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Wonderful innovation for readers
Since purchasing my Kindle in December, I've carried it with me everywhere, have read four books, and overall have been delighted with my purchase. For an English teacher who is short on time this time of year with essays and final exams to grade, to be able to do this much reading right now is a tribute to the usability of the product and my enjoyment of it; I love it. I've appreciated instant access to a dictionary while reading (along with an encyclopedia and google for detailed information on a topic) and being able to go from my Newsweek subscription to the books I'm reading without skipping a beat. Purchase downloads are basically instantaneous. I suspect this new product will find its way into the classroom at some point. I teach at a private high school where students are required to purchase their books. Imagine how much easier it would be to tote around a Kindle compared to cumbersome textbooks where highlighting and note-taking can happened just as easily on a Kindle without affecting resale value of a textbook. Complaints about this product are minor. I wish the cover images could be changed/updated when whispernet is on so that when the device is off, there are images of different authors besides the ones that come with the device. Based on how I hold the device, I sometimes wish I had Next Page buttons higher on the sides. | 45 stars
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Loving it...
i really love reading on the Kindle. the screen is amazing, it is nothing like reading on the computer screen or a netbook or the ipad, for that matter. this is a device for committed readers, it is a device committed solely to reading and nothing else, and as such, it does fulfill its function amazingly well. | 45 stars
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Boring and Ridiculous
This is the first Stuart Woods book I have read (listened to) and it will be my last. I thought it was lame and unbelieveable. I was irritated by Stone's alternating levity at inappropriate times, and pompous moralizing. The British accents were very amateur, and the voices muffled. Toward the end, I just laughed at how stupid the plot had become. | 01 star
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Explores the full gamut of the human psyche
Algonquin Bay, Ontario, in the depths of winter. Detective Sergeant John Cardinal, an investigator with the Algonquin Bay Police Department, is summoned to the site of a body found in the Manitou Islands. The victim's remains have decayed and been mutilated by animals, and are frozen in ice. They are the first tangible evidence in a string of disappearances, all involving young people, that has haunted the isolated community in recent months. He and his partner, Sergeant Lise Delorme, are assigned the case. Complicating matters, Delorme has been ordered to look into Cardinal's personal life, to discover just how it is that a small-town police officer can afford to send his daughter to Yale University to study art. And John Cardinal has other baggage: his wife Catherine has been institutionalized once again in the psychiatric wing of the local hospital, suffering from bipolar disease.In the course of his investigation Cardinal will wrestle with his feelings about his wife, cross paths with his arrogant superior, be drawn into a case that involves a secret from his past that will threaten to end his career, and look down the barrel of a crazed killer.In Forty Words for Sorrow Giles Blunt skillfully explores the full gamut of the human psyche. He lays bare the sordid souls and twisted thinking of sociopathic killers; but he also examines, with great sensitivity and insight, the range of emotions experienced by those who suffer from bipolar disorder, and family members who must somehow cope with their afflictions. His characters are believable and his protagonists, John Cardinal and Lise Delorme, are fresh and engaging. Forty Words for Sorrow is a deftly-constructed, literate tale. It has a puzzle at its heart, with sufficient police-procedural forensics to satisfy even the most intransigent CSI buff, and enough suspense to keep you reading until the final, gripping, conclusion. Despite his dark themes, you will want to read more by this author. | 34 stars
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A Difficult Morality Tale
Austen's prose is never less than excellent, but, as a story meant to engage, Mansfield Park falls short. Fanny Price is at the center of an intrigue about family, class, money and marriage that strives to teach us a lesson about the importance of character. There is a Cinderella plot, wherein Fanny is the neglected and often maligned niece living among wealthier and more socially prominent relatives. Her female cousins, Maria and Julia, and her dreaded Aunt Norris, are particularly unloving. As Fanny matures in this environment, she becomes extremely attached to her cousin Edmund, who, in showing a modicum of kindness to Fanny, wins her undying devotion. Edmund, who, as second son, is headed for the clergy, acts as a brother/moral mentor to Fanny. The two of them must become an ethical bulwark against the many evils that begin to swirl around the family with the arrival in Mansfield of the questionable Crawford siblings, Mary and Henry, at the same time that the family patriarch, the only hope for a general guidance towards good behavior, is called away on business. As long as it takes Austen to set up this scenario, the novel does have promise at this point.I won't detail the rest of the plot, as many other reviewers have already done, but I will note that the promise of interest embodied by the ill-fated play and the intrigue-laden trip to Sotherton are never really delivered upon. What eventually drags the novel down is the attenuated beating taken by both Fanny and reader, before we are mercifully led to the (somewhat obvious) conclusion of the story. Fanny's morality seems to be tightly bound up with being humorless, tearful, miserable, physically and verbally weak, and basically a martyr. For the herione, duty and familial love trump all else, and any shortfall of her ideal is viewed with shock and horror. The immorality of the villains, on the other hand, is associated with wit, playfulness, sexual attractions, and fun, as well as the usual avarice and deception. The sheer dogged, unrelenting goodness, of Fanny especially, starts to feel like a prison, from which others' soulless frolicking looks quite enjoyable. Fanny and Edmund are punished for their stronger characters throughout, until about the last fifty pages of the novel, when all is turned around a bit too quickly, and goodness is rewarded while badness is banished. But the rewards, such as they are, are so perfunctory and late-coming, that they hardly seem worth it. | 23 stars
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A New Perspective on an Important Issue
I am so glad this book came out. From the day I set forth in college, I knew I was not college material. Based on circumstances, I was led to feel inferior if I had not gotten a degree. We have treated college degrees as status symbols when for the most part, we have more to learn about life than how to study for a test in college. The stories the author has about famous people who did not go to college and succeeded anyway made me realize that we all have opportunities to change our destinies. Not having a formal college education would be another excuse for not pursuing a dream. | 34 stars
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Intelligent Sci-Fi
If you've enjoyed Michael Crichton's Jurassic Parc and Greg Bear's Darwin's Radio, this book is for you!A very clever, well-constructed, well researched thriller that combines fast paced action, plenty of surprising turns and solid science with a whole range of philosophical reflections on who we are as humans and where our place in the world really is.This book kept its spot high on the best seller lists in Germany for a long time and maybe the raised finger of the environmental agenda as well as a latent anti-americanism might appeal more to a European than an American audience. It is nevertheless one of the best sci-fi thrillers I have managed to lay my hands on in quite a while. I cound not put it down and actually found myself dragging the 1000 page volume along with me wherever I went for a week or so. | 45 stars
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Could not pick it up
Instead of not being able to put it down, I was not able to pick it up. The dialog did not flow at all, the plot did not seem to work. I have enjoyed her past work, but this book prompted me to write this review, and pack up this book and sell it or donate it to a used book store. | 01 star
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Close, but not quite
The book was full of great facts about alcohol and the teenage brain. If you are a parent of a teenager who is at risk of alcoholism or even a parent who is looking to inform themselves on the subject, it's a good book. However, if you are a parent currently dealing with a teenager with a drinking problem, this book will leave you wanting. Chris didn't see Toren's drinking as a problem until he checked himself into rehab at 24. Chris does give ideas of what to try with your teen, but she didn't actually deal with trying to get a teenage drinker sober. While a great resource, it won't provide you with that. | 12 stars
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Well Plotted, convicing
Inspector Banks is such a enjoyable character thats there's no way you can go wrong with 'Innocent Graves'. The story is well written intertwinning the suspects to keep you guessing. Here's hoping that more people discover and enjoy Mr. Robinson's books... | 34 stars
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Would love it more if it was a touch
I got my Kindle for Christmas, have been waiting for it to be available in Canada, and am finally able to have it...thank you Amazon!. The only improvements I would love to see on the next edition would be a touch screen as I am constantly touching the screen to try to get it to do what I want it to. With technology as it is and with most of the products on the market already touch I am trying to make my kindle do what I want it to by touch and it has been a learning to use the 5 way controler. Internet access in Canada would also be an asset, although I am sure with future software upgrades that will also not be an issue. Thank you again Amazon for finally making wispernet available in Canada, I have already downloaded my first book in under 10 seconds and it was amazing! | 45 stars
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Wonderful
Burroughs writing style combined with the honor and elegant way in which the characters conduct themselves has me hooked on this series of books. | 45 stars
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A great book that everyone can understand.
Several years ago, I was seeking to understand the principals behind the Law of Attraction, and how our thoughts can change things. I read, or tried to read, books on Quantum Physics, and got lost in the complicated science. When I read The Intention Experiment, I was so excited; it was the first time I understood in a straight forward understandable language, the power of our Intentions. It is not just our thinking but our heartfelt intentions that create our reality. Lynne has written a book that everyone can understand, and she backs up her theory with experiments, and, in her first edition, invited readers to take part in experiments. There are volumes of Scientific Books that will teach you the principals of quantum physics if you have the time to wade through the jargon, and complicated language. If you want a straight forward, understandable, explanation of how your thoughts can change your life, I highly recommend this book. | 45 stars
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Nabokov as a teen-age girl (possibly on speed)
Most readers will find this novel either extremely annoying or exhilarating. The first group will throw down the book before finishing the first 50 pages. Count me in the second group. Pessl's writing is prodigious, funny, moving, and extremely original. I listened to the version available on Audible, which has an engaging narrator but which suffers from the disadvantage that it is hard for a listener to turn back to earlier pages and check plot details that turn out to be crucial. No matter. Reading or listening to the novel is an astonishing and wonderful experience.The plot is complicated, a fact that will not be apparent until readers are well into the novel. Readers' initial impressions will be dominated by the novel's exuberant style, filled with clever, sometimes overwrought, and often very funny analogies, similes, and turns of phrase. The narrator is an appealing, blindingly smart and well-read, but vulnerable seventeen-year-old who describes the events of her senior year in high school. She has been raised by an idiosyncratic, brilliant, and intellectually snobbish father (her mother is long deceased), who moves from one temporary college posting to another. The narrator seems unaware that her father's nomadic academic existence is both strange and at odds with her view of him as a highly regarded political scientist. I'm afraid many readers, who know little of the niceties of academic life, will also miss this crucial point. They will for most of the novel accept the father in the light in which he is viewed by his teen-age daughter.The novel contains a number of intentionally hackneyed elements. It is a coming-of-age high school yarn, told from the perspective of a shy, somewhat awkward and sexually inexperienced outsider, who is inexplicably taken up by the Bluebloods, a group of arrogant school insiders who are the envy of most of the student body. It is also the story of a passionate, complicated relationship between a powerful, brilliant father and a smart but nave daughter, told from the perspective of the maturing daughter. This story is brilliantly told, for it only emerges gradually through the novel as readers learn that the high school yarn is not the center of the plot. Finally, the novel is a mystery story, although it is not clear whether any crime has actually been committed.Many readers who admire the novel will be struck by the wit, humor, and momentum of the highly original style. This is certainly an element that kept me listening. What I like even more is the appealing portrait that emerges of the narrator. The novel contains the moving story of a vulnerable teen-age girl as she learns some strange truths about the people who are closest to her. | 45 stars
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Loved it so much, I bought extra copies!
I heard about this book from a yoga friend and got a copy from her once she was done reading. From page one I knew I would be hard-pressed to put the book down! I laughed out loud, cried out loud and couldn't stop talking about this book. I actually ordered 5 extra copies for friends and family and they all feel the same way. It's got something that every woman can relate to and Elizabeth Gilbert writes in such a way that you almost feel you are having a conversation with her. I highly recommend this book! | 45 stars
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A beautiful and touching book
I am excited to share my opinion about this new novel, and new writer who I discovered a few weeks ago, after hearing his novel reviewed on NPR.I loved this book. The narration was touching and light-hearted. Maybe not as funny as I would have liked in places, but it definitely kept me hooked and moving forward.I loved the scenes with the father. Red Weather has truly captured -- at least in my opinion -- the essence of the father-son relationship. It was a book that reminded me of my own dad (recently passed away). I could hear his voice in the father's voice, and that was tremendously moving to me.When I logged on, I noticed that one reviewer, in particular, took objection to a couple things here and there in the book. It seems funny to me to take objection to small factual mistakes in a novel; everything in a novel is subjective, right? Did these characters actually exist? Of course not. Why would you imagine that everything they say would be perfectly accurate? It's the heart of the details that matter!And Toutonghi's attention to detail is wonderful. I did a little bit of simple research and noticed that he got his MFA in poetry -- not fiction -- from Cornell University. So: his work is hardly the derivative product of an MFA program.A funny book! I really loved it. | 45 stars
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Too repetitive, otherwise good
This book presented some interesting theories, facts, and data. The only downside I found was the repetitive writing style. Take this book, boil down to 50% of its existing size, and it would be one of the best reads of the year.Michael T. Hanley, CPA is the Managing Partner of the Smithtown, NY CPA Firm, Merl & Hanley, LLP and the author of Effective Tax Planning for the MicroBusiness: 30 Minutes With...A Certified Public Accountant: Effective Tax Planning for the MicroBusiness | 23 stars
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Wonderful Read
As usual, Beverly Jenkins has not dissappointed me. Whenever I read her books, I have great expectations and they were fulfilled. I'm looking forward to her next novel. | 45 stars
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idea's there, but GUI sucks
the idea is great, but the graphic user interface has to go... let go of those ridiculous buttons and BS excessive borders around the screen... cut away all the excess and just use an iPhone touch interface... can't wait for Steve Job's version of the most Advanced Mobile device that uses the same, perhaps even more advanced, technology but with a touch of class, elegance and aesthetics... now that's a device worth drowning your wallet into... :) | 01 star
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Many levels
Unlike many recent reviewers, I like this book very much. Like most Anne Tyler books, it has many levels. I think that there is a reason for the stereotypes she reiterates - most people do not leave their heritage behind when they immigrate. Perhaps total integration into America was not possible - nor desirable - for the Iranian family. I found it interesting that the American family retained the Korean name of the baby they adopted (and insisted on her wearing traditional Korean garb), while the Iranian family changed their child's name to a very American name and dressed her as an American. Surely this is worthy of contemplation. I think that Anne Tyler is saying many things in this book - it simply is not possible nor desirable for many to totally assimilate, nor is it healthy to retain every custom from their birthplaces. This is not a book about international adoption (pro or con), but about the ways that people see themselves when they are and become Americans. I liked Dave the best - he seemed to endure the absurdity of many of his daughter's actions and to see beyond the backgrounds to the people themselves. | 34 stars
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Love the publication, but it's hard to read on the Kindle
This publication is an awesome investment resource. But, I found it difficult to read on the Kindle. It looks like everything is displaying properly- It may just be that I'm old-fasioned and used to getting the actual paper. | 12 stars
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Kindle
I Love my Kindle! It is so easy to use and so portable. The only thing I wish it had was a light so I could read in darkened rooms! I bought one for myself and one as a gift! | 45 stars
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A wonderfully twisted world...
Mix magic, monsters, demons, government agencies, and hackers, toss in some Lovecraft and Len Deighton and you have the most dangerously wonderful, twisted, wild, weird book to ever drop into your hands. Bob Howard's job seems simple - keep the world from being destroyed. The problem is that something like that could be caused by a person just doing the math wrong or an enemy doing the math right. Monsters, aliens, governments, shadow organizations, terrorists, and, yes, Nazis. Well, you know they are always going to pop up. This is the first book by Mr. Charles Stross I have had the pleasure to read, but as I have a small stock pile of his books in my library, it will not be the last! If you liked this may I also suggestDelta Green: Denied to the Enemy (A Call of Cthulhu Mythos Novel of World War II). | 45 stars
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Returned it and buying another Sony Reader
I replaced my Sony Reader with a hipper new Amazon Kindle, and I'm totally disappointed. The Kindle has a few good ideas, but it is terribly executed. I'm returning it today (something Amazon is making pleasant enough) and buying another Reader.Read on for more detail...About 6 months ago, I bought a used Sony Portable Reader from a friend of a friend. I travel a lot, and have a lot of open-format stuff I wanted to read (pdfs, html manuals, etc). I've always through electronic ink was interesting technology, and buying used appealed to my cheaper inclinations.Fast forward to a a month ago, and having an electronic book has changed my life. The Sony fits in my bag nicely, reading it is quite pleasant, and I can easily carry 50 books with me at any time. It has changed the way I read, allowing me to have several books going at once and switch between them based on my mood, something I used to do in high school. libprs500 (now Calibre) is pleasant to use on the mac and open source. I even used the Sony software to buy a few closed-format bestsellers at reasonable prices.Unfortunately, my Reader broke, possibly due to it's previous owner or just due to being dropped. It will no longer hold a charge or boot properly. I took it apart, following helpful Flickr directions for prs-505 disassembly, but to no avail. If anyone has a project that would benefit from the eink components, which seem undamaged, let me know.Since I have a vacation coming up, and I'd so enjoyed the experience of having one, I decided to replace it. And being a consummate gadget shopper, I went looking for other options. I settled on the Kindle as the most advanced option, attracted by it having internet access and a way to buy and load books that would require Windows. So I went ahead and primed one.I received it the morning I left for a trip to New York on Acela. This gave me some time to get started using it. My first reaction is that it is really bulky. It barely fits into the pouch of my laptop bag, while the Reader is about the same size as the Moleskine I keep there all the time. The Kindle came with a leather cover, but it doesn't really fit into it well, and that just ads more bulk. The cover has a big elastic to hold it closed The on/off switch is on the back, where it is blocked by the cover. In contrast, the Reader has a cover that clips on, is held closed by magnets, and a switch on the top that is easy to access. Unlike the Sony, the Kindle doesn't really charge of USB, so you have to carry a silly power brick.The Kindle could survive all these misfeatures, if the reading experience were good. It is not. I don't know how they tested this thing, but anyone with normal sized hands can't find a way to hold it without accidentally hitting buttons. They claim it can be held with both hands, but I have to rest it on a surface, or hold it gingerly with my right hand only. The big fear of the designers seems to have been that people couldn't find the next page button, so they made it take up one whole side. A second next page button and a previous page button consume the other side. Which means if you want to hold the book naturally in one hand, you are going to accidentally palm those buttons, and lose your place.The keyboard, which is necessary to make the buying and web experience possible, also takes up a lot of space on the device and risks accidental key presses. There is really only one point on the front of the device you can safely rest your thumb. And holding the same position for long periods of reading isn't any fun.On the bright side, the EVDO is a cool feature, and I like the idea of devices that come with infinite bandwidth. The scroll-wheel menu interface is also good, certainly better than the Sony ten-button menu interface. But these don't make up for the difficult reading experience. And with a new iPhone coming, I'll have a portable web browser anyway. I just need my electronic book to be a good book, not a digital convergence device.I'd love to see a better E-Ink book than the Sony Reader. But the first generation Kindle is certainly not it. Don't buy one. | 01 star
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Excellent reference and enjoyable read.
Exceptionally well written and accessible. How does anyone encapsulate 4000 years of history - Johnson has managed it. At times provocative while still remaining informative. It's take on the early Christian era is distincly Judaic and for this period I would suggest refering to the compelling "THE Autobiography of Jesus of Nazareth..." by Richard Patton which stands outside Judaic AND Christian politics. For all that "A history of the Jews" is precisely that and answers many questions both for the Jew and Gentile. The more people can know about each others cultures, the less aggression there will be and this book is a prime example of the need for inter-cultural communication. | 34 stars
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Enchanting (in a dark sort of way)
It is a good read and an excellent story. Venus in Furs is a classic that should be read more often; the story captures your attention to the point were you just don't want to put it down. However, it is not for those with closed minds or those who are faint of heart (or unflexible morals). | 34 stars
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Loved this Novel
I know that this novel has over 50 Reviews , but I wanted to add my compliments to the Author. This book grabbed me from page one and never let go. For me the Hallmark of a great novel is that I think of the story even wehn I am not reading. This novel met that Hallmark. I could not understand why these upstanding men of the community would beat that young woman's face to a pulp at the beginning of the novel. The author gave ne enough "possible" scenarios to keep me reading and wondering right up until the end.Well Done!! | 45 stars
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Call it as it is
It would be difficult to give this book more praise than it has already received. It is a very well written, moving, uplifting, and altogether rewarding read.Having said that I wanted to add a comment about 'literature' and literary critics. Most of the critics have jumped on this book as McCarythy's best, but if you read the reviews none of them seem to want to mention that this is not only SciFi, it is in the specific genre of post-apocalyptic SciFi. Kurt Vonnegut once made the observation that literary critics put all SciFi in the same drawer and then used the drawer as a urinal. This is high literature and it is high SciFi. Read it and enjoy and ignore what critics say; if they had any talent they would get a real job. | 45 stars
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Kindle 2
[[ASIN: Kindle: Amazon's 6" Wireless Reading Device (Latest Generation)]]I love the Kindle 2 and am enjoying it very much. My only suggestion is that a password be required for making orders, that way if the Kindle was lost and one didn't notice immediately it would not be likely anyone could buy Kindle products. | 45 stars
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Good deal
Like the author, and the kindle version is handy. We read a lot of cussler. This makes the purchase quit easy | 34 stars
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Ebook Sense and Sensibility
I had the book within 5 minutes of ordering. I really enjoyed the movie and thought reading the book would be a good idea. So far, it's very good. | 45 stars
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Somewhat disappointed
After reading the great reviews, I was really looking forward to this book. But I was disappointed. The author's prose was excellent, and the story well conceived. But the only compelling character happens to be the victim, Dr. Diana Duprey, whose story is told through flashbacks. She is a multi-layered and very interesting character. Her husband Frank is bland, and her daughter Megan is a spoiled brat. I wanted to reach out and choke her halfway through the book. The "romance," if you can call it that, between Megan and the detective seemed unnecessary and not believable. I also saw the ending coming a mile away. I kept waiting for a twist at the end, but it didn't come. | 12 stars
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Unleash the Night
This was a fast read, the story was great and Kenyon introduced us to a few new "people". I missed Ash in this book, his name was mentioned only twice. We did get to know Savitor a little bit, I'm starting to think he is somehow related to Ash (brother...maybe?), Savitor's powers are somewhat similiar but not as strong. I'm getting closer to Ash's story, the anticipation is killing me. Kenyon has built us a world within a world and it just keeps growing. She could entertain us for years to come with all of our "new friends"! | 45 stars
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Albert: The Romantic Physicist
While separated from wife #1, Mileva, Albert wrote to her a completely one-sided contract of reconciliation (p 267). When she accepted his terms, he backed out because she didn't show proper appreciation for his "generous" offer. During this time, he was having an affair with Elsa (eventual 2nd wife), but this was muddied when he also fell in love with Elsa's daughter, Ilse. Being a little more wishy-washy in romance than he was in physics, he let the women work it out as to who he was going to marry! They decided on Elsa. Many years later, Elsa allowed him to carry on an affair twice a week with a certain woman as long as he remained chaste otherwise. As Albert wrote in a poem to a friend, "the upper half thinks and plans, but the lower half determines our fate."Thanks to Overbye's superb research, we are presented with a history of Albert (as the author always calls him) directly from letters and documents mostly written by Einstein himself. Not by any means limited to his romantic life, we are treated to an in-depth discussion of how he worked his physics out. For example, far from isolated while a patent clerk in his miracle year of 1905, he was actively corresponding with several other physicists, editing scientific journals and conducting "think tanks" about theoretical physics with friends, including wife #1, Mileva. Most of his adult life, he conducted an active social life centered around these think tanks with revolving membership, sometimes involving entertaining others with his excellent violin playing, and frequently women. When he landed his first teaching job, he was unpleasantly surprised by the time and effort it took to compose a decent a comprehensible set of lectures. He toiled conscientiously over his talks, eventually becoming a sought after keynote speaker who would lecture two hours daily for several days at prestigious conventions about subjects involving aspects of relativity.Overbye has written a brilliantly insightful book that brings into focus Albert's creative and unique approach to physics along with his sometimes "teen-ager in love" approach to romance. Scattered throughout the book are first hand looks at many famous scientists of the day, including other Nobel prize winners in their correspondence and first hand interactions with the charming Einstein. If I must criticize this book, it does seem to end rather abruptly, and covers the last 25 years of his life in very few pages. Perhaps another book is lurking in Overbye's mind for these years, for which there are undoubtedly volumes of more correspondence from the prolific Albert Einstein. A very enthusiastic 5 stars for this exhilarating read. | 45 stars
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good read
very entertaining, unusual plot, only the romance was easy to guess, looking forward to reading further books in the series | 34 stars
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A Brilliant Masterpiece
This book was a slight drag at first in the first part, but the ending is remarkable and sheds a new light on charles Dickens' work. It is sure a masterpiece. Its portrayal of love, death, hope, misery, and so much more is quite striking. It is definitely one of the best books I have ever come across. | 45 stars
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Gentle Toward Religion
Dennett's "Breaking the Spell" is nice catalog of ideas proposing how religion came into being. He is obviously fluent with the literature and those who publish it, and he isn't too dogmatic. For example, he lets us know he is a Bright and doesn't have a belief in God--but he doesn't belittle those who do. He sends up all kinds of weather balloon ideas and demands that Christians be willing to examine their ideas and beliefs objectively and scientifically.Another aspect of the book I appreciated was his conclusion that moderates in all religious creeds should police themselves. Name and denounce the crazies in your religion or those pretending to be with you while besmirching the group's name. Some churches have a policy of excommunication; and although it is usually flawed, that policy would be very helpful in dealing with the fanatics that hide in every organized religion.I would have preferred stronger language regarding the potential harm that even "innocuous" religions do by inculcating their unreasoned beliefs into children and teens, but I hope to see that in Sam Harris' "End of Faith" (one of my next books). Make no mistake. This is a fairly academic book; and though Dennett mostly succeeds in making his ideas amenable to laypeople, it will still require a few neurons to grasp his concepts. | 34 stars
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Night and Day (Jesse Stone)- Robert B. Parker
--I love These series of books by Robert B Parker. Even bought the DVDs to go with them. The language is a bit abrupt and I don't care for the "F' word either. so be aware of theat. Fulll of suspense and intrigue. keeps me glued to the book until I finish reading it. | 45 stars
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Undead Sex and the City
This book is a fun read, if a bit flawed in places. I got a kick out of the main character's personality and her horrified reaction upon waking up dead in a bad suit and cheap shoes. The secondary characters were likeable as well. Sinclair, the 'love' interest is sexy and witty without being overbearing. There were a couple of things, though, that made me cringe inwardly, like the author's overuse of exclamation points. Also, for a character who is supposed to be up-to-the-minute fashion and trend conscious, some of the slang was rather out of date. She also has a sometimes funny, sometimes infantile habit of mangling people's names (Sinclair becomes Sink Lair, etc.) that reminded me too much of grade school. Overall, though, it's worth reading and you'll most likely laugh out loud a few times. If you like romantic vamp fiction, this book is a refreshing change from Laural K. Hamilton's ultraserious and way oversexed recent novels. In this, you'll find nothing but some fun, some sex, and a deep love for shoes. | 34 stars
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Grim, but beautiful
This is possibly the saddest novel I have ever read. I have been thinking about it ever since I finished it. Few novels have evoked so much emotion in me. Tess makes me feel sad, frustrated, and angry.Tess of the Durbervilles is the story of Tess Durbeyfield, the daughter of poor, alcoholic parents who learn that they are of a noble bloodline and send Tess off to work for her noble "cousin" Alec Durberville. While there, Alec rapes Tess and she has his illegitimate baby. This event ruins Tess's life. She is no longer pure, and virginal, and therefore brings shame upon her true love Angel Clare when her past is revealed.It is hard to believe, in this day and age, that Tess is shamed and ostracized because she was the victim of a horrible crime. Hardy's novel is a powerful statement on the questionable morality of Victorian society. Tess, who is a heroic, brave, caring, selfless woman, is not worthy of Angel because she is somehow impure due to the rape. Angel, who has lived with a woman out of wedlock and is clearly not a virgin himself, feels justified in punishing Tess when he learns of her past.The writing is beautiful, but the story tragic. It will stay with you a long time. | 34 stars
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Good fun!
Second in the Boise, Idaho, writers series, this one was good fun and very entertaining. I really enjoyed the relationship between Clare and Sebastian and their families and friends. | 45 stars
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This is an UNFORGETTABLE book!
This uncensored collection of deeply funny and moving scenes from the life of a modern-day Southern belle will pull a laugh right up out of your belly, while at the same time you're shaking your head and saying, "Yes! Isn't that just how Life is?" Susan Reinhardt is not afraid to lay bare her own soul, fearlessly sharing some painful spots along with the fun ride. The result is unforgettable. | 45 stars
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Kindle 6" Global-Latest Gen
Am enjoying my Kindle far more than expected. Have taken it on two vacations recently; was very pleased with the size, portability, and ease of reading both indoors and out. Download time is incredibly fast, reading selection is amazing, and adjustable font size is great. Not impressed with magazine subscriptions: articles are good, photos are acceptable, but screen appearance of tabled information is lacking (too small to read the content.) | 45 stars
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Entertaining but the tone is a bit 'off'
I enjoyed reading and learning more about Walt Disney. Some other reviewers mention errors, but I'm afraid I don't know enough about the man to have recognized any myself. It was fun to learn more about Walt, his background, his struggles and achievements.One thing I didn't appreciate was the tone of the writer, often sounding a little condescending towards his subject. I don't expect the writer of a biography to be unduly deferential, or referential, towards the person they are writing about - I expect them to sound completely neutral - but the writer here often sounded as though he was looking at / describing Walt Disney from above. It's hard to put my finger on - it was just a little 'off'.There may be a better biography of Walt Disney out there - in any case, this one passed the time well and was entertaining. It's a heavy book and provides lots of hours reading - lots of bang for your buck... lots of book for your buck | 34 stars
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MMM Review
A very good read; the software profession is still very young in terms of expecting the system architect to also be the code builder. Imagine handing a building architect a hammer and nail after drafting the construction blueprints...two dependent but distinct professions. This book clearly supports this view. | 45 stars
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Disappointed over the friendly skies
Believe it or not, this book was listed as a Christian Romance! If you are not easily offended, this book may entertain you. Montana is trying to get married to please her mother, and she will sleep with just about anything! Her fellow flight attendant enjoys inappropriately rubbing male customers to make them "happy" and another friend is a he-male, they all use horrid language and insult each other frequently. I was sorry I paid money for trash like this and I wanted to warn other readers what is lurking in these pages! | 01 star
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Very disappointing.
I have never read an Iris Johansen book that I didn't like...until this one. The characters were never developed and were unbelievable. Sophie is supposedly a genius researcher and a doctor. MacDuff is a Scottish laird who's background we never learn about. Two gorgeous killers who we're supposed to empathize with. The list goes on.I forced my way through the book, what a waste of time. I'll think twice before I read another one. Hopefully this was an anomoly. | 01 star
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Pretty Depressing (and Ahead of Its Time)
I've recently gone back to reading the classics, and this one didn't disappoint, although there are other Hardy novels I prefer. "Tess of the d'Urbervilles" is a story of love, separation, and heartbreak, rather like "Wuthering Heights" and "Dr. Zivago". For a modern love story containing these themes, check out Sophie Simons'l'Amour, available on Kindle. | 45 stars
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Glad I read it
This is a good book. It's true, as some of the negative reviews point out, that it is a bit "Buddhism for Dummies", but though I've read a lot of Buddhist literature and meditated with others at a local Zen Center, I guess I'm also still a "dummy". It makes the teachings accessible, and there's nothing wrong with that. It's worth the time it takes to read it. | 34 stars
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Once Upon A Town
This book is an easy read. I had a hard time putting it down because some of the names of people interviewed were familiar. I grew up in North Platte so the places mentioned were also familiar. It was interesting to learn more about the town than I had ever known. When I was growing up, I had heard it was a pretty rough town earlier - a "Little Chicago". So I was encouraged to hear about all the good that was done through the Canteen. Thanks to Bob Greene for taking time to talk to the people who helped with the Canteen and the soldiers who experienced it and write their stories down. | 45 stars
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Hard Reading but Lessons Learned
This was perhaps the most rewarding historical book I should have read when I should've been paying attention in school. :-)In clear terms, GATES OF FIRE was extremely well-written but held its captivity of readership sometimes with a little bit of a struggle. That would mean getting accustomed to the many foreign nouns and pronouns which run throughout its entirety, and therefore careful reading is advised to keep up with perhaps the most fascinating historical accounts of bravery versus tyranny. One cannot but be awestruck by such a noble warrior culture with a very profound sense of self-sufficiency, independence and an outright conviction of individual responsibilities, communal harmony, family, discipline, and sheer determination to stand against evil and succeed.This is an overwhelmingly exceptional work, but requires a studious and attentive mind. Parents are encouraged to promote this work with their respective school systems to include GATES OF FIRE into the history curriculum. | 34 stars
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Love it
I did order two Kindle ebooks, one for me and another one for my 18 years old daughter. I was worry that she wouldn't like it, because she texts a lot, but not read. For my amusement, she loves it and started to read books. I love my Kindle: any book downloaded in seconds. I actually bought Sony ereader before Kindle, but returned it. Sony ereader is not wireless and cost of ebooks is 3-5 times more than amazon's Kindle. Only reason I gave 4 stars is: I wish it was built in light for night reading. | 34 stars
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Updated Kindle review 4 months later...
I keep reading bad reviews posted by folks who obviously DONT own a kindle. I decided to respond to one that seems to sum up most of them..."The product has considerable drawbacks, any one of which is a deal-breaker.1. Black and white display "Um, its a BOOK reader, designed to look and feel like reading a book. How many books you know of have multi-colored fonts on every page?"2. No WiFi, uses EVDO instead like the cell phone network (EVDO is slower than WiFi, and WiFi works in more places in urban environments)"Again, your off your rocker on that one. If your stealing WiFi from some poor shlub who neglected to set WEP or WPA security, then shame on you! But most places simply do not have WiFi thats free and open to use. I live in Maryland and the only place that has it reliably is McDonalds, and it costs per hour. EVDO works simply everywhere, even in my basement where I dont get cell service."3. Integrated book purchasing system locking you to a provider "Yeah, this proves your NOT an owner. You can buy from MOBI or any other dealer that supports sending the unencrypted-non-DRM books thru amazon. MOBI supports this directly and even flags books that are NOT kindle compatable. Also you can convert into MOBI format (which the kindle will read just fine) about anything you desire and USB it in or have amazon send it in."4. Difficult/impossible to read non-DRM or free books (Project Gutenberg) I already own in text and PDF formats "Again, get a FREE copy of MOBI creator and change the format to MOBI, upload and read. Of course you know that all the other ebook readers out there have the same issues, and some are actually more limiting than the kindle is due to NO MOBI support at all."I mean, really, are you guys joking? Other than the e-ink display, this thing looks like technology that has already failed in the marketplace. Twice. "Failed is a hard term when the numbers dont support it. If a product is truly failing, the price would come down, not up."Look, if I'm going to pay $400 for it, I should never have to pay for it ever again. If it's tied to a service, then I have to pay for that service. Note that there's nothing wrong with *including* a service. But if I MUST use that service to make the thing work, then it fails."at $399, the kindle is smack in the middle of ebook reader prices, which go as high as $799. To make an analogy for you: If you buy a bookshelf lined with gold that cost you $399, you would expect your local bookstore to keep it filled with your choices for free because you own the bookshelf. Thats how poor it sounds when you demand free books for life."On the other hand, if this was:a) Color (E-Ink technology has not advanced this far yet)b) WiFi (Lock out more than half the US from using it)c) Using standard technologies like a web browser (Firefox, upgradeable too) (Buy a laptop already, this is an EBOOK reader)d) Capable of reading common formats (PDF) without paying a dime (It is)e) $400 (Sure, amazon can raise the price if you like)"Then I'd absolutely buy one right now. No question about it. ""So, Amazon, call us back when you make these adjustments. Because that's the minimum feature set required to make such a device worth owning."They called me, and now I have a kindle thats worth owning :)UPDATE TO REVIEW:I wanted to take a moment from my normal diatribe to update my review a bit. First, the negative.....THE CASE BLOWS. Im not kidding, it really does. While it is a top quality case, soft lining, sttched soft leather and good quality overall, the design of the case is what gets me. The Kindle is in no way clipped or locked into the case, it is basicly free-floating. There are no clips, bands or any sort of attachment on the outer edge, only on the 'spine' and thus if not secured with the elastic baqnd, your kindle will fall out of the case and smash on the floor. This is very important when handing your kindle to non-owners (the 'OOH, can i see that' crowd) whom have no idea about the case design and fully expect it to be mounted inside.SOLUTION: Velcro to the rescue ! I placed a velcro dot on the back of the kindle, and the matching part on the inside of the case, problem solved :)I also wanted to mention that I have located a plethora of free software to convert all types of ebook formats to PDF, which I can then easily send to amazon to translate (for free of course) or just run through Mobi Creator. While Most of what I have is already in PDF format, I found it quite easy to move my collection over to my kindle.Update:This is my second review on the kindle, mind you this review is specific to how the kindle uses its battery power.The manual states you should put it in sleep mode when not using, as it will do that by itself after about 10 minutes of inactivity. This is a good thingand under normal circumstances the battery will last about a week with no wifi use.The problem comes in when you have a SD card inserted. I have a 2 gig card in place and a lot of things on it. It appears that the power consumption to run the SD card is never truly shut off, even in sleep mode so after but 2 days my Kindle is exhausted of power, even though it was not used at all.I highly suggest storing books on your SD card and using it to access them when you need, but move them to the kindle memory for reading, rather than just leave the card in place. | 45 stars
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Another beautiful example of why Dennis Lehane rocks.
Dennis Lehane, Gone, Baby, Gone (Morrow, 1998)Lehane clocks in with the fourth novel in the Kenzie and Gennaro series with his most intricate plot and satisfying novel so far. In this one, Kenzie and Gennaro are bullied into taking the case of a missing four-year-old by the girl's aunt. The mother seems not to care much about her child's whereabouts when she's not in front of the TV cameras, preferring to watch television and drink beer with her best friend and next door neighbor. What's already an atypical missing persons case gets weirder and weirder as Kenzie and Gennaro, working with a couple of Boston cops named Poole and Broussard, peel off layer after layer that links the case to organized crime, drug dealing, a two-hundred-thousand dollar heist, and imprisoned renegade mob boss Cheese Olamon, a schoolyard acquaintance of Kenzie's.While the moralizing of A Drink Before the War is back (though far more subdued here) and Lehane seems to buy into the urban myth of the ever-present Child Molester on Every Corner, such concerns for the intent of the author tend to fall by the wayside when a mystery is so intricately plotted. Red herrings fly thick and fast, the case twists and turns with startling frequency, no one is in any way happy, and ghosts of old cases the two have worked return to haunt them with regularity as they bump heads over and over again with higher-ups in the Boston and state police departments. It is the skill with which the mystery is plotted, and Lehane's affable writing style, that keeps this book from falling into the one-trick-pony trap of a Jonathan Kellerman or an Andrew Vachss. Lehane finally made a solid name for himself with the success of Mystic River two years ago; here's to hoping fans of that novel will come back and discover the Kenzie and Gennaro novels, some of the best neo-noir writing there is to be had today. **** | 34 stars
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Makes a all-too-often painful subject approachable...
Let's face it... Reading a book on UML in far too many cases is akin to poking your eye with a sharp stick. You only feel good when you stop. Therefore, any book that can make the whole subject of UML more readable has my commendations. And UML DeMystified by Paul Kimmel falls into this category...Contents: A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Lines of Code; Start at the Beginning with Use Cases; Diagramming Features as Processes; Discovering Behaviors with Interaction Diagrams; What Are the Things That Describe My Problem?; Showing How Classes Are Related; Using State Chart Diagrams; Modeling Components; Fit and Finish; Visualizing Your Deployment Topology; Final Exam; Selected Bibliography; IndexKimmel takes a subject that can be overloaded with lofty terminology and concepts, and boils it down to applicable, tangible examples. You'll learn the most critical parts of UML, such as use case diagramming and process flow diagrams. I'm sure people who make a living doing analysis with UML might think that the material is over-simplified, but that's the benefit of it. Most developers are not going to live in the world of UML. It's a communication tool that is designed to help convey design, not the actual system itself. Kimmel's approach removes the jargon, strips out the esoteric items that are more academic in nature, and focuses on the parts that actually benefit a project 95% of the time. Using a conversational tone with plenty of illustrations and practical examples, he allows the reader to soak in the information without getting bogged down in minutiae. This would be a good starter text for developers being exposed to UML for the first time. They'll understand what is trying to be accomplished, and they can refer back to the material over time to reinforce the concepts. | 45 stars
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Where's Part TWO?!
I liked the book, but its not what I thought it would be. I really wish Queen Pen will hurry up with part two...Its been about five or six years already. SMH! I need to find out what happens next. | 23 stars
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Low quality, below expectations
This is poorer than I expected. the Financial Times is much better and lower in price too. This WSJ is not the real WSJ in any sense to me. | 12 stars
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A nice paranormal story
Albeit this book is a paranormal story is not eerie or spooky at any time. The love story is different from other books because it starts backwards -they're going to marry and Elly decides to jilt Cooper. This is written in the third page of the book.In the other hand you'll read about a futuristic planet far far away. | 45 stars
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Love this!
Love the item. I carry it every day to work.Holding it for a long time, I think it is a little heavy.personally, I wish it would be a little bit smaller without the alphabet buttons, which I do not need as I make purchase thru PC.Free samples' very handy! I simply use it as my shopping cart or a reminder for next purchase.(Is there a function to "keep in the cart" for Kindle books??)Maybe, a smaller size would be more appealing to Japanese market. I had my friends carry it and most of them (especially girls) had the same opinion.Hope it would compatible with Japanse books/fonts in near future! Such function would be great also for the Japanese residing abroad. | 34 stars
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What's the point?
Frankly, I looked this up tonight expecting to see a divided reaction to this, and am thus rather shocked at the glowing reviews from the overwhelming majority. I can only ask, what exactly does this book give us that we didn't already have? There's absolutely nothing new here, it's painfully obvious that Sides did no researching of his own, but instead relied solely on other historians who did their own legwork. This is nothing but a rehash, offers no revelatory revisions to our understanding of Bosque Redondo, the U.S. Mexican War, or Mountain Meadows for that matter. Nothing is particularly wrong with it overall, aside from the annoyingly flowery writing - Sides has certainly never met an adjective he didn't like - it's really nothing more than a glorified magazine piece.I find it rather distressing that pointless exercises such as this are garnering so much publicity and good press. It is eerily similar to another pointless work, Jon Meachem's Pulitzer Prize Winning (!!) exercise in futility on Andrew Jackson. Both books provide nothing we didn't already know, and suffer from grandiosity of verbiage offered to disguise the lack of insight the author actually has on the topic.In short, you won't learn anything you didn't already know from this book if you've read, well, ANYTHING on the era/region. We are seeing far too many of these vanity projects of late, and it's a dangerous path for the art of history. Just because you went to Yale and took some history classes does not make you an historian Hampton...though if you aspire to be one, you should acquaint yourself with the archives of libraries, not the history section of already published work.........................................................................................................I must edit this to add that I changed my mind...Blood & Thunder is a stirring work of history. why did I change my mind? Why the author was so taken with my review he cyberstalked me and emailed me via my work address!Now I'm no magazine writer, just a guy with a Ph.D. in Native American history...but i'm guessing negative reviews kind of come with the territory...especially negative reviews on a public forum such as Amazon. Perhaps I hit a nerve? Or perhaps mr. Sides can regale us with tales of the journeys he took to do all that original research? Or perhaps he prefers to just call people names rather than actually answer a critic. Seems the critical response to Ghost Soldiers went to his head....kind of sad really.........................................................................................................Well, I guess I have to edit this again because Mr. Sides doesn't like his rantings posted for the world to see and threatened to unleash "lawyers, Guns, and Money" on me for saying I didn't like his book and then telling you all when he took the time to track me down and call me names for saying so. Neat guy, eh? I REALLY want to read his next book now. Can't wait.Good Lord. | 12 stars
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Kindle
Has made reading a pleasure. Adjustable font size is marvelous. When traveling, now I do not have to take a separate suitcase full of books. Only one-Kindle. | 45 stars
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Saw this as a movie years ago
This was so intersting you do not want want to put down, very much a book you can get lost into | 45 stars
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Enjoyable Mystery
I always enjoy Crombie because, though she's writing about murder, she doesn't depend on graphic violence. I found this to be a satisfactory blend of mood and descriptive settings. The pub scenes put me right there, as did the scenes along the canals. A good read that was over too soon. | 45 stars
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How reliable is this narrator?
Memoirs, in my opinion, are often suspect for what they choose to tell and what they leave out. This one was no different than any others in that respect. Deborah is a very interesting person and her desire to help the women of Afghanistan is admirable. Like many Westerners though, her lack of understanding about the culture made her do some things that seemed unwise.The book is definitely worth reading, and especially as a book club selection as it will generate a lot of interesting discussion.What I enjoyed most in the book was hearing about all the different people from all over the world who came to help in Afghanistan after 9/11. | 23 stars
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Can't Have a Winner Every Time -- This is an Example
I usually enjoy Patricia Cornwell's books because they are intelligent, complex and well-researched. Unfortunately, this book seems to play to an audience who's looking for something a little different. The character names alone are cartoon-ish, at best, and take away from the plot and action. In addition, the quirks so elaborately described have no bearing on the plot or even help explain the characters actions.The crimes and blunders are spelled out up front so there is no mystery as to who-done-it. This format would be ok if something happened to really mix things up and create an intricate plot. Cornwell's way of mixing things up was a very weak link (a garbled phone call).Not a bad book if you don't want to think at all. I, however, am looking for more of her old stuff to keep me interested and playing detective.Better luck next time, Patricia ! | 12 stars
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Great!
Pro: too many to put into words. Totally revolutionizes the reading experience and my concept of what books are. I like the fact that I am saving trees/paper, AND saving money by buying the books for $9.99 instead of $25: there are some I might not have bought at all due to price.Main suggestions for improvement in version 2:- Make this a true accessible book reader. You should be able to blow up font as large as you wish (zoom a certain percent) rather than just the 6 font sizes provided, and should be able to enlarge print everywhere not just when reading a book. I don't know what else but you could consult with experts on vision loss to find out what was needed.- The Kindle DOES fall out of the cover: unless you use the black strap that goes around the back, and strap in the lower right hand corner, making sure not to press against the "Next page" button. but then you have to unstrap it when you want to turn off or on.- Please put the on and off buttons on the front not the back- Make it a little harder to page back and forth (although then we would run into accessibility issues for people with trembling hands or less flexible fingers, so you can't please everyone).- Make the process of buying a book a little harder: maybe a message box that would say "are you sure?" It's much too easy to just click and buy although I guess that's really the user's (my) fault and I just need to learn to exercise responsible habits- Can you have a filter where you can filter by "on Kindle only"?When I am done with a book, and I have no desire to reread, I delete from Kindle and it stays on Amazon in case I want to download again: but I don't necessarily want to see it on my list of books any more.- Can you add color? The black and white doesn't make it easy to read kids books or art/photography books- How will it work in version 2, for those who purchased version 1? Will we be able to upgrade? Will there be downloads of upgraded firmware that we will install? Or are we basically stuck with the version 1 functionality?- As someone pointed out online, the Kindle would be ideal for students who currently spend large amounts of money for textbooks: this would help them to save a lot of money. Are you working on getting the textbooks publishers on board with this? It would save a lot of lower back trouble later in life for kids, if so!Good work! | 34 stars
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No excuse for this!
A profound disappointment. This book reads more like an outline for a good series (say 3 novels). The story/plots moved way too fast and were shallow---very shallow. I am, frankly, surprised. Ms. Kurtz is an awesome story-teller. Can't imagine why she would turn out such work unless she was busy writing something else at the same time. I was hoping for King Kelson's Bride to be the first in a new series. I can only hope she refrains from this sort of writing for any future Deryni novels. | 12 stars
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Nice sequel
I really like Christopher Moore books, and this one is no exception. After Lamb, this series of vampire books is my favorite by him. | 45 stars
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DRM = fail
The Kindle randomly deletes things I buy ... other than that, it's great. The former overshadows the latter. | 01 star
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Lovely
I love Tracy Chevalier's books, and this one was not an exception. She brings to life such vibrant characters and reimagines historical works of art in such believable ways. Can't wait for her next book. | 45 stars
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Still pretty good
I nearly didn't read this book after the amount of negative reviews on Amazon when it came out (I let reviews influence me way too much), but then a friend persuaded me to give it a shot and I am glad that she did.For those of you looking for the progression in the story line and improvement in the overall quality in this series that has occurred over the last three books, you may be a little disappointed. I found the first book in the series OK, second half of the second book really started cooking and I motored through the third. Fistful of Charms feels like a side trip to me more than anything - the book does not occur in Cincinnati and key characters Trent and Al are both absent. Most core elements to the central story take a breather. The only new significant plotline is the limited time left to Jenks due to the short lifespan of pixies. I have no problem with taking a novel off to have a one-off adventure as every series needs to keep things fresh. Laura Hamilton used to do this well in her early Anita Blake novels - sadly she does not anymore.That being said, if you were hooked on Big Al and demon plotline, as I was, it was disappointing that those elements were completely omitted from this book. I fully expect Al to be back in force in the next book.Overall I enjoyed the book and hope Harrison returns to form in her next novel. | 34 stars
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Un oggetto favoloso anche per l'Italia
Anche se conoscete poco l'inglese potrete usare con piacere il kindle per i vostri testi. Può essere l'occasione giusta per impararlo l'inglese, magari iniziando con i testi gratuiti, perché il collegamento immediato con il dizionario e Wikipedia aiuta a comprendere comodamente i vocaboli sconosciuti. Design e maneggevolezza unici, ottima leggibilità, volendo anche con i caratteri più grandi. Secono me è un piccolo gioiello e sono felice di averlo acquistato. Se ci fossero su Amazon anche un pò di libri in italiano sarebbe perfetto. | 45 stars
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PAUL is torn between two forces
The forces that D.H evoques is the forces of the body &spirit .PAUL'S love is spiritual .D.H is against christianity ,he does not want to neglect the body .THEnovel could not be in the circle of freudian analysis , because there is a spiritual influence from the mother before being born | 45 stars
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Dilbert on Steroids (with a Hint of Steroid Rage)
As anyone knows who has worked in a large corporation, there is no institution in the world easier to satirize. Mission statements, employee handbooks, personnel policies, senior management directives, meetings and committees, performance reviews, office politics, office romances, climbing the ladder, jockeying for offices - it's almost too easy. The best satires play it straight, as the all-consuming, life and death struggle its participants take it to be --Dilbert, Steve Carell's THE OFFICE television series, the movie OFFICE SPACE, and my personal favorite, the Kornbluth brothers' little known and underrated HAIKU TUNNEL.Into this group comes Max Barry's entry, COMPANY. Young and handsome Stephen Jones walks into Zephyr Corporation for his first day of work as a member of the Training Sales group. Jones, as he is called, has no idea what Zephyr does, but he believes it has something to do with selling management training programs. The first strange thing Jones notices is the elevator buttons: the highest floor of the building, marked CEO, is Floor 1 - the higher the floor number, the lower the actual floor and the lower the employee is on the corporate totem pole. As he emerges onto Training Sales's 14th Floor space (shared with Infrastructure Management), he discovers that Sales Reps and their assistants are separated by a high divider dubbed the Berlin Partition. That same morning, the office donut cart makes its usual rounds but ends up one donut short, depriving Training Sales Rep Roger Jefferson of his morning snack and setting in motion a vindictive hunt for the perpetrator that rivals Captain Queeg's infamous, "Who ate the strawberries?" in THE CAINE MUTINY.All of this sets up COMPANY as a breezy satire of corporate life, until Mr. Barry makes a sharp left into the Twilight Zone. Too wet behind the ears to know better, Jones begins exploring and makes a startling discovery about Floor 1, the top floor that reputedly houses Zephyr's CEO. He learns to his surprise who the real CEO is, and he gets another surprise when he sets foot on the mysterious (and missing) Floor 13. From that point on, the book takes on a completely new tone, equally satirical but increasingly sarcastic and bitter as the truth about Zephyr and its employees becomes clear. Jones is co-opted (or perhaps sells his soul) to participate in the real Zephyr, both for the money and the chance to pursue the gorgeous (and already soulless) Eve Jantiss. In the end, however, Jones regains at least some of his own moral grounding and finds a way to make the truth known.Max Barry's choice of story lines turns a funny if improbable cast of characters (a secretary who moons over Jones and records everything he does on her computer, or a vertically-challenged, Napoleonic female boss named Sydney who could only be played in the movie version by Linda Hunt) into a somewhat bizarre tale of corporate social engineering turned a bit grisly, like watching a child pull the wings off a fly and then fry it in the sun with a magnifying glass. A cast of bumbling but endearing corporate apparatchiks are joined halfway in by a group of business experts who, under the right conditions, would have been at home in Joseph Mengele's laboratory, experimenting on prisoners.Yet throughout these twists and turns, Mr. Barry manages to keep skewering corporate life, poking fun at everything from Six Sigma programs and reorganizations to corporate gyms and the sheer silliness of internal cost allocation formulas that lead managers to act against the company's own best interests. Consider a taste, from two short excerpts: "Co-workers are competitors. Roger told me the truth: there's no I in team, but there's no U, either!" and "He [Jones] is looking for something called The Omega Management System, which is the latest management fad in a tradition stretching back through Six Sigma and Total Quality Management to the practice of bleeding sick patients and investing in tulips." Take a break from computer Solitaire and read Max Barry's COMPANY. You'll find 336 pages worth of little nuggets to chuckle over and share with the person in the cubicle next to yours. | 34 stars
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I can't finish it........wasted too much time already
I'm 30 pages from the end....still waiting for a plot. I don't care for the southern characters. I thought I would always buy her books the minute they were released, but now....after Hornet's Nest and this one.....I will wait, read reviews first. She's lost her standing with me............ | 01 star
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Eye Opening!
An amazing book! So grateful for the recommendation I got to read it. It has already changed my life. | 45 stars
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Lover Eternal (Black Dagger Brotherhood 2)
I had ordered this book and never received it. So, amazon.com offered me a chance to buy something else on them. Therefore, I ordered Epiphany instead. Weeks later, I received "Lover Eternal." First of all, I absolutely loved "Lover Eternal" and look forward to Book 3. Also, please charge my credit card in a few days for it since I have received two items for the one price I paid. | 45 stars
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Mortenson is Awe-inspiring
Three Cups of Tea, by David Oliver Relin and Greg Mortenson is a fascinating and very uplifting book to read. It profiles Mortenson, formerly an aimless climbing aficionado as he finds his calling, which is to open schools for the rural poor in Pakistan and Afghanistan.The book opens when Mortenson is on an expedition to climb K2. Though it means giving up on his own pursuit of the summit, he embarks on a mission to rescue a fellow climber in a life-threatening situation. The rescue was successful, but Mortenson, weary and broken down, loses his guide and stumbles into the village of Korphe in northern Pakistan. He is taken in by the village leader and cared for by the townspeople. Eventually he begins sharing his own knowledge with the people of Korphe, especially from his training as an ER nurse, earning himself the nickname Dr. Greg. When he goes to see the children of Korphe at school, he finds them spread out in a clearing, trying to complete their lessons without the aid of a teacher. This gives him his inspiration.Mortenson returns to Berkeley and passionately begins fundraising for his endeavor. After much frustration, he finally gets the necessary funds and returns to Pakistan, only to be presented with new pitfalls. He cultivates relationships with locals who help him to make his dream a success. From there, he decides that as long as there are other children who need help, he will make a career out of raising money and building schools.In addition to the inspiring story of Greg Mortenson, I was able to gain insight into what Pakistan is really like. While many people think of Pakistan and other Islamic countries as being teeming with America-hating fundamentalists, Greg's friendships with many ordinary people show what the more typical moderate Muslims are like. The book also does a nice job of describing a completely foreign lifestyle of the tribal peoples, living isolated lives with few modern amenities.I highly recommend Three Cups of Tea to anyone who wants to read about a person who has truly made a difference or who wants to learn more about life outside of the industrialized world. | 45 stars
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Not McDevitt's best...
...but still a very good read.Maybe I'm just not very bright, as some other reviews might suggest, but I enjoyed McDevitt's story mainly because the "Goompah" characters were as human as they were (no, I don't enjoy Barney).McDevitt left most of the "wonder" of discovery out of this story, deciding instead to tell the tale of a race about to face the Omegas rather than repeat the story of finding planets and remnants of civilisations that have already fought and lost their battle with the clouds.I thought it was well done, and will continue to enjoy McDevitt's future work. | 34 stars
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My new favorite purchase
I've had my Kindle for about a month, and I just love it. It is light, and easy to hold. The pages turn as quickly as a paper book. The downloads are almost instantaneous. We were just on vacation, & I read 3 books without having to worry about packing them. I find it easy on my eyes,& can make print larger if I'm tired. I read outside in the bright sun, as well as indoors, with no problems. I found a pattern on the web to make a cover, so I can take it everywhere without it getting banged up. The only thing I haven't figured out yet, is how to delete the book samples.I thought long and hard about buying the Kindle, but finally decided to do it when the price came down. It was a great decision. | 45 stars
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It will change your life
A book that will make you feel that there is something bigger out there, and give you hope that kindness and understanding really can change the world. I now donate to Greg Mortenson's Central Asia Institute monthly. | 45 stars
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love it
bought it for myself and my girlfriend cant put it down. the prices are great for books and it a great gift for thoes who love to read. | 45 stars
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Another Hit for Beverly Jenkins
This book captured me from the first few pages, so much so, that I could not put it down. Like all of Ms. Jenkins books, it is filled with the sweetness and thrill of new romance, and is overflowing with the little-known facts about African-American history that her readers relish. It was so refreshing to read about this character, Loreli Winters, who grew up homeless and poor with her gambler father, was now very wealthy, and didn't hesitate to help others at every chance she could. She refused to apologize for how she had earned her money, how rich and powerful she was, or how she chose to spend her money and wield her influence. Loreli's adult lifestyle and occupation had taken her all over the world and she had met all kinds of people - good and bad, so she could easily figure out someone's intentions. If she liked you, she'd give you the world; but get on her bad side, and look out! Loreli had planned to continue to travel and live easy the rest of her life until she met two little motherless angels who asked her if she would be their mama. Let's just say that after meeting them and their uncle Jake Reed, Loreli's life was never the same again. It was also interesting to read about Jake Reed's labor organizing activities back in the 1800's. Another great read from Ms. Jenkins! | 45 stars
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Great fun under the sea! Try it with music!!
This is a very interesting story with a good plot and a gorgeous setting. When writing about the underwater dives, especially in the beginning, Roberts usually takes up a page or two, describing what's happening with great imagery and no dialogue, which I think is a difficult task. I really liked how Roberts used a past, present, future format. Lots of marine archeology facts; I actually learned some things on the way.SPOILERS IN THIS PARAGRAPH!! A few parts were predictable, such as Tate throwing the amulet overboard (Titanic flashed into my head), and all the characters showing up VanDyke in the lobby in such a casual way was a little unconvincing. I just knew that LaRue was connected to VanDyke, but I was greatly surprised when it turned out he was a double agent. Another point for Roberts.Now here's a weird suggestion. Most people like absolute peace and quiet while reading, so I'm only recommending some background music with this book, although I didnt want any upbeat music to distract me. Sometimes the silence is a bit overbearing. Silly as it may sound, I kept the track "Nemo Egg (Main Title)" from the Finding Nemo soundtrack (rather ocean-ish dont you think) playing during the dives that occured in the beginning of the book. Newman's score is subtle and echoes the movements of waves, and makes for good background music while you're reading about the coral and the crabs and such. | 34 stars
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A Utopian View of What, Exactly?
Anybody who truly studies the historical situation surrounding this book, beyond the scope of feminism, will find the avenue towards the kind of Eugenics that even Teddy Roosevelt and his wife, as well as a large part of society had started to engage in. A Utopian view, which controlled who could have children--a cleansing of American Health, in other words--became a cultural goal. We're not talking about condoms or birth control pills here. We're talking about the idea of WHO is the right person to have children--and if those unwanted people have unwanted children, then those children are generally undesirable too, genetically. A good book on the use of Eugenics during this period would be well worth it.Charlotte Perkins Gilman had incredible gifts, and won much deserved respect for her short story/half-memoire, The Yellow Wallpaper. I highly doubt she and many of the "good" women who wished to reform society into a more feminine and nurturing (and also more equal) refuge for all humanity would have ever guessed what can come from a book like Herland. The overall picture, in hindsight, is truly frightening. Add an influential writer or two, a few politicians, and soon you have those small county or local museums across the country eventually owning up to what has been a long-forgotten Eugenics movements practiced in their local communities by well-meaning reformers.On a nationwide scale, these "good women" were not just focusing on prohibition and temperence or suffrage, but also trying to sweep up the scum and keep them from breeding. Talk to a well-educated Biologist about the history of Eugenics in the United States and you will begin to see how people went from spaying women of perceived "low-character," to making sure those who were poor, low on the pole, or handicapped would not be able to marry or reproduce. Nor was that the beginning, nor was it done with consent, nor was it entirely humane.... Human rights were made more and more fragile in favor of a Utopian principle, and with a lot of churchy-womanly (and manly) zeal.Granted, Gilman never used the word "Eugenics." Gilman's book shows a fanciful world wherein men have not existed for quite some time, and where women can just "have" a baby when the magic is right or whatever....yet, this makes for a lot worse than wishfully innocent early feminism...it makes for another detail in her book that is QUITE disturbing: the idea that only some women are GOOD enough to be mothers, to even BECOME mothers. In this book, those women who just wouldn't be the best mothers naturally just "know" and decline the possibility...only to become co-mothers and caregivers to the other mothers' children. It takes a village to raise a child, but these villages won't let you have one. Sure, this sounds wonderful to a jaded person in our society who thinks only of overpopulation or the terrible abuses against unwanted children by horrible undeserving parents....It sounds wonderful...until a class of college students starts to ditch intellectual rigor and just downright idolize the book. What Gilman's good thoughts invoke is something that cannot be managed without unrestrained and callous social control and abuses that would overwhelm any good that would have been done. I'll get to my point soon..For me, it was terrible to be so disappointed in a woman and writer so well-loved.Bring up Eugenics and how determining reproductive rights and a person's worth could spawn a mainstream American movement that then INSPIRED the policies of Eugenics the Nazis began to use not long after..and you may find a lot of angry classmates or students, but it is still the truth. Irradiating the genitals or ovaries of Jews to keep them from reproducing, euthanizing the handicapped, the elderly, and the mentally ill...and finally deciding which race of people is more fit to live...that is what happened. Yes, it was the mass outpouring of a grass-roots movement that was invented HERE. Racial Hygeine, Class Hygeine, Cleaning the Health of America, etc..somehow the cleanliness of America seems less because it became so much more in Germany. We can wonder what might have happened HERE given extenuating circumstances. A nation that has already perpetrated mass-genocide and cultural "cleansing" with the Native Americans couldn't be that far away from what happened in Europe.Granted, Gilman didn't do these things. The policies in the book are elemental to this type of thinking, however. Disposal of the potential or even lives of people regardless of their gender or class or race all becomes a touching point here.Because of these surrounding factors, this book is less inspiring and more repulsive every time I think of it, for years and years now. What seemed like a little innocent piece of quaint feminism with a thin shellac of revolutionary spirit, was little more than another launchpad for discrimination. It supported MORE discrimination against women, and people in general, and for that reason I can only think of this book as a time-capsule of cattle fodder. Do I blame Gilman? Hell no. None of us are innocent in our own times..but that doesn't mean we should set up Herland as an eternal classic. As an author, she endorsed a place where choice was virtually removed and society just fell into line. It has all been thought of before and will be again.Please get informed, and fast, before you go off the deep end with the book. Enjoy it, but with a big pinch of informed salt.Utopias are just that...and to create one usually involves mass sacrifices by SOMEBODY. Whether reading this book, or any other, that is something to always keep in mind. | 01 star
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The first display of Fitzgerald's talent
F. Scott Fitzgerald's novels are a one trick pony in the sense that he writes about the same time period (the 1920's), the same kind of people (rich or successful Americans) and protagonists who suffer the same fate (men whose ultimate failures are the result of their own shortcomings and the influence of women). His works are also highly autobiographical. Thus to read Fitzgerald with understanding one should start at the beginning (This Side of Paradise), move to the full bloom of his talent (The Great Gatsby) and culminate at the end (Tender is the Night). It would help to read a good biography along the way. The other option is to just read Gatsby which is one of the finest American novels ever written.This Side of Paradise is his first novel and here we see both the promise of the character, Amory Blaine, and the author. On the very first page of the novel Fitzgerald displays his talent for words in his description of Amory's mother: "All in all Beatrice O'Hara absorbed the sort of education that will be quite impossible ever again; a tutelage measured by the number of things and people one could be contemptuous of and charming about; a culture rich in all the arts and traditions barren of all ideas in the last of those days when the great gardener clipped the inferior roses to produce one perfect bud." This lengthy sentence, despite its seeming awkwardness, tells us all we need to know about Beatrice and suggests that the son will share the same qualities. Other examples of Fitzgerald's facility with words follow. On page 45 he describes Isabelle thusly: "She paused at the top of the staircase. The sensations attributed to divers on springboards, leading ladies on opening nights, and lumpy, husky young men on the day of the Big Game, crowded through her. She should have descended to a burst of drums or a discordant blend of themes from `Thais' and `Carmen.' She had never been so curious about her appearance, she had never been so satisfied with it. She has been sixteen years old for six months." And on page 47 is Isabelle's description of Amory: "she had expected him to be dark and of garter-advertisement slenderness." Only Fitzgerald could come up with such vivid and evocative descriptions.One fault of the book is that it is too episodic without clear transitions. First Amory is a child, then a student at Princeton, then a soldier (although we really do not see this part of this life and it seems to have not affected him), then a lover of Rosalind, then at loose ends, then has a relationship with Eleanor, then the book ends with Amory alone in the world and spouting socialist maxims. It is hard to picture this individual, who for 200 pages has been totally absorbed with himself, suddenly developing a social conscience!Another problem I have is that Fitzgerald tries too hard to show his education. The book is full of poetry and literary references. It is written much as a college student would write a paper to try to impress the professor and thus get a high grade, rather than in a manner that is appropriate to the telling of a story. Fitzgerald is, of course, at this point in his life not far removed from Princeton and perhaps is still writing as a college student.In the end, then, we should read This Side of Paradise for the beauty of the language and not be overly concerned with the story line and characters. | 23 stars
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This was so much better than the 1st in the series!
For me this book measured up to her last passion series (which I absolutely loved) There was lots of sensuality in Lord of Seduction, a good solid plot and the chemistry between Thorne and Diana was strong and believable. Thorne one might think was the type of rogue to never find a woman to really challenge him in and out of the bedroom - finally with Diana he does. She is a strong woman but not in a way that would put a man like Thorne off, more that will intrigue him because she is not falling all over him trying to trap him into marriage.She has had her heart broken in the past and wants to keep from that happening again. Even when he wants their pretend engagement to be real she has no interest, and Thorne is shocked - a woman that can not want him? Well of course this just fans the fires in Thornes sole and causes him to rethink over and over how he might finally get her to agree to marriage. For a good part of the book he does not even realize that he actually has fallen deeply in love with Diana. The danger and the plot of trying to find out who is attacking the Guardians is a good backdrop to the romance. The passion between Diana and Thorne is as beautifully written of any Jordan romance. She totally excells in writing love scenes. Of course it takes a brush with death for Diana to realize she has to give into her heart and allow her true feelings for Thorne to be given a chance. And the beautiful romantic island of Cyrenne is just the place for true lovers to find eternal happiness. I absolutely loved this book - and cannot wait for the next in the series! | 45 stars
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Great Book -Lousy Edition
The novel itself is a classic and a masterpiece. That said, you should pony up for a better edition. Simply put, the novel includes several diagrams and reproductions of handwritten notes -which are not included in this Kindle edition. So, you pretty much have to get a copy of the physical book, or do without important clues to the solution of the mystery. I have read other Kindle books which include diagrams, drawings, etc., so it can easily be done. This particular publisher/editor didn't bother, and the result is a less-than-satisfactory reading experience. Five stars for the novel; 1 star for the Kindle edition. | 23 stars
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Fantastic...except for a bad habit of simile...
My review will be brief, as I have only one bone to pick with the author. What I thought was first an issue that demonstrated a sexist and dehumanizing behavior within third person limited narrative, I was dismayed to discover that this "bad habit" (of comparing women with animals) was a offensive crutch Caputo leaned on throughout the novel. My evidence:Her black skin sparkled with sweat, and when she pressed down, the muscles in her arms and along her ribs stood out, like those in a slightly underfed leopard. (196)Oh, and the way she would whisper 'I am here,' and then turn over on the sleeping mat and arch her back, presenting herself like a lioness in heat... (197)She made some animal-like croaking sound. (251)Her skin was as black as a panthers and she moved like one... (310)"I don't think so. I looked at you and thought, 'she has the legs of a gazelle.'" (396)She rose to her knees in a feline crouch, sighed through clenched teeth as he penetrated her... (424)They made love like wildcats... (528There was something about Yamila that Quinette sensed intuitively--she was an implacable natural force, as unconscious as a lioness seeking a mate. (540)There she stood, all feline sinew, leverage in her braided muscles... (542)Yamila's demeanor and expression underwent a dramatic change whenever he was near, the she-leopard domesticating herself instantly into a demure kitten. (557)Women are consistently dehumanized to animals--particularly large cats--in this novel, especially when they are in a sexual situation (either complicit or forced) and when two women interact. Because this happens with regularity in ACTS OF FAITH, I find it to be an unforgivable habit of Caputo's. I nearly stopped reading this book because of this regular crime of comparison, but was unable to because of the compelling and significant subject matter. It's unfortunate that such a fantastic book (and writer) has stooped to such a level. I hope that Caputo, writers, and readers are able to see this damaging cliché for what it is. | 34 stars
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For one more day
I can relate to this book on so many levels! Do not think my 31 year old son would get it tho! | 34 stars
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Fantastic and highly recommended!
For anyone who has ever searched for words, or came up with the "right" thing to say fifteen minutes too late, this book is for you. The author, Meryl Runion, gives excellent advice that can be used with a variety of situations. I have tried the "Power Phrases" and they work! It is amazing what kind of results you can get when you know how to get your point across and our confident in your ability to communicate. That is exactly what this book teaches you. I think the book is particularly important for anyone who wants to learn how to be more effective and assertive. This book promises what it delivers - that you'll learn how to say what you mean, mean what you say, and get what you want - and then some. Highly recommended reading! The book would also make a wonderful and highly useful gift. | 45 stars
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Excellent
The book was great. I loved it. The story of Dominic and Meg will always delight me. Elizabeth Lowell is a great writer. | 45 stars
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I love you Susan Elizabeth, but...
I am a faithful fan of Susan Elizabeth Phillips, and have read every novel published by her. That said, I did enjoy "Natural Born Charmer", but when compared to other novels earlier in her career (i.e. "Dream a Little Dream", etc.) I found it lacking a little spice. The characters were very likable. However, I felt the romantic tension, and love scenes could have been stronger, and the series of events that led to the two protagonists' extensive time together, more realistic. In addition, the side characters' story was quite predictable, and I would've liked to see more development in the relationship between to the two main characters. I would still buy any book written by SEP, don't get me wrong, but this one is not at the top of the list as far as favorites. | 23 stars
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nice read
Susan Wiggs has a very easy style of reading. But also compelling enough to keep you turning pages. The Winter Lodge is a "sequel" to Summer at Willow Lake but you don't have to read the first to enjoy the second. She has good character development and believable plots. A good book for a Sunday afternoon or a day at the beach. | 45 stars
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Kindle electronic reader
Purchased as a gift for my husband who was not sure about it when I told him it was coming. Once he had the device in his hands he started downloading books and since then he has not stopped reading and telling people how much he adores the device! He was tenuous about using a "thing" to read rather than turning pages and holding a "real" book in his hands, but the kindle is so comfortable for him to hold and the text can be changed so the size can be made easy to read so his eyes do not get tired and he truly has found reading pleasurable. I can't wait for it to come out with color so I can buy that for him and get this one for me! | 45 stars
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Great book.
Being in a finance department and working with all types of people, this book actually came in really handy.great strategies on firmly standing ground when it comes to the bullying that may occur in the workplace.professionally defend yourself while keeping your cool, There is many reasons why I bought sticky tags to mark up this book, lots of helpful insight, and I feel the book works..Try it, it really couldn't hurt. | 45 stars
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don't bother
Krentz created the characters on paper and then did not bother to breath bring some life and character into them. She used to be one of my top 10 authors that were a must buy, now don't waste your money. It's like someone else is writing her books for her, where's her editor and publisher? You don't even like the characters they are like paper dolls, no depth at all. i am was very disappointed in her last 3 books. She used to write real hot romance, a class act. | 12 stars
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A Catacomb of Death and Injustice
Juarez, Mexico is located across the city of El Paso, Texas. Juarez, Mexico has an estimated population of over a million. The city has been an entertainment and tourist center since 1913. During the 1940's and 1950's the city attracted many tourist from El Paso, Texas and other cities to its well-known bars, nightclubs, brothels, bullfights and shopping.Throughout time Juarez grew substantially because of the influx of people moving into the city in search of jobs with the maquiladora industry. The maquiladora factories employ more than 400,000 workers.Nothing is well in Juarez; nothing has ever been well in Juarez. There has always been poverty, prostitution, and corruption is the breath of life in all segments of society from the typical cabdriver to the officials entrusted to run the government.Then the devil came to Juarez.The notoriety of the brothels was replaced by becoming a center of narcotic trafficking linked to the powerful Juarez Cartel, and in 1993 Juarez reached its peak of notoriety with corruption and the unsolved femicide murders of young women. More than 370 young women have been murdered. Most of them were raped, tortured, butchered and their bodies discarded as trash on the city's outskirts and in the central areas of the city as well.Authors Teresa Rodriguez, Diana Motane and Liza Pulitzer, present a dismal, horror stricken and unbelievable true tale of rape, murder, torture, and butchering young women.The authors do not directly show who was to blame. In fact, it is incredible that nobody knows. Their novel may be classified as a documentary which guides the reader to the despicable actions of the Juarez and state police including the officials who were supposedly appointed to solve the murders.According to the authors, the police were not trained in securing murder scenes, they were badly equipped, if at all, and to make matters worse, corrupt to the brim. Many citizens believed the police themselves were the perpetrators of the femicides. Others blamed members of the Juarez Cartel. Still others in the community believed people of influence were the murderers.The authors document the many incidents of torture by police of possibly innocent people who were made to confess for the crimes and rapes. A lawyer for one of the accused said, "It's not enough to grab a couple of guys and take them forcibly from their home, beat them for five or six hours, burn their genitals with an electric prod, and make them confess to the murders...."There were many scapegoats. Some died in jail after many years of waiting for trial. They had been caught in a web of injustice, political ramifications, and lies and falsely judged. A lawyer defending a falsely accused victim was killed by members of the state police. The families of the falsely accused were threatened by the police if they continued to fight to prove their falsely accused loved ones were innocent. Meanwhile the murders continued unabated, and unsolved.The state of affairs was in such a horrible way that not even the `invited' United States FBI could untangle the femicide spree. Not that they lacked professional expertise, but they too, fell in the web of the political strand which pulled every which way but towards the direction of solving the crimes. Not even the president of Mexico or the United Nations could make a dent against the outcries of the citizens of Juarez to solve and stop the rampant femicides.Much like a heavily soiled dishrag is soaked in Clorox to clean it; the city of Juarez needs to be engrossed in "good" to cleanse it from its corruption, and filthy evil existence.I recommend this novel if you can stomach injustice both to the accused and the victims. | 45 stars
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Kindle now available in Europe!
I've waited so long for this to be released into Europe and I have not been disappointed! The fact that I can download books as I need them directly from the Store is excellent as I am not a patient purchaser - when I decide I want a book, I want it now! Kindle and Amazon facilitate this so well.I still have to find may way around other functions, but the help files and user guide are clear and detailed.I just need the airlines to accept it is safe to read during take off and landing and all will be well with the world............... | 45 stars
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I'm in love! :-)
I've had my Kindle for about a month now. It was a birthday present - the best one I've gotten in a really long time. Make that EVER! :-)The screen really is easy to read. It is true what they say - you absolutely forget that you aren't touching real paper. The Kindle disappears into your hands. It weighs a lot less than a normal book and I haven't had to fuss about where I've left my bookmark since I got it! It's awesome! Oh, did I mention that the books also tend to be cheaper?! Bonus!I do have 2 main complaints: 1. It does not have a backlight (lost some brownie points there since I had to get the MEdge light - which is fine, but still... how hard could it have been to include a backlight in the product itself?), and; 2. I read it at work during lunch and people keep interrupting me asking me questions about it. I also got questions on the plane as people thought it was a small computer and the stewardess asked me to turn it off.Other than those 2 small drawbacks, this is the best product of this Millennium! :-) | 45 stars
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