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too confusing...
i have read a lot of books in my life and this has been in my lowest ranked books along with chinese cinderalla, kira-kira, and out-of-the-dust. very dissapointing. even though i am just a kid, i think it was too violent and boyish. Yuck. | 0negative
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New Folger Library Shakespeare -- Not Recommended
These editions of Shakespeare by New Folger Library are absolutely awful. They dumb down the Bard, as if people couldn't possibly understand Shakespeare unless they have plot summations. Frankly, they disgust me. I'm not saying Shakespeare's a breeze, but to read him in this watered down format is a travesty. | 0negative
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Stereotypical romance novel
I don't know why the other readers gave this book such high reviews but throughout the book I was trying to find a plot, some unique characters, some passion, some story but I couldn't. The two main characters just fall on in love on first sight -- give me a break! Also, there is NO conflict, and I really don't see how anyone can love the heroine of the story -- aggravating and indecisive as hell! Unlike her other novels, Ms. Jordan in this one failed to make my heart ache or even make me read the book throughout the night. I didn't feel anything when I read the book. The characters -- especially the guy-- was too romantic that it is unbelieavable. Also, the way he talks is too mushy!! Who talks like that anyway -- "be mine siren..." what the hell is that?! Sorry for the profanity but the book really aggravated me with the automatic love between the main characters and a conflict that does not exist. Please, the heroine resists the man because she was afraid of getting hurt but she jumps into bed with him really fast. Get real! | 0negative
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A deeply flawed edition
(This was written in response to the Gabler edition of the text, but the website has it crossposted to all editions of _Ulysses_. So ignore this unless you're looking at the page for the Gabler "Corrected Text" edition.)This is a review not of Joyce's masterpiece but of the Gabler edition. Gabler's "corrected text" is an appalling defacement of a classic book; it should not be used. For an excellent account of Gabler's edition--of the legal reasons for its extensive modifications of the text, of the dubious textual methods employed, of the subsequent scholarly controversy--read Bruce Arnold's excellent little book _The Scandal of Ulysses_. Joyce's book has now twice in recent years been messed around with by dubiously-motivated editors--more recently, the "Reader's Edition" that was the subject of a wrangle in court to suppress it--which is an absurd indignity to be visited on one of the touchstones of 20th-century fiction. | 0negative
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Excellent
A good books for beginners. Topics on theory is good, simple but important, good coverage on networking theory.Plain text make easy understanding.Practical parts of different platforms are good approach than others' books.If you are new to networking, this is a must reading. | 1positive
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Another Winner From Grossman!
This book proved to be an excellent follow up to "ExecutiveActions".In what looks like a robbery-attempted rape a white house staffer is killed.After an investigation it appears the she is a deep cover for Israel.Our hero Scott Roark,recognizes the killer's style to be the elusive assassin that he has been pursuing.Roark finally discovers clues from the assassins pastto discover his identity.In the meantime the administration is reeling from another crisis.President Henry Lamden suffers a near fatal heart attackand Vice-President Morgan Taylor has to become the acting President.The White House stays under attack from talk showhost Elliott Strong.He is trying to make General Robert Woodley Bridgeman the populist nominee for President and Speaker of the House Duke Patrick the Vice-Presidential nominee.Air Force One is sabotaged and crashes near a terrorist base in Indonesia.President Morgan and several key figures in the Administration are held hostage by the terrorists.This is an exciting book that has many exciting situations.Icertainly enjoyed reading it.The ending allows the book to finish with a bang. | 1positive
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read if you have too much time on hand
I found this book extremely boring. While there are few interesting parts, Rousseau found it necessary to relate detail after monotonous detail. Composing over 600 pages, this book would of been less tiring given half the length. | 0negative
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Bored
Faye is a good author but, I am so tired of all the Jewish terminology in all of her books. I read for pleasure not to learn another language. Once would have been fine and interesting. Twice was just OK. It has gotten to be so bad I will not read any of her Peter Decker books. Such a shame as they would be great if she would just speak English. I hope she reads these reviews. | 0negative
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An excellent Workbook for a complex program
This book has opened my eyes to many of the features of Vegas. I switched to Vegas because I needed a program that would handle multiple cameras and an added sound track. I was disappointed by some aspects of the program, but that was because I didn't understand the Vegas system. This book has taught me a great deal about how to use the program and about non linear editing in general. I really the appreciate the strong emphasis on audio because I am making videos of classical music recitals and the audio is really more important than the video. I also purchased a book on color correction and one on audio. This is the best of the lot. | 1positive
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It is truth!!!
I have read this book and it speaks mostly the truth. There is a life after this and how we feel and treat others does and will matter.This book talks about many nde'ers and points out the facts the evidence both for and against, there by being truly scientific. Don't be one of those narrow minded scientific explanators of NDE's. they try to pass it off as a hallucination from a drug produced by the mind. These people don't even know the effect hallucinagen have on the mind. First they cause hallucinations that change in ways that the non-contradictory NDE's occur, second hallucinagens, paticullarly narcotics, cause disturbing hallucinations to occur. Third if hallucinagens Are the cause of the NDE's wouldn't all Drug users Have NDE like experiences and suddenly become religious turn from the narcotic after the first use and become wonderfull members of society like all NDE'ers become. Second they say the dieing of the brain from the outside to the center causes the tunnel effect the problem is this would cause people to loose their more logical parts of the brain and the experience would become more animal like but just the opposite occurs. They (the near death experiencer's) have a highly stimulating very civilized discussion with a highly intelligent being (God!).Now on to the non-truth some of the NDE's seem to be created by people who want attention or some other reason to make up their own NDE.Try being open minded, Don't go around like those skeptical investigators The very title "skeptic" such go into an investigation intent to disprove, they come up with the first doughtfull idea (no matter how rediculuss) and say it (the supernatural occurence) is not true and pretend their narrow minded position is WISE. Instead take the position of the character Sherlock Holmes (who is based on a Real Scientist) and when you eliminate the posible whatever remains, however improbable must be the truth. try experimenting on religion their is litterally nothing dangerous by doing so. | 1positive
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Sorry...
Didn't care for this book. Quit reading it and deleted it from my Kindle. I found it very boring. | 0negative
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Great, funny book!
I actually bought this for my daughter who is expecting our first grandchild. She and her fiance loved the book! Jenny McCarthy is truthful yet funny and lighthearted about being pregnant and giving birth. | 1positive
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BELIEVABLE AND SPOOKY
This book defies reality and imagination, and yet it is so believable that i found myself shivering in my shoes. Seldom do you read a book by such an innovative storyteller, and such a great thinker. The way Bradbury captures you and pulls you into the story is phenomenal. I am mystified and still thinking. This book has set my imagination rolling...READ IT!!! | 1positive
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very dissapointing
I read 155 pages of this book and found it boring in the extreme.A lot of it was history and not so much about the author.I could not continue reading it it was so boring.Now I know why it was so cheap to buy. | 0negative
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Expand your knowledge of history
A very interesting idea about using a modern investigative approach to a 500 year old case. I learned a lot about theRichard III era. I would like to know if the facts presentedare verifiable because the evidence and analysis presented seem solid.I read about this book and author in a text by Christopher Hitchens, he seems to be a fan. | 1positive
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An outstanding historical biography
This is an outstanding work of history. Trefousse used some excellent sources and proved his thesis that Johnson's opposition to civil rights ensured that African-Americans were disenfranchised for close to 100 years. The author showed that Johnson was a shrewd and successful politician who accomplished a great deal for the state of Tennessee. However, his fanatical devotion to state's rights ensured that his presidency was doomed to failure.Trefousse contrasts the flexible and pragmatic Lincoln with Johnson, a man who was constrained by an ideological straitjacket. Johnson made a myriad of political enemies and held grudges against anyone who had ever offended him. This is a very interesting and informative book. It was well researched and is probably the best biography of Johnson in print. | 1positive
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I feel that this book was very powerful and descriptive.
I've read "A Ring of Endless Light" twice and each time I feel the sensational subconcious power in it; that makes it a success. Everyone who reads this book will be instantly drawn into the confused adolescent world of nearly 16 year old Vicky Austin. As she "grows" wiser in the story, so did I . The content is so vivid, that it paints a picture in my mind. I've read some other of Madeleine L'Engle's books, but I think that this one was the best. No other non-L'Engle books I've read can compare to the vivid reality of "A Ring of Endless Light" either. This book is an inspirational read to me, so I suggest that anyone who likes deep thinking should read it. | 1positive
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AWESOME BOOK!
I AM A FIRST TIME MOTHER TO A LOVELY DAUGHTER DANIELLE. I HAVE BEEN DOING SOME RESOURCE AND READING DIFFERENT BOOKS ON BABY FOOD. I FOUND THE SUPER BABY FOOD BOOK AND I LOVE IT. IT HAS ANSWERED SO MANY QUESTIONS FOR ME. IT IS A TERIFFIC GUIDE. RUTH EXPLAINS SO MUCH IN THIS BOOK. I WOULD TELL EVERY MOM THAT THIS IS A HAVE TO HAVE BOOK!!! I WANT TO GIVE THE BEST TO MY DAUGHTER AND RUTH EXPLAINS IN HER BOOK THE BEST FOODS FOR YOUR BABY. SUPER BABY FOOD WILL BE IN MY KITCHEN FOR A LONG TIME. I CAN'T WAIT TO MAKE MY OWN DAUGHTER'S BABY FOOD. THANKS RUTH FOR SUCH A GREAT BOOK.LISAPITTSBURGH | 1positive
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Ferry's translation captures the tone of Horace's Odes
Horace's odes are particularly difficult to translate because the poet modulates his tone, the emotional registers of his voice, and the speed of his verse suddenly and dramatically. Ferry's translations above all capture these swift changes in Horace's voice, providing the English versions that best reproduce the remarkable range of Horace's style. | 1positive
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iPhone file is UNREADABLE
This is a review of the iPhone digital file only, not the content of the book. (The book, I like).The file delivered is UNREADABLE. It is a mess and there is a typo on nearly every page: inserted or deleted characters, random italics, incorrect spacing.DO NOT BUY THIS PIECE OF GARBAGE. | 0negative
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a good book for beginners.
It is a good book for beginners without electronic background. | 0negative
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A Look into the Guilt ridden soul
If you are into scary nights and guilty plaguing consciences, this is the collection of stories that will thrill you and incite you to the wee hours of the night. Edgar Allan Poe is a genius in writing and content. His vision into the depths of the guilty soul and to the murderous soul is unbelievably scarily seemingly truthful. His stories, like the Raven, Tell-Tale Heart, and The Black Cat will keep you engaged and will promote your brain to think if ever human nature is like that, if ever you could be like that. Poe is a desperately depressive man whose dark nature shins through in his superb writing style. I definitely recommend any of Poe's material. Read this if you dare to think. | 1positive
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Don't waste your money
After my original review of this book, I've had more time to look over the book. This book is horrible, the graphics are pitiful. At first glance they didn't seem so bad, but upon closer examination you'll realize that the terms photo and realistic don't belong on any of the book's pictures.I've taken the time to look over some of Mr. Mortier's other books, based on comments I've read, and they too seem to fall in the garbage category. His book on Poser is particularly horrid, anyone can play with the controls of a program and generate something that looks awful, we don't need a book to tell us how to do it.Unfortunately, the poor quality of this book has forced me to more carefully review books by his publisher. Mr. Mortier continues to crank out books about software he has no mastery of, and they continue to be published.I do have to give Mr. Mortier credit though, it takes a lot of effort to produce such hideous renders from Bryce. | 0negative
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awful--don't waste your time
I usually love M.L.Baxter. This book, however, stunk! Bad. The heroine was totally unlikable and a whiny baby (with a father complex). And, let's face it--things like getting married to the family "gardener" and then keeping the marriage a secret from family while you continue to live in the "big house" and he lives in the caretaker's cottage just don't happen in real life. DUMB! DUMB! DUMB! | 0negative
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To confusing.
A endless trail of weird things happening, a classic but a boring classic. The story goes to deep for most people. I heard someone say it was a very clever maths problem. | 0negative
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Mine own interpretatoin
This book is not to be read literally, rather it should be read aloud -- "sung" as if it were a piece of music. And like a piece of music, I find myself lazily following the words whilst occasionally getting a flash of images. One wonders how a musician, not of instrument or voice but of words, would interprete this piece.I know there are audio book versions available, but they're abridged. Besides, they're probably read as if the text were prose not poetry -- like a student reciting an historical document. I eagerly await the release of an unabridge version in the vein of the complete and unabridged Ring of the Nibelungs by Wagner (with James Levine and the Metropolitan Opera). | 1positive
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Not the book I ordered!!
They sent me a copy of Little Women, but a COMPLETLEY DIFFERENT EDITION from what I ordered. Now I have to go through the hassle of returning it. They said that that was the edition they had on hand, so they sent it out!!They thought I wouldn't notice. I ordered a pocket edition and they sent me a large book, and a large print one at that!!!I would give them NO stars if I could! | 0negative
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The voice of a million oppressed workers
Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath" is a fictionalized account of the plight of migrant farm workers in California during the Great Depression. Dust storms and poor irrigation have turned large areas of farmland in the prairie states into a Dust Bowl. Tenant farmers, unable to grow crops and pay rent to their landlords, have been forced off their land by the banks. The starving farmers are lured to California by the promise of plentiful fruit-picking jobs, only to find it an unattainable paradise.The novel follows the pilgrimage of an Oklahoma family named the Joads and their friend, a former preacher named Jim Casy. When the novel begins, Tom Joad has just gotten out of prison and returns home to find that his family is one of the many that have been dispossessed by the land-owning company. They are preparing to drive to California to seek better farming opportunities. The road to California is a wasteland of unfriendly cops, opportunistic salesmen, unemployed drifters, and lonely souls, all seen from the vista of the Joads' rickety truck. The chapters alternate between the Joads' specific experiences and interludes that give a sort of large-scale third-party perspective to the general plight of the land and the people.Once in the fertile valleys of central California, the Joads learn the reality of the job situation: The farm owners have lured many more people than necessary to fill the available jobs, so they get to hire those who are willing to work for the least money. The surplus of migrant farm workers group together in encampments called Hoovervilles and wait desperately for news about new jobs, while they are forced to face the hostility of the locals who call them "Okies" and consider them wage-deflating scabs. The living conditions are deplorable and the Joads can barely afford the most meager of food.The Joads eventually find work picking peaches at a large farm that operates almost like a labor camp, with armed guards stationed around to ensure there are no worker uprisings. It is here that Casy, who has been rallying for worker unionization, is martyrized when he is killed by a goon trying to break up a worker strike. Towards the end of the book, in Tom's "farewell" speech to his mother, Steinbeck conveys his message of the importance of worker organization and unionization to prevent exploitation by employers."The Grapes of Wrath" is thoroughly depressing to the very end. It has been accused of being too didactic and heavy-handed, but it's a book that needed to be written and one that took a lot of guts to do so. Who else but Steinbeck could have treated the downtrodden with so much dignity and sympathy without being condescending? Who else could have invested so much detail in even the seemingly least important characters, such as the one-eyed man in the junkyard, the storekeeper at the peach farm, and the fervently religious Lisbeth Sandry, making them unforgettable symbols of humanity? This book is an education. After reading it, everything else seems shallow. | 1positive
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no dice
This is a book that serves no purpose i would not read again it does not do wat the title says it is | 0negative
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Been there, done that
Waste of time, waste of money. This is basic body building repackaged with a high protein diet. I still have a pamphlet from the 1970s by Joe Weider that espouses exactly the same thing that is being said here at a fraction of the cost and without the contest hoopla (what a 90s thing! sheesh).No doubt about it, if you follow this plan, you'll loose weight and buff up. But how many people are actually going to stick to this? Yeah, yeah, I got suckered into buying this book cause everybody everywhere is talking about it. But being a veteran of the diet wars (anyone remember the grapefruit diet the first time around?), I should have known better.There are NO magic bullets and NO magic cures. Losing weight is tough, hard work. This author isn't saying anything you haven't heard before: eat less and exercise. It's just got a very slick package going for it. Your money can be better spent on a new pair of walking shoes. | 0negative
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Useless if you're in a hurry
I purchased this book after reading all the great reviews for it at this site, but found that it has been useless for my purposes. I need a few minor customizations to my Outlook client, and I don't have much time to spend. I am a fairly experienced hack, and usually pick up new programming concepts quickly, but I have found it impossible to extract key concepts from this book. Outlook 2000 Programming in 24 hours - no more, no less - and god help you if your project doesn't closely resemble one of the samples provided. | 0negative
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Five Stars from a first time Crais reader!!!
This was my first Robert Crais book...he was recommended to me by my BFF who is an avid reader of his.I live in L.A., so maybe that's why I connected with it so easily... but this was also just one of those books I could NOT bear to put down. His character Elvis had me so intrigued as to what lengths he would go to rescue that kidnapped boy, I just had to keep going with it!It will be fun now too, to go back and see what I missed in Elvis' earlier adventures. Thanks Mr. Crais...well done! | 1positive
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derivative pot boiler
This book is acceptable to reliev boredom on a long flight.There is one original idea, I think, committing a murder by framing the victim for another murder. This might be remotely plausible once, but considering the length of the appeals process in the US, odds of sucess are modest. Postulating this as a method for commiting serial murders is absurd.Derivative: Example A: The creepy serial killer behind bars that the deetective consults -- does this sound like a famous movie plot or what?? Example B: A bunch of Tom Clancey military jargon dropping -- which isn't even done right except for MPs and a couple of specialized uses, the last "service revolver" (yet *revoler!*) dates back to WWI and was taken out of service decades ago.Even a non=lawyer could see that the most effective to have saved the first victim would have been an appeal based on the prosecution withholding evidence from the defense.The sex scenes are a waste of paper. They sould like they were written by the same computer that is used to insert them zillions of other pot-boilers.If you can borrow a used copy from a friend, it might be worth the price. | 0negative
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intresting, but dry
I liked overall but l got tired of it at the end. lt's eaasy to understand at the begining but it gets more commpliated at the end.l found his philosophy and stories imtresting. The book gives you general ideaof life at that time.As a history book it could be used to get a picture of what life was like at that time, snd as a primary scource on other incidents or religious sects at that time. lt's not a cear biography of his life but does have quite a bit of his important ideas such as fire companies and the library and his ideas about electricity. t skims over some of his more important discoveries, however.ld recommend to someone who likes reading at a fairly high level or anyones who wants to know more about the 1700s or Franklin's philosophy. | 1positive
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Pass This One By....
One of the few SciFi novels I've actually failed to finish. Unengaging characters, very disjointed writing. Don't waste your time. | 0negative
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Woman's history set back 1000 years!
I love Victoria Holt! I have read most of her books. This book was great right up to the rape scene. I feel that I am not giving anything away since the other reviewers mentioned this aspect to the plot already. I thought that the character would grow and develop from this experience but in the end she is still a victim! The ending of the book was terrible as well. It was as if the author had five minutes to write an ending and just wrote whatever came to mind. My eighth graders would have come up with a better ending. Borrow this from the library and buy The Silk Vendetta or The Night of the Seventh Moon. They are both excellent books. | 0negative
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Excellent Book
I enjoyed the recent movie Pride and Prejudice so much that I just had to read the book. I don't have time to actually sit down and read a novel, so I purchased the audio version. I was very pleased with it. I thought the narrator was excellent. Wonderful Book! | 1positive
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A "must" for Vincent van Gogh enthusiasts!
Vincent van Gogh is one of the truly influential painters of his day and painted art revealing complex spirituality and intense emotion that continue to impress art students, connoisseurs, and artists today. He was able to imbue his work with his own psychological presence as is especially evidenced in his many self-portraits. In Van Gogh, art historian and Post-Impressionist expert Belinda Thompson has assembled his paintings and works drawn from the archives and collections of the Art Institute Of Chicago including such famous works as an 1887 Self-Portrait, The Bedroom, and Madame Roulin Rocking the Cradle. Thirty of the images are reproduced in full color, together with another twenty-two duotone comparative illustrations. Van Gogh is further enhanced for the reader with an informative account tracing the great artist's development as a painter in Holland, England, and France in a career that was to last less than a decade. Van Gogh is a very highly recommended addition to any personal, academic, or community library Post-Impressionist art history reference collection in general, and to Vincent van Gogh enthusiasts in particular. | 1positive
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Finally, a version I can believe ...
I've been haunted by the inconsistencies andirrationalities of the new testament stories foras long as I've been hearing them. Mary Magdalene,the whore, such an important player in so many ofthe episodes. Jesus so very not-human. Women sovery nearly non-existant. And now, the story toldin a much more believable version. Mary thepriestess. Jesus so very human. Women so muchthe keepers of religion, as they are today. Iclosed this book and thought, "I know this is theway it really happened." | 1positive
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Dickens "A Christmas Carol" (Kindle)
Great retelling of this classic story I have a hardbound edition of the annotated edition, but sometimes it is best to just read it as it was published originally. | 1positive
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I LOVE THIS FAMILY
I love this family. I am new to this work By Mrs.Jackson I could not wait to read about Dex and his brothers I downloaded these book I will more than likely buy them all . I highly recommend all to read any book writien by Mrs.Jackson you will be very happy with your buy. | 1positive
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The Witness
Cannot not rate this book until I read it. I am in process of reading another book. I will read it as soon as I can and will rate it then | 0negative
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The new Jude Deveraux
After reading Wild Orchids, I couldn't decide really whether or not I liked it. I can say it wasn't a terrible novel, but it was not memorable either. It really depends on the person, as I have read some great reviews of this book, but in the end, when I finished it, I just felt really disappointed. Jude Deveraux used to be one of my favorite authors, with incredible romance novels like Sweet Liar, or the Velvet Series. The new direction which her writing has taken, such as in The Mulberry Tree and Forever, just does not interest me at all. She did a great job in A Knight In Shining Armor, incorporating time travel and romance into a thoroughly entertaining book. But I just don't understand where these new ideas are coming from.Wild Orchids is not your typical romance novel, in fact I would classify it more as general fiction. There were some good moments in the book, and others just too ridiculous for me to comprehend. This was how I interpreted the book: A famous author in his 60's who is in mourning for his deceased wife and past relatives, hires a young woman (in her late 20's or so) who cannot completely remember her past but is linked with the devil. They travel to this town where her past is uncovered, fall in love, and both end up speaking to the devil.If you read this summary and are intrigued, then you'll probably like the book. However, if you read it, and just laugh, then it's probably not for you. Wild Orchids was not the book for me, Deveraux's writing from two perspectives was interesting, but her male protagonist's point of view was not very believable. Overall, I found the book to be quite boring, and honestly, a little silly. There wasn't enough romance in the book to carry it through, but the intrigue wasn't mysterious enough either. If you liked Forever, you'll probably like this book. Romance authors I would recommend instead include Susan Elizabeth Phillips (especially This Heart of Mine), Brenda Joyce (her Deadly Series), and Judith McNaught (except her most recent one). | 0negative
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This is not a good book
I expected a light read, but did not expect to be annoyed by this book! There are many reasons why someone would choose (or wish) to skip Christmas, and many reasons why it would be almost impossible in our culture. Grisham, however (or whoever wrote this, it isn't up to Grisham standards), only considers one (the materialistic excesses) and sets his scenes with a cartoon-like quality. The first half is entertaining, but both the author and the character cave in to society's expectations, falling flat in attempts to express something about the "real meaning of Christmas." I was hoping this book might expand on the idea that there are as many expressions of the "real meaning" as there are Christians, and illustrate how one man searched for his own. Alas.... Maybe next year. | 0negative
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Disappointing
Personally I was not impressed with this book. I expected for 250 designs the author would have included a greater variety of indian, turkish, african, egyptian and other mehndi designs.The designs mainly resemble each other although there are a few pretty ones in between. Also for the novice the book does not offer any information on the history of a design pattern, or identifies them and gives no clue to the significance or meaning of any of the designs.The author also does not offer any advice on how to go about attempting some of the patterns included. | 0negative
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The Best Muffin Recipes Ever!
I first bought this book 19 years ago and now the spine and pages have seen better days since I have used the book over and over again! I have given this book as a gift and it is always a winner. | 1positive
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Another Reader Added to Michael Crichton's Fan List
Congo is another of Michael Crichton's wonderful masterpieces. It is a brilliant mixture of suspense, action, and unthinkable horrors. This book kept me busy, reading page after page, never wanting to stop. Michael Crichton's realistic jungle setting and descriptions greatly enhanced the feeling of suspense and thrill. At the climax in the book, my hands were sweating and my heart was thumping against my chest.This book hurls readers deep into the depths of the Congo Jungle and the ruins of the Lost City of Zinj, where they came upon an ill fated field expedition. All the men were brutally killed and the camp destroyed in a matter of minutes. Back in Houston, the project directors watched the gruesome satellite transmission. In the midst of the ruined camp, they saw a dark, blurry, hulking figure prowling near the bodies. All the men had died the same way; their skulls were crushed. After minimal investigation, the company sent another expedition to the Congo Jungle, plunging the field expedition into the terrible unknowns of the Congo Jungle.Congo is another must read for the books written by Michael Crichton. He has an extraordinary way of writing a book that draws people's attention. I would recommend this book to people who enjoy adventure stories. Many parts of the book take place in a eerie twilight setting where the surrounding jungle seems to be vibrant and mysterious. In addition, if you want an extra surge of thrill, read the book at night, alone, and in a quiet room. | 1positive
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There are better books
This book could actually be helpful to people, as it contains a lot of good basic psychological self-help information. But it is really a book written for adult children of alcoholics. Whitfield stretches and strains to try to cover all those from difficult or dysfunctional families, and the result is messy. It also contains a lot of sloppy thinking, fundamentally the notion equating the Inner Child with the Real Self, Divine Child, and so on. It gets torturous when he tries to explain qualities of the Inner Child, which include the selfish, demanding qualities that all children share. There are also a lot of "what was he thinking" moments, such as the statement "A trauma is a loss" (how about, "A loss is a trauma"?), or "Transformation is a change of form" (true of physical change, but not emotional or psychic change. How about, "Transformation is a change of state"). Other areas reflect a rather shallow approach to therapeutic process, such as great emphasis on telling our story, a place where vicitimhood thrives. This is a well-meaning effort by a pioneer in the field, but unless you are ACOA, I would recommend looking elsewhere. | 0negative
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Getting to know Paris and the Lost Generation
Written almost like a diary that takes you back to Paris in the early part of the 20th century, this book relates Mr. Hemingway's daily happenings during his days as a struggling writer. You get a "view" of Paris and its inhabitants, environs, and a sampling of the culture - all from the point of view of a young American writer and journalist. Not to mention an interesting perspective in "meeting" the likes of Gertrude Stein and F. Scott Fitzgerald, and seeing them not as they are known now - as legendary. But instead, Mr. Hemingway presents them as friends who are pursuing a career in the arts; each with their particular insecurities and quirks, as recognized by their peers.The prose is spartan; without lots of elaborate descriptions and adjectives. Instead, it has the flavor of a journalistic report told in no-nonsense terms, but seasoned with insights and perspectives by the author. The rhythm and personality of the writing style makes things seem real and in-person. And, as a tribute to Mr. Hemingway, I have tried to write this review, whether he would agree with my assessment of his book or not, in a manner of writing that he himself might have been inclined to use. | 1positive
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The Giver
This was a great book. It's about a boy named Jonas who live's in a strict community. They can't fight, they can't see colors. Each family is assigned a boy and a girl and at the age of 12 a job for life. Jonas is a boy who stands out as being very different from the others in his community. When Jonas gets older, he is selected to become the next Receiver of Memory. This is not an ordinary job but one that has a lot of honor. The story tells how Jonas gets to "receive" his memories. It's a really exciting book. I recommend it. | 1positive
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The Hobbit Or There And Back Again
Meet Bilbo Baggins just your ordinary little ol hobbit that keeps to himself then one day is asked to go on an adventure with alot of dwarvs and a wizard follow along with bilbo in this amazing journey in the hobbit. this book was alot better than lord of the rings and alot easier to read. don't get me wrong lord of the rings is good but i liked the hobbit better. and now i can't wait untile the movie comes out on 12-14-12. it will be good. this is a awesome book. if you have not read this book then i recommend you do | 1positive
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Madness, Beauty and Desperation at the Crossroads
Mysteries is that rare breed of book which mesmerizes you and pulls you through its pages, transfixed, before you know what's happened to you. With Norway serving as the idyllic backdrop, we are suddenly living life through the eyes of the charming but insane Johan Nagel. Nagel lands as a stranger in a small coastal town and weaves the unwitting residents into the reckless schemes of his disturbed mind. As he does, he gives desperate vent to his frustrations, dreams, romantic yearnings, joys, rage, love, and compulsion to belong. Peopled by the midget Grogaard, the unattainable beauty Dagny Kielland, the disapproving magistrate's deputy Reinert, and the whimsical spinster Martha Gude, Knut Hamsun's narrative genius lies in the things he leaves unsaid at every stage of the story, and doing so especially brilliantly towards the book's end, where everything coalesces and resolves by subtle implication. Hamsun's artistic mastery is overwhelming and refreshing. I hope you enjoy the dazzling display of his talents as much as I did in this book. | 1positive
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Don camillo
This is a wonderful book.It can be read any number of times. Still it does not lose its innate humour and charm.As a political satire it is even better than any of George Orwell's books.A book for all times and for all ages. Human foibles and weaknesses and Divine Virtues are abundantly portrayed in this book.It makes fun of the Catholic Church as well as the Communists.A truly inspiring work. I am only sorry that I do not know Italian.Since to read it in the original language would give the greatest pleasure.If anyone is not satisfied after reading it.Tell me .I will buy it from you. I have given this book away to many of my friends and foes alike.yours sincerely ,Diljit C.Shah,E-mail:diljitshah@yahoo.co.in. | 1positive
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Incomplete
I have six Nora Roberts books that are not listed in this book and I know of at least one more. There is no series number or publishing information included for the books it does list. | 0negative
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Not What I Expected.
In a sense, a biblical novel is a historical novel. The writer must not inject her own theories that run perpendicular to the grain of history or to the Scriptures. A writer of an American Civil War history, for instance, would be doing his readers and history itself a great injustice if he portrayed Abe Lincoln as a pacifist. The Red Tent does just this sort of thing. Joseph married and had two sons, both blessed by Jacob and both becoming patriarchs to a half-tribe of Israel. He was a heterosexual, but Ms. Diamant portrays Joseph as a homosexual. This is not only historically innacurate but offensive to Conservative Jews and to others who take the Torah seriously. Not only is the book not based on good history or the Scripture, it is not a very well written book-- quite boring in fact. I give it one star because the cover illustration is beautiful. | 0negative
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A bit disapointing
I thoroughly enjoyed her earlier books (The Book Of Words series) but was very disapointed with this book. To be honest I found 'The Barbed Coil' quite boring. It didn't grab me like some of J.V Jones earlier work. The whole Idea of going to a parallel place from the present just didn't interest me. I still think J.V. Jones is a great writer but I would prefer it if she stuck to more realistic fantasy if there is such a thing. I look forward to her next book though. | 0negative
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The Man Who Corrupted Camelot
Mark Twain was one of the United States' greatest writers, but not one of its most brilliant novelists. A case in point is this 1889 novel, "A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur's Court."The plot has been redone so many times as to make a synopsis here seem pointless. The title character is a practical-minded factory superintendent from Hartford laid out by a crowbar-wielding worker and transported to the time of King Arthur. After conning the locals by anticipating an eclipse and pretending he has blotted out the sun, the Yankee sets to work reforming Arthur's kingdom in slow degrees, earning the wrath of the wizard Merlin among others.The novel's defenders point out that while written in the guise of a children's novel, "A Connecticut Yankee" is a cleverly subversive satire that ridicules tradition and progress simultaneously. For seven-eighths of the book, however, it is neither a fair nor a scintillating fight. Our hero, Hank Morgan, is the book's narrator, and perhaps unreliable, but Twain offers no hint of this as Morgan and Twain mock the customs and puncture the myths of this bygone day, informing us whatever existed then couldn't hold a candle to the present day."Somehow, every time the magic of folderol tried conclusions with the magic of science, the magic of folderol got left," Morgan explains.As the book develops, Morgan builds up the society he finds with modern conveyances, including trains, guns, and telephones. At one point in the story, knights ride to battle on bicycles.Anachronism soon devolves as the main source of humor for the book, along with the narrator's off-handed way of telling us about the people he meets, none of whom impress him. One maiden proves such a windy bore it is a surprise to find Morgan later married to her, and quite a fond husband at that. There is one fellow named Clarence who becomes Morgan's chief acolyte, but he only shows up to help Morgan out of the various minor jams that form the narrative thrust of our story.Much of the time, Twain uses Morgan's experience as an excuse to launch into some invective, particularly involving institutions like slavery and the Roman Catholic Church. Critics talk about this as a slam against capitalism, too, but for the most part Twain presents capitalism as a fine and noble thing, ruined only by the blinkered idiocy of Arthur's subjects.Whatever point Twain had in setting this story in Camelot goes by the boards after 50 pages. He references Malory but demonstrates little interest or fondness for the subject. Arthur goes on one meandering journey with Morgan disguised as a serf, Twain borrowing from his own "Prince And The Pauper", but Arthur otherwise registers little in the story and his court even less. When Arthur's fate is sealed, it occurs off-stage and is presented in the manner of a second-hand report.I got the feeling that Twain had a good idea for a novel but no notion what to do with it. This happens with his novels, like "Pudd'nhead Wilson" and "The Gilded Age." His best-known novel, "Huckleberry Finn," has a famously disjointed ending, though that wrapper is a regular prize compared to what he does here. It's one of the big "huh" moments in American literature, exceeded only by those critics who explain why it is so brilliant, because it satirizes the whole message of the rest of the novel or anticipates trench warfare or shows why suits of armor are a bad idea when worn in battle against an electrified fence. To me it's Twain clearly throwing up his arms and leaving his reader in a hole after being dragged around for over 300 pages.Twain knocks off some good one-liners, and does enough with the concept in the beginning that you wish his heart had stayed in the venture. It didn't, but fortunately for his legacy academia has been more than willing to make up for his lack of patience or effort. | 0negative
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info for Christian Scientists
This book is great, whether on my Kindle or on my Android reading app. What sets it apart from other versions formatted for Kindle is that this one maintains the look of the paper book, with pages number unobtrusively inserted, and the little comments that occur to the side of the paragraph in paper versions are preserved as blue comments in the Kindle version. An interactive hyperlinked table of contents makes this book a dream for serious students of Christian Science.When the text is all over the place, as in some versions, it is distracting. This version takes away all distractions so the student can focus on content.Although there are free versions, this one was DEFINITELY worth paying for. | 1positive
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Really bad
Others have thoroughly dissected this book, so I won't repeat their criticisms (thin characterizations, windy prose, cliched plot elements, "As you know, Bob" infodumps, unbelievable plot twists...etc.). Instead, I'll reduce the book's basic problems to two examples:In the book's first paragraph, a ship is struggling across a "brackish" ocean. Does Newcomb (or his copyeditor) perhaps not know what "brackish" means? Or are they unaware that oceans are salt? Bad, bad, very bad, and it's just the first of many examples of this sort of thing.A few pages later a GIANT PLOT HOLE occurs. A GIANT PLOT HOLE just eight pages into a novel is not a good thing, especially when it's so transparently a device to make the rest of the plot possible. Specifically: four wretchedly evil sorceresses have wreaked hideous and perverted havoc in an effort to Rule the World, leaving the land a shambles. The (magnanimously good) wizards have finally captured them. Now, the wizards obviously need to get rid of the sorceresses, so they can't wreak more hideous and perverted havoc; but if they killed them (as would be logical) there wouldn't be a series. So the author comes up with the notion of wizardly oaths that prohibit killing except in "urgent self-defense"; planned execution therefore would be murder, as would life imprisonment, which would entail starving the sorceresses to keep their powers in check and therefore result in their death by weakness or disease (boo hoo). So the wizards' only option is...banishing the sorceresses into the Unknown--which they do, apparently completely overlooking the fact that in fantasy novels, the Unknown always turns out to contain unpleasant surprises that precipitate unforeseen results (in this case, the fact that the sorceresses survive--something the astute reader will already have guessed by the fact that 580 pages of text remain).Now, epic fantasy novels obviously don't take place in the real world. But they must reflect real world values; they can't completely deny the rules of logic and common sense. In Real World terms, you can bet the wizards would have executed the sorceresses, oaths or no--maybe secretly, maybe with guilt or regret; maybe they even would have suffered for doing so. But they would have done it, because it was necessary, logical, and human. However, in that case...there would be no series. Hence, the GIANT PLOT HOLE that yawns open on page 8. This entire series is based on a completely implausible premise.Unlike others, it really doesn't bother me that most of the female characters are evil and lascivious--I don't think it's sexism at work, but rather the fantasies of a guy who's into the whole S&M; dominatrix thing. Long fingernails! Shiny boots! Whips and chains! Whoo-hoo! What's disappointing is that though there's lots of reference to sexual depravity and many scenes where we are told the sorceresses are being depraved, there's actually NO GOOD SEX in this book!!! I felt really cheated. For a much better execution of this sort of theme, check out Jacqueline Carey's KUSHIEL series (not that I'm in any way comparing the KUSHIEL books, which are beautifully written, plotted, and characterized, to this monstrosity) or Anne Bishop's BLACK JEWELS series (also a much better set of books).The book does present a fairly interesting magic system, but unfortunately it does so mostly through the abovementioned "As you know, Bob" infodumps, which make for very plodding reading.Last: I find it interesting that this book has generated such animus. Badly written, poorly conceived fantasy isn't all that uncommon, and many people love it, as evidenced by the sales figures of writers like...never mind, I won't go there. I suspect that if this book had been released with less hype it might not have produced such hostile reactions. H.L. Mencken said, "No one in this world has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people." Sometimes that isn't as true as cynics like to think it is. Sometimes people do know a turkey when it's plonked on their plates. | 0negative
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A Repeat of Tell Me Lies
If you want to reread Tell Me Lies, then read this book. The plot, the characters, the foibles, the passions - everything is the same except for some name changes. I found Tell Me Lies to be original, hysterical, beautifully written, captivating - but why write an identical book? I know it must be difficult to break from your artistic style, i.e., groups like Boston (oh oh, showing my age!) in which every song sounds like the previous one! That said, based on Tell Me Lies, I still look forward to Jennifer's next book. | 0negative
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Some people forget that Shakespeare wrote historical plays
Shakespeare's play King Henry includes comedy, history, and passion. You may find yourself to side with the rebels and cheer on Lord Percy. The only downside to reading Henry IV part one, is that you might have to do your homework to understand what is going on in this era. After reading this play, go see it in the theater if you can! | 1positive
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TORTURED FOR CHRIST by Richard Wurmbrand
Tortured for Christ (originally published in 1967; revised and re-released in 1997) is an autobiography by Richard Wurmbrand, founder of the nonprofit organization Voice of the Martyrs, which works to raise awareness of the persecution of Christians around the world.Wurmbrand was a Romanian who converted to Christianity as an adult and became a minister. When the Soviet Union occupied Romania, Wurmbrand was arrested for evangelizing, and spent a total of fourteen years in prison, where he was tortured and beaten. Upon his release, he came to the West and founded what became The Voice of the Martyrs.Tortured for Christ is a short book (150 pages), and Wurmbrand glosses over many events and leaves out many details that would help the reader put his story together more concretely. Wurmbrand splits these limited pages among giving the broad strokes of his life, offering his thoughts on persecution and witness to Communists, and discussing and condemning the atheistic policies of the Communist governments.Wurmbrand displays an astonishing love toward his persecutors. He bears them no animosity, no violence, no wish for harm - only love and forgiveness. He says, "Only love can change the Communist and the terrorist" (p. 57). This selfless love, this relinquishing of the "right" to get even or bear a grudge, allows God to work in the hearts of the oppressors. And this has a universal application to anyone that we as Christians might call "enemy". To Wurmbrand, these individuals were not his enemies - the sin and the evil ideology were.Wurmbrand calls out Western Christians in a very serious way. After World War II, Wurmbrand says, the West unwittingly helped oppressive Soviet regimes take power in much of Europe. The Communists hijacked Christianity in these countries and turned the organized church into a Communist tool. Wurmbrand, having spent most of his life in an environment where being a confessing Christian could get a person jailed, tortured and killed, found Western Christians profoundly lukewarm. And many of them he found uninterested in helping those suffering persecution.Tortured for Christ provides a truly eternal perspective on life. Western Christians, even the most generous of them, are attached to their things and their lifestyles. The thought of losing literally everything is terrifying, yet those in Wurmbrand's boat have accepted this lot with joy. And this is why the Church has, historically, thrived under persecution.Wurmbrand said that Tortured for Christ "has no literary value. It was written in only three days shortly after my release from prison. But it was written with pen and tears. And for some reason, God has chosen to bless this writing and use it for His purpose" (p. 7). This is a fair assessment - the message is important enough to outweigh the book's literary flaws.Tortured for Christ is recommended to any Christian who is interested in what's going on in the world, or is looking for some real perspective on life.HIGHLY RECOMMENDED | 1positive
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Good read.
Amis has often written about the ego of the literary author, and here he creates the greatest challenge to his own ego: a novel that takes place entirely within the thoughts and actions of a main character, John Self, that is truly despicable, and without redemption. How can a book be readable when its protagonist is such a louse? Other readers have complained that Self`s excesses, including his attempted rape of his girlfriend, detract from the humor. They don`t get it: Amis has made a compelling novel about a character that has zero redeeming value; he has dragged the reader through 400 some pages of the thoughts and repetitive excessess of a character he/she hates. This is truly extraordinary.As if this wasn`t enough, Amis injects himself into the narrative, offering literary theory which acts as the authors elbow jab to the chops. Is the author morally resonsible for his characters? Amis should hope not. Great book. | 1positive
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"One of the 21st Century's Top 10" -- Written Dec. 31, 2099
As we come to the close of the 21st Century, I have the pleasure to share with you a list of books that were unique in the 21st Century. The ciriteria for choosing these books are the following: the book must both be an example of illumination and information; the book should have been written with graciousness and style; it must have involved the weaving together of disparate stories into an effective voice inspiring action; it must have been written with humor as well as with honest appraisal and constructive criticism; one should still be able to curl up with this book by a warming fire, by a lake following a picnic, or in a botanical garden as one rests from the oppressive heat of summer; it should have taken its place among the great books produced at the end of the 20th Century, such as the global reports written by Brundtland ("Our Common Future") and the Commission on Global Governance, "Our Common Neighborhood".What book tops the list? Well, none of us remember back to when it was written, just at the dawn of the 21st Century, but go to your library and find Arianna Huffington's future-oriented "How to Overthrow the Government".Arianna was one of the seminal thinkers of our 21st Century, a woman of grace, poise and dignity, able to speak and think on her feet and comprehensively, able to articulate her ideas and give positive examples of how to emulate heroic action, and where the action could have been more positive, how that leap into higher consciousness could be achieved.The quest for leadership is a thread that runs consistently through "How to Overthrow Government". The book really only deals with the political system in the United States, and how the ordinary person was encouraged and exhorted time and again to change the system by positive, personal action.While written from this viewpoint of encouraging the individual to become a better citizen, the text never becomes didactic or simply a diatribe on how the author THINKS people should change. Her grasp of history comes upon the reader in a second, her insights like lightning bolts that make one pause and re-examine the reader's own sense of history.At the conclusion of the book, the author provides organizational contacts that give the reader a menu of options for volunteer work or from which more information could be gained on some of the topics covered in the book.The author, as it turned out, became the first woman chosen unanimously as Secretary-General of the United Nations some years following the issuance of this book. In the end, the UN Member States realized the value of the author's words, as did the millions of amazon.com readers who chose to buy the book as well!It is unfortunate that no other books appear on this list of most influential books of the 21st Century. I suppose everyone just decided to take the author's words to heart and went out and changed government positively, one by one. | 1positive
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Too many mistakes and biased analysis
Let me state from the start that I have only read the chapter on the Nixons; that was all I needed to read to see that it would be largely a waste of time to continue further with this book. Marton presents a highly simplistic reading of the Nixons' marriage--one that happened to have already been formulated by journalists several decades ago. She marshals her evidence in such a way so that everything appears to fit perfectly into her larger theme of "Richard Nixon, the horrible husband." This sometimes leads her to unlikely interpretations or outright misstatements of fact. Marton includes numerous quotes from Nixon about his wife, including his praise of her performances on her trips abroad, his admiration for the way she was able to bear up under the pressures of the Watergate scandal, and his discussion of the "sunshine of her smile" at her funeral (at which he wept violently). Somehow or another, in order to make these quotes fit into her larger schema, Marton turns all of these positive quotes into terrible, negative things that reinforce her idea of his coldness as a husband.What is worse, however, is her inclusion of distortions of fact. For example, Pat Nixon's press secretary and friend, Helen Smith, wrote articles and gave interviews about the Nixons after Nixon's resignation from office. She largely recalled both Nixons as being very warm and friendly, and she noted that it was Pat who "sustained" Nixon. Marton claims, however, that Smith wrote an article exposing their marriage as a fraud. The problem is not only is this untrue, but Marton takes this further and claims that this article precipitated Pat Nixon's stroke. However, several people who actually knew her said that they thought that her stroke was caused by her discontent over Woodward and Bernstein's misrepresentation of her marriage as loveless in The Final Days. Pat had been reading this actual book soon before her stroke, not a (largely positive) article by Helen Smith.In addition, Marton claims that Nixon utterly dismissed his wife's advice. For example, she claims that he ignored her advice to appoint a woman to the Supreme Court. His secretly recorded tapes show that this is patently untrue. After discussions with her and their daughters, he had indeed decided on following her advice and putting a woman (Mildred Lillie) on the court and would have done so if the American Bar Association had not said that his choice was unqualified.I could bring up several more instances like this. I can only imagine the sorts of things Marton includes and doesn't include in her discussions of other presidents. There are better (and more accurate) sources out there for people wanting to know more about First Families. | 0negative
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An Absolutely Unnecessary Situation
The philosophical setting of this book is littered with "ifs." If the United States government would protect the US from invaders, as it is charged to do, this book never would have been written. If other nations were governed by constitutions conceptually similar to that of the United States, establishing freedom and individual rights everywhere -- such that people would not feel it necessary to flee their home governments, and seek freedom in the United States -- this book never would have come into being. If, if, if.This excellent book is a well-written tragedy about good law enforcement people who took the initiative to overlook one crime (illegal immigration) and proactively fight other crimes -- robbery, assault, battery etc. The story is compelling and riveting. It is good guys versus bad guys.Unfortunately, both sides lost. | 1positive
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Oink!
The really sad thing about this book is that, although we might be entertained, and it sure feels good if nothing else to verbally abuse the bad boys of corporate America, it is all so morosely ineffectual and after the fact. How many of the CEOs that columnist (and currently independent candidate for governor of California) Arianna Huffington lambasts here will actually do any jail time? How many will pay fines that are more than a fraction of the benefits they have already received, benefits they have reinvested, benefits that are drawing dividends, interest and influence? How many will even find their lavish lifestyles amended in the slightest?The answer my friend is probably zero.And so it goes (wrote Kurt Vonnegut Jr. in Slaughterhouse Five, but that's another story). In the long run whether corporate executives will continue to find the means to rip off their shareholders is of little moment. Let's say each visible pig managed to steal one way or the other an average of $40-million from his corporation; and let's say there are one thousand such swine. How much does that cost us? Forty million times a thousand is $40-billion big ones, or as Evertt Dirksen used to say, a billion here, a billion there, and pretty soon we're talking real money. Notice, by the way, that in small companies or in a business that you may happen to own, there is absolutely no chance that you could get away with ripping off...yourself!Furthermore, remember that these oinkers have to spend that money on conspicuous consumption of some kind, a house on Long Island, an apartment in Manhattan, a yacht berth at Martha's Vineyard, Picassos and Rembrandts, a mistress, Chateau Petrus and Cuban cigars. So some of it trickles down, and for most of us poor souls in the unemployment line (God, we're hardly alive! relatively speaking) it really doesn't matter much.What does matter is how corporations are able to gain unnatural influence over our elected officials and thereby rip off the government, the environment, pollute the water and the air, drive smaller businessmen out of business, purchase public lands at garage sale prices, economically ensnare millions of workers (and then dump them when the time is ripe), and guess what, nobody can be held responsible!I wish Ms Huffington had focused on these more substantial crimes of corporate America and on the way the system works to shield them and their execs from any real accountability. I did enjoy her numerous flights of nasty rhetoric and the befuddling array of facts and figures she presents (I assume they are mostly right), and I have a lot of sympathy for those who got their pension funds shortchanged while the CEOs golden-parachuted on gossamer wings to the French Riviera or Barbados or a ranch in Texas. I even feel some sympathy for the poor slob who bought Enron at ninety bucks and change or WorldCom at sixty-four fifty (see p. 41). And it is true she has a table on page 115 entitled "Buying Congress" which lists the top five senators and top five congressmen in terms of campaign contributions from the accounting industry, 1989-2001. The salient thing to notice, however, is that there are exactly five democrats and five republicans on the list. What does that tell us about how things are going to go in the future? With both political parties feeding heartily at the trough is there any chance that any of what Huffington rails against will change?The answer my friend is the null set. Until the laws of the land are changed so that corporations AND their executives are held responsible for their actions, business will continue as usual. The rich will grow obscenely more rich, and someone, somewhere, who doesn't deserve, it will get ripped off once again.And so it goes. | 1positive
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Makes you wish for a heart attack
One of the best modern horror stories I have ever read. After the first page it takes all your attention and doesn't let go until some point in the last third, where the story gets a little flat. Sometimes, when someone in the book is in a dark room, it feels like I can't see the text because of the darkness. One of the things that bothers me is the put-on sex scene. Feels like it is there because there must be a sex scene. It doesn't fit to the story at all. But in any other way, a must for all horror/Koonz fans. | 1positive
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For all of it's promises, this book yielded minimal results
We purchased this book with high hopes for our stubborn two and 1/2 year old daughter. After a long, anxious weekend (not the "less than a day" promised in the title) of using Azrin's method to a "T", we are not much closer to potty training than when we began. The method made our daughter nervous and weepy and left us feeling awful. Don't be too quick to buy the promises... there's got to be a better way. | 0negative
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Eat, Pray, Love
I have bought 8 copies of this book and give them to all my friends.One of my all time favorite books. | 1positive
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Take the Blinders off!
Definately a fast-paced story, 'Blinded' takes you through life in the eyes of Mona. Neglected by her mom at an early age, Mona believes all she needs to do is get a high school diploma and everything else after that will come by ways of her good looks. Determined not to be like her mother, Mona steers clear of prostitution and drugs. Extremeley book smart she does not carry that same intelligence over to her relationships with men. She is easily manipulated and forgets her morals when she starts on the same path her mother once took. I enjoyed reading 'Blinded' and I especially liked that it was told in Mona's voice. I am looking forward to 'Grimey'. | 1positive
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A Book That Teaches One To Sell
Albeit the fact that Zig Ziglar's own MLM bit the dust, this book is great for those who would like to learn how to retail their MLM products.Also this book does NOT cover much about the pitfalls one is bound to encounter in network marketing.James LeongAuthor of "MLM Persuasion Mastery:How Master Networkers Change Beliefsand Behavior" | 0negative
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The River of Doubt Has Many Tributaries
This fascinating account of Theodore Roosevelt's disastrous trip on the River of Doubt is well-written and meticulously researched. It has many "micro histories" on the flora and fauna of Brazil (hint: don't read this outside around a lot of bugs) as well as the native peoples of the region. My only frustration had to do with all the diversions when, on a few occasions, I just wanted to find out what happened next. The epilogue tells the reader the sometimes tragic personal stories once the journey ended and was one of the portions of the book that I shall remember the most. I read this as a book club assignment and we had a lengthy and lively discussion on Roosevelt, his son, and the men who played such a critical part of their journey. If you like a lot of detail in harrowing stories of exploration and adventure, this would be a perfect choice. | 1positive
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Expetacular!!! Todavia en el processo de leerlo por completo
Muy buen libro de recurso para entender el Apocalipsis en una forma paralela con la Biblia(yo estudio la Reina Valera 1960). Te explica en detalle como sera los eventos del "fin del mundo". Me gusta mucho...es de suma bendicion para mi crecimiento Espiritual!!! | 1positive
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Not what I wanted!
This did not have the Tom Bombadil stories that I read 43 yrs ago. It was ok for what it is. | 0negative
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not up to her usual standard
I liked a couple of recent Linda Howard books, but I'm sorry I bought this one. The characters are boring and the plot is just stupid - lots of coincidences and everything works out easily. It's more like a new author's first novel, with all the plot holes and one-D characters. Plus it just isn't as intense as her other books. | 0negative
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Librarians only.
One way to get a best seller is to have an attractive dust cover, which this book certainly has. Librarians may want to read it just to check out whether or not the author has done his homework. I'll guess they'll either be impressed or laughing.The first seven eighths of the book were good reading, if a bit esoteric. To finish up, Mr. Kurzweil spins up a fantastic (in the unbelievable sense) ending that whimpers a la the ending of "The Da Vinci Code". | 0negative
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terrible
this book was terrible, if your a beginner no doubt you'll still end up calling the hotline after reading this. I thought it would be more of a walk-through, something for beginners like myself to come to grips with protools setup and use, instead what i spent 3 days pouring over is a general hodgepodge of information with no specifics. No help here on how to setup, how to hear a click track, no help at all... | 0negative
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Two Stars and Two Words....Very Little
Maybe I just didn't look at the photo correctly or I must have missed the fine print that said this Golf for Dummies was a booklet and not a book. It was less than 4"x4" and I can't remember how few pages it had because I threw the $*#& thing away. Besides the booklet there were two Common Faults and How to fix them cards. Here is an example of one of the faults and solutions-- ERROR: Poor Putting CAUSE: Poor Aim SOLUTION: Go Practice . Wow! I knew this book was for Dummies but not that Dumb. I buy a How To book on the assumption I will actually learn something. The up side was that I spent less than $10 for it and it did come with a nifty little golf tool that was some consulation. If you want a nifty golf tool then buy this, if you want to learn something about golf then get something else. | 0negative
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Sit, Stay, Shake, but don't buy this book
This book is terrible for any alpha male. Ladies will love the colorful descriptions of the Grogan's journey with his wife through life. It really should be named "Me and Marley," because Marley moves to the back as the book drags on. For example chapter 17 takes 19 or so paragraphs to get back to the main topic - the dog. I'm certain there was much more "story" about the time the dog was almost forced out of the house - but readers are left with one or two lines of "it blew over." As a dog owner I recommend you save your money for biscuits. Go to the book store read page 280, agree with it (as a dog owner would anyway) and walk away. The book and writer long for a higher class of people; those who actually use the word ashen (Come on, twice in one book? Who was your editor?). The book is full of a guy five letters short of alpha; seemingly proud to romance history with a dog mostly-out of his control. We've all met a Marley in our life and have the same opinion of the owner - you give dog owners a bad name. My Lab lived like a king as well. He always obeyed, never chewed, and was a strong lovable member of the family that everyone asked about first... before asking about the rest of us. I never had to ask my friends to knee my dog in the chest to teach him a lesson. Having recently had to say goodbye to my dog (cancer at 7) I enjoyed the small pieces of the book that all dog owners will relate to but rolled my eyes and sighed at the wasted words (Chapter 21) to get to more of Marley. Me & Marley (a more appropriate name) is more about the John, his career, painting a new house, his brush with Donald, Boca and the family - than the dog (except at the end). This book reads like a drippy sappy Christmas form letter that families send out to one another.. "This is what we did all year and aren't we great." Each chapter is filled with writing like Danielle Steele after having digested a tanker truck filled with sugar. It's almost a great story about a powerful, spirited wonderful Lab but never makes it due to writing in the language of a weak, lame, foo foo French Poodle. | 0negative
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Super hot!
I learned some hot techniques from this book that sure made my girlfriend happy. This is very nice and it even tells you how to enlarge your penis. I also managed to have multiple orgasm and that is very rare for a man. God I love this book it actually changed my life especially my sex life. | 1positive
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Horrible
I havent recieved the book yet... it shoulda for sure been in by Sep. 20th and its still not here. If i would have known that it took this long and i was lied to i would have never bought the book.. | 0negative
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Great book
Barbare G. Walker has done a great job with wonderful attention to details. This book is good for the novice or more advanced people interested in Feminie/spiritual studies which has alot fo infomation and history from a women point of view which is nice to see still i think it's a good book and has some useful information. | 1positive
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oh its so not for kids or even (teen agers) dont buy this its just a dump crap
oh my god this books is so digusting i mean its not suitable for kids or even teen agers you parents should know that before buying this for your kids if you wanna know why here you go :1- you feel like if there well be " sex " in every corner of the book and its really anoying because sex is the word you well read in every page of the book2-drugs oh my god there is so many drugs issues in this books its not for teen agers3- children abuse ....4- cruel and the using of bad language...its just not suitable for young readers and its not so good foe adults .. | 0negative
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Get a Cisco Press help
You sure need "CCDA Exam Certification Guide" or "Designing Cisco Network" with this book. CCDA exam is tougher than CCNA. This title doesn't give you enough knowledge you need to tackle. You need more broad networking knowledge. | 0negative
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I only wish....
I only wish that I could travel around the country as Heat-Moon did. While reading this book, I kept having to resist the urge to pack some clothes, forget about work and just hit the road....... | 1positive
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LOR boxed set - 2002 Edition - disappointing print ink quality
The books themselves are excellent quality but the printer ink on the glossy pages is light gray at best - not even close to black ink. Combined with the glossy paper, it would be a nightmare to read. I am so disappointed with this set. Was looking forward to another read through but it sure will not be with this set - do not want the eyestrain! | 0negative
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A classic game, a sappy but entertaining novel
I remember the day I walked into Borders and saw this book on the shelf. It was 1995 and I thought Doom was the best thing in the world. So I bought it on impulse.Capturing the the mood and tension of the game, Knee-Deep in the Dead is surprisingly good. Full of action and comedy, the main character 'Fly' Taggart is actually a very likable character. The mystery of the demon invasion and the horror that ensues makes for an entertaining read. It's a wonder how the writer managed to screw up the series with Infernal Sky and EndGame so badly when this book turned out to be so entertaining.In any case, the book follows the plot of the game pretty well, and ends with the door blown wide open for the inevitable sequel: Hell on Earth, which was also relatively well written.Credit must go to the author: A decent book based on a classic, mindless shoot 'em up slaughterfest that had little plot to begin with. I still think, 7 years later, that its a fairly decent book and great for a time-killer or weekend read. | 1positive
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Self-indulgent reiteration of what Baldwin's stated several times already
If you follow the trajectory of James Baldwin's writing, you'll see that he established certain themes, then reiterated them in a variety of settings. His themes are pertinent and show great insight, but if you were to read two or three of his books, by the time you got to the third, you'd say, "O.k., I get it already."Such is the case with Another Country. If you've read any Baldwin, thematically it's nothing you haven't heard before. But, his earlier novels were clearly stated, concise, and powerful as a result. This novel is an unbelievably bloated mess which easily could have been half the length and still gotten its points across. Every single scene goes on way too long, the dialogue between the characters is interminable and pedantic, and there is an element of melodrama better served in soap operas.Baldwin has said that this was the novel that meant the most to him, which is further proof that artists aren't necessarily the best judges of their work. Go Tell It On The Mountain is a masterpiece and most indicative of Baldwin's considerable literary powers, and I would recommend you read that or Giovanni's Room, which is less powerful, but eloquent and substantial. Another Country is a slog that doesn't repay in substance the efforts necessary to get through it. | 0negative
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Read Sahara
I loved Sahara and her magical teacher, Ms. Pointy. Teachers, read this gem out loud to your classes. We have Joey Pigza as a "special" boy and now it's time for a "special" girl, Sahara.Codell's writing will touch your heart. | 1positive
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Hack
this "book" would have been better suited as a short story in a sex/horror anthology, or a letter to penthouse.instead, it's a disgrace to once glorious character.i told myself i'd give anita one more chance. and laurell blew it. literally.i no longer care. | 0negative
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Fascinating and Chilling!
I only gave this book 4 stars because I felt that it was too short and abbreviated. Then again, I'm the type of person who likes rich historical details. The author doesn't bore you with dates or technical details, the story of the origins of Edinburgh's underground city are told with a marvelous gift of oratory, making you feel like you're hearing a story told in front of a fire, a story that grows more and more chilling.The story is simple, due to overpopulation, numerous underground chambers and vaults were built to accommodate the fast growth of Edinburgh's Old Town. The poorest of the poor lived in these dark cramped vaults and more often than not died there too, having never known anything but poverty and misery. You are told of the kinds of people who lived there: villians and widows, families and loners. You hear of how they lived, from the people too sickly to work to the poor children forced to climb inside chimneys to clean them. Full of misery, disease and hoplessness, it's no wonder the underground city has gained a reputation for being haunted.Tales of the supernatural happenings are also found in this book, tales of a mischeivious yet harmless ghost who haunts a pub to the frightening stories of tourists and tour guides alike being assaulted by unseen hands and claws.Whether a history buff or a fan of ghosts stories, you're sure to enjoy this book. It's easy reading, educational AND entertaining. | 1positive
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Loco for the local
I am writing this review three years after hearing Mark Phillips speak at a workshop for local school librarians. As soon as his workshop ended, I bought a copy of this book, read it non-stop, and promptly ordered 15 copies so I could have them on hand to give as gifts to favorite friends. (The only other book like this I can say I love as much is Deborah Tall's "From Where We Stand"). I must read it again, now that I've recommended it to a group of colleagues who lead the local Teaching American History grant project. What I remember best about this book is that not only is it a personal meditation on the "American Dream" or nightmare, depending on your POV, but Phillips's talent for blending personal history with local history. In doing so he depicts the painful de-industrialization of Western New York, from the perspective of his family's life in the industrial north of WNY.Yet, there is hope in his father's determination to "go back to the land." Of course, the earliest people to live on this land were the Seneca of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois Confederacy, who lost it as post-Revolutionary financiers quickly sold the land away from underneath them). In his father's struggles, there are echoes of the hopes of WNY's earliest settlers, who were likewise displaced from New England, moving west of the Genesse where land (not all of it tillable) was plentiful and cheap; and echoes too of the hopes of later immigrants/migrants who found employment in the region's chemical and steel plants, powered by cheap electricity. WNY remains very much a place where people like Phillips's dad both stuggle and dream. | 1positive
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Just Excellent
I have read many series of novels before and I am really enjoying reading the Inheritance series. The many twists that happen in the course of the story keep me wanting more. Some say it is not as good as Tolkien, but what could live up to that. It is very entertaining! Congratulations goes to Paolini for taking up the challenge of this genre and doing so well. It is a fun read. I can't wait for book 3!"Eldest" continues the story of Eragon as he learns magic and wisdom from the Elves and returns to the Varden and war, plus begins the adventures of Roran. | 1positive
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An extraordinary book on an extraordinary life!
I loved this book. A great picture of Franklin throughout his life. Political, scientific and personal history. | 1positive
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Fool's Paradise
According to its introduction, this book intends to explain and explain sympathetically the free atonal music of Schoenberg, Webern, and Berg. According to its introduction, this is its sole intent, its reason for existing. Its introduction calls the free atonal music of Schoenberg, Webern, and Berg "refractory", difficult to understand. "The Structure of Atonal Music" (the book, in contradistinction to the structure of atonal music, the thing) is not at all difficult to understand, though, because, in fact, it teaches you nothing whatsoever about the free atonal music of Schoenberg, Berg, and Webern. It doesn't require you to be able to read music (though it purports to require you to and is stuffed with examples in musical notation that are referred to in the text and never transcribed into any other kind of notation) because it teaches you nothing whatsoever about music. If you want to kid yourself, rose-colored glasses are cheaper. | 0negative
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Read the Book First
This is a fine book which, to enjoy to its fullest, must be read without having seen the film first. It should be said that a couple of off-hand remarks near the beginning of the book give away a major plot point of whose importance we are not yet aware. Having already seen the film, it made the book much harder (and, sadly, less enjoyable) to read. [The film itself is marvelously bittersweet, gets under your skin, and, like the book, doesn't let go. Choices must always be made in what to bring to the screen and what to leave out; good choices were made here. The film works incredibly well on its own.] I'm writing this review partially in response to the frustration expressed in an earlier review titled "Skip the book, see the movie" and to say that if you enjoy reading, please buy the book and read it before experiencing the film, as when one sees everything with the eyes first, it takes away so much of the beauty and surprise of the printed word. | 1positive
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Simply Awful
This book could quite possibly be the most poorly-written book that I have ever read. The most glaring flaw is that the last approximately 40 pages are completely irrelevant compared with the rest of the book. Since the book is only 200 pages long, this is quite a tangent for the author to take. Within this section, the narrator descends into a self-pitying diary of his early adult years. I would like to point out that the plot of the book originally centered around his last year of high school. Past this, the rest of the book suffers from a lack of development. Many new characters and conflicts are introduced, only to disappear in the next chapter. The main character never develops, and the reader does not have the ability to empathize with his internal struggles. The book simply does not have redeeming qualities, and even takes a few moments to trash Ayn Rand; since this is a book that young adults will probably read, it prevents them from forming and informed opinion about that author, controversial as she is. I was surprised and disappointed that this book was nominated for the Pen/Faulkner award. I strongly suggest that inquisitive readers look elsewhere for even mediocre reading material.0 stars. | 0negative
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Visual Basic Commercial
This book does an excellent job of singing the praises of VB's interface without giving away any of the code to make them useful. Consider it more of an overview to Visual Basic, but dont plan on learning any script here. | 0negative
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Terrific, colorful top notch book
While visiting the magazine section of our local supermarket there on the shelf was THE LAST SAMURAI a book that certainly should be at the very, very top of everyones Christmas list. This 160 page paperback is in full color with outstanding photography from the film and a layout that should win a top book award. It includes the screenplay, behind the scenes articles, the history of the Samurai, and is a real knockout. Order it now. It's the perfect gift for that Samurai on your shopping list! | 1positive
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