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BOO!
I was super excited to read this book, knowing that Anne and Gilbert would finally be married in it.Little did I know that Anne would become totally boring once she got married, that L.M. would completely lose the magic that is anything about Anne, and that the folks in Avonlea would get maybe five brief mentions each in the book. (I exaggerate, but only slightly.)This entire book was about the other characters in their new location. Anne and Gilbert may as well have been minor incidental characters. It'd be like if Jane Austen had done a follow-up to Pride and Prejudice and then took Elizabeth and Darcy almost completely out of it, when THOSE TWO are the ones you want to read about.Extremely disappointing. | 0negative
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Emma--another entertaining Austen soap opera
If you liked Pride and Prejudice, this will probably amuse you, but it's not quite as memorable. The characters are hilarious and the plot twist rather unpredictable. I enjoyed it a great deal. | 1positive
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Atonement
Ian McEwan's novel "Atonement" (2001) has received deserved praise. The writing style is varied and superb, the pace of the novel carefully controlled, and the characters live from the inside. The book explores many large themes, the nature of guilt and atonement, tne nature of love, the nature of the writing of fiction, war, social change and social classes, and many others. The variety and breadth of these themes could easliy produce a sprawling, confused work. But in "Atonement" the themes are carefully controlled and integrated.The book begins on an English upper-middle class estate in 1935. The protagonist is a 13 year-old precocious girl, Briony Tallis, who already has the ambition to be a writer. She witnesses an erotic flirtation between her older sister Cecilia Tallis, and Robbie Turner, a brilliant young man from an underprivileged backround (and of uncertain paternity) whose education has been sponsored by Briony's father. The plot unfolds slowly and inexorably with great descriptive detail and attention to character. At the conclusion of the first section Briony makes a false accusation against Robbie which results in Robbie's imprisonment. The rest of the book is the working-out of this carefully-laid opening chapter.The outstanding features of this novel include the change of voicing and of pacing in each of the four sections. Each of the first three parts of the book are written in the third person but the voicing in each section is significanly and purposefully different.The first and longest section, which I have discussed above, is written in the tone of the omniscent narrator -- one assumes it is the voice of the novelist unfolding his story. The second section of the book is set early in WW II with the British evacuation of France at Dunkirk just prior to the German air attack on Brittain. The story continues in the third person, but the pace and drive of the story increases rapidly. We are witnessing the British troups on their retreat to Dunkirk with the horrors of battle. The story is written, we soon learn, in the voice of Robbie Turner, who has been released from prison on condition that he enlist in the war effort.The third chapter is set in London just before the air raids. We meet Briony Tallis again who is full of remorse for her false testimony years before against Robbie. Briony is becoming a nurse, (her sister Cecelia is also a nurse) and there are gripping scenes of wounded and dying men in the hospital returning from combat. There are some wonderful secondary characters in this section, including Sister Drummond, the supervisor of the young probationer nurses, and Mrs.Jarvis, a crusty British landlord in the best Victorian tradition. In this section of the book, we learn that Briony is continuing her efforts to write and she is also seeking forgiveness for the guilty deed of her girlhood. As the chapter progresses, we see that it is written from the perspective of Briony herself even though it continues in the third person.The final section of the book is set in 1999 and is very short. The voicing shifts again, this time to the first person, and the story and the novel achieve a difficult closure.This novel is ultimately a careful, well-crafted and reflective work which speaks eloquently of the power of writing to transform reality and of the still more important power of human love. | 1positive
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A DISGUSTING BOOK THAT IS UNREALISTIC
I ABSOLUTLY HATE THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!! It has a horrible plot and is really disgusting! If you really like gorey books then maybe you will like but it is so sick and i hope you agree with me. THE ONLY REASON I GAVE IT 2 STARS IS BECAUSE GARY PAULSEN PUT A LOT OF EFFORT INTO IT--OTHER WISE I THINK IT STINKS! | 0negative
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14 month old loves it!
My daughter has loved this book since she was 6 months old. It has a great flow and rhyme pattern, great illustrations, and communicates a great message. *I* even enjoy reading it over and over! | 1positive
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utter drivel
I have no problem with complicated protagonists, but this female, who has lost her husband and son in a terrorist attack on a soccer game the moment she is in the throes of passion with another man, is the least believable female character I have ever read. Her character's rambling speeches give street-smart insight into human behavior, life in London, etc. Yet in the next paragraph she makes decisions no woman would make, even if she is suffering absolute grief and PTSD> It just doesn't make sense. The nail in the coffin in this book is that none of the characters are believable. Unless they are all pathologically narcissistic (maybe that's the point??), and incredibly inconsistent about it, all of their interactions are utterly unbelievable. | 0negative
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Caveat Emptor
While I must admit that Gorman is to be congratulated on his courage in bringing this book to press, it cannot be stressed too strongly that this is no 'coffee table' book. Composition notwithstanding, some of the photographs are pornographic. If pornographic = bad in your estimation then do not buy this book and stay with something a bit more Ritts-like. If however you are open to a new and decidedly different approach to male nude photography then pick up your copy ASAP. Firsts only happen once, I am glad that this one didn't pass me by. | 1positive
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A book of magickal poetry
This book was first published in 1971, and the author died in 1994. Valerie Worth was a poet, with various interests, to include magic and gardening. I don't think this is actually meant as a "spell book", to be used literally, but actually as a book of poetry inspired by old-time enchantments.That being said, it is a delightful little collection. However, if you are looking for a "book of spells" that you can use in your own spellcrafting, you would be better served with a more modern spellbook. If you are just looking for some inspiration--perhaps something to read to hearken back to witchcraft of old--this little book can set the tone. | 1positive
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Research
The amount of research that went into this book is absolutely incredible. I am native to Colorado and have lived here most of my life. I am so glad to see that someone finally took an interest in the peaple who made this state what it is. Besides the fact that it is so easy to read. One Great Book. | 1positive
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This Novel will touch you considerably
Well gosh darn, this book touched the inner most chamber of my fat, old heart. The emotion put into the ending is more than breath taking. Just like Lennie's situation twards mice, George loved his freind to death... | 1positive
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Beautiful But BIG Book
This is a very beautiful book containing several of the classic works of CS Lewis. My only remark is that I did not anticipate how big it is. Please note the size. This is a 'coffee table book' NOT a 'bookshelf book'. It would be nice if the same item were available in a shelf-friendly size. Even so, it is an excellent collection. | 1positive
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The Martini Lifestyle
The Martini can take its drinker to a higher level. The edge softens. The world becomes a simpler place. A smile is forthcoming. I derived similar pleasure while reading this book. | 1positive
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Biased and Sickening
Only in an election year could such a biased, scurilous, and libelous book be published. W sits in office as a draft-dodger and John Kerry, a real war hero, gets dragged through the mud in this sickening book. Save your money | 0negative
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Horrible book full of ignorance
This book gets horrible marks simply for the idiotic and ignorant statement regarding Bret Hart. Hart is arguably the greatest in-ring technician of all time and the statements Shawn makes regarding Bret are completely laughable. Michaels truly is a piece of work. | 0negative
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TOTALLY DISAPPOINTED!
This book was a total dissapointment! Although I must commend the subject matter on being interesting, I cannot begin to tell you how unhappy I was with the style of writing. The characters were undeveloped, everytime you were getting excited with the plot the story line just went flat. It was like a bad roller-coaster ride. I was interested in reading this book before because I saw that it was compared to a Chuck Palahniuk novel. IT DOESNT EVEN COME CLOSE!! I would not recommend this book to anybody, its a waste of your time! If you are really interested in "behind the scenes" of body building, there has to be something better that you can read. | 0negative
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An excellent book
Thanks God that the book doesn't mention Farid or Abdel Wahab, because Arabic music did exist before them, or before they changed it into Casino-like belly dancing arabesque musique rather than a decent creative music that didn't need their foreign and stupid influences such as Rumba and Tango, things that were cut and paste from the hollywood of the twenties, and that are so out of date now.This book focuses on the Arabic music as a traditional inherited music, and does an excellent job at describing it. | 1positive
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Master of Games
Not written for the timid, When Gucci Came First, is a front row, close-your-mouth, raw, nail biting self-expose on life in the fast and funky lane of a self-proclaimed diva. Kalico plays the streets and the games like a master at the Roulette wheel, often getting what she wants, until she decides the game is over. | 1positive
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Another Republican Book Telling them HOW and WHAT to believe
We all know the republican/conservative tactic of telling fellow believers how to think, what to believe,etc. Goldberg does a fine job of this in case you were needing some reassurance. A friend mentioned they saw this book under the arm of our president Bush. Perhaps he too was in need of being convinced that the media is "liberal." For those conservatives/republicans that see the truth and realize the media is what it is (unbiased) but do not want to be ousted from their fellow conservatives, this is the book for you. For those republicans that realize that the media is far from liberal and you have independent thought and don't care what fellow conserves think of you, don't waste your time. | 0negative
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A window into Economics
The last comprehensive review for this book was in 2001 and the world has changed considerably since then. Much of the book is a breezy, but substantiated rebuttal of the many flaws in economic polocies. The author makes a very readable case for the removal of tariffs and subsidy crutches for sick industries. But the author pays no attention to human-fallibility factor in ecomonics. The author notes that sick-industries need to die out to provide breathing space for more nascent ones. This, according to the author, is also essential for freeing workers for the new industry. This statement does not say anything about the disruptive nature of this change or the difficulty and time-consuming nature of such a transition. Skills become obsolete in a matter of a few years or even months in the current marketplace and re-learning new skills at a considerably advanced age is no small issue. A basic comprehension of this fact and its treatment is missing from the book, but this is no fault of the author. The book was written in a time when the only major transitions were from the cottage-textile industry to the industrial, and the sunset of the agricultural economy. All said, this book is still the best introduction I've read. Understand the basic concepts as simple parables. The beautiful complexity and nuanced points can be explored later | 1positive
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COT BookClub Review III
We are back. Well, this book was not as good as others we have read. It was okay, however it was too unrealistic. We understand sometimes the author will exaggerate in order to keep the story/character alive. But this book was a little too much. 1) LTC Smith was way too James Bondish for a doctor. No mention of special forces training or ranger training. But, because he was a MASH commander, all his killer instincts came back. 2) With all the shooting going on, no signs of local law enforcement. 3) Whole Iraq setting was hard to believe. Furthermore, his characters were very choppy. His characters were in and out of the story without any further information. Some characters just vanished from the book. This was our first Ludlum's book and we were not impressed. We do not recommend buying this book and we recommend reading this book only if all your favorite authors are not available. I hope this review helped. Our next review is the TV series "Over There" (taking a little break from reading). Thanks and COT out!!! | 0negative
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A very sparce but emotionally rich story of a young boy.
In this age of post-modern, ironic, dconstructionist storytelling, it's refreshing to see someone such as Canadian writer\artist Chester Brown honestly recount his early life. 'I Never Liked You', graphic novel, is an excellent and enticing introduction to both Brown and the comics medium. The story and art mesh together effortlesly and all the sentimental cliches are carefully avoided. It's a quick read, which may dissapoint you at first, but, as you find yourself needing to reread it, you'll realize that it's a virtue. 'I Never Liked You' is poetic- flowing and graceful, yet meaty enough for you to dissect any line or image and learn more about what has shaped Chester Brown to make him the great artist he is today. Highly Recommended. | 1positive
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Boring and "worthy" Grisham
Grisham's latest is such a disappoinment, it feels almost unlikely that this is the same man who wrote "A time to kill", "The Firm", and "The Partner", all of which were great thrillers. This one isn't. It reads like a boring textbook on the downside of the American society, or to be more spesific, all the homeless. Grisham seems obsessed with passing the blame and in the process he actually forgets to write a good book. His characters are embarrassing stereotypes and the story just doesn't cut it. Although the cause is more than worthy the novel suffers from being just that, "worthy", when it should have neen exiting and thrilling. The book strikes me a something of a "first draft" that should've been given a lot more work before being allowed to be published. Better luck the next time..... | 0negative
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Classic Romance
The rich setting for this story brings it alive. I can drive anywhere on the NH coast and imagine a fit for this story. The main character is endearing, and supported by an interesting array of friends and family. If you've exhausted your supply of classic romance, this one's for you. | 1positive
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Shoot the Editor!!
Tom, what the heck happened here? Whether or not you put out an interesting novel anymore is up for discussion. However, please don't insult your incredibly loyal and fanatically devoted readers with multiple typos and other editorial nonsense.We deserve a refund or at least an explanation | 0negative
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A Search for Human Compasion
The story of Jane Eyre is a classic tale of a search for human compassion. From the tragedies of her orphaned beginnings and a childhood with a hateful aunt who, out of spite, sends Jane to a prison-like life at Lowood Boarding School, Jane's strength of character shines through. Through each ordeal the reader develops a true concern for this "plain Jane". When she finally begins to find a more content life at Thornfield and as her relationship with Rochester develops into love the reader feels happiness for her, but follows her through the depths of despair at the shocking revelation that prevents her from marrying him. The reader cheers for her as she rebuilds her life as a strong, independent woman who is able to choose her destiny.Jane Eyre is a beautifully written book, although at times Charlotte Bronte's descriptions were very wordy and therefore the reading process was difficult. Understandably, this descriptive style of writing was typical of an era in which the average person did not have the opportunities we now have to envision different people and places. | 1positive
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Useful AND Entertaining - a rare mix
I just got done reading this aloud to my homeschooled 6th grade twins. What a treasure! The author weaves together mathematical and scientific principles into a delightful story format. My kids had no trouble understanding the well-illustrated concepts.We used this book in our unit study on Ancient Greece. It just so happened, that during the reading, our Science lesson was on the six simple machines, a few of which Archimedes was the founder! As if all this isn't enough, my children took away with them an interesting outlook. We take the principles such as the center of gravity, buoyancy, pi, exponents, all that we know about geometry, etc. for granted. It's so much a part of our lives. This book helped us to imagine a time when these concepts were yet to be uncovered, an exciting time in the development of applied science and technology. It also helped us see Archimedes as a real man, and not just another boring scientist to learn about.Even though my kids are homeschooled, they moan and groan about their work just like any other kids. This book was still able to capture them. It was a great selection that complemented our studies very well, and was a good investment of time and money. | 1positive
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point of view in the one that got away...
for the most part i liked the book. it covers a section of history that i find to be quite interesting. however, i often wondered how leasor had such access to the flyer's thoughts. at times the book read more like fiction than fact. | 1positive
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Pretty darn boring
I gave this book a few really good shots to get interesting and finally gave up halfway through. The author used the main character to lecture her audience about cat care, the other characters were boring or just plain nasty, and I never did find myself caring whatsoever about who committed the murder and why. I have read all of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum books and this author needs to take some hints as to how to write an engaging plot. I don't need to read about the detailed records kept on all the pets, how exactly to groom a cat, how she keeps an extra packet of cat food on her, that her day starts unrealistically early and so forth. Don't waste your time on this less-than-fluff novel that needed at least another revision before publication. | 0negative
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A Grand Slam
This book works on every level: writing style, grand and well defined themes, enormously entertaining, fantastic pacing, charecter developement. Just read the darn thing if you have not. | 1positive
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Major Distortion of Domestic Violence
As a straight, white, heterosexual male from a red state, but who also works with Domestic Violence victims, I can assure you that Mr. James is well off the mark with this book. Though it would be nice if the stats were skewed and men were truly less responsible for violence in the household, it is simple not the case. This book is irresponsible scholarship, and a prime example of the type of prejudice that exists against the DV movement as a whole. It is no longer a "feminist" issue, but rather a "family" issue. Domestic Violence is a serious matter, that deserves serious scholarship, and this book does not meet that standard. | 0negative
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The Singing Nun
This book is only valuable if you read the real story of the Singing Nun. The reader will find how some stories are glamorized just to capitalize on something popular. The movie of The Singing Nun (with Debbie Reynolds) was light and frivolous--an nothing like the compassion and heartaches of the REAL Singing Nun. | 0negative
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Um, no.
1. Our heroine calms herself after a nightmare with a Virginia Slim and a Fuzzy Navel Cooler. Um, no.2. Our hero has beaten up a judge.3. A sixteen year old boy listens to Creedence Clearwater Revival on his "walkman." In 2003. Um, no.There are several other anachronisms and examples of reasons I, personally, do not connect with these characters, but these three are the most egregious. About halfway through the book, I completely stopped caring who was murdering the hookers. I admit I skimmed the rest just to find out, and I was not surprised. Horrified, and grossed out, but not surprised.Oddly, the author does the best job when she is narrating from the killer's point of view. That's a little disturbing as well.It seems to me that I've liked books by Sutcliffe before, but this one really misses the mark. Skip it. | 0negative
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Great Review
This is a great review for studying for Step 1. It is small enough to be carried around or stuffed in the backpack but also a quick refresher for those who have read the full text version. Happy I got this book, it's been helpful | 1positive
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Heartbreakingly sad! Breathtakingly beautiful! Incredible!
I recently finished reading "The Handless Maiden"; recently as in last night. I don't think a book has ever made me weep before. From the first few pages I was pinned in my place until the racking emotion of the story finally relented. I suppose, in all honesty, it has yet to do so. Never before has a story touched me so deeply, grabbing my heart and twisting it in this mix of pain and pleasure, joys and sorrows. I was weeping for poor young Mariah and hating her grandfather with a fierceness that was almost foreign to me. I fell in love with Sully and ached when he left; despised Doug and then forgave him. The characters were real to me, the pain of the moment real, just as real as Mariah's always short-lived happiness. In short, "The Handless Maiden" touched me profoundly. I can say without reservation that it was one of the best novels I have ever read, and certainly the most emotional. I await more publications with great anticipation and excitement. | 1positive
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Horrible
If you haven't read this book, here is the complete plot.1. Make tubes one and two ready in all respects including opening the outer doors.2. Fire torpedoes3. Sink enemy subs4. Evade enemy torpedoes5. Lather, rinse, repeat.The only good thing about this was that I spent only a dollar on this book at a garage sale. | 0negative
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Very Realistic View of Near Future Society, Politics and Technology
This is the first book in Michael Flynn's Firestar Saga. After reading it, my husband and I eagerly sought out the rest of the books in the series and were not disappointed. We originally read them from the library but decided this was a series we wanted to have in our personal library. Until they are all available in Kindle, we'll have to settle for paperbacks. They really made us think about what kind of future we're creating. | 1positive
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Why don't I do something fun like beat my head against the wall for three hours?
A guy I work with read this book and it seemed like he was reading it for three years! Every day he sat there with his legs crossed sipping his tea and reading Great Expectations, spending about an hour on every page! What an aristocrat. It was brutal!Than I tried to read the book.I couldn't get past the first stage or the first part or whatever because it was so f*cking boring i thought my f*cking head was going to explode! NOTHING HAPPENED!That freak I work with didn't like it either.I'm just surprised he could read the whole thing without completely losing his mind. | 0negative
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Biased
Two of the four questions on ME (CFS) show a bias that toward thinking it is a psychiatric illness. Things like "search for serious and treatable illnesses" and "tell the patient about the role of inactivity in causing fatigue" among others. Advocating more activity to an ME patient often results in increased morbidity because of post exertional malaise.There are oven 4,000 articles in peer reviewed medical journals showing significant biological pathology in ME. | 0negative
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Early James, still a cut above the rest (no pun intended).
P.D. James' second Dalgliesh novel, A Mind to Murder. was originally written in 1963. The preoccupations of the time are visible in the book-- changing social mores, counseling for failing marriages, disillusioned young artists, and experimental psychological treament. The Steen clinic makes an excellent backdrop to both explore these issues and to set the scene for murder.When the correct and absolute Enid Bolam is found stabbed in the basement of the Steen outpatient clinic, Dalgliesh needs to find who killed her-- was it someone looking to the future or to the past?_A Mind To Murder_ is not as smooth or as perfect as some of James' later work, but is still an excellent mystery and well worth the time to read. | 1positive
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Thornton's Talking Critters
Burgess was the model for talking animal stories. His characters use good English, are modeled on real behavior of the beast in question, and there is a minimal plotline. Mostly written for what is now about a first to third grade level, the stories are a good 'read aloud' for pre-schoolers as well. Move on from these to Wind in the Willows (Grahame), Wainscot Weasel, or Brian Jacques' Redwall series. | 0negative
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Cruel To Be Cruel
When is pain the necessary entry price for involving oneself in great fiction, and when is it simply something you might call "author abuse"? I believe the tipping place can be found somewhere in the pages of Thomas Hardy's most famous novel.In it, we meet young Tess Durbeyfield, a simple English farm girl who struggles to make it through everyday life. Her father, convinced he's the rightful heir of an extinct family of Norman nobles, the D'Urbervilles, is a shiftless layabout who drinks and lets his numerous children do his chores. The family starves quite pitifully until fate puts in the first of several appearances. Tess meets a rich young bravo who goes by the D'Urberville name and decides to merge his bloodline with that of Tess, no matter what she thinks about that.Alec D'Urberville is one of two men whose attentions cause Tess much heartache and make up the substance of the book. Actually, there are three such men if you count Hardy, which I pretty much do. Alec is a right cad and Angel Clare, the other man, manages the impressive feat of being much worse, but neither lays for Tess the snares Hardy does, of horrible coincidences, contrived reverses in character, and way too much tolerance for ill treatment. There's even a letter-swallowing carpet. Man, I hate when carpets do that!When Hardy isn't pounding poor Tess into the ground, he's doing the same to us, pointing out how Tess in her misery represents the nullity of our common existence. "She might have seen that what had bowed her head so profoundly - the thought of the world's concern at her situation - was founded on an illusion," he writes. "She was not an existence, an experience, a passion, a structure of sensations, to anyone but herself."If only!Here's the rub. "Tess" is a pretty pleasing book to read if you manage to ignore or at least discount the plot. Hardy writes with great verve and knowledge about the world of his characters, fictional Wessex with its villages of hayricks and barn dances. At times it's like reading Wordsworth, and at others it's like reading Lovecraft. I don't know how else to describe a writer who can wax so lyrical and then shift into something darkly surreal and macabre without missing a beat. He was a master of description at the height of his powers in 1891 when he published this."Tess" is also a deep book, with much Biblical allusion and symbolic foreshadowing matted into the subtext. Reading the novel with an online study guide helps bring out a rich harvest of Hardy's learned genius, as you can see the careful layering and connecting up he does throughout the book.Alas, it doesn't make the story itself any more digestible.Tess herself is hard not to care for, but she's frustratingly passive in a way that can not be blamed simply on the time and place where her story is set. She seems more of a piece with something Hardy was trying to say of the human condition, of suffering being one's lot in this vale of tears. You keep hoping things will turn around, but pretty soon you see the author has other ideas. Hardy pretty much wants her to suffer, so she does.Maybe in some imaginary alternative existence, I'll be treated to the scene of Hardy being called to some kind of literary court of law, answering for the misery he put me through here. I'll gladly waive my charges against him - only if they let me watch when it's Tess's turn to collect. | 0negative
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Difficult. Surreal.
Peer Gynt is a sort of folk tale character who we see go from being a young man to an old man and who gets in several different adventures. The play doesn't have much of a plot exactly. It starts of in a Norwegian village where Peer is a buffoonish character. He leaves the village, meets up with Trolls, gets in a shipwreck, wanders around the desert, and runs into the button moulder. All of this just happens, disconnectedly. He spends time in America also, but we aren't shown that.There is a lot of talk about being your self, being authentic, etc. If the play has a theme, I am guessing that's it.It's completely different from Ibsen's realistic works like An Enemy of the People or The Wild Duck. I'm more a fan of those works. Peer Gynt didn't really speak to me.On a side note, in the movie Educating Rita, with Michael Caine, Rita takes a test where one of the questions was 'What are some of the difficulties in staging Peer Gynt?' A: It's long. It's not in prose. It has trolls and other fantastical creatures. It has a huge cast many of whom are only on stage very briefly. The main character goes from being a youth to a very old man. The settings vary from a Norwegian village to Egypt and the Sphinx. This is why it's rarely done on stage. | 0negative
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Cool Book
I liked this book very much. It was very exiting and suprising. There were three very important charcters. They are Clover, she is the main main charcter there is Everleen, she is Clover's only aunt and there is Jim Ed, Clover's only uncle. | 1positive
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Umbelievable photographs
This book is definitely a collectors item! KNowing that the photographer waited months to get some of these shots makes this book even more special. In a digital age where people and cars could be removed witht he stroke of a mouse, I love the commitment this person showed to 'keeping it real'. Awesome! | 1positive
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Naked Emperors
Admirers of this glimpse into madness must have a great need to feel smug and superior. Such "intellectuals" are painfully desperate and afraid of reality; for it is only in the realm of the naked emperors that they can pretend to be hip. | 0negative
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Painfully overbearing
Bland, cliche' attempt to burden Caucasians the world over with yet another heaping-helping of liberal guilt. One puts this book down with the impression that not only is Martin Lee virulently, obsessively anti-German, he is also a staunch opponent of anything even remotely resembling traditional Eurocentric culture. The West is the enemy, and fascist boogie-men, usually Germans (who are inherently evil and Fascist, no matter what generation), lurk around every corner!If your idea of objective literature is whatever the rest of the collective masses are willing to have shoved down their throats, no questions asked, this book is for you. | 0negative
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L' Petit donna, the lady, vraiment
This is the most funniest book I ever read in a very long time. On my Christmas break, I spent a lot of time reading this book. I found the recipe's to be quite delicious and familiar. The book was a little facetous. The funniest part was when the author stated that "The bland was leading the bland." I found this statement to be quite funny and facetous. A lot of people always talk about "the blind leading the blind." In retrospect, food does not taste very good when there are people in the kitchen that do not know how to cook. The phrase is quite similar to a "chicken running with his head cut off." In other words, this a person that do not know what they are doing. Another interesting part was the subtitle,"The Perfect Corkscrew." This part was quite intriguing. It had my attention. I was all ears and eyes. How do you actually be a nose, anyway? Tell me please what is involve, do people go around sniffing people's things to be a nose? Maybe there is a little bit more research involved with being a nose. For the final analysis of this short but sweet book review, "Green Thumbs and Black Tomatoes" was the best part, it kind of remind me of what I cook with. It can be quite similar to ones ancestry. Good-bye | 1positive
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The best photographic book on Katrina
I am a New Orleanian who evacuated for the storm. I've seen every book on Katrina, working in both public and academic libraries, and I was always drawn back to this one. The photographs are heartbreaking, but compassionate. I didn't feel like this effort was exploitative, like so many other books and DVDs which were obviously just churned out to capitalize on a major event. This books speaks to me, and it truly reflects some of the things I saw only a month afterward; I think it will be especially poignant for locals. | 1positive
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Completely smitten with Completely Smitten
Haley Foster has run away from home in order to give living on the wildside a chance. She meets up with US Marshal Kevin Harmon and the word 'wild' takes on new meaning. She takes this reformed bad-boy on a roadtrip that ends up with her falling completely under his spell. She's smitten. In over her head. But she's discovered reformed bad-boys don't like to stray from the straight-and-narrow. Can she convince him that sometimes being bad can be oh-so good? Maybe...if she's lucky!Susan Mallery's 50th book is a true treat! | 1positive
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Cheaply-made volume
I bought this volume because several of the reviews mentioned that there were illustrations by John Tenniel. Unfortunately I failed to read the small print: keep in mind that most of the reviews posted to this edition refer to other editions. The edition I bought was the CreateSpace paperback with the pink and white cover.This particular edition has NO illustrations. It is also cheaply made -- the cover is flimsy and the binding is poor. Finally, the quotation-marks printed in this book are all straight, not curved -- as if it were typed up and printed from Wordpad.I was not satisfied with this volume. There are other volumes that cost less and are of much higher quality, for example:Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass (Signet Classics) | 0negative
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Great Book!
I have found this book extremely helpful to my development efforts. The code examples were key in helping me understand JMX with EJBs and JMS. In my rapid development activities, the good, clear examples and concise points helped me write effecient and better code.Also, it is stated in a previous review that you need to have the JDMK in order to compile the code . This is not necessary for you to be successful with this book! One does not need the JDMK; the free 'remoting.jar' can be downloaded from the JMX website at java.sun.com. This jar file contains the RMI adapter and is only needed for a small part of the book.This book is definitely the best source of JMX material that I have encountered. | 1positive
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Lovely idea; misleading conclusion
I was disappointed that _The Brave Little Bunny_, with its great illustrations and endearing characters, ended with the myth that domesticated rabbits are somehow "better off" in the wild. While Jennings hit the mark about the monotony of a rabbit's life in a cage (and handled the topic appropriately for young readers), her idyllic picture of Millie living happily ever after outdoors perpetuates the false idea that prompts so many folks to dump their unwanted pet Easter Bunnies in the wild every year. If Millie were portrayed as a puppy or a kitten, she would have sought out a loving and responsible human who would treat her as one of the family. Why does Jennings assume that Millie the rabbit does not have the same needs as any other "lost" pet? While the implications may go over a young child's head, responsible adults will shudder.If you know a little person who loves bunny stories, I recommend _Little Cottontail_ by Carl Memling. Like _The Brave Little Bunny_ Memling's book is beautifully illustrated, uplifting, and is concerned with the choice of freedom over safety, and the importance of personal courage. The gently repetitive rhythm of the story and Little Cottontail's loving relationship with his mother give this book a cozy feel. Unlike Jennings' book, it shows that we must be prepared for the challenges of life, and accurately depicts the specific challenges in the life of a rabbit in the wild. Illustrator Lilian Obligado clearly spent much time observing wild rabbits: her illustrations reveal their behavior with accuracy and charm. | 0negative
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Dracula - read it on a dark, rainy weekend!
If you find yourself at home on a long, rainy weekend in winter. Perhaps the fire is going, all your friends are out of town, and there's just you and the cat; I highly recommend losing yourself in the original 'Dracula' (insert - thunderclap).If you're a reader of classics, you'll appreciate the dark symbolism and poetic language employed by Stoker. If you're not, it's one classic you might enjoy with its sinister yet saucy tale.The novel is a well known Gothic tale about the elusive Count Dracula. It is written in an epistolary style, which means it is a series of diary entries, letters, newspaper articles and so on. This style makes it interesting as we read about the story and characters from different perspectives, and we are left wondering which perspectives are reliable (insert- eerie music)!We are introduced to the story by Jonathan Harker, a young solicitor who travels to Transylvania to meet with Dracula on business. The narrative then switches back to England where Harker's fiance, Mina and her friend Lucy, pick up the tale. They wonder what has happened to Jonathan and also muse upon the mysterious arrival of a ship, with one dead body on board. The simultaneous sightings of a black dog have the town of Whitby in a flap. A strange sequence of events plays out, first with Lucy, then with Mina!The thing that keeps you turning the pages and wanting to know more is the lack of explicit reference. Stoker manages to allude to sexuality and horror in symbolic ways, making it all the more tantalising and just plain scary. The word 'Vampire' is barely mentioned, and so we wonder, along with Harker who or what Dracula is!Here is one of my favourite descriptions:"my very feelings changed to repulsion and terror when I saw the whole man slowly emerge from the window and begin to crawl down the castle wall over that dreadful abyss, face down, with his cloak spreading out around him like great wings. At first I could not believe my eyes. I thought it was some trick of the moonlight, some weird effect of shadow; but I kept looking, and it could be no delusion. I saw the fingers and toes grasp the corners of the stones, worn clear of the mortar by the stress of years, and by thus using every projection and inequality move downwards with considerable speed, just as a lizard moves along a wall."Isn't it thrilling?! | 1positive
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Awesome book
This book is a book I read when I was a child. I will love Jim Kjelegaard probably until I die. I have found Chip The Dam Builder also, and hopefully over my life ( I am 55) I will get some more of Jim;s books | 1positive
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Just plain bad.
Like most libertarian works, Nock's work brims with an absolute contempt for democracy, a total cynicism towards the possibility of altruistic virtues and governance, exaggerated rhetoric, faulty history, and incoherent moral theory. He calls Roosevelt's democratic election in 1932 a "coup d'etat" , refers to the working class voting in favor of redestributive programs as "subsidized voting power", makes a totally incoherent distinction between government and state, and glosses over the role of the public sector's in any faction of the current order that he approves of. Also, he ought to heed Bentham's description of natural rights: "Nonsense on Stilts." Not recommended. | 0negative
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A Study in Religion, Ecology, Politics and Human Nature
"Dune" is an illustration of what normal people are capable of when faced with extraordinary danger and hardship. When I first read it seventeen years ago as a teenager, it changed my life. In my safe, comfortable bedroom in the suburbs of Canton, Ohio, I was shoved outside of my comfort zone, really challenged, for the first time by a book. Last month, I read it again for the second time at the age of 32, and I'm happy to report that the book is one of the few things from my teens to remain significant and moving to me as an adult. Another reviewer commented on how it was disappointing that Paul seemed to "become a different person" in the second half of the book. Of course he did. Just as iron becomes steel, or coal becomes diamond; so do we change down to our roots when we feel extradinary heat and pressure; the superfluous parts of us are burned away, and the core of ourselves is revealed. This isn't always a pretty process, but the core isn't a bad thing; it is the best part of us, like the heartwood of a tree. It just isn't something we're used to seeing. For me, Dune is about the contrast between the ethos of people who live in peace and security, vs. the ethos of people who live in constant danger and hardship. The value of Dune, in my opinion, is that it is a good start in any attempt to begin to train the mind, to focus one's inner power, to be human intentionally and not just by accident. And Heather B., if you are out there somewhere, thank you for introducing me to this wonderful book so many years ago. God Bless you, wherever you are. Jefferson | 1positive
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An easy read by a non too careful "journalist"
I wanted to like this book, I even wanted to respect the writer who claims to be a journalist - a close friend...however page 262 was the end of my hopes when the author states John Kennedy drove to Teterboro Airport (Bergen County) New Jersey. The news made so much out of this last trip, the clerk of a gas station/ convenience store was interviewed repeatedly...in Essex County, in the Caldwells. A simple mistake or a caution to the reader "What else is less then accurate"... Leaving me with the impression, the author is not a seasoned editor, writer or friend. Without the option of returning the book for a refund, it's a good book to pass along to a library for a tax write-off. | 0negative
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worst book i have ever read
this book was excruciatingly painful to read. when i read this book i finally understood the definition of the word infinity. i would recomend this book to friends who have insomnia or those who i absolutely despise. | 0negative
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Eye-opening and thought provoking!
Till We Have Faces is a deep, philosophical story you'll want to read again and again. It's one of those rare books that can change perceptions. Everyone should read it. | 1positive
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Right wing lie machine partly exposed
Great, thoughtful book - which guarantees it will get no reviews in the right wing media.Right wingers read junk like Ann Coulter and Sean Hannity. Smart people will read Blumenthal's book.Blumenthal is a real journalist and a great writer. This is an outstanding account of his years in the White House, and he does not let Clinton slide, either. | 1positive
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TWISTING THE CROSS
This is a review of THE HOLY REICH:NAZI CONCEPTIONS OF CHRISTIANITY 1919-1945 by Professor Richard Steigmann-Gall published by Cambridge University Press in 2003. Mine is the hardcover edition. Professor Steigmann-Gall is a member of the faculty at Kent State University and he explains on p. ix that HOLY REICH grew out of his Ph.D. dissertation at the University of Toronto.That helps explain the plodding, pedantic style of writing sprinkled with such sentences as "[Friedrich]Brunstad believed the causes of economic injustice ultimately lay in the atomistic ideology of the Enlightenment." (p. 47.) Too much of this "dissertationese" can cause brain death.Instead of simply describing "Nazi conceptions of Christianity from 1919-1945", which might have been interesting, the author writes on pp.14-15 that "I will demonstrate that positive Christianity [concocted by the Nazis] was more than a political ploy for winning votes...." Indeed, Professor Steigmann-Gall opines (on p. 261), "Christianity in the final analysis did not constitute a barrier to Nazism. Quite the opposite: For many of the [Nazi] subjects of this study, the battles waged against Germany's enemies constituted a war in the name of Christianity."Even the Fuhrer himself, the author affirms on p.265 "betrayed a persistent affection for Christianity's founder." That's difficult to believe in view of Hitler's statement to his inner circle the evening of February 20-21, 1942, when he said "Since my fourteenth year I have felt liberated from the superstition that the priests used to teach. Apart from a few Holy Joes, I can say that none of my comrades went on believing...." (HITLER'S TABLE TALK, p. 246.)As a youth, Hitler had protested being forced by his father to take Holy Communion by spitting out the Host, an unspeakably vile act to any Christian. (Albert B. Gerber, THE LIFE OF ADOLF HITLER, p. 9. Konrad Heiden also mentions this.) During the 1920s, Hitler confided to Ludendorff how difficult it was for him to conceal his hatred of Catholicism even though he understood the urgent necessity of doing so in order to ensure political support in southern Germany as well as the Protestant north. (Paul Johnson, A HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY, p. 485.)Even Professor Ian Kershaw, the only one of Hitler's biographers cited in HOLY REICH, noted that Hitler's interest in religion was "purely opportunistic... a national Church was of interest purely from the point of view of control and manipulation." (Kershaw, HITLER, Vol. I, p. 489.) Steigmann-Gall cherry-picks some other information from Kershaw's highly acclaimed biography, but ignores his main conclusion just as he ignores the fact that none of Hitler's other biographers describe him as "Christian." Most follow Alan Bullock's conclusion on p. 389 of HITLER: A STUDY IN TYRANNY that Hitler had no religion whatsoever but was strictly a "materialist."Instead, Professor Steigmann-Gall accumulates all the pious Nazi blather he can find and affirms that it proves his point. It doesn't.All it proves is that somebody finally came on the scene who's naive enough to believe all that drivel and describe it as fact. If you're a rabid hater of all things Christian, a professor in need of a horrible example for your historiography class, or a collector of Nazi propaganda, you need HOLY REICH.Otherwise, save your money. | 0negative
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The first disappointing book in the shadow series
I'm a big fan of the orson scott card shadow series, some of the books were brilliant, i was quite disappointed with this one, the story doesn't go anywhere, the brilliance of the characters some how disappeared in the book, im definetely going to try and read the next one in the series, because ender's shadow was brilliant so were the other books. i just hope that it will get better in the next one. If you are a fan on the series you should read this book just don't come with high expectations | 0negative
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Exposing the PDL franchise
Dewaay's first accomplishment is that he has written a book that is easy for lay person to understand. Redefining Christianity does not dive into deep theology but does offer two appendices (The Invisible and the Visible Church) and (The Churches of Revelation) that offer a deeper theological understanding of how the church is defined according to the gospel. Any Christian will be able to understand how Rick Warren's vision for the church is in direct opposition to the guidance described in the Bible.DeWaay takes the reader through Rick Warren's constant misuse of scripture for his own purposes. He demonstrates how Rick Warren purposely uses multiple translations to support a journey of self-discovery rather than an examination of our true sinful nature. He also heads off the criticism by Warren's supporters that Rick is actually quite orthodox in his own beliefs. Dewaay acknowledges that Warren may be orthodox in private but he fails to share that orthodoxy in public where it counts. Warren fears that such a public demonstration will hurt the numbers coming into Saddleback Church. DeWaay shares that Warren is running a church that appeals to the unregenerate by meeting their felt needs. This method does guarantee that the numbers of people coming to the church will increase. However, it will be at the expense of true gospel teaching and the bible believing Christians who will eventually be driven out.The book goes on to demonstrate that Warren has far succeeded his mentor Robert Schuller by duplicating his efforts in a form of a franchise model. DeWaay shares how pastors signing on to the Purpose Driven Church model are no different than those who sign a contract with McDonald's. The Purpose Driven Life model is one that if you follow the exact methods of Rick Warren your church attendance will grow by 20%. By signing the contract your role changes from pastor to a PDL franchise owner.Pastors who support the Purpose Driven Life will have a very difficult time with this book. They will find themselves in the uncomfortable position of opposing the gospel to justify their support for the church growth movement. However, in my opinion the best part of the book is not the refutation of Rick Warren. It is the clear explanation of what the church is supposed be according the gospel. What is the church? How is the gospel to be proclaimed? Who is the true head of the church? All these questions are answered as DeWaay puts the nail in the coffin of the watered-down gospel of Rick Warren. This is must read for those who wish protect the church, the bible and the true meaning of evangelism. | 1positive
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A Timely Book
Oliver North, in his third book, has hit a home run. It is suspenseful and written from a "Christian" prospective. Young folks could read this book and still perceive a very interesting story line, without reading a bunch of trash. The events and the theme described in the book seem like they could be a contemporary event, actually happening. In fact, we have just witnessed record high gas prices--but I don't want to give away too much, so I won't comment on other events. It is refreshing to read his work and North is a talented author. But, in the end he does leave room for another book, as all of the foreign weapons of mass destruction, were not seized by Peter Newman and the other good guys. Folks who enjoy reading books with bad four letters words need not open the cover. | 1positive
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Arbitrary plot and characters lacking credibility
First of all let me admit that I've only read the first three books. As I turned the last pages of this book I decided that I've had enough. The first book wasn't great, but it was fairly good and kept me reading. Still, there were some small sources of irritation that I couldn't ignore. As I went on to the second book and finally the third these flaws grew steadily worse.The dialogues are one of these flaws. They lack credibility and they fail to maintain distinguished features in the characters. Instead you can feel that they are the limited repertoire of a not so very creative author (although he is creative considering quantity). Jordan tries to give his characters life but it is too obvious. One example is the Aes Sedai "queen" who's background as a fisherman makes her constantly use fish metaphors over and over again. Had they been more subtle and mixed with at least one non-fish(!) metaphor it might have been a clever move but all they do now is giving the story a very artificial touch.Second in my criticism is the plot. Good in the first book. Perfectly arbitrary in the following. I have no doubt that Jordan's range of vision extends no further than half a book ahead in time. The plot is not well thought-out at best and a complete ad-lib at worst. For instance, the peasant boy Mat, a rascal without any ambition save becoming wealthy, in the beginning of this book suddenly turns out to be a kung-fu master with a staff as he defeats two great swordsmen while being almost to sick to stand up. Nothing even hinting to these skills is mentioned in the previous books and the transition from average peasant to expert fighter is not even done gradually, it happens at the turning of a page! I expect Jordan didn't bother to change the previous pages to give them credibility as he came up with these events.Finally, Jordan can't portray women. The male characters aren't credible either but to a lesser extent. Besides a few exceptions the woman characters in the book are all different shades of gray. They lack common feelings such as fear and insecurity and most of the main characters seem to have a curious animosity towards men, as if a strong feministic side should make them more believable as women.If I saw a point to all this I wouldn't have bothered but as with much other things in Jordan's writing I simply do not understand his motives. Maybe he tries to colourfully describe his world but his tools to do so are blunt and used with anything but great skill and the result is mediocre.My advise: If you're not picky, read the first book; then leave it at that. | 0negative
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"... I don't speak the language myself"
I performed a search for the 100 greatest novels and checked Ulysses out at the library. I'm sorry, but thank God for western "Progress" and the "New" English. "...To tell you the God's truth, I think [I'm] right." If you're going to read this book, that's one thing. But, if you're going to understand it.. at all, you might want to have Ozzie Osbourne or The Naked Chef on hand who actually speak in this unintelligible, out-dated, even obsolete, Olde English archaic style. Trust me. "...You couldn't manage it under three pints [by yourself]" Better yet, consult one of the "experts" who voted this "thing" number one, and who must have about two inches of dust between their ears, or Great Granny's Cyclops glasses on. I'm convinced if J.J. were alive today, he would be just another "obscene" English rock star speaking the "Ulysses" dialect "...Lal the ral the ra The rocky road to Dublin." Say... what? Aye Mate .. Ha Ha.. It don't mattaw. "...Riddle me, riddle me, randy ro." Yeah Baby! I suffered through part of this extremely borish book and I'll probably suffer through to the end; and then, not the "experts" Howard's End, after that. Personally, I most enjoy the books that clearly communicate, that clearly speak something, and that make me want to turn to the next page. There are classics like that, but this ain't one of them old chap. "...Stephen raised the sheets in his hand. Well sir, he began. I forsee ... that you will not remain here very long at this work." Exactly Stephen.. Where's Ozzie? "...Houyhnhnm, horsenostrilled. The oval equine faces." Oh, thanks Bro. Now it makes sense. | 0negative
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not her best work by a long shot...
I've read two of Tepper's other books: Family Tree and The Visitor, and they were both much better written than this one. I ploughed along through it because I wanted to see how it ended, but the writing here just isn't up to the usual high standard or her writing. I can't help thinking that this was an old manuscript that she wrote a long time ago, that was published after she became successful. The style of writing comes across as if it were written by someone who lived in the 50's or 60's, not someone who is living now. The one thing that was interesting was the parallel between the events she describes in the book and things that seem to be happening now, but that doesn't make up for the dated, stilted feeling of the writing. | 0negative
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brother loves it.
Amazon is the best! I purchased "Curling for Dummies" for my brother and he loved it! It is easy text. Nothing above your head talk. Amazon has fast and efficient service. I have received many items as gifts from Amazon and have never been disappointed. Keep up the great work. I highly reccommend Amazon to anyone. You won't regret it. | 1positive
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Hokum dressed up as insight
The Celestine Prophecy is execrable nonsense--churned out to turn a quick buck. If you want real spiritual insight, check out the writings of Rene Daumal. Redpath is a cretin but he knows how to exploit a naive public. | 0negative
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Modern 21st century review by Camille Cauti unnecessary
I give this a one-star only for the introduction. The book "Little Women" itself is a wonderful and lovely classic. However, this Barnes and Noble edition with the introduction by Camille Cauti is what I have decided to rate and I give it a one-star rating. If you are wishing to read a 21st century review of a 19th century book and desire to bring into the story links to homosexuality and questioning the sexual orientation of the author, Louisa May Alcott, then by all means, buy this edition and read the introduction by Camille Cauti. I bought this book to give to my 12yo daughter not realizing the introduction would be discussing this topic ...I thought the edition a beautiful copy...cover picture, etc. It wasn't until later that I read the introduction. Altho. I did not buy this from Amazon(I bought it at our local Barnes and Noble store), I offer this review of this particular edition to provide others with awareness of the introduciton by Camille Cauti and her unfortunate 21st century analysis. If you wish to have this sort of analysis of this book in your personal home library, then so be it...buy this edition. If you, like me, wish to have a copy of a classic and lovely story of Little Women without the 21st century analysis, then do not buy this edition. Just a heads up for anyone considering this Barnes and Noble edition. | 0negative
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Second to Bible
I strongly argue that The Cantos are the most important literary work in the history of mankind, inferior only to The Bible. Although Pound fails to meet Tolstoy's objectives of good art, his intense effort is admirable, for if an author were to dedicate as much time to writing for God as Pound dedicated to discovering artistic truth, his or her work would be superior. | 1positive
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hw assignment
This book is exactly how i remember the story being. I'm so assigning it as a book to do a report on for my kid. i think she'll like it. | 1positive
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A real step down for Karin Slaughter.
A Faint Cold Fear is ostensibly about a series of deaths that look like suicide, but could be murder, and the investigation into the connection between them. But this plot seems to be abandoned for great stretches of time so that we can wallow in the misery that is Lena Adams. She suffered a brutal rape in Blindsighted, the first novel, but the closing chapters of Kisscut suggested a beginning to her recovery.No such luck. While you could not expect somebody to recover from something like what Lena went through, we delve into her mindset at the total expense of plot. It feels like the murders are there as an afterthought to try and tie this book into the lucrative "crime novel" market. Because I would not call this a crime novel. The crimes are solved in a totally "Scooby-Doo" manner, with an unintentionally funny surprise "Scooby-Doo" villian. The real focus is on Lena, her self-loathing and her continuing self-destruction. It got tiresome VERY quickly. I eventually started skim-reading Lena's chapters so I could get back to what I thought was a crime novel.Blindsighted and Kisscut are disturbing, well-crafted thrillers and worth reading. But A Faint Cold Fear is a real step down. The crime aspect is woefully lacking, and the focus on Lena gets infuriating. But Slaughter's fans shouldn't give up hope - Indelible is a decent read, and Lena seems remarkably recovered. | 0negative
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BORING!!!
Well, was I surpised. Mr. Grisham has certainly changed gears on this one. After reading and thoroughly enjoying the suspense and characters of his previous novels, I was quite disappointed in this one. Ok,Ok, life on a cotton farm in the 50's was no great way to grow up but this book didn't quite captivate me. I don't find any interest in a 7 year old boy watching a 14 year old girl take a bath in the river. The characters are explained in depth but are not followed through to the end. What happens to Ricky, Miguel and his new wife, the family they take in from the flood,etc. And what does painting the house have to do with anything! I guess he is setting us up for the sequel. I did enjoy the baseball references and will probably read any future books of his just based on his past endeavors. | 0negative
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Good Books are Timeless
This is the first book of the Poul Anderson series, "Flandry, Agent of Imperial Terra" and it was published in the mid-sixties. I say this up front because the book, story and characters live outside the copyright date and achieve that timeless quality you expect from authurs like Asimov, Burroughs and of course Poul Anderson. Flandry is just an ensign when we meet him in this story and at first, he doesn't even feel like the staring character. As the story unfolds, we expect more and more from our young ensign until the fate of Terra and other worlds hang on his every decision. Don't get me wrong, he's not made Emporer by books end. Through and through, he is just an ensign who plays the cards that are dealt him. It is said that great events make great men and we see Ensign Flandry take on a captivating shape. I haven't read the next books in the series, but have high hopes for the Long Night of the Terran Empire. | 1positive
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Facts and Fiction= Michael Crichton
All of Crichton fictional books are great, (Sphere, Congo, Disclosure) and I am glad to say that I have read them all. The way Crichton combines facts and fiction always result in a masterpiece, this is why The Andromeda Strain is no exception since facts about bacteria and viruses combine with a fictional world of underground laboratories and secret agents. I give this book 5 stars and a two thumbs up!! | 1positive
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Clasic Romance Novel
Jane Austen is an amazing author! I loved this book. I got a little frustrated with it sometimes, but I'm very glad I decided to keep reading it. Pride and Prejudice will always be a clasic. I plan on reading the rest of Jane Austen's books also. Highly recommended. | 1positive
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Buy it!
What makes this book interesting is that it was written between the murders and the trial. Huie knew who the murderers were, how they did it, and never expected a guilty verdict.The book introduces you in detail to Michael (Mickey) Schwerener and all the details leading up to his murder. This detail will help you understand exactly why and how these murders took place.This latest edition includes updates by the author to compare his early speculation against the results of the trial. | 1positive
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Getting ripped off, getting took...
The copy of "Jam with AC/DC" that I received from Amazon was missing the last two songs. "Sin City" and "Highway to Hell" aren't in my copy of the book. I had a ton of trouble even getting this item because something happened to the original order I placed, and I was notified that it was lost or damaged. It was frustrating that when I finally received the product, it wasn't as advertised. By this time, I wasn't interested in dealing with it anymore, and I just wrote it off. I did notify the publisher, but got no response from them at all. I later ordered "Play Guitar with AC/DC" and was much more satisfied with that purchase.I will say that the CD that accompanies "Jam with AC/DC" is first rate, and that makes it all the more upsetting that I was ripped off with the missing pages of music. If you order this product, I hope it's complete, unlike mine. | 0negative
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Collapse is must-read
The analysis is right-on and the book is an enjoyable read, unlike typical textbooks. We're using this for professional development on my team. | 1positive
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A must for aspiring Fashion Designers!!
I attend the Fashion Institute Of Design and Merchandising where "9 Heads" is used to teach the students how to illustrate fashion. My teacher was also the author of "9 Heads" and she is amazing. My fashion sketching has improves so much along with other students. This book is extremely helpful and very detailed. A must have for anyone who wants to learn how to Fashion Illustrate. :) | 1positive
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Very good SF, no more to say
The author Robert A. Heinlein has written a very interesting and exciting book; not to much or less bug splatter and heroistic battle scenes. But the "moral"opinion pointed out in the school lessons of moral philsophy shouldn't go the wrong way in the brain of the reader, because the way, Heinlein shows (in this case militaristic and facistic), isn't the only chance for human society development.So the reader have to think about a future society on his own and take Heinleins book-opinion only as one out of all future theories. | 1positive
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THIS WAS A HEARTBREAKINGLY BEAUTIFUL BOOK; MUST HAVE HAPPENED JUST THAT WAY
Girl With a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier was the most heartbreakingly beautiful book I have ever read. The writing is so descriptive of life in Holland at Vermeer's time that you feel like you are there. You think, "Surely this story must have happened this way!" Griet is sent to live in the painter Vermeer's home as a maid and falls in love with him. This has repercussions and makes her act out in her grief. The writer really did her research on the life of Vermeer and his family and her vivid imagination paints a true picture of life at that time for a middle-class families, working-class families, and a simple maid. I read this book two times. | 1positive
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A classic, but it bored me
I had seen the films, and knew what was going to happen. This may be part of what bored me about the book, but I just couldn't bring myself to finish it-- I don't normally quit reading a book either. | 0negative
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A Very BIG Disappointment!
I don't read James Patterson, and this novel's a big reason why. "Violets are Blue" is overhyped and underwritten. The vampire plot is vacuous and features a seemingly endless number of violent, mindless, gratuitous murders. In fact, it is an insult to vampires.The Mastermind operates behind the scenes in a most tiresome manner. Alex Cross is no match for this adversary, and he must rely on the charity of the author for his very existence.Even if you're a big Patterson fan, I would think it advisable to skip this one. | 0negative
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Overrated, underwhelming, and embarrasing inept
This will be less of a formal review and more of a personal take, more or less. Due to the fact I've read several intro books, as well as the primary source material, i have a well-informed frame of reference in the judgment of this book's merits.Not long ago I said the following: Russell's A History of Western Philosophy? Patooey! The all time worst intro book i've ever read!Granted, HWP is witty, no doubt. This is probably the book's only redeeming value, meriting it a star. Scattered throughout are gems like: "I would rather be reported by my bitterest enemy among philosophers than a friend innocent of philosophy."On the other hand.... HWP is overrated, underwhelming, and embarrassingly inept for many reasons.Overrated? The inadequacy and shallowness of most interpretations of the other philosophers' works is the biggest factor. Worst of all, the flippant comments are amusing, which provide entertainment in a conversation, but are utterly out of place when introducing a serious work. However, Russell's take on Leibniz is reliable, because he did his homework, occasionally.Underwhelming? Russell, like a well trained 'whiggish', kneels deeply before the altar of John Locke, supposedly the champion of the 'modern liberal republican.' Despite admitting that Locke is an inferior philosopher to Spinoza, the godfather gets more press. Instead of philosophy in the HWP, we get self-serving propaganda.Inept? Not once does Russell ever truly take a problem seriously. IThe complete failure to understand Kant, the philosopher of the enlightenment, as well as Schopenhauer (skipping the World as Will and Representation is not a good idea, Bertie) is a huge let-down. Predictably, he reads Nietzsche as a fascist (exposes his shoddy scholarship by linking him to Nazi socialism), whiffs on Dewey's brand of pragmatism, and for reasons unknown, devotes a chapter on Byron. More bizarre is the excessive attention paid to Catholic philosophy. I don't think the biographer Ray Monk even figured this out, either. Contemporaries like G.E. Moore gets a single mention and Wittgenstein, who he greatly respected, none.Quite telling, Russell was shocked at the book's success - he produced it casually, intended it as a potboiler, compiled from the notes for the adult education classes he taught in the United States.Conclusion: The shallowness, due to its intent to amuse, the odd bulk of space devoted to Christian philosophy, all combine to account for world-wide success for The History of Western Philosophy. It might be a good starter, but it also contributes to the sense that philosophy is not worth bothering with.Alternatives: Copleston's series is lengthy, but thorough, and far superior. You can't go wrong with Durant's Story of Philosophy, although it is a bit dated. Luckily, Durant writes as well as any writer in English, making that book much more accessible to most. T. Z. Lavine's From Socrates to Sartre concentrates on much fewer big-names, but has a lively narrative that sensationalizes the content.After you've read any one of these, then try Bryan Magee's books: Great Philosophers and Talking Philosophy where both consists of interviews with scholars. As for a contemporary account, Delacampagne's A History of Philosophy in the 20th century is a delicious read. | 0negative
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A compelling but unevenly detailed biography of the King
After reading Last Train to Memphis, I anxiously awaited the publication of the second volume. By and large, Careless Love does not disappoint. The giddy and sudden rise to stardom portrayed in Last Train to Memphis is paralleled by the equally startling and painful fall portrayed in Careless Love. And ss with Last Train, this book is well written and a fascinating read even when the details are familiar.Careless Love, however, is not a perfect or even necessarily the definitive biography of Elvis. There are bothersome elements. Guralnick describes in complete detail at every possible chance the monetary amounts and contractual arrangements negotiated by Colonel Parker for his "boy". By the fifth such contract and lengthy description, you have long since gotten the idea that Parker was running the show and arranging things increasingly for his own benefit. Similarly, Guralnick never fails to enumerate the number of "takes" for almost every song in every recording session even when there is no further discussion of a particular song. Perhaps the author felt this was entirely new information and decided to include it at every chance and in as detailed a fashion as possible. I also suspect his pedigree as a music reviewer led him to focus on the material he was most comfortable with and interested in.In contrast to the detailed information on contracts and recording "takes" are the much less complete accounts of Elvis' relationships with some of the major people in his life including his women and the members of the infamous "Memphis Mafia". The descriptions here are much more perfunctory and abbreviated compared to the lengthy passages devoted to the recording sessions. The effect of this imbalance is that at times, Priscilla seems almost a shadow figure. And Ann-Margret's autobiography, for example, has much more information on their brief, but apparently, intense relationship. The literally larger-than-life Lamar Fike disappears into a few anecdotal accounts of his being a pathetic sycophant, butt of all jokes.To be sure, Guralnick does write about the compulsive parade of women in Elvis' life offering the occasional salacious detail, but again without the same level of scrutiny and insight as when he writes about Elvis' music and the machinations of Colonel Parker. Because of the relatively greater attention to these aspects of Elvis' life and the far smaller attention to Elvis' odd and perpetually adolescent interpersonal world, a definitive, scholarly and sober biography of Elvis' personal life remains to be written. However, this is still a fine effort and a must read for any Elvis fan. | 1positive
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Very Helpful for those who want to be better communicators.
I read this book for a class I just finished. It was not torture to read, it was actually very interesting and immensely helpful. I enjoyed reading it and wish they sold it in Kindle version. | 1positive
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Big disappointment
I know others have said this, but if you have to write about a misfit yet powerful orphan kid thrust into a world of magic, and you just have to give him two friends, a boy and a girl, please at least make the girl the clumsy, somewhat cowardly one and the boy the brainy, snarky one. Or give him three friends. Or two male friends. Otherwise, Ron and Hermione beat you to the punch. There are only so many storylines, yes, but this was just TOO similar to the immortal Harry Potter.I also found some of the mythology stuff pedantic. You can certainly use a novel to teach, but if it FEELS like you're teaching, it's off-putting, at least to me.I'm not a kid anymore, but the "hip" kid slang felt just slightly off, like it was trying too hard. And it'll get dated fast, if it isn't already.It disturbed me how everyone from Percy to Poseidon thought Percy's mother so wonderful, yet she stayed for years in an abusive relationship. Yes, it was to protect Percy, but I think she could have figured out another way, if she was so wonderful. I'm glad she finally got out of it, though I'm not sure I like how. It just seems to send all sorts of wrong messages.I felt slightly tricked by the plot. Not like a good twist ending or a who-on-earth-did-it mystery, but like the author was playing with me. Maybe because so much of the book was the cross-country trip that [SPOILER ALERT] turned out much in vain, and then the sort of final battle was disappointing.All this said, there were quite a few clever details, some interesting world building, and a number of nice one-liners. I even laughed aloud several times.And the cover art's nice. | 0negative
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Magnificent
I received this classic dictionary in the exact shape as it was described. The seller communicated with me clearly and sent me tracking number. It was very well packed and it is being enjoyed tremendously. I would and will certainly buy from them again. Highly recommend it. | 1positive
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Convicted, yet forgiven... a worthy combination!
Ok, let's face it. Let's get down to it once and for all. Quit wading through the crap, right? You didn't exactly ask for this, did you? No, but you got it. So deal with it! HUH? You are none other than Octavian, and like everybody else, you have a choice to make about this Jesus. Better yet, "What is Truth?" That isn't too easy to swallow, is it? Take a breath. Now, read on. If you're anything like me, you'll want to see what happens in Randy's other work, "The Cross Examination of Oliver Finney" because this plays a key role in that as well. NOW... read on.If this were to be a boxing ring, your head will be snapped back a few times. Then when you think something so simple as, "That's it?"... Whack whack! BOOM!! You'll be sprawled out on the canvas, slumping to merely get up! What's so funny about that analogy is that Jesus did that to the stinkin' scribes and Pharisees, and He did it in (GULP) LOVE! Yeah! He took their mess, he put up with their crap. Then he gave it back to them with more to think about than just the toilet paper to clean it up with. Randy Singer amazed me once again with some really good stuff. Jesus taking the 5th Amendment? C'mon! Yep, and it makes sense. The insert in this asks if we'd just love to ask Jesus Christ a few questions. And we're not just talking some Fiddler on the Roof (do you love me) questions either. Oh yeah, I've got questions. Then it kills you sometimes when you realize that He doesn't always explain Himself. Is He even obligated? Read this and find out. Look at BOTH sides of the coin. Better yet, look at the way Jesus takes on the Pharisees! This was great. But better yet, look at the way He might take on you. He'll do it in love, don't worry.Think of this as a box seat ticket. Don't expect it to be a parade of roses, but expect to be challenged. WELL, OK! Expect to be challenged if you can step out of your comfort zone. Take off the Dr. Scholls and strap on the Nikes. Even allow yourself to meditate on this. Apply it to your life. Take the teachings of this Galilean, see if they make sense. An awesome challenge that Randy makes is that we should be prepared to engage the skeptics of our age! Can you do that? My verdict is that Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords!!! I'm not exactly one who is worthy to say that, but He's worthy of the praise. I came away from this convicted, because I know I put Him on that cross. But I, like the Apostle Paul, know Who I believe in. I am persuaded that He is able. And if I had the gavel, I'd slam that sucker down in reassurance!! Thank you, Randy Singer! | 1positive
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Very effective
If you do the work, it will build your confidence and your ability. You have to use your psychic muscles just like you do when you physically work your muscles. | 1positive
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My favorite novel
This is my favorite novel. Extremely interesting, complex, detailed, contains so much history (along with historical fiction), this book is great (was that a sentence?).This is the unabridged version, which i recommend. Reading the abridged would be like watching a thirty minute version of Shaw shank. It is just so much more detailed and complex. I took me about a week to read, with most of my time doing just that. The second time i read it, it took much longer.Watching the movie first does not ruin this book at all as they are very different.General plot and style for those who don't know:This novel defines the expression 'revenge is a dish best served cold'. Its tells a story of an innocent and optimistic young man beset by misfortune, who then vows to exact a long and meticulous scheme of revenge. Because of the books great lengths, many other characters are examined as deeply as shorter books examine their protagonist. Obviously the book is very detailed with interesting insight into the time period it was written in and about.Truly an epic book like no other, I strongly recommend it. Even if you don't like it, chances are it would make a great gift for a friend. | 1positive
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Awful addition to a once great series
Like many out there, I fell in love with the McNally books, due to the fun mystery plots and the characters within. However it has gotten "tired." This is part to Lawrence Sanders's death as well as Vicent Lardo's repeated sequels. I find in this latest book, not much enjoyable. It is so hard to put this into words, but with the mystery was lackluster and the characters so two dementional I had to actually "plod" through this book. Thankfully many authors, upon their death, have their characters die with them and I think that is as it should be. I trust like other series characters written in Sanders's life time (Edward X. Delany to name one) that Lardo decide to allow Mr. McNally to go, instead of dying a slow painful death on the stage of his books. | 0negative
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The literary equivalent of the Lubitsch touch
Winfired Watson's little 1938 fantasy has become the bestelling reissue for the terrific Persephone Books imprint in the UK, and its not hard to see why. Basically a Cinderella story set during the 30s, Watson's novel concerns a dowdy governess sent by mistake by her agency to the home of a glamorous and dithering nightclub singer, who comes to rely upon Miss Pettigrew to straighten out her love life. Miss Pettigrew not only rises to the challenge (much to her own surprise), but undergoes a makeover and finds some romance for her own life as well. While undeniably slim (and purposefully so), the novel is just about irresistible: it plays upon the same fantasy as Jane Austen's MANSFIELD PARK, the fantasy of being not only loved but also needed. Curiously, the trappings of glamour in this novel come not from the world of the wealthy and titled (as per usual in British fiction from this era, as in the novels of Waugh and Nancy Mitford) but from a world envisioned in American film: the world of night clubs, self-made men, and cocaine-dabbling gigolos. | 1positive
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Not as good as Heart of Darkness
As much as I love Conrad's style, this one was just too long. He shouldn't have tried to write a full-blown novel. Some things should just be kept concise. If you want to read something good from Conrad, go after Heart of Darkness. | 0negative
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Wuthering Heights Book Review
"Wuthering Heights, by Emily Bronte is one of the greatest romances in history."-Kristen Murphy.Within the text of this book, Emily describes events that take place revolving around a romance. The main characters of this book are: Catherine, Cathy, Edgar, Linton, Hareton, Hindley, Isabella, and Heathcliff. Isabella is very spoiled, and soon has a son that dies (Linton). Heathcliff's love life turns into a mess and turns into a lonely old man. Hindley is a jealous and rebellious child that soon becomes jealous of Heathcliff. Hareton is Hindley's son that eventually marries Catherine.Throughout the book the characters run into a lot of problems and adventures. For example, there is a tremendous amount of tension that burns off Heathcliff. My favorite character in the book is Heathcliff. The reason that I like him so much is because he keeps your eyes open. He is always changing, his appearance and his location.The themes that are reveled within the book are: Good vs. Evil, Revenge, Crime and Punishment, Passion vs. Rational Love, Ignorance vs. Education, and Selfishness. The characters display these themes in many different scenes and emotions.My overall opinion of this book was excellent. I would not change anything at all, and I believe that the ending is perfect. I would recommend this book to anyone that in joy's romance novels. It is a novel that keeps you wondering and not knowing what is going to happen next. You may think that you know how this book is going to end, but really you don't. This book sits way ahead of all the other romance novels. | 1positive
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This Book Enhanced My Imagination
If you think that the title and the star rating don't go well together, keep on reading...To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel set in Alabama during the late 1930s. The novel has a first-person narrator who is a girl named Scout. The novel has two parts: Part 1 and Part 2.In Part 1, Scout describes her ancestors, family at the time of the novel's setting, neighbors, early years in school, interactions with neighbors, and experiences with her brother Jem and her father Atticus.In Part 2, a black man is accused of a serious crime and declared guilty by a white jury even though there did not appear to be any sound evidence that he was guilty. Atticus was the defendant's defense lawyer. I will not say what happens after this in case you want the climax to be a surprise.Now, let's compare the two sections. Atticus denounces racism in both sections, and there are examples of racism in both sections. However, most of the characters mentioned in Part 1 do not have any involvement in the trial that I mentioned earlier, which I think is a key element of not only Part 2, but the entire novel. In Part 1, there was one particular character that got a few too many pages focused on her.. especially when taken into consideration that she died before Part 2 (the "important part").Here is another problem: The novel is told from a child's perspective. Indeed, I did noticed well-presented character development in Scout's personality, but it's all about Scout. Everybody else is static. It is true that children have limited perception of adults, so the static presentation of the adult characters is definately realistic. However, this is not a "children's book;" there clearly are mature subject matters. The target audience would have to be teenagers or adults. With that in mind, the static presentation of adults does not correspond with the target audience.Nontheless, my views of this novel are in a minority category. This book is a classic, and I can understand why. The author has an impressive understanding of the time and place in which this book is set. However, that does not mean that the book is a good NOVEL! A detailed setting is enough for expository text, but a NOVEL must take advantage of the elements of FICTION. When I said elements of FICTION, I meant a detailed, consistent plot, well-rounded characters, a broad range of perspectives, variation (but connections) in subject matter (all of which relates to the ENTIRE PLOT), a lot of characters that influence the outcome of the plot in their own, unique way, and so forth. To Kill a Mockingbird does not take advantage of the elements that NOVELS have to offer, and NOVELS can offer more than just a detailed setting. For this reason, I am going to give this novel a one star rating.I also want to comment on the offensive language (mostly rude racial slurs). Yes, yes, I know, the language was realistic, and I am not trying to say that it makes the book innapropriate to read. However, realism does not eliminate the ability to offend people. Whether or not the language is a problem for you is not my decision to make, but just take this paragraph as a caution.Now, as for the title of this review, the book did enhance my imagination. It inspired me to imagine... criticims. | 0negative
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The Emperor's New Clothes
Despite its lofty status as a revered icon of English literature, one only has to fight through a dozen or so pages to reach the painfully obivious conclusion that Ulysses is, in fact, unreadable gibberish.The book has no plot, no dramatic arc, no message, a (literally) pedestrian structure, and sentences constructed by means of a random walk through the dictionary as well as through Dublin, Ireland. It has no discernable central thought. No one can tell you what the book is about, for it is about nothing. But wait, perhaps there is an underlying theme, albeit one well hidden.Remember the fable of the Emperor's new clothes? Guillible courtiers were induced to beleive that a charlatan tailor had sewn garments for the Emperor that only suitably refined folk could see. In reality, there was nothing there at all. Jame Joyce and generations of literary sycophants have convinced impressionable students that Ulysses is a worthy read.When the uninitiaed find the text incoherent, this failure is chalked up to insufficient literary maturity. It can't be the fault of the book's alcohol-addled author."Press on," the professors say, "Ulysses' gloss will be revealed if only one perseveres past the many opaque chapters, thus developing the right sensitivities."However, looking longer at this nonsense only reveals the glaring absense of rational content and the transparent emptiness. The self-indulgent Emperor Joyce has no clothes.The most damming indictment of this over-wrought tome is the fact that it is impossible to find ten people who have actually finished it. Ulysses is one of those books that everyone has heard of, but no one has read. Hence the market for Ulysses crib cards for use at cocktail parties by poseurs with literary pretensions or by guys with dates with English Lit chicks whom they are trying to bed. Perhaps Ulysses has some tactical utility after all, as an example of inverse Chick Lit.One supposes that the stream-of-consciousness descriptions of nose picking, masturbation, and sex broke ground for serious literature when published in the 1920's. Joyce deserves some credit for expanding the gross horizons of writing, but today's target audiences find those subjects ordinary and routine. This taboo-breaking history is hardly sufficient reason to examine Ulysses now. To be timeless literature, a book must speak to fundamental truths about ourselves.But what, if anything, does Ulysses tell us about the human condition? I suggest its plot-free message is one Joyce didn't, or couldn't, intend. That is; to trust one's educated common sense. If, to you, a book walks like a duck, looks like a duck, and sounds like a duck, then it was most likely written by a quack.If this stream-of-consciousness genre appeals to you, for a much better read get anything by Hunter S. Thompson. Dr. Gonzo's book will be more coherent, make more sense, and will be better crafted. And, your eyes won't glaze over after ten pages, as they will with Ulysses. | 0negative
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Travels Into My Own Personal Hell
I was unfortunate enough to be assigned this book as required reading for a college course of mine and boy, did it blow. The text lacks any interesting voice or information. Due to recent advances in technology, this book is no longer relevant as we are already well informed as to the geography of the planet. While the author's intentions are admirable, the translated archaic Italian is difficult at best. I rid myself of outdated texts, let's add this one to the pile. | 0negative
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