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Great stories, split pictures
This is one of the first books I've read on my new Kindle. I love the portability and how easy it is to read in daylight. My favorite feature is that I have an automatic bookmark (unless I accidentally press the back or forward buttons too long).Sherlock Homes is a classic, and the pictures are impressive. My Kindle has a tendency to show two images, the second overlapping the one beneath slightly. I can see the entire picture with a strip of the top repeated above. Not a big problem, but it does look messy. I can live with it as a free book, but it does bring my overall review down to a 4. | 1positive
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"The Giver" review
The Giver is vividly descriptive and very imaginative. It definitely has become one of my all time favorites. Even the ending let you use your own imagination to wonder exactly what happened to Jonas, and in that sense that book is an endless tale. | 1positive
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Extremely disappointing
Oh where to begin...A living, breathing Howard Roark-wannabe/fanboy recommended this book to me. At the time, he was much older and more educated than I was, which for some reason made me respect his opinion. I read the book, and slowly began to realize that this guy's life was so crappy because he thought he was so above everything...much like Roark. And Rand, for that matter (well I don't know if her life was crappy, but she did think she was above everything...anyway). I am at the point now where I cannot stand anyone who even has the slightest positive thing to say about this book or anything else Rand has ever written, or her pseudo-intellectual, slapped-together excuse for a "philosophy."Before reading the book, I knew nothing about Ayn Rand, and I just dove right into it, and I'll admit that it started out interesting. I was expecting that powerful, classic novel that people raved about. But then I noticed how condescending her prose was, and then it began to get annoying. And then there were those PAINFULLY predictable and poorly developed characters that Rand's limited literary abilities created (but I guess that's what archetypes are meant to be). The plot itself was just as sorry as the characters. My initial expectation was that I would remember this book forever...and I certainly will, but not in the way that I had hoped.Honestly, trudging through this piece of crap was worse than reading one of those anecdotal examples from a sociology or philosophy textbook, as I've found that textbook authors can be better at developing characters than actual novelists. I am shocked, appalled, and disgusted that the Fountainhead has so many fans.In the past, I have been able to enjoy books without agreeing with the author's personal views or even liking the protagonist, as there are a lot of authors out there who can actually write. The plots were interesting, the prose was exemplary, and the characters weren't so one dimensional. Rand, on the other hand, spent her life telling herself that she was a genius whilst peddling the BS that so many refer to as "literature." If you start this book, don't bother finishing it. The ending is a joke.Halfway through the book, something entered my mind: does this woman hate ANYTHING that remotely resembles a cohesive society, or just anything that might reek of socialism? Then I read her bio, and it made sense: she hated being in the Soviet Union, which is understandable, as many people did, and I suppose that sort of explains her obsession with individualism. And I'm all for individualism and achievement...but since when does disrespecting everyone around you and designing ugly buildings and refusing to coexist harmoniously with the world in general qualify as achievement? How is that noble? I mean, I suppose it's lovely to promote bettering oneself and setting goals and getting what you want out of life, but the whole "stick it to the man" thing is so overdone and unrealistic in most circumstances. Besides, many people can be individuals and achieve their goals without completely dismissing the society that allowed them to in the first place. Once again, if Rand was a more talented author, I could look past her philosophical views and get on with enjoying the book, but unfortunately, that wasn't the case.If you're interested in philosophy, read something else. Or a textbook. It'll be more fulfilling. Or read a comic book, so at least there will be pictures to look at every time you feel the need to roll your eyes at all the cliches. But if you STILL want to become acquainted with the Fountainhead, read the Wikipedia synopsis. The contributors to that page aren't necesarily much better writers than Ayn Rand, but you'll get the gist of the "story" within a few minutes.But if you're truly interested in Ayn Rand's self assured "brilliance," go ahead and read the Fountainhead. You'll realize that anyone who openly celebrates it is a moron. | 0negative
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Don't read this one first
Don't make this the first Earlene Fowler you read. I thought Benni's character was really flat and hard to relate to. Other major characters such as Dove hardly even get an introduction of her own--Fowler asssumes you've alread one of her books. I read Irish Chain (set in Benni's home stomping grounds) later and suddenly I could relate. I though Benni was a kick and I will probably find Kansas Troubles a lot more fun the second time around. | 0negative
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Sophomoric Underachiever
The sad thing about this book is the obvious poor quality of writing and how opposite it reads to the hype it has received. I am shocked that the blatant errors throughout (a long and tedious read for me) were not corrected by an editor. I am afraid that this book is another in the long line of 'who knows who' books and if this keeps up we will all become illiterate eventually. The author has written something very common and done before, and all the other things that the agents usually reject from writers. I read it to try to find a reason for its big pedigree and found that it is the writer who has that, and a good solid list of family connections. As an English major, and a lover of literature and quality writing, I seriously think he should stick to biology! | 0negative
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Pass on this one
Does anyone else think it is telling that most reviewers praising this collection cant go a sentence or two without making references to Indian cuisine, customs, and the loss of cultural identity?Obviously the Interpreter of Maladies deals with those things. But so do many better works of literature. Surely we should expect more from fiction than to merely evoke some vague sense of the other.Ms. Lahiri may have a unique perspective, but I dont really see it in this collection. Her characters, you see, are boring. Sure, they have some interesting features and they may come from interesting places, but we dont really care about them, mostly because we do not know them. Mrs. Das in the title story is a bored young wife, but little else. What makes her special other than that she is on a tour of India with her husband? Why does she put up with the dimwit in the first place? Consider too the parents in the autobiographical Mr. Pirzada comes to Dine. Is their only purpose to frown at the plight of Mr. Pirzadas family and prepare the occasional curry dinner? I wont even mention the gimmicky coming of age segment of the story.The most effective piece in this collection is A Temporary Matter. Not because the characters are particularly fascinating mind you(typical struggling graduate student and bread-maker spouse), but because all is not what it seemed. Unfortunately, the rest of the book is predictable, preachy, and banal. Lahiri gives us a slice of life, but little else.I didnt learn much about India or Indian immigrants in this story, but I didnt expect to. What I did hope for was a good read. The Interpreter of Maladies does not provide that.Of course, this book has been enormously successful so either I am being too demanding or Ms. Lahiri has been fortunate enough to find just the right niche. | 0negative
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I'm, personally, insulted!
This is my third attempt at writing this so I don't completly kill this product...I am a serious teen witch (and Wiccan), and I know this is the path I will follow for the rest of my life. It is insulting to me to find this box filled with (cheap) things that has the sign on it saying, "YES! YOU can be a witch too!" I can just imagine the..."Learn to control your sister! Fly on a broomstick!" This is not the kind of message I want to have a largly known author (who's work I don't like much) to get across. It's like saying, "You can be a witch in 10 easy steps!" Which is not so. It insults me that she would sell out what she believs in such a way it's almost down-right degrading. I, myself, have not bought this product, but my friend did and, wearing the pentagram, came up to me and said, "Look! I became a witch too!" And under some grilling, she knew nothing and had actually tried to preform some spells to get this guy to fall desperatly in love with her.Is this the message we have been trying to get across? We're another thing you can just buy and become just like that? That what we do is just a game, a joke? It seems like, with this product, that's the message RavenWolf is trying to get across. | 0negative
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Terrific Entertainment!
Princess Meredith Nic-Essus is a member of the High Court of Faerie. When she lives in Los Angles, however, as she has for the past three years, Meredith assumes the name and identity of Merry Gentry. Merry works as a P.I. for Jeremy Grey, owner of the Grey Detective Agency, which specializes in "Supernatural Problems, Magical Solutions." She left the faerie world, the mounds at Cahokia, in Illinois, to go into hiding in California when her cousin Cel, the evil heir to the throne, attempted to have her assassinated once too often.Meredith's Aunt Andais is Queen of Air and Darkness, and has ruled over the Unseelies, (those not of pure fey blood), for over one thousand years. Those who have pure faerie blood are the Seelies, and her uncle Taranis, King of Light and Illusion, reigns over them. Meredith is mortal, half Seelie Court and half Unseelie, (part of her heritage is Brownie). The Queen sent Doyle, the Captain of her Raven Guard, to the West Coast to bring her niece back to the High Court. Meredith was forced to return because Andais finally realized, what was obvious to many, that her only son and heir did not possess the necessary attributes and character to become King. So the Queen placed Prince Cel and Princess Meredith on equal footing. She stipulated that whoever became a parent first would be her successor. Meredith must bear a child before Cel can father one if she wants to wear the crown. The bit about having a child is paramount, although Andais could have handled the situation more delicately. The sidhe have fertility problems. Thus, childbearing is of the utmost importance if the royal line is to continue.Meredith is finally allowed to escape the political machinations of court life and return to LA. Accompanying her are some of the Queen's hunkiest Ravens, who are instructed to guard her bodily, and to enjoy it. They are to assist her to become pregnant. Wow!! The lucky father-to-be gets to become King. Excellent motivator! Plus Merry is gorgeous, ruby-red hair, and smart to boot. Oh, a goblin is included in the merry mix of immortal men, due to a pact negotiated with Kurag, Goblin King.Meredith and her firm are contracted, in utmost secrecy, to assist the glamorous, golden goddess of Hollywood, actress Maeve Reed, who turns out to be a Seelie in exile. Ms. Reed once said "No," to King Taranis - thus the exile. She carries a terrible secret, and the King would kill her immediately if the information became known - which is why she is constantly surrounded by bodyguards. To complicate matters, now that Merry and her men have visited the Reed compound, the King might decide they know too much and order a mass assassination.Just as things begin to get dangerous, in between bedroom interludes with Merry and the Ravens, "The Nameless" are loosed on humanity. They are the most evil elements of Seelie and Unseelie combined, and much has been sacrificed to keep these beings buried and suppressed forever. So, if anyone says that "A Caress of Twilight" is just about S-E-X, they're only partially correct!The characters, the settings, the Ravens checking-out America and LA for the first time, Hamilton's take on Celtic mythology, are just a blast - pure entertainment! Of course, I am a major Laurell Hamilton fan and truly enjoyed her entire Anita Blake Vampire Hunter series. Merry is certainly not Anita, but she is fun. As always, Laurell Hamilton writes dark fantasy like no other. Her descriptions really bring one's imagination to life. I'm hooked and looking forward to reading the next novel in the series.JANA | 1positive
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A Wonderful Fantasy Ride
I recently found out why The Hobbit is considered a classic. This book was written extremely well and takes you into the fantastic and wonderfuly world of Bilbo Baggins. You really start to believe that these people actually lived and all the things that happen seem as real as the things that happen in real life. I loved the book and I highly recommend it for anyone of any age. | 1positive
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in a hole in the ground i read my favorite book of all times
"The Hobbit" was first read to me i 4th grade by my teacher Mrs. Bassford, i ws hooked. i had to have my own copy so i could read it again and again, and that is what i did. "the Hobbit" is the best book i have ever and i myself have read many many books in my short 14 years. i read the book so much i had to buy a second copy because the first was so "well read" it has fallin apart after being taped, glued, and reglued and retaped. i am happy to report that is now happing to the other copy. i read the book from cover to cover, and i mean cover to cover, the copyright and all. the when i have finshed the last word i go back to the begining and start all over again, i can't get i out of my systum. it is some times the only thing that can cheer me up after a bad day. most people don't read it be cause the first chapter turns them off becase they say it's "slow." i beg to deffer it is a very well writin, thought out, and much more pice of work. "it shows to me by the way Bilbo came out on top in the end that if you put your mind to it and your hart is in the right place you well find out you can do things you yourself never dreamed you could." | 1positive
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Have You Seen my Son Emo?
This is where "emo" all began. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger is widely considered one of the best books ever. I personally cannot see why it is considered so great. It is a very boring and repetitive book with barely any storyline. J.D. Salinger never wrote another novel after The Catcher in the Rye. I can clearly see why. The Catcher in the Rye is more of a collection of short stories than a cumulative, well-told novel.The book starts out at a preppy high school called Pencey Prep. The main character, Holden, drops out and goes to New York, where he goes out on a bunch of dates with people he hates. While he is on these dates, he thinks about and describes how much he hates the person he's out with. Each chapter, Holden rants about something. It can be something as pointless as the price of a briefcase, or something as serious as nuclear war. There, I just summed up pretty much the whole storyline to you.The thing that this book does well though, is that it has great character development. I personally did not have much of a connection with Holden, but I could see how somebody could. Since most of the text in the book is Holden's thoughts along with the occasional dialogue, you get to know Holden pretty well by the end of the book. Rarely could I sympathize with Holden, but many people likely could. He is obviously very depressed and emotional, although he seemed more whiney and irritating to me than deep and depressed.The Catcher in the Rye is a pretty powerful book, despite its weak storyline. Throughout the book, I felt pretty depressed. It's so powerful that it can be dangerous. Two murderers said that Holden was their inspiration. The man that killed John Lennon and a man that attempted to assassinate Ronald Reagan both were obsessed with Holden. That is likely the reason it is considered so good.I have heard some people say that this is a good book because it is unique. It was the first book to dare to write about a troubled teenager afraid to advance into the adult world. Some people say that it is a good book to read at a certain age, around 16-17 years old. Well, I'm sixteen, and I still hate this book. But, if you enjoy reading 200+ pages of some whiney, opinionated kid talk about why he hates everything, how everyone is a phony, and curse every other sentence this is a perfect book for you. Otherwise, I would recommend you stay away from it. | 0negative
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Little known history
This book fascinated me because I knew very little about this Depression Era program to help farmers by relocating them to another place. Ms. Leon makes history coem alive as she describes the geographical and historical background for this romantic tale of overcoming hardship. | 1positive
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One Shot
ONE SHOT (Pub. 2005) is Lee Child's ninth novel and my favorite book in the Jack Reacher series.What I like most is the intricately woven facets surrounding a 'who done it'. Lee layers interesting plot points with subtle but constant tension.Reacher is at his absolute best in this story. He's called into a heinous crime scene in a backwards way. The sniper arrested for killing six people in a public courtyard tells the cops, "You got the wrong guy." Then he says, "Get Reacher for me."'Reacher's reluctance to help the accused sniper is overshadowed by his certainty that something is not right. I love the way Reacher methodically and ingeniously unwinds the DA's airtight case.Lee manages to give us non-stop tension, an intriguing mystery along with a couple scoops of romance and some cool factoids while he makes Reacher fight and think in his classic Reacher way. Good stuff - go buy it! | 1positive
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A Piece of Hateful Trash
Why would anyone write a piece of such hateful trash?Why would anyone publish a piece of such hateful trash?Why would anyone read a piece of such hateful trash?Why is this book the #1 book in Miami?Could it be because the Miami Cuban Exiles have lost all perceptive regarding common decency, democracy, the rights of women, fathers, and children? | 0negative
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Golden tresses for minted gold
George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans)wrote "Silas Marner" in 1861 and it is still being read to date. I read it first in junior high school, so long ago I had forgotten what it was about so I reread it. I had high expectations for it, lasting so long but I was disappointed. First, it is a hard read, her sentences are so long and so convoluted it is hard to maintain the connection from one sentence to the next. In addition many sentences are written phonetically, to create, I guess, the sense of the spoken word in the time period (early 1800's) as well as its sound and locale(Warwickshire, middle England). Add to that the coincidences involved to have the novel generate the correct happenstances of most of its characters and you have a novel incorporating most of the defects most stressed in English writing courses. How could this story have survived 150 years? If the reader is a juvenile he or she empathises with the characters and wants them to get their just desserts, and the reader has an opinion of who gets what. Eliot satisfies these desires and the young reader has read a story with characters who strike a responsive chord with the reader who then keeps the story in memory.Most accounts of the novel speak highly of the effect of Eppie, the supposed orphan, on the protagonist, Silas Marner. But she does not appear until about two thirds of the book has been read and I think this makes her a minor character. The book is primarily devoted to character changes in Silas Marner and Godfrey Cass, that is what the book is about. Yes, Eppie is the major factor in Silas's changed character but first his character must be developed. The same is true of Godfrey Cass, the biological father of the girl. His character is developed independently of her; Nancy Lammeter does her duty towards him but she does not get the attention Eppie does. The title of the book is Silas Marner but he only gets a slightly greater mention than Godfrey, the title must be the deciding factor. I think the book is highly overrated and is a book for juveniles except its construction is so difficult it is hard to praise for young readers. But I think I read it in juhior high, has reading changed for present day youth? | 0negative
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Should be titled Had Had To Be The Best
The story was continously jumping ahead so it could be toldin the past tense. The word "had" appeared in most sentences one or two times except in the Epilogue. A low estimate, I would guess the word was used 1200 times. Very annoying. | 0negative
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Seamy book about psychotic and sadistic criminals.
"Don't Say a Word," by Andrew Klavan, is an unpleasant book about a trio of perverted criminals who kidnap a little girl for strange reasons of their own.Dr. Nathan Conrad, a successful psychiatrist, lives in a luxurious Manhattan apartment building with his beautiful wife, Agatha, and his five-year-old daughter, Jessie. He has a new patient, an angelic-looking young woman named Elizabeth, who is accused of murder. Suddenly, Nathan's life is turned upside down. His child is taken from her bed in the middle of the night. What are the kidnappers after? Do they want money or do they want something else?There is no mystery as to who the perpetrators are. Klavan spends a great deal of time familiarizing the reader with the revolting individuals who revel in torturing both adults and children. That is one of the main problems with this book. The scenes in which these characters are depicted masturbating, cursing, and torturing others are absolutely disgusting. I have read many thrillers featuring sadistic criminals, but few authors dwell at length on the perversions of these individuals."Don't Say a Word" fails as a suspense novel. The reader can see where the story is heading long before the end of the novel. The plot is incredibly melodramatic and completely unrealistic; the ending is way over the top."Don't Say a Word" doesn't work as a thriller and the repulsive scenes featuring the twisted minds of the criminals make it a book well worth avoiding. | 0negative
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The Army of the Potomac...
"Mr. Lincoln's Army" is the first volume of famed Civil War historian Bruce Catton's outstanding trilogy on the Army of the Potomac, the Union force designated to protect Washington. That army would repeatedly confront the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia under General Robert E. Lee over the years. As told by Catton, it is also the superb narrative of the struggle over the use of that Army, between its charismatic but flawed leader, George McClellan, and President Abraham Lincoln, ultimately over the political objectives of the fighting.Catton picks up the story after First Bull Run, when McClellan is summoned from a command in West Virginia to organize and train a raw army fresh from its first battle and its first defeat. McClellan will build a great army, but will differ with the President on how it is to used in the field.Catton narrates the Peninsula campaign of 1862, culminating in the battles outside Richmond and the retreat of the Army of the Potomac to Harrison's Landing. Command will pass from McClellan to another general, but McClellan will get a second chance in command when Lee and the Confederates boldly invade the North. At the Battle of Antietam, McClellan will have a fleeting opportunity to destroy Lee's Army and end the war, as Lincoln waits anxiously for news in Washington, DC...Catton was a master of the narrative style of history, deftly mixing the threads of military and political events through a series of vignettes that highlight the key personalities, their very human flaws, and their often difficult and confusing circumstances. "Mr. Lincoln's Army" is very highly recommended to students of the Civil War, even in used condition, as an outstanding reading experience. | 1positive
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Sam Old Same Old
I enjoyed the first four books of this series, which impelled me to buy the entire series. But starting with Book V, the series became tedious. For subsequent books I simply searched for a few character names (easy to do with my Kindle) to find out what happened. | 0negative
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An incredible novel filled with symbolism and imagination
My Response to the novel A Separate Peace, written by John Knowles, can only describe the book as outstanding. The novel keeps the reader into the story. John Knowles does a wonderful job using symbolism and everyday actions and thoughts of teenagers,which gives teenagers something to relate with. The setting of the story does a wonderful job of establishing the mood. The novel has many symbols which can make the novel hard to understand if the reader does not pay close attention. The novel can not be described as action packed, but the novel does keep the reader in some suspense and very interested. I personally loved the novel and would recommend it to everyone. | 1positive
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Misleading
The book is very selective. Posner omitts plenty to try and prove "his" theory. | 0negative
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The Death Experience
I picked up Dostoyevsky's The House of the Dead in a charity shop in Epsom, where I had half an hour to idle away before the next bus. I was so gripped by the opening that I continued reading the next 30 pages on and off for the rest of the day. After a week I've finished it, to the exclusion of other pressing engagements and books on the pile, some recently bought.What it is about this author that has always stirred my spirit I can't exactly say. I've read The Idiot, Crime and Punishment and The Brothers Karamazov (twice) and all have haunted me. I've still got The Possessed, The Gambler and the short stories to read one cold gloomy winter when the heating fails and I'm in bed with a fatal illness.He's not exactly a barrel of laughs, is he, Dostoyevsky! But what a writer to get under your skin and make you feel this is my story, everyman's story. Solitude, self-loathing and despair at the sheer cruelty of man's fate are his common themes. In The House of the Dead, the hero or victim is sent to Siberia to live in fearful conditions amongst men who are often cruel, loathsome, self-seeking, cunning, always filthy, and always dreaming of escape. We meet a cross-section of the criminal class, some of whom are utterly despicable, but yet understandable. Floggings - sometimes up to 5000 lashes happen continuously, but even worse, it seems, is the spite, bitterness and hatred between convicts.The story is semi-autobiographical, for Dostoyevsky himself was sent to Omsk for 4 years of penal servitude. The crime or 'crimes' committed are immaterial, as is the arbitrary nature of justice: - thus, an old man is given a hundred lashes for supposed insolence before he has even settled into the hostile shed of ice where he is to serve an indeterminate sentence. That's life at the rough end. You'd better get used to it!Beneath all this torture and hatred, however, a political message emerges from time to time. This was life under a totalitarian regime of oppressive czars; there is hope in the working man, in the simple peasant class or in the artisan. Well, that sounds too sentimental of course and we know what Communism gave the average Russian - an even harsher deal, just as brutal and corrupt, and just as, or even more, intolerant of dissent.However, this is not a political pamphlet but a human document; a plea not so much for social justice as for an awareness of the strangeness and surprising nature of fate and one man's reflections on it. Thus Goryanchykov, the narrator, concludes:There is in the Russian character so much down-to-earth sobriety, so much inner sobriety, so much inner mockery directed at the self ... It may be that it was this perpetual state of secret discontent that caused these men to be so impatient in their day-to-day dealings with one another, to be so implacable and jeeringly malicious in one another's regard.Prison is the microcosm, the crucible that brings to boiling point the discontents lurking in what the author would call the soul of man. | 1positive
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English Honor Gahr Review
This beautifully written science fiction book, written by Ray Bradbury, holds within it's mysterious covers, eighteen short stories. Each one that will capture and captivate it's reader. Fantasies that touches upon a person's wildest dreams, each story that sensually appeals to the senses. Not every one of them ends in a happy ever after, which makes it feel so much more real than even the best written fantasy books.Now personally, I dislike this book. No, I ABSOLUTELY LOATHE it. Such negativity! Such antagonistic thinking! At times while reading this, I had to put the book down while wearing a face of disgust. A favorite quotation? None. I was too involved with glaring at it to pick one out. The ONLY story that actually pleased me was "The Other Foot". It was one of the few stories that really spoke out to me. I rather read novels than the short stories that end on a bad note. It's as if the story is building up to a climax then suddenly stops only to skip on to another story to simply annoy me. I prefer books that give off a feel of optimism and cheerfulness with a good ending rather than finishing off so quickly as if it impatient to go on to another story.The Illustrated Man should not be required reading. Half the time, it talks about the impending doom of Earth. Great...we all know that the end of Earth is inevitable but MUST the author continue poking and prodding the gruesome idea of it? He even comes up with ways of how the Earth will end. There is the nuclear war, a WWIII, an atom war...OH LOOKY! There's even one where Earth just `ends' for no reason at all. I prefer to read things that makes me laugh until I am out of breath and leaves me a happy feeling. Perhaps I'm being a bit cynical of it but this is how I feel about this book. Yet I am not trying to discourage people to read this lovely book. A large part of it revolves around celestial bodies and outer space. Feel free to read if you're a person who prefers short stories and scientific stories that deals with space, martians, and space, this book was probably made just for you. | 0negative
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Easy to understand and useful.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to learn the ins and outs of Peoplesoft administration. This book covers the installation, configuration and the use of PeopleTools to update and make configuration changes to the Peoplesoft product.I found this book to be easy to read and understand and the examples provided very helpful. | 1positive
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Crosswords More Important Than Elections?
The World Almanac has throughout most of its 137 year history been one of the very best books available anywhere. I have used it avidly for over 30 years. Unfortunately it pains me to say that the 2005 edition, which is now out in paperback and hardcover in bookstores represents the lowest point in the book's distinguished history. This is because the book went to press in mid-October 2004 and for the first time ever in a presidential election year, the presidential election returns are not included. Also missing are the results of the World Series. Until the last few years, election and World Series results had been a key and vital feature of the Almanac. According to the 2005 World Almanac John Kerry could be the president-elect as of this writing, Tom Daschle is still the Senate Democratic Leader and the "Curse of the Bambino" is still going strong. According to the Almanac's web site only paperback copies for libraries and schools (and not available in bookstores and outlets like Amazon.com) will include the election results.Instead of trivial and unimportant items like national election and World Series results the rest of us get earth shattering and all-important items like the Almanac's first ever crossword puzzle and the editor's picks of what they think are the all-time favorite TV sitcoms. With no 2004 presidential election returns to report, the 2005 Almanac omits the invaluable Presidential election resturns by county feature. In the past I always looked forwar to this feature, especially in election years as political junkies like myself could see how all of the nation's counties voted in the election. One could learn a lot about politics and the country by looking through this feature, which I'm sure has helped nuture political statistical buffs like myself over many generations.The World Almanac without the election results is like the Old Farmer's Almanac without the weather forecasts and TV Guide without the TV listings (which seems to be on its way). The Almanac was started in 1868 in part as a handbook that provided the latest political information. Since the 2002 edition, the Almanac's publisher since 2000, WRC Media (controlled by the leveraged buyout firm Ripplewood) has sent the book to pres in mid-October with the book being available by November 1. As a result the book no longer cover national elections or the World Series, which it had done so since its inception since 1868. In the short run the publishers might gain some sales in early November as the holiday shopping season seens to begin right after Halloween these days instead of Thanksgiving and a couple of extra weeks on the bestseller lists in November but in doing so they are eliminating coverage of two events whose coverage helped make the World Almanac a great success over the years, events the publishers know will take place at a certain time and could plan their publication schedules around.Coverage of the elections and of the World Series was a key attraction and selling point of the World Almanac, features that I'm sure helped sell many copies of the book over the years. When the 1989 Bay Area Earthquake and subsequent postponment of the World Series forced the 1990 Almanac to go to press without the World Series results the editor printed a note regretting the "inconvenience to our readers". In a 1992 compliation of some older materials from the Almanac, the World Almanac Commemorative Edition, an editor's introduction from the 1893 edition is printed. It points out that publication that year was delayed so that the book could include complete rather than partial election results. During World War II the editors omitted pages of advertising the book had carried up to that point so that the book in face of wartime paper shortages could maintain its coverage of world events. Advertising hasn't appeared in the Almanac since. These historical tidbits show how important prior Almanac publishers knew coverage of elections, world events and the World Series was to the Almanac and its success, something the current publishers don't seem to understand or want to understand.Until the 2002 edition the World Almanac was not published until after Election Day in federal election years and in other years after the end of the World Series. The World Almanac has been given the treatment by WRC and Ripplewood the way leveraged buyout firms often treat their brands: thinking they can improve the performance of the brand without any appreciation of what made that product special and unique to its users and buyers in the first place. WRC and Ripplewood don't seem to understand that coverage of national elections and the World Series, and extensive lists of officeholders like mayors, federal judges and ambassadors (all missing from the 2005 edition) were crucial in establishing the Almanac's reputation and standing over the years. The curent management seems to think that crossword puzzles, features on different demographic groups, quick quizzes and the editor's opinions on different topics (all included in the 2005 edition) are more important. Joseph Pulitzer, who restared the World Almanac in 1886 after a decade's hiatus as a "compendium of universal knowledge", would probably rollover in his grave if he saw the 2005 edition. If WRC won't return the Almanac to its old publication deadlines, they should sell the book to someone who will. | 0negative
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Relatively Light and Cheerful Among His Works; Good Place to Start
"The Ministry of Fear," (1943) is a British spy story/crime drama/thriller by much honored twentieth century British author/screen writer Graham Greene (The Third Man,The end of the affair). The book is set in England, a country violently at war during World War II.Arthur Rowe is released back into wartime England after serving two years in a mental asylum for the mercy killing of his terminally ill wife. Despite the attention given him by psychiatric professionals, he is still rather immature and self-centered. Somehow, at a local garden fete, he stumbles across a murderous Nazi spy ring, by correctly guessing the weight of a cake - made with real eggs, we are repeatedly told. As Rowe appears to be substantially friendless, he doesn't know where to turn; but stakes his survival on that well-known British ability to muddle through. First he consults Mr. Rennet at "Orthotex: Long Established Private Inquiry Bureau" that generally does divorce work. Then, in his shambling way, Rowe finds himself at the offices of Comforts of the Free Mothers, where he meets a brother/sister pair of Austrian refugees, Anna and Willie Hilfe. And at Mrs. Bellairs' fortune telling séance, where he meets a Dr. Forester, and a man going by the names of Cost/ Travers or Ford; and foul deeds are afoot. Mr. Rennet, of Orthotex, the employee Rennet assigns to Rowe's case, Mr. Jones, and most everyone else Rowe meets, as he tries to sort things out, will most likely regret having met Rowe.The book, as many of Greene's other works, was made into a film of the same titleMINISTRY OF FEAR, starring Ray Milland, directed by the great cinematic thriller-maker, the Austrian-born Fritz Lang (METROPOLIS). The film may now be better known than the novel it's based on: at any rate the talented Lang made some canny changes, such as setting the introductory garden fair in the still-charming countryside, rather than the war torn Russell Square, Bloomsbury, London, rather close to the British Museum, as Greene did. Still, it must be said, Greene gives us a first-rate view of London under bombardment, its shelters and smoking ruins. (Lang made his film, supposedly set in the U.K., in Hollywood, to escape the dangers and privations of the city at that time.)Graham Greene (1904-1991) was one of the most illustrious British writers of the 20th century. He enjoyed a very long life, most of the century, and a very long, prolific writing career, during which he gave usThe Power and the Glory (Penguin Classics), andOur Man in Havana (Penguin Classics). These two books, among Greene's many other masterworks, were made into notable films. His books were very well-written, highly literate; greatly honored; much praised by the critics, and enjoyed a wide readership, being frequent best sellers. The author had first-hand spy experience; he was recruited to Britain's secret service, and worked in the African country of Sierra Leone during the Second World War. The writer was also one of the better-known Catholic converts of his time; many of his thrillers, as this one, deal with Catholic themes of guilt and redemption. He created vivid characters with internal lives; they faced struggles and doubt. Sometimes his characters despaired, or suffered world-weary cynicism - they were always self-aware. But Greene always created a tight thriller, in a lean, realistic style that boasted almost cinematic visuals. If you've never read him before, the book at hand is relatively light and cheerful compared to some of his others: it's a good place to start. | 1positive
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Really Horrible
I was really looking forward to this book, since I heard glowing reviews about it. However, I found it to be perhaps the most excruciating reading experience of my life thus far (with the exception of mathematics texts), and I wish I could've given it 0 stars. I don't mind it when authors digress a bit from the story to reflect on a theme or two, but Wilde did it so often it seemed like I was reading a 100+ page philosophy essay on art. I think Wilde is a fantastic writer with an almost perfect sense of wit, and I think he had a good story, but something went wrong when he was writing the manuscript and he ended up making this novel a university lecture for his beliefs. | 0negative
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My kids' favorite book!
My two kids were terrified of the dark until we read DWEEBZ! In fact so was I and I am 39. This book is absolutely wonderful! The illustrations make the book. If it weren't for the fine illustrations I may have passed it off as just another children's book. The illustration kept me reading and my kids want to get posters as soon as they are available. I (and my kids)recommend this book for all ages. | 1positive
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Very good elementary Book
This book is very good book as an elementary book on PDEs. Author discusses how to solve hyperbolic (in single degree) and parabolic equations and elliptic elementary problems.Hyperbolic problems given in this book are elementary problems but, it's a good start for 1-D problems.To have a better understanding, better study C. Zachmanoglou's book on hyperbolic PDEs. But this book lays basic foundation which can be used as a launching pad. Examples are good enough for one to understand the methodology of solving problems.This book doesn't discuss solving system of PDEs. You have to search elsewhere for the treatment. | 1positive
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Don't buy this on your kindle - book III is missing
I loved books 1 & 2. Unfortunately it's midnight, I'm on vacation and I just found out that amazon doesn't have book III available for the kindle.As fellow kindle readers, I'm sure you can understand the pain.Amazon should have a giant disclaimer for any incompete series they sell on the kindle before you purchase he first book. | 0negative
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Startling revelation into the mind of a criminal
A well written novel based on the life of a born again criminal who's life goes from bad to good to worse, very dramatic, quick read. | 1positive
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MAY NEED SOME UPDATING
DO NOT RECOMMEND FOR YOUNG CHILDREN. TYPE OF ENGLISH IS PROFOUND. MUST PUSH SELF TO CONTINUE READING. COULD BE UPDATED. | 0negative
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It is a exceptional classic.
It is one of the greatest classics I have ever read. I don't mind reading it again and again.The auther beautifully portrays how love and respect for Mr Darcy gradually emerges in Elizabeth's heart. The couple after being united show that love reigns over riches | 1positive
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Good lesson for kids
The story a Christmas Carol is a very detailed novel. In this story a very grumpy, old, snotty rich man named Ebenezer Scrooge is a grouch when it comes to Christmas. Ebenezer is haunted by three very difference spirits - the ghost of Christmas past, Christmas present and Christmast future.Charles Dickens is a very talented author. His novel, A Christmas Carol, is a big inspiration to kids. It teaches kids to not be greedy now and when they grow up. As a 6th grader, I would say this is a very good book to read for kids and adults. | 1positive
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I read it at least once a year...
This book is timeless and never grows old. The wit and humor never ceases to amaze me. I have read it at least 15 times and find something new in it each time. I also recommend the A&E; series on CD. You will love it.Terie Blankenbaker | 1positive
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Nice to look at & read
Book is smaller than a coffee table book, so photos are not huge. Needs to have a glossary of church terms, esp. architecture. Also, map of UK would have been nice as well. | 1positive
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disappointed
when i read this book i was really disappointed with all in it esp.the models,they're too plain and the makeover is not good,everybody can do that kind of makeup,no need any simple technique as told in this book | 0negative
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Not bad
I like Kalfus' writing style although some of these stories had predictable endings. Others did move me and held my interest. | 1positive
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REAL AND HEARTWARMING
This gripped your attention from the first page. Had some ups and downs and had you sitting on the end of the chair. I could not put it down wanted to know what happened next. very Good Book! | 1positive
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Quitting Q is for Quarry
I have read all of Sue Grafton's alphabet series and have enjoyed reading most. However, my money was totally wasted on this one. I am halfway through Q is for Quarry and fall asleep everytime I read it due to boredom. The plot and characters are uninteresting, and the narrative is marred by constant, unnecessary repetition. This is a miss for Sue Grafton. I am going to cut my losses and go on to a more interesting book. Life is too short to spend it reading boring and unimaginative books. I hope the next in the series will find Sue Grafton and Kinsey back on track | 0negative
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An epic story
The first word that comes to mind in describing this novel is "epic". It certainly spans a lot of time, a lot of lives, and a lot of stories. And it does so very well. Set in India through the middle half of the 20th century, it describes an environment of corruption, poverty, and fatalism that was enlightening. The characters in this novel, for the most part, are resigned to their course in life and are passive in terms of affecting change. The novel aims for sweeping grandeur, and achieves it. This are wrapped up a little too tidily in the end, but this is definitely a worthy read. | 1positive
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Quiet Courage
This is a review of the Lou Gehrig biography, "Luckiest Man,"written by Jonathan Eig and published by Simon and Schuster in 2005.For those who do not know, Lou Gehrig was the stalwart, slugging firstbaseman of the legendary Babe Ruth-led New York Yankees team that roaredthrough the 1920s and eventually morphed into the streamlined Joe DiMaggio-led Bronx Bombers of the 1930s.The subtitle of this biography is "The Life And Death Of Lou Gehrig,"which accurately describes the contents of this book. But that subtitledoes not accurately describe the gracefulness with which this book iswritten.The book does a very good job describing Gehrig's early years, the struggleto survive and how his German immigrant parents sacrificed much so theirLouie could have the best they could afford. And, unlike many children,young Lou Gehrig understood and appreciated their efforts which surely inspired him to go to great lengths to achieve what he did although his parentsdid not really understand the concept of professinal sports.But where this book really shnes is the printing of the many letters from Lou Gehrig to his wife discussing the possibilites of the fatal diseaseand detailing his fight to beat what eventually he had to accept washis killer.Lou Gehrig was an admirable man to the very end and I recommendthis book to anyone as a source of inspiration, a baseball biography,a treatise on American life a century ago or just a good read.The film, THE PRIDE OF THE YANKEES is still one of the all-time great baseballmovies as well as a darn good biography. And Gary Cooper really does resembleLou Gehrig in many ways except his voice. Lou Gehrig had what we would call a New York accent and if you want to see /hear him in action he did star in a 1937 B western called RAWHIDE that, while no great shakes as a movie, displays what Lou Gehrig really talked like and even how he carried hmself in real life.So I have rated Jonathan Eig's "Luckiest Man, " five stars because it echos,in its prose and its subject, a man who we were lucky to sort of know, even at the great distance of many decades. | 1positive
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A really bad book!
This was the worst book that I have ever read! The way that Huxley wrote the book was awful. He was writing about something that could never happen to our society. Back then he thought that our world would pretty much go to hell and the book portrayed the world that we should be living in today. Nothing that he said made sense. I don't understand why he would want anyone to live in that weird world that those people had to live in. People should have emotions and actual relationships. No one should be punished like that. I advise you not to read this book, unless you want to fall asleep!! :) | 0negative
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one of the best books in the world!
i really enjoyed this book and can't wait till i can see the movie. my favorite part is the end. | 1positive
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Telling history the right way
Whether it be the cold war, fighting communism within our own government, or the civil rights issue, Democrats have much to gain by obscuring the true history.Ann tells us the story of Joe McCarthy that the left is afraid of you hearing. She makes the case that when it comes to patriotism and defending America, liberals are quick to embrace the other side.An excellent follow-up to her book "Bias", "Treason" further demonstrates the stranglehold the Democratic Party has on the mainstream media. Ann's critics are quick to silence her because she is telling a very uncomfortable truth (unless, of course, you're a conservative...in which case her book will help vindicate you).Read the venom that accompanies the one-star reviews of this book. They are typically filled with insults, and are from people who despise conservative viewpoints. Such people FEAR you reading this book, which is all the more reason to read it. | 1positive
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Somewhat relevant, yet stereotyped to the max
I am a current student, involved in Greek life at Southern Methodist University (mentioned several times in this book...by the way, the "Pig Run" is 100% fact and I know the 2 Girls Gone Wild girls). I was impressed with the accuracy with which she portrayed the stereotypes that are well-known around our Dallas campus. But it seemed to me that this book was merely written as a means to generate page-turning for her readers (in which she succeeds, I believe!). Robbins writes about nothing but sex, scandal, and secrets in order to deceive the naive reader into believing that she knows the hidden truth behind every sorority's front door. She seems to shed some truth on an imperfect system, yet her motives seem questionable...I can't help but think she feels she needs to write in a way that will sell her books like hotcakes. It was an enjoyable read, yet I found myself rolling my eyes occasionally at the blown-out-of-proportion exploits that Robbins "uncovers". | 0negative
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Excellent! One of the best written books I have read.
Ms. Howard weaves suspence and romance in such a way that one does not want to put the book down. Although graphic with murder scenes, it is done so well that it does not offend the reader. I highly recommend it | 1positive
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Eeeeeeekkkkkk!
The book is subtitled "New Century Theology," but forget about that--the author seems to be living in a past millennium. He pines for the good old Inquisition days when Christian dogma was shoved down everyone's throat, people despised themselves and "live[d] in terror of hell" (his words), and those uppity women weren't making pests of themselves by desiring some kind of status in the men's-club Church. He even speaks positively of the Islamic countries because they put serving God ahead of human welfare. Yeesh! If he thinks reverting to this kind of society is an improvement, I suggest he take a look at all the videotapes of Taliban-style executions and harrassment in Afghanistan, because that's the ultimate result of the kind of doctrinaire fundamentalism he seems so eager to force on everyone.The only thing he got right, in my opinion, was that most people are turned off by the "passing the peace." (I know I personally am.) All I can say about the rest of the book is that: (a) he's a cleric in the Anglican church, so he's got a financial stake in whether it survives, and (b) if he's so hyped up on hating yourself and fearing hell, he's never really tried it. As someone who was brought up with these doctrines, I can tell him they are a horrible way to live, and if you truly believe them you will end up pretty close to insane. I would suggest Mr. Norman take a long, logical look at the bizarrity of Christian doctrine (and the results of strictly applying it: Calvin's Geneva, perhaps) before recommending we go back several hundred years to the "good old days." | 0negative
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Five Stars for F.Scott
A grand book. Couldn't put it down with a re-read in mind. I read it in college. We had studied it. On my own, it was very challenging. Gatsby masters the face of an idol. Dedication to Zelda with love is very heart-felt as then the book unfolds. I get a feel for great authors and read with maximum speed. This one was no exception. Hurrah for the twenties! A serious yet talky comical side for F. Scott. A natural! | 1positive
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It's football not soccer
There is a great story here and any writer could have produced a decent book out of it. Somehow Joe fails miserably.Here's the problem; Joe doesn't really understand what's it like to a real football supporter. Perhaps that's being a bit harsh seeing how this book reads not as Joe wanting to tell what happened in Castel di Sangro but to tell his buddies back home how much he knows about football.The book just isn't about Castel di Sangro;it's about Joe. Page after page it is about Joe telling the locals how it should be. But to do that Joe you need to know about football and you do not.Now I realise that some Americans might feel this is an Englishman trying to be superior but it's not. Look at the facts. Joe calls injury time, overtime. He seems to think that the ratings given to players in the local press are objective and uses these to back up his opinions. He tries to get the manager to change his team based on the outcome of a computer game. My god Joe brings across from the USA enough team scarves to decorate all the walls of his apartment. There are plenty of Americans who know a lot about football and who understand it. Joe, mate, you do not.These are not minor complaints. If you are to believe his story you need to know that Joe really knows what he is talking about, and he time and again he proves he does not.I wouldn't object if he told the story straight without trying to be an expert and trying to make himself the centre of the story. Someone with a little more awareness might have realised that the story does not need him and nor do we. I felt Joe had cheated me. I wanted to hear a great football story and all I got was Joe. | 0negative
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Riveting
I am a total history buff, but even for those who are not, this is a must read account of our country's birth and the cost of that birth. McCullough packs in so much detail and yet has the larger picture shining through, one marvels at his depth of research that makes it read like engrossing fiction. 1776 has a even-handed approach to the conflicts over America, the personalities involved, many of whom so much has been written on. Still, the reader has a chance to become reaquainted with veritable legends among human beings, and it is refreshing to see one's perspectives of past figures slightly shift. Definitely one of his best. | 1positive
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No Active Navigation
Awful browsing experience. There isn't an active table of contents, or even a table of contents the kindle rcognizes that i can jump to. Trying to find stories is time consuming and difficult. Stories are long and not meant for very young children unless you want to be up all night with them. | 0negative
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A Real Disappointment
I bought this book because of the rave reviews on Amazon.com, but I was disappointed. "Wing Ding" isn't especially well-written, and it provides little information about the air war in Europe that you couldn't learn from a mission log. The best part of the book is its description of life on the ground, especially including the author's consistent efforts to get around orders and his amazing ability to carry on a number of amorous relationships at the same time. | 0negative
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You know you're in trouble when ...
you see an unfinished book sitting there, waiting to be picked up, and you start something else instead. More than once. That was my experience here.We start with an omniscient "narrator", although the series' point-of-view is Maddie's first person. This was rather jarring.The opening scene involves a madman confronting Maddie, as well as a rather over-the-top fistfight. We move on to a rather harrowing car chase scene before Maddie arrives home to find the police ahead of her and a dead body in her very own bed.Sorry, but that was all too much for me to take in - along with a Jag-driving independently wealthy new "love interest" for Maddie; he appears JUST as Honnett tries to win her back.I gave up when the "decompression" session at Wesley's place failed to do more than carry me along in a state of confusion.Speaking of Wes ... the author has hinted time and again that he's gay. If they are SO very close, wouldn't he have come out to her already? This dancing around his sexuality has been the most annoying feature of the otherwise interesting series: total nonsense!I give two stars here because I want to give Ms. Farmer another chance. I really do. I'd even try the next book - but not the rest of this one. | 0negative
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too old
this book is from 1992. it was my bad for buying it, my idiot law school posted this isbn number when they should have posted the 2010-2011 version. oh well, a waste of money. | 0negative
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Not an Ordinary Book
The book that I read was "Slaughter-House-Five" by Kurt Vonnegut. It is a fictional story about a man named Billy Pilgrim. Billy experiences many interesting things throughout his life. They range from being a husband and a father of two children, to being a prisner of war. Throughout the book he meets many people from all over the world. He also believes that he had lived on the planet Tralfamadore."Slaughter-House-Five" was a real attention grabber. I had no problems getting into the story. On the other hand, this was not my favorite book to read. Throughout the book you feel lost in Billy's time travles. Different events or people that he meets, would spark his memory and the book's setting would change. For example, Billy would be talking about the war with someone and all of the sudden, he is back on his honey moon with his wife. In another Billy fell asleep and he would be back on the train in the war. These are just a few of the plot's twists. I found this organizational structure difficult to follow.Secondly, the grusome details and language that was used to describe Billy Pilgrim's life in the book,was not only un-necessary but very explicit. For example, when Billy was on Tralfamadore with Montana Wildgack,Kurt Vonnegut explained what happened between them in great detail. To many details were also given when the book described Billy's wedding night. With less detail and language the story would have been just as effective. It also would appeal to more readers of different ages.Even though the book was not my favorite, it had some great aspects. The description and personality anyalisis of the characters were amazing. It made the reader feel as thoughthey knew the character. Such as Edgar Derby. He was a high school teacher. when you first meet him, he does not seem very brave but, as you read on , you realize that he is not as cowderly as first suspected.I think that Kurt Vonnegut had something big going for him with this book. "Slaughter-House-Five" would appeal to an older and mature audience. This is not a book for everyone. I guess it is just on of those thing that you either love or hate. This book opened my eyes to the events in my own life. It also made me realize no matter how bad my life is, it can always get worse. | 0negative
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A factual account of europes worst massacre. A bombing raid.
This book describes a bombing raid on an east german town at the end of the second world war.It describes how, deliberately maximum destructionwas caused to a large city, mainly by the'firestorm' effect (where a large portion of a cityburing causes 300 mph winds, and destroys very large areas of buldings).It shows that this raid did very little to'help' the war effort against the germans. It seemsto imply also that the reason for the bombingwas political, perhaps to impress on the russians (soon to sweep through and take the city)the strength of allied airpower.I thought that (although mentioned in passing) the problems ofnavigation and night bombing accuracy in 1945, meantindividual targets were very hard to hit (likea factory making weapons). The allies could not try to take out individual targets, and they lost aprox 4% of their bombers a month. They were forced to attack large industrial cities to have any effect on the german war machine.I don't think this point was explored quite enough.However, Dresden had little significane to war production and was about to be overrun by the russians anyway.I Would have also liked more technical information about the RADAR and ECMused, and perhaps pictures of the radar screens and equipment and their operation procedure; problems etc. Some Americans using ground recognition short wave radar 'got lost' and bombed prague instead, it would have been interesting to see primitive radar representations of both cities.I think FOCAL POINT(LONDON)publishers still publish this.A good factual description of a major event in WWII, and an example (I think) of politicians using a national war machine for politicalrather than strategic purposes. | 1positive
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A Novel for the Young at Heart
This Side of Paradise is a novel for the young at heart, as it follows the life of Amory Blaine, a young man who is of the elite class. The novel traces Amory through his young life and the occurences he endures such as his many significant others, his struggle with the meaning of life, his military ventures, and finally his economic struggles. This work shows the true meaning of a man's spirit. | 1positive
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The book is great!
The book is a great sci-fi story. If you are into sci-fi at all it is a core read.Don't let the reviewers that picked it apart sway you. It is an intelligent well thought out book.Sit back enjoy it and read it fast. Don't get bogged down with the science at first. It becames clearer as the book goes on. Don't over think it. The book will be more fun that way for you. | 1positive
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Hello, Anne Rice, Are You There?
Let me start off by saying the story wasn't so bad, it was the execution of the story that was terrible.I was thrilled to see that Lestat played a major role in this story, until the dialog kicked in. He sounds like some metro, gangsta, surfer knock-off. He actually says "dude" all too frequently. Please.The story actually does a decent job tying the Mayfair Witch/Vampire scene together. It revolves around Quinn Blackwood and how he is struggling to deal with his fresh mortal life and his new vampiric existence. But, again, let me say that for the first time in any Rice book, Lestat killed it. I could not get passed the random, rambling soliloquy that popped up everywhere.Sorry, this one didn't do it for me. | 0negative
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A classic story of adventure -- great for young adults
I have read the book several times as a child. I decided to reread it before the movie adaptions came out to refresh my memory.The story was not as detailed as I remembered it being...I guess my imagination filled in a lot of blanks as a child.Overall, the story is a fast read and at a level that is quite suitable for young adults. The violence in the story is not graphic rather implied. It is not in the Drizzt vain of adventure stories (every sword stike described in key battles). The characters are interesting and well executed given the large number of characters in the story. The dwarves are a bit on the bumbling side which is counter to most of the ways dwarves are represented recently (short, stout highlanders).It is a great read especially on a cold or rainy day! This is a book/story that will last the test of time. | 1positive
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Is It Useful?
My 2 star rating is not a criticism of the book, itself, but rather its usefulness to me. I am having trouble getting into it for long enough to find the part (if there is one) that speaks to my situation. It may be an excellent textbook but textbook it is. The table of contents couldn't be a lot less accessible. Do I have the time and motivation to read hundreds of pages of information in order to become better educated on the topic of intenstinal bacteria? Probably not. Even if I did spend the time and effort, would I be able to apply this information to my own gut? No idea.Part of the problem may be the Kindle format which, imo, doesn't convey information anywhere near as effectively as a well organized "real" book. Of course this could change completely with improved technology relegating paper to the dust heap of history.I will continue to buy Kindle books and, probably, to carry my Kindle in my purse. Doesn't mean I have to like the format. In fact, I may have just talked myself into buying a tablet or a netbook to use as my reader. Then, all I need is a hot spot and I'm good to go -- a bit less portable than a Kindle but so much richer in possibilities for learning. | 0negative
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GREAT READING
THIS BOOK WAS A GIFT FOR MY OLDEST SON. HE REALLY ENJOYED THIS BOOK FROM FRONT TO BACK.JEFF SHAARA IS A GREAT WRITER. GET THIS BOOK. | 1positive
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Excellent reading and compelling storytelling.
There's not much I could say from reading the other comments, but I loved this book so much that I read it twice in a row. This book will make you laugh, cry, and bring you into the story like few other books will. Excellent descriptive detail and narration will have the reader wanting to read more and more. It truly is a hard book to put down. I really enjoy Mr. Jennings style and look forward to reading more of his books. | 1positive
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Jane Austen's most popular novel
While this title was Jane Austen's second published work, it is her most popular. First published in the late 18th century under the title "First Impressions", it was later revised and re-published under the current name.It is an entertaining view into 18-19th century courtship. Recommended for students and literature aficionados alike. | 1positive
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A Great Battle History of a Civil War Unit
This book was a delight to read and the author, James Baldwin, went to great depths to research his subject matter. The biography of Brigadier General Micah Jenkins went hand in hand with the story of the 5th South Carolina Volunteers and the Palmetto Sharpshooters. I found that the maps provided were detailed and easy to follow and helped the reader to follow the narrative of that particular event or action the author was describing. I did notice that there was a different point of view as to who was at fault for the Confederate failure during the battle of Lookout Mountain fought during October 28-29 1863. In this book the author places the blame upon Brigadier General Evander M. Law, (pages 233-241). In Wiley Sword's account of this incident in his book 'Mountains Touched with Fire' (pages 134-144), he places the blame more towards Micah Jenkins. But either way, he was a gifted leader and a brave man and one who shared a similiar fate to many leaders who lead from the front during the Civil War. Overall a well researched and presented book covering the many battles of this man and these units. | 1positive
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test all things
There are those who say this book is auto writing and thus say it is occultic.To those I say "will you judge from the outward appearance?" You wicked lazy servant you say "there is a lion in the streets I will be slain in the streets?Then there are those who have read it and found their "proofs" that in "their" eyes disagrees with scripture. To them I say "have you ever quoted Prov 3:5? Even read it?"Then have you ever done it? You decide it does not agree? But you did not first acknowledge the Lord and then wait for him to answer. You decided based on your own knowledge you decided based on your traditions. If we are naked poor and blind what makes you think you can see on your own? A blind man knows he is blind and humbly accepts assistance from others. A spiritually blind man thinks he is self sufficient and eats and devours anyone who attempts to love him - even the Lord himself (he then rationalizes it was not the Lord - that that man was not sent of the Lord and thus he too kills the prophets).Is this not what they tried to say of Jesus? He came against their traditional interpretations - so they sought to kill him!I had issues with things in this book. I have also had issues with things the still small voice of God has said to me. Some of them punched me in the gut - it was a surgery to remove a tradition of men - a stronghold. I said "Lord I need chapter and verse. Lord this looks like a contradiction." Sometimes he said "do you trust me?" Then a day, a week, a month or many months even many years later he gave me chapter and verse.I tell you a mystery there is not one contradiction to scripture in this book. No I am not saying this is new revelation. No I am not saying this should be made to be part of a cannon. But as scripture says "you may all prophecy".But what comes first - stepping out of the boat? Or walking on water? Understanding that you can walk on water? Or walking and then understanding?When a child learns to walk he knows by knowledge - he has seen with his physical eyes that humans can walk. But he does not know he can walk. For he has not experienced it. He has to try.And so he tries and immediately he stumbles.And then YOU are there - you are ready to discourage him - you jump all over his stumbling as your PROOF!!! That walking is not possible for him you say "how dare you arrogant child even try to walk!!!"Miserable comforters - I rejoice that you don't baby sit my children.You are .... well I will just let scripture say it 2 Tim 2:26God seeks to lift them up but you - you kick them while they are down.Who then is the occultic one?Before you again judge from the outward appearance (deciding I am the one deceived) I will give you a proof of auto writing I will have you read my review to the book written by a devil. You can read the book for free from their website but I will link you to Amazons page.http://www.amazon.com/True-Life-God-Volume-ebook/product-reviews/B007OZU96O/ref=cm_cr_dp_qt_hist_one?ie=UTF8&filterBy;=addOneStar&showViewpoints;=0http://www.amazon.com/True-Life-God-Volume-ebook/dp/B007OZU96O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid;=1347956921&sr;=8-1&keywords;=true+life+in+godRead my review of her book - which is a letter I sent to her organization - then seek him not yourself; for to seek your own understanding is...to eat from the tree of knowledge which is forbidden, it is self worship, it is idolatry. But go to God as a little child that when you understand it to be false or wrong or a contradiction to not say as Peter said "not so Lord" but to say as Ananias said "But Lord?" to say "Lord it does not seem so to me. Open my eyes tell me the truth NO MATTER WHAT IT TAKES".Will he give you a stone? A scorpion? Then why fear asking for understanding? Why fear to be OPEN MINDED? Forget all that you know and know only Christ and him crucified.In Love,Brian WillessTeknotheou@gmail.com | 1positive
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excellent
One of the fundamental sources of military thinking right up to modern times. Jomini's masterpiece still has lessons for the military planner today | 1positive
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Shame goes down in history
I first became familiar with the Johnstown Flood by the book _In Sunlight, In a Beautiful Garden_ by K. Cambor. Intrigued furthur, I bought this book and was not disappointed.Carefully researched and brought to life in words, the event is just incredibly horrible. Even worse is the reality that this was preventable, and had it not been for immensely self-centered, wealthy men (Mellon, Carnegie, Frick) the damn dam would never have been inadequately restored and improperly maintained. For the benefits of so few (rich), so many people lost their lives. Towns virtually disappeared, wiped off the face of the earth along with livestock and every tree, bush and flower for miles down-river. The human impact stories are over whelming. Children were torn from their parent's arms in the crush of water that swept through their homes. Families were separated, their relatives buried in mud leaving their bodies unrecoverable for eternity.The shame is undeniable. What makes it worse is the fact that the richest men tried to make amends by contributing blankets to the survivors.Just blankets.This is a clear cut, tell it as it should be told book. | 1positive
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A Fantasy
This book is just a book by a nut-case christian thinking that "god" is going to undo natural law just to justify a belief system that is stupid and primitive. | 0negative
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Wonderful short stories
Great wholesome short stories that are also educational. A joy to read aloud to my children. | 1positive
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A Good Book, AGAIN!
This is oe of my favorite suspense authors. I wish she would write faster. I really have enjoyed all of her books. They are well written and interesting, exciting stories. Definitely recommended! | 1positive
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An Easy Reading Story About An Amazing Little Universe
This short novel brings a life a most unique world and imaginatively brings together a number of characters from a multitude of different generations as a result of a mysterious physical phenomenon that annually can capture visitors to the planet and makes them prisoners in time. While not terribly dense or detailed, it reads easily and wraps the reader up in a special universe with intriguing interactions between characters, especially between generations. It is a magical, light book that will have you chuckling and sighing with sadness. It is about power, greed, lost romantic relationships, about the joy of acceptance, and the collision between people of different time periods. A fascinating story that has few parallels. | 1positive
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How to Shoot HDV overated
for a small soft cover book the price was way to high,I tried to get it from my library as I had already read many other books three times the size which according to the price marked on the back were less,however it gave a little idea of what I was up against,I would not recommend it for the price,if it cost $10 or less it would be OK. | 0negative
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Lupica Shoots, Clank..another brick.
Lupica is at the very least consistent. He is consistently bad.Story lacked depth and intrique to keep a reader interested. Recommend if you having trouble with a sleep disorder. | 0negative
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Backroads
This book takes an intense journey into the mind of a psycho. I found the scenes in this book disturbing and pervertic. The book grossed me out considerably and should not be available to anyone under the age of 30. | 0negative
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Five star all the way!
One of if not THE first book on bringing to light the need for animal welfare awareness. A book for the young and old and a story that should continue to be passed on through the generations lest we forget our role in looking after the comfort and welfare of the animals in this world. Highly recommended. | 1positive
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BORING!
The dog part was kinda interesting but the eclipse flashback(s) was disgusting and the rest of the book was really boring. It also could have easily ended about 50 or 60 pages before it did. But at least its short for a King book (445 pages) and I was able to force myself through it in a few days. Out of the 17 or so King books I've read this was definitely the worst, and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone unless you want to read every Stephen King book there is. - - 3/10 | 0negative
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Sounder Review
Love this story! I read this in grade school (many years ago) and I enjoyed it then.It is a great story about a boy and his dog and the sad truths of that era. Great read! | 1positive
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I just couldnt get into it..
I thought that this book had unbelievable potential, but I just couldnt like it no matter how much I wanted to. I absolutely loathed the characters.. I thought that Saura was annoying and William was such a pig I wanted to jump right into the book and belt him upside the head..needless to say, I did not finish this ..why waste time reading something I dont even like a little when there are so many amazing stories out there to be read??? I have many books by Ms. Dodd and I have enjoyed the majority of them..sadly, I cannot say the same for "Candle in the Window" This is not a book that I would recommend. | 0negative
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A Great Novel
This novel, written by Charles Dickens, shows us that we cannot achieve happiness from money. It also teaches us that if we succumb to our desires we will end up losing in life. I recommend this beautifully written masterpiece to anyone who enjoys reading | 1positive
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A Must for Serious Manga Fans and Artists
This book is incredibly well organized and put together. Each section is extraordinarily written and as a whole the book is a Manga instructional classic. As Christopher Hart says, "It all starts with an artist and a pencil" and this book guides you through from the start of the creative process to the finished product. | 1positive
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Idea is Idea of Idea.
I only can say that nobody can write book as ULYSSES.And everybody can't understand ULYSSES.I think this is best stream of consciousness novel.I think this is the best novel.I think this is the best book of English literature.I think this is the best book of world literature.And last"Idea is idea of idea" Stephan Dedalus(J.J.) | 1positive
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Not for beginner
"The ragamuffin style of playing the hammered dulcimer will augment any advanced players technique and could easily be sufficient if they are new to the hammered dulcimer."I don't know if an advanced player might get something out of this book. I have to wonder if the other reviewers have some kind of relationship with Rich, either personally or at least fans of his playing. After building my own dulcimer, I was searching for some books to get started. I have a good deal of experience with music, read it adequately and understand keys and chords from guitar, but this book cannot make the claim "easily be sufficient if they are new to the hammered dulcimer."If you break down the book, there's the normal 5 pages for titles, copyrights, etc, about 2 pages of introduction, 12 pages of actual instructions, 26 pages of blank chord and hammering patterns, and the rest of the 77 pages are chord and hammering patterns for many different keys, only 2 per page.So just beware, beginners will not find much here. | 0negative
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Not great
In my opinion the book draws questionable conclusions based solely on the use of personal relationships to profit. I can not image a business today that does not operate off personal relationships to profit and gain advantage in information and or business intelligence. | 0negative
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Terrible!
What a waste of money. This book offers only outlines,no "Content Knowlege" is reviewed whatsoever. | 0negative
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I struggled to get through - then I failed the test.
Okay. There's a program at my high school in the English department, called "Accelerated Reader". You are assigned a book off of a list, and you are to read it, then take a test about it on the computer. The program is quite helpful (I think), but when I was assigned The Great Gatsby, I was struggling to get through it! There were maybe one or two parts (for me) that made me want to keep reading. The rest I had to jam down my throat. It is well-written, therefore I give it at least one star. But it was so "boring", that I failed my test on the computer! I've aced every other one that I've taken, so I know it can't just be me. No one I know has passed that test either, because it was "just too boring"for them, also. | 0negative
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Not a fan of classics.
I'm just not a fan of classics. I only read it because it was free. Maybe an English major would appreciate it more. | 0negative
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Where The Wild Thoughts Spring
Great book- it inspired me to write a parody book at [...]. My girls loved Where The Wild Things Are when they were young and that was about 30 years ago. Check out this for your little onesWhere The Wild Things Are 2010 Wall Calendar. I still enjoy the book and its connection to the empowerment of the spirit of the very young 2-4 years old. | 1positive
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Looking for alaska
I really liked the book but I had so many questions at the end and just wanted Alaska to come back and answer them all for me | 1positive
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Book Great, Condition Poor
We love the book, but it arrived in the mail as is without an envelope. So, if it was in good condition before we received it we would not know. It came to our doorstep stained and crumpled. | 0negative
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A Journey with Alice
I thought Alice's Adventures in Wonderland was what the Disney movie was based on, and Through the Looking Glass was another adventure she had. But that is not the case here. The Disney movie version is based on a combination of both books. I think this is important to mention, as it will hardly be like the movie version we all know.I love the movie (both the 1951 Disney classic and the new Tim Burton version) and figured I would love the book as well, but this book screwed with me. I have always had a vivid imagination, but never non-sensical imagination. That is exactly what Mr. Carroll had when he wrote this book. The book does, however, contain many of the beloved movie characters- the caterpillar, the white rabbit, Queen of Hearts, Mad Hatter, Dormouse, and of course, the Cheshire cat.Overall, the two stories amused me and kept me entertained, but I would not read them again. I am glad to have read them, though, as Alice's tale is a classic one. | 0negative
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Atlas Shrugged (New Edition-Unabridged) - Audio CD Set
This was a birthday gift for my sister who needed to "read" Atlas Shrugged but has ZERO "free" time between family, work and online schooling. I was a little concerned when reviewing the various versions of Atlas on CD because this particular selection seemed to be priced much lower than others. Wow! My sister is nearly done listening and has been thrilled with each chapter/disk.I HIGHLY recommend this audio edition for the price,quality and ease of listening. If you know someone who has been hesitant to commit to reading Atlas...this is the answer. | 1positive
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There is so denying it!
I don't think anyone can deny that we hardly know any more in the end of this book than we did in the beginning. I'm sorry all you Jordan fans, but this is not even close to being the best fantasy ever written. I admit that the characters are well described (THAT DOES NOT MEAN WELL DEVELOPPED!), but the plot didn't exist. The people who recommended this book to me told me that the plot was so intricate that it was hard to follow. Let's get one thing straight: a plot is not intricate if nothing actually happens. If you think that the plot is intricate just because the company gets seperated and travel in different groups for a couple hundred pages, then you are more lemming-like than I thought!I just don't understand how an Author could write 800 or more pages in which nothing significant actually happens.I cannot recommend this book, it was a disapointment, but I can however recommend anothe book by another author. The Elfstones of Shannara is probably the best book I have ever read, and I garantee that you will not be disappointed if you decide to accept my recommendation. | 0negative
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THE FACTS
WHAT REALLY HAPPEND 331 PEOPLE DIED BUT NOW THEY ARE BEAING BROUGHT TO TRIAL THAT STARTED FEB 4 2002 ALL SHOULD BE KILLED | 1positive
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"How to be a perfect phony" would have been a more honest title
... and I thought Facebook was the main example of misuse of the word "friend".Great book to teach you how to feign empathy and pretend to care about people in order to be successful in your career while subtly worsening yourself as a human being. At least it can make you laugh now and then, as some advice is so blatantly phony. This is a book about manipulating people while doing your best to make them feel they are not being manipulated. (So, the words "influence people" in the title are quite apt.) It confuses appearances with substance, and it constantly misuses the term "genuine". "Be genuinely interested in people's problems" is meaningless advice. "Genuine" cannot be taught. You either are genuine or are not. The only thing you can teach is to *pretend* to be "genuinely" interested in people.The one point I'd give this book is that if you utterly lack any kind of basic social skills, it will at least teach you one or two. | 0negative
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a bit long but supremely entertaining :)
This was the first book I had ever listened to rather than reading, and it was a great experience. Englishman David Case does a beautiful job narrating Darwin's classic journey. Since the book was compiled from Darwin's field notes and journal entries, I think listening is great because it was written in first-person. So the entire time, you're listening to this distinguished British accent mouthing Darwin's own words. It's hard to listen for any length of time without forgetting that you're not actually listening to Darwin himself.I found it particularly amusing to listen to Case describe from Darwin's point of view the fascinating maneuvers of dung beetles, his description of the Spanish ladies of Buenos Aires, or the experience of tasting young tortoise soup and other exotic foods. His accounts of gaucho life in Argentina and of sneaking up behind the giant and seemingly deaf Galapagos tortoises were particularly entertaining.Having been to several parts of South America which were visited on the voyage, I found this book to be really interesting and fun to follow along with. I would really like to visit the Galapagos or Tahiti now. I'm not sure if having visited the places makes the book more enjoyable, or if it's the other way around. I suppose I'll have to find out now. :) | 1positive
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Wish I hadn't started here
I've heard alot of good things about the Pern series - so I figured I'd start with this book which chronicles some of the history and founding of Pern and of Benden Weyr. Dissapointingly, the stories of Benden Weyr and Ruatha Hold were the only ones I found interesting (the dolphin story I couldn't even manage to make myself read.) I haven't lost my faith in this series yet though - I plan to start at the beginning where I should have in the first place. If you're new to Pern don't start with this book! Only for serious Pern addicts who are interested in the history. | 0negative
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Simple, complictated about religion, not religious
A book that teach es us how to live. Discusses religion without bein religious. Shows us characters and their spirit without being pathetic. Trully one of the best ever. As I said in others, the only words to describe it are the words in it. | 1positive
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Fascinating!
I came across this book in a used bookstore. Since I enjoy reading success stories of business people, thought that I would add the is one to my library.This book covers the rise of a company called "Dare to Be Great", a motivational MLM company in the 70's created by a guy named Glenn W. Turner.Despite the companies eventual downfall, I found this success story very inspirational and motivational. Goes to show what can be done with sheer will power, determination and stickability. | 1positive
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