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Unexplicably compelling
I picked this book up as in impulse purchase. I never do that, even with stupid things like batteries, but I felt drawn to the book. Its really, really funny by dint of how deadpan serious it takes the subject of zombies. It's internally consistent, which helps a whole lot. Here's a sample line (from Attacking-Strategies-Underwater Battles-Scanning the Surface): "Hooking on scuba gear and blindly diving into zombie-infested water is a wonderful way to mix the two childhood fears of being eaten and drowning." Fun, strangely engaging, and it'll look good on your shelf. | 34 stars
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A...A...A...for Awful
To be fair, I only got 2/3rds of the way through the book. I'm a voracious reader, and this now has the dubious distinction of being one of very few books I simply could not force myself to finish. Perhaps it would have improved enough in the final chapters to be worth my time investment. And perhaps I was expecting something from the book that it wasn't. I expected a clever, witty satire. Instead, the plotline was non-existent, most of the scenes were simply boring if not sad, and the Nanny character was every bit as shallow and valueless as the rich employers whom she mocked. I found nothing to admire about any of them, and the little boy Grayer was the only character worthy of sympathy. This book is mindless entertainment. I don't feel that I've missed anything by never knowing how it ended. | 01 star
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A Charming Story
This book started out somewhat slow and I almost took a trip to boreville until about the 60th page or so when it picked up a little. From then on I was hooked! She writes with such a charming flair, that it's hard NOT to like any of her books--and I've got 12 of her books to prove it! I recommend this book very highly...take patience in the beginning, it WILL get better! | 45 stars
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Strange Book
Ok, I bit and bought a copy after seeing all the hype. I was disappointed to discover that it's not the book you are led to believe it is.There's next to nothing in it about starting or running an online business. Now this is truly bizarre considering who the author is.If you are looking at starting an old fashioned off-line type business, then it might be helpful. Suppose you wish to start a vacuum cleaner agency from your kitchen table or an mlm distributorship. Then I could see this being of some help. It's basically all about dialing for donuts endlessly from home.There's also very little of Gianforte in the book. Reading it you can't escape the conclusion that he farmed it out to his co-author, who then did all the work. Unfortunately the co-author is a journalist and not a businessman, so he focussed on the wrong things, in my opinion.If you are looking at starting an online business, go with "Go Big or Go Home" by Wil Schroter. Now that's the book that deserves this one's hype. | 12 stars
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Travel back in time...
I've had this book on my shelf for several years and decided to finally dive in. Although the writing helped to transport me back in time and I truly enjoyed the story, it was a little difficult to follow at times. I felt that he should have made chapter endings rather than jumping to another topic in the middle of the page. Otherwise, I truly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. | 34 stars
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charming classic for kids
I loved books as a child, but alas, I never owned this one. Yet even without the nostalgia, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it with adult eyes and the illustrations are captivating. I like that New York "is full of the Biggest Things" from "biggest Sunday papers" (it's true!) to "biggest traffic jams." Sasek's book takes kids from Harlem to Chinatown, and the very last page offers up-to-date facts. Great for little children. If your kids (or niece or granddaughter) are older (age 7 to 13), get her Melanie in Manhattan which is also set in New York -- my hometown -- and takes kids from Harlem to Chinatown with stops on the Empire State Building and Brooklyn Bridge. Happy Reading and Happy Traveling! melaniemartin.comCarol Weston author of MELANIE IN MANHATTAN and other books for kids | 45 stars
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As good as it was when I was 10... even better!
What can I say? It's the hobbit. It's even better as an Adult! I didn't remember half of the book :) | 45 stars
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Great
One of the greatest books i have ever read. It si truly amazing. There is so many aspects to it that make it what it is. How there is love, action, death, pain, captures, and escapes. William Goldman does a great job putting all of these ascpets into this book with out making it too complex or confusing. The moive is one of the best ever made, but it fail is comparison to this masterpiece of a book. I highly recommend this book, if not more then anyting I have ever read. Read it, you will be truly spellbound | 45 stars
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It worked for me!
Before trying Babywise, I tried demand feeding because it just felt better. However, it just wasn't working! The baby was constantly crying and constantly eating, and I had no idea what to expect next. My sister used Babywise with her three kids, and she highly recommended me giving it a try. The very FIRST day I used the concepts of this book, her crying lessened dramatically. By 11 weeks, she was sleeping 8 hours a night, and now at 16 weeks, she is sleeping 10-11 hours a night. I don't know what I would have done without this book. | 45 stars
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jack the ripper 101
Very surprising after reading the her well-organized thrillers - this book is sloppy and you get the feeling she became increasingly disillusioned with her theory as she wrote it. She obviously knows very little about Jack and understands nothing about the artistic soul. After all, a gloomy artist like Sickert would have been fascinated by the case. She doesn't mention that he lived in rooms years after the murders and was told by the landlord that it had been lived in by the Ripper - of course he would paint it! Also, as for the man leaning over the woman in the painting in Ennui - everyone knew the Ripper was supposed to have approached his victims from the back and slit their throats. The only thing she has proved is that the mischievous letter writing Sickert probably wrote a couple of the 600 hoax letters - big deal!! | 12 stars
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My favorite book of the year
A wonderful description of life in an old people's home and of the life of a circus. Interesting choice of topic. Extremly well written. I loved it from the first page to the last. It was very entertaining, but I also learnt a lot. There is plenty of adventure and a lot of touching episode, too. A perfect reading. | 45 stars
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Interesting thoughts on surviving the 1990s with grace
First, in the spirit of full disclosure, I must explain that I am a former co-worker of David Awbrey. I worked at the Wichita Eagle during much of the time that David writes about. I found his book to be interesting and challenging. I don't pretend to be half the intellect that David is, so I feel out of my element here. David's take on depression, emphasis on career and self-absorption are on target for the most part. The book quotes many philsophers who I've never studied, but David consistently puts the thoughts and works of others in the proper context. In fact, he did it so well that my appetite has been whetted. So many books to read, so little time... | 34 stars
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My sixth and final Austen book. Delightful!
I have now read all of Austen's completed works and wrote reviews for all them as well ^-^. (I'm feeling very proud of myself by now) It's not my favorite, but it's definitely not the worst. And for Jane Austen, even the worst is an enjoyable, entertaining read; I only mean the worst compared to her other novels not on a general scale.To get down to the book, it was quite different from the others. Anne is twenty-eight at the start of the book, she is plain and unattractive having lost her `bloom' seven years earlier due to the loss of her love, and isn't as witty and sparkling as Elizabeth Bennet or Emma. Yet you don't come to despise her; she's not weak. And when you come to think of it, her agreeing to break off her engagement with the hero was a wise thing to do at her age. If he hadn't acquired a great fortune or perhaps died in service, then where would she be? Plus the fact that she was young and smothered with disapproval all around and the woman she thought of as her mother was dead against the match.So anyway, she also has the most despicable family out of any of Austen's other novels-even Mansfield Park-they are conceited, selfish and self-important. The sad thing is that you realize that people like Sir Walter really exist, people who care solely for appearances and rank. Even Anne's sister Mary, perhaps the nicest sister, is selfish without really meaning it, and treats Anne the way a spoiled child treats it's parents; nicely when it wants something, but all the while thinking: what else do they have in their lives to do but to cater to all my whims?There are a few trivial things I didn't like: first that Sir Walter Elliot is such a snob; Walter is my absolute favorite name! Austen gave it a pretty bad impression. Secondly, I wish that James could have married Anne; I really liked him, much better than the hero, and he suited her so well! I didn't really like the hero of this book; I'm a sucker for the rich, dashing gentlemen of her other novels. You don't really know the hero of this book so well.Anyway, like all her books, the prose is outstanding, her usage of the language remarkable and the reader's attention is never lost; Austen's greatest gift. I have always loved Austen's style of writing, it's great! Great book, highly recommended! Add it to your classics shelf. Don't have one? Get one!!!=^-^= | 34 stars
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Theatre and SF together at last
The witty reparte (yeah, I know, it's cliche, but how else can I describe it) left me giggling, and the author obviously knows his way around backstage. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series! | 45 stars
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The elucidation of the Talmud
In his book "The World of The Talmud," Rabbi morris Adler explains the fundamentals of the Talmud. Although in some respects the author sacrifices depth for brevity the points that the Rabbi makes are still poignant. Structurally, Adler takes us through the byzantine world of the Talmud by illustrating how this encylopedic work is divided. The first division is between the Gemara and Mishna.To put it concisely the Mishna is a commentary on the Torah and the Gemara is a commentary on the Mishna.The second division is between Halacha and Agada. Halacha is jewish law similar to that of Sharia in Islam and Agada is about the mystical folklore that has come to define the spiritual realm of the Talmud.One of the most important points Elder brings up, that maybe of interest to those engaged in Christian-Jewish Dialouge, is on Rabbinical teaching differs largely from Church Teaching.1. Credo Quia Absurdum Est. Translated is "I believe that which is unreasonable," However in Judaism the learned Gentile is to be honored above that of an ignorant high priest. Furthermore the empasis on the study of Scripture has "helped keep judaism intellectually vigorous and alert."2 Extra Eccleasiaam Nulla Salus, (No salvation outside of the church) Alder contends that the attempt to translate this into Hebrew is not feasible because words such as "Salvation" and "church" are epistemolgically rooted in Church theology. Instead the concept of Salvation isnt limited to an institution nor a paticular religion. In fact the inclusvity and appreciation of followers of other faiths is expressed in the Rabbinical phrase Hasideri Urmot Ha-Olam. Tanna D bei Eliyahu p. 48 testifys to this sense of religious pluralism.3. Another intersting point of religious intersection between Christian theology and Rabbinical teaching brought up by the author is amplified in Romans 13:1 where the biblical proscriptions seemingly suggest that Kings and all forms of Government are from God. Although the Jewish concept Dina D'amalchuta dina might seem to be in agreement with Paul it isnt. The laws of the land are to be obeyed only inso far as their teaching does not harm their religion or is not constiutionally constructed.Lastly Alder argues that The Talmud is not only subjected to reason nor Passion but is a harmonization of the two. This is the meaning behind the Deutronimic verse you must worship God with all your Mind and Heart which is physically symbolized by the Tefilin. | 34 stars
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A great captivating masterpiece
Frank Peretti has done it again! This kind of writing is why he is my favorite author. I've never read the first book, but I have read most of the "Cooper Kids Adventure" series. I loved the suspense and the mystery in the plot. I think he kind of stretched the ending a little bit, but I still liked it. I look forward to reading the first book now that I know this isn't it, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a good book. | 34 stars
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Outstanding - honest and literate
My daughter gave this book to me for Christmas. It is perhaps the most memorable gift I have ever received. You see, I grew up on an island in the San Juans (Vashon) during the period covered by this book. We had neighbors, wonderful hardworking neighbors, whose misfortune it was to be of Japanese descent. They were prosperous farmers who lost virtually everything during this odious chapter in our history.Not only only is the picture painted of life on the islands at that time accurate but the story is told with consumate skill and sensitivity. You would have had to be there to understand and, perhaps fully appreciate, what the author has to say. | 45 stars
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Zuckerkandl!
This item - an hilarious 'history' of the philosopher Zuckerkandle, his ideas and influence - for which I have long been searching, arrived promptly and in great shape.I'm delighted. | 45 stars
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My childfood in America
I haave been looking books of THE HAPPY HOLISTERS SERIES which I read while my family lived in San Francisco when my father was studying there. Now, having a daughter who can read in English, I want her to read them but I have only three. I also would like to know what happened to those kids. | 45 stars
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Grabber
The book grabbed you in right from the start. This is my first book from Higgins. It's a great story but his the change in people is twitchy. going from one to the other | 34 stars
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One of the best children's books ever written
This is one the best books i have ever read. You really have to read it twice though to understand it completely. I have read the book many more times than that though because the story is so brilliant. Its a little hard to describe it because you can't know its true meaning until you actually read it. I read it when i was in 6th grade and I still love it 3 years later. Adults even appreciate it; I've heard many adults also say its one of the best books I've ever read. If you like reading, you'll love this book. If you don't like to read, maybe this book will change your mind. Peace y'll! ;-) | 45 stars
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just read it
Till We Have Faces is definitely a book I would recommend reading. One of the reasons it captured me was because C.S. Lewis, who is a man, was able to portray the life of a woman so perfectly. In this novel, we are pulled through the thoughts and events of a woman who is raised to believe that she is ugly--ugly enough to hide her face behind a veil for nearly all of her life. Through everything she endures; her father being a deadbeat king, her youngest sister adored and worshipped as a godess by many, and her own ugliness, she finds strength through her love for the people around her. She is a heroine. She is smart, she is powerful, and she can fight with a sword. She takes over her father's kingdom and makes it ten times better than he could have made it. If she had been gorgeous, we would find ourselves drowning in yet another boring novel where the beautiful maiden is swept into la-la land by a handsome god. Of course she is not perfect. It is her love that drives her to make a decision that will send her sister, who she has raised like her own child, on a painful journey. But she is sent on a journey of her own. She must find what truly lies beneath her veil and overcome the painful belief that she is the horrible person she makes herself out to be.I think this novel is making a comment on faith, as well as showing how beauty is found within, not without. If you look into the story carefully, you can find subtle hints of C.S. Lewis's view on faith and Christianity through the characters of the Fox who is always questioning the gods, and the the house of Ungit, which is wrapped up in mystery and "holiness" to the people around it.Another thing that is remarkable about this story is that it has unexpected turns. C.S. Lewis has taken an ordinary myth and transformed it into a fascinating story. You will be absorbed by the emotions that it brings out in you. | 45 stars
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Toward a Christian Theology of Religious Pluralism
In this book the author approaches the Christian Catholic Theology about salvation based on biblical passages and recent documents of the Catholic Church. The author works on the edge of a daring Catholic theology about the universality of salvation. His ideas does not represent the official teaching of the Catholic Church but the book has been authorized after a long debate with the Vatican Congregation of Faith and Doctrine. The reader must be aware that this is not a book to read and keep his or her own standing point. José Contreras Landeros. | 45 stars
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Bradley P. Dean
This is a wonderfully written and carefully documented history, one that will remain definitive for a very long time to come. I have spoken with dozens of readers who have all told me they enjoyed the book a great deal and learned a lot from it. Not a single person I have spoken with has expressed a single reservation about this book. | 45 stars
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The edge of my seat!
Marge Piercy has written a great novel. The book is about a woman named Connie. She is a minority leaving in America and she faced a lot of hardship growing up. The world she lives in now does not respect and hardly ever notices her. She has a niece, who is a prostitute, by the name of Dolly. Dolly gets Connie involved with her pimp and a fight breaks out. The pimp sends Connie to a mental hospital against her will. This is where the story gets interesting. Connie may or may not actually be crazy. She believes that someone named Luciente, is traveling from the future to speak to her. The story goes about with Connie and Luciente exploring each other worlds. Connie can barely fathom all the simplistic ways of the so-called future. The book ends with a difficult decision that Connie has to make and live with for the rest of her life. This book is a very good read. It does start off to slow but once you get to the more meatier part, you want be able to put the book down. | 34 stars
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Finally--A Book on Teens that's Realistic!
I had the opportunity to meet with the author in person and meet a few of her children. It is obvious that her "exchange" ideas work! My husband and I have already started to implement the ideas of the author with my own children, both under two. I also believe that teachers would benefit using these ideas, as I have with my sixth grade students. | 45 stars
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Being a younger fan it gave a well rounded view of life...
This book is one of the greatest books i have ever read and will remain one of my favorites for as long as I live because it depicted the life and times of a wanderer... John Jensen | 45 stars
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not for children who were adopted (Please!)
we used this book faithfully during the first year+ for our 4 month old adopted son. (also toddler wise and child wise) He is now almost four and we are having serious attachment issues. I know there are many good areas of this book, specifically keeping kids on a schedule, but please read and use attachment books and therapy with your adopted children (exclusively or in addition to this book). Believe me, you don't want to experience what we are going through right now. | 12 stars
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The only book you will ever need to gain the respect of men
Ever finding yourself been to nice to your men, givin to much and receiving nothing or too little in return?? well then this is the book for you. I'm finish the book right now, and let me tell you, it changes the wrong view I have about men and Relationhip in a positive way. the autor show how to change the perspective you have on how you act with men, she show you how to stop been TOO NICE, and became an new and improve strong woman who stands up for herself. I was one of this nice girls, and believe me all that nice Behavior only let me empty and always disapointment. Now that I put in practic many of the suggestions and tips of this book, I can see a real change in my partner for good. he not longer takes me "for granted". and I'm in my way to chance his perception and becoming his Lover not his mother.I highly recommend this book as a MUST READ to all women outhere who find themselfs in this situacion: feeling like they are too nice. | 45 stars
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Ransom
-This will be my secound book of Lois Duncan that I have read. i really like her work. This book, Ransom, could happen anywhere! Thats why I like it so much. It is so true. The people in the book sound like some people I really know. The way the kids are kidnapped is so real that I wouldn't be surprized if it has happened somewhere before. These 5 kids were vey brave. I don't know if I could do the same thing that they did or for that matter HAD to do. I would reconmend this to almost anyone I know. | 34 stars
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Now you see it...
I read as well as listened to the audio version of this story during free moments over the course of a few days--both versions were enjoyable. The audio version might just be the "thing" for a struggling reader to listen to as they follow along with the text, or just to enjoy outright. The book is an accessible mystery for younger teens with relatively few words that are likely to be unfamiliar (a few Italian words and names which are easily sorted out).Set in medieval times,this is a well-told mystery about a missing prince involving slight-of-hand type magic, subterfuge, conspiracy and court politics. The use of this slight-of-hand type magic makes it a good read for students who aren't allowed to read books with supernatural magic in them for whatever reason. However, the use of magic really is what propels the story and is critical to the overall telling. A nice counterbalance to the use of magic in the storyline is the insistence of Mangus, the magician, "that there is no such thing as magic" and that the use of logic and reason is paramount when one is faced with or is trying to solve a mystery.Initially, I was confusing this book with another similar title by Avi. As it turns out, both books have many of the same characters and is just a different story in the lives of these characters. I enjoyed this story well enough that I will be reading the other (Murder at Midnight) soon. In skimming Murder at Midnight, it actually appears to be set before this book Midnight Magic and explains how Fabrizio came to live and work for the magician Mangus. | 34 stars
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This book was really good and really funny
This book was really good. I have never heard of the author, or seen any of the original trek episodes with Knah(did i spell that right?) and gary 7, but it was really good. I liked how he intervove real history with trek stuff, and made it all funny. I highly recomend it to any one who likes start trek, esspecialy history buffs. | 45 stars
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Great read
Emily Bronte is one of those authors who has an extreme grip on the English language, and I just loved having this on my Kindle to read at my leisure. This was a great buy for the price, and the fact is that Bronte is always good to read. | 45 stars
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An excellent piece of scholarship; so-so as a cookbook
David Gitlitz and Linda Kay Davidson have successfully compiled numerous recipes from the medieval timeperiod. As a vegetarian, this book was of little use to me in the kitchen (three-quarters of the recipes are meat based) but if I did eat meat, some of the stews would probably be delicious and easily adapted to a crockpot! The real strength of this book comes from the meticulous scholarship of the authors who give a fascinating glimpse into the lives of conversos (Jews living as Christians for survival). In many of the stories (and a little vignette accompanies each recipe), jealous neighbors or suspicious gentile servants reveal the outcomes of their spying on their neighbors (my favorite being the servant who noted that her mistress must definitely be a Jew since she uncomplainingly leapt into bed with her husband on Friday night in contrast to all the other days of the week!). Gitlitz and Davidson pain an excellent picture of medieval life in close quarters and successfully transmit the constant stress and tension in the lives of these individuals trying to straddle two worlds. | 34 stars
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confusing & disappointing
This review should be read with the following caveat: I did not know that this was part of a series. Consequently, much of the confusion that I experienced would not be experienced by a dedicated fan of the series. That being said, there is still much that is confusing about this book. The author has us linger for chapter after chapter in particular spots for no apparent reason, as there is no significant plot or character development that occurs. Ms. Dunnett often seems to be swept away in her characterization of renaissance Europe & pre-colonization Africa, so much so that she loses herself (and her reader) in description of places and events that turn out to have little (if any) relation to the underlying story. More disappointing, however, is the ending. This book is at its heart about individuals looking for peace from their pasts and from the ghosts that they carry with them. The ending could easily be a commentary on how each have the personal power to free ourselves from our pasts, and that only we as individuals have that power. Instead however, the ending turns the story into nothing more than a tale of bitterness and rivalry, with potentially great people giving into pettiness and hate. | 01 star
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If rice farming is your thing...
This had some decent information, but it was mostly about rice farming. And while that's neat, I didn't feel that my life was missing a book about rice farming. It would taunt you with the occasional bone of interesting info and then snatch it away cruelly and laugh in your face.Seriously, this book has useful bits of information, but there are better books out there.Everyday Things in Premodern Japan: The Hidden Legacy of Material CultureI don't think that I would recommend this book, but I don't feel that my time was wasted in reading it. | 23 stars
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Okonwos Story
I really didnt understand the book. But the only thing I understand was when Okonkwo killed his son and another part I understood was when okonkwo killed himself at the end of thr story... | 01 star
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Tasty and Fun
A very enjoyable, original and informative book. Mixing tasty and fun foods with financial and educational information is easy to digest! I commend the author for her inventive concepts and the skillful manner of presenting food and finances for a healthy, happy and secure future. The financial education is a definite "need-to-know" and the recipes are scrumptious. The author's personal experiences and knowledge of food and finances offer the rewards we should all seek. It's a loving and fun book to read. Don't miss it! | 45 stars
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Most painful literary experience of my life
First off, I don't mean to contradict any of the positive reviews here. This is an important and historic novel and there is nothing wrong with liking it. I am only reviewing it to warn people who don't know what they're getting themselves into. I happened to have to read it for a class on the early novel in college (had to read the abridged version (700+ pages) in a week) and it was more painful than a root canal.I had no problem with most other novels from this time, but few of them were of comparable length, or if they were they concerned themselves with action (when I say "action" I mean "somebody doing something," not in the sense of today's action movies, though that kind of action does come up in early novels as well). The point of this book was to be a moral to girls teaching them the proper way to act. And in this era the proper thing for women to do was, apparently, nothing. No matter how much they were wronged, she could not act out against those wronging her in any way other than by writing letters, complaining. Escaping the situation only makes matters worse. So, in the accutely painful epistolary form, our heroine does nothing, then later she does nothing, and finally, she does nothing.So this may not be the best place to begin if you are trying to determine whether you love classic English literature. I would recommend Austin, Fielding, Defoe, Wollstonecraft, or even the romantics.I read this book in my last semester in college, and largely because of it, didn't pick up another book for a year after graduating. | 01 star
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Best book I have ever read
This is the best book i have ever read. The ultimat best characters. An unraveling plot. Unending suspence. The constant battle between good and evil. Dwarfs, Hobbits, Goblins, Eagles, Ravens, Trolls, and wizards make up the wide variety of characters in The Hobbit. Magic, strategy, witts, and will are all forces in the outcome of an infinatly long and strenuous adventure. This is a MUST read. Buy it, borrow it, just get it. It is in fact one of the greatest books. | 45 stars
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Wonderful book
This book continues on where the first one left off. More characters are introduced as they become key players in the game of thrones. It is hard to discuss it without giving too much away. In the first book there is only one king, in this book there are 4 kings: Joffrey, both of Robert Baratheon's brothers and Rob Stark. The Starks would like to avenge the death of Ned Stark while Baratheon's brothers are trying to take the throne away from Joffrey. Danaerys is on the other side of the world trying to get prepared to take the throne back when the time is right. This book is a little more exciting than the first. There is fighting and large battles taking place everywhere. And of course key players also die in this book so don't get attached! | 45 stars
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beautiful edition
The Hobbit was the first real novel I read. I was fortunate enough to be given the golden 50th anniversary edition when I was a child. I love this book. With the upcoming movie release, I thought I'd read it again, but found my gold version's pages falling out and didn't want to damage it further.When I saw this little leatherette-bound edition, I was in love. It's so easy to hold and read. The cover feels nice and soft in your hands. And, honestly, it's just a beautiful little book.If I could improve it at all, I'd add a bookmark, but that's such a little thing to worry about. | 45 stars
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Fun with religious allegory
I seriously think everyone should read this book, simply to be amused by looking for sinister religious messages in its plot, which consists of a protagonist triangle (notably NOT a square, pentagon, or circle) who wishes to experience life from the point of view of a shape with more sides, so he visits a "Shape-Shifter" (i.e. Satan/Eve) who transforms the triangle into a series of polygons with increasing numbers of sides.Now, at this point, I expected the protagonist to become a hexagon and go straight to hell, but (after a conspicuous absence of his pentagonal stage) instead he becomes so "greedy" (glutonous, thirsty for knowledge and experiences of the flesh) that he obtains a number of sides so great that he is rendered almost circular. Soon, however, he realizes the error of his circular ways (a.k.a. experimient in cyclic theories in spirituality/the feminine/transportational technology), returns to the Shape-Shifter, and sheds all but his three holiest sides and angles. | 45 stars
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Exploration of Africa in the late 18th and early 19th century
It may be surprising to some (it was certainly surprising to me) that less was known about the interior of Africa at the turn of the 18th century than was known about the New World or the South Pacific. The coast around Africa had been heavily explored (and exploited) by Europeans, but virtually nothing was known about the interior. This book details the attempts by individuals and small groups to penetrate, map, and detail truth from reality about the interior of Africa during the late 18th and early 18th century. Various scholars, adventure seekers, and glory hunters tried to cross the Sahara and penetrate northern Africa to find the legendary city of Timbuktu, the source of the Niger, and new possibilities for trade to bypass the Moorish middlemen. Some tried by starting in Egypt and heading west, others by starting in (or around) Gambia and trekking east. Virtually all of them died in the attempt.There is a lot to like in this book. It uncovers a fascinating and totally unknown (to me at least, probably to many others) era of history. While Bonaparte was stomping around Europe, a small group of scholars was actively engaged in trying to learn more about their world, in spite of the upheaval in Europe. Joseph Banks and some of his wealthy comrades in England would regularly commission various individuals and groups to attempt to penetrate Africa to find Timbuktu and the source of the Niger. The goals were nominally scientific - to ascertain the position of various landmarks, rumored cities, etc., but as the expeditions failed and the situation in Europe changed, the goals evolved to become more economic and geo-political. Roughly 40% of this book is effectively a travelogue in which the exploits of the various explorers is recounted. In some cases the journals of these explorers has survived and Sattin has reconstructed the tales of their adventures. It would have taken some big cojones to attempt what some of these brave (foolish?) men did.There are several reasons why I only give this work four stars. First, roughly 60% of the book covers the political machinations of Joseph Banks and his cronies. This is important to the story, but I wanted to read more about Africa, not about wealthy Londoners. Too much time is spent in London. I wanted to learn more about the explorers, the people and wildlife and terrain in Africa, etc. and less about Banks and crew. Second, this isn't the kind of book most people are going to need to add to their collection. It is now out of print as I write this review (26JUL09), but I wouldn't spend my money again to buy it. Definitely readable, but as a relatively expensive hardback, not really collectible. I won't be returning to it again and again. Third, the ending is really disappointing. Someone finally makes it across the country, and that's it. There were lots of loose threads that could really have been tied up together, and the narrative could have been taken a bit further. It was almost as if Sattin just got tired of writing and ended the story at a convenient point.Bottom line is that this is a good read for anyone interested in Africa and the age of exploration, but not a uniquely outstanding book. | 34 stars
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Mystery, history and imagination
Phil Benson lives with his Grandfather in Deptford in London, England. They live in an old house near a noisy railway viaduct, but the noise does not annoy Phil or his grandfather. Their family have, in fact, been railway workers since the time railways were invented. Phil's brilliant ancestor, Ebenezer Benson, was a pioneer railway engineer but mystery surrounds the final years of his life. If Phil can he plans to discover Ebenezer's secrets. With his friend, Andy Smith, he sets out to do exactly that. This search takes the friends again and again back to the railway viaduct.This book is well written and would suit readers of 12 years and up. The plot has a number of surprise twists that introduce new characters and keeps the interest up until the very last chapter. The story, in an enjoyable way, encourages the reader to take an interest in history, especially family history. It also shows how the imagination can inspire people to make real discoveries. While it was written way back in 1967 the story has not dated at all and in fact is quite politically correct on issues such as feminisms. I would certainly recommend this book to any young reader. | 45 stars
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This book was so bad it steered me away from anything else he has written...
I read this book a few years ago and am just now getting to a review of it, so forgive me if I don't have all the "details". When The Da Vinci Code hype was in full boil a couple of years ago I decided to read this novel to see what I thought about Dan Brown as a writer, without all of the conspiratorial "baggage" that would come with reading The Da Vinci Code. I thought it would be a fairer way to experience Dan Brown's writing "Style".And wow does he stink!!!!!!!!!!The characters were boring, the dialogue was forced and inane and he had the incredibly annoying "stylistic" habit of writing a sentence of dialogue in Spanish or German and then repeating again in English. Yeah this is cool when it is a word or phrase that has some emotional depth or actually moves the "plot" along! He used this "device" when someone had to use the bathroom or ordered a beer! And Dan Brown uses this "device" WAY too much, sort of like I have been using "quotation marks" WAY too much in this review. My quotation marks have gotten old and pointless haven't they? Get my point??NOW...I am not a book snob! I love many many types of books! I love GOOD thrillers and I love classic literature. I enjoy biographies and so on and so on. The only thing I look for is if the writing is doing what it was trying to do, and if it was doing it well. Based on that criteria..Dan Brown fails with this "book". | 01 star
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a sassicaia 85 type of a book, complex ,sensual,has breed.
This is the third book of the author I have read.I run into the Italian Education accidentally,while perusing through the travel section in a bookstore. Later I have read the Italian Neighbours. I recommend these books higly especially for those who are interested in Italian society and who thought that Francis Mayes' Under the Tuscan Sun was a tasteless joke. This last book by Parks which comprises of a set of essays strengthened my conviction that,when it comes to making observations and passing judgments on contemporary institutions and social norms he is as insightful and original as anybody, perhaps he is a modern day Tocqueville. These seemingly disparate essays are held together by some common themes:limits of rationality in guiding behavior,arbitrary nature of language,critique of the historical unlearning process which is underway,etc. What is particularly noteworhy in the author's reasoning is that he can start out with a convention or an assumption that reasonable minds will agree(such as "being charitable is a good thing"),then he debunks the widely held conventions by attacking their inner contradictions before(sometimes)reaching a moral conclusion. Fortunately he does this without a dash of pedanticism and with irony and sincere self-examination. The book also becomes a lot of fun to read under the Campania sun when Parks delivers a beautifully crafted personal attack against a literary"giant" and you understand that the man must have been a force to reckon with when he played football(Soccer)in his youth. | 45 stars
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Good? You bet. Great? Not sure ...
I found the politics of this novel interesting enough to disregard the dated scientific references. Seldon and his science was fascinating to behold, and the plot was masterful. What concerned me was (dare I say it?) the fairly amateurish use of dialogue tags and the fact that each character seemed pretty much to speak with the same voice. Asimov wrote this as one of those authors who are at pains not to repeat 'he said'. So it must be a new tag each time, no matter how ridiculous, often paired with an adverb that makes you cringe: ('spluttered angrily', 'cried sternly', 'mumbled grumpily', so on.) Sad this very basic trick of writing lets down passages of vivid description and intriguing plot.Also, some things seemed implausible to me, such as: how was the foundation, which exported its technology across the galaxy, able to keep its technology secret?Nonetheless, this is a series every sci-fi fan has to read - its attributes outweigh its faults by a fair margin. | 34 stars
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Refreshing, sexy and fun.
I love that this book leaves something to your imagination. Underhill's photos are beautiful, and capture that wholesome look of the kind of guy we've all had crushes on - the all-American looking, sparkly-eyed, killer grin kind of guy who was probably the quarterback for the college football team. Love it! | 45 stars
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A Mid-life Crisis . . . OR . . . A Brave Struggle for Independence
A controversial book of its time "The Awakening" tells of one woman's liberating journey of self-awareness and awakening in 1890s New Orleans. The spiritual and emotional development of the protagonist, Edna Pontellier, progresses slowly but surely throughout the novel. Through her mentor, Mme. Reisz, she slowly awakens to her emotional fulfillment of her spiritual being.Chopin uses illustrious and descriptive language to paint a portrait of a woman undergoing a metamorphosis. No longer will Edna think of herself as a mere possession (as was the Louisiana law at the time), but as an individual - a strong, independent individual. Although there is little action, the spiritual and psychological transformations are relayed in a thoughtful, articulate manner.It is understandable that this book was controversial in its time. Indeed, some aspects of it would still be controversial by today's standards. On the surface, this is a book about a married woman suffering a mid-life crisis, who abandons her husband and young children to pursue a life as an artist, partaking of the pleasures of adulterous affairs. Even today, few people would recommend that lifestyle choice. However, in context with the times, this is a powerful book about one woman's struggles to overthrow the shackles that bound her to her family. Apparently, this is a bond that she would not have chosen herself, but was pressured into by the constraints of Victorian society. Perhaps Edna is not after a solitary life without her family, but is pursuing a life of free will and free choice, one in which she has the ultimate authority.Undoubtedly, Edna suffers as the result of her choices. For isolation and solitude are more prevalent than love and acceptance. Although her adulterous relationships may provide a temporary pleasure, they ultimately leave her empty and hallow. Her unrealistic expectations of romance go unfulfilled. The symbolism of the birds throughout the novel provides a chilling foreshadowing of Edna's eventual tragic ending. Indeed, she cannot escape the cage of Victorian mores.Although I am certainly not the target audience for this book, I found it an interesting read. It is a well-written book and uses rich, descriptive language. Although some readers may disagree with the motives and actions of the protagonist, no one can fault Chopin's powerful message and masterful use of the English language. | 34 stars
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A slow read
The language in this novel is wonderful, however, it is a slow story. I found the story similiar to Birdsong but not as good. I don't think this is a novel I would recommend. | 23 stars
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Dreamer's Dictionary
I love this book. I love having it available to took up dreams and try and determine what they may mean! I have found this book to be very helpful! Thank you! | 45 stars
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Not C. Moore's best book but funny
A pretty entertaining read, but not his best work. Even though it's not Moore's best work, I'd still recommend it and it's better than 98% of books out there. | 34 stars
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Love it
You can't go wrong with The Phantom of the Opera! Wonderful story and book. If you haven't read this book, you need to. | 45 stars
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The power of imagery personified
Fledgling authors would do well to sit down with some Marquez...and this book would be a good start. The imagery put forth in this book brought sighs of amazement from my soul and tears to my eyes. "Love in the Time of Cholera" cements his reputation as a master of poetic fiction | 45 stars
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LOVE this book
I'm not even finished with it yet, about 50 more pages to go, I just thought I would see what other people thought of it while I was surfing the web.First, thank you Dean Koontz, for the short chapters. I love it. Quick, easy reading.I must admit that when I was reading the back cover at the store I thought it was going to be another serial killer book, set in New Orleans, with probably some supernatural connection, given the author. Boy was I ever wrong and boy was I pleasantly surprised. A little ways into the story I was like, 'What!???!! Dr. Frankenstein and the monster STILL ALIVE!?!?" What a cool concept! The story rolls along and keeps me wanting to read just one-more-chapter before putting it down. I love the characters - especially the sarcastic combativness between the two main detectives.I wish I could see this as a movie, as it was intended. It plays like a movie in my mind as I'm reading.If you like a break from reality, like I do from time to time, then this book will give it to you! Can't wait to start Book 2. | 45 stars
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Atypical Wilde
This book begins as a very light and humorous vignette that slowly evolves into the dangers of depending upon one's "perfect exterior". I have appreciated Oscar for 40 years and I only read this gem four months ago! It is truly one of my "classics". | 45 stars
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Great Bio of POW Experience
I read this book because I saw the movie by the same title with Claudette Coberette (spelling?) from 1950. It was a great movie that made me want to find out more about Agnes N. Keith and her family. Upon researching her, I found out she had written several books before her war experience and several books after the war.Agnes was on the island of Borneo with her husband, Harry, and toddler, George. Harry Keith was there as part of the English government's efforts. The Keiths knew the war was breaking out, but chose to stay in spite of the dangers. Agnes chose to stay with her husband. In the book she said she never regretted her choice to stay, but did wonder later on if George should have been sent out to stay with relatives.The Japanese took control of the island when WWII started. All English and Americans were rounded up and placed in prisoner of war camps. The men and the women were separated. Agnes and Harry did occasionally catch glimpses and stolen moments, but for the most part they were kept totally separated during the years.The book details the daily life of a prisoner. A lot of the book describes the harsh conditions, the lack of food and hygiene. There were a lot of children in the camp. The mothers banded together to take the best care of the children they possibly could. A group of nuns was also in the camp and helped with the children.What I found most interesting in the book was the amount of underhanded trading, bartering and smuggling which went on in the camp. The prisoners put themselves in great danger to get extra food, clothes, to send mail in and out and to meet with their spouses. They were afraid, but apparently not totally afraid. The book also details their other daily efforts to keep body and soul together. They kept gardens, picked wild berries and weeds, kept chickens under their bunk houses and other very original ways to make things better.The Japanese took a greater interest in Agnes than in her fellow prisoners because of her fame as a writer. They tried to get her to write progoganda for them. They also were concerned she was doing her own hidden writing. Agnes put herself in great danger to write a continuing journal and keep it hidden. Her effects were searched more often because of her writing.This book will be of interest to anybody who is a history or biography buff. She tells some details of the war effort. But most of the book is her own personal story.Some of the other reviews touched on the fact that her attitudes reflect the common attitudes of the 1940s and 1950s. If bigotry and racial prejudice are a big issue with you, you may not like this book at all. For the times, Agnes thinks of herself as very liberal and open minded. In a time when there was a great deal of stereotyping, she is trying to be a great human. However, when cast in our time period, she comes off as having a great deal of prejudice. She talks about race A LOT. And she says things which are very condescending and narrow minded. When she see little Black children who are adopted by White missionaries she says something like, it's clear they and their forefathers are not used to using their mental capacities and it's clear they will never be able to keep up with the other children. At the time, she was probably criticized for having Chinese, Philapino and Black friends. But now it all sounds very antiquated. Which is not bad, it makes us realize how far we have come in our attitudes.Aside from the racial things, her writing is very descriptive and flowery. She gets deep and philosophical about very odd everyday things and goes on and on like she is writing an essay for junior high. That said, she is an interesting writer able to make what was no doubt a drab ugly existence very interesting.Agnes Newton Keith also wrote a followup book "The White Man Returns" which details the Keiths life after the war when they returned to the same island. That book doesn't have as much interesting drama, but it is still a good read. | 34 stars
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A classic read
Pearl S. Buck is one of my favorite authors. And since I absolutely love well written books, I virtually devoured THE GOOD EARTH. I read this classic book when I was fourteen and have re-read six times since then. The character development was great and the story kept my interest until the last page. The pacing of the story was expertly done, and the writing style was just marvelous. With a rich plot and fantastic setting, the author successfully captured the remarkable element of human relationships, tapping into the varying human emotions that made the story so real.The more you reread the book the more your perception deepens, and the more you get to enjoy it. The setting enabled me to learn a great deal about China, the Chinese people and their traditions and customs and finally the lot that we all share as humans with cardinal virtues. That human touch is best portrayed by Wang Lung and O-lan his wife, the heroes of the book who defy the negative aspects of life and survive from the sweat of their brow and the produce of the good earth. It brought to mind Disciples of Fortune, another book that touched on human endurance and the rewards that come with retaining ones love of humanity. | 45 stars
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A Clunky Bore.
Realized within a few chapters that this was a mess but struggled to finish it. My mistake and my waste of time. Real scares require real people and these characters unquestioningly dove into the nonsense as if they were just plot devices. The B movie comparisons are somewhat apt but too kind. This is lazy and inept storytelling. I picked this up because some of the later Little books that had stronger recommendations weren't immediately available. I think I'm done though, since I find it hard to believe that writing this weak could really get that much stronger. | 01 star
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Good book
I had to purchase this for a class, and I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would. It's a great classic. | 45 stars
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The Red Badge of Courage
It was exactly what I needed for my students. The price and quality were right for a classroom edition. | 34 stars
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Excellent book!
This is a very well written book which explores human social relationships with each other and with other cultures in depth. It begins a little slowly, having to establish the complex world within which everything takes place. This is not a simple book and not for kids. If you are young, read Ender's Game, not this. This book has nothing to do with Ender's Game except that the author felt he could make it a stronger book by using Ender. However, that does not make it a bad book. It is to be understood at a different level than Ender's Game was.... a higher level. Enjoy it if you can, but this book is not right for everyone. | 45 stars
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Riveting Indeed
Giorgio di Santillana was Professor of History and Philosophy of Science at M.I.T. (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) when this book was written in December 1953.This is an in-depth, scholarly study. Something of a master artist with words, Di Santillana brings his characters vividly to life, and follows the machinations of Galileo's enemies with the keen instinct of a political scientist. His view is that "both the authorities and the scientist had the mutual impression of being ambushed, and in neither case was it true. The ambush, in so far as there was one, had been carefully laid by third parties, who carefully exploited the critical situation of the times."In the previous half-century, following the Reformation, the Catholic church had set up the Roman inquisition and the Index of banned books to prevent "innovators" from putting forward new interpretations of scripture, as the Protestant reformers had done. Against this background, Galileo asserted that certain biblical passages, including those apparently denying that the earth moved, should be understood "figuratively".There are about 220 footnotes, some lengthy and extended, and containing fascinating and little-known material. The narrative also uses many direct quotations, so that these 17th-century figures - articulate, expansive, often extremely considered and thoughtful - speak to us in their own words. Only 3 pages are given to the first 46 years of Galileo's life, so that effectively the book starts in 1610, when Galileo's telescopic discoveries had suddenly brought him to public prominence. One of the 16 chapters is devoted to Roberto Bellarmine, the cardinal who in 1616 laid on Galileo the "command" not to hold or defend the heliocentric theory. Chapters IX and X recount how in 1630, as Galileo sought a licence to print his "Dialogue", something abruptly changed behind the scenes: Urban VIII, who over many years had shown him signs of unmistakable warmth and friendship, became persuaded that Galileo had actually deceived him and possibly even mocked him in the "Dialogue". The author clearly has some sympathy with this pope, who was distracted with the 30 years war: "...troubles piled up for him... such as would have given a lesser man a nervous breakdown..."Alongside this book, I read other accounts of Galileo's life by Ronan, Reston, Fr. Brodrick, and Shea and Artigas. They tell the same story, and I found nothing that I could call bias in any of them, yet even within this small group we see some very different opinions on the cast of characters, It is probably a good thing to read several accounts. "The Crime of Galileo" is a superior book, and a good place to start. | 45 stars
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uncle tom's cabin
a great re read for me. this should be required reading for everyone. a great insight to an institution (slavery) that should be abhored by everyone. uncle tom in my estimation is a real hero. | 45 stars
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A staind white radiance
The book was as described. It was a library book from Orange County. It has usual wear and tear. I got it quickly. | 23 stars
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problem solving problems solved
This book encourages lots of hands-on and use of manipulatives. It is a very good beginner's guide to making lists and tables, as well as drawing and repeating patterns. Although there are group-specific lessons, these can be modified to present to the child completing the sessions alone.Designed for gifted children in grades 2 through 4, this book provides great lessons to supplement math programs.As with other Dandy Lion publications, portions of the book may reproduced in limited quantities. This is a wise consideration for the budget-minded when making a purchase. | 34 stars
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Great Teaching Book
This is the book my children's Tae Kwon Do Master chose to use with his leadership group of students. It is extremely inspirational and loaded with information to guide one towards success in life. Although the book was purchased as "used," it looks fantastic. It's in such beautiful shape that one would never know it wasn't new. I am pleased. | 45 stars
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wonderful book for moms
This is a wonderful gift for a new mom or a mom with 5 children. The authors' very personal stories will make you feel that you have someone that understands exactly what you are going through. I enjoyed this book so much and will recommend it to all my friends. | 45 stars
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Awesome Book
I read Shanks for Nothing and never stopped laughing. It is a hilarious book and Rick Reilly is one of my favorite authors. I would recommend this book to any golf fan. | 45 stars
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sucky book
this book sucks no one should ever read i hated it so bad that i want to throw it away never ever read it | 01 star
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Excellent read for bibliophiles who love analyzing prose almost as much as reading it
Although it wasn't, itself, a page-turner, this book provided many interesting new lenses with which to view our own experiences as literary consumers. Her observations and insights were thought-provoking, and I imagine that my next casual read will now be a bit more in tune with literary techniques employed by the authors. I hope this analysis doesn't sour any future reading experiences by adding an extra critical voice in my head, alerting me to particular tactics employed for specific narrative objectives... Reading as a critic, for me, is far less enjoyable than reading for sheer pleasure--Ignorance can, in fact, often be bliss! | 23 stars
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A masterpiece
This novel by James Cooper turned out surprisingly well. There are only two downfalls to this novel. The first is that I watched the movie. I kept expecting what happened in the movie to happen in the novel. I have to tell you, the book is much different from the movie, and the book is better. The only other negative is that I was raised and taught English in the 1990's and had some difficulty reading Cooper's style of writing. However, the imagery and detail Cooper uses far out weigh the difficulties in understanding his style. Being written in English, I could understand everything he wrote, it just took me longer to read.As I alluded to, Cooper did a tremendous job of painting a picture in mind. I want to visit the Northeastern United States after reading about its beauty. I immediately noticed the attention he paid to detail compared to more modern authors I have read. Additionally, I feel Cooper portrayed Native Americans in positive light uncommon to his era. Rather than berating Native Americans in ignorance, he explained there ways of thinking and ceremonies. More importantly, he showed that every race has common values. Foremost of these is love. The love shared by the chief for his son, the white scout with his Indian friend, the Indian for Cora, all demonstrate that love can touch everyone. The last pages of this novel had more emotion than any I can recall.I enjoyed reading this novel, and encourage all those who liked the movie or are looking for a good novel to read The Last of the Mohicans. | 34 stars
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Overrated Book
Every book meant for academics that is ever published in the world should have examples that depict clearly ideas presented in the book. Learning by examples is a tried and tested method over the centuries and should not be shun under any circumstances. The entire book, in an attempt to be "Concise", is written in a factual way as if the reader is supposed to know everything off hand. If a book is meant for college learning, it has to reach out to its readers, students and not researchers who have been designing microwave filters for the past 20-25 years.The most annoying part is the constant shuttling that a reader has to do to understand something which is anyways at the end of the day, nebulous!In totality, the book looks like a bunch of research papers put together, fit for an international conference on microwaves, not for the reader who wishes to learn something.Learn something from Pozar's Microwave Engineering. With a little effort, the book could've been the best ever book written on Microwaves but Alas! There's no point in complicating things to look sophisticated. True sophistication lies in simplifying complex things, not otherwise. | 01 star
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very disappointed
I honesty can say this book was disappointed because i love ms.feehan books | 23 stars
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Deitel books are superior learning tools
I had to write a complex script in Unix dealing with process handling. I started to use Unix C Shell, but found that I needed more control. A co-worker recommended Perl, so I went straight to Borders (reviewed it on Amazon first). There were many Perl books and I already had the O'Reilly series on CD. But as is consistent with the Deitel style, they produced a masterful book broken down in discrete sections and provided concrete examples from which to learn. With Deitel as my primary source, the O'Reilly CD as a reference,(...) I wrote a complex 350 line multithreaded application in 7 days. There were things I had to tune, but the it worked on day 7. Without the Deitel book, I would still be trying to write code. I also have the Deitel Java book and had the same great experience with it. If you are just learning or need a solid reference, get this book. If you are like me and have a large library of technical references, all of the Deitel series will be superior additions. I will be getting the Deitel C++ book soon. And to top it off, when I showed my co-workers the Perl book, they were so impressed that they are going out to get their own copy within the next few days. | 45 stars
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My First and Only Book Review
An eloquent presentation of profound concepts that resonate mightily within me. Things I have known (possibly always) but keep forgetting to remember. This can be a very helpful book. | 45 stars
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Get Ready For Some Good Ol' Psychopathic Fun
Dexter Morgan has always been different, and not in the "anti-social high school outcast" kind of way, either. No, Dexter's kind of "different" is, unfortunately, more of the "hears voices that tell him to kill" variety. That's right. Dexter Morgan is a serial killer, a man incapable of feeling emotion like a real human being and driven to murder by "the Dark Passenger," a mysterious presence that lives in his brain. Fortunately for the rest of us, he's much more interested in carving up child killers than helpless women. What drives him down this particular avenue--to target other killers, instead of the innocent--is thanks to his policeman foster father, Harry, who has taken a rather unconventional stance on the matter. Instead of the old "If you can't fix 'em, institutionalize 'em" approach, Harry has instead advised Dexter to aim his destructive energies at those who "deserve" it: a predatory priest who preys on children and a noxious nurse who intentionally overdoses her patients on morphine, just to name a few. With this advice in hand, Dexter prides himself not only on pretending to be "normal," (just your average, mild-mannered but charming blood spatter expert for the Miami police force), but also on his true, cold, calculating nature. But what happens when he starts making some very human mistakes? What Lindsay has wrought here is a great, fresh twist on the police procedural genre, with a wonderfully sardonic narrator with a wonderfully elegant way with words. Sadly, the ending is the weakest link in this otherwise unique, quirky novel. It comes rather abruptly and contains some revelations that, although very interesting to say the least, feel a tad bit forced. In this case, however, this shouldn't be seen as too much of a hindrance. Turns out there's several more adventures in store for Dexter, which certainly gives the author some room for improvement. For those mild-mannered readers who like the occasional romp on the ghastlier side of life (permitting that it's within comfortable distance of your armchair) get ready for some good ol' psychopathic fun. | 34 stars
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The book that started it all
I was 15 the first time I read this book. You know how the teachers are always giving you books to read and report on, "Of Mice and Men", "The Great Gadsby" and so on. I figured this was going to be one of those. Instead it started me reading and I haven't stopped. I am so excited to see it out again. | 45 stars
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A True Comedy of Manners and love
I love the option of being able to read Emma online and take notes on my Kindle Fire. The story is a classic Comedy of Manners novel about courtship and marriage for the wealthy Victorians. The only drawback to the online version is the Chapters are numbered differently - the print version just consecutively numbers all of the chapters but the online version starts Part II with new numbers. | 45 stars
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A journey in a time machine into the 18th Century
This book is a kind of time machine that puts you straight into the Eighteenth Century. Benjamin Franklin comes over as a fearless and open character, although he is at pains to present himself as a solid and successful businessman in the printing industry. He is very much a man of his time. He concerns himself with God and self-improvement, then after he marries he says how glad he is that he did not catch VD from 'certain low women' beforehand. This, certainly consciously, echoes St Paul's advice on why people should marry.Within the text are probably whole layers of meaning and allusions to contemporary events and news culture that are lost on twenty-first century readers. He is certainly working within religious and classical traditions of what an autobiography should be: a conversation with God, carried on in public? or moral examples and advice to the young.Sometimes he is having a laugh at the autobiographical and literary form itself. For example, it is a commmonplace of Eighteenth Century Literature that you-the writer-had no intention of publishing your book until you were prevailed upon by your friends or the public. Franklin opens the second section of his autobiography with a letter purportedly from a Quaker who says that a life of Franklin would be worth even more than 'all Plutarch's Lives put together.'This must have raised a laugh in his local club, his 'junto' as he calls it.However, within the same pages, Franklin describes, clearly with pride, how he swims from Chelsea to Blackfriars in London-which is quite a physical feat, it being two or three miles. He is also at some pains to place much of his financial success on hard work, simplicity and the avoidance of alcohol. These aspects of his life would bequite important for his Low Church readers.Interestingly-as negative examples- he reports that his London workmates routinely down six pints of strong ale a day, both at home and in the printing office. For his contemporaries, this was unusual from the point of view of the English printers being not just drunkards, but -for his audience- very old fashioned. English people in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuroes -including babies hence the phrases 'tiny tots' 'small beer' etc.- drank beer and ale as drinking street pump water was correctly suspected to cause disease.Here, through the implication that beer drinking is old fashioned and unhealthy, especially when compared to American coffee drinking, Franklin is presenting his American readers with the idea that-once again- the Colonies, rather than being a backwater, are more modern that their British counterparts in the Imperial Capital of London.At the heart of his political thinking seems to be the moral rather than political idea that with moral virtue-and thus God- on your side, you are unstoppable, and sees the United States' future greatness to lie in this.He takes pains to connect political greatness with the moral quality and education of individual citizens, laying particular emphasis on literacy, and reports with pride how he helped to establish the first lending library in the United States, in Philadelphia.As a moralist rather than a politician, his republican beliefs do not seem as universal as, say, those of revolutionaries like Robespierre or Tom Paine. For him, the American Republic seems to be uniquely American. At one point he is pleased to report, and say that it is an aspect of his success in life that he has dined with a king, and names him as the King of Denmark. Tom Paine would never have dined with a king, unless it were to poison him!Now the non-PC bit as bang go his green credentials. The 1726 Journal has Franklin helping to kill and eat dolphins while travelling by sea. He says they are good to eat, and regards them as fish rather than mammals. | 45 stars
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ALL THAT I EXPECTED
So glad that I read the previous reviews by others with regard to this, the earlier edition/printing, rather than the newer later edition because this is truly a Bible for me. The margins are large enough to write on in detail. . .the pages are not too thin and if you purchase a good set of marking pens (or pencils, whichever you prefer), they do not bleed through. The "How to Use" section is thorough enough to really help you out in an endeavor to STUDY FOR YOURSELF!! | 45 stars
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Wonderful, Useful
I really enjoyed the book (tape version). While the first halfalmost lost my interest, with the abstract discussion of possible problems, the second half more than made up for it. It has examples of how to put their methods into execution and was quite insightful. I have used their methods in several stressful situations and found that they turned the situation into a win-win. While some parts of the book were counter-intuitive (when you're angry, look at the child's side) they really do work. My only reservation is their belief that all parents have some parenting problems and they do not spend enough time discussing the many different healthy ways chilren can be raised.I highly recommend the book. | 45 stars
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SLOW, MEANINGLESS
I did not like this book at all. This is the frist (also last)book that I have read by Jude Deveraux. I found it slow and very shallow. What more can I say? Save your money. | 01 star
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The Little Prince
Yes--get THIS book and THIS copy while you can. This is the original translation by Katherine Woods which is the ONLY version to read.... I mean it--don't even bother reading the new translation by that 'guy'. If you can, grab a few copies...and give them away. This book is a treasure. ~DMM | 45 stars
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Interesting
I went into this book expecting greatness, that was all I had been hearing. But instead I encountered mediocrity. What I like most about the book is that it pulls you into another world. Being able to get inside such an isolated country, especially at such a volatile time, is a rare treat. We the reader get to experience Mao's Cultural Revolution through the eyes of two of its victims.But other than that I was frankly a little disappointed. There is some nice poetic imagery but the writing is nothing special. It is a translation of a French work, so I will concede that maybe some of the beauty of language was lost in the translation. And I don't want to spoil the book, but it seems the message of the entire story is one that exalts literature and the ideas that it contains. Now the ending of the story seems to completely contradict this solid message and leaves the reading confused and unsure as of how to continue.But it was still definitely a worthwhile read. Don't worry. It won't take too much time. | 23 stars
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Thought-Provoking and Well-Written
I have read several other books by Phillip Yancey including "The Jesus I Never Knew" "What's So Amazing About Grace?" and "Disappointment With God" Out of the ones I've read, I would have to say that "Disappointment With God" is my favorite. But this one, "Reaching for the Invisible God" is a very close second.One thing that I love about Yancey's writing is his honesty. He is very forth-right about his own doubts, questions, and struggles when it comes to faith. He doesn't claim to have all the answers. But he has a way of expressing himself that makes you think in a completely new way. I love that. I also like that he says that doubt is a key part of faith. In many Evangelical circles, doubt is considered the opposite of faith. But Yancey disagrees with that statement. He says that the true opposite of faith is indifference. I agree. So often as I read this book, I felt like Yancey was talking right to me. This book is written in a very conversational tone. It is not philosophical. Yancey has a way of taking complex subjects and breaking them down in a thought-provoking, yet easily understandable way.If you purchased this book seeking irrefutable evidence for the existence of God or a philosophic treatise, you will be disappointed. That is not Yancey's purpose for writing this book.There are so few Christian writers who are willing to wrestle with the types of issues Yancey discusses in this book. I like a lot of Christian authors are intimidated by questions like the ones Yancey raises in this book. It has been my experience that the Church does not know how to deal with people who struggle with doubt, especially long term. When I have tried expressing my doubts to people in the church (including elders and pastors) I generally get one of two responses: Either a blank stare or pat answers like "just pray and read your Bible more." This book avoids both of those. The questions are dealt with in a forthright manner. If you are expecting this book to be one of those "Give your life to Christ and you will be healthy, wealthy and happy" again, you will be disappointed.I can definitely understand why so many Christians are threatened by this book and by many of Yancey's other books. But I think this his books are generally written for a very specific group of Christians. Committed Christians who are struggling with doubt or have questions about God Himself and how to relate to Him. If that describes you, my suggestion would be to get a copy of this book and also a copy of Yancey's "Disappointment with God" Both are excellent. Yancey's writing is like a breath of fresh air. It has been my experience that when you express serious doubts, Evangelicalism tends to question whether you are truly a Christian. In the minds of most Christians a person who truly has faith in God will never question or doubt. That is not been my experience or Yancey's. I believe, and I think Yancey would agree, that doubt can actually strengthen rather than weaken it. In my opinion, this is one of Yancey's best works yet. I look forward to reading future work by this author. | 45 stars
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A MUST READ
This book was great, I read it in two days. I highly recommend it. | 45 stars
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Better than REA but still too simple
Sample tests too simple and gave a false sense of security, but had fewer typo errors than REA prep book which was worse. Both books need to be rewritten with more difficult sample tests that better reflect the actual 0061 test level compatible with test given in January 2008. | 12 stars
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I couldn't put it down
This is an excellent, riveting book. Hats off to Pete Goss for not only sailing in this horrific race, but also for writing so sensitively and evocatively about it. The story of Pete Goss puts the lie to the idea that there are no heroes anymore. I highly recommend this book. | 45 stars
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After the first 500 pages it really picks up!
The last 50 pages of Moby-Dick are undoubtably the most exciting 50 pages ever written. It's the 750 pages you have to read first that are the problem. Long chapters about rope, on why the whale is a fish not a mammal (huh?), repressed homoerotic imagery and the monomaniacal ravings of Ahab, blah, blah, blah. But, just when you're getting ready to give it up and read a book where something happens, you know, like Emma, they finally see the great white whale and all hell breaks loose | 34 stars
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super
Although it has been a long time since I read this, I remember it very well and it was great. I recommend this book to everyone I meet who reads on a regular basis. I love the writing - the character development - the way of thinking about things that you ultimately become a part of.This novel is a necessity - and for those of you who may be turned off by the time it takes to get through a book, this isn't very long at all and it's a speedy read thanks to the writing. | 45 stars
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This was a very good book!
I really liked this bood because it is really sad and plus Bill Wallace is my favorite author. I think that if you read more of his books he would turn out to be your favorite author too. All the books that he writes are about animals or include animals and that is why I like his books so much. In this book you really get attached to the little brother and when he gets diagnosed with leukemia you want to read on and see what happens. This I think was one of the best books that he wrote and I really enjoyed it I hope you do. | 45 stars
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A+ service and merch
product arrived quickly and in good condition. would definitely do business with this seller again. | 45 stars
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Sometimes helpful; sometimes confusing; sometimes misleading
I used this book during a 45 day camping trip that included Oregon. The content is usually helpful, but sometimes misleading. The infomration about Page Springs was truly helpful and led to a delightful time, including a trip up the Steen Mouintains. The information about Two Pan, on the other hand, was misleading. Actually, beside the summary of Campgound Ratings, there is very little information. What is misleading is the description as five-star quiet and five-star cleanliness/upkeep. The campground is right next to a large parking lot with horses, donkeys and lamas all about and many, many cars and people. It is anything but quiet. It also looks quite unused and unkempt; no one was there when we visited it. Suggesting that is the "jumping off spot for extended backpacking" does not give an accurate picture.In the front pages is a map of the campsites in Oregon and Washinton. The number then can be matched on another page with the name of the campground. That name can then be matched with a page number on yet another page! Not convenient or immediately obvious.By all means use this book; but use it with care and intelligence. | 23 stars
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A Powerful Message in Plain Language
When a company gets in trouble and the leadership is shown to the door, who does the board of directors look for as a replacement? A leader with a proven track record to EXECUTE. Larry Bossidy and Ram Charan lay out the building blocks for assembling an execution-focused organization in plain language, and supplement their approach with numerous anecdotes. Most, if not all, of their "how NOT to manage" anecdotes had me shaking my head -- because almost all of us can personally relate them to our own corporate experiences (for example, when the leader sacrifices future performance to make his quarterly numbers or a senior management team agrees that actions need to be taken without assigning concrete actions and accountability). This book is a quick and engaging read, and the book is definitely grounded more in real corporate experiences than in academic theories. The wisdom gained from those corporate experiences returns propriety to the often hollow expression "people are our most important asset." Companies who follow the guidelines of "Execution" know that processes are useless without the right strategies, and strategies are useless without the right people engaged and accountable for executing them. | 45 stars
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Nice to get to know Niven outside of Known Space (spoilers)
A nice, well-rounded collection that shows Niven's strengths as a writer. There are space opera stories, a few fantasy pieces ("Dry Run", "Convergent Series", "Transfer of Power") and some other subgenres of science fiction.There were more than a fair share of weak stories:*"Like Banquo's Ghost" relied on a vague description of a character to hide the fact that they were an alien.*"Rotating Cylinders and the Possibility of Global Causality Violation" had a literal deus ex machina come and kill all the characters off in the end.*"Playing." I didn't get it.*"Mistake" and "Cautionary Tales" were too short to be interesting. I didn't know what was at stake.The last few stories were the strongest:* "Night on Mispec Moor" does a good job of evoking another author (James Branch Cabell) while not riding on his coattails to make a story work. I also liked how the story's genre prevented both the audience and the POV character from accepting the idea of the undead in ways that would have been glossed over in another genre (say, fantasy or horror)* "Wrong Way Street" is one of the better time travel stories I've read (I'm not normally a fan of them). I especially like how, when he believes he has destroyed life on Earth as we know it, he thought about the 8 year old brother he'd lost: "He remembered Tony; which was unfair, because he'd only robbed Tony of eight years."Anyway, this was a worthwhile collection and I recommend it for anyone interested in light reading. The stories are old, so they reflect some antiquated scientific theories (that moons pull atmosphere off of planets, for instance, or that mutations are only caused by radiation). | 23 stars
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One of Many Greats
Another great book by Robert Jordan. I am a huge fan of the Wheel of Time series, though it does sort of bog down later on. But during the Great Hunt everything is still relatively simple and easy to take in. I believe this takes place after Rand's first encounter with one of the Chosen (in the first book). Very good character developement and a lot of intrigue. Highly Recommended.LennoX | 45 stars
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A Fifth Grade Teacher says ...
We just finished a week long, very intense study of Lewis and Clark. This was the book we used as a textbook. Neither the students nor I could put it down. They begged to read just one more chapter every time. The special education aide who comes in during reading even took the book home with her so she wouldn't miss anything. If you want to get kids excited about history, these "In Their Own Words" books by George Sullivan will do it! | 45 stars
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Classic that stands the test of time
The Good Earth was required reading for the Academic Decathlon competition this year. I hadn't read or taught this novel for some time. The novel was an excellent vehicle for teaching students the cultural differences between EAst and WEst. | 34 stars
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