigid, and inelastic. In Ignatius J. Reilly, Toole naturally encompasses these characteristics. His inability to control his precarious valve, his eccentric, medieval way of thought, and his fear of Greyhound Scenicruisers turn Ignatius into a person unlike any other. In fact, these humorous traits make Ignatius seem less like a person and more like a machine that is incapable of adapting to changing environments. We as readers cannot help but burst out laughing at his foolish ideas (Crusade for Moorish Dignity), his obstinately bothersome body ("'Oh!' 'What are you doing? Are you fooling with that valve again? Nobody else got him a valve but you. I ain't got no valve.' 'Everyone has a valve!' Ignatius screamed. 'Mine is simply more developed. I am trying to open a passage which you have succeded in blocking. It may be permanently closed now for all I know.'" p. 60), and his foul hygiene ("Braah" pp. every other).If not for the gloriously entertaining plot, Toole's skillful development of characters should be enough to pick up this book. You'll fall in love with the most disgusting man you've ever met. | 1positive
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Timeless Tale
I personally resent both the opinion that teenagers cannot appreciate good literature and the notion that all classics are dull. I read this book for the first time at age thirteen and loved it, and as a huge Bronte fan, cannot fathom why so many people I know cast off classics as boring. My only guess is that they have not read them.I will skip giving a plot overview here. But I will mention that one complaint I have heard frequently is that there is little action in this story. Well, just because our attention spans have decreased drastically because of TV doesn't mean that good books should move just as fast. The beauty of the macabre and ethereal Jane Eyre is not in the plot, though that is also wonderful, but in the descriptions of Jane's own feelings and turmoil and love. She is easy to relate to for women of all ages - who hasn't understood the feeling of wondering where to go with one's life?I have also heard complaints that there are problems with the edition, especially spelling mistakes (i.e. Rochester calling Jane Janet). This is a pet name. It appears in every edition true to the original text - often, it is taken out to avoid confusing people. Overall, Penguin is a wonderful classics publisher, especially the annotations and footnotes. They explain a lot of the dated references or confusing dialect.Though I personally would have preferred a bit darker a novel (i.e. Wuthering Heights), I believe this to be one of the timeless classics of English literature and a must-read for everyone, lit major or not. | 1positive
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PROPUESTO PARA EL NOBEL EN LITERATURA
CREO QUE SUSKIND DEBE SER CANDIDATO AL PREMIO NOBEL EN LITERATURA. SU LIBRO ES CONSIDERADO UNO DE LOS MEJORES EN LA HISTORIA DE LA LITERATURA.MUCHOS CRITICOS EN EUROPA LO HAN CATALOGADO COMO EL GARCIA MARQUEZ DE ESE CONTINENTE. | 1positive
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Had me there for a few chapters
The book started off at an etremely slow pace, and builds up some emotion for the character Yolanda, a depressed young woman who can't find her niche in society,then too often jumps back in forth between the other sisters. We don't learn anything really about the other sisters, and if we do its a paragraph or two.The author can't hit our emotions with the other characters and the ideas seem a bit contrived and unorganized. The last five chapters are a complete bore. I was dissapointed extremely because the book peeked WAY too soon. | 0negative
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Not For Me
I read a lot of books, mainly Christian/spiritual in nature and frankly, am not finished with this book yet. I forced myself to continue after Chp 1, found chapters 4 and 5, I think, rather interesting, and then back to forcing myself to continue reading. Some sentences and ideas are lengthy and seem too elaborate, when fewer words in a more simplistic way could have expressed the same idea. I guess the general concept is a good one, too many references to too many other pieces of literature made it tedious. Overall, I am not enjoying this book and feel I have gained little from it. In between I am starting Francis Frangipane's, "You Will Be Found By Me", which is a joy to read and has the Breath of God in it, simplistic and powerful. | 0negative
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CthuluPunk!
What a hoot... enough inside geek jokes to choke a Gibbering Horror...I finished it in record time... and re-read it a day later to catch everything I missed the first time! | 1positive
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A Great Book
The reason I like "The Lion Witch and The Wardrobe"is because I like snow and the book was about kids in a make believe world in winter time. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes tales about fake worlds and talking foxes. I have read four C.S.Lewis Narnia Collection Books and they are all great. What I like most is all the magical things that are written in the book and the words the author used really got me into the book. I also liked all the excitement in the book. I really like this story. | 1positive
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My go-to cookbook for Pacific Rim and Asian influenced flavours
Annabel has a trademark style throughout her many cookbooks - simple, easy to prepare food that is big on flavour and uses easy to source ingredients as well as giving many options within the one recipe. For example a duck recipe can be substituted with fish.This book has a wonderful laid back Pacific vibe and is packed with extra information and an excellent section at the back for great side dishes. While not truly recipes from the Pacific Islands this book draws huge inspiration from the region with a fresh modern twist and healthy recipes with wonderful clean, light, fresh flavours.I have hundreds of cookbooks but this is easily my favourite and definitely my go-to for recipes and inspiration. | 1positive
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Ol' Guts and Glory Does It Again
This no-holds-barred tale of struggle and bravery had me hooked from page 1. The raw emotions, the vivid scenes of battle, the intrigue and the romance, all bring this intense historical drama to life in a way that no other author can match. You go, girl! | 1positive
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Still waiting for something to happen
The book [...] me in and left me disappointed. Atwood had some great ideas, but they never got developed. There are dozens of dangling story lines and unanswered questions that it seems are never addressed because Atwood didn't know where they were leading. Having an open ending is fine, but slapping together a bunch of unanswered questions and undeveloped plot lines just shows how poorly conceived this book was. | 0negative
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Enjoyus Interruptus
The predictable storyline of this book (I can't call it a novel) never really "happened." I could have handled the thin plot if the writing weren't so meager. This book included some of the dumbest dialogue I have ever read. I only read with any interest far enough to find out what happened and then could have easily left it never wondering again what became of the lovers. I only finished it because I am on vacation. And now free to read a REAL novel. | 0negative
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Missions? I think not.
This was a tedious and frustrating read. Bradshaw's arguments were poorly developed and poorly supported (if at all).Aside from a plethora of statements that made the reader wonder what version of the Bible he was using, Bradshaw presented a concept of missions that left God in the background. If his ideas were the standard, missions would be nothing more than a cross cultural relief effort carried out by an elite few with a highly specific education in conducting foreign relations and interpreting cultural narratives. This is not missions. Missions is about God working his power through ordinary, broken people to show his love and his truth to people of all nations regardless of cultural barriers. God is the change agent and people are one medium through which change occurs, not the other way around. | 0negative
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I found it dull and rather pointless
Although the book had poignant moments (any plot should) this was extremely boring, to put it bluntly. The writing was close to a third grade level, and the position of the main character, being an active participant in the worst scenario in war, (besides actual combat)was the only thing unique or slightly entertaining. No emotion was shown, this is not human. (excuse the pun) True, many books become sappy and overrun with needless words to express the emotion, but this one left you with the simple narrative it offered. There was no chance for your mind to imaginate possible reactions, to make the story your own, because the writing was so dull. At the very end, when Homer just told his famiy that their brother had been killed, Tobey (The dead son's friend) told them that "he wasn't dead." Oh, well, then we should sing at the piano! The entire family was so unemotional, it reminded me of a sick sci-fi movie, where one human could be easily replaced if needed. This is not so, and although sappy words do cloud other novels, at least it sounds human. | 0negative
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Hemingway in earnest
The words in this book are scripted in black ink upon the pages and the pages of the book are white. The whiteness of the each page is light against the darker skin of the fingers of your hand as you turn the pages of this book after reading the words on each page. A white page might be stained with a dried brown puddle of coffee if you accidentally spill the coffee you drink in an effort to stay awake while reading this book. The ponderous oncoming words on the seemingly endless pages of this book flow ponderously as they keep coming on each page, white page after white page of script in black ink. Coffee is good and necessary for anyone who reads this book. Coffee, good and necessary, and lots of it. | 0negative
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Confessions of a Self-Absorbed Narcissist
First off let me just say that I don't care about whether everything in this book is true or not. Had it just been a good book that was all that I was looking for. But instead of a good read I got an autobiography about some guy who thinks WAY to much about himself and works hard to justify his actions while condemning those around him. I was constantly annoyed by him blaming much of his faults on his 'terrible' childhood. Seriously? Does the opportunity to go to good schools and get a great education boil down to a difficult upbringing? Surely, he had his hard times, but I don't think they warrant justification for his actions later in life. It was also laughable that he blamed his failed marriage on the fact his wife didn't want to move in or have sex before they were married. Wow, what a jack ass. And then to top it off he claims that he only followed along with his unethical lifestyle in order that he might 'tell the story' later on. What a noble man.I would suggest avoiding this book. | 0negative
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What a great book. Huzzah BUCKTAILS
I am a Civil War reenactor and I think this book was well written. Once you start reading the book you can't put it down. It's about time someone writes a book about the 150th PVI Bucktails. | 1positive
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Recommended as a Cure for Insomnia
I think this book is one of the most boring loads of... I have ever read. I am someone who tends to suffer a lot from insomnia, but all I have to do to beat it is just read ten pages from this book, and I am asleep like a baby. Although my opinion is definitely in the minority, I am far from alone either. I have read the ten most recent 1-star comments on The Fellowship of the Ring... The consensus is that the book is boring! J.R.R. Tolkein, like many other conservative academics, had a creative mind, but was much more of an analytical author than he was a storyteller. After seeing and loving the movie before reading the book, the book was a real disappointment. Most of the parts of the movie that I enjoyed were not even in the book to begin with! The scene where Merry and Pippin accidentally set off the dragon firework is not there. The scene where Bilbo and Gandalf are outdoing each other with smoke sculptures is not there. The gripping battle between Gandalf and Sauron was not there either! These were all things that would have picked up the pace of the novel tremendously if they had been there. They would have indicated real CHARACTERISATION as opposed to dry description and journalistic chronicle. The Harry Potter series may be bubblegum in comparison, but my God, at least it is readable! J. K. Rowling is ten times the storyteller that Tolkein is. If only you could combine Tolkein's creative ideas with Rowling's narrative flair, you would have one hell of a fantasy author. | 0negative
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SOUTHWEST MYSTERY
I love and have all of Hillerman's books-Hunting Badger is just like all of the other Hillerman mysteries-excellent.I reread all of his books just to get a feel for the desert southwest =no better writer of place-in addition to everything else. | 1positive
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Confusing and useless
Poorly organized and no clear target audience. Save money and trees. | 0negative
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Hard to follow
This is a book that was hard to follow and confusing at times with no explanation of many topics introduced. I was dissapointed in C.S. Lewis. | 0negative
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Book is interesting, but has weak evidence
I sincerely applaud Herb's effort. This is an interesting book with an interesting theory, but I have to give it one star because it's based on very weak evidence and an aboundance of speculation. I suggest that anyone interested in the end times read the Bible. God doesn't write mysteries, and everything you need is in there. For example, the "ten nation alliance" read Ezekiel 27-32. What are the nations? They are clearly not European. Herb's EU theory holds little weight. The problem is that he started out with the theory that the EU is the end-times beast empire and then tried to find evidence to fit the theory, which is why it just doesn't work. What he should have done is read his Bible first to find out what God had to say about the end-times empire and then see where that evidence took him.If we truly are in the end-times, then what nations/political system fits the description of the end-times alliance? What major religion denies that Jesus is God's son and our savior? What people will go to any length, including suicide, to take peace from the earth and persecute and kill God's people? I recommend you read God's War on Terror by Walid Shoebat instead. It'll get you headed in the right direction, but you still need to read your Bible. | 0negative
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