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Great weastern novel
I loved this book. Can hardly wait to read more, but have others books on my Kindle to read first. Part of me is a bit sorry that I saw part of the movie version of the book first. However it did allow me to put faces and characteristics to the books characters... Ed Harris and Viggo Mortensen are two of my favorite actors. Renee Zellweger is one of the finest actress ever! She knocks it out of the park with anything she is in! | 45 stars
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So Pretty!
I haven't actually had a chance to read the book yet, but there are plenty of reviews out there. I can say that aesthetically this is a beautiful edition. I hope that penguin continues to reprint classic novels in this style. | 45 stars
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catalog severely lacking
The device looks interesting but it is quite pricey (and so are the books when they are just a glorified text file) the catalog of available books is *very* lacking unless you want very recent bestsellers or a few particular authors (most/all of Laurell K Hamilton appears to be available). Particularly in sci-fi/fantasy, the available titles are abysmal (major authors/series like David Weber, David Drake, and Terry Pratchett Discworld all turn up only one book available). | 01 star
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Best Book In years
Lee really lays it out the truth for everyone the hear.Best book I think I've read,,,,, well listened to in 10 years. I wish this guy ran the country, we would get something done in Washington.Good information, good advice and a couple of laughs along the way. | 45 stars
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book
This was very interesting and helpful. I have used the exercises for the lower back and they work! I don't have neck problems, so haven't used those. I would recommend this book. | 34 stars
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A very informative book, highly recommended
Although a few years old now, this book provides a timeless and fact-based perspective of how illicit trade/trans-national crime affects not only our economy, but the very security of our nation. | 45 stars
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very disappointed
I read the book for about 1/2 hour and couldn't persist further. Nothing new, full of banalities and platitudes. Also obviously an easy collage of quotations. I can't figure out why it ranks as one of the bestsellers. Perhaps the minds of our modern populace are so softened in this age that readings not requiring much cerebral work hold great appeal. | 12 stars
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A Classic Explained
In this classic novel by Jane Austen, you'll learn to love Elinor and Marianne in Sense and Sensibility. The "insight edition" includes "trivia, notes, and inspiration to amplify this beloved classic." I agree wholeheartedly with that assessment and believe you will as well. Some of the English ways and words are very well explained in the insights. This was very helpful to me as I found the original book hard to understand in some places. The insights help make everything clear and easy to understand. Anyone who loves Jane Austen will enjoy reading the added notes in this wonderful edition. Highly recommended! | 45 stars
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A Christmas Carol
A classic book that brings the true meaning of Christmas to your heart. Considering the culture of the time period, Dickens reminds us that love is more important than money and that we have the power and awesome responsibility to make a difference for good in our individual circle of influence. | 45 stars
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I love my Kindle!!!! 6" display, latest generation
I have been nothing but happy with my new Kindle since it arrived a week ago. Perhaps there are problems I have not ecountered yet, but I have been using it for over a week now and absolutely love it. I have had absolutely no problems downloading the books I want to read, love being able to switch back and forth between book titles, and I've yet to read all the interesting functions Kindle has to make notations and bookmark pages, etc. I am going away on a trip for a week (which doesn't appear to be very interesting) and I am so excited because I have my Kindle for the boring long plane ride and the days in the hotel bored to tears....so I've downloaded several really good books to my Kindle and plan on at least being able to rely on it for entertainment. I also don't have to load down my luggage with tons of different heavy books!In addition to the Kindle, I absolutely love the M-Edge leather book cover that securely houses the Kindle by actually hooking into the Kindle itself, plus having two additional safety straps and a strap on the outside. It also houses the additional accessory booklight you can purchase. Contrary to what others have written about the booklight not being bright enough, I totally disagree. It is more than bright enough, even on the low setting. This is also the M-Edge illuminator light.Kudos to the new Kindle!!! | 45 stars
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Not at all what i hoped for
I was waiting in line at the bookstore when I saw this book, and I picked up the book to thumb through and hope that it was something that would help single women such as myself, and speak to the journey we are on, both with God, and in finding the love of a spouse. Sadly that is not what I found. I bought the book out of shear horror, to take home and prove to my friends that I wasn't lying, and we are all appalled. Not only is this book is full of name dropping, and self-agrandizing stories, but it gives BAD advice to the Christian Single Woman. What appears to be 'sound' and 'straight-forward' advice is really just teaching women to buy into the lie that they have to act, look (even if that means getting surgery), and sound a certain way for a man to like them. It teaches them to create a package deal that would snare the perfect man. WHAT NONSENSE! Where is the book that says: The woman worth keeping is the one who follows Jesus with her whole heart and life, and one who is totally real, and doesn't project a glossy image, or obsess about finding the perfect man, and who cares if she's overweight or has a big nose, HER CHARACTER is where her beauty lies? I wish that this was that book. But it is not. | 01 star
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Frustrating Read
I'm working on a Turbogears app. I find it a good framework. The book, however, is frustrating to work with. I rarely have time to read computer books sequentially. I generally jump around trying to find answers to my questions. I'm not finding answers... just partial examples throughout.For example, I would expect an AJAX example to have all the pieces necessary to implement an AJAX conversation with the file names clearly labeled. I would expect a diagram of how the pieces interact. What I find is little snippets of code without context and no diagrams anywhere in the book.I think the authors did a reasonable job of explaining Turbogears from their perspective. It was the editors' job to push them to explain things from their audience's perspective. This has the look of a rush job. | 23 stars
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Captivating and heartwrenching
This book is truly one of the best World War II novels I have ever read (and I have read many). The author does a fabulous job of depicting the emotions present on all sides of the occupation (French and German, rich and poor, young and old) - particularly stunning since the author herself was a Jew who was threatened and ultimately killed at the hands of the Nazis. Absolutely a must read if you are at all interested in the human side of WWII. | 45 stars
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Disappointing
This book is a simple summary of the works of other authors in the field of Orality and Literacy, with no proprietary originality whatsoever. I felt ONG often stated the obvious, such as the relation between books and death, as the content of books can be resuscitated after the author's death. Another such example is when for example one pronounces the word "orality", by the time he gets to "lity", "Ora" would have vanished....What is quite strange is that a book about literacy, and one that devotes one third of its content to the invention of writing and the alphabet, there is no mention of the Phoenicians people in the index or anywhere in the book, (he talks about "some Semitic people"!!), though Phoenicians are known to have invented the alphabet (phonemic script as we know it today). "Not invented here" syndrome?And although he admits that the invention of the alphabet is arguably the greatest mind transforming invention ever, he later conveys the argument that the addition of vowels to the alphabet by the Greeks was in itself far more important then the invention of the Semitic consonant alphabet, as -based on the work of another author - vowels "favor left hemisphere activity" and therefore allow for a higher level of abstraction (NLP?). Is it possible that ONG is unaware that the etymology of Semitic words are based almost always on three consonants stems, and that vowels in Semitic languages have a different function than in Greek?In another passage, you get comments out of the blues with no connection to the core subject. In a paragraph discussing formulaic expressions used in oral cultures, you get undignified statements like "Khalil Gibran made a career of providing oral formulary products in print to literate Americans".As to the Arab civilization, who by the end of the 10th century had produced over 10,000 titles in Arabic all catalogued in their "bibliotheca" (The Fahrast), - more than the work of all previous civilizations by that time- ONG claims that they have never really interiorized writing. To ONG, only the West apparently has fully interiorized writing, and this is what gives the West its "Westerness"... Maybe it's true... | 23 stars
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My Favorite Kind of Love Story
I have read this book several times, and each time it continues to amuse me more. the wonderful thing about Austin is the style of her writing is so wonderful and other worldly that one can keep reading the same book over and over and always find some new intricate detail of her writing to marvel over. I know that some people are not up for the task of 19th literature, but if you can just give it your all and dig in, Austin will certainly make it worth your while and more. | 45 stars
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Easy, lightweight and fun
Since I received my Kindle, I now read more. I don't have to carry a big book around that gets in my way. I have enjoyed reading so much more. Having some of the classics to read again is so much fun. Diffiently recommended for the reader on the go! | 45 stars
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Well researched, informally written -
Well researched, informally written (a good choice, I think, for a nonfiction book with this one's broad intended audience), and so true. Kennedy Townsend puts into clear words ideas that I have been mulling over for the past 20 to 30 years, and I found myself wondering as I read her work how many other American Christians might feel that she has spoken for them, too. I dealt with the cognitive dissonance of which she speaks so clearly by leaving the church of my childhood (which was not the Roman Catholic church, as it happens) for one that preaches and lives out the Gospel as my childhood church used to, and no longer does. Kennedy Townsend has dealt with hers by staying in her own church of heritage, and striving to change it.This one gets donated to my church's library, after I loan it to at least one person who will want to read it and wouldn't be apt to borrow it from there. Excellent piece of work! So glad I purchased it, and it's definitely not the sort of book I usually read.--Reviewed by Nina M. Osier, author of "Love, Jimmy: A Maine Veteran's Longest Battle" | 45 stars
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Again, she triumphs!
This writer is a gem! I am so enthralled with her style of writing, and she is the best new writer that has come across my radar in years. If you like your books enthralling, exciting, and nearly impossible to put down, here's your girl. | 45 stars
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Terrible Writing !!
This book jumped from here to there, character here and there with no explanation of why it changed. First it talked about a person or a conversation - then jumped to another person out of the blue. And none of it was even interesting. Boring..I could not finish. This lady is no author in my opinion. Just a bunch of rambling on...this is probably the worst book I have read and I am a huge reader with so many books I had to get a kindle. It will be deleted off my kindle to make room for something else. Waste of money. | 01 star
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Keeps you on the edge of your seat
I recently had the privilege of reading an advanced reading copy (ARC) of Julie Kagawa's debut book The Iron King. I really enjoyed this new twist on faerie and fell in love with 3 of the main characters - Ash, Puck and Grimalkin, each for different reasons. Of the three Ash is the Bad Boy of the group. He's dark and mysterious and has a bit of an edge that only the younger son of the Winter Queen can have. During one night of fangirl gushing Julie mentioned that part of her inspiration for Ash was a character named Valek who is featured in Maria V Snyder's Study series. Well, color me curious and I immediately made a note to look for the first book Poison Study, which was lost somewhere on Mt TBR. Things then began to heat up when Julie began to argue (re: fight) fellow blogger Steph Su for Valek. You can only imagine how this made my curiosity grew in leaps and bounds.I then went to my shelves, found Poison Study and began to read it that night. It wasn't long before I was sucked so completely into the world that Snyder created. Yelena is such a complex and wonderfully drawn character. Just when you think you know all her secrets she goes and surprises you. And just when you think that there isn't anything else she can bear she surprises you again. Her story keeps you on the edge of your seat with anticipation wondering where it all will lead. She starts off as a criminal and soon becomes the food taster for the Commander. During her training she comes into contact with Valek - the Commander's right hand. He is the Commander's aide, advisor, and assassin. He is, in short, the ultimate Bad Boy and totally swoon-worthy character.Poison Study is further fleshed out with the amazing secondary characters that fill its pages. All work together to weave a story that is filled with intrigue, mystery, compassion and so much more. I love Yelena because she is so strong and despite all the odds against her she never gives up. She is a powerful force and yet she is also vulnerable. She makes mistakes, she learns from them and she goes on to make new ones. She is a delightful character to watch and the way that Snyder writes her, makes Yelena seem so very real. Snyder does the same with all her other characters. They all have flaws but you love them because of their short fallings since a too perfect character only comes across as false. Snyder also builds this complex world that the reader can almost see out of the corner of their eye as they read the words that she writes. I fell in love with the land of Ixia and only wanted to know more about it. Snyder built her world and gave it a rich history but she weaved in all the threads of it seamlessly into the story so that they never bogged it down or created a dry patch. Poison Study was a wonderful story and its one that I highly recommend to all. And when you buy it, be sure to pick up the rest of the trilogy because if you are anything like me you won't want to wait to see what adventures Yelena and the rest will encounter next.As originally posted on my blog: Ticket to Anywhere | 45 stars
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Most powerful book I have read in years!
For about 50 years I have averaged a book a week. This ranks in my top 10 books. It is a powerful story of how much more possible peace might be if our focus was on the right things. His life changing experiences retold could change our lives. It certainly leaves me wanting to share the book with everyone I know and particularly with our Congress! I would like to see it required reading in all of our schools. On top of everything else it is a good story. Don't miss this one. | 45 stars
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A childish analysis of a serious subject
I have just seen Amy Chua on Booknotes tonight (C-SPAN) and I don't know if I should feel amused or disappointed. Her premise that rapid democratization in under-developed countries leads inevitably to social strife and violence, because the poor seize the opportunity to get back at the rich, is ridiculously infantile. There is a vast body of research that pretty much proves that democracy as such, has nothing to do with the violence. Under any system, one might expect tremendous income inequalities to causes social instability. The poor, with few alternatives, might be expected to rely on violence to equalize wealth. And conversely, the rich might be expected to rely on violence to retain their place. This has been the case since the beginning of time. Look at the French revolution, the Bolshevik revolution, look at the numerous rebellions against the English crown (by the Scots, Irish etc). The simple fact is that democracy or no democracy, wide inequalities and prolonged monopoly of wealth within a tiny percentage of the population, would always result in bloodshed. To lump together Russia, Zimbabwe, Rwanda and the Philippines is to demonstrate a careless understanding of the particularities of the socio-political conditions of these diverse places. The reason the White minority in Zimbabwe is resented by the Black majority has nothing to do with the fact that the Whites tend to be affluent and the Blacks less so. It has everything to do with history. It just happens that when the British came to town more than 100 years ago, they slaughtered hundreds of thousand of people, took their land, put the survivors into reservations on less fertile land etc. Gee, no wonder Black Zimbabweans might be a little resentful. In fact, when Black Zimbabwean took up arms to combat the Whites in what was then Rhodesia, economics have very little to do with it. It was about liberation and self-determination. To compare Zimbabwe and Malaysia is purely farcical. I am sorry, but I find most of the author arguments lacking in scientific rigor. | 01 star
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Great Book
great book I throughly enjoyed it. It gave me a new perspective of the historical events of the American West. | 45 stars
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Kindle not 100 % to my liking
The Kindle is fine except I thought that the device would be provided with password protection and the graphics are not satisfactory. I am currently reading a history of the German Reich up to WWII and the maps would be most beneficial if I could only see them. | 34 stars
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new one around the corner
I bought the first Kindle and than a few months later the Kindle dx came out. It never fails that as soon as I buy one item, a new one will appear. So I would like to sell my old kindle. | 01 star
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life-changing
If this book doesn't change your outlook on life, nothing will. I bought the book and the audiobook, but if you're deciding between the two, I recommend the audiobook. It's read by the author and his warm and friendly voice, tone, and inflection really helped me absorb his powerful lessons. | 45 stars
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Back In Time
I read the entire book without really understanding it until I read these reviews. I think the author needs to go back to Scarpetta and her friends, a much more believable and interesting group of characters. | 12 stars
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I was not expecting to love this, but I do.
I was not expecting to love a Kindle, but was intrigued by the technology. Now I can't imagine being without it. It took a day or so to get used to the fact that this was not a laptop, and to accept it as a ink on paper substitute. That meant not having a backlight but once I made the mental adjustment I was hooked. Unlike a PC, there was no eyestrain. The Kindle really does "disappear" and it is just like reading a book. I love the built in dictionary. I thought I would use the larger font but found I prefer a standard book font. I never turn on the antenna unless I am in a download and the battery really lasts for weeks. I was able to download a book while sitting in a coffee shop at JFK. No computer needed. Would not even think about taking a trip without my Kindle 2. | 45 stars
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Charlotte Bronte
Since I had read the Anne Bronte books, I wanted to read Charlotte Bronte's book. I'm afraid the sadness gets to me so I won't be reading it again. | 23 stars
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It's a drug
If you are reading this you must be Reacher fan, so I'll put shame aside and admit that I love these books! Tell yourself that you need this book for the next time you are trapped in an airport, and go ahead and buy it. Satisfaction garanteed!By the way, has anyone counted how many baddies Jack has wasted up to now? | 45 stars
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just as good as jedi trial and shatterpoint
this book seriously is amazing i loved it and enjoyed it i love how the author wrote this amazing book its one of my favorite star wars books i ignore the negative reviews towards this book!!!!!!!!!!!!!! | 45 stars
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A thrilling romantic suspense...
Detective Carina Kincaid has never seen a more horrific murder than that of college student Angie Vance. Gruesomely killed after being raped for two days, Angie's body was discarded on a San Diego beach. Carina immediately looks to Angie's ex-boyfriend, Steve Thomas. While he seems like a perfectly nice guy on the outside, Carina knows that looks can be deceiving. She is immediately suspicious of Steve. Not only is he much older than 18 year older Angie, but he also had a restraining order taken out by the victim, two days before she was kidnapped. When Sheriff Nick Thomas, Steve's younger brother shows up to support Steve, Carina is immediately attracted to the rugged Sheriff. When Carina realizes they may have a serial killer on her hands, she is grateful to have Nick around, as his knowledge may prove invaluable to the case.Nick Thomas has his own demons to fight. After almost dying at the hands of the Bozeman Butcher, Nick is scarred. Not only physically, but emotionally as well. Losing the woman he loved, on top of having to watch a woman be raped repeatedly, Nick knows he'll never be the same. When Steve calls to ask Nick for help, he doesn't hesitate. While he does want to help his brother, Nick also has an important decision to make; whether or not he should run for re-election. Arriving in San Diego, Nick is immediately drawn to the prickly Detective.Brennan does a fine job of combining romance and suspense in this top notch thriller. Giving the reader insight into the killer's mind, you will immediately be drawn into the book. As Carina and Nick race against time to stop a killer that escalates by the day, they are both drawn to each other more in a way that is completely unexpected to them both. Don't miss this engrossing novel. | 45 stars
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The fine art of thin-slicing
I wasn't going to read BLINK at first. While I highly enjoyed THE TIPPING POINT by Gladwell, the idea of an entire book on what boiled down to snap judgment simply did not appeal to me until someone who read it shared some insights. I read it and I am glad I did. It's another wonder-inviting investigation by Gladwell in his pitch-perfect voice.Specifically, Gladwell is talking about the ability to process a reaction so fast, at a subliminal level, that one is already acting before actual thinking or articulation set in. This works well for some and it works disastrously for others. Much depends on how well the subconscious is informed and practiced. Gladwell visits cutting-edge research on the subject and provides dramatic accounts of how snap judgments have played out. The latter range from art expert Thomas Hoving instantly identifing a sculpture as a fake, when panels of professionals sweated it out through long examination and came up with the wrong answer, to the sad case of the African immigrant gunned down by police who thought he was a criminal they were chasing. He visits an actors' improvisation group and studies how a few years ago the US military participated in a simulation that bears a resemblance to what the Middle East shortly after became and applying its traditional strategies was defeated by a group of improvisational thinkers.I never realized there was as much to instant judgment as Gladwell kicks up. He kind of peters out in the last chapter, but even that is interesting. Will this book become viewed as an "answer" that will find put it at the center of workshops, think tanks and book groups like THE TIPPING POINT? I doubt it, but it is still good information, thought-provoking and fun. | 34 stars
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Holy Terrors
This is not as good as the other books I have read by Mary Daheim. I get tired of her Mother who is spoiled and selfish and lets Judith do all the work. | 23 stars
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A real page-turner!
When I first heard about the book Winter Fire, I wanted to own it. It first got my attention when one chapter of the book was included in the back of another one of my books. A superb continuation of the book Autumn Lover. It is a beautiful love story about Sarah and Case, who meet by chance when Sarah goes for a walk in the middle of the night and nearly stumbles right into the Culpepper's camp. When it mentioned that Sarah had been married at the age of thirteen, it caught my attention. When it talks about her younger brother that's dependent upon her for his well-being, I was intrigued. When it says, outright, that Case had been the one to give her her first real kiss, I was hooked. It's always like that with Lowell's books. Every one of hers is a must-have, must-see, must-read book if ever there was one. Once again, well done, Lowell! | 45 stars
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Title says it all
Read this book to get better understanding of finance. This book helped develop my business acumen. The information presented has help me both professionally and personally. | 34 stars
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A Sad and Cautionary Tale
Series: Tess Monaghan, 3Third in the Tess Monaghan mystery series based in Baltimore and revolving around a private detective just starting out.My TakeIt was slow to get started but I was soon deep in the two cases Tess pursued. One on a baby put up for adoption by a young but ambitious woman who turns out to have very unexpected connections to the Weinstein side of Tess' family. The other reopens the case of the Butcher of Butchers Hill unveiling a cauldron of corruption.It's some nasty stuff that has torn up peoples' lives but I do love the ending.The StoryTess has opened her new office and finally gets two cases: a man who wants to find the children he shot at over five years ago and a woman who wants to find the daughter she gave up at birth. Both come with more complications than you can shake a stick at as some of the children are found murdered as well as some of the peripheral adults involved all those years ago.The police suspect Beale...and Tess but the more who die, the less sense it makes. A loose tie-in with Judith Weir's case and the information Tess learns about adoptions and the foster care system provides the needed clue that unravels the entire coverup.The CharactersTess Monaghan has some self-esteem issues. Understandable when you meet her Grandmother and mother. Unemployed for several years when the Baltimore paper by whom she was employed merged and her position was eliminated, a fellow rower and lawyer, Tyner Gray, encouraged Tess to explore private investigation. Well, okay, he pushed her into it kicking and screaming. Esskay is her retired greyhound whom she, ahem, "inherited" from Uncle Spike. She lives above her Aunt Kitty`s bookstore in a cute apartment with its own terrace.Tess is both Catholic and Jewish through the Monaghans and the Weinsteins. On the Weinstein side who show up in this installment, there is Gramma, Uncle Jules and Aunt Sylvia, their daughter, Deborah and her husband Aaron with their son Sam, Uncle Donald who has a placeholder job with the government and is always willing to help Tess out, Uncle Spike--no one is quite sure how he's related, and her parents, Judith and Patrick. Gramma is a control freak and the siblings and grandchildren do their best to get around it.Tess met Dorie Starnes when she did a job for the Beacon-Light newspaper. Dorie is running a secondary computer research business using her employer's access to all sorts of databases. Martin Tull is a detective whom Tess met on an earlier case. Kevin Feeney is a still-employed reporter with whom Tess used to work.Luther Beale was recently released from a five-year stint in prison for shooting a child in the back. He now wants to find the survivors of that shooting to anonymously help them to succeed in life. Or is he more interested in revenge as the police believe?Mary Browne, a.k.a., Susan King, a.k.a., Jackie Weir is a very successful single woman who had a daughter at age 18. She gave the girl up for adoption but now wants to know how she's doing. It's a bizarre twist in finding Jackie's daughter that clues Tess in as to the truth in Luther Beale's case with a wonderful end for eight-month-old Laylah. Willa Mott worked for the adoption agency which supposedly placed Jackie's daughter. Molly and David Edelman are Samantha King`s foster parents.Mr. and Mrs. Nelson are the foster parents who were responsible for the five kids involved in the Butcher Hill murder five years ago: Donnie Moore, the one who was shot; Salamon Hawkings; Treasure and Destiny Teeter, the twins; and, Eldon. The social worker in charge was Chase Pearson, Salamon's current guardian.The CoverThe cover looks like a very enlarged pink brick with a square cutout showcasing a nightlit street in Baltimore. A very gritty feel.The title refers to the location of one of her cases, Butchers Hill, which suddenly erupts into multiple murders. | 34 stars
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A New Earth
This is a book that teachs you to be in the NOW. How to deal with pain bodies, and the painful pass and present. It is not a quick read as the book mades you think about your life pass and present. I read reflect and re-read pages. I found out Oprah was only able to read 5 pages a day. Its a good help book to move forward in your life. | 45 stars
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The best 57 cents I that ever spent !
Luckily for me , the " Warehouse " in Rangiora (NZ) were biffing this book out for a princely 57 cents , brand new ! I had seen Jack & Suzy Welch on CNBC , and their writing is every bit as professional and useful , as their TV appearances are . ........ Anyone who has a boss , and that is most of us , will benefit from these 74 answers to genuine questions .Got to order " Winning " , now ! | 45 stars
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AH Free Zone
This is an excellent tool of empowerment for any professional in the workplace. Dr. Sutton cleverly uses humor to underscore his points about standing up to bullies and rude, crass behavior in the workplace. He makes good, practial suggestions to deflect irritating individuals. His suggestions do work, for the most part. I like his take on apple polishing/a** kissing. If there is one thing that I just cannot abide and will NEVER be is a toady. I love the part about not faking agreement because that is a) dishonest and b) a sure-fire way to lose self-respect. It is by being true to your own convictions without taking anything away from another or causing others to lose face that one can reinforce their own self esteem.There are irritating personalities that are just so determined to see a rectum in their mirror, so they will step up the a**holery and objectional behavior. They will show their a**es. Maintaining a professional demeanor and refusing to go along with them or let them know just how out of place and offensive you find them are other strategies.Dr. Sutton has based his findings by applying social psychology and organizational research. People in the workforce can learn a lot from this book. | 45 stars
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Comment regarding shipping
I love my kindle 2, but the nook seems like it would be cool too. I got the free shipping on the kindle 2 and it took 2 weeks for the kindle to arrive. | 34 stars
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Just a word about he screen
Forget about the price, copy protection, and lack of PDF. The key point is the screen and this is where the product fails. Eink is a great idea that just isn't ready yet. The screen can at best be described as grey with type rendered in something just short of black. The contrast is so poor on this and other devices like it that use in other than well lighted conditions is too great a strain on the eyes.If I had it to do over I would wait until they had a display with greater contrast and the background at least approached white. | 12 stars
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Tommy Tittle
From very humble beginnings to the man today in the WWE. A very good book to read for wrestling fans and non-wrestling fans alike. Jerry Lawler is a man who has the best of things in life and the absolute worst things in life. And he tells in a way that only he can tell it. I definitely recommend this book to all readers. | 45 stars
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Reprogram your mind and manifest your wildest desires.
Hi, I have been studying the Law of Attraction for years. The Secret is beautifully done, with lots of examples of ways to attract any thing you have ever wanted into your life. It is truly amazing. My life is soaring and abundance flows into my life, in all forms, continuously and quickly. My dreams are realized and The Secret encourages me to keep on dreaming and believing that I am living my dreams. Purchase these CDs. You are worth it and you deserve to live your dreams. | 45 stars
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Another hit
Once again Dennis Lehane hits a home run. Great book, amzing series. Kinzie and Gennaro are some of my favorite characters in any series. Would recommend these books to anyone. | 45 stars
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Exceptional Book
I am a big fan of V.C. Andrews books,,,this book had me in suspense through out the whole book. I couldn't put it down. Teal is a spoiled brat and acted like a spoiled brat throughout the whole time..I did not think she was gonna change at all..And the whole ice room...I did not expect it to be what it was..I totally thought it was this horrible place. Dr.Foreman is nuts...she is really the crazy ones,,and her buddies are not cured,,,they are sadistic and worship the ground she walks on. At the end of the book I do understand why Natani stayed thier,,,,he really cared about those girls and helped as much as he could without really looking as if he helped. I really recommend this book. I did not want to put it down...I couldn't wait to read what happened next. Now I just have to wait for the next book to come out! | 45 stars
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Continuation of a spellbinding story
In this second book Terri Blackstock continues her story of a world thrown into chaos by way of a "starpluse" which has rendered the use of all modern technology useless. Terri Blackstock explores how our world might "look" if this were to happen, how some grow in their faith, love, and selflessness while others grow in their selfishness, sin, and evil. A griping story of orphaned children in a world devoid of "services" to deal with such an occurance and a family willing to sacrifice everything to help these children, their community, and to serve God in any way he asks. | 45 stars
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I wish more Christians were like John Spong
I am Agnostic and so perhaps this book was aimed at people like me. I believe 'something' created what we know as existence, but then this just opens up more questions of what created the 'something' and I have no idea what and I am never going to be arrogant or egotistical enough to say I do - no one knows and it is certainly not worth killing each other over. In regard to the planet we live on, the only thing that makes sense to a rational mind is evolution. Perhaps I agree with this because my parents never indoctrinated me into their religion (otherwise I would be a weird mixture of Jehovah's Witness and Roman Catholic!). What I loved about this book is how Spong is determined to get rid of all the mythology (as much as is possible) to get back to the original message of Jesus. I respect him and his beliefs because he is not blindly following something without ever questioning it. Like Jesus apparently was, he is a peaceful man with a message of peace, and whether I agree with him or not about his God, I am happy he is a sensible man trying to show the lies for what they are. | 45 stars
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The Last True Story I'll Ever Tell
Hello, I Loved the novel. However,At the heart of the novel lied the truth about war, about what soldiers are really fighting for. What is that? I did not realy understand grasp it? did anyone? | 34 stars
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"A watch is always too fast or too slow..."
Jane Austen describes Mansfield park to have happened in the first two decades of 1800's. The uniqueness in the novel is the fact that Jane remains consistently and continuously truthful to the story. The story is about Fanny Price, the heroine, who happens to be Lord & Lady Bertram's niece. Fanny's parents are on the lower end of the economy, and therefore Fanny gets taken in by her uncle and aunt at the age of 10. Over the years of Fanny's stay at Mansfield Estate, she becomes more open, intellectual, virtuous and graceful. She grows into a beautiful woman who is genuinely liked by everybody. Like any great story, Mansfield Park has a good guy (Edmund & Sir Thomas Bertram), a bad guy (Mrs. Norris), the temptress (Mary Crawford) and the trickster (Henry Crawford).Over the years, Fanny falls in love with Edmund (her first cousin) who reminds her of the comfort she received by her biological brother - William. Whether or not Fanny and Edmund will end up together is the constant question that keeps the novel engaging. In terms of the love complex of the novel, it is more like an open-ended square than a triangle. Henry loves Fanny, who loves Edmund, who loves Mary Crawford. Other than the obvious incestuous implication in Fanny affection towards Edmund and Edmund's obsession w/ Fanny's disposition - the novel is socially very truthful to the materialism of then England. Jane throws in a harsh comparison between Fanny's mother and aunt's households towards the last part of the novel when Fanny returns to her family for a few months. Jane also draws contrasts between Mansfield and London cultures by showing changes in personalities of Mary & Henry Crawford.Fanny practices about Edmund, what Jane says in Emma - "If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more." | 45 stars
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Birthday Gift
My wife loves her kindle. She has found the kindle very using to use and loves the ability to get samples of books to read before buying the whole book. We share each others kindle so we don't have to buy the same book twice. | 45 stars
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Book
It is a valuable book in any library in really getting an insider's look at the President prior to being President. Great reading material. Seller and delivery were perfect. AA++++++++++ | 45 stars
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A review of the process of getting the book, rather than the book itself
I ordered ISBN#9780307387899 and got ISBN#9780307277923. The book is for a class, so the pagination has to be correct. I emailed Amazon/apex_media about the problem, telling them that if the pagination was not the same as the edition I'd originally ordered, I'd not be able to use the edition they sent me. They responded with a refund, which is great, but it would have been helpful to know about the pagination issue. I love Amazon and this disappoints me. Amazon's page on ISBN#9780307277923 says that it has 272 pages. The book I received with that ISBN# is numbered to 287. | 12 stars
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Exactly what I expected. I'm thrilled.
I love my Kindle. Use it to view my knitting and crochet patterns and specially love that I can enlarge the font to my liking. I'm in Puerto Rico and the 3G network is great. | 45 stars
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I can re-read this series
I usually can't read fantasy or sci-fi twice, but I've read this author at least 3 times now and still find more things to enjoy. Each time I felt sad when the story ended. Bishop has fun dialog and great human(or Blood) interaction without turning it into a "love story". I read my boyfriend a passage and he thought that I was making it up to prove a point about a "you stole the covers" conversation we had just had a few days before. He read it for himself and laughed for 5 mins. He's not a reader but he likes the character interactions and the story so much that he asked me to read the books to him.I feel my point is made. Read the "inside look" and see if you like it as much as I do. | 45 stars
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Scary Chistianity
I've heard over and over again, in Christian circles, that Christianity is not about religion, it's about relationship. It is easy to say that, to nod in approval, but it is seldom actually lived out. What starts out as a relationship, often becomes religion and we're not even aware of it. We absorb the dogma, learn to talk a certain way, participate in the "life of the Church" and that leaves precious little time to cultivate the relationship with God that we were hungry for in the first place. What are we to do if we want to return to the primary relationship with our Creator? Leave Church?Maybe. One thing's for sure, there are no easy answers. Taylor, a gifted preacher and writer, with a keen desire to help others, tells us, in this personal memoir, of her own struggles with these questions. We all have to take our own journey through this life. There is no pattern or map. I know some will say, "Jesus is the pattern and the Bible is the map." I don't disagree with that, but making the application to our own lives is not as simple as that statement sounds.As we move along the path we have to make choices, not always between good and evil. As Taylor points out, the choices are usually between good, better, and best. Knowing which is which, isn't even possible most of the time with our finite knowledge. But that's what faith is for. We trust in God, who is bigger than we are, and nourish the hope that he will lead us. Where he leads us may not be where we thought we wanted to go, but his presence there with us gives life and joy to the journey.Reading Taylor's story of her own journey gives me hope and faith to continue on mine. | 45 stars
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Great book about a great product
This book is very well written. It gives a lot of the history about Linux and Ubuntu as well as information about the current progress and future plans. Easy to understand the explanations about how to use Ubuntu 7.04. Excellent reference book to have near the computer. | 45 stars
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David Copperfield
An unfortunate boy's richs to Rags adventure. The elussive and mean Murdstones set the tone of struggle in David's life. A classic Dickens novel, somewhat hard to comprehend. | 34 stars
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Sci-Fi Bomb
A poorly excecuted foray into the science-fiction genre for an accomplished thriller author. The premise of a highly-advanced undderworld civilization is something that exists only on the lunatic fringe of UFO believers, and the adolescent writing style only serves to discredit the author. Dr. Cook's editor should find a new career after allowing this in print. | 01 star
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A fantastic adventure
This was a terrific book, completely different than I though it would be.David lives with his father and new stepmother and stepbrother, but he still mourns his mother's death. Then one night he goes on an unexpected journey to a strange world right in his own backyard. He is sucked into a world of magic and fairytales.With some familiar characters and an evil crooked man, David fights to get back home and helps out other people along the way and battles many creatures. It is a lot for a young boy to go through. David is on a quest to save his mother, for he thought he had heard her in his dreams where she asks him to save her. When it comes down to it, David realizes that this is a strange land where an old king rules and who wants David to take his place, but there is more to be learned. There are many secrets in this place and secerts can deadly dangerous. | 34 stars
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International downloading is fast and easy...
Recently, I went to a packaged sight seeing tour visiting Hokkaido, Japan. It was snowing very hard, and we were sitting in mini bus feeling nothing to do. I took out my Kindle and in the middle of wilderness, I was able to download New York Times sunday edition. I paid $1.99 extra for international use. Downloading was fast and crisp and in no time, I was enjoying reading the updated news. What a feeling! I did not waste the two hour drive to hot spring resort. I finished large portion of NYTimes in those two hours. Whispernet works perfectly.I took my Kindle with me when my wife asked me to accompany her to visit our local Barns and Noble bookstore. The minute I walked in, I found myself has lost interests in browsing all those heavy books on shelf. Who has got the energy to drag all those heavy books home? Who has got the space to store all those heavy books? Sometime you misplaced them somewhere and you completely forgot about them. With Kindle, I finally let go tons and tons of heavy books and all my books are available to me in one slim little thing called Kindle.Kindle is a book, my friend, it is not an electronic device or a computer, or a multi-media thing. It is a book and it gives you the pleasure of reading "book", the good old pleasure of reading. | 34 stars
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Straightforward
I loved it no BS just the facts.. Make sure your kids are not around. | 34 stars
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YOU ON A DIET
I FOUND THE BOOK TO BE VERY INFORMATIVE AND WRITTEN IN A WAY THAT WE ALL CAN UNDERSTAND. IT ALSO HAS A HUMOROUS SIDE THAT SHOWS THE REAL PERSONALITY OF DR. OZ. I REALLY ENJOYED READING IT. | 45 stars
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#3 in the Diogenes Trilogy
Another great read and thrilling conclusion to the trilogy. This set of books is nestled within a series containing Special Agent Pendergast. For greatest enjoyment, I recommend reading at least these three books in order: 1- Brimstone, 2- Dance of Death, and 3- The Book of the Dead. | 45 stars
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The adult time for solutions
Finally, the adults are talking in Washington...at least ten of them. The Iraq Study Group Report is substantive and offers creative solutions to the one-dimensional Bush approach to Iraq...an approach that put the United States in serious jeopardy and one that threatens to unleash a powder keg all over the Middle East.The report begins with an educational assessment before it delves into recommendations. It takes into account not only the Shia, Sunni and Kurdish regions of Iraq but the countries that border Iraq as well. One wonders where this group was when the planning for the war was being formed. It certainly didn't occur to the Bush administration that any overview was necessary...hence the current mess we're in now.While Baker and company remind us that by no means are these recommendations foolproof, they are at least a start to know where, when and how to unravel from Iraq. The recommendation with the most impact, however, is one that Bush may likely ignore...and to our country's peril...talking to Iraq's neighbors, especially Iran and Syria. Engaging them without precondition is a must and failure to do so will continue to lead us down the path of more foreign policy fiascoes.The Iraq Study Group Report reminds us that "violence cannot end unless dialogue begins..." It's a sobering statement in a timely report. They have done their homework in areas that the present White House leadership has not and also have offered proposals that go deeper and carry more weight than a "stay the course" approach ever could. | 45 stars
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Some good info, but lacking scope and objectivity
I brought this book because I wanted information on how to deal with a particularly manipulative person whom I am obliged to interact with at present.I think this book offers a number of very valuable insights. Also there isn't much around dealing with this subject so it's good to see something. However, I found the tone of the book disturbing. It was frequently very angry, or preachy. My guess is that the author has had direct prolonged experience with what he calls a "one percenter". These are the people who deliberately and systematically invalidate others. I've occasionally run across one of these myself and they are truly scary people. I can't imagine what it would be like to be the spouse, child or workmate of one of these.I find it hard to know how to rate the book. I did gain some valuable insights into a couple of things in my own life. On the other hand there was little real help on how to deal with the situation I wanted help with.Despite the title (how to deal with them without becoming one of them), only a little information was provided on dealing with them. I used one of the suggested strategies before I got the book and it actually made my situation worse. The person I am dealing with is quite sophisticated, and often manages to manipulate others into doing her dirty work for her.I've deducted points because I thought it lacked objectivity, didn't provide enough information on dealing with these people, and was focused only on one kind of nasty person. | 12 stars
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David Copperfiled
I finished reading David Copperfield this morning and already I am missing all the wonderful characters, I can see why Dickens loved this story so much. I was born in Suffolk and am familiar with the sea coast there and of Norfolk. Seeing it all so clearly through Dickens eyes in his time was pure delight. | 45 stars
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Thoroughly Engrossing and Wonderful
Philippa Gregory fans have much to celebrate.In this latest installation of The Other Boleyn Girl series, Ms Gregory, today's supreme diva of historical literature, crafts a magnificent rendition of the lives of Anne of Cleves, Lady Rochford (Jane Boleyn), and Katherine Howard with her trademark mesmeric and empathic story telling ability.It is 1539. England is held in submission by a tyrannical and aging monarch of increasingly aberrant behavior. As Henry VIII descends into madness and pain, it becomes impossible to predict how or by whom he will be offended. The consequences are mortal: death by decapitation or worse. The wife killer seeks a bride, and political machinations by Henry's courtiers and the Bavarian Duke of Cleves lead to an arranged marriage with the Duke's sister Anne. She arrives hopeful, dutiful, and eager to begin a new life away from her virtual prison on her brother's estate. She aspires to be a good queen, and an asset to her people. To her shock she enters a world more frightening and occult than she imagined possible. The duplicitous and insane Lady Rochford, head of Anne's privy chamber, is the sinister pawn of the evil Duke of Norfolk, and together these two reptilian allies scheme to oust Anne and install Katherine Howard as the queen.Told in three distinct voices, we watch as the terrifying events unfold. The suspense builds, and is not diminished by the fact that the reader likely already knows from their history lessons how the story will end. Anne is the true victor; the one who survives the lunacy to live a semi-independent life in the country. Her story is at once poignant and magnificent. Katherine Howard is clever but fatally naive, and reminds one of a sixteenth century Paris Hilton style party girl. Lady Rochford begins the story as predatory, and ends as... well I'll let you read that for yourself. Gregory's artistic license is well employed.I can hardly wait for the next book. | 45 stars
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Re think
Having been raised by good Baptist parents and then, as an adult falling away, I was not certain as to just what I believed concerning life after death. I think Fannie Flagg has claified that for me.Heaven is that time in our lives when we are happy and most content. For me, probably 1967. The interesting thing is that we don't know we are in heaven at the time, but years later we wish we could go back.The entire "good old days" theme is replayed here. What is heaven to me may be hell to you.John Milton said it best; A mind in its own place can make a heaven out of hell or a hell out of heaven.I highly recommend this book. It is fun reading with a real life message.See you in Heaven, Fannie. | 45 stars
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rubs some the wrong way
a great book and its greatness is commensurate with its ability to offend (or something pretty much like that) - Lionel TrillingWhat does the book tell us that offends some?For one, traditional authority (in the form of Sir Thomas) is nearly always correct and should be obeyed. It is not perfect and can err, as Sir Thomas did in the upbringing of his daughters. Nethertheless, it demands and should receive respect and even reverence.Two, sincerity, honesty, seriousness, and earnestness are always to be preferred to wit, frivolity, charm, and cleverness. In particular, wit that mocks traditional values and religion is wrong. Somethings are beyond wit. Better to be quiet than to joke about serious topics.Three, self control and restraint are very important. People should not do what is wrong, even if they really want to do it. People should do what is right, even if they don't feel like it and should do it gladly. There is a scene where Julia is trapped in conversation with a rather boring older character. Julia is polite but inwardly impatient. Austen tells us that it is not enough that Julia is outwardly polite. She should restrain her inward impatience because she is doing the right thing.Four, order, method, regularity, and calmness are very important. Disorder, mess, lack of planning are bad. Impetuosity and impulsiveness should be avoided.Five, doing one's duty is very important. Duty comes before almost everything else.Many readers find Fanny to be priggish and intolerant, overly critical of others' conduct, and narrow minded. Such as she is, she is the heroine of the book. Unlike the heroines of Emma and Pride and Prejudice, Fanny does not change from what she is at the start. She is right and others learn to conform to her views. All Fanny needs is more self confidence and less diffidence. Otherwise she is beyond reproach.The book also prizes intelligence, bravery, consideration for others' feelings, honesty, and kindness. Fanny has all these qualities. But what strikes readers is the puritan aspect of her character and that the author, Fanny's creator, approves of it and endorses it.Many have attempted to make this book mean something different from what Austen wrote. They have striven to show that Austen does not like her creation, Fanny, or that Fanny is wrong in this way or that or that the book shows that Austen is a feminist. The book does not show any of these things.The book annoys because Austen is very successful in endorsing a particular world view that is contrary to modern philosophy. Austen succeeds because she is a brilliant writer. Her success in championing what seems to many of us very bad values is irksome.Personally, the book does not bother me. I love its heroine. | 45 stars
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Kindle Hardware Needs Tweaking
Kindle: Amazon's New Wireless Reading DeviceOverall, I really like the Kindle. However, there are a few things that drive me crazy. The Next Page & Prev Page tabs should be on BOTH sides of the Kindle and should be the same size. I frequently need to use the right hand or the left hand by itself (arthritis causes one or both hands to be of limited use on any particular day). I also tend to hit Prev Page instead of Next Page with the left hand because the Next Page tab doesn't go high enough & I have to adjust my grip down to reach it, which slows me down (I'm a fast reader). It also needs more room at the top left & right to be able to hold it without hitting either tab. There also needs to be a better way to keep the Kindle in its cover; it's always slipping out. The Customer Service Reps are outstanding! Hopefully more publishers will make Kindle versions available as soon as their hard copies. I want a book on its publicized release date so I don't have to remember to keep checking. | 34 stars
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Good but not Great
Terrorism expert Richard A Clarke has written a very readable, albeit flawed, novel that attempts to, as the book jacket states "tell the truth" because sometimes it's easier to tell the truth in fiction. His message is loud and clear, including the scores he wanted to settle with this book.Clarke's book begins with the U.S. out of Afghanistan, Iraq and Saudi Arabia. The latter after a coup deposing the al Saud family and turning Saudi Arabia into an Islamic state, named, appropriately enough Islamayah. Because of an American economic embargo, the new government if Islamayah gets in league with the Chinese to provide them with weapons to defend themselves against both the U.S. and other Middle Eastern states. The Chinese want oil at better prices then they're currently paying on the open market. This part of the book is completely plausible and, frighteningly, I think probable at some point in the next 10-15 years. The U.S. finds out about these weapons and a race against time to stop them, and a planned U.S. invasion to put the al Sauds back on the throne, begins. Clarke's book demonstrates admirably the problems this idea would cause the U.S. and why we'd be better served letting the people in the Middle East solve their own problems with their own governments.The problem with Clarke's book isn't the premise, it's the character development, or lack of it. Two of the central characters of the book are a quasi-spook from a fictional U.S. intelligence agency, and a female newspaper reporter from a fictional U.S. newspaper who feeds him information and provides him with leads on individuals to talk to. We're never told exactly why these individuals trust each other though, they just do. This is completely implausible.Also, not surprisingly, I think Clarke pretty obviously is using this book, and fiction, to settle some scores with people in Washington he doesn't like (and I'm sure don't like him) namely former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and his deputy Paul Wolfiwitz. The SECDEF and his deputy in the book are not even veiled characters of Rumsefeld and Wolfiwitz, and Clarke doesn't portray either in a positive light. He basically attempts to make the not so veiled point that Rumsfeld and Wolfiwitz maneuvered to get the U.S. into Iraq and knew that the intelligence didn't show Iraq had WMD. It's not a subtle point I think, and one that, once documents are declassified in 20 years, may or may not back Clarke up on. But, I found it rather pointless that Clarke attempts to use a work of fiction to settle some political scores.The book is very readable even with the flaws in character development and it will make a reader think about events in the Middle East and the U.S. involvement in them, as well as our relationship with the al Sauds and their exportation of the Wahhabi brand of Islam, one that most Muslims reject. This book would be a fun, and somewhat thought provoking read, on a long trip. I got through the over three hundred pages in my copy in a matter of hours. | 23 stars
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Great book
Enjoyed this book gave me a different take on things, so much so I shared it with friends and strangers. | 45 stars
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Rant against the government
What a disappointment this book was. I thought it was going to be un uplifting discussion about living more simply and with more meaning. Instead it was a diatribe against the President.I'm glad I took it out from the library, and did not pay for it. I hope the author is not as bitter and unhappy as she sounds. | 01 star
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An inspiring true story...
This book is an amazing account of what one person can do to change the world. For me, it was interesting to learn about how one can promote peace through education, by changing the way people perceive things. Too often, innocent lives are lost because of ignorance and intolerance. Greg Mortenson is an example to all of us. | 45 stars
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Intrigued
I didn't think I would finish reading it but my curiosity would allow me to quit. The movie version of Wuthering Heights was deceptive in regards characteristics and behavior of the characters. To love someone can be a beautiful experience but to misuse it like Heathcliff did was horrible and mean. | 23 stars
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How did I ever read without it!
First thing first, I LOVE my kindle 2!After reading with my kindle 2 for almost a year, I bought a paperback and was astonished to find myself irritated at the clumsy handling of the "old" way of reading. I ended up purchasing the book again on my kindle. I also love the way I can look up words without having to stop and pull out a dictionary. I take my kindle everywhere, it makes hands free reading at the gym effortless.That said I do have some complaints about the kindle that I would like to see Amazon fix. It's not easy to browse through a book on the kindle . I sometimes want to refer back to something in an earlier chapter, but don't because I don't want to hit page back a zillion times. It's also irritating when they have the newer books in a series available, but not the beginning books. I don't know about you, but I do not like to start a series on book 5. While most of the book I want to read are available, I have come across several that I wanted to read that were not. I would also like to see a way of changing out the battery that doesn't involve sending my kindle back to Amazon.Lastly, After having my KIndle for 10 months, the screen froze up, with bars across. I called Amazon, and they sent me out a new one under warranty next day air. While it is appreciated that it was handle so promptly, I worry about what's to happen the next time it messes up and it's not under warranty. That is why I chose not to give it five stars. | 34 stars
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Loved the Book
If you like paranormal romance with great humor I think you should give Kresley Cole's Immortal After Dark Series a chance. Her creative twist on werewolves, vampires, valkyrie, demons, and witches is imaginative and highly entertaining. Take a look inside her book and see if you agree. To see what sort of reading perspective I come from, I love the following paranormal romance authors: Christine Feehan, Larissa Ione (Sydney Croft), J.R. Ward, Robin D. Owen, Lora Leigh, Alexis Morgan, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Susan Sizemore, Lara Adrian, and Lynn Viehl. | 45 stars
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The Road
This is the last time I listen to Oprah regarding any book. This book is dark but meaningless. I had to force myself to finish this pointless tragic story.How this became a best seller is beyond me. | 01 star
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Fast-paced read...Intense...Graphic...Brilliant!
This book was intense! Jack Reacher is arrested in a small town for a murder he didn't commit. Another man confesses to the murder although he is innocent and a police officer drove him home from a party at the time the murder took place. Both men are put in jail for the weekend in what the jail guards tell him is the sixth floor. However, they realize in the morning that they are on the floor with the convicts in FOR LIFE. The cell doors open and they are fresh meat! I don't want to give the whole plot away, but the small town Jack Reacher ended up in is corrupt. He has to solve the murder.. no,murders and the why behind those murders to clear his name, avenge a family member's death, rescue innocent lives, and sock it to the bad guys. The ending of the book is brilliant! Jack Reacher is smart, eccentric, intuitive, strong, and knows exactly where to hit someone to bring them down or kill them. If this was a movie it would probably be rated R. This book is not for the faint of heart. I loved it! | 45 stars
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Everything was GREAT!!
Got it right away and packaged great. No complaints.LOVE Julia Quinn!!Love her series books!! | 45 stars
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How to improve this Gothic Tragedy
The great tragedy of this book is that the author didn't kill off Catherine and Heathcliff MUCH SOONER. Then she might have been able to introduce alternate main characters who were actually interesting.Although given Emily Bronte's track record with the aforementioned losers, maybe populating her novels with characters that the reader would find interesting just wasn't her strong suit.... | 01 star
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Great, chilling post-apocalyptic tale
This is a different kind of book, in style, tone, and subject matter. The nameless father and his son travel through a bleak countryside. We know almost from the start that there is no hope or future for these two, yet we're compelled to follow them to the end of their amazing journey. I kept finding myself racing ahead to see what happened next, then backing up to savor the writing I had skipped over. I will definitely keep and re-read this subtle, nuanced work again. That's not something I say about very many books. | 45 stars
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Hey! These are MY people!
Swedes homesteading on the short grass prairie! How come I'd never read this book?Actually, this comes close to being the true story of my mother's immigrant farmer family, who were Germans of a sort. Alexandra, the powerful woman at the heart of Cather's story, the one pictured on the cover of this edition, reminds me powerfully of my great-grandmother, who was just a generation younger than Willa Cather. Alexandra's two selfish and small-minded brothers, Lou and Oscar, are spitting-images of my grandfather and his brother. Frank Shabata, the sorry husband, is 'awful close' to a portrayal of my father. The verisimilitude of Cather's characters, so fair and square in depicting both their strength and their frailty, is her best accomplishment as a writer. You won't need family photos of these characters to recognize them as real people.The part that's not true to the history of my family as pioneers and sod-busters is also what's not true about the novel. The real people were more ordinary, lived more one-day-at-a-time, didn't have the luxury to leaping across a flat and commonplace decade from one chapter to the next. They had to get up in the morning, drudge through the day, cut their toe nails and scrape their corns, go to bed too worried about chores and bills to dream big dreams. But who would want to read about them?"O Pioneers!" is a triple love story, starring three handsome men and two beautiful women. One couple ends up happy... as happy as they're able to be, anyway. There's plenty of passion, frustration, jealousy, misunderstanding to make a Hollywood blockbuster on the scale of "Giant". For all I know, there have been ten films of this novel already. That's weakness of the book, one way it falls short of really deserving to be called a "world's classic", that it was ripe for Hollywood when it was published in 1913, even before Hollywood was ripe for it."O Pioneers!" is also a love song to the Land, to the beauty and bounty of the short grass prairie. It begins with a description of the hard-scrabble homestead and it ends with a paean to the "...fortunate country, that is one day to receive hearts like Alexandra's into its bosom, to give them out again in the yellow wheat, in the rustling corn, in the shining eyes of youth!" Now that's a 'right pretty' sentiment, but it's not terribly accurate. Teachers, don't assign this book as a depiction of the history of the Midwest. Some few sodbusters may have felt ennobled by their land, but a lot more of them were plenty ready to sell to greenhorns and move farther west or south. That's the true story of the agricultural frontier in America, from colonial days through the Ohio Valley and onward to the Dakotas; those who got rich did so more by selling than by clinging to the soil. Cather herself may have loved the western skies but she wrote under the skies of eastern and European cities. Those shining-eyed Young have been fleeing to either coast since the first pioneers gave birth to them. The prosperity that Cather portrayed among the Swedes and Bohemians of Nebraska in the years before WW1 was an artifact of the world economy. It was a bubble. It collapsed soon enough. Nebraska and the Dakotas haven't thrived in the way "O Pioneers!" envisioned. Declining populations, stagnant and dying towns, narrow-minded reactionary social and political grudges against the very sort of people that Willa Cather became! The story of Alexandra and Carl ends at the brink of their future; I can almost promise you that if they'd lived as long as my great-grandmother, they'd have retired in Arizona.But there is a resonant grandeur to "O Pioneers!" It's worth reading, in order to sense the courage and hardihood of the farmer-immigrants who built the heartland of America. It's not as colorful or touching as the work of Ole Rolvaag; "Giants in the Earth" and its sequels are the greatest 'world's classics' of the American West. It's not as honest and accurate as Hamlin Garland's "Main-Traveled Roads". It's nowhere near the epic adventure, the magniloquent sweep, of the four Emigrant novels of the Swedish writer Vilhelm Moberg. But once you pick it up, you won't be tempted to read anything else until you finish it, and once you finish it, the woman Alexandra will stick in the family-photo album of your mind. | 34 stars
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Wild Fire
Like DeMille's other books, this one starts fast and never slows. His descriptions, his wise-cracking characters, his obvious knowledge of the subject entertains and informs. All of it builds to a satisfying climax leaving the reader wondering "Could this really happen?". Highly recommended! | 45 stars
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A Story for All Time
I've not reviewed any books online, but after reading Mulcaheys review, and his note that the book was only rated three stars (average review) I am hoping my addition will push the book its proper place.Hardy is the master of off-timing between his characters, and the tone of the book (as one review notes - sad) should not weigh in when considering the place this book should hold in the history of English literature.It is certainly regrettable that he gave up novels for poetry after his early feminist views received a moderate amount of criticism. I wish he had a written a dozen more novels, even if only half as compelling as this title. | 45 stars
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Great Read
I absolutely loved this book. It was a great read, but no disrespect to Ms.Queen Pen, but when is Blossom 2 coming out? I understand that you must have a lot going on but really? Blossom came out in 2007, its 2013!!!! You must not realize that you are loosing readers. I feel like I speak for all the people who fell in love with Blossom, this is just plain ridiculous! I can understand a year or two but almost 7?! No, I have no respect for that. I feel like the wait that you have imposed on your readers is disrespectful. You take the time to update the website and write letters that are "from" the characters. How about you write a chapter or two?! I understand that it takes time and effort to get through the publishing process and what not , but it has been to long. Most readers have dropped you and have said screw Blossom 2. I personally wont be reading it because you have no respect to your readers or your name. | 45 stars
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last Man Down
A gritty, honest and immersing recount. Not sanitized. Not the "company" line. He called it like he saw it. Smetimes as a Battalion Commander he had to make decisions on the spot. He tells it strictly from his point of view including his own feelings. There is no gloss here. There is a feeling that you are there more than with Smith's "Report From Ground Zero." Dennis Smith writes after the fact and it is interesting to read the memories of others he recounts after you have read "Last Man Down." Somehow I have more faith in a story told by a man who isn't afraid to say that some equipment and even toilet paper is dangerous, worthless or both. Read both. See which you feel is best. | 45 stars
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Great book
Love it! It's too bad Copperfield didn't get to know his father. His stepfather shouldn't have been such a jerk. At least he became well known for his work. | 45 stars
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Simply amazing
The new kindle is amazing. As soon as I got my hand on the Kindle, I bought a book and within 3 minutes I had the book on my Kindle. The ink on the book is like real ink. I can read it at all angles. The reading function works well and the pages are synchronized. This is still a beta model and I am looking forward to the next generation of Kindle with more multimedia functions! | 34 stars
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THIS BOOK WAS WONDERFUL
I LOVED THIS BOOK. I COULD'NT WAIT FOR IT TO COMES OUT AND WHEN IT DID I GOT IT . THIS BOOK JUST KEPT IT GOING WITH ALL THAT AND A BAG OF CHIPS, AND BEEN THERE DONE THAT. I LOVE HOW YOU GET ALL THE CHARATERS FROM ALL THE OTHER BOOKS, AND SHE PUT THEM IN ONE AND IT TELLS A BEAUTIFUL LOVE STORY.I THINK IF YOU READ ALL OF THE OTHER BOOK YOU NEED TO READ THIS ONE AND THE NEW ONE AS WELL, WHICH COMES OUT NEXT SUMMER. | 45 stars
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Romance, Family Dynamics, Mystery add up to real thrills
The Dark House takes you on the ride of your life. Starting out with the main character Edward Rollins, a damaged soul, riding in his car, following random people to their homes and ending with a building strength and catharsis of Rollins, this book is extremely well written. Rollins definitely has problems, but as the reader starts viewing him as psychologically damaged by his circumstances, he becomes less and less screwed up---and more of a classic protagonist. In The Dark House everything has a reason as well as a connection to the story. If I didn't enjoy it so much I would have been put off by some of the coincidences found in the plot (but NO LOOSE ENDS in this work). The writing was excellent, plot intense, while the scenes and individuals were interesting and stimulating. | 45 stars
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Great new series.
I have been a fan of Harris since her first Sookie Stackhouse book. In Grave Sight she, Harris, does not disappoint. The mystery is solid, the new characters and their problems are well drawn and believable, and the writing is thoroughly enjoyable. I recommend this book to anyone who likes mysteries with a twist. | 45 stars
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a good deal of Hope, but no
this book began nicely. boats had been disappearing. descriptions of gigantic sea-creatures. good descriptions of the places in questioning. i was somehow reminded of Burroughs. then it got worse. a little bit of melodrama. the rescue operation took too much time and was too detailed. i just got more and more disappointed. | 12 stars
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hardcore Diaries
Book came wrapped and in perfect condition. It's a present, so i haven't read it, but the transaction went flawlessly. | 45 stars
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High speed adventure
They inhabit most large cities, these two wheeled pests riding suicide machines with a death wish. Here is a look from the inside, of the world of the bicycle messenger. The author, who lives in this world, gives an eloquent and exciting peek into this subculture. Part Outlaw biker, part philosopher, he guides the reader through the busy streets of Chicago at breakneck speed. He is at his best describing in detail, so vivid that the reader can feel the cars closing from behind, the hazards he has experienced. He is not so good when he devotes portions of the book to the foolish trashing of the value of the automobile. These bikers represent what the motorcyclists describe as one percenters. That is, the one percent of the bicycling public which operates in a hazerdous manner. Even so, this book will appeal to all bikers as a chronicle of what we all wish, deep down, we could do. Be sure to read the chapter about the messenger race which the author wins. Well written and entertaining. | 34 stars
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Passing fair read
I recently re-read this book because the moment I read "The End", I forgot everything that happened in the book.My initial purchase of To Marry the Duke was based upon the lush, sensual cover and the fact that it was based on one of my favorite historical eras; the Gilded Age of America.Based upon my re-reading of this romance, I was disappointed. MacLean has a clean, coherent prose and dialogue that had it's shiny moments, but the shoddy plotting and the one-dimensional characters overtook it most of the time.I would have believed Sophia's instant infatuation with James if his (false) courtship had been a contrast to the cool treatment she recieved from the English society. Consequently, once James has married, bedded and ignored her, she accepts his trickery of her as though she deserved it. Sophia is supposed to be a spunky, warm American to blow some heat into James' heart, but she came across as a doormat who would do anything for a man who had betrayed her trust.James' tortured past was very vaguely alluded to, leading me to be very skeptical of his behavior as well as his falling for Sophia at the end of the book. His one-dimensional character, combined with the fact that most of the book was in Sophia's point of view kept me at an emotional distance from him.James' family was cardboard as well and the "mystery" surrounding them with the French courtesan was sloppily done and read as though it was put into the story to make Sophia look like a hero and open James' eyes to how wonderful she was.All in all, this was a passable read. Sophia's doormat perfectness and James' vague aloofness, combined with hither and there plotting made what started off a somewhat sparkling and stand-out historical romance into a read I forgot as soon as the pages were closed. | 12 stars
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A book that should be mandatory reading for the world we now live in
Being a huge fan of Science Fiction I have read countless books and short stories on a post apocalptic future, one of the best being Earth Abides. This book however is not Science Fiction. This book unlike most Science Fiction novels on the same topic does something that is quite unique and wonderful...it completely does away with explaining what brings man to the brink of extinction, and concentrates mainly on a story of a man's love for his son and their survival. It is sad, brutal, uncompromising and not the kind of book you would pick up to uplift your spirits. It is no surprise to me that this book won The Pulitzer prize. The author has an incredible love and command of the English language that the book often times reads more like poetry. The protagonist has no name nor does his son, but that does not keep one from caring about their welfare. Life as we now know it, no longer exists, and all anyone is concerned with is survival. Period. It is such a beautiful read for such a bleak topic. Highly recommended. | 45 stars
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Breed 9 - Feline 5 - Megan's Mark
THE BOOK: She has no peace, cursed with the extraordinary power to feel other peoples' emotions distracted whenever they are near. Megan Fields dreams of being a cop and leaving the small community she grew up in; but her curse puts any officers around her in jeopardy. So she fulfills her dream in a remote corner of New Mexico, working as a small-town sheriff's deputy. Megan finds solace in doing what she loves and relief from the emotions of others in the silence and heat of her little corner of the desert. She can't get close to any man for the curse, but one breed, Feline Enforcer Braden Arness, offers her not only peace but passion, but will she surrender to it?Two Breeds dead on her watch; and someone is out to find Megan and they want her dead. Arrogant Feline Breed, Braden is sent to investigate the murders and with one scent and he senses what she mean to him,mate, and knows she is the perfect mate for a man whose very presence bring more danger and uncovers more secrets than either are willing to face. Megan fights the overwhelming desire to let down her guard and surrender to the heat and hunger that Braden unleashes within her. Braden has the patience to wait her out; but when the very evil bent on killing her forces them to work together, can either avoid the "mating frenzy" for long or will the killers that stalk her destroy them before they have the chance to mate as nature intended ...THE SERIES: This is the 9th book in a series of currently 26 books thus far. If you enjoy the genre you will find this book a good read within the series. This story line focuses on an extraordinary woman destined to mate an extraordinary Breed. The author notes on her website that the series was published over a few publishing houses, a couple of anthologies, and the series sequencing is hard to catch because titles are not set in true order and the mix between the different breeds makes for confusion in reading the titles. The sequencing on her website and the book descriptions are sketchy or incorrect. With this book however, I have noticed that Ms. Leigh has begun to pull the various disjointed threads of the series together and is finding her flow within it. I can also see her development of the three Breed lines' story and characters development more clearly and she is no relying so heavily on the erotic scenes to carry the story as her writing improves and these areas develop more fully. I have set my reviews by number and type for an order that was easier for my reading. I have read the series twice and as is my habit I don't review until the second read is done. I can recommend the series if you want a summer series to read and this book provides a good read.9 out of 10 Bookends | 34 stars
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Completely Enchanting
Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice is an account of society in the early nineteenth century. Austen primarily focuses on the ridiculous pressure to marry. She does an exquisite job satirizing or "poking fun" at the extreme views of those who lived during that time. She gives the reader a good look at how truly important first impressions are and how love can conquer all. Austen develops her main characters Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy, with very conflicting character traits. These conflicting traits allow the build up of tension between these two characters. This gives the novel a pleasant amount of intensity that leads to an ousting ending. Austen sucks you into a thoroughly enchanting world, making the novel impossible to put down. I recommend this novel to those who enjoy intellectual wit and have a soft heart for romance. Pride and Prejudice is a wonderfully endearing novel that is bound to touch women of every age. | 45 stars
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