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My 9 yr old son loves these books. Can't put them down. He forces me to read them so he can drill me on comprehension. They're like a soap opera in my view. But the character and relationship story lines are more about honor, respect, decision making, risk-reward, etc. overall. I recommend.

After completing the first series, I dove head first into the second series. I like the fact that four younger cats (and one from each clan) were chosen by Starclan to find their new home, and that the animal prophet chosen to speak to them was from a species normally seen as a mortal enemy. However, to me it would have made more sense for them to be led to their proverbial promised land to begin with, versus to the "sun drown place", which was clearly NOT a suitable home. During the journey, these cats were heroes of Homeric proportions, and clan differences and identities were set aside for the sake of a common purpose. I was somewhat disappointed with how the characters developed after they returned to their clans. They seemed to revert to being self-absorbed adolescents and the message of inter-clan cooperation all but vanished. (SPOILER ALERT) I was particularly disappointed with how Crowfeather behaved. I wouldn't expect such xenophobia from a cat who had not one but two inter-clan romances. Given that the inter-clan new prophecy group was delivering ALL the clans to their salvation, Crowfeather and Leafpool could have easily incorporated that point into "look, I love who I love. I fell in love with the cat not the clan". With the move to the new forest, the old rules could've easily been tweaked so clans remain intact but they interact and cooperate more, and they could come up with ways to accommodate inter-clan couples. (Anyone see a race relations allegory??) I'd also like to see the issue of "medicine cats don't take mates" addressed, and Leafpool would be the cat to do it. Her father's the clan leader, hellooo!!! They could modify the rules so that while a medicine cat is nursing and caring for kits, her duties temporarily fall to her apprentice. Once her kits are apprenticed, she returns to the job. (Anyone hear of maternity leave??) If mated she cats can serve as warriors and clan leaders, then why not as medicine cats? (Anyone see a clerical celibacy allegory???)

New series has a promising theme but drags in it's plot-line and character development and is too dark for most 4th to 6th graders--the target audience.

Good

My favorite book

Awesome book, great story

This another great book by Karen Kingsbury! It is a touching story of how God can bring about love and forgiveness in the most difficult circumstances. Love it and love Karen's writing!!

Bought a lot of Karen Kingsbury 4 the wife she loves em all. Great Christian writer.

My first novel by this author. It was pure drivel from the opening pages with unbelievable characters, predictable plot points that even my eight year old could have called, heavy-handed preaching that was not even subtly woven into the story but rather pulled out of the air and shoved down your throat at every turn - even the phrases repeated verbatim each time. I had to read it for a book club and if I had the choice I'd have put it down after just a few pages. I muttered and rolled my eyes just to get through it. How are books this poorly written ever get published much rather go on to become best sellers? Skip it, I wish I had!

This book was so beautifully written. You could feel the pain that each character was experiencing and therefore you fell in love with each character. This may be one of my favorite books that Karen Kingsbury has ever written.

This is as always with Karen Kingsbury an excellent book. I love her style and the way it makes you think. I have read most of her books and would highly recommend them.

This sounds exactly like the award winning film titled MASOOM (means INNOCENT) produced in India in 1983. See the synopsis of this movie on IMDB - [...] D.K. Malhotra lives a comfortable lifestyle with his wife, Indu, and two school-going daughters, Pinky and Minni. He works in the office of an Architect. One day while the family is relaxing, D.K. gets a phone call that results in him bringing home a young school-going boy by the name of Rahul. Indu is shocked to learn that Rahul is D.K.'s son from another woman, Bhavana, who is no more... What a coincidence that similar plot/story was published as Oceans Apart in 2004?

This was my first Karen Kingsbury novel, and I was expecting its underlying Christian message, but not done quite so heavy-handedly. You could tell how it was all going to end from the moment the boy loses his mom. The characters are almost cardboard cutouts the way they deal with the situation, Connor the nave husband who made a real mistake, as we discover in the course of the book, the virtuous fallen woman who loved the son that the series of mistakes creates, and the wife Michelle who has to deal with the consequences, and comes to see that yes, it was her fault that he strayed..... Well, not quite, but it was almost going there, which does women a disservice. She was fat, had postpartum depression.... And so on. She comes over as very unsympathetic on a lot of levels, and though eventually redeems herself, I am not so sure it was fair of the author to portray her in that manner. I loved the son and his dog, both too perfect for words, but the daughters' reactions were unbelievable, IMHO, and the adoptive couple were just too cliché for words. In the end it is a feel-good book, with a positive message, but anyone looking for any depth will be disappointed. It all got tied up nicely with a big red bow, but unfortunately, real life is seldom like that. So if you are looking for an 'escape' read, this is way too full of harsh emotions. If you are looking for a fairy tale, ditto. It sort of falls in between the two, as a solid, worthy, but uneven, average book to help pass the time.

This book tells the story of some high-profile forgeries of antiquities in Israel. The original focal point is the "James ossuary," a box that supposedly held the bones of James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus. Other artifacts pop in and out of the story, weakening the focus. Burleigh introduces us to some interesting characters in the world of antiquities dealers, biblical scholars, and detectives. Unfortunately, she tells her story in a manner that I found disorganized. Some chapters are organized around events, in a straightforward chronology. Some are organized around major characters in the story. But others are really based on *interviews*, and those chapters feel close to Burleigh's original notes, mixing narrative and characterization. Moreover, some interviewees are major characters, while others are minor characters. For example, the book starts with Burleigh visiting an epigrapher who plays almost no role in the story to come. This structural weakness makes the book less compelling to read than it should be. Burleigh also doesn't manage to convey her overall purpose - - is this true story a kind of mystery? a police investigative? a journalistic introduction to the world of antiquities dealers? an expose? It's a little of each of those, but that means that it doesn't end up being any of them.

In the hands of another author, this could have been a very different book -- a sort of "C.S.I. Jerusalem" in which teams of scientists pore over the James Ossuary and other artifacts in a race to determine their authenticity, while theologians and journalists argue over what that authenticity might mean for Jewish and Christian history and faith. That's not the book Nina Burleigh wrote, however. Indeed, you don't even have to crack the spine to know the James Ossuary is a forgery: the back cover says so. The point at which it's proven to be so, rather than being the climax of the story, comes in the middle of a paragraph in the middle of a chapter, with no accompanying bells and fireworks. That's because the author is far more interested in unraveling the international network of faked and forged antiquities and how it affects both the business of archaeology and our understanding of religious and social history. The story is interesting enough if those issues attract you, but I debated whether to give this book three stars or four (I'd have gone with three point five if I could). I do not agree with the blurb on the back that describes this as "a real-life thriller," because while the book is well researched and decently if not spectacularly written, calling it "thrilling" is a stretch: readers hoping for a thriller may well find this as dry as the bones of St James himself. But then real-life criminal forensics isn't like you see it on TV either. A reader who approaches this looking for in-depth reporting on an interesting if obscure intersection of religion, business, and crime will, I think, find "Unholy Business" more rewarding than one who seeks the excitement and reward of a spiritual or historical whodunit.

This is a fascinating subject, and the vignettes (I really don't know what else to call them) are very readable in and of themselves, but this is a book badly in need of an extensive overhaul. As has been pointed out by other reviewers, the author has too many parallel themes and stories unfolding to be able to incorperate them all into a single, coherent narrative. Individuals appear, seemingly out of nowhere, hold the stage for a half dozen pages or so, and then vanish just as abruptly. I would point to Joe Zias as an example; I kept expecting him to reappear later in the book, but all in vain. While his little story certainly was interesting, it really doesn't fit into the larger structure of the book and could be easily edited out. So it goes with many other subchapters. The overall narrative isn't particularly helped by the fact that the main story, that of Oded Golan and his trial, still isn't actually finished yet. We as readers can not possibly expect a resolution of any sort, at least not from this book. I can only assume that the author expected that the trial would be concluded by the time her book was scheduled to be released, and is now left scrambling to salvage a semi-completed work. The book is still worth reading, make no mistake. If Burleigh returns to this in a few years when the trial is over (and also does some very significant revisions), this could be a very good book. Right now, it is only unsatisfying.

I was prepared to not like this book. Excavations in Israel have become highly controversial politiical and religious battles between secular and religious authorities with each side accusing the other of corruption and dishonesty. At times I've felt there was less interest in truth and more in protecting the interests of Israel. While my faith does not require proof from the results of excavations, I had assumed magazines such as the Biblical Archaelogy Review were relativelly honest brokers. This book opened my eyes to the complexity of the issues and helped me understand that the good guys aren't always wearing white hats. This book is particularly interested in the discovery of the James Ossuary, a supposed burial box of the bones of the brother of Jesus. It's investigation spills out into a number of other significant finds. It is especiallly illuminating in reference to the appearance of unprovenenced antiquities. Since they are not found and documented on site, their authentication is done by scholars using (hopefully) the best tools they have. Unfortunatly, the tools of forgery are far ahead of the experts. and the egos and competitive nature of scholars sometimes gets in the way of quality work. This book chases down the cast of characters, illumines their motives, and takes the reader to the conclusion of the trials around the "fraud of the century" I highly recommend this book

The book covered among other topics: the fraud trial concerning the Jehoash tablet and the James ossuary. A problem with the book was the complexity of the case due to multiple defendants, multiple victims, multiple investigators, and multiple governments. By the time the author introduced everybody and their stake in the authenticity of the relics, I tended not to care. Since it was an ongoing case, not all the facts were presented. I don't remember if she wrote about the photograph of the James ossuary that tends to vindicate the defendants. The author's writing style is readable. There is only a few run-on sentences. She uses a few technical terms or references that are a little obscure and not well defined. The effect of the book on me is that I have a more cynical view about archaeology now. It is a more subjective science than what I originally thought. I do not think that the James Ossuary is real, but how the whole system is used to prey on people's faith is disturbing. I recommend the book marginally, but I had to push myself to get through it.

The James Ossuary was a famous moment of biblical archaeology, a case of real experts tangled with scammers, of real artifacts and fraudulent interpretations. This book tells the story in a very interesting manner, takes the reader into the world of biblical artifacts and the true believers, the scammers, and the experts that mix together into a volatile stew of deceit and greed. The author has an eye for detail, and a story to tell. This is a fun read, and offers a warning for we lay persons and our too often credulous desire to believe in proof by artifact, faith by archaeology. That way lies the Big Con... This was a good book to read.

I read this book because I wanted a journalist's eyeview of the trade in looted and forged artifacts as well as the full story of the James ossuary that disappeared from the press after making such a splash in the early part of this century. In my opinion Nina Burleigh does a very good job of introducing the reader to the characters of the drama-- the scholars, the dealers, the buyers and the agents who are supposed to police them all. Far from finding them distracting, I thought the details she provided about the various people are entertaining and give good visual references. If this doesn't become a documentary then I will be very surprised. She clearly showed the interests that individuals had in the various sites and the finds that might (or might not) connect them to the Bible-- monetary, reputation, political and religious. And then she brings her story back around to the detective work that led to the discovery of the hidden items, the scientific investigation of the various items that led to the prosecution. She isn't terribly unkind to anyone, not even Hershel Shanks-- who I first read about when a misguided friend gave me a subscription to Biblical Archaeology Review-- a publication that is indeed quite shiny. Mr. Shanks at the time was being sued by Elisha Qimron, a scholar working on the Dead Sea Scrolls, for publication of his copyrighted work without permission. Mr. Qimron won, I later learned. Anyway, I found this book informative and entertaining without sliding into the shrillness that can be found in a lot of discussions about religious claims on the Near East and its history. I can safely predict a few hackles will be raised anyway.

How tempted I was to entitled this review "Unholy Mess." Given that I grew up surrounded by a love of all archaeology including biblical era archaeology, this book should have had me at the title. I remember hearing about the James Ossuary and I confess my first reaction was, "No way." It struck me as incredibly unlikely that something associated with Jesus could have survived in such good shape not only this long, but this long undiscovered. That Biblical Archaeology magazine was involved puzzled me further. My mother subscribed to the magazine (along with many other archaeology magazines) for years until she one day announced it had "gotten too silly" but I still associated it with decent scholarship made accessible to a mass audience. In addition, I read and enjoyed Nina Burleigh's "A Very Private Woman" a few years ago, so if any reader should have been predisposed to be an audience for a book like this, it should be me. There are several difficulties with this book. First, as others have noted, it tries to be too many things: travelogue of the Holy Land, investigation in a fraud, query into the nature of faith, musing on the continuing strife in the Middle East, expose of the "Proving the Bible" subculture, etc. Second, even without the multitude of goals this isn't quite a book, it's more a series of articles with each chapter being too independent of the rest for most of the book to the point of nearly repeating entire sentences in several chapters. Third, Burleigh is too present in the pages. If this were a travelogue or a personal quest to understand the nature of faith this might work but amid the other goals of the book it's jarring to go from Burleigh grappling with jetlag and Jerusalem traffic to the controversies over the Temple Mount. Fourth, while I don't consider Burleigh to be blatantly anti-religious her tendency to treat this as an extended magazine article instead of a book leads her to spend more time on "colorful" characters than on presenting a balanced view. So we're treated to a succession of charlatans who prey on Bible literalists (mostly in drive-by sentences) against three briefly mentioned players who make the case for those who pursue Bible Era archaeology to better understand the times as opposed to prove or disprove something. For a book about "faith" this rarely gets beyond stereotypes of the faithful. Ultimately, though, it was the lack of a single narrative focus that made this book heavy going for me. This book is too short to have so many threads running through it. With all that this book isn't a waste of time. Burleigh does offer telling word portraits of several of her main characters - the billionaire collector, the shady pianist turned forger who keeps the James Ossuary on "on the toilet on the top of the roof", the antiquities cop - and she sketches in a few sentences the complexities of archaeology in a land where even a minor discover can be used by opposing sides to support political ends. And Burleigh raises a question early in the book that is never answered: why would faithful people want proof in the first place? We see the wealthy collectors motivated by avarice and power but never do we truly delve into the spiritual dimensions of what draws so many in search of elusive material proofs. If you want an introduction to the world of archaeology for profit and archaeological fraud, this book is worth skimming.

I obtained this book because I am interested in the controversy surrounding the James ossuary, the inscribed limestone box that may have held the bones of James, brother of Jesus and leader of the Jerusalem Christians after Jesus' death on the cross. I remember when the bone box came to the Royal Ontario Museum I considered going to see it, and, like millions of other people who found the box highly significant, I wondered if it really was genuine. I later learned the man who owned the box, Oded Golan, had been indicted for fraud. I hoped this book would tell me what kind of case the Israeli government had against Golan. Instead, the author drags us through page after page detailing all the important people she interviewed, always supplying a sometimes mocking description ("her gap-toothed smile" or "a bullet-shaped man" or "reminded me of the actor so-and-so") and leaving us wondering what the point might be. We go from one interview to another, sometimes coming back to someone previously interviewed, but without a coherent story. If the author wanted to tell the story of Oded Golan as a dealer of fraudulent artifacts, for possibly forging the inscription on the James ossuary, along with possible forgery of another significant antiquity, the Jehoash Tablet, then why not just do that? Why not begin with the trial, which she tells us nothing about until the Epilogue. Why not tell the story from the perspective of someone involved in the detective work, like the investigators for the Israeli Antiquities Authority? It seems the author was intent on injecting herself into the story as much as possible, even though she has no involvement in the actual buying and selling of Biblical antiquities, which might explain why she shows such insenstivity to religious traditions. She makes a point of telling us that she is purely secular, and never misses a chance to ridicule the religiously-inclined visitors to Jerusalem, picturing them as gullible folk sitting on air conditioned buses and listening awe-struck to tour guides exaggerate the significance of every site on the standard tourist circuit, then eagerly snapping up cheap "relics" from the numerous souvenir shops in the old city. She is an equal opportunity debunker, dismissing all flavors of relgious thought. At one point, she calls the Kabbalah "New Age" and mentions Madonna as a practitioner, whereas the Kabbalah is actually a mystical Jewish tradition thousands of years old. After chapters of disconnected interviews, finally the book deals with the investigation and the facts that led to the arrest of Golan. The author provides extensive examples of the people who buy antiquities and the disputes within the antiquities community about "unprovenanced" artifacts. These are artifacts that cannot be traced with certainty to a specific dig. In other words they did not come from an archeologist. That means the only way to authenticate them is to have various experts check them out and render an opinion. The problem is that experts disagree. These basic facts can be explained without the need to describe a collection of interviews in detail. Writers do interviews so they can understand the facts, not so they can describe each and every interview in boring detail. The author barely mentions the work of archeologist James Tabor and documentary film-maker Simcha Jacobvici, who have also weighed in on the James ossuary. I have read both their books and recommend them (The Jesus Dynasty by James Tabor and The Jesus Family Tomb by Simcha Jacobovici). Both men postulate that the James ossuary originally came from a tomb excavated in Jerusalem that also contained a collection of ossuaries with names of members of Jesus' family. Tabor also writes about discovery of a cave that could have been used by John the Baptist. While these ideas are only speculation that cannot be positively proved, the authors make their cases in a professional way. But author Burleigh puts Tabor and Jacobovici in with others who she seems to feel exploit the religious conviction of credulous people who see such discoveries as evidence for their beliefs. In fact, James Tabor is quite secular and does not believe in the divinity of Jesus. The case that the James ossuary is a fake seems especially weak. Oded Glan had the ossuary, but he was not attempting to sell it or make any claims for it. It was another expert, Andre Lemaire, who spotted it in a picture Golan showed him of several of his numerous ossuaries. Lemaire immediately saw implications in the inscription "James, the son of Joseph and brother of Jesus." If the patina did not appear old, it could easily have been because the ossuary had been cleaned. There is no doubt that the ossuary itself is old; ossuaries were only used for a brief period around the time of Jesus' death. It is the inscription that is in question. On the other hand, the case against the Jehoash tablet seems strong, given that Golan went to extreme lengths to conceal his involvement, and the fact that the Egyptian artist who worked with Golan all but confessed to reporter Bob Simon on the TV program "60 Minutes.". This was the more important artifact to the Israelis, since it would have been physical evidence for the existence of the First Temple. These forgeries have begun to cast doubt on some cherished beliefs about Israel's past. I was surprised to read that some now question Yigel Yaedin's interpretation of what he found when he excavated Masada back in the 1960s. Israel officially believes that the last holdout against Rome during the Bar Kochba insurrection of 132 AD all committed suicide rather than be captured. The author says this is an important part of the mythology of Israel and to question it is to bring about the wrath of many in high places. Archeology becomes political. And religious. It is true if WE WANT IT to be true... so the author tells us. The stakeholders in the ancient antiquities game are the archeologists who uncover ancient sites and artifacts, the free-lance "diggers" who also unearth artifacts and sell them for much-needed cash, the wealthy collectors who want valuable old items and will pay millions of dollars to have them, museum directors and curators who need items to display and vie with each other for the most valuable, tourists seeking a memento of their trip to the Holy Land and a large coterie of middle men who arrange deals. The book does succeed in making us aware of all these competing interests, but it misses the real story. The author goes to the land of Moses and Jesus, but never feels the history seething around her, never shares the breathless awe of the tourist on the trip of a lifetime. She juxtaposes science and religion, purportedly showing how religion is obscuring science, but her very findings from the numerious inteviews show there is very little "science" involved. The archeologists have their agendas too, and experts frequently disagree on the age and meaning of artifacts. In the end, the author trivializes the whole experience by recounting the theory of an Israeli psychiatrist who says there is a mental illness called "Jeruselem Syndrome" which causes people to experience "a state of sudden and intense religious delusions" (as described by Yuval Goren, a witness against Oded Golan) when they visit the city. The author asks many of the experts she interviewed if they don't agree that people are so eager to find proof for their religious beliefs that they WANT TO BELIEVE artifacts are authentic. I have always hated this kind of an argument. What do you say to someone who says to you, "You just want to believe that?" Do I now need to prove that I don't want to believe it? We all want to believe something, but can't we still enjoy the feeling that history is right there, in an object that Jesus might have touched, or a box that might have the bones of James, brother of Jesus? Does that make us victims of delusion, infected with "Jeruselem Syndrome?" After reading Unholy Business, I am no closer to knowing whether the James ossuary is the burial box of James the Just, or just an old bone box Oded Golan had inscribed in a cynical attempt to infect Christians who WANT TO BELIEVE.

OK CSI fans, keep your eyes open for clues now as Nina takes us through the Holy Lands and interviews all of the fascinating people and tells us how it really is "on-the-ground" in Israel. We'll also learn what science techniques are used to tell a forgery from a real archaeological find. The interest in the facts about the Bible and the Holy Lands has been heightened by such books as, "The Bible Code", "The DaVinci Code" and the books by Anne Rice that put dialogue into the early life of Jesus. This book takes us into the actual work of providing proof about Biblical history through archaeology. Nina does this while providing clues to a double forgery case that builds throughout the book. This story is real and some of us remember it when it broke into the national news. Christianity and Israel are both intent on providing proof that the area know as the Temple Mount was the original site of Solomon's Temple. The site is presently the 2nd holiest site in Islam and will allow no archaeologists on the site. One of the forgery cases deals with an item from this site. Known as the, "Jehoash Tablet", it had flecks of gold that could have melted down into it when the Babylonians burned the temple in 587 BC. The tablet was "looted" from the temple mount, so its provenance has to be established. The other forgery case is the "James Ossuary", a type of box that contains human bones. These boxes are very common, but this particular box, due to an inscription, was said to contain the bones of James, Jesus' brother. Without the exact wording of the inscription, the ossuary would have been almost worthless. Proving the existence of James was also problematic, since the Catholic faith holds that Mary was a virgin her entire life. The ossuary doesn't disprove her virginity, but the existence of James as Jesus' brother means that Joseph had children from a previous marriage. Are these items forgeries? How do you prove that these items are real? If they are not real, who produced these fakes? I must admit that I didn't catch all of the clues, but I enjoyed the story. Most of this information can be researched and studied, since she provides a wealth of information along the way. Be aware that Nina admits to being a non-believer and puts most religions in a dim light. The information also alludes to some of the actual proofs that archaeology has provided about the Bible.

The wife loved it.

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My daughter has crohn's disease and after trying pain pills, Remicade (she still has bone pain from this!!), and other super expensive diets, in desperation we tried ER4YT. What an amazing difference it has made. She lost weight immediately, and felt normal again. It is obvious when she strays from the diet, because of her immediate weight gain, not to mention all the other symptoms that come with crohn's. I would recommend this to anyone with a debilitating disease. It just might be your life-saver! It can be a little expensive compared to the normal american diet, but compared to the cost and pain of the medical solutions, you are saving alot.

I've followed his prescription to the T, but in my family's experience it's a disaster, the diet he prescribes for our bloody type (A) has not worked, a vegan and vegetarian diet has made us ill, created deficencies and we all gained weight and were always super hungry, and let me say that soy is evil! A balanced diet with dairy and more meat and fish has worked better, we eat 3 times a day plus 2 snacks and are never so hungry like before, it happens only when we eat a more veg meal.

Good companion book for "Eat Right for Your Type"

This is like watching ER used to be... Change the actors but the same basic elements remains present. It also reminds me of Dr. E. E. Smith and his Skylark series. There is always a crisis to save civilization from evil only to discover that there is a greater threat hidden behind the obvious one. If you have read the previous books and pretend to read to the end then this is a must book. In might even be amusing as a stand-alone three book fantasy, but not a one book stand. This book is only an introduction to the next two, practically nothing is resolved and we are left at the cliff's edge. There are a lot of old friends here, Pug, of course, but some of them sort of reappear as grandchildren! Fun book for a fan, better than many of the previous ones.

I read Feist's first trilogy many years ago, but have not followed the many many works on Midkemia that followed. I bought this seeing that the final volume of this latest trilogy was universally acclaimed by the Amazon readers, but I will never know why as I failed to get past the midway point here. The writing, in terms of pure skill, has clearly matured, and his descriptions are precise and well-thought out. The politics and nationwide struggles are also clearly researched. Unfortunately there is a ton of that right from the beginning, and the story's pacing is like a wagon hitting a muddy bog it struggles to get out of. The characters are also lacking, and superficial. There are some descriptions, which is a lousy way of developing a character, but I could not connect and feel them as three-dimensional people, not even as potential ones. Less demanding readers or hardcore Feist fans may not worry too much, knowing they will get their money shot at some point, but I lost interest and have moved on to other books after the midway point here.

The world of Midkemia is an exciting place and great read. All of Feist's books are excellent. This closing series does not disappoint!

It's a bit slow to start but things pick up towards the last half of the book. I guess nothing will compare to his first few books from this storyline. If this is truly his last set of books for this storyline then it will be sad to see Pug go.

I've been a Feist fan for a very long time but somehow missed reading this series. I was actually bored through some of this book. But, it WAS good enough to keep me reading. Pretty much the same plots and adventure. Wasn't bad, wasn't good. Mediocre!!!!!

Raymond Feist at his best. The Fantasy master has scored again. Read the entire trilogy. Have been a loyal fan since the very beginning, and it only gets better and better.

I got this book for a nephew. Based on what he told me aftert reading it, he is dep into Ray Feist books & can't wait for the next one to be sent.

Raymond Feist is the best. So enjoy reading his novels. Have read most of them and looking forward to reading this.

Sun Tzu was ancient China's most renowned general. His classic text on strategy survived through the centuries and is still as applicable to war, politics and economics today as it was when Sun Tzu first drafted it. Many translations of Sun Tzu's manuscript are available, but this one is both attractive and focused. General Tao Hanzhang supplements the actual text with his commentary. Since he spent his entire professional life as a soldier, his interpretation makes Sun Tzu's guidance more applicable to contemporary situations. Thoughtful questions follow each brief chapter in this pocket-sized book. Though many readers have determined that aspects of this work are highly useful in business, some may find that translating military strategy to corporate life is too laborious, or may feel that Sun Tzu focuses their attention on conflict between businesses without addressing production issues or consumer needs. getAbstract thus recommends this immortal title to patient readers and to those interested in strategy in the broadest sense.

I've read at least one other translation of this work and the Samuel B. Griffith translation is much preferred. By comparison his language is elegant, almost bordering on poetry compared to the dry prose of another writer's newer translation. Yet, the content is clear, never being compromised in favor of style. There are almost 300 reviews of this text, so there's no need to repeat what's already been said. If you're looking to own a copy of this classic I'd strongly recommend not just this book, but this particular translation as well.

This is a good read with many proverbs and sayings that are still applicable to modern times. Sun Tzu is vague, and it for that very reason that this book is ever-lasting. Also recommended: The 36 strategies, The book of five rings (Go Rin No Sho), and the Hagakure.

All I want to do is read the Art of War, but this edition mixes the commentary with the text, which makes reading on the Kindle really difficult. In a real book, the commentary is at the bottom and you can ignore it. On this, it's all mixed in and makes it nearly impossible to read. I'm deleting it.

The series continues and does not dissapoint. I am reading these with my daughter, we started when last year when she was 7. We read Firestar's Prophecy between set 1 and this set, it was superb!

BOUGHT THIS SET AT CHRISTMAS JANUARY IS ALMOST OVER AND SHE IS STARTING HER 2ND ROUND OF READING THE ENTIRE SET

It arrived on time and in good condistion. She really like it better then he thought he would. At a good price.

Kids read a few Warriors books now it is all they talk about, Had to get them all! Not to mention the other books by Erin Hunter!

I still cont. to pray even to this day that Beth and her family will have "closure" in losing their daughter. I can not even BEGIN to fathom what they've gone thru and cont. to go thru. This book is a heart breaking insight into what a mother has had to deal with in her loss. Her fight to find peace and overcoming it with her faith. My little girl is 3 - losing her would be like losing myself. May God find some way to bless you in this Beth - your work to inform others is a blessing to us. May His loving arms surround you and cont. to give you peace in knowing He now holds your little girl in His arms.

If you or someone you know has had a devasting loss, this is the book for you/them. She really has some amazing coping skills. The book is well written and I highly recommend it.

Much of what Holloway has said in this book, she has spread across the nightly cablecasts. There's really little new, and few answers for those who have noted her sometime contradictions (so where the cameras working at the Holiday Inn, or weren't they?) One feels a great deal for Holloway, but one also gets the feeling that much of what she has written is aimed not to help the reader feel for her, but to get them to dislike the three best-known suspects and to dislike Aruba. Unhappily, it can't even do that. Chapter after chapter of disappointment, not enlightenment. NOT a good read.

This is a wonderful, wonderful book. I felt like I was having a conversation with Beth Halloway & I just couldn't put the book down. Even knowing the awful outcome with Natalee didn't detract from my reading & I think I read it in three sittings. I followed this case closely yet there was alot I didn't know went on. I highly recommend this book !! I wish that I were just starting to read it. Deborah T. Cassidy Bradenton, Florida

Always a fantastic story with many exciting ups and downs. I have been reading Feist for many years and always will.

When I heard Feist was working on the story of the 'final' Riftwar, I knew it was time to catch up, to re-familiarize myself with the world, and see things through to the ominously titled Magician's End. That brings us to A Kingdom Besieged, the first book of The Chaoswar Saga. Much to my delight (and relief), reading this opening volume was very much like revisiting old friends. The same 'epic' sense of storytelling that I remembered was back, along with myn old friend Pug at the forefront, once again a major force to be reckoned with. Feist does a superb job of casually recapping the prior sagas, bringing up details in conversation, or reflecting on past events in the character's thoughts. He never info-dumps or delays the story, just slowly and naturally brings the world and the reader back together. There's a lot to like here, not the least of which is the story of Child, the rather unusual demon who grows in both stature and power, all the while approaching a level of sophistication that's almost human. It's not clear what role she will have to play in things, whether she'll offer salvation from the darkness devouring the land, or prove to be a harbinger of the end-times, but she's a compelling character. In fact, she just may be the most chilling character I've encountered in an epic fantasy, a character with the potential to destroy the world . . . along with the intelligence and cunning to know precisely what she's doing and why. Similarly, the reintroduction of Pug into world affairs is a welcome addition to the story, acknowledging the tragedies that have come before and gently, politely, respectfully resolving them. His relationship with his sole surviving son is an interesting one, especially given the dark pact he made with the future in the original saga, but you can't help but hope Feist will find away around demanding the ultimate sacrifice. More importantly, Pug seems ready to take a role in world affairs once again, which promises to set up some interesting confrontations, but also ensures the possibility of survival for Midkemia. What I appreciated most about the story, however, is the novelty of Kesh's plans for conquest. Feist has done conquering armies before, both human and inhuman, and done a solid job of directing battles and armies in ways that make logical sense, but which still manage to surprise. Here he takes things in an entirely new direction, introducing us to armies that are designed solely to make landfall and send the residents scurrying for cover. Rather the press the advantage and invest themselves in siege, however, the armies simply hold their ground while the refugees they've collected are set loose to colonize the land. This is not a conquest by swords, pole-arms, pikes, and magic spells, but one by spades, hoes, shovels, and farming. This is not a war of attrition, but a simple matter of displacement. It's not year clear how all these events will converge, what role the elves will deign to play, or just how much the Pantathians (surprise!) are responsible for, but it's clear that change is in the air. It's a next-generation Riftwar, with grandsons and great-nephews stepping up to take the place of their heroic forefathers, guided by the continuity of Pug. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and am glad I decided to revisit Feist's world. On to At the Gates of Darkness next.

The first half of the start of a new trilogy just plods, to the point of being boring, very uncharacteristic of Feist. Long descriptions of people's family histories and stilted conversation fortunately give way to the 2nd half, which is full of Feist's strengths: combat, warfare, conflict, strong characters doing what must be done, and a series of sudden plot twists that leaves the reader eager for the next book. Even as a long-time Feist fan, if I had stopped at the halfway point, "Kingdom Besieged" would barely rate 3 stars, but after all the laborious, awkward setup (like an amateur's take on Robert Jordan's masterfully complex world in Wheel of Time), with page after page devoted to who is descended from whom, things really pick up and the plot fairly sprints towards the end of the book. All the main characters are the direct descendents of previous main characters (or aged versions of the same, or other variants), often named similarly (Jimmy the Hand, Jim the Hand, Jimthe...). Tossed into similar roles and storylines, it's as if Feist wanted to use the same characters again, but civilization-shaking massive wars can't happen every few years, so he moves the story 50 years downstream and repeats with some twists and "new" characters that are nearly identical to the old. It's a formula the author has used repeatedly, and it's not entirely bad-- it makes the characters seem comfortably familiar. (I don't do plot summaries in reviews, they seem silly and repetitive at best, and spoilers at worst.) While I wish the non-combat writing (and dialogue) was more engaging, I still enjoyed the book and the ending left me ordering Book2 the very next day. A definite must for Feist fans, as we approach the conclusion of all the riftwar series, but new readers should start much earlier in this saga.

A wonderful addition to the others. I have always loved Feist's books. Look forward to continuing the best fantasy story,

I like Raymond Feist's books and a long time ago I read the books that began this - the Riftwar Saga. This book is ingteresting enough but it refers to characters and plot lines the current reader has no knowledge of. The authro didn't take the time to give you enough background in this first book of the off-shoot series to make you understand what lead up to where the storyline is now. If you read the earlier books first, you will probably enjoy this book much more.

This is the old, public domain translation of The Art of War. I had to return this book, along with a few others which suffer from this problem. Luckily, Amazon handled the exchange of the two books I had to return promptly. As to the The Art of War itself, it is of course the most important work on military philosophy ever written (at least that's what my husband told me to write). I am plowing through the other deluxe edition I received instead of this one with the errors, but so far it is just as fascinating as the special about The Art of War I saw on the History Channel.

I had to return this book due to the high number of printing errors contained inside. After 10 errors, I decided not to even bother counting the rest. Why is Amazon selling books like this? I found a better edition of this book in the catalog, but I wish someone had posted a review about the poor quality of the translation and printing.

The Giles translation of Sun Tzu's classic is available for the Kindle as a free download. Click here:&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/The-Art-of-War/dp/B000JMLEGI/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">The Art of War</a>&nbsp;This is the Gutenberg Project public-domain text, which these other publishers have uploaded at prices ranging from $1 to $7. Save your money!

I am very happy with my purchase. This is a beautiful book, both outside and within. My husband is reading it now, and he hardly ever reads books. He was actually surprised I bought this for myself (and impressed!). I can't find a single thing wrong to say. It arrived quickly, in perfect condition, and we have both been enjoying it thoroughly. High marks all the way around!

This is a very important book. In fact it is so valuable that the chinese military classified it so that no up and coming rebels could read it, which is one reason it survived the national book burnings that destroyed so much chinese literature. Nowadays, however, everyone can, and should read this instructive book. This and the teachings of the T'ai Kung are essential for those who seek to understand conflict and humanity itself.

Sun Zi (Sun Tzu) was a Chinese general who wrote THE ART OF WAR in the fifth century BCE. The work was brilliant. I'm a mystery and fantasy writer, and I really do not understand bronze age combat. The good general did. I am informed by my favorite colonel, who has defied the law of averages by still being alive after thirty years in Special Forces, that it is still considered essential military and guerrilla reading. I can see why. Even now, on some movies and TV shows, I see idiots trying to get to the low ground instead of the high as their preferred spot to fight from. You'd think anybody would know it's easier to fight downhill than it is to fight uphill. But some people still need Sun Zi to tell them so. His best maxims are to use the weather and the terrain as weapons, and always to remember to pay your spies well and that the best battles is the one you never have to fight.

Thers are not new books. They have not even been reprinted in 2012. What gives I should have returned the book. I can get older books in the library or buy them used.??

Blood type has little to do with digestion or body chemistry. If you have blood group A, then you've got A antigens covering your red cells and anti-B in your plasma. Antigens are substances that evoke an immune response. Since people in blood group B have B antigens and carry anti-A in their plasma, type A blood should not be given to those in Group B, and vice versa. (Group O has neither antigen and group AB has some of each.) There is no reasonable scientific basis for the claim that blood type should determine one's diet, though Peter claims to have collected "over 1,000 scientific articles on blood types and their correlations to disease, biochemistry, nutrition, and anthropology." Even so, he's never done a controlled study on blood type diets. Yet, he claims that blood type determines body chemistry to such an extent that those with type A blood should go vegetarian and meditate, those with type O should eliminate grains and do aerobics. He suggests similar nonsense for types B and AB. Such a syndrome of organ failures due to lectin-induced micro-infarctions of the brain, heart, kidneys, retinas, and adrenals would be well known to pathologists and other medical scientists. It would not be a subtle disease. In the pathology texts, there would be clear descriptions - complete with photographs taken through high-power, optical microscopes as well as electron microscopes - of damage from lectin deposits and blood agglutination in most major organ systems. The existence and intricacies of such a widespread disease would be as common knowledge among physicians and cell scientists as atherosclerosis is today. Yet, I am aware of no such descriptions in the pathologic literature. No pathologist I know has ever mentioned tissue infarction from lectin-induced red cell agglutination as a cause of any disease in humans.

This is an excellent book for anyone who wants to learn more about Natalee Holloway and her disappearance, and also for those who have followed the case all along. After reading this book, I am amazed that people continue to question Beth's recollections and her sincerity. I found her notes on events to be extremely compelling and coherent - especially considering the trauma she was experiencing at the time. This is a beautiful story of faith & resilience in the midst of some truly ugly events.

My grandkids can't put them down. I am impressed they are not playing with their nintendo and are actually reading. This is definitely a great series.

got this set for my 9 yr old grandaughter - she loves these book and just races thru them I think they are a little gory graphic and she does too - they make her sad when a character dies...........but I guess all good books are like that...as is life

My daughter has read all of this series and wants to own the entire set...so she got the the first 18 books this year for Christmas. She reads them over and over:)

My daughter is 11 and loves these books. She has been thru two series so far, so I am sure she will go thru this one in no time.

He already had read of few of them...but is now collecting them and read through them so fast I already need to order the next set!

I purchased this as a gift for a young teenager and she loved them. This series of books is captivating to this age group

I purchased these for my daughter's present and she loves them. She is determined to read every book in every series and this is just one more to her collection. I don't love it, I've never read a single one but my 10 year old can't put them down. She owns every volume they have of these Warriors books and if she was rating it, she would want me to give it five stars.

Gift

I have read The first books of this series but i haven't kept up with all of them. So I liked this book but sometimes I felt like I didn't know wat was going on. I think its because I haven't read the earlyer books.

Great book the elves are back and annoying as ever the world is coming to an end and the Condoin bloodline is again in trouble.

Who can resist a free book! And so easy to get on my Kindle! Love the book and would recommend this to anyone!

The item was as promised from seller. They provided fast shipping. I would buy from them again. Thanks for smooth transaction.

The caveat of course is that if the author will be able to sustain this momentum. For anyone who loves portals. anything else I say will be a spoiler.

This is another good, exciting adventure by long-time fantasy master Feist. If you've read his past books, you know to expect, action, surprises and good fantasy writing. If you haven't read his books before this is probably a poor choice for a first start since the density of allusions to his previous series is high. You'll be missing out on alot of whats going on if this is your first taste of Midkemia.

This book on War is much like the Prince - you can wage war for good or evil. The Prince is a 'how to' book for evil Princes - and if you don't believe me, read your history. One of the best books I read after this one was about the family that Machiavelli consulted for and wrote the Prince for and about, the Borgia's. Its an example of The Art of War Check it out: Machiavelli's Disciple: The True Story of the Borgia Pope <a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Machiavelli-s-Disciple-The-True-Story-of-the-Borgia-Pope/dp/1442140879/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Machiavelli's Disciple: The True Story of the Borgia Pope</a> You will be astounded!

This book is a well documented review of the subject. Author goes to great lengths to research and verify as much as he could for this subject of over 2000 years old.

One of the oldest examples of a book written about topic "x" that translates well into the business environment. A quick read that gives the reader a confidence boost as well as some great negotiating strategies. Michael T. Hanley, CPA is the Managing Partner of the Smithtown, NY CPA Firm, Merl & Hanley, LLP and the author of Effective Tax Planning for the MicroBusiness:&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/30-Minutes-With-A-Certified-Public-Accountant-Effective-Tax-Planning-for-the-MicroBusiness/dp/057801999X/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">30 Minutes With...A Certified Public Accountant: Effective Tax Planning for the MicroBusiness</a>

This book and The Book of Five Rings are must have for serious martial arts practitioners.

This edition of The Art of War is superb. The translation is flawless. It is clear, concise and flows as though it were originally written in English. The combination of two versions, commented and uncommented, in one book is a real plus. The commented version provides essential insight into the historical context. The uncommented version allows the reader to delve into the mind of one of the most brilliant military strategists who ever lived and appreciate the timelessness of his genius. This book should be in your collection regardless of how many other versions you have. It is absolutely the best edition of the Art of War - a treasure to be savored.

Great book, from beginning to end very good book. I would recommended to everyone to read it would not regret it.

In Reginald Hill's "Midnight Fugue," the Fat Man, Superintendent Andy Dalziel, is ready to resume his old responsibilities at the Mid-Yorkshire station--or is he? He's a bit off his stride and is disconcerted to learn that his colleagues appear not to have missed him. In the past, "Andy...used his weight to roll over everybody who got in his way," but now, his subordinate, DCI Pascoe, has gotten used to giving orders instead of taking them. Meanwhile, as a favor to an old acquaintance, Andy gets involved in a tricky case involving a woman named Gina Wolfe. Seven years earlier, Gina's husband, DI Alex Wolfe, disappeared after a family tragedy and an internal affairs investigation threatened to derail his marriage and career. Gina wants Dalziel to find out if Wolfe is still alive, and if so, what happened to him. Also interested in Alex's whereabouts is an influential and clever criminal who has sent his lackeys to keep Gina and Andy under surveillance. Reginald Hill is a literate author whose smooth prose, amusing and carefully crafted dialogue, and intriguing story lines have earned him well-deserved accolades among fans of British police procedurals. Dalziel's Yorkshire dialect is a bit off-putting as are his imperious attitude, racism, and male chauvinism. However, he does have redeeming qualities, including an innate passion for justice, a good grasp of how the pieces of an intricate puzzle fit together, and a willingness to stick his neck out. He is funny (not always intentionally), sarcastic, and quick-witted, although his tendency to indulge in too much food and drink sometimes impair his mental acuity. Alas, this is not one of Hill's most accomplished works. It is too rambling, the convoluted narrative unfolds at a glacial pace, and the surprise ending is a bit too neat. On the other hand, the author is a skillful satirist who skewers such targets as egotistical politicians and predatory journalists, and his large cast of characters is vivid and well-delineated. They include Goldie Gidman, a kingpin who takes great pains to make sure that all of his bases are covered; David the Third, Gidman's son, who has lofty political ambitions that could be derailed by his fondness for the females; Vince and Fleur Delay, an unlikely pair of enforcers; and Gwyn Jones, a Welsh-born newspaperman who is desperate for his next big scoop. The lives of these and others are destined to intersect in strange and unpredictable ways. "Midnight Fugue" (a title that has multiple meanings) explores the idea so concisely expressed by William Faulkner: "The past is never dead. It's not even past." Sooner or later, we all must all face the music for what we have done.

Wit and wisdom collide in the outsize person of Supt. Andy Dalziel, long time head of the Yorkshire constabulary and newly back at work after the bombing that nearly killed him in "Death Comes for the Fat Man." Dalziel is a bit unsure of himself - well, he did lose a whole day, almost showing up for work on Sunday for a Monday meeting - so a favor for London colleague Mick Purdy comes welcome on the regained Sunday. Purdy's fiance, Gina Wolfe, already has a husband. An ex-cop, Alan Wolfe has been missing seven years. He disappeared after the death of their daughter and in the midst of a corruption investigation. Gina was about to have him declared dead when she received a Yorkshire newspaper clipping showing his picture. Meanwhile there's a menacing brother-and-sister team following Gina at the behest of a London crime-boss-gone-straight. He has the highest political ambitions for his playboy son and wants to ensure that inconvenient people out of his past, like Alan Wolfe, are silenced. Then there's the son's strict, mousy, practical, straight-arrow assistant who does her best to keep her charge politic. Hill juggles multiple intertwined subplots and characters, inflicting plenty of murder and mayhem on the populace before Dalziel wraps it all up in one 24-hour day. As clever and twisty as ever, if a little more padded than usual, this is another winner from an old master.

I didn't enjoy this book at all, and as I have read every book in the series so far, it was a tremendous disappointment to me. If Andy is going to go out with a Wimper, I would rather Reginald Hill had ended the series earlier. It didn't even seem like his normal writing style. He has written some brilliant books about these two detectives, but this was sub-standard, too convoluted, and just not up to scratch at all. I regret buying the book now.

Like a Bach fugue, this latest novel in the Dalziel & Pascoe series is a masterful weaving of story lines into a compact and thrilling whole. Once the major themes are stated -- the Fat Man's return to work, Gina Wolfe's search for her lost husband, Fleur Delay established as the hit (wo)man with matchless cunning -- the development brings forth sub-plots culled from the principles that interweave and build to the denouement. On the surface, this story is all about trying to find Gina Wolfe's husband who went missing 7 years earlier. Gina needs to find him because if he's still alive then she can't have him declared legally dead, something that needs to happen before she can go on to marry her former husband's friend. Fleur Delay needs to find the errant Mr. Wolfe because he's a threat to "The Man." Various tabloid journalists (of less-than-stellar ethics) are trying to find Mr. Wolfe because of his connection to The Man's son who is up and coming in his political party. Dalziel is trying to find Mr. Wolfe because helping out is a favor to Gina's fiance. Pascoe is trying to solve a murder of a journalist connected with all of this and he has to view Dalziel as aiding a possible suspect (i.e., Gina Wolfe). Below the surface, Dalziel is also trying to re-establish himself in his police precinct as the great bull he once was. Pascoe is unsure whether Dalziel should be back to work so soon. Wield is certain that Dalziel will make it back to his leading position with some time. Hill retools some of his best story-telling devices for Midnight Fugue. Besides at least one instance of Andy Dalziel using his favorite word ("jacksie" -- it just wouldn't be Dalziel if he didn't say that), we have interstitial narration (used effectively and with slight variations in previous novels "On Beulah Height" and "Arms and the Women"). We also have the eerie -- and in this case quite satisfying -- surprise identity revealed at the end (again, used effectively and somewhat differently in "Deadheads," "Dialogue of the Dead," and "Death Comes for the Fat Man"). What I loved most about this novel is that, after reading the coda (or, postlude), you could re-read the entire story as leading to this as the ending instead of merely to concluding Gina Wolfe's search. Overall, it's a much shorter book than Hill has published recently for this series, but the story is so masterfully crafted that it won't matter. This delightfully compact fugue is as satisfying as a three-act grand opera.

In an earlier book Superintendent Dalziel was all but sent to Kingdom Come by a terrorist bomb. However Reginald Hill was too thoughtful of his fans to kill Fat Andy dead. In this book the gargantuan superintendent is cutting short his convalescent leave to get back to work. It's way too early, in the opinion of his staff and associates. And in truth, Fat Andy doesn't always know what day it is. But that doesn't stop him from being as bullheaded, foul-mouthed, irresponsible and insightful as ever in pursuit of crime. It all begins with a good deed on Andy's part. He agrees to help a lovely young woman find her husband, a cop who disappeared seven years ago - or get sufficient evidence of the man's non-existence to declare him officially dead. Andy's investigation unleashes all sorts of mayhem. Good and bad people get bashed, shot and otherwise eliminated. A powerful rich man with a questionable past faces a serious threat to his future. Fat Andy learns to love Bach. And all this takes place in 24 hours. There are lots of treats in store for the reader, including two terrific brother-sister gangsters and plenty of comic dialog between Andy and those who would best him. It's always a pleasure to sit down with the quirky cops at Mid-Yorkshire CID and get caught up in their latest adventures. Reginald Hill does a great job of character development throughout this excellent series.

Gina Wolfe has come to Yorkshire--the domain of the wonderful Superintendent Andy Dalziel--in search of her long-missing husband. He's presumed dead, but she's just seen a photo of him in a recent publication. Her fiance, Police Cmdr. Mick Purdy, calls his old friend Dalziel and asks him to keep an eye on her. The case involves several other people: a charming but ruthless crime czar, an amoral Tory Member of Parliament and his ambitious "Lady Macbeth" secretary, a sleay journalist looking for a sensational story, and the crime lord's bizarre (and deadly) assistants--a truly creepy brother/sister act. Dalziel promised to protect Gina Wolfe, and Peter Pascoe, his former subordinate (now his equal), gets involved as well. But that simple act of kindness produces a lethal chain reaction of consequences.... Reginald Hill is one of my favorite British mystery writers. He's always coming up with interesting new ways to tell his Dalziel/Pascoe stories. In this one, he adopts a beat-the-clock style: the entire plot unfolds in a mere 24 hours, with constant hour/minute reminders at the top of every chapter. This is--literally--a race against time. Also, the strained relationship between the two detectives (and Peter's wonderful wife, Ellie) is constantly changing, and here the change is pretty dramatic. If you're a fan, I don't have to tell you to read this excellent new entry in the series. If you're new to Dalziel/Pascoe, I suggest reading the series in order, starting with&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/A-Clubbable-Woman-Felony-Mayhem-Mysteries/dp/1933397934/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">A Clubbable Woman (Felony & Mayhem Mysteries)</a>. This is one of the best British crime series, and the rude, fat, cantankerous, irrepressibly nosy Andy Dalziel is one of the most lovable detectives around--Columbo with a British accent. Highly recommended.

The concept of this book requires a nearly entire revamp of the foods a person eats. Very few of our staple foods were actually on the list. When looking for a good diet plan it's important to choose one that seems attainable. This one does not.

Let me start with, I have felt tremendously better from changing to the blood type diet. I no longer have the severe stomach issues I was having before. I do not wake up with nausea, nor do I bloat to a third trimester size after eating. So, in this aspect I definitely am thankful to the blood type diet. However, where I believe I am having the success is from cutting out Gluten/Wheat, which I never would have tried without this diet. Scientifically, this diet is not sound. A is actually the first of the blood types, which was discovered I believe 4 years before D'Adamo wrote his book. B was next and O third, which especially makes sense when O has antibodies to A & B. That being said, there are several other things in the book that have been proven wrong. I love the book, as incorrect as it may be, and I like the fact that I feel better since being on the diet. However, its mostly due to eating a significantly lower amount of processed foods as well as hardly any gluten. If it works for you, great! I give this a 3 due to the scientific side being completely incorrect, but couldn't give it any lower for the fact that I feel better.

Harrison was very happy to receive the whole set. He loves the story and action. I am happy that there is a book about smart cats to give kids an intro to a fine group of animals.

My 11-year old daughter never read very much but as soon as she started reading the Warrior Cat books, she couldn't put them down. She ended up racing through this box set and quickly moving onto the second set. Highly recommended to get your child into reading.

I love warriors. Its a amazing series based on forest cats. This box set, was given to me as a gift, and i loved every minute of it. It contains all the new prophecy books, volume 1-6. For now, i am rating only the box set as one piece, but i will be individually rating each book from this series. Personally, i find that the title of this review describes one reason of what it is good to buy the box set. Sure, you could rent it at the library, but say the book you need is gone, and the person who has it may have lost it, so, you have to wait a while before you can read it. I can assure you, this series is not one to miss, and it will be quit miserable just sitting there, waiting for the next book to become available. It will be less expensive to buy the entire set more so then each individual book, i am assuming. On amazon, midnight, the first book is 6.99 dollars. I'm sure the books of the entire series are around the same price, so that would be around 42.00 dollars. this is only 21.54, so it would be a deal if you were interested in buying the entire series. Another nice thing about this box set is that it does come in a warriors box thing, so you will have a unique place to keep them all together in order. Overall, i would suggest the box set if you are a warriors fan. It's a reasonable price, the books are good, and you can read them whenever, and keep them forever. That means you don't have to wait for the next book to come out in the library. If you have any more questions, feel free to write a comment. I check back on all my posts frequently.

My granddaughter has been fascinated by all the books in this series. She loves to read and we all encourage her with gifts of books to keep that strong.

I bought this set of books for my 11 year old grandson. To my amazmemt he requested these books for his birthday. This was a child who only read when he had to do so. He read the first book in the series at school and was really "turned on" to the fantasy characters and their far out adventures. After receiving these books I found him in his room with the tv off and deeply engrosed in the story. I have since bought the second set by the same author from Amazon. He was excited when I gave them to him.

Bought these for my granddaughter whose friends are all reading these books. It was so hard to get them out of the library because they are always out on loan so I just bought the boxed set. She was so incredibly happy to have her own set and read them in her leisure. Gave them to her for Christmas and she's on book #4. Her friends think she's pretty lucky to have her own set and so does she. While I haven't read them,she says they are great books and can't put them down. School, homework and other activities keep her busy but she makes sure to find time to read the books. She's in 6th grade as are most of her friends who read these books if that's any help to anyone reading this review. I've already purchased the next boxed set for when she's ready for them.

I just finished Beth's book about the tragic disappearance of her daughter, Natalee. It was heartbreaking, and also maddening to read about what that poor family went through in Aruba. The police were generally unhelpful and seemed unconcerned about one missing tourist. The disappearance of a child has to be every parent's nightmare, add to that a disappearance in a foreign country, where the authorities seem more interested in protecting tourism then finding a missing teenager, and you have a truly tragic situation. God Bless Beth Holloway, and I pray that Natalee will someday be found.

What an interesting story Beth tells in her book. The problem I am having is based on some of what I know; her stories differed in many instances from what she has told previously. That is what has plagued this case, so many stories, what to believe? Most people however, will read this and feel her pain. And there is nothing wrong with that. Because, after reading this book, I do believe that the Aruban authorities in many instances were not doing all they could for Natalee's family. If even half of the incidents are true that Beth writes about, regarding those first few days, it is really a sad tale for any parent to have to deal with, if their child is missing. I certainly came away from certain parts of the book quite unsettled over what they faced down there. So, from that part of the book, I will give Beth the benefit of the doubt, in relation to the law enforcement. About that, Beth and Dave have many good reasons to be outraged! Everyone has to be careful though where we allow our precious young people to travel. Many, many places, not just Aruba, are also incapable of handling such a disappearance. When anyone travels out of the United States, they have to realize that they are beyond the protection of our government, so that decision should be made before the trip and prior to trouble arising. There is so much about the book that just does not seem to ring quite true to the Beth we saw nightly on TV. It makes you wonder, what she is up to now? I have a feeling, based on the way this book was written, she does have some deviously, interesting plans in her future (perhaps a new religious career). I think those plans are much more grandiose than her hastily created "safe travels" organization. For me though, she really offers nothing for what she thinks happened to Natalee, other than the rehash of those statements, which she has been referencing for years now. And what do we know for sure about them? Were they signed, were they legit, what were the questions asked to get the answers stated, do we know anything about any of that? No, and neither does Beth, for sure. She is still going down the same road that has led to nothing so far; same old "original perpetrators" and the "going in and out of consciousness," (a phrase she made up out of whole cloth) that we have been hearing forever! She also fails to mention the Skeeters recordings and explain how she heard things that clearly were not there to be heard. In my opinion, she needed to deal with some of that, since it was what she seemed so outraged about for almost a year. So, no revelations at all regarding the case! In the summer of 2005, she said she had information that "would shock the world." I am still waiting! And Beth still does not seem to want to deal with her daughter's own partying in Aruba, which at this stage has been well documented by the other Mountain Brook teens. Does Beth still not understand that when Natalee began the day with Red Fires for breakfast, that she didn't need to have Joran or the Kalpoes to force strange drinks laced with anything down her throat, fourteen or more hours later? She showed that she was totally capable of that on her own. Beth, of course, knows all of this (it is well documented). And based on the the way she wrote this book, it is apparent, she still does not wish for the whole truth, as far as Natalee goes, to be told. That does not however, mean that Natalee deserved anything bad to happen to her! I have always felt very badly for the loss of Natalee, as a parent we all should. It is very sad. I cannot say whether people should read this book or not. I did, because I have been following this case since day one and I needed to see with my own eyes what Beth now thinks. I was surprised to see that Beth didn't mention boycotting Aruba, although she has called for it publicly. Her public tactic lately has been not to mention it... maybe she has been advised not to (that's not forgiving enough, I guess, for her new religious tactic). I would have like to have seen her disavow her support for a boycott rather than just be silent in the book about something she previously promoted on the air. Like one of the previous reviewers stated, this book should probably be read by parents of teens and the teens themselves, prior to booking an all-inclusive drinking senior trip, or a spring break drinking trip. Just like my generation was shocked by the movie, "Midnight Express," perhaps this book can be that for this generation, and that would not be a bad thing. So read the book, but not because you will learn much about what happened to Natalee Holloway, but, perhaps, so your own young child won't suffer the same fate.

I have read several books by her, and I have found that I like her stand alone books the best. Her series get too bogged down with the number of characters and reminders of what happened previously. But this book was really good; you feel for all the characters, and how she talks in the child's voice for Max is so sweet, really brought a smile to my face (or tears, depending on what he said of course!).

This story began with some serious action and I was immediately engrossed in the pages up to the plane crash. I found myself really loving the Hawaii characters, Kiahna, Max and Buddy and Ramey. They were my kind of people, sweet hearted and just a genuine family. For me Max's journey is what makes this story so touching. A little boy of 7 suddenly finding himself all alone in the world. His faith was strong for a young boy, reading his Bible every day and praying, getting feelings from God. I loved it. Also, Max's phrase-ology was too cute...things like 'heart beeps' and ruffel bags had me smiling and tearing up some. I did not like Michele Evans at all. She was so full of poison for almost the entire book, even going so far as to be mean to Max. I understand why Karen wrote the story the way she did, I just wasn't drawn to evil, unforgiving Michele at all, which I guess is the point. She didn't really grow on me until the very end of the book when the ending makes you bawl your eyes out. Strong 4.5!